I had finally reached chapter 19: The Art of Retrieval, after which was followed by 20: The Retrieval Process (The Afterlife Knowledge Guidebook). I write down my  notes-- and came to the end: express gratitude. Now came the CD.  I was so excited that my feet never touched the floor as I floated into the spare bedroom to start my meditation process. listening to Bruce's voice guiding me through my 1st attempt with his guidelines.  I took the phone off the hook and settled in. I looked at the time: 5:45 PM. The instructions began.
    I did my prep and energy breathing. I thought of my intent while sending the energy back to my heart chakra.  I said that I would help anyone that was sent to me: either a person or an animal.  Bruce's voice prompted me to see an old forest. (I hadn't realized that the CD skipped to the second lesson on the CD).  I repeated my intent to my inner Self and I said I wanted my helper to be with me.  My Helper;s name is Nape. I felt Nape say "I'm on standby". I answered saying, "I know. But I don't need you yet." I saw his physical appearance.  (I am paraphrasing here).
I heard Bruce's voice talking about the forest. --
When in the middle of the forest, I found myself climbing a rope ladder.  When I arrived at the top, I looked up and saw a woman.  At first I didn;t recognize her.  "Oh, Donna--- You're here!"  (This Donna is age 47 and has been nearing her end with cancer. I  have been "praying" for her quiet passing all week.) I remember thinking, "I am here to help you."  
   I was intrupted by my husband, so I "woke up". At 8:30 PM, my mother called me to let me know that Donna had passed away at 4:45 PM.
I thanked Donna for her wonderful gift.

Thank you very much for sharing! Maybe in one of your next sessions you can have another look on her how she's doing, just an idea. Anyway, good start! (Well, though it's in the nature of retrievals that somebody had to die first)
Spooky

Thanks for the feedback--Spooky
I will let Donna go on to her belief system for now.  Perhaps when she is ready to move on she will allow me to be her physical Guide.  
I paraphrased a lot because the sesson was long.
Today I had another retrieval, but I only moved this lady to the next "Focus" level.  When I write about it-- I will post it in the Retrieval Section. I was a new-commer to the site. Love and Light cat

Identcat,

I have had many fulfilled death premonitions, some of them most disconcerting and others comforting.  In my view, you used Bruce's imagination technique to put yourself in a psi-conducive state that allowed you to pick up on Donna's passing.   You have no idea if Donna even needs a retrieval and what you report has nothing to do with retrievals.  However, I'd encourage you to keep at it because your new psychic sensitivity may blossom into the gift of astral exploration which may at last lead to true retrievals.  

Your psychic experience reminds me of the time I was playing bridge with some education professors.  Their department had just received the news that their colleague Joe had died of cancer.  When the evening of cards ended, I suddenly found myself announcing to the Dean of the School (Paul): "Ellie [Joe's widow] has just been contacted by Joe and she is wondering if the contact is real.  Tell her I can assure her that it is."   I have no idea why I said this and later second-guessed myself.

Curious, Paul contacted Ellie and told her what I had said.   Ellie was shocked.  She told Paul that she and her children had just returned from a trip to Pennsylvania.  She was riding in the back of the car.  Someone said something funny and, for the first time since Joe's funeral, they all laughed heartily.  In the midst of this mirth, Ellie suddenly had a waking vision of Joe from the waist up.  Joe too was laughing heartily.  He telepathically conveyed this message: "This is the way I like to see you.  Don't worry about me.  I'm doing just fine over here."  Ellie had told no one about this special contact with her husband's spirit.  I've had other verification experiences like this.  I hope both you and I get to perform retrievals some day.  So far I'm afraid I've just been able to perform bogus retrievals in bogus OBE states!  But I'll keep trying.

Don

Well welcome, newcomer!  Thanks for sharing this.  You must have felt this was great verification for you.  

Don said it was not a true retrieval.  That may be true; however, the key points to note are that you trusted the technique, it was easy for you to follow, and you ended up with a verification that proves to you that you have the ability to make afterlife contact.  It sounds like your intent to explore and be helpful in the afterlife opened you up for a special experience that was meant for you.

Also remember that you had intent to help anyone, and sometimes that can mean helping yourself.  This experience sounds to me like it was more of a lesson for YOU, to boost your confidence and curiosity.
Vicky

Identicat, welcome and I want to say that you did an outstanding job. ;-)  I can imagine how happy you are and I'm very happy for you. Sometimes we call them retrievals and they're really contacts when the person doesn't need to be retrieved. That doesn't matter. You contacted her. ;-)

With Love,
Mairlyn ;-)

Thank you all for sharing.  I will have to make a distinction between "contacting" and retrieving.  Many years ago I helped my friends deceased mother to move on, as she didn't want to leave her house.  I felt her floating over me one night when I called out to her, and I asked her to follow the light. She saw the light, followed it, and her daughter said that her mother never went back to the house again.  
I did have another contact and hopefully a retrieval as my Helper seemed to talk the woman by her hand and lead her through another level of consciousness. I will write about it in the future. Thaks for all the advise. Love and Light--cat

I agree, the fact that you had the contact is what's important.  It sounds like you have some great stories to share.  Looking forward to hearing more!

Love,
Vicky

yes, just to have a surprise contact is very good also with the other side, and sometimes all a retriever does is get the other's attention, and guides step in at that time. I would be glad to read any other stories you tell of your growth in this area! and thanks Cat!

I added the second contact with Donna in the Retrievals only forum. This will tell you what I saw in her belief system.  Thanks for listening--- cat