Afterlives of the Rich and Famous (3 page)

The Council isn’t a governing body, since government and laws are unnecessary on the Other Side. Instead, they’re entrusted by God with a variety of responsibilities that profoundly affect our lives, both on earth and at Home.

For example, one of the last steps we take in our process of incarnating is to present the “rough draft” of our chart for their divine guidance, advice, and modifications. They walk us through each and every detail of our intentions and purposes for our upcoming life and how each aspect of our chart will serve or obstruct our goals, and we never leave Home without their final sacred blessing.

And as you’ll discover, in the case of those rare, special, highly advanced spirits called Mystical Travelers, it’s the Council and only the Council that gives them the next divine assignment God has in store for them.

Exit Points

As I said, the chart we write for a new incarnation is highly detailed, and we design it with an awareness of what a grueling challenge life on earth can be. So we never complete our charts without weaving in five possible “escape routes,” or five separate ways and means to declare ourselves finished here and head Home. These five self-devised bailout scenarios are called Exit Points.

Exit Points are circumstances we prearrange that, if we choose to take advantage of them, can result in the end of an incarnation. Scheduling five of them into our chart doesn’t obligate us to stick around until the fifth one comes along. We might decide on our first, or our third, or our fourth Exit Point that we’ve accomplished quite enough this time around, and we rarely space them out evenly when we create them. We might write two Exit Points to come along in the same year, for example, and then not find ourselves confronted with another one until twenty or thirty years later.

The most obvious Exit Points include critical illnesses and surgeries and potentially fatal accidents and assaults. Whether we survive against all odds or pass away despite an optimistic prognosis is actually just a question of whether or not we choose to take that particular Exit Point.

Other Exit Points are so subtly designed that we might not even recognize them: deciding “for no reason” to drive a different route than usual to work, “trivial” delays that keep us from leaving the house on time, a last-minute change in travel plans, or canceling a social commitment because we suddenly “just don’t feel like it.” Countless seemingly meaningless decisions and incidents are often the subconscious memory of the arrival of an Exit Point that we scheduled into our chart, but decided not to take advantage of after all.

We’ve all been through the grief of loved ones who died in spite of the most heroic efforts possible and the most fervent, desperate, heartfelt prayers we can offer. It’s natural to wonder how and why we failed, how and why it wasn’t enough. Please take comfort in knowing that in the end, Exit Points are decisions made between each of us and God, taken or rejected for reasons we’ll all come to understand sooner or later, and all the efforts and prayers in the world won’t delay a chosen Exit Point or create one that wasn’t scheduled yet.

Five choices, then, ours to make, of when and how to get ourselves Home. I happen to find the fact of Exit Points to be very empowering, and I hope you do too.

Infused Knowledge

Infusion is the way in which information or knowledge is transferred from one being to another without the use of any of the five physical senses. The mind on the receiving end of infusion is given information it had no knowledge of before, with no conscious awareness of where it came from or how it was received.

Infusion is one of the most common means of communication between the spirit minds on the Other Side and the spirit minds we all possess here on earth. Remember, our lives at Home are busier, more stimulating, and more productive than our current lives can begin to compete with, and we have an unencumbered eternity to invest in our greatest passions. From medical and scientific research to exploring breakthroughs in technology to pursuing every form of the creative arts, not to mention working side by side with the brilliant minds who’ve already come and gone from this world, we devote ourselves at Home to learning, teaching, discovering, inventing, and creating and then infusing the results of our work into the minds of those on earth who can implement them most effectively.

The constant collaboration between earth and the Other Side is a powerful interdependent partnership in which work in both dimensions contributes equally to its success. This world can thank the divine inspiration of infused knowledge from Home for some of our greatest inventions, medical and technological breakthroughs, music, art, and literature. And those on the Other Side are equally grateful to their “receivers” here for putting practical form and function to the results of their efforts.

Infused knowledge, then, is the silent miracle through which we on earth continue to benefit from the ongoing works of Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Amadeus Mozart, Michelangelo, Duke
Ellington, William Shakespeare, John Lennon, Claude Monet, Abra
ham Lincoln, Madame Curie, and every other gifted spirit whose lifetime on earth made a profound, lasting impact.

Kindred Souls

When you read the definition of soul mates, you’ll discover that it’s an almost guaranteed exercise in futility to race around in search of yours, since you and your soul mate are highly unlikely to even be on earth at the same time. A few of you who’ve cherished the dream of finding your soul mate might be momentarily disappointed, and you’ll wonder who in the world you can dream of meeting instead.

The answer is, dream of meeting your kindred soul—or, more precisely, your kindred
souls,
since unlike soul mates, there are many of them, and they’re every bit as significant in their own way. Kindred souls are spirits you’ve known in one or more past lives. It’s that simple. I’m sure you’ve experienced the occasional feeling of instant familiarity, good or bad, that happens upon being introduced to a complete stranger. Instead of saying, “Nice meeting you,” you have to restrain an impulse to say, “Oh, there you are. It’s about time you showed up.”

Sometimes that instant familiarity is the springboard for another earthly relationship as friends, lovers, spouses, family members, or business associates. Other times it should be the springboard for you to run like the wind, as far away as your legs will carry you. I have a client who married a man she was sure she recognized in a past life. She was right—in a past life he was her drunken, tyrannical, abusive father. As his wife in this life, she’s still trying desperately to win his approval, and he’s still playing the role of dictator in their relationship, while the rest of the world treats him with the disregard he deserves. On her behalf, and on behalf of any of you who are locked in a struggle with a kindred soul with whom your past life experiences were probably difficult, a bit of advice: it’s almost a guarantee that you charted that person into this lifetime to learn to finally dispose of his or her power over you. That’s not “turn the tables on” or “get revenge for.” That’s “dispose of.” Walk away. The ultimate dismissal isn’t continued attention; it’s apathy. Keep engaging that person in any way in this lifetime and you can count on having to deal with him or her again next time around. It’s up to you how many incarnations you intend to waste on someone who very probably isn’t worth another moment of your time.

On the other hand, there can be great joy in recognizing and reconnecting with loving, positive kindred souls, no matter what role you’ve charted for them in this lifetime. It’s not just that small unexpected flame in your spirit you feel when a stranger seems oddly familiar. It’s not just the rare luxury of getting to skip that awkward “getting acquainted” phase, because somehow you know you took care of that several decades or centuries ago. It’s the reminder, too often lost in the translation, that every time you meet a kindred soul from some past life, you’re shaking hands with absolute proof of your own eternity. In fact, you’ll find that many of the celebrities Francine discusses have reunited at Home with kindred souls they knew and loved on earth, just as all of us will.

Life Themes

Another of the “broad strokes” we design into our chart for an upcoming incarnation is the specific purpose that defines our intended goal for that lifetime. That purpose is known as our
life theme.
We actually select two life themes to make sure we get the most out of our brief trip away from Home—a primary theme, which is essentially who we plan to be, and a secondary theme, which is another aspect of ourselves we’ll find ourselves dealing with along the way.

To give you an example, my primary theme is “Humanitarian.” It’s who I am, it’s my passion, and it’s as essential to my life as breathing. But my secondary theme is “Loner.” Conflict, or what? And I admit it, there are times when I resent having to sacrifice the strong “Loner” part of me and wish I could just disappear with my husband to some small tropical island with no cell phones and lots of great books. The interesting challenge of my secondary theme, though, is to learn to recognize it not as an obstacle, but as an aspect of myself that I handpicked and then find ways to embrace and express it without compromising my primary theme in any way.

There are forty-six life themes. As you read them and their descriptions, I think you’ll be fascinated by the positive and negative potential in each of them, depending on how they are handled. I think your spirit will resonate when you recognize your own primary and secondary themes, and I also think you’ll get some surprising insights into those celebrities whose life themes Francine mentions.

Aesthetic Pursuits.
Those with the Aesthetic Pursuits theme are driven by an innate need to create some form of artistic beauty—music, drama, writing, sculpture, painting, choreography, crafts, and so on. This drive can lead to fame and privilege, which is enjoyable if the secondary theme is compatible, but tragic if the secondary theme is in direct conflict.

Analyzer.
Those who need to scrutinize the intricate details of how and why everything works. Analyzers are invaluable in scientific and other technical areas. But their fear of missing or overlooking something can make it difficult for them to relax, trust their instincts, and stand back far enough to see the bigger picture.

Banner Carrier.
Banner Carriers are on the front lines of battles against what they perceive as injustices. Banner Carriers will picket, demonstrate, and lobby, whatever it takes to fight their idea of the “good fight.” Their challenge is to learn that they can make their point more effectively with tact and moderation than with divisive fanaticism.

Builder.
Builders are the “wind beneath the wings” of society, the often invisible but essential cogs that keep the wheels of accomplishment turning. Builders are not those who march across a stage to accept a trophy; they are those who played a major part in constructing the stage itself. They can feel unappreciated for not getting the credit they rightfully deserve, but they need to remember that the rewards for gracefully mastering the Builder theme lie in the accelerated advancement of the spirit, which is far more valuable than any trophy could ever be.

Caretaker.
The Caretaker theme is closely related to the themes of Rescuer and Humanitarian, but it goes even deeper. Those with this theme take people into their homes, give hands-on care to the elderly, and house those who’ve found themselves on the streets. They form foundations for the poor and infirm, they join groups to travel overseas and help the impoverished, and they go to prisons, mental facilities, and anywhere else they’re needed as “foot soldiers” on the front lines for the sake of the disadvantaged. Their challenge is to learn to take care of themselves while they’re so busy caring for everyone else.

Catalyst.
Those with the Catalyst theme make things happen and mobilize inaction into action. They are energetic and enthusiastic and seem to excel in stressful circumstances. On the downside, they struggle with feeling empty and depressed without a goal to tackle.

Cause Fighter.
If there is not a social issue to take on, Cause Fighters will create one. They’re the generals who command the Banner
Carriers—vocal, active, and passionate about their efforts toward a better world, sometimes at the expense of their own and others’ safety. At their most undisciplined, Cause Fighters run the risk of vying for a bigger spotlight on themselves than on the cause they’re promoting.

Controller.
At their most successful, Controllers are brilliant at
taking charge of every task at hand through wise, discreet, support
ive supervising and delegating. The least successful Controllers are those who feel compelled to dictate and judge every detail of the lives of those around them. Ironically, the biggest challenge for Controllers is
self
-control.

Emotionality.
Those with the Emotionality theme are born with an extraordinary capacity to deeply feel the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and every shade of emotion in between. Their sensitivity is both a gift and a burden, and they need more than most of us to be mindful of the importance of balance in their lives.

Experiencer.
Those who insist on trying any activity, indulgence, pursuit, or lifestyle that happens to catch their eye. They will move seamlessly from managing a retail store to joining an archeological dig in Egypt, to trying their hand at stand-up comedy, to attending rodeo clown school, not out of aimlessness, but because of a need to experience life as an active, varied series of participation events. Excessive self-indulgence to the point of irresponsibility is their greatest, most challenging hurdle.