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Life on the Other Side: A Psychic's Tour of the Afterlife

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I read with fascination, popular psychic Sylvia Browne's new 304 page book that she says tells all about life after death. The entire first chapter details her life and the lives of her ancestors as they relate to the spirit world. She goes into detail about HOW she knows what she knows. For some reason, I tend to believe what she says! Sylvia writes, that through this book she is acting as our "psychic travel agent" answering the five basic questions, "How do I get there?", "What does it look like?", "What are the local (people) like?", "What is there to do?" and "How exactly do I get back." Things that most of us would be "dying" to know. I have seen Sylvia on TV many times, and find her fascinating. This is a hard book to put down after you start reading. There's an awful lot of "facts" she provides for us to consider. It left me with a peaceful feeling about the hereafter. She believes that "The Other Side" is Home, where we all came from and where we will all go again, and that we carry very real memories of it in our spirit minds. She has researched her topics with an addiction, as she claims to be extremely naturally skeptical. She also claims that just as some folks have a God-given musical or artistic talent, others have received a psychic gift which is passed on from generation to generation. Whether or not you end up believing what she writes, you can't help but come away with food for thought. Most interesting !

If you would like to change your belief in an angry, punishing god, to a belief in a living God of unconditional love, I recommend three books:

1. An Encounter With A Prophet by C. A. Lewis

2. Life on the Other Side : A Psychic's Tour of the Afterlife by Sylvia Browne, Lindsay Harrison

3. Conversations With God : An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1) by Neale Donald Walsch

I lost my husband this year and it was the most horrific time in my life. I saw Sylvia on a cable program which led me to her books. Her book The Other Side and Back was the turning point in my grief process.Not only did it give me great comfort in knowing my loved one was happy and still with me,it also satisfied my inner voice that what I had been taught about an avenging God was not true.We all have that inner voice and physic ability and Sylvia is a great teacher and a gift from God through her writings. Her discussions on our themes is so right on that I find myself looking at others in a more compassionate way.Her discussion on all of our guides and angels helped me to deal with my own contact from God two months after I lost my loved one. There are not enough words to describe what happened to my soul except to say if I had not read this book I would be in a mental institution trying to figure out what and why it happened.Sylvia is right in this book about God,our souls, and all the guides and angels he sends to help us. The Other Side is truly there.

If all that Sylvia Browne has detailed in this book about the "Other Side" is TRUTH, then it is likely she has gone deeper into the etheric than any other explorer -- at least any other author -- including Swedenborg. Not only does she paint vivid word pictures, she provides drawings of structures on the other side -- produced, she tells us, by her going into transe and her spirit guide then directing two artists. According to Browne, her research is based on her direct-voice mediumship (wherein her spirit guide communicates with others in the room while Browne is in a transe and the material is being taped),her near-death experience (NDE), the NDEs of others, her astral traveling, and past-life and between-life regressions of many of her clients (she is a hypotherapist).

Although I have read dozens of metaphysical books on this subject, I have never come across any with as much detailed information as this one. I must confess that I had some reservations about reading her book as Browne seemed a bit too "New Age" and cultish for me (since she started her own church). The first half of the book was fully consistent with all of the things I had previously read about the Other Side, including the many dimensions or planes and the fact that the plane we gravitate to is based on our actions and good works in this life time. We get many chances to evolve in spirit (other lifetimes) and progress toward the Godhead (true heaven).

In the second half of the book, Browne gives detailed information on aliens, angels, and councils on the Other Side. Much of that I have read before, but never so much and with the certainty and matter-of-factness of Browne. When I finished the book, I didn't know what to think. I believe Sylvia Browne is sincere and credible in so far as she believes what she is writing. Moreover, everything she writes makes sense. However, whether the pictures she paints of the Other Side are unconsciously embellished to fit her preconceived views (formed by much reading of metaphysical material)is the question. Since nearly all of it is consistent with the information given us by other mystics, seers, mediums, regressionists, etc. I do not discount it and am inclined to accept Sylvia Browne as a woman with a very special gift.

This is an important book, because it provides direct answers to life's deepest questions: "Why are we here? Is there any purpose to life? Is there life beyond the veil of death"? Like me, Sylvia Browne is psychic, so in a way I think she's cheating. Browne possesses answers to these questions via a quick-route method without necessarily having 'grown' into them. I believe that it is humanity's destiny - due to the natural laws of growth - to eventually awaken to the truths disclosed in this book.

Here, from the book, and backed by my own knowledge, is a summary of life's deepest secrets beyond 'this side' of the veil:

(1) When we die, our soul continues to experience Life on the Other Side. There, we retain our individuality, live full lives in Heaven, and exist for all eternity. It is there that we are at our most alive and vibrant.

(2) We freely choose to incarnate on physical planes such as earth as many times as we like, in order to face challenges and trials which don't exist in Paradise. (A good way to interpret the nature of our short lives on earth is to perceive them as quick trips to the gym, which advance spiritual strength and growth.)

(3) The hardships and tribulations that we face on earth are of our own choosing, not God's. For each trip to earth, we choose our own bodies, we choose the timing of our incarnation, we choose the conditions of our upbringing and the challenges we face. (The greater the physical challenge, the greater potential for spiritual advancement. Hence, disabled bodies, for example, are actually blessings in disguise.)

(4) Our earthly minds are deliberately 'veiled' from the Whole Truth in order for our soul to experience challenges of a deeper kind. (i.e. concepts such as "fear", "loneliness", "pain", "hatred", "ugliness", "insecurity", or "doubt" etc. are incoherent in Heaven. They can only be experienced in realms such as earth-life, and our deeper goal is to rise above them and conquer them from within. If we were always aware of the Whole Truth, then the challenges would cease to be).

(5) Our degree of wisdom, inner peace and spiritual enlightenment is determined generally by our soul's level of growth and advancement. i.e. materialistic or shallow folk might be beginners at the game of life, whilst wise and spiritually mature folk have probably done the rounds many times before.

(6) The quickest way to advance spiritually and to cultivate positive karma, is to love, and to adhere to principles of goodwill, forgiveness and integrity.

(7) The devil does not exist.

(8) Hell doesn't exist, except for in one's own consciousness. (Hell is really a state of mind.)

(9) For the vast majority of souls, death is a highly positive experience. It is like being released from a dark, stuffy room, walking into a breathtaking world of freedom, beauty and light.

(10) The quality of our inner-experience on the Other Side is determined generally by the amount of spiritual wealth we have accumulated on our journey so far. People who have deliberately caused much evil and damage on earth, like Hitler, will experience an inner feeling of darkness and guilt when they arrive in Heaven. They will see the bigger picture and will be aware of the consequences of their actions to others and to their own soul. Oftentimes these people will automatically incarnate back to earth - or to another physical planet - in an attempt to `burn off' their negative karma. (It is difficult to balance out negative karma in Heaven, because the challenges don't exist there.)

(11) Ultimately, from the soul's reckoning, nothing really matters, because we are all eternally secure and constantly loved by God. Love and enlightenment is our ultimate destiny, and all the dramas of earthly life are really part of a big 'game', played out by souls in human costumes to fulfil a divine Plan. Whilst in this physical realm, it is indeed like living in the Matrix. Even though most people assume that this is the "real world", and that our earthly life is the be all and end all of our existence, there is a Real World beyond our earthly awareness. The difference between our situation and the situation portrayed in the movie 'the Matrix', is that the ultimate nature of reality is actually LOVE.

(12) From the divine perspective, the universe is a piece of art. It's like a huge kaleidoscope with many dimensions, swirling, dancing and expanding. Even though the universe seems so big, and we can feel so small, from God's point of view, physical size makes no difference at all. We all possess deep intrinsic value in God's eyes, regarldess of how worthless or small we think we are.

I am aware that the 'substance', or 'physical laws' of Heaven is very different to our earthly dimension. It's therefore quite illogical for Browne to describe Life on the Other Side in basic earthly language as she does in this book. (Although she hasn't got much choice, except for not writing the book at all. Some people might think that this would be the wiser option.)

When Browne says that in Heaven we can go fishing, have parties, and can create anything by thought-power alone, and that we can fly around different galaxies in spirit form, she is simply telling it the way it is. I can also tell it the way it is by saying that the substance of Heaven is made up of God's Consciousness. All things on the Other Side are akin to Spirit - the Real Substance. Yet this principle is simply foreign to our earthly ears.

If the insights in this book appear "absurd", "too good to be true", or even "wrong", then we can trust that we are not yet ready to hear the Truth. For now, we can accept that some things are secret for a reason, and we can keep an open mind.

Psychic Sylvia Browne provides a detailed look at her own life, her interactions with spirits and angels of all kinds, and what it has taught her about life before and after death. Take this as one woman's account of a fascinating life, and you've found yourself some very interesting reading. Take this as a spiritual metaphor for your religious beliefs, and you will find comfort in your new understanding. Take this as fiction, and you will be at the edge of your seat. Take this as the unexplained, and you will have a terrific mystery to unravel.

Ms. Browne has been in contact with spiritual figures from a young age, and she has made her life's work helping people to come to grips with issues they have concerning their connections to the spiritual world. She often uses deep hypnosis in her work, and reports on the consistent patterns of recalled former lives. She also shares the experiences of her own life, including a spiritual guide, Francine, who often speaks through her and her own near-death experience.

In the 1950s there was a famous case of potential reincarnation discovered through hypnosis involving Bridey Murphy. Ms. Browne refers to that case, and supplements it with her own findings. I found Ms. Browne's portrayal more convincing than the original Bridey Murphy material. For example, some of what she describes could be seen as a form of schizophrenia. Concerned about that, she arranges to have herself tested, and finds that she does not have that disease. She also runs a test whereby a psychiatrist picked 20 random patients, and asked Francine to say how they died. Francine was correct 19 of 20 times, and provided interesting new insights into the 20th case.

Putting on a skeptic's hat for a moment, the only explanation I could think of that seemed at all consistent with the facts other than Ms. Browne's interpretation (if we accept things at face value) was that Ms. Browne is a powerful mind-reader and projector of thoughts onto other people. If that is the case, the book is even more extraordinary to me.

In any case, you should make up your own mind about what is here by reading the book for yourself. No one can do that for you.

The book contains remarkable detail about the physical location of the Other Side (3 feet above where we are now), the role of religion there (everything is encompassed), death (it's getting to go to a better place, described in some detail), the physical appearance of the Other Side (down to buildings and what happens in each location), what it's like to be there and spend you days there (no sense of time), and how you leave to be born again into the physical world. There are even detailed drawings to show you what it is like.

This book would make for the basis of a terrific discussion with your spiritual and religious advisors.

Suspend your disbelief stall, listen to your inner self, and see what you think!

I have read this book twice. The first time I couldn't put it down and read it in almost one sitting. Hence, my second reading of it while not rushing through. I find it entertaining, awe-inspiring, frankly written, and empowering. Empowering in that Sylvia gives guidence on how we can find out many of the answers we are seeking on our own. If you don't find that our "traditional" religions answer all of your questions, this book will fill in the gaps with encouragement, understanding, and enlightenment. And Sylvia would be the first to admit that you may not believe everything in her writings. Take what makes sense to you and only consider the rest. If you are seeking answers to what our soul's purpose is, this is the book for you. I have grown tremendously from reading her works and it has changed my life (and at a time I was wondering whether my life was worth living). I learned it isn't ok to just not be afraid to die, we must not be afraid to live. I highly recommend this book. By the way, it definitely helped that I read her book "Adventures of a Psychic" first. Both books are written in a highly entertaining manner, with humor and understanding. I can see why she is a best selling author. Also, it is noteworthy that she uses her earnings to fund a ministry and to help others. I hope someday to be privileged enough to attend one of her lectures.

I have read Sylvia's book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It makes me feel much better to know that there is life after this one. TO the person who was upset with how Sylvia described Heaven, I think honestly that Heaven truly is whatever we can dream it to be. Something wonderful and beautiful. We can only create such a perfect place in our minds. It is up to each and every one of us to create our idea of Heaven. It gives us something to look forword to. Sylvia does a great job at making people feel ok about themselves and that we are given a chance to become better people. After reading her work I WANT to go and do something for someone who is less fortunate. This book taught me to appreciate life and go out and do great things. I am not a Church-goer. I have struggled with organized religion for so long. I never fit in anywhere. I was tired of hearing about an angry God. I got lost in the sermons all of the time. Sylvia has a great way of getting a point across and she is very funny. I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture of hers and I walked out of there feeling lighter than air. I feel very comfortable where I am in life. I maynot attend Church but I respect the people who do. Everyone of us, whether we go to Church or not, has the same goal. To love God and do our best in this life. Sylvia is great. Her books made a huge impact on my life. Read it and take what you want from it. We will interpet things differently and that is what makes us special.

Being open-minded does not mean suspension of the critical faculty. Most metaphysical questions are not worth quibbling about, but when an author comes along and offers a minutely detailed account of the afterlife, it's eminently fair to point out her inconsistencies.

Sylvia Browne claims again and again that she is "skeptical," "addicted to research," and that everything she writes is the result of "exhaustive" study. Fair enough - extraordinary claims require extraordinary support. But apparently Browne does not think her fans are sophisticated enough to appreciate her intellectual labors. The book does not contain a bibliography or a single footnote, and every one of her "case studies" is anecdotal; the rest is revelation and faith. There's nothing wrong with faith, but if you're going to tease your readers with claims of scientific accuracy, or boost your credibility with claims of rationalism and academic integrity, you ought to be able to deliver.

If that were the only problem with this book, it would still get a passing grade as one of many viable contenders for a unified vision of the afterlife. However, Life on the Other Side is fraught with inconsistencies and absurdities that cannot be ignored. To list them all would be pedantic, but a few examples should suffice.

First, Browne claims that there is no death and no war on the other side. She also claims that many of the landmarks on earth - the Taj Mahal, the pyramids, the Great Wall of China - are actually replicas of structures that originally existed on the other side. She does not explain why the Taj Mahal and the pyramids, which are elaborate tombs, were built in a place that knows no death. Speaking of the pyramids, Browne states that one of her hypnosis subjects, in a past life, was a 7th century B.C. Assyrian laborer who worked on the pyramids (using anti-gravitational devises no less!). What? The pyramids were all completed by the end of the third millennium B.C.! As for the Great Wall, this magnificent structure makes perfect sense in the context of an earthly medieval China plagued by barbarians. But why would a world that knows no wars ever undertake such an extensive project of military engineering? Does Browne think her readers are so unsophisticated that they won't notice these discrepancies? If logical explanations exist, why doesn't she tell us? Surely, if a fact as trivial as the exact temperature (a uniform 78 degrees) is worth reporting (and repeating), then these other problems at least deserve a sentence or two.

In describing the landscape of the other side (which is a mirror image of Earth in its pristine state), Browne reverently observes that there is no erosion, no natural disasters, and that the mountains are as lofty as they were when God created them. She waxes poetic when she describes the waves crashing against the rugged cliffs. Oh yeah, and there's no sun, moon, stars or weather - just ambient light. Sounds pretty. But how did those cliffs get rugged without erosion from the waves? How did the waves get there without the gravitational pull of the moon to generate the tides and no weather to whip up the whitecaps? How did those mountains get there without the violence of plate tectonics and volcanism to raise them?

I suppose all of this could be chalked up to "God's will," but that answer seems a little evasive in light of the scientific language Browne uses to explain other phenomena. The other side is apparently another "dimension" and our ability to see into it involves tuning into a "higher vibration." This sounds a little like physics, but in fact it is not. I know some new age fans think this stuff can be explained by quantum mechanics, but I assure you it can't. Even string theory (the current leading candidate for the Theory of Everything), which talks a lot about vibrations and multiple dimensions, has absolutely nothing to say about astral travel, cellular memory or the immortality of the soul. Put down the Deepak Chopra and read In Search of Schroedinger's Cat by John Gribbin and The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene if you're curious.

I've got to stop myself soon, but I can't let this slip by: The catalog of life themes at the end of the book has an entry for "Justice." Apparently, when God is at the center of this life theme, a person will be a positive force for justice in the world like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandella, or Clarence Darrow. For heaven's sake! Clarence Darrow? The atheist? Has she ever read him? Mr. Darrow might be surprised to find out that God is at the center of his life theme. Also, towards the beginning of the book, when she lists those authors who influenced her spiritual and philosophical development, Browne names Bertrand Russell. Apparently Sylvia didn't read his stuff too closely either, but I hope all of you will.

And while you're at it, pick up the Bible. Sylvia Browne claims familiarity with "all 26 versions" - why should her followers be any less knowledgeable? When you're done with that, read the Koran, the Talmud, the Laws of Manu and the Buddhist Scriptures. Read the Golden Bough and some Jungian psychology. Put it all into context by studying philosophy, history and anthropology. And don't consider your education complete until you've sampled the secular humanists. If you get this far, you will realize that Sylvia Browne's vision and style are insipid pastiche. Life on the Other Side is to spirituality what a Happy Meal is to a filet mignon.

First, I must thank my friend, Stacie H., for recommending this book to me, about a year ago. (See my Profile Page for Her great reviews of Sylvia Browne books). I thought, for a long time, that these books would not measure-up to the previous books I have read, concerning the Afterlife and the Physics involved with Life after Death. I have been studying this sort of thing for a very long time and I have been Psychic, since Birth. I have read Tarot Cards for ten years and I have been seeing Ghosts all my life. I learned to Astral Travel, from a book called "Instant ESP," also ten years ago. Therefore, I feel I should give THIS (Sylvia) book a nod, with Respect !

Even after studying piles and piles of thick "egghead" books and books that correlate Travel on the Other Side with Physics, I truly believe that Sylvia has expressed the basic concepts and Truth of The Afterlife, in a Concise, Easy to Read, Easy to Digest format ! One need-not sit down with a pile of occult texts and Quantum Physics books to understand Why and How it all works, when Sylvia gives a very good Synopsis of the Basic Concepts. However, listening to Deepak Chopra's tapes, such as "Journey to The Boundless" is a Great way to understand HOW all the things Sylvia talks about are possible (and Scientific) !

I find her description of The Afterlife / Astral World to be written much the same way a person would Describe ALL of Europe, after Only Traveling to France--but, aside from this very structured description, from a singular viewpoint, it still stands to Truth. However, I honestly believe not Everyone will see things Exactly the same way, or go through the Exact same proceedure upon Crossing-over. Yet, for beginners and people of All Faiths, this is a GREAT Introduction to the Afterlife, in a more Common-Sense approach, than we are taught in church. I absolutely LOVE her explanation of the Reality of Heaven, vs. the things we are Indoctrinated to believe about Heaven !!!

I found my favorite new quote, in this book, as well--when I read Sylvia's opinions about Humans NOT needing a "message carrier" to moderate with God for us !!! (Amen). No one needs a "go-between" to carry messages to God. One only needs to speak Directly to The Big Guy/Gal, on a personal level. Priests need-not apply. I am very, very happy to see someone admitting the Truth--esp., after being Indoctrinated with a certain belief system that Stresses the Necessity of having a moderator Dividing us from God and Interpreting for us. Bravo ! She should get ten stars, for being so bold as to speak the Truth.

I honestly believe she was writing from the Heart, in many instances. In fact, during my own Psychic Investigations, I have always noted that when something about Ghosts / Hauntings is True, I get a certain series of Chills, Gooseflesh, etc. in my body and it feels as-if someone passes through me. As I read a Touching story in this book, that Truth Test happenend to me!

So, as far as I am concerned, this book receives the Psychic Seal of Approval (but, I don't have any fancy Certificates to prove it--just 30 years of Real-Life Experience).

I strongly recommend people of All Faiths to read this book. This is a Wonderful Starting Point, for a Journey into the Mysteries of Life After Death ! Well-Done!