Redefining Death as Part of Life
Our mission is to reach a new understanding of death — to see it as
a natural passage rather than an ending. We aim to remove the fear
and taboo surrounding death and open the conversation for
everyone.
Death is not a void but a journey into another dimension — an
essential part of the greater life cycle. Through research, dialogue,
and shared experience, we hope to make dying sacred again and to
help people approach it with peace, curiosity, and courage.
What We Know About Dying and Beyond
Drawing on decades of study from scientists, physicians, and spiritual pioneers, we present what
research reveals about the continuation of consciousness beyond physical death.
Each topic offers insights, first-hand accounts, and accessible resources to help us understand
the vast mystery of death — and life after it.
Guided by Wisdom, Research & Compassion
The Death is not the End initiative brings together leading researchers, authors, and spiritual
pioneers. Together, they are dedicated to bridging science and spirituality — exploring the mysteries
of consciousness and restoring dignity, sacredness, and understanding to the experience of dying.
Meet The Team
Sue Brayne
Janice Dolley
Evelyn Elsaesser
David Lorimer
Davide Lavina
Jonathan Leiserach
Sylvia Leiserach
William J. Peters
David Towns
Felicity Warner
Marjorie Woollacott
Tim Wyatt
Advisers
Aire-Anam, Phyllida
Main Death-Related Publications:
- A Celtic Book of Dying: Watching With the Dying, Travelling with the Dead. Findhorn Press, 2005.
- A Celtic Book of Dying: The Path of Love in the Time of Transition. Inner Traditions / Findhorn Press, 2021 (2nd Edition).
- The Last Ecstasy of Life: Celtic Mysteries of Death and Dying. Findhorn Press / Inner Traditions, 2021.
Schwartz, Gary E.
Affiliation:
Director, Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health,
DaVinci Plaza, Tucson, AZ.
Main Death-Related Publications:
- Schwartz, G. E. (2002). The Afterlife Experiments: Breakthrough Scientific Evidence for Life after Death. New York: Atria Books / Simon and Schuster.
- Schwartz, G. E. (2011). The Sacred Promise: How Science is Discovering Spirits Collaboration with Us in Our Daily Lives. Hillsboro, OR: Beyond Words Publishing.
- Plante, T. G. & Schwartz, G. E. (Eds.). (2021). Human Interaction with the Divine, the Sacred, and the Deceased: Psychological, Scientific, and Theological Perspectives. New York: Routledge / Taylor & Francis.
Arráez, Vicente
Affiliation:
Fundación Metta Hospice
Main Death-Related Publications:
- Arráez, V. et al. Guide to Good Practices in the Organ Donation Process. O.N.T. / Ministry of Health, 2011.
- Arráez, V. & Pau Miquel. La muerte y el Morir. Escola de Vida, 2018.
- Basios et al. Non-local correlation deviations of randomness as traces of critical consciousness-state changes. University of Arizona, 2023.
- Arráez, V. Morir no es lo que parece. Penguin Random House, 2025.
Links:
fundacionmetta.org
Research Page
SMN en Español
Academia.edu
Carter, Chris
Affiliation:
Independent Scholar
- The Case for the Afterlife. Llewellyn, 2025.
- Science and the Near-Death Experience. Inner Traditions, 2010.
Links:
Why Richard Dawkins Is Wrong
Can We Prove There Is Life After Death?
Fauré, Christophe
Affiliation:
Independent Scholar, MD – Psychiatrist
Main Death-Related Publications:
-
Vivre le deuil au jour le jour.
Editions Albin Michel (France), 1995 — 4th edition, 2018. -
Cette vie et au-delà : enquête sur la continuité de la conscience après la mort.
Editions Albin Michel (France), 2023.
Links:
Website:
christophefaure.com
Email:
christophefaure75@yahoo.fr
Greyson, Dr. Bruce
Affiliation:
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Main Death-Related Publications:
Greyson, B. (2021). After: A doctor explores what near-death experiences reveal about life and beyond. New York: Macmillan/St. Martin’s Essentials.
Greyson, B. (2021). Near-death experiences. In Kelly, E. F., & Marshall, P. (Eds.), Consciousness Unbound: Liberating Mind from the Tyranny of Materialism (pp. 17–56). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Greyson, B. (2014). Near-death experiences. In Cardeña, E., Lynn, S., Krippner, S. (Eds.),
The varieties of anomalous experience: Examining the scientific evidence (2nd ed., pp. 333–367).
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
https://doi.org/10.1037/14258-102
Angeli-Faez, B., Greyson, B., & van Lommel, P. (2025).
Near-death experience during cardiac arrest and consciousness beyond the brain:
A narrative review.
International Review of Psychiatry, 2503729.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2025.2503729
Greyson, B. (2024). The psychology of near-death experiences and spirituality.
In Miller, L. (Ed.),
Oxford Handbook of the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (2nd ed., pp. 654–678).
New York: Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190905538.013.27
Links:
Personal Website: https://www.brucegreyson.com
Institution Page: https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/dops-staff/bruce-greyson/
Downloadable Publications: https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/publications/academic-publications/
Prof. Hodgson, Douglas Charles
Past Affiliation:
Monash University
Victoria University of Wellington
The University of Western Australia
The University of Notre Dame Australia
Australian Research Council
Australian Academy of Law
Council of Australian Law Deans
Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research
Main Death-Related Publications:
Spiritual Revelations from Beyond the Veil: What Humanity Can Learn from the Near Death Experience. John Hunt Publishing Ltd, Hampshire, England, 2023.
Near Death Experiences and Sacred Scripture: The Parallel Messaging. Collective Ink Ltd, London, England, 2024.
Spiritual Transcendence Through Awakening Higher Consciousness. Forthcoming.
Links:
Email: dchodgson53@gmail.com
Holden, Janice Miner
Affiliation:
Professor Emerita of Counseling, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
Main Death-Related Publications:
Holden, J. M., St. Germain-Sehr, N. R., Reyes, A., Loseu, S., Schmit, M. K., Laird, A., Weintraub, L., St. Germain-Sehr, A. M., Price, E., Blalock, S., Bevly, C., Lankford, C., & Mandalise, J. (2019). Comparative effects of Induced After-Death Communication and traditional counselling on grief. Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement, 22(1), 4–9.
Foster, R. D., & Holden, J. M. (Eds.). (2017). Connecting soul, spirit, mind, and body: A collection of spiritual and religious practices in counseling. Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling. (Chapters on after-death communication, near-death experiences, past-life therapy, and responding therapeutically to transpersonal experiences.)
Holden, J. M., Greyson, B., & James, D. (Eds.). (2009). The handbook of near-death experiences: Thirty years of investigation. Praeger/ABC-CLIO.
Links:
Kason, Dr Yvonne, MD, MEd, CCFP, FCFP
Affiliation:
President, Spiritual Awakenings International
Main Death-Related Publications:
Soul Lessons from the Light: How Spiritually Transformative Experiences Changed My Life. iUniverse, 2022.
Investigation of the phenomenology, physiology, and impact of spiritually transformative experiences – kundalini awakening. Explore, 2020.
Touched by the Light: Exploring Spiritually Transformative Experiences. Dundurn Press, 2019.
Farther Shores: Exploring how Near-Death, Kundalini, and Mystical Experiences can Transform Ordinary Lives. HarperCollins Canada, 2000; iUniverse, 2008.
A Farther Shore: How Near-Death and other Extraordinary Experiences can change ordinary lives. HarperCollins Canada, 1994.
Links:
Dr Yvonne Kason – Spiritually Transformative Experiences:
www.drYvonneKason.com
Home – Spiritual Awakenings International:
www.SpiritualAwakeningsInternational.org
Long, Jeffrey
Affiliation:
Near-Death Experience Research Foundation (NDERF.org)
Main Death-Related Publications:
Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences. 2011.
God and the Afterlife: The Groundbreaking New Evidence for God and Near-Death Experience. 2017.
Evidence for Survival of Consciousness in Near-Death Experiences: Decades of Science and New Insights. 2021. (long-survival-consciousness.pdf)
Links:
Mishlove, Dr Jeffrey
Affiliation:
Co-Director of Parapsychology Education, California Institute for Human Science
Host and Producer, New Thinking Allowed Foundation
Main Death-Related Publications:
The Roots of Consciousness. 1975, 1993.
Beyond the Brain. 2021.
Is There Life After Death?: New Thinking Allowed Dialogues. 2023.
Links:
Moorjani, Anita
Affiliation:
Main Death-Related Publications:
Links:
Moody, Dr Raymond, M.D., Ph.D.
Affiliation:
Independent Scholar
Main Death-Related Publications:
Life After Life, 1975
Reunions, 1994
The Light Beyond, 2005
Glimpses of Eternity, 2010
Proof of Life After Life, 2023
Links:
www.facebook.com/Dr.RaymondMoody
www.instagram.com/life_afterlife
https://www.youtube.com/@lifeafterlife4385
Dr. Moody earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Virginia and an M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia. The New York Times calls Dr. Moody “the father of the near-death experience.”
Moreira-Almeida, Prof Alexander
Affiliation:
Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Research Center in Spirituality and Health (NUPES),
School of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Brazil
Main Death-Related Publications:
Moreira-Almeida, A.; Costa, M. A.; Coelho, H. S.
Science of Life After Death.
Springer, 2022.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06056-4
Moreira-Almeida, A., Costa, M. de A., & Schubert Coelho, H. (2025).
Mind beyond the brain: evidence, hypotheses to be tested, and research proposals.
International Review of Psychiatry, 37(2), 67–71.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2025.2518721
Abreu Costa, Marianna; Moreira-Almeida, Alexander. (2025).
Life after death and mind beyond the brain: Reflections and implications for aging.
International Psychogeriatrics.
https://www.intpsychogeriatrics.org/article/S1041-6102(25)00377-1/fulltext
Links:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alex.nupes
YouTube: www.youtube.com/nupesufjf
X (Twitter): www.x.com/alexnupes
Neal, Dr Mary C
Affiliation:
[Institution / Organization / Independent Scholar]
Main Death-Related Publications:
To Heaven and Back. Penguin Random House, May 2012.
7 Lessons from Heaven. Convergent Books, September 2017.
Links:
Penberthy, Dr. J. Kim
Affiliation:
University of Virginia School of Medicine and Health System
Main Death-Related Publications:
Penberthy, J. K., Russell, G., Phillips, J., Banaji, M., Mann, N., & Dameron, E. (2022). Medical Stress and Fear of Death and Dying in a Medical Patient Population. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 86(1), 255–270.
Blomstrom, M., Burns, A., Larriviere, D., & Penberthy, J. K. (2022). Addressing fear of death and dying: traditional and innovative interventions. Mortality, 27(1), 18–37.
Penberthy, J. K., Pehlivanova, M., Kalelioglu, T., Roe, C. A., Cooper, C. E., Lorimer, D., & Elsaesser, E. (2023). Factors moderating the impact of after death communications on beliefs and spirituality. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 87(3), 884–901.
Penberthy, J. K., St Germain-Sehr, N. R., Grams, G., Burns, M., Lorimer, D., Cooper, C. E., … & Elsaesser, E. (2023). Description and impact of encounters with deceased partners or spouses. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 00302228231207900.
Ehrenkranz, R., Agrawal, M., Penberthy, J. K., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Narrative review of the potential for psychedelics to treat Prolonged Grief Disorder. International Review of Psychiatry, 1–12.
McCormick, T. H., Grams, G., Wise, F. A., Burns, M., Charania, A., St Germain-Sehr, N., … & Penberthy, J. K. (2025). Differences in After-Death Communications: A Comparative Analysis of Unexpected vs. Expected Deaths and Their Impact on Survivors’ Grief and Perception of Death. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 00302228251376896.
Srivastava, T., Lee, K., Ehrenkranz, R., Cozzolino, P., Wise, F. A., Burns, M., & Penberthy, J. K. (2025). The efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions for prolonged grief disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 380, 561–575.
Links:
https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/dops-staff/kim-penberthy/
Rivas, Titus
Affiliation:
Athanasia Workgroup, Network NDEs, Society for Psychical Research,
Studievereniging voor Psychical Research (Dutch SPR)
Main Death-Related Publications:
Rawat, K. S., & Rivas, T. (2021). Reincarnation as a Scientific Concept. White Crow Books.
Rivas, T., Dirven, A., & Smit, R. H. (2023). The Self Does Not Die. IANDS Publications (2nd Edition).
Links:
https://independent.academia.edu/TitusRivas
Roe, Prof Chris
Affiliation:
University of Northampton
Main Death-Related Publications:
Roe, C. A. (2025). Terminal lucidity in adults: A new case collection. In M. Nahm, M. Woollacott & N. Tassell-Matamua (Eds.), On the banks of River Styx. New perspectives on terminal lucidity and other near-death phenomena (pp. 19–34). Academy for the Advancement of Postmaterialist Sciences.
Daw, M., & Roe, C. (2024).
Theories of non-local consciousness: A review and framework for building rigour.
Essay submitted for the Linda G. O’Bryant Noetic Sciences Research Prize.
https://noetic.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Theories-of-Non-local-Consciousness-A-Review-and-Framework-for-Building-Rigour.pdf
Elsaesser, E., Roe, C. A., Cooper, C. E., & Lorimer, D. (2021).
The phenomenology and impact of hallucinations concerning the deceased.
BJPsych Open, 7(5), e148.
https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.960
Roe, C. A., Cooper, C. E., Lorimer, D., & Elsaesser, E. (2023). A critical evaluation of the best evidence for the survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. In R. Bigelow (Ed.), BICS winning essays: Proof of survival of consciousness beyond permanent bodily death, vol. 5 (pp. 69–149). Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies. ISBN: 979-8-9871342-0-7
Links:
Schlitz, Marilyn
Affiliation:
Main Death-Related Publications:
Links:
Schwartz, Gary
Affiliation:
Main Death-Related Publications:
Links:
Smit, Rudolf
Affiliation:
Independent Scholar, working for IANDS The Netherlands
Main Death-Related Publications:
For many years Editor of Terugkeer naar Levenslicht, i.e. the official publication of NetwerkNDE / IANDS The Netherlands
Co-author of The Self Does Not Die, together with Titus Rivas
first printing 2016, second printing 2024
Links:
Patrizio Tressoldi
Affiliation:
Studium Patavinum, Padova University, Italy
Main Death-Related Publications:
Greyson B, Long J, Holden JM, Jourdan J-P, King RA, Mays S, Mays R, Rivas T, Tassell-Matamua N, van Lommel P, Woollacott M and Tressoldi P (2025). The veridical Near-Death Experience Scale: construction and a first validation with human and artificial raters. Frontiers in Psychology 16:1661390. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1661390
Tressoldi, P., Abbondanza, B., Gallo, J., Garofano, M., Liberale, L., Sinesio, F., & Stapel, J. (in press). Living in the afterlife: clues from direct experiencers.
Tressoldi, P., Liberale, L., & Sinesio, F. (2025).
Is there someone in the hereafter? Mediumship accuracy of 100 readings obtained
with a triple-level blinding protocol.
OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 91(2), 955–963.
https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228221146376
Tressoldi, P., Liberale, L., Sinesio, F. (2024).
Mediumship for Pets: A Pilot Study With a Triple-Blind Protocol.
Qeios.
https://www.qeios.com/read/GVRN0G.2
Tressoldi, P., & Long, J. (2023).
God’s characteristics as reported by near-death experiencers.
Qeios.
https://www.qeios.com/read/2TI1T7
Tressoldi, P., Álvarez, A. A., Facchin, N., Frullanti, M., Liberale, L.,
Saad, M., Shiah, Y.-J., & Testoni, I. (2022).
Shared Death Experiences: A Multicultural Survey.
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®.
https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091221093270
Links:
Tucker, Prof Jim
Affiliation:
[Institution / Organization / Independent Scholar]
Main Death-Related Publications:
[Title of Publication 1] (Year)
[Title of Publication 2] (Year)
[Title of Publication 3] (Year)
Links:
[Personal Website]
[Professional Profile / Institution Page]
[Other Relevant Link]
van Lommel, Dr Pim
Affiliation:
Rijnstate Hospital Arnhem, the Netherlands
Main Death-Related Publications:
Van Lommel, P. Consciousness beyond Life. The science of the near-death Experience, Harper Collins, 2010. Translated into 12 languages.
Van Lommel, P., Van Wees, R., Meyers, V., & Elfferich, I. Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands. The Lancet, 2001; 358: 2039–2045. (1255 citations)
Van Lommel, P.
“The Continuity of Consciousness”, 2021.
Bigelow Institute of Consciousness Studies.
https://www.bigelowinstitute.org/docs/2nd.pdf
Links:
Personal Website: www.consciousnessbeyondlife.com
All scientific articles: https://pimvanlommel.nl/en/pim-van-lommel/scientific-publications/
Woollacott, Prof Marjorie
Affiliation:
Past chair of the Dept. of Human Physiology of the U. of Oregon,
President of the Academy for the Advancement of Post-Materialist Sciences,
Co-Director of the Galileo Commission,
Research Director for the International Association of Near-Death Studies
Main Death-Related Publications:
Nahm, M., Woollacott, M., Tassell-Matamua, N. On the Banks of the River Styx: New Perspectives on Terminal Lucidity and other Near-Death Phenomena. AAPS Press, 2025.
Woollacott, M. Near Death Experience: Memory recovery during hypnosis. Explore (NY). 2024 Nov–Dec;20(6):103036. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103036. Epub 2024 Jul 24. PMID: 39096700.
Long, J., Woollacott, M. Long-term transformational effects of near-death experiences. Explore (NY). 2024 Jul 6;20(5):103030. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103030. Online ahead of print. PMID: 38996518.
Roehrs, P., Fenwick, P., Greyson, B., Kellehear, A., Kothe, K., Nahm, M., Roe, C., Tassell-Matamua, N., PhD, Woollacott, M. Terminal Lucidity in a Pediatric Oncology Clinic. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2024 Jan 1;212(1):57–60. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001711. Epub 2023 Sep 13. PMID: 37734159.
Woollacott, M., Roe, C. A., Cooper, C. E., Lorimer, D., Elsaesser, E. Perceptual phenomena associated with spontaneous experiences of after-death communication: Analysis of visual, tactile, auditory and olfactory sensations. Explore (NY). 2021 Feb 23:S1550-8307(21)00042-2. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2021.02.006. Online ahead of print.
Woollacott, M., Peyton, B. Verified account of near-death experience in a physician who survived cardiac arrest. Explore (NY). 2020 Mar 19:S1550-8307(20)30111-7. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2020.03.005. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32245708.
Woollacott, M., Shumway-Cook, A.
The mystical experience and its neural correlates.
Journal of Near-Death Studies, 2020; 38: 3–25.
https://doi.org/10.17514/JNDS-2020-38-1-p3-25
Links:
Beyond the Brain: Exploring Consciousness at the Threshold of Death
Join Felicity Warner, founder of the Soul Midwives movement, as
she explores the transitional nature of consciousness three days
before and three days after death.
Her pioneering work redefines how we approach dying — not as a
medical event, but as a deeply human, spiritual transformation filled
with tenderness, meaning, and light.
Between Worlds: - Exploring the transitional nature and expansion of consciousness, three days before and three days after death from a Soul Midwife’s perspective
Felicity Warner is the visionary founder of the international Soul Midwives’ movement, a pioneering force in holistic and spiritual palliative care. Driven by profound personal experiences with loss, Felicity has dedicated over two decades to transforming the end-of-life experience, advocating for dignity, love, and a peaceful passage for the dying.
As the Principal of The Soul Midwives’ School, she has trained hundreds of Soul Midwives globally, empowering individuals to offer gentle, compassionate, non-medical companionship to those at the end of life and their families. Her work emphasizes “Tender Loving Care” (TLC), focusing on deep listening, soothing therapies, and supporting the emotional and spiritual journey of the dying.
An award-winning author and respected lecturer, Felicity has penned acclaimed books such as “Gentle Dying,” “A Safe Journey Home,” “The Soul Midwives’ Handbook” (a widely used textbook), and “Sacred Oils.” Her innovative approach has garnered significant recognition, including being named “End of Life Care Champion” by the National Council for Palliative Care and Royal College of Nursing, and “End of Life Doula of the Year.”
Felicity’s unwavering dedication continues to shape a more empathetic and holistic approach to death and dying, both within communities and in collaboration with healthcare organizations like the NHS, Macmillan and Hospice UK.
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