THEAfterlife

HEALINGCIRCLE

THEAfterlife

HEALINGCIRCLE

HOWANYONECANCONTACTTHEOTHERSIDE

CANDACEL.TALMADGEandJANAL.SIMONS

FOREWORDBYRAYMONDMOODY,MD

Copyright©2015byCandaceL.TalmadgeandJanaL.Simons

AllrightsreservedunderthePan-AmericanandInternationalCopyrightConventions.Thisbookmaynotbereproduced,inwholeorinpart,inanyformorbyanymeanselectronicormechanical,includingphotocopying,recording,orbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystemnowknownorhereafterinvented,withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher,TheCareerPress.

THEAFTERLIFEHEALINGCIRCLE

EDITEDANDTYPESETBYKARAKUMPEL

CoverdesignbyHowardGrossman/12EDesign

PrintedintheU.S.A.

Toorderthistitle,pleasecalltoll-free1-800-CAREER-1(NJandCanada:201-848-0310)toorderusingVISAorMasterCard,orforfurtherinformationonbooksfromCareerPress.

TheCareerPress,Inc.

220WestParkway,Unit12

PomptonPlains,NJ07444

www.careerpress.com

www.newpagebooks.com

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData

Talmadge,CandaceL.,1954-author.

Theafterlifehealingcircle:howanyonecancontacttheotherside/byCandaceL.TalmadgeandJanaL.Simons;forewordbyRaymondMoody,MD.

pagescm

Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.

ISBN978-1-60163-373-6(paperback)—ISBN978-1-60163-379-8(ebook)1.Seances.2.Spiritualism.I.Simons,JanaL.,1945-author.II.Moody,RaymondA.,writerofforeword.III.Title.

BF1261.2.T352015

133.9’1—dc23

2015002857

Thisbookisdedicatedtoallofthesoulswhoreachacrossdimensionstoconnectwiththosetheylove.

Acknowledgments

Manyhaveofferedsupportandassistancetohelpthisbookreachpublication.Wewanttoacknowledgeourtwosoul-sisters.OneisPamWorthington-Lash,whoreadthemanuscriptnumeroustimesandaskedexcellentquestionsthatpromptedustokeepimprovingit.TheotherisSusanneThibodeau,whoprovidedinsightsandextensivemoralsupportalongtheway.

Weacknowledgethesignificantcontributionsofclientsandstudentswhoeitherrequestedtheafterlifehealingcircleorsatinononeandthensharedtheirstoriesinthesepages.Thankyou.Wealsothankthosewhotoldustheirstoriesofcommunicatingwiththeothersideandallowedustoincludetheminthisbook.Suchdeeplypersonalsharingtakescourageandgenerosity.

Wearegratefultoouragent,JohnWhite,forhistirelesseffortsonourbehalf,andtoRaymondMoody,MD,whotoldusaboutJohnandthencraftedalyricalForewordforthisbook.Toknowthatourworktouchedoneofthepioneersoftheafterlifemovementmeansagreatdealtous.

FellowauthorMarkIrelanddeservesourthanksforhiseffortstosupportus,too.Hehelpedbringaboutavastlyimprovedmanuscriptthatisthebasisforthisbook.WealsowishtothankTerriDanielformakingsureweconnectedwithDr.Moody.

WewanttoacknowledgeandthankourunseenmentorsandcolleaguesoftheSunanSocietyandourowngroupsofspiritguides.Theyareindeedpartofthatwidercommunitywedefineanddiscussinthisbookandhavebeenwithuseverystepoftheway,eventhroughoutmanyyearsofdiscouragement.Theynevergaveuponus,andthathelpeduskeepgoing.Thisbookisoneofthefruitsofourcollaboration.

Contents

ForewordbyRaymondMoody,MD

Introduction

Chapter1

Chapter2

Chapter3

Chapter4

Chapter5

Chapter6

Chapter7

Chapter8

Chapter9

Chapter10

Chapter11

Appendix:TheStepsinBrief

Notes

Resources

Index

AbouttheAuthors

ForewordbyRaymondMoody,MD

Allovertheworld,andfromprehistorictimes,humanbeingshaveattemptedtocontactthespiritsoftheirlovedoneslosttodeath.Modernmediumship,wearetold,datesfromthe19thcentury,butthatisamerefactoidorakindofurbanmyth.Inreality,formorethantenthousandyears,peoplehaveknownofvariousmethodsforcarryingonactiverelationshipswiththeirdeceasedrelatives.Alovingrelationshipwithapersondoesn’tstopwhenthatindividualdies,andthathasbeentruethroughouthumanhistory.

TheAfterlifeHealingCircledescribesanexcitingrediscoveryandupdatingofancientshamanicmodalitiesforcommunicatingwiththespiritworldandmakingitmanifestinthephysicalworld.Thebookisrepletewithfascinatingcasehistoriesandpersonalexperientialaccountsoflife-changingspiritualencounters.ReadingTheAfterlifeHealingCircleremindedmeagainofaremarkableculturalandhistoricalfactaboutspiritualexperiences:PeoplelivinginadvancedWesternsocietiesfrequentlyhaveprofoundepisodesofspiritualconsciousness.Similarepisodesarewell-known,named,andcategorizedinvariousnon-Westernlandsandtribalsocieties,yetknowledgeofsuchkindsofexperiencesisnotculturallytransmittedintheWesternworld.Inotherwords,certainkindsofspiritualexperientialformatsorpotentialitiesaresomehowbuiltintothehumanmind.Andsuchexperienceswilloccurtopeopleregardlessofwhetherthatparticularkindofexperienceisacknowledgedandcataloguedinthosepeople’sculturaltraditionsornot.

Forinstance,inChina,thereisanancient,well-establishedtraditionofwhatareknownasbirthdreams.PregnantChinesemothersoftencommunicatethroughdreamswiththeyet-to-be-bornindividualstheyarecarryingintheirwombs.InChina,thisisallacknowledged,understood,andappreciated.YetthesamethinghappensamongAmericansaswell,asapoignantstoryinthisbookillustrates,despitetheculturalvoidthatsurroundsthephenomenonintheUnitedStates.

Tome,thisisanastonishingfactabouthumannature.Thereisauniversalformat,asitwere,ofspiritualexperiencesdeeplyembeddedinusallthattranscendsparticularhumancultures.TheAfterlifeHealingCircletouchesonthisandmanyotherimportant,unexploreddomainsofhumanconsciousness.Asthisbookshows,unleashingsuchhiddenspiritualpowerscangreatlybenefitthelivingandperhapsbringbalancetothedead.

RaymondMoody,MD,isapsychiatristandauthoroftheinternationalbestsellingbookLifeAfterLifeaboutthenear-deathexperience,atermhecoined.Hispioneeringresearchintothequestionoflifeafterdeathhelpedlegitimizethesubject.Inthe1970sheandasmallgroupoffellowresearchersformedtheInternationalAssociationforNear-DeathStudies(IANDS),whichcontinuestodayasoneaspectoftheworldwidestudyofthecaseforpostmortemexistence.

Introduction

Whatkindofworldwouldweinhabitifwewerenotsoterrifiedofdeath?Ifwecouldmeetourchildrenandknowtheirlives’purposesandatleastsomeoftheiremotionalandspiritualneedsbeforetheywereborn?Imaginegreaterfreedomfromfear.Imagineparentsbeingbetterpreparedandwiserstewardsofyounglives.

Iftheprecedingseemsunobtainable,pleasereadthisbook.Itispossiblebecauseithashappened.We,theauthorsofthisbook,havewitnessedtheafterlifehealingcirclealleviatingdecadesofunresolvedgrief.Wealsohavefirsthandknowledgeofthewaytheafterlifehealingcirclecaneasethefearsofexpectantparents.Thisbookrecountssomeofthestoriesofthoseinvolved.

Thereisnogreaterjoythantohelpsomeonemovefrompainanddespairtohopeandresolution.Ithasbeenourprivilegethroughoutmanyyearstoassistinmakingthishappen,andwewrotethisbooktohelpanyonewhodesirestodothesame.

Mostbooksabouttheafterlifefallintooneofseveralgroupings.Somerecountscientificresearchintothesurvivalofconsciousnessafterthephysicalbody’sdeath,whileothersrelatethepersonalnear-deathexperiencesofcredentialedexperts.Othersuchbooksrevealhowanordinarypersonorchilddied,glimpsedtheotherside,andreturnedtotellaboutit.Thefourthtypeofafterlifetomeiswrittenbymediumsorpsychicswhodiscusstheirexperiencescontactingsoulsonbehalfoftheirclients.

Thisbookdoesnotfallintoanyofthesecategories.Instead,itisahow-tomanualwithenoughcontexttoexplainthewhy-to,when-to,andwhere-to.Youneednotbeanexpertormedium,oreventhinkofyourselfasspeciallygiftedinanyway,toconductorparticipateintheafterlifehealingcircle.Thedesiretohelpsomeoneelseortohealyourownpain,alongwithsomepracticeintheintuition-tappingapproachesweprovideinthisbook,goalongway.

Youdonotmakethisjourneyalone.Theafterlifehealingcirclebringstogetherinformalgroupsoffamily,friends,andneighborswhoassistandsupportthoseinneedofhealing.Filledwithtears,laughter,and,frequently,surprises,theafterlifehealingcircleisoneofthemostprofoundspiritualgiftswecangiveeachother,andourselves.Thetrueimpactoftheafterlifehealingcircleistheexperienceoftheothersidethatitprovidestoparticipants.Thatdistinguishesitfromareadingbyamediumorfrombooksaboutscientificexperimentsconcerningtheafterlife.Whatalsosetsitapartisitsuseforcontactingsoulsbeforethebirthofthephysicalbody,notjustafteritsdemise.It’spossibletocontactsoulsregardlessofwhetherornottheyinhabitbodiesweperceiveasphysical.WedothisofteninourworkasSunantherapists.

Theafterlifehealingcircleisagrassrootsspiritualpracticewithenormouspotentialtobringaboutinnerpeace.Thesimplemethodoutlinedinthesepagesequipsordinarypeopletofindtheirownanswerstolife’sdeepestquestionswithoutrelyingonauthoritiesorexperts.

Thatinitselfisaworld-changingproposition.

Oursisnotanorganizedmovementwithanagendaorover-archinggoals.Instead,wehopethatbypublishingabookthatteachesanyonehowtoconducttheafterlifehealingcircle,wewillhelpfosterajubilantinnershiftinawarenessasmoreofusexperienceandembracetherealityofloveandconsciousnessasacontinuum,whetherexpressedinthisworldoranyother.

Chapter1

EverwatchTheChangling?There’sacorkerofasceneinthismovie.Amediumostensiblyinatrancestatesupposedlydoesautomaticwriting.Thunderbooms;thewindhowls;theshuttersbangopenandshut;thelightsflickeronandoff;ahugechandelierswingsominouslyabovethewomanandotherparticipantsintheevent.It’smeanttobedramatic,buttheeffectislaughable.It’sjustalotofhooplaandweirdgoings-on.Rightnowreadersmaybewondering,Whatdoesthisscenehavetodowiththeafterlifehealingcircle?It’saboutaséance!

Ouranswerisnothing—andyetalot.Thebig-screendramahaspreciouslittletodowithwhatactuallyhappensduringtheafterlifehealingcircleaswepracticeit,orwithanyofthelegitimatereasonsforconductingoneinthefirstplace.Butwhetherwelikeitornot,ouruseoftheafterlifehealingcirclehasbeenknownmorecommonlyastheséance,evenifthetwoareasdifferentasdayandnight.

Wewrotethisbooktoexplainhowandwhyourversionoftheafterlifehealingcircleisapowerfulgrassrootsspiritualtoolandnothingatallliketheséance,itsmuch-better-knownstep-sibling.Inthenextchapterwewilllookbrieflyathowthecirclehasbeenassociatedwithhealingandthesacred,fromancienttimestothepresentandinmultiplesocietiesacrosstheworld.Wearenotnewinusingthecircleasahealingtool,butweareadvocatinganapproachthatbringsallofselftothecircleandthusmakesatypeofcommunicationpossibleinwaysnotgenerallyassociatedwiththemoreprevalentusesofthehealingcircle.

Tosucceed,wemustshattertheséancestereotypethatwasbornoutofignoranceandprejudiceagainsttheemotionalandspiritual(intuitive)partsofself.Deridedbysome,proscribedbyothers,theséanceis,tragically,degeneratefodderforsideshows.OnesuchspectaclewaswitnessedinLasVegasanumberofyearsagobyparanormalauthorandlecturerKenHudnall.Ken,aprolificauthorwhohostsanonlineradioprogramcalledTheKenHudnallShow,wasinSinCitydoingaghosttourthatendedwithaséance.Hewassuspiciousfromtheoutsetbecausehewasnotallowedtoinspecttheroompriortotheevent.Toupthedramafactor,thestagersincludedelementsofVoodooandSanteriaamongtheséanceritualswithwhichKenisveryfamiliar.Therewerechickenbonesinmotion,atambourineplaying,andobjectsonthetablethatappearedtobemovingbythemselves.

“It’seasytospotcollusion,”Kensays,“becauseusuallysomebodyintheaudienceisashill.”Butonthisoccasion,hecouldnotfigureitout,andremainspuzzledtothisday.

“Attheendoftheséance,”heexplains,“thelightsgoout,themediumbeginstoscream,there’sabigbang,andthegirlbesidemejumpsintomylap,”Kenrecalls.“Whenthelightscomeon,I’mholdingthegirlandthemediumhasvanished.Everybodywasabsolutelyfascinated,andI’mlookingforthetrick.”

Trickeryandtheséancehavegonehandinhandtoooften,suchasaséanceinGrosse

PointFarms,Michigan,inthe1940sthatwasintendedtobesham.Twocollegestudentswhowereamateurmagiciansandknownlocallyasséancedebunkersreceived$100tostageafakeséanceinanaffluentwoman’shome.Ontheappointednight,theeventappearedtogooffwithoutahitch.Therewereeeriesounds,andalikenessofthedeadhusbandofoneoftheguestsappearedoutofamisttoanswerherquestions.

Afterward,thestudentwholedtheséancewanderedintothekitchenandfoundhispartnerpoundingonthebackdoor.Thissecondstudent,whowastoworktheapparatustogeneratethespecialeffects,hadbeenlockedoutsidethroughouttheentireeveningandhadbeenunabletoplayhisbackstagerole.1

Unnerving,isn’tit?Especiallyforthosewhoareconvincedthewholeséanceproposition(and,byextension,theafterlifehealingcircle)isalwaysphony.

Thosestudents’experienceinthebizarrehasbeensharedbycountlessothers.Peopleoftendabbleintheséanceasacasualpastimewithnomoreapparentsignificanceormeaningthanagame.Itbeginsasalarkorajoketoalleviateboredom,toenlivenapartygoneflat,ortosatisfyidlecuriositybyseeingifsomethingorsomeonereallyis“outthere.”Thiscasualapproachisbeggingforproblemsifnotdownrightdisaster.Unawareofwhatthey’rereallygettinginto,manypeoplemakewell-meaningattemptsatspiritcommunication.TheytrytabletippingorOuijaboards,whichmaybesoldasgamesbutarenottoys.Ayoungwomanwe’llcallTammyJenkinsfoundthisoutthehardway.

Scaredandbewildered,Tammy,whodeclinedtoprovideherfullname,phonedusoneday,desperateforreassurance.Shealsowantedanexplanationforthechillingandbizarreeventshehadjustexperienced.SheandafriendhaddecidedtouseaOuijaboardtocontactherlategrandfather.Thingswentfineatfirst.Thepointer,movingundertheirhands,spelledoutthenicknamehergrandfatherhadalwayscalledher.

Thenitstopped.Somethingchanged.Thepointermovedagainbuthaphazardly,asthoughwhoeverorwhateverwaspropellingitdidn’trecognizeTammyorherfriend.Ittriedtospelloutawordthatappearedtobe“help,”thenspunaroundandaroundinwildcircles.Atthatinstantbothyoungwomenexperiencedanastyfeelingintheirstomachs.Theireyesblurred,andTammyrecalledactuallydozingoffforabriefperiod.Aftertheyendedthesession,allthetapesontopoftheVCRfellsidewaysandspilledontothefloor.Noonewasanywhereclosetothetapeswhentheyfell.

Tammy’sunnervingtaleofherexperienceswithaOuijaboardincidentsisbynomeansunusual.AvisitorontheYahoo.comAnswersWebsitetellsaboutdabblingwithaOuijaboardataslumberpartyinthesixthgrade.Immediatelyafterthekidsaskedabouttheentitythatrespondedtotheirsummons,allofthefaucetsinthebathroomturnedon.Noonecouldhaveenteredthebathroomwithoutbeingnoticedbecauseitopenedonlytothebedroom.“Itwasprettyscary,”theposterwrites.2

Theséanceisprobablythemostmisunderstoodandthusabusedanddebasedofallspiritualpractices.Theverywordimmediatelybringstomindwhatmostofusconsidertheunrealandthereforeabsurdnotionof“conjuringupspirits.”TheséancestereotypecertainlywasthefoundationforthatoutrageoussceneinTheChangling,andamuchmore

recentséance-relatedmovieevenhasthatwordinthetitle:TheConjuring.Skeptics’viewoftheséancecanbesummedupbyBrianDunning,whowritestheSkeptoidblog:“Contactingthedeadhasneverpassedanykindofcontrolledtest,hasnoplausibletheory,andisafraudcommitteduponsusceptibleconsumers,”heasserts.3

Membersofsomereligiouscommunitiessharethesameattitude,althoughfordifferentreasons.TexasresidentJeanneM.PerduecitedEcclesiastes9:5–6intheBibleashercautionagainstcontactingthedead:“Forthelivingknowthattheywilldie,butthedeadknownothingatall,nordotheyhaveanymorereward,becauseallmemoryofthemisforgotten.Also,theirloveandtheirhateandtheirjealousyhavealreadyperished,andtheynolongerhaveanyshareinwhatisdoneunderthesun.”

TheS-wordalsoevokesagooddealoffear.“TryingtocontactthedepartedthroughOuijaboards,séances,etc.,isoneofthemostdangerousthingsanyonecando,”warnsPhyllisSloan,PhD,anauthorandspiritualscienceministerbasedinMaryland.“ItisplayingRussianroulettetryingtocontactspirits.Goddoesnotlikeitandthepunishmentissevere.”4

WeallhaveourownunderstandingaboutwhatGoddoesordoesnotlikeorallow.Andwe,theauthors,wouldarguethatnegativeeventsaremoreaboutexperiencingtheconsequencesofourbeliefsandactionsthanaboutdivinepunishment.Weagree,however,thattherecertainlyhasbeenagreatdealoffraudinvolvingséancesinrecentdecades,ifnotcenturies.Wealsoarewell-awareofthepotentialforhazards.Thegoodnewsisthesedangerscanbeavoided,andonereasonthisbookexistsistoteachreadershowtodojustthat.

Here’sthebottomline:Theafterlifehealingcircleissimplyonemeansbywhichthoseinphysicalbodiesmaycommunicatewiththosewhoarenot—meaningthosewhoareontheotherside.Itmakesnodifferencewhetherthosewhodonothavephysicalbodiesareconsidereddeadornotyetborn.Weusewhatwecalltheafterlifehealingcircletoexperiencetherealityofbeing(life)asacontinuum—afterphysicaldeathandbeforephysicalbirth.

Personalexperiencethenenablesustodecideforourselves,ratherthantakesomeoneelse’swordforit,whatwebelieveaboutthepossibilityofmultiplelivesandwhattranspiresbeforebirthandafterdeath.Weneedtoexperiencethisforourselvesbecausethatisthemostengagingandcompellingwaywelearnandgrow.AChineseproverbsumsthisupbest.Itstates,“TellmeandI’llforget.ShowmeandImayremember.InvolvemeandIwillunderstand.”Onlydirectpersonalexperienceenablesustoevenbegintocomprehendasubjectthatseemsatfirstunfathomableorbizarre.

Conductedcorrectly,ourversionoftheafterlifehealingcircleisoneofthemostpowerfulspiritualandemotionalexperiencesavailabletoanyoneinagroupsetting.Moreover,learningtoconducttheafterlifehealingcircleandparticipatinginitisgrassrootsspiritualityatitspurest,underthedirectionofthoseinvolved,actingastheirownconnectionstospiritandnotrelyingonintermediaries’interpretationsordogmas.Knowingforourselvesmoreaboutwhathappensafterthephysicalbodydies,orbeforeitisborn,isempoweringandfreeinginwaystoonumeroustocountorevenunderstandwithouthavinghadtheactualexperience.

So,ifconductingaséancecananddoesleadtotrouble,whydoitatall,evenunderadifferentlabel?That’savalidandpertinentquestion.Indeed,PhyllisSloane,theministerandauthorwhostatessheisalsoapsychicandclairvoyant,advisesthatthebestrouteissimplytoprayforinformationfromGodaboutthosenotinphysicalbodies.“Spiritsatthisplaneareevil,”shesays,“andtheyimpersonatethosewhomaybeheroesofthosewhohearthem.Ihavebeeninthisfieldaswellaspsychotherapyforover40yearsandIcannottellyouhowmanypeoplehaverunintoserioustroublewithcontactingspirits.Somehaveneverrecovered.Theybecomewhatmedicinecallsschizophrenic.”5

Werespectherconcernsbecausetheyarevalid.Wecertainlyagreethatprayerisbeneficial,whichiswhywedoitdailyinourownways.Butwehavebeenconductingandtakingpartinourversionoftheafterlifehealingcirclefordecadeswithnoadverseeffectsforourselvesorthosewhoalsoparticipate.Theproperlyconductedafterlifehealingcircleinvolvesnodanger,asthisbookwillexplainanddemonstrate.

Moreover,weoftenneedresolutionthatwecannotfindorobtainthroughmoreconventionalmeans,suchasprayer,meditation,orcounseling.InChapter3,wewillintroduceyoutoawomanwerefertoasClaraJonestomaintainherprivacy.For20yearsshetriedbothpsychiatryandpsychotherapy.Theywereveryhelpfulforherbut,intheend,bothweresimplytoolimitedinapproachorunderstandingtoaddresstheoneissuethatwasstilleatingawayather.Afterallofhertreatmentandhardworkonself,shestillyearnedforemotionalandspiritualresolutionwithherdeadmother.

Thislongingisuniversal.AstridStromberg,PhD,sayscallerstoherBrilliantEssenceradioshowwhomentiondepartedlovedonesinvariablyhaveunresolvedissuesconcerningtheirdeaths.“Usuallypeoplestartoutbysaying,‘Aretheyokay?’”explainsStromberg,aninspirationalspeaker.“Butwhattheyreallywanttosayis,‘Dotheystillfeelmylove?Dotheystillfeeltheconnection?Dotheystillseemelive?DotheystillknowhowIfeel?Dotheyknowhowtheirexperienceofthemdyingwasfeltbymeandtheoneswholostthem?’”6

Inotherwords,whensomeoneweloveandcareaboutdies,weexperienceaprofoundandpainfuldisconnectionandloss,andwecannothelpbutlongtoreverseitoratleastalleviateit.Theproblem,forClaraandmanyothers,isthattraditionalpsychotherapyprovideslittletonohelpinrelievinggrief,andunresolvedgriefcancausesignificantmentalandemotionaldistress.7

Asimilaremotionalandspiritualcrisiscanresultfromanunwantedorpoorlytimedpregnancy.ThatwastheissueofanotherwomanwewilltellyouaboutnamedDebraWilde(apseudonymtoprotectherprivacy).Sheneededemotionalandspiritualsupporttoresolveherfearandself-doubt.Parents-to-beMarcandRondiH.(theirlastnameabbreviatedforprivacy)alsorequiredsomethingthatnodoctororpregnancycounselor,howeverexpertandwell-intentioned,couldgivethem.Theyneededtofeelreassuredandconfidentintheirheartsandsouls,notjustknowintheirheads,thatthepregnancyandbirthweregoingtobefine.

Partoftheissueissimplythattraditionalpsychotherapy,groundedinbehavioraland

cognitivesciences,istoolimitedtoadmitthepossibilityoflifebeyondthephysical,whetherit’safterdeathorbeforebirth.Sciencespeakstoandsatisfiesthementalpartofourbeing,butoffersnothingtofillorevenacknowledgetheverydifferentneedsoftheemotionalandspiritualpartsofself.Thishalfofselfknowsandsensesthatthephysicalisnottheonlyreality,anditslegitimateneedsdeserveasmuchrespectandsupportasthementalpart’sinterestinscience.

Theafterlifehealingcirclespeakstoallofself,notjustoneortwoparts.BrianaHendersonSaussyisanintuitivecounselorandteacherwhohelpsclientsaccesstheirancestorsandancestralknowing.Veryfamiliarwithcircles,shesays,“Acirclegivesyouasafeplacewhereyoucanfeelyourpain,youcanfeelyourdisorientation,youcanfeelyourgrief,andit’sgroundedandprotectedsoyoucanfeelthesethingsandnotbedevouredbythem,notbeincapacitatedbythem.”8

Precisely.Withinthecircleitissafetoventone’sgriefandanguish,surroundedbylovingsupport.Butbeyondprovidingasafeplaceinwhichtoexpresspain,thecircleaswepracticeitcanhelplaunchoracceleratehealing,too.Healing,whichwewilldefineingreaterdetailinChapter2,isthepurposeofthecircle.Itheals,inpart,byprovidinguniquelypersonalanswerstothosequestionsthatAstridoutlines.Thisapproachalsohealsbyrespectingandthenrestoringorestablishinganemotionalandspiritualconnectiontothebeloveddepartedorthenotyetborn.

Theafterlifehealingcirclecannot,however,substituteforadeeperexplorationofunresolvedmattersbetweenthelivingandsoulsontheotherside(thedeadandthenotyetborn).Thisisoneoftheafterlifehealingcircle’slimitations.Itisnotthesameastherapy,andthereforeisnotanappropriateplacetoexploreverysensitiveissues,suchassexualabuse,thatarebestaddressedinaprivatesettingwitheitheratraditionaloralternativetherapistorcounselor.Norcantheafterlifehealingcirclefunctionasanexperimentorprovideobjectiveproofofanything.Itoffersonlyanentirelysubjectiveexperienceandshouldbeemployedandregardedassuch.Thereisnothingdangerousornegativeaboutsubjectivity,providedwedonotinsistthatoursubjectiveexperiencesdeterminetherealityorlivesofothers.

Thepoweroftheafterlifehealingcircleisdirectlyrelatedtothepresenceoflove,themostsubjectivefactorofall.Lovehelpshealalotofthepaincausedbytheseparationthatwecalldeath,andeasesthesoul’sentryintothephysicalbodythatwerefertoasbirth.

Thedesireforresolutionissometimessostrongthat,ifunfulfilled,itcanleadtoseriousconsequences.Onesuchconsequenceispoltergeistphenomena.Apoltergeististhoughttobepresentwhenobjects,someofwhichcanbealarminglybigandheavy,move,fall,andevenbecomeairborneoftheirownvolition.Parapsychologistsandotherresearchershaveconductedextensivestudiesofpoltergeistevents.Theyhavefoundoneelementcommontothemajorityoftheseinstances:thepresenceofafemale,usuallyagirlinherpre-teensorteens,orsometimesayoungwomaninher20s.Researchershavenotedthefemale’spresencewithoutanytrueunderstandingofitsconnectiontothephenomenaofself-propelledobjects.

Webelievethepoltergeistismisunderstood.Inouropinion,apoltergeistismostoften

notaseparatesoulorentitytossingobjectsaboutatrandom.Rather,thepoltergeisteffectisrootedinthesuppressionanddenialofanger,oneofthestrongestofallemotions.Andwhathasalwaysbeenthemostunacceptableemotionforagirlorwomantodisplayinsocietiesallaroundtheglobe?Anger,ofcourse.

Fromourworkinalternativetherapy,weknowthatwestoreangerinthesubconsciousmind,alsoknownastheemotionalbody.Weofferthefollowingasanalternativeexplanationforpoltergeistphenomena:Whenagirl’sorwoman’sanger,suppressedanddeniedinthislifetimeandinmanypastlives,reachesacertainintensity,itcannolongerbecontainedwithintheperson’sownsubconscious.Itthenexplodesoutwardwithenoughforcetomoveevenhugephysicalobjects.Rageexpressedinsuchamannerwouldmostcertainlyappearrandomorchaotictotheconsciousmind.That’sbecausetheexpressionisattheemotional,non-rationallevel.Thefemaleinvolvedisunawareofherparticipationincreatingthephenomena.Suchfemalesareconsistentlyobservedtobesubdued,obedient“goodgirls.”Theyhavebeenfigurativelyswallowingtheirrageforalongtime.

Thepoltergeisteffect,then,isanextremeandfrighteningformofpassive-aggressivebehavior.Itisanunavoidablesignalfromtheemotionalbodythatthisperson,atleastonsomedeeperlevel,wantsherrageandpaintobeacknowledgedandhealed.Itisfarbeyondthescopeoftheafterlifehealingcircle,however,toofferthedepthandextentofhealingneededincasesofpoltergeistphenomena.Thesewomenverymuchneedsomethingeffectiveinaddressingtheirwoundedemotionalbodies.

Farmoreterrifyingthanpoltergeistphenomenaarethosedocumentedcasesofpossession.Thisphenomenonissobafflingthatsciencecannotexplainitandthereforetendstodismissit.TheChurchexplainspossessionasthemeansbywhichthedevilorhisminionscorruptgoodpeopleandturnthemagainstGod.

Wehaveourowntheoriesaboutpossession.Weareskepticalofthetermsdiabolicanddemonic.Wedoagreethatsomethingorsomeoneinvadesthephysicalbodyofanincarnatedsoul,butratherthanbeingsatanic,thatsomethingiswhatwewouldcalladenialspirit.AdenialspiritdeniesCreationandGod’slightandunconditionallove.ExplaininghowdenialspiritsoriginallycametobewithinCreationiswaybeyondthescopeofthisbook.ThoseinterestedinthistopicmaywanttoreadtheseriesofbooksbyCeannedeRohan.9

It’senoughtosaythatdenialspiritsexist,eveniftherationalpartofthemindfindsthemandthehavocanddevastationtheywreaktooincredibletoacknowledgewithoutfirsthandexperience—andsometimesevenwiththatexperience.Denialspiritsarenotenlightenedorloving,obviously.Givenhalfachance,adenialspiritwillinvadeaphysicalbodythatdoesnotbelongtoitasawaytodenytheexistenceofthesoultowhichthatphysicalvehicledoesbelong.Denialspiritsgetthatopportunitywhenweopenourselvesuptotheuniversewithoutrealizingthefullimplicationsofwhatwearedoingorwithoutknowinghowtoprotectourselves.

ConsiderTammyandherfriend.Asaresultofopeningthemselvesupunprotected,theycontactedmorethanjustTammy’sgrandfather.Theywrestledbrieflywithadenialspirit.Thequeerfeelingintheirstomachswasthatspirit’sattackontheirsolarplexuschakra,whichisthepowercenterinthehumanelectromagneticenergyfield.Thespirit

wastestingtofindoutwhethereitherofthemwouldyieldherphysicalbodytoit.TheentitycameclosetosuccesswithTammy.That’swhyshethoughtshehadfallenasleep.Foraninstant,thatdenialspirithadgainedafootholdinherphysicalbody,forcingpartofherownawarenesstovacate.

Itisalsobeyondthisbook’sscopetodiscussdetailsofthepossessionprocess.Itisworthemphasizing,however,thatnosoulcanbedisplacedfromaphysicalbodywithoutthatsoul’sacquiescence.Soulsallowdenialspiritstotakeovertheirphysicalbodiesbecausetheyfeelhelplessandthereforebelievethattheyarepowerlesstostopit.Tammyandherfriendultimatelywereabletoresistthedenialspiritbecausetheyhadenoughsenseoftheirownpowernottogiveintoit.

Manypeopledonotprovesoresilientunderattack.GeraldoRiveradevotedtheMay15,1990episodeofhisshowtothetopicofpossession.Aguestdescribedwhatitwasliketolivewithasonwhowaspossessed.“Youhavenowill.It’sjusttotalfear.Itcontrolledme,”shesaid,referringtothebeingthatpossessedherchild’sbodyandbulliedandterrifiedher.

Webelieveherwhenshesaidshefeltshewasbeingcontrolledbysomethingoutsideofself.Controloverothersoulsispreciselywhatadenialspiritwants.Itdesirescontroloverothersbecausecontrol,not“evil,”astraditionallydefined,isthetrueoppositeoflove.OurCreatorlovesuswithoutjudgments,standards,orexpectations—unconditionally,inotherwords.Assoulscreatedoutofunconditionallove,wepossessfreewillthatistrulyandtotallyfree,regardlessoftheconditionsimposedbysocietyanditsvariousinstitutions.

Thetalk-showguestthusparticipatedinhandingovercontrolofherlifetothatdenialentity.Sodidherson,thoughtoafargreaterdegree.Similartogirlsandwomenwhodisplaythepoltergeisteffect,neitherofthemactedconsciouslyinhandingovercontrol.Theyreachedthepointofallowingadenialspiritintotheirlivesandeventheirphysicalbeingaftermany,manylifetimesoftryingtolearnabiglessonaboutfreewillandwheretrueresponsibilityforselfbeginsandends.

GodfinallygotMoses’sattentionbyenvelopingabushwithflamesthatdidnotconsumeit.Manyothersalsorequireanextremeexperiencebeforetheywilltakethehintandwiseup.

Chapter2

Healing,thecircle,andthesacred-spiritualhavebeenlinkedtogetherinsocietiespastandpresentaroundtheworld.Oneofthefewacademicstudiestoexaminethecircle,focusingontheassociationbetweenspiritualhealingandcirclesinart,waspublishedasanarthistorydoctoralthesisbyLauraKirkby,PhD.Init,shewrites,“Thecircleisassociatedwithsuchpropertiesasdivinity,strength,protection,benediction,endlessness,power,virtue,theuniverse,soul,movement,balance,wholeness,sacredspaceandwisdom,acrossTibetanBuddhism,Shamanism,andthevisionsofHildegardofBingen.Thecircleisassociatedwithspiritualhealingbecauseofitssingularabilitytorepresentthesequalities.…”1

SheoutlineshowthecircleasaspiritualhealingarchetypeisfoundintheshamanisticculturesofNorthAmerica’sindigenouspeoples,suchasintheNavajosandpaintingsormedicinewheel;inAsia,intheTibetanBuddhistKalachakramandalaasthewheeloftime;andinWesternEuropeanChristianity,inthevisionsof12th-centuryGermanAbbessHildegardofBingen,inthelabyrinth,andintherosewindowsofGothiccathedrals.AccordingtoRestorativeJustice.org,indigenouspeoplesworldwidehaveusedthecircletoaddresscommunityissuesandconcernsformillennia.WoodorstonecirclescanbefoundalloverEurope,withsomesitesdatingback5,000yearsormore.2

ThemostfamousofEuropeancirclesis,ofcourse,Stonehenge,ontheplainsnearSalisbury,England.Oneofthemostintriguingpossibleusesofthisancientstructureisthetheoryoftwoarcheologists,TimothyDarvilleandGeoffreyWainright.TheysuggestthatusesforStonehengepossiblyevolvedfromaprehistoricobservatoryorancientroyalburialgroundtoahealingshrinesimilartoLourdesinFrance,drawingailingpeoplewhowantedtobemadewholeagain:“[A]fterabout2300BCtheemphasischangesanditisafocusfortheliving,aplacewherespecialisthealersandthehealthcareprofessionalsoftheiragelookedafterthebodiesandsoulsofthesickandinfirm.”3Theycitethepresenceofbluestones,excavatedandhauledtothesitewithextraordinaryeffortthroughoutmanyyearsandregardedbythosewhominedthemascontainingsacredhealingproperties,asasignofthehealingpurposeofStonehenge.

Thecircularshapeofthestructurealsosupportstheirtheory.Thebluestoneswerearrangedinadoublecircleandlatersurroundedbyacircleoflargersarsenstones.Stonehengeandotherstoneorwoodcirclesarethree-dimensionalreplicasofwhatLauraKirkbyfoundinherreviewofcircleart:“Thecircleasatwo-dimensionalsymbolistheshapethatbestrepresentswholeness,andwholenessiswhathealingisallabout,”saysKirkby,nowafamilydaycareeducator.Inherthesis,shealsopointsoutthatthewordshealingandsacredorholyhavecommonlinguisticroots.“Theverbtoheal,theadjectiveswholeandholyallstemfromthesameOldSaxonroot.…Healingcan,inthelightofthisevidence,beamakingwhole,whichinitselfisanactthatisholy.Throughoutthethesis,healingwillthereforemeanareturntowardsastateofwholenessoranidealstateofbeing.”4

Wecannotbecertain,butwesuspectthatanidealstateofbeingisentirelysubjective,anddependsoneachusoftodefineitforourselves.Wedoknowfromourworkasenergy-healersthatwhenanykindofspiritualoremotionalhealingtakesplace,thenemotional,spiritual,andevenphysicalpainlessenordepartaltogether,providingresolutiontoagreaterorlesserextent.Thiscertainlytranspiredforallofthosewhoseafterlifehealingcirclestorieswediscussinthisbook.

Wehavealreadymentionedthataswepracticetheafterlifehealingcircle,weengagethewholeself.Ourmeaninghereisneithersymbolicnormetaphorical.Manypeoplethinkofthewholeselfasbody-mindorbody-mind-spirit.Thesewaysofdefiningself,however,omittheemotionalpartofourbeing,whichisfullyone-fourthofthewholeself.Ourversionoftheafterlifehealingcirclewon’tworkunlessthephysicalbody,thementalbody,thespiritualbody,andtheemotionalbodyareallactive.Laterwewillexplainingreaterdepthhoweachpartofselfcontributestothesuccessoftheafterlifehealingcircle.Buttheveryactofbringingthewholeselftothecircleandusingallofithelpsmakecircleparticipantswhole.

Wecannoteverhopetobewholeifweliveoutofonlypartofourbeing.

Europeancircletraditionsmayhavebeenlosttomainstreamsociety,butindigenouspeoplesusethecircletothisdayforavarietyofreasons,anditsusehasspreadbeyondtheseculturestomanycornersofsociety.InitiallyinCanadaandthenintheUnitedStatesandotherpartsoftheworld,the“talkingcircles”ofthenativeshavebeenadaptedtothelegalsystemasjusticecircles.Intheseinstances,thecircleismorethansimplyaspaceforvictimsandperpetratorsofcrimestomeetandseeksomeformofrestitution/resolution.Thewidercommunityalsoparticipates,becausethecrimeisregardedasharmingnotonlythevictimbutalsothefabricofthecommunity.Insteadoftheconfrontationalapproachtypicalofatrialinacourtoflaw,comingtogetherinacircleenablesthoseinvolvedto“experienceeachothernotasadversariesbutasfellowhumanbeings.”5

Everyoneinthecircle—thevictimandvictim’sfamily,theoffenderandtheoffender’sfamily,andcommunityrepresentatives,whocanbemembersofthemainstreamlegalsystemorothers—getsachancetospeak.Theprocessisdesignednottoexactpunishmentasrevenge,buttobringhealingandunderstandingtobothvictimandoffender,andtoempowerthecommunitybybecominginvolvedindeterminingtheoutcomeofaparticularcaseandinaddressingunderlyingproblemsthatmayhaveledtoorfacilitatedcommissionofthecrime.6

RestorativeJustice.orghaslistedtheseattributesofthecircle,whichwehavealsofoundtobetrueaswepracticeourversionoftheafterlifehealingcircle:

Circlesdrawonourbestvalues.

Circleshelpparticipantsrespondfromone’sbestself.

Circlesbuildcommunity.

Circlescreatespacefordeeplisteningandbeingheard.

Circlesgeneratemutualunderstandingandrespect.

Circleshonorallvoicesequally.

Circlesmakedecisionsbyconsensus.

Circleshonorthegifts,knowledge,talents,andexperiencesthateachparticipantbrings.7

ThecollaborativeratherthanconfrontationalthinkingbehindthesecircleprincipleswasalsoevidentinSouthAfrica’sTruthandReconciliationCommission,establishedin1995afterthefalloftheApartheidgovernment.Duringhearingsaroundthecountrythatbeganthenextyear,victimsandperpetratorsofhumanrightsabusesgatheredtotelltheirstories,whichwererecordedforposterity.Asmallminorityofperpetratorsevenreceivedamnestyfortheircrimesinsteadofpunishment,dependingonthecircumstances.Theaimwastoavoidanextendedcycleofviolentretributiononallsidesandgrantthoseharmedbyhumanrightsviolationsthedignityofbeingheardandwitnessedbytheentirecommunity,includingtheiragressors.8

RestorativeJustice.orgstates,“Participatingincirclesisinherentlytransformative,becauseweexperiencetheworldfrommoreperspectivesthanourown.Drawingondiverseknowledgeandexperiences,circlesgenerateoptionsandsolutionsthatareoftenoutsidetheboxofconventionalthinkingandthatoftengobeyondwhatonepersoncouldgenerateontheirown.”9

SomethingunexpectedandremarkablearoseoutofthehealingcirclesthatMegJordan,PhD,RN,CWP,beganin1999.MegisdepartmentchairandprofessorofintegrativehealthstudiesandsomaticpsychologyattheCaliforniaInstituteofIntegralStudies.ShewasinspiredtosetupherhealingcirclesbythejusticecirclesoftheFirstNationsinCanada.Hercirclesevolvedthroughseveralformatchanges,eventuallybecomingamonthlygatheringofagroupofWesternandalternativehealingpractitioners.Includedarephysicians(onrareoccasion),psychiatrists,psychologists,chiropractors,naturopaths,ReikiandAyurvedapractitioners,shamans,herbalists,aromatherapists,andothers.Thefocusoftheircircleisapatientwithachronicconditionwhohasspentalotoftimeandmoneyonallopathicandalternativetreatmentsbuthasnotobtainedrelief.Megsays,“There’snoshortageofpatientswhosaytome,‘I’vehadmultiplelayersofchronicconditions.IfIcouldreallyhavetwohoursfreewithsevenpractitionersallatonetime,Iwilljumponthat.’”AsRestorativeJustice.orgnotes,Megandtheotherpractitionersinhercirclefoundtheexperiencetobeacommunity-builder.Asthepractitionersbecamebetteracquaintedwitheachother’sexpertiseinthecircleandgrewtotrusteachother,theyfreelydeferredtooneanotherwhentheyrealizedthataparticularpatientwouldbenefitmorefromadifferentapproach.Theyalsobeganreferringclientstoeachotheroutsideofthecircle.Megsaysthatthepatientswhohavebeenthesubjectsofthesecircleshaveappreciatedthemembers’honestyinassessingwhetherornottheirformoftreatmentwashelpfultothem.

Briana,theintuitivecounselorandteacherofthecircle,pointsout,“Eventhoughwemaynotfeelitonapracticallevel,thecircleallowsustosoften,tobecomemorereceptivetoseeingthingsthatwemightnototherwisesee,andhearingthingsthatwe

mightnototherwisehear.”

Meg’scirclesusuallyaddressphysicalissues,butthatdoesnotprecludeaidingotherailingpartsofself.Sherecallsonecirclewhenashamannotedthedisruptioninthepatient’sauricfieldandadded,“I’mjustgoingtopraytotheholeinyourheartandseewhereyouhavebeentryingtogrieve.”

Suddenlythepatientbegansobbingandsaid,“Noone’severrecognizedthatwithinmebefore.”

Thepsychiatristinthecircle,whohadbeenrollinghiseyesminutesearlier,hadthemopenedinstead.Previouslyhehaddisparagedenergyhealers,yethebecameoneoftheirbiggestadvocatesbecauseofwhathewitnessedinthehealingcircle.

“Asamedicalanthropologist,I’vecometorespectenergy-healingworksomuch,”Megsays.

We’regladtoknowthatmoreandmoremembersoftheallopathicmedicalandalliedprofessionsareopentothebenefitsofenergy-healing.Ourversionoftheafterlifehealingcircleverymuchinvolvesenergy,whichwewillredefineinordertoexplainitsconnectiontothecircle,tohealing,tospirituality,andtolove,whichwehavealreadymentionedispresentintheafterlifehealingcircleandisthatwhichopensustobemorereceptivewhenweareinthecircle.

Theprecedingarejustafewoftheexamplesofhowthecircleisbeingusedtodayasamorecommunity-basedandcommunity-directedalternativetotraditionalwaysofdoingthings,whetherit’sanalternativetothecourts,totime-consumingandcostlysequentialmedicalvisits,ortoredressingthewoundsofanentirenationpolarizedbyraciallaws.Meg’scircles,forexample,areconsideredexperimentalefficiencymodels,andshehopestocompileevidenceoftheirefficacy.Assuch,thesecircleshavenotbeenintegratedintothehealthcareinsurancereimbursementsystem.“Idon’tthinkanyonewantstogothatroutewithit,”sheadds.

Weunderstandthatsentimententirely.Meg’scircleshavebecomeawayforadherentsandpractitionersofmanyWesternandcomplementaryhealingdisciplinestotranscendtheisolationtheyexperienceintheirpracticesandcometogethertohelpapatientandenjoyacommunityofequals.

AccordingtoRestorativeJustic.org,thereareatleast20circumstancesinwhichtheuseofthecircleasanalternativeforproblem-solvingatapersonalorcommunitylevelisappropriate.Theseincludeplacessuchasyouthcenters,businessesandtheworkplace,prisons,churches,nonprofits,andeldercarecenters,aswellassubjectssuchascommunityplanning,inmatere-entryintosociety,veterans’needs,environmentalcleanup,recoveryfromtraumaandgrief,andsupportofthedyingandtheirfamiliesinhospice.10Butinalloftheseexamplesofhowthecirclecanbeahelpful,eventrail-blazingalternative,thereisnomentionofusingcirclestoreachouttotheotherside—tospeakwiththosenotinphysicalbodies.Ourversionofthecircleisalotfurtheroutofthemainstreamthanothercircles.Italldependsonhowwedefinecommunity,however.Webelievethatcommunityisincompleteifitdoesnotincludethosewhoarenotinphysical

bodies—theotherside.Wetalkallthetimewithourspiritguides,whoplayakeyroleintheafterlifehealingcircle,andwhomostdefinitelydonothavebodiesthatweperceiveasphysical.Wealsoworkwithnonphysicalbeingsduringourenergy-healingsessions.Weconsiderthemourcolleaguesandbelovedfriends,andtheyarenomoreimaginarythanweare.

Theothersideisalotcloserthanmanyofusrealizeorperhapscaretoacknowledge.Anyone,infact,canspeaktotheso-calleddeadandthenotyetborn.Laterinthisbookwerecountstoriesofpeoplewhodidnotsetouttocommunicatewiththeotherside,butnonethelessreceivedallmannerofcommunicationsfromsoulsnotinbodiesthatweconsiderphysical.Wewillexplainhowtoidentifyandenhancetheseintuitivecommunications,becausetheyhappenconstantly,evenifwedonotrecognizethemassuch,andbecauseweneedthemfortheafterlifehealingcircletosucceed.

Accordingtothewell-knownWesternEuropeanmythofCamelot,KingArthurgatheredhisknightsatacirculartable.Hechosethatparticulartableconfigurationtofosterasenseofequalityamonghisknightsbyeliminatingtheheadandfootofthemorecommonrectangulartableshape.Thisinevitablyproducedtensionbetweentheidealofsocialequality,asembodiedintheroundtable,andtherealityofthedecidedlynon-egalitarianpoliticalhierarchythatArthurledasmonarch.Unlikethecircle,Camelotdidnotendure.

Today,welovethecircleasagrouphealingpracticeforthesamereasonArthurdid:theshapegivesallparticipantsequalstanding.AsJeanShinodaBolenwritesinherbookTheMillionthCircle,“…acircleisnonhierarchical—thisiswhatequalityislike.Thisishowaculturebehaveswhenitlistensandlearnsfromeveryoneinit.”11Thecircleputsintoactionourbeliefinthefundamentalspiritualequalityofallcreatedsouls.“Whenwecircle,thelinesofresistancedisappearandweareinflow,”Megpointedout.“Whenwestayinhierarchy,westayintop-downauthoritativelinesofinquiry,anddeephealingisnotfacilitated.”

Weagree.Healingisfarmorecompleteandpowerfulifweplayanactiveroleinit.Soisourconnectiontospirit,toGod.Wedonotfarewellifweoutsourceittoothers.Wehavemadeandarenowtryingtorectifytwohugemistakes:First,wedivorcedhealingfromspiritualityandtriedtoleaveitsolelyinthedomainofscience.It’saclassicexampleoftryingtoliveandfunctionoutofonlyonepartofourbeing—inthiscase,thementalbody.Somethinghugeismissingfromthepurelyscientificmodelofhealing,asmanyscientistsandphysiciansnowacknowledgeandaretryingtochange.Second,andevenmoreinsidiousandharmful,weoutsourcedourconnectiontoGodandspiritualitytotop-downhierarchies.Underthesesystemsemergedaclassofanointedorappointedpriests,pastors,lamas,gurus,masters,andsoon,whopresumablypossessedgreaterspiritualconnectionsor“pull”thaneveryoneelse.HoldingthemselvesoutasclosertoGod,theDivine,orNirvana(orhowevereachparticularreligionorfaithexpressesit),thesespiritualoverseerstheninsistedonmediatinganddictatingtotherestofustheconditionsofourrelationshipwithGod/Source/Allah/UniversalMind(chooseanycomfortablelabel;wepreferthewordGodbecauseit’sconciseandtothepoint).

Thereisanoldsayingalongthelinesthatifweallowotherstodosomethingforus,eventuallytheywilldosomethingtous.Neverhasthisproventruerthaninspiritualmatters.ThinkbacktotherecentsexualabusescandalsintheCatholicChurcharoundtheglobe.Otherfaithsarebynomeansimmunefromsuchtravesties.Forexample,polygamistWarrenJeffsoftheFundamentalistChurchofLatter-DaySaintswillspendtherestofhisdaysinprisonforrapinga14-year-oldchildandfacilitatingmoresuchrapesofunderagegirls.Andin1993,80-plusmembersoftheBranchDavidiansremainedwithDavidKoreshtoperishinafirenearWaco,Texas.Similarly,morethan900membersofthePeople’sTempleobeyedtheorderoftheirleader,JimJones,tokillthemselvesinGuyanain1978.Granted,theseareextremeexamples,buttheyarethelogicaloutcomeofhandingoverultimatespiritualauthoritytoanyoneoranythingotherthanourselves,andthenhopingtoridetoHeavenorNirvanaorwhereveronthatperson’sorinstitution’sostensiblypurifiedcoattails.Thisisdangerousbecauseitstripsusofagreatdealofournativespiritualpowerandtransfersthatpowerillegitimatelyoutsideofourselves.Lossofpersonalpowerandauthorityiswhyparentsallowedachurchleadersexualaccesstotheiryoungdaughters.It’swhyboysandgirlsremainedsilentwhenparishpriestssexuallyabusedthem.It’swhypeoplestayedtodieintheflamesordranktheKool-Aidthatendedtheirphysicalbodies.Theygavetheirspiritualpowerandauthoritytosomeoneoutsideofthemselvesandthusbecamevulnerabletoabuseandexploitation.

AwiserabbioncetoldhislistenersthattheKingdomofGodiswithin.Jesuswasnotreferringtoaphysicalstructurelikeachurch,amosque,atemple,oranashram.Hewastalkingaboutwhatiswithintheself,insidetheheartandspiritthattrulydefineswhoweareasphysical,mental,emotional,andspiritualbeings.Toomanyofus,eventhosewhoprofesstobeChristians,actasthoughwedon’tbelievehim.Welookeverywhereexceptwithinforarelationshiporconnectionwiththedivine.Investingourtrustexternally,wegiveoverourpowertotherabbiorthepriest,thepastorortheimam,thelamaortheguru,justaswehavehandedoverhealingauthoritytophysiciansorpoliticalauthoritytoelectedpoliticians.

Tragically,andinevitably,someamongthembetrayus.Theycannothelpit.Theyarehuman,justasweare,anddespiteallpretensionstothecontrary,theydon’tknowanythingmoreaboutthedivineorhealingorrunningacountrythantherestofus,andtheyarenobetterconnectedormoreinsightfulthanwe.

Nopersonandnoinstitutionhastherightorauthoritytostandbetweenordefineourrelationship(orlackthereof)withGod/Source/Divine/Universe.Noone.OurrelationshipwithGod(orwhateveryouwishtocallit)isoneofthemostcriticalrelationshipswewilleverhave.Itisfartoocentraltoourwellbeingandwholenesstovestitinsomeoneelse’sjurisdiction.Itisoursalonetonurtureandgrow,althoughwearecertainlyfreetoseekouthelpandadvicealongtheway.That’swhyGoddidn’tstopwithAdaminfleshingoutcreation.Weareheretohelpeachother,notsteponeachother’sspiritualtoesorordereachother’sspiritualbusiness.Itjustsohappensthattheafterlifehealingcircleisamovingandbeautifulwaytohelpothersinneed.

Wetheauthors,JanaandCandace,didnotstartoutbelievinginthefundamentalspiritualequalityofallcreatedsouls.Weeachcametothisplacebyexperiencingourown

personalequivalentofthatburningyetunconsumedbush.Ourlifeexperiencesopenedustoagreaterrealityandtoreclaimingourpersonalpowersothatwecouldexerciseitinaloving,givingmanner,suchasconducting,participatingin,andpromotingtheafterlifehealingcirclethroughthisbook.

Thefollowingchapterrelatesourstoriesinbriefandhowwebegantoincorporatethehealingcircleintoourpracticesasenergyhealers.

Chapter3

Welearnedmanyyearsagothatcommunityismissingsomethingprofoundwhenwedonotincludeourspiritguidesasmembers.Byimplication,ofcourse,communityalsoincludesGod,butwe’lltakethisonestepatatime.

Asitturnsout,spiritguides,alsoknownasangels,playakeyroleinkeepingtheafterlifehealingcirclesafeandsecure.Wehavecometorelyontheirlove,protection,andpracticalsupportnotonlyduringthehealingcircle,butinourdailylivesaswell.Ittookapersonalcrisis,however,forbothofustoopenuptoalargerperspective.

Janawasatherwits’end.Therestaurantsheownedwasfailing,sheowedtheIRSahugesumofmoneythatshedidnothave,andherlong-termpartnerhadjustendedtheirrelationship.

Shereturnedtoanemptyhouseattwilightafterworkonedayandhitbottom,inacrisisofdespair.Shesanktoherknees.“Therehastobesomethingmore,”shesaidoutloud,eventhoughnoonewasintheroomwithher.

“Areyouasking?”avoicesaidclearly,outsideofherhead.Shewastoostunnedtorespond.

“Areyouasking?”thevoicerepeatedinanevenmoreurgenttone.

“IguessIam,”sheansweredfinally.AreyouGod?shewonderedinsilence.

“No,”sheheard,followedbygentlelaughter.

Janacringed.Inherlimitedunderstanding,shebelievedthattheonlyotheroptionwasanameshecouldnotbringherselfeventothinkabout,muchlessspeakoutaloud.

“No,I’mnothim,either,”thevoicesaid.Morelaughter.Itwasdisconcertingthatthisinvisiblestrangercouldreadhermind.

Janasummonedhercourage.“Thenwhoareyou?”

“Iamafriendwhohasbeenwithyousincethebeginningofyourtime,”whichJanaunderstoodtobethestartofherlife.“Youhavemanymorefriends,andwhenthetimeisright,I’llbehappytointroduceyoutotheothers.Mymainfunctionistohelpyouwithyourspiritualgrowth.”

I’mgoingcrazy,Janathought.

Theroomfilledwithayellow-whitelight.YellowwasthecolorJanahadalwaysassociatedwithunconditionallove.Suchalovewaswhatshefeltnow;soft,sweet,warm,gentle,andyetstrong.Soon,allthatJanacouldfeelwasthatlove,herself,andthatbeingbesideher.SheknewthatlovecameasmuchfromGodasitdidfromthevoice.Herdoubts,fears,anddepressionmeltedaway.

“Whatisyourname?”sheasked.

DozensanddozensofnamesflashedbeforeJana’sinnervision.

“Ihavebeenallofthesenamesandmoreovermanylives.”

“Whowereyouinyourmostrecentlife?”

“IwasamemberoftheYaquitribe.”

“ThenmayIcallyouYaqui?”

“Yes.IknowyouhavemanyquestionsandIwillbehappytoanswersomeofthemnow.”

Janaagainsummonedhercourage.“IsGoddispleasedwithme?”

“Ohno,mychild.”

“ThenwhyisHedoingthistome?Whyismylifeinsuchamess?”

“Heisnotdoingthistoyou.Thiswastheonlywayyoucouldbringyourselftoaskforhelp.”

Thathithome.Janahadneveraskedanyoneforanything.Evenasachild,sheusedbaby-sittingmoneytobuyschoolsuppliesinsteadofexpectingherparentstopay.Nowshewasinapositionofhavingtoturntoothersforassistance.Itwashumbling.

Theytalkedandtalked.Yaquiofferedheranentirelynewwayofthinkingandfeeling.Theonlyothertimeshehadeverfeltthisclosetothedivinewaswhen,asagirl,shehadsunghymnsinthechurchchoir.Shewantedtokeepthatfeelingofconnection.

Timepassed,butJanawasnotawareofherbody.OnlywhenYaqui’slovefinallyfadedawaydidsherealizethathourshadgoneby,andshewasstillonherknees.

Janahadgraduatedfromhighschoolintendingtobecomeaministerofreligiouseducation,becausetraditionalreligionwastheonlyavenuesheknewaboutatthetime.Butafterherfirstinternship,sherealizedthatwasnottherouteforher.Sheleftcollegeandlookedforajob,hopingthatworkwouldfilltheinnervoid.

BythetimeshemetYaqui,Janahadrackedupexperienceinindustriesthatrangedfromcommercialairlinesandhospitalstocreditunionsandfastfood.Butthespiritualwasneverlost,evenifJanadidnotrecognizeitspresenceuntilYaquiandherotherguidespointeditouttoher.

Shehadalwaysbeenacounselor,teacher,andhealer,evenifshedidnotthinkofherselfthatway.Completestrangerswerealwaysspillingtheirheartsandsecretstoherandaskingherforadviceandperspective.Sheoften“careercoached”subordinateswhowerenotdoingwellatorhappywiththeirjobs,withtheresultthatsheneverhadtofireanyone.Shewasconstantlyshowingherstaffhowtoworkbetterandmoreefficiently,orbeingthatshouldertoleanonwhentheyhadpersonalproblems.Allofitwascounseling,teaching,andhealing,simplywithoutthejobtitlesortraditionaldegrees.

JanamentionedherexperiencewithYaquitooneofherbestcustomers,withwhomshe

oftenhadlongtalksaftertherestaurantclosedfollowinglunch.ThewomantoldheraboutaplacewhereshewasplanningtogetsometrainingindevelopingherintuitionandofferedtofundJana’sstudies.Theyplannedtoteachclassestogether.

Janawentforit.Shestudiedtobecomeanintuitivecounselor,apersonwhouseshelpfromherownandherclients’spiritguidestocutthroughtheconfusionandgettotheheartoftheissue.Shelearnedahealingmethodthatworkswiththeenergyofhumanconsciousnessandemotions.Next,shetrainedextensivelytoteachcoursesonconsciouslyusingthesoulorinnersenses(alsoknownaspsychicabilities),which,likespiritguides,playakeyroleinthehealingcircleandanyactivitythatinvolvesspiritualityandgrowth.

Janahasalwaysbeeneerilygoodatusinghersoulsensestotuneintowhattranspiresinotherpeople’sheartsandminds.Intheyearsahead,psychologists,licensedprofessionalcounselors,businessowners,andconsultantswouldcometoJanaforadviceandperspectivewhenevertheywerestumped.WhenJanataughtaclass,didone-to-onecounseling,ordidtherapywithclientsindividually,herloveandtheloveofYaquiandherguideswouldflowthroughandgob-smackpeopleonthereceivingend.

“Whoareyou?”asoon-to-beclient/studentaskedJananotlongafterencounteringherataSethconference.Janaoftenheardthatquestionorsomevariantofit.

“Noonespecial,”shealwaysreplied.“WhatIcando,youcando—everyonecando.”

Duringthesummerof1986,Janastillhadadayjobandwastryingtopulltogetherentry-levelclassesonsoul-sensedevelopment.InJuly,oneofthestudentswhoattendedatwo-weekendcoursewascoauthorCandace.

LikeJana,Candacehadturnedtoworkinanefforttofillthatemptinesswithin.UnlikeJana’svarietyofjobsindifferentindustries,however,Candacefocusedonjournalism.Puttingwordsonpaperwasheronemarketableskill.Forthepreviousdecade,shehadbeenemployedfulltimefordailyandweeklynewspapersasacopyeditorandreporter.Atthetimeoftheclass,Candaceearnedalivingasasenioreditorforanadvertisingtradepublication.

Journalismwasevenmoredecidedlymale-dominatedbackinthe1970sthroughthemid-1980sthanitistoday.OnceCandacespecializedinbusinessreporting,almostallofhercolleaguesandeditorsweremale.Candacehaddevelopedatoughprofessionalshellinordertosurviveandfunctioninthenewsroom.ArrivingattheDallasTimesHeraldduringtheheightofitswarwithitscross-downtownrival,Candacediscoveredshewasgoodatbeatinghercompetitorstostoriesonherbusinessbeats.

Similartomanyofherink-stainedcolleagues,CandacedreamedofwritingandpublishingtheGreatAmericanNovel,orsomethingclosetoit.Atypicalintrovertedwordsmith,shereadvoraciouslyinhermeagersparetime.Althoughshetoldherselfitwasresearchforthatnovelsheintendedtowrite,itwasalsoherwayofexploringwhatshecalledthe“alternativeexplanation.”Candaceneverboughtintoconventionalwisdomonanything.Inanytopic—politics,medicine,history,religion,lifeingeneral—Candacedidn’ttaketheacceptedstoryatfacevalue.Shelearnedfromexperienceasareporterthatso-calledfactsareslipperylittledevils,andthathighlyprized“objectivity”ismoreofa

myththanunicorns.

Candacewaslookingforanswers—herownanswers,onesthatresonatedwithher,notthosehandeddownbysomeauthority.Shewasn’tlookingforamasteroraguruorapriestorapastortotellherwhattobelieveorhowtolive.ForthatreasonmuchofwhatpassedforNewAgeandNewThoughtinthemid-1980sdidn’tinteresther,becausesheregardeditasyetanotherwaytocontrolpeople.Candacewasunabashedlyindependent.

Herneedtodoforherself,experienceforherself,andfindherownanswersledhertoencounteraprogramthattaughtparticipantsabouthowtorecognizeandaccesstheirpsychicabilitiesforthemselves.ThatsuitedCandace,becauseshewasn’tlookingforapsychicoramedium.Althoughtherewerelocalinstructorsofferingthiscourse,Candaceheadedmorethan50mileswesttotheclassthatJanawasteaching.Itwasthatclassthatcalledhername.

WhenCandacemetJanaforthefirsttimeandheardherspeak,oneofthefirstthoughtsthatpoppedintoherheadwas,She’salotlikeJudith.ThatwasthenameofanimportantcharacterinthenovelthatCandaceintendedtowrite.(MuchlaterCandacediscoveredthatJanaandJudithareindeedoneandthesamesoul.)Candacealsosawandfelt,vaguely,howeasilyJanacomprehendedherstudents’realquestions,theonestheycouldnotalwaysputintowords.Janachattedbreezilyaboutherrelationshipwithherspiritguides,too.

TheclassacceleratedadeeplongingwithinCandace,who,underneaththathard-shelljournalistexteriorwasagooeymessofunresolvedspiritualandemotionalpain.Shewasinaworldofhurtandhadmajoremotionalproblems,althoughshecouldnotrecognizeitbecausehermindandheartwereliterallydisconnected.Candace’sguides,however,wentstraighttoJanaand,throughoutthecourse,pleadedwithhertodosomething.JanaalsofeltthetugofCandace’sbadlywoundedemotionalbody.Candace’sprotectivecoverdidn’tfoolJanaonebit.

Afterthelastclassofthefirstweekend,JanacasuallyinvitedCandacedowntoafloatingdockonEagleMountainLakethatbelongedtothehomewheretheprogramwasbeingheld.Whattranspiredwasanimpromptuhealingsession,whichmovedCandacetoagreetothehealingmethodJanapracticedcalledSunantherapy.Afterjustsixsessionsandherfirstconsciousmeetingwithherownguides,andCandace’semotionalandspiritualrealityhadshifted180degrees.Hermentalandemotionalbodiesreconnected,Candacebegancommunicatingwithherguidesdailythroughautomaticwriting,whichdidnot(andstilldoesn’t)involveanystrangephenomena.

Filledwithhope,CandacewasdeterminedtohelpbringJana’sworktoawideraudience.ThewomanJanaoriginallyintendedtopartnerwithhadbecomepreoccupiedwithafamilycrisis.Janahadtriedtohelpherasmuchaspossible,butthewomanbecamemoreandmorewrappedupinanastybattleandwasnotinaplacetoteach.JanaacceptedCandace’soffertoestablishaschoolwhereshecoulddevoteherselffulltimetocounseling,teaching,andhealing.Candace’sjobprovidedabaseoffinancialsupport.

Attheoutset,Candacewasmoreofanobserverandsupporterthanaparticipant.ShemetandlikedJana’sstudentsandclients,butwasnotdirectlyinvolvedinthework,except

whenCandaceundertookmoreSunantherapywithJanaashertherapist.Thatchanged,however,whenCandacewasabletoparticipateintheafterlifehealingcirclethatJanahadscheduledforaSaturdayafternoon.Candacewasintriguedbuthadnoideawhattoexpect.

ClaraJones(apseudonym)wasaschoolteacherwhosufferedadevastatingemotionalandspiritualwoundthatrefusedtohealfortwodecades,despitesomeofthebestpsychiatrictreatmentintheworld.

ClarawasraisedinasmallRussianOrthodoxcommunityintheeasternUnitedStates.Hermotherandfatherwerefirst-generationimmigrantswho,Clararealizedlater,usedtheirintuitiveabilitiestosurviveinaculturetheydidn’treallycomprehend.TheyalsokepttheirRussianbackgroundquietduringthedaysofJosephMcCarthyandCongressionalinvestigationsofsuspectedCommunistactivities.

“Mymotherdeniedherpastandlivedafacade,”Clarasaid.Whenhermotherdiedofcancerin1967,Clarafeltshehadneverhadthechancetosaygoodbyetoherrealmother.

Fiveyearslater,Clarabeganthreeyearsofintensivepsychiatrictherapywithdailysessions.“Ifeltliketheyliterallydugmeoutofagrave,”shesaidofthephysicianswhoattendedher.Thedoctors,however,wereunabletohelpherresolveherfeelingsabouthermother.Duringtherapy,Clarawouldsensehermother’spresence.Feelingsthatshehadlivedotherliveswouldalsotakeholdofher.Thedoctorscalleditherimaginationanddismissedit.Theydidn’tknowhowtoaddressherspiritualoremotionalneeds.

Claratriedpsychotherapyagaininthe1980sandstuckwithitforfivemonths.Thesamethinghappened:traditionaltherapycouldhelphertoacertainpoint;pastthatpoint,itwasofnofurtherusetoher.“Ifeltapressurethatnoonecouldhelpmewith,”shesaid.“Whenyourproblemstouchonthespiritual,traditionaldoctorscan’tdomuch.IhadaspiritualinjurythatIcouldn’tignore.”

Proddedbyherintenseanddeep-seatedneedforhealing,Clarawasopentoanalternativeapproachtogriefresolution.HerdesiretoresolvethisissueeventuallyledhertoacounselingsessionwithJanathroughClara’sdaughter,whowasoneofJana’sstudentsandhadmentionedhermother’sproblem.

JanaofferedtoconducttheafterlifehealingcircleforClara,whoimmediatelyagreedtoiteventhoughherdaughterhadsomedoubts.“Iknewtheoffer[oftheafterlifehealingcircle]wasright.Ifeltit,”Claraexplained.

Despiteherconfidence,Clarawastakenabackbytheproceedings.“ItwasshockingwhenIrealizedhow‘real’itwas.”

Threeyearsafterthatafterlifehealingcircle,ClaratoldCandacethatitenabledheratlasttomakepeacewithhermother—twodecadesafterhermother’sphysicalbodyhaddied.Clarafoundthatotherareasofherlifealsohealed.Shefeltmoreateasewithherselfandlesscompelledtobewithotherpeoplejusttoavoidbeingbyherself.Equallyimportanttoherwasthatshenowhadsometermsfortheintuitiveabilitiesthatwerealwayssonaturaltoherandherparents.“Itwasatremendouseye-openertorealizetherealityoflifeafterdeathandthatotherpeoplefeltthisway,”Clarasaid.

Ironically,itwasthehealingcirclethatreconciledClaratothechurchofherchildhood,whichsherejoinednotlongafterhercircle.“Thechurchisnotopentothissubject,butI’minawholedifferentspace,”shesaid.Asaresultoftheafterlifehealingcircle,whenClaramadethesignofthecrossandfollowedotherrituals,shewasnowawareofamuchdeeperspiritualdimension.Theceremoniescametoholdarichandverypersonalmeaningforher.Shenolongerregardedtheritesasjustmotionsdonebyroteandhandeddownassomeoneelse’struth.

Clarawasn’ttheonlypersonamazedbyherafterlifehealingcircle.Candace,too,wasflooredbyhowmuchintuitiveinformationsheandothersreceivedduringthatcircle.Similartotheotherparticipants,CandacewasmovedtotearsofjoyandgratitudeduringtheemotionalreunionbetweenClaraandhermother.Everyonepresentexperiencedandcelebratedtherealityoflifeafterdeath.

Theeffectofthissimpleproceedingwasstaggering.Candacehadtoshakeherheadandsmile,becauseifanyonehadtoldherjustayearearlierthatshewouldbepartofsomethinglikethis,shewouldhavethoughtthispersonwascrazyandwouldhavesaidsoinnouncertainterms.Notanymore.TheafterlifehealingcirclewaspreciselythekindofpersonalspiritualexperienceCandacesoverymuchwantedandinsistedonratherthanwordshandeddownfromanauthority.Indeed,shehadneverwitnessedthepresenceofGodinquitethesamegrippingandmovingmannerinwhichshehasexperienceditrepeatedlyduringtheafterlifehealingcircle.

Eventually,JanatrainedCandacealongwithotherstudentstobeintuitivecounselors,usingtheirsoulsensesandclients’spiritguidestoobtainhelpfulinformationandtoconductthehealingcirclewhenitwasappropriate.JanaalsotrainedCandaceandothersinSunantherapy,anintuitiveapproachtoresolvingdeepemotionalandspiritualwoundsandissues.Fromtimetotime,eitherclientsorstudentsofthesecounselorsneededtheafterlifehealingcircle.Candacetriedtoparticipatewheneverherworkscheduleallowed,becausetheafterlifehealingcircle,forher,wasfarmoremovingandpowerfulthananytraditionalreligiousserviceshehadeverattended.Itspokefarmoreeloquentlyabouteverlastinglifethananysermonevercould,andevokedmorejoyandfaiththananytext,howeversacred.

Whenweworkasintuitivecounselorsorenergy-healersusingtheSunanmethod,wedonotadhererigidlytoanytypeofsystemthattheleftbrainmightunderstandorrecognize.MembersoftheSunanSocietyexplainthattheapproachtheyhaveimpartedtousincorporatesandblendsmanyancientanddiversetraditionsofwisdomandhealingthathavearisenonearthandelsewhere.

Forthepurposesoftheafterlifehealingcircle,wecanboiltheSunanmethoddowntothreesimpleprinciples:

1.Love

2.Connection

3.Trust

Lovemeansweknowhowtosendandreceiveunconditionallove.Wekeepmentioningthepresenceofloveduringtheafterlifehealingcirclebecauseitissocritical.We’llexplainmoreaboutthatspecialkindofloveandhowitmakesthehealingcircle,aswepracticeit,bothpossibleandhealing.

Connectionmeanssimplythatwealwayskeeptheflowofloveopenamongus,ourclients,theinvisiblehealerswhoaresupportingandhelpingus,andthedivine.Thisdefinitelyappliesduringtheafterlifehealingcircle.

Trustisreallyaboutself-trust.Wehaveenoughself-trustthatwetrusttheinformationabouttheclientthatwereceiveinthatflowoflove.Theinformationdoesn’thavetobelogicalorrationalormakesensetousbecauseit’snotforus;it’sfortheclient.Trust(inself)isadefinitemustfortheafterlifehealingcircle,whichoftenrevealstoparticipantsinformationthatseemsstrangebecauseit’snotforthem;it’sforthepersontheyaretryingtohelp.

Theseprinciplesaretoughformanypeopletoapply.Theyposeachallengeforbeginnersandevenforthosewhohavemoreexperienceinourversionoftheafterlifehealingcircle.Butapplyingtheseprinciplesisabsolutelyessential,asCandacewastowitnessmanymoretimesaftertheamazingcirclethatClarafoundsopowerfullyhealing.

Chapter4

Whenwewanttocontactsoulsontheotherside,mostofususuallythinkaboutconnectingwithsomeonewhosephysicalbodyhasdied.Fewerofusrealizewemayalsocontactsoulswhohavenotyetbeenborn.Thesameprinciplesoflove,connection,andtrustapplyinbothcircumstances.Andbecausethesoulisacontinuumthatexistsnotonlyinanafterlife,butduringabeforelife,too,suchcommunicationispossible.

Ifthereisagenuineneedtospeakwithasoulnotyetborn,weusetheafterlifehealingcircletomakethatencountersafeandproductive,devoidofdramaorphenomenathatjustgetinthewayandarenotatallhelpful.

DebraWilde(anotherpseudonym)wastrappedinanagonyofindecision.

Hereight-yearmarriagetoamanolderthanshe,ofanothernationality,culture,andreligion,hadneverbeeneasy.Nowitwasthreateningtofounderontheshoalsofseverefinancialstrainandquarrelsoverinlaws.Atage29,shealreadyhadonechild,adaughternearly3yearsold,andshewaspregnantagain.Thistime,Debracouldn’tfeelthejoysomanywomenexperienceuponlearningthisnews.Shefearedthepossibilityofraisingnotonebuttwochildrenbyherself.Howwouldshefindthecouragetogivebirthagain?Shouldsheconsideranabortion?Thechoicewasoverwhelming.Herhusbanddidn’tmakethingsanyeasierforher.Hesaidthedecisionwashersandrefusedtodiscusshisfeelingsaboutthepregnancy,leavingDebraevenmoreisolatedandingreaterpain.

Thenafriendsuggestedtheafterlifehealingcircle.“Ididn’trealizeyoucoulddooneforanunbornchild,”Debrasaid.ShecontactedJanaanddiscussedthesituation,andJanaagreedtoconductacircleforher.

Althoughherhusbanddidn’tbelievein“allthismetaphysicalstuff,”asJanacallsit,heaccompaniedDebraandparticipatedinthesession,partlyoutofcuriosity,butmostlyoutofgenuine,althoughinarticulate,concernforhiswife.AcouplewhowerefriendsofDebraandherhusbandalsotookpart.Bothofthem,accomplishedprofessionals,hadneverdoneanythinglikethisbefore.Atthattimetheywerejustbecominginterestedinspiritualgrowthandalternativehealing.Wealwaysemphasizeonepointabouttheafterlifehealingcircle:Wedon’thavetobeprofessionalpsychics,orevenconsiderourselvestohaveanypsychicability,totakepartinandcontributetoahealingcircle.Weneedonlyapplythethreeprinciples:love,connection,andtrust.

DuringourafterlifehealingcircleforDebra,alittlesoulcomestostandinthemiddleofourcircle,undetectabletothefivephysicalsensesbutperceptiblenonetheless.Tousleddarkhairspillsoutfromunderatight-fitting,old-styleaviatorhelmet.He—thissoulclearlypresentshisformasmale—iswearingajumpsuitandascarf.Inthehandthatheholdsupisamodelairplanethatdivesandloopsandcurlswhenhewaveshisarm.Nexttohimiswhatlookslikeanarchitect’smodelofanofficebuilding,almostastallashe.

Heisaself-assuredsoulwithagenuinesweetnessabouthim.Thereisalsoahintofmischiefandofaverystrongwill.Heknowswhathewantsforthisphysicallifetime.Hewantstoflyairplanes.HetellsushehaschosenDebra’shusbandasafatherpartlybecauseherhusbandisalicensedpilotwiththousandsofhoursinthecockpit.Healsosayshe’sinterestedinarchitectureanddesigningthings.

Hehasaveryfullagendaforhisnextsojournonearth.He’ssocuteandbrightandcheerythathemovessomeofustosmilesaswegatherthisinformationthroughoursoulsensesandpassitontohiswould-bemotherandfather.

ThenDebrablurtsoutafewjumbledphrases.Shecanbarelyputherfeelingsintowordstoexplaintothissoulwhysheissoreluctantjustnowtocontinuethispregnancy.Herpainfulquandaryanddistressaresopalpable,soimmediate,thatCandace’seyesfillwithtears.Othersreactthesameway.

Thelittleaviatorquicklyunderstands.“Icanwait,”heassuresDebraseveraltimesduringthesession.“Ifthetimeisnotright,I’llwait.”

Beforetheafterlifehealingcircleisover,thelittleaviatormakessureweallunderstandonething:whenhefinallydoesarrive,bygolly,hewantstobeknownbyhisfather’smiddlename.

Candacecan’thelpnodding.Thenamesuitshim.

Immediatelyafterhercircle,Debrafoundthatthenauseashehadbeenexperiencingintheearlystagesofherpregnancysimplyvanished.“Mywholeattitudechanged,”shesaid.“ThepregnancybecamesomethingIaccepted.Anditdidsomethingelseforme;itmademerealizethatevenifmymarriagedidn’tstaytogether,Istillwantedthebaby.Itgavememoreconfidenceinmyself.I’msogladnowIchosetokeepthebaby.Hecametohelpmewithbalance.”

TheafterlifehealingcirclehelpedDebrasortthroughherdilemma.Hermarriageendedindivorce,andnotlongafterward,shesoldherbusinessandmovedoutofstate.Thelittleaviatortoucheddownonplanetearththefollowingspring,andisnowinhis20s.Debraeventuallyremarried.

DebraandClaraimmenselyappreciatedandbenefittedfromtheafterlifehealingcircle,butmanyotherswillnot.Wetooksomelumpslearningthislesson.OneofJana’sstudentsintroducedanacquaintancewhoaskedfortheafterlifehealingcircle.Jana’sintuitionwavedabigredflagofdoubtaboutthiswoman’struemotives,butshewassoinsistentandemotionallyneedythatJanaagreedtodoit.Thatprovedtobeabigmistake.Thewomanwantedtocommunicatewithherlatehusband,notforhealingresolution,buttofindoutwherehehadstashedamind-bogglingsumofdrugmoney.Hewasmurderedbecausehisdrugconnectionsknewhehadbeenholdingbackonpayments.Hisdeathwasgrislyanddepressing,aswewitnesseditonceagainduringthesession.

Evenworse,thepeoplewhokilledhimwereruthlessanddeterminedtofindthatmoneyonewayoranother.Hadthewomandiscovereditswhereaboutsduringthecircle,

herownphysicalsafety—andpossiblythesecurityofallthosewhoparticipatedwithher—couldhavebeeninjeopardy.Janacalledanabrupthalttothecirclebeforethelocationofthemoneycouldbedetermined.Eventhewoman’slatehusband,oncehewasinthecircle,repeatedlyimploredhertoforgetaboutwhathecalled“bloodmoney”andgetonwithrebuildingherlife.Shewaslessthanreceptivetothaturgentmessage.

Tothisdate,thishasbeentheonlyafterlifehealingcircleinvolvingCandacethatevokedcomplaintsafterwardfromsomeoftheparticipants.Mostly,theywereamazedthewomanwantedanythingtodowiththemoney.Theyrealizedtheextremedanger,evenifshechosetoignoreit.Lookingbackaftermanyyears,Janasuspectedthewomantookpartinherlatehusband’sdrugdealings.

Sincethenwehavebeenevenmorecarefulwhenscreeningpeoplewhoaskfortheafterlifehealingcircle.Wecallsuchapersontheinquirer.Arequestisthefirstguideline.Wemakeitknownthatwearecapableofconductingtheafterlifehealingcircleandwillingtodoso,andthenweallowaninquirer,suchasClaraorDebra,tomakearequestofus.Next,weestablishthattheinquirerhassomesortofemotionaltietothesoultobecontactedthatisreciprocated.Thistwo-wayconnectioncanbethroughkinshiporfriendship;itdoesn’tmatter,andwedon’tneedorwanttoknowtheprecisenatureoftherelationship.Thatusuallybecomesapparentduringthecircle.

Theloveconnectioncountsaboveallelse.Theemotionalbondandrecognitionarewhatdrawthesoulinquestiontotheafterlifehealingcircle.“Whenyoucirclewithmenandwomenwhoareallcomingtogetherforasimilarpurpose,itsendsoutabeacon…thatourancestorscancomeandmakethemselvesknown,”explainedBrianna,theintuitivecounselorandteacher.“Theyhaveasafespace.”

Evendisembodiedsoulswantandneedreassuranceabouttheirsecurity.Thisisobvious,ifwethinkaboutit.Ifwewerewalkingdownthestreetandsomeoneinthemiddleofagroupcalledoutourname,wouldwerespondtothesummons?Wemight,ifwerecognizedandcaredaboutthepersoncallingourname.Ifwedidn’tknowanyonethere,mostlikelywewouldignorethecallandcontinueonourway,probablyatalittlefasterclipthanbefore.Unless,ofcourse,wecraveattentionor,evenworse,wanttostiruptrouble.ThisiswhyadoringfansaremorelikelytocontactanimpersonatorofMichaelJackson,PrincessDiana,orElvisPresleywhoisnolongerinaphysicalbody,notthesoulwhoactuallylivedasoneofthesewell-knownpeople.Thefansholdnoemotionaldrawforanyofthesethree,evenifthefansworshippedtheiridolsfromafar.ThosewhomightbeabletoreachtheGlovedOne,theprincess,ortheKingofRock‘n’Rollaretheirfamilymembersorclosefriends.Theonlywaytofindoutforcertainistoconducttheafterlifehealingcirclewithoneormoreofthesepeoplepresent.Theneedforatwo-wayemotionalconnectionbetweentheinquirerandthesoul(s)inquestionhelpsminimizetheinappropriateuseoftheafterlifehealingcircle.Thissimpleprocedureismostdefinitelynotintendedasameansofinvadingwherewehavenotbeeninvited,evenifitistemptingtotrytobeofservice.

Sometimeagowediscussedmorethanoncethepossibilityofusingtheafterlifehealingcircleforallthesoulswhoremaincaughtupinamajorplanecrashnearwherewelive,butwedon’tstandmuchofachanceofbeingsuccessfulwithoutinvolvingatleastonepersonwithaverycloseemotionaltietosomeonewhosephysicalbodyperishedin

theaccident.Wearenotacquaintedwithanyoneinthatsituation,andnosuchpersonhascomeforwardtoaskusforhelp.Ifsuchapersonweretoagreetoactastheinquirer,thenthatpersonmightbeable,withthehelpofagroup,toattracttheattentionofatleastonesoul.Thenwecouldallhelpthatsoulrealizethatthepainisoverandthatitisfreetomoveon.Thatsoul,inturn,mightbeabletogetothersoulsstilllingeringatthecrashsitetocometothegrouptohearthesamemessage.ThegroupwouldalsohelpsetthemfreeandshowthemthewaytothelightofGod’sunconditionallove.

Thatiswhatisknownasasoulrescue.Itisoneofthemostlovingandgenerousactsanyofuscandoforsomeoneelse.Evenso,weneedthepermissionandparticipationofsomeoneaffectedbythesituation.

Atfirst,Janathoughtherclientwasexaggeratinginherdescriptionofthecircumstancesthatbotheredher.Thewomanwasworriedaboutthephysicalsafetyofherhouseandherneighbors’dwellings,too.Themoretheclienttalkedaboutherunsettlingvisions,andonceJanatunedintothesituationusingherintuition,sherealizedthatthereweresoulsaroundherclientwithissuesthattheafterlifehealingcirclecouldhelpresolve.Asoulrescuecouldbedone.Candacemadephonecallsandarrangedforagroupofclientsandstudentstomeetatthewoman’shouseonefallevening.

Manyyearsafterthecirclewe’reabouttodescribe,Yaquiexplainedtousthatthesesoulswereabreakawaygroupofcliff-dwellingNativeAmericansfromthedesertsouthwest.Men,women,andchildren,walkedeastmanyhundredsofmileslookingforaplacewheretheycouldrebuildtheirlivesandliveinpeace.Eventuallytheyarrivedatalow-lyinglocalenearasourceofwaterandsetupatemporarycamp.Theyintendedtomoveonbecausetheyknewtheywerecrossingdisputedterritoryclaimedbyseveraltribes,anditwasnotsafetolinger,butseemedagoodspottostopandtakeanextendedrest,hiddenfrompryingeyes.

Theywerenotconcealedwellenough.Attackerscaughtthembysurpriseandslaughteredeveryoneofthem,leavingtheirbodieswheretheyfelltorotunderthesun,untendedandunburied.Theland,soakedwiththeirblood,eventuallyclaimedtheirbones.LatertheirremainswerecoveredoverbythehousesofwhatgrewintooneoftheaffluentcitiesnexttoDallas,Texas.Itwasasthoughthesepeoplehadbeenwashedawayandneverevenexistedonthisearth.

Lostandseeminglyforgotten,theyrememberedandwaited,unwillingtodepartdespitetheentreatiesoftheirancestorsurgingthesesoulsinlimbotomoveintothelight.

Leadingtheafterlifehealingcircle,Janaisastonishedbyhowmanysoulsgatherontheoutsideofthecircleformedbythevolunteersandtheclient.Shefeelstheirpresenceasatremendouspressure.Shesays,“Allthesoulswholivedinthisareaandareupsetandnotfree,pleasecomeintothecircle.”Onlyoneofthementers,andherimpressionofhimisofanolderNativeAmericanmanchosentobethespokesmanforthehundredsandhundreds

whoarepresent.

Shefeelsthemanvacillatebetweenrageanddeepsadness.Hisrageisfromthedisrespectshowntohisbodyandthebodiesofhisfamilyandhistribe.Whatsoullessthingcouldhavedonethis?Janafeelshimaskrepeatedly.Hehasbeentryingtounderstandforwhatthoseinphysicalbodieswouldconsidermany,manylifetimes.

Whathasinfuriatedtheelderlymanandhistribeisnotthekillingoftheirphysicalbodies,Janarealizes.Theyknewtheyweretrespassingandacceptedboththeriskandtheconsequences.Theywouldhavedonethesametothosewhoencroachedontheirhuntinggrounds,becausesuchactionstookfoodoutoftheirmouthsandthemouthsoftheirfamiliesandtribe.Whatkeepsthemlivid,unabletomoveon,isthedisrespectshowntotheirbodies,whichwerenotgiventheproperrites.Theultimateinsultisalloftheconstructionontopofwhatthesesoulsconsidersacredgroundwherethedeadlie,unacknowledged.Theyfindthesituationintolerable,soulless,andcannotletitgoanddepart.

Thenonememberofthecirclesendstheoldmanahugeshotoflove,tellinghim,“You’reright.Theyweresoulless.ButIdon’tthinktheyknewyouhadeverbeenhere.Wecertainlydidn’t.”

“Weacknowledgeyourpresencenowandhonoryouwithourloveandrespect,”Janaaddsquickly.Beyondthecirclesheperceivesthelovinglightandthevoicesoftheirancestors,stillcallingouttothem,stillurgingthosewholingertojointhem.Theyhavebeenwaitingalongtimefortheirlovedones.

Janaasksthegrouptohelpherencouragethesetrappedsoulstomovethroughthecircletothelight.Atlonglast,itisenough.Theirangersubsidesenoughforthemtoperceivethelightandtheirancestors,readytowelcomethemhome.Astheymovethroughthecircle,theirenergyfeelslikeahurricanetoJana.

“Goinpeace,”Janaandtheothermembersofthecircletellhimandalloftheothersoulswhofinallycanleavethisplacetomoveintothelightandintoanewlife.Theoldman,thelasttodepart,lookseverymemberofthecircleintheeyeandnodshisthankstoeachone.

Inthecaseofthishealingcircle,althoughtheclientdidnotpersonallyknowthesoulsinquestion,shehadanintimateconnectiontothem,thankstothelocationofherhomeonthegroundwheretheirbodieshadfallenanddecayed.Withoutsuchalegitimatetie,wehavenorighttobuttin,howeverwell-meaningourintentions.Theroadtowe-know-whereispavedwithgoodintentions,andwehavehadnointentionofheadinginthatdirection.

Chapter5

Wetrulyhavenodesiretoencounterthescaryorthebizarreduringtheafterlifehealingcircle.Tokeeptheexperiencepositive,uplifting,andsafe,weareascarefulaboutourmotivesforconductingoneinthefirstplaceasweareaboutthemotivesofthoseaskingforthecircle.

Thesafestmotiveforofferingtheafterlifehealingcircleistobeofservicetoothers—nothingmoreandnothingless.Morediceymotivesmightbetoentertain,todefraud,ortodemonstratehowtrulyspiritualweare.Wemostlikelywouldexperiencenegativeconsequencesifweofferedthecirclewithanyvariationofthelatterthreeasourprimaryintent.

AsmentionedinChapter4,themotivesofthosewhoaskfortheafterlifehealingcircleareequallyimportanttoitssafetyandsuccess.Weconducttheafterlifehealingcircleonlywhenthereisagenuineneedforhealingresolutionbetweenasoulinaphysicalbodyandasoulwhoisnot.

ThesituationofClaraandtheclientwhoneededasoulrescuearetypical.Peopleusuallywanttoreachsomeonewhohasleftthephysicalworld,someonewethinkofasdead.Yetwhatworksfortheso-calleddeceasedalsoappliestothosenotyetbornintothephysical,asDebraandothersoon-to-beparentshavediscovered.

Rondiwas40yearsoldandhadsufferedmultiplemiscarriages.AroundJanuaryof1993,shewentthroughyetanothersuchexperienceandbelievedshenolongerwaspregnant.Yetherbodyneverreallygotbacktonormal;heruterusseemedtokeepexpanding.Finally,aboutApril,Rondiwenttothedoctorandhadasonogramtorevealwhatwastranspiringinsideofher.

Shewasstillpregnant—withtwins!

Rondiwashappy,butherhusband,Marc,wasinastateofanxiousshock.Healreadyhadtwoteenboysbyhisfirstmarriageandwasn’tcertainhewasreadytogothroughcaringforinfantsagain.Mostlyhewasscared.Helosthisfirstwifetocomplicationsfromchildbirthandcouldnothelpfearingtheworstthistime,givenRondi’sageforafirstbirth.Shealsohadconcernsaboutherphysicalconditionandhowthepregnancywasgoingtoworkout.TheyaskedfortheafterlifehealingcircleandJanaagreed.OntheappointeddayCandaceparticipated,too.

Ittakesabitofcoaxingtobringthefirsttwinintothecircle.“Shefeelsverylarge,”Marcsays.

Thissoulpresentsherselfasafullygrown,verydeterminedyoungwoman.“Shewantsyoutoknowshe’sasoldasyouare,”Janatellsherparents.Wealllaugh.

Candaceunderstandsintuitivelythathernameisveryimportanttoher,soweaskherwhatshewantstobecalledandsheguidesustoachoiceshefindsacceptable.

“Whatisityouwishyourmotherandfathertoknow?”Janapromptsher.

Thissoulloveshermother’sheart,andtellsRondithatsheisfarmorelovingthanshehasgivenherselfcreditforbeing.

“Quitworrying,”thesouladdsthroughJana.“Youcan’tscrewup.Ittakestwotolearnandtwotoshare.”

Thesoul’sdeepemotionstouchallofourhearts.SheturnstoMarc,who,shesays,washerfatherinapreviouslife.“Youweren’tasopentoyourheartthenasyouarenow,”sheexplainsthroughJana,“andshealwaysdesperatelywantedtohaveyourloveandcouldneverfeelit.Shecannow.”

Everyone’seyesfillwithtears.

Thissoul’spurposeforthisphysicallife?Tolovewithhope,notattachment,andtohelpotherslearntodothesame.

“Inwhatwaywouldyouexpressthat?”Janaasks.

Ineveryway,shereplies,showingCandaceanimageofayoungwomanspreadingseedsofjoyandnurturingthemwithherwateringcan.

Herlife’slessonislearningpatienceandsharingwithjoy,love,andcompassion.Thatisoneofthereasonssheiscomingintotheworldwithatwin.

“Intense,”herfathersaysabouther.

“No,powerful,”Janasuggests.“Shehasasenseofhumorthatintensepeopletendnottohave.”

Thesoulalsoexplainssheneedstolearnmoreaboutself-loveandhowtobalancebeingaspiritualbeingwithaphysicalbeing.Sheasksbothofherparentsforhelpwiththislesson.

“Sheagainsayssheisgratefulforyouracceptance,”JanatellsMarcandRondi.“Youcouldhavechosenotherwise.”

“IsthereanythingIcandotomakeyoufeelmorewelcomeorhealthier?”Rondiasks.

Herparents’warmwelcomeisenoughforher.Shetellsthemnottoworryaboutherhealth,becausesheisstrong,butshedoeshaveconcernsaboutherbrother,whosephysicalbodydoesnothavethesamestaminaashers.

“Takecareofyourself,”sheurgesRondi.“Iwantahealthymother.”

“SodoI,”Marcchimesinquickly.

Janaaskshertostepoutsidethecirclesothatherbrothermayenterandspeaktotheirparents.Instead,shebringshiminsideandhoverscloseby,protectinghim.Unlikehisout-frontsister,thissoulradiatesagentle,softenergy,similartoasummerbreeze.Heofferstwostrongnames,andhisparentssuggestanadaptationofoneofthem,towhichheagrees.

“Suchasweetenergy,”Janawhispers.“Goaheadandembraceyourmotherandfather.”

RondisobsandMarcclearshisthroat.

“Hesays,‘Iloveyou.’He’sbeenwithyoubefore,alittlerolereversalhere.He’sbeenyourfather.”

“Whydidyouchooseusthistime?”Rondimanagestoinquire.

“Becauseyouneededmeandshe[hissister]needsyou,”heexplainsthroughJana.Thissoulalreadyunderstandsunconditionalloveandwillhelphisparentswithself-love.Theboyaskshisparentstotreathimandhissisterasindividuals,notastwins.Hespecificallyrequeststhathismother,avegetarian,consumemoreproteinduringherpregnancy.“Justtalktome,”healsotellsher.“You’realwaystalkingtoher[hissister].She’sjustlouder.Askmedirectly—you’llbeabletohearme.”

Hispurposeforaphysicallifeistobeapathfinderforothersasameansoffindinghisownway.“Hehasanaturalbentforfixingthings,fortakingthemapartandputtingthembacktogether,”Candaceintuits.“Watchyourcar.”

“He’satinkererofthings—andatinkererofphilosophy,”Janaadds.

Thissoulwillneedhisparents’helpinlearningtoverbalizehisemotions.Histwinwillwanttospeakforhimbutsheneedstostepbackandlethimfindhisway.“Hewantsyoutotakethetimetodrawhimout,”Candacetellshisfather.

Theparentsareconcernedaboutthebirth,andhereassuresthemthatheandhissisterwillmakeitaseasyaspossiblefortheirmotherduringlaboranddelivery,andwillprobablyarrivetwotothreeweeksearly.Healsoreassuresthemthathewillreachouttotheirolderbrothersandhelpthemunderstandtheirsisterbetter.TheywonderaboutRondi’smiscarriageearlythatyear.Heexplainsthattherewasathirdsoulthatoptednottocontinuewiththepregnancy.Theycouldhavechosenyoungerparents,Janapointsout,butwantedmaturity—parentswhohavealreadymetsomeofthesamedesirestheyhavesetforthemselves.

Sheaskseachsoultoenteritsfetustogivetheirmotheraboostofenergy,whichRondifeelsandreports.

“Ijustwanttotellthembothhowmuchwelovethem,”sheaddsthroughmoretears.“It’sgoingtobeanincredibleexperienceforallofus.”

TherewardsoftheafterlifehealingcircleforRondiandMarcwentfarbeyondsomemuch-neededreassurancethatRondi’spregnancyandbirthwouldbesafe.(Thetwinsarenowintheir20s.)Gettingtoknowthetwoevenbeforetheycameoutofthewombhelpedtheirparentsbemorerelaxedandconfidentaboutbringinguptheirchildren.“Toknowsomeoftheirquirksandtheirenergybeforetheywerebornwasveryfreeing,”Marcsaid.“Itwasnownotaprocessoftryingtodiscoverwhoyourkidis.Wealreadyknewthem.”

“Itwasanallowing,”Rondielaborated.“Itgaveuspermissiontojustallowthemtobewhotheyarewithouttryingtomoldthemintosomething.”

TheafterlifehealingcirclealsoaidedRondiinanotherprofoundway.Shetendedtobequietandnotexpressherself,butafterthecircle,shebecameevenmoreopentoherownheartandtodemonstratingherfeelingsmorefreely.“Itdefinitelyhadtheeffectformeofbeingamoreemotionalperson,”sheexplained.“Feelingthatloveconnectionwassoincrediblystrong.That’ssomethingI’llneverforget.”

Intheyearsfollowingtheircircle,RondiandMarchavedescribedtheexperienceoftheafterlifehealingcircletofriendswhoareopentotheconceptofsoulcommunication,andurgeotherexpectantparentstoholdtheafterlifehealingcircletomeettheiroffspringbeforebirth.

“Thisissomethingyouneedtodoforyourkids,”Marcemphasized,pointingoutthatitcanhelpparents-to-beprepareforchallengessuchasachildwithaphysicalormentalhandicap,insteadofbeingsurprisedandassigningblame.

“Idon’tseehowtherecouldbeabuseoranythingnegativebecauseyouhavesuchadifferentperspectivegoingthroughtheexperience[oftheafterlifehealingcircle],”Rondiagreed.

Weheartilyendorsetheirviewpointabouttheextraordinaryvalueofthecircleforexpectingparents.It’soneofthereasonswewrotethisbook.

Inadditiontoresolvinggriefandhelpingparents-to-be,theafterlifehealingcirclecanbehelpfulinotherdifficultcircumstancessuchasmiscarriage,abortion,orsuicide.Manyofusregardsucheventsastheendofabuddinglife,andevenmurder.Whatmiscarriageandabortionreallymeanisdelay.Inbothsituations,thesoulwilloptnottoreturntoaphysicalbody,findanothermotherandfather,orwaituntilthetimeisbetterforthewomanwhowaspregnant.

ThethirdoptioniswhathappenedforawomanwewillcallLoriDell.Atage19,Lori,anOregonresident,becamepregnantafterherbirthcontrolfailed.Withsexualandotherabuseinherpast,andneedingtodomuchmoreworkonherownhealing,Loriwasnotemotionallyequippedatthatpointtobeaparent,andneitherwasherboyfriend.Shedidnotwanttogivebirthandputthechildupforadoption,either.Itwassimplytoomuchforher,toooverwhelming.

Twomonthsaftershechoseanabortion,Loriwasatherboyfriend’shouseforaweekendawayfromcollege.AsleepthatSaturdaynight,shehadavividdream.“Ihesitatetoevencallitadream,becausetherewassomethingfarmorerealaboutit,”shesaid.

Inthatdream,shegavebirthtothechild,whowasagirl.“It’sliketheairspoke,andtoldmehernamewasAshley.”Anursetriedtohandherthenewborn,butsherefused.“Iwouldn’ttouchher.Icouldn’ttakeher.Icouldnotfinditinmyselftoaccepther,”Lorirecalled.Sothenursegavetheinfanttoherboyfriend,whosatdowntoholdthechild.“Hewasinlovewithherinstantly.”

Thedreamskippedforwardandthelittlegirlwasabout3yearsold,abeautifulchildwithlongblondcurls.SheandLoriwerewalkingtogetherdownastreetlinedwithlittleshops.Theystoppedtoenteroneofthem.“Somethinginmejustwantedtotellherhow

muchIlovedherandhowsorryIwas,”Lorisaid.“ButIcouldn’tspeak.Itwouldn’tcomeout.

“Sheturnedtowardmeandlookedmerightintheeyeandsaid,‘It’sokay,Mommy.Iunderstand.’Shewentonintotheshop,andIwokeup.Iremembertheincrediblesenseofjoyandpeace.Ireallywantedtohangontothat.”

Laterthatday,Lorilearnedthatherboyfriendhadexperiencedthefirstpartofthedreamthepriornight,too,afterhesuppliedherwithexactdetailsshehadleftoutofherdescriptionofherdreamtohim.

Afterherabortion,Loristruggledwithconfusionandmixedfeelings.Thedreammessagefromthesoulthatwantedtobeherdaughterprovidedsomehelp,butwhenLorilaterbecamepregnantwiththedaughtershegavebirthto,thosepainfulfeelingsresurfaced,muchtohersurprise.Whenthisdaughterarrivedinthephysicalworld,Lori’smother-in-lawkeptcallingthenewbornGrace,whichwasnotthenameshewasgivenultimately.ButthewordrangabellforLori,whoregardedthechildasasecondchancetohaveadaughter,her“savinggrace.”

Intheshoweronemorning,itoccurredtoLorithatherdaughterwasthesamesoulasAshley,whomshethoughtofatthetimeashersavinggracebecauseeventhoughitwasunwanted,thepregnancymovedLoritotakestockofherlifeanddosomeworkonherself.OnceLorimadetheconnectionbetweenthetwodaughters,hermother-in-lawneveragainreferredtothechildasGrace.Thatseeminglystrangeincidentofashort-termnamewasthissoul’swayofhelpinghermothertorealizethatshehadcomebacktoherandwasnowgrowingup.

Notallwhosufferthroughamiscarriageorchoosetoendapregnancyhavehelpfromalovingsoulwhoknowshowtocommunicateinordertoeaseherparents’heartsandspirits.Insuchcases,theafterlifehealingcirclecanbeenormouslybeneficial.Itenablesbothsidestosortouttheirfeelingsandsaywhattheywanttosaybutpreviouslybelievedtheywouldnoteverhaveachanceto.

Suddeninfantdeathsyndrome(SIDS,orcribdeath)isanexcruciatingeventoftencausedbyasoulhavingachangeofheartaboutthephysicallifeitchose.Thesoulremovesitsenergyfromtheinfant’sphysicalbody,whichthendiesfromcausesthatmedicalsciencestillcannotpinpointwithcertainty,althoughthereareanumberoftheories.Theanguishthatensuesaftercribdeathcanbealleviatedthroughtheafterlifehealingcircle.Itallowstheparentstoobtainanswersfortheseeminglyunanswerablequestionof“Why?”andarriveatadeeperunderstandingthattheyarenottoblame.

Thesameappliesincasesofsuicide.Inthecircle,thesoul(s)inbodyandthoseontheothersidehavethechancetoarriveatanswerstheyfindhealing.Wehopethat,ifnothingelse,thisbookmakesclearthatsuicidedoesnotstopthepain,becausethepainisemotionalandspiritual,notjustphysical.Wecankillanailingphysicalbody,butthewoundsintheheartandspiritremainunresolvedbythephysicalbody’sdemise.

Pleasenotealsothatwetalkaboutanswers,nottheanswer.Thereisnooneanswerthatfitsallwhenitcomestotheprofoundissuesoflifeanddeath,beingandlove.Aswehave

explained,theafterlifehealingcircleprovidessubjectiveanswerstohelppeopleobtainresolutionfortheiruniquecircumstancesandrelieffortheirsingularemotionalandspiritualpain.That’sallitcaneverbe,butthat’smorethanenough,inouropinion.

Sofarwehavemostlydiscussedtheeffortsofthoseinphysicalbodiestocontactsoulswhoarenotembodied,butveryoftentheoppositeiswhatoccurs.Thosewhoarenotinaphysicalbody,likeLori’sonceandfuturedaughter,cantaketheinitiativebecausetheyalsohaveaneedtoconnectandexplain.

Thenextchaptershowsthatalthoughsuchattemptscanbesuccessful,theyareoftenhaphazardandharderthantheyhavetobebecausebothsidesdonotquiteknowhowtoestablishagoodconnectionorhowtomakethemostofitoncetheydo.Theafterlifehealingcircleaswepracticeitisidealtosolvethesekindsofproblems.

Chapter6

UnliketheshytwinfromChapter5,notallsoulswholackaphysicalbodyarereticentaboutmakingtheirpresenceknowntothosewhodohaveone.Indeed,theso-calleddeadoftentaketheinitiativeandreachouttotheso-calledlivingfirst,asdothenot-yetborn.

Weputthatmodifierinfrontofthewordsdeadandlivingbecausetheystarttohaveverydifferentmeaningsonceweexperiencetheafterlifehealingcircle.Itdawnsonusthatwhatseemslikeastarkdividebetweenphysicallifeandavastunknown—theotherside—maynotbesuchanunbridgeable,unfathomablechasmafterall.

AsBrianapointedoutinChapter2,peoplefrompre-industrialsocietiesweremuchmoreawareonthissubjectthanwemoderns,withallofouremphasisonlogic,reason,andtechnology.Theyknewtheirancestorswerestillwiththeminaveryrealsensebecause,unlikeus,theydidnotcutthemselvesofffromthatwiderawarenessandcommunitythattheafterlifehealingcircleisdesignedtorecaptureandputtogooduse.Eventoday,indigenouspeoplestendtobeclosertotheothersideandmoreopenaboutitthanpeopleinindustrializednations.

Onetruththatastonishesthosewhoareseparatedfromspiritisthatthe“dead”andthenotyetbornhavethingstheywanttotellus,andtheydonotalwayswaitforustowiseupandnoticethem.Theyfindwhatseemlikestrangewaystogettheirmessagesacrosspreciselybecausewearenotpayingattentionandbecauseweinaccuratelythinkwelacktheabilitytocommunicatewiththeotherside.

Onedayawomanwe’llcallBarbaraStrongansweredthetelephone.Herfriend,John,wasontheotherendwithsomethingtotellher.Itseemedfairlymundaneexceptforoneslightwrinkle:Johnhadbeendeadforeightyears!Leukemiaclaimedhislifebackin1967,justtwodaysafterBarbara’ssecondchildwasborn.

“Iwasshocked,”theTexasresidentandretiredtechnicaldocumentationwritersaid.“Hetoldmesomethingimportant.Naturally,IthoughtIwouldrememberthattomygrave.Idon’t.”

OnedaywhenthephonerangforBarbara’ssister,KateStrong(alsoapseudonym),themachineshowedthatthecallwasfromtheassistedlivingfacilitywheretheirmotherlived.IthappenednotlongafterBarbara’sandKate’sfatherhadpassedon.Kateanswered,butnoonewasontheotherendoftheline.Shetriedphoninghermotherandgotnoresponse.NextshedialedthenumberdisplayedbycallerIDandwastoldthatnoonefromtheresidencehadtriedtophoneher.Thestaffofferedtocheckuponhermother,butKatedecidedtodosoherself.Shefoundhermotherinherbedroomwithanarmwedgedbetweenthebedandthewallsotightlyitwasbleedingfromhereffortstofreeherself.

“Inmymind,itwasdefinitelyDaddycallingtoletmeknowMotherneededhelp,”

Katesaid.

Kate’sdeceasedfatherhasreachedouttoherinotherways,too.RightafterhisfuneralinAustin,Kateandherhusband,Jack,weredrivinghome.Lookingatthecloudsoutofthecarwindow,Kateaskedsilently,Daddy,ifyou’reokay,sendmeasignintheclouds.Instantlyrealizingshewouldn’tbeabletomakeoutanythingshewantedtosee,shealteredherrequest:Daddy,sendasigntoJackinstead.

Shecasuallysuggestedthatherhusbandscantheskyatthenextredlight.“Seewhatyoucanmakeout.”

Atthenextsignal,Jackdidassheasked.“Wow!”heexclaimed.“Iseeagreatbigboat.”

“ThatwasDaddy’sthing,”Katesaidofthecloud’sshape.“Iknewhewasallrightanddidn’thavetoworryanymore.”

Thedeadcalling?ThisexperienceisbynomeansuniquetoKateandBarbara.OneFriday,thedaughterofCaliforniaresidentMarieRhodesrelayedaphonemessage.Itconcernedadearfriendwhowassufferingfromalengthyterminalillness.“MarshalisgoingtodieonSaturday,”thecommunicationstated.“Hewantsyoutogowithhiswifetohisdaughter’scollegegraduationceremony.”

Thenextday,Saturday,thephonerangtwice.Thefirsttwotimestherewassilenceontheotherend.“ThethirdtimeIwascalled,”Mariesaid,“itwastotellmethathehaddiedandIwouldneedtotellhiswife.Hedidnotwantustoreturnbuttocontinueontothegraduation.”

Marie,manyofwhosefamilyandfriendshavedied,findsthattheso-calleddeadarejustasunpredictableastheliving.“ThoseIdothinkIwillhearfromIdonot,”shesaid.“IamoftensurprisedbythoseIdohearfrom.”

NoonewasmoresurprisedbyavisitfromthedepartedthanRichardSmith,apseudonymforaFlorida-basedcounselor.Around1980,hewassittinginhislivingroomafewdaysafterthedeathofamanwhohadcometohimforseveralcounselingsessions,attherequestoftheman’sdaughter,whowasRichard’sfriend.Itwasthedayoftheman’sfuneral.SuddenlyRichardnoticedtheodoroffreshlydugearth.Thenheperceivedthedeadman’spresenceinhishome.Themanwasdistressedbecausehehadnotbeenabletotellhisdaughtersomethingbeforehepassedon.HewantedRichardtotransmithiswordstoher.Althoughreluctantandfeelingawkward,Richardagreedtotherequest.Thepresenceandthesmellinstantlyvanished.AfewdayslaterRichardrelayedtothedaughterwhatherfatherhadaskedofhim.Shestartedtocry.Richardlearnedthatshehadnotbeenabletoreachherfather’sbedsideintime.WhatRichardjusttoldhernowwastheverysamemessagethatherfamilysaidthemanhadgiventhembeforehedied.“Idon’tremembertheexactmessageanymore,butI’llalwaysremembertheexperience,”Richardadded.

ThefirstcommunicationAstrid,theinspirationalspeakerwemetinChapter1,receivedfromherdeadfatheroccuredwhenshewasintheshower.Thisiswhereshepraysand

talkstoGodeverymorning.“Iheardsomeonetellajoke,”shesaid.“Itwassosudden,sooutoftheblue,andsounrelatedtowhatIwasthinking,ittookmeamomenttoacknowledgetheprobabilitythatitcouldbemydad.”

AnothermemorablemessagefromthedepartedhappenedperiodicallyoveranumberofyearstooneofJana’scounselingclientswe’llcallRebeccaWinston.Livingalone,Rebeccakeptfindingbloodonthebedsheets.Atfirstshenaturallythoughtitwasherown.Yetwhenthesestainsappeared,shewouldexamineherselfandfindnothingthatcouldaccountfortheblood.Finally,shehadasampletestedatalaboratory.Itprovedtobeoneoftherarestofbloodgroups.Evenmorebafflingandunnerving,itwasnotRebecca’sbloodtype.(We’lltalkmoreaboutRebecca’sstorylater.)

Thenot-yet-bornalsoresorttodramaticwaystoreachouttotheirwould-beparents.ConnecticutresidentMarianneO’Harehappilyhitthesackonenightat8:01p.m.Herjobatthetimeasanearlymorningradioshowhostmeantshehadtoriseat3a.m.onworkdays.Tonightshewaslookingforwardtogettingmoresleepthanusual.

Suddenly,ashimmeringbeamoflightappearedbeforethefootofthebed.“ItwaslikenothingIeverencounteredbefore,”shesaid.“Ipanickedbutwasunabletomoveanypartofmybody.”Thelightfilledtheroom,andoutofthatlightappearedagirlabout8yearsold,aglowinglight-beingfullyformed.

“Herarmswereoutstretchedtowardmeinakindofappeal,”Mariannecontinued.“TelepathicallysheaskedmeifIwould‘accepther.’Iwasterrifiedatwhatwashappeningandstillcouldn’tmovemybody.Iwasabletotelepathicallycommunicatebacktoher,‘Idon’tknowwhoyouare.YoucouldbetheDevildisguisingyourselfasabeautifulchild.’”

“Lookatme,”shereplied.“Lookatmyface.”

Mariannebelievedshehadnochoiceexcepttodoasasked.“Inthatmoment,IfelttheweightofsuchaloveasIhaveneverknown.Itwasunbelievablybeautifulandetherealandthekindoflovefolksreportinnear-deathexperiences.”

“Nowwillyouacceptme?”

“Iwillacceptyou.”

TheshimmeringfigurefloatedtowardMarianne,throughher,mergingintoherbeingthroughtheleftarm.TheroomwentdarkandMariannegasped,finallyabletomoveagain.

Trembling,shelookedattheclock.Thetimeread8:01.“Thelawsofphysics,time,andspacehadjustbeenshakentotheircoreinmyworld.”

Mariannephonedasympatheticfriendandrecountedwhathadjusttranspired.“Thatwasyourdaughteraskingpermissiontobeborn,”thefriendrepliedinstantly.

Mariannewasnotsocertain.Shedidnotbelieveshewouldbeabletobecomepregnant.Thedaysandweekspassedandtheencounterrecededintohermemory.Thenextspring,severalmonthslater,Mariannenoticedherperiodswereirregularandwenttothedoctor.Shewaspregnant,andtherewasaheartbeattoproveit!

RightupuntilgivingbirthonHalloween1989,Mariannekeptthinkingshewouldhaveaboy.“Irememberbeingsurprisedtohear,‘It’sagirl!’ThenextinstantIrememberedthegirlchildemanatingfromabeamoflightrightinfrontofme.Whensheopenedhereyesandlookedatmeforthefirsttime,Irealizedthisbabywasthatchild.”

Theetherealchildisnowayoungwomanwholooksverymuchlikethelittlegirlwhocametohermotheraskingtobeborn.

Notallpre-birthbulletinsaresointenseorsobrief,accordingtoourearthlytimereference.Sometakelongerbeforecomingtofruition.

RayniJoanwas39andhadtwochildren.Sheandherhusbandhaddecidedtheirfamilywascomplete.Onesummer,thefamilywasonvacationatthebeachintheHamptons.Rayni’shusbandwaswindsurfing,andhertwoboyswereplayinginthesand.Rayniwassittingunderaclearblueskywithonepuffycloudoverhead.Shelookedupatitandheardavoice.“Iwanttobeborntoyou,Mommy,”thevoicesaid.

Herhusbanddidnotbelieveher,butfortwoyears,theauthorkepthearingthevoice,whichsheknewbelongedtoalittleboy.Throughoutthosetwoyearsshepleadedwithherhusbandforathirdchild.Finally,inexasperation,Raynisilentlytoldthevoice,GotellyourDad!Althoughherhusbanddidnothearavoice,hesuddenlyagreedtohaveanotherchild.Lessthanayearlater,Rayni,at43,gavebirthtoheryoungestchild,asonnowinhis20s.

DeborahFrueh,anIllinois-basedintuitivecoach,toldusasimilarstory.Manymonthsbeforeherfourthandlastchildwasborn,sheremembers,“Iwaswellawarethathewassittingonmyshoulderveryinsistently.”Tryingtostartacateringcompanythatofferedhealthymenus,Deborahhadmixedfeelingsaboutthissignalthatanotherchildwasontheway.“Ididn’treallythinkthetimingwasgoodforanewbabyontopofanewbusinessthatIhopedwouldbeall-consuming.”Deborahwenton,“IkepttellingmyselfitwasamanifestationofthenewbusinessIwas‘givingbirthto,’butdeepdownIknewitwasanotherchild,andhewasbornaboutayearlater.”

Deborahbelieveshersonsignaledhisimpendingbirthtotrytosparehertheeffortoflaunchinganewbusinessthatultimatelywentnowhere.“Foraboutayearorso,whenpeoplesawmynewbornchild,theywouldreflexivelycallhim‘LittleBuddha,’”shesaid.“Tothisdayheismy‘seeker’child,alwayscallingmetodiscussphilosophyandnewthought.”

Inadditiontoalertingparentstotheirpendingarrivals,childrenoftenwanttheirparentstoknowwhattonamethem.TothesonofSharónWyeth,acommunitycollegemathprofessorinTexasandtheauthorofabookaboutnames,hisnamewasreallyimportant.Unawareshewascarryingachild,onenightyearsagoSharóndreamedthatherfirstchildcametoherandtoldherhisname,whichsheunderstoodtobeJoshuaJedediah.Whenshewokeupthenextmorning,Sharónfoundoutthatherhusbandhadhadthesamedream;hegotadifferentname,butdeferredtoherinterpretation.Afewweekslater,theylearnedshe

waspregnantandbeganreferringtothechild,whomtheyknewwouldbeaboyevenbeforethesonogram,asJoshuaJedediah.

Twoweeksbeforethebirth,herhusbandhadanotherdreaminwhichthesoon-to-arriveboyadmonishedhim,“Whyareyoulisteningtoher?Shedidn’tgetitright.Idon’twantmymiddlenametoJedediah.IwantittobeJeremiah.”Afterherhusbandreportedhisseconddream,SharónagreedtocalltheboyJoshuaJeremiah.

Acoupleofyearslater,itwaslateatnightandherhusbandwasaway.Sharónwasworkingonanartprojectwhenhertoddlerson,wakingfromsleep,walkedinquietlyandstartledher.Outofthebluehesaid,“Icametoyouandgaveyoumyname,butyoudidn’tgetmynamerightsoIhadtogotoDadandgivehimmyname.AndthenIhadtogotoDadagainbecausehethoughtyouhadgottenitrightandhehadnot.”

Sharón’seyesgrewwide.Neitherparenthadevermentionedtheirpre-birthdreamstotheirlittleboy,thinkinghewastooyoungtounderstand.“Well,youendedupwithyourrightname,sowe’regood,”shemanagedtoreply.JoshuaJeremiahwasnotfinishedwithhisgrilling,however.“Whenareyougoingtolettheothertwocomethrough?”heasked.

“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”

“Youletmecomethroughandyouletmysistercomethrough.Whenareyougoingtolettheothertwocomethrough?”

“Ilookedathimandsaid,‘Honey,I’mchoosingnottohavemorechildren.I’maschoolteacher.Idealwithkidsalldaylong.WhenIcomehome,Ihavejustenoughtimeandenergyforyouandyoursister.Idon’tthinkIcoulddoasgoodajobwithfour.IthinkI’mdone.’”

“Oh,”hereplied,andwalkedaway.

JoshuaJeremiahhadnowaytoknowthatyearsbefore,hismother,verymuchwantingfourchildren,hadcarefullycraftedfourChristmasstockingsforheroffspringandputthemawayforthefuture.

Pre-birthnameinstructionscancomeevenfromadoptedchildren.RoughlyamonthafterAustin,TexasresidentsJohnandKathyWilczekturnedintheirfinaladoptionpaperwork,Kathyhadavividdreaminwhichsheheard,loudandclear,“Oliviaiscoming!”

ThenextmorningKathysatoutsideaspoetrypouredoutofhermindandheartandontomanypages.Shewasnotapoet.Eightmonthslater,Kathy’snarrativebookwaspresentedtoayoungwomanandherboyfriend,whochosethemtobetheparentsofalittlegirlbornabitsoonerthanexpected.WhentheadoptioncounselorcalledandaskedwhatJohnandKathywantedtonametheirnewdaughter,theyrepliedinunison,“Olivia!”Duringtheinfant’schristening,theministerreadKathy’spoetry.“Thechildrenthataremeanttocometousfindaway,”Kathytoldus.

Wehavebeentalkingalotsofaraboutcommunicatingwithdiscarnatebeingsandaboutperceptionthatclearlydoesnotinvolveonlyourfivephysicalsenses.Shortlywewillreviewhowitisallpossible,andhowandwhythesoulisaneternalcontinuumthat

wemaycontactafterphysicaldeathorbeforephysicalbirth.

Chapter7

Haphazard,random,confusingmessagesfromthosenotinphysicalbodiesraisemorequestionsthantheyanswer.Remembersomeoftheexampleswe’veshared:Ifitwasn’tRebecca’sbloodonthesheets,thenwhosewasit?WhoorwhatdidMarianneseeallthoseyearsagoatthefootofherbed?WhoorwhatphonedBarbara,Kate,andMarie?WhoorwhatvisitedRichard?Whoorwhatmanagedtoprovideallthosespecialeffectsandanswers,eventhoughthesecondstagerwaslockedoutofthehouseduringtheGrossePointeséance?WhoorwhatannouncedhernametoKathyandherhusband,John?

Theanswerissosimplethatmostofusfindithardtobelieve.Theonlythingweleavebehindatdeathisthephysicalbody.That’sall.That’sit.Therestofself—ourmental,emotional,andspiritualself-awareness(ourconsciousness,inotherwords)—remainsintact.Ghosts,spirits,andapparitionsarenothingmore,orless,thansoulsthatlackphysicalbodiestoanchorthemintowhatweperceiveastheonlyreality,thephysicalworld.Thesameappliestoallofusbeforewearebornintophysicalbodies.

Thesoul,inessence,consistsofenergy.Thatiswhythesoulprecedestheappearanceofaphysicalbody,whichitselfisenergyinmaterialform,andsurvivesitsdeath.Therejustsohappentobetwomathematicalequationstoexpressbothdeathandbirth(creation).ThefirstoftheseisE=MC2.MostofusknowthisasAlbertEinstein’sfamousequation,publishedin1905,statingthefundamentalequivalencebetweenmatterandenergy.Itcanalsodescribetheprocesswerefertoasdeathifwealtertheequation’svariablesslightly.

Estillstandsforenergy,althoughwewillrefinethemeaningof“energy”shortly.Mstillstandsformatter.Butinsteadofthespeedoflightmultipliedbythespeedoflight(thespeedoflightsquared),C2nowstandsforthedualityofconsciousness.Andthespeedofconsciousnessisinstantaneous,asmultipleexperimentswiththetiniestknownparticles,calledquanta,havedemonstrated.Itiswaybeyondthescopeofthisbooktoexplorealloftheveryexcitingdevelopmentsinthefieldsofquantummechanicsandconsciousnessresearch;sufficeittonotethatthescientificcommunityismovingtowardadistinctlymetaphysicalunderstandingofthesurvivalofconsciousnessafterdeathasstringsofquanta.Onekeycharacteristicofquantaisthattheyvibrate.Everythingthatexists—thematerial,suchasthephysicalbody,andthenonmaterial,suchasconsciousness—vibrates.Everyknownortheoreticaluniversevibrates,orelseitdoesnotexist.Vibrationisthefoundationofcreation.1

Forthepurposesoftheafterlifehealingcircle,wealsoneedtorecognizethatwhereasthesoulisenergy,thisenergyisnotthetypethatsciencereferstoas“theabilitytodowork.”Suchadefinitionappliestomaterialenergyinthisphysicalworld.Examplesofthisincludesteamexpandingtodriveapistonthatturnsthewheelsofatrainengine,ortheheatunlockedbyburningcoalornaturalgasthatraisesthetemperatureofwateruntilitbecomessteam.Thatis“doingwork”inthescientificsense.

Thesoulisnotaboutdoingworkoranythingelse.Thesoulisaboutbeing.Itisabout

existinginsteadofnotexisting.Thekindofenergythatformsthesoulismostaccuratelydefinedastheabilitytolove.2Beingandself-awareness,orconsciousness,originateinlove,theultimatesource,alsoknownasGodorthedivineinmostoftheworld’sreligions.

Divineloveisunconditional,meaningitisnotlimitedorhamperedbyexpectationsordemands.Thus,itvibratesatthefastestfrequencypossibleatanygiveninstant.Italsohasmanynamesonearth:Hinduscallitprana,thelife-force;theChineselongagonameditchiorqi;andChristianWesternersrefertoitasagape,ordivinegrace.Whenweareconductingtheafterlifehealingcircleproperly,weareexperiencingamagnified,enhancedflowofthatunconditionallove-energy.Aswehavesaidalready,thefeelingisglorious.

NowwemayreinterpretEinstein’sequivalenceequation.Withourredefinedvariables,wecanseethatconsciousnessacceleratesinfrequencyuntilitbreaksawayfrommatter(thephysicalbody).Thephysicalbodydiesasaresult,andconsciousnessremainsinastatethatcannotbedetectedwithourphysicalsenses,muchlikeinfraredlight,whichhumaneyescannotsee,orinfrasound,whichhumanearscannothear.

Ifwerearrangethesesameredefinedvariables,wecandevelopanequationtoshowtheprocessweknowasbirth,orcreation:

Matter(suchasaphysicalbody)appearswhenconsciousnessactstoslowthevibrationalfrequencyofsoulenergy.Theanswertothequestion“Whichcomesfirst,thechickenortheegg?”isneither.Energycomesfirst,andprovidestheblueprintforeverythingthatexistsinmaterialform.ThefullequivalenceinEinstein’sequation,however,comprisesfarmorethanmatterandenergyalone.Italsoextendstoconsciousnessandlove.Thesefour—matter,energy,consciousness,andlove—areequivalents,andallfourvibrateortheywouldnotexist.

Expandingthereinterpretedequivalenceequationexplainswhythepresenceofloveisthekeytothesuccessoftheafterlifehealingcircle.Loveisbothelectricandmagnetic,givingandreceiving,pushandpull(attracting).Love,especiallylovefromapersoninaphysicalbodywithwhomthesoulisfamiliar,helpsdrawtherightsoultothecircle.Loveoffersthereassurancethatencouragesthesoultoremainforresolutionthatusuallyismuchneededonbothsides.

Afterdeathandbeforebirth,consciousness(orsoul-energy,ifyouprefer)issointactthatevenwhenthephysicalbodyisabruptlydestroyed,throughaccidentormurder,forexample,theremainingself-awarenessoftendoesn’trealizewhathashappened.OneexampleofthisisthesoulsofthosekilledintheairplanecrashforwhichJanaandCandaceconsideredattemptingasoulrescue.Anundetectedwindshearslammedajumbojetviolentlytothegroundjustnorthoftheairportrunwayitwasapproachingtoland.Whilethephysicalbodieswereremovedfromthecrashsite,manyofthesoulsremainedforalongtime,caughtupinthattrauma.

Consciousnesscanindeedbeoblivioustothedestructionofthephysicalbody.Thisleadstoalotofseeminglystrangeeventsthatweusuallymisinterpretandthenlabelas“paranormalactivity.”Hauntingsareoneexample.Asoulorgroupofsoulsmaywanderaroundinastateofconfusion,unawareoftheirphysicaldemise.Nolongerfocusedinphysicalreality,suchsoulsdon’thavethesamesenseofthepassageoftimeasdothosestilldwellinginphysicalbodies.That’swhythesesoulslingerinonelocation(ahouseorneararunway)foryearsorevencenturies.

Alreadydisorientedortraumatized,thesesoulsbecomeevenmorebewilderedwhentheyrealizetheirfamiliesandfriendsnolongerseemtonoticethemorpayattentionwhentheytrytocommunicate.Theymaybefeelingtheextremesofverystrongemotions,suchasterrororanger.Remember,nothingdiesexceptthephysicalbody.Disembodiedsoulsareascapableofemotionsandfeelingsasanyonereadingthispage.Anditistheenergyofveryintenseemotionsthatinteractswithphysicalobjects,sometimesunwittingly,andatotherinstancesintentionally.Suchinteractionsareknownaspsychokinesis,whichproducesphenomenasuchasphonecallsfromthedead,apparitions,boat-shapedclouds,orthesmellofdirtinsidearoomwherenoneisevident.Theseeventsareoftenpromptedbyasoulwhoverymuchdesirestocommunicatewithsomeonestillinaphysicalbodybutwhocannotgetthatperson’sattentioninalessdisruptivemanner.

Often,aftersomeonehaspassedontothenonphysical,wehavethoughtsaboutthatpersonthatseemtopopintoourheadsfromnowhere.Orthatindividualjustseemstobeonourmindalot,eventhoughitmayhavebeenyearssincethatpersondied.Ifmoreofusrealizedwhatwasreallygoingon,wewouldrecognizethatthissupposedlydeadandgonepersonistryingtospeaktous.Wewouldalsoknowtotalkback.Mostofusjustbrushasidegentleattemptsatcommunicationasimaginary,andthusmeaningless,orastheeffectsoflingeringgrief.Thesoulstryingtobreakthroughbecomeannoyedafterbeingignored.Sometimestheybecomeangryorhostile.Theireffortstoelicitattentionthentakeadecidedlymoreforcefulturn.Theyaredesperatetoberecognizedandaddressed.

SuchwascertainlythecasewithRebecca.Therarebloodtypeshefoundonhersheetshadnosignificancetoheruntilshefoundoutthathergrandmother,whohadpassedonsomeyearsearlier,hadhadthatbloodtype.Sureenough,duringtheafterlifehealingcircleJanaconducted,Rebecca’sgrandmothercameforwardeagerly,justburstingwiththingsshewantedtotellRebecca.Afterwardtherewerenomoreblood-stainedsheets.

Thedemiseofthephysicalbodydoesnotofitselfendowasoulwithwisdomorultimateenlightenment.Thisassertioncontravenesextremelyancientandwell-entrenchedbeliefsaboutlifeafterdeaththatarerootedinmanydifferentreligioustraditions.Allofthemintheirownwaystateorimplythatweattainsomesortofimprovedorpossiblyperfectedstateafterdeath,ontheconditionthatwehavebeengoodenough,howeverthatparticulardoctrinedefines“good.”Thisbeliefisalsopresentinacademia.LauraMarkwickKirkby’sthesisfromChapter2stated,“…anythingaliveisprogressivelydying.Fromthisperspectivedeathendsthephysicaldyingprocessandhencecanbeconsideredtobeahealedstate.”3Butasyourecallfromthepreviouschapter(pleasere-readitifnot),soulsnotinaphysicalbodywerehardlyhealedorenlightenedorall-knowing,all-wise.

Theyhadissueswiththosestillinbodyandsometimesexpressedtheirfrustrationininappropriateways,suchascontinuallypesteringtheirparents-to-be,justaschildreninphysicalbodiesdo.

“Whenyoudie,youdon’tbecomeimmediatelyself-actualized,”saidJulieBeischel,PhD,directorofTheWindbridgeInstitute.ShewastalkingwithAngelaArtemis,thehostofthePoweredByIntuitiononlinepodcast.Shecontinued,“Iwassurprisedtolearnthatdeadpeoplearenotscary,becausepopularculturewillleadyoutobelievetheyare.Theyarejustpeoplewithnobodies.”4Julie,whoearnedherdoctorateinpharmacologyandtoxicology,haslearnedaboutthedeadthroughherextensiveexperiencesputtingmediumscommunicatingwithdisincarnatesoulsthroughrigorousscientifictestingoftheiraccuracy.

Thestereotypeshetalksaboutstillprevails,alas.Manypeoplewhodon’tconsiderthemselvesformallyreligiousarestillsecretlyconvincedthatanonphysicalbeingisboundtobeenlightenedandwise.Thisiswhymanysuchpeoplegiveunduecredencetomessagesfrommediumsinatrancestate.Thisstereotypeisalsowhysomanypeopleconducttheirownimpromptuséances,hopingtocontactsomedisincarnateguruormaster.They’llcontactsomeone,allright.It’sreallyveryeasytocommunicatewithdiscarnatebeings.Theproblemisn’tdepartedlovedoneswithwhomweshareanemotionalbond.Theproblemariseswhencosmiccuriosity-seekersmakecasualcontactwithadisincarnatejerkthatplaysmindgames.Or,farworse,theytanglewithadenialspirit.Ortheyinadvertentlytuneintoasoulthatwouldbelabeledcrazyifitwerestilldwellinginaphysicalbody.Forexample,ifapersoninamentalinstitutiondieswhilesincerelybelievingthatheisJesusChrist,hisbeliefisnotgoingtochangemerelybecausethephysicalbodyhasceased.Althoughnolongerinaphysicalbody,thatsoulwillstillbelieveitisJesusChrist.Anditwillbemorethanhappytoconveythewordsof“Christ”toanyonewillingtopayattention.

Considerthisfromanotherperspective.Mostofuswouldneveropenthefrontdoortoourhomesandyell,“Comeonin!”toanyonepassingby.Mostofusalsowouldnotregardasolowalkat3a.m.throughNewYorkCity’sCentralParkasaveryprudentthingtodo.Yetpeoplewhomisusetheséanceforcasualspiritualvoyeurismaredoingtheequivalentofinvitingstrangersintotheirhomesandlivesorwalkingaloneintheparkafterdark.

Arewesayingthatallmessagesfrompsychicsormediumsarefromdeludedormentallyillsoulsorworse?No.Mediumsandpsychicsareoftenhelpful,especiallywhenwearehavingproblemstrustingorunderstandingmessagesfromthedeadorthenot-yetborn.Thesedifficultieshappenallthetimebecausemostofushavebeentaughtnottobelieveorevenacknowledgetheveryspiritualabilitiesthatenableustocommunicatewiththeotherside,withsoul-energy.

Letusnowreviewtheseabilitiesandtheirmanyuses,includingintheafterlifehealingcircle.

Chapter8

Oneofthecentraltensionsofmodernlivingisawidespreadsenseofdisconnectionfromthespiritualcoupledwithanalmostequallyubiquitouslongingtoreunitewithit.Fromthenumberofbooksaboutchildrenandnear-deathexperiencesorchildrenandpastlifememories,therealsoseemstobeapervasivebeliefthatnewbornsandchildrenaresomehowclosertotheotherside.

Butnomatterhowoldweare,wearestillconnectedtotheotherside,toheaven,ortowhatevernamewehaveforit.Wesimplydonotrecognizethatconnectionforwhatitis.Toacertainextent,thisperceptionofseparationarisesoutoftheconditioningandprogrammingwereceiveaschildrenfromourfamiliesandsocietythatemphasizestheconcrete,thematerial,andlogicattheexpenseoftheimagination,thenon-material,andfeeling—thenon-rational.Conditioningandprogrammingaretwoofthereasonsweoftenstruggletoknowthespiritualandemotionalpartsofourbeingthroughwhatseemstobeafogorveil.

Anothermajorfactorintheseparationbetweenthissideandtheothersideistheharmfuleffectsofnon-vibratingself-judgmentonthevibratingfieldsofhumanconsciousness.Whatdowemeanbythis?Remember,consciousnessandenergyareequivalents(Chapter7),andtheyvibrate,butself-judgmentdoesnotvibrate.It’sbeyondthescopeofthisbooktoexplainexactlyhowself-judgmentimpairsandhamstringsconsciousness,butsufficeittosaythatwearestrangerstoourdeeperselvesandtoourinnateconnectiontospiritascreatedsouls(theotherside)preciselybecausewesufferfromtheperniciouseffectsofself-judgment.1

Ifwearetosucceedwiththeafterlifehealingcircleaswepracticeit,wewillcontacttheotherside,theworldofspirit.Thismeansweneedwaystointeractbeyondthefivephysicalsensesofsight,sound,taste,touch,andsmell.Likesomanyofus,JohnL.Johnsen,anindependentproducerbasedinFlorida,talksaboutthesenon-physicalchannelsofcommunicationasa“sixthsense,”butweactuallyhaveasixth,seventh,eighth,andninthsense,knowncollectivelyaspsychic,orpsi,abilities.Othernamesforthesesensesareintuition,instinct,hunches,orgutfeelings.Soinsteadofa“sixthsense,”wecallthem“soulsenses”becausetheyaresomeoftheabilitiesofthespiritualbody,orunconsciousmind.ThesoulsensestrulyaresomeofthegiftsofthespiritmentionedthroughouttheBible.

Thesoulsensesarealsotheprimarymeansbywhichweareabletoapplytheprinciplesoflove,connection,andtrust.Weneedthesoulsensestoinvokeandfeelthepresenceoflove-energy.Wealsorequirethesenon-physicalsensestodetectthepresenceofthesoul(s)towhomwewishtospeak,asthatconsciousnessdoesnotcomeattachedtoaphysicalbody.Wealsoneedtolearntotrusttheinformationwereceivethroughoursoulsensesnomatterhowillogicalorstrangeitmayseem.

Thesearethechallengesinherentinourversionoftheafterlifehealingcircle,buttheyarenotallthatdifferentfromthechallengesofanykindofspiritualactivity.Howmuchdowetrustwhatwereceive?Dowepayattentiontoitandactonit?Theafterlifehealingcircleisagoodwaytoengageconsciouslywithourspiritualandemotionalnaturesandstrengthenourtrustinthishalfofself.

Inbrief,thefoursoulsensesare:

1.Soulvision,alsocalledclairvoyance

2.Soulunderstanding,alsocalledclairaudience

3.Soulfeeling,alsocalledclairsentience

4.Soulawareness,usuallyincludedwithclairsentiencebutactuallyitsowndistinctchannelofcommunication

Theremaybeadditionalchannelsofnonphysicalcommunication,butthesearetheonesweknowanduseeveryday.

Paranormalresearchersoftenrefertopsiabilitiesastelepathy,precognition,psychokinesis,andclairvoyance.Thefirstthreenames,however,moreproperlydescribewhatistakingplaceinsteadofhowthenonphysical,intuitiveinformationisbeingtransmitted.Somespecificswillmakethisdistinctionclearer:Telepathyismind-to-mindcommunication,anditcantaketheformofthoughts(soulawareness),visions(clairvoyance),feelings(clairsentience),orevenanunderstandingorwordsheardinsidethehead(clairaudience).Thesameappliestoprecognition.Itispossibletohaveavisionofafutureevent,orafeeling,oranunderstanding,orsimplytoknowthataneventmaytakeplace.Wehavementionedpsychokinesisbefore.Ithappenswhenenergyinteractswithmatter,somethingwedoeverytimewemeditateorvisualizetorelaxourmusclesorlowerourbloodpressure.

Thedifferencebetweenthesoulsensesandtheirphysicalcounterpartsisintensity.Theexperienceofthephysicalsensesisfarmoreforcefulthanthesoul-sensecounterpart.Materialcolorsaremorevibrant,materialsoundsaremoreelaborate,materialsmellsaremoredistinct,materialtastesaremorecomplex,andmaterialtouchisstrongerthanthenonmaterial.Thisisoneofthereasonssoulsreturnagainandagaintoamaterialreality—toavailthemselvesofafarstronger,richer,moreinvolvedsensoryexperience.

Justasthefivephysicalchannelsofcommunicationbringusinformationinmaterialform,thefournon-physicalsensesconveyinformationthatisinnonphysical,orspiritual,form.Wemayinfer,then,thatenergyinanyform,materialornonmaterial,isalsoinformation.Whenweuseoursoulsenses,wearesimplyscanningandinterpretinginformationasenergyinsteadofasmatter,forwhichweuseourfivephysicalsenses.

Wemayalsoinferthatthetwosetsofsensesareinterrelated,becausewealreadyknowthatmatterandenergyareoneandthesame,differentiatedonlybytheirvaryingrangesoffrequencies.Thinkbacktotheturned-earthsmellthathelpedalertRichardtothepresenceofhisfriend’sdeadfather.Thesoul’sintensedesiretogainRichard’sattentionevokedthematerialsenseofsmell.Inaddition,whenweuseoursoulsenses,weareactivatingthesubconsciousmind,oremotionalbody,andtheunconsciousmind,orspiritualbody.Thisisthehalfofselfthatiscapableofconnectinguswithsoulswhodonothavephysical

bodies.Wecannotreachorinteractwithdiscarnatesoulsthroughourconscious,rationalmind.

Althoughtheymayseemweirdtotherationalpartofourmind,thesoulsensesreallyarenotanymoremysticalormagicalthanthephysicalsenses.Assoulsinphysicalbodies,almostallofuspossessallfournon-physicalchannelsofcommunication.Unfortunately,veryoftentheinformationthesoulsensesbringtouscannotbequicklyverifiedthroughoneormoreofourphysicalsenses.Andwhileweareinphysicalbodies,wetendtobelievethatthephysicalissomehowmorerealthanthenonphysical.Yetourfeelings,similartoodorsintheair,arerealenough,eventhoughwecannotseeortouchthem.

Moreover,theconditioningandprogrammingwereceivefrombirthonteachusnottoacknowledgeandcertainlynottotrustthenonphysicalsenses,becausetheydonotfunctioninarationalmanner.Ofcoursethesoulsensesarenotrational.Theyarenotmeanttoberational.Theyexistforadifferentpurpose.Welopofffullyhalfofourbeing,theemotionalandthespiritual,andrelegatethishugepartofselftosecond-classstatus,whenweignoreordenythenonphysicalinformationwereceiveconstantlythroughoursoulsenses.

Smallwonderthedeadandthenot-yetbornseemsofaraway.Wearesocializedfrombirthtodiscountanddistrusttheveryhalfofselfthatconnectsustotheotherside.

Becausethesoulsensesdonotfunctionthewaytherationalpartofourminddoes,ithelpstodescribehowtheyoperate,tomakeiteasiertorecognizetheirsubtlesignals.

Soulawarenessdoespreciselywhatitsnameimplies.Itarrivesasaninstantaneousawarenessaboutsomesituationorperson,evenifwe’veonlyjustmetthepersonorencounteredthecircumstances.Weknow,butwecan’texplainwhyweknoworhowwebecameaware.And,frankly,wedon’tcarehoworwhyweknow;wejustknow.Awarenessworksthefastestofallthesoulsensesandistheonlysoulsensethatneedsnointerpretationatall.Theinformationisplain.

Soulfeelingmanifestsasphysicalsensationsonorwithinthebodyandareespeciallystrongintheareaofthesolarplexus,butcanbelocatedanywhere.Whatthesephysicalsensationsmeanwilldifferforeachperson,whichiswhyitisimpossibletointerpretthemaccuratelyforothers.Aswepaycloserattentionandourabilitytodetectsoulfeelingimproves,webegintotakenoteofaparticularsensationandwhateventorsituationitpreceded.Inthatwaywebuildourownpersonal“feelinglibrary”andneverneedtoconsultanyoneelsetoobtainthemeaningofourown,uniquesoulfeelings.

Soulvision(literally)showsitselfeitheraspicturesinsidetheheadorasavisualizationthatappearsexternaltoself.Itisthebestknownofthefoursoulsenses,althoughittakeslongertoexpressthansoulawarenessorsoulfeeling.Soulvisioncanbesymbolic,oritcanunfoldaverydetailedviewofeventsthateitherhavealreadyoccurredormayhappen,dependingontheintentsofthoseinvolved.Again,anysymbolsperceivedthroughsoulvisionareuniquetothepersonreceivingthem.

Soulunderstandingseemslikeaploddingtortoisecomparedtotheotherthreenonmaterialchannelsofcommunication.Soulunderstandingisjustthat:itarrivesasanunderstanding.Soulunderstandingalsoconveyswordsorphrasesthatareheardeitherinsidetheheadorasspokenwords.

Eachofuspossessesallfourofthesesoulsensesingreaterorlesserdegree.Butjustasweusuallyfavoronehandoranother,orhaveoneeyeorlegthat’sstrongerthantheother,eachofushastwostrongersoulsensesandtwoweakerones.Beforebirth,someofuswillopttobestrongestinsoulawareness,thenfeeling,thenunderstanding,andvisionlast.Otherswillreversetheorder.Stillothershaveentirelydifferentsoul-sensestrengthorders.Eachofthesesoul-senseordersconveysdefinitepersonalitytraitsandgivesuscertainabilitiesandcertainweaknesses.Thosestrongestinawareness,forexample,areterrificatpublicspeaking,becausewhattheyneedtosayflowsquicklyandnaturallyintotheirconsciousminds.Thosestrongestinsoulunderstandingarenaturallydisciplined.Thereasonwechooseaspecificstrengthorderhasalottodowithboththelessonsandpurposewechooseforaphysicallifetime.Onewaytobecertainoftheorderwechoseistoaskourspiritguides,orangels.(Wewillsaymoreabouttheirintimateroleintheafterlifehealingcircleinthecomingchapter.)

Keepinmindthatnoorderisbetterthananother.Somepeoplearedistressedbecausetheyfinditdifficulttoseeauras.Thismaymerelymeanthattheyarenotstronginsoulvision.However,theymaybeabletodeveloptheirfeelingorawarenessandreadanaurajustaspreciselythroughtheothersoulsenses.Forexample,soulfeelingishowJanadetectsauras,andheraccuracyconstantlyamazesthosewhoseaurasshescans.

Intheeasternhalfoftheworld,themajorityofpeoplearestrongestinsoulawarenessandsoulfeeling,whereaspeopleinthewesternpartoftheglobearejusttheopposite—predominantlystrongestinsoulvisionandsoulunderstanding.ThisisabigfactorinwhyEastandWestaresoverydifferentandhavesuchtroublerelatingtoeachother.Butitalsosetsupmorediversityinpeople’sworldviewsandperspectives,whichcanbeadvantageous,providedweknowaboutthedifferentsoul-senseordersandrespectthestrengthsandopportunitiesofeachperceptivemode.

Mostofusfindthatourtwostrongestsoulsensesaresointertwinedwithourphysicalsensesthatwejustassumethathowweperceiveandprocessinformationisthewayeveryoneelsethinksandprocessesit,too.Thatisnotso.Itisimportanttobecomewell-versedinthedifferentmodesofperceptionconveyedbyourownandothers’varyingsoul-sensestrengths,sothatwemaylearntocommunicaterespectfullywitheveryone.

Althoughoursoulsensesareusually“on”allthetime,theyfadeintothedistantbackgroundofoureverydaylivesbecausewearenotpayingattention,outofmisunderstandingandthattragiclackofself-trust.Wenoticeonlywheninformationcomesthroughoneofourweakersoulsensesbecausewetendtonoticesuchunaccustomedformsofperception.ThinkbacktoJanahearingthevoiceofoneofherspiritguidesoutsideofherhead.Yaquiwascommunicatingthroughherabsoluteweakestsoulsense,soulunderstanding.Itcommandedherattention.ThesamehappenedwhenAstridheardthejokeintheshower.Herfatherwasreachingoutthroughherweakersoulsenseinordertobreakthroughtoher.

ThisalsoplaysoutinEasternmysticaltraditions,whichplaceahighvalueonvisions.VisualinformationstandsouttothoseintheEastpreciselybecausethedominantsoulsensesinthishalfoftheworldarenotvisual.Peoplewhoresideinthispartoftheglobetendtoreceiveintuitiveinformationthroughsoulawarenessandsoulfeeling,butthesetwocommunicationchannelsseemsomundanethattheydonotgivetheirfeelingsorawarenessasmuchcredenceastheydotheirlessfrequentvisions.

Wehavebeendiscussingoneofthebigchallengestothesuccessoftheafterlifehealingcircle:participants’abilitytobelievetheinformationtheyreceivethroughtheirownsoulsenses.Mostofussimplydonothavemuchfaithinintuitiveornonphysicalinformation,providedweevenrecognizeitforwhatitisinthefirstplace.Nordowehavemuchtrustinself.Thetwoissuesareactuallyrelated.

John,thefilmproducer,oftenreceivesfleetingfeelingsthatheinstantlydismisses.“I’llnoteitattheverymildestlevelsandthenjustletitgo,”hesaid.

Onoccasion,John’sintuitionisalittlehardertoignore.Acoupleofdaysbeforereceivingwordfromhissonabouthisdaughter-in-law’spregnancy,heknewsomethingwasupandheardalittlegirl’svoiceinsidehisheadsaying,“Hi,Grandpa.”

“Isaidtomyself,‘Nowthat’sjustgottobestrange,’”herecounted.

Beforehisdaughter-in-lawgavebirth,Johnfeltthesoul’spresenceleavethetinybody.“Shejustwasn’tthereanymore,”hesaid.Thebabywasbornwithaseverebirthdefectandlivedonlyafewdays.

LaterJohnsensedthatthesoulhadreturned,and,sureenough,wordcamethathisdaughter-in-lawwaspregnantonceagain,givingbirththistimetoahealthybabygirl.

Manyofushavetolearnthehardwaytostartpayingattention.“IlearnedabiglessonwhenIfoundoutIwasreallypregnant,andnowItakethosefeelingsquiteseriously,”saidDeborah,whodismissedintuitivemessagesfromherfourthchildthatturnedouttobeaccurateandvalid.

Honoringourintuitionisreallyaboutlearningtotrustourselves,ahugeissueformostofus.Lackofself-trustiswhysomanyofusturntotheOuijaboardortabletipping.Bothfunctionasphysicalpropsthatwecanlatchontowhenwearenotableorwillingtorelyonoursoulsenses.Theproblemwiththesetoolsisthattheyputfrustratinglimitsontheconversationeitherbyconfiningthecommunicationtoyesandno(tabletipping)ortakingalongtimetospelloutevenshortanswers(theOuijaboard).

“Alotofquestionsarenotyes-or-no,”MichiganresidentDebChristiansentoldus.Sheandaboutsevenofherfriendshavebeentabletippingonaregularbasisforseveralyears.Atfirsttheyreliedexclusivelyontwotapsforyes,andoneforno.Butsoonthatwasn’tenough.Havingbecomemoreadeptandmoreconfident,shesaid,informationnowwill“popinto”theirheads(soulawarenessatworkhere),andthetable’smovementsimplyconfirmsit.

Consciousexperienceofoursoulsensesendowsuswithownershipoftheinformationwereceive.Thismakesanenormousdifferenceandispartoftheafterlifehealingcircle’s

realpowertotransformthroughbeingactivelyinvolvedincommunicatinginsteadofjustabystander,suchaswhenwehaveamediumorapsychicprovideinformationforus.

“Whenyougoandgetareading,youarejusthearingwords,”saidRondi,themotherofthetwinswemetinChapter5.“It’sanintellectualunderstanding,butyouarenotgettingcaughtupemotionally.Thehealingcirclewasatotalexperience—mental,physical,emotional,andspiritual—thatengagedusoneverylevel.”

Marc,herhusband,added,“ThehealingcircleisalotdifferentthananykindofreadingI’veeverhad,andI’vehadafewdozenofthem.It’sverydifferenttogetintothatvibration,especiallyduetothecirclearrangement.Everybodywasenabled.Everybodywasfillingineachother’sblanks.”

Sojusthowdoweattainthisenabledstate,evenifwedonotthinkofourselvesaspsychicsormediums?Howcanwepossiblyfillinothers’blanksintuitively?

It’strulynotallthatdifficult,especiallybecausewe’redoingitalready.Don’tthinkso?Everhadthephoneringandknowwho’sontheotherendoftheline,evenwhenthatpersonhasn’tcalledinawhileandtherewasnoreasontoexpectacall?Everenteredaseeminglyemptyroomonlytoretreatquicklybecauseitwassouncomfortable?Bothareinstancesofsoulsensesprovidingnonphysicalinformation.

Thesoul(orpsychic)sensesdonotstrikeuncontrollablyorrandomly,asiscommonlybelievedevenbythosewhohavedoneextensiveresearchinparapsychology.Itismorethanpossibletoturnupthevolumeofthesesensesorturnthemoffaltogetherifwesodesire.Itisallamatterofpayingattentionandpracticing.“Beingpsychicisn’tsomuchachanceencounterwithafactoflifeunknowntome,”Astridexplained.“It’smuchmoreajourneyintotheflowofenergiesthatIfocusmyattentionto.”

Thinkofthesoulsensesasnonphysicalenergy-informationreceiversthatworkclearestandstrongestwhileweareinreceptivemode.Thismeansweareopentoouremotionalandspiritualbodiesandarecalmandunpressured.Thisistheexactoppositeofhowourmentalbodytakesinphysicalinformation.Thementalbodyconcentratesandpushes;theemotionalandspiritualbodiesrelaxandreceive.Weunlearnthewaywehavebeentaughttolearn,becausethatapproachdoesnotworkforthesoulsenses.SomakeagameofitinmuchthesamemannerasDebandherfriendsdo.Themorejoyandlightwebringtoexploringandusingoursoulsensesinadirectedandconsciousmanner,theeasieritbecomes.

Deeprelaxationreallyaidstheentireprocess.Onegreatwaytorelaxthatweteachourstudentsisblendingtheenergyofourbeing—ourthoughtsandemotions—withtheenergiesofthesky,atree,orcalmwater.Blendingenergiesisnotatallabouttakingoverordominating.Itisaboutsimplybecomingonewithwhateverweblendwith.Blendingisexpandingourownseparatesoulenergyintoandwiththesky,thetree,orthewater.Theenergiesareseparateanddistinct,andyettheymeldtogether.

Beginbyassumingacomfortablepositionandlocation,sittingorstanding,aspreferred.Feelthedesiretoblendinyourheart.Donotrushthis.Takethetimetofeelthisdesireasdeeplyandstronglyaspossible.Next,directthatdesiredownfromtheheartinto

thesolarplexus,andfromthereoutwardandupintothesky,overtothetree,ordownintothewater.

Enjoytheexpansivesensationsthatcomefromexpandingtheenergyfield.Taketimetonoticeinformationthatarrivesaboutthesky,thetree,orthewater.Expandingyourenergyfieldmakesitfareasiertopickupinformationaboutthatwithwhichyoublend.Don’ttrytoforceanyinformation,however,anddon’ttrynottotry.Justbereceptive.Allowanyinformationorperceptionstoflowtoyounaturally.

Onceyouhavebecomecomfortablewithblendingintothesky,atree,orwater,andusingthattohelpyourelax,youmaytryblendingwithaperson,usingthesameprocessasbefore.Inblendingenergywithaperson,youactuallygointothatperson’sownsoulnature,andreceiveinformationbackviayoursoulsenses.Thesameblendingprocessallowsustoreadaccuratelytheenergyofaparticulargroup.Youareliterallyexpandingyourindividualenergy-consciousnessintotheenergyofagroupconsciousness.Insodoing,youreceiveinformationthatisspecifictoeachuniquegroup,andallowthememberstohearwhattheyasagroupneedmosttohear.

Blendingwithagroupishowthebestcharismatictalkersandspeakerswork.Theynotonlyblendtheirenergywithotherpeople,buttheyarealsopullingorattractingtheenergyofeachpersoninthegroupintotheirown.Indoingso,theyestablisharapportandcommandgreaterattention,becausetheiraudiencecanfeelwiththem.

Thosenotwell-endowedwithsoulfeelingtendtofindblendingabitofamysteryuntiltheyhavepracticeditawhileandstarttosortoutallofthesensationsthatcometheirwaywhentheyareblended.Instead,theymayenjoyblendingwithaphotograph.Itisrelativelyeasytointuittheenergyofapersoninaphotograph,whichisprobablywhymanynativepeoplesdonotcaretohavetheirpicturestaken.

Forthisexercise,youneedoneormorephotosofsomeoneyoudon’tknowbutwhomsomeoneelsepresentdoes.Blendwithoneofthephotos.Haveapenandpaperhandyandwritedowneveryqualityorcharactertraitthephotorevealsaboutthepersoninit.Checktheaccuracyofthisinformationbydiscussingitwiththepersonwhoknowsthesubjectinthephoto.Theresultsmaybeastonishing.

ThereareplentyofresourcesontheInternetandinmanyotherbooksifyouwantmoreinformationaboutdevelopingtheintuitivesideofyourbeing.Invariably,wefindthatwhenwegetintouchwithoursoulsensesandbegintousethemconsciouslyandwithpurposeanddirection,webecomemuchbetteracquaintedwithourdeeperselvesandbecomeawareofafarlargerreality.

Thedistancebetweenusandthedeadorthenot-yetborn,andtheinvisiblehelperswehavebyoursides,shrinksconsiderably.Thegapalsoclosesbetweenourpainfullossofalovedoneorouruncertaintiesaboutimpendingparenthood,andtheresolutionweneed.

Nowwearereadytotalkmoreabouttheinvisiblehelpersthatkeeptheafterlifehealingcirclesafe—providedweknowtoincludethem.

Chapter9

Eventhoughattimeswemayfeelalienated,isolated,andbereft,noneofuscomesintothisworldentirelyonourown.Wealwayshavehelpandfriendshiprightbyoursidesintheformofloving,invisiblementorswhowantnothingmorethantoplayanactiveroleinsupportingusbefore,during,andevenafterourphysicalsojournsonEarth.Allweneeddoisaskfortheirhelp—andthenbereadyandopentoreceivetheirguidance.(Theblendingexercisefromthepreviouschaptercanhelpusopenup.)

Asvibrating,eternalsoul-energy,wechoosetoexperienceeachphysicallifetime.Weusuallyhaveapurposeforthelifewehaveselected.Suchpurposeisgeneral,suchasteaching,healing,counseling,inspiring,creating,beingofservice,andsoforth.Ourlifepurposeimmediatelyattractstousotherspiritswhowanttosharethatpurposebutdonotnecessarilydesiretodosoinaphysicalbody.Wethenselectagroupofsoulstohelpusalongtheway.OftenwemakeourchoicesbasedonthefactthatweknowthesespiritsalreadyfromotherphysicallifetimesonEarth(orelsewhere).Wetrustthesebeingsandtheytrustus.Sometimesweincludesoulswhohaveaparticularexpertisethatwebelievewillbeespeciallyhelpfultous,andsometimeswejustwanttotrysomethingnewwhileonearth.

Thenwearriveinourphysicalbodies.Asveryyoungchildren,weinteractwithourspiritfriendsastheinvisiblecompanionsweplaywithandwhocomfortus.Well-meaningadults,however,admonishusthatthesefriendsare“notreal.”Westarttodistrustoursoulsenses,themeansbywhichwecommunicatewithourguides.Eventuallywegiveuponoursoulsensesandourfriendssothatwemay“growup”andbecome“well-adjusted.”

Ourguidesremainwithusanyway,sendingustheirloveandsupport,hopingtoreconnectinamoredirectmanner.Theyfulfilldifferentrolesonourbehalf.YaquiisJana’sspiritualgrowthguide,theonewhoismostfocusedonherspiritualwell-being.Candace’sspiritualgrowthguideisasoulshecallsSun.WhenYaquihelpsJanawithherteaching,counseling,ortherapy,theentireroomfillswiththesoftest,gentlestenergythatmeltsallhearts.Sunisveryloving,too,buthisessencehasadistinctlyintellectualcasttoit.Betweenthem,Jana-YaquiandCandace-Sun,theyappealtoandconnectwithabroadrangeofpeople.

Manyguidestakeonthefunctionofjokester.Bylinkingthementalandemotionalbodies,humoristheeasiestandbestwaytotuneintoourownheart’swisdom.Helpingusuncoverandappreciatethehilarityandabsurdityinlifealsoaidsinkeepingourspiritualconnectionaliveandhealthythroughreconnectingwiththeemotionalbody.Manyofushaveattendedasolemnoccasiononlytofindwearethinkinganabsurdthoughtormakinganoutrageousobservation.Thisisverylikelyourjokester’sdoing.

Guidesarealsohealers,teachers,legalexperts,evenbusinessconsultants!OneofJana’sguidesisahandymanwhoinvariablyastonisheshisphysicalcounterparts.TheycannotunderstandwhyorhowJana(withhishelp)isabletotellthemtheactualmechanicalproblemevenbeforetheyinspectthebrokenmachine.Thisguide,whocalls

himselfDavid,alsoexamineseveryplanebeforeJanaorCandaceflyandsendsbackareportonitsair-worthiness.WewillnotboardanyaircraftthatdoesnotmeetwithDavid’sapproval.

Guidesusuallyrevealthemselvestousinaformwecanrelateto,meaninghuman,butsomeguideshavepresentthemselvesascomicbookfiguresorcartoons—forexample,WonderWomanorRockyandBullwinkle—ifthat’swhatwillhelpusbondwiththem.Theformsandnamestheytakeonaresimplyamatterofmakingthem,theirlove,andtheirassistancereadilyavailabletousbymatchingourneedsandexpectations.

Veryoftenourguidesknowourdeeperissuesfarbetterthanwedoattheconsciouslevel.Thismakesthemusefulalliesinbringingupchildren,particularlywhentheyareveryyoung.Manyyearsago,the2-year-oldgranddaughterofoneofourstudentsstartedbitingothertoddlersatherdaycare.Thecenterthreatenedtoexpelthelittlegirl,andherfamilywasatalossuntilhergrandmotherrememberedtoaskthechild’sguidesforhelp.Thewomanreportedthathergranddaughter’sguidesnotonlyexplainedthesituationbutprovidedsuccessfulsuggestionsforhowtostopthebiting.

Guidesarealsoamazingwhenitcomestoanykindofhealingwork.JanaandCandacetaptheenergyoftheirownguidesandcallonclients’guideswhencounselingandforsessionsofSunantherapy.Whenwecannotconsciouslyfathomwhattheissueisorwhyweareactingorfeelingacertainway,ourguideshelpcutouttheguessworkandcanofferinvaluableadviceandoptionsthatareuniquetoeachofus,ourpurpose,andouremotionalandspiritualneeds.

Isitpossibleforallofustomeetourguides,upcloseandpersonal?Ofcourse—providedwearewillingtotrustoursoulsenses.Becauseguidesdonothavephysicalbodies(exceptinrarecasesofextremeemergencies,whentheycanmaterialize1),wecannotsitdownwiththemforacupofcoffeeandachat.Werelyonintuition—ourhunches,gutfeelings,visions,andinnerhearing—tobeabletoreceivetheirmessagesandsendoursinreturn.Onewaytoreigniteourrelationshipwithourguidesisanintroductorymeditation,whichwecandoonourownorwithhelpifneeded.Howeverwechoosetobecomereacquaintedwithourguides,theenergyandeffortweputintodoingsowillcomebacktousmanytimesoverintheformofincreasedfeelingsoflove,acceptance,andwell-being,nottomentionallthepracticalhelptheywillprovide.Their(nonexistent)feescan’tbebeaten,either.

Althoughtheyareaslovingandsupportiveastheycanbe,ourguideswantustoknowthattheyarenotperfectbyanymeans.Theyaresoulsontheirownjourneysofspiritualgrowthandself-discovery,justasweare.Weandtheyhavesimplyagreedtotraveltogetherforawhiletohelpeachother.Yes—asimperfectandscrewedupasmanyofusbelieveourselvestobe,westillhavesomethingtoofferourguides.Ittakesregularanddeliberate,consciouscommunicationwiththem,however,tomaketheexchangeatwo-waystreet.

Ourguidesalsowanttoemphasizethattheycannotcommandusinanymanner—howwefeel,whatwebelieve,ortheactionsweperform.Theycannotviolateourfreewill.Theyarementors—trustedadvisors—notdictators.We,theauthors,arenottheonlyones

sendingthismessage.ItcomesalsofromobservationsbymainstreamprofessionalssuchaspsychiatristGeraldEpstein,whonotedinabookpublishedmanyyearsagothatthe“innerguides”whoappearedtohisclientsduringmeditationwouldnotactunlesstheclientsspecificallyaskedthemtodoso.2

ThinkbacktoJana’sfirstencounterwithYaqui.Heencouragedhertoframeherwordsasarequest(“Areyouasking?”)sothathewasfreetostarthelpingherinadirectmanner.JanaalsorecallsbeingharanguedonetimebyManta,herhealer,whomaynothavebeenthemostenlightenedsoultojoinagroupofspiritguides.Mantawasusingalotof“Youshould”and“Youmust”andbeingveryforcefulabouttellingherwhathethoughtshewassupposedtobedoing.Suddenly,Manta’senergyabruptlyvanishedandthelectureceased.Hereturnedabitlateralotsofterandlessinsistent.“AsIwassuggesting,”hebeganagain.YaquihadtakenMantaasideandremindedhimaboutthelimitationsthatfreewillplacesonguides’actionsandbehavior.BecauseJanahasbeencommunicatingdirectlywithherguidesformanyyears,shehasprovidedManta,Yaqui,andtheothersinhergroupwithmanyopportunitiesfortheirownspiritualgrowth.Theyappreciateitdeeplyandreturnthefavoreveryday.

Thesameprinciplethatpreventsguidesfromviolatingourfreewill,eventohelpus,alsoappliestosoulsnotinbodywhotrytocommunicatewithus.Ifweconsiderthesesoulsannoyingordisturbing,wemaytellthemtoceaseanddesist,andmostofthetimetheywillheedus.We’lladdresstheissueofhowtohandletheonesthatignoreourrequestsshortly.

ExercisingherrightnottobepesteredisexactlywhatRaynidid.Aftertwoyears,she’dhadenoughofbeingimportunedbythesoultryingtocomeinasherlastchild,soshetoldhimwheretogo,sotospeak.Itworked.Candacealsohashadvisionsofapersontryingtouseenergytofindoutwhatwasgoingonwithher.Candacesilentlytoldhertobackoff,andshedid.Candacealsoaskedherguidestohelpkeepherenergyatbay.

Onelastpointaboutfreewillandspiritguides.Becauseguidesdonotimposetheirmandatesandvaluesonus,theysimilarlyfailasacrediblecrutchtoshieldourselvesfromourtrueresponsibility.JanaandCandacearealwaysskepticalofphrasessimilarto,“Myguidesaretellingmetodosuchandsuch,”ortheever-presentvariant,“Theuniverseistellingme.…”Wedon’tbuyit.Guidesandtheuniverse(andevenGod)arenotinthebusinessoforderingourlives.That’sourjob.Butourguideswillhelpusexploreallofouroptions,whichourfearsorotherlimitationsoftenpreventusfromperceiving.

Inadditiontoemotionalandspiritualsupport,guidesactintwocapacitiesdirectlyrelatedtowhattheydoduringtheafterlifehealingcircle.Wehavealreadymentionedthatguidesareinvolvedinallmannerofhealing.Thisincludesenergy-healingmodalitiessuchasSunantherapy,andmoreconventionalmedicine,too.Ifguideswillmaketheirpresenceobviousinsessionsbetweenapsychiatristandhispatients,they’llparticipateinanykindofhealing,providedtheyareinvitedtojoin.

Theotherrelatedroleforspiritguidesisthatofprotector—probablytheirbest-recognizedfunction.Inourworldfullofcars,buses,trains,planes,boats,andotherformsofmechanizedtravel,protectorsputinplentyofovertimepayingattentionwhenweare

distracted.Therealwonderisthatwehaveasfewaccidentsaswedo,especiallyinthisageofcellphoneconversationsortextingwhiledriving,walking,orotherwiseengagedinwhatbecomehazardousactivitieswhenwearenotpayingfullattention.AspsychiatristM.ScottPeckconcludesinhisbookTheRoadLessTravelled,eachofushasprotectionallaroundusallofthetime.3

Itiscriticalthatwemakeuseofthisprotectionatacertainpointintheafterlifehealingcircle,aswewilloutlineinthenextchapter.Whenwedoaskfortheirassistance,itdoesnotmatterwhetherornotweknowthenamesofourguides.Whatdoescountisthatwedeliberatelycallonthemforprotectionforeachcircle.Theywillbedelightedtocomplywithourrequest.

Thinkofguidesasspiritualbouncers,keepingatbayallmannerofdiscarnatejerksandgame-playersand,evenworse,attacksorattemptsatpossession.Theyreducetheincidenceofweirdorunsettlingphenomenatoprettymuchzero,too.JanaandCandacehaveconductedandparticipatedinmany,manyhealingcircles.Withourguides’protection,wehaveneverexperiencedanyfloatinghorns,disembodiedvoices,spookymists,oranyotheroddevents—withoneexception…

Weoftenusechairsthatswivelbecausetheymakeiteasierforallthoseinvolvedtoreachacomfortablepositioninthecirclearrangement.Onetime,beforethestart,onewoman’schairkeptmovingslowlybackandforth,evenwhenshepulledherfeetoffthefloorandnooneelsewastouchingthechair.Thefloorwasreasonablylevel,andnooneelse’schairwasmovingunaided.Wechuckledandwentbacktothetaskathand.Oncewecalledontheguides,themovementceased.

That’stheextentoftheparanormalactivityweobservedduringtheafterlifehealingcircleswehavebeeninvolvedin.Ofcourse,ifthat’swhatyou’relookingfor,youcancertainlyfindit,whetheryouusetheafterlifehealingcircleapproachorrelyontheOuijaboardortable-tipping:justomitaskingforprotection,andletthefunbegin.Yes,wearebeingsomewhatsarcastichere,becausewithoutprotection,whatmaywellhappenwillnotbeamusingatall.Itwillbescaryatleast,ifnotdownrightdangerous.

Weareconvincedthatifmoreofuswereinconsciousandfrequentcommunicationwithourguides,therewouldbealotfewerinstancesofhauntings,diabolichomeinvasions,andevenpossession,allofwhicharefarmorecommonthanthemediaorreligiousauthoritiescaretoadmit.Freewillissuchthatevendenialspiritsmustobeyifweareclearinourownheartsthatwehavetherighttobefreefromattack,andthensummonourownenergyandtheprotectionofourguidesandinsistthatallunwelcomeinvadersclearout.Ifwewanttheaidofapriestorshaman,thatisourright,too,butwehavethetoolstokeepourselvessafeonourownterms,providedweknowtoaskandthenactonthatknowledge.Wearenothelplessinthefaceofdarkforces.

Whatwearediscussingheremightbemistakenforwhatissometimesreferredtoasspiritualwarfare,apracticethatinvokesenergiestodriveoutso-calleddemonsorevilfromalocationoraperson.Spiritualwarfareisanoxymoron.Waginganykindofwar,evenattheenergeticlevel,isnotaspiritualendeavor.Thoseinvolvedinthiskindofactivityareintrudingwheretheyhavenotbeeninvited.Itisonethingtouseourownenergy(andthatofourguides)toclearoutthespaceswhereweliveandwork.Itisalso

onethingtouseourownenergy(andthatofourguides)tofendoffunwelcomevisitorsorattackers.Butit’sanotherthingentirelytodeclarethatothers’spacesorbodiesarecorruptedsomehowandanointourselvesasthecleansingagents.Twistingenergytoinvadeorcontrolisagrossviolationoffreewillandassuchentailsveryunpleasantconsequencesforthosewhodoit.

Again,thisisaboutusingourenergywherewehavearighttoputitandinamannerthatdoesnotviolateothers’boundaries(anothertermforfreewill).Whenwevisualizeorprayforpeaceorhealing,wearenottryingtoforcetheissue.Wearemakingarequestattheenergeticlevel.It’simportanttofeelthedifferencebetweenenergythatsupplicateslovinglyandenergythatdoesnotaskbeforeitbargesintotakeover.Thelatterenergyisneitherlovingnorhelpful.

Whilestandingguardagainstanywould-beenergy-invadersduringtheafterlifehealingcircle,ourguidesalsolendtheirenergies(meaning,theirlove)tothoseinthephysicalgroup,makingthecircleallthemoreeffective.Groupenergyisapotentmagnifier,whichiswhyJesustoldhisfollowers,“Forwheretwoorthreearegatheredtogetherinmyname,thereIaminthemidstofthem.”4

Jesuswastalkingabouthowgroupenergyisevenmoreofanattractorthantheenergyofjustonepersonorsoul,andhowtheenergyofthegroupdrawshispresenceinspirit.Thissamedynamicoperatesduringtheafterlifehealingcircle,whentheenergiesofthoseinphysicalbodiescombinewiththelove-energiesofalloftheirguidestoattractthesoul(s)inquestion.Thepresenceofallthislovealsohelpsmagnifytheenergy-informationgleanedthroughthesoulsenses,makingitpossibleevenforthosewithoutalotofpracticeusingtheirintuitiontoobtainhelpfulinformation.

Nowwecometothepointofreviewingtheremainingstepsinvolvedinconductingtheafterlifehealingcircle.Althoughthisapproachisflexibleandadaptable,thereisasequencethat,iffollowedfaithfully,willkeepparticipantssecureandhelpmakethecirclesuccessfulinbringingaboutthehealingresolutiontheinquirerseeks.

Chapter10

Wehavementionedtheinquirerbefore.Theinquirerissomeonewhowantstocommunicatewithasoulnotinaphysicalbody.Ifwehavemadeknownthatwearewillingtoconducttheafterlifehealingcircle,andapossibleinquirercontactsus,thenit’suptoustoestablishwhethertheinquirerhasalegitimateneed.

Thisisthetimeforaconversationandsomegentlequestions.Inquirersareoftenveryemotionalandwanttodisclosealltheyknowaboutthebeloveddeparted.Donotallowthis.Instead,attheoutset,explainthatinorderfortheafterlifehealingcircletowork,theinquirermustnotdivulgeanydetailsaboutthesoulinquestion(thedeceasedpersonwhomtheinquirerwishestocontact).Thisrespectstheleftbrain’sneedforspecificevidence,aswewillexplainshortly.

Questionsthatwedowanttoaskinclude:

1.Whatdoyouwanttogetoutoftheafterlifehealingcircle?

2.Didyouhaveapersonalrelationshipwiththedeceased?

3.Haveyoufeltorsensedthisperson’spresencearoundyou?

4.Hasthispersonbeenonyourmindorinyourthoughtsalotlately?

5.Whendidthispersonpassover?

Besuretoaskthelastquestionbecauseininstancesofaveryrecenttraumaticdeathorsuicide,theafterlifehealingcirclemaynotbesuccessful.Thesoulinquestionmaybeconfusedaboutcrossingoverorjustinanunawarestateandnotreadytospeaktoanyone.

Listencarefullytotheinquirer’sreplies,andtrustyourintuition,thosealways-activesoulsenses.Theinquirer’sanswerswillhelpdetermineifthepersonisagoodcandidatefortheafterlifehealingcircle.Ininstancesofcontactingthenot-yetborn,thefirstquestionstillapplies:Whatdoestheinquirerhopetogetoutofthecircle?Pleasedonotusetheafterlifehealingcircletofindobjects,lostwills,orassetsofanykind—especiallyoftheillegalvariety.Remember:justbecausesomeonehasaskedforthecircle,thatdoesnotobligateustoconductoneforthatperson.Notonlydowehavetherighttofeelcomfortablewiththeinquirer,butwefarebestbyestablishingsomesortofrapporttohelpensurethesuccessofthecircle.Also,donotforcetheafterlifehealingcircledownthethroatofahighlyfearfulperson.Itwon’tbeallthathelpful,becauseafrightenedinquirerwillbeinastateofheavydenial,andthattypeofinquirerisnotpassiveduringtheproceeding.

Afteryou’vevettedyourinquirer,chooseaplacetoconductthecircle.Whereasthestereotypicalséanceisheldatnight,inasmall,closedroomthathaslittleornolightandplentyofdarkcorners(tohidethespecial-effectsapparatusforthefakedfloatinghorns,themist,andthedisembodiedmoaningandgroaning),inreality,itispossibletoconducttheafterlifehealingcircleathighnooninthemiddleofafield—ifthattimeandlocationwillmaketheinquirermostcomfortable.Wegenerallyusethelivingroomofahouseand

setthetimeduringthemid-tolateafternoon.Ifthecircleismeantasasoulrescue,it’shelpfultoconductitintheplacewherethelostsoulsseemtocongregate.Throughouttheproceedings,wekeepthecurtainsopen;ifthesessionisatnight,thelightsremainon.Wearenotouttoscareupanynastysurprises.

Wearrangeenoughchairsinasmallcircletoaccommodateallparticipants.Wealsoputaboxoftissuesonthefloorinthemiddleofthecircle.Theyarealwaysindemandafter(andoftenduring)thecircletomopupthosehealingtears.

Thepersonwhoissuesinstructionsandkeepstheafterlifehealingcircleontrackiscalledtheconductor.Theconductorinvitestheremainingparticipants.Allowtheinquirertobringatrustedfriendorrelativeifheorshesodesires.Thebestgroupsizefortheafterlifehealingcircleisbetweenfourandeightpeopletotal.Largergroupsaresomewhatunwieldy,anddiscourageparticipantsfromspeakingoutabouttheinformationtheyarereceivingfromthesoulinquestion.

Participantsdonotneedtraininginusingthesoulsenses.Infact,wetrytoincludepeoplewho’venotreceivedanytypeofinstructioninusingtheirsoulsensesbecausetheybringfewerexpectationstothecircleandthusareoftenmoreopentowhatdoescomethrough.Butwealsodoourbesttopickthosewhoareableandwillingtofollowthethreeprinciplesoflove,connection,and(self-)trust.Thebestcandidatestoparticipatearelovingandopen-minded.Don’tmakethesessionmoredifficultbyusingittotrytoprovesomethingtoafriendorrelativewhothinksanyinterestinthisstuffisgroundsforaninsanityplea.Skepticismisfine;denial,however,willhamperwhatwearetryingtoaccomplishbyblockingtheloveandthereforetheinformationflow.

Gettingbacktotheinitialquestionswedo—anddon’t—askoftheinquirer,rememberthatthelessinformationtheconductorandotherparticipantspossessabouttheinquirerandsoulinquestion,thebetter.Thisiswhywedonotallowpossibleinquirerstotellusanythingaboutthepersontheywishtocontact.Thisdeliberatelackofadvanceinformationhelpsassuretheinquirerthatparticipantsreceivedtheirinformationonlyfromthesoulinquestionandnotfromsomeothersource.Thisiscriticaltohelpthatrationalleftbrainbegintotrusttheinformationthecircleparticipantsarereceiving.Sayaslittleaspossibleabouttheinquirerandthesoulwheninvitingtherestoftheparticipants.Justtellthemsomeoneneedstheafterlifehealingcircle.Alsomakesureallparticipantsknowandunderstandtheirroleduringthecircleasweexplainitinthischapter.

Iftheconductorthinksitwillhelpparticipantsrelax,arrangetoplayrecordingsofbaroqueorclassicalmusicwhileeveryonearrivesandgathersfortheevent.AnythingbyBach,orPachelbel’s“CanoninD”aregoodchoices.Theideaistobeginliftingthegroup’senergyvibrationfrequencywhilereassuringanymember(s)withthejitters.Absolutelynoheavymetal,rap,orpopmusic;theirvibrationswouldbecounterproductive.

Theinquireralwayssitsrightacrossfromtheconductorinthecircle.Theconductordecideswhereeveryoneelsewillsit.Again,usethosesensestoobtainanoverallimpressionofthedifferentsoulenergiesoftheparticipants.Thentrytoalternatemasculineandfeminineenergies.Thisdoesn’tmeanalwaysalternatemenandwomen.

Somemaleshaveaverygentleenergy,whereassomewomen’senergyisstrong,morepushthanpull.Themixofthetwohelpsbalancethelove-energyflowaroundthecircle.

Iftheinquirerhasbroughtafriendorrelative,seatthatpersontotheinquirer’simmediateleft.Thereasonforthisplacementhastodowiththeflowoflove-energy.Theleftsideofthebodyisthereceivingside,andtherightsidesendsenergy.Whenparticipantssendlovefromtheirhearts,itwillflowdowntheirrightarmsthroughtheirrightpalmsintothelefthandofthepersontotheirright.Love-energyfromparticipantsflowscounter-clockwisearoundthecircle.Iftheinquirer’ssupporteristotheimmediateleft,thenthesupporter’sloveiswhattheinquirerwillfeelmoststronglyintheflow.

Afterseatingparticipants,theconductorremindsthemabouttheimportantparttheyplayintheafterlifehealingcircleandtheroleoftheinquirer(keepreadingformoredetails).Onceparticipantsareclearaboutwhattheyaretododuringtheproceedings,askallinthecircletojoinhands.Tellthemtoplacetheirrightpalmontopofthepalmofthelefthandofthepersontotheirright.Again,thisistofacilitatethecounter-clockwiseflowoflovefromtheparticipants.

Makesurethattheyarecomfortable,astheymayspenduptoanhourinthisposition.Theconductorthendirectsallpresenttoclosetheireyesandfocusontheirbreathing.Addingsomebasicbiofeedbacktechniquesforslowingdownthebreathingrateishelpfulhere.It’sanexcellentwaytocalmeveryoneandcleartheirmindsforwhat’snext.Onceparticipantsarecalmerandtheirmindsarecleared,theconductormayofferasimpleprayerofthanks.Atthispoint,Janauseshersoul-feelingtoassessthegroup,andinherprayershespeaksdirectlytoanylingeringuncertaintiesshesensesinthecirclemembers.

Next,theconductorfurtherliftstheenergyofthegroupbyaskingmemberstoimaginestandinginacolumnofwhitelight.Theymayseethislight,feelit,knowthattheyareinit,orsimplyunderstandit,accordingtowhichsoulsenseisstrongestforeachperson.Janaalwaysasksthecirclememberstolifttheirminds,hearts,andsoulstotheircreator—andtotheirinvisiblefriendsallaroundthem.Shegivesthemafewminutestoenjoythatfeelingofconnection.

Next,theconductorasksparticipantstosendoutlovefromtheirhearts,downtheirrightarms,andtowardthepersonontheirrightuntiltheloveflowsallthewayaroundthecircle.Theconductoralsoasksthemtousetheirsoulsensestovisualizethatloveorfeelitsvibration,tobeawarethatitisthereorsimplytounderstandthatitispresent.Itisthislove,whichismagnifiedconsiderablybygroupenergyandwhichincludesthespecialloveoftheinquirer,thatdrawsthesoultothecircleandhelpskeepitthere.

Thisturbochargedlovefeelswonderful,andinstantlysoothesallthoseinthecircle.Sometimesitisalittletooeffective,andmanyofthemsimplysitincontentmentandfeellittlecompulsionorneedtospeakup.Theyhaveajobtodo,however.Theyhavegatheredtobringforthinformationandaidinresolution,andhavespecifictaskstoaccomplish,asweshallfindinabit.

Nowisthetimefortheconductortoleadallparticipantsincallingonthoseinvisiblementorsandfriends,evenifitseemssillyorasthoughitwillnotmakeadifference.Itwill.

Alwaysaskaloudforprotection.

Whatevernamesweuseforthem,whetherwecallthemguidesorangelsorsomethingelseentirely,isbesidethepoint,solongaswecallonthemtoprotectusduringthecircle.Guidescannotactwithoutspecificpermissioneverytimeweconducttheafterlifehealingcircle.

Aftertheconductorasksforprotectionoutloud,theconductorthendirectseachpersoninthecircletovoice(speakoutloud)arequestforprotection.Theconductornextaskseachparticipant’sguidesorguardianangelstostandjustoutsidethecircleandallowinonlythesoul(s)soughtbytheinquirer.They’llbedelightedtodoso.

Thisonesimplebutabsolutelycrucialstepwillmakeallthedifferenceintheworld.Ourguides’protectioneliminatesspookjerks,disincarnatecrazies,andevendenialspirits(alsoknownasdemonsorevenLuciferhimself).They’lljusthavetogettheirjolliesatsomeoneelse’sexpense.Meanwhile,wecangoaboutourhealingmissioninpeaceandcompletesafety.Amentothat!

Oncetherequestsforprotectionhavebeenspokenandtheloveisflowingaroundthecircle,theconductoraskstheinquirertospeakthenameofthesoulinquestion.Theinquirerverbalizesthesoul’sfullnametwotimesandapetnameornicknamethethirdtime.Sometimes,thesoulhesitatestoenterthecirclebecausetherearestrangerspresent.Ifthat’sso,theconductorshouldasktheinquirertorepeatthesamenamesequencealoudoncemore.

Othertimes,thesoulissoeagertoenteritdoesn’twaituntiltheinquirerhasfinishedspeakingforthefirsttime.Usually,thesoulwillpassintothecircleovertheinquirer’srightshoulder,butoccasionallytheentrypointisdifferent.Itdoesn’treallymatter.Andoftentheinquirerorothermembersofthecirclecandetectthesoul’sentryintothecircleevenwithoutthewelcomefromtheconductor.

Oncethesoulisinthecircle,theconductor’sjobistokeepittherebysendingevenmorelovestraightfromtheheart.Mostsoulsrealizetheyneedtoassuretheinquireroftheirtrueidentity.Theyalmostimmediatelybeginsendinghighlypersonalandsometimesveryspecificinformationaboutthemselves.Ifthesoulinquestiondoesn’tknowwhattodoatthispoint,theconductorandotherparticipantsmayaskitforevidentialmaterialandexplainthattheinquirerneedsthisinformation.

Howdoesthesoulsendinformation?Howdoparticipantsaskitquestions?Throughthosefoursoulsenses,whichnotonlyreceive,butalsoconveythought-energythatisthenpickedupasimages,vibrations,words,orawarenessbyparticipants’ownintuition.Hereiswhereoursociety’sgenerallackoftrustcanbeanissue,butthegrouplove-energyalsoenhancestheenergy-informationsothatitisalotstrongerandthereforeeasiertosendandreceive.Providedtheconductoriscomfortableandconfidentwiththeprocess,otherparticipantscanbelessassuredandstillbeveryhelpful.

Theworkoftheotherparticipantsistoverbalizewhatiscalledevidentialmaterialortrivia.Itisvitallyimportantthattheconductoremphasizetoallinvolved(excepttheinquirer)thattheyaretospeakaloudeverysinglepieceofinformationtheyreceivewithoutediting.Again,thisiswhereourgeneralinabilitytotrustoursoulsensescan

reallyhamstringourefforts,becauseitseemssaferjusttosaynothingandletsomeoneelsedothetalking.

However,asDeb,thewomanwithagroupoftable-tippingfriends,pointsout,“Ifeverybodysitsinsilence,thennothingeverhappens.”Sheisspoton.Theveryactofspeakingoutloudhelpskeeptheenergymovingaroundthecircleandencouragesthesoultoprovideadditionalspecificdetails.Freeandopenexpressionisaspiritualright,alongwithfreewill.Whentheydospeakup,timeandagain,participantshavepulledinformationseeminglyoutofthinairaboutpeopleoreventsthatonlytheinquirerorthesoulinquestioncouldhaveknown.

Veryoften,evidentialinformationarrivesintheformofphysicalsensationsthatcanbeunsettling,especiallyincasesofviolentdeathordeathfromanillnesssuchascancerofthethroatorlungs.Athroatorchestmayfeeltight,oroneormoreoftheparticipantsmaydevelopapainintheheadorsomeotherareaofthebody.Iffornootherreasonthanself-interest,participantsshouldverbalizewhattheyarereceivingortheywillkeeponexperiencingthediscomfortorpain.Speakingupfreesthemfromthesensation,provideditisnottheirs.

Evenwiththeseinstructionsandreminders,participantsoftenstillhesitatetosayanythingoutloud,whichiscounterproductive.Jana,forexample,wastakingpartintheafterlifehealingcirclemanyyearsagoandcouldtellthatthemansittingnexttoherkeptreceivingsomethingbutwasholdingitback.Afterthishappenedthreetimes,sheencouragedhimtospeakup.

“Thisisreallysilly,”herepliedhesitantly.“Itjustdoesn’tmakeanysense.Iseeawhitepicketfence,butit’snotupright.It’sstandingononeend.”

Theinquirergasped,“NowIknowit’smyson!”

Yearsearlier,asaboy,theinquirer’ssonhadtakenanoldpieceofpicketfence,turneditsothatthepostswerehorizontalandnailedittoatreetrunksothathisdogcouldclimbupandjoinhiminhistreehouse.Itwassomethingonlyheandhisgrievingparent,ofalltheparticipantsintheafterlifehealingcircle,wouldhaveknown.

Duringhersession,Clarawasfinallyconvincedofhermother’spresencewhenoneoftheparticipantstalkedaboutseeingafieldofredpoppies,wavinginthewind.Thenanotherpersonmentionedacross,whileClara’sdaughterimmediatelysaidshesawaskull.

“Iknewitwasmymotherthen,”Claraexplained.“Redpoppiesweremymother’sflower.ShehadthemalloverthehousewhenIwasgrowingup.AndtheSkullofAdamformsthebaseoftheRussianOrthodoxcross.Mydaughterwouldn’tknowthat.ShewasbroughtupPresbyterian.”

Thepoint?Aswehavesaidbefore,theinformationthesoulissendingisfortheinquirer,nottheparticipants.Thatiswhyitoftenseemsstrangetoparticipants,andtheyaretemptedtoshiftintotheirleftbrainstoanalyzeit.Don’tdothat.Instead,speakup.Theconductorwillhaveinformedtheinquirerbeforethesessionbeginstorespondtoeachpieceofinformationverbalizedinoneofthreeways:“Yes,”“No,”or“Idon’tknow.”

Sometimesthesoulinquestionprovidesinformationthattheinquirerisn’tsureofor

simplydoesn’tknowbutcancheckoutlaterwithfamilyorfriends.Toheadthenextquestionoffatthepass,yes,wecanusetheafterlifehealingcircletoconductcrimeinvestigations.Weneedoneoftwothingsforthesessiontobefruitful:thefirstistheactiveparticipationofapersonwithcloseemotionaltiestothebeingagainstwhomthecrimewascommitted;thesecondisarequestforhelpfromthepolice.Wehavenotbeeninvolvedwithanytypeofpoliceworkbecauselocalauthorities,shallwesay,lookaskanceatintuitivemethodsofdetectivework.Wehavenoburningdesiretopersuadethemotherwisebecausewedon’tneedtoproveourselvestoanyone.

Aftertheinquirerhasbeenassuredheorshehascontactedtherightsoul,heorsheisemotionallyreadytocontinuetothenextstageoftheafterlifehealingcircle.Thissecondphaseconsistssimplyofgivingtheinquirerandthesoulthechancetotalktoeachother,assistedbytheothersessionparticipants.

Whatcomesoutasaresultofthesediscussionsisusuallylovingandcomforting,butnotalways.Inoneinstance,theafterlifehealingcirclerevealedtheexistenceofpastsexualabuseofthesoulbythesoul’smother,whowasalsothemotheroftheinquirer.Oneoftheparticipantsbecamesoindignantthatshealmostdisruptedthecircleentirelythroughherenergyandhercomments.Trynottojudgetheinformationthatcomesforth,becauseagain,thatwillshutdownthelove-energyflow.Shouldissuesarisethatrequirefollow-up,thereisadifferenttimeforandwayofaddressingthoseconcerns.

Thesecondpartoftheafterlifehealingcircleisalwaysveryemotional,iffornootherreasonthantheinquirerfinallyhassomeevidencethatalovedonethoughtdeadandlostforeveris,infact,stillliving,ifnotinaphysicalbody,andverymuchfound.Ortheinquirerfinallyhascontactwithasoulofachildnotyetborn.Theevidenceofsuchcommunicationisprovidedpartlythroughthetrivia,whicharenecessarytosatisfytheleftbrain.Theheart,however,ismuchmoreopentomessagesfromthesoul.Asthesecondhalfprogresses,inquirersoftenbegintopickupthoughtsandespeciallyfeelingsfromthelovedoneinthecircleontheirown.

Whenspeakingtoachildnotyetborn,Janaatthispointencouragestheparentstointroducethemselvesandaskthesoulwhyitchosethemasparents.Theparentsshouldalsowanttoknowwhattheycandotohelpthechildfulfillhisorherpurposeforthiscominglifetime.Thiswillmakeparentingsomucheasieroncethechildisinaphysicalbodyagain.Janaalsotakesthechancetoencouragethesoultobefullypresentduringbirthtomaketheprocessfasterandlesspainful,andtoletthemotherknowifthefetusexperiencesanyproblemsduringthepregnancy.

Thejoyofsuchareunionormeetingisimpossibletocomprehendexceptthroughdirectexperience.Resolutionreplacesanguish.Parentmeetschild,andbothbecomebetterpreparedfortheyearsaheadtogether.Tearsflowfreelyfromrelief,notgrief,orfromthejoyofanticipation.Thehealingspreadsfromtheinquirerandthesoultoeverymemberofthecircle.

Oncetheinquirerandthesoulinquestionhaveexchangedwhattheyneededtosay,theconductorstepsintoofferabriefprayerandthankstotheguideswhohavehelpedkeepeveryonesafe.Itneednotbelengthyorformal,andthosewhoparticipatedmayalso

expresstheirgratitudeoutloud.

Wemaintainalonglistofcurrentandformerstudents,clients,andfriendswhohavevolunteeredeagerlytobepartoftheafterlifehealingcirclewheneverweholdone.Theycomeoutofloveandadesiretobeofservicetoothersandarenotpaidanymoneyfortheirtime.Instead,weofferthemcoffee,herbaltea,softdrinks,orcoldwater.Thetimebeforeandafterthecirclegivesthemachancetocatchupwitholdfriends,makenewones,andchatwithpeoplewhodon’tthinkallthisstuffissoweirdafterall.

Likewise,wedonotchargeinquirersfortheafterlifehealingcircle,althoughwedochargetoteachpeoplehowtoconductthem.Let’sfaceit—amongthepublic,theséancehasaworsereputationthanused-cardealersorTVpitchmen.Someevenerroneouslyregardtheafterlifehealingcircleasaformofdevilworship,whichitmostemphaticallyisnot.Weavoidthisissueentirelysimplybyneverchargingfortheafterlifehealingcircleandbyencouragingthosewetrainalsotoconductthematnocostasacommunityservice.Thismeansthatwehaveonlyalimitedamountoftimetodevotetotheafterlifehealingcircle,whichisonereasonwewrotethisbook.Wearehopingitwillhelpspreadapracticethatcanresultinsomuchgood.

Remember,anyonecanrigupafloatinghornoran“ethereal”voiceinthedark,butnoone,howeverwellversedindeceptivepractices,canfakethefeelings—theprofoundandpowerfulsenseofreliefandreleasethatsurroundsandembracestheinquirer,thesoul,andtheotherparticipantsduringtheproperlyconductedafterlifehealingcircle.Itisthekindofhealingthattransformslives—onthisandtheotherside—forever.

Chapter11

Theafterlifehealingcirclecantransformlivesbyprovidingmuch-neededresolution,butitisbynomeansalwaysaresoundingsuccess.Thosewhoinsistonnomistakeswhatsoevermostlikelywillnotbesatisfiedwiththismethodofcontactingtheotherside.Forexample,Janaonceconductedtheafterlifehealingcircleforawomanwhoinsistedthatthesoulinquestionrecallanexactmomentononeparticulardayduringtheirrelationship,andfeelaboutittheverysamewayshedid.Thesoulwasconfusedandexasperatedbecausethemomentdidnotholdanythingclosetothesignificanceforthesoulasitobviouslydidfortheinquirer.Thelatterleftdisappointed,andtheothersinthegroupwerefrustratedthattheinquirerkeptvalidatingtheinformationtheywerebringingforth,yetstillsaiditwas“notenough”tosatisfyher.

Expectationsinvariablylimitourabilitytobeopenandreceptiveinmanyprofoundways,soit’simportanttoapproachtheafterlifehealingcirclewithasfewexpectationsaspossible.Wetrulyneverknowwhatinformationwewillreceiveorhowwewillreceiveitwhenwecontactsoulsnotinphysicalbodies.

Inoneofourafterlifehealingcirclesthatallowedparentstomeettheirchildinthewomb,thesoulclearlypresentedamaleimageandenergyandevenaskedforaboy’sfirstandmiddlename,towhichhissoon-to-beparentsagreed.Yetasonogramsomeweekslaterinthepregnancyrevealedthatthefetuswasfemale.Confusedanddisconcerted,themothercalledus,andCandacedidsomeautomaticwritingwithasoulwhocallshimselfDr.Sunan.ThislovinghealerwasaphysicianinhismostrecentphysicallifetimeandisoneoftheleadersoftheSunanSociety.Dr.SunantoldCandacethatthesoulinthewombintendedtocomeinasalittleboy,butfelttremendoushostilitytothatprospectfromtheexpectantfatheranddecidedthatmightnotbesuchagoodidea.Dr.Sunanalsoexplainedthatgenderishighlyfluidandnotdetermineduntilmuchlaterinapregnancythanmedicalsciencecurrentlyunderstands.Thesoulthushadtheopportunitytochangegendersandcomeinasagirl.CandaceprovidedDr.Sunan’saccountforthegendershifttothemother,whowassatisfiedwithitandjustashappytohaveagirl.

Theafterlifehealingcircleisbynomeanstheonlymethodofsoulcommunication.ThereistheancientGreektechniqueofmirror-gazingmadepopularthroughabestsellingbookbyDr.RaymondMoody.1Anotherbestsellingauthor,JamesTwyman,wasconductingexperimentsafewyearsagoinusingluciddreamingforsoulcontact.Eachoftheseapproacheshasitsownstrengthsandweaknesses,andmaybettersuitmanyofusthantheafterlifehealingcircle.It’suptoeachofustodiscoverourpreferredmethod,anditneverhurtstoexploreuntilwefindsomethingthatfeelsrightandprovidesthehealingandresolutionweneed.

Oftenourfearsorlackoftrustmakeitsimplyimpossibleforustousetheafterlifehealingcircleoranyothermeansofsoulcontact,atleasttemporarily.Thatiswhenpsychicsormediumscanstepintoassistus.MarkIreland,ironicallythesonofaveryfamousmediuminthemid-20thcentury,RichardIreland,foundmediumsenormously

helpfultohimaftertheunexpecteddeathofhisyoungerson,Brandon.HisfirstreadingwasfromAllisonDuBoisbeforeshebecameahouseholdnamethroughthetelevisionseriesMedium.Mark,anArizonabusinessmanwhoauthoredabookabouthissearchtocometotermswithhisloss,says,“Mediumshipreadings,Ifound,ifthey’regoodones,canbeverytherapeuticforparentsoranyonewhohaslostalovedone,childorotherwise.”Hewasquicktoadd,however,thatit’snotagoodideatorelyonmediumsorpsychicstothepointofusingthemasacrutch.“Ithinkapersonhastodeveloptheirownsenseofspiritualityandnotbecomeballedupinthisshellofgrief,”hesaid.2

Weagreewholeheartedly,andknowthattheexperienceofusingourownsoulsensestoobtaininformationfromsoulsnotinphysicalbodiesisoneofthefastestandmostdirectwaystogrowinourspiritualityandself-trust,whichareintimatelylinked.Thereisnosubstitutefordirectpersonalexperience,howeverhelpfulandaccurateapsychicormediummightbeatpinpointinganddeliveringdetailsandfactsaboutadepartedlovedone.Factsanddetailsmay(somewhat)satisfyorevenastoundtheconsciousmind,butnottheheartandspirit,whichhaveverydifferentneeds.

Whenwefocussolelyonthisphysicalworld,welimitourselvestoamaterialrealityandtothephysicalsenses.Materiallyfocused,wemayhavesomevagueconceptofspiritualityoracreativeforceorenergy,butregarditallasfaroutsideofourselves.Godisimpersonalandirrelevanttousinoureverydaymaterialexistence.

Materiallyfocused,webelievewearebodiesthatmayormaynothaveasoul.Thatsoul,ifitexists,hasnoroleindailylife.ItleavesthatphysicalbodyatitsdeathandsomehowmergeswiththisseparatebeingcalledGod—ifthephysicalbeinghasbeen“good”duringlife.Ifnot,somesortofpunishmentawaits.

Materiallyfocused,wegenerallybelievethatwehaveonlyoneshotatlifeandthatifsomethingcannotbeseen,heard,smelled,touched,tasted,ormeasuredinsomewaythenthatsomethingdoesnotexist.Itispartofthatunknown,andwhateverisunknownsimplydoesnotexistinourthinkingasmaterialbeings.Rarelydoweallowourselvestofeelorevenbecomeawareofouremotionsbecause,afterall,emotionsarefrivolousandirrational,whichisbadtothemateriallyfocused.

Whenwefocussolelyonthematerial,ourspiritualaspectmayormaynotbedemonstratedthroughbelongingtoanorganizedreligionorsect.Asarule,whenwearesolelyfocusedonphysicalreality,comesfromourvalidationoutsideofself.Inotherwords,wehavenovalueexceptasweprovethatvaluetoothers.Weasmateriallyfocusedbeingsmeasureourself-worthbyhowmuchwepossessandhowmuchpowerweexertinthesurroundingworld.

Physicallyoriented,wearecaughtupinexpressingselfprimarilythroughthementalbody(consciousmind)andthephysicalbody.Thementalbodybelievesthatwemustpushforthingsinlife;thatifit’seasy,it’snotworthit;andthatlifeisverycomplexandcomplicated.Perceptionthroughthephysicalsensesislimitedtoappearances,somesurfaceverbalcommunication,andsuperficialemotionalsensations.Perceptionlimitedonlytothephysicalsenseslackstheabilitytopenetrateintothedepthofissuesorrelationshipstoperceivethewhole.

Whenwearefocusedsolelyinthephysical,weareconstantlyaffectedbyourenvironmentandtheproblemsofothers.Wefrequentlyfeelempty—afraud,perhaps,anemptyshellexpressingourselfinalackofself-worth,confidence,andcontinuity,dependingonexternalexperiencesbothforpleasureandforpain.Asphysicallyfocusedbeings,weareslavestothewhimsofsociety’sstandardsandexpectations.Wealsodependonthestimuliofpainandpleasuretobelieveweareevenalive.

Whenweexpandourfocustoincludetheemotionalandspiritual,however,werecognizefirstthatwearesoulsthat,atthispoint,dwellinphysicalbodies.Weunderstandthatascreatedsouls,weareeternal,thatwehavelivedbeforeandwillalwayslive.Werecognizethatthereisnofinalcompromise,nofinalsolution.Whenweenlargeourfocus,weareawareoftheuttersimplicityinthetruththatweareeternalenergy-essencesthatcontinuetogrowinawarenessandknowledgeuntilfinallywecometorealizeweareco-creatorswithGod—alwayshavebeen,andalwayswillbe.Weknowtothecoreofourbeingsthatweneverceasetoexistortocreate.

Spirituallyfocused,wediscerntheenvironmentandrelationshipswithotherpeoplethroughoursoulperceptionaswellasourphysicalsenses.Inconsciouslyemployingallofour(atleastnine)senses,webringadepthofperception,understanding,andwisdomtothesurroundingworld.Asspirituallyorientedbeings,weregardthisworldasaschoolhouse,thislifetimeasanopportunityforgrowth,love,andunderstanding.WeknowwecancommunicatewithourownsoulsthroughthesoulsensesandalsowithGodandlovedonesnotinphysicalbodies.Wealsoknowwearecapableofconsciouslytappingintouniversalmindatwillinordertogrow,tounderstandself,andtounderstandselfinrelationshiptothesurroundingworld.

Asspirituallyfocusedbeings,wealsoknowourpurposeanddirectioninthecourseofthisphysicalworld.WeareconsciouslyawareofouronenesswiththeSource,withtheOne,andperceivetheonenessofallasabondedunity.Ourfearsofdeathandtheunknowndiminishbecausewecanfeeltherealitythatthereisnosuchthingasoblivion,onlytransformation.Weknowalsothatconsciousnessgoeswiththesoul,thatouruniquenessisexpresseddailythroughaphysicalbody,andthatweinthephysicalworldarenotseparatefromorlosttospiritualrealities.

Asweexpandourfocustoincludethespiritual,wearebetterabletoaffirmphysicallifethroughjoyandhappiness,andnolongerfeelsomuchemptinesswithin.Instead,weexperienceaprofoundconnectionwithself,withGod,andwithallaroundus,whetherpeople,animals,entities,orotherthingsthatexistwithinthephysicalandnonphysicalrealms.

Theafterlifehealingcircleisauniquewaytobridgewhatmayseemanimpossiblechasmanddisconnectbetweenthematerialandthespiritual.Yettherealityisfarmorehopefulandloving,andtheafterlifehealingcircleprovidespersonalexperienceofthathopeandlove.It’suptoustoexerciseourfreewillandopenourmindsandheartstotheseeminglyimplausiblepossibilitiesthehealingcircleaffordsus.

Asourinvisiblementorsandfriendsoftenbidus,gonowinpeaceandjoywithallourlove.

Appendix:TheStepsinBrief

BEFORETHESTARTTheconductordeterminestheinquirer’smotiveinaskingfortheafterlifehealingcircle.

Makesureitisforhealingresolutionortosolveagenuineproblemthatcannotbehandledinanyotherway.

Theconductordoesnotaskfordetailsaboutthesoulinquestion,butdoesmakesurethereisanemotionalconnectionbetweentheinquirerandthesoul.Insoulrescues,makesurethereissimplyalegitimateconnectionbetweentheinquirerandthesoul(s)inquestion(forexample,thesouliscausingproblemsintheinquirer’shomeorplaceofbusiness).

Theconductorinvitestwotofiveparticipantsandencouragestheinquirertobringaspouse,trustedrelative,orfriend(s).

Theconductorasksotherparticipantstoarriveearlierthantheinquirerandinstructsthemthattheyaretoverbalizeeverythingtheyreceiveintuitively,nomatterhowstrange.Theconductormayplayclassicalorbaroquemusicsoftlyinthebackgroundtohelprelaxparticipantsandstartraisingtheenergyvibrationlevel.

Whentheinquirerarrives,theconductormakestheintroductionsandspendsabitoftimetoensureeveryoneisascomfortableaspossible.Theconductorshareswiththegroupasfewdetailsaspossibleaboutthesoulinquestion.

Theconductorshutsoffthemusic(ifit’splaying)andseatsthegroupinacircle,withtheinquireroppositetheconductor.Alternatepeoplewithstrongenergiesandthosewithsofterenergies.Puttheinquirer’scompanionorthepersonwiththemostlovingenergytotheinquirer’simmediateleft.Putthepersonwiththestrongestenergytotheconductor’simmediatelefttoactasa“battery”fortheconductortokeeptheenergymoving.Placeaboxoftissuesnearby.

Theconductorinstructstheinquirertorespondtotheotherparticipantsinoneofthreeways:“Yes,”“No,”or“Idon’tknow.”Nothingelse.

ASTHECIRCLEBEGINSTheconductortellstheseatedparticipantstojoinhands,eachperson’srighthand

coveringthepalmoftheupturnedlefthandofthepersontohisorherright.

Theconductorleadsthegroupinarelaxationmeditation,usinghis/herintuitiontosensewhenparticipantsareascalmandcenteredastheycanbe.

Theconductorasksaloudforprotectionandaskseveryonetoverbalizehisorherrequestsforprotection.

Theconductorinstructstheinquirertospeakaloudthesoulinquestion’sfullnametwiceandnicknameonce.Thiscanberepeatedifneeded.Incaseswhereparentshavenotyetchosenachild’sname,simplyaskthesoulwaitingtobeborntothismotherorparentstocomeintothecircle.

DURINGTHECIRCLEOncethesoulinquestionentersthecircle,theconductorreassuresthesoulthatthe

grouphasgatheredtofostercommunicationbetweenthesoulandtheinquirer.Otherparticipantsmayalsowelcomethesoul.

Theconductorkeepsremindingparticipantstoverbalizeanyinformationorimpressionstheyarereceiving.

Theinquireranswersonly“Yes,”“No,”or“Idon’tknow.”Theinquirerlistenscarefullytoallinformationandrespondsastruthfullyaspossible.

Participantsotherthantheinquirermustverbalizeeverythingtheyarereceiving.Iftheyfeelphysicalsensationsanddonotspeak,theywillcontinuetofeelthesesensations.Speakingreleasestheenergy.

Theconductorcontinuestomovelovearoundthecirclethroughoutthesession.

Oncetheinquirerissatisfiedthatthesoultheinquirerseeksisinthecircle,thegrouppausestogivebothsidestimetosaywhattheyneedtosaytoeachother.Theconductorandtheotherparticipantsmayassisthereiftheinquirerseemshesitant.

Oncetheinquirerandthesoulinquestionhavesaidwhattheyneededtosay,theconductoroffersaprayerofthanksfortheblessingsofthehealing.Ifthesoulisadepartedlovedoneoranentitythathasdecidedtoseekanothermother,participantsmayencouragethesoultomovetowardthelightsothatitmaycontinueitspath.

AFTERTHECIRCLEParticipantsreleaseeachother’shandsandopentheireyes.Thetissueswillbeneeded

andwelcomeatthispoint.

Beforedisbanding,thegroupneedsabitoftimetodiscussandreviewtheexperience.Theinquirermaynowrespondmorefullytotheinformationtheotherparticipantsreceivedandexplainitssignificance.

Keepinmindthattheafterlifehealingcircleisfree-flowing,andeachcircleisuniqueinhowitunfolds.Aslongasparticipantsremembertoaskaloudforprotection,theycanskiporforgeteveryotherstepandstilldojustfine.

Notes

CHAPTER11.Wagner,Stephen.“TerrifyingSéances.”About.com:ParanormalPhenomena.

http://paranormal.about.com/od/lifeafterdeath/a/aa100508.htm,accessedMarch2015.

2.Yahoo.comAnswers,https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071111105754AA6nfWG,2007.

3.BrianDunning,personalinterview.

4.PhyllisSloan,personalinteriew.

5.PhyllisSloan,personalinterview.

6.AstridStromberg,personalinterview.

7.“Healingmessages:Thepotentialtherapeuticbenefitofmediumshipreadingsinthetreatmentofgrief(ResearchBrief).”TheWindbridgeInstitute(2012).www.windbridge.org/papers/ResearchBrief_Grief.pdf,accessedMarch2015.

8.BrianaHendersonSaussy,personalinterview.

9.DeRohan,Ceanne,RightUseofWill:HealingandEvolvingtheEmotionalBody,SantaFe,N.M.:FourWindsPress,1984,1986.

CHAPTER21.Kirkby(néeMarkwick),Laura,“Circlesofhealingaroundtheworld:Anexploration

oftheassociationbetweenspiritualhealingandcirclesinart,”pp.315–316,PhDthesis,Townsville,Queensland,Australia:JamesCookUniversity,2004.http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/7964/,accessedMarch2015.

2.“Circles,”RestorativeJusticeOnline,www.restorativejustice.org/university-classroom/01introduction/tutorial-introduction-to-restorative-justice/processes/circles.Reprintedwithpermissionfromwww.restorativejustice.org(c.2001–2014,PrisonFellowshipInternationalCentreforJusticeandReconciliation).

3.Jones,Dan,“NewLightonStonehenge,”SmithsonianMagazine,October,2008,pp.36–46.

4.Kirkby,“Circlesofhealing,”p.23.

5.“Circles,”RestorativeJusticeOnline.

6.Ibid.

7.Ibid.

8.“TruthandReconciliationCommission(SouthAfrica),”Wikipedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa)#Impact

accessedMarch2015.

9.“Circles,”RestorativeJusticeOnline.

10.Ibid.

11.Bolen,JeanShinoda,MD,TheMillionthCircle—HowtoChangeOurselvesandtheWorld,Berkeley,Calif.:ConariPress,1999,p.14.

CHAPTER71.DeRohan,Ceanne,RightUseofWill:HealingandEvolvingtheEmotionalBody,

SantaFe,N.M.:FourWindsPress,1984,1986,p.vii.

2.Talmadge,CandaceL.,andSimons,JanaL.,HopeIsintheGarden:HealingResolutionThroughUnconditionalLove,Dallas:SattvaInstitute,1999,p.83.

3.Kirkby(néeMarkwick),Laura,“Circlesofhealingaroundtheworld:Anexplorationoftheassociationbetweenspiritualhealingandcirclesinart,”p.23,PhDthesis,Townsville,Queensland,Australia:JamesCookUniversity,2004.http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/7964/,accessedMarch2015.

4.Artemis,Angela,“AmongMediums—AnInterviewwithAuthorJulieBeischel,PhD(&Giveaway!),”PoweredbyIntuition.com,April21,2013,www.poweredbyintuition.com/2013/04/21/among-mediums-an-inter-view-with-author-julie-bieschel-phd-giveaway,accessedApril2015.

CHAPTER81.Talmadge,CandaceL.,andSimons,JanaL.,HopeisintheGarden:Healing

ResolutionThroughUnconditionalLove,Dallas:SattvaInstitute,1999,p.87.

CHAPTER91.Talmadge,CandaceL.,andSimons,JanaL.,HopeisintheGarden:Healing

ResolutionThroughUnconditionalLove,Dallas:SattvaInstitute,1999,pp.37–39.

2.Epstein,Gerald,MD,HealingVisualizations:CreatingHealthThroughImagery,NewYork:BantamNewAge,1989,pp.212–213.

3.Peck,M.Scott,MD,TheRoadLessTravelled,NewYork:Simon&Schuster,1978,pp.235–243.

4.TheHolyBible:KingJamesVersion,Matthew18:20.

CHAPTER111.Moody,RaymondA.,Jr.,MD,Reunions:VisionaryEncountersWithDepartedLoved

Ones,NewYork:IvyBooks,1993.

2.Ireland,Mark,SoulShift:FindingWheretheDeadGo,Berkeley,Calif.:FrogBooks,2008.

Resources

DeborahFruehwww.InternalWilderness.com

KenHudnallwww.kenhudnall.com

MarkIrelandwww.drrichardireland.com/book.html

RayniJoanwww.raynijoan.com

JohnL.Johnsenwww.grendelfilms.org

BrianaHendersonSaussywww.brianasaussy.com

PhyllisE.Sloan,PhD,TheUnknownConnection:Spirituality,theParanormal,andYou,Washington,D.C.:AlphaRunPress,LLC,2006.

AstridStromberg,Ph.D.www.brilliantessence.com

TheSunanSocietywww.sunan.com

SharónWyethwww.knowthename.com

Index

agape,106

angels.Seespiritguides.

anger,30

afterlifehealingcircle,

abortionand,86-88

attributesof,39-40

benefitsof,25,28-29

crimeinvestigationsand,154

differencebetweenséanceand,20

evidentialmaterialortriviain,152-155

howtoconduct,143-157

importanceoflovein,107

limitationsof,29

locationfor,145

managingexpectationsregarding,159-160

motivesforconducting,79

necessityofemotionalconnectionin,72-74

necessityoflovein,107

nonhierarchicalnatureof,45

paranormalactivityduring,138-139

purposeof,24-25

safetyof,roleofspiritguidesin,51

SIDSand,88-89

suicideand,89

therapyvs.,29

unadvisedreasonsforconducting,71-72,144

wholeselfengagedin,38

whyconduct,26

beforelife,67

beings,

discarnate,communicatingwith,101,110

nonphysical,44

Beischel,Julie,110

birthanddeath,twomathematicalequationstoexpress,104

Bolen,JeanShinoda,45

BrilliantEssence,27

CaliforniaInstituteofIntegralStudies,41

Changling,The,19,23

chi,106

child,unborn,contactingan,67-71

circle

asanalternativeforproblem-solving,43

asspiritualhealingarchetype,36

traditions,European,38

circle,indigenouspeoplesand,36,38

circlesinart,spiritualhealingand,35-36

circles,

mostfamousofEuropean,36

justice,38-39

talking,38

clairvoyance,116

communication,nonphysicalchannelsof,114-117(seealsopsychicabilities)

community,

inclusionofspiritguidesin,51

inclusionoftheothersidein,44

conductor,roleof,145-146,147,148-151,154

Conjuring,The,23

consciousness,

destructionofphysicalbodyand,107

self-judgmentand,114

Darville,Timothy,36

deadandtheliving,dividebetweenthe,91

death,

birthand,twomathematicalequationstoexpress,104

persistenceofconsciousnessafter,104

realityoflifeafter,62

deathsoflovedones,unresolvedissuesconcerning,27

denialspirit,33,31,110-111

denialspirits,existenceof,31-32

discarnate

beings,communicatingwith,101

souls,110,117

divinelove,105

DuBois,Allison,161

Dunning,Brian,23

Einstein,Albert,104

authors’reinterpretationofequationof,106-107

emotionalbody,30

emotionalbodies,wounded,31

energy,

science’sdefinitionof,105

soulas,104-105

energy-healing

modalities,137

work,42,

Epstein,Gerald,135

God,105

mediatedconnectionto,45-46(seealsotopdownhierarchies)

othernamesfor,46,48

hauntings,107-108

heal,linguisticrootsoftheword,37

healing,

importanceofspiritualityin,45

purelyscientificmodelof,45

spiritualoremotional,37

hierarchies,topdown,46

holy,rootsoftheword,37

Hudnall,Ken,20-21

inquirer,

motivesof,80

questionstoask,144

screeningthe,72

intuition,honoringour,122-125

Ireland,Mark,161

Jesus,47,141

Johnson,JohnL.,114

Jordan,Meg,40-42,43

Kirkby,Laura,35,37,109

life,continuumof,25

love,29,64,107

abilityto,105

controlastheoppositeof,33

God’sunconditional,31,33,74

materiallyfocused,resultsofbeing,162-164

Medium,161

mediumsandpsychics,helpfulnessof,111,161

MillionthCircle,The,45

mirror-gazing,161

Moody,Raymond,161

nameinstructions,pre-birth,99-101

nonphysicalbeings,44

senses,conditioning

andprogramming

regardingour,118

notyetborn,

contactfromthe,96-101

contactingthe,67,80-86

otherside,44

ourperceptionofseparationfrom,113-114

partofselfthatconnectsusto,118

Ouijaboard,22-23,123,139

Ouijaboards,24

Peck,M.Scott,138

paranormalactivity,107-109

parapsychologists,29

Perdue,JeanneM.,24

physicalbodies,soulsthatdon’thave,104,117,160,162(seealsodiscarnatesouls)

poltergeist

effect,the,31,33

events,30

phenomena,29

feminineangerand,30-31

poltergeist,authors’beliefregardingthe,30

possession,

documentedcasesof,31(seealsodenialspirit)

processof,32

PoweredbyIntuition,110

prana,105

prayer,26

precognition,116

pregnancy,unwantedorpoorlytimed,27-28

psiabilities,115,116

psychicabilities,115(seealsosoulsenses)

psychokinesis,108,116

psychotherapy,limitsoftraditional,27,28

qi,106

quanta,104-105

RoadLessTraveled,The,138

Rohan,Ceannede,31

Saussy,BrianaHenderson,28,41-42

séance,

dangersofconducting,23-24

fearregarding,24

stereotyperegarding,23

trickeryand,21-22

séances,fraudregarding,24

self,

emotionalandspiritualpartsof,20,28

ignoranceandprejudiceagainst,20

inabilityofsciencetoaddress,28

fourpartsof,38

trustin,123

self-judgment,perniciouseffectsof,114

Sloane,Phyllis,24,26

soul

awareness,118-119

communication,othermethodsof,161

feeling,119

rescue,74

senses,four,115-116

howtodevelop,125-128

differencebetween

physicaland,116-117

strengthorderof,120-122

understanding,120

vision,119-120

soul,

energythatformsthe,105

eternalcontinuumofthe,102

soulswithoutphysicalbodies,angryorhostile,109

communicationsfrom,44,91-102

gentleattemptsatcommunicationfrom,108-109

haphazard,random,confusingmessagesfrom,103

stereotypeofgoodnessorenlightenmentof,109-110

souls,

discarnate,110,117

disembodied,73

emotionsandfeelingsof,108

SouthAfrica’sTruthandReconciliationCommission,40

spiritcommunication,unadvisedattemptsat,22

spiritguides,44,51,131-141

childhoodand,132

freewilland,135-137,139

imperfectionof,135

rarecasesofmaterializationof,134

spiritual

abilities,111(seealsosoulsenses)

authority,consequencesofhandingoverour,45-48

equalityofallcreatedsouls,fundamental,48

practice,grassroots,17

warfare,140

spiritual,widespreaddisconnectionfromthe,113

spirituality,grassroots,25

spirituallyfocused,resultsofbeing,164-165

Stromberg,Astrid,27,95,122,125

Stonehenge,possibleusesof,36-37

stories,authors’personal,51-63

subconsciousmind,30,117(seealsoemotionalbody)

Sunan

method,63

threesimpleprinciplesof,64,69

Society,63-64,160

therapy,59,63,137

tabletipping,22,124,139

telepathy,116

Twyman,James,161

unbornchild,contactingan,67-71

Wainwright,Geoffrey,36

whole,rootsoftheword,37

AbouttheAuthors

Inner-shiftspecialistCandaceL.Talmadgehasbeenaprofessionalwritersince1976.Shehasbeenasyndicatedpoliticalcolumnistandhaswrittenfulltimeorfreelancedformajorprintandonlinemedia.Candacetakesclientstomeettheirguides,andpublishestheGreenStoneofHealing®speculativefictionseriesunderthebylineC.L.Talmadge.ConnectwithCandaceatwww.thehealingcirclebook.com.

JanaL.Simons’sresumelookslikeitbelongstoseveralpeople.Shechangedindustriesandfieldsnumeroustimesovermanyyearsuntilshefoundhertruecalling:teachingsoul-sensedevelopmentandauniqueformofenergyhealingknownasSunantherapy.Althoughretired,Janacontinuestoworkwithclientsonalimitedbasis.WithCandace,shehasalsocoauthoredearliernonfictionthatexploresemotionalhealingresolutionthroughSunantherapy.ConnectwithJanaatwww.facebook.com/thehealingcircle.