The Spirit Book: The Encyclopedia of Clairvoyance, Channeling, and Spirit Communication [Paperback]

Raymond Buckland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

This reference explores Qabbalah, Sibyls, Fairies, Poltergeists; phenomena such as intuition and karma; objects useful in the attempt to cross the divide, including tarot cards, flower reading, and runes; and related practices such as Shamanism, transfiguration, meditation, and mesmerism. It covers the history of Spiritualism as well as offshoots such as Kardecism, channeling, fraud, psychic research, and possession; and also reports on investigations of contemporary manifestations.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Buckland, who is prominent in Spiritualist circles, has provided a basic, readable encyclopedia of major terms, people, and events in modern Spiritualism. It is written by a believer for believers, and skeptics will not find much in it. The skeptical organization the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal gets one brief, unflattering reference in the introduction. Believers, and those curious about specific terms, practices, or people, will find this work helpful and informative.

Some 500 entries range from short paragraphs to a page or two, and each entry includes a list of sources, often other works by Buckland. Examples of entries include Astral projection; MacLaine, Shirley; Near death experiences; Nostradamus; Seance; and Tarot cards. Boldface terms have their own articles within the dictionary-format text. The index is detailed. The chapter on "Resources" includes both print resources and online sites. Illustrations include both photographs and drawings that should reproduce well, and the writing is accessible without being overly casual.

Recommended for academic libraries with popular religion collections and public libraries where there is an interest in Spiritualism and similar beliefs. Kathleen Stipek
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Students of the goofily strange will go for this ‘encyclopedia of clairvoyance, channeling and spirit communication.’ -- PEOPLE magazine, October 31, 2005

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Visible Ink Press (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578592135
• ISBN-13: 978-1578592135
• ASIN: 1578591724
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In 1962 I came to the U.S. from England, where I'd written comedy scripts and was personal scriptwriter for a popular British comedian. Interested in the occult for over fifty years, in the past forty years I've had over forty books published (fiction and non-fiction), with nearly two million copies in print and translated into seventeen foreign languages. I've received awards for my work and had books featured in several national book clubs. I was Technical Director for movies, working with Orson Wells and William Friedkin (director of The Exorcist). Of Romany descent, I'm an authority on Gypsies and have written several books on them. I've lectured at colleges and universities and been the subject of articles in newspapers and magazines: New York Times, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, New York Sunday News, National Observer, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Look Magazine, Cosmopolitan, True, and others.

I've appeared on national television and radio talk shows and been on BBC-TV, England, RAI-TV, Italy, and CBC-TV, Canada. I appeared extensively on stage in England and played small character parts in movies in America. I taught courses at colleges and universities and have been a featured speaker at conferences and workshops. I'm listed in reference works including Contemporary Authors, Who's Who In America, Men of Achievement, and International Authors' and Writers' Who's Who.

Latest books are The Weiser Field Guide to Ghosts, The Spirit Book, Buckland's Book of Spirit Communications, Wicca For One, and Cards of Alchemy. A DVD version of my Wicca video has also recently been released: Rebirth of the Old Religion. A prolific author, I'm currently working on my autobiography. Today I live on a farm in north-central Ohio. Photo Credit: Gregory Ford

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and Relevant Information, September 27, 2006

By 

Tara Owens "Raea" (Concord, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit Book: The Encyclopedia of Clairvoyance, Channeling, and Spirit Communication (Paperback)

Raymond Buckland has done it once again this wonderful encyclopedia. The information is clear and concise and organized in a way that it is quite simple to locate any specific topic you may be delving into.

I would not consider this a book to sit down and read from cover to cover, it is as stated, an encyclopedia and therefore is better used as an encylopedia. Not to mention the fact that as an encyclopedia it is written as fact and I for one find it to be enlightening.

I highly recommend this book as a plethora of vital information regarding it's well descriptive title. Excellent. Kudos once again to Raymond Buckland.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Informational guide!, November 18, 2006

By 

B. Harris "lavendermist" (vermont) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit Book: The Encyclopedia of Clairvoyance, Channeling, and Spirit Communication (Paperback)

I received this book approximately a year ago. At first I proceeded to look up, just certain points of interests. I then decided to start from the beginning of this book and start reading it from cover to cover. I realized, that although I know a great deal about clairvoyance, channeling, crystals, and so on, (being an intuitive archangel card reader, dream interpreter, and reiki master-teacher practitioner, there is still a ton to learn. I find this encyclopedia fun, informative, and facinating! Five stars and then some!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good basic information, May 12, 2007

By 

Spirit Seeker (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit Book: The Encyclopedia of Clairvoyance, Channeling, and Spirit Communication (Paperback)

This book is good for non psychics looking for information on the subject as well as those with psychic abilities that want a quick reference. The best of its type that I have seen.