According to numerous studies, 20 to 40% of people believe that they have communicated with deceased relatives. Did these people really come into contact with the dead, or was it just a figment of their imagination?
Dr. Camille Wortman of Duke University is investigating this phenomenon in the framework of psychological assistance to people who have lost a loved one. “Grieving relatives, despite the emotional relief that contact with the dead bring them, are afraid to discuss this kind of experience with anyone, since they are not. they are confident that they will be considered abnormal. Therefore, due to the lack of information, society does not believe in otherworldly communications."
Based on her research, Wortman was convinced that about 60% of people who have lost a spouse, parent or child feel their presence, and 40% of people come into contact with them.
Therapy provides a clue
In 1995, Dr. Allan Botkin developed directed communication with the other world. One of his patients, in the course of such communication, learned new information about her deceased friend, which indicates that communication was not an illusion.
Julia Mossbridge lost her friend Josh when they were in college. Julia persuaded him to go dancing, although Josh had very different plans. On the way to the party, he was in a car accident and died. Since then, Julia has not left the feeling of guilt.
Botkin's method was to simulate rapid eye movements similar to those that occur in humans during REM sleep. People dream in this phase. At the same time, the doctor helped the patient to focus on the main emotions associated with her loss.
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Julia Mossbridge described what happened to her during the therapy session:
“I saw Josh walking through the door. My friend, with his characteristic youthful enthusiasm, was delighted when he saw me. I also felt great joy to see him again, but at the same time, I could not understand if all this was really happening. He said he didn't blame me for anything, and I believed him. Then I saw Josh playing with the dog. I didn't know whose dog it was. We said goodbye, and I opened my eyes, smiling. Later, I learned that Josh's sister had a dog of the same breed that my friend played with. I'm still not sure about the reality of what happened. The only thing I know for sure is that I managed to get rid of the obsessive images in my head where I call him or see him die in a car accident."
"It doesn't matter whether the patient believes in such things or not," says Botkin, "in any case, they can have a positive effect."
In search of truth across the continent
Spouses Judy and Bill Guggenheim have been researching "posthumous communication" for a long time. Since 1988, they have interviewed about 2 thousand people who communicated with the dead, from all 50 states of America and 10 provinces of Canada.
Bill himself never believed in communication with the other world until he personally experienced it on himself. He is convinced that he heard his deceased father speak to him. Here's what Bill revealed in his Afterlife TV interview.
The Guggenheim was at home when suddenly a voice called out: "Go outside and check the pool." Bill stepped out to find the pool gate ajar. He walked over to close them and saw the body of his two-year-old son floating in the pool.
Fortunately, the father arrived in time and the boy was saved. Guggenheim claimed that he simply could not hear the splash of water from the house and was sure that his son was in the bathroom at the time. In some mysterious way, the child managed to get out of the house, despite the fact that the door handles were equipped with child safety locks.
The same voice that helped save baby Bill encouraged the man to conduct his own research on communication with the dead and write a book. Guggenheim was convinced that no one would believe an ordinary broker without any scientific degrees. As a result, their joint work with his wife came to light - the book "Messages from the Other World."
One Hundred Cases of Life After Death
In 1944, Bernard Ackermann collected in his book One Hundred Cases of Life After Death, numerous stories of people who communicated with the dead. Ackerman does not claim that all of the cases he describes are genuine - he leaves the readers to decide for themselves.
In one of the stories, it was about a young man named Robert McKenzie. McKenzie was saved from starvation on the street by the owner of a mechanical factory in Glasgow, who gave him a job. The name of this person was not disclosed, but it was he who described the incident.
One night, the manufacturer dreamed that he was sitting in his office and McKenzie entered. The following conversation took place between them:
“What happened, Robert? I asked a little angrily. - Can't you see I'm busy?
“Yes, sir,” he replied. “But I have to talk to you.
- About what? I asked. - What is so important you want to tell me?
“I want to warn you, sir, that I am being accused of something I did not do. I want you to know this and be able to forgive me for what I am accused of, because I am innocent.
- But how can I forgive you if you do not tell me what you are accused of? I asked.
“You will soon find out,” he replied. I will never forget his expressive tone in Scottish dialect with which he uttered this last phrase."
When he woke up, his wife informed him that McKenzie had committed suicide. However, the manufacturer knew that this was not suicide.
As it turned out, McKenzie really didn’t take his own life. He confused a bottle of whiskey with a bottle of wood stain poison.