Collisions of Heidi Barrs
NDEs and what happens when someone with your same name has one and talks about it a lot
A few winters ago, my family and I were vacationing up along Minnesota’s north shore for spring break (it’s still very much winter during Minnesota’s spring break) when I got a call on my flip phone. (Yes, this was 2022, and I still had a flip phone.) My husband and daughter were at Lutsen, the local ski resort, making some spring skiing turns, and I’d stayed behind to get a little writing done and go nordic skiing.
I was just settling in to write that morning when I heard the phone buzzing from my bag. I usually don’t answer when I don’t recognize the number, but for whatever reason, this time I did.
“Hello?” I said into the phone kind of curtly, figuring it would be spam.
“Hi, I’m trying to reach Heidi Barr? My name is Sandra Mahoney.1 My spirit guides directed me to call your number today.”
I took the phone away from my ear, looked at it askance for a second, and put it back.
Even though I still hadn’t said anything, Sandra went on to say, “I’m so glad I reached you, as I’ve been thinking about your story for months now. I’m part of a group in Medium-sized-midwestern-town, and we’d love to have you in to do a presentation on your Near Death Experience and coming face to face with Jesus as a Jewish person.”
I looked at the phone again.
(My experience meeting Jesus….hmm. I mean, from what I’ve read over the years, he seems like someone who’d be fascinating to meet, but I also hope I’d remember such a thing. I’ve also definitely never had a NDE.)
I put the phone back up to my ear. “Hi Sandra, it’s ah, nice to hear from you. Can you tell me more about how you learned about my story?” I figured I’d ask some questions and sleuth out the backstory here. How did this person get to me?
“I watched the interview you did on that NDE youtube podcast and your experience resonated so much. [goes on to share personal details] Then my spirit guides directed me to your website where I found your phone number and got the direction to call to hear your voice and ask if you’d come present at our conference.”
Okay then.
I let her down gently, interrupting her to say I wasn’t the Heidi Barr she was looking for, nor the right person to speak on NDEs, and that I haven’t actually met Jesus face to face. But we ended up having a nice chat about spirituality and nature connection, and she ordered one of my books.
When you type “Heidi Barr” into a google search, heidibarr.com is the first thing that pops up, along with several hits that take you to various books I’ve written over the past eight years and articles I’ve published at various organizations. But starting in 2020 or so, some other hits started showing up a ways down. Another Heidi Barr appeared on an assortment of new age, Jewish-focused, and NDE podcasts to share her story. They have headlines like: Crushed in a Horse Riding Accident, Heidi Barr Met Jesus in Heaven and What Happened When I Died.
Hmm.
In addition to the spirit-led phone call I received, I’ve since gotten myriad facebook messages and people reaching out to me via my website contact form sharing their personal experiences with everything from brushes with death to the Jewish faith to spiritual attunement to hospice nursing. Eventually I put up a disclaimer on that contact form that says ““**please note that this form will NOT reach the person who had a NDE–that is a different Heidi Barr.” Before putting up that disclaimer, I always knew when another interview aired, or was re-shared, as a flurry of new very personal messages rolled in. 2
But friends, it gets weirder, because THEN I thought, “Maybe I’ll look one of these interviews up, just see what this is all about, maybe even listen to part of one…” and I came upon this:
That right there is my author picture, the one that’s found on several of my books’ back covers and is often used in promotional materials, is on my author Amazon page, etc. Somehow a podcast – a podcast with 200K+ followers on youtube – thought they’d go ahead and use it to promote their episode.
Gah! Funny in hindsight, really irritating at the time.
My first action was to leave a comment under the episode that said, “The picture you’re using is not the right person, this is my author photo, please remove it.”
Nothing.
I couldn’t find a contact email on their youtube channel’s info, so I left another comment a week or so later.
“Hi, this is the other Heidi Barr, not the one you’ve interviewed in this podcast. That is my photo, and I’d like it to be removed please.”
Nothing.
So I went through the formal copyright infringement steps and reported it.
Which worked.
They removed my photo, and after they did, at their request I rescinded my copyright infringement claim so they could keep the interview up with a promo image of the correct person.
So there you have it: Collisions of Heidi Barrs. That’s the story. I wish the other one much peace, and who knows? Maybe someday we’ll meet. Perhaps if the spirit guides deem it so.
Upcoming events:
Wilderness & Wellness Earth Evening. I’ll be joining Amy Carrier of Wildnerness & Wellness Coaching to celebrate the element of earth and share some reflective readings on Thursday, September 14th at Wild River State Park. Books will be available for sale, and spots are nearly full, so register soon!
Marine Fall Festival. September 16, 10am to 4pm. Join us in celebrating the beauty of autumn and handcrafted art in the St. Croix Valley.
Everyone is invited to drop in and enjoy a variety of activities at the free community festival located on the grounds of Marine Mills Folk School (550 Pine Street, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047). Festival activities include an Artists’ Marketplace with more than 40 high-end artisans (I’ll be there with books!); crafting demonstrations by skilled weavers, woodcarvers and others; children’s activities; live bluegrass music and dancing; food; a raffle; sheep dog-herding demonstrations; and more.
Soul. Sound. Soil. September 23, 5:30-9:30pm. I’ll be the special guest author at a Soul. Sound. Soil, an event by Alex Fisk and Jen Anderson. Join us for a deeply intimate and inspiring evening retreat to welcome the Autumnal Equinox in community. Together, we will explore seasonal and internal transition, nurturing ritual, the alchemy of liminal spaces, sacred ceremony and community. Registration is limited so be sure to grab your spot soon.
Name changed for privacy
In fact, I got a new message via my website contact form just this morning, someone who said they watched me being interviewed by Jeff Morgan on Jews For Jesus' Youtube channel. Apparently they didn’t notice the “you’ve got the wrong Heidi” disclaimer.
I love the graciousness you showed! To seek out the truth/Truth and to be open-minded and generous hearted while also insisting on clarity and integrity in all the ways we can is so crucial to bringing more goodness to THIS world! Speaking of NDEs have you read Anita Moorjani's book? It's fabulous. It's called Dying to Be Me. I'm pretty sure she always uses her own picture, too! And this quote of yours, I love: "(My experience meeting Jesus….hmm. I mean, from what I’ve read over the years, he seems like someone who’d be fascinating to meet, but I also hope I’d remember such a thing. I’ve also definitely never had a NDE.)" I haven't had an NDE either, but I did meet DH in church when I was seven months pregnant. He played Jesus in a skit. Shortly therafter we got kicked off the worship team for smiling at each other too much. God knew my first and very short, traumatic marriage was over, but apparently that wasn't good enough for the church's biggest tithers. That pastor didn't mind though. We did wait to do the deed until he and his wife performed a simple ceremony at their home, Uncle Sam not included. I am half Jewish. :)
Wow.