Buckland's Book for Spirit Communications

by Raymond Buckland

Buckland's Book of Spirit Communications is for anyone who wishes to communicate with spirits, as well as for the less adventurous who simply want to satisfy their curiosity about the subject. Explore the nature of the physical body and learn how to prepare yourself to become a medium. Experience for yourself the trance state, clairvoyance, psychometry, table tipping, levitation, talking boards, automatic writing, spiritual photography, spiritual healing, distant healing, channeling, and development circles. Also learn how to avoid spiritual fraud. This revised and expanded edition of Buckland's popular Doors to Other Worlds has over one hundred new pages, including a completely new chapter on electronic spirit contact. It features additional photographs and illustrations, an index, a new preface, and a workbook format with study questions and answers for each chapter.

Genres: Witchcraft, Occult, Wicca, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Magic, New Age

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Raymond Buckland was a highly influential figure in the development of modern Wicca and the occult in the United States. Born in London, he became interested in the supernatural at an early age and was initiated into the Gardnerian Wiccan tradition in 1963 by Monique Wilson, a high priestess appointed by Gerald Gardner. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1962, Buckland introduced Gardnerian Wicca to the country, founding its first coven in New York in 1964. He later developed his own tradition, Seax-Wica, inspired by Anglo-Saxon paganism, and published The Tree: Complete Book of Saxon Witchcraft to make it accessible to all.
In 1968, he established the first Museum of Witchcraft and Magick in the U.S., which helped normalize and educate the public about Wicca. Over the course of his career, Buckland wrote more than sixty books on Wicca, divination, and the occult, including Witchcraft from the Inside and Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft, both regarded as essential texts in Neopaganism.
Throughout his life, Buckland remained a prolific teacher, writer, and practitioner. He continued to write and teach until his death in 2017, leaving behind a lasting legacy that shaped the spiritual practices of countless Wiccans and Pagans worldwide.

Reviews

[Tasha Thibodeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I consider this book "read" even thought I have not read every single chapter yet. I am trying to work through all of the exercises in the book so its been a several year process getting through it. This book is full to the brim with interesting information about the history of spiritualism, contacting the dead and just ghosts in general. I am quite skeptical of the spirit movement of Victorian times but it is still very interesting and fun to think of the idea that people truly can commune with the dead. At this time,after working through half the book, I still can't talk to my dead peeps but maybe by the time I am finished, I will be able to update this review with some spooky findings. Only time will tell I suppose!

[Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather interesting look at developing psychic or mediumship abilities. This book draws heavily on the works of the National Spiritualist Association of Churches as well as historical accounts of mediumship throughout the last century and a half.

For a practical guide to developing these abilities I'm not sure I would recommend this book. However, from an historical point of view it covers some interesting topics although it serves as an apologist work for much of the physical medium movement of the past 150 years and rarely looks with a critical eye at that movement.

For that reason I consider it something of a starting point for delving further into the social and historical phenomenon of mediumship and spirit communication.

[Annabell Champeaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me down many rabbit holes. It is very well written for its time.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is basically divided into sections that talk about psychic practice and exercises, and then historical sections. The historical sections are incredibly apologist and cherry-picked, missing basic facts and sometimes including complete fabrications (such as the “unbreakable Houdini code”, which was something of an open secret and certainly not a massive mystery), but they’re a good jumping off point if you need names to google.

The practical sections held a lot more interest for me. Although they’re very basic, the exercises given are similar to those in other books on psychics or spirit work, and I can vouch for at least a couple of them (mostly the meditations). They’re also more about actual Spiritualist beliefs and less about individual and largely fraudulent mediums.

[Sara Monk · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is best as a historical book if you are interested in how mediumship developed in the beginning. It mentions different historical figures. This book was very basic, and i felt the whole book was merely an introduction.
This is not a book I'd recommend to my friends.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. For me this was a refresher and reminder of my gifts. I learned much more than I thought I would.

[Benoit Lelièvre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really know how to review this.

Should have I expected more? It has a decent amount of historical information about spiritualism and Buckland shows extensive knowledge of the multiple facets of the phenomenon, but... I don't know. I thought there would've been a more practical aspect to it? After all, you don't brag about communicating with spirits if you don't prove you actually can do it, right? I didn't get much information out of it outside of relax, focus and breathe... which are principles you could apply to weight lifting too. There is very little information on what happens during a spiritualism session too.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that it takes itself a little too seriously for what it offers and it is clearly meant for audiences that are already convinced. File this as: not for me. Not that I don't believe in spiritualism. It just felt very pedestrian. Bordeline disrespectful in its approach.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit I was expecting this book to be more broad than it was-aka addressing communication with spirits of elements, places, etc rather than the deceased only. That said it is a good overview of the history of mediumship and Spiritualism as well as ways to make one’s way into that world.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book.
I read out of intrigue to be honest. I found the historical content the best part of this self guided ‘workbook’.
There are a few development exercises and self ‘examination’ questions to answer as you work through each chapter. The answers are at the back of the book. It is primarily a self guided workbook filled with information to digest. I didn’t buy it

I found it was easy to get through and absolutely fascinating.
I happen to believe in spirit. If it’s not your belief or thing then probably this is not the book for you. However if you wish to expand your awareness of the practice of mediumship you may wish to dig deep into Buckland’s ‘red book’

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done and great mix of history and practical application.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informational. Easy to find information again.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

yeah i think it's good book

[Tyler Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fascinating book that provides a great deal of insight on spirit communication. Very interesting read if you find paranormal stuff fascinating like me.

[Lizzie Grace uwu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic Bucky book ngl

[Michael P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise book with valuable information for communication and conjuration of spirits.

[Lynn Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great.

[Sarah Mckee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I could listen to over and over again snd hone in on new things.

[Mia Coffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abraham Lincolnnnn I didn’t know you were chill like that.

[Candy Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything that is ever written by this wonderful talented author. This book was a great read and awesome work book for those actually really trying to study and learn all about the communication with spirits (the unknown)

[Michaelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and enlightening. After reading this book, I feel a whole world of exploration opening up for me.