PSYCHIC SELF-DEFENSE

Rating:
Summary: Psychic Attack or Psychological Disorder?
Review: Psychic Self-Defence
A Study in Occult Pathology and Criminality
by Dion Fortune

I don't remember why I originally purchased this book, several years ago, but I recently re-read it. It was just as good the second time around. It's an absolutely fascinating book - it's very readable and entertaining.

I am of the opinion, though, that the things Dion calls attacks are psychological disorders, such as depression, co-dependency or the famous low self-esteem. For example, she describes PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) quite accurately. This is pretty amazing for a book written in 1930; long before that particular syndrome was defined. However, she does include a chapter on telling the difference between mental illness and psychic attack. . (Actually, I think my cat is bulimic due to low self-esteem but maybe it's a psychic attack... ).

Dion Fortune, a noted occultist at the first part of the 20th century, wrote this book in order to instruct those who felt they may be under attack but she wrote it in such a fashion as to not reveal any information that would allow someone to perpetrate an attack. Because of this style of writing, she gives tantalizing glimpses into how life as an "adept" occultist would have been at the first part of the twentieth century. I had the uneasy feeling, while reading this book, that there was a whole mysterious culture/society right under the thin layer of ordinary life.

If you have any interest at all in secret societies, or even if you just want to be entertained I would definitely recommend this book. It can be read on both levels perhaps even practiced.

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational ... Educational ... Insightful ... Practical
Review: Psychic Self-Defense is Dion Fortune's greatest work to which she holds great pride. It was written for those working within the field of psychic attack and is an absolute must for the serious occultist. While the language may be dated the message is clear and completely accurate. This is the first book that I have found that reads like a text book for my own work. I have found Dion's pragmatism and jovialty completely inspirational. While her book is an extremely serious read, she is quite the opposite. I know that those drawn to this type of publication will come away with a sense of completeness and a new understanding of their work. A great recommendation to those teaching and to their students, whether in colleges for the spiritual or private groups working in this area. Certainly not for the novice or beginner, this book is definately for the more advanced student or teacher.

Rating:
Summary: Archaic, but entertaining nonetheless
Review: Well, what can I say? Dion Fortune's book are mostly dry anyways. After reading 4 chapters, I started to have a headache. The materials are a bit heavy. I can't say much though, but after scanning several chapters, I didn't find anything of much practical use. If you want to know about Psychic Self Defense - read Practical Psychic Self Defense by Robert Bruce. He summarized everything you need to know.
Oh, and his book is not dry at all.

Rating:
Summary: A lot of good information buried under a lot of nonsense
Review: When reading Dion Fortune, I'm always reminded of afternoons spent with a certain stuffy aunt. She's friendly and interesting to listen to, even if she does have a tendency to meander like a senile sylph. In order to glean any insight, however, one must repress the gut reaction one has to the extreme examples of class bigotry and elitism that overwhelm her otherwise wonderful company.

Psychic Self Defense is a prime example of both Fortune's strengths and weaknesses. The book contains a great deal of good information and advice as to what one should do if they suspect an occult assault of some kind. Thankfully, it also includes a warning to avoid jumping to conclusions. Really, most of the information on how to deal with the attack is spot-on and very useful.

It's the part where she illustrates where these attack are likely to come from that makes one cringe inwardly. Fortune's repeated insistance that the "witch-cult" is behind a large number of these assaults is annoying at first and completely laughable by the end. The fact that she cites Montegue Summers as a reliable source should tell you something. Her argument is based on the assumption that any occultist not approved by the Masonic Brotherhood of Holy Innefable Ango-Saxon Tea-Totalers (or the Knights Who Say NEEE! as it were) is automatically a member of the "Left Hand Path", and thus to be suspected and avoided. That and "there can not have been so much smoke (during the witch hunts) if there hadn't been a fire". This is the sort of statement for which the word "sophistry" was invented. What is completly bewildering is that Fortune never accuses the Mideval Church of any sort of psychic wrongdoing. Creating an entity (Satan) and impregnating it with your repressed sexual desires, mobid fears, and prejudices in order to enslave an entire civilization seems like a psychic attack to me, but I could have misinterpreted.

There are mainy statements in this book, about Africans, Indians, and even (for crying out loud) Buddhists, that are just plain racist. The story of her encounter with the "Occult Police" implies that British Imperialism in India was justified.

It is a shame that good information has to be buried under such a heap of total garbage. Luckily, Fortune is in spite of it all, a superb writer. She is quite witty when she wants to be, and a very good storyteller. This redeems the work in many places, and keeps you reading where you might not if her prose were inferior.

I would reccomend this book just for the information on the signs of an unscrupulous organization, which are farily prosaic and common sense. Much can be learned, if you just tune out the static and listen for what rings true.