Customer Reviews

Phenomenon: Everything You Need to Know About the Other Side and What It Means to You

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

When I bought this book, I was expecting long chapters on specific topics. I was a little disappointed to find out it was basically a book full of paranormal terms and their definitions. Despite this fact, I kept reading, and realized the book was actually really good. There were a lot of terms I'd never heard of that were explained, and that was interesting, and a lot of terms I had heard that were finally explained, and in a simple, easy to understand, makes sense kind of way. Ultimately, the book helped me to understand Sylvia Browne's view of the afterlife and all its side topics. And it made me feel good that no matter what happens in my life, at the end everything is going to be just fine. Because I planned it that way to learn from it all. It was pretty reassuring. I plan to look for more books from Sylvia Browne, not just for her experiences, but she was very entertaining as well.

"As time goes on, more and more people are figuring out that so-called `psychic phenomena' aren't so unnatural or uncommon after all; that the worlds of the paranormal and spirituality are handmaidens to each other; and that both can actually deepen and enhance a whole spectrum of even the most devout religious beliefs." - From the book

The paranormal, mysterious, and unexplained have intrigued humankind for millennia. With the dawn of the internet, ancient wisdom and mystical lore are now at the fingertips of anyone with computer access. Concepts like the third eye, clairvoyance, the "silver cord", psychic detectives, reincarnation, chakras, and auras are making their way into the mainstream, and curiosity about the Other Side and "paranormal" experiences are at an all time high. However, some of these terms and practices may be unknown or confusing to those unfamiliar.

Psychic and author Sylvia Browne has compiled a thorough encyclopedia of metaphysical topics in her book Phenomenon: Everything You Need to Know About the Paranormal. This 332-page book demystifies, explains, and sometimes debunks the various practices, experiences, and concepts of the New Age.

Some of the topics she covers include:

* Akashic Records
* Armageddon
* Cell Memory
* The Chart
* Exit Points
* Glossolalia
* Hall of Records
* Imprints
* Incubus
* The Rapture
* Poltergeists
* Psychic Attacks
* Remote Viewing
* Synchronicity
* Telepathy
* Totems
* The Underworld
* Vortex
* Walk-Ins
* Zombies

As one who is quite familiar with New Age topics (I was the New Age Editor for the 2nd largest women's site on the web for two years), I didn't expect to find anything new in Phenomenon. However, I found this book to be an engrossing read. Sylvia's concept that we all have Option Lines, which fall under seven life areas, is intriguing. Before we incarnate, we include an Option Line in our chart, which represents an area of challenge that we just can't seem to master. Despite our good intentions and attempts at improvement in this area, we just can't make it work out. For Sylvia-who has had three troubled marriages-her Option Line is Family. For myself, I recognized immediately that my Option Line was Social Life.

The concept of Option Lines explains why some individuals just can't seem to find-or maintain-a healthy romantic relationship. I've had little patience with these types, especially as one who has had no trouble choosing, keeping, and thriving with a man. I now realize that these individuals aren't necessarily weak or stupid, but that they have a Family/Relationship Option Line in their chart. This realization has fostered a sense of compassion for sure.

Sylvia's description of the Other Side was comforting and familiar, especially Cocooning, our Spirit Guide, The Council, Hall of Wisdom, and The Tunnel. Her accounts echo the experiences chronicled in books on past life regression-namely, Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls, both by Dr. Michael Newton.

If you're interested in TV shows like Medium and Ghost Whisperer-as well as "paranormal" practices such as Tarot, Astrology, Numerology, Palmistry, and Channeling-Phenomenon by Sylvia Browne is an absorbing read. This book will remind you that there is oh-so-much more to life than the "real" world in front of our eyes, affirming the reality of the spirit world, our Divine spark, and the loving, benevolent Beings who nurture and guide us.

Hey there. Just a quick note to all the haters and doubters out there. Don't judge before you have experienced. When I first encountered Sylvia Browne in the late 1990's, I used to think exactly as some of the reviewers of her books and her detractors characterize her. That is, as a useless and dangerous criminal charlatan. But then, something amazing happened. I got to actually be "read" by her at an event in Toronto at the Learning Annex. In the span of a minute and a half, Sylvia (through spot-on and specific references to people I know or have known, experiences I have had or was in the midst of having at the time, etc.) proved to me that she was for real.

I am not talking about some John Roberts BS like, "I'm sensing someone by the name of G in the room.". I'm talking specific names, dates, events, chronology, and the relation between them. Then, after giving me a rundown of what was going on in my life at that time, she proceeded to tell me how everything was going to unfold in the next year. Well, all I have to say is that she was right on the money on all counts. Not only did what she said would happen happened, all of it occurred at exactly the order and time intervals she predicted. I will not divulge the details because this had to do with private matters that, frankly, are nobody's business but my own (another thing, even though we were in a large hall with hundreds of people, Sylvia maintained professionalism by not embarrasing me with too private a reading). Since then, I have had the priviledge of having 2 formal readings with her, each of which was just superb.

There are those who say that she is not a serious scholar of the paranormal. But, I ask you, how in the hell can anyone be a serious scholar of the paranormal? By definition, the paranormal is fleeting, and subject to much interpretation from enumerable points of view. Nothing can be isolated and verified. None of it can be replicated. Therefore, there is no scientific basis for inquiry, right? What kind of sources can be sighted in such a course of study? A book by someone who read a book by someone who read another book by someone who swears that a friend of a friend 30 years ago saw some freaky crap happening in the night's sky, huh? Ridiculous.

So, if you're picking up this book and saying to yourself "Who does this person think they are? They're going to tell me about life, about the paranormal, about my future?", just give it a try and see if you are not wholeheartedly convinced that Sylvia is the real thing. You might just actually feel all of your skepticism just slipping away into the ether.

This book is basically a dictionary for the terms used in the paranormal world. I have read most of Sylvia Browne's books so I found this one mainly repeating the same information. I did learn a couple of new things though. I would recommend this book for someone who really hasn't read much of Sylvia's books or just looking for more information on the subject. Overall, I was happy with the book.

I used to think the world of Sylvia Browne--until I started to read more widely about the paranormal. Now I can see how empty of content her books are. Whether its on paper or on television, Sylvia is obviously just spouting things off the top of her head--no validations or evidence needed.

Writing books like "Phenomenon" make that process even easier. I've read so much about this subject in the past few years, enough to see that this book is a complete work of fantasy and imagination.

Paranormal fantasies might be a fun read, if you're looking for fiction and imaginative free associations about other-worldly experiences with no basis in history or experience. But to really find out "Everything You Need to Know About the Paranormal" one should look to authors who've really done their RESEARCH.

This book is definitely Not Recommended.

This book gives everyone a great understanding of the basic terminology used to describe most all things "paranormal" from someone that has decades of experience with and teaching about the so-called Paranormal World . Not as repetitious as some of her other later works with enough new stuff to be well worth the cash and effort to read it. I will keep this one close to my 'puter as one of my best reference books when 'discussing' this kind of stuff on line .

I have read a few other guides to paranormal terms. This is perhaps the finest one I have ever read. This book should be a guide to those who believe and those who DO NOT, since this book is written by one of the finest psyhics of our time. She knows the terms and she explains their meaning beautifully and completely. Every university library should contain this volume. Enlightening!

The book is organized as a large glossary or detailed dictionary of terms related to the paranormal. Despite that fact, a reasonable unity of presentation is maintained. The book is coherent. For those of us who are "muggles" and not very consciously connected to the paranormal, it gives good insights that might be completely true and useful. (How would we know?) In particular, sorcery is a load of rubbish. On the other hand, fairies and elves are entirely real and interesting. Maybe. I don't know that, so it is pleasant to read.

If this book has a main failing, I think it is weak in the problem of explaining evil in the world. Mrs. Browne has no available devil or hell in her view of creation. Most of us reincarnate repeatedly, basing our excursions from a very secure version of Heaven that she terms as "Home." That's fine, and I hope it's true. However, if we're really coming from a heavenly origin and returning to one, it seems quite unclear to me how we manage to go so badly wrong while we're here. Lots of selfishness and greed and gluttony and lust seems to get mixed in without a very good explanation why. If we are based in such a splendid and heavenly condition, there ought to be rather fewer Hitlers and Bormans and... you get the picture. Perhaps there is just more for her to write.

i loved this book, i was so surprised that it was set up like a dictonary. i have always loved sylvia when she's on Montell im glued to the tv. I can't wait for her next book, "If You Could See What I See"

PHENOMENON is packed with new,stories and perspectives from Miss Browne, though many seem strangely familiar. One wonders how she can "read" people on the spot, and even after this effort, the question lingers -- who or what is the source for predictions, for instance? Still, this is one of Miss Brown's better books.