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Back to C's Deathbed Vissions - Paranormal experiences of the dying. Most deathbed visions are apparitions of the dead or mythical or religious figures, and visions of an afterworld. Deathbed visions are significant because they provide evidence, albeit not scientific, in support of survival of consciousness after death. The visions share certain traits with mystical experiences, such as a marked sense of the sacred, profound peace, and elation.

Deathbed visions have been recorded since ancient times. Early psychical researchers, among them James H. Hyslop & E. Bozzano, collected and studied cases around the turn of the twentieth century. The first systematic study was done by William Barret, English professor of physics and psychical researcher. Barret became interested in 1924 when his wife, a physician specializing in obstetrical surgery, told him about a woman patient whose deathbed visions transformed her into a state of peace and radiance just before she died.

Theories discounting deathbed visions propose that they are hallucinations induced by drugs, fever, disease, oxygen deprivation, wish-fulfillment, and depersonalization. However, such hallucinations arising from these factors usually concern the present and not the afterworld. Furthermore, Osis and Haraldsson found that deathbed visions are most likely to occur to patients who are fully conscious.

Deatbed visions are significant to thanatology, the scientific study of death, for they show death no as extinction but as wonderous transition, a rite of passage that should be undergone consciously and with dignity. There are various arts to"right dying", as exemplified in ancient Western mystery traditions and the Tibetan Book of the Dead. In the modern West, however this passage is underminded by fear of death and high technology that enables vegetative husks to cling to pointless life as long as possible.

Demon - A low level spirit that interacts in the affairs of the physical world. Demons are universally believed to exist in numerous varieties, and may be either entirely good, entirely evil, or capable of both. They may offer advice and assistance or be responsible for bad luck, disease, illness, and death. Demons may be summoned, controlled, or expelled by qualified adepts, such as a priest, magician, sorcerer, or shaman.

"Demon" means "replete with wisdom," and is derived from the Greek diamon, "devine power," "fate," or "god." To the Greeks diamons were intermediary spirits - including those of deified heroes - between humankind and the gods. A diamon acted as an advisory spirit.

In cultures such as Shinto-Buddhist Japan, demons are associated with Ghosts of the dead.

Demons that plague humans with problems and illness are exorcised according to rituals. It is universally believed that demons may be kept at bay through various preventive rituals, suach as certain prayers or charms, or by certain amulets worn on the body or kept on the premises.

In ritual magic demons are summoned by elaborate ritualand dispatched on tasks. They are considered to be tricky and rather dangerous to work with.

Depossesion - The exorcism of attached discarnate human soirits and nonhuman spirits allegedly attached to living people. causing a host of physical, mental, and emotional ills. Types of depossesion are practiced around the world.

"Depossesion" as such is an outgrowth of past life therapy, largley as a result of the research of American psychologist Edith Fiore. The term "depossesion" is perferred to "exorcism," which connotes demonic possesion.

Most spirits are believed to be deceased humans who have not left the earth plane. They are said to attach themselves to a member of their family or find an individual who is weakened by substance abuse, hostility, or severe illness. Nonhuman spirits include elementals and evil-natured entities.

Depossesion is usually accomplished merely by persuading the spirits to depart. Patients subsequently say they feel lighter and better, though this may be due at least in part to expectations of relief.

Dowsing - Divination by using a forked rod, bent wire, or pendulum to locate people, animals, objects, and substances. The method has numerous applications, including finding underground water, oil, coal, minerals, cables, and pipes; locating missing people, murder victims, and murderers; locating lost objects and animals; and mapping archaeological sites before digging begins. Dowsing also is used to diagnose illness.

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