COMMENTARY: URGENT NEED TO SUPPORT OPEN-MINDED SCIENCE
Even though what happens to us when we die is a topic of vital interest to every human being, materialist science in Western society has created a "taboo" or prohibition on publicly investigating, or even talking about, psychic phenomena (PSI), the afterlife, and even the nature of consciousness.
David Lorimer is the program director of The Scientific and Medical Network, an international group of academics and professionals dedicated to an open-minded exploration of the boundaries of science. He claims that many scientists fear "loss of reputation or funding" if they admit an interest in anything that challenges the materialist paradigm. This, he says, is made worse by "militant sceptical movements such as the Wikipedia Guerrilla Skeptics [that] use intimidating tactics to reinforce this sense of threat that serves to maintain the status quo at a time when we need to be expanding rather than restricting the scientific endeavor, especially with respect to consciousness research."
If we want this situation to change, it is vitally important that those of us who are 'awake' to the existence of other dimensions of life, support the efforts of individual scientists and researchers who are working to give credibility to the field. As David Lorimer explains, "It is only with sufficient visible numbers that scientists and academics sitting on the fence will feel that they can ‘come out’ to support in public what many already believe in private."
WHEN A TRUE SCIENTIST HAS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE Full interview with Federico Faggin, inventor of the microprocessor, who is currently dedicated to studying consciousness and non-ordinary / psychic phenomena. The interview brings an overview of Faggin's trajectory "From Computers to Consciousness". He recounts his "mystical" experience and the conversation develops into discussions on the limitations of science, research of the out-of-body experience phenomenon, and the basis for a new science for consciousness. Nanci Trivellato explores his views and theories on what lies beyond ordinary physical reality.
WISDOM DIRECTLY FROM THE AFTERLIFE "Your experiences are all part of your evolution. One day, freed from the trammels of flesh, with eyes not clouded by matter, you will look back in retrospect and view the life you have lived on earth. And out of the jigsaw of all the events, you will see how every piece fits into its allotted place, how every experience was a lesson to quicken the soul and to enable it to have greater understanding of its possibilities."(S.Birch Anthology, 2000 'Ed.p.25)
AL SULLIVAN' S NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE
Al Sullivan saw his cardiologist, Dr. Takata, flapping his arms while in the operating room, something that would have been impossible for him to see or know about.
AFTER-EFFECTS EVIDENCE OF NDES
Many researchers have found that there is a distinct pattern of after-effects among NDE survivors that does not exist among people who have had hallucinations. Dr. Melvin Morse found that NDE survivors had three times the number of psychic experiences as the general population. They were frequently unable to wear watches and often had problems using electricity - their laptops would short circuit and their credit cards would be erased (Morse 1992). He also found that adults who had near-death experiences gave more money to charity than others, were more likely to do volunteer work in the community, worked more in jobs where they could help people, did not abuse drugs, and ate more fresh fruit and vegetables than other people (Morse 1992). Read PMH Atwater's paper on NDE after-effects.
HOW OLD IS PSYCHIC RESEARCH?
Many people think the beginnings of the Spiritualist movement occurred at Hydesville in New York State in the 19th century, but psychic investigation is much, much older than that. This 22-minute video traces its origins.
HILDA DESCRIBES WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO DIE
"When I [died], I found that the most foolish mistake in my life was my long, long terror of death. Year after year, I was afraid of it when I needn’t have been in the least afraid. I had much illness and suffered a great deal from worries, fears, anxieties, and bodily pain in my life. But at the moment of death, there was no pain. When I knew I was dying, I was just able to say: “Take care of little Tough.” He was my darling baby grandson. But I wasn’t unhappy or frightened or lonely, for I saw my father, my sisters, my brother whom I had thought of as dead – and by dead, I mean asleep till Judgment Day. But they weren’t asleep; they were quite close to me. I could see them through a pale mist. So if anyone talks to you about the loneliness of death, tell them it is all nonsense."
PRE-BIRTH MEMORIES Dr. Brian Weiss writes: "Not accidentally or coincidentally are we born into our families. We choose our circumstances and establish a plan for our lives before we are even conceived. Our planning is aided by the loving spiritual beings who eventually guide and protect us while we are in our physical bodies as our life's plan unfolds. Destiny is another name for the unfolding dramas we have already chosen. There is considerable evidence that we actually see the major events in the life to come, the points of destiny, in the planning stage prior to our births. This is clinical evidence gathered by myself and other therapists from our patients who have experienced pre-birth memories while under hypnosis, during meditation, or through spontaneous recall. Mapped out are the key people we will meet, our reunions with soul mates and soul companions, even the actual places where these events will eventually occur." from Messages from the Masters- p.45 Read more about pre-birth memories.
WHAT IF YOU KNEW YOU HAD LIVED BEFORE AS A MEMBER OF A DIFFERENT RELIGION? Naresh Kumar (a Hindu) had memories in childhood of his life as Mushir Ali, a Muslim who was killed when he was struck by a tractor. This reincarnation case was researched by Satwant Pasricha, Ph.D..
Barbro Karlen, who was brought up as a Christian, remembers a life as Jewish Holocaust victim, Anne Frank. Walter Semkiw, MD, discusses these cases and claims that by really understanding this aspect of reincarnation we can create a more peaceful world.
THE BUDDHA ENCOURAGED CRITICAL THINKING Like Silver Birch, the Buddha taught the value of subjecting your beliefs to evidence and reason: “Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” ~ Buddha
AN INSPIRATIONAL ACCIDENTAL DOCTOR B.J. Miller is a medical doctor who is also a triple amputee. He says that he uses his own suffering as "a platform for empathy, a platform for connection." He is a hospice and palliative care specialist who treats hospitalized patients with terminal or life-altering illnesses. His expertise includes symptom management for patients with cancer. In his work in end-of-life care, he seeks to connect art, spirituality, and medicine. Miller has a grant from the Fetzer Institute to help integrate spirituality as part of the health of mind and body into medical education.
Members of The Afterlife Book Club are currently reading Spectral Evidence III, by Riley Heagerty. A free PDF copy is available here, courtesy of the author. A discussion about the book will take place on the first Thursday in January.
Saturday December 10th 2022/ Sunday December 4th Australia
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study with Ana Castro.
Every Saturday. A free Zoom group about Spiritism, Kardec, and Chico Xavier. See videos of previous meetings.
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER Dr Decio Landoli Jr. (physician and professor at the University of Medicine of UNIDERP in Brazil & President of the Medical-Spiritist Association - AME), is holding a lecture for SLiDS group on December 10th - Reincarnation as a Biological Law - A Scientific Perspective.
Times:
Pacific time 1 p.m. Saturday
Phoenix time 2 p.m.
Mountain daylight time 2 p.m. Saturday
Central time 3 p.m. Saturday
Eastern time 4 p.m. Saturday
London 9 p.m. Saturday
Rome 10 p.m. Saturday
Sydney/Melbourne 8 a.m. Sunday
New Zealand 10 a.m. Sunday
Check time in your city
Co-ordinator: Ana Castro
Just click this link to join.
Sunday December 11th 2022/ Monday December 12th Australia
Mediumship Development with Dr. Susan Barnes. Developing the skills of mental mediumship and blending with spirit.
Meetings: Every 2nd and 4th Sunday Times:
Pacific Daylight Time 10 a.m. Sunday
Phoenix time 11 a.m. Sunday
Mountain Daylight Time 11 a.m. Sunday
Central Daylight Time 12 noon Sunday
Eastern Daylight Time (New York) 1 p.m. Sunday
London 6 p.m. Sunday
Sydney/Melbourne 5 a.m. Monday
New Zealand 7 a.m. Monday
Check time in your city
Coordinator: Dr. Susan B. Barnes, CSNU susanbbarnes@gmail.com
Online in Zoom https://zoom.us/j/8738817733
Sunday December 11th 2022/ Monday December 12th Australia
Global Gathering: Guests physical medium Marion Dampier-Jeans with an update on physical mediumship in Scandinavia.
Times:
Pacific Daylight Time 12 noon Sunday
Phoenix 1 p.m. Sunday
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) 1 p.m. Sunday
Central Daylight time 2 p.m. Sunday
Eastern Daylight time 3 p.m. Sunday
London 8 p.m. Sunday
Amsterdam 9 p.m. Sunday
Sydney/Melbourne 7 a.m. Monday
New Zealand 9 a.m. Monday Check the time for your city
Co-ordinators: karynjarvie@ozemail.com.au and wendyzammit@gmail.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Monday December 12th 2022 /Tuesday December 13th Australia
Dream Circle with Kim Parker
A small group meets every two weeks - to share and explore the meaning of their dreams.
Times
Pacific Daylight Time 12 noon Monday
Phoenix 1 p.m. Monday
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) 1 p.m. Monday
Central Daylight time 2 p.m. Monday
Eastern Daylight time 3 p.m. Monday
London 8 p.m. Monday
Amsterdam 9 p.m. Monday
Sydney/Melbourne 7 a.m. Tuesday
New Zealand 9 a.m. Tuesday Check the time for your city
Email: Kim at kmrainbow57@yahoo.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Tuesday December 13th 2022 /Wednesday December 14th Australia
Spirit Art We are meeting to create spirit art with messages.
No art experience required.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
Times:
Pacific Daylight Time 6 p.m. Tuesday
Phoenix time 7 p.m. Tuesday
Mountain Daylight Time 7 p.m. Tuesday
Central Daylight Time 8 p.m. Tuesday
Eastern Daylight Time (New York) 9 p.m. Tuesday
London 2 a.m. Wednesday
Sydney/Melbourne 1 p.m. Wednesday
New Zealand 3 p.m. Wednesday Check time in your city
Coordinator: Dr. Susan B. Barnes, CSNU susanbbarnes@gmail.com
Online in Zoom https://zoom.us/j/8738817733
Wednesday December 14th 2022/ Thursday December 15th Australia
Physical mediumship development group Every Wednesday with Rob Blackburn and Craig Hogan. Participants sit in a darkened space in their own homes; the group has been going for some time and members are experiencing phenomena. This is a long-term commitment.
Times:
Pacific time 6 p.m. Wednesday
Phoenix 7 p.m.
Mountain Daylight time 7 p.m. Wednesday
Central Daylight time 8 p.m. Wednesday
New York time 9 p.m. Wednesday
London 2 a.m. Thursday
Amsterdam 3 a.m. Thursday
Perth 10 a.m. Thursday
Sydney/Melbourne 1 p.m. Thursday
New Zealand 3 p.m. Thursday Check time in your city
Contact Rob Blackburn (rkblack@mtco.com) or Craig Hogan (r.craig.hogan@afterlifeinstitute.org) before joining the group.
https://zoom.us/j/4381898190
Thursday December 15th 2022 / Friday December 16th Australia
THE POWER BEHIND A SIMPLE SMILE
It is good to remember that we affect all we meet, in one way or another and in one degree or another. And it is fully up to us to choose what kind of effect we will provoke on those we meet! We can all bring cheer to others in humble ways, such as a positive countenance, a sunny smile or a friendly greeting. And each time we do so we become an instrument for doing good to the people who surround us, by making their day brighter and happier. We never know to what extent a smile might lighten up someone’s day! These teachings from The Universal Spiritual Brother&Sisterhood (USB) can be found in the book "Spiritual Light."
YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH THAT EXTRA BIT OF KINDNESS MAY MEAN TO ANOTHER PERSON Often in our busy days we forget that the small things - a smile, a touch, a small kindness, can mean the world to people under pressure.
YOU CAN BE YOUR OWN MEDIUM Susanne Wilson writes: "I envision a day in the near future when we will all 'direct-connect' with our guides and with our beloved people and pets who live in the spirit world. That's why I partnered with Streaming for the Soul to produce this empowering and affordable video training series, "You Are Your Own Spiritual Medium." Read more.
1)
"The video of Jeffery Olsen was particularly poignant/instructional/ and heartfelt.
Thank you for sharing this story".
Susanne
2)
"Hi Victor & Wendy. I so look forward to your inspiring Friday Afterlife Report each week. It helps me + so many countless others more than you know!!! Thank you both so much!" Bonnie
3) "Thank you Victor and Wendy for this beautiful report. As always, you lift the spirits of so many who read them as they all bring such uplifting Messages. Light to the Soul". Marion
HIGHLY INSPIRED MUSIC: 'THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM!' The song is the most popular song from the 1965 Broadway musical Man of La Mancha and is also featured in the 1972 film of the same name starring Peter O'Toole. In the final scene of the movie, it is sung as Miguel de Cervantes and his manservant mount the drawbridge-like prison staircase to face trial by the Spanish Inquisition. Beautiful and inspiring lyrics.
"The Impossible Dream"
(originally by Richard Kiley)
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
And to run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
And to love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For that heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable the unreachable star
And I always dream the impossible dream
Yes, I'll reach the unreachable star
Whilst we encourage and we publish many papers and reports by afterlife researchers, we are not in a position to guarantee the accuracy of all claims. ALL WORK IS COPYRIGHTED BY THE CONDITIONS SET AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE ON COPYRIGHT.
FRIDAY
AFTERLIFE REPORT 
day, freed from the trammels of flesh, with eyes not clouded by matter, you will look back in retrospect and view the life you have lived on earth. And out of the jigsaw of all the events, you will see how every piece fits into its allotted place, how every experience was a lesson to quicken the soul and to enable it to have greater understanding of its possibilities."(S.Birch Anthology, 2000 'Ed.p.25)
distinct pattern of after-effects among NDE survivors that does not exist among people who have had hallucinations. Dr. Melvin Morse found that NDE survivors had three times the number of psychic experiences as the general population. They were frequently unable to wear watches and often had problems using electricity - their laptops would short circuit and their credit cards would be erased (Morse 1992). He also found that adults who had near-death experiences gave more money to charity than others, were more likely to do volunteer work in the community, worked more in jobs where they could help people, did not abuse drugs, and ate more fresh fruit and vegetables than other people (Morse 1992).
But I wasn’t unhappy or frightened or lonely, for I saw my father, my sisters, my brother whom I had thought of as dead – and by dead, I mean asleep till Judgment Day. But they weren’t asleep; they were quite close to me. I could see them through a pale mist. So if anyone talks to you about the loneliness of death, tell them it is all nonsense."
"Not accidentally or coincidentally are we born into our families. We choose our circumstances and establish a plan for our lives before we are even conceived. Our planning is aided by the loving spiritual beings who eventually guide and protect us while we are in our physical bodies as our life's plan unfolds. Destiny is another name for the unfolding dramas we have already chosen. There is considerable evidence that we actually see the major events in the life to come, the points of destiny, in the planning stage prior to our births. This is clinical evidence gathered by myself and other therapists from our patients who have experienced pre-birth memories while under hypnosis, during meditation, or through spontaneous recall. Mapped out are the key people we will meet, our reunions with soul mates and soul companions, even the actual places where these events will eventually occur." from Messages from the Masters- p.45 
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” ~ Buddha 
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study with Ana Castro.
Developing the skills of mental mediumship and blending with spirit.
We are meeting to create spirit art with messages. 
Every Wednesday with Rob Blackburn and Craig Hogan. Participants sit in a darkened space in their own homes; the group has been going for some time and members are experiencing phenomena. This is a long-term commitment.
August Goforth: Exploratorium.
THE POWER BEHIND A SIMPLE SMILE
FEEDBACK: 3 only