This is a great story, very old and yet timeless. If you really are interested in a chance to experience the astrological force of Pluto, then don't miss this opportunity! In some way this force is bigger than human, and still we have to deal with it as good as we can. One big benefit of old mythical stories is that they help us to become familiar with such forces and to learn how to arrange our lives with them. For that I can very much recommend this book.

If you are looking for a book dealing with the history or beliefs of the Cathars, look elsewhere. I have the horrible feeling that this book would have been wonderful if only the author had simply told the story instead of explaining every thought along the way and using a sort of daily entry or diary format. The story is fascinating, about a woman who has a rememberance of being a Cathar during the 1300's. Unfortunately, the writing style is so poor that the story is all but lost and the reader spends much time just trying to remember who all the characters are. Keeping track of the story line is all but impossible. Too bad. It could have been a good book but I wouldn't recommend it as it is.

I found this book a bit difficult to read, but very well worth the trouble. That's because, assuming the author did his homework honestly and accurately (as I do), this is a record of spontaneous (not hypnosis-induced) memories, recorded by a credentialed psychiatrist, for which there are corresponding detailed historical records (records she was very unlikely to have known of, especially when she wrote down her memories as a school-girl). Not one historically-recorded person only, but several people mentioned in the patient's recollections are verified as having actually existed, along with places. This has been done before, but rarely so completely.

The book also gives a very good sense of what the Cathars were like, and it brings up an interesting question--which group was the more "heretical"--the Cathars, or the politically dominant Catholic Church which persecuted them?

And its companion question: does might always make right?

This is a clear and lucid description of events written by a doctor and psychiatrist involving a subject that has so often been weighed down by generalizations and cliches. The fascinating details develop into a lively, convincing and extremely well researched work. Dr. Guirdham is one of the few authors to have done so thorough a job of detective work as to have passed a threshold of proof for the truth of reincarnation. His research has even taken him into the archives of the inquisition for corroboration. This book is certainly a classic.

The first part of the book has some basic facts about the Cathars with a fanciful interpretation, inspired by the second half which deals with revelations from discarnate entities about reincarnation on other planets and similar topics.

I read this book hoping to learn more about Cathar beliefs. I had a smattering of knowledge and wanted more, but I was looking for real information, not comdemnation and half truths. I got what I was looking for. I got an indepth description of the facets of everday Catharism and descriptions of the more educated/trained Cathars. It was entertaining and informative reading. The second part of the book was quite eye-opening for me. It was interesting to see/read the thoughts of the returned CAthars. I found the thoughts presented there to be quite thought provoking. All in all a good read and worth the cost.

Arthur Guirdham's historic research (dates, characters, events) of the condemnation of the Cathars is consistent with research by Picknett and Prince in "The Templar Revelation..." and Starbird's "The Woman with an Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalene...". However, where it differs significantly is that Arthur Guirdham displayed the ability to embrace the esoteric and higher consciousness. What he writes of the philosphy and beliefs of the Cathars can be compared in part to the writings of Alice A. Bailey (e.g. The Seven Rays) and Key Carey (e.g. The Third Millenium). As the souls on Earth who reach this higher level of consciousness are outnumbered by those who do not, it is not surprising to see how condemnation occurs, not only in the 13th century Crusades and Inquisition, but in the 20th century by unenlightened readers (e.g. the reviewer from Berkeley).