Family just attended a repast luncheon after dad's burial.  We were saying goodbye in the parking lot of the restaurant.  A beautiful Monarch Butterfly fluttered downward directly in front of me and then gradually flew upward again. 

I immediately felt a warm comforting feeling when I saw this butterfly.  I knew it was associated with my dad, either him telling me that he was ok now, or that he was moving on to a better place. 

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

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?          No

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            No

Did you see the deceased?         No

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?      No

How long did the experience last?        Approx. 30 seconds

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         The butterfly ascending seemed to be in slow motion.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           Yes

That is was okay

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  no

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 never heard of a butterfly being a symbol for life after death, rebirth, etc.  When this happened I felt it was, and then today I researched the topic and found that this is a symbolism of such.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Yes

Due to the slow movement of the butterfly upward.  

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I felt awestruck

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

Yes, but I feel that I still miss him

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Worst part was that it was over.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No      

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?  Yes            Reaffirms belief in afterlife.

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?        No

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?            Happy

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           Yes

Brother, husband, and children

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes

Slow motion movement of butterfly

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Yes

That this was a sign from God, that my dad was good.

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            No

Did you see a light?           No

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Others saw this and my husband agrees that this could be a sign from my dad.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?            Yes

The butterfly website

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?       mp

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?           No 

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