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The following charts are given away at Dr. Atwater's talks and workshops. Please download as they appear (with copyright credits).
1. Common Criteria for NDEs
2. Three Types of Subjective Light
3. Four Types of NDEs
4. Major Characteristics of a Brain Shift
5. Phases of Integration
6. Tips on What to Look for with Child Experiencers
7. Faculty Extensions
8. Subjective Voices (Voice of Ego, Voice of Spirit)
___________________________________________________________________________
Chart #1
IN SEARCH OF A COMMON CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFYING NEAR-DEATH STATES
©1998 P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.) Prototype suggested by others in the field of near-death studies:
I. Context of experience: either A or B must be met -
A. Symptoms or signs suggesting serious medical illness or
injury; OR,
B. Experiencer's expectation of imminent death.
II. Content of experience: either A or B or C must be met -
A. Out-of-body experience with visualization of the physical
body from another location; OR,
B. Encounter with an identified deceased person; OR,
C. At least two of the following features:
1. Sudden strong emotional change;
2. General sense of being out-of-body (without neces-
sarily visualizing it);
3. Encounter with an apparently nonphysical entity (other
than an identified deceased person);
4. Greatly enhanced cognition (thoughts very clear, ra-
pid, hyperlucid);
5. Life review;
6. Encounter with an anomalous brilliant light.
___________________________________________________________________________
Prototype suggested by near-death research of P.M.H.Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.) :
I. Context of experience: either A or B must be met -
A. Symptoms or signs suggesting serious medical illness or
injury, or physiological crisis/accident of some kind; OR,
B. Experiencer's expectation or sense of imminent death.
II. Content of experience: an intense awareness, sense, or experi-
ence of "otherworldliness" - whether pleasant or unpleasant,
strange or ecstatic. Episode can be brief and consist of only
one or two elements, or can be more involved, even lengthy, and
consist of multiple elements. Elements commonly experienced are:
* Visualizing or experiencing being apart from the physical
body, perhaps with the ability to change locations.
* Greatly enhanced cognition (thoughts very clear, rapid, and
hyperlucid).
* A darkness or light that is perceived as alive and intelli-
gent and powerful.
* Sensations of movement and/or a sense of presence (hyper-
alert faculties).
* Sudden overwhelming floods of emotion or feelings.
* Encounter with an identified deceased person or animal, or
an encounter with an apparently nonphysical entity.
* Life review (like a movie or in segments, or a reliving).
* Information can be imparted, perhaps dialogue.
III. Typical to the experience:
a. Near-death states can occur to anyone at any time, including
newborns and infants, and remain vivid and coherent life-
long (unless societal or family pressure weakens memory
clusters - repression more common with child experiencers
than with teenagers or adults).
b. Children's episodes are usually brief and encompass few
elements. The closer the child is to puberty, the greater
the possibility of longer, more complicated scenarios.
c. The pattern of psychological and physiological aftereffects
seems more dependent on the intensity of the experience,
than on any particular imagery or length of exposure to
darkness or light.
d. Attitudes and feelings significant others display after the
experiencer revives directly influence how readily he or
she can integrate the experience. Episode content is sec-
ondary to that initial climate of interest or disinterest.
___________________________________________________________________________
Chart #2
©1998 P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.) Excerpt from "CHILDREN OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM," Three Rivers Press (an
imprint of Harmony Books), New York City
Experiencers of near-death and near-death-like states have described the
"light" they encountered in terms suggestive that there may be three very
different types of light existent beyond conscious awareness and the
realms of earthlife:
THE THREE TYPES OF SUBJECTIVE LIGHT
_______________________________________________________________
Type Color Function
_______________________________________________________________
Primary Light Colorless A pulsating presence or
luminosity usually perceived as
frighteningly awesome, a
piercing power, raw essence; the
origin of all origins.
Dark Light Pure black A shimmering peaceful depth
yet often usually perceived as "The
with velvety Darkness That Knows," a source
tinges of source of strength and knowing,
dark purple sanctuary; the womb of creation.
Bright Light The range of A brilliant radiance usually
yellow-gold- perceived as an almost blinding
white hues glow that emanates unconditional
love, a warm inviting
intelligence, union; the
activity of Truth.
_______________________________________________________________
Each of these three lights is consistently referred to,
regardless of person, age, or background, as more real than
manifest light on earth and more powerful than any source
humankind could harness - including the sun's rays and
"zero-point" energy (the "stuff" of the universe; untapped
electromagnetic energy).
Symbolically:
Primary - God Light, Dark - Mother Light, Bright - Father Light.
___________________________________________________________________________
Chart #3
©2006 P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.)
Statistics based on the research of P.M.H. Atwater, includes four
major types of near-death scenarios and percentage of occurrence
with 3,000 adult experiencers of near-death states, and
277 child experiencers.
____________________________________________________________________________
Chart #4
©1996 P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.)
A transformation of consciousness is more than just a change of atti-
tude. By combining three ongoing research projects of mine, I can now state
and with confidence, that a transformation of consciousness engenders
structural and chemical changes in the brain that affect experiencers both
psychologically and physiologically. Five books of mine speak to this, and
there is now movement within clinical research settings to test the perva-
siveness of such aftereffects. More research is needed and encouraged.
A transformation of consciousness, what I call a brain shift, can re-
sult from any manner of otherworldly occurrences. I would include here
those of a more turbulent nature, such as: religious conversions, near-
death episodes, kundalini breakthroughs, shamanistic rituals, sudden spir-
itual transformations, certain types of head trauma or having been hit by
lightning. I would also include those more tranquil in how they're experi-
enced: from the slow, steady application of spiritual disciplines, mindful-
ness techniques, meditation, vision quests, or because, in a prayerful state
of mind, an individual simply desires to become a better person.
Aftereffects from a brain shift are universally similar, regardless of
what type of otherworldly occurrence is involved; and you can use the near-
death experience as a model to identify the pattern:
MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS
DISPLAYED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH A BRAIN SHIFT
Physiological
Changes in thought-processing (switch from sequential/selective
thinking to clustered thinking and an acceptance of ambiguity),
insatiable curiosity, heightened intelligence, more creative
and inventive, unusual sensitivity to light and sound, substan-
tially more or less energy (even energy surges, ofttimes more
sexual), reversal of body clock, lower blood pressure, acceler-
ated metabolic and substance absorption rates (decreased toler-
ance of pharmaceuticals and chemically treated products), elec-
trical sensitivity, synesthesia (multiple sensing), increased
allergies or sensitivities, a preference for more vegetables
and grains (less of meat), physically younger looking (before
and after photos can differ).
Psychological
Loss of the fear of death, more spiritual/less religious, ab-
stract easily, philosophical, can go through bouts of depres-
sion, disregard for time, more generous and charitable, form ex-
pansive concepts of love while at the same time challenged to
initiate and maintain satisfying relationships, "inner child"
issues exaggerate, less competitive, convinced of a life pur-
pose, rejection of previous limitations and norms, heightened
sensations of taste-touch-texture-smell, increased psychic abil-
ity and future memory episodes, charismatic, childlike sense of
wonder and joy, less stressed, more detached and objective (dis-
sociation), "merge" easily (absorption), hunger for knowledge
and learning.
Note: Characteristics can be positive or negative, depending
on how applied. With my research of near-death experiencers, I
found the spread of impact that appeared to occur to be as fol-
lows (1994 figures) - 21% claimed no discernible changes after-
ward, 60% reported significant changes, and 19% said changes
were so radical they felt as if they had become another person.
Based on my previous investigations of spiritual awakenings/en-
lightenment done in the 1960s and '70s, these percentages seem
to fit across the board with the universal experience of a brain
shift, no matter how caused. (For more information about the
methodology I used to conduct over 3,000 interview sessions with
near-death experiencers, 700 of them indepth, refer to Appendix
II in "BEYOND THE LIGHT.")
Considering the scope of aftereffects, it could well be that as the
brain is restructured from the impact of the otherworldly experience, neural
pathways are "rewired" or somehow rerouted or maybe revitalized. How the
brain alters, though, suggests that we may be programmed as a species to
ever evolve and that we possess the apparatus we need, which, when trig-
gered, will advance that growth.
Brain shifts, partial or radical, are accelerating in number, global-
ly. High technology and new resuscitation techniques are returning more
people to life who would have died previously - and many of these people re-
port having had a near-death experience, especially children. No longer re-
legated to the fringes of society, such otherworldly journeys are now com-
monplace. Thus, it behooves all of us to recognize this, and seek to under-
stand the mechanism which seems to cause such episodes - plus the pattern of
aftereffects and what is implied by them.
____________________________________________________________________________
P.M.H.Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.) - Her books that address the topic of brain shift:
"COMING BACK TO LIFE" (now in paperback, Ballantine Books, New York
City, 1989); "BEYOND THE LIGHT" (also out now in paperback, Avon
Books, New York City, 1995); "FUTURE MEMORY" (reissued as a soft cover
by Hampton Roads Publishing, Charlottesville, VA 1999); "CHILDREN OF
THE NEW MILLENNIUM" (a soft cover through Three Rivers Press, New York
City, 1999), and "THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO NEAR-DEATH EXPERI-
ENCES (a soft cover from Macmillan, New York City, 2lly). She
has also written "THE MAGICAL LANGUAGE OF RUNES" and "GODDESS RUNES,"
along with four other self-published books - check her website for
more information. Business address and website address on front sheet
of this flier.
___________________________________________________________________________
Chart #5
©1998 P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.) BRAIN SHIFT
PHASES OF INTEGRATION MOST EXPERIENCERS GO THROUGH
_____________________________________________________________________________
Phase One First Three Years: Impersonal, detached from ego identity/
personality traits. Caught up in desire to express uncondi-
tional love and oneness with all life. Fearless, knowing,
vivid psychic displays, substantially more or less sexual,
spontaneous surges of energy, a hunger to learn more and do
more. Child-like mannerisms with adult experiencers/ adult-
like behavior with child experiencers, a heightened sense of
curiosity and wonder, IQ enhancements, much confusion.
Phase Two * Next Four Years: Rediscovery of and concerned with relation-
ships, family, and community. Service and healing oriented.
Interested in projects development and work environment. Tend
to realign or alter life roles; seek to reconnect with one's
fellows, especially in a moral or spiritual manner. Unusually
more or less active/contemplative. Can resume former life-
styles, but more desirous of carrying out "mission."
Phase Three After The Seventh Year: More practical and discerning, often
back-to-work but with a broader worldview and a confident
attitude. Aware of self-worth and of "real" identity. Tend
toward self-governance and self-responsibility. Spiritual
development an ongoing priority, along with sharing one's
story and its meaning. Dedicated. Strong sense of spiritual
values.
Phase Four ** Somewhere Between Twelfth To Fifteenth Year: Immense fluctua-
tions in mood and hormonal levels. Often discouraged or de-
pressed while go through a period of "grieving" - reassessing
gains and losses from the experience while fearful that ef-
fects are fading. Many problems with relationships, money,
and debts. A crisis of "self." If can negotiate "the dark-
ness light can bring," a depth of maturity and confidence
emerges that is unique to the long-term effects of a transfor-
mation of consciousness.
_____________________________________________________________________________
NOTE: * Child experiencers in my study who turned to alcohol for
solace (1/3), began drinking during this phase.
** Child experiencers who attempted suicide (21%), did so in
this phase.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chart #6
©1999 P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.) TIPS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR WITH CHILD EXPERIENCERS
Supportive parents, although important, are not enough. Child experiencers
need more than that - they need freedom "with a fence around it" so they
can safely test the multiple realities they know exist. With this in mind,
here are some suggestions for parents:
* Sleep patterns for the young abruptly change afterwards - less nap time,
increased flow states, and restlessness. Some may fear sleep and suffer
nightmares; others seem exhausted on waking, as if they had "toured the
universe" or attended some type of school while asleep. Reliving the
episode in the dreamstate is commonplace. Encourage the child to share
this. Listen.
* Love changes for child experiencers. It is normal for them to lose the
parent/child bonding. That doesn't mean they cease to be loving and
thoughtful, but it does mean they tend to act more distant than before.
The child switches gears and begins to mature faster; becomes independent.
Interests change.
* After their experience, most kids have a marked decrease in their
ability to express themselves and socialize. Since language is the most
critical skill anyone has, stimulate the child's speech with your own.
Promote dialogue with question/answer games, group storytelling, reading
out loud, speaking on "pretend" microphones. Encourage the child to
participate in community projects as a volunteer.
* Writing and drawing are just as important as dialogue. Ask the child to
make a special book about his or her near-death experience. Have lots of
paper handy for pages that cover: newspaper account of death event (if
any), drawings of each aspect of near-death experience, description of
what happened, information about dreams afterward, sketches of any
"beings" that continue to appear, poems, ideas, thoughts, and extra room
to record more things later on. Choose a title; bind the book with ribbon.
A project such as this validates the near-death episode - as well as the
child's feelings. The parent should keep a journal of the whole affair,
too. This helps to restimulate parent/child bonding, and can serve as an
invaluable resource once the child matures.
Child experiencers tend to withdraw; can even reject hugs and cuddles.
Recenter them in their bodies through touch - pat their shoulder when you
pass by, touch their hand if you speak to them, nudge a knee from time to
time, rub their back. Smile. Teach them to pat and nudge YOU like you
do for them. Pets are wonderful for touch therapy, as are plants. Bake
cookies that the child can help prepare, then turn him or her loose
shaping the cookies hy hand into imaginative designs. Do food sculptures
(inspirations in books like "PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD, " Joost Elffers. New
York City; Stewart Tabori & Chang, 1997).
* Speaking of food, watch the sugar levels. Child experiencers are more
sensitive than the average child to chemicals and excessive sweets,
especially refined sugars and "replacement" products. Practice good
nutrition; use veggies and fruit for snacks. Full-spectrum lights are
preferred to florescent; avoid over-exposure to electrical items (es-
pecialy electric blankets); cottons usually work best for clothes and
bedding. At meals, have a burning candle for a centerpiece, and say
the type of Grace where each person in turn can offer his or her own
prayer. Flowers put children at ease. Let them pick and arrange the
flowers. Be careful of too much exposure to bright sun (mid-after-
noon), and music turned too high (loud sounds are often painful to
them). Recheck former medication as it may now be too potent.
* Ideally, child experiencers and adult experiencers should get together
once in awhile, for each can help the other. Adults can provide that
special atmosphere for "talking about it" amongst fellow experiencers,
socializing within a peer group. Children can inspire confidence and
stability in adults, as kids are much more understanding and open than
their elders. Above all, parents who were experiencers when young
should be encouraged to speak of their episode and what they went
through in front of their child experiencer (most don't). Such a
sharing has a positive "ripple effect" for years afterward.
By joining IANDS, child and adult experiencers can avail themselves of
many opportunities to share and learn. If under eighteen, must have paren-
taI permission. Contact: International Association For Near-Death Studies
2741 Campus Walk Avenue, #500 Durham, NC 27705-8878 (919) 383-7940 voice/fax;
website - www.iands.org
These Tips are excerpted f "CHILDREN OF THE NEW MILLEN-
NIUM," (published by Three Rivers Press, New York City, 1999).
These "missing" Appendices cover:
TIPS FOR THE "CHILD" IN ALL OF US,
Tips on Counseling and Therapy
Tips on Education, Music, and The Arts
Tips on Being in Spirit
Tips on Coping with Spirit
Tips on Soulmaking
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Includes questionnaire used in study
RESOURCE SECTION/BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cost: $10 if downloaded from Atwater website (pay with a "paypal").
$15 if printed copy obtained from author: 8 1/2 x 11, 125 pages,
3-hole punched left. Add $3 s/h U.S., or $4.50 Canada, or $9.
other countries. Address of author on flip side, upper left.
US dollars only; check or money order. Will not be In stores.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chart #7
©1998 P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.)
It is possible to extend and broaden our five faculties
of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, to embrace
psychic dimensions (beyond reliance on physical forms) and
collective/spiritual realms (grander realities, the larger
view).
The following chart clarifies what I mean by faculty
extensions. Notice what happens to intuition and percep-
tion once our faculties extend and broaden:
FACULTY EXTENSIONS
_______________________________________________________
Physical Collective and/or
Faculty Psychic Extension Spiritual Extension
See/Sight See without use of eyes; Vision
research term - "clair-
voyance."
Hear/Sound Hear without presence of Music
sound; research term -
"clairaudience."
Feel/Touch Feel, or have an effect on Art
an object, without touch-
ing; research term -
"psychokinesis."
Taste/ Flavor without use of Discrimination
Flavor tastebuds; research term -
"clairgustation."
Smell/ Odor without use of nose; Integrity
Scent research term - "clair-
olfaction.
Sense/ Aware without or in advance Grace
Intuition of recognition; research
term - "clairsentience."
Perceive/ Apprehend without or in Knowing
Perception advance of physical stimuli;
research term -
"precognition."
___________________________________________________________________________
Chart #8
©1998 P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.)
Confident, enthusiastic people, child or adult, rarely have any problem
with the manifestation of spirit beings. It is wise, however, to have some
way to discriminate between those beings who are basically helpful and sup-
portive (like a Guide or Guardian Angel), and those who seek to confuse or
possess (like a mixed-up or angry disincarnate). Hesitation is healthy,
especially if "channeling" is involved (where voices or thoughts other than
your own seek attention or try to express themselves through you). "Gifts of
the spirit" are not always what they seem, neither are they necessarily posi-
tive. The following chart highlights the real source of power behind spirit
manifestations, and gives you comparisons to use as an aid in cross-checking
motive:
SUBJECTIVE VOICES/VISITORS
DISCERNING THEIR TRUE SOURCE
_________________________________________________________________
LESSER MIND GREATER MIND
_________________________________________________________________
The Voice of Ego The Voice of Spirit
Personality Level Soul Level
_________________________________________________________________
flatters informs
commands suggests
demands guides
tests nudges
chooses for you leaves choice to you
imprisons empowers
promotes dependency promotes independence
intrudes respects
pushes supports
excludes includes
is status oriented is free and open
insists on obedience encourages growth and
development
often claims ultimate recognizes a greater power
authority or God
offers shortcuts offers integration
seeks personal affirms Divine Order along
gratification with the good of the whole
________________________________________________________________
Excerpted from "GODDESS RUNES," published by Avon Books, New York City, 1996.
___________________________________________________________________________
Chart #9
From: Beyond the Light (Avon Books, New York City, 1994)
PHYSIOLOGICAL AFTEREFFECTS OF NEAR-DEATH STATES:
Most Common (between 80 to 95%) – more sensitive to light, especially sun-
light, and to sound (tastes in music change); look younger/act younger/more
playful (with adults) – look older/act and seem more mature (with children);
substantial change in energy levels (can have energy surges); changes in
thought processing (switch from sequential/selective thinking to clustered/
abstracting, with an acceptance of ambiguity); insatiable curiosity; lower
blood pressure; bright skin and eyes; reversal of brain hemisphere dominance
commonplace; heal quicker.
Quite Common (50 to 79%) – reversal of body clock, electrical sensitivity,
heightened intelligence, metabolic changes (doesn't take as long to process
food, bowel movements can increase); assimilate substances into blood-
stream quicker (takes less of something for full effect); loss of pharmaceutical
tolerance (many turn to alternative/complimentary healing modalities);
heightened response to taste/touch/texture/smell/pressure; more creative
and inventive; synesthesia (multiple sensing); increased allergies; preference
for more vegetables, less meat (with adults) – more meat, less vegetables
(with children); latent talents surface; indications of brain structure/function
changes (also to nervous and digestive systems, skin sensitivity).
PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTEREFFECTS OF NEAR-DEATH STATES:
Most Common (between 80 to 99%) – loss of the fear of death; become more
spiritual/less religious; more generous and charitable; handle stress easier;
philosophical; more open and accepting of the new and different; disregard
for time and schedules; regard things as new even when they're not (boredom
levels decrease); form expansive concepts of love while at the same
time challenged to initiate and maintain satisfying relationships; become
psychic/intuitive; know things (closer connection to Deity/God, prayerful);
deal with bouts of depression; less competitive.
Quite Common (50 to 79%) – displays of psychic phenomena; vivid dreams and
visions; "inner child" issues exaggerate; convinced of life purpose/mission;
rejection of previous limitations/norms; episodes of future knowing common;
more detached and objective (dissociation); "merge" easily (absorption);
hunger for knowledge; difficulty communicating and with language; can go
through deep periods of depression and feelings of alienation from others;
synchronicity commonplace; more or less sexual; less desire for possessions
and money; service oriented; healing ability; attract animals (good with
plants); aware of invisible energy fields/auras; preference for open doors
and open windows/shades; drawn to crystals; laugh more; adults lighter
afterwards – children wiser, more serious, bonding to parents lessens.
Figures based on sessions with 3,000 plus adult and 277 child experiencers
___________________________________________________________________________
Chart #10
CLUSTERING OF AGES
FOUND IN REPORTED CASES OF
A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE
________________________________________________________
Age Cluster Correlation
CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS:
*Birth to 15 months When the actual wiring of the brain is
determined and synapse formation
increases 20-fold; utilizes twice the
energy of an adult brain.
*3 to 5 years Time of temporal lobe development;
explore and experiment with possible
roles, future patterns, and continuity
of environment.
7 to 9 years Time of puberty; hormone fluctuations,
sexuality questioned, identity crisis.
MATURE ADULTS:
*27 to 32 years Cross-over time between adherence
to values of friends, family, and the
pressures of the workplace – and the
urge to establish self as an independent
and mature ego; social crisis.
_______________________________________________________
Note: Other clusters not as tight with mature adults, but did notice
slight clusterings around the ages of 39, 49, and 59. Kids data based
on 1997 analysis; adults, on 1994 analysis. Asterisks with children
show where the largest clusters were with the near-death research I
conducted; same is true with adults. Strongest evidence for genius
with experiencers was from birth to 15 months. Most alien, fairy,
and monster sightings with typical children usually occur between 3
to 5 years of age (same timeframe for most NDE reports from kids).
This chart appears in several books, among them Children of the New Millennium
(Three Rivers Press, NYC 1999); and Children's Near-Death Experiences and the
Evolution of Humankind (Inner Traditions, Rochester, VT 2003).
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