In the publisher’s tradition of bringing significant metaphysical and spiritual texts before a new generation, this book is a recent re-issue of a 1969 publication.

Author Jane Sherwood began her journey into the metaphysical realms following the death of her young husband in the trenches of France in the Great War. Overcome by grief, she sought out psychics and séances, the spiritualist church, read all she could about ‘the other side’, and generally alienated herself from her friends.

From this unpromising beginning she emerges as a first-rate psychic investigator and experimenter. Not only that, but she grows to be a conveyer of valuable information from the etheric realms through the medium of automatic writing.

Having heard about a planchette, she obtained this strange little device and found it worked for her. As her skills developed and matured, she later dispensed with that device.

The book has no descriptive chapter headings, but proceeds in a chronological sequence, beginning with warning words to those who would be psychic experimenters. It is made quite clear that those who seek higher knowledge out of vain curiosity will pay a high price. A period of purification and training is desirable, if not essential.

Mrs. Sherwood describes the ideal psychic investigator as someone having a ‘trained and disciplined mind and body, with emotions purified and controlled.’ I was promptly reminded of the autobiography of just such a person – Michael Bentine in The Door Marked Summer.  A psychic experimenter’s lot is not an easy one!

The style is humble, but also rather dry and didactic at times. The contrast comes with the introduction of the three ‘guides’ who communicate with, and teach the author through their ‘written’ transmissions. Accomplished solely via the author, they have completely different personalities and styles of writing. The first is ‘Scott’, then ‘E.K.’ and finally Jane’s beloved husband Andrew.

It is revealed they are all on different planes of spiritual advancement and although they can communicate on a limited scale through Jane, they are not in direct communication with each other.

What follows is really a master class in esoteric development through birth, death and rebirth. It also outlines a cosmology that fits into the spiritualist and theosophical frameworks of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The material is a strange mix of teaching from the guides, as well as emotional reaction and intellectual reasoning by Jane. It is this very discrepancy that adds the feeling of authenticity to the whole document.

The overall feeling is of an inner circle of friends communicating important concepts and information. At times Jane expresses frustration at the hierarchical structure of the ‘planes’ and stages, which need to be achieved before moving along with spiritual evolution. Her guides are accepting and persistent, pointing out that negative emotional outpourings hinder the communications.

Although this is an extremely personal document, the material is as objective as it can be regarding psychic transmissions. There is no hint of the ‘tell Auntie Jean I am happy’ communications so common to psychic evenings or even latterly to public psychics such as John Edward.

The reader will learn of the planes of being that exist apart from our everyday world. These include, of course, the astral planes, but there is very much more. The four bodies of man are explained. These proceed from man’s earliest evolution to the present potential.

The process of the individual’s development after death is discussed, as well as some explanations of the carry-over of physical characteristics, behaviour and attitudes into future incarnations.

The overwhelming positive and essential healing power is identified as that of love. This is certainly emphasised but it tends to be submerged in the description of the hierarchy around which the spiritual realms are structured.

I would recommend this book to seekers of spiritual truths, to those who are not sure if communication with the departed is possible and to readers who need to know what is required to do so.

This work also serves to teach the reader about beliefs in spiritual hierarchy and spiritual development from this life onwards.

The reader will also find some history of our spiritual origins which are in line with spiritualist and theosophical teachings.

Jane Sherwood has given us a very personal experience in this document, as well as introducing us to her guides along the path of spiritual development. Her development is shown beginning from the viewpoint of a grieving and desperate young widow to a sometimes feisty psychic investigator, and later to an experienced channeler of spiritual teachings.

Her guides were patient, loving and at times stern. I trust your guides will be of the same calibre.

This book defines the roots of spiritualism. As such, this becomes a recommended text for those who seek a complete metaphysical library.

– Reviewed by Jennifer Hoskins in New Dawn No. 94