Member Reviews
Alchemy: A Channeled Text by Paul Selig
9781250212603
273 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Essentials
Release Date: August 18, 2020
Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Health, Mind & Body, Self-Improvement, Self-Help
This book is the channeled voice of The Guides to Paul. It is the second in the Beyond the Known Trilogy. As I read this book, I had to keep stopping to absorb the information. Although there are many references to “God” and “the Christ”, it is not Christianity per se. There are also many references to the Divine and the belief of other Gods. I did not feel as if religion was being pushed onto me.
I have been involved in a twelve-step program for self-improvement and found many similar messages. Surrendering to your Higher Power is one of the messages. Another message is if you cannot find love within yourself, you cannot find it in another being. This was the first book I have read by this author, but it will not be the last. If you are looking for a self-improvement book, you do not have to look any further.
I did not connect with the information, which felt like the often-seen compilation of Science of Mind, Buddhism, New Age, etc. I plan to read it again in the near future to see if maybe the issue was timing, or an overload of similar studies. This, to me, is most likely a book for readers who have not previously studied multiple sources of similar teachings. The information in Alchemy may possibly resonate with them more.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation.
Alchemy: A Channeled Text is Paul Selig’s second book of a channeled trilogy called “The Beyond the Known.” This book of the series is supposed to give insight from “The Guides” to help the reader move forward and manifest our deepest dreams.
I had a hard time following where the author was going and exactly how all this was supposed to be accomplished. It seemed like the author was going off on tangents and I found myself often bored reading the stories.
Would I recommend?
1/5 Stars: No, the subject matter is very specific to those who believe in channeled guides and psychics. It feels a bit gatekeeping of information too as this author makes the reader believe he is chosen in being the person who has special information to share from a higher power through these guides when the information isn’t anything different from a self-help book. The writing style is over the top preachy and tedious.
Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I think you have to be a fan of the author and have read other books of his in order to be in the right frame of mind for this book. You also have to be open to his beliefs and thoughts about guides, etc. take the book for what it is..one person’s beliefs and preachings.
When I finished this book I had to pause and reflect on the magic of within.
Highly recommended to new age thinkers.
This book was not what I expected and I struggled to get through it. I'm not sure who would be the intended audience is and who to recommend this book to.
I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review from NetGalley and the publisher.
If you are looking for new age truths, you will like this book. It seems to be from lectures he has given. I haven''t read any of his other books before this. If you are searching for truths in spirituality this book may help guide you.
In the realm of channeling and meditation, the idea and action amalgamation of reaching a high plane of "oneness" to the creator has been a widespread goal for many. In Alchemy: A Channeled Text, we get the channeled transcripts by Paul Selig of how to reframe and actualize your mindset, thought processes of the higher self to a higher plane of thinking.
While I'm not a huge fan of channeled or transcripted free word writing of channeled experiences (as it requires that you first have a knowledge of how someone speaks beforehand), I enjoyed the experience of the act of attempting to hold the same mind frame the author was in to get to that state. itself. Further, and this is acknowledged in the text, a channeled text/mediation experience is good but you are also framing and filtering that information through the individual the process is happening through. So, mileage may vary.
As with all texts on trying to attain a higher frame of thought- or thot- as the kids say these days, your ability to understand and reframe is based on your experience and openness to change. Some just aren't there yet. Some have mental blocks that require unblocking or working through beforehand. And, well, sometimes people need more baby steps.
I enjoyed the text and it gave me much to attune into during my mediations and thoughts to work through in my daily life.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This is a compilation of several Selig “channeled lectures,” though they better fit the category of New Age bait & switches. We are told “A spiritual experience in 1987 left him clairvoyant,” and since then, he has become a “renowned channeler.” Channeling, as it is popularly known, entails suspension of one’s everyday consciousness so that a higher consciousnness can be attained. This usually results in contact with a spiritual entity who guides with words of wisdom and sometimes answers questions from human neophytes. In this case, "suspension" is the operative approach.
Selig claims, “The Guides offer us a way to engage the transformational process of moving beyond a limited interpretation of the self and into a place of true manifestation.” If that makes any sense to the reader, this self-serving book of uncoordinated ramblings may be useful. Otherwise, the book’s title (“Alchemy”), reveals nothing of that historical tradition, because Selig has an altogether divergent view of mystical experience. Through eight chapters of pep talk and meandering psychobabble, the implied transformation is never explained, let alone offered.
Super awesome book to read for those interested in metaphysical studies. I highly recommend it! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved this book!! It is truly eye-opening and one that needs to be read SLOWLY to fully digest all the great information. The information at first may appear to be superficial, but it has a deep meaning behind the words. This is why you need to take more time to read it, so you can fully understand what is being taught. I highly recommend this book, as it has the power to totally transform your life if you put into practice what is being taught.
I'm still trying to process this one. There was so much information and so much resonated with me to the point I was getting chills reading it. It's a lot to take in when you're newly discovering the journey, but it was an incredible read. I will definitely be going back and re-reading because I know I missed some it in my hasty devouring of the text. I had never heard of Paul Selig before reading this, but I am absolutely going to seek out his writing from now on.
Alchemy will resonate strongly as truth for those who have or will come to know that there is only one of us here, i.e. that every one of us is God expressing Himself through us. Alchemy speaks to the fact that we are all eternal souls who came out of Spirit (the REAL world, so to speak) like waves from the ocean, and are here having collective lessons in love in this virtual reality/Earth school, but will always return back from whence we came. When we know this, we are freed from judgment of self and others and can walk our highest path. These concepts are presented thoroughly, though the density of this material may make it unsuitable as an introductory text for those just awakening to the truth. At least for me, I had to live some of these principles before I experienced the fullness of understanding. In summary, Alchemy holds important truths for those who seek them.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy.
I've read all of Paul's books, and they're always consistently good. You don't have to have read any of his others to get value out of this. I've read other channeled books, and none resonate with me as much as these (not to say that others are not of value). I know some readers have experienced physical changes while reading Paul's books. I have not, but still find them impactful. Highly recommended if you're open to this type of content (or even if you're not).
I really appreciate the ARC for review!!
Excellent book that gives doable simple exercises to engage the Divine in an uplifting way. I did not expect so much startling ideas and information when I began reading this title. I have read other channeled titles and found them to be generally many words with a few high minded ideas. Alchemy is a book with very interesting ideas that to me sound so true and well written that I couldnt put it down. Not only are the simple truths described but ways anyone with an interest in improving their existence can do simply. The premise I took away from reading this by Mr Selig was we are all part of God. Or the Christ . Or the Divine. Whatever you call it as long as it comes from healing and acceptance and love. The hard part for me has always been to actually do the work once the realization is reached. To put it into practice I guess is the term for what has been hardest for me. That is truly no longer a problem as this excellent book gives sequencial ways to actually do the work daily without loads of other devices and tools. Simple yet profound. I felt changed after reading and actually doing the things talked about in this title. Changed by more peace, acceptance, and happiness.