COMMENTARY: TESTING THE SPIRITS
From the very beginnings of Spiritualism, there have been people investigating mediums to discover whether the information they are providing is accurate and not obtained fraudulently. The Societies for Psychical Research in England, Scotland, and the USA have been publishing tests of mediums for more than 100 years.
But when it comes to channellers, those who purport to bring through information from a
non-human source or a person who lived perhaps thousands of years ago, the issue becomes more challenging.
We were thinking of this in relation to the teachings of Silver Birch, perhaps the most beloved teacher in the Spiritualist tradition who claims to be a spokesperson for many high-level spiritual teachers. We came up with some of the reasons he is considered highly credible which might apply to other channeled material.
1) The character and caliber of the medium/channel and their circle or associates.
2)
The medium/channel's proven ability to channel accurate messages from known loved ones.
3) The quality and internal consistency of the communications over many years.
4) Consistency of the teachings with that of other spiritual teachers and evidence from other sources e.g. OBEs, EVPs, ITC, other mediums, etc.
5) Your response to the work - is it always uplifting, loving, and without ego?
We'd love to hear from you if you have developed your own criteria.
SILVER BIRCH - DISINFORMATION AND DISCERNMENT "Do not accept everything that is told to you. Use your reason to test, to challenge all that we say, and all that will be said to you, and all that you will hear. If aught that we tell you offends your reason, reject it. We make no claim to infallibility. We only say that we can give you those truths which have been known to the saints and seers for centuries, that have been forgotten or buried beneath the debris of theology and creed. We strive to rescue those ancient, eternal truths which point the way to man's regeneration, to his spiritual freedom, his economic and social liberation."
Silver Birch, A Voice in the Wilderness p. 30.
TESTING OF MEDIUMS
When it comes to testing mental mediums there is a long history of ingenious tests from book tests, to proxy sittings.
Dr. Julie Beischel worked with Dr. Gary Schwartz and others to do modern testing of the accuracy of nineteen mediums in "The Afterlife Experiments". Mediums who assisted included (in order of working with them) Laurie Campbell, John Edward, Suzanne Northrop, George Anderson, Anne Gehmen, George Dalzell, Allison Dubois, Catherine Yunt, Mary Ann Morgan, Janet Mayer, Christopher Robinson, Traci Bray, Sally Own, Mary Occhino, Debbie Martin, Doreen Molloy, Sally Morgan, Robert Hansen and Angelina Diana. The video below made in 1999, shows Professor Schwartz conducting experiments with some well-known mediums.
LIST OF MORE THAN 200 PSYCHIC RESEARCHERS
From the 1880s onward some of the world's greatest scientists, thinkers, and artists of all kinds (including more than thirty winners of a Nobel Prize - see medal pictured) have used the scientific method to investigate precognition, mediumship, telepathy, healing, seances, psychokinesis, and many other aspects of parapsychology and psychical research. This list of more than two hundred of them shows that those of us who take these things seriously are in good company. Read more.
KIMBERLEY CLARK SHARP: THE TENNIS SHOE
One of the most famous cases in Near-Death Experience research is the case of Maria and the tennis shoe. Kimberly Clark Sharp, MSW, is the founder and president of the Seattle International Association for Near-Death Studies. She explains her direct experience in finding the shoe on the outside ledge of a hospital in the exact place described by a patient who saw it during her near-death experience in 1977.
NEW BOOK ON TERMINAL LUCIDITY In this remarkable book, cognitive scientist and director of the Viktor Frankl Institute Dr. Alexander Batthyány offers the first major account of terminal lucidity, utilising hundreds of case studies and his research in the related field of near-death studies to explore the mind, the body, the nature of consciousness, and what the living can learn from those who are crossing the border from life to death. Astonishing, authoritative, and deeply moving, Threshold opens a doorway into one of life’s — and death’s — most provocative mysteries. Read more.
MY SON DIDN'T WANT TO BE BORN: PRE-BIRTH MEMORY AND NDE Margot McKinnon, Ph.D., talks about her near-death experience and her son's pre-birth experience!
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.
MARK IRELAND'S NEW BOOK
After the unexpected passing of his youngest son, Mark Ireland (co-founder of Helping Parents Heal) began a search for messages from the afterlife and discovered remarkable proof of life after death. His new book "The Persistence of the Soul" combines profound personal experience and compelling scientific evidence.
INSTRUMENTAL TRANSCOMMUNICATION Hans F. Kennis from the Netherlands experimented with EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) from 1973 with good results. From 2008 onwards he experimented with photographing ITC images in water, combined with simultaneous EVP. On his excellent website ITC EXPERIMENTS, he gives details of 33 scientists who studied ITC and were convinced of its reality. He also outlines 3 cases where he was able to get evidential pictures of people combined with EVP verification of their identity: 1. Robert de Bar 2. John Dee and 3. Jos Spijkstra
You can read his considered conclusion about EVP and ITC after 47 years of systematic research on this page.
FRIEDRICH JURGENSON: PIONEER OF EVP AND ITC WITH ANABELA CARDOSO
Anabela Cardoso was a Portuguese career diplomat. In 2000 she founded the ITC Journal. She is the author of "Electronic Voices: Contact with Another Dimension", "Electronic Contact with the Dead: What Do the Voices Tell Us", and "Glimpses of Another World: Impressions and Reflections of an EVP Operator".
Most recently, she translated into English Anders Leopold's book, "Friedel's Conversations With the Dead: The Fascinating Story of Friedrich Jürgenson, Pioneer of EVP".
Here she describes Jürgenson's life story and his significance in the history of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) and Instrumental TransCommunication (ITC).
HOW THE US MILITARY IDENTIFIED SOLDIERS WITH PSYCHIC ABILITY Fifty years ago in Vietnam, Joe McMoneagle used his sixth sense to avoid stepping on booby traps, falling into punji pits, and walking into Viet Cong ambushes. His ability to sense danger was not lost on his fellow soldiers who had confidence in this subconscious ability and followed McMoneagle’s lead. In a life-or-death environment, there was no room for skepticism - if it saved lives, it was real.
Could this ability be taught? In 2014, the Office of Naval Research embarked on a four-year, $3.85 million research program to explore the phenomena it calls premonition and intuition, or “Spidey sense,” for sailors and Marines. Read more.
PETS IN THE AFTERLIFE? Karen Anderson is an award-winning Animal Communicator specializing in pet loss. For the past twenty-six years, she has guided thousands of heartbroken pet parents struggling with a loss to find peace and healing. Her newest book "The Pet I Can’t Forget: Finding Hope and Healing With Signs From the Afterlife" is a collection of true stories revealing messages and signs from the Other Side for bereaved pet owners.
Karen founded Painted Rain Ranch, a non-profit animal sanctuary and final refuge for companion animals in the Inland Pacific Northwest.
FREE AFTERLIFE ZOOM GROUPS - ALL WELCOME PLEASE NOTE WE ARE NO LONGER SENDING OUT A SEPARATE ZOOM NEWSLETTER
You can always find out what groups are on each day at www.victorzammit.com/zoom
TIME CHANGE ALERT!! KEEP CHECKING TIMES
Some groups hosted in Australia have already changed times because of daylight saving. There will be further changes on October 29th when UK and Europe change and November 5th when the US changes.
Saturday October 21st 2023 / Sunday October 22nd in Australia
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study with Ana Castro.
A free Zoom group about Spiritism, Kardec, and Chico Xavier. See videos of previous meetings
Times:
Pacific time 1 p.m. Saturday
Phoenix time 1 p.m. Saturday
Mountain 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 7 a.m. Sunday TIME CHANGED
New Zealand 9 a.m. Sunday TIME CHANGED
Check time in your city
Co-ordinator: Ana Castro
Just click this link to join.
Sunday October 22nd 2023 / Monday October 23rd in 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 Time 10 a.m. Sunday
Phoenix time 10 a.m. Sunday
Mountain Time 11 a.m. Sunday
Central Time 12 noon Sunday
Eastern Time (New York) 1 p.m. Sunday
London 6 p.m. Sunday
Rome 7 p.m. Sunday
Sydney/Melbourne 4 a.m. Monday TIME CHANGED
New Zealand 6 a.m. MondayTIME CHANGED Check time in your city
Coordinator: Dr. Susan B. Barnes, CSNU susanbbarnes@gmail.com
Online in Zoom https://zoom.us/j/8738817733
Sunday October 22nd 2023 / Monday October 23rd in Australia
Global Gathering In 2001, while working as a photographer,Shannon Taggart began taking pictures at Lily Dale, New York, home to the world's largest Spiritualist community. She then went on to photograph in England’s Arthur Findlay College and other Spiritualist communities. Shannon expected to spend one summer figuring out the tricks of the Spiritualist trade. Instead, Spiritualism’s mysterious processes, earnest practitioners, and neglected photographic history became an inspiration. She will talk of her more than twenty years of attending physical mediumship seances and taking photographs of phenomena and also show a preview from her new book on the séance group known as ’SORRAT', which relates to physical mediumship.
Times:
Pacific Time 1 p.m. Sunday TIME CHANGED
Phoenix 1 p.m. Sunday TIME CHANGED
Mountain Time 2 p.m. Sunday TIME CHANGED
Central time 3 p.m. Sunday TIME CHANGED
Eastern time 4 p.m. Sunday TIME CHANGED
London 9 p.m. Sunday TIME CHANGED
Amsterdam 10 p.m. Sunday TIME CHANGED
Sydney/Melbourne 7 a.m. Monday
New Zealand 9 a.m. Monday Check time in your city
Co-ordinator: wendyzammit@gmail.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Monday October 23rd 2023 / Tuesday October 24th Australia
GOSH: Gatherings over Strange Happenings
With Kim Parker
When: Every two weeks on Mondays (UK EUROPE and USA) and Tuesdays 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 a short video about GOSH
Times:
Pacific Time 1 p.m. Monday TIME CHANGED
Phoenix 1 p.m. Monday TIME CHANGED
Mountain Time 2 p.m. Monday TIME CHANGED
Central time 3 p.m. Monday TIME CHANGED
Eastern time 4 p.m. Monday TIME CHANGED
London 9 p.m. Monday TIME CHANGED
Amsterdam 10 p.m. Monday TIME CHANGED
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
October 24th 2023/ Wednesday October 25th Australia
Gallileo Commission free talk. The Science of Life After Death with Professor Alexander Almeida and Dr. Humberto Coelho. "We will provide an overview of the scientific evidence regarding the survival of human consciousness after death, focusing on studies on mediumship, near-death and out-of-body experiences, and reincarnation. Finally, we will discuss the main explanatory hypotheses alternative to survival after death and the chief cultural barriers to a fair examination of the available evidence for survival of consciousness after death". A video will be made available,
Times:
Pacific time 10 am. Tuesday
Phoenix time 10 a.m. Tuesday
Mountain Time 11 a.m. Tuesday
Central Time 12 noon Tuesday
Eastern Time 1 p.m. Tuesday
London 5 p.m Tuesday
Vienna 6 p.m. Tuesday
Sydney/Melbourne 4 a.m. Wednesday
New Zealand 6 a.m. Wednesday Check time in your city
Online in zoom
Meeting ID: 812 1083 3399 Passcode: 870610 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81210833399?
pwd=VTNnTFp4V3JGZzQrVVQ4aVRrYXprQT09
Tuesday October 24th 2023/ Wednesday October 25th Australia
Spirit Artwith Susan Barnes We are meeting to create spirit art with messages.
No art experience required.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
Times:
Pacific time 6 p.m. Tuesday
Phoenix time 6 p.m. Tuesday
Mountain Time 7 p.m. Tuesday
Central Time 8 p.m. Tuesday
Eastern Time (New York) 9 p.m. Tuesday
London 2 a.m. Wednesday
Sydney/Melbourne 12 noon. Wednesday TIME CHANGED
New Zealand 2 p.m. Wednesday TIME CHANGED Check time in your city
Coordinator: Dr. Susan B. Barnes, CSNU susanbbarnes@gmail.com
Online in Zoom https://zoom.us/j/8738817733
Wednesday October 25th, 2023 / Thursday October 26th, Australia
Platform Mediumship with
Paul M. Hinson
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month
Paul is a classically trained English evidential medium now based in Sydney. He does "platform readings" giving messages to a number of people in the audience.
Times:
Pacific Time 4.30 p.m. Wednesday TIME CHANGED
Phoenix 4.30 p.m. Wednesday TIME CHANGED
Mountain time 5.30 p.m. Wednesday TIME CHANGED
Central time 6.30 p.m. Wednesday TIME CHANGED
Eastern Time 7.30 p.m. Wednesday TIME CHANGED
London time 12.30 a.m. Thursday TIME CHANGED
Perth 7.30 a.m. Thursday TIME CHANGED
Singapore 7.30 a.m. Thursday TIME CHANGED
Sydney/ Melbourne 10.30 a.m. Thursday
New Zealand 12.30 p.m. Thursday Check time in your city Coordinator: wendyzammit@gmail.com https://zoom.us/j/7595442928
Wednesday October 25th, 2023 / Thursday October 26th, 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.
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
London 2 a.m. Thursday
Perth 9.a.m. Thursday
Sydney/Melbourne 12 noon Thursday TIME CHANGED
New Zealand 2 p.m. Thursday TIME CHANGED Check time in your city
THIS GROUP NOW HAS VACANCIES AND WILL WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Email r.craig.hogan@afterlifeinstitute.org
NEVER, EVER GIVE UP: A TRIBUTE TO DETERMINATION AND PERSISTENCE
Arthur Boorman, a former paratrooper, was a disabled veteran of the Gulf War. For 15 years he was told by his doctors that he would never again be able to walk on his own. He proved them wrong with determination and the support of a group, a program, and a mentor who believed in him.
BEAUTIFUL SPIRITUAL ORATORY FROM WHITE FEATHER, SPIRIT GUIDE OF ROBERT GOODWIN
"Do I dream? Yes, I dream of peace in your world.
I dream of men treating their brothers with love instead of hatred.
I dream of all sentient creatures being afforded dignity, respect, gentleness, kindness, and impunity.
I dream of all races, colours, creeds, and genders working in harmony with each other to create a better standard of living for all, without exception.
I dream of a world where starvation, exploitation, oppression, and greed no longer exist and where every man, woman, and child has enough to eat, a roof over their head and a purpose to rise each morning with a song in their heart and a smile upon their face.
I dream of a world where war is no more and peace reigns supreme. I dream of a world where the emphasis is placed upon true spiritual learning, self discovery, and the unfoldment of the innermost riches of the divine - not the excuse for indoctrination that currently passes for education.
I dream of a world where the ethos is not to work for a system that favours the few, but one that rewards service to the many; where the weak are helped by the strong and the deprived are served by those who have more than enough to give and delight in doing so.
I dream of a world filled with light and truth; where darkness is vanquished and lies are no longer rewarded; where true power rests safely in the hands of the wise and selfless whose only desire is to help others.
I dream of a world in which gentleness is recognised as strength and generosity of spirit is rewarded in every area of life; where service to others is given freely and with a joyous heart; where stillness is encouraged over speed and where there is no race to be run; where the wisdom of silence has replaced the frenetic din of meaningless intellectual discourse and the ear arrests only the simple truths of the infinite; where the wisdom of the heart is listened to, over the mind or its ego.
I dream of men being intoxicated by the wine of happiness and joy, and feeding upon the abundant fruits of true spiritual understanding.
I dream of a world in which death is no longer feared as being the end of all life, but is seen for what it truly is - the doorway to home and the entrance to eternity.
I dream of what could be, becoming reality. I dream of tomorrow and see the roots of its past residing in the soil of this moment, now.
I dream of the exquisite beauty of the divine being realised in the enlightenment of the race, knowing that the plan of the creator is perfect in its conception, implementation, and operation.
I dream of all this and I smile to myself. For know that it will come to pass.This is the dream of thy spirit ambassador, who seeks always to serve.
1)
"Getting your Report every Friday reminds me that there's a whole community of explorers working now, who are part of a global research project that has been going on since 1848. That's a huge comfort and inspiration". Brendan
2) "I know they are alive .. I've spoken to loved ones many times through 40 years. Sometimes I can hear them or see them. But recently they communicate by recording in their own voices on my phone recorder as we have conversations. It is so wonderful. I miss them but they are well and alive and they have assured me there is no death". Darlene
3)
"Otto Konig's work was discussed in the book, "Signs of a Multidimensional Reality", which can be downloaded from http://www.treurniet.ca/evidence/. Chapter 26 is entitled "Heterodyning to communicate with spirits." The heterodyning process was discussed by the extraterrestrial Zeta race speaking through the medium, Paul Hamden. The chapter explains the function of heterodyning and how the process may be used by spirits to communicate. The process implies that certain conditions in consciousness must be met by both spirits and humans in order to achieve the communication reported by Konig". William Treurniet
HIGHLY INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC:
THE EXQUISITE VOICE OF EVA CASSIDY SINGING 'SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW' Eva Cassidy possessed one of the finest singing voices of her generation, but few people outside her hometown of Washington, DC, were aware of her until after her death on 2nd November 1996. Several posthumous compilations and live recordings were released and, after finally achieving radio play in the UK several years later, her talent was recognised by the public, leading to huge international sales. The New York Times spoke of her "silken soprano voice with a wide and seemingly effortless range, unerring pitch and a gift for phrasing that at times was heart-stoppingly eloquent." Enjoy her gentle and unique version of this timeless song.
Whilst we encourage and 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
COMMENTARY: TESTING THE SPIRITS
"Do not accept everything that is told to you. Use your reason to test, to challenge all that we say, and all that will be said to you, and all that you will hear. If aught that we tell you offends your reason, reject it. We make no claim to infallibility. We only say that we can give you those truths which have been known to the saints and seers for centuries, that have been forgotten or buried beneath the debris of theology and creed. We strive to rescue those ancient, eternal truths which point the way to man's regeneration, to his spiritual freedom, his economic and social liberation." 
RESEARCHERS 
In this remarkable book, cognitive scientist and director of the Viktor Frankl Institute 
"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 
Hans F. Kennis from the Netherlands experimented with EVP (
Fifty years ago in Vietnam, 
Spiritist Literature: Directed Study with Ana Castro.
Developing the skills of mental mediumship and blending with spirit.
Shannon Taggart 
When: Every two weeks on Mondays (UK EUROPE and USA) and Tuesdays 7 a.m. (Sydney).
The Science of Life After Death 
We are meeting to create spirit art with messages. 
Platform Mediumship with 
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. 
"Do I dream? Yes, I dream of peace in your world.
FEEDBACK: (Three only)