Have you ever wondered why every near death experience (NDE) is so wildly different from person to person?
Some people meet Jesus. Some float in a blissful void. Some find themselves in beautiful nature scenes. Others reunite with loved ones or experience a panoramic life review. The stories vary as much as the people telling them. And yet, there are common threads: peace, light, a sense of being deeply known.
Lately, I’ve been watching a lot of NDE videos on YouTube. As an intuitive and a Tarot reader, I couldn’t help but notice something that kept stirring in my soul: each experience seems tailor-made to validate the individual’s existing belief system.
This got me thinking.
What if NDEs are not objective glimpses into a one-size-fits-all afterlife, but deeply personal soul reflections designed to bring comfort, truth, and meaning?
The Role of Belief and the Brain
Here’s where it gets even more fascinating to me: our brains are wired to filter the world through our beliefs. That job belongs to the Reticular Activating System (RAS), a part of the brain that determines which information reaches conscious awareness. Essentially, it helps you notice what you’re already looking for.
Have you ever bought a certain handbag, for example, and suddenly started seeing that same handbag everywhere? That’s the RAS at work.
So what if, in the moment of near death, when the brain is overwhelmed or beginning to shut down, the RAS offers up exactly what the person needs most? Peace. Familiarity. Validation. Maybe even the face of God, in whatever form the person believes in.
Customized by the Soul
But this doesn’t mean NDEs are just brain chemistry or comforting hallucinations.
From a soul perspective, I believe something deeper is going on: the soul self is awakened and is shown a symbolic, sensory experience that reflects the person’s spiritual framework. The experience may take different forms, but the message remains the same: you are safe, you are loved, and your life has meaning.
This is just my intuitive take. I feel I’m missing parts and pieces, but I’m sure I’ll connect all the dots when it’s my time to cross over. I’m sure my NDE would include spirit guides.
What is very apparent is that each NDE is unique. Each one speaks the language of the person receiving it. And each one brings just enough truth to help them move forward, whether back into life or the next realm. It’s also apparent we have a choice about which direction to take.
What This Means for All of Us
To me, NDEs aren’t proof of one truth. They’re evidence that the universe meets us where we are. It loves every one of us that much!
“Whatever you believe, so shall it be” is a spiritual concept expressed in many cultures. I think it goes deeper than we realize!
There is no spiritual “right answer” in these stories, only resonance. Comfort. Clarity. Some people return from an NDE with a deeper faith. Others come back with radically new beliefs. What unites them all is that they return changed, more peaceful, more open, and more attuned to love.
And isn’t that the point of any spiritual experience? Whether it comes from an NDE, a Tarot session, a dream, or a moment of deep stillness… we’re all just trying to remember that all of this matters and we’re all part of a grand design.
If you’ve been watching NDE stories and wondering what it all means, you’re not alone. These stories are invitations not to believe exactly what someone else saw, but to trust the part of you that recognizes truth when it’s felt. I frequently say, “When you hear the truth, you know it.”
And in that way, you’re already listening to your soul and know more than you realize. What do you think is happening during an NDE? I’d love to hear your perspective.
