Dear PDN Readers,

For many people, the loss of a loved one does not end the relationship. Instead, it opens the door to experiences that challenge deeply held beliefs about consciousness, death, and the nature of reality itself.

Across cultures and traditions, individuals have reported encounters with the deceased that profoundly alter their worldview. Sometimes these experiences arise spontaneously. In other cases, bereaved individuals deliberately seek contact through spiritual practices, rituals, or psychedelic substances.

While these experiences can be transformative, they can also provoke something researchers describe as "ontological shock"—a profound disruption to one’s understanding of reality. For some people this leads to growth, meaning-making, and spiritual awakening. For others, it can create confusion, distress, or what clinicians call a "spiritual emergency" or "spiritual crisis."

As part of my MSc research, I am conducting a qualitative study exploring how self-induced attempts at after-death communication affect individuals who are grieving. In particular, the research seeks to understand how such experiences shape existential beliefs, identity, and psychological well-being.

I am currently seeking volunteers who may be willing to share their lived experience.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

• Are over the age of 21

• Lost a loved one within the past 10 years

• Have attempted to induce contact with the deceased through ritual, spiritual practice, or psychedelic compounds

• Experienced a profound shift in your beliefs, worldview, or sense of reality following the experience

• Feel comfortable discussing your experience in a confidential research interview

What participation involves

Participants will be invited to complete a short participation form and take part in a private online interview. The interview will explore your personal experience, how it unfolded, and how it affected your understanding of reality, grief, and spirituality.

All interviews are confidential, participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time.

The purpose of this research is not to judge or validate belief systems, but to better understand the psychological and spiritual impact of induced after-death communication experiences, particularly when they lead to ontological shock or spiritual crisis.

If your experience resonates with this research and you would be willing to participate, I would be grateful to hear from you. If you know of someone who would fit the research, I would be grateful if you could share this email with them.

Please contact me directly at:

[email protected]

Your participation could contribute to a deeper understanding of how people navigate the intersection of grief, consciousness, and extraordinary human experience.

With appreciation,

John Brocas

MSc Candidate,