Anthony Peake's new book on near-death experiences (NDEs) goes far beyond many others in this field of study. It explores not only the potential evidential value of NDEs -- including a critical reevaluation of a number of famous cases -- but also the various ways the phenomenon can be interpreted. Peake incorporates data, hypotheses, and ideas from science, philosophy, religious studies, and anthropology. He looks in detail at some of the elements that make up NDEs, including the out-of-body experience, tunnel, life review, and time distortion. Importantly, his approach is not merely descriptive for he assesses the implications of all these elements in light of various explanatory theories about NDEs -- including an innovative one of his own. This is a thought-provoking work which should be of value both to those new to the subject and to those well versed in it.
"Peake's explanation of your immortality is the most innovative and provocative argument I have seen" - Bruce Greyson, Carlson Professor of Psychiatry, University of Virginia.
What happens when we die?
As the bestselling author of Is There Life After Death? and Cheating the Ferryman, Anthony Peake has studied this topic for over two decades. In this latest follow-up, Peake explores the incredible phenomena of Near-Death Experiences, asking what insights this seemingly inexplicable state can offer to life's biggest question.
In this fascinating book, Peake not only examines the latest neuroscientific hypotheses concerning the physical and psychological aspects of NDEs, but…
This book is a rare example of the successful integration of original scholarly research and the kind of insight gained only through personal experience. Samantha Lee treasure offers a sensitive, nuanced exploration of the phenomenon of out-of-body experiences (OBEs), written in an honest, accessible, engaging style. Readers are taken on a journey encompassing shamans in Siberia and Korea, Kundalini, alien abduction, lucid dreams, and new religious movements. Out-of-Body Experiences: Explorations and Encounters on the Astral Plane is sure to be a landmark in the narrative anthropology of extraordinary experience, as well as deserving a place at the forefront of the new culturally-informed psychical research. A must-read for anyone interested in the subject.
"Samantha Treasure's groundbreaking book stands as probably the most comprehensive review of the out-of-body experience yet published." - Graham Nicholls, author of Navigating the Out-of-Body Experience
Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs) are a fascinating phenomenon which has captivated the scientific and spiritual world. This comprehensive guide takes a fresh look at these enigmatic occurrences, including why they happen, how to make sense of them, as well as how to pursue or avoid these experiences.
An experiencer of OBEs herself, Samantha Lee Treasure has dedicated over a decade to better understanding thes extraordinary events. This illuminating guide is culmination of this research, taking…
P. D. Newman has produced a book with a rare and elusive combination of qualities: engaging, intellectually stimulating, and benefitting from sound scholarship and personal experience. His attempt to reconstruct the interface between psychedelics and shamanic afterlife journeys among the Indigenous people of the Mississippi Valley is both inventive and original. Much thought and research went into this book, drawing on archaeology, anthropology, botany, and comparative religion, and it's all integrated in a compelling and entertaining way.
Exploring psychedelic spiritual practices and afterlife beliefs among the Mississippi mound cultures• Examines the Path of Souls or Trail of Ghosts, a Native American model for the after-death journey• Demonstrates how psychoactive plants were used to evoke the liminal state between life and death in initiatory rites and spirit journeys• Explores the symbology of the large earthwork mounds erected by the Indigenous people of the Mississippi Valley and how they connect to the Path of SoulsThe use of hallucinogenic substances like peyote and desert tobacco has long played a significant role in the spiritual practices and traditions of Native Americans.…
Taking readers on a thought-provoking journey into our ancestors’ beliefs about death, dying, and the afterlife, Gregory Shushan, Ph.D., reveals the powerful influence of near-death experiences (NDEs) on religious beliefs and ritual practices throughout human history. Focusing on five ancient world regions in Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China, and Mesoamerica, Shushan expertly explores each civilization’s afterlife beliefs. He explains how each of these civilizations developed independently of one another, yet there is a series of similarities among afterlife beliefs too consistent and specific to be mere coincidence. This leads to the profound implication that afterlife beliefs are not entirely invented by cultures: they also stem from universal truths derived from NDEs.
Drawing on anthropology, psychology, and philosophy, the author explores how each civilization interpreted NDEs and how afterlife beliefs develop over time. He also explores the metaphysical implications of his discoveries, including what an actual afterlife would look like. Revealing that NDEs have occurred throughout human history, Shushan shows how they continue to influence our understanding of what lies beyond death to this day.
