by Dana Taylor
Isn’t synchronicity fun? In 2018 I attended a casual church meeting and found myself chatting with a stranger named David. He said, “I’m reading the most fascinating book. It’s written by a Catholic priest who helps departed souls cross into heaven.” That was how I found my way to Father Nathan Castle’s book, Afterlife Interrupted: Helping Stuck Souls Cross Over, which I found fascinating and reviewed. (See Conversations from the Afterlife.) Father Castle has spent most of his career in college campus ministry. But about once a week, he receives dreams, often of violent or sudden deaths of various people who are now “stuck” in a purgatory level of the afterlife. He later meets with prayer partners and opens himself up to lend his voice to the departed person who is ready to move onto another heavenly realm. The prayer team assists in that process. The book remained in my mind, and I often recommended it to friends.
Fast forward to 2024. I am now working as Assistant to the President, Dr. Yvonne Kason, at Spiritual Awakenings International (SAI) and we are getting ready for the big SAI Conference 2024. Father Castle is on the roster of scheduled speakers. Yvonne assigns me to host Father Castle’s session, which I find very exciting.
I immediately purchase Afterlife Interrupted, Book Two, which I find as thought-provoking as the first book. The plan is I am simply to introduce Father Castle and let him make a presentation. But it turns out, that isn’t really his style. A few minutes in, he asks if Yvonne or I would ask him some questions and turn it into more of conversation. Well, my excitement level skyrockets. This is like asking a 12-year-old girl if she would like to have a conversation with Taylor Swift. Father Nathan exudes a rare combination of joyful spirituality, humility, and wisdom. An impromptu interview ensues between Father Castle and me–which I think went well, but I’ll have to wait for the video to see.
We explored some of the material of Book Two. Through the years, Father Nathan has helped some 500 souls cross over, so curating the stories to include in a book, requires prayerful consideration. The criteria seems to be, what can the living learn from the dead? There’s certainly comfort in discovering that no one dies alone. Everyone has a guardian angel who helps them along, often quickly leaving a violent scene. There are teams of helpers providing aid and care as people adjust to the afterlife. Free will is respected. Everyone is at their own stage of soul development.
One of the stories we discussed concerned, Nadi, an Iraqi man, who died in a sectarian massacre of Muslim against Muslim. Nadi’s lesson seemed be that dogmatic beliefs are small-minded illusions of separation. He comes to see the Oneness of beliefs across the earth. When he is ready to move on, a beautiful flotilla celebration appears for him on a river. His father welcomes him aboard a boat, and they sail away.
All of the stories are moving and relay significant life lessons worth pondering. The final two are tales of suicide, one of a band singer, Bea, from the 1930’s who was sexually exploited by the men in power. Once she becomes pregnant, she “takes matters into her own hands” and ends her life. Rather than being condemned for her decision, she is met by the ineffable Margaret Hamilton, forever-famous as the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. Hamilton is a sympathetic guide who knew the dark realities of male domination of the entertainment industry. Bea moves to a better reality than she left behind.
We get another glimpse of suicide through the experience of Bob, who leapt to his death during the Depression when life just seemed too difficult. However, Bob’s difficulties didn’t disappear. He brings foggy despair with him to the afterlife and must deal with that before he can move on. He receives patient spiritual and emotional counseling until he is ready for another level. Ultimately, his advice to the living is to not lose hope. It was hopelessness that drove him to suicide, the proverbial “permanent solution to a temporary problem.” He urges people to seek help and rediscover hope.
Afterlife Interrupted, Book Two is a compelling peek into the heavenly realms, offering valuable lessons to the living. Father Nathan Castle continues his work with college students and is often a guest at spiritual conferences and podcasts. He also hosts The Joyful Friar podcast which “explores the soulful, the meaningful, and the mystical.”
I’m so grateful for that casual conversation in 2018 that led me to meeting Father Nathan Castle in 2024. Ah, sweet synchronicity.
Bright blessings, Dana
