Closing The Gate

In March 1997, 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate Cult were found dead in a rented mansion in Rancho Santa Fe CA. This was the largest mass suicide to ever occur on US soil. Closing The Gate provides readers with an inside look at the cult, and how one member’s early childhood led him to the group, and the decision to end his own life. This ebook contains a section written by a cult former member, and a clinical autopsy by a licensed mental health professional. The ebook also contains family pictures, letters and court documents, with many more available on the book website. Closing the Gate is simply and frankly written. The author pulls you into her story and doesn’t let you go. In fact, you will be thinking about this one long after you stop reading. Closing The Gate, winner of the 2013 Silver Medal Biography award in the Global Ebooks Competition.

Closing The Gate, winner of the 2013 Silver Medal Biography award in the Global Ebooks Competition On March 26, 1997 Rancho Santa Fe, California, thirty-nine men and women were found dead in a large rented mansion, the apparent victims of self-induced drugs and alcohol. The twenty-one women and eighteen men, ranging in age from twenty-six to seventy-two years were members of the Heaven’s Gate cult. This is believed to be the largest mass suicide ever to take place on US soil. _____________________________________________ The first question most ask is ‘Why did they do this?’ But the answer is as difficult to understand as the act itself. From their own accounts, they believed that ‘killing their bodies would free their souls, and allow them to reach the Next Level of Human Consciousness. The members believed that a UFO was following the Haley-Bopp Comet and would be their guide. As the comet neared the Earth, the members carried out their deaths, as agreed and planned. They cut their hair in similar short styles, dressed in matching new purple garments and Nike ™ athletic shoes, ate identical last meals, and methodically ended their lives. Each had written or video-taped messages for the families and world they left behind, explaining that this departure was their choice, and was to be celebrated, not mourned. The group, now known as Heavens Gate, had been in existence for more than 20 years, under various names, including: The Two, Human Individual Metamorphosis (HIM), Total Overcomers Anonymous, Total Renunciants in Readiness for the Kingdom of Heaven, and The UFO Cult. To most of us, the group was completely unknown, by any name, until their death. In the months that followed the mass suicide, many articles were written about the thirty-nine individuals, their common beliefs and practices, their families, and their lives before joining the cult. However, there were other deaths related to this cult, others who believed as they had, and reached beyond life, toward the Next Level. Some were reported in the news media, some were not. James Edward Pirkey Jr, called “Gabody” by his cult family, was one of the former members whose death trailed the mass suicide. He was thirty-six years old and living in a small apartment in Atlanta, Georgia, when he followed the “precious spirits” to the Next Level. I am his sister, and this is his story-told from his letters and my memories.

Deb Simpson writes poetry, fiction, nonfiction and children’s books. She is the author of” One Moment, One Memory, One Motion”, a poetic memoir; and “Pink Place & Blue Blaze, A Special Edition, a children’s book. Closing the Gate, the biography of Deb’s brother, Jimmy and his involvement with the Heaven’s Gate cult, is now in bookstores. More info on this book is on the books website . www.ClosingTheGate.com Deb’s poems have appeared in literary journals and other publications, including the Maypop magazine (Tennessee Writers Alliance), and Motivation: An Anthology. Deb is an honorary staff member of The Watertown Gazette and a featured author on the Creativity Portal website with a series of articles for writers titled “Your Book’s Bottom Line.” Deb is a founding member of the Murfreesboro Writers Group, and a former President of the Tennessee Writers Alliance. Deb actively participates in social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, She Writes, Linked In, and Crime Space. Deb is also a featured Amazon Author, Goodreads Author, and Lulu Spotlight Author.