The foreword for my first book – Inner Journeys: Explorations of the Soul (Thoth, 2005) was kindly written by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki. For those of you that have never seen it, here it is…….
When one enters a school for spiritual training there will always be a time of apprehension. What will it be like, what will I be asked to do, will I be able to cope? In actual fact 90% of students find all their questions answered within a few weeks and settle down to their studies with varying degrees of enthusiasm punctuated by the odd moments of boredom. Studying the occult is like any other study, you have good and bad days, some parts are interesting and others make you want to throw your papers out of the window.
But until now there have been few people who have actually sat down to write about their experiences, their hopes, fears, visions and disappointments while undertaking such a course. That is why this book is so important for both SOL students and those working in any spiritual school or Order.
The writer is a man whose life from an early age has been inexorably drawn towards spiritual study. Throughout the book you share with him the early days of family life and college and his struggle to pinpoint and control the psychic talents within him. He takes the reader through all his trials and tribulations, the highs and lows of his search, the training he eventually undertakes, and the way in which he finally found his path.
For those beginning the SOL or any spiritual course, read this before you start. It pulls no punches, it tells you frankly that you will find it often tedious and boring, but you will also find it at other times uplifting and exhilarating.
Those with no real insight have the idea that in ancient times every temple student lived a life of exciting ritual alternating with divine visionary experiences. In point of fact their lives were very like ours, full of humdrum tasks lightened by the relatively few exciting bits. A study of the occult is still like that and this book makes that clear. It is honest, down to earth, and very practical and this makes it a valuable tool for those following in Michael’s footsteps as he makes his way towards his goal. I recommend it to all SOL people past, present and future. This is what you can expect from the course, and from your training. The author has my vote of confidence and thanks for an important addition to the SOL reading list.
Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki,
Director of Studies- SOL
The book, of course, is still available from Thoth, Amazon.com, other online booksellers and from me……