A World Beyond

by Ruth Montgomery

An extraordinary description of the afterlife, the result of a series of messages from the late medium Arthur Ford.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Paranormal, Metaphysics

210 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Chak · Rating 3 out of 5]

The description on the front of the book says it all: "The first eyewitness account of the hereafter from the world-famous psychic Arthur Ford." Ruth Montgomery, a reporter and friend to Arthur Ford (both in life, past lives and after death) did "automatic writing at her typewriter nearly every morning for four months in 1971" while Ford was allegedly at the helm, speaking from the Great Beyond.

Overall, I enjoyed most of the book, because it coincides with my main beliefs about "life" after death. In a nutshell, you are on this earth to love, help others and to facilitate your spiritual advancement. The soul doesn't die. It is joyously released from its earthly vessel (whose limitations and burdens are immense) and spends time recovering/reviewing life on earth, and whether karmic-like debts were paid and lessons were learned. Depending on your attitude toward the spiritual world and the afterlife in general, this "review period" can be a time of wonderful and supportive study and advancement, or this after-life experience can be a literal hell (until you change your attitude).

Basically supporting my already existing beliefs about the meaning of life and life after death, this book was a great reminder to me about what is important in life (love, charity, spiritual development and prioritizing). However, it gets merely three stars from me because I don't believe that a somewhat advanced spiritual being who has crossed over (as Ford is purported to be) would be concerned at all with such things as making predictions about political events in the future or reporting on celebrities and other persons of interest who have died. At best, those parts were annoying and distracted from the larger message, and at worst, they make the whole book seem fraudulent.

Here I am, basically a believer in the general concepts prior to reading, and even *I* felt that way. I was not alone. The person who originally read the book (I got it from my gym's sharing shelf) highlighted key passages with decreasing frequency as the book progressed (getting closer to the prediction parts). The last of the original reader's highlights was on page 87 of a 176 page book, and while I found noteworthy passages further on, that seems like a good stopping point to me. Therefore, my bottom line on this book is to read the first half, skip all predictions and persons-of-interest reporting (starting around page 69).

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Because I am returning the book to the YMCA sharing shelf, there are a few points I want to remember, so I am noting them below.

p. 12 - Each person is a continuing entity through all eternity. ... We always will be, even though in constantly changing forms and stages, or we are as much God as God is a part of us. ... Therefore, it behooves each of us to concern ourselves mightily with others, for they are as necessary to us as our own arms and legs and eyes and ears. ... Each of us is incomplete without the totality of humanity, both living and dead.

p. 16 - Since thoughts are definitely things, we are the cocreators with God of what we find for ourselves here. ... They, with their thoughts, are not only creating the pattern of their future lives, but their own heaven or hell.

p. 17 - There is no such things as a right and wrong place. It is all one, one with you there and with us here, but what we make of it here is influenced by what we had expected while on your side. ... We are the ones who must put forth the effort to grow. Nothing will grow in our behalf. ... Progression. That is the key to happiness. ... for everything in this world and in yours is a pattern of thoughts.

p 18 & 19 - We hope to awaken thoughtful, thinking people to the reality that each day there is wasted unless some progress has been made in preparing for the steps ahead. ... Each day lost from meditation is a day wasted and the time runs out rapidly for all of us.

p 28 - Our purpose here is the same as there, to do that which God whishes for each of us. ... Here we do not actually see God, but we are so overwhelmingly aware of His beneficent presence that none on this side who has experienced the slightest bit of development will be unaware of His constant presence.

p 30 & 31 - But we will continue to seek perfection so long as our souls seek the love of God. ... We must strive ever onward thorugh many earth cycles until we achieve sufficient perfection to rejoin Goad as co-creators. It is the law, for no imperfect thing will ever have the opportunity to become a part of the GOdhead.\, which would not function properly if full of imperfections. it is the law, immutable. Thus, our ceaseless attempts to return to teh physical state in order to erase our rough edges and be able to fit intot he Godhead as perfect segments of the whole.

p 33 - The race advances only as all of us surge upward toward the common goal of enlightenment and perfection. therefore, if we would advance rapidly ourselves we must make the effort to see that others of like interest are also given every tool for self advancement.

p 53 & 54 - The most basic sin is the deliberate injury of another person, physically or mentally, because our thoughts are deeds, either of commission or omission, and what we think against others is often as harmful as taking the food from his table. ... The will to give freely, without hope of reward, is the rung of the ladder to spiritual success.

p 113 - Now let's speak of the value of meditation to prepare for this next phase of life. The preparation is important for it brings understanding of the way and the light. WHen we go into meditation we are as near to God as we mere souls are likely to be fore a ling time yet. This is where we meet our God, within ourselves; and as we learn to assess our past errors and prepare either to advance to a higher state or return for another go-around in physical form. Thus the more you learn about meditation while there, the more quickly you will be able to advance here. Remember in mediation to breathe deeply at first, expelling the poisonous or noxious fumes which our physical bodies often contain. Use the mantram, or the aum, and feel yourself melding with the universal whole. Become a part of it, whether the nature about you or the essence of God. Become one with the living whole of creation, and as you sway to the pulsation of the universe, forget personal ego and all else except the one-ness of the entire universe.

[Steven H · Rating 1 out of 5]

PURPORTEDLY “ARTHUR FORD’S OWN ACCOUNT OF LIFE” AFTER DEATH

Ruth Shick Montgomery (1912-2001) was a journalist and syndicated columnist in Washington, DC., who later became a psychic who wrote a number of metaphysical books (sometimes through ‘automatic writing’), and claimed that she could communicate with medium Arthur Ford after his death.

She wrote in the introductory section of this 1971 book, “Automatic writing is as mysterious as the cycle of birth and death and considerably more difficult to prove… We know that many books have been written totally by means of this directed force… Almost invariably the source claims to be a discarnate who once lived in the flesh... I do not claim to know the answer. I can only attest that the vivid descriptions of the afterlife imparted through this book are not products of my imagination or conscious knowledge and that in these instances where assertions are provable, they were totally unknown to me before they came through my typewriter… This book I believe to be Arthur Ford’s own account of life in the next stages of existence beyond the portal that man calls death.”

In the first chapter, she recounts, “the telephone roused me… A familiar voice … said, ‘Ruth… Arthur [Ford] is dead.’ … Arthur Ford dead! It was too soul-shattering to contemplate… Two months earlier… I returned to the hotel… to find a message, ‘Call Arthur Ford, no matter how late the hour.’ … I called him … and we had a wonderful visit together. He had heard reports of my speech the evening before at New York’s Universalist Church and was pleased… It was the last time that I would hear his voice.” (Pg. 15)

She explains, “Soon after meeting Arthur Ford I discovered that I was able to do automatic writing, and a high-minded control who called herself Lily dictated much of the material which I used in my book ‘A Search for the Truth’ and in a chapter of ‘Here and Hereafter.’ Then… I abandoned automatic writing… I had proven at least to my own satisfaction that communication with the so-called dead is possible, [but] I had no wish to become a medium.’” (Pg. 16) But later, “I suddenly felt an impelling urge to … once again try automatic writing… the writing began: ‘Ruth, this is Lily and the group. Arthur Ford is here and wants you to know that he … feels great and does not want you to grieve…’” (Pg. 16-17) The next day, “Arthur then came through himself, writing, ‘Ruth, this is Art. For the time being, never mind telling people that we’re in communication, because every Tom, Dick, and Harry in the country is going to be claiming that…” (Pg. 17)

She states, “Within a few days after Ford’s funeral, when he took over my typewriter for fifteen minutes every morning, he made plain that we were to collaborate on a book which would describe what life is like on the other side of the door called death. Arthur Ford is apparently a very determined soul who leaves no stone unturned.” (Pg. 77)

In a later session, “I asked whether souls in the spirit state have sex identity, and Arthur replied, ‘No, we are both male and female---or, more aptly, we are neither, but simply a unique ego… possessing the completeness of a whole rather than a divided sex…’ I wanted to know the ‘why’ of homosexuals, and he responded, ‘Those who return to physical body with sexes confused were not able to decide here whether they wished to return as man or woman and had such poorly defined urges one way or another that they retain some of this confusion.’” (Pg. 118)

In another session, “Ford began again, writing, ‘Ruth, every phony medium … has been claiming to produce poor old Napoleon at her séances. Let’s get it straight. He went back into another incarnation almost immediately, because he lusted for one more victorious battle. He found it in his next life, but as a weary foot soldier. Since then he has had two lives in Portugal and Brazil, also of short duration. But he … does not want to spend long periods in contemplation and review.” (Pg. 131)

She acknowledges, “If there is any subject that I dislike to think about, it is bad habits… Readers of ‘A Search for the Truth will recall that Lily succeeded in persuading me to give up cigarette smoking; but two years later… I returned to the filthy habit. I still like a cocktail or two before dinner… My old friend Arthur Ford was a gentle man, but he collected his own collection of bad habits. Through no fault of his own, he was for a time addicted to drugs, and in order to overcome that problem he became an alcoholic… even in his last years, he occasionally fell off the wagon, with near-disastrous results… Consequently, I expected far more understanding from the spirit Ford than from my stern guide, Lily, but Arthur soon took me to tack for these frailties of the flesh.” (Pg. 155)

Exploring her own ‘past lives,’ she recounts, “under hypnosis… I caught up with the crowd surrounding Jesus in the desert and became one of his large group of followers. Then, sitting with him at a house in Bethany, I realized that I was a sister of Lazarus, but I knew that I was neither Mary nor Martha… This seemed too ridiculous for further contemplation, so I kept it to myself… one day on impulse I bought a copy of the book ‘The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ’… I read only small portions each day; but great was my bafflement when I stumbled across a passage which discussed Lazarus and his THREE sisters---Martha, Mary, and Ruth…” (Pg. 179)

She states, “for what they are worth, I now disclose the predictions that Arthur Ford himself has made to me since passing… ‘Jordan will not much longer remain a separate nation. It will be gobbled up by Israel and Syria… Vietnam? America will gradually withdraw from the arena of fighting, but the bloodshed will continue for a long time yet, without peace or sanity… the hedonistic society of the Communist world will turn more and more toward God, because of these scientific mysteries (the psychic) which will more and more attract the attention of Soviet physicists and natural scientists. As they turn toward God… Russia will turn more and more toward a freer society… the Mexican economy will hold strong under good leadership. A fine place to invest now… [Cuba] will negotiate with America and bring it back into the family of nations… Will California and Manhattan go into the sea before the end of the century? This eruption is overdue and will occur too long hence… The San Andreas fault in California … breaks apart and the land sinks into the sea. Manhattan somewhat later…” (Pg. 205-208)

She notes at the end of the book, “All of the material for this book was received during a four-month period beginning January 4, 1971, and concluding on May 7… I asked Arthur Ford if he would still be available at least until the book was published to answer queries, and he replied, ‘Won’t be too far away, and Lily will always be able to find me for you. Don’t worry… I’m not going anyplace.’” (Pg. 213)

The incorrect predictions of ‘Ford’ cast doubts over the rest; Caveat emptor…

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay yet another weirdo....but cool! It made me feel like I was normal. I found this book for a buck in my travels and so the references made to Atlantis and said "What the hey?" It fed the fanciful wierdo in me...

[Lybo Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsure when I read this. Probably sometime early 1970s. These were very interesting reads, much to think about, & broadens one's view on life.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1972. Antiquated on some topical subjects. If you're my age, you can remember the historical information presented before 1974.

I found this copy in my mother's book collection as I was going through it after she passed this year. I remember reading this book in high school. Took another look at it after 46 years.

Read with an open mind, which I always do with the hereafter kind of reads.

Ruth Montgomery was a talented journalist/reporter/Washington DC correspondent and columnist starting in the 1940s.She passed in 2001. My mother introduced me to Ruth's books back in the late 1970s when I was a teen. Ruth met psychic medium Arthur Ford which started her on a second career of book writing on the New Age subjects of life beyond, ETs and prophecies. After Ford passed in 1971, he visited her through automatic writings.

Interesting and fascinating until Arthur Ford starts talking to Ruth about celebrities in the hereafter. I tuned out on those chapters. Read them in a hit and miss way. I'm not impressed with whatever celebrities and past famous folks are doing "over there". Anyway, the other chapters kept my interest enough to say "hmmmmm, could be and that's cool."

Wordy in the writing style. Ruth typed what Arthur told her so suppose to be how he talked. The style makes sense considering he was born in 1897. Their conversation/writing styles would be different from our modern lexicon.

In all there are 10 books Ruth wrote around these topics. She obviously felt strongly about the subjects and wanted to share with the world.

Personally, I believe there is more beyond this physical world. However, as Ruth and Arthur stress, we are all here to fulfill our destinies, so we must learn to live in the present to make the most of our time on this plane. Love and kindness are the roots of our existence. That's the full message delivered in this book.

[Hollie Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all these books as a kid - by Ruth Montgomery, Jane Roberts, stuff like that. At this point I couldn’t tell you why I read them then. I wanted to read some again to see what I thought of them. No comment here really.
These books are pretty out there for some, but there are ways that the subject matter, and wisdom imparted, corresponds to my own beliefs. Making me wonder if it helped shaped my beliefs by reading them as a preteen

[Maggie Siewert · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of insights about spirituality and life after death. Many of these insights are similar to things I've heard from other people (who I trust) with psychic channeling abilities. Great read if you faithfully believe in spirituality and want more information on what others have channeled.

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF…antiquated ideas and not sure about the whole walk in thing- kinda sounds made up.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book

[#D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stars are for the content, not for the writing. Thought was easy to read. Was not many new things in this book for me, but still everything is helping me to grow.

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

90% nonsense. But I did read it.

[Erik Akre · Rating 2 out of 5]

What fun! Arthur Ford, from beyond the grave, tells all about life after death!

I'm not being sarcastic. Part of me enjoyed this book very much. It's fascinating, although perhaps a not particularly well-written. Arthur's view of death and the afterlife is somewhat dualistic, vs. holistic. For me, I think the beyond might be different. But who knows? After reading this book, I still don't.

I'm sure Montgomery did indeed receive this communication from somewhere, but no one, including her, can truly know where. I do trust her, but I don't take this book as "fact." It is one perspective, from one or two beings, and there are plenty of other perspectives out there if you read enough. We might want to try automatic writing for ourselves, and see who/what communicates with us... That may be the most authentic way, instead of taking Arthur's word for it.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spooky. If you can get beyond the dated '70s-era discussions of LGBTIQA identity issues and social concerns, this book is an interesting dissection of emerging spiritual philosophies of the period. Including the charming (read: curious) notion that the children being born into that decade were reincarnated refugees from the Hundred Years War who would bring about peace in the 21st century out of a flat out 'refusal to fight' in future conflicts.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is deep! Very thought-provoking. A couple of times I found it a bit redundant but I was completely fascinated throughout.

[Nic Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

[Wes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read. Introduced me to other-world possibilies.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy. Like mind and universe sexy.

[Randall Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have purchased everything Ruth Montgomery wrote. She is a gem to say the least. I especially liked this book but loved all the others too.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her prophecies written in 1971 did not come true.