In this prize-winning essay for the 2021 Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies essay contest, Dr. Ruickbie examines the evidence for the survival of consciousness after death (“life after death”). Initially skeptical, he found that there was sufficient evidence from a wide variety of sources, including apparitions, reincarnation, near-death experiences, after-death communication, and premonitions, that met the contest’s criteria of being “beyond reasonable doubt.”

Such claims are often dismissed as contravening the laws of physics; however, Ruickbie takes the ground-breaking approach of organizing the evidence as eye-witness testimony to the "block" universe (in which past, present and future exist at the same time) described by Albert Einstein and Hermann Minkowski; and finds further support in the latest theories and findings of Quantum Physics for what Ruickbie calls “timetanglement” and “cloud consciousness.” Using a novel framework inspired by Charles Dickens, this is a readable and convincing account of a complex and highly debated subject.

Bio

Dr Leo Ruickbie, FRHistS, FRAI, ARPS, PhD (Lond), MA, BA (Hons), ACIQ, Associate of King’s College London, is a Visiting Fellow in Psychology at the University of Northampton, where he is a member of the Exceptional Experiences and Consciousness Studies research group.

Described as a ‘leading historian and sociologist of the paranormal’ by the Daily Express newspaper (print) and ‘a leading expert on the paranormal‘ (express.co.uk online), Dr Ruickbie specialises in controversial areas of human belief and experience, sometimes called ‘exceptional human experiences’. A phrase coined by Rhea White in 1990, exceptional human experience is ‘an umbrella term for many types of experience generally considered to be psychic, mystical, encounter-type experiences, death-related experiences, and experiences at the upper end of the normal range, such as creative inspiration, exceptional human performance’ (White, 1994:5).

Dr Ruickbie is closely involved in the work of the Society for Psychical Research as a member of Council, former Editor of its Magazine and a member of its Spontaneous Cases Committee. Established in 1882, the Society for Psychical Research is the world’s largest, oldest and most reputable organisation for the scientific study of what we now call ‘the paranormal’.

He is also a Professional Member of the Parapsychological Association. Established in 1957, the Parapsychological Association is affiliated to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

In recognition of his contribution to scholarship sustained over the course of his career, Dr Ruickbie has been elected a Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Anthropological Institute.

Dr Ruickbie’s PhD is from King’s College, London, for his thesis on contemporary witchcraft and magic use, building on research that won him an MA with distinction from Lancaster University. He is the author of several books, all based on rigorous research: Witchcraft Out of the Shadows (2004 and 2011), Faustus: The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician (2009), A Brief Guide to the Supernatural (2012), A Brief Guide to Ghost Hunting (2013), The Impossible Zoo (2016) and Angels in the Trenches (2018); as well as numerous articles and chapters in scholarly publications.

https://ruickbie.com/

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https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/

https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife

"John Russell stands as a distinctive voice in the realm of paranormal literature, crafting narratives that transcend the ordinary and delve into the mystic aspects of the psychic and paranormal realms. With an illustrious career that merges real-world psychic experiences with rich storytelling, Russell's works are a treasure trove for enthusiasts of the uncanny and the supernatural." — New York Weekly

Do you believe that trees can communicate their feelings by...crying? Is it possible that rocks can communicate with us by writing messages to us on their surfaces? Can our beloved deceased pets return from the dead—in the flesh—to visit with us and assure us that their souls live on?

John Russell's fourth book, The Crying Tree and the Magic Rock, is a collection of mind-blowing true tales of the supernatural. "What sets John Russell apart is his ability to blend his personal experiences with broader paranormal theories, offering his readers a firsthand look at psychic phenomena. His accounts are not just stories; they are experiences lived and shared, from eerie ghost encounters to life-saving messages delivered by guardian angels."

Return with John to his youth, and ride along in the darkness while he runs his paper route on his bicycle and encounters a hair-raising and frightening otherworldly event. Was it Dogman? A Werewolf? Bigfoot? An angry ghost?

Read an incredible story of the Devil himself dancing with several women in a West Texas nightclub during Cinco de Mayo.

And then, there's those pesky UFOs. Read about John's own up close and personal encounters with these strange craft and his subsequent observations that have led him to draw distinct conclusions about their behaviors.

Did John receive guidance from the Other Side that enabled him to save the life of a young child? The chapter titled "Christmas Night Sky" will really tug at your heartstrings. And don't miss the bizarre story of a snake that saved John and two of his buddies from a beatdown.

That's just a smattering of the amazing true tales you'll enjoy reading in The Crying Tree and the Magic Rock.

Bio

John Russell has been a professional psychic for over 50 years. Internationally known, he has provided psychic readings for thousands of clients in over 40 countries. For over 18 years he has been a popular featured guest, heard worldwide, on numerous radio shows and podcasts, including 13 appearances on Coast to Coast AM with George Noory. His books have all won multiple awards.

Also by John Russell and available on Amazon: Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead — A Knock in the Attic — 20 Ways to Increase Your Psychic Abilities

https://atdaylong.tripod.com/AUTHOR.html

https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0DK8MJ89N/

https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/

https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife

"John Russell stands as a distinctive voice in the realm of paranormal literature, crafting narratives that transcend the ordinary and delve into the mystic aspects of the psychic and paranormal realms. With an illustrious career that merges real-world psychic experiences with rich storytelling, Russell's works are a treasure trove for enthusiasts of the uncanny and the supernatural." — New York Weekly

Do you believe that trees can communicate their feelings by...crying? Is it possible that rocks can communicate with us by writing messages to us on their surfaces? Can our beloved deceased pets return from the dead—in the flesh—to visit with us and assure us that their souls live on?

John Russell's fourth book, The Crying Tree and the Magic Rock, is a collection of mind-blowing true tales of the supernatural. "What sets John Russell apart is his ability to blend his personal experiences with broader paranormal theories, offering his readers a firsthand look at psychic phenomena. His accounts are not just stories; they are experiences lived and shared, from eerie ghost encounters to life-saving messages delivered by guardian angels."

Return with John to his youth, and ride along in the darkness while he runs his paper route on his bicycle and encounters a hair-raising and frightening otherworldly event. Was it Dogman? A Werewolf? Bigfoot? An angry ghost?

Read an incredible story of the Devil himself dancing with several women in a West Texas nightclub during Cinco de Mayo.

And then, there's those pesky UFOs. Read about John's own up close and personal encounters with these strange craft and his subsequent observations that have led him to draw distinct conclusions about their behaviors.

Did John receive guidance from the Other Side that enabled him to save the life of a young child? The chapter titled "Christmas Night Sky" will really tug at your heartstrings. And don't miss the bizarre story of a snake that saved John and two of his buddies from a beatdown.

That's just a smattering of the amazing true tales you'll enjoy reading in The Crying Tree and the Magic Rock.

Bio

John Russell has been a professional psychic for over 50 years. Internationally known, he has provided psychic readings for thousands of clients in over 40 countries. For over 18 years he has been a popular featured guest, heard worldwide, on numerous radio shows and podcasts, including 13 appearances on Coast to Coast AM with George Noory. His books have all won multiple awards.

Also by John Russell and available on Amazon: Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead — A Knock in the Attic — 20 Ways to Increase Your Psychic Abilities

https://atdaylong.tripod.com/AUTHOR.html

https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0DK8MJ89N/

https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/

https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife