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Differences and Commonalities Among Various Types of Perceived OBEs
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Phase 1 of the NDE OBE Research Project began on April 13, 2020 and ended on October 15, 2020. Its objective was to (1) identify and define differing types of perceived out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and (2) discover the differences and commonalities among them, focusing on any possible catalysts, the event itself, and the process from beginning to end. This retrospective study was exploratory in nature. This study based the primary categorization of perceived OBEs first on intent as either not self-induced or deliberately self-induced. Not self-induced perceived OBEs were then further subcategorized based on the experient's condition or state, which included physiologically near-death perceived OBEs (NDOBEs), life-danger perceived OBEs (LDOBEs), life-danger-to-near-death perceived OBEs (LD-NDOBEs), and other spontaneous perceived OBEs (OSOBEs). While this study was not able to identify with certainty any specific catalysts for perceived OBEs, it resulted in suggesting a hypothesis that the catalyst for perceived NDOBEs, perceived LDOBEs, and perceived LD-NDOBEs may be an unconscious, adaptive, reactionary process triggered by various psychological and/or physiological stimuli initiating a non-pathological dissociation or detachment. Furthermore, this study found that there were both commonalities and differences among different types and subtypes of perceived OBEs as categorized in this study. One such finding was that most of the features reported in perceived OBEs that took place during real physiological conditions of near-death were also found in some perceived OBEs in which individuals were not actually near death. In particular, this included features such as perceptions of seeing one's own physical body, experiencing a lack of pain, feeling a sense of peace, experiencing different perceptions of time, having a visual life review experience (VLRE), seeing perceived OBE personages, observing a bright light, encountering tunnels, and experiencing a transcendental otherworldly type of environment. (Please also see linked Addendum and Erratum)
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... Phase I of this study began on April 13, 2020, and ended on October 15, 2020. The results of Phase I were reported and released in July of 2021 (King, 2021). This particular second report has been written for the specific purpose of providing the results and interpretations following Phase II of the NDE OBE Research Project that officially began on October 16, 2020, and technically ended on December 31, 2021. ...
... This paper will use the terms "Phase I" or "first phase" to refer to the first phase of this research project that was discussed in a previous report (King, 2021) and "Phase II," "second phase," or "this phase" to refer to the second phase of this research project. Each phase consisted of different participants, as well as some differences to the questionnaire as will be briefly explained down below in the Materials and Methods section. ...
... In the report from Phase I of this study (King, 2021), various types and subtypes of perceived OBEs were categorized and defined. The primary categorization was first based on intent as either not self-induced or deliberately self-induced. ...
The NDE OBE Research Project has so far consisted of two phases, and has now examined 252 perceived out-of-body experiences (OBEs) reported by 240 participants. Phase II of the NDE OBE Research Project officially began on October 16, 2020 and ended on December 31, 2021. Its objectives were the same as Phase I: to (1) identify and define differing types of perceived out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and (2) discover the differences and commonalities among them, focusing on any possible catalysts, the event itself, and the process from beginning to end. This retrospective research has been exploratory in nature. This second phase based the primary categorization of perceived OBEs on the experient's condition or state, which included physiologically near-death perceived OBEs (NDOBEs), life-danger perceived OBEs (LDOBEs), life-danger-to-near-death perceived OBEs (LD-NDOBEs), altered-mind perceived OBEs (AMOBEs), and other spontaneous perceived OBEs (OSOBEs). Although the report for the first phase of this research (King, 2021) did not make any conclusions about the possible triggers, catalysts, and/or contributory factors for perceived OBEs that were specifically examined (lack of oxygen, pain/trauma, and substance intake), this second report now suggests that reduction, disruption, or cessation to the body's oxygen supply may be associated in some way with many perceived OBEs. It also acknowledges that this may also be the case with intense pain and/or physical trauma, as well as with substance intake under certain variable conditions for some experients. This second phase of the research also reiterates (as in Phase I) the hypothesis that the primary catalyst for perceived NDOBEs, perceived LDOBEs, and perceived LD-NDOBEs may be an unconscious, adaptive, reactionary process triggered by various psychological and/or physiological stimuli initiating the onset of a nonpathological dissociation or detachment. Furthermore, this second phase has expanded this hypothesis to include some perceived OSOBEs and possibly even some perceived AMOBEs, Additionally, another hypothesis has been offered suggesting that this dissociation in these types of cases is purposeful as either an orienting response to threat/stress and/or to allow for a beneficial absorption, depending on the conditions and circumstances. This research so far has found that there are both commonalities and differences among different types and subtypes of perceived OBEs. This includes the finding that most of the features reported in perceived OBEs that took place during real physiological conditions of near-death were also found in some perceived OBEs in which individuals were not actually near death. In particular, this has included features such as perceptions of seeing one's own physical body, experiencing a lack of pain, feeling a sense of peace, experiencing different perceptions of time, having a visual life review experience (VLRE), seeing perceived-OBE personages, observing a bright light, encountering tunnels, and experiencing a transcendental otherworldly type of environment. In this second phase new dilemmas were also explored and discussed, such as the high report of missing facial features on perceived-OBE personages and incorrect perceptions of the immediate environment during non-transcendental perceived OBEs across all types and subtypes. (This is the final quotable report for Phase II; there are no further forthcoming changes)
... 61-63;Green, 1968, pp. 44-47, 59-65;King, 2021). In fact, sometimes spontaneous perceived OBEs might take place with observed somatic continuance (OSC), which can be defined as observing the physical body from what seems to be a detached vantage point while the body persists in self-sustaining, autonomous, or semi-autonomous behavior (King, 2021). ...
... 44-47, 59-65;King, 2021). In fact, sometimes spontaneous perceived OBEs might take place with observed somatic continuance (OSC), which can be defined as observing the physical body from what seems to be a detached vantage point while the body persists in self-sustaining, autonomous, or semi-autonomous behavior (King, 2021). The spontaneous perceived OBE with OSC should not be confused with heautoscopy, although in a small number of OSC cases, when it may have been circumstantially beneficial, experiencers have reported a purposeful and strategic alternating or simultaneous sense of awareness between the extrapersonal self and the physical body. ...
... I began an investigation of OSC by conducting a thorough search of the available literature on OBEs and NDEs, including numerous books, journals, and relevant websites, as well as from my own research on perceived OBEs (King, 2021). I included only those cases in which the accounts were clear and reasonably coherent, OSC was fairly certain, and the incidents were spontaneous-excluding any cases associated with a deliberately self-induced state of altered consciousness, such as meditation, trance, or hypnosis. ...
... observable physical environment of the Earth. This often tends to be perceived as some otherworldly or unknown place, dimension, or realm away from both the physical body and the Earth (such as an impression of having ventured into heaven or hell) whereas the non-transcendental environment generally refers to an identifiable present location on the Earth (see also King, 2021King, , 2023. Furthermore, the perceived OBE can be spontaneous or it can be self-induced. ...
... Furthermore, I suggest that it most often seems to occur when the brain has detected possible danger or stress that might be a threat to the continual survival and well-being of the physical organism. It can even be initiated sometimes during sudden real or presumed threatening circumstances while the body remains physically active (King, 2021(King, , 2022(King, , 2023. The common association of stress with some spontaneous perceived OBEs was also noted by both Green (1968, pp. ...
When a perceived out-of-body experience (OBE) occurs an individual has the impression of consciously existing as an extrapersonal self somewhere out of or away from the physical body. This can consist of the perception of being in either a non-transcendental or transcendental environment. It can also occur spontaneously or it can be self-induced by an act of will. The focus of this article is on the spontaneous non-transcendental perceived OBE in cases where the experient has the impression of consciously existing as an extrapersonal self somewhere within the immediate environment of their physical body. It postulates that such an experience is frequently initiated as an adaptive orienting response to brain-interpreted physiological and/or psychological stress meant to bolster the probability for physical survival and psychological well-being during incidents of threat. The article further briefly discusses inconsistent occurrences, unconscious threat interpretations, threat interpretation mistakes, other types of non-transcendental perceived OBEs, and the possible nature of the spontaneous non-transcendental perceived OBE as consisting of a highly accurate simulated environment meant to recreate one’s surroundings in the moment of threat to boost the odds for survival.
... When this occurred, it was accompanied by an overwhelming feeling of peace that seemed to be a distinct feature separate from the somatic VLRE. We can reasonably presume that this peaceful condition is distinct not only because it is absent from most somatic VLREs but also because it is also a common element in altered states related to near-death and/or life-threatening incidents even when they occur without a VLRE (Gow et al., 2004;King, 2021King, , 2022aMartial et al., 2017;Ring, 1980, pp. 39-45;Twemlow et al., 1982). ...
The visual life review experience (VLRE) refers to a memory revival of one's life that consists of involuntary visual imagery generally appearing in an uncontrollable and/or rapid manner, which primarily includes self-inclusive events or activities, usually portraying past interactions with others. It most frequently occurs during presumed or real life-threatening incidents and/or circumstances that might be interpreted consciously or unconsciously as danger. Although it can take place during perceived out-of-body experiences (OBEs), this paper focuses primarily on those VLREs that occur while still somatically conscious and without any association with a perceived OBE. A total of 51 such self-reported cases were gathered from various sources for a reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive approach. The results of this qualitative study consist of 15 themes categorized under contextual factors, phenomenological features, and immediate psychological effects in the moment associated with such VLREs. This is then followed by a theoretical discussion that suggests they are initiated as part of the threat response system with a neurocognitive basis. It is then suggested that the VLRE occurring during somatic consciousness is beneficial in the sense of boosting the will and/or desire to survive and live by conveying to experients that their life has meaning, purpose, and significance, primarily in their social interactions with others.
... During a spontaneous perceived out-of-body experience (OBE) an individual has the impression of being separated from the physical body, which can consist of a presumed disembodiment somewhere on Earth -often in the proximity of the physical body -or as having ventured to some otherworldly transcendental environment. The word "spontaneous" in the context of this paper for a perceived OBE means that the phenomenon occurs unexpectedly in contrast to being self-induced by the experient, whereas "transcendental" should be understood as an otherworldly environment that can be presumed by the experient to be away from Earth (King, 2021a(King, , 2023aSabom, 1982). During such spontaneous transcendental perceived OBEs, the experients often find themselves in presumed Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Robert A. King, M.A. Psych, Ord. ...
The perceived out-of-body experience (OBE) is a state of altered consciousness in which one has the impression of being consciously separated from the physical body. The location of this presumed disembodiment can be perceived as being either somewhere on Earth (often, but not always, in the vicinity of the physical body) or in some otherworldly place (such as having ventured into a paradisiacal or hellish environment). The latter can be referred to as a transcendental perceived OBE, which might also be qualified as a near-death experience (NDE) when it occurs during presumed life-threatening or near-death situations, and is the focus of this theoretical discussion. This paper postulates that such an experience, when spontaneous, is frequently initiated as an adaptive absorption response to brain-interpreted danger or threat and is meant to increase the probability for physical survival and wellbeing. The paper further suggests that the phenomenon accomplishes this by boosting the will to live and survive as a brain-induced simulated scenario with purposeful and beneficial psychological and physiological effects.
... Therefore, it should be pointed out that, even when the Greyson answer is understood as relating in some sense to involuntary memory revival, it may be limited in its current phraseology in its ability to distinguish between those who have non-visual revivals of memory and those who actually see visual imagery of past events from their life. While this might be useful for research that does not distinguish between the two in their definition of a life review, such as the study by Stevenson and Cook (1995), it may be too broad for other studies, depending on how the researchers choose or have chosen to define a life review, such as in the research by King (2021). ...
The Greyson scale is the most widely used tool in near-death experience (NDE) research to qualify an NDE and quantify its intensity. In addition, one of the 16 multiple-choice questions on this scale has been used for almost four decades to determine if an individual has had a life review (which is often understood as an involuntary, uncontrollable, and/or rapid revival of memories) during their experience. However, this study suggests that the multiple-choice question regarding life reviews on the Greyson scale in its current form can produce false positives if there is an absence of any type of further validation from the participant that a life review has actually occurred. This is specifically due to confusion for a substantial amount of people over the meaning of the critical answer that is presumed to provide a strong indication to the researcher that a life review has occurred. Furthermore, this paper recommends a change to the phraseology of that specific answer in order to improve clarity and reduce false positives.
... This primary focus in this study on a life review as a visual experience is because it is still premature to presume that other non-visual types of experiences are etiologically and/or ontologically similar. Therefore, the visual life review experience (VLRE), as defined in this study, should be understood as an involuntary memory revival from one's current life that consists of multiple self-inclusive visual images or scenes appearing in an uncontrollable and/or rapid manner (King, 2021). Though I use the term 'self-inclusive,' this can mean either a first-person or third-person perspective of past events or activities as long as the experient was previously actually there in those scenes when they originally occurred. ...
The visual life review experience (VLRE) refers to an involuntary memory revival from one's current life that consists of multiple self-inclusive visual images or scenes appearing in an uncontrollable and/or rapid manner. It is a phenomenon that is often reported during near-death experiences (NDEs). Based on a large sample of 432 accounts of a VLRE among 3,394 self-reports of NDEs, with the age of the experients at the time of their NDE ranging from 3 to 85 years old, this study explored by means of quantitative analysis if any type of relationship exists between those reported VLREs and the progression into older age at the time of occurrence. The results of that exploration and analysis found that a statistically significant negative association does exist. Although the implications of this finding are uncertain, the paper points out a number of different possibilities for preliminary consideration that might explain the finding, accentuating the need for further attention, exploration, and research of VLREs when they are reported as having occurred among the aged.
Life itself is a mystery; characterized by both positive and negative risks and uncertainties. Life is like a moving train; human beings participate in it simply by living it. This means that no one can be certain of any experience or event in life. The issue, therefore, is that even when man propose solutions through scientific manipulations, divine revelations, acts of reason, or natural occurrences, the outcomes remain uncertain. These are the ideas that the term Ije-ụwa represents. But here are the research questions: (1) Why is the human life full of uncertainties even with human intelligence over and above other creatures? (2) Can anybody avoid the characteristics of risks and uncertainties of life? (3) What is then the responsibility of man to survive the phenomenon of Ije-ụwa? It is in contemplation on these questions that this paper defended that life is characteristic of risks and uncertainties; and that these are existential wake-up calls unto human beings for authentic living. This paper is expected to (1) analyze and expose the concept of Ije-ụwa and how existentially philosophical it is, and (2) stand as a huge academic contribution to existentialist discourses from an Igbo perspective. The paper adopted hermeneutical approach to analyze and expose the philosophic contents of the term Ije-ụwa.
The term near‐death experience (NDE) generally refers to a state of altered consciousness that can occur during real or presumed near‐death circumstances and/or life‐threatening incidents. The NDE usually includes the impression of being conscious while out of and/or away from the physical body, often accompanied by other specific features. Furthermore, when the experient has the impression of being in a perceived locality that transcends the observable physical Earth, it is referred to by researchers as a transcendental NDE. Whereas transcendental NDEs have been widely studied, there is also another type of experience that can occur under similar life‐threatening conditions that I refer to as an alternative life experience (ALE), which consists of a perception of living another alternative life where the experient is aware of the self, but does not believe at the time of occurrence that they are either out of or away from their physical body. After providing a total of 15 examples, I note some similarities and differences between ALEs and transcendental NDEs while providing some qualitative and quantitative results, suggesting that ALEs might be similar to some aspects of transcendental NDEs despite their neglect in the study of altered states of consciousness during near‐death circumstances. I further postulate that ALEs might be subjective psychological experiences of dissociation and/or absorption. It is then pointed out that symptoms of derealization are a common ALE aftereffect and so an awareness of that association is stressed as having therapeutic importance.
The typical near-death experience (NDE) is generally understood as an altered state of consciousness in which the experient has the impression of existing as an extrapersonal self out of and/or away from their physical body during real or presumed life-threatening and/or near-death circumstances. This presumed extrapersonal self can sometimes have a perception of being located within the proximity of the physical body whereas at other times it is under the assumption of having ventured to a transcendental location such as an otherworldly realm. The ego, while in this presumed disembodied state, often has the impression of encountering NDE personages such as deceased people, otherworldly spirits, and/or divine beings, especially during transcendental NDEs. However, this paper suggests that all of these noted features are part of a broader recognizable death motif in NDE reports, and provides qualitative examples of different types of this death symbolism for examination and exploration. It then discusses how the death motif in NDE reports possibly indicates a purposeful psychological function to heighten awareness of a threat to life though death symbolism that is meant to boost the desire and resilience to live and survive.
The compressed life review (CLR) is a mnemonic illusion of having “your entire life flashing before your eyes”. This research was guided by concerns over the retrospective methodology used in CLR studies. To depart from this methodology, I considered the long-term working memory (WM), “concentric”, and “activation-based” models of memory. A novel theoretically rooted laboratory-based experimental technique aimed to elicit the CLR-like experience with no risk to healthy participants was developed. It consists of listening to superimposed audio recordings of previously trained verbal cues to an individually composed set of self-defining memories (SDMs). The technique evoked a self-reported CLR-like experience in 10 out of 20 participants. A significant similarity in eye movement patterns between a single SDM condition and a choir of SDM conditions in self-reported CLR experiencers was confirmed. In both conditions, stimuli caused relative visual immobilization, in contrast to listening to a single neutral phrase, and a choir of neutral phrases that led to active visual exploration. The data suggest that CLR-like phenomenology may be successfully induced by triggering short-term access to the verbally cued SDMs and may be associated with specific patterns of visual activity that are not reportedly involved with deliberate autobiographical retrieval.
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are life transformational events that are increasingly being subjected to empirical research. However, to date, no study has investigated the phenomenon of a meditation-induced near-death experience (MI-NDE) that is referred to in ancient Buddhist texts. Given that some advanced Buddhist meditators can induce NDEs at a pre-planned point in time, the MI-NDE may make NDEs more empirically accessible and thus advance understanding into the psychology of death-related processes. The present study recruited 12 advanced Buddhist meditators and compared the MI-NDE against two other meditation practices (i.e. that acted as control conditions) in the same participant group. Changes in the content and profundity of the MI-NDE were assessed longitudinally over a 3-year period. Findings demonstrated that compared to the control conditions, the MI-NDE prompted significantly greater pre-post increases in NDE profundity, mystical experiences and non-attachment. Furthermore, participants demonstrated significant increases in NDE profundity across the 3-year study period. Findings from an embedded qualitative analysis (using grounded theory) demonstrated that participants (i) were consciously aware of experiencing NDEs, (ii) retained volitional control over the content and duration of NDEs and (iii) elicited a rich array of non-worldly encounters and spiritual experiences. In addition to providing corroborating evidence in terms of the content of a “regular” (i.e. non-meditation-induced) NDE, novel NDE features identified in the present study indicate that there exist unexplored and/or poorly understood dimensions to NDEs. Furthermore, the study indicates that it would be feasible—including ethically feasible—for future research to recruit advanced meditators in order to assess real-time changes in neurological activity during NDEs.
Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) reduces sensory input to the nervous system through the act of floating supine in a pool of water saturated with Epsom salt. The float experience is calibrated so that sensory signals from visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, thermal, tactile, vestibular, gravitational and proprioceptive channels are minimized, as is most movement and speech. This open-label study aimed to examine whether Floatation-REST would attenuate symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression in a clinical sample. Fifty participants were recruited across a spectrum of anxiety and stress-related disorders (posttraumatic stress, generalized anxiety, panic, agoraphobia, and social anxiety), most (n = 46) with comorbid unipolar depression. Measures of self-reported affect were collected immediately before and after a 1-hour float session, with the primary outcome measure being the pre- to post-float change score on the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory. Irrespective of diagnosis, Floatation-REST substantially reduced state anxiety (estimated Cohen’s d > 2). Moreover, participants reported significant reductions in stress, muscle tension, pain, depression and negative affect, accompanied by a significant improvement in mood characterized by increases in serenity, relaxation, happiness and overall well-being (p < .0001 for all variables). In reference to a group of 30 non-anxious participants, the effects were found to be more robust in the anxious sample and approaching non-anxious levels during the post-float period. Further analysis revealed that the most severely anxious participants reported the largest effects. Overall, the procedure was well-tolerated, with no major safety concerns stemming from this single session. The findings from this initial study need to be replicated in larger controlled trials, but suggest that Floatation-REST may be a promising technique for transiently reducing the suffering in those with anxiety and depression.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03051074
Background: After an occurrence of a Near-Death Experience (NDE), Near-Death Experiencers (NDErs) usually report extremely rich and detailed narratives. Phenomenologically, a NDE can be described as a set of distinguishable features. Some authors have proposed regular patterns of NDEs, however, the actual temporality sequence of NDE core features remains a little explored area.
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency distribution of these features (globally and according to the position of features in narratives) as well as the most frequently reported temporality sequences of features.
Methods: We collected 154 French freely expressed written NDE narratives (i.e., Greyson NDE scale total score ≥ 7/32). A text analysis was conducted on all narratives in order to infer temporal ordering and frequency distribution of NDE features.
Results: Our analyses highlighted the following most frequently reported sequence of consecutive NDE features: Out-of-Body Experience, Experiencing a tunnel, Seeing a bright light, Feeling of peace. Yet, this sequence was encountered in a very limited number of NDErs.
Conclusion: These findings may suggest that NDEs temporality sequences can vary across NDErs. Exploring associations and relationships among features encountered during NDEs may complete the rigorous definition and scientific comprehension of the phenomenon.
Background:
Neuromonitoring devices to assess level of sedation are now used commonly in many hospital settings. We previously reported that electro-encephalic-graphic (EEG) spikes frequently occurred after the time of death in patients being neuro-monitored at the time of cessation of circulation. In addition to our initial report, end of life electrical surges (ELES) have been subsequently documented in animal and human studies by other investigators. The frequency, character, intensity, and significance of ELES are unknown. Some have proposed that patients should not be declared dead for purposes of organ donation prior to the occurrence of an ELES. If clinical practice were altered in order to await the presence of an ELES, there could be detrimental consequences to donated organs and their recipients. In order to better further characterize ELES, we retrospectively assessed the frequency and nature of ELES in serial patients.
Methods:
To better document ELES, we collected neuromonitoring, demographic, and clinical data on consecutive patients who expired while being actively monitored as part of their standard palliative care. These data were retrospectively collected when available as a convenience sample.
Results:
We assessed 35 patients of which 7 were clinically confirmed as brain dead. None of the brain dead patients displayed an ELES. 13 of the 28 patients (46.4%) of the remaining patients exhibited an ELES. The ELES observed were demonstrated to have high frequency EEG signal. The mean peak amplitude of ELES as measured by Patient State Index(tm) (PSI) was 58.5 ± 25.7.
Conclusions:
In this preliminary assessment, we found that ELES are common in critically ill patients who succumb. The exact cause and significance of ELES remain unknown; further study is warranted.
The growing body of research on near‐death experiences (NDEs) is an indication of the large number of people claiming such experiences. A surprising feature of the research is that conceptually there is no agreement on what an NDE is and consequently a large number of definitions characterize this field of research. In order to address the definitional quagmire, a first step consists of making sense of NDE definitions. An analysis of existing definitions shows that the term is currently used for at least three distinct phenomena: a cluster of experiences encountered in the process of dying, for that cluster of experiences in circumstances of fear‐death and danger, and for that cluster of experiences independently from any life‐threatening circumstances. Secondly, the nested assumptions that characterize identified patterns in NDE research are identified. It is shown that pro‐survivalists see NDEs as a unitary entity with a single explanation, while others restrict the study of NDEs to life‐threatening circumstances and see them as a cluster of composite experiences. Based on this analysis it is argued that the pattern of experiences labeled NDEs can be modified to circumstance specific alterations of consciousness.
Rapid detection of threats has been proposed to rely on automatic processing of their coarse visual features. However, it remains unclear whether such a mechanism is restricted to detection of threat cues, or whether it reflects a broader sensitivity to even neutral coarse visual information features during states of threat. We used a backward masking task in which participants discriminated the orientation of subliminally presented low (3 cpd) and high (6 cpd) spatial frequency gratings, under threat (of shock) and safe conditions. Visual awareness of the gratings was assessed objectively using an additional localization task. When participants were unaware of the gratings, above chance and improved discrimination of low-spatial frequency gratings was observed under threat compared to safe trials. These findings demonstrate unconscious processing of neutral coarse visual information during threat state, supporting the view that automatic threat detection may rely on a general facilitation of coarse features irrespective of threat content.
Persons who come close to death but survive catastrophic accidents sometimes report very vivid experiences during times when their survival was in doubt, when they were believed to be dead, and during resuscitation efforts. This qualitative study builds upon existing research on near-death experiences (NDEs) by focusing on the oral accounts from a sample of individuals with large and life-threatening burns. The NDE accounts were obtained from burn survivors attending the Phoenix Society’s World Burn Congress and are similar to reports by notable researchers (Greyson, 2003; Moody, 1975; Ring, 1980) while reflecting the uniqueness of the individual survivor’s experiences. Six major themes are reported. Counselors and health professionals need to be aware of and educated about NDEs as these experiences can have profound effects upon the individual. Patients who have had NDEs may need to discuss them but fear professionals will reject their stories as being crazy.