I'd considered getting this book for a few years. It seemed to pop up every time I searched for new books on the topic of spirit communication. I think maybe it was the cover art that kept me from committing to it, but I'm not really sure. But then Lee Allen Howard, a wise new friend from Building the Bridge recommended it to me. That's all I needed. It was added to my summer reading list, which I have been making my way through quite nicely.
The Seven Methods…
Konstantinos, who is featured in a séance video from a previous post, discusses and gives how-to advice in his book Speak with the Dead: Seven Methods for Spirit Communication. These methods include (in his own words) Microphone Recording, Broadcast Static Recording, White Noise Recording, Video of the Dead, Scrying, Direct Mind Contact, and Séance Made Simple. Basically, in possibly more recognizable and current terms, these are instructions for the different ways of going about recording EVP, using radio sweep (such as a spirit box), recording Video ITC (Instrumental Trans-communication), communicating clairaudiently and clairvoyantly, and of course, séance, which you've heard enough about from me. If you're not aware of what scrying is, Wikipedia tells us “Scrying (also called seeing or peeping) is a magic practice that involves seeing things psychically in a medium, usually for purposes of obtaining spiritual visions and less often for purposes of divination or fortune-telling. The most common media used are reflective, translucent, or luminescent substances such as crystals, stones, glass, mirrors, water, fire, or smoke.” In this book, Konstantinos focuses on scrying using water.
Is it for you?
Now as usual, I have to be honest here. Written in 2001, many of the technological information or instructions are already very outdated. Not many EVP researchers stock up on cassette tapes anymore. Also, I'm not sure if many of the feedback loop instructions for video ITC would work in the new HD and digital TV world. But, if you're not someone who is already very experienced in these topics, there is still much to learn. It is very easy to understand. If, like me, you've read a trillion books on EVP and have spent quite a bit of time researching and practicing it, you won't gain much from it (unless you're looking to learn about old school techniques). But, video ITC and scrying are two things I haven't tried, and reading this book may have just given me the inspiration and confidence to give it a try sometime. And trust me, when I do you'll hear about it here.
My Favorite Part!
Want to know my favorite part? The author shows you how to perform a ritual he calls the “Ancient Rite” to prepare your mind for spirit communication and “summoning” specific spirits. I know from previous comments that summoning is somewhat controversial among my readers. I tend to think it can be done respectfully, and frankly, in this field it seems like it would be very necessary at times. Anyway, if I continue to be honest, like most practices that even mention the word “candle”, this ritual had me at hello and just seems cool and fun. But more importantly, may end up helping to prepare for some of the séances that I'll be participating in and documenting this fall.
“But you don't have to take my word for it!” (Ha! Cue the Reading Rainbow theme)
Peace!