ABSTRACT
It has been noted that experiences of perceived interaction with the dead are common for the bereaved. Surveys have reported that around 50–60% of individuals report that they have had such an experience following a significant death. This chapter focuses on spontaneous anomalous experiences occurring following loss. Anomalous experiences can be defined as experiences in which the abilities a person claims to have, or experiences they have, may appear to be non-ordinary to the person having the experience or any witnesses present – or to the culture in which they operate. The chapter considers the place of anomalous bereavement experiences in the debate of "consciousness and its survival beyond bodily death", and what evidence exists from such events which may add weight to the debate and goes beyond current conventional understanding. It briefly defines the commonality and general features of spontaneous anomalous experiences during a time of bereavement.
