IJHC (The International Journal of Healing and Caring) - Messages and Miracles: Extraordinary Experiences of the Bereaved

Messages and Miracles: Extraordinary Experiences of the Bereaved

by Louis E. LaGrand

St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications 1999. 311 pp $12.95 6 pp References

The most frequent sources of evidence for survival of the spirit are the bereavement apparitions reported by at least two out of three people who are close to someone who passed away. Louis Lagrand brings us an excellent collection of these heartwarming stories of after-death communications (ADCs), from people in all walks of life.

LaGrand presents his materials as answers to a long series of logical questions that anyone studying ADCs is likely to ask.

Here are a few informative items, chosen for their uniqueness in my perusal of related literature over many years.

The ancient Christian doctrine of the communion of saints states that the living and the souls of the deceased are connected through all eternity. Some Anglican communities, and all Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox communities, believe a spiritual union exists in which intercessory prayer can take place. Thus the living can pray to their deceased loved ones (who are saints if they are in heaven) to intercede to God for them. Some ADCs, therefore, can be assumed to be a form of assistance from the deceased or from their intercessory powers… (p. 105)

What do you mean by direct ADCs and indirect ADCs?

Essentially, these two terms are used to refer to ADCs that either directly or indirectly involve the deceased loved one and the mourner. For example, a direct contact would mean the mourner believes he has heard, seen, smelled, sensed the presence, or been touched by the beloved. The indirect contact includes all other ADCs where the deceased loved one or a Supreme Being is believed to be somehow responsible for the contact.

Direct ADCs: Auditory, Visual, Tactile, Dreams, Intuitive, Olfactory, Out-of-Body

Indirect ADCs: Symbolic, Third-Party; Fourth-Party, Birds and Animals; Olfactory; Dreams

Symbolic ADCs are most frequently referred to as indirect ADCs because they involve objects, natural or manmade. These objects are signs or indicators to the bereaved that the deceased person is somehow connected to or the reason why the symbol presents itself at a specific time and place… (p. 157-158)

LaGrand gives a common example of indirect communication. Dana had a dramatic dream which related to three teenagers who had been in a major auto accident after drinking, fourteen years prior to her dream. She had been in high school with all of the boys.

… Patrick died at the scene, Chris was thrown from the truck… and Willy was burned over 75 percent of his body. He was… admitted to the burn unit for treatment, but died the next day.

Dana reported:

In the fall of 1994, I dreamt I was in a sort of terminal or large entry way. As I look up, walking toward me, is Willy. (Now Willy had not been a close friend of mine in real life. He was more or less an acquaintance.) Patrick, who had died at the scene of the accident, was really my friend. Anyway, when we make eye contact, Willy comes over and hugs me and says, “You have to do me a favor.” I agreed. “Go tell Brian I’m okay. He has to let it go.” I agreed. I knew he was talking about a childhood friend of mine.

A few days passed. I told my sister about the dream and she said I should go and tell Brian, whom I hadn’t seen in years. Of course, I was hesitant to go, but I stopped down at his house, and luckily he was just coming home from work. We exchanged greetings and small talk and then I told him of my strange dream. His face fell and his eyes filled with tears. He then told me he had been crying at Willy’s grave the Sunday before. I was relieved that I told him. (p. 157-158)

Brian had been unable to let go of his grief over the fourteen years since the accident. Dana’s indirect message to Brian from Willy, who communicated through her dream, clearly brought relief and comfort to Brian.

LaGrand answers a question about dreams:

How can I decide if any of them are ADC dreams? LeGrand suggests that ADC dreams have the following qualities: They are more clear, vivid and bright than usual dreams. They contain specific messages. They include strong feelings and are comforting.

This is a book that has much to offer for anyone exploring bereavement apparitions – whether as a novice or an educated and experienced student of life, death and survival.

[See extensive list of references on death and bereavement at http://www.wholistichealingresearch.com/References/death.asp ]