Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Communicating with Spirits

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Over the last few months, my interest in the sprit world has grown and I've tried to learn more and more about it. When I heard about this book, I realized that it would probably be an excellent one for me to read. I was right. The authors take the time to explain a lot of different "psychic-related" topics, but they do so in a straightforward way, and they do not go off on any type of "new age tangent." One thing they talk about is energy. The more books I read about the "spirit world," the more I realize energy is the basis for their and our human existence. The authors throughout the book use numerous different exercises to help the reader tune in to various psychic skills. In some ways, it's almost "interactive." Some of the exercises are meditations of one kind or another. I've come to realize that meditations and energy seem to go hand in hand in doing any type of "psychic work."

The book also contains numerous stories about spirit contact, as well as numerous drawings done by one of the authors of spirits on "the other side." I found these stories and drawings to be fascinating and for me further proof that spirits do indeed exist. It makes me wonder what spirits I have "behind the scenes" guiding my life.

I'm thankful a book like this is now available because it answered some questions for me about the spirit realm. The back of the book contains further resources, which is good because while this book answered many questions for me, it's provided me with further questions and the motivation to learn more.

I first met Rita Berkowitz in August of 2001 while on Cape Cod. I had a reading done on a lark and was floored when she immediately began telling me that my recently deceased mother-in-law had been trying to contact me or my husband. My mother-in-law passed information through Rita for me to tell my husband that explained many questions that had been left unanswered when she died. If the information hadn't been right on, which it was, her accurate drawing of my mother-in-law would have been enough to convince me. I've had two more readings with Rita since then and she's the real deal...no question about it. As soon as I heard Rita was writing a book, I placed an advance order for it and it just as good as I had hoped it would be. I am fortunate to be in a position to meet with Rita when our schedules overlap but for those who cannot, this book is the next best thing. Every reading Rita does is for healing purposes and the healing can be for the person having the reading done or the person who has died. In my case, it was a healing for my husband and I think also for my mother-in-law who died with a lot of anger and bitterness still in her. I believe Rita wrote the book to help other obtain this same kind of healing.

She makes so much sense, and explains everything is such a way that it's easily understood. I personally go to a medium, and everything in this book runs pretty parallel to what I've been told. I know a lot of people don't like to "open up" to this sort of thing. (I understand that some people fear what they don't understand.) The sad thing is that they don't know what they're missing. I feel empowered with knowledge after a session with my medium. She has validated very specific things to me that no one could possibly know. In the least, give this book a chance...it could answer a question you've always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask.

A lot of books that I have read that deal with spirits, seem to have a dark tone to them. This seems friendly, like your talking to your friend. Communicating with spirits has some "mini stories" of medium Rita S. Berkowitz that they give throughout the book. This also has exercises to help develop your mediumistic abilities, information on the birth of the human soul-as perceived through theological, metaphysical, and spiritual viewpoints.

I have many other Idiot's Guides books - and I love all of them dearly. But not this one.

Written by Rita (can't remember her last name) who is an 'ordained minister in the Spiritualist church' and someone else who works on Idiot's Guides, there's certainly no lack of pages filled with stuff, as the book is nearly 350 pages long. The downside? It's just stuff. It's mostly fluff and filler. I think there are a total of ten or fifteen pages that actually contain VERY important and VERY useful information.

The big problem is that most of the book seems to be a springboard for Rita to talk about her past experiences. There are also many photos of artwork where author Rita has done spirit drawings for people. Don't get me wrong, I like examples, but this is ridiculous. It's like there's one on every page - and they're all experiences Rita has had with her clients. There's no variety.

There's also quite a few areas where the authors talk about something specific, but not how to accomplish it. For example, they reference the idea that the more details you can give to someone, the better it is for everyone, so try to be as detailed as possible. But they make no effort to help you figure out HOW, exactly, you go about getting more details. Instead of elaborating on the process, there is - yet again - another experience of Rita with a client.

A great portion of the book - nearly half of it - talks about how to either find a good psychic (ask people, not the phonebook, for recommendations), how a reading should or should NOT go (don't answer ANY questions, don't be conversational, be VERY wary of frauds, etc), how to find a local development circle (again, ask some people), and of course, the wacky and boring history of mediumship. Oh, and I'd better not forget all those strange phenomena I find mentioned several times in the book... 'painting' circles and 'trumpet' circles, where, supposedly, a number of people gather together in the dark, around either a blank canvas and paint or a trumpet, and when the lights are turned on, the canvas has been painted... the trumpet, reportedly, will float in the air and make noises as if it's been blown.

I haven't quite finished this book, I think I've got 50 or so pages left... but I sincerely wish I hadn't bought it. Perhaps if you know absolutely nothing about the spirit world or energy (because there's a lot in here about reiki, chakras, auras, reincarnation and spirit guides, even stuff about plants and a few meditation exercises that would have been much better if they'd been recorded and included on a CD), then the Complete Idiot's Guide to Communicating with Spirits might be worthwhile for you. But if you, like me, already have an interest in spirit communication, have already done a bit of reading on it, and are looking for a more in-depth and thorough approach to mediumship - do NOT buy this book. You will be disappointed.

The book conveys very well the positive experiences of Spirit Communication. It is an excellent beginning for those that truly want to get to know how to work with energy and the Spirits.
It also explains in a simple manner what a positive experience it can be to develope those skills. Why would spirit want to hang around us, unless they wanted to help us out?

I've been extremely fortunate that I've studied with Rita Berkowitz for the past few years and just as her book is excellent as a teacher she is far the best teacher I've ever come accross.
The most loving and generous teacher, and the book reflects her ways of teaching. Working with light.
Rita Berkowitz is by far one of the most knowledgable person I've met on Spirituality and religion. She embraces all equally and the wisdom religion can bring us.

I also recommend Empowering your life with Angels and look out for her new books coming out soon.

This book was very informative, but not dry or technical. The whole tone of the book was warm and friendly. It was like having a conversation with a friend rather than reading a manual. I found that this book complimented my views on death and the afterlife. I recommend this book highly to folks looking to broaden there horizons or improve their skills.

Very well written book. I enjoyed the antecdotes, sidebars and tips a lot. Did a good job of completely presenting a variety of topics to the new or intermediate mediumship reader. I would recommend this book to anyone on a search for more info about mediumship. The aspect of Rota's artwork rounded the book out nicely and added another dimension.

Nothing really new to anyone who has read heavily in this field. However, to newbies, it is easy to understand and use.

I am still reading this book, but it is a great overview on all things related to the afterlife. If you have ever wanted to contact (meet) your spirit guide or gaurdian angel this book will teach you how to do it in a safe way (you don't want to accidentally summon bad spirits)I was surprised by how quickly and easily I was able to meet my Spirit Guide, get his name and ask him questions. Apparently those in the afterlife can't wait to talk to us! Amazing!