Experience description 9/17/2013:  

AN UNUSUAL  AFTERNOON

I have a story to tell you that you'll likely find quite unusual, and it begins the day before Aunt Audrey's passing.

On Sunday morning, I was recounting to a close friend something that happened to me with two little piano pieces that I had learned to play by ear when I was a young girl.  Though I was enthused and thought I was doing quite well, I was given a short and hurtful critique by my Maxwell Settlement neighbor lady, after playing them for her on her piano.  All she commented on was that I was using the pedal too much!  I've had many different experiences with my music over the years.  And now, I have recently begun a new solitary phase in my life as a musician and singer.  So, on Monday morning I sat down to practice, since I have decided to seriously work on and continue to expand my piano skills.   Well, after playing the pieces I had intended to, those songs from the past came back to mind and I enthusiastically set out to recall them. I was finding it a struggle to remember the words and to figure out the key that I had played them in that was in my voice range.  The music came back more quickly than the words, so I tried to Google the lyrics, to no avail.  Since I wanted to have both the words and chords in front of me I tackled the job of writing them on my Word program and after a while recalled most of them. 

The person who introduced the songs to me on an accordion back when we were young is my cousin Faye.  She is the same age as me and I was very impressed by her musical talent when we were kids.  So, with the lyrics now in hand I went back to the piano to continue with the task.  I thought I had all of the words until I started into it, but then all of a sudden another verse came to mind and as I played and sang it I became very emotional and the tears were flowing (when you hear the words, you will know why.)  So I decided to go back to the computer to add in the extra verse when I finished it. 

At three o'clock I had a phone call from my cousin Mary, who told me Aunt Audrey had passed away that very morning.   So I thanked Mary for letting us know and then I attempted to contact my siblings to  give them the news.

After working on the songs for a while, as soon as I walked back into my office, whose picture do you think came right up on my screen saver??  It was Aunt Audrey, smiling and full of life!  The picture is a beautiful one and actually fairly recent.  I said, "Why there's Aunt Audrey!" out loud.  No sooner did the words come out of my mouth than I sensed the presence of Audrey in my office.  Startled, I wondered just what to say.   I kind of chuckled and said, aloud, "Well I'll say the same as I did to Mom when she was passing, "Go in peace, go in peace, go in peace!"  I stood there for a moment, and the next picture that I was aware of on the computer screen was a full-sized one of my mother!  It was a funny old picture with her dressed in a pink and white plaid coat and little brown Sunday hat.  I commented, "Oh my goodness, Mom's here too!"  So I kind of said hi to her and then sat down on my chair, just recognizing that this was very unusual.  I have felt Mom's presence briefly once or twice since her passing, but this time I sensed her softly speaking to me of my struggles as a musician over the years, and then I remembered having had her tell me as an adult that she never minded when any of us would be practicing.  Mom and Aunt Audrey, though invisible, had obviously been aware of my project on the piano just then.  Anyway, I was moved to tears again and sat there crying for a few minutes.  I also felt that Jesus was present in our midst to comfort and console me.  Aside from that it was a very joyous thought to know that Mom, among others, has turned up to welcome Aunt Audrey into her new life, and maybe they have been doing a little "tour" with her now!

I would like to share with you the lyrics of the two songs and you will realize just how suitable they were for that particular day.    I've always loved both Mom and Aunt Audrey, and these songs that came to mind are very lively and full of the hope that we have of reuniting with those we hold dear. 

Here are the two songs:

BEYOND THE BLUE

Beyond the blue awaits a new horizon

By faith I see a day of rest for weary souls

To this land of sweet rest we'll be risin'

I'll look for you beyond the blue, just wait and see.

Beyond the blue the lights of home are shining

To light the path and guide the feet of homeward saints

For this land of sweet rest hearts are pining

Somewhere up there beyond the blue I'll look for you

No skies of gray beyond the blue horizon

Shouts of joy, songs of praise will be risin'

We'll talk it over when we meet by the river

When I get there, I'll look for you beyond the blue.

HEAVEN, I'M GOIN' THERE

Heaven, I'm goin' there, glories untold we'll share,

All of its beauty will unfold.

Inside those pearly gates, Jesus and loved ones wait

This is where I long to go.

I'll meet my father and my mother, my sister and my brother

Reign throughout eternity.

But best of all I'll see my Savior and share his blessed favor,

This is why I want to go!

Was the experience difficult to express in words?     No  

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?   Yes   

Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:     It was my mother who communicated her recognition of my struggles telepathically.  

Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated?   I had a sense of knowing                      

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

Did you see the deceased?   No    I saw each person in succession on my screen saver slideshow (which has several thousand pictures that could have been there in those moments)                  

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

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?   Yes     They felt joyful and then serious while I was weeping.  

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?    Experience was definitely real    The synchronicity of the songs being in my mind with the relationship to my aunt and cousin right on those two days was amazing.

Was the experience dream like in any way?    No   

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?    Yes    Knowing that my mother could realize some of my pain as a musician helped, and knowing that my aunt and mother were together was great

What was the best and worst part of your experience?    Best just feeling the presence (together) of my mom with her sister-in-law

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?    No        

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    I've read a lot of the NDERF stories, and this helped me understand the telepathic element.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?   No

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?    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?        No   

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    My sister thought I should tell my cousins.  I'm hoping they will allow the story to be read at her funeral this week.  I will be very cautious about who I tell it to.  I emailed it to one of my friends last night and she said she had goose bumps reading it.

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

Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?    No

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

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?      Yes    Lots of spiritual events, in conversation with God while journaling.... which I pretty much keep to myself, of course.