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3 out of 4 stars
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In Conversing with Various Entities, author Mary Ellen Wall explains to the reader how she communicates with supernatural entities. She refers to these entities as angels, deities, guides, spirits, and even demons, but she points out that they have many different labels. She communicates with them through dowsing and by using tarot cards, a Ouija board, and a pendulum. It was her first experience of dowsing that opened her eyes to the fact that there is much in the world that we do not understand. She is a scientist by training but, as she explains, science cannot provide us with all the answers we crave: ‘There is far more to the vastness of creation than we can ever dream of, much less photograph and measure to the nanometer.’ (p46)
The book is divided into three sections. The first section looks at the different tools the author relies on to communicate with her entities. The tools include the Y-rod and angle-rod that she uses for dowsing, the Ouija board, and the pendulum. The second section looks at the various theories that have been put forward to explain why these tools work. In the third section, the author advises the reader on how to talk with the entities. This includes advice on what questions to ask and what ones to leave out. It also explains how to recognize the various signatures of the different entities and how to keep away from the more malevolent spirits.
I thoroughly enjoyed this short book. The author has a very conversational style of writing that makes it possible to read this almost in a single session. She also brings her scientific training to the writing process which means that the book progresses in an orderly, structured manner. The biggest compliment I can pay her is that she makes the incredible sound totally normal! As someone inclined to be skeptical about the existence of supernatural entities, I found myself reading through the book without feeling an urge to dismiss it all as nonsense.
The book is marred slightly by a high number of grammatical and typographical errors; it could certainly use another round of editing to remove these. The subject matter of the book will also not be to everyone’s taste. People with a strong religious faith may not believe in the existence of the entities described by the author nor with her attempts to communicate with them. I would point out, however, that the author herself is someone who feels: ‘a deep reverence to Jesus’ (p60), so this is not a book that trashes the Christian faith or faith in general.
I am happy to award this book 3 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed reading it, but I must deduct one star for the number of errors I found. I recommend it to open-minded readers with an interest in the strange, the unknown, and the downright odd. Those with a strong religious faith may find the author’s belief in entities of different kinds and her use of tarot cards and Ouija boards a bit troubling.
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Conversing with Various Entities
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