COMMENTARY: THE POWER OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Those of us who have had amazing personal experiences of the afterlife are often frustrated when family members try to persuade us to dismiss them as "imagination" or the misfiring of a tired brain since we cannot "prove" them.
Yes, some personal experiences can be unreliable, especially if the person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. But when otherwise sensible people
give a considered account of something that happened to them, that account should be taken seriously. After all, these are the same people whose testimony would be accepted in a court of law.
And when it comes to afterlife contact,
millions of other people in different countries have reported the same phenomena. For example, millions of people in every culture throughout history have reported having a crossed-over loved one appear for a few moments, and talk to them. Various surveys show that about 20% of students have had out-of-body experiences. And several different surveys report that more than 50% of widows and widowers have ongoing after-death contact with their partners.
Personal experiences, reported by reliable witnesses, count as a different kind of evidence from laboratory experiments. They may not be double-blind gold standard laboratory experiments; but to the person who has them, they are even more convincing.
PHILIP SIRICUSA'S NDE: "I PROMISE YOU WE GO ON" When 14-year-old Phillip had his NDE in 1981 only a handful of people had heard about them. However his account is totally consistent with many thousands of others.
HOW A SKEPTIC BECAME CONVINCED Johanna Crone-Raestein says her husband was very skeptical about the afterlife and dismissed her work with near-death and kundalini experiencers. However, he was willing to go to IANDS talks with her and became impressed that many of the speakers were highly intelligent and sincere. Eventually, he had his own experience and immediately saw things in a different light. After he died he succeeded in contacting her in many different ways. The video is set to open with her story at the 7-minute point.
Ann Frances Ellis - Moderator
7 min. Johanna Crone-Ravestein
22 min Martha Harbison
37 min Roland Comtois
TYPES OF AFTER DEATH COMMUNICATION Research shows that people who die make their presence known in many ways. These include:
(1) Sensing their presence
(2) Hearing their voice
(3) Feeling their touch
(4) Smelling them
(5) Seeing them as if they were real
(6) Seeing a flat vision of them like a photo
(7) Experiencing one of these while half-asleep
(8) Having a visit in a dream - but the dream is unusually vivid and you do not forget it like a normal dream
(9) Having an out-of-body experience and meeting them
(10) Receiving a telephone call from the person who died (two-way conversations have been reported)
(11) Experiencing electrical appliances such as lights, TVs, and radios going on and off
(12) Receiving a symbolic message, sign, meaningful coincidence, or synchronicity. Read more.
AN EVIDENTIAL AFTER-DEATH CONTACT
In 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee, Faye Aldridge, lost her husband, Burke, to cancer. On the last day of Burke's life, he told Faye he would send her a fax from heaven to let her know he was all right. A short time after Burke's death, he made good on his promise by appearing separately to two of his doctors, who told Faye about their contacts with Burke in a fax.
A SON TALKS TO HIS MOTHER FROM THE AFTERLIFE David Browning crossed into the afterlife and, several years later, carried on regular conversations with his mother and father through Leslie Flint, an independent direct voice medium. Flint and David's mother and father were the only ones in the room. David's voice came from mid-air, above the medium's head. In the recording, David, in spirit, speaks first. Listen (transcript provided).
CONSCIOUS TV Ian and Renate McNay run a UK-based TV channel broadcasting on the Internet and various Satellite channels in the UK, Austria, Greece, India, Russia, and South Africa. Their quest is to stimulate debate, question, enquire, inform, enlighten, encourage and inspire people in the areas of Consciousness, Science, Non-Duality, and Spirituality. Read more.
In this interview, Renate tells the fascinating story about her spiritual transformation, her out-of-body experiences, and how she became a powerful healer.
CHILDREN IN THE AFTERLIFE "The children's realm is a township in itself, containing everything that great minds, inspired by the greatest Mind, could possibly provide for the welfare, comfort, and education, and the pleasure and happiness of its youthful inhabitants ... Children who leave the earth world in their early years will continue their studies from where they left off, eliminating from the latter all that are of no further use, and adding those that are spiritualistically essential ... All children, as might be expected, have the same opportunities, the same rights to their spiritual heritage as we all have here, young and old. And we all have the same great goal - perfect and perpetual happiness." (Mons. Hugh Benson, in Life in the World Unseen.)
THE SENSATIONAL WILLIAM STEAD In 1912, when the Titanic was sinking, William Thomas Stead is reported to have given his life jacket to someone else. A famous man during his lifetime, he was a convinced Spiritualist and publisher of books about survival after death. His books included Real Ghost Stories (1891), a collection of reports of psychic experiences, and Letters from Julia (1909), based on his own automatic writing. Within a few days of his death he communicated through several mediums and even materialised in front of credible witnesses. Keith Parsons' fascinating video about William Stead gives a wonderful portrait of this great man. To see the entire collection of Keith Parsons' Spiritual Evidence movies, go to this link.
SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE
"... Your world is full of millions of people who do not know what they are there for, who they are, what it is that they must achieve whilst they are incarnate on earth. ... You can help people to realise that they are spirits with bodies, that the real individual is the deathless spirit, that the spirit is there to gain the experience to equip it for its larger life in our world - that is the most important thing that you can do." Light from Silver Birch p. 129
HISTORY, MINDFULNESS, AND PRISON REFORM
Our speaker at the Zoom Global Gathering this week is Cristina Zaccarini, Ph.D., a full-time history professor at Adelphi University. She incorporates mindfulness and nonviolent communication into her history courses. Also, she has facilitated communication between her college students and men and women who were in prison and on parole. Award-winning filmmaker Art Jones made a 10- minute documentary of her First Year Seminar class: "History, Mindfulness, and Prison Reform" (aka "Mindfulness 101"
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study with Ana Castro.
Every Saturday. A free Zoom group about Spiritism, Kardec, and Chico Xavier.
See videos of previous meetings.
Times:
Pacific and Phoenix time 1 p.m. Saturday
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 6 a.m. Sunday
New Zealand 8 a.m. Sunday Check time in your city
Co-ordinator: Ana Castro
Just click this link to join.
Sunday August 21st 2022 / Monday August 22nd Australia
Topic: Once we know that the afterlife exists, what next? In 2012 Professor Cristina Zaccarini experienced heartbreaking and crippling losses that led her to seek knowledge about the continuity of life. She visited mediums and researched afterlife communication. This was the beginning of her journey, as the love of her partner led her to become more aware of the importance of love and compassion for all humans. (See item above on her unique Mindfulness program).
Times:
Pacific Daylight Time 2 p.m. Sunday
Phoenix 2 p.m. Sunday
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) 3 p.m. Sunday
Central Daylight time 4 p.m. Sunday
Eastern Daylight time 5 p.m. Sunday
London 10 p.m. Sunday
Amsterdam 11 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 August 22nd 2022 /Tuesday August 23rd Australia
Kim Parker's DREAM CIRCLE
A small group meets every two weeks - to share and explore the meaning of their dreams.
Times
Pacific Daylight Time 2 p.m. Monday
Phoenix 2 p.m. Monday
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) 3 p.m. Monday
Central Daylight Time 4 p.m. Monday
Eastern Daylight Time 5 p.m. Monday
London 10 p.m. Monday
Rome 11 p.m. Monday
Sydney/Melbourne 7 a.m. Tuesday
New Zealand 9 a.m. Tuesday Check the time in your city.
Email: Kim at kmrainbow57@yahoo.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Tuesday August 23rd 2022 / Wednesday August 24th Australia
Army 4 Love Every Tuesday/ Wednesday
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. Join Zoom Meeting @ https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87968366796
EMAIL: Via a form on her website to avoid spam:https://www.goldenmiracles.com/contact.php
Times:NOTE 1 hour earlier starting time
Pacific Daylight time 3 p.m. Tuesday
Phoenix 3 p.m. Tuesday
Mountain daylight time (Denver) 4 p.m.
Central time 5 p.m. Tuesday
Eastern time 6 p.m. Tuesday
London 11p.m. Tuesday
Melbourne/Sydney 8 a.m. Wednesday
New Zealand 10 a.m. Wednesday Check time in your city
Join Zoom Meeting @ https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87968366796
Tuesday August 23rd 2022 / Wednesday August 24th 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 6 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 11 a.m. Wednesday
New Zealand 1 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 August 24th 2022/ Thursday August 25th 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 and Arizona time 6 p.m. Wednesday
Mountain Daylight time 7 p.m. Wednesday
Central Daylight time 8 p.m. Wednesday
New York time 9 p.m. Wednesday
Sydney/Melbourne 11 a.m. Thursday
New Zealand 1 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
OUR SHAMANIC COSMOS Kim Parker, who hosts weekly groups on Dream Circles and "Strange Happenings", recently led a fascinating discussion on modern shamanism with Lionel Friedberg, Vicki Dobbs, and Diane Broussard.
JOSH LANGLEY INSPIRES KIDS
Josh Langley is an Australian author who has created
a unique set of books and programs to support the mental and emotional well-being of kids aged 5 to 12. His "Inspiring Kids" also helps kids with Autism, ADHD, anxiety, and learning differences to understand and manage their big emotions,
accept themselves for who they are,
be kind,
be resilient and
be awesome. Read more.
HOW GRATEFULNESS CREATES HAPPINESS Hans Willhelm explains how gratefulness raises our vibrations and counteracts "the constant drip of terrible hopeless news".
FEEDBACK (three only)
1)
"Every week I read these and like etc. but never actually thank you for putting the time and effort in to compile these weekly reports. So a sincere thank you.
I just watched the Todd Michael video and since I'm struggling with the aftermath of my wife's sudden passing it made a lot of sense and gave me hope and strength". Sunny
2) "I have taken on the task to introduce Leslie Flint Trust and especially the love story of Dinshaw and Annie Nanji on LinkedIN for my Swedish contacts as there is a keen interest in spiritual matters even in the business-related network. Many have experienced losses over the years and have written about it on LinkedIN. And our long- awaited book [with Mary Beth Span Mank] about the Nanjis is still on the way to completion". Stig
3)
"Thanks for sharing; I totally agree personally and as chairman of IANDS Flanders (Belgium)". Raymond Saerens
INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC: BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME This beautiful song helps us to remember with gratitude those who have supported, guided, and stood by us at different stages in our lives.
Lyrics
For all those times you stood by me For all the truth that you made me see For all the joy you brought to my life For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true For all the love I found in you, I'll be forever thankful, baby You're the one who held me up, never let me fall You're the one who saw me through, through it all
You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith, 'cause you believed I'm everything I am because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly You touched my hand, I could touch the sky I lost my faith, you gave it back to me You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall I had your love, I had it all I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much But I know this much is true I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith, 'cause you believed I'm everything I am because you loved me
You were always there for me The tender wind that carried me A light in the dark, shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration Through the lies, you were the truth My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith, 'cause you believed I'm everything I am because you loved me
You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith, 'cause you believed I'm everything I am because you loved me I'm everything I am because you loved me
I love you
Songwriter: Diane Warren
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 COPYRIGHT BY THE CONDITIONS SET AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE ON COPYRIGHT.