COMMENTARY: THE BIGELOW AFTERLIFE ESSAY CONTEST RESULTS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to all those who were able to meet the strict entry criteria and submit an essay of up to 25,000 words on the "best evidence" for the afterlife to the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS) contest.
Those who have been awarded one of the 29 cash prizes from $500,000 down to $20,000 are now listed on the BICS website; the essays themselves will be published there in the next two weeks.
Whilst for many people the best evidence for the afterlife is their own personal experience, in our materialistic society the size of the prize money being awarded in this contest will draw much-needed publicity to the field. It will bring together a large number of prominent academics going public together with their acceptance of the evidence, making it harder for the debunkers to try their usual tactics of ridicule.
Robert Bigelow says that while he is personally convinced of the afterlife, he wants to get the message out to the world that what you do in life matters (see this short interview). He intends to publish the essays in a set of 5-6 volumes comprising all 29 winning essays and will distribute these “collector’s items” sets of books free of charge to university libraries, hospices, and to some religious institutions. The aim is to make this group of 29 high-quality essays that nobody can refute, available to as large a group of people as possible.
As you can see from the caliber of all the prize-winners and the profiles of the winners of the three major prizes below, the afterlife can be studied at a high academic level with intellectual rigour. The skeptics will no longer be able to say that there is no academically acceptable evidence for the afterlife or that such evidence is "purely anecdotal".
All that has been missing in academia is sponsorship and career paths. Hopefully, the BICS essay competition will open up more opportunities for research into the most important questions that face every living person - where did I come from and what happens when I die.
JEFFREY MISHLOVE Ph.D. - 1st prize $500,000
Jeffrey Mishlove is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and radio and television interviewer. He has been investigating and talking with leaders in the field of consciousness and afterlife research, with a particular interest in reincarnation, for most of his adult life. Between 1986 and 2002, Mishlove hosted and co-produced the American public television series, Thinking Allowed. During this time he Interviewed some of the leading intellectuals of our time, including Joseph Campbell, Fritjof Capra, Rollo May, Arthur Young, Matthew Fox, Ram Dass, Jacob Needleman, Rupert Sheldrake, Huston Smith, Jean Houston, and many others. Since 2015 Mishlove has hosted the YouTube channel New Thinking Allowed, conducting interviews related to parapsychology and consciousness studies. His books include The PK Man, Psi Development Systems and The Roots of Consciousness. He is a past director of The Association for Humanistic Psychology and has authored numerous academic papers and journal articles.
A recent live-stream Q and A with Jeffrey Mishlove
PIM VAN LOMMEL M.D. - 2nd prize$300,000 Dr. Pim van Lommel is a Dutch author and researcher in the field of near-death studies. He worked as a cardiologist at the Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, for 26 years (1977-2003). In 2001, his large-scale prospective study of near-death experiences after cardiac arrest was published in the medical journal The Lancet. In 2007, the first (Dutch) edition of his bestseller Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience, was published. Since then he has been a regular speaker at scientific conferences always promoting the reality of the afterlife.
A recent talk on Life After Death by Cardiologist Pim Van Lommel
Victorian Ghost Hunters in the 21st Century - a recent conference presentation by Leo Ruickbie
CAN THE SPIRIT BE SEEN LEAVING THE BODY? In his book "Glimpses of Eternity", Dr. Raymond Moody, who is known primarily for his pioneering work in near-death experiences, explores the area of deathbed visions and shared-death experiences. In one chapter, Moody discusses a strange mist that is sometimes reported over a deathbed. “They describe it in various ways,” he writes. “Some say that it looks like smoke, while others say it is as subtle as steam. Sometimes it seems to have a human shape. Whatever the case, it usually drifts upward and always disappears fairly quickly.” Read more in a blog post by Michael Tymn (4th place contest winner - $50,000).
EVIDENTIAL REINCARNATION CASE? Reincarnation Experiment coordinator Paul Von Ward discusses the case for Peter Teekamp and Michelle Moshay as possible reincarnations of Paul and Mette Gauguin. He demonstrates similar physical features, corresponding personality traits, matching talents and interests, and their evolution in consciousness. Would you be convinced?
EMILY FRENCH, ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST MEDIUMS Emily S. French (1830-1912), was one of the greatest American independent voice mediums. She was investigated by the famous Buffalo attorney, Edward C. Randall (1860-1935), who initially intended to expose her as a fraud. But after completing many exacting experiments and testing her powers he became completely convinced that she was genuine. As a result of his experiences with Mrs. French, Mr. Randall became a champion for the cause of survival of death and communication with spirits.
The book by N. Riley Heagerty is illustrated & the Appendices contain a wealth of information, including a suggested reading list containing many of the great classics involving independent voice/direct voice mediumship. Read more.
The author will tell us more about the fascinating research with this medium on Sunday' Global Gathering at 3 p.m. Eastern time -note the changed times - https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
THE HAMILTON CIRCLE EXPERIMENTS Congratulations to Walter Meyer zu Erpen who was awarded $20,000 in the BICS essay contest. Last Sunday on the Global Gathering Walter gave a fascinating presentation about the Hamilton Circle photos of ectoplasm which were part of his contest submission. Here is the video of that talk. The books by the Hamiltons are TG Hamilton: Intention and Survival and Lilian Hamilton: Is Survival a Fact?. All the photos, diaries and papers taken by the Hamiltons which are now in the University of Manitoba Hamilton Family fonds. [Fonds is an archival term for a collection of papers and photos from the same source].
TWO POSTSCRIPTS TO THE HAMILTON CIRCLE There are two fascinating postscripts to the work of Dr. Glen Hamilton, his wife, Lilian, and daughter, Margaret.
1)
Dr. Hamilton died suddenly from a heart attack in 1935. His first thought on opening his eyes there was to have the person who met him - Walter Stinson, the leader of his circle in spirit - take him to see what his seance room looked like from the spirit-side. Dr. Hamilton's wife Lillian claimed that she heard the voices of two people coming through a loudspeaker in the locked seance room less than an hour after Dr. Hamilton had died. He continued to communicate regularly with his circle members in the years that followed.
2) Between 1999 and 2004 (some 64 years after his death) Dr. Hamilton communicated through four different physical mediums in twenty seances over five years. One of those attending these seances was Walter Falk, a retired teacher who had begun participating in physical circles in Winnipeg following the death of his wife. Intrigued by the communications, in 2004 Falk made his way to the University of Manitoba and asked to see the Hamilton files. He was astonished at what he found. Over the next six years, he photographed the entire collection (about 5,000 images), transferred them onto CD, and transcribed the notes into a document more than a thousand pages long. He also created a video in 8 parts that can now be found on Youtube.
DR. GLEN HAMILTON'S POST-DEATH COMMUNICATIONS In Parts 7 and 8 of Walter Falk's videos he reads from the diaries of Lilian and Margaret Hamilton on how Dr. Glen Hamilton communicated after death and described conditions on the other side. Dr. T. G. Hamilton's psychic researches - Part 7 Continued in Part 8
CHILDREN AND THE AFTERLIFE: A DOCUMENTARY BY DR. KEITH PARSONS
Communicating through Geraldine Cummins, the famous Irish medium, a girl named Elizabeth, who had died at age 15 told her mother that there were so many different places and conditions on her side that she’d be bewildered by it all. A boy named Billy, who died in an auto accident at age 12, communicated “We make things here by thinking about them,” and went on to tell of other discoveries in his celestial condition.
FREE AFTERLIFE ZOOM GROUPS - ALL WELCOME
This week we have the last of the time changes for this year as the USA ends daylight saving on Sunday November 7th.
PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THE TIMES FOR YOUR CITY
Saturday November 6th 2021 / Sunday November 7th Australia
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study
Every Saturday. A free Zoom group about Spiritism, Kardec and Chico Xavier.
See videos of previous meetings.
Saturdays at 3 p.m. Central time.
Times:
Pacific time and Arizona - Saturday 1 p.m.
Eastern time - Saturday 4 p.m.
Sydney time - Sunday 7 a.m.
Auckland - Sunday 9 a.m. Check time in your city
Co-ordinator: Ana Castro
Just click this link to join.
Sunday November 7th 2021 / Monday November 8th Australia
Global Gathering: Riley Heagerty - "The French Revelation". Emily S. French (1830-1912), was one of the greatest American independent voice mediums. She was investigated by the famous Buffalo attorney, Edward C.Randall (1860-1935), who intended to expose her as a fraud but was over time, and after completing many exacting experiments testing her powers, completely convinced that she was genuine.
Times:
Los Angeles 12 noon. Sunday Changed time
Phoenix 1 p.m. Sunday
Chicago 2 p.m. Sunday Changed time
New York 3 p.m. Sunday Changed time
London 8 p.m. Sunday
Rome 9 p.m. Sunday
Sydney 7 a.m. Monday
Auckland 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
Sunday November 7th 2021 / Monday November 8th Australia
Spiritualism Today Every Sunday
A presentation of some aspect of Spiritualism and spirituality followed by open discussion. If you have questions about Spiritualism or spirituality or religion, bring them here. Times:
California Sunday 3 p.m.
Mountain (Phoenix) Sunday 4 p.m.
Central (Illinois, Texas) Sunday 6 p.m.
Eastern (New York) Sunday 7 p.m.
London Sunday 11 p.m.
Sydney/ Melbourne Australia - Monday 10 a.m.
Auckland - Monday 12 p.m. Check time in your city
Contact: njturner@earthlink.net
Norma’s Room: https://zoom.us/j/3499782616
Monday November 8th 2021/ Tuesday November 9th Australia
GOSH: Gatherings over Strange Happenings Every two weeks on Mondays (UK EUROPE and USA) and Tuesday 7 a.m. (Sydney).
A small group that meets to share
and explore the meaning of strange experiences like missing time, seeing scenes from another time, interacting with a person who suddenly wasn't there, bi-location etc. If it's something you cannot share easily with others, bring it to this group to get validation and speculate on its cause. See short video about GOSH Times:
Los Angeles 12 noon Monday 8th Changed time
Phoenix 1 p.m. Monday 8th
Chicago 2 p.m. Monday 8th Changed time
New York 3 p.m. Monday 8th Changed time
London 8 p.m. Monday 8th
Rome 9 p.m. Monday 8th
Melbourne/Sydney 7 a.m. Tuesday 9th Check time in your city
Email: Kim at kmrainbow57@yahoo.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Tuesday November 9th 2021/ Wednesday November 10th Australia
"Army 4 Love" Gathering Every Tuesday at 3:00 Arizona Time.
People share what is happening in our world, how we are dealing with issues, holding each other’s hands, bringing in laughter and love. To bring in laughter each week one person shares a joke. This person then receives a few messages from a loved one they choose to connect with on the Other Side. Debra Martin always ends the gathering with a mini healing meditation. Times:
Los Angeles 2 p.m. Tuesday
Phoenix 3 p.m. Tuesday
Chicago 4 p.m. Tuesday
New York 5 p.m. Tuesday
London 10 p.m. Tuesday
Rome 11 p.m. Tuesday
Melbourne/Sydney 9 a.m. Wednesday Check time in your city
email: Via a form on her website https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87968366796
Tuesday November 9th 2021/ Wednesday November 10th Australia
Spirit Art A meeting to create spirit art
with messages. No art experience required.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday Times:
New York 9 p.m. Tuesday
Chicago 8 p.m. Tuesday Phoenix 7 p.m. Tuesday Los Angeles 6 p.m. Tuesday
Sydney/ Melbourne 1 p.m. Wednesday
Auckland 3 p.m. Wednesday
Check times in Your city Coordinator: Dr. Susan B. Barnes, CSNU
susanbbarnes@gmail.com https://zoom.us/j/8738817733
Wednesday November 10th 2021/ Thursday November 11th 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. Times:
Chicago 8 p.m. Wednesday
New York 9 p.m. Wednesday
Los Angeles 6 p.m. Wednesday
Phoenix time 7 p.m. Wednesday
Sydney/Melbourne time. Thursday 1 p.m.
Auckland Thursday 3 p.m. 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 November 11th 2021/Friday November 12th Australia Pet Communication Group with Gretchen Bickert
2nd Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. Arizona time. Los Angeles 12 p.m. Thursday
Phoenix 1 p.m. Thursday Chicago 2 p.m. Thursday New York 3 p.m. Thursday Sydney, Australia 7 a.m. Friday Auckland, New Zealand 9 a.m. Friday Check time in your city
https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Contact Gretchen:
ursus88@gmail.com
Thursday November 11th 2021/ Friday November 12th Australia
LEN LA SCOLEA JOURNEY OF THE SOUL DISCUSSION GROUP
Meets the Second Thursday of the Month 9 p.m. Eastern time.
Book to read: "My Life After Death: A Memoir from Heaven"
by Elisa and Eric Medhus - first 100 pages.
Question for
discussion: Erik describes in great detail what life is like on The Other Side and his process in returning HOME. In your reading of the literature is his testimony independently confirmed by other accounts?
Pacific time 6 p.m. Thursday
Phoenix 7 p.m. Thursday
Chicago
8 p.m. Thursday
Eastern time 9 p.m. Thursday
Sydney/Melbourne 1 p.m. Friday
Auckland 3 p.m. Friday
Check time in your city
Coordinator: Len La Scolea lenlascolea@gmail.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
HOW AND WHEN DOES THE SOUL ENTER THE BODY? A beautiful and thought-provoking video from The Heartfulness Institute, a global non-profit organization with a humanitarian aim of promoting universal peace and harmony through yoga and meditation. Read more.
SILVER BIRCH A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS "The Great Spirit cannot be made silent, and His truths are being proclaimed once again, their object being to restore sanity to a mad world.
We seek to drive out misery, fear and desperation. We seek to bring the light of simple truth and reason, the voice of inspiration, of revelation, the wisdom of the spirit that has been crushed, stifled and repressed for too long.
We seek to bring the spirit back into its proper perspective, so that spiritual powers shall be made manifest and all the faults of a crude materialism be exposed so that for even they may be discarded".
SYDNEY: WALLACIA DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Physical & Trance mediums and E.T. contactees, Paul and Syann, are back at Wallacia from 8th November, and will be holding various sittings with the Zetas, Anunnaki and Spirit, mediumship workshops, healings and 1-2-1 ‘Understanding your Experience’ sessions.
See their website for further details.
ONLINE: SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL NETWORK Saturdays 13 and 20 November
• 04:00-06:30 PM (GMT)
Two special masterclasses by renowned Yoga scholars and practitioners Prof Ravi Ravindra and Elleke van Kraalingen, who will lead participants in meditation and in deepening their understanding of the classic texts, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita - not to be missed! Book tickets.
FEEDBACK:
(Three only).
1) "While we have the opportunity, we want to express my heart felt-thanks to both of you for creating and maintaining this wonderful resource. Each week we look forward to reading and watching the various contributors to expanding awareness regarding the true state of consciousness. Your weekly newsletter is second to none and one that we share with like-minded people interested in expanding their knowledge. Your dedication is amazing and your gift to everyone is priceless. Thank you for everything we appreciate it beyond your imagination". Wendy and John.
2) "Thank you for this gift of compilation. Interesting isn’t a word that does it justice! With continued gratitude." Lisa
3)
"I really appreciate all the time and effort that goes into producing this report week after week. It also saddens me that not many people send feedback, and I am as guilty as the next person. So a BIG ‘Thank You’ to you and all the team and contributors for your continued work in providing life after death". Sandra
BRILLIANT,
HIGHLY INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC
"I Can See Clearly Now" is a song originally recorded by Johnny Nash, released in 1972. Jimmy Cliff, re-recorded the song in 1993 for the motion picture soundtrack of Cool Runnings.
Lyrics
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day.
Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day.
Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Bright (bright) bright (bright) Bright sunshiny day
It's going to be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Songwriter: Johnny Nash
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. We accept the imputed claim that the afterlife and paranormal research done by the researchers is done in good faith. ALL WORK IS COPYRIGHT BY THE CONDITIONS SET AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE ON COPYRIGHT.
FRIDAY
AFTERLIFE REPORT 
Moody, who is known primarily for his pioneering work in near-death experiences, explores the area of deathbed visions and shared-death experiences. In one chapter, Moody discusses a strange mist that is sometimes reported over a deathbed. “They describe it in various ways,” he writes. “Some say that it looks like smoke, while others say it is as subtle as steam. Sometimes it seems to have a human shape. Whatever the case, it usually drifts upward and always disappears fairly quickly.” 
Emily S. French (1830-1912), was one of the greatest American 
was genuine. As a result of his experiences with Mrs. French, Mr. Randall became a champion for the cause of survival of death and communication with spirits. 
Congratulations to Walter Meyer zu Erpen who was awarded $20,000 in the BICS essay contest. Last Sunday on the Global Gathering Walter gave a fascinating presentation about the Hamilton Circle photos of ectoplasm which were part of his contest submission. Here is 
There are two fascinating postscripts to the work of Dr. Glen Hamilton, his wife, Lilian, and daughter, Margaret. 
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study
Global Gathering: Riley Heagerty - 
Every Sunday 
Every two weeks on Mondays (UK EUROPE and USA) and Tuesday 7 a.m. (Sydney). 
"Army 4 Love" Gathering Every Tuesday at 3:00 Arizona Time. 
A meeting to create spirit art
with messages. No art experience required. 
Every Wednesday 
Pet Communication Group with Gretchen Bickert
LEN LA SCOLEA JOURNEY OF THE SOUL DISCUSSION GROUP
"The Great Spirit cannot be made silent, and His truths are being proclaimed once again, their object being to restore sanity to a mad world. 
FEEDBACK:
(Three only). 