From Our Viewpoint

Marcus Aurelius, an early stoic writer and philosopher who became Emperor of Rome between 161-180 A.D., wrote in his meditations, “Everything that exists is in a way the seed of what will be.” Sixteen hundred years later, Benjamin Franklin expressed much the same idea when he wrote, “This is an embryo state, a preparation for living. A man is not completely born until he is dead. A hundred years after Franklin, another U.S. philosopher and historian by the name of John Fiske said, “Who can tell but this which we call life is really death, from which what we call death is awakening.”

What purpose is there in quoting the above three men, brilliant though they were in their own time, and beyond the fact that they all reached the same conclusion? Implied, but unspoken in what they said, is the idea of transition being brought about by dying.

Like Aurelius, Franklin and Fiske, when we think about transition, our first thought is death. Transition from life to death—or better said, from life to life beyond this life, will in time come to each. One element of transition is moving into something that is not totally known. It is natural to have some fear, some insecurity, about the unknown, but is there any other type of transition? Must we experience death to learn what transition means?

Not at all. We have been going through transition since the moment of our birth. There is not one second of our life that is identical to any previous second. Think of all of the millions, billions of transitions you have survived since you took your first breath.

True, most of our transitions have occurred without our conscious awareness. Think, however, of the milestone transitions that have come your way. Some may have brought fear, grief, pain and loss, but others brought great joy, a sense of meeting a challenge successfully.

All through your early years you moved through one stage to the next, some giving more problems than others. You may have felt more or less successful than your peers in various stages of transition but in the end, a change was made.

Another significant transition occurred when you moved from the home nest to a nest of your own. Loved ones died, and you made a transition from one point in your life to another—as they did in their new life and home. There was marriage and children for many, each a significant transition with its own unique difficulties. At times you found insurmountable problems and so you had to make a transition from that problem to another phase; you chose a different step.

Now, here we are today, with those uncountable number of transitions behind us. All of us have made transitions which we deeply regret. If we were wise, we realized the negative lessons learned brought positive growth, and we adjusted to that. Think of all the moments of transition that lie ahead for each of. us. Think of the milestone transitions that are waiting for us to experience. Consider the opportunities that may e available for us in those transitions, if we can only find the courage to step out to face the challenges they present.

Life is inescapably a part of transition. Life cannot be static, even if we wished it. I suspect that our life beyond this life will not be much different in the matter of transition. You have survived all of your transitions thus far. You need not fear transitions; you are truly experienced. There is nothing to suggest you won’t survive all those that come in the future, all those that lead from this life to the next.

D. Scott Rogo’s Death

Word has been received from Monty Hearon, t State’ Coordinator, of ‘the untimely, tragic death of’ D. Scott Rogo in his California home. Raymond Bayless, well-known author and psychical investigator and close friend of Monty and his wife, called Monty the middle of August to say Scott’s body had just been discovered by neighbors. He had been stabbed to death. For now, not much more is known.

Many of us have read one or more Scott’s books. ‘He was a prolific writer, collaborating with Bayless on some of them and writing a number of them independently. The subject of most books was PSI phenomena. He, along with Bayless, investigated Attila von Szalay of CA in 1956, when Szalay was recording unexplained voices and both men felt they were of paranormal origin. For a number of years, Rogo was a Consulting Editor for FATE magazine, and his feature, “On the Psychic Frontier” appeared regularly.

Rogo’s interest in the taped voices lasted until his death. We had exchanged several letters and I had sent him tapes. He will be missed by many, all of whom I am sure join me in wishing him “God-Speed” in his new life.

Can Trees Help with Taping?

Over the years I have received five or six messages that came in response to my asking where my unseen contacts were. The answers always Class A—were, “By the tree,” or ‘We’re in the tree.” I have a number of trees in my yard, one a huge oak right outside my office window, and so I always found these answers intriguing. Geoffrey Tilga, a new member from N.Y., has sent the following contribution. The idea came from an article in a 1919 issue of Scientific American. I think you will find it interesting as well s thought provoking. Please let me know if you follow Geoffrey’s ideas and your results.

“With Trees for Ears”

“In 1919, General Squires of the US Army Signal Corps, discovered that a tree is as good as any man-made antenna for receiving radio waves; and better in that there is far less background noise in the received signal. A tree in leaf is more sensitive than a tree in its winter dormant state. A dead tree will not work, this receiving capability is a property of the living organism.

“The late Konstantin Raudive gave a voice example from his collection, ”du hast kein fluidon.” (German) ‘you have the fluid,’ as an explanation of why some people are able to receive paranormal voices with electronic equipment. This ‘fluid’ is associated with living organisms.

“The tree shares properties with the wire (Hertzian) antenna: Reception at night isbetter than daytime reception. (We have observed it is best at sunset). It is better in dry, clear weather than damp, muggy weather. Reception is unaffected by rain--if there is no thunder or lightning with it.”

Geoffrey has duplicated General Squires’ tree-antenna experiment and will share the technical information necessary to use a tree as an antenna in EVP work. Write to him at:

[Address withheld].

Out-Of-Body Experiences

There has been a great deal written about out-of-body experiences. Within several days of each other in September, the subject was presented on the Oprah Winfrey Show as well as Unsolved Mysteries. Both programs did a good job in their presentations.

Ken Newell, TX AA-EVP member, wrote in July about two OBEs he has had, and said they occurred when he was in the dream state. He corresponded with Dr. Robert Crookall who has made a study of OBEs. Dr. Crookall assured him that this type was a valid OBE experience.

Ken wrote: “The first took place shortly after my dad’s death. We were very close and I was grieving deeply. I had gone to sleep but almost immediately found myself in the familiar tunnel. There was a light at the end of the tunnel so I went in that direction. I emerged into a beautiful sunlit area filled with flowers of all variety and color, as well as trees and shrubbery. There was also a fence and a gate behind which stood my dad. I couldn’t open the gate so I decided to climb over it. Before I could do this however, my dad held his hand up and said, ‘Wait--it isn’t time.’ Then I awakened.

“The second experience I found myself in a totally black void. There was no indication that I was in a tunnel but of course that is what it was. I was conscious of floating but in no way was it frightening—rather a deep sense of peace. Then I saw a tiny speck of light and I began floating towards it. I stepped out into the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen. Flowers were everywhere and the colors were so vibrant. Grass was the greenest I had ever seen and the sky was a deep blue. Trees were aspen white anè1 lined the banks of a deep flowing river. People were standing around in conversation. They looked at me and smiled. I sat down to wait for my dad to arrive. Then I awakened.”

Near-Death Experience

In the Spring Newsletter, I wrote that I was interested in exploring the NDE that children have had. My reasons were that young children have not had the opportunity to read or hear about these experiences. If their accounts were similar to other children’s NDE reports, I felt this would be additional good evidence for survival.

I think you will find the following report interesting. It has been noted by survival researchers that out-.of-body experiences and near death experiences are frequently similar. Notice how this is the case with Johnny and Ken’s report of his OBE on page 2.

Diane, a friend in LA sent me the following: “(This) is an account of what took place in 1985, when our son, then aged 5½, had what I believe was a near-death experience.

...“(Johnny) had a severe asthma attack and was in a coma in a hospital in Alabama. The hospital staff was kind enough to let me spend the night at our son’s bedside.

“The following morning, when he woke from the coma, he told me what had happened. He said he was in a red tunnel, heading toward a bright light. He said he saw his great-grandmother (who had passed away in 1983) at the bright end of the tunnel. He then turned around and saw me and his grandparents standing at the other end of the tunnel. He said he took two steps back to return to us because he loved us. His exact words were ‘I came back.’

“Ever since this experience he has been more mature, introspective and sensitive than many children his age.”

MTFD Correspondence

A personal letter from Peter Klimke, Pres. of the MTFD, a transcommunication group in W. Germany, has been received. Hans Heckmann, PA AA-EVP member, has kindly translated it for me. Quoting from it, Klimke wrote: “A few friends translated your letter. Many thanks for your kind words…We are making headway with our experiments in Frankfurt. We already had an adjustment (change) in our computer texts. The voices improved also as they came over the ‘Antenna Translator’ unit…We are looking forward to further improvements but this will come when more unified thinking among researchers is achieved…Dear colleague, we send you our heartfelt thanks and the best of greetings from our members in Frankfurt.”

MTFD Computer Contacts

Hans also translated computer contacts that came through a computer in Rivenich. Manfred Boden, W. Germany, well-known for his contacts with the unseen, made his transition on March 23, 1990. On the day of his funeral on March 29, in Baden-Baden, he communicated through the computer the following:

“I am in a familiar world of unlimited diversity. Everything is possible. middle plane of existence. The past, present and future join logically together. I am seeking experience as my cycle of reincarnation is finished. There are infinitely many systems. It is as if I am experiencing everything in a dream. There are a great number of people here who are confused. Everything is part of the all. I need rest and concentration.”

New Journal for Research into the Beyond

Information has come from Dr. Ernst Senkowski, W. German AA-EVP member that he and two others are starting a journal about transcommunication. It will be published in German but later they hope to publish it in English. Quoting from the Press Release:

“The paranormal phenomenon originally known as ‘Voices on Tape’ or ‘Electronic Voice Phenomena’ has undergone remarkable changes in the last few years. New developments have lead to advanced communication through radio, TV and computers. The sources of these paranormal messages whether on tape or through other electronic systems are not fully understood. Many believe that by using EVP they can have contact with their loved ones who passed away. TRANSKOMMUNIKATION wants to document this development from a scientific point of view.

“Contents include experimental designs and theoretical discussions, messages from the ‘beyond’ and reports from readers. Other subjects of interest are: paraphysics, bioenergetic fields, interactions between consciousness and electronic devices, contact with extraterrestrial intelligences.

“The journal is published twice a year. Price for one volume equals 4 issues: DM 48 + foreign postage. Subscription orders may be sent to the publisher: [Address withheld].”

I have accepted with pleasure their request to be their U.S. correspondent.

Follow-Up on Animal Survival

I was gratified by the number of favorable letters that came after the Summer Newsletter was mailed. Many of the writers mentioned our feature, “Animal Survival.”

Ben Lee Harris, WA wrote: “Of great interest to Bonnie and I was your discussion of animal survival with which we are well acquainted. Thanks.”

Mary Kelley, a new MD member wrote: “Words are inadequate to tell you how much your letter and newsletter meant to me. Please continue to put articles about the afterlife, reincarnation of animals in your newsletter as there is such a LACK relative to this. Sincerely and gratefully.”

Monty Hearon also wrote favorably about the article and encouraged his daughter Leigh of WA state, to share the story of her cat Max’s survival. We are grateful to Leigh for doing this and I will quote from her letter.

“...(I) have never doubted the existence of a life beyond this one, or the form that it

would take…I must admit I was amazed, and a little frightened when proof of this (came) even if it was in the form of a cat.

“I acquired Max, a long-haired tabby, from a friend while living in Oregon. Max and I lived in an apartment that was not precisely suitable for felines. The complex was near a busy street and there wasn’t much grass or free space for him to roam around. Nonetheless, he would freely go in and out my apartment, and seemed content in his new quarters, no matter how restrictive they were. I was very attached to Max, as I am toward all my cats, I lavish great affection upon them, which is equally returned.

“One day, I returned (from being out) and saw a notice on my door. ‘Oh, God,’ it read. ‘Max was run over by a car. I’m so sorry. I loved that cat so much.’ It was signed by a tenant who lived in the complex.

“I missed Max, of course, and was glad that I was going to CA with my ‘parents to be present for my sister’s ordination in the Presbyterian Church. The service took place in Pasadena, and while there we visited our friends, Raymond and Marjorie Bayless. I asked if they believed in the afterlife of their many pets. They assured me they did and often heard one of their deceased dogs pad into their bedroom, and jump up on their bed. I was relieved.

That night, I remember waking up in the middle of the night, calling Max’s name and feeling a thick swirling mass of air around me. I also thought I felt Max land on my stomach, a typical place for him to be when I was in bed.

“I returned home a week later. A friend of mine had been caring for my apartment in my absence, and that night told me about how one evening while watching TV on the floor, he felt “Max come up against his leg, as he often did, demanding attention. Dave said, ‘Not now Max,’ and then realized that Max was dead. I then told him about my experience in California.

“On at least two other occasions, each while I was lying in bed, I felt and heard Max leap up onto the bed. His presence is proceeded by a peculiar heavy aura. I have prayed many times that if Max’s proper place was somewhere else, for someone to guide him there. I haven’t felt his distinct aura for some time; however, I’m not entirely convinced that Max isn’t still with me. I turn around a half-dozen times a week and see, out of the corner of my eye, a tabby cat near me---and it’s neither of the two cats I now have. In fact, I have often watched my cats side-step around areas where a cat could be, and watch, for extended periods, an area in my home where to my eye, I see nothing.”

A Vivid Dream Answered

Clara Laughlin, VA State Coordinator, wrote that for years she has received messages and made trips in her dreams. She is always aware that she is ‘visiting’ in the dream state and must come back. Clara shares with us a vivid dream she had in July.

“Daughter Barbara insisted I go to PA with her and a girlfriend for a couple of days. We arrived without reservations and found we could get a room for one night only. The clerk said it was doubtful there would be a cancellation. The room was lovely and I said out loud to Tom (Clara’s deceased husband) “For heaven’s sake, do something so we won’t have to move, there’s nothing else.” Early the next morning, Tom came to me in a dream. We were standing in front of the elevator on the first floor of the motel. He looked me straight in the eye-handed me a key exactly like our room key-didn’t say a word-I woke up. There was a cancellation, and we kept the room!

“Arriving home, I sat down to tape and near the end asked if anyone accompanied us on the trip. (You can imagine how I felt) when the reply came back: “Elevator. Key to my wife Clara. Tom.”

A Vivid Survival Dream

There are different kinds of dreams. In the one, we sometimes go over in our subconscious mind, the feelings of guilt, fear and longing. The other type is very different in that it comes almost like a photograph and we are aware that it is more than a dream; that we have somehow ‘left’ the dream. This is called a ‘vivid dream.’

Denise Riccardo, IL AA-EVP member, wrote about several vivid dreams she has had. Her parents died within eight months of each other, her mother dying first in March 1988. In October she had several vivid dreams about her mother and feels she was trying to prepare her for the death of her father the following month.

Denise wrote, “After my dad passed on, I did not have dreams or any kind of messages for nine months. Then I had a dream in which he appeared to me and did not say anything. He looked very happy and in radiant health. I could sense his love for me, and this dream had that quality of a vision more than just a dream state. When I awoke, I felt very happy and at peace.

“(Later) my husband and I were with his parents. His mother took me aside and told me that she had a dream of my Father. In her dream she talked to him. He looked happy and said to tell his daughter that everything was ‘Just fine.’ He then gave her a very personal message to tell me. There was no way she would have known this, nor did anyone. When she awoke, she felt at first paralyzed, and heard a crackling sound like, as she put it, electricity above her head toward the ceiling. The paralysis state was brief and so was the noise. Also, she had this dream early in the morning at the same time I did.”

Near the end of her letter, Denise said she seeks information to help her understand her experiences. She especially asked my opinion why her mother-in-law felt paralysis and heard the crackling electrical sounds after her vivid dream of Denise’s father.

I replied that I had heard of this sort of thing before and although we couldn’t be sure, I suspect it happens because of the unique energies and vibrations those in other planes have in contrast to our own. (We believe theirs are much higher). Normally, they lower their energies to come through and so we don’t feel many, if any, physical changes within ourselves. In this particular instance, her father evidently didn’t change his Spirit energies a great deal--probably because he was coming through to her as well as the mother-in-law, at the same time. As a result, he needed many more energies than if he had contacted just one person.

Be Careful What You Say!

Edelgard John, West German AA-EVP member, wrote that her neighbor had a large cherry tree in his yard. Each year he looked at the tree with hope, wanting it to produce a large cherry crop that he could enjoy. Never, however, did it bloom or offer a single cherry.’ Finally, in exasperation, he went to it and said, ‘If you don’t bloom this year; if you don’t give me cherries, I’m going to chop you down!’ That year, he had a prolific crop!

News From Russia

Near the end of July, a letter came from Jurij Pokholkov, Co-Chairman of the Siberian Scientific Research Center, about the second international conference they had held in Tomsk in April 1990. The title of the conference was:

“Rapidflowing Phenomena in Suroundings” and 500 reports were presented. These reports focused on: nonspherical interactions; general methodology and philosophical aspects; methods, devices and techniques of experiments; the scientific aspects of ufology; and new approaches to investigations of anomalous phenomena.

I replied, thanking Mr. Pokholkov for his letter and sent him the information sheet about the AA-EVP and the Summer Newsletter.

This and That

Bill Guogenheim wrote to me about his research project called, “After-Death Communication Experiences” (ADC) He said he has interviewed 1200 people in all 50 states and six Canadian provinces who have been contacted, by a deceased relative or friend. He and those working with him are researching this for a series of books they’re writing for the general public. They are intended to document the reality of After-Death Communications. If you are willing to be interviewed by phone about such experiences (at Bill’s expense) you can contact him at the above address and give him your phone number and a convenient time for him to call you.

John LaMartine, Librarian of the American Society for Psychical Research (a respected and professional organization) called recently. He said people contact them at times about the voice phenomena and he always refers them to me. He asked if I would be willing to exchange publications with them in the future and I said this would give me great pleasure. I also told him about my book, Voices of Eternity and he said he would order it immediately to be placed in their library.

There were a number of interesting items in the newsletter I received shortly after our talk. The ASPR had just completed a poll of their members and one of the questions asked was: “What types of research would you like to see undertaken?” Survival after death led the response.

Cohn Smythe, editor and publisher (Cohn Smythe Limited) of England, wrote to me in September. Smythe is the original publisher of Raudive’s book, Breakthrough as well as Peter Bander’s book, Carry on Talking ( From The Tapes) and other related books. Smythe wrote that they had many people contacting them asking for up-to-date information on Voice Phenomena. Although he always gives them my name and address, as well as two researchers in England, he asked me to send him current information about the phenomena, and also about the AA-EVP.

News From and About Members

Carol Barron, MA State Coordinator, is now Carol Barron-Karajohn. She was married in August, and in a recent letter she said she took her tape recorder with her on her honey moon—and taped (Would I have 1,000 other members like her)!

Ray Dietz, MD, suggested in a phone call, a new idea for a sound source that some of our members might like to try. He has taken part in a number of Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship workshops taught by Ron Mangravite, who is a scientist from N.J. Among other things, Ron discusses how many Buddhists are helped on their journey into death by the ringing of a bell. Ray suggests that EVP tapers prepare a tape of white noise and as it is playing, ring a bell every 5-10 seconds. It is thought that the tape, along with the sounds and vibrations of the bell, might help the unseen speak. Let me know your results if you try it.

Steve Glanz, CA, wrote that he is Director of Research for the San Francisco chapter of the International Tesla Society. It is his feeling that Tesla’s ideas can contribute greatly to EVP technology. In the spring, he gave a lecture about EVP drawing heavily on my book. A reporter was there from the “San Francisco Chronicle.” Although this man is normally a ‘satirist’ according to Steve, he wrote positively about Steve’s talk and EVP in general, in his next two columns. Steve said the reporter was now interested in EVP.

Valerie Tjaden, N.J. State Coordinator, called and said she is planning an open-house for all N.J. AA-EVP members. This will give everyone the opportunity to meet other members, discuss taping and anything else of interest in the field of PSI phenomena.

Lily Dale

Four happy days were spent at Lily Dale, the world’s largest Spiritualist community, the end of July. I closed my lecture Sunday afternoon by playing a nine minute demonstration tape of Voices. Then, on Monday and Tuesday morning, I taught a six hour workshop. There were twenty some people in the workshop and I have never worked with a group so eager and enthusiastic. Every person came with their own portable tape recorder. Their energies enhanced my own and in the two tapings we did, over 80% of the people recorded one or more messages. At the end of the workshop on Tuesday, there were hugs and a few I had the pleasure of meeting Jean Lodge, N.Y. AA-EVP member who took my workshop. Steve Hermann, VA member, was introduced to me on Saturday.

The bookstore reported a sell-out of my book after my lecture on Sunday, with many others asking for it.

The Community, ever 100 years old, with many beautiful homes almost that old, and towering oaks everywhere, is located in N.Y. state on a lovely lake. One was almost overwhelmed at times with the positive energies, and the feelings of peace and serenity remain with me.