Man and the beasts within: The encyclopedia of the occult, the esoteric, and the supernatural [Hardcover]

Benjamin Walker (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 343 pages
• Publisher: Stein and Day (1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812819004
• ISBN-13: 978-0812819007
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,513,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite tools for writing Fantasy and Horror..., July 5, 2004

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Schtinky "Schtinky" (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Man and the beasts within: The encyclopedia of the occult, the esoteric, and the supernatural (Hardcover)

This hidden treasure is not just a learning vessel, nor a simple encyclopedia; it is one of the best writing tools I have found to date.

While first published in 1977, it does not loose its bite nor its potency with the passing of time. Full to the brim with useful information, though there may be modernizations in some areas, it stays nonetheless accurate and informative.

This is a fully fleshed out reference tool, 321 pages of tightly packed information, extremely useful in helping to create the sources of your illnesses or spells or hexes; even creating mystery around your Deity's laws, worship practices, or punishments.

Man And The Beasts Within explores, in encyclopedia form, parts of the human body and human psyche, and what their meanings are in relationship to religion, folklore, occult, myth, mysticism, and physical complaint.

For example; Acclivity, Arms, Epigastrium, Dreams, Dying, Hair, Hand, Kissing, Lungs, Pregnancy, Saliva, Sleep, Virginity, Viscera, to Xenophrenia.
If we look up Epigastrium, we find that it is the region in the middle of the upper abdomen in front of the stomach extending from sternum to navel.

In a physical scene, a blow to this area would be damaging. In a mystical or occultism sense, this would be the site of one of the most important "plexuses" (a focal point where the subtle body meets the physical body, a generator of pneumic energy) and is also believed to be the spot where our "astral cord" lies, that tethers our astral body to our physical body.

There is a wealth of information like this on any of the given subjects, something that I have found to be invaluable when I am scheming up nasty little afflictions or demonic attacks or fantastical power sources. Simply put, this is a wonderful tool for whatever you need to dream up, and will most likely help you nail down that villainous monster or set free the source of your hero's dominance.

This is a hardcover, heavy book though, and not a good traveling tool. If you are traveling, pick up The Dictionary Of The Occult And Paranormal by J.P. Caplin. It is slim and compact and also a great reference tool for those who write horror, sci-fi, and fantasy.

Enjoy! And go pick that pen up!