COMMENTARY: A HUGE BOOST FOR AFTERLIFE RESEARCH?In 3 days (on November 1st) the winners of the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS) prizes for essays on "the best evidence for the afterlife" will be announced. The winning 14 essays (out of 205 submissions) of up to 25,000 words will be hosted on the BICS website.
The billionaire offerer of the prize, Robert Bigelow, has had several loved ones transition. As well, he has had extensive personal experience with UFOs and the paranormal. He seems to be looking for submissions which can help to establish an ongoing research program to produces results which will influence the academic establishment. In 1997 he endowed the Bigelow Chair of Consciousness Studies at the University of Nevada Las Vegas with $3.7 million. Charles Tart and Raymond Moody became the first two chairs, but Mr. Bigelow shut down the program after several years. “Sadly, we just couldn’t make enough progress in research aspects,” he said.
The judging panel of the contest seems to be a well-balanced group of open-minded researchers all with impeccable academic credentials and most with a track record of successful personal research. Let us hope that this will be a huge boost for all the worthy recipients and for the field of afterlife research.
ANTHROPOLOGISTS INVESTIGATE LIFE AFTER DEATH There are many open-minded academics all over the world who, given the funding and recognition, could make valuable contributions to the field of afterlife research. Dr. Fiona Bowie (pictured) founded The Afterlife Research Centre (ARC) with a group of academics based at the University of Bristol. Its aim was to promote "ethnographic and anthropological" approaches to the study of the afterlife and related beliefs and phenomena.
One post on their interesting website echoed something that we discovered in our research:
"We are struck by the consistency of many views of the afterlife, whether from ancient or more recent religious teachings, from mediums and clairvoyants, from physical sciences and reports of near-death experiences and from data acquired by means of hypnotic regression. Using these disparate sources we can begin to map the territory of the life after death, to explore similarities and differences, and to ask questions about their meaning and relevance."
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON HALLOWEEN Our very best wishes to all our friends throughout the world who are celebrating Halloween this weekend. For many it is the favourite festival of the year where kids get to visit neighbors and dress up and be silly. Others complain about the emphasis on fear and the commercialisation. But as one of our members recently posted on our forum, "Halloween is our chance to make fun of superstition. I don’t think the children think about the afterlife at all. But, monsters have to be seen as imaginary and laughed at. I think it quells the superstition that tends to plague mankind, and may help to alleviate the natural fear of death".
DO GHOSTS EXIST? The common definition of a ghost is "an apparition of a dead person that is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image". Such "apparitions" have been reported in every culture on earth and have been studied scientifically since 1882 when a study was begun in England. Altogether 32,000 cases were recorded, 17,000 in English. It was published in Volume X of the Society for Psychical Research Proceedings (1894). Further studies were carried out by the American Society for Psychical Research and by the French researcher Camille Flammarion.
RESIDUAL HAUNTINGS In residual haunting cases people report seeing, hearing, feeling or even smelling the presence of people engaged in some sort of activity. They do not interact with the observer and will not appear to be aware of them. Apparently battlefields are well known for this. People have reported seeing soldiers run past them and hearing gunshots and the sound of drums and horses. See video 10 most haunted battlefields. One theory is that, in some way currently unknown, the buildings and ground have recorded aspects of their history which sensitive people can decode. Another theory is that what is being witnessed are projections of memories from spirit people or even thought forms created by people who have conjured up images of the battle in their own minds.
Or, on a more humouros note:
DR. EDITH FIORE AND 'THE UNQUIET DEAD'
All traditional cultures claim that some spirits do not cross over to the light when they die. Instead, they say, these spirits try to influence the minds of the living. Alan Kardec talks about this in his books and this idea is accepted in Spiritism, (see video on spirit release therapy) but is highly controversial among Spiritualists and is rejected by mainstream Western psychiatry.
However Dr. Edith Fiore and a small number of other psychiatrists support the idea. They claim that some spirits become confused after they die and do not cross over to the light. They further claim that some of them become 'ghosts' and stay close to the earth because of addictions, guilt, or unfinished business. Perhaps it was similar ideas that led to the belief in "hungry ghosts" which is widespread in Asia and to fear of spirit contact.
A MOST IMPORTANT MODERN STUDY OF APPARITIONS Scientist Dr. Erlendur Haraldsson from Iceland sought an answer to his question “Have you ever been aware of the presence of a deceased person?” He conducted an extensive survey with the 450 people who said yes. The great majority (67%) said that they had visual contact. The cause of death was known and verified by checking official records for about 80 percent of the cases; in 30 percent of these cases the person had died violently. The percentage of violent deaths in the study was almost four times higher than the percentage of death by violence in Iceland during the relevant time period. Read examples from The Departed Among the Living.
PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THEY ARE DEADEmanuel Swedenborg was one of the leading scientists of his day. He was also a very highly gifted clairvoyant and out of body traveller who spent more than twenty years investigating other dimensions. He wrote volumes about what today would be called his experiences in other dimensions, including very detailed descriptions of the afterlife. Here two Swedenborg scholars discuss his discovery that many spirits don't realize that they are dead.
ECTOPLASM: MYTH OR REALITY Find out next Sunday on our Global Gathering in a talk by
Walter Meyer zu Erpen, MAS (UBC). Following a career with the British Columbia Archives, Walter is a self-employed archives consultant. He began exploring Spiritualism in the 1970s and founded the Survival Research Institute of Canada (1991). For 25 years, he has sought to preserve the records of Spiritualism and psychical research, and has written and lectured extensively about significant Canadian cases. His presentation will be based on the photographs taken by Thomas Glendenning Hamilton and his Circle.
Sunday New York time 4 p.m. https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Saturday October 30th 2021 / Sunday October 31st 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. Guest: Dr. Craig Hogan: How one can grow in knowledge, wisdom and spirit. 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 October 31st 2021 / Monday November 1st Australia
Global Gathering: Topic: Ectoplasm Myth or Reality- A presentation based upon photographs taken by Dr. T. Glen Hamilton, Winnipeg, Manitoba In his day, Canadian medical doctor T. Glen Hamilton was internationally recognized for his careful study of the table levitations (known as telekinesis or psychokinesis) and materializations (teleplasm or ectoplasm) that manifested in his seance room in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This presentation is intended to help viewers decide whether the ectoplasm photographed in the Winnipeg experiments was real or fraudulent and whether it can be accepted as evidence of life after death. Times:
Los Angeles 1 p.m. Sunday
Phoenix 1 p.m. Sunday
Chicago 3 p.m. Sunday
New York 4 p.m. Sunday London 8 p.m. Sunday - 1 hour earlier
Rome 9 p.m. Sunday- 1 hour earlier
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 October 31st 2021 / Monday November 1st 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 4 p.m.
Mountain (Phoenix) 4 p.m.
Central (Illinois, Texas) 6 p.m.
Eastern (New York) 7 p.m.
Sydney Australia - Monday 10 a.m.
Auckland - Monday 12 noon.
Contact: njturner@earthlink.net
Norma’s Room: https://zoom.us/j/3499782616
Monday November 1st 2021/ Tuesday November 2nd Australia
Dream
Circle with Kim Parker
A small group meets every two weeks - to share and explore
the meaning of their dreams. Times:
Los Angeles 1 p.m. Monday
Phoenix 1 p.m. Monday
Chicago 3 p.m. Monday
New York 4 p.m. Monday
London 8 p.m. Monday
Rome 9 p.m. Monday
Melbourne 7 a.m. Tuesday https://zoom.us/j/7595442928 Check time in your city
Email: Kim at kmrainbow57@yahoo.com
Monday November 1st 2021/ Tuesday November 2nd Australia
Sheri Perl's Distant Healing Prayer Circle First Monday of the month at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Receiving distant healing or direct distant healing to another. Every meeting will include a guided healing meditation and prayer and directing healing energy to those in need. Times:
Los Angeles 6 p.m.
Phoenix, 6 p.m.
Chicago 8 p.m.
New York 9 p.m.
Melbourne/Sydney 12 noon. Tuesday
Auckland 2 p.m. Tuesday
Check times in your city http://zoom.us/j/8700196553
Tuesday November 2nd 2021/ Wednesday November 3rd Australia
"Army 4 Love" Gathering Every Tuesday at 3:00 PST 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 3 p.m. PDT
Phoenix 3 p.m. MST
Chicago 5 p.m.
New York 6 p.m.
London 10 p.m.
Rome 11 p.m. Check time in your city
Melbourne/Sydney 9 a.m. Wednesday
email: Via a form on her website https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87968366796
Tuesday November 2nd 2021/ Wednesday November 3rd Australia
Question and Answers for Developing Mediums A series where guest mediums share experiences and
tips for developing mediums held on the1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month US time.
Topic: Practice exercises from Where Two Worlds Meet
6.00 p.m. Pacific and Phoenix time
8.00 p.m. Chicago time
9.00 p.m. Eastern time
9.00 a.m. Wednesday Perth time
12.00 p.m. Wednesday Sydney time.
2.00 p.m. Wednesday Auckland time Coordinator: Wendy Zammit wendyzammit@gmail.com Check time in your city https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Wednesday November 3rd 2021/ Thursday November 4th Australia
Automatic Writing and Mediumship Discussion
Share resources and discuss what participants are experiencing
1st and 3rd Wednesdays, Times:
5.30 p.m. Pacific Time
7.30 p.m. Illinois CTD
8.30 p.m. New York EDT
11.30 a.m. Thursday Sydney/ Melbourne Coordinator: Sheila Lowe sheila@sheilalowe.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Wednesday November 3rd 2021/ Thursday November 4th 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:
8 p.m. Central time; CDT
9 p.m. New York; EDT
6 p.m. Pacific Time; PDT
12 p.m. Thursday Sydney/Melbourne time. AEDT
2 p.m. Thursday Auckland NZDT 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 4th 2021/Friday November 5th Australia
Afterlife Book Club
1st Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. California time.
Book Club led by Gary Langley on Zoom on Thursday 4th November at 6 p.m./Friday 5th Australia
Book of the month: Riley Heagerty's
The French Revelation
Times:
6.00 p.m. Pacific and Phoenix time PDT
8.00 p.m. Chicago time CDT
9.00 p.m. New York time EDT
9 a.m. Friday Perth time
1 p.m. Friday Sydney time. AEDT
3 p.m. Friday Auckland time NZDT Check time in your city
Contact: glaringly@earthlink.net https://zoom.us/j/7595442928.
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.
Topic - Moral Laws The Spirits' Book – Part III Times:
Pacific time and Arizona - Saturday 1 p.m.
Eastern time - Saturday 4 p.m.
London - 8 p.m. Saturday
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.
SOME FAVOURITE FEEDBACK
Every now and then we receive some feedback that stops us in our tracks. Looking back over the years we found this email that really touched our hearts.
"I was a police officer for over 20 years and I suffered from nightmares for years. I never tried to get help due to the social stigma attached to it. I have only regained any semblance of rest because of a past life regression that I did about two years ago. It absolutely changed my life, for the better. The nightmares are gone and I am a more compassionate man. My wife has even remarked that the change in me is profound. Gone, is the anger and mistrust I held in my heart for so many years. Victor, your Friday reports have opened something inside of me that I thought had died. I have forwarded your Friday reports to many of my police officer friends hoping that it will change their lives like it has changed mine. You will never know how much I appreciate your tireless work. Thank you from the bottom of this old cop's heart." Mark
THE LAST WORD - FROM SILVER BIRCH "Look up always, not down. Realise that the mighty and majestic power which brought you into being and breathed into you the life-giving essence of its own spirit will uphold you and sustain you day by day." A Voice in the Wilderness: Further Teachings from Silver Birch.
FEEDBACK:
(Three only).
1) "Another great selection of topics. Just finished hanging onto every word of Alan Cochrane’s interview - so interesting and informative. Also liked the commentaries interspersed within the report". David
2) "In today’s letter your opening paragraph quotes one of the Principles of Spiritualism. I always had arguments with many of my mentors that it should read ‘all souls’ and not ‘human souls”. Lower down in the letter you include two examples where this would be more accurate, don’t you think!" Steve
3) "Thank you for your contribution to getting this knowledge to the world". Bonnie
BRILLIANT,
HIGHLY INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC
Vancouver twins Dani and Lizzy Nelson are no strangers to the music world. Their dad is songwriter Paul Hyde. But now the girls are making headlines of their own, since their song Dancing in the Sky was posted on YouTube. Lizzy wrote the song after a friend of hers passed away. After uploading it to YouTube, it went viral and has been shared around the world. Dani said the comments on the video are very moving. "They’re telling us they found peace through the song,” she said. As songwriters the goal is to write something where you can connect with people and that’s what’s happening on a worldwide level.
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 
In 3 days (on November 1st) the winners of the
academics all over the world who, given the funding and recognition, could make valuable contributions to the field of afterlife research. Dr. Fiona Bowie (pictured) founded 
throughout the world who are celebrating Halloween this weekend. For many it is the favourite festival of the year where kids get to visit neighbors and dress up and be silly. Others complain about the emphasis on fear and the commercialisation. But as one of our members recently posted on our forum, "Halloween is our chance to make fun of superstition. I don’t think the children think about the afterlife at all. But, monsters have to be seen as imaginary and laughed at. I think it quells the superstition that tends to plague mankind, and may help to alleviate the natural fear of death".
ghost is "an apparition of a dead person that is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image". Such "apparitions" have been reported in every culture on earth and have been studied scientifically since 1882 when a study was begun in England. Altogether 32,000 cases were recorded, 17,000 in English. It was published in Volume X of the Society for Psychical Research Proceedings (1894). Further studies were carried out by the American Society for Psychical Research and by the French researcher Camille Flammarion.
people report seeing, hearing, feeling or even smelling the presence of people engaged in some sort of activity. They do not interact with the observer and will not appear to be aware of them. Apparently battlefields are well known for this. People have reported seeing soldiers run past them and hearing gunshots and the sound of drums and horses. 
A MOST IMPORTANT MODERN STUDY OF APPARITIONS Scientist Dr. Erlendur Haraldsson from Iceland sought an answer to his question “Have you ever been aware of the presence of a deceased person?” He conducted an extensive survey with the 450 people who said yes. The great majority (67%) said that they had visual contact. The cause of death was known and verified by checking official records for about 80 percent of the cases; in 30 percent of these cases the person had died violently. The percentage of violent deaths in the study was almost four times higher than the percentage of death by violence in Iceland during the relevant time period. Read examples from 
Find out next Sunday on our Global Gathering in a talk by
Walter Meyer zu Erpen, MAS (UBC). Following a career with the British Columbia Archives, Walter is a self-employed archives consultant. He began exploring Spiritualism in the 1970s and founded the 
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study
Every Sunday 
Times:
Sheri Perl's Distant Healing Prayer Circle First Monday of the month at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Receiving distant healing or direct distant healing to another. Every meeting will include a guided healing meditation and prayer and directing healing energy to those in need. 
"Army 4 Love" Gathering Every Tuesday at 3:00 PST Arizona Time. 
A series where guest mediums share experiences and
tips for developing mediums held on the1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month US time. 
Automatic Writing and Mediumship Discussion
Every Wednesday 
Afterlife Book Club 
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study
