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/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRMN4D41/

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

In his ground-breaking first book, Your Soul’s Plan: Discovering the Real Meaning of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born, Robert Schwartz brought the concept of pre-birth planning into the mainstream. In his second book, Your Soul’s Gift: The Healing Power of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born, he dove even deeper by examining the pre-birth planning of other common life challenges.

In his third book, Your Soul’s Love, he explores the pre-birth planning of challenges related to romantic relationships or their absence: infidelity; impotence; raising children alone after the death of one’s partner; being single; and celibate relationships. Working again with several gifted mediums and channels, and this time incorporating the Between Lives Soul Regressions he does as a skilled hypnotist, Schwartz brings forth great wisdom and love from “the other side” to explain why we plan such experiences before we are born.

https://yoursoulsplan.com/

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

https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife

Susan Amsden longed to understand death and the afterlife since early childhood. In NDEs Unveiled she shares many captivating stories of near-death experiences (NDEs). Is there a heaven? What will it be like on the ‘other side’? Is there a God who will greet me? Who judges the life review?

This book discusses the challenges of near-death experiencers, and also what family and loved ones face when someone close to them has an NDE. It explores what it means for humanity for this phenomenon to come into wider public awareness at a time when we are searching for answers to our greatest challenges. If we’ve proven that life continues after the body stops functioning, we will change the world by changing how we understand ourselves as spiritual beings. NDEs give us a new spiritual paradigm.

For decades, Amsden has been reading and listening to accounts of men and women who have died and come back to life, what is called a Near-Death Experience. Each individual NDE shows a common thread of the transformative power of experiencing the reality of life on the ‘other side’ and it’s aftereffects. These experiences shared by thousands of survivors answer questions, make you think, and give you hope.

Bio

At the age of nine, Susan Amsden’s mother ‘died’ from pan creatic cancer in 1964, which began a continuing search for the meaning of life and death. In the years to come, she found the best explanations were from her exposure to hearing and reading near-death and related experiences. After 40 years, Susan learned her mother had a near-death experience within months of her 1964 passing/transition. Susan took early retirement from corporate life to pursue her passion of learning from near-death experiencers and after co-founding and co-facilitating the Tucson and Phoenix IANDS support groups for 5 years, then moved to Durham, NC to become Business Manager at the International Association for Near Death Studies (IANDS) Office. She has talked with thousands of near-death experiencers and now leads the Durham, NC IANDS group for 8 years. Susan is also the proud mother of two sons, Will, a previous horse trainer turned financial manager, and Brad, previously a Montana State Game Warden now a grizzly bear encounter technician.

https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0DB9MGV2Y

https://iands.org/

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

https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife

Amsden longed to understand death and the afterlife since early childhood. In NDEs Unveiled she shares many captivating stories of near-death experiences (NDEs). Is there a heaven? What will it be like on the ‘other side’? Is there a God who will greet me? Who judges the life review?

This book discusses the challenges of near-death experiencers, and also what family and loved ones face when someone close to them has an NDE. It explores what it means for humanity for this phenomenon to come into wider public awareness at a time when we are searching for answers to our greatest challenges. If we’ve proven that life continues after the body stops functioning, we will change the world by changing how we understand ourselves as spiritual beings. NDEs give us a new spiritual paradigm.

For decades, Amsden has been reading and listening to accounts of men and women who have died and come back to life, what is called a Near-Death Experience. Each individual NDE shows a common thread of the transformative power of experiencing the reality of life on the ‘other side’ and it’s aftereffects. These experiences shared by thousands of survivors answer questions, make you think, and give you hope.

Bio

At the age of nine, Susan Amsden’s mother ‘died’ from pan creatic cancer in 1964, which began a continuing search for the meaning of life and death. In the years to come, she found the best explanations were from her exposure to hearing and reading near-death and related experiences. After 40 years, Susan learned her mother had a near-death experience within months of her 1964 passing/transition. Susan took early retirement from corporate life to pursue her passion of learning from near-death experiencers and after co-founding and co-facilitating the Tucson and Phoenix IANDS support groups for 5 years, then moved to Durham, NC to become Business Manager at the International Association for Near Death Studies (IANDS) Office. She has talked with thousands of near-death experiencers and now leads the Durham, NC IANDS group for 8 years. Susan is also the proud mother of two sons, Will, a previous horse trainer turned financial manager, and Brad, previously a Montana State Game Warden now a grizzly bear encounter technician.

https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0DB9MGV2Y

https://iands.org

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

https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife

The Phenomena of Astral Projection, the book, a modern classic about what today is generally referred to as out-of-body experiences, was published in 1951 and consisted of discussions of the “doctrine of astral projection,” and of presentations of cases.

Today there are many books about out-of-body experiences, but this was not the case when The Phenomena of Astral Projection appeared. Muldoon and Carrington’s work became an important reference work that presented many cases.

“Muldoon and Carrington believe ‘astral projection’ implies that the mind is independent of the physical body, something that supports the idea of an etheric brain. This, they write, ‘certainly seems but a short step to the acceptance of an etheric body, separate and apart from the physical, which body we may inhabit at death, and which constitutes the vehicle of the mind in astral projections.’ ”

Muldoon and Carrington discussed evidence for the existence of a subtle body:

“First, there is the massive weight of human belief and testimony, from the earliest times to our own day, in all parts of the world, and among civilized and uncivilized peoples. Second, we have those cases of apparitions in which the phantom-form seems to exhibit a mind of its own—often imparting information unknown to the seer at the time, but afterwards verified. Third, we have those cases in which material effects are apparently produced by the phantom, or its image appears upon photographic plates. Fourth, we have instances of materialization, at séances… Fifth, we have cases of astral projection, in which the subject sees his own phantom body, and is occasionally seen by others. In these last instances especially, we have evidence that the phantom form possesses a mind of its own, separate and distinct from the physical brain and body, which latter may be seen resting upon the bed. The cumulative mass of such testimony is, we submit, most impressive, and gives us the right to believe that such a ‘spiritual body’ exists—as St. Paul long ago stated.”

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

https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife

Philip Hasheider about his book 'Six Minutes In Eternity'

Amazon link https://tinyurl.com/p2nd9m36

Annette Marinaccio about her book 'Your Soul Focus: You Believe in the Afterlife, Don’t You?'

https://www.annettemarinaccio.com/

https://tinyurl.com/k64u6x6w

Richard Moschella about his book 'Facing Spirit: Spirit Art Mediumship & Thinking Outside the Box'.

http://www.richardmoschella.com

Amazon link https://tinyurl.com/22zy3e79

Jim Harold about his book 'True Ghost Stories: Jim Harold's Campfire 6'.

https://tinyurl.com/yyv7j5c2

https://jimharold.com/

AJ Parr about his book 'The Girl Who Visited Heaven And Other Children’s Near-Death Experiences'.

https://www.amzn.com/dp/B0CTHSR6XV/

Dorie Pickle about her book 'Dawn: A Fresh Perspective on Life, Death, and the Other Side'

https://dawnthebook.com/

Carole Obley about her book 'Wisdom From the Spirit World: Life Teachings on Love, Forgiveness, Purpose and Finding Peace'

https://www.soulvisions.net/

Amazon link http://tinyurl.com/2s8meced

Dr. Deborah King about her near death experience

https://www.drdebking.com/

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

https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlife