"Psychic Self-Defense" by Dion Fortune

[SatSekhem]

The book listed above was recommended in a book I'm currently reading. I was wondering if (A) anyone had read this book and (B) if you have, if you would recommend it. Why or why not?

[Erinnightwalker]

The book listed above was recommended in a book I'm currently reading. I was wondering if (A) anyone had read this book and (B) if you have, if you would recommend it. Why or why not?

 
A) I have read it as a PDF on my computer. 103 pages with no pictures.

B) I would recommend it, if only as a historical curiosity. The language can be a bit odd at times, but there are a lot of interesting stories about "psychic attack" and what was done to combat it. I'm not sure if I'd take it all as true, but it is interesting.

[Jenett]

The book listed above was recommended in a book I'm currently reading. I was wondering if (A) anyone had read this book and (B) if you have, if you would recommend it. Why or why not?

 
I think it's well worth reading for people who can keep the historical and authorial context in mind while they read.

Authorial in that Fortune was *not* Pagan - she was very much an esoteric thinker and practitioner, but they're not interchangeable things. Some of how she views the world, and the entities in it is very much in line with my own thoughts - but some of it isn't. Working through that can be complicated, because of the ways some esoteric writers forget that part (so pass on bits of what she said in ways that may not supported by what she actually said in context - the "All Gods are one God" bit is a case in point.)

And the other part is that she was writing quite some time ago, and some of how we've learned to talk about various subjects has grown and changed. She's highlighting a lot of very unsubtle stories, mostly, and these days, for example, there's a lot more general conversation of the less major, more subtle stuff. But it's easy to read Psychic Self Defense and start seeing psychic attack around every corner (much like it's easy for first year med students to think they're developing every disease they're studying...) when that isn't actually true.

For those reasons, I don't necessarily suggest it as an early read - but I think there's a lot of great stuff in there once people have some context to put it in.

[Micheál]

The book listed above was recommended in a book I'm currently reading. I was wondering if (A) anyone had read this book and (B) if you have, if you would recommend it. Why or why not?

Yea, it's on our covens recommended reading list. Psychic Self Defence, and The Mystical Qabalah are both good recommended reads from Fortune.

[Etheric1]

The book listed above was recommended in a book I'm currently reading. I was wondering if (A) anyone had read this book and (B) if you have, if you would recommend it. Why or why not?

 
I have this book.  It's been awhile since I've read it.  (Had to go hunt it down from my library).  From what I remember, it was pretty good.  I'm going to review it tonight, and I'll do a followup post if there is something that bothers me in a big way.

However, the best book I've read on the topic is Protection and Reversal Magick: A Witches Defense Manual by Jason Miller.  Although it is mostly geared toward Wicca, I think the concepts are useful irrespective of one's path.

[Chatelaine]

The book listed above was recommended in a book I'm currently reading. I was wondering if (A) anyone had read this book and (B) if you have, if you would recommend it. Why or why not?

I found it a fascinating read, what with all the first-hand accounts. I agree, though, that the reader needs to keep in mind that it was written around 1930. I thought it seemed weird-ish to me just because of my age. :ashamed: