I think it's pretty common for dying people to "see" loved one's as they are dying. I was with my grandfather and father as they died. I was sitting next to my grandfather, crying, and he suddenly said, "Don't be said, Larla (my grandmother already deceased) is here to get me, and I want to go with her." My father also seemed to be having a conversation with my grandmother before he died. I guess she was watching over her menfolk.

Hmmm, I've been reading these and wishing I had a cool story, aside from a lot of deja vus and a strong sense that the spirit is not finite, and that it can regenerate through heaven and earth at any particular time. Sort of Buddhist in nature, though I'm technically Christian. One of my favorite things DD says is, "When I was an angel in heaven, waiting to be born"...granted I came up with that turn of phrase, but she has latched onto it and uses it weekly...which is what leads me to: Before she was conceived, we lost an expected baby in a car accident. I was 21 weeks along, but we weren't finding out the sex until the following week. If it was a girl, her name would have been Grace. The boy name was another G name. Anyway, a nurse at the scene of the accident acted as a witness. Her name was Grace. Then the Chaplain who counseled us and led us through a baptismal type prayer at the hospital was also named Grace. Needless to say, baby had been a girl. I was too distraught to spend much physical time with her body (and also I have a steel trap memory and feared it might be too traumatic), but found it beyond coincidental that two people who were pretty closely involved bore her would-be name. Now it's DDs middle name. DS has the same name we planned for had our first been a boy, and his middle name is what her middle name would have been. So we still have Grace "Jones" in our family (not naming the actual middle name for anonymity's sake), just in another way than we had pictured, and it sort if feels like our boy, who was kind of a surprise after a bout of secondary infertility, was always kind of waiting in the wings. Now I'm just waiting for one of them to be visited by their sister since they don't know about her, but one can't force such things.

I knew the exact moment that my grandmother died. I was at work and a feeling just came over me. It was around 12:30 in the afternoon. When I got home a few hours later, sure enough my mom informed me that my grandmother had passed at 12:30. Continuing on this topic, my grandmother had a dream the month before she died in which her deceased sister came to her and said, "You're next," and sure enough she was.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband was sleeping after his mother's funeral and woke up to ask me if I know who is this Gabriel. DH was not at all religious. I said, why and he said that he had the dream where he was called by Gabriel to defend his mom. It was long ago, I don't remember every detail, but he said it felt really real. I called my church(in Europe, I am Orthodox, so it was day there) and asked to talk to my priest, he married us and has been a family priest for a long time. He said that it was Archangel Gabriel and did we know why she is being judged and if she did something. MIL was the nicest person I ever knew, and priest said that sometimes people make mistakes when they are young. He didn't seem at all surprised by my call, more matter of the fact. Anyway, since then we have an icon of Gabriel in our bedroom and take it with us when we move(we move a lot). Was it a dream? Maybe, but it was a very specific dream for a guy who rarely dreams, and if he does, he doesn't usually remember them or wakes up in a shock from it.

This is interesting because everyone is supposed to be assigned an archangel (in addition to a more personal angel.)

I didn't know that. I had a feeling of a demon presence, or the devil long ago as well. But, maybe it was just fueled by superstition. Here is what happened. My DD had health issues and as a result was never sleeping for any stretch of a time. She was a year old and DH was in Africa and I was in Europe with both kids for the summer. I was exhausted from not sleeping at all. My mom and I hired a cleaning lady from one of the nearby villages and she told me she knows a holy woman and that she can help. I have no idea what I was thinking, but I went with my DD to see this woman. As soon as we entered her house, I was extremely uneasy, but being an idiot, I didn't leave right away. She did some thing, and put a red scarf over my DD and said she is now protected. Well, for a few nights I couldn't sleep and kept feeling that there is some evil figure standing over my DD's crib. I called the priest,new, young one at this time, but at the same church and told him I need to come and see him. Told him what happened and that I am just worried that I have invited evil into my house and to my child. He told me that I am not insane and that there are so many things they see and hear. To bring both my kids to communion and I decided to fast as that is Orthodox tradition before receiving communion. I did it and never felt that presence again. But, as I said, not sure what is my own superstition in this case. I have other stories that are of 3 holy women coming at the time of need to my grandma, my mom and me, to me after grandma passed away, such vivid dreams and sleepwalking to meet them, but I really can't tell if I am just a sleepwalker and either highly superstitious or naive or highly spiritual person.

That sounds really legit. And scary. I am going to try fasting next time before I do communion, if it increases the potency or whatever. How long did you fast for?

I can't tell if you are genuine or mocking me, sorry if you are genuine, but if you are fasting lent in Orthodox church happens 4 times per year, two of 40 days and two shorter ones. As it was summer I observed the Saint Apostle's lent which can last from 7 to 10 days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was about six years old I awoke from my sleep and looked over at a wall that was illuminated by a night light. Before my eyes I saw the face of a pig with devil horns emerge through the wall in 3-D...just as real and plain as day. I was horrified and can still vividly recall the image at 30. (That house was/is haunted and over a dozen people have seen human spirits there.)

Last year I had a lucid dream where I felt fully conscious and awake...my wife's beloved grandmother appeared before me in radiant health and spoke to me (I can still hear how her voice sounded) telling me to tell my wife that she was okay. I woke up and began crying. I felt tremendously compelled to tell my wife but was somewhat scared to upset her. She saw that I was upset (which I rarely am) and I told her exactly what happened. She cried so hard but felt the most satisfying relief that she came to me to give that message to her.

So your wife's grandmother appeared to you instead of to your wife? It seems a little weird that she would appear to her grandson-in-law instead of directly to her beloved granddaughter

No. She wanted to make sure that her granddaughter realized that the message was for real. If she had come directly to her granddaughter her granddaughter would have dismissed it as the wishful thinking of a dream. But by delivering the message to the more pragmatic husband...there was no question: grandma says you'll be o.k..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband was sleeping after his mother's funeral and woke up to ask me if I know who is this Gabriel. DH was not at all religious. I said, why and he said that he had the dream where he was called by Gabriel to defend his mom. It was long ago, I don't remember every detail, but he said it felt really real. I called my church(in Europe, I am Orthodox, so it was day there) and asked to talk to my priest, he married us and has been a family priest for a long time. He said that it was Archangel Gabriel and did we know why she is being judged and if she did something. MIL was the nicest person I ever knew, and priest said that sometimes people make mistakes when they are young. He didn't seem at all surprised by my call, more matter of the fact. Anyway, since then we have an icon of Gabriel in our bedroom and take it with us when we move(we move a lot). Was it a dream? Maybe, but it was a very specific dream for a guy who rarely dreams, and if he does, he doesn't usually remember them or wakes up in a shock from it.

This is interesting because everyone is supposed to be assigned an archangel (in addition to a more personal angel.)

I didn't know that. I had a feeling of a demon presence, or the devil long ago as well. But, maybe it was just fueled by superstition. Here is what happened. My DD had health issues and as a result was never sleeping for any stretch of a time. She was a year old and DH was in Africa and I was in Europe with both kids for the summer. I was exhausted from not sleeping at all. My mom and I hired a cleaning lady from one of the nearby villages and she told me she knows a holy woman and that she can help. I have no idea what I was thinking, but I went with my DD to see this woman. As soon as we entered her house, I was extremely uneasy, but being an idiot, I didn't leave right away. She did some thing, and put a red scarf over my DD and said she is now protected. Well, for a few nights I couldn't sleep and kept feeling that there is some evil figure standing over my DD's crib. I called the priest,new, young one at this time, but at the same church and told him I need to come and see him. Told him what happened and that I am just worried that I have invited evil into my house and to my child. He told me that I am not insane and that there are so many things they see and hear. To bring both my kids to communion and I decided to fast as that is Orthodox tradition before receiving communion. I did it and never felt that presence again. But, as I said, not sure what is my own superstition in this case. I have other stories that are of 3 holy women coming at the time of need to my grandma, my mom and me, to me after grandma passed away, such vivid dreams and sleepwalking to meet them, but I really can't tell if I am just a sleepwalker and either highly superstitious or naive or highly spiritual person.

That sounds really legit. And scary. I am going to try fasting next time before I do communion, if it increases the potency or whatever. How long did you fast for?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband was sleeping after his mother's funeral and woke up to ask me if I know who is this Gabriel. DH was not at all religious. I said, why and he said that he had the dream where he was called by Gabriel to defend his mom. It was long ago, I don't remember every detail, but he said it felt really real. I called my church(in Europe, I am Orthodox, so it was day there) and asked to talk to my priest, he married us and has been a family priest for a long time. He said that it was Archangel Gabriel and did we know why she is being judged and if she did something. MIL was the nicest person I ever knew, and priest said that sometimes people make mistakes when they are young. He didn't seem at all surprised by my call, more matter of the fact. Anyway, since then we have an icon of Gabriel in our bedroom and take it with us when we move(we move a lot). Was it a dream? Maybe, but it was a very specific dream for a guy who rarely dreams, and if he does, he doesn't usually remember them or wakes up in a shock from it.

This is interesting because everyone is supposed to be assigned an archangel (in addition to a more personal angel.)

I didn't know that. I had a feeling of a demon presence, or the devil long ago as well. But, maybe it was just fueled by superstition. Here is what happened. My DD had health issues and as a result was never sleeping for any stretch of a time. She was a year old and DH was in Africa and I was in Europe with both kids for the summer. I was exhausted from not sleeping at all. My mom and I hired a cleaning lady from one of the nearby villages and she told me she knows a holy woman and that she can help. I have no idea what I was thinking, but I went with my DD to see this woman. As soon as we entered her house, I was extremely uneasy, but being an idiot, I didn't leave right away. She did some thing, and put a red scarf over my DD and said she is now protected. Well, for a few nights I couldn't sleep and kept feeling that there is some evil figure standing over my DD's crib. I called the priest,new, young one at this time, but at the same church and told him I need to come and see him. Told him what happened and that I am just worried that I have invited evil into my house and to my child. He told me that I am not insane and that there are so many things they see and hear. To bring both my kids to communion and I decided to fast as that is Orthodox tradition before receiving communion. I did it and never felt that presence again. But, as I said, not sure what is my own superstition in this case. I have other stories that are of 3 holy women coming at the time of need to my grandma, my mom and me, to me after grandma passed away, such vivid dreams and sleepwalking to meet them, but I really can't tell if I am just a sleepwalker and either highly superstitious or naive or highly spiritual person.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't want skeptics commenting, why bother? Supernatural beings don't exist, OP. Sorry to burst your bubble.

How can you be sure of anything? Maybe we are just living inside a video game.

That would totally explain my innate need to jump over manholes, the "cha-ching!" sound I make to myself whenever a cashier hands me my change, and the "whamp-whamp-whamp-whamp" de-escalating sound effect I hear in my head every time something goes wrong.

Anonymous wrote:My husband was sleeping after his mother's funeral and woke up to ask me if I know who is this Gabriel. DH was not at all religious. I said, why and he said that he had the dream where he was called by Gabriel to defend his mom. It was long ago, I don't remember every detail, but he said it felt really real. I called my church(in Europe, I am Orthodox, so it was day there) and asked to talk to my priest, he married us and has been a family priest for a long time. He said that it was Archangel Gabriel and did we know why she is being judged and if she did something. MIL was the nicest person I ever knew, and priest said that sometimes people make mistakes when they are young. He didn't seem at all surprised by my call, more matter of the fact. Anyway, since then we have an icon of Gabriel in our bedroom and take it with us when we move(we move a lot). Was it a dream? Maybe, but it was a very specific dream for a guy who rarely dreams, and if he does, he doesn't usually remember them or wakes up in a shock from it.

This is interesting because everyone is supposed to be assigned an archangel (in addition to a more personal angel.)

Anonymous wrote:If you don't want skeptics commenting, why bother? Supernatural beings don't exist, OP. Sorry to burst your bubble.

How can you be sure of anything? Maybe we are just living inside a video game.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Hospice Minister and watch people die almost every day. The things they see and hear sometimes take my breath away. I do not believe in the existence of evil entities. I absolutely believe dying people see loved ones who transitioned before them, angels, and often even God.

Do they all see things like that, or only the ones who believe in the afterlife? (assuming not all of your patients do)

They don't all have that experience. Or if they do, many are unable to express it when they are nearing death. I haven't seen any connection at all between religious belief and experiences during the dying process. Atheists, Christians, Buddhist, etc. all see or hear similar things, at least in my experience. I think it's interesting that so many people perceive a female God presence near death. Even evangelical Christians who always viewed God as male often use female pronouns when describing God when they are nearing death.

Wow. That's amazing. At a feminist conference I went to they were talking about how God is female, and about how women are the life givers to the universe. So how could the ultimate life giver be male, and made a male first, and then made a female? It had never really clicked for me before and then I was just like- wow! Wouldn't the creation story that makes the most sense, be God giving birth to the world?

I think that they feel God's love which is like a mother's love for her little child. God is God. He/she doesn't have a physical body so he/she doesn't have a sex like people or animals do.

When people die they feel that loving comfort which is reminiscent of what they felt when they were little and their mommy or grandma comforted them and made things all better. Of course, some people will associate those memories with their dads and grandpas and they will probably identify that comfort with a male presence.

Sorry about the double post.

My husband was sleeping after his mother's funeral and woke up to ask me if I know who is this Gabriel. DH was not at all religious. I said, why and he said that he had the dream where he was called by Gabriel to defend his mom. It was long ago, I don't remember every detail, but he said it felt really real. I called my church(in Europe, I am Orthodox, so it was day there) and asked to talk to my priest, he married us and has been a family priest for a long time. He said that it was Archangel Gabriel and did we know why she is being judged and if she did something. MIL was the nicest person I ever knew, and priest said that sometimes people make mistakes when they are young. He didn't seem at all surprised by my call, more matter of the fact. Anyway, since then we have an icon of Gabriel in our bedroom and take it with us when we move(we move a lot). Was it a dream? Maybe, but it was a very specific dream for a guy who rarely dreams, and if he does, he doesn't usually remember them or wakes up in a shock from it.

My husband was sleeping after his mother's funeral and woke up to ask me if I know who is this Gabriel. DH was not at all religious. I said, why and he said that he had the dream where he was called by Gabriel to defend his mom. It was long ago, I don't remember every detail, but he said it felt really real. I called my church(in Europe, I am Orthodox, so it was day there) and asked to talk to my priest, he married us and has been a family priest for a long time. He said that it was Archangel Gabriel and did we know why she is being judged and if she did something. MIL was the nicest person I ever knew, and priest said that sometimes people make mistakes when they are young. He didn't seem at all surprised by my call, more matter of the fact. Anyway, since then we have an icon of Gabriel in our bedroom and take it with us when we move(we move a lot). Was it a dream? Maybe, but it was a very specific dream for a guy who rarely dreams, and if he does, he doesn't usually remember them or wakes up in a shock from it.

Anonymous wrote:Can't give an answer why she came to me instead of her, but she did---twice. The other part of the story was that her grandmother was on a roller coaster of critical illness for 5 months. She had been doing really well and we expected her to be discharged.

I was sleeping in the living room (fell asleep on the couch) when I was awoken from a dead sleep by the sound of footsteps coming across the living room and stopping immediately next to me. I stirred from my sleep to see nobody there. I walked back to the bedroom and saw the wife was sound asleep. We were both awoken by a phone call perhaps an hour later (around 4am) with the news that her grandmother had gone into a coma and was in acute septic shock. We live several hours away so hauled butt to get to the hospital. She passed on shortly after we arrived.

I truly believe she had come to wake me to make sure we made it in time to say goodbye. She was an important part of both of our lives and I'm grateful she had communicated those two times to me.

That is truly beautiful.