Surviving Death

Poised between life and death, mediums promise a chance to commune with the departed. Can seekers cultivate that ability and find solace and healing?

A medium leads a séance, deeply moving a student. Plaster casts of "spirit" hands — physical manifestations of the dead — are explored.

A bird, a dancing light or a caress: Signs and messages from the dead happen all the time, mediums say. So the grieving look for ways to communicate.

Can consciousness survive a body's demise? An investigator records eerie sounds at a historic spot, and a doctor discusses encounters with the dying.

Vivid details and unshakable confidence — from a 5-year-old. A child psychiatrist studies cases of past-life memories, which occur around the world.