Reincarnation: The Ring of Return (1963) by Eva Martin is a comprehensive survey of reincarnation beliefs across history, religion, and philosophy. This classic text traces the doctrine of metempsychosis (the transmigration of souls) from its roots in ancient Egypt, Hinduism, and Pythagorean mysticism to its echoes in Christian Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and Theosophy.
Martin’s scholarly yet accessible approach examines:
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Eastern traditions (Hindu karma, Buddhist rebirth)
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Western esotericism (Plato’s Myth of Er, Rosicrucian thought)
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Modern proponents like Steiner and Blavatsky
While lacking contemporary case studies (e.g., Ian Stevenson’s research), it remains a valuable primer for understanding reincarnation’s enduring appeal.
Ideal for readers of Many Lives, Many Masters or The Tibetan Book of the Dead.
