Their Way Home
Melissa Van Rossum
ISBN: 9780979226533
Metapublishing
Reviewed By Heather Slocumb
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Imagine
waking up in the middle of the night to a strange man standing at the
foot of your bed…or coming up the stairs of your home and suddenly
being charged by a jilted bride still bitter over being left at the
altar…or walking into your closet and being instantly surrounded by a
host of individuals from various backgrounds – all refusing to leave…
Of
course, the scariest part of all these situations is not that these
figures accost you, but that they're not even human – at least not in
the physical sense. Regardless of the form they take, though, they're
determined to shadow your every move, and, not knowing what they want
or why they're targeting you, your life becomes a mixture of fear,
paranoia, and perpetual wonder.
Now you have a good idea of what
life was like for Melissa Van Rossum – that is, until she finally
learned what her life's true purpose was. Troubled by the presence of
spiritual visitors her entire life, it wasn't until she received
invaluable guidance from a mentor that she understood why they were
drawn to her: with considerable psychic energy of her own, Van Rossum
had the unique ability to guide the spirits from the earth realm to the
next plane of existence, a process commonly known as "going into the
Light." For a variety of reasons, the disincarnates (earthbound souls
of those who have died) had lost their way following their deaths, and
Van Rossum took it upon herself to release them from their earthly
bonds so that they could finally go "home."
To date, she has helped thousands of disincarnates do just that, and in Their Way Home
she shares the multitude of experiences that she's had along the way.
Readers will surely be enlightened as she reveals profound truths – as
well as a host of misconceptions – surrounding life, death, and the
hereafter. Filled with colorful anecdotes and intriguing recollections,
Their Way Home
is a compelling account of a life lived in service to a cause greater
than most can imagine: granting abandoned, tortured, and disenchanted
souls the freedom to finally heal.
As an added bonus, Van Rossum
provides helpful information regarding many of the questions that
people tend to have about death, dying, and other spiritual matters.
Her insights are keen, her knowledge is commendable, and – for the
skeptics among us – she comes across as less an opportunistic charlatan
and more a genuinely concerned, compassionate advocate for the
frustrated and confused. Regardless of your personal belief system, you
will likely never think the same about life and death.
Entertaining and edifying, Their Way Home is a fast-paced, yet engaging read, and one that is sure to spark many a deep discussion for years to come.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Melissa Van Rossum (Their Way Home)
Apex Reviews: Melissa, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking forward to learning more about your book and other efforts.
You've always seen disincarnates (ghosts/spirits), beginning as early as when you were just a little girl. Do you remember the very first time you actually saw one, and what was your reaction?
Melissa Van Rossum: I have vague memories as a very young child of walking into rooms and seeing someone standing there. But my earliest, most specific memory of interacting with a ghost was my childhood 'friend' who was in her forties when she came to me. She stayed around me for several years, and we played together every day. As a child, it was a very normal thing for me to encounter ghosts. When you're young, you're more accepting of what is. Seeing and interacting with ghosts was mostly a comfortable experience. It only became frightening when I was laughed at or teased for seeing what others couldn't.
AR: Please share with our readers what ultimately convinced you of your psychic abilities.
MVR: I saw a psychic for a reading when I was in my late twenties, and she helped me to see that my abilities were legitimate, accurate and, indeed, gifts. I write about this meeting at length in my first book, All You've Ever Known.
AR: How long did it take you before you finally mastered the practice of helping disincarnates cross over into the Light?
MVR: It worked the first time I tried it, so I guess you might say I mastered it right away - though I don't think it's hard to guide someone home when they really want to go. And the ghosts who were waiting on me that first day were very eager to move ..ing those who have been more resistant to leaving took a bit more practice, though; if I ever missed someone on the first try, I've always gotten them home on the second. Truly, they can't stay here if you really want them to go.
AR: You mention in the book that your son, when he was young, also had experiences with seeing disincarnates. Did heredity play a role in his development of that gift?
MVR: Possibly, though many children can sense spirits of all kinds, including angels and deceased loved ones. Some children are naturally more sensitive than other children, though heredity doesn't always play a role.
AR: Please share with our readers the significance of smudge sticks in treating certain spiritual phenomena.
MVR: Smudge sticks or the practice of 'smudging' is an ancient Native American purification tradition. Smudge sticks are usually made from one or more herbs such as sage, pine, or cedar and are used to purify the energies of a room, thing, and even a person. Smudging is a wonderful practice for helping to clear negative or stagnant energies; however, it doesn't do much for removing spirits or ghosts from a home.
AR: Also, please share with our readers the spiritual significance of Ground Zero in Manhattan, the site of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. Is it a "haunted" place?
MVR: Quite the contrary, actually. From tuning in to the energy of the location and from the television reports of the 9/11 coverage, I never saw any ghosts or lost spirits at the Ground Zero site. But I wanted to stop by personally to make certain. I made two trips to New York City after 9/11 and visited Ground Zero. There wasn't one ghost in sight; I believe that land is truly hallowed ground.
AR: What advice would you give to anyone currently struggling to deal with spiritual disturbances of their own?
MVR: It can be very frightening to experience unexplained paranormal or spiritual disturbances, particularly in your own home. There's also a lot of very inaccurate information out there about ghosts and spirits, which is designed to deliberately intimidate and frighten people, and unfortunately there are people that will take advantage of situations like these. Remember that accurate information, even about ghosts, will give you comfort and most likely also offer you a solution. It's also important to remember that no hauntings need to be permanent; there is always a way to guide the ghost or the spirit home. At the end of my book, Their Way Home, My Adventures as a Ghost Guide, I share the processes I use to guide ghosts home. There are a range of options to choose from, one for everyone.
AR: Can you share more with us about Metapublishing, through which you published Their Way Home?
MVR: I received several offers from publishing houses to publish my first book, All You've Ever Known. However, the publishing industry has been through hard times over the past few years, and, as a result, most houses are terribly limited in terms of the support they can offer an author. So, I decided to put my business experience to good use and opened my own publishing firm to bring All You've Ever Known and Their Way Home to the world.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your first book, All You've Ever Known.
MVR: All You've Ever Known is based on the idea that, on some level, we all sense everything; however, we don't always have the ability to bring this information into our consciousness. Most of the pain we experience in life is caused by our inability to connect with important, accurate insights and Divine Guidance. TruAwareness, the process taught in All You've Ever Known, changes that. It gives you the power to know the reasons for the events in your life, to get insight into the dynamics of relationships, and the tools you need to more easily evolve and move beyond painful emotions and experiences.
AR: Can you expound on TruAwareness, a spiritual practice that you originated?
MVR: TruAwareness is the practice I developed that takes your intuition to new heights. It gives you the ability to get instant intuitive insight and clarity into any situation, event, relationship or pattern in your life. It also gives you a gentle emotional release so you can move beyond painful emotions such as fear, anger, sadness and depression. After learning TruAwareness, you'll never again wonder why something happened in your life or how you can move beyond it. Neither will you struggle to connect with Guidance when you need it most.
AR: What's next for you?
MVR: My immediate focus is to do more workshops and participate in more speaking engagements. I want to share the stories of the experiences I have with ghosts. I believe the more I can dispel people's illusions about death and dying, the more quickly people will get on with life and living. And I'm working on two more books. One is a follow up to All You've Ever Known, and the other is a sequel to Their Way Home. My experiences with ghosts continue nearly every day and night and they continue to get more and more interesting. I've also begun visiting certain locations when I hear from people that a ghost is in residence. Most recently, I visited a lighthouse where a woman has lived since she hung herself there over 100 years ago. This is a new process to me, since ghosts usually come to me, but if I find out about an opportunity to help guide someone home, I don't want to miss it. I think it would be interesting to do more of this.
AR: Where can people learn more about you and your other efforts?
MVR: www.theirwayhome.com and www.allyouveeverknown.com. I also have an online gemstone jewelry store at www.truegoddessjewelry.com, which features authentic gemstone jewelry in sterling silver. Many crystals and gemstones offer protective and healing properties. I keep crystals around my house and am most often wearing gemstone necklaces, bracelets or earrings. It's a fun way to lift and protect your energy.
AR: Also, how can our readers contact you directly?
MVR: My direct email address is melissa@allyouveeverknown.com
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
MVR: I receive many comments from readers who often feel sorry for me that I have the experiences that I do. While I realize my life path isn't perhaps a common one, I would like to say that I've learned to enjoy and appreciate this path. The ghosts I've encountered and helped, though sometimes frightening, have truly been a blessing in my life.
AR: Thanks again, Melissa, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!