I first encountered Anita Moorjani some ten or twelve years ago, on a TV special featuring the now late Wayne Dyer, on PBS. For those who don’t know him, Wayne Dyer was one of the first New Age gurus, the best-selling author of a great many self-help/spirituality books. He was so popular as a speaker that PBS often ran his specials during their fund-raising weeks.
In the course of the show, Wayne introduced a petite, dark-haired, extremely “down to earth” and ordinary-seeming woman—someone you might easily strike up a chat with in the check-out line at the grocery store—whose apparently remarkable story had somehow come to his attention. And he invited her to share that story. She did, simply but profoundly—she was a natural speaker with true ease before this huge audience, with an engaging smile and an air of quiet confidence. And I, and the millions of viewers tuned in, were, I’m certain, simultaneously blown away.
Anita Moorjani has since gone on to become a best-selling author in her own right, and a fast-rising icon in New Age/metaphysically oriented media. Her first book, Dying to Be Me, which I purchased after watching the show, gobbled up, and passed on to my mother, as I knew she’d find it as provocative and uplifting as I had, was a massive hit. She quickly began to show up as a guest on New Age/spiritual talk shows, and not long after, as a featured presenter in New Age/spiritual conferences. She now has several other books under her belt, all quite popular as well.
What, you ask, was Anita Moorjani’s story? Obviously, Reader, I don’t want to give it away, but hope to entice you to watch it for yourself. Suffice it to say that it involves a horrific battle with stage-four, “terminal” cancer, a coma, a fascinating near-death experience, a fantastic voyage beyond the body, and a total recovery of her health that left her doctors astonished and perplexed.
Several years ago, I was surprised and pleased to be offered Anita’s latest book, Sensitive Is the New Strong, as a freelance copyediting gig. A copy editor’s job is to correct mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, consistency, etc. But it also involves carefully reading a manuscript and making suggestions for how it may be improved—made clearer, more concise, more correct, etc. etc. etc.
Wow, I thought. I was going to be suggesting improvements for a best-selling author’s book?! Well, it wasn’t the first time in my freelance editorial career, I must say, but being a huge fan of Anita Moorjani’s, I was a little bit . . . nervous. I needn’t have worried, though. Anita loved and appreciated all my suggestions and fixes, according to the production editor who’d hired me. I asked that editor if she might pass along a personal note to Anita, as I was a fan, and she agreed—not a common practice, so I was thrilled. Since that note, I have been able to connect with Anita a number of times via email. She’s never been anything but friendly and gracious, and I know that she’s an extraordinarily busy woman, so I’ve always appreciated her answering my emails at all.
And so, it is my true pleasure to share this early TEX-X talk by Anita Moorjani with those of you who may not know who she is, and may not have heard her story. I count it among the really important stories of NDE’s, as near-death-experiences are often called. If you enjoy it, check out Anita’s Web site where she’s created a global online community called The Sanctuary, which she’s kindly invited me to join, when my own time permits (and I surely will).
I’d love to hear about any NDE you’ve had, Dear Reader, or anything else provocative you’ve experienced in the “invisible realms” that you’d like to share.
Happy viewing, and happy exploring!