When author Louisa Oakley Green first contacted us in regards to her book Loitering at the Gate to Eternity: Memoirs of a Psychic Bystander I was sceptical. My initial thought was, "here we go again another self published book on psychic powers written by some self proclaimed expert or paranormal guru." Amazon.com is filled with these types of books that are often poorly written and researched and that are regularly given away in order to falsely inflate numbers, and encourage log rolling reviews from friends and/or similarly styled authors. It can be depressing, particularly when someone such as myself is genuinely interested in the subject. I admit I am somewhat jaded towards these books because of it.
Despite my usual misgivings something within that first communication with Ms Green told me to give this particular book a try, and I am sincerely glad I did. Perhaps it was a bit of my own "psychic" intuition that was guiding me as it seemingly fell into my lap when I needed to read it, and squash some of my building cynicism.
Loitering at the Gate to Eternity is not a typical book on the subject of psychic phenomena. The author is not a professional psychic, nor is she a parapsychologist, which immediately gives this book a unique perspective. Louisa's memoir is based on the experience of a thoughtful, educated, and intelligent person who marries into a family that has a history of numerous psychic experiences and manifestations. The author's own beliefs, which begin in a more agnostic non-believer type camp, are shaped over time and through her getting to know her husband and his family. She shares this journey of discovery and learning with us through numerous family anecdotes. It is made quite clear that these people are not professional psychics nor psychic entertainers and have nothing to gain by sharing these stories beyond a sincere belief they are experiencing things that are extraordinary. As a "psychic bystander" the author eventually comes to accept the reality of her extended family's experiences and goes on to research and investigate the available evidence for these various psychic phenomena.
The stories and information within the book are presented in a friendly and easy to comprehend way. I personally think it will be of value to all readers no matter what their feelings on the subject. However, I don't think this book will change the mind's of the majority of non-believers. Quotes that were included from certain professional psychics that some find not very credible including myself gave me cause to pause and sigh. As a psychical researcher it is of my own opinion that some of the experiences could be rationalised and explained through natural means, and yet others were far more intriguing.
Overall the book does make for a compelling case for the reality of psychic experience, and the possibility that some of us may be more genetically predisposed to them. Those who are believers and those who are just mildly curious about these things will thoroughly enjoy and benefit from having read this book, and those of you who are non-believers may just want to give it a chance and see if you might be persuaded even just a little.
BY LISA KINTISH
STAFF WRITER
NEIGHBOR NEWS (BOONTON EDITION)
Louisa Oakley Green's career has been based on proven facts, whether writing for newspapers or the medical industry. In her book, "Loitering at the Gate of Eternity: Memoirs of a Psychic Bystander," Green uses her journalist's penchant for questioning and scientific desire for empirical data to explore the paranormal. This is not new territory for the Boonton resident, who was a skeptic of such things, but that was before her marriage of 20 years to a psychic.
Green noted, "But after more than 20 years of remarkable events, it's difficult to chalk that many things up to coincidence. It becomes real."
As for any lingering skepticism, Green offered, "I have no skepticism about the fact that our departed loved ones are still hanging around us and are avidly interested in our lives. However, my experience is that no one, not even the most talented psychic, can predict the future. Nor should anyone go to a psychic for that reason. My understanding from what I've read is that everything that everyone in this world thinks, says and does creates the future. And since we all have free will, there are many possible futures. A talented psychic may see a potential future, the question is, is that the one that will come to pass?"
With thoughts that our departed ones may actually not be all that departed, Green's outlook on death is far different then what it was 20 years ago.
She said, "I used to think that death was the end of existence. I now know this isn't the case. When we die, everyone we have ever loved who crossed over is waiting for us and there's a big reunion party. While I'm not in any rush to experience that, it's something to look forward to when the time comes."
Green's education comprised journalism classes and also biology, biochemistry, and anatomy courses for jobs in medical writing. Both these areas came into play in writing the book, with her journalist side conducting interviews with family, friends, and four professional psychics and her scientific, self-incorporating research information from scientific explorations of the paranormal. In fact, the book served to solidify her belief as she listened to the "intriguing tales" her interview subjects shared.
She said, "The people in my book are not stereotypic New Age types. They're teachers, nurses, sales managers... one is the CEO of a company. Psychic phenomena are much more common than you may think."
The balance of science with the mystical has been an ongoing theme in Green's life.
She said, "Many years ago I read a book called 'The Quantum and the Lotus,' where two scientists, one who is an astrophysicist and the other who became a Buddhist monk, try to reconcile quantum theory and Buddhist philosophy. I think there needs be no conflict between science and mysticism. One point they make in the book, which we would be well advised to take to heart, is that it is essential to temper the advances we make in science with a sense of responsibility toward how they will affect humanity. We need both."
The title of Green's book, "Loitering at the Gate of Eternity: Memoirs of a Psychic Bystander," refers to the fact that for all the psychic people in Green's life, she herself is for the most part lacking in this gift. Although she does believe that all of us, to some extent, are psychic.
Green explained, "I think we all have the potential to be psychic, but you have to be open to it. I was raised in an atmosphere where anything remotely mystical was discouraged. So, in essence, I have turned off any psychic abilities I might have and that's quite ingrained at this point in my life. I defer to my husband on such things."
The targeted reader of the book, which is an anthology of more than 100 stories, is "anyone who enjoys reading true paranormal stories," observed Green, who added, "If you're from Morris County, this book may be particularly interesting because most of the stories happened here."
Green hopes that the takeaway from the book is an open mind.
"I'm not trying to convince anyone of what they should or shouldn't believe," said Green. "It's likely that our personal experiences and cultural beliefs will ultimately determine how we react to psychic phenomena anyway. I hope people who read this book will find the tales entertaining and thought provoking. It would be gratifying if, at the very least, these stories could launch an open-minded discussion about psychic phenomena for those who are as intrigued by them as I am."
