Overview: Spontaneous Contacts with the Deceased is the very first large-scale scientific study that credibly and verifiably proves that spontaneous contacts with the deceased are not wishful thinking but a frequent and deeply meaningful phenomenon.

Verdict: This large-scale international investigation into spontaneous After-Death Communications (ADCs) reveals the circumstances, nature and consequences of these beautiful and consoling experiences. You will discover the powerful beneficial impact of these deeply meaningful contacts, allegedly initiated by the deceased towards their loved ones.

Taking it from the top, and within this international investigation into spontaneous After-Death Communications (ADCs), it is shown that the first objective is to describe the phenomenology of ADCs. Therein, the project sets out to answer the following questions: Who has an ADC? Under which circumstances? In what form (type)? How do these experiences unfold? What are the messages of ADCs? Who are the deceased persons allegedly initiating the contact? What was/is their relation with the recipients? Are there differences between countries?

Of course, research questions were elaborated further on the basis of a thorough review of the existing research literature on ADCs.

The second objective was to analyze the impact of ADCs on recipients. The following questions were addressed: How do recipients experience ADCs? What is the impact on recipients? How does it influence the grieving process? Does the national and social context influence individuals’ experiences?

The third objective consisted of disseminating the research results as largely as possible to the scientific community and the general public. By collecting information about how ADCs occur and unfold, and analyzing their impact on individuals’ lives, they aimed to make these results accessible to people who face the death of a close relative, partner or friend, and to the broad public.

Indeed, following an applied research orientation, they emphasized in their conclusions the relevance of our results for the public, and highlighted the possible policy implications. The research project would them contribute to raising awareness about ADCs and have a practical impact on a large number of persons.

Considering the lack of research and knowledge on ADCs, they expected the results of this exploratory research to open up further questions, of which it rightly did. Therefore the project could also enable them to specify new research hypotheses which may be pursued in the future in the frame of a large scale research, involving research teams in different countries.

OK, so, and to break it down a little bit more into bite-size snippets of information, ADC is a spontaneous phenomenon in which a living person has a feeling or sense of direct contact with a deceased person.

ADC may occur as any of the following types — alone or in combination: visual, auditory, tactile, sense of presence, olfactory, dream, symbolic (song on radio, butterfly), deathbed vision (nearing-death awareness), and telephone.

Dream ADC may be the most common — and might better be termed “sleep” ADC because people who report ADC (ADCrs) often report the “dream” was actually real or was more real than typical dreams. Who has ADCs? According to 35 research studies between 1894 and 2006 involving over 50,000 people from around the world, about one-third have experienced ADCs. Both bereaved and non-bereaved people, but bereaved more than non of people report having bereaved: about three-fourths (3/4) of people within one year of the death experienced ADC some - of a loved one.

People usually find ADC to be beneficial, using descriptive words like pleasant, positive, mystical, serene, elating, helpful, comforting, healing, spiritual, and a good experience. Most ADCrs report that, as a result of the ADC,they feel reassured and comforted that the deceased continues to exist—and in a state of well being and happiness, and the relational bond of love between the ADCr and the deceased continues—albeit in a different form. In summary, the ADCr feels affirmed that neither the deceased nor the relationship with the deceased has ceased; rather, both have transformed and continue.

People sometimes experience distress related to ADC, almost always fear and confusion from lack of information or misinformation about ADC rather than from the contents or experience of the ADC itself.

As for this mighty wondrous, insightful and overall intuitive new prose from author Evelyn Elsaesser, she has brought together a most extensive and in-depth book for us all to delve into. Her results confirm, clarify, and greatly expand on previous research, which then brings us a more updated and heartfelt review of how ADC’s continue to both affect and effect our lives today.

I invite you to discover the results of our survey and the numerous testimonies illustrating them, Elsaesser says, because in this book, I present the results of the first part of a five-year international research project on the Phenomenology and impact of spontaneous and direct After-Death Communications.

About the Author - Evelyn Elsaesser is an independent researcher and author in the field of experiences related to death, especially Near-Death Experiences (NDE) and After-Death Communications (ADCs). She is the project leader of the research project Investigation of the Phenomenology and Impact of Direct and Spontaneous After-Death Communications (ADCs) and a founding member and member of the scientific committee of Swiss IANDS (International Association for Near-Death Studies). She lives just outside Geneva, Switzerland.

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