Quick Specs
- Author: Raymond Buckland
- Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
- Size/Quantity: 272 pages, paperback, workbook format with study questions
- Best for: Mediumship students, spirit communication practitioners, anyone studying trance work or divination
Raymond Buckland on Spirit Communication
Raymond Buckland was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern Wicca and occultism in the United States. Born in London, he was initiated into Gardnerian Wicca in 1963 and brought that tradition to America after emigrating in 1962. Over his career he wrote more than sixty books, founded the first Museum of Witchcraft and Magick in the U.S., and established himself as one of the most thorough documenters of practical occult technique in the English language.
This book is a revised and expanded edition of his earlier Doors to Other Worlds, with over a hundred new pages added, including a completely new chapter on electronic spirit contact. Buckland covers the full scope of spirit communication methods: trance, clairvoyance, psychometry, table tipping, levitation, talking boards, automatic writing, spiritual photography, distant healing, channeling, and development circles. He also includes a section on recognizing and avoiding spiritual fraud, which reflects his commitment to practical, grounded instruction rather than credulous enthusiasm.
A Workbook Approach to Mediumship
The format is workbook-style with study questions at the end of each chapter. This makes the book well-suited for self-directed study or group development circles, as the questions prompt reflection and practical application rather than passive reading. At 272 pages with photographs and illustrations throughout, it functions as a comprehensive reference as well as a course of study. The mediumship and communication chapters are particularly detailed, providing practical exercises rather than theoretical overview alone.
How to Use Buckland’s Book of Spirit Communications
Buckland's book is designed to be worked through in sequence, not used as a reference to dip into randomly.
- Start with Lesson One on Mediumship Basics
Buckland structures this as a course, with each lesson building on the previous one. Begin at Lesson One rather than jumping to topics that interest you. The foundational chapters on physical body and conditions for spirit contact shape all else.
- Work the Study Questions After Each Chapter
After reading each lesson, work through the study questions before moving on. They confirm whether you absorbed the key points and prompt you to apply the concepts to your practice. Active engagement accelerates development over passive reading.
- Form or Join a Development Circle
Buckland recommends development circles throughout the book. Table work, channeling, and trance development are safer in a group. If no local group exists, most exercises can be worked through with one trusted and willing partner as an alternative.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I stock this book because Buckland is one of the few authors on spirit communication who combines serious practical instruction with an honest look at the conditions under which fraud occurs. That combination of rigor and practicality is rare in this genre and makes it a reliable resource for practitioners who want to develop genuine skill rather than just enthusiasm. Find it alongside other trusted authors in my books collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Buckland wrote it for anyone curious about spirit communication, not only advanced practitioners. The workbook format makes it accessible to beginners. The depth gives experienced practitioners material worth returning to and building upon.
The book covers trance, clairvoyance, psychometry, table tipping, levitation, talking boards, automatic writing, spiritual photography, healing, channeling, development circles, and electronic spirit contact. A chapter on spotting fraud is included.
No. While Buckland is known for Wiccan writing, this book is not tradition-specific. It draws on Spiritualist and mediumship traditions and is written for anyone interested in spirit communication, regardless of religious or spiritual background.
This is the revised second edition, expanded from Doors to Other Worlds. It adds over a hundred new pages, a chapter on electronic spirit contact, additional photographs, a full index, a new preface, and workbook study questions after each chapter.
Speedy delivery, book in great condition, highly recommend
Very good and interesting book for people who want to communicate with spirits
Exactly what I was looking for
If you’re looking to get into Spirit communication You need this book. This is the most in-depth comprehensive book on spiritual communication. Printing quality: 10/10 Packaging: 10/10 Content clarity: 10/19