6.3 Post-Mortem Stages
In the book “La vie après la mort – Pourquoi il faut y croire” (i.e. Life After Death – Why It Should Be Believed), psychiatrist Olivier Chambon and psychologist Marie-Odile Riffard invite us to rethink death. Far from religious dogma or materialist skepticism, they advocate a rational, scientific approach that remains open to the possibility that consciousness survives the death of the body.
Drawing on more than 40 years of international research, the authors explore a coherent set of phenomena: near-death experiences (NDEs), out-of-body experiences, post-mortem communications, memories of past lives, and experiences under spiritual hypnosis. These phenomena are not isolated; thousands of cases have been documented, often with methodological rigor and verifiable elements.
The aim of the book is not to convince through faith, but to show that the hypothesis of consciousness not reducible to the brain is today far more plausible than classical materialism.
I read the French edition of the book (La vie après la mort – pourquoi il faut y croire, 2020). It radically changed my view of death. I highly recommend it.
What Happens After Death? – The Major Stages
Based on numerous cross-referenced accounts (NDEs, mediumistic communications, spiritual hypnosis, etc.), Chambon and Riffard outline a multi-phase post-mortem process:
- Separation from the body: As soon as the heart or brain stops, many report a separation of consciousness from the physical body. The person observes the scene from above, hears conversations among the living, and perceives details that are sometimes verifiable.
- Release and lucidity: A feeling of peace and lightness sets in. Consciousness appears clearer and more expansive, as if freed from the limitations of the brain.
- Passage through a tunnel or luminous threshold: A tunnel or an intense light appears, described as a loving, conscious, and benevolent presence. This moment often marks the transition to another plane.
- Life review: Individuals relive their entire life, not in a punitive way but empathically, experiencing the emotions felt by others as a result of their own actions.
- Encounter with loved ones: Deceased relatives or spiritual guides appear, often to reassure or guide. Some testimonies speak of beings of light transmitting profound wisdom.
- Return or crossing: In NDEs, the person is often sent back with the message, “It is not your time yet.” For those who cross definitively, the journey continues.
Up to this point, the stages are similar to those described by Moody.
What happens after the definitive crossing?
- Earth-proximate phase: For a time, the soul appears to remain close to the living. It may:
- send signs (sensations, dreams, moved objects),
- be perceived or contacted without yet realizing it has died,
- accompany loved ones through their grieving process.
This transitional stage may serve as a form of farewell or emotional release.
Transition to another plane: The soul then “ascends” toward a broader reality, described as luminous, vibrant, and more “real” than our physical world. Different planes of existence are said to exist, depending on the level of consciousness attained.
Integration period: The soul enters a phase of learning, rest, and understanding. This may include:
- spiritual guides,
- symbolic places such as libraries or teaching centers,
- inner work reflecting on the experiences of the past life.
Evolution or reincarnation: Some souls continue their evolution on other planes, while others choose to return to Earth. Reincarnation is presented not as a punishment, but as a choice for growth.
Thousands of children around the world report verified memories of past lives, further supporting this hypothesis.