NonfictionLarge Print Edition* A New York Times BestsellerFollowing the unprecedented response to her long-running #1 New York Times Bestseller, Embraced by the Light, Betty Eadie has enriched millions of lives with the powerful faith, hope, and love that she so memorably described. Now she takes us to new levels of discovery as she expands on the knowledge and insights she has received. The Awakening Heart radiates the power of unconditional love as it guides us toward finding the light of God within us.
Betty J. Eadie, author of the international bestseller Embraced By The Light, had the most eminent, prominent and extensive near-death experience ever recorded. She has written several books in an effort to share with others what she was shown in the spirit world about God and man's existence, the meaning of life and what awaits all in the after life. Betty has given countless speaking events, lectures, radio and television appearances and interviews across America and abroad informing others that death need not be feared, the exquisite beauty of the spirit world, meeting Jesus, reuniting with deceased loved ones and the most important message of God's unconditional love: that all are here to learn to "love one another."
Betty J. (Stewart) Eadie is the mother of eight children, to-date she is a grandmother of sixteen grandchildren and has six great-grandchildren. She celebrated forty-eight years of marriage to her late husband Joseph L. Eadie Sr. before his passing in 2011. Betty was born in 1942 in Valentine, Nebraska and was raised on the Rosebud Indian Reservation and in Rapid City, South Dakota. The seventh of ten children, her mother was Native American "Lakota Sioux", and her father was Scots-Irish. At the age of four, Betty's parents separated and she was placed in an Indian Catholic boarding school along with six of her siblings. Betty spent her youth in Indian Boarding Schools finally leaving them to marry and began a life that she dreamed of. Her dreams dashed, Betty remarried, this time to Joe who became her "rock" of strength and balance in life.
After nearly 49 years of life together, Joe made his transition to heaven February 8, 2011. Betty and six of her adult children reside in the state of Washington.
In November of 1973, at the age of 31, Betty J. Eadie died following routine surgery. After undergoing what has been called "the most profound and detailed near-death experience ever recorded." Her spirit separated from her body and she traveled home to check on her family who were unaware of her presence. She then traveled through a tunnel of blackness to a being of light whom she recognized as the Savior of our world, Jesus Christ. Betty was then sent to view various aspects of what she calls our "heavenly home." She walked through a beautiful garden, was shown the creation of this world, experienced a "life-review" and then was told she must return to earth-and why. Betty was then returned to her physical body with a life-changing message for all who will listen.
Enlightened by her experience regarding the afterlife, Betty turned to the study of psychology and the human response to death. She began volunteering her time at a cancer research center comforting dying patients and their families. Through her volunteer efforts, Betty witnessed the perceptions of others and their experience as they approached death, and even some, like herself, actually experienced death and returned. Betty also began participating in a near-death study with a local university. Compelled to learn more about the "total connection" of spirit, mind and body, Betty entered one of the largest schools of hypnosis in the world. She graduated at the top of her class, and opened a clinic to continue her examination of the subconscious mind; the spirit within each soul; and their connection to life, death, illness and healing. Betty used her knowledge of the spiritual principles she was taught through her near-death experience to help others overcome adversity and find needed healing that can only come from within.
For 19 years, Betty shared the knowledge and message of her NDE with family, friends and small groups while continuing to practice all that she was taught during her experience. Eventually she began speaking publicly to larger groups, one of which was the International Association of Near-Death Studies (IANDS) as well as various grief groups and church gatherings. In 1987, Betty began writing her experience in pamphlet form to share with her cancer patients. Her efforts were brought to a halt when her father became ill and Betty became his sole caregiver. Then, in 1991, after the death of her father, she was prompted to pick up her writing again. However, this time she was "shown" how to finish the manuscript in book form. The result was the astonishing book, Embraced By The Light, whose phenomenal success quickly thrust Betty into the public spotlight. After "Embraced" was published, Betty gave up her hypnotherapy practice and began traveling extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland, speaking on death and what awaits all beyond this life.
The extraordinary success of Embraced By The Light stunned the publishing world. Never before had a book by an unknown first time author, published by an obscure publishing house, demanded so much attention and become a long standing New York Times national bestseller. "Embraced" went on to sell over 13 million copies and stayed on the Times bestseller list in hardcover and paperback for more than two years, including a record 78 weeks in the prestigious #1 position. The worldwide attention and acclaim that followed its publication changed many lives, including Betty's. More importantly to Betty, the sharing of her near-death experience brought comfort and hope to millions of people by freeing them from the fear of death and dying. Its message of God's unconditional love also taught people to be less judgmental, and to live each day with greater joy and happiness. Such a powerful and timely message eventually made Embraced By The Light the fifth best-selling book of the decade.
The Awakening Heart: My journey to love, is Betty's second book. After her experience with God that gave her great tranquility and peace, her profound insights continued to evolve and Betty felt moved to share them by writing additional books. The Awakening Heart (which became a national bestseller only two weeks after publication) chronicles all that Betty went through upon her return from dying and gives further information of what she was shown in her NDE as well as subsequent visions. New insight is shared into Betty's personal challenges and triumphs as Betty shares how she and her family adjusted to her changes brought on by her experience and the new perceptions of herself and the meaning of life as well as the great loss she felt after leaving what she learned was her heavenly home.
Betty's third book, The Ripple Effect: Our Harvest, is Betty's first teaching book and answers hundreds of questions received from the readers of Embraced By The Light. Betty gives still greater details of what she was shown in the spirit world. The Ripple Effect is a powerful and moving book that demonstrates how each of our acts is more important than we know because they ripple out to affect countless other people. The Ripple Effect gives answers to many topics that include: why there are so many religions; why evil exists; the effects of abortion and suicide; the meaning of life; dreams, visions, NDE's, do pet's go to heaven, and many more.
Betty founded her own publishing house Onjinjinkta Books, to not only publish her own writing but also to produce other author's who shared her beliefs of what she was shown in her experience. Betty's third book, The Ripple Effect, was the first book published by her own publishing house.
Embraced By The Light Prayers and Devotions for Daily Living is Betty's most recent work. This book is both a reminder of truths and introduction to deeper understanding learned from Embraced By The Light. It is a book designed to be read every day and offers daily strength to its reader of how to weather life's hardships as it deepens one's connection to God. With patient and consistent use, this unique collection of daily devotions cultivates what Betty learned is the greatest of all God's gifts: unconditional love.
Today, after more than 37 years of NDE studies, Betty J. Eadie continues her quest by collecting and evaluating thousands of near-death accounts. Through lectures and workshops, she offers understanding not only of the afterlife with God but understanding of how to live this life in a fulfilling way. And, should it be part of Betty's mission, she hopes to see Embraced By The Light brought to film.
