Beyond the Light: What Isn't Being Said About Near-Death Experience

by P.M.H. Atwater, Melvin Morse (Introduction)

"Atwater is earnest, helpful, boldly honest." --East West Journal

P. M. H. Atwater is unique in this world. As both a near-death survivor and a near-death researcher, she brings a remarkable perspective to her work. Her first book, Coming Back to Life caused a major controversy in the field of near-death studies, and Beyond the Light promises to do the same.

It presents the most in-depth and comprehensive look at the near-death phenomenon, its after-effects and implications. She challenges the stereotype of the "amazing grace" near-death experience of a tunnel of light accompanied by a feeling of well-being. Atwater has provocative evidence of many different types of experiences, including those that are hell-like as well as transcendent. She also discusses and contrasts the experiences of those people who were dead for several days and then revived, those who attempted suicide, and the similarities and differences between near-death experiences and hallucinations.

Atwater was the first near-death researcher to find that the experience changed the brain's physiology, actually altering its structure. While she was criticized for this bold assertion, subsequent findings have proved her correct. Beyond the Light provocatively probes the "electrical sensitivity" that follows near-death episodes as well as the now-acknowledged "brain-shifts," and considers how these findings might change our very notion of mortality.

Atwater has interviewed hundreds who have experienced near-death and their loved ones and friends. Her conclusions and observations will challenge our assumptions about what we consider life, death, and the existence and evolution of the individual soul. Like almost everyone who has experienced near-death, Atwater has come away spiritually charged with a mission to share her perceptions and sensations. Beyond the Light is about nightmares as well as miracles, joy as well as deep despair. Atwater makes a compelling case that near-death provides us with a fascinating window on one of life's greatest unknowns and sets the stage for our re-examination of what it means to be alive . . . and dead. Beyond the Light also contains a thorough and exhaustively researched resource section for those looking for further reading and guidance to an understanding of this fascinating field of study.

P. M. H. Atwater experienced three near-death experiences in 1977. She has been exploring this phenomenon ever since. She lives and works in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Genres: Spirituality, Metaphysics

302 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first two thirds, then it got boring to me. Also her super insistence on the word and existence of "God" is a little unnerving although of course she describes it in the very vast definition, the term God just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, or relatively in my soul. I'd rather die, shoot through the tunnel and possible darkness and past any authority and go explore the universe, remember past lives, view future lives, you know have a cosmic blast. While her book confirms some people's experience of this and of a heaven and hell like experience which seemed to all be based on the psychological belief of each person, I do not want to bow to God. I want to shoot past all hierarchy.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in the near-death experience, this book is a must.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!! It was really good.
Too bad the cover's so ugly.
Should have used some colorful fractals or a nature picture.

She has little understanding of what walk-ins are,
and even included Ruth Montgomery's book in a derisive manner.

[Shobha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of information on NDE. Very interesting read. Oh and yes, the cover is hideous. I get the light @ the end of the tunnel but why a pixelated image, blurred maybe, pixelated is just not happening. And the cover is depressing, the book tries to be anything but depressing. So a mismatch there.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much and found the near death experiences fascinating!

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE NDE-RESEARCHER/PSYCHIC CONTINUES HER STUDIES

P.M.H. Atwater (born 1937) has also written books such as 'Coming Back to Life: The After-Effects of the Near-Death Experience' and 'Children of the New Millennium: Children's Near-Death Experiences and the Evolution of Humankind.'

She wrote in the Foreword to this 1994 book, "I am an experiencer. I have lived my research, it has been my life... I have not allowed my multiple experiences with death, what I learned while on The Other Side, my personal bias, or anyone else's research findings to interfere with my work... In order to help my husband keep the bills paid, I have worked as a psychic counselor on the nation's largest 900 line. I am uncomfortable admitting this... Yet there are wonderful, gifted sensitives working the line as I do, and I am proud to be in their number. Continued research without this additional income source would have been impossible." (Pg. ix-xii)

She admits about her own experience that "Since I was never hospitalized, I lack clinical proof that I actually died. It was the specialist's opinion that I did die, however, and that is my own opinion as well." (Pg. 4) She reports that children "were invariably greeted during their death episode by any siblings who died before they did. These siblings told them how they passed over... Future siblings sometimes appeared as well... I have yet to come across an incident where the child experiencer was incorrect about any of these past or future siblings, even when it was absolutely impossible for the child to possess such knowledge." (Pg. 13)

She suggests, "It seems to me that brain chemistry must be affected or altered to some extent during an initial near-death experience... Yet there is more involved here. People who undergo such an event are far more than just 'stimulated.' They seem to 'wake up,' sometimes in substantial ways that can affect them for a lifetime. It takes more than chemicals to accomplish something like that." (Pg. 26)

Of several persons who had "negative" NDEs, she observes, "All three confessed to having hidden within their deepest selves varying types of guilt. This guilt seemed quite painful to them... They admitted to me that they met what they most feared in dying, which confirmed and strengthened their already strong belief that their 'sins' would be punished." (Pg. 36)

Of Maurice Rawlings's book 'Before Death Comes,' she notes, "So far, no other physician has been able to substantiate either the extent of his anecdotal findings or his theory... I have noticed that: Deeply rooted belief systems and regionalisms can color an individual's description and interpretation of his or her experience." (Pg. 38) Still, she later records, "Unpleasant and/or hellish near-death-like experiences also happen." (Pg. 92)

She adds, "I have discovered that those most influenced by Christianity... are the ones MOST LIKELY to describe fire and brimstone and red-hot hells. None of the people I interviewed who were not strongly identified with Christian teachings spoke of any such fiery climate; rather, these people described temperatures that were clammy, cold, lifeless, fearful, or somehow void." (Pg. 168)

Fans of Atwater's other books, or of NDE books in general (particularly the more "metaphysically" or "New Age"-inclined) will like this one as well.

[Marina Quattrocchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many books on the near death experience but P.M.H Atwater's book far surpasses anything I've read before in information and insights. What sets this book apart is that Atwater had 3 near death experiences herself in 1977, then has devoted her life to researching and understanding exactly how these experiences effect people long term. Most of the best selling books on near death tell you only about the experience itself, but that is but the tip of the iceberg. It's a phenomena that is more common than most people think. One half of adults who have a brush with death report a near death experience and 75% of children. In the United States alone there are more than 8 million people who have had a near death experience. Atwater interviewed over 3,000 individuals who have had a near death experience or NDE and found the experience changes each person in a myriad of ways. There are too many after effects to mention all of them--I highly recommend you read the book. Some of these affects are; they look younger and are more playful, are more sensitive to light and sound, are more open and accepting to new things in life, handle stress more easily, experience an increase in synchronicity, and acquisition of many psychic abilities. This book is certainly worth buying just for the Appendix which lists of wealth of resources on the near death phenomena, resources for the dying, health and healing, mental health with a holistic approach, nutrition, religion, meditation, spirituality, and psychic realities. I've read that the near death experience alters the chemistry of the brain, in essence making this people smarter and more altruistic. This certainly seems to be the case with Atwater; definitely one of the most brilliant books on the subject.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting study in near-death experiences. I like that she didn't balk from the weird bits -- although some of them did leave me blinking. But if you set out to share what people experienced and how they interpreted it, then it's good to relate everything they said and how they felt about it.
I found especially interesting the bits about people's negative experiences and the author's thoughts on them.
The chapter trying to link near-death phenomenon to physical things (like the brain, electricity and "vibrations") felt a bit pointless. Why should something that happened outside the confines of the physical world need a physical explanation? But I’ve noticed that everyone has some quibble about this book as it bumps up against their way of seeing things. So I suppose that’s mine.
Overall I found the book very interesting.
3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.

[Melinda Magyar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond the Light

There are a few actual NDE accounts in the book, then the author explains the effects of an NDE. I prefer books that only contain a collection of near death experiences without lengthy added information.

[Marley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for research for a speech and it was really interesting!! I didn’t mean to read all of it but… here we are

[Lauriek · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, this is the most objective book on the subject I've read.

[Grant · Rating 1 out of 5]

Paranormal drivel. Unfortunately books like this provide a stigma around NDEs. There is far better well studied and balanced books, lectures, podcasts, and articles on this topic.

[Tani · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoy reading about NDE, but this one was not my favorite. I felt that the author was a bit narcissistic, as she added in her comments towards other people's experiences non objectively. Also, sometimes she would forget to start a new paragraph in order to add her own thoughts on an experience she was retelling. I thought her book seemed hastily written.
Also, I thought it would have been smart if she had acknowledged the arguments against the validity of NDE rather than assuming the reader was taking them for granted. She was however very thorough in categorizing experiences into groups, and explaining the effects of each.

[Roberta Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

P.M.H. Atwater had three NDEs in 1977, and she spent the next thirty years investigating the phenomenon.

[Irene · Rating 1 out of 5]

NOT REALLY INTO THE BLOOD & GUTS DESCRIPTIONS.

[Jeffrey W Brigham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a real eye-opener!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has great stories of near death experiences. It’s a quick read and full of believable accounts. A fast read and nice book to have around.