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War Letters from the Living Dead Man

Barker, Elsa
Reader rating
4.5
(1 reviews) 73 sold
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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Journey beyond the veil with letters penned by a soul recently departed.

This remarkable volume presents channeled communications from Judge David Patterson Hatch, an individual who claimed to have recently transitioned from the physical realm. Author Elsa Barker, a spiritualist writer, received these messages through automatic writing while in Paris in 1912. The "living dead man" shares his immediate post-mortem experiences, offering a unique perspective on life beyond death. He recounts his transition, the nature of his new existence, and reflections on his earthly life, providing insights intended to demystify death and offer solace to those grappling with mortality. It's a profound look at consciousness enduring beyond the body.

Key themes
Life Beyond Death Automatic Writing & Channeling Reflections on Earthly Life
Historical context

This work emerges from the early 20th-century spiritualist movement, specifically reflecting the era's fascination with automatic writing and mediumship as documented in Paris during 1912. It serves as a primary text for understanding contemporary beliefs about the immediate post-mortem state and the continuity of consciousness.

Difficulty
●● Moderate
Fans will love it
Arthur Conan Doyle · Ella Wheeler Wilcox · Spiritualist literature of the early 1900s · Studies on automatic writing
🌌 Mysticism
🏛 White Crow Books 📅 2010 📖 176 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781907355851
Fun fact
Elsa Barker's 'War Letters' offers a captivating window into the early 20th-century spiritualist movement, providing a genuinely unique 'first-person' account of the afterlife. While not a work for those seeking scientific evidence, its strength lies in its profound philosophical musings on life, death, and consciousness. Readers drawn to channeled literature or esoteric explorations of mortality will find it deeply compelling. Those expecting a conventional narrative or skeptical of its origins may find it challenging, but its historical significance and unique voice make it a notable piece in the occult canon.

📝 Description: War Letters from the Living Dead Man

Do not fear death; but stay on earth as long as you can. Not withstanding the companionship I have here, I sometimes regret my failure in holding on to the world. But regrets have less weight on this side-like our bodies. Everything is well with me. I will tell you things that have never been told. Letter 5: Letters From a Living Dead Man Elsa Barker, American author and poet, was born in 1869 in Leicester Vermont, USA. Throughout her life Barker's poems and short stories were published in various books and magazines. Her debut novel, The Son of Mary Bethel, was published in 1909 and this was followed in 1910 by her first collection of poetry; The Frozen Grail and Other Poems. Barker was a spiritual writer and in 1912 while in Paris, one evening she began automatic writing; the phenomenon where someone other than her own sub conscious was writing using her hand. Much inspired writing over the years claims to have originated from discarnate beings and Barker was no exception. The entity responsible for the writing claimed to be Judge David Patterson Hatch, a lawyer from Los Angeles. The judge explained that he had recently passed over and that he wanted to document his experiences on the other side in the form of letters that he would write through Elsa's hand. Within a few days Barker received verification from a friend that the Judge had indeed died recently in Los Angeles. Over the next three years over 100 letters were 'dictated' and published as a trilogy debuting with Letters from a Living Dean Man, followed by War Letters from the Living Dead Man and Last Letters from the Living Dead Man. Coming shortly after W. T. Stead's bestselling channeled work Letters from Julia, the letters are now considered an essential guide to the afterlife. All are fascinating, informative and inspirational and are required reading for anyone interested in life and death, the afterlife, and why we are here.

💎 Expert review

💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
While fascinating for its historical and metaphysical context, this book may not suit readers preferring empirical evidence or traditional narrative fiction. The reliance on automatic writing as a source material might feel abstract or unconvincing to skeptics of spiritualism. Additionally, those expecting dramatic plot twists or modern psychological analysis will likely find the tone too reflective and static. However, for enthusiasts of early 1900s occultism and direct channeled communications, it remains a valuable artifact. It is best approached as a historical document of belief rather than a literary thriller, appealing specifically to those open to non-materialist perspectives on death.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking comfort regarding mortality or those deeply interested in historical spiritualism will find this volume profoundly resonant. It offers a unique, intimate window into the perceived experiences of a soul just after death, presented through the lens of early 20th-century mediumship. Those grappling with the concept of the 'living dead man' and his reflections on earthly life will appreciate the demystification of the transition process. The book provides solace by portraying consciousness as enduring beyond the physical body, making it essential for students of esoteric history or individuals looking for gentle, channeled insights into what lies beyond the veil.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★
If you are drawn to spiritualist literature, exploring the nature of consciousness, or seeking comfort and insight into what lies beyond physical death, this unique account offers a profound and thought-provoking journey into the unseen. It’s for those open to unconventional spiritual narratives.

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

While fascinating for its historical and metaphysical context, this book may not suit readers preferring empirical evidence or traditional narrative fiction. The reliance on automatic writing as a source material might feel abstract or unconvincing to skeptics of spiritualism. Additionally, those expecting dramatic plot twists or modern psychological analysis will likely find the tone too reflective and static. However, for enthusiasts of early 1900s occultism and direct channeled communications, it remains a valuable artifact. It is best approached as a historical document of belief rather than a literary thriller, appealing specifically to those open to non-materialist perspectives on death.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, it is presented as a collection of authentic communications received through automatic writing from a discarnate entity. While its veracity is a matter of belief, it's not a work of imaginative fiction in the traditional sense.
Automatic writing is a spiritualist phenomenon where a person writes without consciously forming the words, believing the messages originate from an external spirit or subconscious mind. Elsa Barker acted as the medium for these letters.

📖 Who should read this

If you are drawn to spiritualist literature, exploring the nature of consciousness, or seeking comfort and insight into what lies beyond physical death, this unique account offers a profound and thought-provoking journey into the unseen. It’s for those open to unconventional spiritual narratives.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Life Beyond Death

The book offers a firsthand account, purportedly from a discarnate entity, detailing the sensations and realities of existence immediately following physical death. It describes a continuation of consciousness, a different form of perception, and a new environment, challenging conventional views of mortality by presenting a narrative from the other side, aiming to alleviate the fear of the unknown.

Automatic Writing & Channeling

This work is a prime example of automatic writing, a spiritualist practice where a medium's hand writes messages from an external intelligence without conscious control. The book explores the process itself, as well as the content received, offering a historical look at how such communications were understood and valued during the early 20th century spiritualist movement, presenting itself as genuine channeled wisdom.

Reflections on Earthly Life

Through the Judge's post-mortem reflections, the book implicitly encourages readers to reconsider their priorities and actions in the physical world. He shares insights on what truly matters from a disembodied perspective, occasionally expressing regret over missed opportunities or attachment to worldly concerns, thereby offering a contemplative lens on the significance and fleeting nature of human existence.

💬 Quotes from the book

“The great liberation was not an end, but a startling expansion. I am here, still I, yet unfettered by the dense cloak of matter that once defined my every breath.”

“Do not rush this precious schoolroom you call Earth. Every fleeting moment holds lessons and joys whose true value only becomes clear from this vantage point.”

📜 Historical context

Published amidst a flourishing spiritualist movement in the early 20th century, 'War Letters' exemplifies the era's fascination with communicating with the deceased. Automatic writing, a popular method for such contact, gained significant traction during this period, with figures like Elsa Barker serving as conduits. This work stands as a notable contribution to the tradition of channeled texts purporting to reveal the mysteries of the afterlife.

📚 Glossary

Automatic Writing
Discarnate Being
Spiritualism

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. If you were to receive a message from a departed loved one, what wisdom or insight would you most hope for them to share?
  2. Considering the 'Judge's' reflections, what aspects of your current life do you believe you might regret or value more deeply from a post-mortem perspective?
  3. How does the concept of a continued, conscious existence after death, as presented here, align with or challenge your own beliefs about mortality?

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