Review: Diary of a Soul Traveller

by May Long

Today I'm reviewing Diary of a Soul Traveller by May Long. The subtitle is Beyond OBE and Astral Travel. The copyright is 2023. The book is 184 pages. The page size, margins and font are all great, so there's plenty of content to satisfy.

In case you're wondering, "traveller" in the title is the British spelling whereas the American spelling is "traveler."

When I see a title that contains "Soul Travel" I immediately think of Eckankar, the religion (some say cult) that teaches "Soul Travel," which they claim is better than astral projection and out-of-body experiences. So I was worried that this book might be preachy and filled with pro-Eckankar propaganda and nomenclature. It wasn't.

Yes, the author used Eckankar as a framework for her spiritual path, and yes, she uses a few of their words, like "Mahanta" (the inner master), but sparingly. She refers to God simply as "God" and not the Eck word. As early as the copyright notice she states: "This does not imply any endorsement or sponsorship of Eckankar."

Who is May Long? She is a Chinese woman with a son. At some point she moved from China to Canada. She comes across as well educated, sincere, level-headed, and wise.

If I had to summarize this book in one sentence, I'd say this is kind of "halfway between my first book (Out of Body Experiences) and my second book (Lessons Out of the Body)." Let me explain. My first book described my early OBEs with my analytical observations and conclusions. My second book had a more spiritual approach, trying to answer questions like: 

• What good are OBEs?
  
• Where can they take us spiritually?
• What lessons can we learn from them?
  

Diary of a Soul Traveller is a combination of both analytical and spiritual approaches. Every chapter teaches a life lesson, and the narratives illustrate the points she makes. We see not only her experiences and what she learned from them, but there's a spiritual side, a deeper meaning and a life-lesson. From a spiritual point of view, she came to many of the same conclusions I did, and that was satisfying. Here is a quote I loved. It might just as easily come from Lessons Out of the Body or my later book, Answers Within:

"If we are attentive, we can derive wisdom and answers from the most unassuming sources. I am convinced of the universe's benevolence, its continual attempts to educate us and facilitate our growth." (pg. 52)

She sees almost every moment as offering some lesson, and asks, What is the Universe trying to teach me? Like me, she sees events and objects as metaphors and similes. For example, here's another quote I loved:

"This extraordinary encounter forever transformed my perspective, leaving an indelible imprint upon my relationship with my son and the world at large. Gone were the rigid classifications and societal hierarchies predicated upon academic achievement. In their stead, a new-found understanding emerged -- the equality of all souls, each embarking upon their unique journey of experience. The beggar and the king, once perceived through a lens of hierarchy, now stood on equal footing." (pg. 15)

Here's another quote I loved:

"Everyone can find their unique spiritual path that aligns with their consciousness and fulfills their spiritual needs. The path that resonates with me might not be the one for you. Choose a path that echoes with your heart, a path that propagates love. For love is the only constant in a world where everything else can be deemed an illusion.

Do not get caught up in the desire for prestigious positions within spiritual or religious organizations, as such pursuits often serve the ego. What truly matters is our individual relationship with the Source, the Holy Spirit, or God." (pg. 44)

The book has lots of out-of-body narratives: her own personal experiences. So we get to see who the author is, what her OBEs are like, and what she got out of them. Like many of us, it's a journey of self-discovery, facing and conquering fears, and learning lessons.

Like my first book, she includes exercises at the end of every chapter to help the readers have their own journeys. Very helpful.

We get to see the author's spiritual evolution, starting with adolescence where she first started having unplanned OBEs. Like many of us, she had to overcome fears and learn how to do voluntary OBEs, astral travel. Along the way she enters and eventually leaves an unnamed ("mystery school") to find Eckankar.

Here's another quote I loved:

"Spiritual growth does not demand seclusion, excessive meditation, or detachment. Rather, it occurs through active engagement with life, imbuing every act, thought, and moment with love." (pg. 49)

And here's another:

"The interplay of signs, synchronicities, and inner guidance serves as a testament to the profound interconnection of all things--a symphony of seen and unseen, guiding us towards a deeper understanding of our purpose and the boundless potential that resides within us." (pg. 70)

Speaking of  synchronicities, I was absolutely stunned by her description of an experience that closely matches an OBE I shared recently in this blog, which I called "The Demonstration":

"What I witnessed was the transformation of their forms, but the underlying essence was the expansion of consciousness. The true result of their integration was a heightened awareness, a larger consciousness that enveloped their being." (pgs. 75-76)

It made me wonder: Did she witness my OBE firsthand? Is this some kind of universal experience? Note that her book was published well before I shared my experience with anyone, but the experience itself happened in the last few years.

One last quote from the book:

"This is the essence of the soul's journey: always evolving, ever-connected, and bound by love." (pg. 172)

It's chock full of personal experiences, and plenty of exercises. I was a tiny bit disappointed that she didn't name the "mystery school" she attended. And also in the lack of detail in some of the exercises. I would have liked more details on what exactly she did to induce her experiences. She included some of it, but I wanted more details.

I loved this book. Maybe I'm biased because it reminded me of my own. I give this book 4 and 1/2 stars out of 5. It was humble, relatable, personal and yet inspiring. The writing was mature, sophisticated, with perfect spelling and grammar. I only found a couple typos.

Bob Peterson
29 October 2024

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