http://www.ncreview.com/ 2050-1301 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/paranormal-my-life-in-pursuit-of-the-afterlife Raymond Moody, the man who coined the phrase ‘near-death experience,’ became familiar with death at an early age, as a boy growing up during WWII. His interest took on a unique twist as a college student when he heard a lecture on near-death experiences. Though the phenomena fascinated the young man, he had no idea how common it was until some years later when lecturing philosophy. It wasn’t long before he decided to delve deeper and conduct his own research into the afterlife. Drawing on a lifetime of personal scholarship, Moody presents the common factors that people encounter during a near-death experience, such as difficulty expressing the emotional experience, hearing themselves pronounced dead, feelings of peace, strange auditory sensations, the feeling of being drawn though a tunnel and meeting a being of light. His revelations about this life and the afterlife are interspersed with his own philosophical thoughts and his personal trajectory through life, including a compelling account of his own journey into his past lives through hypnotic regression. Already renowned for his seminal work on reincarnation Life After Life Raymond Moody, along with author and expert on near-death experience, Paul Perry, brings a fresh perspective to the subject of death and the afterlife based on his own personal encounters. This is a thrilling journey to the edge of death and beyond. Whether or not you are new to the notion of near-death experiences, this book will change your perspective on death and dying. ]]> Wed, 08 May 2013 13:51:41 -0700 2774-1232 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/impossible-realities-the-science-behind-energy-healing-telepathy-reincarnation-precognition-and-other-black-swan-phenomena Impossible Realities is a brilliant book that explains the science behind psychokinesis, remote viewing, reincarnation, and other 'Black Swan' phenomena. Maureen Caudhill uses the analogy of Brunhilda and the white swans to disprove the theory that all swans are white. There are black swans too as much as there are paranormal phenomena and scientific explanations for why they occur. Cauldhill spent many years as a computer scientist before she discovered that psychic skills are available to everyone, and this changed her perspective on what we know about science. Using empirical evidence and anecdotal stories, she illuminates the existence and power of psychic and paranormal activity throughout her book. She concentrates on eight 'Black Swan' phenomena; psychokinesis, remote viewing, energy healing, telepathy, animal telepathy, precognition, survival after death, and reincarnation. Each chapter contains evidence collected through years of research and proof that these phenomena do exist. Cauldhill has been as surprised by the results of her research as many skeptics will be. For example, her recounting of her own remote viewing experiences are extraordinary. As she says, "Remote viewing is one of the most commonly discussed, and perhaps most poorly understood, of the psychic phenomena. A lot of misinformation about remote viewing is out in the popular press..." This chapter looks at the process and experiments that have been conducted that inform our opinions of remote viewing. It is one of many chapters that will leave you with much food for thought. Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, there is something in this book for everyone and it is a highly recommended read. ]]> Sun, 06 Jan 2013 11:58:53 -0800 2732-1185 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/return-again-how-to-find-meaning-in-your-past-lives-and-your-interlives If you understand the principle that our physical, mental, and verbal actions carry energy, then the soul journeys described in this book are completely sensible. Soul regressions—that is, traveling in our awareness and consciousness to re-visit previous physical incarnations—is simply one way to understand the nature of our experience as it relates to our soul lessens. Like Dante’s Inferno, which the author references, this book describes both substantial and metaphorical journeys that our soul takes: right here and now, in past lives, future lives, and in what is called “Interlives”—the place between the physical body and energetic consciousness, or reincarnation. Georgina touches on the core questions and answers about past-life regressions: what it is (and isn’t), soul mates, karma, death, planes of existence, wisdoms gained, case histories, and recognizing the indicators of past lives in our current life. Ultimately, this is a book about how we can have more awareness and choice in soul lessons and for our healing. At times surprising, it’s a serious and relevant book; considered but not heady, and a lucid contribution to the study and field of past life regressions. ]]> Sun, 04 Nov 2012 01:42:08 -0700 2694-1177 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/proof-of-heaven-a-neurosurgeons-near-death-experience-and-journey-into-the-afterlife Hollywood could not have scripted a more plausible or powerful scenario to demonstrate the existence of heaven and the afterlife than the experience of Dr. Eben Alexander. A top neurosurgeon whose whole career was focused on the brain as the seat of consciousness, he got bacterial meningitis with no history of exposure. It was such a virulent form that it put him into a coma and stopped all his higher brain functions. According to current medical understanding, he could not have been thinking or even dreaming and should have died, yet he returns to life bursting with joy at having met God. Having been in a deep coma for six days his doctors expected him to be a vegetable should he even survive, yet he regained his full memory and faculties. Not surprisingly, the experience forever changed his understanding of consciousness and of our place in the universe. He tried every possible medical, physiological and biochemical alternative to explain his experience, yet each one was discounted in turn, leaving only the mystery. I am reminded of the TV ad with the cell phone testers asking, “Can you hear me now?” As a reviewer I have received a growing flood of books describing near death experiences, each one offering similar or complementary insights about the nature of death and divinity. The reason this book is so powerful and compelling is that Dr. Alexander’s credentials are unassailable, the case was impeccably documented, and he was a skeptic with no ax to grind for a divine or metaphysical explanation. We are also given enough of the scientific details to understand what a miracle this truly was. The book is beautifully written, and deftly interweaves his personal story with the drama of his illness, recovery and attempts to understand what happened. The lyrical description and the ineffable beauty of what he experienced “on the other side” will touch you deeply. "Proof of Heaven" makes your heart sing as you recognize the truth of our eternal connection to Source. Don’t miss it. ]]> Sat, 27 Oct 2012 20:27:46 -0700 1684-1008 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/earth-alchemy-aligning-your-home-with-natures-energies Energy surrounds and influences us in so many ways, and the energy of the Earth is one of the most powerful forces around us. Authors Anne Z. Parker and Dominique Susani explain just how powerful and influential Earth energy is on our bodies and health in Earth Alchemy. This powerful “guidebook” researches and explains the many Earth energies such as fault lines, water lines, vortexes, etc., and how these forces can affect the human body and energetic field in both illness and wellness. The authors have done an outstanding job outlining and illustrating our connection with nature and our innate ability to sense disharmonious energies in the Earth, as well as providing exercises to practice feeling these energies using our own bodies. This book does not stop with explaining the effects of the Earth energies, but also describes how to work with the energy to create harmonious living spaces to benefit our own energetic bodies. This relatively small book is packed with useful and ample information that will not only remind readers of our connection with Mother Earth, but even more importantly how to work with the Earth’s energy to create a more harmonious relationship with her. ]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:30:32 -0700 2201-984 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/application-of-impossible-things-a-near-death-experience-in-iraq I'm honored to be the first one to review Application of Impossible Things. This is by far the most lucid and intelligent description of (some of) the dimensions that underlie and support our experience here in this physical plane that I've ever read. Ms. Sudman has a mind like a steel trap and the ability to communicate clearly, through explanation and metaphor, extremely intricate and many-layered concepts. There is no spiritual dogma here--rather a refreshing absence of any and all new age platitudes. She does not satisfy herself with easy symbols, and instead describes the core of her experience without any cultural or religious overtones. She gives voice to things I have often thought and never seen expressed anywhere else. Her style of writing is reminiscent of Jane Roberts/Seth in its intellectual range and sense of humor. There's also an interesting similarity to the flavor of the writings of the women in Casteneda's party, Florinda Donner and Taisha Abelar, sans the darkly ancient, somewhat lurid mysticism of that time period. Or maybe it's just that she writes a little bit like a somewhat amused anthropologist, even when speaking about her own experiences. A spiritual remove, perhaps, but one that is very enjoyable to read. There have been some wonderful new books written in the past few years by people who have returned from near-death experiences. They all have a tremendous amount to offer. This one adds a truly unique voice to the mix, and one that is full of clarity and fresh air. Marion Lansky, Amazon Reviewer ]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:24:04 -0700 2050-971 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/paranormal-my-life-in-pursuit-of-the-afterlife This is a fascinating memoir of an extraordinary life by one of the pioneers of consciousness studies, long before the area became fashionable, or even acceptable. Dr. Raymond Moody is a scholar in the deepest sense of the word. His thinking is rigorous, his research methods are controlled and documented, and his conclusions are carefully drawn and stay within the boundaries of what would be acceptable to a mainstream academic. A precocious thinker, Moody was schooled in philosophy and the classics, and it was Plato who fueled his interest in studying the afterlife. He received a PhD in Philosophy, and it was while teaching introductory philosophy that he began to collect stories of experiences students and others had had, leading him to coin the term, “near-death experience.” He went on to medical school and published his groundbreaking book, “Life After Life,” while still a med student. He taught university, became a practicing psychiatrist, and wrote 11 books, all while suffering from myxedema, a devastating disease of the thyroid gland that can cause debility and depression and suicidal thoughts. For some reason it was not correctly diagnosed for many years, and his own father – a medical doctor – had him committed to a mental hospital before it was finally diagnosed and brought under control. Ironically, it was a suicide attempt that led Moody to have his own near death experience, which then energized and influenced his research. He calls himself a skeptic in the classical sense of the word – one who observes phenomena with a critical eye, but keeps an open mind. I'm sure he would invite the reader to approach the phenomena he describes with the same attitude. ]]> Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:49:59 -0700 2050-948 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/paranormal-my-life-in-pursuit-of-the-afterlife Reading like a suspense novel, this book gives us a doorway into the heart, mind, and life of psychiatrist, researcher, and author Raymond Moody who introduced the phenomenon of the near death experience to the general public. His best-known work "Life After Life" has sold over ten million copies and has helped people change how they view life after death. We learn about his childhood inclinations to these studies as well as how he followed this trend of research into his adult life. The story of his own illness and brush with suicide and the other side of life make for a fascinating tale. This important book addresses the question many people want answered: is there life after death or not? Read about the research as well as the first-hand experiences in Paranormal and see what you think. ]]> Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:09:12 -0800 1995-889 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/solving-the-communion-enigma-what-is-to-come A quarter century since the publication of Whitley Strieber’s horrifying and fascinating account of his alien abduction in Communion: The True Story, the bestselling author updates readers on how “the visitors” are connecting with us now. He explores their involvement in the increase of UFO sightings, alien abductions, crop circles, animal mutilations, near-death experiences and other unexplained phenomena, and what it all means to humanity. From the mysterious implant in his ear he received in 1989 that refuses to be removed, to the wave of alien encounters that others have experienced, the author blends science with experience and speculates on how these and other mysterious phenomena point to a new way of being that is beyond our current scientific knowledge. ]]> Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:08:36 -0800 1115-807 http://www.ncreview.com/paranormal/wake-up This is a film about a young man named Jonas who is just an ordinary struggling filmmaker one day, and the next discovers he can see energies, entities, spirits, geometric patterns of light, auras and so on. Six years later, he is still seeing light energies and spirits, and has learned a lot about what he is experiencing, and what it means for his life and his purpose in life. Wake Up follows highlights (and lowlights) during the first two years of his journey, as he initially rules out brain anomalies or psychiatric disorders, then tells his parents, and continually navigates his relationship with his girlfriend, Mara, amidst this roller coaster ride of new capacities. He visits with diverse wise people: a Sufi mystic, a healer/acupuncturist, researchers, academics, an enlightenment teacher, a Buddhist Roshi, and Native Americans, all in an effort to understand what is happening. And although Jonas acknowledges that he is still learning, one thing that becomes clear to him is that this gift/curse is an "awakening"--and that he can never "un-awaken." I really liked that this film showed Jonas' process of adjusting to a radical and sudden shift in perception, didn't hype it up with "big names" in the spiritual movement, and didn't try to push any spiritual precepts down our throats. I also appreciated that it was low-key; these are not actors acting, this film is a documentary with actual events and ordinary people. I personally had some challenges with the sound, particularly the dialogues between Jonas and his girlfriend, where the volume sometimes dropped off or the conversation wasn't clear. And since the filming took place over a period of time, the transitions on occasion were a bit choppy. But overall this film is definitely worth watching and may appeal in particular to people who are ambivalent about the whole idea of spiritual "awakening" and conscious evolution. Perhaps most significantly, this film is a welcome and worthy addition to the groundswell of spiritual awakening that is undeniably occurring in myriad ways, and shifting the consensual paradigm of "ordinary" human consciousness. -- Julie Clayton ]]> Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:37:34 -0700