Daimonic Reality: A Field Guide to the Otherworld

A book that synthesizes disparate subjects into a magical whole, then deconstructs the whole, then reforms it, capturing and setting free the essential paradox at the wonderful heart of being alive.

I have an interest in the overlap between UFOs, the paranormal, mystical experiences, and folklore, and this book speaks to this overlap wonderfully. I appreciate the academic, yet approachable writing style. The absurd elements of The Phenomenon are explored here - as others have said, this absurdity almost seems to be a “feature not a bug.” Fascinating. Wish it was available in Kindle format.

This tragically under-known gem is the most brilliant book on the deeper nature of the world that I've ever encountered (and I've met a *lot* of such books). On the surface it appears to be a book about UFOs, angels, ghosts, and crop circles. But once you get into it you discover that it's actually a book about an entirely different way of understanding reality in which all of those things and so much more not only make sense but are inevitable, profound, and important. Harpur is Cambridge educated and it shows. *Daimonic Reality* is brimming with classical sensibility and academic rigor. Yet he blends his myriad references to Western arts and sciences into an approachable alchemy that is easily grasped. Yet what is grasped is so radical and elusive that it may take several readings over several years for it to fully permeate one's consciousness. This book transformed my understanding of the world. I cannot recommend it highly enough. (I've also had the pleasure of meeting Harpur at one of his Mythic Imagination courses. He is completely charming and is even more insightful and inspiring in person!)

This book finds a very sincere way to draw you in. There is no other book like it. As hard as the author tries to write as a neutral scholar, this is an emic (religious) text and not a book of scholarship, but that contributes to rather than detracts from it's charm. It manages to strafe a weird line between scientific and mythological paradigms, between Neoplatonism, Blake, Jung, and the paranormal. Really enjoyable and warm. Thank you.

The author takes the reader on a complex but fascinating journey into his assessment of UFOs, fairies, elves, gnomes (and even 'crop circles') and the like, arguing these visions all share a common source, a source that is both devoid of physical substance yet able to project a degree of physicality. As well stated by other reviewers, the author weaves together many documented sightings of all of these mysterious entities, offering an explanation steeped in Jungian philosophy of the 'collective unconscious' and 'archetypes', the writings of ancient Greeks, Romantic poets and writers and others to make his case. These visions are both 'real' and 'unreal' (in a strictly materialistic sense). They emanate from the 'world soul' and the individual counterpart, the intuitive ego. They are an integral part of our existence which manifest themselves in different guises, based upon the prevailing culture of the percipients. In order to fully appreciate this rather scholarly work (although it is not stuffy and dry), it would be beneficial for the reader to have a good, basic handle on the works of Jung, John Keel (who believed UFOs and other enigmatic visions were 'ultraterrestrials' or 'elementals'), the works of Dr. Jacques Vallee ( including his books 'Passport to Magonia' and most all, 'Dimentions'), Christian doctrine, Greek mythology and perhaps cultural anthropology. If armed with such a background, the work makes a lot of sense, and gives the reader much to contemplate. In addition, a very similar take on this topic can be found in Keith Thompson's 'Angels and Aliens, UFOs and the Mythic Imagination'. Does it resolutely answer the question, particularly with regard to the UFO phenomenon? Not for me. Like other works seeking to provide a 'solution', the book offers up selective examples. When an obscure British 'UFO sighting', for example, is determined to be simply the moon, the implication is that such perceptual errors are the norm. The author also states that UFO sightings (as well as photos and videos) are ephemeral, somewhat like ghosts, and are never seen in such a way as to provide perspective; they aren't seen in relation to buildings or other material objects. That may have been so when the book was published, but in the years since, there has been an explosion of photos and videos, sometimes taken by many different people with different cameras. He fails to adequately explain the solid physicality of the enigma. Also puzzling is the idea (brought forth by others as well) that the phenomenon expresses itself based upon the culture; that UFOs are just the contemporary image. If this is so, then why are there so many images from antiquity (paintings, cave drawings, coins, etc.) that show what appear to be, when seen by modern eyes, UFOs? Such objects would have no meaning to people in early history, so they became 'flaming shields' and so on. Within the context of Mr. Harpur's work, the points raised above flow from the 'rational ego' holding dominance. While this may be the case, it is an unavoidable aspect of the human condition. For those with a truly open mind, the book can provide a fascinating perspective, quite far apart from the usual theories. I found that after reading the book, I felt a near compulsion to revisit the early works (1940s and 50s) of Meade Layne. His notion of what he called 'etherians', or higher intelligences existing in higher vibrational 'planes', able to slip into and out of our word by changing their rate of vibration from denser to less dense, becomes more compelling as a model. While I do not feel the author has solved these mysteries, I can't emphatically say he is wrong. I can, however, emphatically state that this is an important work, well worth reading. You may agree or disagree, but it will make you think.

This was the first book of his that I ever read. It was so different, more so than any other book I had ever read. Since, I have consumed all of Patrick Harpur's writings. He is a special kind of thinker, one whose writings are ensouled. I cannot recommend this book enough. Along with Jeffrey Kripal, there are few writers who I've found that can strike such a balance between prose, information, and wonder through their work. He has that rare mythological perspective that employs all the tools of supercomparativism (to use a P.K. Dick term). If you are a "believer" - then Harpur may not strike a chord with you. But if you are an "imaginer" - then he is for you. Believe nothing, imagine everything.

Harpur has written a masterpiece. If you have always been baffled by UFOs and such matters, Harpur gives a wonderful guide and explanation about these phenomena. The book is well researched and full of example encounters, which are explained in terms of his Platonic world of Imagination. I think this is the best book I have read on the subject of Blake's Imagination, Jung's Collective Unconscious, the Platonic Realm, UFOs, Folklore and other such matters, and I have read many such books on the subject.

I had not expected a book of such extraordinary breadth and depth, though after The Philosophers' Secret Fire by this author, I probably should have. Mr Harpur dares where few do to vigorously and unappologetically present his vision of reality, almost recklessly teetering on the kind of deeply personal disclosures of C.G. Jung in his Red Book. Parts of Daimonic Reality read like the poetry of Yeats, Rilke and Blake at their most intimate, other parts like Jung in his later years when he was past caring to be 'scientific' and revealed his own daemonic, daemon-driven nature. I did not agree with everything in this book, but Mr Harpur makes clear that he does not expect us to, or require it, for the daemonic can only be experienced, and everyone's experience of it, including of the archetypal, is necessarily personal. Though he doesn't write much about God as part of this reality, he has helped me understand just what Jung meant with these words: “To this day God is the name by which I designate all things which cross my willful path violently and recklessly, all things which upset my subjective views, plans and intentions and change the course of my life for better or worse” (in Memories Dreams and Reflections). Yes, that is my god, a daemonic, mythic god with whom I have struggled and can at last, I think, make peace. Patrick Harpur is a myth-sayer, inviting us into his experience and understanding of the magical, mysterious, heavenly - hellish - and in-between fundaments of reality that I sensed as a child when my world was still bursting with awe. As a long-time Jungian, I knew of this great eternal river of the unconscious and now, I step into it with both feet, in over my head, willing to be borne deep into the daemonic reality and to live fully in two - no, three worlds. My book shelves are overflowing, and I have been weeding out all inessential reading. But now, I will make room for the books of Patrick Harpur. I do not know any of his fiction, but after reading Daimonic Reality and the Philosophers' secret fire, I am full of anticipation. So glad to have discovered this author before I leave this world.

This book is eye-opening, mind-bending, and provides fascinating perspectives on the nature of reality, faeries, crop circles, UFOs--and so much more. A must-read for anyone interested in expanding their view of the world and its mysteries.

Another extremely interesting book by Patrick Harpur. I can’t recommend this enough! Essential reading if you’re interested in anomalous phenomena & experiences. Maybe your daimon wants you to read this. This is definitely a cut above most works (not many out there) that deal with areas the mainstream have no idea even exist.

First of all, this is not a book for simple weird phenomena buffs which are not going to engage themselves in a complex but revealing reading. The author guides the reader through a journey to understand the nature of the strange phenomena which have been occurring in all times and civilizations although without any claim to explain them because, owing to their nature itself, they defy any attempt to explain in the scientific meaning of this word. I took a while to go through this book with the due attention but after finishing it, I consider it one of the best and most meaningful ones I have ever read. Also, I plan on reading it again some time soon - which I rarely do even with books I appreciated - to understand more deeply its concepts. This book is a must-have.

Bought this for my partner and she loves it... as do I when I flipped through! Thorough and quality writing.