Search
Explore the Extraordinary  >>
BUTTON-Style-1-DE-2-21-iands.jpg

Insights from a NDE on Healing and Growth for Everyone!

Join Jonathan Van Valin as he shares insights on our true nature and its impact on our spiritual journey, drawing from his own NDE and spiritual experiences. He believes in removing barriers to our deepest being, offering the possibility of awareness, healing, and growth to all, regardless of NDE experience.

Have you ever felt a block on the course of your own journey of healing and growth?

Come and join with Jonathan Van Valin as he offers refreshing insights on the deepest truth of who and what we are, and how that can impact one’s own spiritual journey. Jonathan will be sharing his own NDE and other spiritual experiences and presence in a manner that offers others the possibility of spontaneously entering into their own experience of awareness, healing, and growth. During this session and in all his interactions, Jonathan sees his essential function as helping to remove the blocks to awareness of our deepest being and live from the peace that pours forth.
You are warmly invited towards this. Jonathan would stress this is an outcome available to anyone, regardless of whether they’ve had an NDE of their own or not. In fact, from his perspective, this is our natural inheritance, regardless of what one’s past experience has been. Jonathan emphasizes that tapping into our innate awareness and peace is within reach for everyone, and he believes that by sharing his insights and experiences, others can find their own path to healing and growth.

About Jonathan:

 

Jonathan grew up in the suburbs of Seattle and led an outwardly ordinary adulthood, despite a quietly ferocious inner search. After many unexpected spiritual experiences including a near-death experience, in 2011 he left his regular life entirely and went through a sort of “final” doorway, in which a radical falling away of egoic self became the abiding ground of his being. After a few years spent nearly in silence, an inner prompt revealed a subtle healing ability, and a subsequent prompt to share what’s been received has become the prime mover of Jonathan’s life. His essential function, as he sees it, is to help people remove blocks to their awareness of their deepest being, and to live from the peace that pours forth.

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN:

 

https://www.assistthespirit.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@jonathanvanvalin4518

Friend me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.vanvalin.9/

Upcoming events: https://www.assistthespirit.com/events/

 

This event will be recorded and available to view on our Videos page 3-5 business days after the live event!

Holding Death with a Joyful Presence

In 1993, Patricia experienced a “shared death” with her mother when her mom transitioned to the Higher Realms. This was life changing for Patricia and her mom as they both experienced profound joy, thus altering their relationship with death and remembering their souls as multidimensional beings. We all carry this awareness within us.

In this presentation, Patricia describes the extraordinary experience with her mom in shared death in 1993, which results in a potent personal transformation. Moving from deep grief to the powerful love of Oneness brings a profound joy that is not expected at such a time. We are each endowed with the ability to achieve this awareness through expanded consciousness.

The after effects of Patricia’s experience bring a different focus. With expanded consciousness comes not only joy but also a responsibility. Walking upstairs to tell her dad about the passing, Patricia realizes that families are not necessarily ready to hear about this new possibility and their timing must be respected. They too are great souls and can awaken at any moment.

The integration of the shared death experience brings change in life. Patricia’s priorities shift to the higher vibrational soul work of Soul Passage Midwifery. As a multidimensional being, death is perceived as birth. Over time, one’s identity shifts to the soul, and the honor of working for the upliftment of humanity.

About Patricia L’Dara:

Patricia experienced an extraordinary journey during a shared death with her mother in 1993, through expanded consciousness.
Prior to that time she had never been in a room with anyone dying. Patricia accompanied her mom across the threshold and through the Spirit realms resulting in profound joy for both Patricia and her mom. This story is recounted along with many others in her book, “Song of Sight: An Introduction to Soul Passage Midwifery (2017).” As a Soul Passage Midwife, Patricia has been honored to assist people from all walks of life for 30 years. Since 2019 Patricia has been taking iterested family members to visit with their departed loved ones at the “Valley of the Thousand Petal Roses (a gift from Mother Mary).”

CONNECT WITH PATRICIA:

http://soulpassagemidwife.com

 

This event will be recorded and available to view on our Videos page 3-5 business days after the live event!

Hollywood Director’s Incredible Near-Death Experience

Jeremy Kagan was best known for directing movies and TV series episodes before his amazing NDE from a sweatlodge experience.  Jeremy experienced bliss and saw a vision of hell. He met his spiritual family and almost became a star in the galaxy. Jeremy eventually felt like he and God were one.  He saw that this reality seemed very 2-dimensional and made-up like a scripted play or movie. Everything then played back in reverse and he found himself in his body again.

Jeremy Kagan was best known for directing movies and TV series episodes before his amazing NDE from a sweatlodge experience.  Jeremy experienced bliss and saw a vision of hell. On the other side he met his spiritual family and almost became a star in the galaxy. Jeremy even experienced what it felt like when he and God were one.  He says this reality seemed very 2-dimensional and made-up like a scripted play or movie in comparison. Everything played back in reverse and he found himself in his body again.

Jeremy is deeply interested in the Kabbalah and mystical Judaism. He has taken sacred journeys with ayahuasca, and he has a long-standing interest in ETs and UFOs having directed the film “Roswell” (1994) and an episode of “Taken.”

Join us to hear about this amazing person and his many incredible experiences first-hand in this special IANDS interview.

Background:

Jeremy Kagan’s resume is long and deep. In addition to his film and TV work, he teaches directing and is a published author. Jeremy also loves to do illustrations, producing one every day. Jeremy also hosts interviews with top film directors and others.  Below is a 2-hour interview hosted by Jeremy this past February 10. The DGA presented its membership with a unique opportunity to celebrate the craft of directing during the 33rd Annual Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film symposium.  The 2023 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film Award nominees — Greta Gerwig (Barbie), Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things), Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Alexander Payne (The Holdovers) and Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon) — joined moderator Jeremy Kagan onstage in the Guild’s Los Angeles Theater for an in-depth discussion about their work.

Biography


Jeremy Kagan interviewing Martin Scorsese

Jeremy is a director/writer/producer of feature films and television. His credits include the box-office hits Heroes (1977)The Big Fix (1978) and The Chosen (1981). His The Journey of Natty Gann (1985) was the first US film to win a Gold Prize at the Moscow Film Festival. Other directing credits include Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 (1987) (winning the ACE Award for Best Dramatic Special) and Roswell (1994), which he produced and directed and which was nominated for a Golden Globe. In 1996, his episode of Chicago Hope (1994) won him an Emmy for Outstanding Direction of a Dramatic Series. One of his segments of Picket Fences (1992) was listed by TV critics among the top 100 television episodes.

His more recent work includes an episode of Steven Spielberg‘s Emmy-winning anthology – “Taken” (2002/I) (mini) – and numerous episodes of such hit series as The West Wing (1999) and The Guardian (2001). His Bobbie’s Girl (2002) was the highest-rated film on Showtime in 2003. His movie Crown Heights (2004), which he produced and directed, won the Humanitas Award for “affirming the dignity” of every person and was nominated for a Directors Guild Award in 2004.

Mr. Kagan is a graduate of Harvard University, where he wrote his thesis on Sergei Eisenstein, has a Masters from NYU, and was in the first group of Fellows at the American Film Institute (AFI). He is a tenured full professor at USC, where he is in charge of the directing track, and has served as the Artistic Director of Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute. He is on the National Board of the Directors Guild and is Chairperson of its Special Projects Committee and author of the book “Directors Close Up” and was presented the 2004 Robert Aldrich Award for “extraordinary service to the guild.”

Film and Television Director, Writer, Producer
Professor, School of Cinematic Arts, USC
Founder of the Change Making Media Lab
Chairperson of Special Projects for the DGA

The Year of the Big Reveal – 2025 and Beyond – Part 4 – What’s Next for Us and the Earth?

This special four-part series will look at the years 2025-2032 from the perspective of what many are calling the “Awakening.”  But what exactly is the Awakening and what does it mean for the future of humanity?  Throughout human history, we have looked to the skies for answers to our salvation.  To that end, this series will examine why 2025 is being viewed by a growing number of mystics as the end of 3D reality and the beginning of what is referred to as God Consciousness.  An intelligence of the mind and Spirit that will usher in the greatest spiritual transformation in human history known simply as “Heaven on Earth.”

You can watch the introductory 2-hour class here for free.

This course will engage audiences with techniques meant to expand one’s consciousness into 4D.  An absolute requirement before entering 5D.

Part 4:  What’s Next?

To achieve 5D consciousness, one must first understand the transformation process currently underway and how it plays out over the remainder of this decade.  

In this last 2-hour seminar, we will first examine the 18-month, 4D portal that humanity finds itself in which will end on December 21, 2024.  This portal marks the gradual departure of 3D consciousness through a series of spiritual milestones that are full of downloads, integrations, and activations.  All of these are designed to upgrade both the etheric and carbon-based bodies for the crystallization process of 5D.  An upgrade of intelligence and technology which is now just making its presence known in 3D.  So powerful is its force that it will be known by generations to come as having birthed the “Age of Miracles.”  A transition period into the mysticism of spirituality which will usher in 6D consciousness in the year 2032. 

The rest of the classes in this series:

Intro Class – 2025 The Year of the Big Reveal
* Watch the introductory 2-hour class here. (free)

Part 1 – Who You Truly Are – Sat Feb 10th – Sign up here

Part 2 – What is reality? – Sat. Mar. 9th – Sign up here
       * What is this world?
* What is this thing we call reality?
* Are we living in the Matrix?

Part 3 – What is your real purpose? – Sat. Apr. 13th – Sign up here
       * Why are we here?
* What’s the point of all of this?

Part 4 – What’s next for us and the planet? – Sat. May 18th – (this class)
       * What’s coming?
* How can we prepare?

This 4-part course:

      • Offers a unique, spiritual perspective as to what humanity can expect in 2025 relative to a global Awakening.
      • Clarifies and connects the dots relative to how this Awakening relates to the various discussions and perspectives being given in areas of spirituality, religion, philosophy, mysticism, near-death (NDE), UFO phenomenon, and science.
      • Frames these discussions within the context of the most fundamental and intimate questions that humanity and individuals have grappled with relative to our existence and identity as spiritual beings.

Participants will:

      • Gain a deep and empowering understanding of our true identity as supreme beings.
      • Fully comprehend why we are here and the purpose for the chaos and contrast in the world today.
      • Support your current Awakening in preparation for 2025 which will bring a heightened sense of awareness known as Christ Consciousness, the Inner Child, and the Divine Feminine.  A collective stream of consciousness meant to clear the path for the full integration of 5D intelligence that is now making its presence known in our world. 

About Franco Romero, MA, MHP

Franco Romero, author of the bestselling book, “The Closet Spiritualist,” has information that he feels compelled to share with the world. He resisted his awakening and he resisted the knowledge that was originally given to him until he couldn’t resist it any longer. He then came out of the spiritual closet and wrote the story of his journey of awakening.

Franco is a Top 10 bestselling author, clairvoyant, spiritual coach, and speaker.  His first book is titled “The Closet Spiritualist” which was inspired by a near-death experience that left him clairvoyant.  Abilities he was unwilling to recognize until an Awakening in 2010 where he was re-introduced to a collective consciousness known as Caleb.  A Voice which has been guiding him since he was a young boy.

Franco is currently writing his second book titled “The Modern Day Alchemist” which looks at our future from the perspective of God Consciousness. A science of the mind that is only now being revealed to humanity for the purpose of creating “heaven on earth” in the coming decade.  Franco holds two masters degrees and is co-founder of MyNurish, the formulator of a powerful, superfood and plant-based nutrition for the body, mind, and soul.

CONNECT WITH FRANCO:

Website: https://theclosetspiritualist.com/

Anthony Chene’s Wonderful Video Profile of Franco:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ5HOtZe8AU

This event will be recorded and available to view on our Videos page 3-5 business days after the live event.

 

2 NDEs: More ET/UFO Encounters-Cosmos via Lightship & Christ

Yvonne is returning to our group to share more spiritual and other worldly experiences. After her 2 near-death experiences, Yvonne has experienced spiritual journeys we could qualify as extra-terrestrial. These experiences in other realms stretch beyond our earthly plane of reality and yet hold profound significance for those who have lived them. Yvonne will take us on an exploration that transcends the ordinary, opening us on the possibility of interconnectedness of all life in the vast expanse of the universe. Yvonne is the executive co-producer together with Robert Neal Marshall of “Back From The Light”, a film-documentary focusing on near-death experience survivors and their after-effects.

Yvonne is returning to our group to share more spiritual and other worldly experiences. After her 2 near-death experiences, Yvonne has experienced spiritual journeys we could qualify as extra-terrestrial. These experiences in other realms stretch beyond our earthly plane of reality and yet hold profound significance for those who have lived them. Yvonne will take us on an exploration that transcends the ordinary, opening us on the possibility of interconnectedness of all life in the vast expanse of the universe.

In 2008, a deep emotional life crisis led to Yvonne’s near-death experiences, in conjunction with an accidental overdose of strong medicines for heart arrhythmia. This created two profound and powerful life changing events. During her first NDE, Yvonne was taken by two Angelic beings through the cosmos to a place of light. During her second experience, Yvonne visited a part of the place she calls ‘Heaven’ where she had a magnificent encounter with Christ. She transcended her faith and heightened her understanding of Love, Compassion, Goodness, Kindness, and Acceptance of all.

Yvonne is the executive co-producer together with Robert Neal Marshall of “Back From The Light”, a film-documentary focusing on near-death experience survivors and their after-effects. This film is apropos because it helps experiencers realize they are among many, around the world, who had a similar experience and have to live with the remembrance of an event which has no earthly point of comparison. The film is an exciting journey bringing together Near-Death Experiencers, family and friends, with the specific focus on the after-effects of such a life transforming experience and how they readjust to a ‘normal’ life. It takes us into a journey of exploration of what life is like on a daily basis, following the “return”, on an emotional and physiological level, and how spiritual beliefs and relationships drastically changed.

About Yvonne

Prior to her NDE, Yvonne’s professional career background included working in the foreign diplomatic service in Europe. This has enabled her to meet people from around the world with very different backgrounds and through the course of her career, she realized that regardless of the level of social and public influence people exercise, we are all on a journey towards learning how to love, if we allow the traumas and challenges of lessons learned to bring us into a higher spiritual inner place.

http://www.liveheaven-now.com

IANDS Healthcare Professionals Group

The group will primarily focus on the near-death experience, and/or other related spiritually transformative experiences, and include those who are practicing professionally in the healthcare field – physicians, surgeons, nurses, counselors, therapists,  child psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, related support workers, caregivers, health and wellness coaches, and patients with chronic disease or cancer, but is open to all with an interest to learn and understand more deeply.

The IANDS Healthcare Professionals Group will primarily be focused on the near-death experience and/or other related spiritually transformative experiences.  This group will include those who are practicing professionally in the healthcare field – physicians, surgeons, nurses, counselors, therapists, child psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, related support workers, caregivers, health and wellness coaches, and patients with chronic disease or cancer, etc.  That said, this group is open to all with an interest in this subject matter.

Topic for May: Life Review or Reflection 

Facilitator: Dr. Keyaunoosh Kassauei

Group Description: The intent of this group is to bring together mental and healthcare professionals at local, national, and international levels, much like other IANDS sharing groups. This gathering will operate as a monthly platform for sharing experiences and will serve as an educational forum, featuring guest speakers, limited series workshops, and online courses primarily focused on introducing concepts of emotional and spiritual intelligence. These sessions will also emphasize the importance of physical and mental health for overall well-being.

There will be monthly themed topics and medical research center papers shared.  From time to time, the IANDS Healthcare Professionals Group will host speakers.

Date and time: Monthly / last Friday of each month / 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EST

These sessions will be in a meeting format for 60 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of Q&A. (90 minutes)

2024 Meeting Dates: January 26, February 23, March 29, April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27, October 25, November 29, December 27

About the Facilitator:  Following Dr. Keyaunoosh Kassauei’s studies as an  International Medical Graduate (IMG) and completing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, her trajectory shifted gradually after her own Near Death Experience (2006) toward coaching in healthcare and leadership. Recognizing this movement as her calling, Dr. Kassauei established a 501C3 non-profit dedicated to serving the community, particularly in healthcare, education, and leadership.

As the founder of “My Conscious Coaching,”
a non-profit, and active fellow at the Institute of Coaching at Harvard/McLean Hospital—a research-focused coaching institute, she generously continues to support and mentor other professionals in the healthcare field.

Keyaunoosh has extended invitations to esteemed IANDS leaders, pioneers,  distinguished healthcare leaders, coaching authorities, and worldwide speakers to feature on her podcast. The focus revolves around vital topics crucial to humanity’s progress and the evolution of consciousness in life and leadership. These podcast discussions encompass NDEs and various spiritual transformational experiences, aiming to equip coaches, healthcare professionals, educators, and leaders with essential insights and skills. Her goal is to enhance the quality of care and foster individual and organizational growth within the medical community as a unified whole.

Notably, Keyaunoosh volunteers as a
certified facilitator and moderator for IANDS Groups & Events sharing groups.  Additionally, she has contributed to and served the IANDS community as a Speaker/Panelist at the IANDS 2023 conference in Washington DC, and contributed her gifts in the Reiki program within the healing conversation and talk room.

IANDS Conference Moderator 2022

IANDS Conference Panelist 2021

Dr. Keyaunoosh Kassaeui BIO and Credentials:

MD 1992, Iran -Tehran

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, JUH/SOM 2005-2006

Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach/ EICC Daniel Goleman & Beyond Ei

Certified We-i Coach – Learning In Action/LIA

Certified Spiritual Intelligence Coach @DCI

Certified WBEC/ACE and Breakthrough Coaching

Active Fellow & REI Council Member @ IOC (Institute of Coaching/Harvard Medical School/McLean)

IANDS Supporter & ISGO Certified Facilitator/Moderator: https://isgo.iands.org/facilitators/

Dr. Keyaunoosh Kassauei’s Website:  http://www.myconscious.org

Podcast:  https://www.youtube.com/@myconsciouscoachinggroup/videos

IANDS Article ‘Closing the Gap in Medical Care for NDERS’: https://www.iands.org/1517-resources-for-nib-voices.html

Dr. Kassauei’s IANDS NDE Radio interview with Lee Witting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2lNRiVu3IY&t=7s

Reiki I & Reiki II Certificates: https://isgo.iands.org/media/forminator/69487_d8b94337feaa49a6828fb2859aecfef7/uploads/KYgegnCkBKcQ-IANDS-Reiki-I-Certificate-2021-Kassauei-K.pdf

https://isgo.iands.org/media/forminator/69487_d8b94337feaa49a6828fb2859aecfef7/uploads/AQ1kXo19lYcQ-Reiki-II-Kassauei-Keyaunoosh.pdf

Institute of Coaching: https://instituteofcoaching.org/about/kassauei-keyaunoosh


Dr. Keyaunoosh’s Washington DC (DMV) Local group meets in person, 4 PM  – 5:30 PM EST (Last Friday of the month).  The in-person location will be held at Inova Schar Cancer Institute, a state-of-the-art cancer center in the Washington, DC metro area. Quarterly, there will be a topic-based/educational meeting, either with a nominal fee or donation-based.

Email Contact for Keyaunoosh: Coach@myconscious.org

Inova Schar Cancer Institute – A Department of Inova Fairfax Hospital
Life with Cancer Suite, 2nd floor (across from the specialty gift shop)      8081 Innovation Park Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031

The closest Metro subway station is Dunn Loring-Merrifield on the orange line, approximately 2 miles from the building. The closest Metro bus stop is Blue 401 Gallows Rd & Willow Oaks Corp Dr., approximately 0.4 miles from the building.

We commit to respecting all who attend this group, knowing each person holds their perspectives and beliefs. This is a safe place of non-judgment. There is also no proselytizing.

These sharing groups are free to everyone! That said, ISGO Sharing Groups rely on charitable contributions to maintain staffing and administrative support. To continue to bring you a wonderful group experience, we thank you in advance for your kind donations.

https://iands.app.neoncrm.com/forms/isgo-development

 

OPEN Spirituality Group

This is a safe space for respectful open discussion of whatever Spirituality means to you. Open Spirituality has zero dogma or doctrine. It’s about a personal relationship with the Divine with zero requirements other than your intent to connect with like-minded people for stimulating conversation. Open Spirituality is a “non-religion.” It’s a place to share spiritual experiences and beliefs without a religious context. Religious contexts like churches, synagogues, mosques, and such are often the only place where people feel comfortable discussing spiritual concepts, but those places often feel artificially constrained once one has had an NDE or an STE. This group is for people who consider themselves spiritual but who may not be comfortable with traditional religions and religious beliefs and practices.

Open Spirituality Sharing Group
4th Sundays at 1 pm ET/ 10 am PT

The Open Spirituality group is an open gathering space for those who are looking for a place to share personal spiritual perspectives without dogma or doctrine, where everyone respects differing beliefs and perspectives.

The conversation will include our usual open discussion of everything spiritual where nothing is off-limits.

—————

What does spirituality mean to you? How has your understanding of spirituality evolved? How has spirituality challenged you in this life? This monthly group is a safe space for respectful open discussion of whatever Spirituality means to you.

Open Spirituality has NO dogma or doctrine. It’s about having a personal relationship with the Divine with zero requirements other than your intent to connect with like-minded people for stimulating spiritual conversation.

Open Spirituality is a “non-religion.” It’s a place to share spiritual experiences and beliefs without a religious context. Religious contexts like churches, synagogues, mosques, and such are often the only place where people feel comfortable discussing spiritual concepts but those places often feel artificially constrained once one has had an NDE or an STE. This group is for people who consider themselves spiritual but who may not be comfortable with traditional religions and religious beliefs and practices.

“Open Spirituality” is perhaps best defined by these quotes:

      • “Kindness is my religion.” – Dalai Lama
      • “Religion is an external practice. Spirituality is a state of mind.”
      • “Religion is about beliefs. Spirituality is about being.”
      • “The best religion is the one that brings you closest to God.”
      • “Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing,
        there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” – Rumi

——————

If you want to convert the time of this meeting to your own time zone anywhere in the world, you can use this link:
https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter?&tz2=new-york

——————

Let go of any preconceived ideas of spirituality! We explore the subject of spirituality from every conceivable perspective. This group combines open discussion with presentations and occasional guest interviews all centered around the broadest definitions of spirituality. 

This group:

      • Respects and values all perspectives;
      • Is inclusive of all perspectives,
      • Welcomes all that seek to explore and investigate the mysteries of life;
      • Seeks to find the common ground that ties everything together;
      • Feels that science and spirituality are 2 sides of the same whole;
      • Sends love and understanding to all beings.

If you like subjects that are “out there” with a spiritual, philosophical, and/or theological perspective, this group is for you! 

Religions generally come from an exclusive perspective that can be very limiting. Open spirituality is inclusive and it respects and values the vast diversity of perspectives we each represent.

This group is for you if ANY of the following statements resonate:

      • You feel constrained by societal boundaries/definitions of spirituality and/or religion;
      • You consider yourself ‘spiritual’ but not religious (SBNR);
      • you love your religious community, but feel there is more to spirituality;
      • You believe in the Oneness of all that is;
      • You believe in the equality of all beings;
      • You love the mystery of life/existence and you would like to explore it in more depth;
      • You love God/Source/Creator, but feel that those terms are too limiting;

The Open Spirituality group will explore and discuss the most inspiring spiritual aspects of all religious traditions, philosophies, theologies, cosmologies, and *experiences* like STEs, NDEs, OBEs, alien encounters, psychic phenomena, mediumship, the healing arts, and such.

Open Spirituality welcomes people from all faith traditions. It does not promote any particular belief or theology other than the belief that we are all spiritual beings.

Proponents are self-proclaimed and all are welcome and supported as long as they are open, inclusive, and supportive of the beliefs of others. Open Spirituality welcomes atheists and agnostics as well since the belief in the existence of a deity is a matter of personal opinion.

“Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of the opinions of others drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” – Steve Jobs

Lastly, the following excerpt from Wikipedia seems appropriate:
Spiritual but not religious” (SBNR), also known as “spiritual but not affiliated” (SBNA), or the “Nones” are some of the phrases used to self-identify a life stance of spirituality that does not regard organized religion as the sole or most valuable means of furthering spiritual growth.


For these groups, IANDS uses the Zoom video conferencing system. After registering for the event, it’s as simple as clicking the link provided in your email (prior to the event).


These sharing groups are free to everyone!

We are a non-profit. Donations provide the funding to support the technology that runs these groups. If you are able to make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated. We thank you in advance for your kind and generous donations.

Donation

 


 

About the host, Daniel Endy:

Daniel has been on the spiritual path ever since he was a youngster. He was brought up in the Catholic religious tradition and attended Catholic schools. As with many people, Daniel was comfortable with spirituality but he had trouble with religious dogma and he sought deeper truths. As a teen, Daniel left Catholicism and became what he calls a “spiritual independent.” He searched and researched extensively finding “tidbits” of wisdom here and there at first. Over time he found his way to more and more spiritual teachings that resonated as truth for him. He believes that each person’s journey and “truth” is unique and that it evolves as each person does.

Daniel often thought of how he wanted an open community of people who were spiritual but non-dogmatic. He envisioned a group that would be welcoming and inclusive for all without limits. Open Spirituality is that dream manifested. All are welcome. All perspectives are respected. We don’t need to invalidate beliefs that we disagree with. We can all co-exist in peace.

IANDS Navigating the NDE: 12-Steps for NDE Integration Group

Near-death experiences are uniquely personal and life-changing. Until experiencers find a community that resonates with them, they may feel rejected, isolated, confused, and afraid to reach out for support. Engage a 12-Step NDE Integration process for experiencers to find a path to community, validation, support, and acceptance.

This NDE sharing group is a safe space to talk about challenges and strategies of integration, while supporting each other on the journey.  Through focused discussions about each of the 12 NDE Integration Steps, participants can find healing and build resilience in a community of peers.  These meetings build on the 12 NDE-I Steps developed by Bethany Silver, Jim Bruton and Diana DiFranco Marquez Lyons.

During this monthly meeting, we will dive deeply into each of the 12 Steps of NDE-Integration. Our conversations will begin with an overview of the step, a focusing activity, and then a rich conversation with NDErs and STErs, to discuss the step and corresponding resources to support integration.

May – Step 5.  May Topic TBA

While all are welcome, we ask that questions and discussions be led by experiencers.

A portion of the session will be considered a course, series, or meditation, with a guided activity.  The other portion is typically a facilitated group discussion/participant sharing.  This group will be conducted in a Zoom “meeting” format, in which the facilitator (or presenter) will see and interact directly with attendees. In these sessions, the participant sharing component will not be recorded. We will only record the first 10-15 minutes of the meeting, where the information about the step is provided, and the resources are identified, so that we can embed the recording into our cumulative resources.  When we have a guest speaker/presenter, we may record that section, again only for our resources, but will never record the participant sharing portion.

Additionally, there may be pre-work for attendees such as reading articles and watching videos in advance of the meeting to help attendees prepare for the meeting but this will not be required. Our goal is to leverage easily available, free resources, to help people on their journey.

These meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM EST. (90 minutes)

Meeting dates: Jan. 24, Feb. 28, March 27, April 24, May 22, June 26, July 24, Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 23, Nov. 27, Dec. 18

Facilitators Bios & Facilitators Website: https://www.meditation4good.org/nde-integration-in-12-steps%20:

Bethany B. Silver, Ph.D. has been an educator for 20+ years. She began her teaching career as a psychology instructor at Manchester Community College. At UConn’s Neag School of Education, she served as the Director of the Professional Development Academy and Assistant Professor of Educational Technology. Dr. Silver has taught courses in research methods, evaluation, assessment, and learning. She has engaged her research skills with neurology patients at Hartford Hospital, Bloomfield Public Schools, and currently serves as the Chief Performance Officer for the Hartford Public Schools. Dr. Silver has always been interested in NDEs. Her work in post-NDE-Integration has been inspired and informed by Jim Bruton and Diana Marquez-Lyons.

Jim Bruton has been a world traveler and adventurer for much of his life – his adventures ranging from living in Africa as a wildlife filmmaker for National Geographic to serving as a war journalist for NBC News. Using a backpack-sized satellite video system he invented, Jim provided news coverage as a war journalist for NBC News in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was a Lecturer in Telemedicine at Yale University School of Medicine. When his experimental aircraft crashed in Oct. 2016, Jim had an adventure that topped them all. Transported to the in Between, his NDE there was not a typical passive one but required him to do something- to change his future and see how all things are interconnected. Jim has documented all of this in his book, “The In Between, A Trip of a Lifetime”.

Diana Marquez Lyons (formerly DiFranco), is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in supporting Near Death Experiencers and their families. Ms. Marquez Lyons has had her own psychotherapy practice since 2010. A spiritual seeker most of her life, in 2010 Diana had a shared death experience when her mom passed. She was the founder and leader of the CT Shoreline IANDS for seven years and has also had a kundalini awakening. Diana has spent the majority of her adult life studying Spiritually Transformative Experiences, as well as Near Death Experiences and the after-effects. Diana earned her ACISTE Certified Mental Health provider certification from The American Center for the Integration of Spiritual Experiences (ACISTE). She was invited to present at the ACISTE conference in 2013. Diana also presented at the 2015 IANDS conference, and again in 2021, this time with Jim Bruton.
Ms. Marquez Lyons has provided numerous invited lectures at the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Columbia University. In addition, she has presented many times on the topics of NDEs and the after-effects to different community groups. She was recently interviewed about NDEs and after effects by Healing Outside the Box. Diana had also appeared on Connecticut’s WTNH, Channel 8, as well as an online French TV channel.

In preparation, frequently asked questions and answers:
Q: Do I need to attend all sessions in order?
A: No. The 12-Steps are non-linear, and experiencers would benefit from   exploring the steps that resonate with them.
Q: Can I attend whenever I’m able to do so?
A:  Yes, these sessions are flexible.  Anyone can attend as it fits into their schedule.
Q: What if I miss a session?
A: No worries. It’s part of the human experience. Each session is individual.
Q: Will the sessions be recorded so I can watch later?
A: The introduction and overview will be recorded for our own cumulative resources as facilitators, but the conversation and sharing from attendees will not be recorded. (The 12-Step team is developing a new website URL where recorded segments may be viewed – TBA)
Q: Is this like a sharing group?
A: Yes – it is a focused sharing group. The goal is to dig into the steps and support one another in making the steps work for you, the experiencer.
Q: Will it be a lecture?

A:  Each session will start with an overview of the Step and orientation to the resources to support experiencers and their family members. Links will be shared. After the overview, there will be an interactive activity and we will ask attendees who are willing to share their thoughts and insights.

These groups are free to everyone. That said, ISGO Sharing Groups rely on charitable contributions to maintain staffing and administrative support. To continue to bring you a wonderful group experience, we thank you in advance for your kind donations.

https://iands.app.neoncrm.com/forms/isgo-development