Imagine
This: John Lennon's
Music from Heaven
by Joel Bjorling*
Death might be a new adventure, but if some psychics are to be
believed, for composers and musicians it's just another gig or a new
opus. In the 1960s, Rosemary Brown of Great Britain claimed to receive
"new" compositions from such deceased composers as Liszt, Beethoven,
and Chopin. Similarly, Belita Adair of Ojai, California, in the late
70s, allegedly played works by Chopin as he put his ethereal hands
beside hers on the keyboard. She played complex compositions and sang
songs in unknown or unlearned languages, her vocals ranging from low
baritone to high soprano. (1)
Now, John Lennon, late leader of the Beatles, resumes centerstage.
However, now it's not just to write new compositions. It's to save the
world.
In late 1999, a song "Listen to the Angels," purportedly channeled by
Lennon, was performed by Linda Polley, a psychic from Fargo, North
Dakota, on KROQ radio in Los Angeles. Linda and her husband Gerald,
also a psychic, are editors and publishers of Voices from Spirit,
a newsletter of "Spiritist" teaching. They have conducted spirit
interviews with such dead celebrities as Lou Costello, Rudolph
Valentino, Jean Harlow, Mae West, and Elvis Presley. Historical
personages have included spiritualists Arthur Conan Doyle and Margaret
Fox, the scientist Nikola Tesla, the aviator Amelia Earhart, and
religious figures like Jesus, Paul, Luke, and even Satan.
Gerald and Linda are from Maine. Gerald had many psychic experiences as
a child, but didn't know what they were. They became especially
pronounced when he was seventeen. Spirits appeared to him in dreams and
visions. They taught him his purpose in life and gave him instruction.
Linda began speaking with spirit guides in 1971 when she attended
mediumship classes with Gerald.
The Polleys call their philosophy "Spiritism," though it is derived
from a group in England, rather than from the writings of Allan Kardec
(author of The Spirits Book). (Kardec's Spiritism was prominent in
Latin America, especially in the religion called Espiritismo). The
Polley's teachings hold that there is no Supreme Being (only Natural
Law), that the body and soul evolve (reincarnation), that the
male/female relationship is sacred, and that extra-terrestrials have
visited earth.They spread their teachings through their newsletter and
through two non-fiction books, one on reincarnation and another on
alien conflict over the earth. They have also written novels and short
stories based on their beliefs.
Altogether, the Polleys say, Lennon has channeled seventeen songs. It
all began in a dream. Linda said, "I could see in the spirit world
someone singing (the song), but I couldn't tell who it was. I knew it
was a guy with dark hair. I could (also) see a choir in the
background...." Through Gerald's spirit guide, she learned that the
song came from John Lennon. Linda didn't hear the whole song until she
wrote the lyrics. After completing the melody, she played it for
Gerald. Gerald, himself, had channeled songs from Lennon and from Kurt
Cobain, formerly of the rock group Nirvana.
According to the Polleys, the intent of "Listen to the Angels" is to
enhance the spirit realm. Lennon, a life-long activist, whose efforts,
they say, continues in the ethers, wants people to understand that
"because of the decline of spirituality, the netherworld is running out
of energy (that is) needed to sustain it."
What happens if the spirit realm disintegrates? If that happens, Linda
says, "all life on earth will cease to exist. It's the scariest
situation we've come across in any of our lifetimes! If people don't
stop supporting the dark forces and start praying for their Loved Ones,
repent and give up following those who spread hate and greed, the Earth
is doomed!" (2)
The public response to Lennon's discarnate music and the Polleys has
been positive. The Polleys have appeared on The Daily Show (July 1998),
and The Howard Stern Show (October 1998). "Listen to the Angels" was
featured on a CD produced by KROQ during the holiday season and sold
65,000 copies. The Polleys are currently looking for a producer and
musicians for their CD, "Songs from Beyond By Speakers Gerald and Linda
Polley, with Channeled Lyrics and Music from John Lennon, formerly of
the Beatles." Lennon's share of the proceeds from the CD (at his
request) will be donated to Save the Children.
Of course, whether these songs are, in fact, from John Lennon is a
matter of conjecture. I have listened to three of their songs, "Listen
to the Angels," "Care", and "Don't Make Heaven Mad." The melodies of
the first two closely resemble, almost note-for-note, traditional
American folk tunes. "Listen to the Angels" is strikingly similar to
"Listen to the Mocking Bird," and "Care" is nearly identical to the
song "Five Hundred Miles." They are closer to the Kingston Trio than to
the Beatles. "Don't Make Heaven Mad", however, is an exception. It is
upbeat, with a rock-like rhythm, and in my estimation, most similar to
Lennon's music.
Michael Harrington, professor of music at Belmont University in
Nashville, has transcribed over seven thousand Beatle songs. The
channeled music, he said, "was consistent with some of Lennon's
music...(with a) melodic similarity in structure to something such as
'Julia' or 'Give Peace a Chance.'" It also resembled the rhythm and
harmony of some of his works. Comparing the transcription of Polley's
work with that of Lennon, he "found it to be original."
"In other words," he concluded, "to the best of my ability, I have been
able to rule out Linda Polley's having taken some other song and simply
saying that this other song was the Lennon song. Also, I was not saying
that this HAD to be a John Lennon song. I have simply stated that had
this music been presented to me by Julian or Sean Lennon who then told
me that they had found it in their father's personal items, I would
certainly have believed it was John Lennon's song. Throughout all of
this, I made no comment as to whether I believed Linda Polley had this
song channeled to her. That is something upon which I should not
comment and did not comment."(3)
References
1. James Crenshaw, "Belita Adair's Musical Mediumship," Fate,31(May
1978).
2. Matt Schild, "John Lennon's Spirit Speaks Out Against the
Disintegration of the Afterworld," Sinners and Saints Cemetery,
(January 24, 2000).
3. Personal correspondence with Dr. E. Michael Harrington, March 10,
2000.
*JOEL BJORLING is a specialist in
the field of new and alternative religions. His books include Consulting
Spirits, Reincarnation: A Bibliography, and Channeling: A
Bibliographic Exploration.
Copyright ©2000 The Anomalist
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