Experience description:
The dream I
had last night I consider to be an ADC. I was having a normal, relatively
uneventful dream. During the course of it, I found myself and several other
people (whom I don't know normally, but appeared to know to some degree in my
dream) in a kitchen. The telephone rang, and when I answered it, my Mother was
on the other end. Upon hearing her voice (which was amazingly lifelike and
exactly as I remembered it) I immediately felt my body rapidly "float" to the
far corner of the room and hit the ceiling of this kitchen.
I started to cry and told her how sad I was about her choice to end her life,
and apologized to her if I was any cause of it...like if she felt I was a bad
daughter that this was my "punishment" (I presume that is a natural feeling for
one who is a victim of a loved one's suicide.) My Mom told me that it was okay,
and that I would see her again. She told me this over and over, attempting to
console me as I was crying. Surprisingly, her words were more frightening than
consoling.
She then told me that I need to contact my paternal grandfather, who is still
living and whom she did not get along with. She told me that I was the one who
needs to get a hold of him, rather than vice-versa, because "I know the rules"
(what that means made sense in the dream, but looking back on it in waking, I
have a hard time understanding it) I told her that I would, and then there was
a lull in the conversation...like I didn't know what to say to her due to my
shock that I was actually talking to her. I felt my body float down to the
ground at that point.
I noticed a very young version of my Mom sitting on a chair in front of me, and
asked my Mom (who was also still on the phone with me) if she wanted to talk to
this woman sitting on the chair (i.e. I asked her if she wanted to talk to
herself) My Mother (on the phone) said yes, so I handed the Mother in the chair
the telephone and witnessed my Mother (on the chair) have a very agitated
conversation with "herself" on the phone, but heard no actual conversation...I
then immediately woke up in a panic. (Something I very very very rarely ever do)
This dream was very disturbing to me, and rather than be more "resolved" about
her death, I feel increasingly confused and frightened when I think of it.
Did you hear the deceased or
hear something associated with the deceased?
Yes
Describe:
Again, I was talking with her on the telephone. She attempted to comfort me,
and asked me to get a hold of my paternal grandfather, as if it were an urgent
request.
Did the voice or
sound seem to originate externally, or outside of you, inside of you, or did you
not hear a voice or sound but had a knowing of what was communicated?
I heard her voice via the telephone, but her words (which are confusing to me
now) seemed to make sense at that time (during the dream)
If you heard a
voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar to the voice or sound the deceased
made when they were alive?
exactly the same as when she was living
How clearly did you
hear the deceased? extremely
clear
Is there any
possibility that what you heard was from any other source in the surroundings at
the time of your experience? no
Was there any
possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?
no
Did you see the deceased?
Yes
Describe the
appearance of the deceased: I
saw a younger version of my mother sitting on a chair. She seemed to be in her
early 20s (before I was born) wearing clothing similar to that time period.
How clearly did the
deceased appear? solid
How much of the
deceased did you see? all
Did the deceased
appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?
there were two versions of my Mother in my dream....the one on the telephone
sounded exactly like she did when she died. the version of my Mother on the
chair looked as if she was in her early 20s (before I was born)
How healthy did the
deceased appear to be? very
healthy and vibrant
Is there any
possibility what you saw was from any other source present in your surroundings
at the time of your experience? no
How long did the
experience last? in dream state, only a few minutes
Was the beginning and end
of the experience gradual or more sudden?
sudden...I woke up in a panic
Could you sense the emotions
or mood of the deceased? On the telephone, her message to me seemed urgent. In front of
me, her attitude seemed agitated.
Describe:
On the telephone, her message to me seemed urgent. In front of me, her attitude
seemed agitated.
Did the deceased give you
information you did not previously know?
The only information she gave me was that "I would be with her soon" and that I
needed to contact another member of my family.
Describe in detail your
feelings/emotions during the experience:
I was generally grief stricken and frightened. I was shocked that my Mother was
contacting me, and wasn't prepared for what she wanted to say to me.
Was there any emotional
healing in any way following the experience?
Uncertain
Describe:
Given the nature of what she said, and the urgency with what she said it, I'm
confused as to whether I am relieved that she contacted me, or frightened by the
ordeal itself.
Did the experience give you
any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?
Yes
Describe:
I have always believed in life after death, and was relatively certain that
(while in a dream, or sub-conscious state) it was possible to contact the
non-living. I was surprised that this happened to me, however given my beliefs,
I'm not sure why I'm so surprised.
Did you ever in your life have a near-death
experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?
Yes
Describe: I
have been visited by my Mother physically (i.e. she has "moved" items and "made
noise" to notify me that what was happening at the time of the occurrence was
not something she agreed with) I have also seen a ghost, however not that of my
Mother, or anyone that I personally knew while they were alive.
Did you experience a separation of consciousness from
your body? Uncertain
Describe:
I remember wondering, after I had awoken, if my body
had been lifted from the bed. The only reason I say this is because in my
dream, I had such a "real" feeling of floating to the top of the kitchen when I
heard her voice. There was no real physical indication that I had actually
risen from the bed, however.
Did you meet
or see any other beings other than the deceased?
Yes
Describe:
I was surrounded by people that I do not know in real life, but in the dream,
they seemed to be my friends. After I had given the telephone to my Mother, I
told them how shocked and frightened I was that my Mom had called me from the
Other Side.
Did you
observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that
could be verified later? Uncertain
Describe:
Since I just had this dream last night, I have yet to contact my grandfather to
find out exactly why she wanted me to contact him so badly.
Did you
see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or
dimensions? Uncertain
Describe:
Aside from lifting from the floor, no
Did you
have any sense of altered space or time?
No
Did you
have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?
Yes
Describe:
I felt certain that there was a specific reason she wanted me to contact my
grandfather, although what that reason is, I'm not sure.
Have you shared this
experience with others? Yes
Describe:
I have shared this experience with my Mother's sister, and she was very
comforted by my story.
Have you shared this
experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?
No
What
emotions/feelings did you experience following your experience?
Confusion and fright. After sharing this experience
with my Aunt, I feel I have a greater understanding of what might have happened.
What was
the best and worst part of your experience?
The best part of my experience was that I was reassured that my Mother has made
it safely to the Other Side. The worst part of the experience is my general
feelings of confusion and fright following my dream.
ADDENDUM
Dear Jody and
Dr. Jeff,
Thank you for replying to my contribution, and thank you also for your
research. Reading the stories from other's who have experienced ADC is very
comforting, and knowing that I'm not the only one who has had communication with
those who have passed on is reassuring as well. What I am confused about, after
reading the stories of others, is why mine differs so much. It seems that I am
the only one who is left feeling frightened and confused. Perhaps that is due
to the fact that my experience is so new to me and I haven't had much time to
process it. Its disturbing and a little discouraging though.
In answer to your question, I have had time to discuss this experience
with my Mother's sister, and she helped me develop some sort of explanation
regarding the agitated conversation my Mother had with herself on the
telephone. Since it is evident that my Mom took her own life, my Aunt and I
concluded that the agitated conversation was a result of her not being happy
with her suicide decision. Unfortunately I never actually heard the
conversation she had with herself, but from her body language alone, its the
only conclusion that makes sense. To a degree that comforts me, but perhaps
because I'm still in a strange grief stage, I'm not fully comforted. Only time
will tell in this case I'm afraid.
Again, thank you for taking the time to read and submit my ADC
experience. I look forward to corresponding with you again, and will notify you
of any further experiences, as well as my grandfather's reaction to my contact
with him. (Due to our relationship, I will not be sharing this experience with
him) Please feel free to email with any questions, and share my experience with
researchers as needed. I welcome any media attention that may come my way as
well.
Thank you!
Samantha M.