The Astral Traveler’s Handbook & Other Tales

by David Michie

“Whatever dreams he was having, Jason knew they had nothing to do with his physical body. His eyes were firmly shut and his consciousness withdrawn from his senses when all this was going on. Yet in his dreams he experienced sights, sounds and even visceral sensations much more intensely than when he was awake.

From this he understood that you didn’t need a physical body to see, or smell, or endure any kind of experience with an acuteness that was more real than reality. From an early age he deduced that heaven or hell need not be material places so much as states of mind—and no less glorious or horrifying because of that. There were no limits to a mind untethered from form.”

What if you could re-live the enchantment of childhood bedtime—but with magic that is real? What if you felt the wonder you once sensed when you believed that anything is possible? Or were inspired to see the world through fresh eyes?
In this compendium of delightful short stories, David Michie draws us into the extraordinary experiences of everyday people as they encounter those tell-tale cracks exposing reality as not quite what it seems. Four female book club members are unexpectedly propelled, by the same black and white photograph, to discover a shared purpose beyond their wildest imaginings. An earnest young seeker finds that drawing aside the veil to an immeasurably more wonderful reality, doesn’t depend so much on the arcane books he reads as on a source much closer to home. A cat-doting woman, who wishes her beloved felines would talk to her, is shaken when she realises what they have been trying to communicate all along.

Genres: Audiobook, Short Stories, Fiction, Buddhism, Philosophy, Spirituality

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2018

About the author

David Michie is the internationally best-selling author of The Magician of Lhasa series, The Dalai Lama's Cat series, and several non-fiction titles on meditation and Buddhism. His books are published in over 30 languages and 50 countries.

In 2015 he established Mindful Safaris to Africa.

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Reviews

[Jae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories with a Buddhist/Spiritual twist.
Overall, I enjoyed reading these tales, and there's no doubt that they're well-written, but I did think there was too much stereotyping of the female characters, or treating them as sexual objects - time and again women's bodies were described in detail from head to foot. Also, the sexual activity in the stories just didn't seem to fit with the narrative, and left me wondering why the author had added this - what was the purpose? At the end of this collection is the first chapter of Michie's book 'The Magician of Llasa' - I had this on my book list, but I don't think this writer's for me.

[Riobhcah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tales with spiritual meaning and for contemplative reading...If you are looking for this, then this book ought to be included in your reading list.

[Pam Tickner · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first book by Michie and I wasn't expecting cat tales, but gentle and entertaining.

[Kristina Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of whimsical tales to feed your spirit. These were the kind of stories that weren't exciting, didn't leave you desperate to turn the page...and yet they're enduring and memorable. There are moments and lessons in these stories that hit you at the soul level--just right. Really enjoyable one way or another.

[Alesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book to read to a loved one at night, as he struggles with very serious health issues. We got about half way through it. Some of the stories were clever. Others were a bit cliche-ed and predictable. They presented basic Buddhist (Tibetan) precepts in a fun fashion. But the stories were too long for us to read in a single sitting, and they just didn't grab his (admittedly very limited) attention. So we moved on to something else...

I'm wondering if others have found a terrific bedtime book to read to someone dealing with approaching death? We have read Siddhartha, The Little Prince, Sidney Poitier's "spiritual autobiography," and many others. He likes short stories the best. But many short stories these days are awfully depressing. De Maupassant didn't quite cut it for him either.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice Variety of Message-Provoking Tales

I enjoyed this book. It contains ~7 (I didn’t count them & I’m rating this immediately after finishing it on kindle) short stories that are all different in that some read sort-of like a tall-tall while others read like any fictional paperback. The similarity is that each provides what I’ll call a “life lesson”... a Buddhist principle.

The book is a quick read and I loved the short story format. Each story felt complete. I personally have become a David Michie fan.

[Efguirguis · Rating 3 out of 5]

No doubt insirational

No matter how banal the stories, some sound like bad translations from other languages. Perhaps Hindi and others. Nevertheless the message is inspired. Be content, look at the positive and let your imagination go, are three things l get from this book that strives officiously to convey the message " let go." I wish I could. I didn't expect this book to tell me how;It doesn't. If it did it would deserve 10 stars.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern tales gently introducing Buddhist/Tibetan ideas but marred by clunky introduction of sex which felt unnecessary and slightly repellent. Perhaps the author was trying to make his tales "modern and relevant" but it just came across as objectifying women. Isn't there a prize for worst sex scene in a book? - this would definitely be a nominee and spoiled what was otherwise a gentle but thought-provoking read.

[Peggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect collection of bedtime stories for recycled teenagers! I have enjoyed all of David Michie's books, and this one is no exception. The stories are perfect for evening reading because they fill two important functions in my pre-bedtime rituals........they give me insight and quiet entertainment while helping me wind down from the day. Just what I need.

[Lynn Saad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gently thought provoking

Even though I have been doing a lot of self development work over the past 20 years in particular, I found the stories, while not surprising, well told and deep reminders of how the practicalities of my intellectual knowledge could be applied in everyday life.

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous book by David Michie! This is a collection of short stories and I enjoyed each and every one. Michie leans to his Buddhist philosophies in most of the stories, but as always, the integration into the story is seamless, enjoyable and enlightening. Looking forward to reading more David Michie.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pěkné příběhy s morálním ponaučením. Některé byly moc hezké, třeba "Pohádka o starém bezzubém rolníkovi" nebo "Probuzení v márnici", jiné byly až příliš... "západní", jako třeba "Nové srdce" nebo "Dokonalý pořádek" - hlavně hrdinka této povídky mi šla příšerně na nervy, byla to taková Gréta, která věděla všecko nejlíp. Takže takový průměr, jako u většiny povídkových knih.

[Susan J. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring stories

I have read almost every book that Michie has written, so I have high expectations when starting a new one by him. They always leave me inspired, thoughtful and joyful. This book certainly did not disappoint! I also enjoyed the short stories format, giving different food-for-thought opportunities.

[Wolfgang Nitzsche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the books from David Michie, they are all wonderful stories, all written in a great fascinating way. Even I need always help from the kindle dictionary it's a joy to read, I hope I will improve my English further ...

[Linda Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Astral Travelers Handbook

This was a great read authored by one of my favourite authors. It left me wishing it was a longer volume. Thanks, David,for another extraordinary book.

[Prabha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but sweet pick of stories on power of mind and meditation. Some simple but profound thoughts have been shared in form of stories that just makes one stop to think..this book is a joy to read..do pick it up.

[Ita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok, if I wasn't listening to it in the car, I probably wouldn't have finished it. I was too lazy to download another audiobook and some of the stories were enjoyable but others were too preachy for me.

[Any Length · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an unabashed fan of David Michie and love his writings. He can deliver the most amusing stories with a generous amount of easily digestible Buddhism and a good portion of common sense and life skills tossed in. Loved the foreword by the Dalai Lama's cat. Very neat!

[Eugenia Sestini · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as other books by the author, the writing was clichéd and sometimes even inexplicably sexual in the middle of a story unrelated to that. Some of the stories were so preachy and predictable it was hard to read.

[Lucie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short non-traditional buddhistic stories. They were ok, but a bit too black-and-white for me, rubbing me the wrong way the whole time. The lesson of every story was the same and too much of a "this is the only right way to be". I think it comes with the genre but it's just not my thing.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Michie is a wonderful writer and this book if full of short stories and one that was hard to put down... I read it all the way through!

[Dennis McCloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comfortable reading

This is a very relaxing book, it makes you think, but not to the point of a headache. I found myself smiling throughout the book.

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

I'm so enjoying this author. Enjoying my journey through each one of his books. Now on to the next one!

[Nethra Ram · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, cute set of tales to read before bed.

[Neel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful read, good collection of stories for every walk of life. At least one of the stories in the collection will connect with you, if not all.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely collection of stories! Each one is inspiring and uplifting in it's own way. I cried tears of joy while reading a couple of them! Heartwarming lessons to be learned.

[Carrie Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy pick up and put down collection of short stories, ideal before bed.

[Ed Napiorkowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the story about the lady working at the undertaker, others were a bit ho hum for me.

[Rajie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Read the audiobook and will now buy the physical book because I want to thumb through these pages again and again. Such an accessible way to look at mindfulness and meditation.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good book which provides guidance and understanding of some Buddhist teachings in a manner that is easy to understand, and apply to your everyday life.