Panel Discussion – We Don’t Die, We Disengage

The November 11th meeting will be a unique panel format with James van Pelt of Yale opening the presentation about the subject of death, followed by a discussion with the panelists listed below and interaction with the attending membership.

Last year we had a similar panel discussion about NDEs and the member’s reaction were very positive.

Please invite anyone you think would be interested.

Thank you.

Jack and Tina

The panel will include:

James van Pelt – Forum Director:

“We Don’t Die, We Disengage…”

…is the topic for the auspicious day of November 11th (Monday) for the UConn Health Center NDE Group. The speaker, James Clement van Pelt of Yale University, has spoken there twice before.

Einstein is said to have observed, “Death is like a black box, and you can’t get in” to study it. The reverse seems true as well: once inside, you can’t get out. One thing that makes death seem so impervious to investigation is that we understand so little about the reality of life; so that’s where this talk will begin.

The NDE group is a unique audience for this topic since an unusual number of those in the group have their own direct experience with “the black box” and have gotten back out to share their expertise. Combining those accounts with neurological research into the nature of consciousness, and employing modest yet rigorous logical inferences along with glimpses from our spiritual heritage, let us discover together whether we can get a better understanding about what’s in that black box—if anything.

James co-founded and led Yale’s Initiative in Religion, Science & Technology from 2003 to 2012 and since 2000 has made presentations at conferences and symposia relevant to science-religion and consciousness studies. He has co-produced ten international conferences at Yale and has authored, edited, and contributed various scholarly articles and books, the most recent of which is Seeking Home in a Strange Land: True Stories of the Changing Meanings of Home. He has co-taught science-religion courses at Yale, and holds the Master of Arts in Religion (magna cum laude) from the Yale Divinity School where he was a research fellow from 2003 to 2005 and an instructor/lecturer from 2005 to 2007.

Denise Cassella is the Founder of STAIRWAY TO HEALING LIGHT, LLC and uses the Japanese Reiki Energy Healing technique for relaxation from the life and daily stresses. She is certified in Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki and teaches all Reiki Levels. She does Vocal Toning and is a Certified Sound Healer using Tibetan singing bowls and Native American drumming to balance the Chakras. This heals the Chakras by using sound vibration and voice sounds to soothe at a cellular level. She also teaches Sound Healing for Vernon Adult Education. Denise is a descendant of Pope John the 23rd and 1/8 Native American Cherokee; she can tap into the Angelic Realm as well as the Native American Spirit.

Deb Parker: Have you ever had a dream come true? Wonder about reincarnation? What our real purpose in life is? Deb Parker had a Near Death experience in 1979 and a Shared Death experience that set her on a spiritual journey beyond her wildest imagination. From the time, she was a child, Deb felt and smelled deceased love ones around her, had prophetic dreams and had encounters with spirits as well as many other divinely guided experiences. Deb has also studied Caroline Myss “Sacred Contracts” an approach to understanding the archetypes that influence our soul’s journey and exploring the agreements we make before coming into this life. Today, she continues to explore and work with spiritual and healing modalities and their relationship to psychology, body, mind and spirit.

Christel Manning, PhD, is a sociologist of religion and professor at Sacred Heart University. Her book, Losing our Religion, was rated one of the top ten religion titles of 2015 and received the 2016 Distinguished Book Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. She is the author of many articles and a contributor to New Dimensions in Spirituality, Religion, and Aging(2018). Manning’s current research, supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, examines how non-religious individuals find meaning as they approach the end of life.

Jack Lardis has not had an NDE but has attended the Farmington NDE Support Group for over 35 years and is the present co-facilitator with Tina Angeli. He has kept records of hundreds of NDEs and related phenomenon that may become a reference book. Apart from the NDE meetings, he has collected anecdotal experiences that indicate we survive death and communicate with loved ones through events that are generally electrical. In his private life, he continues to develop his nonprofit called “Oil Drum Art” that seeks to establish an international environmental art movement based on the common oil drum as a metaphor for oil that is endangering our planet.

NDE MEETING DIRECTIONS:

He doors open at 6:30 pm and we start promptly at 7:00 pm.

CALL THE FOLLOWING NUMBER FOR DIRECTIONS IF YOU GET LOST: UCONN Public Safety @ 860-679-2121

FROM FARMINGTON CENTER:

Stay on route 4 East/Farmington Avenue. As you drive up the hill toward I-84, stay in the right lane and follow the signs as Route 4 East/Farmington Avenue loops to the right and crosses the I-84 access road. Continue as if going to the UCONN Health Center but turn right onto South Road (There is a traffic light). Go about 3/4 of a mile and turn left onto Munson Road (traffic light). The driveway entrance is the first right and should indicate UCONN 16 Munson Road. It is a long driveway up to the old Heublein building (now the KBE building).

FROM WEST HARTFORD CENTER:

Stay on Route 4 West/Farmington Avenue. Pass the entrance to the UCONN Health Center and proceed to the next major traffic light and turn left onto South Road. Go about 3/4 of a mile and turn left onto Munson Road (traffic light). The driveway entrance is the first right and should indicate UCONN 16 Munson Road. It is a long driveway up to the old Heublein building (now the KBE building).

FROM ROUTE 44/CANTON/AVON:

Proceed on Route 44 eastbound through Avon. Turn right onto Route 10 South/Waterville Road. Turn left onto Talcott Notch Road and continue to Route 4 West/Farmington Avenue, turn right. Proceed to the next major traffic light and turn left on to South Road. Go about 3/4 of a mile and turn left onto Munson Road (traffic light). The driveway entrance is the first right and should indicate UCONN 16 Munson Road. It is a long driveway up to the old Heublein building (now the KBE building).

FROM I-84:

Take exit 39 (if coming from I-84 West, exit 39 is after 39A). Turn right at the first traffic light on to Route 4 East/Farmington Avenue. Turn right at the major traffic light on to South Road. Go about 3/4 of a mile and turn left onto Munson Road (traffic light). The driveway entrance is the first right and should indicate UCONN 16 Munson Road. It is a long driveway up to the old Heublein building (now the KBE building).

FROM NEW HAVEN:

Take I-91 North. Go past Meriden. Get off at exit 22 (this is Route 9 North/South). Take Route 9 North all the way to the end. You will see signs about 2 miles from the end alerting you of the up-coming junction with I-84. Get in the left lane. This takes you to I-84 West. When you get on I-84 stay to the right. Get off at the first exit. This is a long exit ramp. Stay to the right until you come to a traffic light. This is Route 4/Farmington Avenue. Turn right at the major traffic light on to South Road. Go about 3/4 of a mile and turn left onto Munson Road (traffic light). The driveway entrance is the first right and should indicate UCONN 16 Munson Road. It is a long driveway up to the old Heublein building (now the KBE building).

RETURNING TO NEW HAVEN:

Leave the parking lot. Turn left on to Munson Road. Go to the traffic light and turn left on to South Road. At the Stop sign, turn right. There are signs for i-84 and Route 9. Go a short distance, take a right at a small sign pointing to Route 9. This will get you onto I-84.Stay to the right and get off at the first exit. This is Route 9 South. Go until you get to I-91South, a right exit. You may think you have missed it , but it is after the exit for Routes 5 & 15.

NOTE – The International Association of Near-Death Studies Policy: IANDS’ purpose is to promote responsible, multi-disciplinary exploration of near-death and similar experiences. IANDS is impartial and open to the presentation of varying points of view. While all personal beliefs are respected, IANDS does not support proselytizing personal religious beliefs.