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    An alternative way to explore and explain the mysteries of our world. "Published since 1985, online since 2001."

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Book Reviews Perceptions Magazine, December 2014




by: Brent Raynes



The Immortal Mind: Science and the Continuity of Consciousness beyond the Brain
By Ervin Laszlo, with Anthony Peake

Inner Traditions
One Park Street
Rochester, Vermont 05767
2014, 169 pages, US $16.95
ISBN: 978-162055303-9

Reviewed by Brent Raynes

Author Ervin Laszlo, a systems scientist, integral theorist and a gentleman twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, along with British researcher and author Anthony Peake, who I’ve interviewed several times over the years for this magazine, present the latest compelling evidence and scientific theories for the continuation of life beyond physical death. The authors explore the accounts and implications of near-death experiences, apparitions, instrumental transcommunications, mediumship, past life memories, along with the holographic space/time theory and the possible reality of Akashic/telepathic entangled consciousness.

Though I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about things paranormal, I was delighted to come upon thought-provoking material that was new to me. Like the 1901 incident in Siberia where an American ethnographer, while studying the customs of Chukchee shamans, was using an Edison phonograph to record their chantings, invocations and drums as disembodied voices joined in! The scientist was able to record them too! Laszlo even shares details of his own observations of instrumental transcommunications that he experienced with an Italian researcher who used a shortwave radio set to talk with spirit voices.

I enjoyed how the authors seemed able to effectively show the connections between paranormal phenomena and science-based concepts and explanations. They display a keen and comprehensive grasp upon relevant historical and global evidence, along with the latest science-based concepts, theories, and data.


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A Silent Invasion: The Truth About Aliens, Alien Abductions, and UFOs
By Rev. Debra S. Marshall

Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road
Atglen, PA 19310
2014, 136 pages, US $16.99
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4609-5

Reviewed by Brent Raynes

The author, an ordained Interfaith Minister and a retired nurse of thirty years, takes the reader in spiritual based directions that are quite outside of the familiar and proverbial box of mainstream “nuts and bolts” ufology. Rev. Marshall claims to have been able to see and hear souls around her since birth, to have the counsel of her own “spirit guides,” sharing tidbits of information and insight that she alleges came from these beings. She reveals details and her own insights into such cults or religious systems of belief as the Aetherius Society, Scientology, the Raelian Movement, Heaven’s Gate, the Unarius Academy, etc. She also focuses on the spiritual side of alien encounters, describing entities who reside throughout the universe but who are allegedly the opposite of the forces of light and love, and who Rev. Marshall expresses that we must be prepared to defend ourselves against. The oldest group, appropriately enough named The Darkness, are described as about 4 foot tall, of stocky build, with pig-like faces. Then there’s the Bru-Hoi, or “Brave Warriors,” also about 4 foot tall but with gray skin and large almond shaped black eyes, or so we’re told, along with the Val Gorin, or “Valiant Lizards,” who reside on a planet orbiting the third star of Orion’s Belt. The most feared group are the Valdurii, humans who have been taken over and changed and have become an elite killing force.

The Nazca Lines and alleged new truths and insights about this ancient region of the planet are given, along with others, including North Carolina’s Native American Judaculla Rock, plus an exploration of the UFO connection with Bigfoot, chupacabra, the skin walker, Springheel Jack, Mothman, and a host of other very strange cryptozoological-type beasties and personages. In addition, animal and human mutilations are described, again with insights of the “spirit guides” included. Photographs and illustrations are also presented, some interesting and a bit thought-provoking but with some that appear to be probable candidates for pareidolia.


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Energy Healing for Everyone:
A Path to Wholeness and Awakening
By Brett Bevell

Monkfish Book Publishing
22 E. Market St., Suite 304
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
2014, 160 pages, US
ISBN: 978-1-939681-19-5

Reviewed by Brent Raynes

Brett Bevell, the author of Reiki for Spiritual Healing and The Reiki Magic Guide To Self Attunement, has now written a new book that teaches a simple healing technique he refers to as the “Light of the Eternal One.” This particular energy practice was introduced to him in 2007 when he went through a series of very powerful and transformational visionary experiences. He explains how this approach allows anyone to easily align with and utilize the divine energy that is part of all creation.

As one enters into communion with this energetic healing approach, the author recommends journaling your thoughts, feelings, and experiences also as you practice the simple exercises outlined in this book that require roughly five minutes a day, for a recommended 40 days, in order to easily integrate this process into a life changing daily routine. The author assures the reader that if he/she remains committed to this goal, that they will eventually be led into elevated states of consciousness similar to what the Hindu and Buddhist call Samadhi, a state where there seems to be no separation between you, the divine and all of creation.

This is described as an approach that you can share with others, especially after your recommended introductory 40 days of practice which should make you much more grounded and empowered.


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Men of Mystery:
Nikola Tesla and Otis T. Carr
By Timothy Green Beckley & Tim R. Swartz

Global Communications
Box 753
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
2012, 193 pages, US $
ISBN-13: 978-1-60611-123-9

Reviewed by Brent Raynes

In school we learned a little about Nikola Tesla; mainly that he came up with the AC (alternating current) which today supplies all our homes with electricity. We might also come upon brief mention of his work with static electricity and perhaps other “conventional” fields of science. However, he was about much, much more; he was far far more of a scientific genius and visionary than mainstream sources have elaborated upon in the past. He worked on science and inventions that were decades ahead of his time; some of which he described that we have yet to realize and accomplish in our own time. He envisioned the creation of wonderful marvels like a global wireless power system, and even a technique to photograph our thoughts. When he died in 1943, he was staying at a hotel room in New York City where it is stated that his most confidential works were taken, perhaps by the CIA, presumably to keep the late genius inventor’s secrets from falling into enemy hands.

Tesla received anomalous radio transmissions that he speculated may have come from another planet; which some modern paranormal investigators speculate today may have been what are now referred to as Electronic Voice Phenomena. Besides being a scientific visionary, Tesla actually entered unusual visionary states of consciousness beginning in his childhood. In later years, he’d find out how advantageous this proved with his work as an inventor. “I needed no models, drawings or experiments,” he recalled. “I could picture them all as real in my mind.” He stated that it could be hard to distinguish such visions from solid reality. “Even though I reached out and passed my hand through the image, it would remain fixed in space,” he added.

There are even fringe sounding claims that Tesla was a spaceman with highly developed mental powers. An Arthur H. Matthews even claimed that he worked with Tesla when interplanetary communications were occurring, and even helped develop what he called The Tesla Scope for Space Communication.

The other half of the book is about one Otis T. Carr, described as a Baltimore-based engineer who was a student of Tesla, who was working on a space ship that allegedly would transport people to the moon and beyond. However, he ended up in jail under charges of fraud, the government stating that his free energy device wasn’t genuine.


Friday, March 29, 2024