Customer Reviews

Through the Gates of Death

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Have peace in knowing that this world is just *one* step on your or your loved ones eternal journey. The previous reviewer, bookmage, mentioned it has an intellectual approach - and it does; however, I still think it can be quite helpful to those that are grieving in that they can know that their loved ones are quite happy and safe in their passage to their next stage of *living*. It isn't a *fluffy, there-there* book and it's a very quick read. If you are interested in alternative views of death and the passing of loved ones, I would read this book.

I picked this up because I want those I leave behind to feel happy for my passage and to be comforted with the thought that I'm in a good place when I pass.

The book is written in a mix of preachy advice that I am beginning to know Dion Fortune by and her very psychic and well knowledge Occult impressions on people going through death of a loved one or of just knowledge on death. The problem with the book is that it is written in an attempt to advise someone who is grieving... yet It is written from a COLD intellectual occultist supremist way. This book added a bit to my knowledge of death but I wouldn't recommended starting with this book, rather I would use this book only if you are already familiar with the occult view on death and to add to your knowledge. Also I wouldn't recommend this book to someone who is strongly grieving from a recent death. I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a occult view on death, who already has some knowledge on this occult view, and someone who wants to know how to handle death in the best way from an occult view. I would recommend The Astral World: Its Scenes, Dwellers, and Phenomena
by Swami Panchadasi as a very quick read to familiarize yourself with related occult subjects before you read this book or instead of this book if you are looking for just one book to read.

Dion Fortune was one of the foremost psychics and occultniks of the last century. With this book, a treatise of sorts on death, it explains to the aspirant the various stages we pass through on death from one world to another. The author does this without being too solemn or preachy, while the Society of Inner Light remains hidden to all but the most worldly. Fortune was controversial because people are not willing to accept anything different- a stupid, old fashioned concept taken from Little House on the Prairy aka out dated 1980s values. Death is the reality of life, and a lot of these groups teach reincarnation as an alternative to heaven.

An odd mix of profound wisdom and debatable ideas, I rated this book four stars instead of three because, in this year of death and dying my family is experiencing, Dion Fortune's exposition on what happens after a person dies brought me comfort and a sense of peace. The unknown is frightening; having some idea of what is to come or what happened to a loved one's soul at the time of their death is reassuring.

What I liked least about the book was Fortune's rather dictatorial style and "tough love" advice for departed souls, as well as a strong emphasis on the Christian faith. But she died in 1946, and is a soul of a different era, when life itself was a harsh struggle.

One needs to read this book with a willingness to look beyond the limitations of the era in which it was written. Then it's possible to draw on the universal perceptions around the process of death and dying that make this book worth reading.

Seemingly Fortune ahave a Lot to say on the subject. Its a MIX of different tradition but if That doesnt bother you -its ok. wy did I say MIX? for startes there`s some bible-passages. Theyre kinda put out of the Context -to provide rather Illustration than argument for her teaching. soo it Cant be called "christian" since "christians" in pure form Dont allow "any other Name..."The Major strenght is the comparisson of 2 viewpoints. A: the Spiritists and B: the Occultists -she belonged herself to the known "Golden Dawn"(or whatever other name it was called). Naturally she explains some "faults" the spiritsits tend to do. the books "Goal" seem to be: 1 .a "comforting" peaple by explaining the proces in -and After death. 2. Care for the Souls "further travel" b making sur peaple dont "mak ethem eartch-bound spirits -that dont Continiu on the path" etc.

3. You`ll learn some futher occultic views. You`ll learn some about the "astral" and the "mental" plan. ---actually the Quabbalistic tradition has 4 planes. -Fortune has written a great book on Quabbalah to -that I've read, one on "psychic selfdefence -that I've read. -and a lot I Havent read -lol!

Like other books of Fortune that i've read its pretty clear and Understandible -you dont Have to be a "Society of the Inner ligth"-member to get something out of this book.