Amazing Grace The Nature and Significance of Reported After-Death Communication Experiences Elizabeth C. Keane Doctor of Philosophy 2005 University of Western Sydney 1 Acknowledgments I am very grateful to the many people who encouraged and supported me during my doctoral studies. I am indebted to my supervisor, Dr. John Cameron, who offered wise and thoughtful critiques of my work throughout the process of writing the thesis. Because of his reliability and engagement I always felt supported and encouraged. I could not have done it without him. Thank you John. Very special thanks go to the participants who generously shared their communication experiences. They gave freely of themselves to help others better understand this amazing and helpful human experience. Their stories are the heart of this study. Thanks to my family, especially Joan and Margaret, who always were so interested, offering loving encouragement, help and comment, at different times. Thanks too, to my friends who always wanted to know how the process was going and kept assuring me they were waiting eagerly to read the finished product – a new area of experience for most of them. Special thanks to my family and friends on the other side. I experienced their presence and assistance during this project. I would like to express my appreciation to the University of Western Sydney for a scholarship. It assisted me in the final months of my journey. Last but not least deep gratitude to my husband. Most of the time I worked at home. Ross supported me through the ups and downs of the process, offering much encouragement and help, love and patience, believing and trusting I would eventually get there. Chanel, our dog, also was a constant and valued companion who sat under my desk and often wanted a walk when I needed a break. 2 Statement of Originality This thesis is original research. It has not been submitted for credit toward any other degree at this or any other educational institution. Signature ………………………………………………. Date…………………………………………………….. 3 4 Table of Contents Abstract…………..…………………………………………….iv Chapter One: Introduction ……………………………………..1 Purpose of the Study ……………………..…………… ...1 ADC Defined for the Study ………………………..……. 2 Personal Context ……………………………………….…5 A Wider Context ………………………..……………….10 Significance of the Study ………………………..………12 Overview of Thesis ……………………………………...14 Chapter Two: Review of Literature ……….………………..…21 Introduction ……………………………………………...21 Religious Context ……………………………………… 22 Early Research: 1882-1960 ………………………...……25 The Society for Psychical Research …………………. 25 Frederic Myers’ Synthesis ………………………….…30 William James and the Importance of Experience …... 32 Jung’s Stance of Openness ……………...…………… 34 Modern Research: 1960-1990 …………………………...38 Beyond Hallucinations ………..…………..…………. 38 The Near Death Experience and the ADC ………….. 42 Elisabeth Kubler Ross – Death, Dying and the ADC .. 43 Reasons for ADC ……………………………………. 45 Recent Research: 1990-2004 ………………………..…..46 Issue of Terminology …………………………………48 Recent Significant Researchers ……………………….48 Types of ADC Experiences Reported …………………...52 Sensing a Presence ……………………………………52 Dreams of the Deceased ………………………………54 Sense of Smell ……………… ….…………………….57 Feeling a Touch ……………………………………….57 The Auditory Experience ……………………………..58 The Visual Experience ………………………………..59 Other Types of Experience ……………………………61 Grief and the ADC Experience ………………………62 Difficulty of Sharing the ADC ………………………..67 ADC as Paranormal and Transpersonal …………………..68 Summary…………………………………………….…..….75 i Chapter Three: Methodology ……………………………………79 Research Approach …………………………………..……79 Transpersonal Psychological ………………………… 80 Qualitative ………………………………..……….…. 81 Constructivist …………………………..……………..82 Phenomenological …………………………….………83 Research Design …………………………………..………91 Selecting Participants and Gathering Data …………….91 Process of Data Analysis .…………………… ….……96 Chapter Four: The Participants’ Stories: Spouses …………......102 Introduction ……………………………………………...102 Shirley …………………………………………………...103 Helen ………………………… …………………………111 Charles …………………………………………………..115 Bernadette ……………………………………………….121 Rodicca …….……………………………………………133 Jean-Marie ………………………………………………140 Chapter Five: The Participants’ Stories: Parents ……………… 146 Linda ……………………………………………………146 Laura ……………………………………………………154 Judy ……………………………………………………..160 Carla …………………………………………..…….…..167 Jan…... ………………...………………………………..176 Gillian………………………………..……………….….184 Barry……………………………………………..……...189 Joan ………………………………………..……..……..198 Chapter Six: The Participants’ Stories: Other Relationships.….202 Marlene.……………………………………………...….202 Jenny.………………………………………………...… 208 Alice…………………………………….…………….....212 Marianne…………………………………………………221 Reflection……………………………………………..…228 Chapter Seven: The ADC Experience: Themes and Relationship With Previous Research ……….230 Startling…………………………………..………….… 232 Authentic …..………………..…………………….……..238 Caring…………….…………………….………..……… 244 Grappling…………………………………….…….……..249 Imprinting……....……………….………………..……...255 Transcending……………………………………….…….258 Expanding ………….……………………….………… 267 A Reflection …………………………………………... 271 ii Chapter Eight: After-Effects of the ADC Experience and Discussion…………………..…...……...... 272 Experience of Grief ……………………………………..273 Difficulty of Sharing Experience……….………………..285 Attitudes toward Death and Afterlife …………………...288 Self, Life and Living, Purpose and Meaning…………….296 Spiritual and Religious Understanding…………………..304 Psychic Sensitivity…………………………………….....311 Reflection………………………………………………...316 Chapter Nine: In Conclusion…………………………………….317 An Essential Description of the ADC Experience……….317 Concluding Reflections………………………….……….319 References:………………………………………………………..328 Appendices: Appendix A: Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form …336 Appendix B: Types of ADC Experiences Reported ……………...338 iii Abstract The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe the nature and significance of the after-death communication experience (ADC). The research asks what is it like to have an experience of communication with a deceased loved one, what is the essential nature of the experience, and what are the effects and meanings of the experience within the lives of the participants? This study explores the lived experiences of eighteen participants, sixteen women and two men, who report a variety of ADCs over the years following their bereavement. The ADCs are explored within the context of the participants’ lives so as to show how these extraordinary experiences can be understood as happening to real people within their own history rather than as isolated events. The first part of the thesis gives biographical descriptions of the participants’ lives following their ADCs. The second part of the thesis analyses the essential nature and qualities of the ADC experience and gives a robust description of the nature of the phenomenon. Phenomenological analysis of the data occurs in overlapping steps consisting of the individual descriptions, reduction techniques and the identification of unifying themes. A process of reflective synthesis results in the emergence of seven themes describing the essence of the experiences for these participants. The themes show the experiences are unexpected and startling and intrude into ordinary experience. Familiar characteristics authenticate the presence of the deceased. Information, care, love and ongoing relationship are conveyed. The participants grapple with the experiences over time. They find they are deeply imprinted and powerful, and produce immediate and long-term effects. Heightened awareness that transcends ordinary experience gives the bereaved a ‘knowing’ of the ongoing life of their loved one. Expanded consciousness and iv reflection lead to seeing reality as larger and more complex and includes an unseen world where their loved one is continuing to live in another form. The themes are illustrated using the participants’ descriptions of their ADCs. Last of all a description of the phenomenon is compiled using an intuitive reflective process. Powerful and transforming after-effects demonstrate that the ADCs contribute to managing grief in the major losses of the participants’ lives, to the allaying of fears of death, to belief in an after-life and to belief in the interconnectedness and continuity of relationships across the boundary of death. There are major changes in sense of self, life and living, purpose and meaning, spiritual and religious understanding, and psychic sensitivity. v Chapter One Introduction The After-Death Communication Experience (ADC), experiencing the presence of a deceased loved one, is an infrequent happening for most people during their lives. However in times of grief following the death of a loved one it is a quite commonly reported event. Despite this it does not have a high degree of public acceptance nor is it spoken about easily by those who report these experiences. It is an extraordinary and amazing experience that is not easily explained. Although there has been a burgeoning of interest in the phenomenon in the last fifteen years, it is still under-researched. Its prevalence, and its significance and helpfulness to those who are mourning the loss of a loved one, makes it a phenomenon which merits deeper study. I was led into this research because of my desire to find out more about this phenomenon and to understand it. My own experiences of the deaths of members of my family and the subsequent surprising and unexpected experiences of their presence led me into a search for others