Happenings Newsletter
25Q2V5
June 2025
Dr. Jeffrey Long
NDERF Launches Largest Investigation into Consciousness Beyond the Body
One of the most compelling lines of evidence supporting the authenticity of near-death experiences (NDEs) involves verified out-of-body observations, often referred to as veridical perception. These are typically reported early in the NDE and involve the experiencer accurately perceiving ongoing earthly events from a vantage point apart from the physical body.
The Near-Death Experience Research Foundation (NDERF) has documented hundreds—and almost certainly over a thousand—such accounts in which individuals report seeing and often hearing real-world events during their NDEs. We are currently initiating a comprehensive study examining hundreds of these cases. This project, which will span many months, aims to deepen our understanding of the nature of consciousness during these extraordinary experiences.
To our knowledge, this will represent the largest and most rigorous investigation of veridical perception in NDEs ever conducted. We look forward to sharing the findings of this groundbreaking research with readers of this newsletter as results become available.
Jody Long
Curating the Soul’s Healing Journey Through Death and Back
Jody Long, a longtime curator of NDE accounts, has spent over two decades gathering and preserving thousands of firsthand experiences from across the globe. As webmaster and co-author at NDERF, she ensures that each voice, no matter how ordinary or extraordinary, is treated with care and respect. Her work goes beyond documentation: it creates a safe haven for experiencers and a well of insight for seekers. Through her growing team of affiliated volunteers and collaborations with international researchers, Jody continues to connect people in a way that elevates their spiritual and emotional significance. She reminds us that truth isn’t just found in data, but in the quiet courage of personal transformation and healing. In the end, we will find that we are as intricately connected to each other as bonds of water, the challenge is awakening to that divine current before it's too late; before life compels us to see it by immersing us in its beauty.
NDERF Spotlight: Volunteer
John Cotter
This quarter, we’re honored to spotlight John Cotter, one of our "IT techies," first helping us out with the NEON CRM database and now helping onboard new volunteers to the Google suite of collaboration tools. He is a computer programmer with over 35 years of industry experience. Now retired, he's using his tech talents in an area that has fascinated him for most of his life. He first became interested in NDEs when stumbling upon his Mom's copy of "Life After Life" by Raymond Moody while still in high school. Although John has never had an NDE himself, he believes what Kenneth Ring states in "Lessons From the Light" that we can all benefit almost as much as an experiencer just by studying and learning about NDEs. John lives in Madison, WI with his dog Ruby.
Voices & Visions
Art Contest Winner
We Congratulate Kati Sandmann!
Kati's Story here.
Another Testament to the Power of NDEs
Focusing on the Transformative Power
Question: "What life changes occurred in your life after your experience?"
Answer: "Large changes in my life: I became progressively less self-centered, more compassionate, more honest, more humble, less judgemental, more discerning, more intuitive and perceptive...I am more cautious about life and less materialistic. I had become a more relaxed person by forgetting the past, living one day at a time and not worrying too much about tomorrow.
Read the summary of Sara C's NDE experience below or the full narrative at:
SUMMARY OF THE NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE (NDE) Sara C. had her near-death experience in 1974 during an emergency C-section after 17 hours of labor. Under general anesthesia, she died; her eyes rolled up, her lips and fingertips turned blue, and she was unresponsive. What followed was a journey: she entered a tunnel of light filled with radiant, multicolored walls and angelic music. She felt weightless, joyful, and fully conscious — more vividly alive than ever before. But what truly marked the moment was a remembering the baby that she had just delivered and she willed her return for her newborn child. Sara’s transformation didn’t end with her survival. In the decades since, she’s become more compassionate, less judgmental, and deeply devoted to God. She reports being a better mother, wife, and now grandmother. Material things matter less; people matter more. Her values shifted toward humility, honesty, and living fully in the present. She writes, “I became progressively less self-centered, more generous, more discerning of others, even my enemies.” Sara's experience is a powerful reminder: NDEs don’t just affirm life after death — they help us live better before it.
NDE 101
Amazing Fact: In a survey of over 800 near-death experiences, Dr. Jeffrey Long found that 95% of individuals described their consciousness during the experience as “real” or “more real” than everyday life — with nearly 80% saying it felt more real than normal waking reality. Let that sink in: These vivid, hyper-real perceptions were occurring during a period of clinical death or unconsciousness during extreme physical trauma.