Customer Reviews

Heaven and Earth : Making the Psychic Connection

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is an amazing, empowering book! James offers methods to help you see, feel and listen to your inner voice... to strengthen your energy field in order to make contact with spirit... to recognize signals from spirit beings (including temperature changes, flickering lights, TV on & off, and more)... to acknowledge the actions of angels in your daily life...to create a development circle to increase your sensitivity...to overcome fears and limitations...and to protect yourself from negative or harmful forces. He includes examples from his 20-plus years as a psychic that help demonstrate his points. James has "fine-tuned" his psychic abilities and now he's teaching us how to develop our own innate psychic talents. So while his other books may have brought healing and hope of an afterlife, Heaven and Earth teaches you how to communicate with it. This can truly be a life-changing book for those courageous enough to look beyond our 3-dimensional world. Peace & Light to all of you!

Once I started reading this book, I found myself quite drawn to it and finished it within a few hours. I found it a very interesting read. Not only does Van Praagh discuss several stories of various clients, but also offers advice on several areas for those of us wishing to develop and expand our psychic abilities. While we all have them, some of us may have more developed abilities than others. However, that doesn't mean we all can't try to develop them the best way we can.

In one chapter he discusses auras, their colors and layers, and "defects." I never had any ideas auras were so complex. He also talks about spirit signals and guides and makes an important point about "living guides," people in our lives who may be friends that are also here to guide us through our life or to guide us part of the way. There's also an excellent chapter about psychic protection, things like "psychic vampires" or other harmful energies that may drain us, causing us to become irritable or depressed or tired. While these symptoms are most definitely NOT always or even some of the time caused by so-called "psychic vampires," it does make you stop and consider whether or not you know people in your life who may be sapping your energy. His chapter called "Miracles Every Day" makes you consider how you can change your life for the better and get rid of unwanted habits or fears. Pointing out that the universe does give you what you ask for, it brings to mind the old saying, "Don't ask too hard for what you want, you just might get it."

There are also sections in the book about meditation exercises, cleansing and strengthening your aura, and protecting yourself from negative thoughts and emotions. Like a fellow reviewer before me, this book has inspired me to continue to further develop my psychic abilities.

In this book, James Van Praagh gives great insights into his work as a medium. He shares his experiences and also tells us how to make our own connections to the psychic world.

I've read other books on psychic phenomena, and have to say that Van Praagh truly does a masterful job in enlightening the reader on this subject. He teaches how to hone in our psychic sensitivities while giving examples of his personal experiences to give the reader clarity. The stories of his personal experiences range from frightening, to very moving.

The thing I liked most about this book was how he teaches us the dangers of the psychic realm, and how we can protect ourselves. Over and over, Van Praagh gives us insights into his personal experiences that help reinforce the ideas he's conveying.

In addition to psychic protection, he tells us about our sixth sense, aura, chakras, Akashic records, guardian angels and spirit guides. He tells us how he cleanses his own aura and protects himself.

For those who are interested in tapping into their psychic powers, this book is a must read. Even for those who are just interested astral projection will gain useful knowledge about psychic protection to prepare themselves.

James Van Praagh is author of the New York Times bestseller, Talking to Heaven. A psychic who works primarily as a spirit medium, Van Praagh has established a considerable reputation for himself through lectures, tours, and interviews with such talk-show luminaries as Oprah Winfrey and Larry King.

* "Heaven and Earth" relies very heavily on the concept of spirit guides to introduce readers to their own psychic abilities. Rather than present exercises to help readers develop abilities on their own, Van Praagh focuses on putting readers in contact with disincarnate guides who are then supposed to do the actual work of guidance and instruction.
* Van Praagh comes at theories of psychic experience from the "white light" worldview that has become paradigmatic of the New Age. While the language of this white light paradigm speaks to a number of older practitioners, it may be a turn-off for younger practitioners, especially those coming from Generations X and Y.
* As a New Age author, Van Praagh writes from a very spiritual perspective and all of the anecdotes from his personal experience are accordingly uplifting and inspirational. However, Van Praagh frequently takes an overly credulous stance when relating psychic experiences, blurring the lines between faith and objective reality.
* Like many psychic development authors, Van Praagh teaches by example, relating many engaging and enlightening stories from his own life experiences. Although the stories Van Praagh uses to illustrate his points in Heaven and Earth are enjoyable to read, after a while one begins to wonder how much "Heaven and Earth" is about psychic development and how much of the book is about Van Praagh.

Van Praagh is clearly a lauded authority on the subject of psychic experience. "Heaven and Earth" is a very uplifting text that attempts to share the secret of Van Praagh's abilities with the reader. Perhaps the highlight of the book, at least for me, was the material on study groups, as groups can be tricky to put together and participate in, but are often essential to personal development.

Even with the criticms outlined above, I feel that there is a very sizable audience who will find this book both useful and inspirational. Readers under the age of thirty-five, neo-Pagans, and more traditional occultists may find the book a little too fluffy for their tastes, however.

--Michelle Belanger

Reading this book could not have been more timely for me. Thank you James. I will take to heart your claim that "your endeavors into the psychic realms will not go unrewarded". Although I can see that this book may not have the same impact for others as it has on me (I read some of the other disappointing reviews), this book will have a profound effect on those in the process of developing their psychic awareness. The exercise such as "connecting with your spirit guides" and "dream journal" have become very beneficial for me. This book has inspired me to continue to "develop my mind and psychic awareness for the enrichment of the human race".

I you are interested in developing your own psychic abilities then this is a must read. James clearly explains how psychics obtain insights from a person's aura (energy fields that surround our bodies) and also clarifies the difference between a psychic and a medium. According to James "all medium's are psychic but not all psychic's are mediums." Having been gifted as a psychic-medium since birth (it runs on my mother's side) I have been exposed to a lot of information written by many authors over the years but few compare to this authors style and clearly understood fundamentals of psychic development. Unlike a lot of material that is available James takes what could be considered complex and simplifies it so that those who are serious will not be intimidated from their desire to seek and understand psychic phenomena. Without a doubt a great book for all who are seeking a greater understanding of this energy connection.

James Van Praagh is a wonderful author. Reading this book is like having him right here speaking to me as if we were old friends. He downplays his magnificient psychic abilities. He lets us know that the things he does, we can do as well. I read a few of his other books and listened to some of his tapes before reading Heaven and Earth, and felt that with practice, I, too, could get in touch with my SIX senses. I may not be able to perform the activities he does...but who knows??? Great reading -- especially if you want to "get to know yourself."

I've read three of Van Praagh's works and liked this most. His stories about readings in previous books are, of course, fascinating, but I was glad to see him branch out a bit in this book. In it, along with the readings, he divulges stories from his own past (there's nothing more fascinating than knowing about the mediums themselves); he tells of paranormal incidents that have happened around him over the years, and gives practical advice as to how we can all develop our psychic sensibilities. Throughout, Van Praagh hints at a paradigmatic framework by which we may try to live a more spiritually aware existence.

I found the content of the book from first page to last very interesting and informative, and refer to it often. Van Praagh's warm and intelligent style of writing has made this a favourite book of mine on the subject of psychic development and the afterlife. I hope he'll publish another book soon.

I really enjoyed this book- James offers insightful anecdotes, guidelines and information on a variety of topics releated to spiritual communication. I feel the book has relevant information for both beginners and those who are more advanceed in the psychic arts. I do professional spiritual communication work, and found the book helpful, as did a good friend of mine who also does spiritual communication work professionally. One story in the book I found particularly fascinating was the description of a spirit doctor manifesting into physical form and healing people. I also appreciated how James wrote in detail about how the reader can improve his or her own level of psychic development. James also devotes an entire chapter to answering questions he frequently is asked about topics such as past lives and improving psychic abilities. An interesting and enlightening book, especially for those who enjoy watching James' television show!

I've read three of Van Praagh's works and liked this most. His stories about readings in previous books are, of course, fascinating, but I was glad to see him branch out a bit in this book. In it, along with the readings, he divulges stories from his own past (there's nothing more fascinating than knowing about the mediums themselves); he tells of paranormal incidents that have happened around him over the years, and gives practical advice as to how we can all develop our psychic sensibilities. Throughout, Van Praagh hints at a paradigmatic framework by which we may try to live a more spiritually aware existence.

I found the content of the book from first page to last very interesting and informative, and refer to it often. Van Praagh's warm and intelligent style of writing has made this a favourite book of mine on the subject of psychic development and the afterlife. I hope he'll publish another book soon.