At Heaven's Door: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach About Dying Well and Living Better
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- Create Date：2022-01-20 02:19:40
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：William J. Peters
- ISBN：1982150424
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Summary
A groundbreaking， authoritative exploration—rich with powerful personal stories and convincing research—of the many ways the living can and do accompany the dying on their journey into the afterlife。
In 2000， end-of-life therapist William Peters was volunteering at the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco when he had an extraordinary experience as he was reading aloud to a patient: he suddenly felt himself floating in midair， completely out of his body。 The patient， who was also aloft， looked at him and smiled。 The next moment， Peters felt himself return to his body…but the patient never regained consciousness and died。
Perplexed and stunned by what had happened， Peters began searching for other people who’d shared similar experiences。 He would spend the next twenty years gathering and meticulously categorizing their stories to identify key patterns and features of what is now known as the “shared crossing” experience。 The similarities， which cut across continents and cultures and include awe-inspiring visual and sensory effects， and powerful emotional after-effects， were impossible to ignore。
Long whispered about in the hospice and medical communities， these extraordinary moments of final passage are openly discussed and explained in At Heaven’s Door。 The book is filled with powerful tales of spouses on departing this earth after decades together and bereaved parents who share their children’s entry into the afterlife。 Applying rigorous research， Peters digs into the effect these shared crossing experiences impart—liberation at the sight of a loved one finding joy， a sense of reconciliation if the relationship was fraught—and explores questions like: What can explain these shared death experiences？ How can we increase our likelihood of having one？ What do these experiences tell us about what lies beyond？ And， most importantly， how can they help take away the sting of death and better prepare us for our own final moments？ How can we have both a better life and a better death？
In 2000， end-of-life therapist William Peters was volunteering at the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco when he had an extraordinary experience as he was reading aloud to a patient: he suddenly felt himself floating in midair， completely out of his body。 The patient， who was also aloft， looked at him and smiled。 The next moment， Peters felt himself return to his body…but the patient never regained consciousness and died。
Perplexed and stunned by what had happened， Peters began searching for other people who’d shared similar experiences。 He would spend the next twenty years gathering and meticulously categorizing their stories to identify key patterns and features of what is now known as the “shared crossing” experience。 The similarities， which cut across continents and cultures and include awe-inspiring visual and sensory effects， and powerful emotional after-effects， were impossible to ignore。
Long whispered about in the hospice and medical communities， these extraordinary moments of final passage are openly discussed and explained in At Heaven’s Door。 The book is filled with powerful tales of spouses on departing this earth after decades together and bereaved parents who share their children’s entry into the afterlife。 Applying rigorous research， Peters digs into the effect these shared crossing experiences impart—liberation at the sight of a loved one finding joy， a sense of reconciliation if the relationship was fraught—and explores questions like: What can explain these shared death experiences？ How can we increase our likelihood of having one？ What do these experiences tell us about what lies beyond？ And， most importantly， how can they help take away the sting of death and better prepare us for our own final moments？ How can we have both a better life and a better death？
Reviews
Mary Nee
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Fascinating！ This book is intriguing and thought provoking 。
Cee
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Shared crossings are not something I had ever heard of before so this was very new， exciting information to me。 The numerous stories in this book are amazing and very comforting。 The first third of the book contains some very difficult （heartwrenching） ones so please be prepared。 If you are open and ready to hear about ‘shared death experiences’ this is truly a wonderful， eye-opening book。
Susie Stangland
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In addition to reading this much appreciated copy from the publisher， I have already ordered and talked about this book to many！ We all are here for a finite amount of time and we can not micro manage what happens when we pass and who and how those moments are shared with。 It’s a sacred and profound part of our lives。 This book is a collection of manh who have had powerful moments with those they love。 It’s a book to be read with reverence and awe。 Highly recommend！！
The Poison Pen Reader
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I read this book in one setting。 The research and time that was taken to put this book in action was time and effort。Death and what lies beyond is something I think we all at one time or another think about。 Fear of the unknown and what happens to our loved ones as they transition is always in my mind。 This book not only eases some of those fears but brings perspective to the fear of dying alone。 I recommend this book and believe many will find it a very interesting read。
Aaron Brown
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Fascinating。 Might not be for everyone， but I've always found these types of books incredibly intriguing and thought provoking， at least if you're open minded。 Well worth a read。 Fascinating。 Might not be for everyone， but I've always found these types of books incredibly intriguing and thought provoking， at least if you're open minded。 Well worth a read。 。。。more
Karen Axnick
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This intriguing title reflects a fascinating exploration of what is termed “Shared Death Experiences” （SDEs）。 This is not a book for everyone – it requires a certain level of openness to phenomenon beyond what our physical senses define as reality。 Most of those who have had such experiences categorize themselves as “spiritual，” not religious。The author is a practicing psychotherapist who founded the Shared Crossing Project “…to raise awareness and educate people about the profound and healing e This intriguing title reflects a fascinating exploration of what is termed “Shared Death Experiences” （SDEs）。 This is not a book for everyone – it requires a certain level of openness to phenomenon beyond what our physical senses define as reality。 Most of those who have had such experiences categorize themselves as “spiritual，” not religious。The author is a practicing psychotherapist who founded the Shared Crossing Project “…to raise awareness and educate people about the profound and healing experiences available to the dying and their loved ones at the end of life。” This book is a compilation of his research findings – the defining features of SDEs – as well as a wealth of stories illustration his findings。Death and dying is a topic that engenders mild to severe discomfort for most people in our culture。 Even among the medical community， this natural part of the life cycle is not easily embraced。 While gains have been made in recognizing certain characteristics of the dying process through individuals who have shared their near death experiences （NDE）， little attention has been given to family， friends and caregivers who have shared the death process with another。 Indeed， these experiences are so far outside the “norm，” that people have been reluctant to share what they have seen， heard， felt or sensed either at the bedside or remotely。 Overall these experiences have provided comfort and often an abiding sense of peace to those who have had them。 They reported less fear regarding death and the dying process， a lessening or even elimination of grief and a conviction in a benevolent post-death existence。 Very few people felt their SDE was a negative experience; when this occurred they were associated with being dismissed or scorned by others when the experience was shared。The research reflected in this book began in 2013， but the phenomenon was first reported in 1926！ Data was collected through both written reports and interviews。 The challenges of gaining recognition for and acceptance of such personal and， what are considered at this time， extraordinary experiences are many。 This is very “soft” science and subject to much speculation。 As more data comes to light， perhaps more people will be freer to not only witness， but also participate in the dying process with another。 Death may always be a mystery， but it may increasingly become an interpersonal experience rather than a solitary event。The book is divided into thirteen chapters focusing on many aspects of SDEs: glimpsing Heaven; moving into the Light; receiving comfort; becoming a guide; sensing angels; sharing the SDE with others; and preparing for death。 I found it helpful to read a chapter or two at a time and then to reflect on the content before re-engaging with the book。 The text is clear and well-organized， unfolding smoothly from chapter to chapter。 The Appendices provide helpful information for readers who want to pursue the topic in more depth。My thanks to the author， the publisher， and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book。 The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own。 。。。more
Jackie Sunday
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For some， this book will give clarification for the meaning of death -- for those with an open mind。William J。 Peters starts as though you're sitting in a comfortable chair and the therapist asks: "What brings you here？" Well， it's a complex topic about death and dying。There has been a number of books recently published about near-death experiences but this one takes a different approach。 It is from the point of view with a person that is having a profound experience with someone that is dying - For some， this book will give clarification for the meaning of death -- for those with an open mind。William J。 Peters starts as though you're sitting in a comfortable chair and the therapist asks: "What brings you here？" Well， it's a complex topic about death and dying。There has been a number of books recently published about near-death experiences but this one takes a different approach。 It is from the point of view with a person that is having a profound experience with someone that is dying - someone they know well。 It could be a visualization， an out-of-body experience or a sense of knowing that someone has just died。 This book presents several back-to-back eye-opening cases in various forms。I found the most interesting story was from the author with his personal experience with his father's passing。 Earlier in his career， he was inspired by Raymond Moody， known for his books on the afterlife and near-death experiences。 Peters has followed his research and developments with a group he has created: "Shared Crossing Project" which he now directs。 It focuses on the end-of-life process with the person that has experienced an extraordinary moment with someone dying。 With his team， he has generated piles of research and cases included his own。This is not a book for everyone。 Many will dismiss it with their religious views。 And， no one knows for sure what happens to someone that dies。 Yet， the people that have experiences feel like they know some gigantic secret which feels real。 Most people believe in some form of the afterlife and most have a difficult time addressing what it means。I found the stories easy to read and interesting which makes me want to learn more about the research process。 It took me awhile to read as I kept pausing to rehash my own experiences。 The book will be one of the few resources available for those that have questions about the complexities of death。 Peters also provides the reader with the website for "Shared Crossing Project。" It includes an expanded version of his bio。My thanks to William J。 Peters， Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of January 11， 2022。 。。。more
Ellen
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