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Testimony of Light: An extraordinary message of life after death
This moving story, based on the communications Helen Greaves received telepathically from her deceased friend, is an inspiring testament to the enduring power of their friendship.
145 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
January 4, 2011
I agree this is an outstanding book, unlike anything else. A dear friend, a young mother, was dying last year, and I shared parts of this book with her, intending to comfort her and hoping to actually help her feel excited about what is to come. (She and I shared the same diagnosis, so there was a sense of urgency about learning about the realities of eternal life -- not only for her, but me too.)
Recently I met with an "intuitive" who told me my friend who'd died a year ago (the next day was the first anniversary of her death) wanted me to know she was at peace, that she appreciated the help I'd tried to provide in the months before her passing, and that I'd "be amazed to know how accurate the description was" of life on the other side! Can one imagine a higher recommendation?
In honor of my friend, I re-read this easy-to-digest book in less than a day, and now want to share it with all open-minded loved ones. (As the author relates, even the closed-minded ones eventually see the light...)
Frances Banks (not "Francis," a man's name) was a sister in the Anglican Church for 25 years (not the Catholic Church) and she left the sisterhood when her beliefs became too broad for the dogma of her Order. While the conception of what is to come includes *all* persons, she does refer to the teachings of "Master Jesus," quoting his wisdom sayings in several places. As a Christian, this book is absolutely no threat to my faith at all -- indeed it is encouraging, and to me makes a lot of sense!
This is an amazing, comforting book!
Recently I met with an "intuitive" who told me my friend who'd died a year ago (the next day was the first anniversary of her death) wanted me to know she was at peace, that she appreciated the help I'd tried to provide in the months before her passing, and that I'd "be amazed to know how accurate the description was" of life on the other side! Can one imagine a higher recommendation?
In honor of my friend, I re-read this easy-to-digest book in less than a day, and now want to share it with all open-minded loved ones. (As the author relates, even the closed-minded ones eventually see the light...)
Frances Banks (not "Francis," a man's name) was a sister in the Anglican Church for 25 years (not the Catholic Church) and she left the sisterhood when her beliefs became too broad for the dogma of her Order. While the conception of what is to come includes *all* persons, she does refer to the teachings of "Master Jesus," quoting his wisdom sayings in several places. As a Christian, this book is absolutely no threat to my faith at all -- indeed it is encouraging, and to me makes a lot of sense!
This is an amazing, comforting book!
May 13, 2013
Comforting and enlightening. Reaffirmed that Spirit is here and always waiting for us; the illusion that we must seek and find it is just that. We create our separation from the Light. Gained a new understanding and appreciation of the importance of praying for souls that have passed to ease their transition and help them move through purgatorial realms of the afterlife. No one exists in hell unless they choose it.
May 14, 2020
Can you imagine communicating at “soul level” with someone who has passed away?
Helen Greaves writes, “Gently, and with great reverence, it was borne in upon me that I was not only in touch with my own immortal soul, but also with the soul of Frances Banks. This was communion, silent, still, uplifting; a communion empty of all personality challenges, of all human conceptions. This was communion at soul level. I felt lifted out of myself into wonder and love and light.”
I read this testimony from Frances’ soul with an open heart and I’m grateful to have journeyed through her expressed words.
Frances communicates, “in this new life, the potency of thought is stepped up into a frequency which permits of no sidestepping. The effects are immediate. Here the thought-pattern is determínate of one’s welfare, one’s progress, one’s happiness and joy. As one thinks, so one is ... in environment, appearance and in company!”
“There should be no fear of death, for the death of the body is but a gentle passing to a much freer life.”
I will admit that when I was gifted this book, I was hoping it would provide a certain comfort after my dad’s recent passing. It expanded my mind, and expanded my awareness of the work that existence requires. Awareness, true awareness, takes diligence, much humility and patience and provides little comfort in the way I had originally hoped. But this, just like life on earth, has a way (for me anyway) of presenting answers as obstacles initially and comfort wrapped up in veils at times. As this is Frances journey, we learn through her certain possibilities. I don’t know what my dad’s or anyone else’s experience is after passing, but I do know that Frances’s testimony of light searching and becoming is completely worth reading. I’m grateful for her sharing.
Helen Greaves writes, “Gently, and with great reverence, it was borne in upon me that I was not only in touch with my own immortal soul, but also with the soul of Frances Banks. This was communion, silent, still, uplifting; a communion empty of all personality challenges, of all human conceptions. This was communion at soul level. I felt lifted out of myself into wonder and love and light.”
I read this testimony from Frances’ soul with an open heart and I’m grateful to have journeyed through her expressed words.
Frances communicates, “in this new life, the potency of thought is stepped up into a frequency which permits of no sidestepping. The effects are immediate. Here the thought-pattern is determínate of one’s welfare, one’s progress, one’s happiness and joy. As one thinks, so one is ... in environment, appearance and in company!”
“There should be no fear of death, for the death of the body is but a gentle passing to a much freer life.”
I will admit that when I was gifted this book, I was hoping it would provide a certain comfort after my dad’s recent passing. It expanded my mind, and expanded my awareness of the work that existence requires. Awareness, true awareness, takes diligence, much humility and patience and provides little comfort in the way I had originally hoped. But this, just like life on earth, has a way (for me anyway) of presenting answers as obstacles initially and comfort wrapped up in veils at times. As this is Frances journey, we learn through her certain possibilities. I don’t know what my dad’s or anyone else’s experience is after passing, but I do know that Frances’s testimony of light searching and becoming is completely worth reading. I’m grateful for her sharing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2014
Read for the first time in Dec of 2009. Had a son that crossed over to eternity in Dec of 2011. Just re-read this book again and it had so much more meaning for me! It's eye opening and helped me to envision what my son is experiencing "on the other side"! Would recommend to anyone that has curiosities of life beyond this earthly dimension, but I will worn you if you are engrained in Christian theology, as I was raised, you need to have an open mind to expand your knowledge of possible truths explained in this book that are not explored in the Bible. I recommend to read this slowly and absorb as you go...
February 11, 2017
This is an excellent book channeled through Helen Greaves by Frances Banks, a former Catholic nun. The two women were close friends during France's lifetime. After her passing Frances began telepathically communicating to Helen with instructions that Helen was to write in book form all that Frances tells her regarding her new experience in her new "world".
It is a clear testimony to the fact that our consciousness goes with us when we leave physical form and our learning continues forever.
It is a clear testimony to the fact that our consciousness goes with us when we leave physical form and our learning continues forever.
May 10, 2012
i've read this at least 3 times and always get something new from it. it is an extraordinary account of life after death...something i can believe in ...makes perfect sense.
August 10, 2013
A superb book describing the afterlife in the World of Spirit. It is extremely detailed and informative.
March 1, 2009
This is a very unusual book, published in England in 1969, about what the next world is like. A colleague dropped it off at my office and said it has some fascinating insights. I don't know what to say about it being "gospel truth" but do know that some of the things that the late Francis Banks describes through Helen Greaves seem to make such sense. Read D&C 76, 88, 138 and compare. A lot of fascinating concepts to think about that appear to corroborate why near death experiencers from all ethnic backgrounds talk of the light, love and peace that they felt on the other side of the veil and at the same time speak of seeing things that seem to fit their frame of earthly understanding (i.e., their religious beliefs, what heaven" is like, and more). It appears that after death we find ourselves in a place where we are slowly healed of our earthly misconceptions and taught according to our desires to understand and no faster. Banks talks of being clothed in garments of light, of the absence of time as we understand it, of the service that we are engaged in as we teach others, of temples of learning, of the possibility of eternal progression, and so much more. Food for thought.
February 21, 2011
Really makes you think about your purpose with this life. I borrowed book from friend and am now getting my own copy.
August 29, 2021
The book was written in the late 1960s by Helen Greaves, who was a writer, not a practicing medium, who was purportedly translating the messages of her departed friend, a former nun, Frances Banks, who had passed a short while before the writing. Frances was communicating to her friend Helen through telepathic writing (channeled thoughts from Frances) from the next life. We are told that Frances had been encouraged by her group of souls to contact her friend Helen in order for her to document Frances' experiences in a book for the benefit of those still residing on the earth plane, wanting to know more about the other side, and wanting to confirm that our soul and consciousness go with us.
I was particularly interested in the fact that Frances had for some 25 years, been a nun in a Christian order, but left after apparently finding the confines of organized religion no longer satisfactory as she began her lifelong quest for studying spiritual truth.
Published in 1969, Helen Greaves received telepathically (not automatic writing) from her close friend, Sister Frances Banks who died in 1965. For those of us who are curious about the after world, I'd say that Banks' sharing of life from another realm was a fascinating peek into the next world. The subject matter printed back in the 60s was well ahead of our times.
I was particularly interested in the fact that Frances had for some 25 years, been a nun in a Christian order, but left after apparently finding the confines of organized religion no longer satisfactory as she began her lifelong quest for studying spiritual truth.
Published in 1969, Helen Greaves received telepathically (not automatic writing) from her close friend, Sister Frances Banks who died in 1965. For those of us who are curious about the after world, I'd say that Banks' sharing of life from another realm was a fascinating peek into the next world. The subject matter printed back in the 60s was well ahead of our times.
December 3, 2023
Very interesting!
March 18, 2018
If you've ever wondered what heaven is really like this is probably the best book you could ever read. For years I've been intrigued by books from people who had near death experiences. However their time on the other side was usually brief, and most did not actually enter heaven or the astral realm completely. In most of these accounts they met loved ones or enlightened beings, were given tremendous insights, but ultimately returned to earth. This book first published in 1969 was decades ahead of its time because it was channelled to clairaudient Helen Graves after a dear friend, an Anglican nun, Frances Banks passed away from cancer. Frances has a keen desire to channel this book through her friend to give us all a better understanding of what heaven is like, and the many mansions and different levels we can aspire to. The channelled readings cover two years of earth time so it provides a fascinating account of how Frances Banks progressed spiritually while she was in heaven. She stresses many times the importance of service to others while on earth and once we cross over. Her work in heaven was not that different from her work in her religious order, since she counselled and helped newly arrived souls make the transition. She gives you great detail of daily life in heaven, how we gravitate to soul groups working with people who share our interests, and the infinite possibilities in these heavenly realms. Really essential reading for anyone who has a fear of death, or is curious about what really happens once we are no longer reliant on our physical body and must learn to adapt to life as a spiritual or light being.
September 6, 2016
Comforting and yet...
I truly enjoyed this book... so much so that this earthly life seems like a drudge! I had to remind myself of the value of this life, because the narrator makes such a convincing case for heaven! After all, this is the only chance we get with the players and circumstances assembled this way. No repeat performances...reincarnation maybe true, but this is the only time we get to have this life, so enjoy it!!
I truly enjoyed this book... so much so that this earthly life seems like a drudge! I had to remind myself of the value of this life, because the narrator makes such a convincing case for heaven! After all, this is the only chance we get with the players and circumstances assembled this way. No repeat performances...reincarnation maybe true, but this is the only time we get to have this life, so enjoy it!!
May 25, 2020
Reading about the afterlife has always been a part of my experience, although mostly it was for the titillation factor, and the what ifs. This book changed all that. This is the book that cracked my facade of too cool to believe and allowed me to understand the reality of the Afterlife. Thank you, Helen, and Francis, for that enormous gift. When I see you on the other side you better expect a giant hug!
May 14, 2014
Frances Banks was an Anglican nun who died in 1965, and whose account of the period soon after her death is full of beautiful and touching stories and gorgeous scenes, all perfectly consistent with the rest of the evidence.
August 27, 2018
I love reading about the afterlife. This is another testimony that our souls live on after death. I resonated with this book and felt a greater peace while reading it and afterwards. If you are open and curious about your soul, I highly recommend this read.
January 2, 2013
AWESOME STUFF!
April 1, 2025
It is easy to get caught up in the religiosity of this book. However, there is more to it from a solely spiritual perspective, this book (be it fiction or non) can leave one with two guiding principles for life. The first is to find one's calling, the reason we exist on earth (our soul's purpose). Whether or not you believe in God, this tenet will help one live a life worth living, in turn this can deter the negatives in life that can start to overshadow the joy. We all have that one pessimist friend- I always found it fishy that nothing seems to go right for them. Perhaps, a little optimism would change their fortune. The second principle is to recognize that everything is one- people, animals, objects- we all carry energy. If you can recognize this then you will walk through the world with empathy and caring since we are all the same. (Scientifically energy can be neither created nor destroyed, so this really shouldn't be that hard to grapple with). Surely, even if there is no afterlife, this is the legacy you'd want to leave behind.
October 22, 2024
Crikey. New(ish) to the subject I was glued to the text throughout. Quite a novelty, a non-fiction book dictated from beyond the grave. Difficult to star-rate this as there aren't too many in the genre to compare it against. Plus, do you rate the quality of writing only, or does the credibility of the content have some bearing on your rating? In the end I dropped a mark because of what we didn't learn about our next existence. Why on Earth didn't the writer ask some questions as I was left with many. Are there books to read? Can you play tennis? Is boredom a 'thing'? But a remarkable book nonetheless.
October 20, 2023
A little treasure :
This book has given me so much to ponder over... since finishing this book I have dreamt about my own soul group and found the experience to be very calming and also answered alot of questions I had about family members who have already passed on.
I particularly enjoyed the transformation of Francis, it made perfect sense that it would take time to reach our full potential or to gain our wings so to speak. A brilliant book to read if you are curious about the hereafter or searching for dome peace regarding death.
This book has given me so much to ponder over... since finishing this book I have dreamt about my own soul group and found the experience to be very calming and also answered alot of questions I had about family members who have already passed on.
I particularly enjoyed the transformation of Francis, it made perfect sense that it would take time to reach our full potential or to gain our wings so to speak. A brilliant book to read if you are curious about the hereafter or searching for dome peace regarding death.
September 12, 2021
Helen Greaves has written a book mostly psychically dictated by her deceased friend, Frances Banks, a former nun. Frances gives incredible insight about what happened to her after she died, where her soul went to, and what everyday 'life' is like on the other side. I found it all quite fascinating, and now realise the earthly body is but a shell to be eventually discarded so that the soul can go on to higher spiritual planes which we cannot access while we are alive.
September 14, 2023
Be the light in the world 🌎.
I like how matter of fact straight forward this spiritual book is. There's no holding back. We must do the inner work for our own advancement on the path. There's a few tips about how to do that along the way. What a blessing this book is at this amazing time after covid separated families and friends but could not divide our souls. Thank you Helen and Frances and the group soul of goodwill fellow ship. Dr.E.C. from California.
I like how matter of fact straight forward this spiritual book is. There's no holding back. We must do the inner work for our own advancement on the path. There's a few tips about how to do that along the way. What a blessing this book is at this amazing time after covid separated families and friends but could not divide our souls. Thank you Helen and Frances and the group soul of goodwill fellow ship. Dr.E.C. from California.
October 8, 2020
This is a fascinating view into a person's experience of life after death - rather than a near death experience, this is received by a third person of someone who has stayed over on the other side. Its messages have to do with progression, how we personally accept and get more light in this life and the next. I really enjoyed this perspective.
April 29, 2022
brilliant
Perhaps the most compelling description of the after life I have encountered.
Simple to understand, yet profound in its description, this book aligned a lot of my personal experience with wisdom tradition teachings.
Fantastic!
Perhaps the most compelling description of the after life I have encountered.
Simple to understand, yet profound in its description, this book aligned a lot of my personal experience with wisdom tradition teachings.
Fantastic!
August 15, 2021
Makes some interesting observations, but for a more detailed understanding of the soul groups, I recommend Michael Newton’s Journey of Souls.
February 22, 2022
I pretty much hated this book. Hated it. And this is the first book I've ever said that about.
October 17, 2022
Brilliant
Very inspirational and full of wisdom. Exhilarating. Channeled by Helen Greaves, this book is a must for spiritual seekers. Hight recommended.
Very inspirational and full of wisdom. Exhilarating. Channeled by Helen Greaves, this book is a must for spiritual seekers. Hight recommended.
October 26, 2022
a must read
This should be required reading for every person. It gives such an amazing and detailed perspective of what awaits us on the other side.
This should be required reading for every person. It gives such an amazing and detailed perspective of what awaits us on the other side.
May 16, 2023
Such a comforting and enlightening book. A must read for anyone of any religion.
April 17, 2024
Loved this book. It answered so many of my questions. I will recommend it to friends and family.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews