Explore the Extraordinary >>
Dr. Bruce Greyson is the Chester Carlson Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. He co-founded the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS), and for 27 years edited the Journal of Near-Death Studies, the only scholarly journal dedicated to near-death research. Through his research, he has discovered common and universal themes in near-death experiences that go beyond neurophysiological or cultural interpretations, as well as patterns of consistent aftereffects on individuals’ attitudes, beliefs, values, and personalities. He was a co-editor of The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation. His most recent book, After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond, is his first trade book bringing his scientific research to a popular audience.
Brian Smith, BSc is a certified life coach, grief guide, and small business consultant. Brian’s mission is to help others by sharing lessons he has learned from decades of experience and study. Brian began this work shortly after the untimely passing of his 15-year-old daughter Shayna in the summer of 2015. Brian overcame a fear of death prior to Shayna’s passing, and believes that he and Shayna are on a mission together to help others heal and overcome fear. Brian is on the boards of the SoulPhone Foundation and Helping Parents Heal. Brian is the author of Grief 2 Growth: Planted. Not Buried. He is the host of the Grief 2 Growth podcast.
Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is host and producer of the New Thinking Allowed channel on YouTube. He is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “Parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. His website is http://thinkingallowed.com.
Eben Alexander, MD, was an academic neurosurgeon for over 25 years, including 15 years at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School in Boston. In 2008, during a week-long coma from an inexplicable brain infection, he experienced a transcendental near-death experience (NDE) that completely transformed his worldview. A pioneering scientist and modern thought leader in the emerging science that acknowledges the primacy of consciousness in the universe, he is the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller Proof of Heaven, The Map of Heaven, and Living in a Mindful Universe. http://ebenalexander.com/
Karen Newell is an author and specialist in personal development with a diverse body of work that rests upon the foundation of heart-centered consciousness. As an innovator in the emerging field of brainwave entrainment audio meditation, Karen empowers others in their journeys of self-discovery by demonstrating how to connect to inner guidance, achieve inspiration, improve wellness, and develop intuition. She is co-founder of Sacred Acoustics and is co-author with Eben Alexander III, MD, of Living in a Mindful Universe. www.sacredacoustics.com
Robert Christophor Coppes holds a PhD in economics. His conviction that NDEs are true spiritual experiences dates back to 1979 after reading Raymond Moody’s book “Life after Life.” His most recent book contains hundreds of quotes of more than 100 NDErs, and he says that in fact NDErs are the writers of this book. In 2006, he wrote a book in which he compared the essences of NDEs with those of five world religions. A few years later he wrote “Messages from The Light”, which was also translated in Dutch and German.
Chase Skylar DeMayo >> Chase, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Orlando, Florida native, underwent a profound spiritual transformation after a near-death experience in 2008. His NDE led him to embrace a life philosophy of ‘Chasing the Light,’ focusing on personal and community betterment. For 12 years following his NDE, DeMayo kept his experience private, but eventually he used it to guide his work in community service and holistic healing, particularly in helping veterans and addressing mental health. As a speaker, he shares his insights to inspire others, embodying a spirit of service and commitment that defines his spiritual journey. Chase has recently completed a bachelor’s degree in alternative medicine and another bachelor’s in ministry, and he will soon be completing a doctorate in holistic counseling.
William Peters, M.A., M.Ed., MFT, >> is a psychotherapist and the founder of the Shared Crossing Project whose mission is to positively transform relationships to death and dying through education and raising awareness about extraordinary end-of-life experiences (shared crossings) and their healing benefits. William is a global leader in shared death studies and end-of-life phenomenon. He teaches methods to facilitate the shared death experience and to assist experiencers in meaningfully integrating their experiences. His work is informed by his two NDEs and a variety of shared crossings. William’s book entitled At Heaven’s Door: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach About Dying Well and Living Better, is published by Simon & Schuster.
Linda Higdon >> A champion for global women, Linda Higdon is a philanthropic visionary, award-winning filmmaker, and photographer. Over the past 20 years, she has been “on the ground” working, traveling, and building relationships with women who are igniting change for children in the developing world. She has a deep passion for introducing Western women to these extraordinary women leaders who have transformed her life and seeks to help others take a similar enriching journey.
In designing “A Women’s Journey to Kenya: Beauty in the Unexpected”, Linda combined her lifetime career as a creative with her work in Kenya. Featured in USA
Today as “A Top 10 Best Tours for Women”. She is a classical pianist who has studied in Paris as well as a licensed ceramic artist whose work has appeared in galleries
nationwide.
In 2002, she leveraged her talents during the global AIDS pandemic to help found Ripples International, a prominent children’s welfare operation in Kenya, where she now
serves as Trustee. From 2005-09, she was a Director for an international women’s organization based in Washington, D.C. where she developed a global network of
hundreds of women, connecting them to women in the United States.
In 2010, she founded the Global Room for Women, a unique, visionary digital platform enabling American women to connect personally and directly with women on the
frontlines of change in developing countries and war-torn regions—from Iraq, India, Kenya, Palestine, Israel, Sudan, Nigeria, South Africa and beyond.
Dr. Amirah Hall >> Amirah holds a Metaphysical Science masters degree and is a PhD, Doctor of Divinity. She is dedicated to providing spiritual tools and guidance to seekers going through their ascension process, reaching higher levels of awareness and healing. Amirah has a reputation as being a world-class psychic, mystic, mentor with the honor of working with an international client list including Dubai Royals. She is the author of six books, Manifesting Miracles 101, LOVE UP Your Life, and The Essential Guide to Spiritual Awakening.
Norma Edwards, D. Div >> Norma is a near-death experiencer, a recognized change agent, Spiritual Therapist, and Certified Life Coach. She is recognized as an expert at merging spiritual orientation into clinical practice. A wisdom keeper on the planet, she is noted for her work in the fields of re-alignment, training/rehabilitation as well as spiritual transformation. An overachiever, she is perpetually open to inspiration and Divine guidance.
Vincent (Vinney) Todd Tolman >> Vinney was born in Arlington, Texas, and has since traveled around the world, living in both Cambodia and Thailand. He has worked as a General Contractor in construction, as well as produced movies, and TV. Vinney as he is known by friends is a Healer, and he loves animals, meditating, and spending time in nature. His greatest priorities are his relationship with his Creator, his family, and the people he meets. He currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his wife, Andrea, and their two amazing children.
Shaun G Lether, BA, >> Shaun is Group Leader of Hawaiian IANDS. Shaun is a multiple STE and NDE Experiencer, and a highly sensitive (HSP) “empath,” with mediumship gifts. Shaun was previously a highly successful marketing and real estate businessman, and a Licensed California Landscape Contractor. During his Spiritual Emergency, Shaun started a small sharing group to support NDErs and STErs in Hawaii, which has grown to become Hawaiian IANDS, with over 6,000 members worldwide. Shaun has learned that as he helps others heal, so he is healed. Shaun facilitates experiencers sharing groups with many spiritual organizations as well as groups for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress) Trauma survivors. Shaun is a passionate student and teacher of ACIM (A Course in Miracles), as well as a devotee of Paramahansa Yogananda (Self Realization Fellowship).
Kimberly Clark Sharp, MSW, LiCSW >> Kimberly is a long-time social worker and leader in exploring near-death experiences for more than thirty years. Following her own NDE, she founded the Seattle chapter of IANDS Local Groups in 1982, the oldest and largest support group for near-death experiencers. She is the author of After the Light: The Spiritual Path to Purpose, and is a consultant to news and entertainment industry. Kimberly has taught at the University of Washington School of Medicine and at Seattle University.
Curtis Childs, BA is the Chief Visionary Officer at the Swedenborg Foundation and the host of the popular YouTube channel Off The Left Eye, which has garnered more than 35 million views and over 150,000 subscribers. He is an international speaker, has appeared in numerous high-profile programs in the spirituality field, and has had his content featured on the network TV show, Dr. Oz.
When Christian was a young child, he remembered his existence before coming to Earth. While that memory left him completely for his early adult life, it spontaneously returned 13 years ago as Christian took up a meditation practice and went through a personal awakening journey. He also began to have Out of Body Experiences (OBEs). Professionally, Christian has worked for 15 years as a project manager for complex nuclear pump and valve manufacturing projects, and now for an insurance company. Christian is the author of the book A Walk in the Physical, which attempts to succinctly describe the larger spiritual context in which we exist and the importance of love in our human journey. Christian has also presented at over 100 public speaking events, as he now seeks to remind others in at least a small part of who we all really are beneath the human “play.”
Jelani Clay >> JClay is a spiritual teacher and rap artist that makes music to heal even the most reluctant of minds. His mission is to help people around the world find and keep peace always. He is one of the leaders of the spiritual hip-hop movement using music to expose the false beliefs that limit growth. JClay’s album “IAMNOBODY, IAMSOMEONE”, has been endorsed by industry and psychology professionals, music fans, and is being heralded as a key tool in healing the mind. “The way JClay is able to break down the mind-body-soul connection in song-form in reference to healing is truly remarkable.” —Dr. Nicole LePera, Holistic Psychologist. As one fan said, “If Jesus rapped, it would be this.” JClay is thrilled to change how music can be used to heal for good.
Angelia LaRue >> Angie had a radical spontaneous Awakening of Consciousness, while going about an ordinary Hawaiian day as a professional artist and housewife in 2011. She had a radical Kundalini Awakening while on her way into the kitchen to get a drink of water. Within three months, her life in Hawaii abruptly ended and she was thrust out onto the road to learn with Spirit as her Teacher with only two suitcases. She was reeling from the full explosion of psychic abilities, and the sudden awareness of subtle energy. Now, 10 years from the awakening day, she has integrated all aspects of herself and is deeply dedicated to Service through Love.
PMH Atwater, LHD, began her research of the near-death phenomenon in 1978, after having had three such experiences in three months in 1977. To date, her work covers nearly 5,000 adult and child experiencers. Some of her findings have been verified in clinical studies, among them the prospective study done in Holland and published in the peer-reviewed general medical journal, The Lancet. She created and incorporated Inner Forum, Idaho’s first metaphysical non-profit organization, and over 3,000 people have participated in its programs. She is the author of 18 books, including her latest book, “Edge Walker”. http://pmhatwater.com
Jennifer Aurelia (Aureliaslight) >> Aureliaslight is an award winning composer, recording artist, teacher and energy/sound healer. As a vocal coach she’s taught over 25,000 students how the incredible power of sound, intention, and frequency can heal and empower the body, mind and spirit through the energy of singing and the sacred art of music. She’s also an intuitive empath, reiki master, mystic and a mother and came into this work after her own spiritual awakening in 2007. She’s on a mission to assist humanity in raising the frequency, to know and feel their own powerful divinity and help them transform their lives through their own energetic and divine gifts. As an award-winning recording artist, singer and composer, Aureliaslight performed on albums with Deepak Chopra, Krishna Das, Paul Avgerinos and more and over the past decade has released seven albums that are currently played on XM radio, yoga and healing centers and have been streamed millions of times.
Kevin Jeffers, MFA >> As a child growing up in a small town in Ohio, Kevin encountered many unexplained experiences and phenomena that have expanded to include consciousness shifting, soul retrieval, past life recovery, energetic healing and Soul travel. Kevin’ has written a book titled: The Pattern, An Exploration in Consciousness based on these experiences and the life-changing event that altered Kevin’s perception of life in Spirit. Kevin is an artist, a businessman in international trading who has traveled globally, and is currently engaged in construction, finance and writing his second book on his vast Soul retrieval experiences.
Jeffrey Long, MD, is a radiation oncology physician. Over 20 years ago he founded the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation (nderf.org). Dr. Long has investigated over 4,000 near-death experiences (NDEs), which is the largest number of NDEs ever scientifically studied. The results of his previous research were published in the New York Times bestselling book Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences. Millions of people have seen Dr. Long discuss his research on shows, including the NBC Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show, National Geographic television, History Channel, and television broadcasts worldwide.
Jan Holden >>
Janice Miner Holden grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, USA. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with honors from the University of Illinois, she taught high school psychology for 11 years and was a high school counselor for one year while she earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in counselor education at Northern Illinois University. Since completing her EdD in 1988, she served 31 years on the University of North Texas (UNT) Counseling Program faculty—12 of those years as chair of the Department of Counseling & Higher Education. In 2019 she retired as professor emerita of Counseling. Beginning with her doctoral dissertation, Dr. Holden’s primary research focus has been counseling implications of near-death experiences, after-death communication, and other transpersonal experiences—those that transcend the usual personal limits of space, time, identity, and influence. In this research area she has over 50 refereed journal publications and over 100 national and international presentations; served as lead editor of the 2009 Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation, and co-edited the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling’s (ASERVIC’s) 2017 Connecting Soul, Spirit, Mind, and Body: A Collection of Spiritual and Religious Perspectives and Practices in Counseling. Since 2008 she has served as editor-in-chief of the International Association for Near-Death Studies’s (IANDS’s) scholarly Journal of Near-Death Studies. She is a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and an American Center for the Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences (ACISTE [pronounced “assist”]) Certified Mental Health Professional. For her career-long research on and advocacy for people who have had transpersonal experiences, Jan was awarded ASERVIC’s 2013 Research Award and the American Counseling Association’s 2015 Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person. For her outstanding and sustained contributions to scholarly-creative activity, teaching, and service, Jan received the UNT Foundation’s 2019 Eminent Faculty Award, one of the highest faculty achievements whose recipient serves as an inspiration for the entire UNT community. In early 2020, Jan served for 10 days as an International Visiting Scholar at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Since 2020 she has served as IANDS’s president.
Chase Skylar DeMayo >> Chase, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Orlando, Florida native, underwent a profound spiritual transformation after a near-death experience in 2008. His NDE led him to embrace a life philosophy of ‘Chasing the Light,’ focusing on personal and community betterment. For 12 years following his NDE, DeMayo kept his experience private, but eventually he used it to guide his work in community service and holistic healing, particularly in helping veterans and addressing mental health. As a speaker, he shares his insights to inspire others, embodying a spirit of service and commitment that defines his spiritual journey. Chase has recently completed a bachelor’s degree in alternative medicine and another bachelor’s in ministry, and he will soon be completing a doctorate in holistic counseling.
Deborah Connor >> Deborah has been an IANDS member for six years, and a board member for one year. She is an NDEr, and has had many other spiritual experiences. In addition to spiritual exploration, coaching, volunteering, and reading, Deborah spends time with family, enjoying the lake she lives on and the bountiful natural wonders of Nova Scotia, Canada. Deborah has decades of experience building inclusive leadership teams as a board member, as Executive Director, and Director of Development for not-for-profit organizations. As a certified coach, Deborah supports groups and individuals who are seeking to integrate their spiritual awakening, and is also a Reiki and Laser Light Therapy practitioner.
MUSIC BY:
Karen Michelle >> Karen is a near-death experiencer and psychic medium who has a unique understanding and compassion for her clients. She has spoken at events and conferences in regards to near-death experiences. Karen began working over eighteen years ago in the mental health care field focusing on PTSD, trauma recovery, and dynamics of abusive relationships. Wanting to honor the messages she received during her NDEs, Karen Michelle shifted her career to reflect a holistic and spiritual path. Her specialties include Resonant Kinesiology with harp and guided imagery to facilitate therapeutic music and sound interventions for stress management and relaxation. Dr. Karen Michelle’s educational background includes a doctorate in clinical psychology, Resonant Kinesiology Instructor certification, grief and loss training, and certificate training in working with survivors of sexual assault.
Christina Tourin >> Founder and Director of the International Harp Therapy Program, Christina leads training centers in multiple countries with Therapeutic Harp Practitioners serving on five continents. As an internationally award-winning artist, she trained at the Mozarteum in Austria and McGill in Montreal. She was harpist for the Vermont Symphony and for 17 years for the Sound of Music Maria von Trapp family. Returning to IANDS, she is remembered for her workshops on Music of the Spheres. Christina truly lives a life ‘As above, So below’ sharing her performances of sacred and transcendent moments. Bringing her harp to magical life, she shares with the world the deepest, most profound truths of the Universe, which rightfully and intuitively credits as the source of all she creates.
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IANDS is the original organization dedicated to supporting experiencers, educating interested people, and researching the near-death and related spiritual experiences.
IANDS is the original organization dedicated to supporting experiencers, educating interested people, and researching the near-death and related spiritual experiences.
