Outi ADC
Home Page Share Experience New Experiences


Experience description #1:

Twelve days after my husband had passed, on Sunday afternoon, I was writing my speech for his funeral service on my computer at home. I was focused on my task, pondering the right words and things to say about him. Suddenly I could smell him like he had entered the room: the familiar aftershave mixed with his personal scent. My mind recognized the smell before I could utter his name aloud. I looked around, trying to find the source for the smell – maybe I left his old shirt somewhere near. But there was no such things around. Suddenly I felt weird, like a little bit electrified: like goose pumps but still not quite so. Like air had become thicker and heavier around me. I startled, stood up and paced around the room, wondering what's going on. I went to the window to look out, sun was shining and there were people passing by. All of a sudden I felt happy. No, not happy, it was so much more: absolute happiness and love that filled every inch and the smallest cell of my body. Joy so complete I had never experienced such before. Also: as I was still watching out of the window, I somehow could see more clearly. Not in sharpness of the vision but intuitively or with advanced insight, like I 'knew' more of 'something' than the people on the street. What was the knowledge, I don't know, but I was very aware that there was more than what I saw through my window. The whole experience lasted maybe for a minute, then I burst in to tears and begged for him to stay: 'If you are here, don't go yet!'. But he had to go, I felt the happiness tail away as I was alone again. Before he died I made him promise me to come and say hello. He did, I think, and that gave me great comfort and faith in his ongoing presence in my life.

 Was this experience difficult to express in words? Yes

 The experience of absolute happiness, love and some kind of clear vision.

 Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?      No

 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? Yes

           What smell, scent, fragrance or odor did you smell?          My husband's scent

           Was the smell, scent, fragrance or odor familiar?          Yes

           Was anything communicated by the smell?  I feel now that he wanted to announce his presence that way. But no other communication.

           Is there any possibility that the smell, scent, fragrance or odor was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?         I don't see it was possible.

 How long did the experience last?      about a minute

 Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?       End was more sudden, he 'left' and the feeling of happiness left me as quickly as him.

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

 He seemed to be very happy and in a good place.

 Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  I felt very strongly that he wanted me to know he was okay, that everything was fine and that I should not be sorry for him.

 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:   For weeks I was very sceptic about the experience and doubted it strongly. But now that I've had other experiences after this one I'm starting to question my disbelief...

           Was the experience dream like in any way?  No

 Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:  First confusion, then a bit frightened but afterwards relieved, calm and happy.

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

 It eased my grieving, for a few days after the experience I can describe myself even happy!

 What was the best and worst part of your experience?          Best was sensing his presence that I so longed for, and worst part was him leaving me alone.

 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   

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?  Yes    Existence of after-life doesn't sound too impossible anymore.

 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

 I wish to believe this visit was my husband's way of filling his promise to me. Before he died I asked him to visit me and tell me he's ok.

 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 at peace. His message answered my most important question: is he all right now.

 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?         Yes

 As I watched the people outside the window, on the street, I somehow felt I 'knew' more than them. But what it was that I knew – I don't know.

 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    I was happy to find out that many of my friends and family members were open to and even curious about my experience.

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

 Lisa Smartt Final words -project.

 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

 

Experience description #2:

A few weeks after my husband's passing I was having dinner alone at the dining table. I use to speak to my husband's picture on a drawer and as it had been a difficult day and I felt moody, I told him to 'give me a damn sign if you really are here, leave one of your guitar picks on the table if you can't think of anything else!' After his death I had collected all his guitar picks, placing them on the drawer in front of his picture.

A week went by and one morning after I had gotten out of bed, taken the dog out and had my breakfast, I went back to bedroom to make the bed. First I had to pull up the curtain. As I did so, I saw a pink guitar pick on the window sill. I nearly screamed and began to sob, out of breath. I couldn't believe my eyes. And of course, as a skeptic, I doubted myself: I must have placed it there myself, unnoticed. The window sill was dusty since I hadn't had energy to clean, but the pick was dustless. I still don't know how the pick got on the sill during the night. I should've seen it there in the evening or during the previous day, because guitar picks remind me of my husband, they are not just a 'thing', they are objects that I most definitely would pay attention to. But still, I don't know what to think of this experience. I want to believe it, but moving guitar picks are a bit too much for me to swallow! Anyway, I think it doesn't matter how it got there, it gave me comfort in my sorrow and a feeling that he might hear me, so I keep talking to him.

 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?      just a few seconds.

 Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?          No

 Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  If this was real, he wanted me to know that he can hear me.

 How do you currently view the reality of your experience?          Experience was probably not real

           Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:   It is very hard for me to believe that a physical object might be moved by a spirit. I can't think of an explanation, though. As I wrote in the description, guitar pick would not go without notice, that's why I'm pretty sure it was not on the window sill prior to that morning.

           Was the experience dream like in any way?  No

 Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:  I was definitely startled, confused, it felt like my heart skipped out of my throat.

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

 What was the best and worst part of your experience?          Best is the possibility of communicating with my husband, worst is the fact that this might not be true.

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

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?      Uncertain    

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?         I was relieved, happy, calm.

 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   

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? No 

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