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And that is exactly why I love the OED. Thanks for sharing this with all of us. And I'm heading straight over to Google Books to see if I can track down a copy of this novel. Erica -----Original Message----- From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Daniel Harms Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 5:49 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] the astral Chas, The first reference in the Oxford English Dictionary is as follows: 1887 Mohammed Benani ii. xxi. 215 Alas! to have so nearly attained the possibility of astral projection... I might possibly have flown to Helena, soothed Ludwig's burning brow.., and swept aside the veil which wraps Eftomah's fate in impenetrable mystery. Apparently the reference is to a novel, of which Mohammed Benani is both title and author. Sincerely, Dan Harms Bibliographer and Instructional Services Librarian SUNY Cortland Memorial Library (607)-753-4042 -----Original Message----- From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ben McDonald Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 5:14 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] the astral Hi Chas, The earliest approximate usage that I'm familiar with is from Isis Unveiled (1877), which mentions "projection of the astral entity" (p. 619, from the sixth edition). The earliest precise usage I'm familiar with is by Hereward Carrington, who wrote on the topic of astral projection, using that precise term, in Modern Psychical Phenomena (1919). He attributes the concept to Lancelin, and it seems likely to me that the term was used by English-speaking psychical researchers before this. Hopefully someone with greater expertise can clarify. It's possible Leadbeater may have at some point used the term "astral projection" -- for example, The Astral Plane (1895) refers to "knowledge of magical arts – sufficient at any rate to be able to project the astral body." (Page 43, from the original Theosophical Manuals printing.) I don't recall him using the term precisely, however, but it still might be worth looking into. There may be usages in early Spiritualist literature as well: again, hopefully someone with greater expertise will be able to confirm! All the best with your search, Ben On 18/07/2012 6:53 PM, Chas Clifton wrote: > Could anyone tell me who was the first writer to use the term "astral > projection" in English-language work? > thanks, > Chas Clifton > > > Letter from Hardscrabble Creek: A Pagan Writer's Blog > http://blog.chasclifton.com