Mysticism, magic and occult interests

A guide for embodying the courage of the Fierce Feminine, or Dark Mother, to heal yourself and the world at large *; Describes how to embody the sacred rage of the Fierce Feminine and channel the universal outrage collectively rising in many of us to seek justice for those who can't defend themselves *; Details constructive energetic and spiritual practices to help heal from predatory relationships and traumatic experiences, recenter your personal power, and gain control of your sacred rage rather than allowing it to control you *; Explains how to gain access to primordial female wisdom within the brain, embrace your inner Kali, and personally deal with sorrow and anger *; Includes access to online audio tracks After millennia of suppression, the Fierce Feminine, or Dark Mother, is making a dramatic resurgence to express our universal outrage.

A comprehensive exploration of familiars and their many forms and powers *; Explores witch's familiars in folklore, shamanic, and magical traditions around the world, including Africa, India, Scandinavia, ancient Greece, and China *; Explains how familiars are related to shamanic power animals and how the witch draws on her personal sexual energy to give this creature its power *; Examines the familiar in alchemical, Hermetic, and Egyptian magical literature, including instructions for procuring a supernatural assistant Exploring the history and creation of a ';witch's familiar,' also known as a spirit double or guardian spirit, Maja D'Aoust shows how there is much more to these supernatural servant spirits and guardians than meets the eye.

A comprehensive look at the history and practices of rural English witchcraft *; Explores witch's familiars and fetches, animal magic, and the forms of witchcraft practiced by rural tradespeople, such as blacksmiths, herbalists, and artisans *; Offers practical insight into spells, charms, folk incantations, herbal medicine practices, amulets, sigils, and tools of the craft *; Details the evolution of public perception of witchcraft throughout England's history, including the laws against witchcraft in place until the 1950s and witchcraft's contentious relationship with the Christian church In this practical guide, Nigel Pennick takes the reader on a journey through the practice of operative witchcraft in the British Isles from the Middle Ages and the Elizabethan era to the decriminalization of witchcraft in the 1950s and its practice today.

A practical guide to the ancient magical tradition of Russian sorcery and Eastern Slavic magical rites *; Offers step-by-step instructions for more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, amulets, and practical rituals for love, career success, protection, healing, divination, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and other challenges and situations *; Reveals specific places of magical power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells *; Explores the folk history of this ancient magical tradition, including how the pagan gods gained new life as Eastern Orthodox saints, and shares folktales of magical beings, including sorceresses shapeshifting into animals and household objects Passed down through generations, the Slavic practice of magic, witchcraft, and sorcery is still alive and well in Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as the Balkans and the Baltic states.

A guide to using your Enneagram personality type to understand your approach to eating, dieting, and exercise *; Shows how the Enneagram system of personality types can explain your relationship to food, emotional triggers and childhood patterns around eating, food choices, best methods for weight loss or gain, possible addictions, love (or not) for entertaining, and the right exercise method to keep you motivated *; Includes an Enneagram food-personality test and explains how understanding your Enneagram type allows you to alter your subconscious programming and become not only physically, but emotionally healthier *; Provides examples of healthy and unhealthy expressions of each personality type's relationship to food and exercise Have you ever wondered why some people seem to adore food, while others find eating simply a need?

A comprehensive guide to the history and practice of Angular Magic *; Details the development of the magical system of the Nine Angles by the Church of Satan and the Temple of Set, as well as its internal body, the Order of the Trapezoid *; Analyzes the 3 key rites of Angular Magic: Die Elektrischen Vorspiele, the Ceremony of the Nine Angles, and the Call to Cthulhu *; Explores historical influences on Angular Magic, including Pythagorean number mysticism, John Dee's Enochian magic, and the writings of H.

Original tales inspired by Native American and Norwegian folklore that highlight the wisdom of the divine natural world *; Shares unique stories about Earth Medicine and animal magic, inspired by the author's unusual Native American (Hopi) and Norwegian upbringing *; Interwoven with ancient teachings and everyday practical applications of Earth Medicine, such as grounding and dream interpretation *; Each tale is beautifully illustrated with the author's original art, which promotes spiritual understanding and the power of the Earth's healing properties *; Paper with French flaps Drawing on both her Native American (Hopi) heritage and her Norwegian upbringing, renowned mystic and intuitive healer Sonja Grace shares original wisdom tales, received through her heart and soul, to take you on a journey into the magic of Raven and Bear and the healing power of Earth Medicine.

A history of how mystical and spiritual influences have shaped Russia's identity and politics and what it means for the future of world civilization *; Examines Russia's spiritual history, from its pagan origins and Eastern Orthodox mysticism to secret societies, Rasputin, Roerich, Blavatsky, and Dostoyevsky *; Explains the visionary writings of the spiritual philosophers of Russia's Silver Age, which greatly influence Putin today *; Explores what Russia's unique identity and its history of messianic politics and apocalyptic thought mean for its future on the world stage At the turn of the 20th century, a period known as the Silver Age, Russia was undergoing a powerful spiritual and cultural rebirth.

An intimate portrait of Evola and his wartime activities that rebuts many of the Fascist pseudo-myths about him *; Traces the Baron's activities in Italy, Germany, and Austria during World War II *; Clarifies Evola's relations with Nazism and Fascism and reveals how he passionately rejected both ideologies because they were totalitarian *; Draws on personal conversations with those who knew Evola, new documentation never before made public, and letters from the Hakl and Scaligero archives Baron Giulio Cesare Andrea Evola, known to the English-speaking world as Julius Evola (18981974), was an Italian philosopher, magician, painter, occultist, Orientalist, linguist, and champion mountain climber.

Answers to the questions that arise on the spiritual path *; Includes specially selected writings from the huge literary archive of Paul Brunton *; Explains the different stages of meditation and the obstacles likely to arise for each, offering guidance for achieving advanced states of meditation to deepen one's inner life *; Challenges the need for spiritual dependency on any particular guru, teaching, or practice, showing that following your intuition can bring the best spiritual success *; Explores the process of self-examination and emotional purification, revealing how to break free from the ego and tap into the inspiration flowing from within No matter where we are in our spiritual development, we all have questions about our practice and what we are experiencing--both the challenges and opportunities.

An exploration of the connections between feminine consciousness and altered states from ancient times to present day *; Explores the feminine qualities of the psychedelic self, ancient female roots of shamanism, and how altered states naturally tap into the female archetype *; Discusses feminist psychedelic activism, female ecstatics, goddess consciousness, the dark feminine, and embodied paths to ecstasy *; Includes contributions by Martina Hoffmann, Amanda Sage, Carl Ruck, and others Women have been shamans since time immemorial, not only because women have innate intuitive gifts, but also because the female body is wired to more easily experience altered states, such as during the process of birth.

Follow Aleister Crowley through his mystical travels in India, which profoundly influenced his magical system as well as the larger occult world *; Shares excerpts from Crowley's unpublished diaries and details his travels in India, Burma, and Sri Lanka from 1901 to 1906 *; Reveals how Crowley incorporated what he learned in India--jnana yoga, Vedantist, Tantric, and Buddhist philosophy--into his own school of Magick *; Explores the world of Theosophy, yogis, Hindu traditions, and the first Buddhist sangha to the West as well as the first pioneering expeditions to K2 and Kangchenjunga in 1901 and 1905 Early in life, Aleister Crowley's dissociation from fundamentalist Christianity led him toward esoteric and magical spirituality.

An experiential guide to the shamanic spiritual practices of the Himalayas shared by a 27th-generation Nepalese shaman *; Presents step-by-step, illustrated instructions for authentic Himalayan shamanic practices, including physical and spiritual healing, shamanic journeys, and ceremonies *; Includes exercises to meet the ancestors in your shamanic lineage, techniques to use your voice as a shamanic tool, and practices for negotiating the spirit world safely *; Details shamanic chants and rituals, how to create an altar, and the sacred objects of the shaman, along with exercises and techniques for using them properly There are few areas of our world where shamanic traditions have been preserved in their original context and form.

A collector's edition of the classic, illustrated, and comprehensive history of magic and the occult *; Written by renowned Surrealist and magic scholar Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962) *; Includes all 250 illustrations from the original 1948 edition *; Explores magical practices and beliefs from their origins in the ancient world through the heyday of secret societies in the 18th century In the occult classic The Mirror of Magic, renowned Surrealist Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962) draws from his encyclopedic practitioner's knowledge and extensive antiquarian collection to offer a comprehensive, illustrated history of magic and the occult from Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt through the 18th century.

Reveals how the art of memory is the origin of the Masonic method *; Explains the classical techniques of the art of memory, how they were reworked by hermetic thinkers during the Renaissance, and how they contributed to the transformation of operative Freemasonry into speculative Freemasonry *; Traces the creation of speculative Freemasonry to 1637, one hundred years earlier than previously thought *; Explores how the ';memory palaces' created with the art of memory enabled access to universal knowledge as well as represented the Masonic temple in its imaginary state In Antiquity, the art of memory was a mnemonic device that allowed an orator, such as Cicero, to recall all the points he wished to make by associating each of them with an image or architectural element in the site he was speaking.

Reveals the occult wisdom and multidimensional layers of meaning hidden in the Nordic Rune stones *; Explores the practice of the Uthark divination system encoded within the traditional exoteric Futhark system of reading the runes *; Traces the relationship between the rune stones and numerology, the Cabbala, alchemy, Gothicism, and sigil magic *; Examines the history of the runes and the ancient spiritual mysticism of Odin Uncovering the dark side of the Nordic rune stones hidden beneath their traditional interpretation, Swedish scholar and runologist Thomas Karlsson examines the rune work of Swedish mystic and runologist Johannes Bureus (1568-1652) and professor Sigurd Agrell (1881-1937), both of whom devoted their lives to uncovering the secret uses of rune stones concealed from all but the highest initiates.

A step-by-step guide to working with the runes throughout the year *; 2019 Nautilus Silver Award *; Explains how the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark each rule the calendar for a half-month *; Details the runes most powerful during each runic half-month, what they portend for personal and spiritual wellbeing, and techniques for creating relationships with them *; Includes structured devotionals for each half-month and runic initiation rituals for the 8 pagan Sabbats, or holy days, such as the Summer Solstice (Litha) and Lughnssadh (the first harvest holy day) The Old Norse runes, known as the Elder Futhark, have long joined forces with the cycles of the seasons to offer powerful initiations, guidance, and wisdom.

A practical guide to working with gemstones and crystals connected to Goddess energy for magick, healing, and transformation *; 2020 Coalition of Visionary Resources Gold Award *; Explores more than 100 Goddess-centered stones and crystals, including amazonite, amethyst, birthing stones, thundereggs, geodes, Lemurian seed crystals, sakura stone, yeh ming zhu, and carnelian, also known as the blood of Isis *; Details each stone's astrological and elemental correspondences, Goddess archetypes, healing properties, magickal uses, and aspects of the Divine Feminine it embodies *; Includes instructions for Goddess-centered rituals, guided meditations, and spells *; Explains how to create Goddess-centered crystal grids, crystal elixirs, and charm bags Part of Mother Earth, crystals and gemstones are intimate pieces of the body of the Goddess, sacred tools that can help us tap into Her energy for healing, magick, and spiritual growth.

A comprehensive account of the rich folk culture preserved in the rural secret societies of the British Isles *; Describes the secret rites, ceremonies, and initiation rituals of guilds and rural fraternities such as the Shoemakers, Horsemen, Toadmen, Mummers, and Bonesmen *; Explains their use of masks, black face, and other disguises to avoid persecution *; Draws not only on scholarly research but also the author's personal contacts within these still living traditions Centuries ago the remote, marshy plains of eastern England--the Fens--were drained to create agricultural land.

Learn how to use the principles and practices of natural magic for personal development and spiritual empowerment *; Offers detailed descriptions of the magical properties of minerals, animals, plants, and the earth's cycles and how to use them in your own practice *; Explores the magical laws of nature and how to guide your inner energy to work in concert with cosmic energies *; Details how to design your own ceremonies, practice elemental meditations, and craft your own magical talismans, wands, and divining rods An expert on European rural folk magic traditions, author Nigel Pennick presents a comprehensive introduction to the principles, rituals, practices, and magical tools required to draw on the magic inherent in the natural world.

A practical guide to the Anglo-Saxon Futhark and how runes were used in Old England *; Examines the 33 Northumbrian runes of the Anglo-Saxon Futhark, providing the meanings, historical uses, symbolism, and related tree and plant spirits for each *; Explores geomancy divination practices, the role of sacred numbers, and the power of the eight airts, or directions *; Provides a magical history of Northumbria, as well as a look at the otherworldly beings who call these lands home, including boggarts, brownies, and dragons *; Shows how traditional spirituality is intimately tied to the landscape and the cycle of the seasons In the early Anglo-Saxon period, the region of Great Britain known as Northumbria was a kingdom in its own right.

Examines the work of Carl Jung in relation to Eastern religion, the wisdom teachings of the Sophia, Sufi mysticism, and visionary spirituality *; Reveals the spiritual values underlying the psychoanalytic theories of Carl Jung *; Explores the role of the Gnostic Sophia with respect to Jung's most controversial essay, ';Answer to Job' *; Presents new revelations about Sufi mysticism and its relationship to esoteric Buddhist practices *; Shows how the underlying spiritual traditions of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity mesh with the spiritual teachings of Buddhism Henry Corbin (1903-1978) was one of the most important French philosophers and orientalists of the 20th century.

A surrealist exploration of the marvelous in ancient, classic, and modern works from around the world *; Long considered one of the most significant and original books to have come out of the surrealist movement *; Reveals the ';marvelous' in works from William Blake, Edgar Allen Poe, William Shakespeare, Chrtien de Troyes, and Arthur Rimbaud; legends and folktales from around the world; classics from Ovid, Plato, and Apuleius; Masonic ritual texts, Mesopotamia's Epic of Gilgamesh, the Popol-Vuh, Lewis Caroll's Alice through the Looking Glass, Solomon's Song of Songs, and Goethe's Faust First published in French as Miroir du merveilleux in 1940, Mirror of the Marvelous has long been considered one of the most significant and original books to have come out of the surrealist movement and Anas Nin suggested it as a source of inspiration, far ahead of its time.

A controversial examination of the influence and presence of the Norse god Odin in contemporary history and culture *; Documents Odin's role in the rise of Nazi Germany, the 1960s counterculture revolution, nationalist and ecological political movements, and the occult revival *; Examines the spiritual influence of Odin in relation to Jesus Christ *; Profiles key individuals instrumental in the rise of the modern pagan renaissance Exploring the influence of the Norse god Odin in the modern world, Richard Rudgley reveals Odin's central role in the pagan revival and how this has fueled a wide range of cultural movements and phenomena, including Nazi Germany, the 1960s counterculture revolution, the Lord of the Rings, the ecology movement, and the occult underground.

A practical handbook to the history, exercises, and techniques of German rune work *; Explores the four traditional runic systems: the Older Futhark, the Anglo-Frisian Futhorc, the Younger Futhark, and the Armanic Futhork *; Details powerful rune work techniques and exercises, including rune yoga and dance, runic hand gestures (mudras), rune singing (mantras), runic healing, runic tantra and sex magic, rune rituals, runic divination, and the runic theory of crystals *; Examines the history of esoteric runology and the trailblazers of modern rune magic, including Guido von List, Friedrich Bernhard Marby, and Rudolf John Gorsleben Although the rune renaissance began blossoming in Anglo-American occult circles in the 1970s, the runes have been part of the occult revival in Germany since its beginning in the late 19th century, with roots that go back centuries further.

The most in-depth work in English on the most influential secret magic group of 20th-century Germany, the Fraternitas Saturni, or Brotherhood of Saturn *; Explores the history of the Order from its founding the late 1960s *; Transcribes many rituals and practices in such detail that readers will be able to undertake their own experiential work *; Examines the Order's teachings on cosmology, the Kabbalah, the Saturnian Sacraments, electrical magic, and sexual mysticism--the Yoga of the Dark Light *; Includes biographies of prominent members, including founder Gregor A.

Authentic initiatic practices, rituals, and wisdom collected by the UR Group *; Shares a rigorous selection of initiatory exercises, including instructions for creating the diaphanous body of the Opus magicum, establishing initiatic consciousness after death, and the construction of magical chains (the enchained awareness of initiates) *; Offers studies of mystery traditions throughout history, presenting not only the principles themselves but also witnesses to them and their continual validity today The ';Gruppo di UR' was a group of Italian esotericists who collaborated from 1927 to 1929.

A comprehensive examination of the intertwined mythology, folklore, and literary history of the little people *; Explores the pagan roots of dwarfs and elves and their evolution in myth and literature *; Reveals the role the church played in changing them from fearless, shape-shifting warriors with magical powers into cheerful helpmates and cute garden gnomes *; Traces their history from ancient Celtic and Germanic lore through their emergence in the literature of the Middle Ages to their modern popularization by the Brothers Grimm and Walt Disney Most people are familiar with the popular image of elves as Santa's helpers and dwarfs as little bearded men wearing red caps, who are mischievous and playful, helpful and sly, industrious and dexterous.

Unveils the spiritual meaning that fueled the artistic, political, and social revolutions of the 1960s *; Investigates the spiritual principles that informed everything from the civil rights and anti-war movements, to the hippies' rejection of materialist culture, to the rise of feminism, gay rights, and environmentalism *; Reveals how medieval troubadours, Gnosticism, Renaissance hermetic magic, and the occult doctrines of Aleister Crowley helped shape the psychedelic Sixties *; Offers in-depth analysis of many of the era's most famous books, films, and music No decade in modern history has generated more controversy and divisiveness than the tumultuous 1960s.

Explores the role of magic and the occult in art and culture from ancient times to today *; Examines key figures behind esoteric cultural developments, such as Carl Jung, Anton LaVey, Paul Bowles, Aleister Crowley, and Rudolf Steiner *; Explores the history of magic as a source of genuine counter culture and compares it with our contemporary soulless, digital monoculture *; Reveals how the magic of art can be restored if art is employed as a means rather than an end and offers strategies to rekindle intuitive creativity Art, magic, and the occult have been intimately linked since our prehistoric ancestors created the first cave paintings some 50,000 years ago.

An illustrated guide to harmonics--the sacred geometry principles that underlie the natural world--and its practical applications *; Demonstrates how the vesica piscis is a matrix from which ideas and forms emanate, connecting cosmic time cycles, measures of space, and musical tones *; Provides harmonic analyses of ancient sculpture, architecture, the solar system, the Earth-Moon relationship, and the structure of water and waves *; Explains how to apply sacred geometry to create building floor plans, pottery figures, gardens, and sacred ceremonial spaces We are in the midst of a revival of an ancient way of looking at the world--an approach that enabled great civilizations of the past to bring forth inventions of great beauty and power.

A Novel of forbidden love and religious war in the quest to find the mysterious Parchment of Circles *; Centers on the search for the Parchment of Circles, an ancient map said to lead to mystical wisdom that challenges the story of Christ's resurrection, validates the Cathar faith, and serves as the Templars' blackmail against the Church *; Includes a complex cast of characters including a rabbi and nun who fall in love, St.

An exploration of the role that dreaming, psychedelic experiences, and mystical visions play in visionary art *; Includes discussions with 18 well-known female artists, including Josephine Wall, Allyson Grey, Amanda Sage, Martina Hoffmann, Penny Slinger, and Carolyn Mary Kleefeld *; Reveals how they have all been inspired by deep inner experiences and seek to express non-ordinary visions of reality, reminiscent of shamanic trance states, lucid dreams, and spiritually transcendent experiences *; Shows how visionary art often contains an abundance of feminine energy, helping us to heal ourselves and see that we are all connected Since early humans first painted from their mystic eye onto cave walls, artists have sought to share their sacred visions with the world.

Stories and practices from the casebook of pioneering transpersonal psychotherapist Ralph Metzner *; Shows how psychological problems often derive from factors not considered in conventional psychotherapy, such as prenatal imprints and ancestral connections *; Shares 15 detailed case histories from Metzner's more than 50 years of practice *; Describes how guided imagery meditations, yogic light-fire practices, and selective use of entheogenic substances can be integrated with transpersonal psychotherapy and bring about deep healing Drawing on more than 50 years' experience as a transpersonal psychotherapist, Ralph Metzner explores the spiritual overtones, karmic undercurrents, and ancestral connections that shape our individual psychologies.

A beautifully evocative account of one man's odyssey to discover authentic and unbroken magical traditions in the East and reawaken them in the West *; Details the author's encounters with the Naga Babas, his initiation into their tradition, and his experience at the Kumbh Mela, the largest spiritual gathering on Earth *; Shares the similarities he discovered between the teachings of the Indian tradition and the Western traditions of magic, alchemy, and pagan pantheons *; Introduces a wide cast of characters, including Goa Gil, the world-renowned guru of the Goa techno-trance scene, and Mahant Amar Bharti Ji, a ';raised-arm Baba,' who for more than 40 years has held up one arm in devotion to Shiva Beautifully detailing his spiritual pilgrimage from West to East and back again, in the age of strife known as the Kali Yuga, Aki Cederberg shares the authentic and unbroken magical traditions he experienced in India and Nepal and how his search for a spiritual homeland ultimately led him back to his native Europe.

A comprehensive A-to-Z reconstruction of the oral tradition of the Rom--gypsies--based on sources never before available in English *; Presents the origin myths and magical traditions of the gypsies, including their legendary ties to Egypt, animal ancestors, and tree spirits *; Examines the three major settings of gypsy folktales--the forest, the waters, and the mountain--and shows how their world is full of spirits *; Shows how the religious concepts of the Rom testify to a profound syncretism of the pagan traditions and Christianity Although their own myths and their common name point to Egyptian origins for the gypsies, the Rom, as they call themselves, originated in India, as evidenced by studies of their language.

A complete guide to the theory, practice, and history of Mazdan magic, the first organized system of magic Provides a complete curriculum of magical study and initiation centered on exercises keyed to the sacred Zoroastrian calendar Details advanced magical rituals and practices based on archaic Persian formulas, including fire rituals and divine invocations Explores the history and lore of Persian magic, explaining how the author reconstructed the original Mazdan system of magic Stephen Flowers explores the history, theory, practice, rituals, and initiations of the Mazdan magical system practiced by the Magi of ancient Persia, who were so skilled and famed for their effectiveness that their name came to mean what we today call magic.

Beyond Meetings with Remarkable Men into the truth behind the self-crafted mythology of Gurdjieff's life *; Reveals evidence that Gurdjieff was a secret Freemason, relying on hypnotism, psychic research and spiritualism*; Explores the profound influence of the Yezidis, esoteric Christianity, and the ';gnostics' of Islam, the Sufis, on Gurdjieff's Fourth Way teachings and the ';Work'*; Uncovers the truth behind Gurdjieff's relations with Aleister Crowley*; Accurately dates Gurdjieff's real activities, particularly his enigmatic early lifeIn November 1949, architect Frank Lloyd Wright announced the death of ';the greatest man in the world,' yet few knew who he was talking about.

Reveals the radical ancient practice of living resurrection, in which initiates ritually died and were reborn into a state of higher consciousness *; Explores living resurrection initiation practices from world cultures, including Egyptian, Greek, Gnostic, Chinese, Celtic, and Native American traditions *; Describes the secret chambers and temples where Mystery Schools practiced ';raising the dead' *; Shows why this practice was branded a heresy and suppressed by the Church More than two thousand years before the resurrection of Jesus, initiates from spiritual traditions around the world were already practicing a secret mystical ritual in which they metaphorically died and were reborn into a higher spiritual state.

An exploration of Crowley's relationship with the United States *; Details Crowley's travels, passions, literary and artistic endeavors, sex magick, and psychedelic experimentation *; Investigates Crowley's undercover intelligence adventures that actively promoted U.

An in-depth collection of ancient spells and magic practices drawn from rare and newly discovered texts *; Presents more than 600 magical prescriptions for healing and protection from both pagan and Christian sources *; Examines the practice of diagnosing illness through magic and explores ancient beliefs about curses and other evil spells and about devils, demons, and ghosts *; Includes spells from the heavily guarded gypsy tradition of magic and healing, drawn from newly discovered materials Since the beginning of history, people have sought remedies for the many ills that have beset them, from illnesses afflicting the body to threats posed by evil and hostile individuals.

A story of awakening to remarkable shamanic powers, teachings, and techniques*; Describes the author's work with plant spirits, entheogens such as ayahuasca, and indigenous shamans during his 20 years of fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon*; Explores the practice of soul retrieval and shamanic work with feathers, stones, and sound*; Includes techniques for exploring non-ordinary reality, exercises for expanding sensory perception, and practices to open your creative artistic visionary potentialAfter surviving a serious elevator crash in London, Howard G.

Explores the American Masonic system and its strengths and failings *; Examines the history of Freemasonry in the United States from the colonial era and the Revolutionary War to the rise of the Scottish branch onward *; Investigates the racial split in American Freemasonry between black lodges and white and how, unlike French lodges, women are ineligible to become Masons in the U.

Traces the origins of the Sheela na gig from Medieval times to Paleolithic cave art *; Reveals the sacred display of the vulva to be a universal archetype and the most enduring image of creativity throughout the world *; Provides meditations on the Sheelas the author encountered in Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales, allowing readers to commune with the power of these icons *; Includes more than 150 photographs and illustrations from around the world For millennia, the human imagination has been devoted to the Goddess, so it is hardly a surprise to find images of supernatural females like Sheela na gigs adorning sacred and secular architecture throughout Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland.

An experiential guide to the wisdom preserved in Europe's far north*; Includes shamanic journeys to connect with deities and your ancestral shamans*; Provides step-by-step instructions to prepare for and conduct a seir ceremony*; Draws on archaeological evidence and surviving written records from Iceland*; Reveals the long tradition of female shamans in northern European shamanismShamanism is humanity's oldest spiritual tradition.

A comprehensive look at the life and continuing influence of 16th-century scientific genius and occultist Dr.

The first book to explore the history and influence of egregores, powerful autonomous psychic entities created by a collective group mind *; Examines the history of egregores from ancient times to present day, including their role in Western Mystery traditions and popular culture and media *; Reveals documented examples of egregores from ancient Greece and Rome, Tibetan Buddhism, Islam, modern esoteric orders, the writings of H.

A history of yoga's transformation from sacred discipline to exercise program to embodied spiritual practice *; Identifies the origin of exercise yoga as India's response to the mania for exercise sweeping the West in the early 20th century *; Examines yoga's transformations through the lives and accomplishments of 11 key figures, including Sri Yogendra, K.

The mythology, rituals, meditations, and practices used in Tantric worship of the goddess Kali in the tradition of Kashmiri Shaivism *; Reveals the practices of Vamachara, known as the Left-hand Path but more accurately translated as the Path of Shakti *; Includes a Kali ritual from the Nirrutara Tantra, translated here for the first time *; Presents devotional chants, meditations, and mudras specific to Tantric worship of Kali According to traditions going back to pre-Vedic times, Kali sprang from the third eye of the Goddess Durga as a destructive and terrifying manifestation of feminine power sent to lay waste to the forces of evil.

How fin-de-sicle Paris became the locus for the most intense revival of magical practices and doctrines since the Renaissance *; Examines the remarkable lives of occult practitioners Josphin Peladan, Papus, Stanislas de Guata, Saint-Yves d'Alveydre, Jules Doinel, and others *; Reveals how occult activity deeply influenced many well-known cultural movements, such as Symbolism, the Decadents, modern music, and the ';psychedelic 60s' During Paris's Belle poque (1871-1914), many cultural movements and artistic styles flourished--Symbolism, Impressionism, Art Nouveau, the Decadents--all of which profoundly shaped modern culture.