Midday on 5/4/06, I was riding my horse (named Rooster) out on a trail ride. It was a beautiful spring day with the sun shining, blue sky, light breeze, temp. in the mid 70's.

The ride was very relaxing, and as we walked down a gently sloping hill, I felt the presence of two aunts who were dead (My Aunt Mary and Aunt Helen). I thought it strange that I felt their presence with me as I hardly ever thought of them, but I truly felt their presence in a fleeting manner. These aunts were very close to my Aunt Julie in their younger days.

Later that afternoon, I received the news that my Aunt Julie (who lived 1000 miles away) had been in a car accident at about the same time which I had felt the presence of Aunt Mary and Aunt Helen. Aunt Julie died a few hours after the accident. I believe that my two aunts came to escort Aunt Julie across to the afterlife. 

And another coincidence: I was riding a horse named Rooster. My Aunt Julie loved roosters and had rooster statues, pictures, even kitchen curtains with roosters in her house.

Was this experience difficult to express in words? 

No

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?           

Yes

How long did the experience last?       

Less than 2 minutes

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?        

I suddenly felt the presence of my dead aunts and the presence faded in less than 2 minutes.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?          

Yes

It was a happy presence.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?          

Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:          

I had never really given any thought about these two aunts after their deaths (except an occasional fond memory). The synchronicity of the feeling of my aunts' presence and the simultaneous car accident and death of my aunt Julie 1000 miles away seems just too coincidental.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  

Yes

I was awake but in a deep state of relaxation as I rode my horse.

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:          

I thought it was odd to have my aunts Mary and Helen "pop" into my head that way. I didn't know that my Aunt Julie was getting involved in a car accident at that moment 1000 miles away.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?          

Yes

I think the presence of my aunts at the time of aunt Julie's accident made me feel less grief for her passing. I felt as though her good friends had come to take her with them to the afterlife and it made me happy for her.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?     

Best part was realizing the synchronicity of it all.

Worst part: My aunt died in a car accident and I know she must have suffered briefly.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?        

No      

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     I now have a stronger belief in the afterlife and that we are still connected with those we love after they pass out of this existence.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?            Yes     It opened my mind to the possibility that the spirits of people we have known in our lifetimes are still connected to us in some way.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?        Yes

Last year, when my mother died and my dad and I discussed death and the afterlife, we both agreed to contact each other (whoever dies first).

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No
What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I felt happy to have felt their presence. I even told them "hello and asked how they were."

Have you shared this experience with others?        

Yes     The people who believe in spirits and the afterlife have been very open and accepting and happy to hear of this event. Those who don't believe just politely listen.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?   No

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           Yes 

About 20 years ago, while shoveling my driveway, I had an image pop into my head of a friend of mine with a cast on her arm. It lasted only a moment. When I finished shoveling the driveway, I walked back into the house and the phone was ringing. It was my husband (a doctor) calling me to tell me that my friend had just come into the hospital ER with a broken arm!

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