Author: Osborne Phillips
Trade Paperback, 157 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn
Publication date: February 2003
ISBN: 073870279X
Price & More Info: Click Here
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Out of body experiences fascinate most people whether or not they believe in them. The astral plane and astral projection are an important part of the Western Magickal Tradition and some of the many Neo-Pagan religions. A number of books have been written on the subject of astral projection over the years. In Astral Projection Plain & Simple, Osborne Phillips, a noted ceremonial magician, has attempted to make astral projection techniques available to everyone.
This book takes things step by step in short, focused chapters. These chapters cover theory and practice. The author provides a number of projection techniques. They are clearly written and easy to follow. Phillips' background as a ceremonial magician clearly shows, however. The methods he gives for separating the astral body from the physical body are very ritualistic and will probably not be all that suitable for many readers.
The last third of the book is concerned with what can be done on the astral plane. Some of these suggestions seem strange in a book aimed at beginners; attempting to travel into the past or future, for example. An entire chapter is devoted to astral sex when it really could have been covered in a page or two. The problems not withstanding, there are some good chapters in the last part of the book. I found "Assisted Projection" (where one person helps another to project) and "Animals and the Astral" particularly interesting.
Astral Projection Plain & Simple isn't a bad book, but there are better ones on the market. However, it is well-written and easy for the beginner to understand. Those who like ritual will probably be able to make better use of the astral projection methods described in this book than those who aren't fans of ritual.
Reviewed by Randall
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