The Afterlife Expert

So I've got a new "crowd funded" book campaign.  "The Afterlife Expert" How unusual is that?

Praying for Divine Help at Per Lachaise cemetery, Paris

I'm raising funds for it based on crowd funding, which is an unusual concept to begin with.  But being a fan of the Renaissance, and art history (My major in college: "The Impact of the 20th century upon the Arts" at Boston University.  I was the only Humanities major out of 26K students), I decided that it's a useful analogy to the old fashioned "Patron and Artists" relationship.

Instead of going to the "powers that be" to fund my next project (meaning a film studio, a publisher, a record label) instead of going to the Medici family (the bankers of Florence) or the Vatican (the funders of Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Leonardo etc) I go directly to the audience and ask them to donate money into my proverbial hat.

 https://www.gofundme.com/theafterlifeexpert





The first time I did I was "crowd funded" I was about 13 years old.  I had just learned how to play "All Along the Watchtower" on guitar.  I was sitting on a street corner in my home town, waiting for a friend's mom to pick us up... and I started playing my guitar. I had an old cowboy hat that I'd set down, cars were passing, I wasn't aware of them, and then one car stopped, guy rolled down his window, and threw some money into my hat, then drove away.

I thought - "that's weird, that guy was going to fast to hear a song, but he's just offering some money for "the idea of the song."

I've crowd funded three books now.  ("It's a Wonderful Afterlife" volumes one and two, and "Hacking the Afterlife") In return for support, I put people's names in my books, and reach out to them via email and in some cases have opened some unusual conversations.  (I have unusual conversations all the time, not just with people who've donated to my books, but I'm just saying - I write to the people who donate to ask them about their journey -- and if I haven't in the past, I will do so in the future!)

Praying for Divine Assistance at Mt. Kailash in Tibet.

I must admit, someone posted a complaint last year - "oh, here comes another raising funds campaign from the Flipside guy" and it gave me pause. Obviously not a fan of the work, or not a fan of the idea of patronage in general. 

Totally understand that. All I can do is allow the universe to guide whatever the heck it is I'm doing. For whatever cosmic or comic reason, I've been put on this the path to examine and explore the Flipside. It's not for everyone. But for whatever reason, it is the path I'm on.

But back to the Renaissance.  

Cellini was a sculptor, created artworks in pencil, oil, gold and this statue in Florence

Benvenuto Cellini, the great sculptor, wrote a hilarious biography that was made into a film (badly) but his book is still in print. 

 It details his life as an artist, his battles with his patrons, and some pretty crazy moments in his life - when he wasn't paid, he'd confront his patrons in the streets of Florence, pull out his dagger or sword and threaten them - in some cases stab them.  He was jailed by the Pope for not finishing an artwork he'd been commissioned - he was jailed in Hadrian's tomb - a secret escape route for the Popes - and when he tried to escape he fell and broke his leg.  

Then when the French attacked Rome, according to Cellini, he helped line up a rifle atop Hadrian's tomb; with one shot, nailed a French General a quarter mile away (and Cellini saved Rome.)

Hadrian's tomb (also used as a jail by the Vatican)

My books won't last the length of Cellini's art or even have the color and craziness of his autobiography (free copy here: (The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini) but they are made in the same vein.  

People who have become my patrons, (thank you patrons!  Grazie Patroni!) are investing in the research, no matter how crazy it appears!!!!

Cellini jumped and broke his leg to get out of debtor's prison where'd he'd been sentenced
by Pope Julian for not finishing a work he'd already paid for.  
Hint: Guess I'd better finish my books.

So what's the new book about?

Well, like the others, it's pretty unusual.

I've found that without using hypnosis (I'm not a hypnotherapist, but have taken courses in that discipline, and have a degree from LightBetweenLives.com) I have been able to elicit some of the same results that hypnotherapists get during their 4-6 hour sessions (past lives, visits to a soul group, councils, libraries, etc)

The accounts are relatively the same - during a hypnotherapy session, a hypnotherapist asks general questions "Where would you like to go?" but in my version, I direct the questions: "I'd like to speak directly to your guide, is that possible?  If so, could your guide appear before you now so we have a reference to address them as male, female, or some other entity?  And if so, could your guide put that visual in your mind's eye as we speak?"

"The Afterlife Expert" with Jennifer Shaffer (jennifershaffer.com)
and George Noory of Coast to Coast AM

It's an unusual method for a variety of reasons - it's certainly not scientific because I'd have to ask neutral questions and wait for the person to guide me where they'd like to go.  My attitude is this - after examining the 7000 cases Michael Newton had over 30 years, after examining the 2000 cases Dr. Helen Wambach had over ten years earlier, examining the 40 cases I've filmed and done 5 of my own - I have a pretty solid idea of what a person is going to find during one of these adventures.

And knowing what it is they're going to find - knowing the architecture of the afterlife - I direct them there to that place.

The point is this - if during one of these interviews, the person claims "something else entirely is being seen" (visuals that are contrary to these thousands of cases) or "they aren't getting anywhere" - that would be interesting, but so far, that's not been the case.

I chose my subjects based on their ability to already connect with the flipside - perhaps they've had a near death experience, maybe they've had a hypnotherapy session, a past life regression, an out of body experience, a recurring dream - something that I can use as a gateway to help them gain access to the flipside.

Luana sees you.

What's interesting about the results is that they're from all walks of life - some have no idea there might be a flipside, some don't believe in an afterlife, some are religious, many are not - it doesn't matter.  They may have read my books, or have no clue as to what I'm talking about - that doesn't appear to matter either.  

What matters is that they're able to talk about "what they're seeing."  And while doing that I direct them into the flipside.  As I'm fond of saying "You may not know what it is that I'm doing, but your spirit guides do."

The other part of the book is direct communication with people no longer on the planet.

In this case, I'm working with Jennifer Shaffer (JenniferShaffer.com) an excellent intuitive/medium who works with law enforcement nationwide using her skills with communicating with the flipside.  Jennifer and I have been meeting for months now where I film our "conversations."  I try to be open to whomever "shows up" during our conversation.  There is usually some direct connection between me and the person who shows up, between Jennifer and the person who shows up - or if it's a stranger who appears (or someone I barely know) I'll ask them "why they've chosen to appear to us."

Instead of filming these events in an environment normally set aside for scientific study (a closed room, white walls, detection equipment) I film them wherever we happen to be.  Because I've found, it doesn't matter how much noise or chaos is around us - if spirit wants to reach out to her, they do.  She interprets to the best of her ability (after all, it's not a cell phone, but more of a sense phone) and I do the best I can to ask them questions like "From  your perspective, what do we look like?"  "What was the first thing you noticed about no longer being on the planet?" "What do you miss about being here?"

I'm in the process of transcribing these sessions.  There are about 20 or 30 interviews, discussions, which translates to about 10-20 hours of footage to sift through.  The point is that it's going to take me a lot of time and effort to get all of this down on paper.  So that's another reason to crowd fund - since a patron has already paid me for the work, it's an incentive to get the work done.  (Or I'll find myself locked into Hadrian's tomb with jumping my only escape.)

Anyways, hope you understand, and thanks for your support!!!!!

Click to Donate Now! Cellini Martini

The Afterlife Expert

https://funds.gofundme.com/mobile/dashboard?url=theafterlifeexpert

New book campaign...

https://www.gofundme.com/theafterlifeexpert

Save the Universe

Jesus showed up in my coffee shop today.

For those of you who experience Catholic brain freeze (as I do when I hear his name) you probably need to move along to another blog, or another post.  I wouldn't linger here too long, as it's going to get funky up in here in a moment.

For fans of "Hacking the Afterlife" stick around.  It will be interesting, I promise.  I'm in the midst of working on the next book, don't have a solid title yet, but while I'm in writing mode, I tend to see things in terms of chapters.

How can Jesus show up in a coffee shop?  Well, as I told this fellow - who looked kind of startled, upset, freaked out at what he was "seeing" while I was talking to him, I tried to reassure him it was normal.

"Try not to judge it.  Just let it be whatever it is. It could be your imagination and that's fine. You could be conjuring up this face, but don't let that freak you out." I hastened to add; "You're sitting in pretty much the same table at the same cafe where he's shown up a half dozen other times to people I'm chatting with.  So it's not it's the first time he's appeared while having a coffee in Caffe Luxxe, but I understand it's disconcerting for you.  It's not for me. Allow that it "Could be your imagination. Could be someone pretending to be him. Or... could be him."

But let's see how we got here first of all.

A friend of mine invited me to meet up with his friend about a project in the film business. (My other world.) I met with him about a month ago, specifically to help him and his business partner, did what I could to paint a realistic picture of the difficulties ahead with this venture, but also, as I do when I talk to people about whatever project they have in mind, to address on some level why this project is meaningful -- "on a spiritual level."  

"What is it in your conscious life that has led you to this endeavor, and how will it help the planet?"

This fellow understood what I was asking, but his partner did not.  His world view is firmly planted in the "materialist science" world - i.e., what happens in your lifetime is based on factors of genetics, sociological and human wants. Nothing spiritual about it.  

I pointed out to his partner that my decade of research in this arena has led me to include a spiritual aspect to why we do things, why we find ourselves involved with any number of projects, and how they may have a deeper meaning to our life's path.  

The young fellow dismissed that concept entirely (I wound up asking him "So how old are you anyway?" and when he said his age I said "See? That's as far as you've gotten so far. You'll get there eventually.")

But his partner has a family member who is working on consciousness studies, and he understood what I was referring to, and asked if we could meet up at a later date.  He had some unusual events happen to him in his youth, and he was eager to discuss them with me.

Today we did so.  

In the "OA" she met with a guide

I had mentioned how Mario Beauregard, PhD, a neuroscientist, had this apotheosis when he was 12 where he was walking in the woods behind his home in Canada, and suddenly felt this wave of euphoria, and saw how "everything and everyone is connected."  

HHDL and Mario B

When Mario told me about that, I noted a number of other people who've had this same kind of event in their lives - Sir Francis Younghusband one of them - where it altered their life's path.  

Younghusband was a soldier in the British army at the time, but "put down his rifle" and created the "council of world religions" which exists to this day. 

In Mario's case, he's spent the past 30 years using science to explain what he experienced ("Brain Wars" is one of his books, he's interviewed in "It's a Wonderful Afterlife" and speaks in his native tongue, French, on these topics on youtube.)

But today my new friend told me that he had a similar event when he was about 10 years old. 

It was New Year's Eve, so he remembered the date, and he had gone upstairs to take a bath.  And while in the tub, he suddenly was "transported" to a space that was "somewhere else in the universe."  He said it was like he was "outside in outer space" and a voice spoke to him.  The voice said to him (in French - I asked) "Save the Universe."  He heard it a number of times, and when he got out of the bath, he was so freaked out by the event, he went downstairs and tried to tell his incredulous brother.

My friend said the event and those same words came to him a number of other times.

I said, "Well let's explore this for a moment.  Can you remember the sound of the voice?"  He said "Yes, that it was a strong voice, and it was a command... as if telling me that I was supposed to do something."  I said "How old did the voice sound?"  He thought for a moment, said "Old, older than 50 perhaps."  I said, "Is this voice a stranger, a friend, a soul mate or a spirit guide?"  I tend to not think too long and hard about what my next question is going to be, but by giving him four choices, I figured that included "I have no idea."

He said "guide."  I said "Okay, Mr. Guide, can you give us a name or a letter of a name to address you?"  He said "G."  He couldn't come up with a name, really, and I said "Fine, let's be George for the moment...  So George, what did you mean by that statement which scared the hell out of this ten year old; "Save the Universe?"

He couldn't access an answer. I said "By universe do you mean everything that's in our universe? Or is that a figurative term to include other dimensions?"  He said he felt it to mean "Everything, everywhere."  

I said "Okay, George, give our friend an image of yourself at an early age, something that he can identify and look at. What do you see?"

He said "I don't want to say it. But he looks like Jesus."  

I said "Try not to judge it. Either it's your imagination giving you an image, or it's someone pretending to look like him, or it's him." (Without mentioning how many times he's shown up in this very same cafe as I've spoken to friends who "don't believe in him" friends from India, friends from around the globe who don't have any connection to "him" but for some reason "see him" in a dream, out of body experience, or some other event.)  I asked him to describe him, physically.

He said "Brown eyes, but lighter, with bits of green and yellow."  I said "You mean gold?"  He said "Yes, gold. Longer hair, about down to the shoulder." (As noted, he's shown up with "gold flecks" in his eyes a number of times.  He's also shown up with blue eyes, which I ascribe to the person who is seeing him... but the "gold" part I've heard at least three different times.) 

I said "So what do you mean by telling our friend here at age ten that he has to save the universe?"  

He couldn't answer. I said "Are you trying to tell him that he needs to impart information about the nature of the universe, how understanding how the afterlife works will serve to save the universe?"  

He said "Yes. That's what it means."  I said, "Okay, let's appreciate for a moment that you heard this message when you were ten and it's taken you 30 years to run into a fellow who can help you understand or interpret it."

"Save the Universe."

By helping people to understand the nature of reality.  How we don't die, how we move into another realm where everyone is equal, where there is no hierarchy.  

"Home." 

Where we access our loved ones, our memories of previous lives, where we plan our future ones.  And how by accessing that information, that knowledge, and somehow helping get it into the world, it will ultimately help the universe.

At least that's my interpretation of it.

I didn't know what my new friend did for a living.  He said "It's in sales."  

I said "Well, then, you must have a unique ability to bring things to people that maybe they didn't know they would need or want, but it's important for them to have. And perhaps you knew you'd chosen this life to help sell one of the biggest spiritual concepts that's ever been tackled."  He said "I'm getting the feeling it's going to be a big fight."

He said that he thought people would be upset about hearing about an alternate reality with regard to the universe. ("Taking the red pill.")

I said "You mean people will be upset about that?  Of course they will be.  Everything they've invested in up until now will be meaningless.  The accumulation of wealth instead of friends, the pursuit of material objects instead of the pursuit of giving or sharing love, the idea that we need drugs or chemicals to alter our reality so that we can somehow dull it... all of that will go out the window."

I also said "Try not stress too much over the idea. It's a tall order. "Save the Universe." 

You have to consider that this person was telling you this sentence in precisely the way he wanted you to hear it. So you would remember it.  It may relate to your soul's purpose, not only in this life, but in future lives.  

Try not to judge your path too harshly - but I suggest that something will come forward to you what will help you to fulfill this idea - perhaps because your relative is working in consciousness studies - but be prepared for it to come. 

Now that you understand who said this to you, the next step will be to understand why they said it to you."

So, if there's anything you can take away from this post, on a hot day in August in Santa Monica, CA - it's that it's up to each of us to save the universe.  

It's up to each us to examine the nature of reality to see if what these folks are saying is true. 

That we are here temporarily, that eventually we return home - but while we're here we can all share in the feelings of unconditional love that we give to each other. And by coming to terms with that, indeed, you will have saved the universe.

My two cents.

Hacking the Afterlife Reviews

Amazon page for "Hacking the Afterlife"

"Everyone who has ever lived continues to exist on the Flipside and if possible, can be asked direct questions." This is the startling premise of "Hacking the Afterlife" which argues it's possible to obtain "new information" from people no longer on the planet. 

These "afterlife interviews" are conducted via various mediums, with people under deep hypnosis, or with people fully conscious yet able to access and remember details of previous lifetimes. The reports offer practical advice ("afterlife hacks") on how to navigate our lives and improve our planet. 

Best selling author of '"Flipside: A Tourist's Guide on How to Navigate the Afterlife" (also a film) and "It's a Wonderful Afterlife," (both went to #1 at Amazon kindle) frequent guest on "Coast to Coast," explores the Flipside via mediums and other methods, "interviews" a variety of people who are no longer on the planet. 

Interviews with someone who claims to be Edgar Cayce "sleeping prophet," three different mediums who claim to be able to speak to Amelia Earhart, "conversations" with Robin Williams, the Artist formerly known as Prince, and a number of people who claim to have known the person known worldwide as the "Alpha and the Omega." The Author explores these accounts with an open mind, and invites the reader to do the same. 

Quotes for the book from the people who were interviewed: 

*"This book will have people questioning their own disbeliefs and belief paradigms. It's a translation of the ethers." Edgar Cayce via medium JenniferShaffer.com 

*"Good luck to you for making the unbelievable claim that there even is an afterlife. " Howard Schultz, friend who passed away recently. 

*"They should read your book if they want to fly. It makes the reader open up. It's beautiful written music, Rich." The Artist formerly known as Prince Rogers Nelson. 

*"Two words; "Love, Love." The key ingredient for happiness is to love the love; love love, and then send it to everything." Robin Williams via Jennifer Shaffer. 

* "Lift this book to your soul. And see what your soul has to say. Hearing the words from the book; don't judge it, just listen to your spirit. It will guide you and tell you that the "unthinkable" is real. Laughing is the best medicine. Don't waste time trying to dig up things." Amelia Earhart (who proves in this book that she died in Saipan during the war) 

*"More people will be changed by your words than the ones who can't hear what you're saying. It is a challenge frequency that always hurts initally." From the person known as the Alpha and the Omega.


REVIEWS

5.0 out of 5 stars

"Richard has topped his Flipside Series with Hacking The Afterlife. My favorite chapters were/are the chapter that had the message from Planet Earth and the long chapter about Issa/Jesus. 

Everything I have read or listened to Richard's Audible Books are truly Awesome Research Material. I have all 3 version of this Book, the Audible.com version, the Kindle Version and the actual book. I am on the 5th listening of the Audible version and the information he shares about Jesus showing up in either a LBL or through a Medium is truly what the World needs to hear. 

Richard's Catholic Brain Freeze seems to be in the background because the information rings very TRUE to me. I was raised Southern Baptist, but later adopted Non-Denomination/Gnostic Beliefs about Jesus. It makes sense that the Romans would do some rewriting of the Bible when it was put together in 325AD. 

Richard's Hacking the Afterlife and Flipside series brings out truths that the Protestant Religions would rather keep buried/denied to their believers. As Richard says He is not there to Rock Your Boat or Beliefs. I recommended this book to some friends and they thought I was crazy to believe in such research. 

I have always wondered about the missing years of Jesus in the 4 Gospels and this book covers those years and it truly makes sense. We all have to test the spirits and I believe the Holy Spirit has allowed this information to be made known to help all of us to LOVE One Another even more and to enjoy our Vacations here on earth. This Book is AWESOME.

5.0 out of 5 stars

This detailed kindlebook of Hacking The Afterlife; Practical Advice From The Flipside by Richard Martini has written details from different writers that give different perspectives on the afterlife. I do like the healing guidance and reminder that it is possible to recover towards triumph from almost any challenge in life. 

Deep down I already knew this but it is healing to see that reminder in written form. I respectfully disagree on some of the points made in this kindle book yet my spiritual heart is indirectly influencing me to give myself more time to revisit some of the points I disagree with that are currently left unwritten. 

There are various details included such as sometimes when a person dies it is actually common for some men and women to meet family members and or friends and or other members from their soul group from both their current lifetime and past lifetimes, people can be met by their spirit guides, our spirit guides are very supportive and positive even if we veered towards a course different from what we set out to do prior to incarnating, information on the council of elders.

It is possible for a man or woman to ask for help in a course adjustment if they are concerned about living their lives in alignment with what their soul/higher self set out to do in their present incarnation, the hall of records, soul groups, pre-life planning, a person can go a thousand years in living in the non-physical realms/afterlife before reincarnating back on earth if they choose to do so, and much more...

5.0 out of 5 stars

Hacking the After Life will help satisfy curiosity about this topic!

"A very interesting and enlightening book regarding what's beyond this plane of existence. The author draws first on his experience with Michael Newton, Phd. who, in his books notes cases with countless patients who had recall of not only previous lives, but also lives between lives, then with his own experience of being regressed. As a result, he began interviewing folks while in a state of regression.

I recommend this book to perhaps satisfy the curiosity about this topic.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating

I am only partially through this book, but I find it fascinating. It is just incredible the work that Martini and his partners are doing in the between life area. I would love to participate in a between life session.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Enjoying it. Good follow up to his previous books on the same subject. This book is more in depth and even refers back to his other works. It's got me fascinated..... Makes me wonder if my husband, who recently transitioned to the flipside, is reading along with me. Wish he'd let me know.....

5.0 out of 5 stars

Great Book!

I enjoy all of Mr Martini's books. This one is great.

5.0 out of 5 stars

A definite must read!

This is a great read in the series of books on the afterlife by Richard Martini. I remember being skeptical, but intrigued, when I first read "It's a Wonderful Afterlife", but something in the back of my mind kept telling me this was really how it was. I think you will find his interviews with people in the afterlife quite fascinating and eye opening. I sincerely suggest all his books on this subject. And I thank you Mr. Martini for opening my mind to a new way to look at the afterlife.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
Love this book, I'm reading it now & can't seem to put it down! 5 Stars!

Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Love it.

Published 23 days ago by Tamara F. Guion

5.0 out of 5 starsLife changing read....

This is my first book by Richard Martini and my first book on past life / between life regression therapy.Read more

Published 28 days ago by E. Kepner

5.0 out of 5 starsLoved this book!

Thank you to the author for his beautiful work. I would recommend this to anyone interested in finding meaning in their life's journey.

Published 1 month ago by Kindle Customer

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Fine

Published 4 months ago by Ron Banister

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Very cool reading

Published 5 months ago by debbie schaare

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great book!

Published 6 months ago by david h. brown

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

May we all finally be ready for the truth revealed herein...

Published 7 months ago by Paul Kurowski

Maximum Selfie and other thoughts on the S word

I received this email today, and with the author's permission, am sharing it here.

Divine Light or dust in the Vatican?

"Dear Rich,

I lost my beautiful 23 yr old daughter to suicide a year and a half ago.  There were a lot of factors that hit at once, creating a perfect storm, and she decided to go.  

As you would imagine, this caused the kind of pain to me that dropped me to my knees, hurt my chest, made me physically ill for months.  

Having had a mother who was a clairvoyant (and moments of my own that come in unexpected bursts), and having attended my local Buddhist Center for about 12 years, I began searching for something.  Peace, validation, anything.   

After reading everyone else’s books, I read all of yours and really did like them best.  

I did the best that I could, but it is hard to quell a grieving mother’s pain, and she was on my mind often.  

About three months after (her) dying, she came to me in a dream/vision/lucid thing and told me that she will be coming back, as her  brother’s child.  I have told her brother, but he has not told his wife!  

Three weeks ago, I went to the hospital with trouble breathing.  It turns out, I was in the middle of active heart failure.   I am in my 50's, and my co-workers were in shock as I appear to be the healthiest there!  

Heathy eating, exercise, etc.  When I went in, I really did not care whether I lived or died.   The cardiologist found that I needed a double bypass, and I didn’t care.   I called my son, and told him (what I wanted him to do with my belongings) and had the surgery.   
Two days after surgery, I developed blood clots in my leg and one in each side of my heart.  The doctors were stunned, as this is apparently a rare complication and very life threatening. They put me on strong blood thinners, IV.  With the lighting in Intensive Care, sleep was elusive.   

I had several “incidents” while in there.  One was a foggy, distant vision of what you would call a council meeting, except I wasn’t included.  I was the subject, though.  

It seemed one cloudy spirit was discussing me, presenting my case to the five indistinct shapes in front of me.  I asked that they please, please send help to break up the clots, because I wanted to go home.  My significant other is an introvert, and (I feel it would be hard to leave him on his own...)

I was also thinking of my son, who has no one but me left. Grandparents, his father, friends, he (like me) has more people on that side than on this, and I knew (my leaving would be difficult.)  

The spirits seemed to take this into account, but there were a couple things they wanted me to know. The first was that my grief was causing an attachment that is preventing my daughter from moving forward and coming back.  

The second came in a separate incident.  I had always suspected I had been in the Holocaust and I saw myself, in a different body (trimmer and slight) rushing at dusk to Shabbat.  

I didn’t even know what Shabbat was until I looked it up the next morning!  But I recalled the cobbled street, the rush to get inside before nightfall, and the awful horror of being caught out.  
A night or two later, I was moved to a private room, which would allow for sleep.  But, I laid awake and could feel long fingers on a very small hand reaching into my heart and “squishing up” the clots.

Friday, the cardiologists gathered, as they generally do in scary groups. They told me they would repeat the ultrasound test to determine the size of the clots.  If they were the same or bigger, they would transport me to a hospital about 30 miles east of me.  
IF they showed any sign of reducing, they would send me home on coumadin and a wearable vest with an external defibrillator.  They said that once the clots became small enough to move out of the heart, in 2-3 months, they could cause a stroke, so I’d wear the vest daily.   Those were the choices.  

Once of them started to say, "If they had dissipated..." but trailed off and told me to "never mind, as that wasn’t possible."  

I knew what was possible, and had told my significant other.  He said when they came into the waiting room, he could tell the cardiologist couldn’t believe it, but the clots were entirely GONE.   

So, I am home, recovering.  

I have always been extremely disturbed when others are hungry, although I have no problem skipping meals myself.  But, seeing hungry people kills me, and watching the movie “Into the Wild” threw me into uncontrollable hysterics.  

I think they were providing me with a reason why, and perhaps I can help heal the past by volunteering at a local food bank.  As for my daughter, I am working on the grief.  I have spent years in meditation and “training the mind”, so when the thoughts intrude, I calmly redirect them now.  She isn’t forgotten at all!  I am glad to be here, to welcome her when she comes back!

I saw a story in the last Good Housekeeping.  A mother lost her daughter, to Cerebral Palsy I believe.  And, Mom then became pregnant right through a tubal!  They are so astonished at how much the new baby reminds them of the lost child.  

Why, oh why, do people raised in Western faiths not believe that their God can do ANYTHING? They deny the very possibilities, limiting their own God.  

"Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Alice in Wonderland. And so should we.

Thank you for the wonderful work that you do.  I follow your blog, receive and read your every email and look forward to your future work...."

My reply:

"Wow. Thanks for sharing this. It's very moving. I'm sorry to hear of your trauma but so encouraged to hear of your spiritual journey. 

There are a few Michael Newton trained therapists near you. A session might allow you further access as well as some answers and new observations. 

The Maestro Michael Newton
"Journey of Souls"

Also check out Carol Bowman book "Children's Past Lives" and website are worth checking out. Erik Medhus book "My life after Death" is worth reading, Galen Stoller's "My Life after Life" or "The Afterlife of Billie Fingers" all give insight into what your daughter is experiencing.

Either way thank you for sharing. Perhaps I can share some of it on my blog so others can experience your story? "

Her reply:

"Actually, I’ve read all of those and more!  

I will be looking for a hypnotist near me. No hurry in this moment.

And, of course you can share!  That’s why we’re here, right?" 

Hacking the Afterlife

And my reply:

"Thank you.

Well, I've had pals interested in the topic reach out to hypnotists near you before, and come away with a bad experience - or no experience.  So before you see one, make sure you've done your research on them - most hypnotists don't have a clue about the flipside, or about Michael Newton's work. That's why I recommend people who've trained with him or his institute... and some of them are doing skype sessions now... or you can ask. 

(I think Scott De Tamble lightbetweenlives.com might be, you can ask him.)  

JenniferShaffer.com (medium) and Scott De Tamble (hypnotherapist)
My two secret weapons when I want to address or interview the flipside.

"By the way; I think it's time we stopped using the term suicide... but I can't think of a more apt one that allows for grieving and loss - after all, even if they are somewhere else, or aren't here - it's a loss to not have them around.... and it's always tricky when they decide they want to come back right away - did they learn the lessons they were trying to learn?  

It's one of those long discussions with council and guides and soul group members....  because over there is the natural state of affairs... not here.  So when we discuss coming back here "right away" it's usually because we feel as if we didn't accomplish what we set out to do.  And there's no punishment in that - there's no "spanking machine" for failing to accomplish your goals.  (Something I remember from my days of playing "Kick the Can.")

There's regret, to be sure, perhaps the pain and sorry of making everyone else suffer through the experience - that's reported consistently.  But those are emotions we feel regret about - that we feel awful about when we've done something that has screwed up our path or the paths of those we love.

But the flipside is a place of unconditional love. It's a place of ultimate compassion. It's a place where we can see why we've done things, why we've come to the fork in the road, and how not to be swept away by it the next time around.  It's a place of ultimate reflection and learning.

So once someone goes "home" - what's the big hurry to get out of the house?  Chill awhile.  Reflect.  Everyone you've ever loved will eventually join you - and the time over there is so relatively different, it'll feel like ten minutes went by.

So "ultimate selfie" - "maximum selfie" come to mind as alternatives for "The S word." The idea that we get so wrapped up in our minds (sometimes because of ssri drugs as I've mentioned in my books, or allowing the amygdala to control our emotions, etc) - that we can't think of anything but checking ourselves out... 

But as we know, as science proves - the physical act of helping others - and in your case helping in a food bank - are physical things that we can do to "cure or alleviate depression."  

To alter the repository of depression - regulated by the amygdala - to allow for a more compassionate flow in our minds - (See "Tonglen Meditation" as a Tibetan meditation that helps regulate this, as proven scientifically by Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin) 

Davidson with a monk described as the
"Happiest person on the planet" according to former neuroscientist turned Tibetan Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard's MRI.

I attended a lecture by Davidson at UCLA and it was filled with psychiatrists eager to find an alternative to prescribing SSRI drugs to teens.  There had been a spike in suicides - and Davidson's research on Tibetan monks - a ten year study - showed that just one session of meditation could change the physical shape of the amygdala.  

Further that meditation can "cure or alleviate symptoms of depression."  It's not a religious concept - or a yoga method - but a scientific method.  Meditate on healing and helping others and you heal yourself. (I asked him specifically what Tibetan Meditation he used in the study, and he told me "Tonglen" - which means "give and take" and is designed for the meditator to heal or cure someone else in their mind.)  

In Davidson's study, monks trained in meditation were used.

What I realized is that this "mental act of helping others" - is reflected/identical to the physical act of helping others.  

In other words "Love your neighbor as yourself" and physically help them - can cure you or alleviate symptoms of depression.

Helping others actually helps us... I'm fond of saying that when someone is super depressed, get on a plane and go to India... the people over there live in such difficult circumstances, yet have the brightest smiles, the happiest dispositions - and I think it's because under extreme conditions, in a culture that believes that life is temporary, and that we all return here - they can enjoy the ride for what it is.... 

Of course there are all kinds of people in India - there are good guys, bad guys, criminals, sadhus, holy men, pandits - as in every culture - but when I'm in India I literally feel like I'm on Mars.  

So it's really hard to focus on whatever I thought was depressing when there's so many people who need my immediate help, even if it's a stick of gum or a smile.

So when depressed, go to Mars.

One of my many trips to Mars.

Anyways, thanks for writing, yes, I'm working on the next book - as we speak....

Thanks for the encouraging words - you who need encouragement to be on the planet as well - and I believe sharing your story will help someone neither one of us knows." (Who's been guided by a loved on on the flipside to this page.)

Everyone you've ever loved is keeping an eye on you.  But don't take my word for it. They're trying to tell that to you.

Post Script:

When I was writing this post, as I started to refer to the suicide mentioned in her email, I had the feeling I should include some information about SSRI drugs and Davidson's work at the University of Wisconsin. 

I refer to them in my books - it's a topic I'm familiar with, and have done research on.

SSRI drugs are the ones commonly given to treat depression and a variety of other symptoms not related to depression.  ("Prozac," "Zoloft" and others). I first encountered them in Europe when a filmmaker friend committed suicide a few weeks after finishing his film. His wife was befuddled as he was the happiest he'd ever been, but was having trouble sleeping. He was given Prozac to help him sleep.

On the other hand, I have heard a number of people say their lives were "saved" by SSRI drugs. They are offended when I talk about them, and I've even been asked to leave them out of my books.

According to a physician I interviewed for Flipside, up to 15% of the folks who take SSRI drugs can't tolerate them. (He said there's a simple test that Doctors don't give.) 

And these people have the "adverse effects" - the warnings that are buried deep in the website of the drug manufacturers. (By law, they have to publish them. They're rarely on the drug itself, but they are in the drug literature in the pharma co's site.)

As a point of fact, every mass shooting since Columbine has had an SSRI component - the shooter or shooters had taken them, sometimes in their teen years.  As I've noted, the NIMH issued a warning on their website about prescribing SSRI drugs to children under 18 AS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED for that.  They were seeing a spike in suicides and were warning doctors from prescribing adult medicine for children. (And also the reason that Davidson's talk at UCLA was standing room only.  He queried the room as to why they'd come to his talk, and they spoke of how they were looking for "alternative" therapies to prescribing SSRI drugs.)

This is not my opinion, belief or theory. These facts are easy to find in the literature about these drugs.  Yet for some reason, like the S word, we tend to ignore what we don't like to hear.  I understand that. But I post this anyway.

After I posted this today, I received this email from the mother of the daughter who killed herself: 

"I hadn’t even mentioned, but they had put her on the SSRI drugs. They were switching her prescription at the time, she was hormonal and when she failed a test (in school) that day, she (killed) herself.

 When I tried going to a suicide survivor group, I was shocked by how many of the living and the dead had prescriptions for those drugs.  

We are a drugged society.  One of our monks did a teaching on it, pointing out how many people believe physical “things” bring them happiness.  

If they did, you would think Americans would be the happiest people on earth!  But, as you know, it is the poorest who are the most generous, and giving to others brings true happiness."

Well said ma'am.  

Like I say, I'm terribly sorry for her loss, but perhaps by sharing it someone else will think twice about a prescription for their children that includes SSRI medication. 

Be vigilant. 
Do the research. 
Go to the drug manufacturer's website.
Get a second opinion.
Check into Davidson's work at the University of Wisconsin.  It's breathtaking science.

My two cents.