Chapter 7 "Being in the Presence of Someone Not Alive" Summary and Analysis

The most-prevalent theme of Nearing Death Awareness is the perception of the presence of someone who is not alive. The person may be perceived hours, days, or even weeks before death but generally, the perception occurs close to the time of death. Dying people often interact with unseen visitors both physically and verbally and are often confused when informed that others do not share their perceptions. The perceived visitor is most-frequently a loved one—a particular friend or a family member—but is sometimes a stranger. In all cases, the unseen person is perceived as a great comfort and aide. Because this phenomenon is so common, several biographical anecdotes are presented, each one offering a slightly different experience. In one case...