Dear Friends of In Light Times, Once again, we are proud to present our third annual interview with Mr. Dannion Brinkley Here, at In Light Times, we are especially thankful for this opportunity to share with you, our readers, the personal opinions and spiritual insights of this most unusual, dynamic individual. For the life and times of Dannion Brinkley clearly heralds the arrival of a time when unprecedented spiritual power is available to us all for the recapturing. As the often outrageously humorous spokesperson for this time of spiritual renewal, Dannion is also the author and subject of, Saved By The Light and At Peace in the Light. Both best-selling books chronicle the life, death by lightning, and two near-death experiences of one man: one man whose courageous and inexhaustible efforts on behalf of hospice, and our inalienable right to alternative healthcare, have effected tremendous change in countless lives worldwide. In this interview, we will take an intimate look at the timely spiritual and mundane issues that are closest to Dannion's heart. kp: Hi, Dannion. How are you today? db: I'm great, Kat! I've really been looking forward to our interview. kp:You know, it hardly seems possible, but this is our third interview for the annual Whole Life Expo edition of In Light Times. How long have you been affiliated with the Expo, Dannion? db: I attended the Whole Life Expo for the first time in 1981 with Dr. Raymond Moody as I traveled with him on one of his book tours promoting, Life After Life. Then, in 1986, I went to an Expo and met a man by the name of Paul Andrews who, like many great heroes in the spiritual consciousness movement, had just given up everything he had in order to invest all of his money in buying the name, title and rights to the Whole Life Expo. Through the years I've watched it grow in the most delightful way. kp: Dannion, what role do you see the Whole Life Expo playing in the changing world of spirituality? db: For we of the spiritual movement, The Whole Life Expo represents the continuing education which will take us into the millennium. Kathryn, I believe that as the turbulent times begin to form around us, as institutions, religions and governments begin to crumble, and we come to realize that much of what we've been told are lies, the Whole Life Expo will be the place where people can turn to be around like-minded individuals and explore over 200 different subject matters under one roof. For the purpose of obtaining the continuing education necessary, within the time frame that we need to acquire it, the Whole Life Expo is the place to come. kp: In September, I interviewed Paul Andrews, owner of the Whole Life Expo. Paul said the Las Vegas show was one of his favorite. Do you share this point of view and do you feel Las Vegas has special significance, spiritually speaking? db: Absolutely, without any question! You know, Kat, I first started coming to Las Vegas when I sold electronics. I would come there for conventions and I saw Las Vegas as a very hollow, shallow place where people came just to entertain themselves. Then, when I came back to Las Vegas with the Whole Life Expo, I experienced a whole different energy. I had the opportunity to be around the people who really make Las Vegas so sacred in wonderment. America possesses a rare gem in Las Vegas, Nevada. With the Whole Life Expo coming there, it also gives the people who comprise the spiritual community an even footing in the wonderment, love and beauty of Las Vegas. I think what makes Las Vegas so successful is the fact that the people of the heartland come there thinking the closest they can get to Spirit, is Lady Luck. Then, on the other hand, there is an entire support group of gloriously spiritual people who work and network there. It is this magnificent combination that makes it work so well. kp: Dannion, in the interview with Paul Andrews, we spoke of the UFO phenomenon, the fact that it is becoming an increasingly popular topic of discussion at the Expos and around the world. What are your personal views on this controversy and do you think it is an issue that the spiritually minded should at least investigate? db: Number one, Kathryn, my personal endeavor into the spiritual world focuses on helping people to deal with death and dying. Now, I'm pretty good at those issues, having had two near-death experiences of my own, being a hospice volunteer for 17 years, a nursing home volunteer for 12 years, having helped 152 people leave this world while interacting with their families; that's what I specialize in. I teach how to deal with it in a light-hearted, yet very specific, very identified way. But, as Dannion Brinkley, just another person out here looking at the world, I have to tell you, there was nothing in my two near-death experiences that I could relate to being in any way extraterrestrial. But as I sit in my life today, with the opportunities I have to listen to the experts in this field, I have absolutely no doubt that there are extraterrestrials and UFOs. I think it's rather exciting ... religion is going to have a really hard time when it all comes about! I believe we are moving into an age where all of us are going to force the issue to be told the truth. One of the truths is that there is a life after death and the other is that there are other life forms in this galaxy and in this universe. More than any other perspective, Kat, I base my instincts in this area on the fact that the Hubbel telescope has taken pictures of galaxies and universes next to ours that have some four billion planets and some three hundred million suns. So, are we really supposed to think that one little mediocre planet in the middle of all of that is the only one capable of sustaining life? Come on, give me a break! (laughter...) kp: On a sadder note, Dannion, this past summer, as a nation, we had to endure the tragic downing of the TWA flight enroute from New York to Paris. How do you suggest we integrate the fact that terrorism is alive and well within our shores, yet not react with fear to the future? db: Kat, what everyone has to realize is that we chose to come here and we were chosen to come here. All the events that are unfolding are not designed to make us afraid; it is simply our job to change it. We are the great, mighty, powerful beings that come at the beginning of an age. As we deal with the issues inherent in this time of transition, this time of spiritual reawakening, fear has no place because everything we are going through, including terrorism, is growth. We are here on one mission and one mission only: to learn to love ourselves as we simultaneously learn to expand our love outwardly. The more we give love, Kathryn, the more the consciousness of the very universe grows. In this way, Spirit can see this action taking place and use it to turn universes made of rock into heavens, just like the one we live on. And that is a far cry from terrorism, Kat I do not want issues like terrorism to be the points we use to control the life of In Light Times. kp: Nor do I and it's not, but we have to deal with the fact that these things are happening all around us and people are in fear. So, Dannion, tell me what role fear does play in this time of transition? db: Okay, well the role fear plays is simply that it helps us to understand what we shall overcome. If we are afraid of anything, it is because we lack an understanding of it, we lack the ability to identify it, or we lack it's meaning and purpose in our lives. Instead we must explore and examine what set it up, and if that purpose is succeeding. From that vantage point, we have something to react to and grow from, as a measure. Kathryn, the only thing that I'm really afraid of is failing myself and that's the only thing any of us should be afraid of. I would like to see everybody decide, from the day they read this interview, to take one step at a time toward being the best they can be. For example, I have times when I get an attitude problem about things. I have to learn to stop, slow down, get a better grip on things, and not be my reactive self. In other words, I'm learning to be nice to people, which in all honesty, a lot of times is not one of my highest qualities. So, for me, the fear is I won't catch a hold of myself fast enough before I knock 'em cold, yell at them, or slam the phone down, you know? (laughter...) kp: Dannion, as we look to the future, how do you feel about the conspiracy theory circulating which speculates there is a secret stratagem being positioned worldwide, endeavoring to undermine the existing social structures, in the hope of creating a new world order? And if you do believe there is truth to this, are we indeed approaching the time of a one world government and how do you foresee it affecting us here in the United States, specifically? db: That excellent question there, Kathryn, requires me to become a seer how wonderful, let's try it! As to conspiracies, I would say there are a multitude of conspiracies being acted out by groups, and organizations to bring about control of us, as a people. But, in reality, it is about capturing us as spiritual beings. As we move into the new millennium, we must be aware that our evolvement as spiritual beings is the most important issue. After having a vision, Kat, which is now 21 years old, I realize that yes, this threat is real, and yes, there will be a national identity, and yes, there will be a movement toward a cashless society. However, the real worry we should have is in watching the healthcare system and the identification system because of the vision I had concerning 'the chip'. As we are asked to give up our freedoms, one by one, those of us who are here must remember that we came to stop, and alter and change all of that. For we are the lightbearers. Kathryn, you asked how this will affect us, specifically, in America. And the answer is: seriously, it will affect us very seriously. Therefore, we as a people, as Americans, must take a really good look at what is happening and become activists dedicated to changing the issues. Because if we are not dedicated to doing that we are destined to become a part of a system that is to control us. And this will affect us, here in the United States, in every way that you can possibly conceive. kp: Dannion, do you also see that we are still on a collision course with World War III? db: Oh, absolutely! There is no question about it. But, also ask me if I believe that there is a possibility that this can be changed, and I will tell you, absolutely! To change this, all we have to do is realize that we are on this collision course. Then we must take activist positions against what we could call this 'third world business'. We force balanced budgets, and we force issues like that by taking an activist spiritual perspective. I write my congressman and my senator if there is something that I don't like and this is something we must all do. In my opinion, I think everybody that reads this interview had better pay attention to healthcare. They can begin by reading in Saved By the Light what I have to say about the chip technology with the knowledge that a congressman has put a bill before congress that creates a way in which we will have a biometric identifier implanted in us. Kat, do you know what a biometric identifier is? It's a form of electronic or identity system that would be applied so that they know who you are, know your entire history, and know where you are every second of the day. It's a computer chip and we must become aware of these issues that give other people control of our lives. |
