If Someone Had Told Me This About Meditation, I Would Have Tried It Sooner

Yesterday's webinar, Meditation, Altered States, and After-Death Communication, hosted by the University of Virginia's Lifetime Learning and led by Dr. Jennifer (Kim) Penberthy, was a bit spooky. As someone who’s always been a bit skeptical about meditation (aka, I fall asleep), I left the session thinking: If someone had told me I’d be more likely to have a paranormal experience through meditation, I would have started years ago.

Dr. Penberthy, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies, shared fascinating research into how meditation and other altered states of consciousness can open doors, not just to personal well-being, but potentially to experiences that challenge our very understanding of reality.

The session dove deep into how meditation can enhance mental health, aid in grief, and even foster after-death communication. Yes, you read that right. Scientific investigations are beginning to show that people in deep meditative states sometimes report encounters that feel profoundly real, often with deceased loved ones.

This wasn’t some fringe theory talk. The research is being conducted at a leading university medical school, suggesting we might need to broaden our view of what meditation can actually do. For those coping with loss or seeking meaning, these insights could offer unexpected comfort and connection.

The practical takeaway? Meditation isn’t just about stress relief or mindfulness anymore. It might just be the gateway to deeper human experiences—some that even border on the paranormal.

So if, like me, you’ve been holding off on meditation, maybe it’s time to reconsider. The unknown might just be one breath away.

Perhaps it is time to add a lab component to my Ghost Stories and Haunted History course!