One of my experiences that I did think got a 'verification' of something I could not have any knowledge of but was more than coincidence, was in a dream.

The wife, Myrtle, of my Dad’s first cousin died. She and my mother had become close in their aging years and talked on the phone a lot.

One night I dreamed that I was in a 'waiting room.' It was as though I just popped into it and it seemed very real. I knew it was most likely a dream… a lucid dream… and I determined to try to stay in it and aware.

The room was pleasant, nicely lit and there others in the chairs which surrounded the walls; about 6 other people I guess. No one was talking or saying anything. I was seated next to a small window and I looked outside. I could see a very well manicured, green countryside. Again, very pleasant and pretty beyond the norm.

About the time I looked outside, a door opened at the end of the room and Myrtle walked in. There was bright light shining from behind the door.

She didn’t say anything. I knew this was a lucid dream so I approached her and looked at her eyes. They were like Kaleidoscopes with a million colors, really mesmerizing and beautiful. (I have, after  this experience, read other accounts where a living person encountered a 'spirit' or person with this aspect. One was a child who said he met Jesus and Jesus had the same multi-colored eyes. I’m not saying Myrtle was Jesus or an aspect of Jesus but it’s an interesting match of observations. Also, the child that reported the experience about Jesus was in a near death state, not in a dream, as was I.)

After making eye contact with Myrtle, she turned to go back to the door at the end of the room, opened it and there was a bright white light behind it.

I knew she was leaving and quickly called out to her to ask her if she had anything to tell my Mom.

She said, with a slight smile, 'Tell her to turn loose of my grave. After all, I’m not going anywhere.'

Then she left and I woke up. I distinctly recalled what she told me since I found the phrasing 'turn loose' idiomatic. Myrtle was a fairly sophisticated city girl, and I always thought of 'turn loose' as a rural-type idiomatic phrasing. It didn’t seem to fit but then again, I didn’t know Myrtle real well.

I filed the dream aside, not immediately rushing to tell mom. At that point in time, my mom was still living on her own and I talked with her on the phone every day. So, I’m not sure why I didn’t automatically call & convey the dream to her.

Maybe a few days later, I was about to hang up from our call and something urged me to tell mom about that dream. My mother was always open to woo-woo type stuff.

I recounted the dream.

My mom said: 'You know, the other day I was sitting here thinking about Myrtle and missing talking with her and then I thought 'I can talk to her if I want, after all, she’s not going anywhere.'

I never asked Mom if she meant she would hold conversations in her mind, as some people do… like 'What would Myrtle say?’  So I'm not clear on her thoughts but her story which matched the exact phrase was startling.

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?      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:   After making eye contact with Myrtle, she turned to go back to the door at the end of the room, opened it and there was a bright white light behind it.

I knew she was leaving and quickly called out to her to ask her if she had anything to tell my mom.

She said: 'Tell her to turn loose of my grave. After all, I’m not going anywhere.'

          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?     Seemed like Myrtle was talking directly to me.

          If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?     Similar.

          Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?   I cannot say what I cannot prove or disprove since this happened years ago. And I took it for what it was at the time. I didn't investigate potential sources of influence after the 'dream.'

          Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   I have tinnitus but function without supplementing my ability to hear. I've had tinnitus my whole life.

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

Did you see the deceased?       Yes

Myrtle appeared as she was as alive but about 35 years old. She was always immaculately groomed. She had worked as a make-up counter saleslady, which demanded she present herself as a well groomed representative of the department store in which she worked. This was back in the 50s-60s... so people actually dressed to go to work and, say,  the grocery store, as opposed to wearing flip flops and pajamas to public spaces, as in now somewhat the norm.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Solid. Human and alive.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       All.

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?           Myrtle died in her 80s but appeared about 35 years old in the encounter.

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            Perfect health. Happy and calm.

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?   Not unless I sleep with my eyes open, which would be creepy and probably reported to me by my freaked-out husband at some point.

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

How long did the experience last?      Well, it was a dream. But if I had experienced it in waking time, it would have been about 4 to 5 minutes long, I guess.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?       The beginning was abrupt. I 'popped into' what I perceived to be a 'waiting room' of some sort. The end had a definite dénouement, with Myrtle leaving via an open door with a bright white light emanating from behind it.

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

Myrtle seemed amused and self-assured. And that she had come to meet me explicitly.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  She said: 'Tell her to turn loose of my grave. After all, I’m not going anywhere.' Later, after relating the dream to my Mom, Mom said: 'You know, the other day I was sitting here thinking about Myrtle and missing talking with her and then I thought 'I can talk to her if I want, after all, *she’s not going anywhere.'*

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:   In a lucid dream, things happen in real time. That makes them more real than a 'normal' dream. So. This was a lucid dream and felt very real, with  real-time thoughts.

          Was the experience dream like in any way?  No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:  I guess I was somewhat enthused to see Mrytle looking so well... but it took me several seconds to figure that I could get a 'confirmation' or extra-corporeal information that might be of use when I woke up... so at the last second, when Myrtle was opening the door to leave, I called out and asked if she had anything to tell my Mom.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience? No

What was the best and worst part of your experience?          BEST PART: Seeing Myrtle's eyes. I was hypnotized. They were extraordinarily beautiful and captivating. WORST: No bad part.

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