A hand-drawn diagram shared online has sparked widespread curiosity after a man illustrated what he experienced during a near-death episode. Yusuff Shakur posted a sketch showing a layered structure of the universe, with Earth at the bottom and higher realms connected by a glowing spiral. Instead of describing the experience only through words, Shakur chose to map it visually, depicting humans linked by thin strands rising through several levels of reality. The drawing quickly spread across social media, with many users intrigued by its unusual symbolism and the message he said he took from the experience: “Everything is connected.”
A ‘cosmic map’ drawn after a near-death experience
Shakur’s drawing resembles a symbolic map of the universe rather than a scientific chart. At the bottom of the diagram, Earth and human life are represented as the starting point. From there, thin lines or “strands” extend upward, connecting individuals to multiple layers of reality.At the centre of the illustration is a spiral or vortex, which appears to represent a pathway through these layers. According to descriptions accompanying the viral post, the spiral symbolises the movement of consciousness beyond the physical world during the near-death experience.At the top of the structure, Shakur labelled a large sphere as the “over-soul”, suggesting a collective source of consciousness that connects all beings.
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The meaning behind the message ‘Everything is connected’
The central idea behind the diagram is the belief that all life and consciousness are part of a larger interconnected system. Shakur summarised the experience with the phrase “Everything is connected.”The visual elements of the map, particularly the strands linking humans to higher levels, appear to symbolise that connection. Many viewers interpreted the diagram as suggesting that individual consciousness is part of a broader universal network.Although the drawing reflects a personal interpretation, the concept of universal interconnectedness appears in many philosophical and spiritual traditions around the world.
Similar ideas in spiritual traditions
Observers online noted that parts of the diagram resemble ideas found in older spiritual traditions. One commonly mentioned example is the “silver cord” concept in Theosophy, a 19th-century spiritual movement.In Theosophical writings, the silver cord is described as a connection between the physical body and the soul during out-of-body or astral experiences. The strands shown in Shakur’s drawing appear visually similar to this idea.Modern esoteric teachings also describe multi-layered models of consciousness where individuals are connected to a higher collective awareness sometimes referred to as an “oversoul.”However, these concepts remain part of spiritual or philosophical belief systems rather than scientifically proven structures of the universe.
What science says about near-death experiences
Near-death experiences have been studied by researchers for decades. One widely cited study was conducted by Dutch cardiologist Pim van Lommel and published in the medical journal The Lancet in 2001.The study examined 344 cardiac arrest survivors and found that about 18% reported a near-death experience. Many described similar sensations, including moving through a tunnel or light, feeling detached from the body, and experiencing a sense of profound unity.Researchers have suggested several possible explanations for these experiences, including oxygen deprivation in the brain, neurological responses to extreme stress, and changes in brain chemistry during life-threatening events.
Why the drawing captured people’s attention
Stories about near-death experiences often spread quickly online because they touch on one of humanity’s oldest questions: what happens at the edge of death.Shakur’s drawing added another layer of fascination because it attempted to visualise the experience as a map of reality, something many people rarely see described in such a concrete form.Whether interpreted as a spiritual insight, a symbolic illustration or simply a personal reflection on a traumatic moment, the sketch has prompted thousands of discussions across social media.And for those who shared it widely, the message at the centre of the drawing remains the most memorable: everything, somehow, may be connected.
