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Buckland's Book of Spirit Communications
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.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2004
About the author
Raymond Buckland
95 books372 followersRaymond 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 20, 2016
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!
July 18, 2008
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.
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.
June 15, 2025
This book took me down many rabbit holes. It is very well written for its time.
September 17, 2020
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.
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.
July 2, 2015
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.
This is not a book I'd recommend to my friends.
February 8, 2021
Excellent. For me this was a refresher and reminder of my gifts. I learned much more than I thought I would.
April 9, 2021
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.
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.
August 6, 2022
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.
October 12, 2022
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’
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’
May 1, 2018
Very well done and great mix of history and practical application.
June 20, 2019
Very informational. Easy to find information again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2022
yeah i think it's good book
April 29, 2023
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.
June 11, 2023
Classic Bucky book ngl
December 16, 2023
A concise book with valuable information for communication and conjuration of spirits.
March 20, 2024
Great.
October 18, 2024
This is a book that I could listen to over and over again snd hone in on new things.
April 12, 2025
Abraham Lincolnnnn I didn’t know you were chill like that.
February 3, 2026
Like other Buckland books, it is clear and concise. Good for anybody, from the beginners to well-seasoned pagans.
July 29, 2026
I find it really funny, I was honestly dreading this read, because Buckland is usually very dry. But honestly I really enjoyed this book of his more than any of his others. I would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in working with spirits or honing your medium abilities.
This book talks a lot on the history of the spiritualism movement, a 19th-century religious and social phenomenon from the late 1800s. There's obviously a deep discussion on the topics of mediumship.
I really like the process and detailed instructions for contacting spirits. He covers how it's best to record the interaction with spirits, even if it seems like there has been no messages given. That way you can play back the tape (older technology handles EMF/ Electromagnetic frequencies better, but a good mic is a must). This also includes listening to the tape repeatedly and at different speeds, sometimes the spirits on a different plane are speaking so quickly or slowly that we can't pick up what they're saying at normal speed. Listening at different speeds and isolating different sound waves can help you listen if there is a message to decipher.
You don't have to just settle with a spirit board, you can also practice automatic writing, spirit photography, trance and hypnosis, scrying in water or fire, or even pendulum work. Really the limit is your skill, imagination, and comfort level.
Another great tip here is that when receiving the information or feelings from beyond, describe exactly what you see and just allow the related individual (person whom the contact is being made on behalf of) to interpret the meaning of the information given.
Perseverance is the key word for all of the possible spirit communication options. Perhaps they will respond one day or time but not another. Some people will have better luck with one form of divination/ scrying over another. It is really a scientific trial and error where not giving up is the key. One thing that Buckland touches on briefly is that you have to be careful of what you know. It's better to go in blind to prevent confirmation bias or letting your knowledge and opinions impose ideas on your psyche and in turn alter the proper results. This can also include allowing someone to steer the questions or ask leading questions. You want questions that are either yes no or simple answers.
Frauds have made spirit work out to be a mockery, and have several laws in place that prevent fraudulence, but that interfere with mediums that skeptics don't believe in. I greatly appreciate that the author mentions how incredibly easy it is to falsify or "put on a performance" to give the impression of real spirit contact. He can't blame people for being reluctant because he completely understand the dangers of naivety in this field.
Buckland includes a lot of examination questions at the end of each section that include questions that test each reader's comprehension of the information given, and their personal preferences or reflections to help them on their journey to becoming a great medium.
This book talks a lot on the history of the spiritualism movement, a 19th-century religious and social phenomenon from the late 1800s. There's obviously a deep discussion on the topics of mediumship.
I really like the process and detailed instructions for contacting spirits. He covers how it's best to record the interaction with spirits, even if it seems like there has been no messages given. That way you can play back the tape (older technology handles EMF/ Electromagnetic frequencies better, but a good mic is a must). This also includes listening to the tape repeatedly and at different speeds, sometimes the spirits on a different plane are speaking so quickly or slowly that we can't pick up what they're saying at normal speed. Listening at different speeds and isolating different sound waves can help you listen if there is a message to decipher.
You don't have to just settle with a spirit board, you can also practice automatic writing, spirit photography, trance and hypnosis, scrying in water or fire, or even pendulum work. Really the limit is your skill, imagination, and comfort level.
Another great tip here is that when receiving the information or feelings from beyond, describe exactly what you see and just allow the related individual (person whom the contact is being made on behalf of) to interpret the meaning of the information given.
Perseverance is the key word for all of the possible spirit communication options. Perhaps they will respond one day or time but not another. Some people will have better luck with one form of divination/ scrying over another. It is really a scientific trial and error where not giving up is the key. One thing that Buckland touches on briefly is that you have to be careful of what you know. It's better to go in blind to prevent confirmation bias or letting your knowledge and opinions impose ideas on your psyche and in turn alter the proper results. This can also include allowing someone to steer the questions or ask leading questions. You want questions that are either yes no or simple answers.
Frauds have made spirit work out to be a mockery, and have several laws in place that prevent fraudulence, but that interfere with mediums that skeptics don't believe in. I greatly appreciate that the author mentions how incredibly easy it is to falsify or "put on a performance" to give the impression of real spirit contact. He can't blame people for being reluctant because he completely understand the dangers of naivety in this field.
Buckland includes a lot of examination questions at the end of each section that include questions that test each reader's comprehension of the information given, and their personal preferences or reflections to help them on their journey to becoming a great medium.
June 25, 2015
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)
July 20, 2013
Very interesting and enlightening. After reading this book, I feel a whole world of exploration opening up for me.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews