Talking to Heaven: A Medium's Message of Life After Death [Hardcover]

James Van Praagh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1997

James Van Praagh is a nationally recognized medium, a frequent guest on television shows who has a two-year waiting list for personal appointments. But now he sets forth on the page his unique insights into the world beyond. Van Praagh's ability to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds was something he came to terms with slowly. By the time he reached his twenties he finally accepted the fact that he could provide proof of life after death by relaying specific messages containing names, places, and events known only to the people who sought him out--and to the spirits being contacted. He recounts here his experiences in helping grieving people come to terms with the loss of a loved one. The reader shares in many personal and profound stories, such as the devastated mother who finds reason to live after hearing the sweet message from her courageous little girl who had wasted away from AIDS. Or the son, filled with heartfelt sadness, who begs--from beyond--for his mother's forgiveness because he committed suicide. Van Praagh also offers readers means for recognizing and dealing with the harrowing pain of grief in a healthy manner, as well as showing them how they, too, can contact the spirit world and recognize spirit signs that a loved one is trying to attract their attention. Inspiring, moving, and reassuring, Talking to Heaven provides a connection to a spiritual world for which millions hunger--through the insight and wisdom of an extraordinary man.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As in the case of James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy, once in a while a book comes along that unexpectedly soars to the bestseller lists simply because it feeds a specific spiritual hunger. Talking to Heaven is one such book. Based on the personal insights and memories of highly acclaimed medium James Van Praagh, Talking to Heaven offers comforting and startling stories about his contact with the deceased. Van Praagh could have used this text to prove that his gifts as a medium are authentic--the story about the deceased teenager who led his parents to his murderer is impressive (the result was a murder conviction)--but instead, Van Praagh offers spiritual and psychological comfort to those grappling with the loss of a loved one. He also helps readers develop their own means of talking to heaven. Even those who aren't aching for contact with the deceased will find Van Praagh's down-to-earth discussions of karma, the afterlife, and spiritual guides fascinating.

From Library Journal

Lecturer, nationally known medium, and president of Spiritual Horizons in Los Angeles, Van Praagh conveys a strong message of the probability of life after death. He claims he is able to receive messages from dead loved ones and sees himself as a healer of grieving hearts. Here he tells moving stories of love and loss, and writes of relatives and friends of loved ones contacted who have left his sessions in peace, better able to understand the son who committed suicide or the relationship of AIDS in connection with the human race. Van Praagh claims everyone has an intuitive ability, and that with practice anyone can contact the "other side." He devotes a section to practicing meditation to open up that spiritual level. Written in a clear, honest style, this title captures the essence of mediumship. Recommended for public and academic libraries requiring basic information on this subject.?Lisa S. Wise, Broome Cty. P.L., Binghamton, N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525942688
• ISBN-13: 978-0525942689
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (241 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Van Praagh is the New York Times bestselling author of Unfinished Business, Ghosts Among Us, Talking to Heaven, Reaching to Heaven, Meditations, and Healing Grief, among others. He is considered a pioneer in the mediumship movement throughout the world and has been the voice of the Spirit World for over twenty-five years. He has read people from all walks of life and from all over the world. Some of his more known clients include various political heads of state, throughout the world, religious leaders and celebrities such as Cher, Shirley Maclaine, Goldie Hawn, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Loretta Lynn and many many more. He has brought through many well known personalities such as Rock Hudson, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Slim Pickins, Andrew Carnagie, Roy Orbison, Lucille Ball, Liberace, Johnny Carson, Princess Diana, Edgar Cayce, Ghandi, Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin among others. His messages have brought solace, peace, and spiritual insights to millions, changing their view of both life and death. James has also been a celebrated producer for CBS television network, creating several successful projects including: Living with the Dead, a mini-series based on his life, and a television movie, The Dead Will Tell. While in production, an unknown actress named Eva Longoria asked James if the pilot she just finished would be picked up for ABC. He looked at her and told her it would change her life forever. Desperate Housewives has done just that! Interestingly, it was when shooting one of CBS's most successful shows, Ghost Whisperer, which he developed and produced, which brought him and Eva back together again. His CBS show Ghost Whisperer, used to shoot in the studio next door to Desperate Housewives. While shooting Ghost Whisperer, he did readings for many of the network executives as well as the other show producers and completely shocked even the most hardened cynic among them. He has appeared on numerous television and radio shows including, Oprah, Larry King Live, 48 Hours, Unsolved Mysteries, Biography, The View, Coast to Coast, The Howard Stern Show and many more. His books have enjoyed international appeal, having been published in over 50 countries and translated in over 60 languages. He has a state of the art website, which was the very first website in history to discuss grief and loss on the internet over fifteen years ago and it still is active with users from around the world. Anyone and everyone are welcome to share their insights of life, death and the beyond. www.vanpraagh.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Life after death", February 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Talking to Heaven: A Medium's Message of Life After Death (Mass Market Paperback)

For years I have dabbled back and forth as to whether thier is "Life after death" or if we die and are held "sleeping" till the day comes for us all to wake as it states in the bible.
Then my daughter passed away unexpectedly and I searched for answers to this mystery in my mind. I wanted so badly for her to be out there...for me to talk to,to know she was alright and unafraid. TALKING TO HEAVEN has helped me to heal a little of the questions as well as make me feel more comfortable about my daughters demise. I doubt I will ever stop missing this precious child of mine,a woman...but at least I feel that when i softly speak to her, she listens.
This book will help anyone with questions,grief or turmoil they are unsure about in thier lives.
Katlyn Stewart
Author of Nightmares Echo

102 of 113 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comforting and Healing, April 9, 2000

By 

Samuel Lee Oliver - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talking to Heaven: A Medium's Message of Life After Death (Mass Market Paperback)

I am very aware that many people will believe this message and many will not. I want to take this review to a place that makes sense for most people. It doesn't matter if you believe James Van Praagh is talking to people in Heaven or not. To me, his take on Spiritual themes are very accurate. For me, a good guide to quality spiritual books is to look for those who promote love and not fear. If a book is filled with fear, this is not one that will promote peace and truth. I find his message filled with unconditioned awareness that is the essence of soul. In Mr. Praagh's words, I hear a strong sense of humble gratitude for his gift and not arrogance that would lead me to think he is false. I highly recommend this book to anyone searching for a sense of meaning and hope beyond this life. This book is not written to be a practical caregiving book. This book relates more to the spiritual side of people searching for comfort and healing. -- Samuel Oliver, author of, WHAT THE DYING TEACH US: LESSONS ON LIVING.

61 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Many interesting and unique ideas about life after death, January 3, 2000

By 

James L. Grubb "[e-mail]" (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Talking to Heaven: A Medium's Message of Life After Death (Mass Market Paperback)

The jacket on this best-seller reads: "...a book that will forever change the way you look at death-and life." Not a believer in the occult or mediums, I must confess Author Van Praagh changed my views. A medium is described as a sort of middleman able to interpret thoughts, feelings and sights from spiritual to physical life, according to Van Praagh.

Author Van Praagh presents many interesting, unique ideas about life after death along with a do-it-yourself program for communicating with the spirit world. Discussions about this shadowy area of life never seem completely satisfying because there is no hard evidence those who have gone before exist in spirit form. The idea that print (and broadcast) dignify any subject, comes into play here. One cannot help but be reminded th:tt anybody can publish anything, particularly something we would all like to believe. On the other hand, what Mr. Van Praagh has to say is intriguingly plausible never forgetting he did a stint as a writer for Paramount.

Is there life after death? Yes. We possess a spiritual body identical to our physical body which, during the transition of death, is released from our physical body. This spiritual body is disease-free, eternal, and can move from one person to another through thought. Here on earth, we live in a three-dimensional world of energy which moves slowly. Spirits, on the other hand, are made up of molecules traveling at a much higher rate of speed, therefore freer, less dense and able to move anywhere through thought. A medium (Mr. Van Praagh) is able to go between the physical and spiritual worlds, pick up the faster vibrations of spirits, and interpret messages from them to this wor1d.

Several chapters relate three-way conversations by the author with his client, and the individual spirit contacted. The stories illustrate various typical problems brought about by the passing of a loved one ranging from a violent accident, drowning, murder, AIDS, to suicide and death by capital punish-ment. Particularly interesting are his thoughts about suicide and capital punishment.

Suicide, does not solve individual problems (they continue to exist in spirit). Capital punishment; it is wrong to take the life of another. Capital punish-ment continues the propagation of violence.

Loss; we all experience loss of many things in our fives but must use this experience to make ourselves healthier and to lead a more full life. This discussion is followed with a listing six steps one can take to overcome a sense of loss and move forward to a more satisfying, rewarding existence.

The concluding chapter delves into the area of making contact with the spirit world along with the thoughts and disciplines necessary to accomplish this feat. The author emphasizes that it is not a game; it takes enormous discipline, time and patience along with a sincere, deep desire to develop an ability as a spiritual go-between. Critical is meditation, described as a focus of consciousness from one state of being to another, or turning off the outside world to become more aware of our inside world. in meditation, we utilize cosmic energies that illuminate and energize the various well-defined spirit centers of the body.

There may be something in what James Van Praagh has to say.