Upon hearing the news that my Grandfather had died, I was overcome with tremendous grief. He was an integral part of my upbringing due to the absence of my parents. Some years ago I moved across the country and was unable to see him often, yet we kept close through telephone conversations. I loved him more than just about anybody. I was planning to visit him in just a few months to introduce him to his great grandson.  

My Grandmother called to give me the news that Grandpa passed away from a heart attack. She told me the story of his death. He came in to the living room and told her he was not feeling well. She told him he should lay down to rest, but she said it was as if he did not hear anything she was saying. He was looking strait ahead as if he saw something, but was not present in mind. Then he slumped over his walker and he was gone.  

After much grief, I was feeling calm in the silence of night. I decided to try to connect with my Grandfather to say goodbye. Suddenly a light came over me, slowly at first, then so bright I instinctively shielded my eyes as you would from bright sun. In my mind's eye, as you would view a dream, I saw my Grandfather on a beach. He was a young adult, radiating health and ultimate happiness. He was in a striped 30s era swim suit and was wearing a hat. His eyes were sparkling in the sun. He was laughing and happy as could be. The light overcame the scene as I told him I missed him. He then appeared to me as I had known him in his older years. He reached for my hand and I began crying. He gave me a hug and told me he loved me. He was radiating happiness, there are no words to describe the joy he imparted.  

At this point my son woke up and crawled over to me and curled up on my lap. My Grandfather said, "You don't need to go anywhere. You have all you need right here." He beamed as he watched my son, and I felt there was a definite connection, as if he had truly met his great grandson.   

I felt my Grandfather's energy begin to fade. I asked him not to go, please do not leave. He pointed upwards and said, "I have places to go!" He was full of excitement, like a child, with great animation. I told him that it could not be true that he was gone. He told me that he was sad when I moved away, but that I moved on to a better place. Now it was his turn to move to a better place, and we would see each other again.

At this time I thought to myself this can not be true, this is not real, my mind is just trying to come to terms with loss. As quickly as I thought that to myself, the experience was gone. It felt suddenly very empty and the silence was overwhelming. I spent a couple hours asking my Grandfather to give me a sign, but there was nothing. It was so quiet I could hear the soft buzz of a light bulb.  

I am still not entirely sure how to interpret this event. I have had a near death experience myself, which I may detail in another entry, so perhaps I was open to the experience. Or perhaps it was just my mind trying to interpret a myriad of intense emotions. Was my mind just creating a happy ending as a coping mechanism, or did my Grandfather truly visit me in his life after death? I am intrigued to read so many similar experiences gathered together on this site, and hope this story contributes to the community. Thank you for taking the time to read my experience.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No  Not to me personally, but my Grandfather died of a heart attack shortly before the NDE.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     These words do little justice to the experience. What made the experience so extraordinary was the feeling that accompanied it, the tremendous energy that surrounded the event. Words could never convey.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    During the visitation from my Grandfather my consciousness seemed greatly elevated. It felt like I fell back to reality after the visitation ended.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      More consciousness and alertness than normal   It was as if my body ceased to exist during the experience. It occurred all in my mind, just as one would experience a dream, yet I was very much present. It was in many ways much more real than the experiences of daily life.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   It was all vision of the mind. The eyes of my body were actually looking at a draped window. The experience occurred in my mind, like a dream, yet seemingly on another plane that is more real that our daily notion of reality.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   The conversation I had with my grandfather was not audible, we communicated with thought. So I did not notice a difference in hearing.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   Yes   My son awoke and crawled into my lap.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   I felt the complete happiness of my Grandfather. I have never encountered happiness of that kind, it is unlike our concept of happiness.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes  

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin
My deceased Grandfather.

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   No  

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   Yes   My Grandfather.

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   A clearly mystical or unearthly realm


Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual
The entire experience lasted only a minute in our concept of time. Yet in the experience itself, there was absolutely no time. It was a feeling, a knowing.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (life after death)?   Yes   My Grandfather was very much alive in spirit after death. In fact, he was more alive in death.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly lifes meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly lifes difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   I have no particular beliefs.

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience   The experience was very recent and is fresh in my mind, yet I doubt I will ever forget it. I feel that the heightened state of awareness imprinted the experience in my memory.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   There has been little impact as of yet. I am still coming to terms with the experience. Not sure how to interpret what occurred.

My experience directly resulted in:   Slight changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   No  

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   No  

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     If that truly was my Grandfather experiencing life after death, I am tremendously happy and the experience was incredibly meaningful.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I shared this only with my husband. He believes in experiences of this nature. Or perhaps he was just comforting me, allowing my mind to create peaceful closure.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   I experienced a significant NDE during a coma about 12 years ago. Since that experience I have felt more aware of a spiritual plane. I also feel I am able to sense the energy of others in a way I was previously unable to before the NDE. So perhaps my personal NDE allowed me to be open to the visitation from my Grandfather.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was probably real   It probably was real, it probably was not real. It is a mystery.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was probably real   It probably was real, it probably was not real. It is a mystery.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   Uncertain   In a sense, yes. I experienced a NDE about 12 years ago. It had many of the same elements, such as the sensation of otherworldly light, etc. I have had many experiences on alternate planes of existence, usually very brief, but I am able to identify the shift in energy.  

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes