Abstract
Spontaneous communication across the veil has been characterized as After death Communication (ADC) and Induced ADC for the Botkin method of EMDR. ATransC does not use “death” as a concept, preferring the use of “trans-” to indicate etheric-physical interaction. We do not “die” we “transition.”
After Death Communication or ADC is a concept popularized by Bill and Judy Guggenheim in their book, Hello from Heaven. From their website: [ADC is defined as] “…a spiritual experience, which occurs when you are contacted directly and spontaneously by a deceased family member or friend, without the use of psychics, mediums, rituals or devices of any kind” The important points in this explanation are that ADCs are spontaneous and instruments are not required. They do include phone calls as a type, but they are very definite that EVP is not included in the list.
The Guggenheims are also very definite that ADCs are spontaneous, which is why Allan Botkin refers to his EMDR induced ADCs as induced or IADC.TM Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic technique in which the practitioner guides a client to move his or her eyes back and forth while dwelling on an emotional memory. This is an oversimplification, but in practice, the technique helps remove the emotional charge of a memory. Based on his work with war veterans, Botkin developed a technique in which clients have impressively vivid communication with transitioned loved ones, thus the “Induced” part of ADC.
Because of the emphasis the Guggenheims made about spontaneous ADC, we have always distinguished the class of transcommunication that is spontaneous as ”ADC” and the class of ADC that are induced as “induced ADC.” Botkin has protected “IADC” with a trademark for his therapeutic technique, meaning that he owns its use in this field.
It was recently pointed out to us that people look for information about contacting loved ones by searching for “After Death Communication” or “ADC.” Searching atransc.org for these, we see that virtually all of our references to ADC are either talking about Botkin’s work, the Guggenheim’s book or what others have used when talking about transcommunication. We simply do not use the term for our work.
With There is No Death and There are No Dead the name of the book we wrote for the Association, it should not be surprising that the term, “death,” is not part of our usual nomenclature. The name of the Association is Association TransCommunication. It is based on Instrumental TransCommunication or ITC as coined by Ernst Senkowski in the 1980s to embrace all forms of instrument-based communication across the veil. You have probably noticed that we use the “trans” prefix quite a lot. For instance, the term, “survival” is also used by people preparing for the end of the world, so technically, we should say “trans-survival.” It all depends on the understanding that we mean “trans” as in across the veil.
It is important to understand that the viewpoint of the ATransC is that we transition from one aspect of reality to another when our physical body is no longer able to support us in the physical. We avoid saying that “we die” or that someone is “dead.” We say that “we transition” and that someone has “transitioned.”
The Research of Bill and Judy Guggenheim
by Lisa Butler
Previously published in the Summer 2005 ATransC NewsJournal
Between 1988 and 1995, the Guggenheims asked two thousand people, living in the United States and Canada, if they had been contacted by a loved one who had died.* The people interviewed represented diverse backgrounds and ranged in age from children to the elderly. The Guggenheims collected more than thirty-three hundred firsthand accounts of After-Death Communication (ADC). Their book, Hello from Heaven, was based on this research.
Based upon this research, the Guggenheims came up with the twelve most frequently reported types of afterdeath communication. They are:
- Sensing a Presence: This is the most common form of ADC. It happens when a person has an unmistakable feeling that their loved one is there, even though they cannot be seen or heard. Many people that experience this feel that they are just imagining the event. Sensing a presence is most often reported just days or weeks after a loved one’s death, but has been reported months and even years later.
- ADC while Asleep: These experiences are much more vivid and real than normal dreams. They are very common and experiencers usually feel that they are having an actual visit from their loved one. These episodes are not fragmented or filled with symbols like typical dreams.
- Hearing a Voice: People have reported hearing the physical voice of their loved one as if the person was right in the room; however, most communications are reported as telepathic; experiencers hear the voice in their head.
- Feeling a Touch: The loved one touches the experiencer with their hand or places their arm around his or her shoulders. Hugs, kisses, pats and caresses have all been reported.
- Smelling a Fragrance: The smell of a loved one’s personal scent. For instance, their favorite flower, cologne, after-shave lotion, perfume, bath powder, favorite food or tobacco product.
- Visual Experiences: A person actually sees their loved one. There are partial visual (example: only head and shoulders are seen) and full visual ADCs. Typically the loved one will express love and appear healed no matter what the cause of death.
- Visions: People report seeing their loved one in a picture in the air. There are usually radiant colors and the vision may be seen by the eyes or in the mind.
- Twilight Experiences: These occur in the alpha state when experiencers are meditating, praying, falling asleep or just waking up. Any or all of the various types of ADCs may be experienced when in the alpha state.
- Out-Of-Body ADC: These happen during sleep or a meditative state. Experiencers leave their body and visit their loved one on the level at which they exist. These are often described as more real than physical life, very vivid and beautiful with lots of color and light.
- Telephone Calls: The phone rings and the call is from a loved one. The voice may seem far away and there is often no disconnect sound when the call is ended.
- Physical Phenomena: A wide range of physical signs are reported such as lights blinking on and off, radios, televisions, stereos and other mechanical objects being tuned on or off. Pictures, photographs and other items may be moved or turned over.
- Symbolic ADC: These are signs that our loved ones still exist. They are often subtle and may be seen as a coincidence. Common signs include butterflies, rainbows, flowers, birds, animals and inanimate objects such as coins and pictures.
One thing that will be very obvious about the above list for AA-EVP members is that EVP is not included. That is because the Guggenheims feel that ADCs are spontaneous occurrences and EVP, along with some other method for after death communication, as you will see in the next article, are induced. EVP not being included in the Guggenheim list does not lessen the importance of the experiences on their list. Many of us in the Association have lost a loved one and have experienced an ADC. It is important for us to realize that these are real occurrences and not just our imagination.
The Guggenheims state that most, “ADCs are positive and uplifting encounters that reduce grief, provide lasting comfort and hope, and accelerate emotional and spiritual healing.
“Not all people are contacted by their deceased loved ones … It seems that fear, anger and prolonged heavy grief can inhibit the possibility of an ADC.”
The Guggenheims suggest that a person ask for a sign that their loved one continues to exist. “Pray for the person as well as all others affected by the death, including yourself.” They suggest learning how to meditate, especially for those who are currently bereaved or experiencing unresolved grief. “Meditation will enable you to relax and soften any fear or anger you may have. It will reduce your depression, improve your ability to eat and sleep and facilitate your healing process. These deep relaxation exercises will also allow you to unfold your inner, intuitive senses.”
* After-Death Communication – Joyous Reunions with Deceased Loved
