2013 Conference Speakers, Titles, Abstracts


1
2	~~ Full List of Speakers and Abstracts as of 8-21-2013 ~~
3	Alphabetical order by last name ~ speakers and topics are tentative and subject to change
4	List of Workshops (separately priced)
5	List of Speakers and Topics by Day
6
7	Alexander	Eben Alexander ~ My Journey to Heaven	Thursday
8		Dr. Alexander, a renowned academic neurosurgeon, spent 54 years honing his scientific worldview. He thought he knew how the brain and mind worked. A transcendental Near-Death Experience (NDE), in which he was driven to the brink of death and spent a week deep in coma from an inexplicable brain infection, changed all of that – completely! He was shocked to find the hyper-reality of that spiritual realm, which many had reported in NDEs. He has spent the last two and a half years reconciling his rich spiritual experience with contemporary physics and cosmology. His spiritual experience is totally consistent with the leading edges of scientific understanding today. Together, science and spirituality will thrive in a symbiosis offering the most profound insight into fundamental Truth, yielding unimaginable power. The keystone is in global progression of individual conscious awakening. Dr. Alexander experienced a vivid journey into the afterlife. He was guided by an angelic being and shown the Divine Source. He then returned to his physical body, experienced a miraculous healing, and went on to write the book Proof of Heaven. What Dr. Alexander confirms is that our life on planet Earth is a "test" of personal growth, and that the way to make progress in this test is to overcome evil while spreading love and compassion.	Keynote
9
10	Alexander	Eben Alexander ~ The Eternity of Souls and Their Connections	Sunday
11		Dr. Eben Alexander openly shares his passionate understanding that Consciousness is the Most Profound Mystery in the Universe. He plans to invite conference attendees to consider his strong Spiritual beliefs about Grief and Loss which were discovered in his life-changing Near Death Experience. Dr. Alexander truly regards Connectedness and Love and the importance of unencumbered communication with significant others.	Keynote
12
13	Alexander	Eben Alexander ~ Panel: Physicians share how their own NDEs impact their lives and medical practice	Saturday
14		Doctors Eben Alexander, Tony Cicoria, Pam Kircher and Mary Neal will share how their own NDEs have impacted their lives and their medical practices. In particular, they will share their insights about how doctors should relate to a patient who has had an NDE.	Physicians Panel
15
16	Angeli	Tina Angeli ~ My NDE Trilogy	Sunday
17		I will share a true story describing my three near death experiences. The story is presented in chronological order from the oldest to the newest. I provide insight into my life in Italy where I was born and raised. The first NDE was an emotional NDE. I communicate my environment, the characters in my life at the time and describe the affects on me and the development of new found gifts in the form of seeing, hearing and feeling psychic information. The presentation moves from Italy to Connecticut and goes on to describe my second NDE that was caused by a swimming accident which included a life review. I explain that I experienced the past, present and got a glimpse into the future. All of the visions were centered around my relationship with my husband at the time. The life review pointed out to me how I had been victimized and showed me what the future held for me if I kept on the same course. The third NDE occurred on January 5, 2012. I describe the car accident that precipitated the subsequent telepathic conversation I had with nine "light" beings after I stopped breathing.	Experiencer Panel
18
19	Arnette	Kenneth Arnette ~ Socrates Unleashed: A Life Transformed by a Near-Death Experience	Fri - Sunday
20		Early in his career as a philosopher, Socrates was unknown and unfocused in his work. After an apparent brush with death in the Battle of Delium during the Peloponnesian War, he became a philosopher of great note and is world-famous today. He became very focused in his philosophy and developed what we call the Socratic Method, based on asking questions of the “What is X?” kind, with an emphasis on such topics as knowledge, wisdom, virtue, etc. He was the first to develop a system of ethics. What could have caused such a dramatic change in a man’s life? I will give evidence that Socrates had an NDE, which was indeed life-changing. I will first reference passages from Plato’s Republic that appear to be cases of the NDE and the clues therein that point to Socrates as an experiencer. Then I will show that his post-war life demonstrates several major types of NDE aftereffects. Finally, I will discuss the implications of my hypothesis for philosophy, history, and the field of NDE studies..	Poster
21
22
23
24	Assante	Julia Assante ~ Living Relationships with the Deceased, a Great Cure for Grief	Sunday
25		Thirty years ago, bereavement counselors typically encouraged mourners to cut all ties with the deceased. The current trend is to stay connected through acts of remembrance, such as dwelling on photographs of the deceased and writing them letters. Although such coping strategies for grief are useful, they are not enough. The most effective methods are also the most controversial — maintaining ties through ADCs. Direct, unmediated contact with a departed loved one instantly alleviates grief. Therapeutically induced ADCs work wonders in treating acute grief, suicide longing, and death-related PTSD. Surveys show that afterlife encounters are surprisingly commonplace. Exposure to communication technology is a principal reason ADCs are now on the rise. Raw need is another. Fortunately, specific training techniques can bring out the medium in anyone. Developing ongoing relationships with the deceased is an even better response to loss. “Living relationships” erase intrusive memories, transform grief into euphoria, eradicate loneliness, and lead to a joyful life-path. Interaction with our late loved ones as they really are, without the fear of death — impossibly aware, loving, compassionate, accountable — is life-changing. Living relationships put us face-to-face with immortality, a revelatory event in itself. Through them we experience the magic of the afterlife and its ineffable luminous Presence.	Concurrent
26
27	Atwater	P.M.H. Atwater ~ From Near-Death Kids to the New Kids: An Evolving World	Saturday
28		Individuals who had a near-death experience as a child grow up decidedly different from their age mates and at variance from their family of origin. Some are able to navigate the unusual challenges they face successfully. The majority, though, feel as if they are somehow “alien” - more intuitive, creative, spiritually minded, intelligent, and abstract thinking than others their age—they make natural leaders, innovators - quirky by nature or at least at variance from their fellows. Many are able to see "through people," as if possessing x-ray vision. For several decades, Dr. Atwater kept noticing that children born today were similar to or matched kids who had a near-death experience. To answer the question "why," she went beyond the typical hype about the so-called indigo, crystal, star seed, rainbow, psychic, or cosmic children and discovered what she has long suspected - that the human family is evolving and in remarkable ways. Her theory about near-death experiences being part of the larger genre of transformations of consciousness was confirmed. Threshold events, what a transformation of consciousness really is, are now global. It is not so much Facebook and Twitter that are changing cultures across the world, as it is the emergence of unity consciousness.	Concurrent
29
30	Black	Cherylee Black ~ Beyond Anecdotes: Quantifying the after-effects of NDEs	Thursday
31		Sharing a personal NDE account with someone going through the process of dying can open up a difficult topic of discussion in a way that promotes healing and hope. Unfortunately, not all of those facing such challenges are able to get past the notion of unusual experiences as anything more than wishful thinking or hallucinations. NDErs can contribute to the evidence supporting a non-local model of the nature of consciousness by using basic scientific methodologies to document the after-effects of NDEs. Clear demonstrations of consciousness as a non-local phenomenon would help to address the prejudice many people have in regards to accepting NDEs as “real” and allow them to be more open to information that could help them in situations of grief and personal loss.	Experiencer Panel & Poster
32
33	Bush	Nancy Evans Bush ~ Distressing Near-Death Experiences ~ informal discussion	Thursday
34		Nancy Evans Bush, MA, is a near-death experiencer, NDE researcher and expert on distressing NDEs. She is the author of "Dancing Past the Dark" on distressing NDEs. In this talk, Nancy will describe and discuss the three types of distressing NDEs -- the Void, the Inverted and the Hellish, who has distressing NDEs, and how they affect their lives. Nancy is one of the original organizers of IANDS in the early 1980s in Connecticut. She later served as President of IANDS and was for several years the editor of the IANDS newsletter "Vital Signs".	Concurrent
35
36	Cappabianca	Geralyn Cappabianca ~ When Life Ends Before Birth: Our Littlest Angels	Saturday
37		As an interfaith chaplain in a Catholic Hospital, I have the opportunity to be at the bedside of many people who are crossing over. It has been my honor to provide pastoral care to the bereaved family members, including mothers and fathers who have had a miscarriage or fetal demise, an area that traditionally has had little support. Through my own near-death-like and mystical experiences, and deep understanding ofNDE’s, I will share how I use this awareness along with rituals and prayers to help families cope with death and find hope and healing. A brief meditation will be included.	Chaplain Panel
38
39	Callanan	Maggie Callanan ~ Grief and Loss Through the Eyes of a Child: Sandy Hook	Thursday
40		Maggie Callanan has been a hospice nurse for over 40 years and is the winner of the National Heart of Hospice Award. She is the author of “Final Gifts" and "Final Journeys" which provide profound insight and guidance for the transition at the end of life. Maggie will speak on the special insights about loss and grief that we receive from children.	Concurrent
41
42	Cicoria	Tony Cicoria ~ Panel: Physicians share how their own NDEs impact their lives and medical practice	Saturday
43		Doctors Eben Alexander, Tony Cicoria, Pam Kircher and Mary Neal will share how their own NDEs have impacted their lives and their medical practices. In particular, they will share their insights about how doctors should relate to a patient who has had an NDE. Tony will also serve as co-emcee for the conference.	Physicians Panel
44
45	Clark	Nancy Clark ~ How to Contact Spirits of Loved Ones	Friday
46		What a huge sense of relief it would be if those left behind were given tools to help them contact those who had passed on! Perhaps the greatest advantage would be that those left behind would no longer fear their own death. Children who lost parents at an early age would know that they are still with them. People who did not get to have that final conversation would realize that they still could. Those who passed from suicide could express why it happened and that their closest loved one should not feel guilty. Beloved animals are still nearby and healthy. Various examples will be given to be in contact withthose on the other side.	Concurrent
47
48	Comtois	Roland Comtois ~ The Healing Power of Eternal Love	Thursday
49		My presentation focuses on after-life spiritual communications, grief counseling, and the healing power of eternal love. My knowledge about life, loss and love everlasting often manifest into personal messages intended for individuals who have come to experience healing words. Some of these messages are spontaneous, heart-to-soul communication between loved ones at a time when they are needed most. Others are prerecorded on the signature Purple Papers I carry with me to events, chronicling stories and shared moments that time has not diminished. Each is powerful and poignant testimony to the healing that occurs when conversations about loved ones continue even after they are gone. My talks offer invaluable guidance and teaching moments on how to process and move through grief. I share my own personal stories of losing friends and family members, advising audiences how to deal with the loss of a loved one before, during and after their passing. I am an ardent spokesman on the existence of heaven, having seen it through my own eyes and soul when I was granted access to the heavenly kingdom some 20 years ago, and experiencing it every day through messages and spiritual encounters I enjoy from departed souls who share their awe with me.	Panel ~ NDEs and Love
50
51	Coppes	Christophor Coppes ~ Looking for Consolation in Religion ~ But which one?	Saturday
52		Loss of a loved one can be very painful. Looking for consolation in religion may help, since religions seem to be able to tell us where we will go after death. However, different religions seem to hold different views and on top of that, each of them seems to believe that they have a monopoly on the truth. That is why comparing essences of religions with essences of NDEs can be helpful in finding consolation. The conclusion of this comparison is that true essences of each of the five studied religions can be found in NDEs, but not the other way around. Not all essences of NDEs can be found in each of the religions. Therefore, NDEs seem to be more universal and more encompassing than each of the religions individually.	Plenary
53
54	Corcoran	Diane Corcoran ~ NDE 101: Introduction to near-death experiences	Thursday
55		Diane Corcoran, RN, PhD, will present an introductory lecture for those people who are new to the Near-Death Experience (NDE) field. She will present the basic information on NDEs, including the incidence of NDEs, the main features of NDEs and the typical aftereffects of NDEs. She has been involved in teaching healthcare professionals about NDEs for over forty years. Dr. Corcoran is a retired Colonel in the Army Nurse Corps. She has served as past President and is the current President of IANDS.	Concurrent
56
57	Crone-Ravestein	Johanna Crone-Ravestein ~ A personal story about loss and hope, grief and joy	Thursday
58		This is a personal story. About the loss of my first husband through divorce after my second NDE while living in Washington DC 33 years ago. How PMH Atwater's book Back to Life saved me, by making me understand what happened. How I was saved by an angel when I had nearly lost my mind because I had become so open and vulnerable. About the beautiful message of the angel. How the NDE of my mother at 82 saved me when I lost the will to live because I felt alone and misunderstood. How it changed our relationship completely. How she appeared to me after her death and her messages. How Kenneth Ring helped me by explaining and knowing everything about kundalini-experiences, when I had no clue what happened to me. About the loss of my second husband, a great love, who was a sceptic professor of Ophthalmology when I met him but turned into a firm believer. He is often with me since he died a year and a half ago. It's about loss and hope, grief and joy. Does an NDE help to overcome grief? Yes, greatly, but we still have to go through the (e)motions.	Panel ~ NDEs and Love
59
60	Drake	Virginia Drake ~ Taking the Mask off of Death	Thursday
61		In 1998, I personally experience a massive heart attack resulting in an NDE. In the last 13 years in my speaking engagements about my NDE and personal truth on death and life. I realized people had so many questions about death, so I started addressing the unknowingness about death. So in last 13 years I have done nothing but talk about dying and soul work. However the end result for me was I had to die to get better at Living.	Experiencer Panel
62
63	Ellis	Ann Frances Ellis ~ How Knowledge of the Love in NDEs Can Lift Us from Grief to Hope	Saturday
64		Near-death experiences attest to the continuing existence of those who have “died” and to how much we are loved. As we learn from NDEs that a part of us lives on, we are comforted by the knowledge that our deceased loved ones are alive as well. As we learn from NDEs about the power and nature of profound love, we are reassured that we will always be loved, that we will never be alone, and that this love can heal and uplift us in our time of need. Near-death experiences not only teach us about life after death, but show us a path to a better life and a better world. During these times of earth changes, it may be critical to know the importance of love in the world. This knowledge will also help us rise above any loss encountered as changes take place. As a near-death experiencer, hospice chaplain, NDE researcher and author, we will share case studies and reports from those who now know that death is not the end and that the power of love is our greatest hope.	Chaplain Panel
65
66	Foster	Ryan Foster ~ Eternal Connection: Quantitative and qualitative findings exploring the effects of learning about NDEs on adult grief	Friday
67		NDE researchers and theorists have asserted that learning about NDEs can therapeutically facilitate bereaved individuals’ grief by instilling them with a lasting connection to the deceased and with increased confidence that the bereaved individual and the deceased loved one would once again be reunited in some form (Horacek, 1997; Ring & Valarino, 2000). However, until recently, no one had empirically investigated this potentially beneficial grief intervention. In this presentation, the presenter will describe results of two recent studies designed to investigate the effects that participating in a psychoeducationally-oriented NDE learning module had on reducing distressing aspects of and increasing personal growth aspects of grief of bereaved adults. Quantitative and qualitative results will be described and implications for a new approach to bereavement counseling will be suggested.	Concurrent
68
69	Gallina	John Gallina ~ Near-Death Experience of an Iraq War Veteran	Thursday
70		John Gallina is an Iraq War veteran who will speak of his NDE in Iraq. He is the co-founder of Purple Heart Homes whose Veteran Home Ownership program enables Service Connected Disabled Veterans who do not already own a home to become homeowners.	Experiencer Panel
71
72	Gouwy	Vincent Gouwy ~ Near-Death Experience: A Shift in Consciousness	Friday
73		A Near Death Experiences (NDE) can be seen as a shift in awareness. A shift in awareness is a doorway towards a speciﬁc state of/in consciousness. How the experience of a speciﬁc state of consciousness can be integrated into the body and mind determines its value on the further path of life. This article focuses on what can be learned throughout a shift or expansion in awareness, how this can be integrated into the process of self-reﬂection and how these are of importance to life.	Conscious- ness Panel
74
75	Guggenheim	Bill Guggenheim ~ Hello from Heaven: After-Death Communication confirms that life and love are eternal	Sunday
76		An After-Death Communication, or ADC, is a spiritual experience that occurs when someone is contacted directly and spontaneously by a family member or friend who has died. An ADC is a direct experience because no psychics, mediums, therapists, rituals, or devices are involved. And an ADC is a spontaneous event because our deceased loved ones always choose when, where, and how they will contact us. "Hello From Heaven!" founded, defined, researched, and named an entire new field of human experience. Bill will discuss the twelve major types of after-death communication that people most frequently report. He will also describe six categories of ADCs that prove they are objective experiences that provide convincing modern-day evidence for life after death. Bill conservatively estimates that at least 60 million Americans – or 20% of the population of the United States – have had one or more ADC experiences. His presentations offer comfort, hope, and healing for everyone who has ever grieved the death of a loved one.	Plenary & Sat. Panel ~ After a Child's Suicide
77
78	Guiley	Rosemary Ellen Guiley ~ Dream Visits With the Dead	Thursday
79		Dreams comprise one of the most powerful and common forms of After-Death Communication. ADC dreams have been documented for centuries, and have been discussed in the literature of dream studies, psychical research, parapsychology, after-death studies, psychology, anthropology, reincarnation, and paranormal research. The dead visit in dreams at the time of their transition, soon after they have died, and occasionally after a long time has passed since death. Their visits have different purposes: to ease grief, deliver messages, dispense personal advice, make requests, and impartinformation about the afterlife. ADC dreams are often intense and realistic, strikingly different from ordinary dreams. Recipients are often puzzled as to how they should view such dreams. ADC dreams have a powerful therapeutic and comforting effect, aiding closure and grieving. They have a powerful spiritual effect as well, influencing beliefs on survival andthe afterlife, as well as other concepts such as reincarnation. In addition, they bring insight to the process of dying, the condition and characteristics of the afterlife, and the journey of the soul.	Concurrent
80
81	Harbison	Martha Harbison ~ Beyond Grief – Awakening To Our True Identity	Thursday
82		Many people who lose loved ones get stuck in a cycle of grief that can last for the rest of their lives. But this need not be the case. Through the process of awakening to our true identity, we can stay connected with our ”lost” loved ones moment by moment. For they are not the ones that are truly lost. They are actually found. It is we, living in this illusory3-D reality, who actually are the lost ones - for we have forgotten who we are. One does not have to have a near death experience to beginning this Self-remembering process. But by listening to and learning from near death experiencers, this journey back to Self is made more accessible. Ultimately, if pursued with consistency and sincerity this journey will lead to healing, hope and reunion with our beloveds..	Panel ~ NDEs and Love
83
84	Hermosillo	Alex J. Hermosillo ~ Energy healing that came through his hands after an NDE	Friday
85		Born with the gift of healing, Alex J. Hermosillo had a near-death experience in 1997 in an emergency hospital room, where a second gift was given to him. He learned there is no such thing as death—only a new beginning. With love, compassion and humor, Alex shares his journey into the Light to the place many call Heaven where he describes being in the presence of beings of light—souls who had lived on Earth—unveiling to him that life is renewed on the other side and our loved ones are happy, safe and well. Since then, in his healing work, Alex and his clients have seen, heard, and/or felt the presence of angels, loved ones who have passed, and other heavenly beings, bringing the awareness that we are never alone. Alex’s unique experiences on the other side and on earth bring these two worlds together revealing our true nature as spiritual beings: interconnected and multidimensional. His stories are inspiring and enlightening, his wisdom simple yet profound as he shares how his life has changed because of these experiences, giving hope, healing, and peace to all who seek it.	Concurrent
86
87	Hermosillo	Alex J. Hermosillo ~ Group Healing	Sunday
88		Born with the gift of healing, Alex J. Hermosillo had a near-death experience where he returned with a sole purpose: To offer healing, and awaken the healing energies in those who seek a better way of life. Whether you are dealing with grief due to the loss of a loved one, experiencing depression, issues of uncontrollable fear and worries, heartaches, sorrows or even physical illness and disease, Alex invites you to participate in this unique opportunity to release these non-nurturing energies so you may heal. Participants feel more connected to the Divine, energized, clear, positive, and aches and pains, in many cases, are relieved or gone. Come experience hope, healing and miracles!	Concurrent
89
90	Hill & Ireland	Sheryl Hill ~ Soothing Grief With Evidence of LIFE After Death (with Mark Ireland)	Sunday
91		Shared and Near Death Experiences (SDE/ADC) affirm an afterlife and help bereaved persons move through grief with more meaningful, purposeful and joyful lives. Supportive groups of individuals with similar SDE/NDE helps bereaved persons feel more normal, no longer singular, and part of a greater whole – or oneness. --- Evidence of life after death renews a sense of hope and optimism. Being able to step forward and view ‘life’ from an eternal perspective changes the context of ‘death’ to one of transformation, a Soul Shift from one existence to another rather than cessation. - Sheryl Hill and Mark Ireland are accomplished public speakers, authors and parents of deceased children who experience After Death Communications ( ADCs). They collaborate through Spirit Group and Helping Parents Heal and are at IANDS to demonstrate the healing power of SDE and ADC.	Concurrent
92
93	Holden	Janice Holden ~ The Role of Near-Death Experiences, Deathbed visions, and After-Death Communication in Grief and Grief Counseling	Thursday
94		Research on three transpersonal experiences surrounding death – near-death experiences, deathbed visions, and after-death communication – indicates that they are virtually always a source of comfort, reassurance, and hope to the bereaved. In this talk, Dr. Holden will define and provide examples of each type of experience, will present research results that indicate the overwhelmingly beneficial effects of these experiences for the bereaved, and will explain how counselors and other health professionals can interact with the bereaved about these experiences in ways that best promote the progression of the grieving process and the general wellbeing of the bereaved.	Concurrent
95
96	Holden & Pace	Laura Pace & Jan Holden ~ A New Assessment Instrument for the Field of Near-Death Studies: The Knowledge and Attitudes about Near-Death Experiences Scale	Sunday
97		Until now, NDE researchers who wanted to assess people’s knowledge and attitudes about NDEs had only a scale that was developed 30 years ago for nurses. Now researchers have a current and methodologically sound instrument, the recently-completed Knowledge and Attitudes about Near-Death Experiences Scale (KANDES). Developed through best practices in instrument design, the process included use of a focus group of experts and confirmation of methodological quality through acceptable levels of reliability and factor analysis. Attendees will learn about the instrument’s development and will learn how they can access the instrument for scholarly research with any population.	Concurrent
98
99	Horacek	Bruce Horacek ~ The Healing Power of Shared-Dying and After-Death Communication Experiences	Friday
100		Dr. Horacek was a professor for over 40 years, 34 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he was a teacher and administrator in the Gerontology Department focusing his research, teaching, and writing on dying, death, and grieving including near-death experiences. He remains on the faculty as a professor emeritus. He has over 40 publications and 100s of presentations, many on NDEs. He is an IANDS president emeritus and continues as a consulting editor of the Journal of Near-Death Studies. As a grieving father his talk will focus on shared-dying and after-death communication experiences as they help one to adapt to the loss of a significant other.	Loss Panel
101
102	Hudler	Nancy Best Hudler ~ Are We Dreaming Butterflies: Emerging out of the shadow of death through the transformative power of grief	Thursday
103		What if grief is a state, not to overcome, but rather to be embraced as a messenger of the Heart--a wakeup call rousing us out of our long slumber—a light illuminating the way back into a deeper Knowing, a greater Reality? This is my offering, born out of my own journey, for I know first-hand the gut-wrenching heartbreak that can follow the loss of a loved one . . . what it is like to drown in a sea of tears, recover oneself, only to be swallowed up again in an undertow of unrelenting grief. . . all within the prevailing paradigm that has swept death into the shadows, encouraging those in grief to make a swift passage through an “appropriate” period of mourning and then “back on the horse” to move on. I chose instead to turn inward, and with each loss it became easier to surrender ever more fully into the grief as I learned to navigate these uncharted waters with an internal compass, drawing strength, hope, and illumination from the gifts and revelations of my own NDE and those of others, as well as my on going mystical experiences. Here I share how grief can become the chrysalis of our own transformation, offering the possibility of emerging as butterflies into a New Wayof Being . . . becoming the Bridge of Love that ends ALL separation NOW.	Concurrent
104
105	Hugenot	Alan Hugenot ~ A Roadmap to the Experience of Death	Saturday
106		I propose to lead a lecture for 60 minutes on the what it is like when you die, as explained in Chapters 8-12 of my 2012 book "The Death Experience: What it is like when you die". IANDS published Chapter 7 of my book, "The Weighing of the Heart", in the Winter 2012 Vital Signs. Loss, Grief and the Discovery of Hope can be facilitated by knowing in advance what to expect. The last 24 pages of my book are an excellent presentation for people preparing to face and deal with an impending death. Much of this material discusses how to treat the person who is dying and what to expect in terms of Near-Death approaches and visitations from the Spirit world.	Concurrent
107
108	Huguenard	Frank Huguenard ~ Overcoming grief through meditation	Friday
109		I lost my loved one 12 years ago to breast cancer. This occurred simultaneously with the end of my high tech career in silicon valley as well as other areas in my life. To work through my grief and to understand that there is something beyond our everyday experience, I began researching spirituality and meditating daily. As a result of this, I’ve made three documentary films on spirituality which can be seen on my website, www.beyondmefilm.com	Loss Panel
110
111	Hummel	Virginia Hummel ~ NDEs and the Orb Phenomenon: Shifting our perception of death and healing our grief	Saturday
112		Brilliant balls of light or “orbs” are appearing with startling regularity in photographs around the world, as well as to the naked eye. We are now realizing that, in fact, many NDE’s have been reported as involving “balls of light,” either for how the near death experiencer’s see themselves or how they see others. Photographic evidence of orbs with human faces, along with an ability to appear upon request, present a strong argument that orbs can be a manifestation of our soul/consciousness energy. As the latest revelation of After Death Communication, orbs allow us to be proactive in healing our grief. A simple digital camera gives us an amazingly effective tool with which to visually communicate with loved ones and confirm their well-being as well as our own eternal natures. Most importantly, bereaved individuals have reported that the presence of orbs brings them peace, comfort and hope during the most challenging time of their lives. Dr. Eben Alexander, author of Proof of Heaven, a powerful best-selling book about a neurosurgeon’s life-changing NDE, declares: “Orbs are the most readily accessible phenomena of the spiritual realm.”	Concurrent
113
114	Ireland & Hill	Mark Ireland ~ Soothing Grief With Evidence of LIFE After Death (with Sheryl Hill)	Sunday
115		Shared and Near Death Experiences (SDE/ADC) affirm an afterlife and help bereaved persons move through grief with more meaningful, purposeful and joyful lives. Supportive groups of individuals with similar SDE/NDE helps bereaved persons feel more normal, no longer singular, and part of a greater whole – or oneness. --- Evidence of life after death renews a sense of hope and optimism. Being able to step forward and view ‘life’ from an eternal perspective changes the context of ‘death’ to one of transformation, a Soul Shift from one existence to another rather than cessation. - Sheryl Hill and Mark Ireland are accomplished public speakers, authors and parents of deceased children who experience After Death Communications ( ADCs). They collaborate through Spirit Group and Helping Parents Heal and are at IANDS to demonstrate the healing power of SDE and ADC.	Concurrent
116
117	Jacquin	Linda Jacquin ~ A Childhood Experiencer’s Stories of Shared-Death Experience, Near-Death Experience and After-Death Communication	Sunday
118		Description of my first-hand experiences with Near Death Experiences (NDEs), Shared Death Experiences (SDEs) and After Death Communication (ADCs) will be extrapolated through narration of stories of first-hand events I experienced with my brothers (AD& NDE), a schoolmate from elementary school (ADC & SDE), a complete stranger (ADC), and my Mother’s (NDA) depicting the universality of such experiences with family members, friends and total strangers. Because I myself have lived through these experiences, they carry a heartfelt genuineness that should convey a multilayered complex of insights into some numinous yet empirical evidence of consciousness beyond death on three levels of social relations: family, friends and strangers. Such storytelling technique may be the best method of meeting the needs of those facing imminent grief and loss who are instinctively grasping for meaning beyond intellectual reasoning.	Concurrent
119
120	James	Debbie James ~ Co-emcee	Thur-Sunday
121		Debbie will also serve as moderator of the Panel After a Child's Suicide and the Experiencer Panel 2	Emcee
122
123	Kendig	Irene Kendig ~ What did you experience when you released your last breath on Earth?	Friday
124		There is no death. When we transition, we shift our energy from the physical body to the spirited body and beyond. Transitioning is a refocusing of our energy. When a loved one transitions' our relationship with them changes, but it doesn’t end; the love we share continues to connect us. We can choose to evolve in consciousness by identifying and releasing outdated beliefs and misconceptions that cause us to suffer unnecessarily when We are grieving. Conversations with Jerry and Other People l Thought Were Dead: Seven compelling dialogues that will transform the way you think about dying. . . and living offers insights and practices that support those experiencing grief and loss. Reading excerpts and discussing how my own life has transformed as a result of what l’ve learned will inform and inspire participants. Providing an opportunity for participants to release regret will facilitate peace.	Loss Panel
125
126	Kircher	Pam Kircher ~ Panel: Physicians share how their own NDEs impact their lives and medical practice	Saturday
127		Doctors Eben Alexander, Tony Cicoria, Pam Kircher and Mary Neal will share how their own NDEs have impacted their lives and their medical practices. In particular, they will share their insights about how doctors should relate to a patient who has had an NDE.	Physicians Panel
128
129	Komianos	Athanasios Komianos ~ Assessing the Benefits of an NDE without Having One	Friday
130		One does not have to almost die in order to understand the cycle of life, appreciate it and share love with humanity. They can simply recall such an event with the help of a trained and qualified therapist. In this presentation significant evidence will be presented concerning the material that has arisen during regression sessions into the life-between-lives stage. In the 50 years of past-life therapy alternative hypnotherapists and regression therapists alike, have run not only in the phenomenon of past-life recall, but in the recollection of images and events that take place between incarnations. In the rare instances that such a recollection takes place, deep and lasting relief overwhelms the regressed and this profound experience affects in a positive manner the course of their lives. The effects of this reliving, resembles the ones that NDErs have and the descriptions of structure and scheme of the hereafter are strikingly similar. If regression therapists continue what the priests did in ancient cultures while initiating people to the mysteries of the afterlife, then they are on the track of awakening people to live the life they deserve in the here and now. Like the mystics of Eleusis they allow people to come to grips with the essence of life, the laws of it, and the goals of it.	Concurrent
131
132	Lázaro Pérez	Cristina Lázaro Pérez ~ The Permanence of Consciousness in the Dying Process	Friday
133		Consciousness is a topic currently studied by researchers from different disciplines such as medicine, psychology, philosophy and anthropology. My contribution will be to provide an anthropological point of view of the topic analyzing what the patient speak while dying, for example, the stories about seeing deceased relatives who come to take them, or when they talk about seeing a very bright light, etc. which according to my hypothesis, is when consciousness expands, and is the moment when people can access to the knowledge and visions of a spiritual nature. For that reason I think it’s important to know the impact that these experiences have in cognitive, psychological and spiritual areas in person and in society through the information we have from this topic. The aim of this paper is examine the permanence of consciousness during the days prior to death, when the NDE, the information from their manifestations and the possible continuity after death happen	Conscious- ness Panel
134
135	Maginley	David Maginley ~ The promise of a new day: grief, hope and NDE on a cancer ward	Saturday
136		Hope is often a wished-for future, and in that grasping, becomes a premeditated grief. This is especially so at the end of life. Through stories gathered over 10 years of hospital chaplaincy, we will explore the dynamics of grief, hope and love at the end of life, and how these are reframed by Near Death Experiences. Even as we fight for more moments to live, the truth is we spend most of our energy avoiding the present moment. Through the power of compassion and informed spiritual guidance, it is possible to help patient and family become fully connected to the moment, encounter hope in the midst of grief, and entertain what seems impossible: the survival of mortal death. Love itself is explored not as a feeling, but the highest level of congruency and integration of Being - the state which we will continue to evolve towards in the next life.	Chaplain Panel
137
138	Matthews	Carolyn Matthews ~ Releasing Distress and Discovering the Mission for Near-Death Experiencers	Friday
139		There are many kinds of grief and loss, on many different levels. In the loss of loved ones, there is the need to know if life exists beyond the physical, and if the loved one is alright. Near-death experiencers (NDrs) are convinced of life after death, which can bring hope and comfort to those who grieve. While NDErs can help others, they too need help. They know they returned to physical life to complete a mission, but many don’t know what this is. They suffer distress from not knowing the life mission, not being understood, and not having their experiences validated. This author has designed a course that addresses these needs, which is available in the book: Mentoring the Near-Death Experience Survivor. Results show the course has helped to change lives, bringing hope, joy, confidence, and knowledge of the life mission and how to manifest it. From her Master’s degree work, this author gives international medical research findings on the NDE, providing a useful resource book for those in the health-care support services for NDErs, for experiencers and their families, and for the general reader. Through this work there exists a great potential for improved awareness of the needs of the NDEr.	Concurrent
140
141	Maune	John Maune ~ Relation of modules of consciousness and elation in an NDE	Sunday
142		Many NDEs come with a sense of elation or complete contentment. This seems counterintuitive as most NDEs are brought on by some trauma that often is painful. My own NDE made me curious about how my NDE could bring such unfettered joy or elation while masking extreme pain and negating any fear of dying. Elation was experienced only during my NDE – a complete and total never before experienced sense of contentment. When the NDE finished the excruciating pain from my injuries returned and my sense of elation abruptly ended. During my NDE my consciousness fragmented into many seemingly autonomous modules that were not tied into everyday goals or thoughts. I think that during my NDE my left brain interpreter (LBI) lost its usual seat of power which lead to more conscious participation of other usually subconscious modules. I also think this suggests that a state of elation is actually the normal state of mind (save for the poor few who have hellish NDEs). This might relate to the conscious states that mystics spend their lives trying to obtain by muting the self or LBI..	Science Panel and Poster
143
144	Moore	Roberta Moore ~ NDE Medical Training Video	Thursday & Friday
145		Roberta will show the recently finished training video: Near-Death Experience, What Medical Professionals Need to Know. The video and supporting training materials provide medical professionals with a protocol for caring for patients who have had an NDE, and give a model for positive interaction between patients and caregivers. More than 95 members and friends of IANDS contributed over $22,000 to make this video a reality! Roberta will give some of the background on the making of the video and some of the ways it will be promoted to medical professionals, medical institutions, and the general public. This video can have a powerful impact on those medical professionals and others who have little knowledge of NDEs. Learn how you can share the video in your own community.	Concurrent
146
147	Moorjani	Anita Moorjani ~ The Gift of Life	Friday
148		If the doctors were right, Anita Moorjani would not be here today. She should have died on February 2nd, 2006. On that day, she fell into a deep coma as her organs shut down as a result of end stage lymphoma (cancer of the lymph glands), which had ravaged her body for the last four years. Now that her body was finally shutting down, the doctors told her family that these were her final hours. During this seminar, Anita will relay in detail to the audience what she experienced during the 30-hour coma where she felt she had entered another realm, and speak in detail about her sense of timelessness, her encounters with her deceased loved ones, the tapestry of life that connects us all, and most importantly, what it was that finally saved her life and brought her back from death’s door.	Keynote
149
150	Moorjani	Anita Moorjani ~ Allowing versus Pursuing ~~ Living life after a near death experience	Friday
151		Anita will speak about how she applies the lessons from her NDE to her everyday life and how it has panned out. Anita will also touch on IANDS' contributions in providing unity and emotional support to NDErs, in supporting NDE research that is so vital to understanding NDEs, and in making NDEs better known to the public.	Benefit banquet
152
153	Morgan	Lowell Morgan ~ Brains, branes, strings, & all that: What modern physics may have to say about consciousness & beyond	Sunday
154		Although physical reductionism (aka “materialism”) is out of fashion among philosophers of science (e.g. T. Nagel, 2012; R. Sheldrake, 2012), I believe it to be a worthwhile exercise to explore what we can learn from modern physics that may be applicable to the problems of consciousness, death, and perhaps beyond. This is an area which, only in the past 15 years or so, physicists have begun to seriously investigate. This recent flurry of activity has come about as a derivative of new developments in modern physics having to do with quantum coherence and entanglement; the Standard Model of particles & fields; experiments on the micro-and nano-scale; string theory and physical models derived there from of fields in extra dimensions beyond (x,y,z,t); vacuum energy & fluctuations; quantum information and neural networks; and so on. Although seemingly separate fields of study these topics are all connected and may have relevance to the study of consciousness and death. I will discuss these topics for non-experts and explore how they may be related to the problems that interest the IANDS community.	Science Panel
155
156	Neal	Mary Neal ~ Facing Loss With Joy and Gratitude	Saturday
157		Dr. Mary Neal will share experiences in her personal journey that have led to the understanding, daily choice, and trust she embraces following her Near Death Experience. Along her spiritual path, Mary has encountered multiple levels of Grief and Loss which enhance her vision of the Meaning of Life.	Keynote
158
159	Neal	Mary Neal ~ Panel: Physicians share how their own NDEs impact their lives and medical practice	Saturday
160		Doctors Eben Alexander, Tony Cicoria, Pam Kircher and Mary Neal will share how their own NDEs have impacted their lives and their medical practices. In particular, they will share their insights about how doctors should relate to a patient who has had an NDE.	Physicians Panel
161
162	Olsen	Jeffery Olsen ~ I Knew Their Hearts: A journey beyond the veil	Friday
163		In 1997, I was in a terrible automobile accident, which took the life of my wife and youngest child and nearly took my own life as well. I sustained intense injuries including the amputation of my left leg above the knee. At that time I had an NDE and continued to experience profound spiritual insights during my 6 month long hospital stay and 18 surgeries. I learned the connection and ‘oneness’ we all share as human kind, as well as the awareness that life does not end at death. I also became aware of the beauty and order of our lives, no matter the difficulty. Each life is a gift from the universe, allowing us to experience what we came here to learn.	Plenary
164
165	Pappalardo	Ron Pappalardo ~ The Efficacy of After-Death Communication in Healing Grief	Saturday
166		Ron will tell the story of how he lost his son to suicide and dealt with the ensuing grief. He will explain how establishing after-death communication with his son provided an opportunity for profound healing by diminishing the feeling of separation and providing evidence of Joshua’s continued existence.	Panel ~ After a Child's Suicide
167
168	Parti	Rajiv Parti ~ My NDE and Spiritual Transformation	Sunday
169		In 2008, as a busy practicing cardiac-anesthesiologist and Chief of Anesthesiology at Heart Hospital in Bakersfield, California and enjoying life with his family—everything was turned upside down following a diagnoses of prostate cancer. Enduring seven surgeries and ensuing complications over the next two years, Dr. Parti was gifted with a near death experience that showed him his true purpose in this lifetime. “Now it is time to be healer of the soul, especially of the diseases of soul, of the energy body, addiction, depression, chronic pain and cancer.” The awareness that he was being given his life back specifically so that he could write and speak with the specific intent to help others suffering from chronic pain, addiction and depression profoundly changed Dr. Parti’s entire outlook and propelled him to start writing and giving seminars on spiritual wellness.	Experiencer Panel
170
171	Pearson	Patricia Pearson ~ Palliative Effects of the Sensed Presence	Sunday
172		After my sister sensed the presence of my father on the night he died, I turned my journalistic skills to researching this phenomenon, determining that the Sensed Presence is not only common in the bereaved population, but also for those in peril, such as mountain climbers and prisoners of war. The effect is palliative across scenarios.	Science Panel
173
174	Price	John Price ~ Sharing NDEs - a Great Pastoral/Spiritual Tool	Saturday
175		Sharing the news about the NDE is a most effective pastoral tool for many occasions. In 37 of my 48 years as parish priest, US Army chaplain, and hospital chaplain, I’ve shared the information from Raymond Moody’s Life After Life, many other such books, and key experiences in which I was involved with people who were struggling with various crises. There have been unfailingly outstanding results. Most recently, I have shared copies of my book, Revealing Heaven: the Christian Case for Near-Death Experiences, (Harper-Collins, 2013) with such individuals. The whole atmosphere surrounding grieving families changed, much for the better. Individuals were able to read the book at their own pace and reflect on the truths with which we IANDS members are all familiar. There have been such transformations as an atheist embracing faith in God, persons bruised by hellfire-and-damnation religion moving on to a mature faith in God, and a sullen teen angry at her parents’ divorce exclaiming in awe, “There IS a God.” I intend to share key success examples from my ministry using near-death accounts pastorally. My primary goal is for Experiencers to rise above their natural reluctance to talk about their most precious experience to help others.	Chaplain Panel
176
177	Sewell & Simmons	Rachelle Sewell & Mel Simmons ~ Resonate Essences - Gifts from Rachelle's NDE	Friday
178		Using the Resonate Essences …gifts from Rachelle’s NDE…learn tools you can use to shift emotional blocks, raise your vibration & reconnect to your Soul gifts. Come join us to explore & rediscover your unique Soul gifts. Rachelle will share her experiences of spiritual blessings from her two NDEs & assist participants to explore their own unique gifts for the benefit of all. We will share teachings & guided meditations on ways you can use the Resonate Essences to open your connection to Guides & Angels & how to ground & clear your energy system after spiritual work on yourself or others. Each participant will get to experience the healing & expansive vibrational shifts that occur with using the Resonate Essences products …bring an open heart & a journal to write in. Rachelle Sewell is a Kinesiologist, Hypnotherapist & Life Between Lives practitioner (trained by the Newton Institute) who has worked with thousands of clients to facilitate change in their health & well-being. Rachelle has taught workshops & seminars at ACEP (2012 & 2013), MindBodySpirit festival Australia (2012,2013) & the Kinesiology Conferences (Australia). She is a Member & Trainer ICPKP & Touch For Health, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Past Life Regression, Neuro-Organisational Technique, Kinergetics, Energy Healing, Journey Practitioner, Reiki Master & holds a Bachelor of Business.	Presentation
179
180	Sharp	Kim Clark Sharp ~ Post-suicide grief is complicated	Saturday
181		Grief following the death of a loved one who has committed suicide is usually complicated. The stories of people who have had a near-death experience in the course of their suicide attempt can be used to ameliorate some of the grief felt by loved ones of those who have taken their own lives. The presenter has decades of testimonies from suicide-related NDErs which she has used in clinical practice to console these mourners. In this session, many of the attempted suicide near-death experiences that have been used as comfort will be presented.	Concurrent
182
183	Tymn	Michael Tymn ~ Living in Eternity: The key to overcoming grief and enjoying life	Sunday
184		Those suffering grief and despair due to the loss of a loved one or in dealing with a terminal disease or disorder are often advised to “live in the present,” or “in the moment,” or “in the now,” or “to make the most of each day” or “to live life to its fullest.” In theory, it sounds like good advice, but it is not all that easy to put it into practice. This talk examines the limitations of such advice and proposes that the key to overcoming grief and despair is to “live in eternity.” This calls for living in the past, present, and future all at the same time. However, one can effectively live in eternity only if he or she has a conviction that consciousness survives physical death, that he/ she will live on in an “afterlife.” Otherwise, the future is nothing more than a march into an abyss of nothingness. The conviction necessary to “live in eternity” goes beyond the blind faith of orthodox religion and usually requires a good grasp of the evidence suggesting survival beyond death, including that offered by the near-death experience. Moreover, one must integrate the conviction into one’s everyday activities.	Concurrent
185
186	White	Judith White ~ Exploring the sacredness and divineness of you	Sunday
187		We are brilliant, peaceful, tender, divine beings wearing the physical garment called the human body. This presentation will share personal NDE experiences, the various ‘environments’ I traveled through, the types of beings that were encountered, and the various forms of knowledge/understandings that I felt by being there. I was taught that this knowingness of these pure, beautiful realms or dimensions, can be accessed through our own body’s internal expansion, by realizing and feeling who we truly are. Through moments of mental silence we can feel our/the peace; peace is a universal quality with no personal identity. We are more like a spacious, aware energy/frequency that contains the physical body, holding all events within, and yet is not the event itself. We have come into the material world to play, to create stories that can be acted out and lived through. Our lives are recreational experiments. If we live through fear, our stories seem to control us. If we feel our lovingness and who we truly are, earth feels like an expansive playground.	Experiencer Panel
188
189	Wittman	Laura Wittman ~ Near-Death, Grief, and Hope in Historical Perspective	Sunday
190		Looking back at over a century of increasing testimony and fiction on NDEs reveals that, along with a dominant narrative of decreased fear of death and infusion of hope, there is an undercurrent of stories about uncertainty, misunderstanding, and even despair. Putting the positive and the negative NDE stories into dialogue has much to reveal about what can tip the balance one way or the other. Key factors include: the currently dominant cultural views of NDE (skeptical vs. welcoming, pathologizing vs. genuinely curious); the social role of the doctor in relation to other spiritual authorities; the extent to which NDE is a shared experience (as can happen in wartime, but also via deliberate community creation); the availability of model narratives of healing and hope for an individual patient (linked to education, family attitudes, and religious background).	Science Panel
191
192
193
194