AS2021-10: VISTA Program: Applying Controlled Remote Viewing to Afterlife Research - Mark Boccuzzi Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | Although information about what the afterlife is like has been included in mediumship readings, channeled content, reports of near-death experiences, and religious texts, the VISTA (Validating Independent Surveys of The Afterlife) Research Program at the Windbridge Research Center aims to incorporate experimental controls including masking/blinding, randomization, and detailed data analysis in order to acquire information about ‘where’ consciousness goes after physical death. A Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV) protocol was used in which participants were only given random alphanumeric target IDs (e.g., 8392Y8) and asked to provide any relevant information about the target including people, locations, and/or activities. Three target IDs were associated with the afterlife in general, a deceased individual (a discarnate), and a physical life target to serve as a control. Although analyzing the results of an “unknowable” target like the afterlife can be difficult, CRV has been used since the 1960s, is tightly controlled, has produced multiple published papers and meta-analyses across different domains that show an effect, and involves an active population of Remote Viewers interested in research many of whom are comfortable working under “laboratory conditions.” The details of an exploratory pilot phase of the VISTA protocol are described. Blinded descriptions of the afterlife included terms like expansive, enchanting, forever, warm, non-judgmental, synchronized, open, and intriguing. These preliminary data are the first of their kind and may serve to alleviate death anxiety when replicated and combined with other survival research.citation: Boccuzzi, M. (2021, August 11). The VISTA Program: Applying Controlled Remote Viewing to afterlife research [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/DsHM8V6D6skThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and ad-free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
End of Year Holiday Thoughts Windbridge Research Center 2024-12-21 | Source:podbean.com/eau/pb-kxdvg-177deeeIn this heartfelt holiday episode, Anna and Aaliyah explore how the season can deepen connections with loved ones, both here and beyond. Discover comforting ways to honor memories, embrace traditions, and focus on meaningful bonds amidst the hustle of the holidays.
End of Year Holiday Thoughts Windbridge Research Center 2024-12-21 | In this heartfelt holiday episode, Anna and Aaliyah explore how the season can deepen connections with loved ones, both here and beyond. Discover comforting ways to honor memories, embrace traditions, and focus on meaningful bonds amidst the hustle of the holidays.
Well, Actually…Debunking Myths About Mediums Windbridge Research Center 2024-11-13 | Source:podbean.com/eau/pb-jnbf3-173bad4In this special radio-play episode of the Windbridge Afterlife Science Podcast, Anna takes on skeptical Uncle Harold in a lively debate that tackles common myths about mediums. With humor and science, they explore fascinating research and share surprising insights about consciousness and mediumship. Don’t miss this unique listen!
Well, Actually…Debunking Myths About Mediums Windbridge Research Center 2024-11-13 | In this special radio-play episode of the Windbridge Afterlife Science Podcast, Anna takes on skeptical Uncle Harold in a lively debate that tackles common myths about mediums. With humor and science, they explore fascinating research and share surprising insights about consciousness and mediumship. Don’t miss this unique listen!
Exploring the Afterlife: Remote Viewing and the VISTA Project Windbridge Research Center 2024-10-21 | Are you curious about the afterlife? In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking Vista Project, where researchers use controlled remote viewing to gather insights about what happens after we die. Discover how this innovative approach may reduce death anxiety and offer a glimpse into life beyond. Don't miss this fascinating discussion!---Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center. The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public. For more information and learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.org This video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Exploring the Afterlife: Remote Viewing and the VISTA Project Windbridge Research Center 2024-10-21 | Are you curious about the afterlife? In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking Vista Project, where researchers use controlled remote viewing to gather insights about what happens after we die. Discover how this innovative approach may reduce death anxiety and offer a glimpse into life beyond. Don't miss this fascinating discussion!
A Special Message from the President of the Windbridge Research Center Windbridge Research Center 2024-10-14 | In this special episode, the Windbridge Research Center’s President, Jack Crittenden, shares a heartfelt message about the significance of October, Halloween, and our continued connections with departed loved ones. Learn how your support helps advance groundbreaking research and education on afterlife science. Tune in for an inspiring message!
Exploring Afterlife Beliefs in Psychotherapy Windbridge Research Center 2024-10-08 | In this episode of the Windbridge Afterlife Science Podcast, Anna and Aaliyah explore how afterlife beliefs influence therapy and mental health. They discuss the SRRT model from a peer-reviewed paper, offering insights on how therapists can support clients navigating grief, spiritual experiences, and ongoing relationships with deceased loved ones.
Continuing Bonds: Redefining Grief and Connection Beyond Death Windbridge Research Center 2024-09-30 | In this episode, we explore the Continuing Bonds perspective on grief, a compassionate approach that encourages maintaining connections with deceased loved ones. We discuss how mediumship readings and after-death communication can provide emotional healing, offering comfort and validation to those navigating loss. Join us for a heartwarming conversation on enduring love.
Exploring the Afterlife of Our Animal Companions Windbridge Research Center 2024-09-21 | The Windbridge Afterlife Science Podcast S1 E4In this Windbridge Afterlife Science Podcast episode, we explore animal consciousness surviving after death, drawing from scientific research, end-of-life experiences, and after-death communication experiences. Join us for a heartfelt discussion about the deep bond we share with our animal companions and how it continues beyond the physical realm.For more information about this and other episodes, please visit www.AfterlifeScience.orgEducational video from the Windbridge Research Center. The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public. For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.org This video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Testing the Accuracy of Mediums Windbridge Research Center 2024-09-08 | In this episode of the Windbridge Afterlife Science Podcast, hosts Anna, Aaliyah, and Mave explore the scientific methods used to test the accuracy of mediums. Learn how the Windbridge Research Center's quintuple-blind protocol ensures valid results and how this research impacts our understanding of consciousness and life after death. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion and visit windbridge.org for free resources and to support the research.
Beyond the Brain: Exploring the Survival of Consciousness Windbridge Research Center 2024-09-08 | In this episode, Anna and Aaliyah explore what happens after we die. They discuss the scientific research that supports the idea of consciousness continuing beyond physical death. From past life memories to near-death experiences, join them for a thought-provoking conversation about life after death. Visit windbridge.org/education to access this and other free resources.
After-Death Communication: Comfort, Connection, and Healing Windbridge Research Center 2024-09-07 | In this episode of the Windbridge Afterlife Science Podcast, we explore After-Death Communication (ADC) experiences and their ability to bring comfort, connection, and healing to those grieving. Learn about the four types of ADCs. Whether you’ve had an ADC or are simply curious, join us as we discuss the science behind these experiences and their role in processing grief.
Correlating mediums’ accuracy under quintuple-blind conditions with five facets of mindfulness Windbridge Research Center 2022-12-29 | Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center. Beischel, J., Conboy, L., Boccuzzi, M. (2022). Correlating mediums’ accuracy under quintuple-blind conditions with five facets of mindfulness [Conference session]. Joint conference of the Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE) and the Parapsychological Association (PA).An accompanying resources PDF for this presentation is available here: windbridge.org/papers/Beischel_Conboy_Boccuzzi-SSE-PA2022-Resources.pdfThe mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public. For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.org This video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Shift Network: Love Beyond the Veil with Julie Beischel, PhD Windbridge Research Center 2022-12-28 | Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center.Julie Beischel, PhD, the Windbridge Research Center’s Director of Research, took part in the online Beyond The Veil Summit. In this presentation, Dr. Beischel proposes that love is a universal force that keeps us connected to the departed and how grief may be alleviated by recognizing these continuing bonds.This interview is part of the Beyond the Veil Summit, a free online event. For more information, please visit https://beyondtheveilsummit.com. This recording is a copyright of The Shift Network. All rights reserved. The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public. For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.org
Animal After-Death Communication: Visualized by Audreys Project Windbridge Research Center 2022-08-02 | Coal: An Audrey’s Project VideoTrigger Warning: Loss of a companion animal. Viewer discretion advised.About Audrey’s Project:Audrey’s Project, a Windbridge Research Center educational program, creates collaborations between after-death communication (ADC) experiencers, researchers, mental health professionals, artists, and technologists. Together, these multidisciplinary teams transform submitted, written reports of ADCs into rich multimedia (video, images, sound, music, and interactivity) exhibitions. The goal is to create a library of these enhanced experiences that help foster in-depth public engagement with ADCs, promote healing, and further normalize ADC experiences.In line with the Center’s mission, the compiled library will be offered online to clinicians, researchers, and the general public as a free, open-access resource. For more information, please visit: windbridge.org/audreys-project-newsVideo Credits:Music: Make A Wish by Scott Holmes Music (CC BY-NC 4.0)Images: Pexels.comEducational video from the Windbridge Research Center. The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public. For more information and learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.org This video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0Coal: An Audrey's Project Video - A collection of visualized after-death communication experiences
Julie Beischel, PhD & Mark Boccuzzi - Dreaming with the Departed: Continuing Your Eternal Connection Windbridge Research Center 2022-04-28 | This interview is part of the Dreamwork Summit, a free online event. For more information, please visit https://thedreamworksummit.com. This recording is a copyright of The Shift Network. All rights reserved.An Interview with Julie Beischel, Ph.D. & Mark Boccuzzi, Co-Founders Windbridge Research Center Hosted by Theresa Cheung Mark Boccuzzi and Dr. Julie Beischel share that after-death communication experiences (ADCs) are a normal and natural part of grieving. Dream contacts with departed loved ones are a common form of ADCs.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public. For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.org
AS2021-09: Scientific Evidence for Life After Death: The Accuracy and Experiences of Mediums Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | In this conference presentation, Julie Beischel, PhD, cites evidence demonstrating mediums’ accuracy under controlled conditions and reviews the theories of Survival Psi and Somatic Psi (these terms together more accurately reflect the proposed theoretical framework attempting to explain mediumship and have replaced terms like ‘super psi’ and ‘living agent psi.’) Dr. Beischel then reviews the findings from three phenomenological studies which examined mediums’ experiences in an attempt to break the tie as the better explanation for mediums’ accuracy. Dr. Beischel concludes that the best explanation for modern mediumship is that at least some mediums are communicating with the deceased.citationBeischel, J. (2021, August 11). Scientific evidence for life after death: The accuracy and experiences of mediums [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtube.com/watch?v=knEmUM_1OKELinks to cited work:sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830715000063windbridge.org/factsheets/WRC_accuracy.pdfyoutube.com/watch?v=A4XpQ2gTyvwEducational video from the Windbridge Research Center.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AS2021-05: The Purpose and Spirituality of Mediums – Lisa Conboy, ScD Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | In this presentation, Lisa Conboy, ScD, Windbridge Research Center Research Associate, describes the findings from a qualitative research study examining the purpose and spirituality of mediums. Mediums are defined as people who report experiencing regular communication with the deceased. This qualitative analysis describes the responses of 114 self-identified mediums and 14 pre-screened Windbridge Certified Research Mediums (n=128) to two open-ended, free-response survey items regarding their explanations for why they are mediums and how their spirituality relates to mediumship. Participants were surveyed between March and May, 2017 as part of the Secular American Mediums Survey (SAMS) Study. Not every participant answered every question. Over 90% of participants were white females; their average age was 54.2 ± 9.6 years. With IRB oversight our team coded the responses by searching for sought themes and emergent themes and condensing responses to each topic across the sample. Responses were double coded and any disagreements were addressed and solved in discussion. Found themes with common examples are reported. Major themes included concepts of being born this way, gifts from a higher power, mediumship as tapping into energy or love, combined consciousness, and multiple levels of consciousness. These results assist in a more thorough understanding of the specific experiences and beliefs of mediums. Our analysis is timely as the number of people seeking mediumship readings to address grief continues to grow.citationConboy, L. (2021, August 11). The purpose and spirituality of mediums [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/1gm_QtV_CAAThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and ad-free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AS2021-01: Welcome and Opening Remarks: 2021 Afterlife Symposium - Mark Boccuzzi Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | To welcome viewers to the Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium, Executive Director Mark Boccuzzi introduces the Symposium’s 11 presenters which include Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations.citation: Boccuzzi, M. (2021, August 11). Welcome and opening remarks [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/UwY7Gf6Kj7EThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center. The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AS2021-02: Cultural Views of Dying, Death, and What Comes Next Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | After an introduction by Windbridge Research Center Executive Director Mark Boccuzzi, Community Advisory Board Members Patricia Pearson and David B. Metcalfe explore how experiencing contact with the dead transitioned from what was seen as common in the folklore of cultures worldwide to Freud calling such experiences “wishful psychosis.” These types of experiences are still not well-received within the currently dominant paradigms and establishments. Patricia calls this “a tragic suppression of a vital part of our cultural experience.” Patricia and David also compare and contrast North American ideas with those of other cultures including Day of the Dead celebrations and they each describe their own experiences with the deaths of family members. Finally, Patricia and David propose changes for a better future including agreed-upon common terminology and year-round media attention to death and what comes next. citation: Metcalfe, D. B., Pearson, P., & Boccuzzi, M. (2021, August 11). Cultural views of dying, death, and what comes next [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/luzodFePlUwPresenters:David B. Metcalfe, Editor-in-Chief of Threshold: Journal of Interdisciplinary Consciousness Studies (TJICS)Patricia Pearson, MS, Contributor and Editorial Board Member, TJICSMark Boccuzzi, Managing Editor, TJICSPublished by the Windbridge Research Center, TJICS is a free, online-only, open access, peer-reviewed journal that disseminates information focusing on interdisciplinary studies of consciousness as it relates to dying, death, and what comes next. http://www.tjics.org/index.php/TJICS/aboutThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and ad-free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center. The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AS2021-04: End of Life Experiences – J. Beischel, PhD, & A. Rizvi, MD Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | This session of the Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium is an informal conversation between Julie Beischel, PhD, Director of Research, and Adam Rizvi, MD, Clinical Advisory Board Member and neurologist and neurointensivist. Dr. Rizvi answers questions about his perspective as a physician on the topics of dying, death, and what comes next. Having been at the bedside of nearly 1,000 patients at the moment that they passed away, Dr. Rizvi has extensive experience with this transition and wishes people took more time to consider that we’ll all be there someday. Beyond setting up expectations for the standard physical changes, the dying and their loved ones can prepare for the intangible aspects of the dying process like the emotions that may occur and being able to engage with the other side. In considering what he wished more physicians and other healthcare professionals knew about the end of life, Dr. Rizvi talks about education regarding the non-physical aspects of life and the evidence for the survival of consciousness after physical death. Drs. Rizvi and Beischel also imagine a future for healthcare in which providers are educated in how the dying process is acknowledged and practiced in various traditions so that they are capable of respecting and acknowledging all patients’ beliefs and actions. Though healthcare providers are taught to distance themselves emotionally from patients, Dr. Rizvi suggests that it is possible for providers to adopt a philosophy of loving kindness with dying patients and their families without being taken off-balance by that mindset and without having to be part of any organized faith or religion. Dr. Rizvi also shares compelling real-life stories of deaths he personally witnessed and the related events that occurred.Free End of Life Experiences Pamphlet: windbridge.org/factsheets/WRC_ELEs.pdfcitationBeischel, J., & Rizvi, A. (2021, August 11). End of life experiences [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/7hx1yWd0TnsThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and ad-free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AS2021-03: Windbridge Afterlife Acceptance and Validity Study (WAAVS) Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | In the age of COVID-19, death anxiety has increased and that suffering could be alleviated through a belief in an afterlife (that some part of our personality, consciousness, identity, or soul survives after the death of the physical body and continues to exist, at least for some period of time). The aim of the Windbridge Afterlife Acceptance and Validity Study (WAAVS) was to obtain a detailed understanding of peoples’ afterlife beliefs. WAAVS examined the extent to which people believe in the possibility of an afterlife, why they hold those beliefs, and what would be required to change their minds. Demographic and questionnaire response data from this online, self-report survey were collected during a predetermined 45-day period between 2/7/21 and 3/24/21. Respondents provided 528 usable surveys and were 77% female and 22% male with an average age of 57.2 years. Respondents could identify as fully rejecting the idea of an afterlife, tending not to believe, having no opinion, tending to believe, or fully believing in the existence of an afterlife and were then asked to explain their belief. They were then asked to describe the experiences or proof that would be required to change their minds and allow them to fully accept or fully reject the existence of an afterlife. Across all groups, 74% of participants listed personal experience as the primary factor contributing to existing beliefs or that would be required to change their beliefs. Scientific consensus was listed by a minority of participants (17%) as the contributing factor. While personal experiences can be transformative, they may also be required to change people’s perspectives or world views about the afterlife. Citation:Boccuzzi, M. (2021, August 11). Windbridge Afterlife Acceptance and Validity Study (WAAVS) [Conference session]. Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/eOZLUDn570oThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and ad-free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AS2021-06: Perspectives on Death, Loss, and Mediumship Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | This session of the Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium is an informal conversation between Mark Boccuzzi, Executive Director, and Liz Entin, founder and author of “What the F Just Happened?! - All about the afterlife. None of the woo.” Being a "science-y skeptic" and "culturally Jewish," Liz found the idea of an afterlife, if she thought about it at all, akin to a fairy tale for most of her life. After her father became ill and died in 2015, however, Liz began investigating what science had to say about the matter. The mediumship readings she subsequently witnessed appeared to her to defy the known laws of the universe. Liz and Mark discuss how her father’s death left her utterly hopeless and how contact with her father through mediumship allowed her to experience joy and hope again. Hearing about those transformative experiences affected Liz’s skeptical mother and her peers as well. When she is asked by people what one thing was most evidential for her on this journey, Liz notes that it was not a single fact or event but rather the collection of support for the reality of an afterlife from several fields of study including the mediumship research at the Windbridge Research Center and the near-death experience (NDE) and children’s reports of previous lives research at the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia, as well as the personal experiences that she and millions of others report.citationBoccuzzi, M., & Entin, L. (2021, August 11). Perspectives on death, loss, and mediumship [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/yhZTRGDQ0eUThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and ad-free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AS2021-07: Assessing Afterlife Beliefs in Psychotherapy – Beth Christopherson, LCSW Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | By increasing their comfort and competence in assessing and addressing afterlife beliefs, mental health professionals (MHPs) can better serve many of their clients. In this presentation, social worker and psychotherapist Beth Christopherson, LCSW, based on the peer-reviewed journal article "Assessing Afterlife Beliefs in Psychotherapy" (Christopherson & Beischel, 2018; http://www.tjics.org/index.php/TJICS/article/view/29/24), first reviews the research demonstrating the importance of assessing and addressing religion and spirituality (RS) in general and afterlife beliefs specifically in a psychotherapy setting. Although afterlife beliefs are often neglected in the psychospiritual literature and in many published spiritual assessment tools, a belief in the afterlife is prevalent, human relationships are of central importance in psychotherapeutic settings, relationships do not end when someone dies, and afterlife beliefs may be related to psychological health. Christopherson then provides an overview of the SRRT Afterlife Assessment Guide which follows the recommended two-phase approach for assessing RS. The development of the SRRT was informed by social work ethical standards and research in the fields of bereavement, spiritually oriented psychotherapy, and trauma. The SRRT consists of sets of modifiable sample questions organized around four concepts: Significance, Relationships, Resources, and Treatment. In the initial assessment phase, the SRRT is used to determine if afterlife beliefs are significant to the client’s well-being or the presenting issue. In the second comprehensive phase, a framework is provided for assessing the effects of afterlife beliefs on clients' relationships, identifying potential spiritual resources for clients, and collaborating with clients in order to implement client-centered forms of treatment.citationChristopherson, B. (2021, August 11). Assessing afterlife beliefs in psychotherapy [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/Z70aLo75LXUThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and ad-free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AS2021-08: Optimizing Communication Before, During, and After Mediumship Readings – WCRMs Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | Julie Beischel, PhD, Daria Justyn, Laura Lynne Jackson, and Traci BrayIn this panel discussion, Windbridge Research Center Director of Research Julie Beischel, PhD, interviews three Windbridge Certified Research Mediums (WCRMs) who have previously been screened, trained, and tested under controlled laboratory conditions. The WCRMs discuss what sitters (people receiving mediumship readings in order to connect with their deceased loved ones) can do to optimize the experience. WCRM Daria Justyn talks about what sitters can think about and do prior to a reading taking place. WCRM Laura Lynne Jackson discusses the mindset sitters can adopt while a reading is happening. And WCRM Traci Bray suggests tasks a sitter might want to consider in the days and weeks following a reading.citationBeischel, J., Justyn, D., Jackson, L.L., & Bray, T. (2021, August 11). Optimizing communication before, during, and after mediumship readings [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/MKuGqVhSuWEThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and ad-free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AS2021-11: 2021 Afterlife Symposium Closing Remarks - Julie Beischel and Mark Boccuzzi Windbridge Research Center 2021-10-16 | To close out the 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium, Julie Beischel (Director of Research) asks Mark Boccuzzi (Executive Director) to comment about the motivation behind putting together the symposium. Boccuzzi also discusses the four populations that the Center serves through its research and education missions: researchers (scientists and philosophers), clinicians (medical and mental health professionals), practitioners (mediums and psychics), and the general public. Boccuzzi and Beischel further talk about the main challenges the Center faces: limited potential funding sources, biased media coverage, and a general social reluctance toward death and related topics. Finally, it is suggested that people can support the Center by making a donation at windbridge.org/donate and should feel free to share the free Symposium content with family, friends, and colleagues.citation: Beischel, J., & Boccuzzi, M. (2021, August 11). Closing remarks [Conference session]. 2021 Windbridge Research Center Afterlife Symposium. youtu.be/oaQ6q41qT5IThe Windbridge Research Center 2021 Afterlife Symposium consisted of 11 sessions by 11 presenters including Center researchers, mediums, advisors, and contributors participating in both formal presentations and informal conversations. All 11 sessions are free and ad-free and available through the Center’s YouTube Channel (youtube.com/c/WindbridgeResearchCenter). Viewers are encouraged to view the 11 sessions in any order. The conference program webpage and PDF are available at www.Windbridge.org/afterlife2021Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and to learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Correlating Mediums’ Accuracy with their Learning Styles and Sensory Modality Preferences Windbridge Research Center 2021-07-19 | Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center. In this academic presentation, Director of Research, Julie Beischel, PhD, summarizes research findings from studies examining: the different accuracy levels of 12 certified mediums' responses to specific questions about the deceased and the relationships between certified mediums' accuracy and their learning styles and sensory modality preferences.Update:A paper based on this research has been published: Beischel, J., & Conboy, L. (2021). Correlating mediums’ accuracy with learning styles and sensory modality preferences. Threshold: Journal of Interdisciplinary Consciousness Studies, 4(1), 1-20.About the Windbridge Research CenterThe mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Unique Characteristics of Mediums Windbridge Research Center 2021-07-19 | Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center. In this short video, Director of Research, Julie Beischel, PhD, provides a brief overview of online survey results demonstrating mediums' unique biological, cognitive, psychological, physiological, and experiential characteristics compared to people who self-identify as non-mediums.The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public. For more information and learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.org This video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
A Brief Overview of Mediumship Accuracy Testing at the Windbridge Research Center Windbridge Research Center 2021-04-01 | Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center. In this short video, Director of Research, Julie Beischel, PhD, provides a brief overview of the protocol used to test the accuracy of statements provided by mediums during laboratory-based mediumship readings. She also reviews our findings to date. This protocol, which tests for Anomalous Information Reception (AIR) uses five levels of experimental masking (or blinding) that control for fraud, cueing, rater bias, cold reading, and the use of general statements. Results from our AIR experiments show that mediums, under tightly controlled laboratory conditions can provide accurate and specific information about the deceased. However, the AIR protocol alone cannot provide information about the source of the reported information. Relevant CitationsBeischel, J., Boccuzzi, M., Biuso, M., & Rock, A. J. (2015). Anomalous information reception by research mediums under blinded conditions II: Replication and extension. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science & Healing, 11(2), 136-142. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2015.01.001Beischel, J. (2007). Contemporary methods used in laboratory-based mediumship research. Journal of Parapsychology, 71, 37-68.Testing Mediums’ Accuracy Under Controlled Laboratory Conditions, Windbridge Research Center Fact Sheetwindbridge.org/factsheets/WRC_accuracy.pdfAbout the Windbridge Research CenterThe mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public. For more information and learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.org This video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
A Survey of Secular American Mediums ~ Julie Beischel, PhD Windbridge Research Center 2019-06-18 | A Survey of Secular American MediumsJulie Beischel, PhD, Director of ResearchWindbridge Research Centerwww.Windbridge.orgThis video was recorded as part of the 2018 Parapsychology Massive Open Online Course (PARAMOOC2018) presented by Parapsychology Foundation and The Alvarado Zingrone Institute for Research and EducationEducational video from the Windbridge Research Center. The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.org
What Kinds of Things do Mediums Say? Windbridge Research Center 2017-09-19 | Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center. The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
What is a Medium? Windbridge Research Center 2017-09-19 | Educational video from the Windbridge Research Center. The mission of The Windbridge Research Center is to ease suffering around dying, death, and what comes next by performing rigorous scientific research and sharing the results and other customized content with practitioners, clinicians, scientists, and the general public.For more information and learn how you can support our work, please visit http://www.windbridge.orgThis video is distributed for free under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. They may be shared, copied, and redistributed provided that appropriate credit is given (BY). They may not be used for commercial purposes (NC). No modifications or derivatives may be shared (ND). For full license details, see: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
