Our Tiniest Near-Death Experiencers:
Startling Evidence Suggestive of a Brain Shift
Not enough attention has been paid to the youngest near-death experiencers: those still in the womb, newborns, infants, toddlers, and those under the age of six. We are fascinated with out-of-the-mouth-of-babes stories, yet we fail to examine the aftereffects they contend with and why professional therapists are unable to understand or relate to them. In this talk Atwater focuses on the unusual enhancements in intelligent often found with these children and how they return from death or near death abstracting, appearing to be more mature, wiser, creative problem solvers, who seem to have undergone a learning reversal. Attention is given to those who remember their birth and have pre-birth memories, those who appear to have experienced what Dr. Atwater calls "a brain shift" - what may well be a structural, chemical, and functionary change in the brain. The three distinct lights encountered in near-death states will also be discussed, especially the Black or Dark Light, which seems to have an important role with healings and wisdom. Many child experiencers call this Light, "The Darkness That Knows."
BRAIN SHIFT
USING THE NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE AS A MODEL TO
EXPLORE THE TRANSFORMATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Part I -
I will give an overview of my research of the near-death experience, a research project begun in 1978, and covering interviews with over 3,000 near-death survivors (700 of them in-depth). As part of this overview, the four major types of episodes people have will be covered along with a brief psychological profile of who tends to have which type. Near-death-like experiences and anomalies will also be mentioned. The pattern of psychological and physiological aftereffects will be explored, and how these aftereffects differ from psychosis. Children's experiences and the clustering of ages when this seems the most apt to occur will be discussed, along with what this implies. The four phases of integration will be discussed, as well as the four levels of near-death and otherworldly imagery and what that might mean.
Part II -
I will detail one of the common aftereffects, and that is the ability to pre-live segments of one's future and remember having done so. This "future memory phenomenon" will be explored from several different points of view, and the universal pattern of occurrence given. Some striking parallels with research done of childhood brain development between the ages of three to five and how that might relate to what happens to those who report future memory episodes, will be discussed. Implication given.
Part III -
I will present the BRAIN SHIFT MODEL, a series of charts plus text that summarizes my research not only of near-death states but of spiritual transformations (a work I began in sixties). This summary shows how a transformation of consciousness, no matter how caused, is but a brain shift - a specific pattern of responses which, when triggered, result in a cascade effect on the individual that matches the aftereffects of both near-death and spiritual transformations. Even though most such episodes lead to only partial shifts, that alone can result in dramatic changes in a person's life. How this compares with the broad sweep of transformational experiences, whether turbulent or tranquil in cause, will be covered, as well as the implication that brain shifts may indeed be the engine of evolution.
*The goal of this workshop is to help participants recognize and better understand brain shifts, and to aid them in realizing that anyone who begins their "journey inward" to a more spiritual lifestyle automatically triggers such a shift. Knowing the major characteristics of a brain shift can be immensely helpful in coming to terms with what is normal and typical to the experience. As more and more people undergo transformations of consciousness, information about the brain shift model will become increasingly important. Workshop Facilitator: P.M.H.Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.)