Archive for the ‘Metaphysical Book Reviews - 2008’ Category

Old Souls: The Scientific Evidence for Past Lives by Tom Shroder. © 1999. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-64-85192-X.

Reporter Tom Shroder began his exploration into past lives by wanting to write a story about Dr. Brian Weiss and his work in past life regression.

During his research on Weiss, Shroder came across an article on Dr. Ian Stevenson (died 2/08/07); interested in Stevenson’s work, Shroder turned his attention to him.

Dr. Stevenson traveled extensively to interview children claiming past life memories. Stevenson would then research the memories – either validating the claims or disproving them.

Old Souls is the journey Shroder literally took with Stevenson on some of Stevenson’s research trips; what he experienced and witnessed while he followed Stevenson. They interviewed children and adults in Beruit, India and the US.

Shroder began this journey very much the skeptic as far as past life memories. At the end of this book, Shroder’s skepticism was not so prominent.

I really enjoyed Shroder’s book – and was fascinated at the scientific approach Dr. Stevenson took working to prove/disprove the past life memories.

I highly recommend this book.

Picture Yourself Capturing Ghosts on Film by Christopher Balzano. © 2010, Course Technology/Cengage Learnings. ISBN 978-1-4354-5483-5.

A paranormal investigator and author, Balzano shares tips, guidance and ideas about taking photos and videos in the course of a paranormal investigation.

Balzano goes a bit into: the workings of cameras; equipment prep before an investigation; the investigation; evidence review and software for digital photos review. He also goes into faked photos and more.

Balzano devotes a chapter to “The Great Orb Debate”, including comments on orbs from Gene Lafferty (another investigator).

The author presents the information in a clear, direct manner – and includes some of his experiences in photo review as well as photo examples throughout his book.

I recommend this book for those interested in paranormal photography.

Into a Timeless Realm: A Metaphysical Adventure by Michael J. Roads. © 1995, H.J. Kramer. ISBN 978-0915811663.

Michael Roads awoke at 2:00 a.m. to the sound of howling wind, and shortly discovered that while he was sitting in bed – his light body began a journey.

Roads physical self had journaled this extraordinary experience that his light body was having.

He detailed the Beings he encountered and some really interesting lessons.

During one of his experiences, Roads was able to view, and explore, some of our (human and/or Earth’s) possible futures.

Michael, through sharing experiences, takes the reader out of the ‘accepted norm’ and brings the reader on a journey as he pierces the membranes between illusion (physical life) and Reality.

Favorite Passage:

“…Focus on all that you are, on your potential, your capabilities, your capacity. Ignore what you think you are not. Accept yourself the way you are. Trust in yourself in all things at all times.”  (pg. 234)

I highly recommend this book for all.

In affiliation with Amazon. See Affiliation Disclosure.

‘Seeking Spirits: The Lost Cases of The Atlantic Paranormal Society’ by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson with Michael Jan Friedman. © 2009, Pocket Books. ISBN 978-1-4391-0115-5.

Grant tells his story of his first experience with the paranormal. As a youth, he was able to see…something…in the woods by his childhood friend’s house. This being, which Grant could see but no one else could, seemed interested in learning about humans.

Grant developed tests – both so Grant could prove its existence to his friend, and for his own curiosity.

Grant also touched briefly on how Jason, through receiving Reiki treatments, had begun “seeing things”.

In ‘Seeking Spirits’, Jason and Grant share ghost hunting case experiences that they did prior to their The Atlantic Paranormal Society (T.A.P.S.) “Ghost Hunters” TV show.

This was an enjoyable book.

In association with Amazon – see ‘Affiliation Disclosure’.

Flight to Eternity by Marty Arnold. © 1986, Mystic Mountain Books. ISBN 0-911265-06-6.

“The plot, the scenes, ad the characters in ‘Flight to Eternity’  are fictional, but the story, the actions, and the experience of the characters are based on information gathered…” (page ix)

This is a fictional story of TranAir flight 481; its crew and passengers.

A very light passenger load on 481, the flight was scheduled to leave Colorado and land in Los Angeles.

The plane never made it to its physical destination – it had crashed.

What followed were the characters stories of what transpired after the crew and its passengers ‘crossed over’.

From the information that I have received over the years, the information presented in this book on what happens after we die, rang true to me.

I highly recommend this book for those interested in life after death.

In association with Amazon (see affiliation disclaimer).

‘The Oversoul Seven Trilogy’ by Jane Roberts. © 1995, Amber-Allen Publishing. ISBN 1-878424-17-3. (Comprised of ‘The Education of Oversoul Seven, © 1973; ‘The Further Education of Oversoul Seven, © 1979; and ‘Oversoul Seven and the Museum of Time, © 1984.)

I had originally tried reading ‘The Education of Oversoul Seven’ shortly after it came out, but was too young (which I don’t often get to say! Ha!) to grasp the concepts.

This time, I couldn’t put the trilogy down.

This is a novel, but the written imagery provided can allow the reader an (adventurous) idea of how time is not linear (past, present and future are all happening ‘now’), and how our soul can experience multiple lives.

Roberts presented the main character, ‘Oversoul Seven’ and his earth personalities/lives with a touch of humor.

She took the soul, the soul’s personalities and lives and intricately weaved a fascinating story.

I was intrigued, captivated and amused. I enjoyed, and recommend, this book.

(In association with Amazon.)

‘Matthew, Tell Me About Heaven’ by Suzanne Ward. (C) Suzanne Ward 2001, Published by Matthew Books, ISBN 0-9717875-1-4.

Review by Peter Perkins

This book is one in which Suzanne Ward channels her deceased son Matthew’s spirit.

It is a series of question and answers in which she asks him questions about the accident that caused his death, which he described as part of his soul contract. Through his experiences between lives, he describes a realm called Haven which he says may be where people got the term heaven from.

The question and answer sessions between mother and son are clear and well explained. Often one question leading to others. So many different topics are covered in these question and answer sessions that one can easily find something within for their own knowledge, or verification.

I myself found a lot of verification on life between lives. The manifestation of matter. The thought of different vibrational dimensions existing within the same space and many other topics.

As a book on channeling it could stand alone. Yet it also holds many things that people may be curious about. Do animals have souls? Do pets join us in the afterlife? What is there to do in the afterlife realm?

If you have had experiences yourself and seek some kind of verification this book may be what you are looking for. It is also a good book for those who are curious about other realms and feel more comfortable hearing it from the spirit of a young man who had lived as one of us as opposed to other books where entities are channeled that have never been human.

I highly recommend this book to any interested in channeling, life after death or with a curiosity in the spiritual realms.

Thank you Peter!

“Grave’s End: A True Ghost Story”, Elaine Mercado, R.N. © 2001, Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 0-7387-0003-7.

Based on a true story; this is one family’s experience in a haunted house.

This is not a horror story, but I don’t recommend this book for those readers who “spook” easily.

The disturbances began with a subtle feeling of being watched…and escalated, causing Mercado to become nervous and then scared.

This continued until one day, after many nerve wracking years of living with this, two people came in to help. These two people contacted the earthbound spirits; relayed the earthbounds stories to Elaine and her family; and then helped the spirits to cross over and energy cleaned the house.

It is a very interesting story and recommend for those interested in hauntings and/or experiences with earthbounds.

In Association with Amazon.

‘Destiny of Souls’ by Michael Newton. © 2000 – Eleventh printing, © 2006. Llewellyn. ISBN 1-56718-499-5.

‘Destiny of Souls’ is a step further into the information ‘Journey of Souls’. As in ‘Journey of Souls’, Newton offered cases with information received during regression hypnotherapy.

With sixty-seven cases, Newton provided the reader information on earthbounds; rejuvenation time after having had an earth life; the Council; advancement; and the ‘set-up’ on the other side, such as classrooms, The Library (Akashic Records), groups, etc.

Using some case examples, he also provided a wonderful (to me) explanation, with diagrams, on soul group roles from one lifetime to another.

‘Destiny of Souls’ sucked me in from the beginning of the book. I found it be informative, thought provoking, and raised more questions within me – and I love when that happens!

Though I believe ‘Destiny of Souls’ can stand alone, I do recommend reading ‘Journey of Souls’ first.

Recommended for all.

(In association with Amazon)

‘The Alexandria Project’ by Stephan Schwartz. © 1983, Dell Publishing. ISBN 0-385-29277-5.

Schwartz was the president of THE MOBIUS GROUP – a team which comprised of both psychics and scientists.

In 1979, he brought together a team for an archeological project…to search for Alexander’s tomb; but his research wasn’t limited to just this. His team also looked into the harbor of Alexandria and found shipwrecks spanning many centuries; searched for the Lighthouse of Pharos, Cleopatra’s residence, and more.

‘The Alexandria Project’ is Schwartz’s experiences with his team; the trials and tribulations of working with the Egyptian government; civilians (in regards to customs and beliefs); and what the psychics had accomplished. This was presented in journal form.

My favorite passage: “Right now, our reliance on the intellect, to the exclusion of all else, has sickened us and alienated us not only from each other, but from the earth and the other beings who populate this planet.” (Pg 267)

I enjoyed this book, and recommend it for all.