Looking Beyond : A Teen's Guide to the Spiritual World

by James Van Praagh, Benjamin Vincent (Illustrator)

Who Do You Think You Are? Have you ever wondered who you really are and what you are doing here? Believe it or not, the simple truth is that everything you want to know is already inside you. Renowned psychic and bestselling author James Van Praagh has learned a lot through his amazing ability to communicate with the spiritual realms, and in Looking Beyond he shares with teens what the spirits have taught him, including The real deal about soulmates (hint: you have more than one!) Why you have the parents you do What the heck spirit guides are and how to use them How dreams can increase your creativity Ways to develop your sixth sense The lessons you were born to learn Looking Beyond gives you the tools you need to uncover the power, strength, and talent to fulfill your unique destiny. If you would like to begin the journey to discover the real you?the person you are meant to be?just turn to page one and let Van Praagh show you the way.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction

160 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

His very natural, easy-going style would lead you to believe that James Van Praagh is chatting with a friend on the telephone, not communicating messages from the grave. James is a survival evidence medium, meaning that he is able to bridge the gap between two planes of existence, that of the living and that of the dead, by providing evidential proof of life after death via detailed messages. "I'm clairsentient," he explains, "which simply means clear feeling. I feel the emotions and personalities of the deceased. I am also clairvoyant," he adds, clarifying that, "the first is feeling, the second is seeing, very much like Whoopi Goldberg in the movie, Ghost." The true essence of the messages are the feelings behind the words. James is an expert on this subject, since he has been in touch with those feelings most of his adult life. "The spirits communicate by their emotions. No words exist in the English language, or any other for that matter, which can describe the intense sensations."

Personality traits come in as well. If a person was talkative while alive, he will come through with plenty to say. James also relays physical traits and death conditions as evidence. "If I convey recognizable evidence along with even a fraction of the loving energy behind the message, I consider the reading successful."

James' public popularity began during his appearances on the NBC talk show The Other Side. The show concentrated on paranormal issues, and James became the favorite guest and resident expert on the subject of life after death. Even Howard Rosenberg, the Los Angeles Times distinguished television critic, dubbed James "spectacular".

Through the years his message of hope has touched a great many more people due to his television appearances on such shows as Oprah, Larry King Live, Dr. Phil, A&E Biography, Maury Povich, 20/20, and 48 Hours. His unique paranormal experiences during the past twenty-five years have seen him author best-selling books, create meditation programs and development videos, teach mediumship classes, conduct seminars to sold-out audiences, and produce successful television projects.

Reviews

[Ross Blocher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Looking Beyond is supposed to be a guide for teens to the spiritual world. Even if that were somehow a legitimate topic, I still couldn't recommend this book - it is primarily full of obvious platitudes, too cliché to merit publishing. It's not organized very well, either, and jumps from one vague sentiment to another. So, if you were wishing there was a book that feels like a compendium of all the fortune cookies that don't actually tell your fortune, then here you go.

James Van Praagh claims to be a psychic medium - someone who can communicate with the dead. He says that he has seen ghosts since he was a kid - just like The Sixth Sense, but the ghosts always happy and positive. That is certainly not the end of the movie references - he also claims to be pulling us out of The Matrix. And my personal favorite: "Could there be alien life forms right her on our planet? Of course there are. Wasn't that what they were trying to tell us in the movie Men in Black?"

If he truly saw dead people all the time as he grew up, then it's impossible to believe his story that he didn't know what a medium was or pursue the spiritual world until he became an adult. Keep your story straight, buddy! One might expect from the premise of the book that he'd be giving instructions to do what he does as a medium. There's shockingly little of that - really, only the repeated recommendation that one be open to intuitive experience and not be discouraged by little things like disconfirming evidence. As Van Praagh says, "Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to."

Again, this is aimed at teens, and Van Praagh frequently talks down to his audience while trying to conjure relevant examples. This produces lines like: "Laughter actually transforms your body chemistry for the better. And anyway, you don't want to grow up and have all those frown lines on your forehead." Or, "Just imagine what it would be like if you could use TV or Nintendo to help you understand what's going on in your life..." His examples are flat and unspecific, and the characters and stories he mentions feel entirely contrived. For example: "Candace had been overweight since the age of ten. When she was in junior high, kids called her 'Fat Ass' or 'Pig Girl.'" The story goes on, but trust me... there's no reason to suspect Candace is someone Van Praagh really knew.

Analogies are also not his strong, suit, especially when he tries to incorporate basic science knowledge. "Remember that you're an energy being and energy is always in motion." Yeah, that's deep. And we are all carbon beings, and carbon forms intricate lattices. How does that apply to me? "Love is the energy that holds everyone and everything together. It's invisible like the air we breath. We don't question air, so why would we doubt love?" And my favorite: "If you order a cheeseburger, the universe knows the difference between cheeseburgers and tacos, so it doesn't bring you a plate of tacos."

There is no good reason to believe that anyone can converse with the dead, let alone James Van Praagh. Even if he could, this would still be an insipid book unworthy of your time.

[Robin McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

While looking for books for my daughter I came across this one. Life happened and about a year has passed before I actually read it. I am happy that I finally opened the cover and consumed the book in one morning. It is written well for many with diverse faiths. Reincarnation is one of the basic principles in the book so if your uncomfortable with that you may want to choose a different book. I found the writing easy to follow and the message well thought out and good. I will give this to my daughter to read and hope it helps her in her spiritual path.

I wasn’t a fan of some of the parts that feel like it concentrates more on “popular” teens but it does a good job covering things for most teens so I still find it relevant. I think anyone young or old could get something or be reminded of something from this book.

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It sounds as if van Praagh is writing to teens who want to become in tune with the spiritual world, not kids who are unconsciously tapping into it, who really need the answers. Most of this is the extreme beginners knowledge and on the point of everyone around you being your soulmates, as in the group of people you are reincarnated with time after time, is a bit sketchy to me. I'm not a believer in reincarnation, and nothing van Praagh has said has changed my stance on that issue.

[Read With Tarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

This book is written by a well-known clairvoyant & medium to help people to tap into their special “supernatural” talents & to step into their own power.

My Thoughts:

It’s mainly directed towards teenagers however I would also recommend it for adults who are curious about the afterlife or those who don’t know what they want to do with their life. I’d definitely recommend doing the exercises in the book. You will learn more about yourself if you do 😊

My Rating: * * * *

[Bethany]

this book is hard to explain because its a guide.if howeve you are into that sort of stuff as in spirits and ghosts and finding your sixth sense then thiis is good for you.

this book is mainly aimed at teenagers as were young and got alot going for us but we have to learn that we arnt alone and spirits and soul mates will guide us through out.

i strongly recomend this book

[Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A high schooler's guide to psychic ability was a new concept to me, but actually clearly and concisely presented and, if basic, still rather informative.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in one night! Very good! :)