✨ What are Deathbed Visions (DBVs)? ✨
Also called end-of-life experiences (ELEs) or pre-death visions, DBVs are extraordinary events often reported in the final days or weeks of life.
🕊️ While fully awake, many describe seeing, hearing, or speaking with:
• Deceased loved ones
• Pets or friends who have passed
• Spiritual or religious figures
Family in the room may not see these visitors — but often notice their loved one smiling, reaching out, or talking to someone unseen.
A study in the Journal of Palliative Medicine found that 88.1% of hospice patients reported at least one deathbed vision.
DBVs are not chaotic or confusing like hallucinations. They are usually clear, vivid, and significant. Many describe them as peaceful or joyous, easing the fear of death and helping people let go with grace. Some even report traveling with their "visitors" to realms that resemble near-death experiences.
Researchers have suggested oxygen loss, delirium, fever, or medication effects — but none fully explain DBVs. Their clarity and consistency continue to intrigue scientists and bring comfort to families.
At IANDS, we're dedicated to education, research, and creating safe spaces where people can share extraordinary experiences like these — with compassion, openness, and respect.
🎨 Art: 'Alix Appearing in Mask' painting by Tony Robert Fleury, circa 1891.
Replies
Interesing article. Thank you.
I for one would really like to know more about this and what people experience.