True Witchcraft is a PDF book written by Dean Radin. The main idea of this book is to explore the realm of witchcraft from a scientific perspective. Radin, a researcher and scientist, aims to bridge the gap between science and spirituality. In True Witchcraft, Radin delves into the history and beliefs surrounding witchcraft, discussing its origins and evolution over the centuries. He also examines the practices and rituals commonly associated with witchcraft, separating fact from fiction. Radin emphasizes the importance of adopting a skeptical but open-minded approach when investigating the topic of witchcraft.
What he's suggesting though, is nothing more than the methods described in Rhonda Byrne's controversial bestseller, 'The Secret'. So if you actually want to try bringing some magic into your life, there are other self-help books that will better help you focus your intent and look for opportunities to succeed, some of which are wrapped up in mysticism like 'The Secret', but Radin's 'Real Magic' isn't one of those books, despite the claims on its cover.
It s like someone trying to convince you that German is a real language by bombarding you with historic reports of German being used, all the while failing to teach you any actual German or use a single word of German. If you already believe in the concept of real magic, the book might feel a little underwhelming as you re unlikely to want to read 272 pages of text which is seemingly written for the sole purpose of attempting to convert skeptics to believers.
Radin emphasizes the importance of adopting a skeptical but open-minded approach when investigating the topic of witchcraft. He acknowledges that while some claims may seem fantastical, there is often a kernel of truth that can be explored scientifically. The book also touches upon the concept of magic and the power of intention.
Does Real Magic Exist? Dean Radin Shares Ancient Wisdom & Modern Science In His Guide To The Secret Power Of The Universe
In his 2018 book, 'Real Magic', Dean Radin promises some revelations about real magic, ancient wisdom and modern science that will you unlock your natural psychic abilities to create everyday miracles.
Radin is an author and the chief scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), a parapsychological research institute that attempts to find scientific meaning in profound human experiences.
It's made clear early on in the book that this isn't about the occult or dark magic. To illustrate this, Radin insists on spelling "magic" correctly, rather than using the more esoteric spelling, magick.
The narrative in the first part of the book follows the history of parapsychology, covering topics like the formation of the prestigious Society for Psychical Research and some of its key members, and the history of psi research. Although interesting, this story is already very well-documented and won't be new to anyone with an interest in the paranormal, however it is a nice, concise reference.
Radin also talks about the birth of spiritualism, mentioning the famous Fox sisters of New York and Russia's Madame Helena Blavatsky, but fails to point out that these controversial characters were fraudulent. The story of the Fox sisters and Blavatsky have their place in the history of parapsychology, but overlooking the true nature of these stories as hoaxes shows, even at this early stage in the book, that there is a lot of bias at play in Radin's writing.
I personally think one part of the book is outright dangerous. Radin speculates about a future where psi abilities are rife and humans can change the world around them. He gives examples such as altering the weather using magic and undoing the threat of climate change. I don't think suggesting that people can wish away climate change is the right message.
The problem with criticising this book is that you instantly make an enemy of yourself. The book isn't written impartially, in fact it's written almost as an attack on the rational and skeptical. Reading between the lines, it feels that the book's aim is to rally up the support of those who already follow Radin's work and encourage them to battle with the naysayers on his behalf.
Having said that, it's hard to be critical of the whole book, there are some very interesting and convincing chapters, including those about the experiments that have been used to test psi abilities, which Radin tells us have had small but significant numbers of positive results.
One particularly interesting part of the book talks about an experiment conducted by Radin and his colleagues which used blessed chocolate and measured its relative effect on happiness compared to unblessed chocolate. The randomly selected volunteers who unknowingly ate the blessed chocolate reported feeling happier, compared to those in the control group who ate the same amount of chocolate that wasn't blessed. A similar experiment showed an increased rate of growth in plants fed with blessed water.
These results are very persuasive and if true, this book is a revelation and its content is sensational, but as the old adage goes if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The problem is, how can we trust Radin's interpretation or even re-telling of the results when he left out such critical information earlier in the book which would have demonstrated impartiality and balance if included?
The thing being overlooked here is that the number of volunteers participating in the chocolate experiment was very small, only 15 people. This doesn't necessarily mean the results are invalid or that the experiment is flawed. In fact with double-blind protocols in place and a random distribution of blessed and unblessed chocolate amongst the volunteers, it's actually a pretty robust experiment.
So, this makes the results promising, but with just 15 participants, it's not really enough data to provide any valid conclusions. Radin does point out that the positive sway is very small, so to make this experiment more robust, more people would need to be tested.
Later in the book Radin talks about the difficulties he's had getting the findings of his experiments published in scientific journals. Radin claims that this is an example of the mainstream scientific community turning its back on magic, but read with an impartial, open-mind the account can also be considered to be proof that his experiments lacked the required rigour to be taken seriously.
The book tries its best to be scientific, and for the most part it is reasonably scientific, even if lacking the volume of data. But all this work is undone by the constant mentions of works of fiction like 'Harry Potter' and 'Star Wars' which just belittle and trivialise the subject.
There's also an interesting chapter on paranormal investigation, offering a fairly rational take on ghost hunting and the mundanity of sitting in the dark waiting for spooky things to happen. Radin also mentions about voodoo dolls, which according to his experimental data are real and work.
Towards the end of the book there's a very good section on consciousness that explores a question that has so far stumped mainstream science, the debate of what gives rise to consciousness. The chapter also explores such concepts as simulation theory and a shared consciousness.
While the book does attempt to tackle some aspects of modern science, it fails to deliver on its promise of including "ancient wisdom" and "a guide to the secret power of the universe."
As for "unlocking your natural psychic abilities to create everyday miracles," there's no guidance on using secret powers or unlocking psychic abilities. The book hints a lot about force-of-will and intention-based magic, but there's no actual guidance or information on how to practice it.
What he's suggesting though, is nothing more than the methods described in Rhonda Byrne's controversial bestseller, 'The Secret'. So if you actually want to try bringing some magic into your life, there are other self-help books that will better help you focus your intent and look for opportunities to succeed, some of which are wrapped up in mysticism like 'The Secret', but Radin's 'Real Magic' isn't one of those books, despite the claims on its cover.
The book talks a lot about how magic is real and has been measured in experiments, but as for "everyday miracles," there's not a single example or piece of guidance on how you can employ magic in your own day-to-day life.
Overall the book is to-the-point, but fairly dry. The only attempts at humour are at the expense of those who disagree with Radin's beliefs. That's really what this book is, an assault on those with opposing views, which makes it really unclear who the book is actually aimed at.
If you already believe in the concept of real magic, the book might feel a little underwhelming as you're unlikely to want to read 272 pages of text which is seemingly written for the sole purpose of attempting to convert skeptics to believers. On the other hand, if you are a sceptic, you're unlikely to want to read a book on magic in the first place.
It's like someone trying to convince you that German is a real language by bombarding you with historic reports of German being used, all the while failing to teach you any actual German or use a single word of German.
It is through the investigation of your own thoughts and feelings that you can awaken to clear insight and a happiness independent of the state of enlightenment. You will test for yourself the discove… More
Radin suggests that through focused intent and mental energy, individuals may be able to influence the world around them. He offers scientific evidence and experiments to support this idea. One of the key takeaways from True Witchcraft is the need for a more inclusive and understanding view of spirituality. Radin encourages readers to shed preconceived notions and prejudices when approaching topics like witchcraft, as there is much to be gained from exploring the unknown. Overall, True Witchcraft serves as an exploration of the intersection between science and spirituality. Radin invites readers to question their beliefs and to embrace a more open-minded approach when it comes to understanding the world around them..
Reviews for "Examining the Evidence for True Witchcraft in Dean Radin's PDF"
1. Emily - 1/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "True Witchcraft" by Dean Radin. The book claims to explore the world of witchcraft but I found it to be highly misleading and lacking any substantial information. Radin's writing style is dry and academic, which made it hard to stay engaged with the material. Additionally, the content seemed to be more focused on debunking myths and discussing scientific studies, rather than providing any real insight into witchcraft. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time reading this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for genuine information about witchcraft.
2. Brandon - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "True Witchcraft" by Dean Radin, but it fell short of my expectations. While the book touches on interesting topics like the history of witchcraft and its cultural significance, it lacks depth and fails to provide any practical knowledge or guidance. The author seems more interested in discussing scientific research and dismissing paranormal claims, rather than delving into the true essence of witchcraft. If you're looking for a comprehensive and insightful book on witchcraft, this is not the one for you.
3. Sarah - 1/5 stars - "True Witchcraft" by Dean Radin was a complete waste of time for me. The book claims to offer an exploration of witchcraft, but it is nothing more than a collection of repetitive and poorly researched information. Radin's dismissive tone towards witchcraft and the paranormal is evident throughout the book, making it clear that he did not approach the subject matter with an open mind. As someone with a genuine interest in witchcraft, I found this book to be highly disappointing and would not recommend it to others seeking to learn more about the subject.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I was underwhelmed by "True Witchcraft" by Dean Radin. While it tries to present itself as a serious exploration of witchcraft, the content feels shallow and lacks substance. The author spends a significant amount of time debunking myths and discussing scientific studies, which seems out of place in a book about witchcraft. The writing style is dry and academic, making it hard to stay engaged with the material. Overall, I found this book to be uninformative and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a deeper understanding of witchcraft.