Letters from the Afterlife: A Guide to the Other Side

by Elsa Barker

Does life go on beyond the grave? A growing body of evidence suggests that it does. Written through the hand of Elsa Barker, an established author in her own right, Letters from the Light presents a kind of "astral travelogue" that describes--often eloquently, sometimes humorously--life in the "invisible" world.

Genres: Spirituality

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2004

About the author

American author Elsa Barker was born in 1869, in Leicester, Vermont, to Albert G. and Louise Marie Barker. Her first jobs were as a shorthand reporter, a teacher, and a newspaper writer. In 1901, she was the associate editor of the Consolidated Encyclopedia Library. From 1904-1905, she worked as a lecturer for the New York Board of Education, and from 1909-1910, she served on the editorial staff of Hamptons magazine.

Throughout her life, Barker contributed poems, short stories, and articles to various magazines. Her twenty-year career as a novelist began in 1909 with The Son of Mary Bethel. Her first volume of poetry, The Frozen Grail and Other Poems (1910), followed soon after. In 1942, Barker won the Lola Ridge Award for her poem "The Iron Age." She also achieved success with three books of "automatic" writing: Letters from a Living Dead Man (1914), War Letters from the Living Dead Man (1915), and Last Letters From the Living Dead Man (1919). In this trilogy, Barker claimed to channel the words of a Los Angeles lawyer named David P. Hutch, who died in 1912. Other publications include a one-act labor play, The Scab, which was produced in New York and Boston in 1904-06, and Stories from the New Testament for Children (1911).

Barker lived most of her adult life in New York City. From 1910 to 1914, she lived in Paris and London; at some point during her residence, she apparently studied under Carl Jung. She also lived on the French Riviera from 1928-1930. When she died on August 31, 1954, she was one of the last surviving charter members of the Poetry Society of America.

Reviews

[Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books that just jumped out at me. Once it was in my possession, I found it hard to put down. This continued as I pulled out of the parking lot, unbeknownst to me. When I finally realized what was happening, I had been on the freeway driving while reading this book for the last 20 minutes. I would only recommend this to the most proficient driver. The book is succulent. This material was dictated by Judge David Patterson Hatch through the mediumship of Elsa Barker. This process of inner world communication was made popular by other mediums such as Jane Roberts, Alice Bailey, Esther Hicks, Ruth Montgomery, and Stewart Edward White. While the Judge was physically living, he made a promise to himself that after death he would try to describe to this world, the other world, which was now his world. He picked a lady friend of his (Elsa Barker) who had the necessary prerequisite skills, and brought her up to par. The narration is that of a stranger in a strange land who is fascinated with all he surveys. He picks out a subject or area of the astral world he wants to observe, and makes astute observations, with the critical eye of a scientist. For instance he notices an astral form of a person, and wonders if its a real person or a thought form people have created by thinking about a character from a book or play. As he questions this form he comes to realize that it can be tricked with a little effort. The thing is you have to first be even critical, and this took him sometime in the beginning. Something else he talks about, is that some people in the astral world think that when you died there, you are reborn in the physical world, that is their "only" interpretation of death. The concept of spirit guides are looked at, as well as his depiction of the guide who took him on his other worldly tours. Self created hells and self created heavens are also examined from a number of view points. Another interesting subject it that of a type of "space" in which future inventions reside. Interested individuals visit this area and observe what could be. Its a museum of the shape of things to could come. The author states that a wall of non observance can be put around an ideal so it is difficult for any one else to make it real, and actualize it in the physical world, this "trick"only last for so long. Another curious phenomenon he describes is that of people in a "deep sleep" . These people "knew" that there was nothing after death, and they wanted and demanded unconsciousness and that is what they got. Other fascinating, 4 dimensional phenomenon are regaled with the zest, and enthusiasm of a prodigal son returning home to find everything has changed into the familiar. This book is well written and very easy to read, just make sure you keep one eye on the road.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it interesting, whether one believes it true or not. :) Just nice to chew on ideas every now and again.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An account of automatic writing through the author in 1913.

[Judy Escoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this and very interesting!

[Beverly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm...

[Anny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reading it in estonian language

I'm not really sure was it same book.
Title was "Reisikirjad vaimuilmast"

[Hadorah Freckles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Sheri Bessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and thought provoking read.