Customer Reviews

Choices In The Afterlife, What we can do and where we can go after death

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After reading over 80 books on spirituality, many on the afterlife per se, I found this book enlightening on how to navigate oneself after physical death. The author's instructions tie in with all that I have read but makes my former reading seem lacking in this important aspect. Who would have thought that one needs to know where to place oneself, the mind control intricacies needed for mastering the realms available to each soul, and the fantastic journey available?

The style of writing is direct and at the same time so pertinent, at least for me, since I have read about the LACK of knowing what to do when we're out of our body, and this book makes it so clear.

I plan to order several copies for friends who know even less than I do and who may be somewhat lost at the moment of departure.

When multiple beloved family members passed away, all within a decade, worried friends took note of my increasingly depressed demeanor and set about trying to improve my life and times. Knowing me for a hidebound cynic, it was a true friend who risked my snarling reception of her suggestion that I read Gretchin Vogel's book, "Choices in the Afterlife".

At that point,I was no longer emotionally desperate or longing for any comfort I might find, simply sad. When I took that dear friend's advice, sufficient time had passed, and although it does not necessarily heal, it does blunt pain and allow for a more rational view. My rational self resisted, but I wanted to satisfy my friend, who was all but swollen with her encouragement!

From page one of this beautifully concieved work, I abandoned my disdain for "after-life comic books", as I thought of the genre. Ms. Vogel guides the reader along the pathways, ascents and descents of the post-
death experience with a gentle , knowing grace. And importantly, with believable wisdom.

I am left with a priceless comfort; the unalloyed conviction that my departed loved ones have found thier own peace, and wish for me to find mine. Read this rare and inspiring book, if you need to find yours.

Respectfully Submitted, L.A. McEwan, NH

I bought this book after reading the reviews. I've been interested in this subject for over twenty years and have read many, many, many books on the subject. I am not an author and probably never will be. I read these books for my own edification and curiosity. I started learning about this subject with the Life After Life books by Raymond MoodyLife After Life and moved on from there. After reading the reivews I was very excited and awaited with great anticipation the arrival of this book. That being said, I was VERY disappointed in this book. There are a some major flaws with her descriptions of life after life. The first one is that while there are people to help those that have been murdered or died in a violent manner, and people to help babies and those that are mentally handicapped on the otherside (in the author's discussions from those that have transitioned from this life to the next) there is no one that helps the average Joe/Jane to transition to the other side. No guides, no guardian angels, no helper bees, nothing. The average person that just passed over has to figure it all out by themselves. I think NOT! Another problem is that none of the people that the author talked to were in any kind of group or class or what ever you want to call it. They just float into a Golden Library and learn on their own and then decide if they want to incarnate, and I guess, where, and to whom they want to incarnate with. I think that her human emotions or something are getting in the way of her conversations. I would suggest that anyone that really wants to know what happens in life between lives read the books by Michael Newton. Destiny of Souls: New Case Studies of Life Between Lives, Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives. These interviews are with living individuals who are regressed to passed lives and then into the afterlife. Thousands of intereviews, all with the same discriptions. Same thoughts, same occurances. (And no, I was not in any of these books, as interviewed or interviewer.) As a side note, the author of this book said 2 things which bothered me. She went into the library on the otherside and asked a question "Why don't we remember why we chose the parents that we were birthed to?". She said that the other people in the library looked at her curiously and she then "Pretended to know what she was doing. And acted like she belonged there." In an earlier part of the book she said that "In the library and elsewhere on the otherside, no one bothers you, they just do what they have to do and go about their own business." This seems very contradictory to me. Why were they looking at her? Why did they think she "didn't belong"? Also, why was she self-conscious? Why didn't she just look at the others and smile and joke with them? Also, she never gave the answer she received (if she got one, maybe she didn't). Well, I can give her that answer if she reads this review (probably she won't), it's because it would get in the way of the learning experience you're having while on the earth plane. You have to forget or the knowledge would get in your way. Same reason you don't remember all of your past lives. They would just get in your way. The same way that knowing the answers to a test you have in school prevents you from learning anything. I'm sure she can talk to those on the otherside, and it's wonderful that she can bring solace the bereaved. But her talks with them about the afterlife are very flawed. You may have guessed already that I didn't finish reading the book. There are other problems with this book, too numerous for this review. If you've just started out in your education on life after life then maybe this is a good start. Probably not though. You're better off reading Testimony of Light, Testimony of Light: An Extraordinary Message of Life After Death. The author of this book has conversations psychially to a Nun (that she had a friendship with during their lifetime) that has passed on. I'm sure my review of this book is going to anger a lot of her fans. Sorry, this review is just my opinion. Hate me and then move on. I just wish she had written about her conversations with those that passed on that had helped the bereaved. I would have enjoyed that.

Here is the antidote to one of humankind's greatest fears. Reading Gretchen Vogel's beautifully written book makes discussing death as comfortable as sitting by the fire sharing a cup of tea with a dear friend. Clear, compassionate, and laced with gentle humor, this wonderful book will ease your mind and even pique your curiosity. I recommend it to all my mortal friends!

Choices in the Afterlife definitely contained new material for me, as my reincarnation readings have primarily been Brian Weiss and Michael Newton, as well as psychics such as George Anderson and Mary Ann Winkowski. Perhaps it is the difference of Weiss/Newton talking to the living vs. Vogel's talking to the dead, but the life-between-life stage is described very differently. With Weiss/Newton there is much written about soul groups and guides, whereas Vogel describes a completely self-willed (if you can get there) reality. The other versions of afterlife I've read have been comforting and had already given me the belief of continuance, but Vogel's version actually worries me. Perhaps it is skewed because she does soul rescue, so the cases are primarily those deceased having difficulty. Since there are no guides in her version, I worry who will help me if I get stuck? Anyway, I look forward to her book on Choices in Life, and recommend this book as another view of the afterlife that is worthy of your time (it's a quick read).

After 44 years of searching data on existence both metaphysical and spiritual (spiritual does not necessarily equate with religious in my personal nomenclature)one reaches a point of expertise where the information at hand remains personal. A great deal of it cannot be shared because it would be rejected by those who lack the orientation and dwell under rigid preexisting psychological fixations and fear of the unknown.

Further, there is so much quackery and fraud in metaphysical and spiritual fields, even some well intended but unfounded, worthless information that meaningful verification demands the stringency and discipline of a PhD thesis. Once in a while we run into a book that contains veracity and then some. This is one of them. By reading this you can spare yourself from a great deal of research time on the subject of "death" the fact that it does not really exist and a goodly amount of description on nonlinear existence...what it's all about.

The author has some interesting takes on what happens after we die. She defines the steps that can occur and I found her journey of interest, especially her conversations with the recently departed.

Where Michael Newton and Linda Backman focus more on pre-birth planning, Gretchen takes you to various stages and levels of the afterlife before you get to that point of choice.

However, I was distracted by the lack of good editing. Quote marks were not used when they should have been and vice versa; misspelled words ("judgement" and "judgment" for ex., in the same sentence), occasional missing verbs -- numerous language and grammatical devices that were off, so that I found myself re-reading many sentences to get their intent. A good editor would have picked these things up. With proper editing, I would give it 4 stars.

Choices In The Afterlife is one of my all time favorite books - and I am an AVID reader. `Choices' is a wonderful, honest, and incredibly credible look into what happens after we "die" - and is certainly a comfort for anyone who has lost anyone dear, as well as a wonderful source for anyone with aging loved ones to help prepare themselves for what truly "happens" to someone after they pass. In `Choices', Gretchen Vogel helps the reader understand the energy transition - and how the deceased isn't really "gone" - just existing in a different energy form... `Choices' is a comfort if you've lost someone, as well as a comfort knowing that when you do "lose" someone, they aren't lost or gone. I know with my heart that if I am ever to deliver a eulogy, I will deliver it knowing that the person I am eulogizing is listening intently - and is in the same room - as much as I am. Choices is a must read for everyone. It is a comfort and an education delivered in a very colloquial, eloquent and caring way - through real-life examples (those were my favorite part of the book!) as well as evident through Gretchen Vogel's growth within this incredible, personal gift. This author and book is truly "heaven sent". HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

THIS BOOK FOR ME IS A COMPARISON TO DR. MICHAEL NEWTON'S BOOK ENTITLED 'JOURNEY OF THE SOUL' AND DESTINY OF THE SOUL'. DR. NEWTON WROTE OF HIS CLIENTS EXPERIENCES DURING REGRESSION THERAPY WHEREAS GRETCHEN VOGEL WRITES OF HER CLIENTS EXPERIENCES FROM A PSYCHIC MEDIUM'S VANTAGE POINT.I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT GRETCHEN VOGEL CAN SIMPLY REQUEST TO BE WITH A SPECIFIC DECEASED INDIVIDUAL DURING PRAYER AND MEDITATION. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A PSYCHIC MEDIUM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. SHE CAN SEE AND HEAR THEM AND FEEL WHAT THEY FEEL. SIMPLY AMAZING. I HAVE LEARNED FROM THESE BOOKS THAT LIFE AND DEATH AND THE INTER-LIFE OR WHAT WE CALL LIFE AFTER DEATH R REALLY JUST ALL ASPECTS OF OUR ETERNAL LIVES. MAKES ME CHOOSE MUCH MORE CAREFULLY NOW, WHILE I AM STILL HERE IN THIS PHYSICAL CYCLE OF MY ETERNAL LIFE. I NOW HAVE PROOF THAT WE ALONE CREATE OUR OWN LIVES NO MATTER WHICH CYCLE OF LIFE WE HAPPEN TO BE IN. WE TO ME MEANS ME AND GOD, GOD AND I. WE ARE ALL ONE WTH GOD, A TINY LITTLE SPARK OF GOD WITH GOD'S DNA, HOPEFULLY. HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY GO WRONG WHEN WE KNOW THIS AND WE LIVE OUR LIVES FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE. I HAVE LOST SO MANY OF MY FEARS SINCE OPENING UP TO THESE BOOKS AND YOU CAN TOO. BEING UNAWARE OF OR IGNORANT TO OUR CHOICES SIMPLY HOLDS US BACK, LIMITS OUR ABILITIES AND POSSIBILITIES IN EVERY CYCLE OF OUR LIVES. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER ALWAYS AND THESE BOOKS ENLIGHTEN AND ILLUMINATE US SO WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE POWER INHERENT IN US ALL. WE ARE ALL HARDWIRED TO GOD TO MY MIND, HOW MUCH BETTER CAN LIFE GET THAN KNOWING AND USING THIS INFORMATION? I HOPE YOU ALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF READING THIS BOOK AND OTHERS IN THE SAME CATEGORY. I AM A MUCH HAPPIER PERSON NOW THAT I HAVE READ THEM. I SO LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF GRETCHEN VOGEL AND DR. MICHAEL NEWTON'S BOOKS ON LIFE AND THE AFTERLIFE. I HOPE U GET TO ENJOY THEM AS WELL!!!!!!

I know we can't know for sure what happens after death, but Gretchen Vogel's book Choices in the Afterlife sure make it seem like we can. Vogel is able to reach those who have crossed over by meditating on them. The diseased create a room for her to visit and then they sit down and have a talk about what's going on. Pretty amazing. I wish I had such a gift, though with my luck I'd probably have death row inmates and serial killers seeking me out.

But seriously, if you know anyone who's lost a loved one, or who might be facing death themselves, this is a comforting, well-written, and most importantly, believable book.

Vogel neatly categorizes the death process in chapter starting with chapter one:Definitions of Death, she moves on to self realization (apparently we don't get smarter or more enlightened when we die, that's what Earth is for.), approaching death, crossing over, the newly deceased (We aren't all on the same level of knowing when we die, it's all about doing the work down here.), moving on, until the last chapter that talks about faces of angels.

Vogel explains how she went from being merely intuitive to becoming a medium. She tells stories of the dead who have contacted her, and explained why some are more earth bound, while others just move right on up through the vibratory levels due to their soul searching on this side. Everything about being dead is explained in such a matter-of-fact way that it's like reading a how-to book on dying. For me Vogel was totally believable and easy to understand. She explains how once we rid ourselves of the body, emotions don't bother us any more. We view events as just that, events, not the earth-shattering drama-fests we consider ourselves enmeshed in.

Her compassion for both the living and the dead comes across on the pages making her someone I would love to meet. And wouldn't it be wonderful to talk to our loved ones who have passed on? Vogel makes it sound as easy as breathing. I hope she keeps writing about the world's scariest subject. She's like a night-light for humanity as we all contemplate the great sleep. Although, according to the dead, there's not much sleep going on, just more work on ourselves.

I say this tongue-in-cheek, but this would be a great book to give someone thinking that suicide is the answer to getting away from their problems. It would seem that a person doing such an act would just give themselves more to do in the afterlife, and even into the next life, where the problems would be back but multiplied.