Soul Shift: Finding Where the Dead Go [Paperback]

Mark Ireland (Author), Tricia J. Robertson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2008

Businessman Mark Ireland’s father was Richard Ireland, a deeply spiritual minister and renowned psychic and medium who counted Mae West among his famous clients. While he loved his father, Mark followed a more conventional path in pursuit of mainstream success—until the wrenching death of his youngest son. This unexpected tragedy plunges Mark into the spiritual world of psychics and mediums in a frantic attempt to communicate with the dead. His defenses and pragmatic mindset begin to fade as he remembers premonitions on the day of his son’s death. He consults a number of well-known mediums and is struck by the remarkably accurate information their readings provide. Mark first meets with Allison Dubois, the subject of NBC’s hit show Medium, and later participates in a single-blind lab experiment with medium Laurie Campbell, filmed for a Discovery Channel feature. He then enters a new dimension of personal paranormal experience, as his own psychic awareness begins to unfold. This dramatic story of a father’s unbearable loss and his discovery of life after death offers hope to the bereaved and compelling evidence that death may not be the end.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The death of his youngest son, Brandon, launched Mark Ireland on a fascinating quest to discover if we survive the death of our bodies by communicating with ancestors, persons who have gone before. For more than a century, many types of scientific inquiries have focused on after-death communications, and Mark studied all of them. He possesses the driving curiosity, open mind, and critical scholarship of a true explorer … [and] his candid, engaging writing style invites the reader to join him on his pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the afterlife.”—Donald E. Watson, MD, neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and author of Surviving Your Crises, Reviving Your Dreams "Not only heart-rending, intelligent, and well-written, but also a wonderful inspiration to anyone who has lost someone dear to them." —Tricia J Robertson; Hon Sec, former President, SSPR; DACE Tutor University of Glasgow; Hon Sec Prism“One of my favorites among the author’s many insights is his discovery that ‘It was time to re-think what it meant to be psychic.… Everyone is psychic.’ In my own academic research, I explore the apparent rift in our society between science and spirit. Mark’s metaphor of two wolves rings true for me: ‘Ours is a world that two wolves try to devour—the first is the wolf of skeptical science and religious fundamentalism (they are the same one). The second is the wolf of our cosmic connection, synchronicity, astral realms, and manifestation by intention. The wolf that dominates our life is the wolf we feed. I needed to feed the right wolf. I needed to lay it on the line from here on in.’ I volunteer to help Mark feed the wolf of synchronicity and connection. After you journey with Mark in this adventure through death, I expect you will want to join Mark also.”—Berney Williams, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies, Energy Medicine University, and President of the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine"Mark Ireland is a moving writer who reaches out from the pages of his book and emotionally connects with his readers. He speaks not only from the perspective of a father who suffered the ultimate loss, but also as a man who inherited the ability to reconnect with those who've passed on. This book is a must read for anyone trying to comprehend life after death or wanting to learn how loss can create an even stronger bond between the living and those who live again."—Allison DuBois; Subject of NBC’s Medium; Author of Don't Kiss Them Good-Bye, We Are Their Heaven, And Secrets of the Monarch"As a survival of consciousness researcher and explorer, I found Mark Ireland’s book, Soul Shift, to be authentic, scientific in its approach, and very healing. I laughed, cried, and pondered the afterlife. Mark Ireland’s late father—the remarkable Dr. Richard Ireland, was a man of rare psychic and mediumistic talent. Richard Ireland participated in testing, counseled celebrities like Mae West, and Amanda Blake, and also prominent government leaders. This book is a must read." —Maria Talcott, Founding Member of the John E. Mack Institute in conjunction with John Mack, MD, Cambridge MA“Mark Ireland has done a superb job of bringing the unknown up from the depths of the Anima Mundi to the surface of human consciousness. This book impacted my soul, inspiring me to reach out to people once again. It also made me yearn for home.”—Cullen Dorn, author of The Hierophant of 100th Street

About the Author

Mark Ireland is presently collaborating with respected scientists on afterlife research initiatives. A resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, he is finishing his second book on parapsychology and mediumship.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 201 pages
• Publisher: Frog Books (July 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583942513
• ISBN-13: 978-1583942512
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm just an average guy whose father happened to a deeply spiritual Minister and also one of the top psychic mediums of the 20th century. I did very well in the business world, but forgot what was most important...until I lost my youngest son, Brandon. The pain of his passing drew me back to explore my roots and to reconsider why we are here. I remembered how to "connect" and started giving the spiritual aspect of my life equal billing with the material side.

In addition to my day job in advertising, I also became an author. I had some remarkable experiences and penned them in a book called "Soul Shift," which was released on July 15, 2008. My story sheds light on evidence that physical death is not the end and also speaks to the importance of the life we are living now.

I'm also working on a second book, to provide people with a better understanding of psychic phenomenon and mediumship. This (second) book addresses the "extreme skeptics" and also those who fear these phenomena because of religious preconceptions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soul Shift, August 2, 2008

By 

Jerry Conser (texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul Shift: Finding Where the Dead Go (Paperback)

Soul Shift represents a bridge between all of those people who want to believe in soul survival but have been "turned off" by the hype that normally accompanies such books on the subject. Not only does this book clearly make the case for life beyond the grave but it provides consensus type proof. The fact that the author plays devils advocate throughout gives this book and its contents the "feeling" of truth. I would recommend it to anyone who has lost a loved one and would like to know if there will ever be a reunion. This book makes it clear there will be, and they don't have to wait until they die.

48 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected...yet more of what I needed, January 23, 2010

By 

Sandra J. Darnell "LibraryLady" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Soul Shift: Finding Where the Dead Go (Paperback)

My background contains years of reading books about the afterlife, mediums, reincarnation, psychic abilities, and other woo-woo stuff that I tend to believe overall, but take with a grain of salt. (Not sure how reliable the evidence, or how often these phenomena occur.) Personal experience has shown me that people will believe all kinds of craziness simply because it makes them feel better, and they rarely put much effort into figuring out why they choose to be brainwashed by cultural, fundamentalist, or New Age "facts". To compound the problem, there's no shortage of people who take advantage of human gullibility to make money. So...I expected to read another book of interesting possibilities about what happens on the "other side", but didn't expect to find a story I could put my faith in. Maybe I'd agree with 90% of what the author had to say if I was lucky. After finishing this book, it feels like a weight has been rolled off my back. It was great to find an author who explores the nature of consciousness without making me want to interrupt his pontificating every fifteen minutes with an alternate viewpoint or commonly recognized fact. (Dean Radin is the only one I can think of offhand who didn't frequently bring out my doubting side. I enjoy listening to people like Wayne Dyer, but I sometimes wish he would drink poison to illustrate how it's not what we put in our bodies so much as what we think about the whole situation.)

Anyhow, I'd just about lost faith in mediumship after seeing and reading about the materialistic values and "slight of hand" actions of Edwards, Van Praagh, and others. (I'm really disgusted at some of the things they and their employees do to make themselves more "successful", but I'm going to avoid that side topic.) I wasn't having confidence that "inner knowing" or psychic ability could tell us a whole lot, either. I figured the best we could hope for there was a few good hints at reality. Reading about Mark's father Dr. Richard Ireland, and seeing the YouTube videos changed my mind. I'm happy to say my faith in the "sixth sense" has been rekindled after reading Soul Shift.

However, I feel like I have to point out this was not a real "page turner" for me like it was for some. I've already read many accounts of mediums talking to those who have passed on. I can't say that was anythig new. What was new is Mark Ireland's unique personal experience, and how that lead him to talk about, study, and question so many aspects of spiritual "knowing".

If I had one complaint about the book, it would be the subtitle, Finding Where the Dead Go. (Seeking connection is the main topic, IMO.) At least 75% of the book is devoted to helping the reader understand Mark's background (which is necessary to the purpose of the book) and what he went through trying to validate that his son's consciousness survives and is able to communicate with those in the flesh. I sometimes had to force myself to read all the details there, because I already believe in afterlife communication (I'm just not sure how accurate it is most of the time, or how long the personality survives.) I'm hoping in his next book he's able to spend more time questioning exactly "where" it is the "dead" are at, and what life is like for them on the other side. But, as he says, it may be about impossible for those who have passed on to communicate an experience occuring in dimensions we can only dimly imagine.

The last two chapters were the most interesting to me, and I found myself reading, rereading, and underlining MANY points that validated my own sense of truth. I especially appreciated how well Mark put ideas into words and incorporated an assortment of short ancedotes and references to back up his speculations. I mentally breathed a sigh of relief at how he wasn't going to go off in an "indulgent tangent" on quantum physics. Yeah, I think quantum physics could explain much of what is "paranormal" and "miraculous", but I'm tired of New Age wishful thinkers taking bits and pieces of the theory, physicist's words out of context, and proclaiming scientific fact proves their point. Mark Ireland talks about how modern scientific theories and facts broaden his understanding of spiritual leaders and their truths. (Personally, I think just because our physical world is actually 99% "space", and all energy at the smallest level, doesn't mean it is "illusory". But that's a minor difference of opinion.) I loved many of the Buddhist metaphors, but I have to admit, I was glad to know Mark Ireland's experience is predominately from a Christian culture that I can relate to. I would love to know more about how Richard Ireland became a minister and convinced of some of his beliefs. It's not that I doubt what Mark quoted from his father near the end of the book, just that I have a LOT of questions.

Although I realize part of Mark's gift as a "wounded healer" is to help others with their grief, I'm really hoping his next book deals less with Brandon's death and more with the exact nature of the afterlife...although I admit I have no idea how he or anybody else would really know. Regardless, I enjoy his down-to-earth style of writing, his open-minded questioning, and look forward to learning updates of his spiritual discoveries.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CONNECTING WITH THE "OTHER SIDE", August 27, 2008

By 

Fred Hann (Madison, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul Shift: Finding Where the Dead Go (Paperback)

The universe has unpleasant, shocking ways of fully awakening us to the stark importance of the mystery of being. In January 2004, Mark Ireland's life of worldly success was profoundly shaken by the untimely and tragic death of his youngest son. From this sudden loss, Mark and his family were sent spiraling from a safe, comfortable life style toward an existence orbiting ever closer to the core mystery of being. Soul Shift documents Mark's unique journey as he is thrust into a challenging, new phase of life. In squarely facing that challenge, he garners solid spiritual insights transcending the conventional explanations of secular materialism and mainstream religion. As he probes for evidence of his son's continued existence, he reconnects with a profoundly unique spiritual inheritance and discovers the depths of his compassion for those burdened by the loss of loved ones. His fascinating book has the potential of performing a "soul-shifting," transformation on readers everywhere.