What happens to the consciousness/essence of the person first goes where it's strongest thoughts and beliefs are. Depending upon the circumstances of one's physical death, many things occur and follow, such as how one makes their transition - easily or in fear. A person who dies from old age will have a very different perspective than one who was suddenly taken out in a traumatic way, such as a murder or accident. That will also determine the soul's movements following death, from being in a hospital for recovery (and that can take years, sometimes); to counseling, or education, to having fun flying around to different dimensions/locales and meeting up with other beings; or, being stuck due to fear or pain which sometimes requires "outside" help to move on; planning one's next incarnation (if there is to be one, which is one's choice).

There is no set number of incarnations each person must have in order to be enlightened - every soul creates their incarnations and experiences and decides when, how, if, which vehicle is the best one for this or that for doing what one wants to do in a particular incarnation. There are three basic levels of evolution of the soul, however, and they can span thousands of years, but they group together a certain awareness and experiences before moving on to the next level, and then to completing the cycles of reincarnation (which is different for each person).

I have been to this HUGE clearing hall where newly transitioned souls pass through. Here they meet with others who have just transitioned or are on their way - because one's soul is already detaching from the body prior to death and can be seen there (which is how I've seen who will be dying soon). This hall also has many stories and rooms filled with anything you could want to learn if you know how to use it - you explore and make use of it with the teachers who are there - these teachers who assist those just arriving. Many souls just move on and out to other places. Many of these souls are not aware of what's happening to them, just yet. The appearance of this hall may be different for you - but that's how I saw it - as an immense, gorgeous cathedral type of structure - no religious connotations at all there. But, if you are a very deeply religious person, you might see religious symbols reflecting that belief system. Often here one will be faced with their own belief systems. And throughout their time in these other dimensions will be faced with truth/love and more clarity about themselves, having the opportunity to judge one's self and one's actions while in the body, and that often leads to deciding to give it another try in the physical body - not always on Earth, though.

What about animals? Some animals CAN decide to become human, and some humans CAN experience animal consciousness. It's not more common, but it does happen. Animals are in their own categories of consciousness, generally speaking, as are the mineral and plant kingdom. Still, you can meet with animals, plants or minerals who are in spirit, or when you both are only in spirit rather than physical form.

What happens to the physical body after death? Some of the body continues to grow after death, but in time most of it decomposes into powder, dust. The electromagnetic energy from the body, which came from the person's essence while in the body, lasts for some time in the spot where the body is buried (unless the body was cremated and ashes scattered). What we may see as spirits in a house are often ectoplasm (a life force), the electromagnetic energy of a person who spent time or has a special attachment to a place leaving a mark like a thumbprint which can be seen and felt. Sometimes it is a bleed-through from another dimension - spirits peeking in, so to speak. It doesn't always mean their spirit is stuck there for all eternity, or haunting a place (which is more rare than one may think), although some do choose to hang around for various reasons that are not hauntings, just attachments or fondess for the place.

Is there a hell? Not really - but what comes close is a dimension (and all dimensions have infinite levels and blend, or overlap into other dimensions) of fear, pain, anger - where there are the GREATEST ILLUSIONS OF SEPARATION FROM THE SOURCE. This is a place that gathers those of like mindedness (as all dimensions are wont to do), and builds on itself and gains power to continue this swirling energy of pain, fear, separation, anger. It's a very hard place for one to move out of because one is limited in what they see and think - they forget the rest (like love) - and moving out often requires assistance. This "place" reflects the person's strongest beliefs while in the physical body and I'm sure you know of some people who are living there while in the physical body. We see this most active in places where there is a lot of confusion, war, terrorism, or substance abuse. Please read more about this on my "Questions" page with "Ha'Orah" .

You might ask, "How do you know these things?" Because I remember, because I often travel to places to visit and assist spirits in other dimensions. I have been to these places and often am told who will be making their transition soon and where they will go after that. I often help and watch as people die/transition and help them move on to their guides or hospital for healing and then assist in the healing. I've been doing this all of my life and it's not speculation or fantasy. I also have had the good fortune in being taught by best spirit guide/teachers about these matters as I've encountered them.

"What if you slept, and what if, in your sleep you dreamed? And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower? And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand? What then?" --- Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Travel without a physical body is so much easier - blink! - you're there, no need for planes. But one thing you have to beware of in other dimensions: the biggest difference I have found between the physical body and non-physical body is that in spirit there is no hiding what you are and you must be fearless. So people who are used to putting on airs while here will have a rude awakening on the other side.

A few personal stories on the benefits of astral travel and dreaming (which is different from ordinary dreams):
My dad used to visit me frequently for the first fifteen years after he died and we'd go traveling together. One time, when I was with him and my mom joined us, so did a friend of the family (who I always called 'aunt' although she wasn't my aunt). I was surprised to see her, and I asked my dad why she was there. He told me that she was there because she's very sick and will die soon - within the next two weeks. When I came back to my body I panicked. I called all over to find out where this woman was. I found her in a hospital, going through the last stages of cancer that had attacked her entire body. She was heavily dosed with morphine and could barely speak with me on the phone. She didn't want me to see her like that nor to visit her because of what she was going through - immense pain, and she was always very vain and fashionable (she was in the fashion design business) so she couldn't bare anyone to see her not looking her best. I said to her what I knew would be my last words to her while she was here. She died within the next week. Without my dad telling me about her, without having seen it for myself in my OBE, I'd never have known about what was happening, or maybe find out about it a long time after her death. I have had many such events and messages from spirit - and have kept a log of them and have told my family and friends as they happen, just as an experiment to see what was accurate (they were).

A recent dream I had (a couple of weeks ago) was one of going forward in time. I saw a small plane on its way to Santa Monica and it crashed - I saw hills. I watched it go down. I told my husband and kids and friends. The next day, a small plane (a vintage plane from 1952) was on its way from Van Nuys Airport to Santa Monica and it crashed. The weather conditions were the same as what I saw in my dream, only in my dream it was darker outside. This is why I call myself a medicine dreamer - or "Dream Medicine." I have no way of knowing when I will have these types of dreams - they just happen. I would like to make them even clearer. Having seen that crash doesn't mean I could have prevented it, because I wasn't given all of the data. It just means I can go forward and backwards in time and see certain events.

There are times when it is something I have to share with others because sharing it can make a difference in their choices. Such as a few weeks ago I dreamed of an aunt of mine who lives in Chicago. I dreamt she was dying. That morning I called her family to find out what was going on with her. They told me she was taken to the hospital and gave me the medical info. I immediately phoned my aunt and spoke with her, told her I had a dream that was a call for help from her, and our talk ended with her telling me how much lighter she felt, happier, gave her the will to live. I still think she is on her way out, though.

A few weeks prior to that, I had a vision (while awake) of her daughter (my cousin) who had suddenly had her own medial emergency. I found out that the moment I had the vision of her she was in the emergency room for a pain in her leg, which turned out to be a blood clot.

My mom died in February of this year. Through the last years she wasn't able to speak or move on her own. We always had a strong psychic connection and when she had two strokes at different times, the ONLY way anybody knew was because she came to me in my dreams and told me. Once, in the middle of the night, I heard a phone ring and I woke up. I realized it wasn't a real phone, but a psychic hotline. I spoke out to the air - "Who's there - Mom?" She told me to come to see her in the home where she was staying because she had a stroke and needed help. When the doctors did a CAT scan on her they found it was true. Their excuse for not realizing it before I told them was, "Oh, we thought she always looked that way." I thought they were nuts! A few times I was able to prolong her life simply because of our telepathic communication. My mom visited me immediately after she died and told me not to worry, everything is fine, and to be happy. I saw my dad with her and they were so joyful and laughing. It gave me the strength and peace to plan and go to her funeral and actually be happy for her and my dad being together again. After the funeral, they came to visit me, again, and were smiling and gave me the same message.

I am grateful to have the ability to tune into family, friends, and world events through my dreaming and OBEs. It reassures me that consciousness lives on forever, and it is identifiable, and through it we can help ourselves and others.