Living Beyond the Earth Plane — A Channeled Perspective

(Through Rosemary Brown) 

 

 

 

"I could not myself believe that I had passed through death's door upon my arrival here: the entire experience is so natural, so automatic, so serene, and so imperceptible from the soul aspect . . ."

 

 

Among the many transcripts presenting perspectives of transcendental communicators representing people who've made the transition to life in 'the Next World' are statements by 'Sir Donald Tovey' (1875-1940) quoted in Immortals At My Elbow (1974) [American title: Immortals By My Side], a case study book by 'psychic medium'/'clairaudient channeler' Rosemary Brown (1916-2001).  Rosemary commented that Donald Francis Tovey was one of the composers in the 'Hereafter' who communicated frequently with her in a case of psychic phenomena.  Her transcribed orchestrations of new works impressed and amazed eminent musicologists in the U.K.  She quoted Tovey in her first book Unfinished Symphonies (1971):

In communicating through music and conversation, an organized group of musicians who have departed from your world, are attempting to establish a precept for humanity, i.e. that physical death is a transition from one state of consciousness to another wherein one retains one's individuality.  The realisation of this fact should assist man to a greater insight into his own nature and potential super-terrestrial activities. The knowledge that incarnation in your world is but one stage in man's eternal life should foster policies which are more farseeing than those frequently adopted at present, and encourage a more balanced outlook regarding all matters.

Tovey described his experiencing a variety of new circumstances after making the transition from Earth life.

"Life for most people in the Hereafter holds no problems other than themselves, problems which are accentuated by the fact that we are face to face with reality and can neither deceive ourselves nor others as to our natures, intentions, aspirations, beliefs, attitudes, and limitations.  In the world of matter, it is possible to escape from one's inner self by pursuing a round of fevered activities, by procuring the pleasures of the flesh, or by rendering oneself stupefied with drink, drugs, and other mind-paralysing resorts.

"There is no avenue of escape here, and the truth about ourselves stares us unblinkingly in the eye.  To see ourselves exactly as we are, and not as we wish we were or as we might make ourselves out to be, can be a most disconcerting and humbling experience.  There is a measure of consolation, however, in knowing at last just where we stand and precisely what qualities we possess or lack.  It is always better to know definitely rather than to surmise or speculate.  We can then set about the task, if we are so disposed, of making good our deficiencies.  In this afterlife, some power has given us the gift to see ourselves as we are, not merely as others on earth saw us; for it must be borne in mind that others do not always see our true selves since they cannot know us thoroughly from within.  There is a strong propensity amongst human beings for them to misjudge each other, and their opinions of each other may be entirely false.  The truth about oneself comes direct in self-revelation activated by the Infinite Spirit, our Creator."


"Let me give an account of an event which I have witnessed on many occasions since my own departure from your world.  We observe from the sphere in which I have now taken up residence that considerable uncertainty and no little apprehension arises in the human mind concerning the experience of death and transition to another life.  Countless numbers of people have no notion at all of the process by which a soul leaves its earthly garment, the physical body, and travels to its heavenly destination.  I say 'heavenly' destination since the vast majority of people do proceed to a state which to them constitutes a heaven.

"I could not myself believe that I had passed through death's door upon my arrival here: the entire experience is so natural, so automatic, so serene, and so imperceptible from the soul aspect.  Those who fear some strange and unnerving passage might await, following the actual moment of decease, may dismiss their apprehension as totally groundless.  At the moment of death or prior to that instant, consciousness is suspended, and the soul, released from the corpse, floats freely to its new abode.  I have watched the coming of souls to my spiritual surroundings, and have seen that they appear to rise through a sea of light, gently and slowly and effortlessly, borne securely in their new bodies which are provided for their souls upon cessation of their physical existence.  In actual fact, those new bodies already existed although merged with the physical bodies and linked to them by the silver cord, as it is known.  At death, this cord is dissolved or severed, and can be compared with the umbilical cord which is also dispensed with after birth.  Death, after all, is like another birth into another world, excepting that one's new body is a counterpart of the lately vacated physical body.  When you are born on earth, you enter a body provided by your parents; when you are born into the World of Spirit, you emerge in the counterpart of that body at whatever stage it has reached, excepting that it is without defect for defects are characteristics of the world of matter and not of the world of spirit.  Does that sound too far-fetched for some to grasp?  You will understand one day that spirit is whole, therefore nothing lacks in its manifestation, but matter is incomplete and consequently subject to many imperfections.

"When the arisen soul regains consciousness, it awakens to peaceful surroundings where it finds friends or relatives waiting to greet it and make it feel at home.  I am speaking of the average soul, and not of those whose consciousness has become clouded by the shadows of a wildly misspent life or darkened by sinking into the murky depths of questionable activities.  We recognise here that the average person is not of an evil nature, although few of us pass through earthly existence without committing a few errors of some kind which are for the greater part minor offenses, occurring as a result of our lack of knowledge or because circumstances have driven us willy-nilly to be rash or thoughtless.

"After a soul has adjusted to its new life it can, if it should so wish, then take stock of its past life and extract the good to carry forward, leaving behind that which it now finds valueless.  This sounds a simple process, but it is not easy to abandon the habits of a lifetime or to reorientate speedily a misinformed outlook.  Indeed, there are some who cling tenaciously to their old beliefs even when it should be obvious to them that they are false; fear of letting go or false pride will hold people back from progressing into enlightenment.

"One thing does become rapidly clear to newly-arrived souls; that is the divine order of the nature of things.  Each and every soul meets here with its just deserts, not because they are dispensed by a presiding deity, but because it is literally true that one reaps what one has sown.  If one has endeavoured to make the lot of others easier in earth life and sought to promote the welfare and happiness of one's fellow beings, then one finds oneself in a pleasing environment amongst congenial companions, and able to adapt without difficulty to the new mode of living.  But those who have deliberately deprived others of their material rights and human needs, or have wantonly caused suffering, will find themselves in turn deprived and also imprisoned by their own meanness of outlook.  This does not mean that they are trapped forever in a self-made hell; the moment a soul sees and confesses its past misdeeds and attempts to rectify them, the way opens for it to evolve into the light.  True repentance, as the Churches teach, is the key to forgiveness and salvation.

"This exposition is in danger of becoming a sermon, and not one of us has the right to sermonize to another.  We believe here in learning together, and none dares set himself or herself up as superior to others; for we realise, if we had not already done so on earth, that we are all equal in the sight of God, and that it is only by His Will that we possess our individual talents.  We witness that it is true that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he; we see each other precisely as we are which can cause not a little consternation in the first instance.  All the polite or misleading lies people tell become transparent tissues without any power to dissemble.  We can see at a glance, almost, whether we have misjudged or failed to appreciate others or whether we have overrated them.  This is indeed a world of Truth and Reality, of which the material world is a distorting mirror."

Sir Donald went on to describe the happiness which can be experienced in the Next Life.

"The greatest joy for most risen souls is to find that there is full scope for the harmonious development of self-expression.  All the bitterness of frustration dies away as each one unfolds his or her own gifts becoming capable of giving happiness to others by their use.  I myself could never peruse enough during my life on earth although I read very extensively; I have been an avid reader here in the splendidly equipped libraries that are established on various planes of consciousness.  I found speedily on my reading excursions in this domain that many fabled stories are based on fact, and that not a few things solemnly held to be actually true are, conversely, figments of the imagination.

"I believed, for example, that a man is a man not solely by virtue of the male body he inhabits, but also by some undefined quality or qualities of his nature, and that a woman is a woman by the same precedent.  Since my arrival here, and prolonged study of this matter, I have with some bemusement altered my ideas concerning the differentiations.  It is becoming understood in the world, perhaps with reluctance in some male preserves, that the line of distinction between the two sexes is in many respects not as marked or as constant as formerly believed.  This is drawing much nearer to the fundamental truth than can be imagined.  Only now am I beginning to comprehend the truth of the matter, that is, that every human being, irrespective of sex, is of identical essence though manifesting in different forms.

 

"Those who have incarnated in feminine guise are usually happily surprised to discover that in the World of Spirit there is no distinction whatsoever drawn between female and male, because these are recognised to be simply aspects of physical existence bearing no relationship to the eternal nature of the soul.  They are happily surprised because they find themselves in a world or sphere where they will no longer be discriminated against or deprived of various rights and opportunities on account of their sex.  In the Hereafter, one is estimated according to one's innate qualities and cultivated merits, and the question of sex does not enter into account.

 

"Those who incarnated in a male guise are sometimes disconcerted to find their traditional male superiority, if they so regarded it, without any continuance in the afterlife.  Intelligence, character, and even physical strength so patently vary irrespective of sex on the earth plane that it should be a matter of no great difficulty for the perceptive to deduce that a male physique does not necessarily guarantee possession of superiority in any of these respects any more than a female physique necessarily disqualifies superiority.  One is limited, it is true, by the form one takes in the world of matter: but a male can be a physical weakling or a mental defective, and a female can be endowed with muscular power and intellectual ability.  So the masculine and feminine roles are not to be so categorically defined as our predecessors might have held, that is, not with regard to their physical and mental capabilities.

"Humanity squanders much of its female resources, or has done so until recently, by retaining the male prerogative with regard to the vast majority of issues, which has thrown the burden of the world's business onto masculine shoulders.  My contemporary, Bernard Shaw, suggests quizzically but not quixotically that this status quo is due to female guile having prevailed on man to carry the responsibilities of business and state thus relieving woman of these loads.

"Opportunities for all to develop their abilities and put them to use in the service of the community should be available irrespective of class, colour, creed, nationality, or sex, if the world is to benefit fully from its human resources.  There is such a deplorable waste of ability in all sections of society.  This adds to the attendant miseries of a planet populated by people of which a large percentage is underprivileged and over exploited.  With the network of communications and travel facilities drawing the world's inhabitants into increasing contact, the need to ensure that no group or nation is deprived or oppressed becomes a vital issue which will tolerate no further procrastination or neglect."


"The intricacy of modern politics renders it increasingly difficult to comprehend the purposes of national and international federations and confederations.  So many groups are divided against themselves in a free-for-all where each seems concerned only with his own immediate benefits; few appear to have the foresight that would enable them to realize that no individual person or separate section can obtain complete satisfaction of their needs and wants unless they are compatible with the integral life about them.

"Mankind tends to use its intellect as a weapon of destruction against others rather than as a constructive force, and its strength to strike fear into all and sundry, rather than as a power to protect the interests and welfare of all human beings, especially the helpless, the defenceless, and the underprivileged.  The destructive element has become preponderant and erupted into demonstrations which often deteriorate into disorder and violence, and which seldom achieve anything except an aversion towards such methods by all law abiding citizens, and damage to the image of their case, be it sound or unreasonable.  No lasting result of estimable standing can ever be obtained by the use of pragmatic persuasion or tyrannical tactics since this unfailingly provokes resentment in some quarters where it will smoulder in an uneasy threat to the continuation of the practices or principles which have created disaffection."


"Some of the less discerning amongst the younger generation wish the use of certain drugs to be made legal, although these drugs are known to carry a medical risk in escalating addiction.  It is a sad verdict on the present day prevailing climate that there are people who feel they have to resort to drugs to enable them to cope with the pace of life.  We seem to be losing our spiritual backbone.

"There are, of course, diverse real and urgent problems and flagrant injustices affecting people of all ages and groups.  Humanity is in a melting pot of its own overheated emotions, and the heat may inflame many a normally cool customer into searing speeches and feverish efforts which sometimes prove regrettable and go up in smoke."

 

 

"Speech is limiting; there are ideas we wish to convey which are difficult to clothe in words.  We range in ranks from the immature souls to the highest developed ones who are consciously and constantly in the presence of God.  From the heights the Light streams down, entering into the souls of all receptive to its Power; this Light is an energy force, a life essence, which is very real and factual.  We need energy to communicate with you; we need to harness and direct it; you need to learn to receive it without distortion or oscillation.  The human mind is such that it interprets all things according to its own scope of understanding."

 

 

"Mankind as a whole has been isolated from the Godhead as a result of its folly and selfishness; but a time has come when it is no  longer prudent to leave Humanity in its chaotic thoughts and violent emotions; it has had, as it were, enough rope to hang itself, and has almost succeeded in so doing.  Time now to call a halt and assist Humanity to reorientate its outlook before it is lost forever.  These, you will say, are words of grave portent, but we do not speak idly.  There is growing concern over here regarding the present state of your world which appears to be growing less civilised.  It shall be easy for us to turn our backs and leave Humanity to its own ends, but so many innocent ones suffer and so many cry out for help that we would have to be deaf indeed not to hear.

 

"One of the greatest sins on earth by far is the laissez-faire practice; the other extreme is the over-officiousness which spells interference with the rights of the individual.  True, the individual cannot be upheld to the detriment of the masses, but to sink individually into a morass of herd consciousness (we should, perhaps, say unconsciousness) is the beginning of the end. . . ."

Rosemary Brown reported that in September 1968 Tovey dictated to her the following perspectives.

 

"The world at the present time can scarcely see God for 'isms' and 'ologies.'  Until the Creator is placed first and foremost before ideas, humanity is going to continue living in confusion and chaos.

 

"Man thinks he can think out the truth — The Eternal Truth — with his brain; this is not so, as we speedily discover upon entering the Life after Death.  Man's brain, when wisely employed, can perform many noble and useful tasks, but it is solely through his higher mental powers, the intuitional mind of the God-self, that he can reach the Eternal Truth.  This is plain fact, not a meaningless statement unsuitable for application to everyday life.

 

"It is reasonably clear that, had Man's brain been the instrument which could conduct him to the Truth, he would have reached it long ago, for Man has sought for centuries — nay, for thousands of years to gain access to the Truth.  His brain has helped him to understand many of the laws governing the material and physical planes, and given him a little insight into the psychology of the individual, but nowhere along the line of evolution has it brought much light to bear upon the nature and function of God, or revealed much concerning Man's soul or immortal self. 

 

"It can be deduced that the brain is not constructed in such a manner to be capable, on its own, of penetrating into the inner and less tangible planes.  Yet Man, in his pride of intellect, sometimes believes that spiritual enlightenment can come only through the expansion of the intellect. 

 

"Now I would lead you along a different path conducting you to levels of consciousness which, although linked to the intellect in many cases, by far transcend the powers of perception of the physical brain.  To avoid confusion, we refer to the intellect of the body as the brain, and to the higher mental faculty as the mind.  The brain perishes with the physical body, but we have demonstrated our continual powers of thought and imagination and recollection after we have vacated our physical bodies.  This shows that immortal Man functions independently of the physical brain, and that he possesses ethereal organs which are imperishable and continue to operate after physical death.  It is reassuring to know that we can continue to expand in consciousness after we have left the earth plane, and extend our development beyond the limits it had reached during our earth life.

"As with all organs or faculties, neglect of the higher mental faculty or mind or intuition, call it what you will, brings about a state of atrophy.  Mankind as a whole has for so long neglected or ignored this faculty that it has fallen into gross disuse; indeed, as often as not, he is not even aware of its existence, and may even strenuously deny it.

 

"Part of our task from our celestial realm is to foster an awareness of this faculty and to encourage its resuscitation.  To impart the knowledge which can teach Man to use this dormant faculty will be a lengthy and delicate task; we need to provide examples of the working of this faculty to give a glimpse of the magnificent achievements which lie ahead in this field for those who will devote themselves to the cultivation of the higher mental powers.  We are endeavouring to use many channels to indicate the scope of these powers, and to give the parapsychologists openings into the investigation of their functions.  Our endeavours often have to be sustained in the face of that disbelief: blind, indeed, for there are none so blind as those who will not see.  We are striving to eliminate errors and misunderstandings in transmission, which are sometimes caused by factors on one level and at other times by conditions surrounding your world or the channels we select.  Until effective apparatus has been invented and constructed in your world to receive our transmissions, we have to rely on human channels with all their variability."

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Also see: Metaphysical Articles Index, "Channeling Cases - Articles and Videos Links Index", "'We' and the Mediums of Oneness", "Case Profile: Rosemary Brown", "Rosemary Brown's Comments about Direct Voice Medium Leslie Flint" and "'Mr. Johnson' Speaks from the Other Side".