The Psychic and the Spiritual

John White has a long career as an author and educator, and was director of education for the Institute of Noetic Sciences in the 1970s. He is the author of 18 books on a wide variety of topics. Here he brings together 15 essays on understanding the difference between the psychic and the spiritual. Perhaps the fundamental point is that 'psychic development is not the same as spiritual growth', and indeed many spiritual traditions specifically discourage psychic development for this reason. The author knew many leading psychics and thinkers personally, including Uri Geller and Andrija Puharich, and writes authoritatively throughout these essays; he is not afraid to admit where he has made a few mistakes. Some chapters in the second part also look at meditation and mysticism, and it is a useful observation that the goal of mysticism is not goodness as such, but self transcendence, while also recognising the value of virtuous conduct. A wise and considered book.