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.