In recent years the search for spirituality has grown in leaps and bounds. I believe it is no mere coincidence that since the 1970s, in the West at least, attendance in the main monotheistic churches have been in decline.

However it is clear that the general disillusionment with the church has not stopped people yearning for alternative forms of spirituality. In the 70s and 80s the New Age movement spread through the occult and metaphysical communities like wildfire. It offered a more eclectic form of spirituality, borrowing from Eastern religions, the Native American Indians, and a host of others.

But where did all this New Age philosophy come from? At the time, it seemed to appear like magic out of nowhere. I have taken a deep interest in this subject and have spent some time researching it. There is no denying that at the heart of it was the reinterpretation of the occultist current that emerged in the 18th & and 19th centuries. Which itself sprag from a romanticised version of ancient Celtic society and its druids.

But there is much more that we can add to the bubbling cauldron before, the eclectic brew of the New Age movement was ready to emerge into everyday society.

In the early 20th century Rudolf Steiner attempted to find a synthesis between science and spirituality, developing links to the Theosophical movement. There was much talk about nature spirits and devas. To our cauldron brew we add a bucket full of this kind of philosophy.

Additionally the early 20th century also spawned occultists such as Gerald Gardner, Stewart Farrar, and Dion Fortune all of whom forged a modern witchcraft movement, whose underground fruits, blossomed like mushrooms into our New Age pot, when books on the subject became readily available.

As previously mentioned, we can add a handful of Eastern religious philosophy and a smattering of N.A. Indian beliefs.

To our volatile, bubbling cauldron, we finally add the lightning bolt of the ‘hippy, flower power’ revolution which exploded in the 1960s, creating a liberalism that soaked up all these pungent ingredients, and ultimately gave birth to the New Age movement of the 1970s.

Since that time we have had a multitude of authors exploring, seemingly every aspect of New Age, Occult, and mysticism in a plethora of books. For the novice or newbie seeker this may seem a little overwhelming. Additionally many books fall into very specialist subjects or if they are eclectic, may not be very clear on how this spirituality or mysticism works in everyday life.

This is where I believe spirituality in fantasy fiction comes in as a life saver. In books such as ‘The Celestine Prophecy’ and ‘The Touchwood Chronicles’ series, the author writes about the spiritual journey of an everyday person.

In The Touchwood Chronicles, the main character encounters some very interesting people who work practically with their particular brand of spirituality. Consequently as he progresses on his adventure, he explores many aspects of spirituality. You can see how it enters his life and how he can practically apply the knowledge gained and bring it into his everyday life. Along the way you’ll experience laughs, and suspense. You will become emotionally attached to the characters that have been created. And it has to be said that there are some very fruity episodes as well.

But most importantly, I believe you'll experience many insights and visions birthing a soulful awakening, allowing you to view the world in a very different and positive way.