- "Out on a Limb", by Shirley Maclaine
- "Supernature", by Lyall Watson
- "2150" by – Thea Alexander
- "The Founders of Psychical Research" by Alan Gauld
- "The Mediums” Book" by Kardec and
- "The Spirits” Book" by Allan Kardec (translated by Anna Blackwell, 1875)
- "Eileen Garrett and the World Beyond the Senses" by Angolf
- “Child Possessed” by David St. Clair
- “The Secret Doctrine” by H. P. Blavatsky
- “The Chakras” by C. W. Leadbetter and
- “Clairvoyance” by C. W. Leadbetter
- “Thought Power. Its Control and Culture” by Annie Besant
- “Magic and Mystery in Tibet” by Alexandra David-Neel
Ref. 007 –"Out on a Limb", by Shirley Maclaine
Pub. Bantam Books, 1983
ISBN 0 533 05135 4
In this book, Shirley Maclaine describes her experiences when she comes into contact with spiritual and psychic matters. For someone with an up till then fairly materialistic philosophy (although not limited in scope, and not negative), the experiences are quite a shock. She was perhaps more fortunate than most in that sort of situation, in that she met some above average mediums, and had the resources to go to some exceptional places – such as the mountains in Peru. (She is also, to be fair, using those resources to help share her knowledge with other people via her website, at URL http://www.shirleymaclaine.com/.)
It is to Shirley Maclaine’s everlasting credit that she did “go out on a limb” by publishing her experiences – which has done a great deal to enlighten many people. I greatly admire Shirley Maclaine’s courage, confidence and poise in doing so. This book, and the film based on it, are excellent and highly recommended for anyone who is coming into contact with these concepts for the first time – especially those who are finding the contact traumatic or hard to accept. You will find, if that reaction yours, that you are not the only one.
I have referred to this book because of its value for those who are new to these matters.
Shirley Maclaine has also made a video on meditation – largely based on chakras. I highly recommend this video also: the colour imagery and music make an impressive presentation that is very effective.
For more information about Shirley Maclaine, you could also visit URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Maclaine. Apart from her psychic and spiritual interests, I consider her a great actress.
Ref. 008 –"Supernature", by Lyall Watson
Pub. Sceptre, 1989 (first printing 1986; first pub. Hodder and Stoughton, 1973; first pub. in paperback Coronet, 1974)
ISBN 0 340 40429 1
If you ever wanted to know anything from a scientific or technical viewpoint about the enormous field of human potential that is the psychic field, this is the book for you.
Lyall Watson is by training a biologist, and so has a conventional, Western scientific background. (I have myself used his book on identifying whales and dolphins which cruising, and found it invaluable – not least because it was presented in a useful format for those conditions.) He is thus ideally placed to bring together the various scientific research being undertaken on various psychic phenomena. Despite the points made in the “Report … investigating Spiritualism” (Digression No. 06), there is scientific evidence now which supports some psychic phenomena[1].
In later books, Lyall Watson continues to investigate various facets of life and psychism in an enlightening and entertaining manner which shows this author to be a true lateral thinker. From the philosophical considerations of the biological basis for psychism in Lifetide” to the cross-cultural perceptions of Indonesian mysticism in “Gifts of Unknown Things” and African mysticism in “Lightning Bird”, this is a series of books to provoke deep thought.
“Supernature” is a large tome, with a lot of reading in it: that may put some people off. I hope not – perhaps such people could regard the book as something to dip into, a little bit at a time. Or perhaps use it is a reference, and look up topics you find yourself interested in from time to time.
The book is comprehensively researched, and contains an excellent list of references – it is worth having for that alone. To hopefully whet your appetite, her is a list of some of the topics covered:
· brain waves and “life fields” (the basis for my reference to this book in Sections 1.1.2 and 1.2.1, as evidence of survival of death);
· “thoughtography” (which means, creating photos in cameras by thought);
· astrology;
· poltergeists;
· dreams;
· hypnosis;
· palmist and phrenology (which could, perhaps, be thought of as “palmistry of the skull”); and
· time and precognition.
I have also referred to this book because of a brief mention of an experiment that showed people’s blood pressure and heart rate could be affected by the thoughts of those in other rooms – which supports the ideas of both absent or distance healing, and psychic attack.
For more information on Lyall Watson, you could visit URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyall_Watson.
[1] As a recent example, in November, 2010 I heard a BBC radio segment (being repeated on ABC radio) which was more or less introduced along the lines of scientific proof that people can predict the future. The segment was an interview with a Professor Daryl Bem, a psychologist working at Cornell University. What Professor Bem did was a variation of a memory test.
In the standard form of this test, volunteers are shown a list of 48 words, one word at a time for three seconds, on a computer screen. They are then given exercises to do with half of those words - selected at random by the computer. After this, they are asked to write down as many of the original list of 48 words as they can. Not surprisingly, the 24 words that they had exercises for, are more frequently (as a "long term" statistical trend) remembered.
In the modified form, the 48 words are shown to the volunteers, then they write the list, then get exercises for randomly selected words. Despite the order being reversed, the same trend of “remembering” words for which exercises are given is still apparent – despite the exercises being given after writing the list. Is this therefore scientific evidence of predicting the future?
From a science point of view, there are issues around repeatability and verification before this can be admitted to be “scientifically” credible – i.e., other people have to do the same test and get the same sort of result.
I found a few other links for this story, including on the New Scientist website.
Ref. 011 - "2150" by – Thea Alexander
Pub. Warner Books, 1976 (first pub. Macro Books, 1971)
ISBN 0 446 33057 6
Text references: 1.1.1; Digression No. 11; 1.5.1; 1.8.2; 4.3.1;
This is one of those books which I have rated as having had a major effect on me. It expounds what it terms “macro philosophy” – a sort of broadening of consciousness resulting in universal, unconditional love.
The plot line starts with the contact made by a Vietnam veteran, during sleep state, with spiritually advanced people from the future. Situations occur in the central character’s present life to test his application of the knowledge he has learnt, and an opportunity is presented for him to live physically in the future – with an interesting twist.
I have referred to the book because of:
· its demonstration of the way that personal growth isa prerequisite to unconditional love;
· the description of evolution (as a “spiral”) and devolution;
· the experiences of earthbound entities;
· the description of a society living in accordance with spiritual principles; and
· a contact address for those who wish to know more on this topic.
Ref. 013 – "The Founders of Psychical Research" by Alan Gauld
Pub. Schocken Books, 1968
ISBN not given (Library of Congress Card No. 68-13562)
This book is a study centred on the lives and characters of Henry Sidgwick, Edmond Gurney and Frederick Myers – who were well known several decades ago for their work investigating [psychism and spiritualism. (It also provides a fascinating insight into the society that early spiritualism developed in.)
Some good description of phenomena and evidence is given, but the quest of these people for absolutely incontrovertible and untainted proof is, in my view, possibly somewhat extreme (e.g., discounting earlier, valid proof because of a medium’s later fraud). The attitude taken by Stuart Holroyd [Ref. 009] is, I consider, far healthier and more balanced.
The book assumes that readers are familiar with terms such as “mesmerism” (which is, in effect, an early development in hypnosis, pioneered by an Austrian – Franz Mesmer – in the late 18th Century) and “Swedenborgianism” (a set of beliefs arising from the Swedish scientist Emanuel Swedenborg’s experiments with psychism in the 17th Century). If you read this book, you may therefore need a good general guide beside you – such as the reader’s Digest “Into the Unknown” [Ref. 30].
I have referred to this book for its use in providing historical background on spiritualism, and the description of phenomena.
Ref. 014 – "The Mediums” Book" by Kardec
Pub. Psychic Press, 1977 (previously pub. 1876)
ISBN 85384 008 3
Text references:
Commentary under Ref. 15.
Ref. 015 – "The Spirits” Book" by Allan Kardec (translated by Anna Blackwell, 1875)
Pub. Psychic Press, 1975 (previously pub. 1898)
ISBN 0 85384 044 1
These two books (“The Spirits Book” was actually the first) are fairly widely regarded as “classics” from early spiritualism. They come from the early days of spiritualism, and are based on a series of questions and answers given to several mediums.
The author appears to have been well aware of the dangers of gullibility and lack of objectivity (and undue scepticism). the scope of the questions can be indicated by some of the chapter headings and sub-headings:
· Attributes of the Divinity;
· Universal Space;
· Formation of Worlds;
· Form and Ubiquity of Spirits;
· Organic and Inorganic Beings;
· Temporarily Confused State of the Soul after Death;
· Physical and Moral Likeness;
· Sex in Spirits;
· Necessity of Labour;
· Law of Reproduction;
· Progress of Human Legislation;
· Future Joys and Sorrows;
· Difficulties and Dangers of Medianimity;
· Obsession;
· Identity of Spirits;
· Evocations;
· Mental and Moral Influence of the Medium; and
· Contradictions and Hoaxings.
I can occasionally detect some of the influence of the times that these books were written in (for instance, the advocacy for Christ as the best example of what people should strive to be like), but in general they are remarkably advanced and (still) relevant.
I have referred to these books for the information they give on early spiritualism, but they are worth reading for their content. I also have to admit that, owing to their size and the old fashioned language, I have not read these books cover to cover – I have only skimmed here and there.
For more information about Kardec, you could visit URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardec.
Ref. 031 – "Eileen Garrett and the World Beyond the Senses" by Angolf
Pub. William Morrow & Co., 1974
ISBN 0 688 00250 1
Text references: 1.2.2;
I’ve referred to this book on the basis that it describes the work of one of the “early” mediums, but Eileen Garrett was active from after the First World War well into the middle of the last Century, which makes her a bit more contemporary than the really early mediums, such as D. D. Home.
Eileen Garrett was a trance medium who gave readings, many of which gave good evidence of survival after death. She also willingly took part in scientific experiments. (In one of these, blood samples taken during trance were apparently of a different blood group to her normal blood group, but these results could not be repeated.)
A very well written and interesting biography.
Ref. 054 – “Child Possessed” by David St. Clair
Pub. Corgi, 1984 (first printed 1979; first pub. in the USA as “Watseka”, 1979)
ISBN 0 552 11132 5
Text references: 1.5.1;
Put briefly, the plot of the events described in this book runs along these lines:
a 19 year old girl dies in a town in the USA in 1865 after a history of fits;
in 1878, another young girl suffers fits, which lead to mediumship and health problems, and the first girl returns to live in the body of the second while the astral of the second girl is healed.
The events show the potential dangers of untrained mediumship, the benefits of good mediumship and positive mediumship (which is why I have referred to the book), and the range of reactions to anything new of different (sadly, mostly negative reactions along the lines of “locker her up!”).
(A cautionary note: my edition has a gruesome cover unrelated to the topic of the book – don’t let that put you off if you see it, although I believe later editions have a more appropriate cover.)
Ref. 059 – “The Secret Doctrine” by H. P. Blavatsky
Pub. Theosophical University Press, 1977 (first printed 1888)
ISBN -
Text references: 1.7.3;
Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was one of the major people in early spiritualism, a woman who contributed significantly – albeit controversially – to binging “Eastern” thought to the West, and who helped to found the Theosophical Society.
Born in Russia in 1831, Blavatsky is a controversial figure (I’ve discussed controversies for some other people elsewhere – for instance, the controversy over Rampa under Ref. 001), with a large part of the controversy relating to whether or not her claimed early experiences (including, I believe, travel to Tibet) really happened or not. This controversy possibly misses the point, which is the validity of her teaching. (Yes, she may have lied about her life, but were the channelled teachings accurate or not? Have a read of Ref. 009 and think about the possibilities … )
Blavatsky was, reportedly, a medium with a magnetic personality – one who would be termed charismatic nowadays. She wrote two massive tomes: “Isis Unveiled” (1,200 pages, in two volumes), and the one I am reviewing here, “The Secret Doctrine” (over 1,400 pages, my copy of that book again being in two volumes).
I found these works too ponderous to sit down and read from cover to cover (probably a bit like this book J ), but they can be interesting to dive into from time to time. A selection from the headings and sub-headings in the Table of Contents gives an idea of the scope of the book:
· Cosmic Evolution;
· Seven Stanzas from the Book of Dyzan;
· the Great Breath;
· the Septenary Hierarchies;
· Theosophical Misconceptions;
· the Lunar Chain and the Earth Chain;
· Akasa and Ether;
· the Lotus as a Universal Symbol;
· the Seven Creations – the Gnostic and the Hindu Versions;
· Beginnings of Sentient Life;
· the Monsters of Chaos;
· the Final Evolution of Man;
· Eden’s Serpents and Dragons;
and so on.
A lot of the material relates to evolution is a spiritual sense, and gives what I would call a “philosophical background” – the whys and hows. (Blavatsky was probably one of the first people – in this current resurgence of metaphysical matters in the West – to refer to “root races”, a concept that, more or less, states that the entire human species evolved from earlier “races” [perhaps species?] of sentient beings, who in turn evolved via other races [species?] from beings of fire and mist [“light people”], and will evolve into a fourth “race” of more spiritual beings. I did not have the impression that this terminology referred to the current – sometimes arbitrary - segregation of different parts of our species into “races” such as Caucasian, etc.)
According to the Readers Digest’s “Into the Unknown” [Ref], Blavatsky’s admirers included Thomas Edison, Yeats and Tennyson, and comments that the precept of Theosophy is “They embraced the universal brotherhood of man, encouraged the study of comparative religion and proposed the investigation of the unexplained laws of nature and powers latent in all men.”
Today, in my home “town” of Melbourne, the Theosophical Society organises excellent lectures and has an excellent bookshop.
Here are a few Internet links for further reading and consideration:
· http://theosnet.ning.com/; and
Ref. 060 – “The Chakras” by C. W. Leadbetter
Pub. -
ISBN -
Text references: 1.7.3;
Commentary provided under Ref. 061.
Ref. 061 – “Clairvoyance” by C. W. Leadbetter
Pub. -
ISBN -
Text references: 1.7.3;
These two books have been included as examples of the works of the clairvoyant Leadbetter (other titles includes “The Masters and the Path”, “The Hidden Life in Freemasonry”, “Man Visible and Invisible” and “The Inner Life”). I read “The Chakras” years ago, and was impressed by the sound treatment of the topics. (unfortunately, these are some of those books that I currently do not own a copy of: maybe the income from this book will allow me that luxury J )
Leadbetter was one of the better known clairvoyants of the period from end of the 19th Century into the first few decades of the 20th Century. His literature holds an esteemed place in early spiritualist work, which is why I have referred to it.
Leadbetter split from the Theosophical Society movement in 1912, and several times had accusations of pederasty made against him.
For more information, try looking up:
· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Webster_Leadbeater#Australia_and_The_Science_of_the_Sacraments.
Ref. 062 – “Thought Power. Its Control and Culture” by Annie Besant
Pub -
ISBN -
Text references: 1.7.3;
Annie Besant took over leadership of the Theosophical Society in England after Blavatsky’s death in 1891. She is another of the key players in early spiritualism (and thus the current trend towards the New Age).
I haven’t read any of the work written by Besant on her own, but have perused the book “Thoughtforms” authored by her and Leadbetter – a successful combination responsible for several books (another title is “Occult Chemistry. Clairvoyant Observations on the Chemical Elements”.)
As with the three previous references, this book has been included because of the significant part played by these three people in bringing “Eastern” philosophical concepts back to the West (or, to put it another way, raise hidden Western mysticism back to public awareness).
Ref. 063 – “Magic and Mystery in Tibet” by Alexandra David-Neel
Pub. Souvenir Press, 2007 (first printed 1967; first pub. ?)
ISBN 9 78025 637924
Text references: 1.7.3;
When I first wrote this review 20 years ago, I was relying on my memory of a copy that I had read years before from a library, but now I finally have my own copy J
This remarkable Frenchwoman, born in the late 1800s, spent some years on the borders of, and eventually travelled - in disguise - to Lhasa, in Tibet. She had seriously studied (and written about) Buddhism beforehand, and that helped in her quest to find out more about Lamaism. Following her travels she established a cultural centre which is still going, and from which you can get copies of her books.
For more on this woman, look up these links:
The book is interesting both from the point of view of Tibet before the Chinese invaded (and I have recently found the BBC has some colour film on the Internet from Tibet in the 1930s), from the point of view of Tibetan Buddhism, and from the point of view of the development of Western mysticism over the last 150 years.
I have referred to this book as one of those which helped to popularise what are generally – and arguably - considered “Eastern” concepts in Western culture, and for the comments (especially the warnings!) relating to creating thought-forms.
It is worth, however, reading in its own right. A couple of other aspects which struck me when I did, are:
(1) Not all people with psychic power are what I would consider spiritual: for instance: Naljorpas are like spiritual/psychic teenagers: think they know it all, and get impatient with others- which I find myself doing this at times ... oops :) Mind you, I am not inclined to be as aggressive as the one on p. 7 who causes David-Neel’s translator to fall because he, the naljorpa, doesn't want a gift. I frequently get gifts I don't want (I could attribute that to "love" [that doesn't listen and/or is inflexible!], materialism, or "social capital" ... any way you call it, if I don't want it I don't want it, and if I want people to donate to a charity in lieu of a gift, that's what I want), but I try to accept it with some grace - I don't throw a tantrum, even if the energy on the gift is appalling (unless the person should know better!);
(2) page 24 of my copy mentions mardong, those (spiritually) high entities whose bodies have been preserved in gold: it is interesting to come across independent validation of the stuff that Lobsang Rampa writes of – although Rampa has clearly not copied David-Neel, as the slant/explanation is often different.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
Tags: mediumship, psychism, spirituality, spiritualism, theosophy, Psychical Research, reincarnation, walk in, transmigration, possession,
Tags part 2: Blavatsky, Leadbetter, Besant, Kardec, Lyall Watson, Shirley Maclaine,
First published: Laugadagr, 10th September, 2011
Last edited:Saturday, 10th September, 2011
