Table of Contents
James Van Praagh enjoys an extraordinary gifthe can communicate with the spirits of men, women, children, and animals who have died. Possessed of the rare ability to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds, he provides comfort to those who have lost loved ones and brings back powerful messages from the other side. Now, in his remarkable, inspiring book, this nationally acclaimed medium shows us what lies beyond our visible world and answers our most profound questions about life after death.
TALKING TO HEAVEN
It will forever change the way you feel about the world beyond.
SIGNET
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Putnam Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
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Published by Signet, an imprint of Dutton NAL, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc. Previously published in a Dutton edition.
First Signet Printing, March, 1999
Copyright James Van Praagh, 1997
All rights reserved
REGISTERED TRADEMARKMARCA REGISTRADA
The individual experiences recounted in this book are true. However, in some instances, names and other descriptive details have been altered to protect the identities of the people involved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
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eISBN : 978-1-101-19142-2
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To Connie,
The very first angel I met on earth, who showed me how to catch the sun.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
When one begins the task of chronologically recalling personal experiences by breathing life into words, it is done with the hope that, in some small way, these expressions will create a sense of knowledge and wonder as well as aid in the enlightenment of anothers path. Writing this book was an undertaking that could not possibly have been executed alone. It was created by the blending of thoughts, ideas, experiences and lives of those who have dearly touched me.
I first must give appreciation to the Creative Expression identified under various titles such as God, Allah, Yahweh, Divine Being, and The Great Light. I will just refer to this Power as the Source, the Source of All.
I would like to acknowledge those beloved souls on this earths plane who have come to me with stories of both tragedy and love, seeking guidance, closure, healing, and peace. I hope I have fulfilled their expectations and have been able to place their minds and hearts to rest.
I thank and appreciate all those dear ones in the spirit world, who like dreams come back through me to relay earthly experiences to their families and friends. These remembrances, now woven into the tapestry of time, will provide evidence and comfort, proving that there is no death, only life. Through the power of love and only love, these heart-strung spirits align themselves with us, providing courage, strength, power, and guidance, and assisting us in fulfilling our individual earthly destinies.
I want to thank my heavenly guides and teachers who have been with me from the initial birth of my gift. They have never failed to incorporate their strength, power, and wisdom into my work, displaying an example for growth, illumination, and upliftment, not only for self but for all humankind.
I also give my love and gratitude to those on this earth plane who have assisted me along the path with their love, encouragement, and support: Brian E. Hurst, Carol Shoemaker, Mary Ann Saxon, Marilyn Jensen, Peter Redgrove, Linda Tomchin, and Cammy Farone.
To all my family, friends, and loves of this lifetime, I live in gratitude to each and every one of you. For the time we share together on this earth has not only enriched my soul but has taught me valuable lessons in the emotional expression of the human heart. Love celebrates life. I thank you for celebrating the fullness of what we were, what we are, and what we are yet to become.
To all, thank you for sharing your light and sharing this never-ending journey of love and life hand-in-hand.
SECTION ONE
THE UNVEILING
CHAPTER 1
The Medium
I am often asked if I was born a medium or if I was transformed into one by a terrible illness, or a freak accident that caused some sort of head trauma, or a near-death experience. As hair-raising as those possibilities may be, I cannot claim any one of them as the dramatic moment that introduced me to my lifes work.
I am not unlike anyone else. We are all born with some level of psychic ability. The question is: Do we recognize our psychic abilities and act upon them? Like many others, I didnt know what it meant to have psychic ability. It was probably on some TV game show that I first heard the term psychic. I was lucky enough to pronounce it, let alone understand its definition. It was a word that came closest to explaining why I knew things about people when they walked into a room. It was also the reason my first-grade Catholic school teacher kept me after school one day.
Lunch break was over, and all the kids were heading back to the classroom. I had just put away my Yogi Bear lunch box when my teacher, Mrs. Weinlick, walked into the room. Our eyes met, and a feeling of sadness instantly came over me. Then I walked up to her and said, Everything is going to be all right. John broke his leg. She looked at me with a cross expression and said, What are you talking about? I replied, John was hit by a car, but he is okay. He just broke his leg. Well, I thought her eyes were going to pop straight out of her head. She pointed to my seat and told me to sit in it for the rest of the day. About an hour later, the principal came to the door and spoke with Mrs. Weinlick. Suddenly, Mrs. Weinlick panicked, turned white, and ran out of the room screaming.
The next day Mrs. Weinlick seemed to be back to her normal self, except that she did not stop staring at me the whole day. She asked me to stay after school so she could talk to me. God bless her! It was her talk that introduced me to my psychic ability. It seemed that on the previous day, her son John was hit by a car, but, miraculously, he had just broken his leg. She asked me: How did you know it was going to happen? I didnt know how to answer her. I just knew it. I had a sense about it. She stared at me, and I started to cry.
