Have you ever sat next to someone who was dying and wondered where that person was going? Or do you lie awake at night wondering where your deceased loved one is now and whether they can still see you? These kinds of questions arise for almost everyone who loses a loved one and stem from a lack of knowledge about what happens after death.

The scientific community avoids the subject because, in their view, there is no evidence. Different religions each offer their own answers. But what do our deceased loved ones themselves have to say about this through channeled messages via a medium, automatic writing, or through our books? What picture do their answers paint regarding how they experienced death and the time that followed? And what are they doing now?

If you compare all those messages in our books side by side, it’s very striking how often the answers correspond with one another—even though they come through different channels.

If so many people, deceased loved ones, and guides independently share similar information, then we believe you can conclude that there is some truth to it. That’s why we’ve compiled some of their answers for you in this blog. Here, you’ll learn what happens at the moment of death, what you see after death, what the immediate aftermath looks like, and where your soul ultimately ends up. This will give you a sense of guidance for this life and the next.

What happens to your soul when you die?

The guides and departed loved ones in the books by authors José den Ronde-van Dun and Jan van Beek are very clear on this point. The entire process happens faster than we think. According to the guide Jozef, we have a silver cord that holds the soul and body together, and when we die, that cord disappears. As a result, your soul lets go of the body, and only the physical body remains.

Those present can often sense that process as well. For example, you might suddenly feel a sense of emptiness or cold. Even if you’re not there, you can experience that feeling from a great distance, because the energetic connection between you and the other person doesn’t disappear. It remains, even after death, so that your bond can continue to develop.

As a dying person or a deceased person, you do not go through that transition alone

When someone is on their deathbed, they are visited by deceased loved ones and are sometimes allowed to catch a glimpse of the other side. That is why the dying sometimes seem so distant or suddenly have a peaceful smile on their face. They are at peace with their impending death and have left their fear of it behind.

As soon as someone passes away, they are met by loved ones and helpers. After a time of recovering and reflecting on their life, they move on to the realm that suits who they have become. They take their personality with them, and “life” simply continues—only now without a body, as a soul.

Many people are afraid that dying itself is painful. The messages on this subject are reassuring. The suffering ends as soon as the soul leaves the earth, regardless of the condition of the body.

When you pass away, you see your own body lying there and realize that it was merely a shell. Guide Jozef, who died in an accident at the age of eighteen, says that he felt no pain and immediately saw his body lying there. This, too, confirms that after you die, your consciousness—your soul—leaves the body, and what remains is merely the shell that suited the life you chose to live. You simply take your personality with you.

What do you see after death?

When someone dies, they first see a small light in the distance. You rush toward it, and the Light grows larger and larger. You don’t have to worry about missing it. It is shown to you, and you are encouraged to follow it. Some describe a tunnel they passed through in the blink of an eye.

At the end of that journey, a welcome awaits. Loved ones who have gone before are waiting, and the love you feel then is described as overwhelming in every account. However, your loved ones often look different from how you knew them, because each takes on the form of their prime. As a result, they may look younger or older. But even though they may look different now, you recognize them immediately because there are bonds between souls that transcend life and death.

What happens in the immediate aftermath of death?

People who die suddenly or have been ill for a long time are often taken first to a recovery room. There, they are lovingly cared for and given time to come to terms with what has happened. That process can take a while. After his accident, Jozef was cared for for a long time before he realized what had happened.

Next comes a look back at your life. According to Joseph, it’s like a movie of your life. You see what you did and why. You also get a sense of how it was for others.

Jan van Beek’s deceased half-brother describes how he regained consciousness and was then gently told that he had died. After that, he, too, looked back on his life. What struck him most was the forgiveness and understanding he received in the process. No one is punished. It’s about understanding what you were meant to learn.

Over time, you’ll choose a mission—for example, caring for animals, nature, or the people still on Earth.

What if a soul doesn't go straight to the Light?

Not everyone finds their way right away. One of Jan’s brothers died suddenly of cardiac arrest and lingered around the house for a while afterward. He was at his own funeral, but most people didn’t see him, and he felt lonely. Until a luminous, very friendly figure came up to him and showed him the way. It later turned out to be his guardian angel.

In my own experience, after suffering a cardiac arrest, my first thought was to look for an aunt who had passed away. I had last seen her as a child in Utrecht, and that’s where I wanted to go. I never made it there, though, because the resuscitation on the operating table was successful within just a few steps.

Does a person continue to suffer after death?

Don't worry. If someone's body was sick or disabled, they'll be completely healthy again on the other side.

According to the messages in our books, no one suffers forever. It may seem like a long time by our standards, but in the end, help always comes, and even those who search for a long time will eventually come Home. Or as Eleonor, Jan van Beek’s guide, puts it: “All souls will come Home. Believe me.”

Is there a heaven, and is there a hell?

According to the guides, there is no hell. However, there are different realms, which some people refer to as heavens. Everyone ends up in the realm that corresponds to their level of consciousness and to what they have learned in this and previous lives. Family members may be in different realms, but when you think of someone, you are there immediately.

According to these descriptions, the Afterlife is not a final destination, but a long journey with beautiful stops along the way. You continue to learn and grow, and those who wish to do so may one day choose to return to Earth for a new life to learn new lessons. For example, Jan’s deceased sister recounts that on the other side, she embarked on a long journey through various heavens and learned a great deal about why we are here on Earth. And that is just one of the many examples you’ll find in our books.

What can you do if you're afraid of death?

The message our books aim to convey is that there is no need to fear death and what comes after. As you read more and discover why you are here on Earth right now, you’ll realize that your life extends beyond just the here and now. Author after author shares their experiences that led to the realization that there is more between heaven and earth and that we are walking a path that continues beyond death. We are souls who are here on Earth to learn lessons and contribute to the whole, so that our souls and humanity can continue to grow to a higher level. All your happiness, joy, pain, and sorrow serve a higher purpose.

Dying is part of the circle of life. The more you delve into this subject and the more you learn about it, the less fear you’ll have. Read and talk about it, so that dying is no longer a taboo, but a transition you can prepare for. That’s what you can achieve if this perspective from our guides and books resonates with you.