🕯️ Occult Philosophy

Apparitions at the Moment of Death: The Living Ghost in Legend, Lyric, and Lore

✍️ Daniel Bourke, Patricia Pearson
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$24.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Step into a realm where the veil between life and death thins, revealing a profound human experience: crisis apparitions. This illuminating work meticulously compiles and examines countless instances of individuals experiencing vivid visions of loved ones precisely at their moment of death, regardless of distance. From ancient lore to contemporary accounts, the book posits these 'living ghosts' as a pervasive, timeless phenomenon, challenging our conventional understanding of mortality and the enduring bonds of affection. It's a scholarly yet accessible exploration into the very fabric of our collective spiritual consciousness, offering unprecedented access to this mysterious facet of psychic phenomena.

🕯️
Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“I really liked this book, and found it to be a good break from the more spiritual, mystic and occult reads I've had lately. It covers areas from folklore, paranormal research, religion & spirituality, and even a bit of divination, as well as modern culture, all relating to the subject of crisis apparitions.”
— The Modern Merlin, PaganPages.org
🏛 Destiny Books 📅 2024 📖 320 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798888500569
Fun Fact
This is a truly engrossing and meticulously researched volume that brings a rarely discussed, yet deeply human, phenomenon into sharp focus. Bourke and Pearson have done an exceptional job compiling hundreds of diverse accounts, making a compelling case for the widespread nature of crisis apparitions. While those seeking a 'how-to' guide for paranormal contact will be disappointed, anyone with a serious interest in psychic phenomena, the afterlife, or the profound connections between human beings will find this an invaluable addition to their library. It stands as a significant contribution to esoteric scholarship, bridging history, folklore, and parapsychology with accessible prose.

📝 Description: Apparitions at the Moment of Death: The Living Ghost in Legend, Lyric, and Lore

Discover how the bonds of life and love transcend death - Explains the phenomenon of crisis apparitions: visions of loved ones that are experienced simultaneously with their deaths, even at great distances - Examines a wide range of sources, including history, literature, folklore, theology, and contemporary culture that demonstrate the timelessness and ubiquity of these ghostly encounters - Presents hundreds of vivid accounts of crisis apparitions, many never before compiled in a single volume Since ancient times, people from nearly every culture and corner of the world have experienced visions of loved ones that coincided with their faraway deaths. These otherworldly synchronicities, known as crisis apparitions, are not rare; in fact, they have always been a part of our collective experience, blurring the lines between our knowledge of life and our beliefs about the afterlife. In this work of spiritual scholarship, academic researcher Daniel Bourke explores the moment of death from a deeply illuminating perspective, giving readers unprecedented access to mystifying corners of paranormal study. From the temples of ancient Egypt to the hospital rooms of the twenty-first century, from the works of Homer to the monks of the Middle Ages, from the saint to the shaman, Bourke examines the crisis apparition and the phenomena of the "living ghost" in legend, lyric, and lore, demonstrating their universal nature for the first time. He shares profound accounts from a wide range of sources--including history, literature, folklore, theology, and contemporary culture--to reveal how widespread these ghostly encounters are throughout the ages. In demonstrating how these remarkable encounters with "living ghosts" aren't fearsome experiences but leave the recipient full of healing and hope, this book offers insight into how the beloved dead seem to communicate and the intertwined nature of humanity in this world and the next.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
Bourke and Pearson present a meticulous compilation that challenges conventional mortality views through the lens of psychic phenomena. While the scholarly approach appeals to those interested in esoteric philosophy and historical lore, this text may not suit readers seeking hard scientific data or empirical proof. It is less appropriate for skeptics who require rigid materialist explanations rather than spiritual interpretations. However, for those open to the possibility that consciousness persists through spectral connections, it offers a compelling narrative. The accessible tone makes complex psychic concepts digestible, though its reliance on anecdotal lore might frustrate those looking for clinical analysis of deathbed visions.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Individuals curious about the intersection of grief, love, and the supernatural will find profound comfort in this exploration. It offers a scholarly yet accessible lens through which to view crisis apparitions, validating personal experiences that often feel isolated or inexplicable. By compiling countless instances across history, the book provides a sense of shared human heritage regarding mortality. Readers seeking to understand the enduring bonds of affection that transcend physical distance will gain valuable insight into how these 'living ghosts' manifest in legend, lyric, and lore, ultimately challenging conventional views on death and offering a glimpse into our collective spiritual consciousness.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
If you're captivated by paranormal research, the mysteries of consciousness, or the enduring question of what lies beyond death, this book is for you. It offers a scholarly yet deeply human perspective on a phenomenon often dismissed, inviting you to reconsider the boundaries of life and love.

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
E
Esoterica Books editorial team

Bourke and Pearson present a meticulous compilation that challenges conventional mortality views through the lens of psychic phenomena. While the scholarly approach appeals to those interested in esoteric philosophy and historical lore, this text may not suit readers seeking hard scientific data or empirical proof. It is less appropriate for skeptics who require rigid materialist explanations rather than spiritual interpretations. However, for those open to the possibility that consciousness persists through spectral connections, it offers a compelling narrative. The accessible tone makes complex psychic concepts digestible, though its reliance on anecdotal lore might frustrate those looking for clinical analysis of deathbed visions.

❓ Frequently asked questions

A crisis apparition refers to a psychic phenomenon where an individual experiences a vision or strong sense of a loved one's presence, precisely at the moment of their death, often from a significant distance, blurring the lines between life and the afterlife.
No, this work is primarily a scholarly exploration of a documented phenomenon. While it touches upon theological and spiritual interpretations found in various cultures, its focus is on presenting and analyzing the experiences themselves, rather than endorsing any particular faith or guiding spiritual practices.

📖 Who should read this

If you're captivated by paranormal research, the mysteries of consciousness, or the enduring question of what lies beyond death, this book is for you. It offers a scholarly yet deeply human perspective on a phenomenon often dismissed, inviting you to reconsider the boundaries of life and love.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

The Crisis Apparition

This book delves deep into the phenomenon of crisis apparitions, defining them as spontaneous, synchronous visions of individuals at the precise moment of their death, often felt by distant loved ones. It explores the universal nature of these encounters, presenting them not as rare anomalies but as a consistent thread woven through human experience across cultures and centuries.

Universal Cultural Threads

Spanning an impressive historical and cultural breadth, the work draws on diverse sources including ancient texts, literary classics, global folklore, theological doctrines, and modern-day testimonies. This broad sweep demonstrates the enduring presence and consistent characteristics of these apparitions, underscoring their significance in humanity's ongoing dialogue with the unknown.

Bonds Beyond Mortality

At its heart, the book explores how the deep connections forged in life may transcend the physical cessation of existence. By presenting numerous accounts of individuals sensing or seeing a loved one's passing, it suggests that affection and consciousness might operate on a plane less constrained by material reality, offering solace and insight into the afterlife.

📜 Historical context

The study of crisis apparitions sits within a long tradition of psychical research, a field that gained significant traction in the 19th century with organizations like the Society for Psychical Research. This book contributes to that legacy by systematically collecting and analyzing these experiences, moving beyond anecdotal evidence to present a compelling, historically-informed argument for their ubiquity and significance, placing it firmly in the lineage of serious inquiry into the unseen.

📚 Glossary

Crisis Apparition
Psychic Phenomena
Synchronicity

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. Reflect on any unexplained synchronous events you or someone you know has experienced. How might they relate to the phenomena discussed in this book?
  2. Consider the idea of consciousness existing independently of the physical body. How do crisis apparitions challenge or reinforce your current beliefs about life and death?
  3. If the bonds of love can truly transcend death, what implications does this have for how we grieve and remember those who have passed?

🏛 Books from this publisher Destiny Books

All books from this publisher →
Creative Visualization: Using Imagery and Imagination for Self-Transformation -32%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Shone, Ronald
Creative Visualization: Using Imagery and Imagination for Self-Transformation
$14.95 $22.00
81
The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Solving the Oak Island Mystery -25%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Sora, Steven
The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Solving the Oak Island Mystery
$19.99 $27.00
78
The Healing Energy of Shared Consciousness: A Taoist Approach to Entering the Universal Mind
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Chia, Mantak
The Healing Energy of Shared Consciousness: A Taoist Approach to Entering the Universal Mind
$16.95
78
The Wisdom Teachings of Harish Johari on the Mahabharata
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Geraets, Wil
The Wisdom Teachings of Harish Johari on the Mahabharata
$16.95
86
The Zero Point Agreement: How to Be Who You Already Are
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Johnson, Julie Tallard
The Zero Point Agreement: How to Be Who You Already Are
$18.95
81
Osogbo: Speaking to the Spirits of Misfortune
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Lele, Ócha'ni
Osogbo: Speaking to the Spirits of Misfortune
$16.95
86
African Spirits Speak: A White Woman's Journey Into the Healing Tradition of the Sangoma (Original)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Arden, Nicky
African Spirits Speak: A White Woman's Journey Into the Healing Tradition of the Sangoma (Original)
$17.99
78
Cat Magic: Mews, Myths, and Mystery
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Telesco, Patricia
Cat Magic: Mews, Myths, and Mystery
$16.95
78

You might also like

See more →
The Languages of Magic: Transform Reality Through Words, Magical Symbols, and Sigils -26%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Toby Chappell, Stephen E Flowers, Don Webb
The Languages of Magic: Transform Reality Through Words, Magical Symbols, and Sigils
$24.99 $34.00
86
The Spiritual Power of Masks: Doorways to Realms Unseen -58%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Pennick, Nigel
The Spiritual Power of Masks: Doorways to Realms Unseen
$24.99 $60.00
86
Witches, Druids, and Sin Eaters: The Common Magic of the Cunning Folk of the Welsh Marches -13%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Jon G Hughes, Sophie Gallagher
Witches, Druids, and Sin Eaters: The Common Magic of the Cunning Folk of the Welsh Marches
$24.99 $29.00
86
Tarot and the Gates of Light: A Kabbalistic Path to Liberation
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Horn, Mark
Tarot and the Gates of Light: A Kabbalistic Path to Liberation
$24.99
86
The Real Witches of New England: History, Lore, and Modern Practice -24%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ellen Evert Hopman, Judika Illes
The Real Witches of New England: History, Lore, and Modern Practice
$24.99 $33.00
86
Craniosacral CHI Kung: Integrating Body and Emotion in the Cosmic Flow
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Mantak Chia, Joyce Thom
Craniosacral CHI Kung: Integrating Body and Emotion in the Cosmic Flow
$24.99
86
Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja: The 17th-Century Manual on the Art of Concealment -21%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Master Natori Masazumi, Axel Mazuer
Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja: The 17th-Century Manual on the Art of Concealment
$24.99 $32.00
86
The Taoist Soul Body: Harnessing the Power of Kan and Li
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Chia, Mantak
The Taoist Soul Body: Harnessing the Power of Kan and Li
$24.99
86
The Key to Your Own Nativity Leo, Alan -37%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Leo, Alan
The Key to Your Own Nativity Leo, Alan
$24.99 $40.00
86
Basic Practices of the Universal Healing Tao: An Illustrated Guide to Levels 1 Through 6
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Mantak Chia, William U Wei
Basic Practices of the Universal Healing Tao: An Illustrated Guide to Levels 1 Through 6
$24.95
86

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist