Across cultures, ideas about life after death vary, yet stories persist from people who believe they briefly crossed that boundary.

One such account comes from Julie Poole, a British author and spiritual teacher whose worldview was shaped by deep personal suffering.

Poole says a life-altering medical crisis in her twenties led to what she describes as a near-death experience.

She recalls entering a peaceful “spirit realm,” where she encountered beings of light who told her it was not yet her time.

When she awoke days later, she says she carried vivid memories and a renewed sense of purpose.

She also claims she was shown a coming “Golden Age,” a period she believes will bring greater equality, honesty, and

compassion, marked by the collapse of corrupt systems and more ethical leadership.

Taken literally or symbolically, Poole’s story reflects a familiar theme: encounters with death

often renew a search for meaning, justice, and hope, suggesting the afterlife may also represent a return to purpose.