Mysticism, magic and occult interests

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.

A vivid portrait of both the traumas of war and the shamanic healing ceremonies of ayahuasca*; Explains how our culture lacks rites of passage and how shamanic ritual can fill this gap*; Reveals how ayahuasca frees your consciousness from inherited beliefs, fears, and traumatic experience, allowing healing from PTSD, enabling genuine growth, and offering an enlightening path out of the malaise, discontent, and dissatisfaction that life in a modern world often brings*; Details the author's experiences in Afghanistan, sailing on the Amazon river with a shaman, and the many ayahuasca ceremonies he experienced in the jungleAfter returning from a tour of duty during the war in Afghanistan, Alex Seymour needed a way to cope with the extremes he experienced as a member of the Royal Marine Commandos, losing 7 men in his unit, and having his best friend critically injured by a Taliban bomb.

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.

Durante más de 20 años, el estadounidense Alan Shoemaker ha sido aprendiz y colaborador de chamanes en Ecuador y Perú, donde se ha familiarizado con los métodos tradicionales de preparación de la ayahuasca, los rituales ceremoniales para su uso y la forma de hacer comunión con el espíritu sanador de esa planta sagrada y del cactus de San Pedro y otros aliados similares del mundo vegetal.

Author David Chaim Smith offers a guide to the practice of mystical contemplation from the perspective of a highly unusual form of non-dual Kabbalah, unfettered by both religious mythology and psychological reductionism.

Un psiquiatra clínico explora los efectos de la DMT, una de las drogas psicodélicas más potentes que se conocen

• Una mirada tras bambalinas a los proyectos más avanzados de investigación sobre sustancias psicodélicas

• Proporciona una singular explicación científica sobre el fenómeno de las experiencias de raptos por extraterrestres

De 1990 a 1995, el Dr.

Reveals evidence of visionary plants in Christianity and the life of Jesus found in medieval art and biblical scripture--hidden in plain sight for centuries*; Follows the authors' anthropological adventure discovering sacred mushroom images in European and Middle Eastern churches, including Roslyn Chapel and Chartres*; Provides color photos showing how R.

A comprehensive alchemical guide to plant extractions and their health benefits *; Shows how spagyric methods ';open' medicinal plants completely to release powerful healing properties *; Provides a history and philosophy of spagyrics that reveal why Western medicine fails to recognize the full benefit to health offered by plants *; Connects spagyrics to classical alchemical, hermetic, and ayurvedic traditions The practice of spagyrics is the application of ancient alchemical working methods to the preparation of tinctures, essences, and other products from medicinal plants.

A detailed guide to mastering lucid dreaming for physical and emotional healing, enhanced creativity, and spiritual awakening*; Offers methods to improve lucid dreaming abilities and techniques for developing superpowers in the dream realm*; Explains how to enhance dreaming with supplements, herbs, and psychedelics *; Explores the ability of lucid dreamers to communicate with the waking realm and the potential for shared lucid dreaming and access to our unconscious mindsIn a lucid dream, you ';awaken' within your dream and realize you are dreaming.

A thorough reference to the many deities, magical beings, mythical places, and ancient customs of the Norse and Germanic regions of Europe *; Explores the legends and origins of well-known gods and figures such as Odin, Thor, Krampus, and the Valkyries, as well as a broad range of magical beings such as the Elf King, the Lorelei, the Perchten, dwarves, trolls, and giants *; Draws upon a wealth of well-known and rare sources, such as the Poetic Edda and The Deeds of the Danes by Saxo Grammaticus *; Examines folktales, myths, and magical beliefs from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and England The legends of the Norse and Germanic regions of Europe--spanning from Germany and Austria across Scandinavia to Iceland and England--include a broad range of mythical characters and places, from Odin and Thor, to berserkers and Valhalla, to the Valkyries and Krampus.

Inspiring accounts from renowned contemporary working shamans about their first moments of spiritual epiphany *; With contributions by Sandra Ingerman, Hank Wesselman, John Perkins, Alberto Villoldo, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, Tom Cowan, Lynn Andrews, Linda Star Wolf, and others *; Also includes shamanic awakening experiences from those with unique shamanic paths--teachers, mothers, social workers, academics, and even rappers How does one receive the ';call' to enter onto the shamanic path?

An exploration of the historical origins of the ';witches' ointment' and medieval hallucinogenic drug practices based on the earliest sources *; Details how early modern theologians demonized psychedelic folk magic into ';witches' ointments' *; Shares dozens of psychoactive formulas and recipes gleaned from rare manuscripts from university collections all over the world as well as the practices and magical incantations necessary for their preparation *; Examines the practices of medieval witches like Matteuccia di Francisco, who used hallucinogenic drugs in her love potions and herbal preparations In the medieval period preparations with hallucinogenic herbs were part of the practice of veneficium, or poison magic.

Una exploración sobre las verdades personales y espirituales reveladas mediante el LSD

• Indica que las visiones inducidas por el LSD tejen una trama continua de un viaje a otro

• Muestra que los viajes o trances psicodélicos pasan por tres etapas: los temas personales y la conciencia prenatal, la pérdida del ego y, por último, lo sagrado

• Explora el consumo de sustancias psicodélicas a lo largo de la historia, incluidas las alucinaciones masivas comunes en la Edad Media y los primeros usos terapéuticos del LSD

Christopher Gray, cuando tenía casi sesenta años, por primera vez en mucho tiempo probó a tomar una dosis de 100 microgramos de LSD.

A bold line-by-line reexamination of the first 3 chapters of Genesis that reveals the essential nature of mind and creativity *; Deconstructs each line of Genesis chapters 1-3 with esoteric methods derived from the oral teachings of the Kabbalah *; Reveals the sefirot, the Tree of Life, as the Divine blueprint of the creative process *; Explains how Genesis reveals the Divinity of mind and consciousness Hidden within the first three chapters of Genesis rests one of the greatest jewels of Western mystical literature.

A rare in-depth look at the inner workings of Huichol shamanism *; Describes the five sacred sites of the Huichol and their peyote ceremonies *; Explains how the Huichol teachings of awareness, centered on the five points of attention, connect you to your true essence *; Reveals the deep relationship between Huichol cosmology, Gnosticism, and Christianity, especially Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary Taking place in the heart of the Huichol homeland in western Mexico, this book offers a rare in-depth look at the inner workings of Huichol shamanism, which is permeated with the use of the sacred peyote cactus.

An overview of how esoteric brotherhoods have shaped history *; Examines the secret chronology and clandestine causes of seminal world events *; Shows how secret societies feed into one another, and how they have worked together For thousands of years secret societies--guardians of ancient esoteric wisdom--have exercised a strong and often crucial influence on the destiny of nations.

Discover the untamed paganism of the Vikings and the Germanic tribes prior to the complete Christianization of Europe *; Explores the different forms of magic practiced by these tribes, including runic magic, necromancy (death magic), soul-travel, and shape-shifting *; Examines their rites of passage and initiation rituals and their most important gods, such as Odin, Loki, and Thor *; Looks at barbarian magic in historical accounts, church and assembly records, and mythology as well as an eyewitness report from a 10th-century Muslim diplomat *; Reveals the use and abuse of this tradition's myths and magic by the Nazis Before the conversion of Europe to Christianity in the Middle Ages, Germanic tribes roamed the continent, plundering villages and waging battles to seek the favor of Odin, their god of war, ecstasy, and magic.

An intimate account of an ancient shamanic ritual of Siberia *; Illustrated with vivid, full-color photographs throughout *; Details the many preparations and ritual objects as well as the struggles of the shamans to complete the ceremony successfully Near the radiant blue waters of Lake Baikal, in the lands where Mongolia, Siberia, and China meet, live the Buryats, an indigenous people little known to the Western world.

An exploration of the wild spirits that once roamed the lands and inhabited the waters and the pagan rites used to gain their good will *; Explores medieval stories and folk traditions of brownies, fairies, giants, dragons, will-o'-the-wisps, and demons *; Explains the specific rites performed to negotiate with the local spirits and ensure their permission before building on new land *; Shows how these beliefs carried through to modern times, especially in architecture Our pagan ancestors knew that every forest has brownies and fairies, every spring its lady, and every river malevolent beings in its depths.

A practical guide to the magical history, customs, and practices of pre-Christian Northern Europe *; Details the everyday magic of the Northern Tradition, including household magic, protection spells, and the significance of the days of the week *; Explores direct natural magic, such as shapeshifting and soul travel, and talismanic or sigil magic, including runes and rituals to unlock the power of crafted objects *; Explains how many of these customs continue to the present day In the pre-Christian societies of Northern Europe, magic was embedded in the practical skills of everyday life.

A complete introduction to Sanatana Dharma, the spiritual science of the Hindu sages *; Examines how many core concepts of Hinduism, including Brahman, Atman, bhakti, karma, and reincarnation, relate to modern science *; Explores the scientific discoveries of the rishis, ancient Vedic sages, and how they have only recently been rediscovered by Western scientists *; Reveals the concepts of quantum physics hidden within the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the Puranas Called ';the scientists of Hinduism,' the rishis of ancient India were the scribes of the Vedas.

Explains how to successfully navigate the process of initiation, instruction, testing, and self-transformation under the guidance of a spiritual teacher *; Explores how to approach a teacher for initiation and the importance of gauging your inner response and feeling of trust and resonance with the teacher *; Discusses the process of separating from a spiritual teacher and how to negotiate the emotional conflicts that can arise at this stage *; Shares the author's experiences with several remarkable teachers and details lessons learned through testing and confronting doubts and fears In the search for inner awakening and self-realization, a spiritual mentor can be key to advancement.

An inside look at sex magic in Eastern and Western Mystery traditions *; Details the sex magic practices of P.

A story-based guide to the techniques of shamanic healing*; Details indigenous medicine tools and soul healing techniques, including diagnosis and energy cleansing with plants, stones, fire, flower essences, and sound*; Offers protection and self-defense techniques for confronting negative energies such as spirit attachment and possession*; Shares healing stories that each address a specific condition, such as panic attacks, PTSD, depression, cancer, chronic pain, grief, and relationship problemsShamanic healing is making an astonishing comeback all over the modern technology-driven and consumerist world.

A comprehensive handbook of more than 1,000 magical words, phrases, symbols, and secret alphabets *; Explains the origins, derivatives, and practical usage of each word, phrase, and spell as well as how they can be combined for custom spells *; Based on the magical traditions of Europe, Greece, and Egypt and recently discovered one-of-a-kind grimoires from Scandinavia, France, and Germany *; Includes an in-depth exploration of secret magical alphabets, including those based on Hebrew letters, Kabbalistic symbols, astrological signs, and runes From Abracadabra to the now famous spells of the Harry Potter series, magic words are no longer confined to the practices of pagans, alchemists, witches, and occultists.

Discover the shamanic powers within each of us*; Explores ayahuasca rituals in the Amazon, messages from power animals and plant spirits, intuitive dreams, soul retrieval, and holograms of past lives and spirits*; Explains the shamanic way of ';seeing' to diagnose spiritual, emotional, and physical ailments via candle readings, remote viewing, and shamanic journeys*; Details how the author has helped individuals communicate with loved ones who have passed on and release themselves from negative spiritsEach and every one of us has shamanic powers.

Reveals how Christian mythology has more to do with long-standing pagan traditions than the Bible *; Explains how the church fathers knowingly incorporated pagan elements into the Christian faith to ease the transition to the new religion *; Identifies pagan deities that were incorporated into each of the saints *; Shows how all the major holidays in the Christian calendar are modeled on pagan rituals and myths, including Easter and Christmas In this extensive study of the Christian mythology that animated Europe in the Middle Ages, author Philippe Walter reveals how these stories and the holiday traditions connected with them are based on long-standing pagan rituals and myths and have very little connection to the Bible.

A visionary guide to safely using psilocybin mushrooms to tap in to the wisdom of Nature and reconnect humanity to the biosphere *; Explores the ecopsychological effects of wild psychedelic mushrooms, including enhanced biophilia, expanded awareness, eco-shamanic encounters, and access to the ancient wisdom that binds all life on Earth *; Examines the most recent scientific studies on psilocybin in the U.

Humility, being open and receptive to all experience, is the key to becoming one with the spontaneous patterns of the universe *; Integrates classic teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism with principles of quantum physics to reveal the science of the enlightened masters *; Reveals how we are each capable of shifting from the aggressive path of the warrior to the humble path of the sage *; Explains how the key to catching the current acceleration of conscious evolution is humility From Krishna and Lao-tzu to Buddha and Jesus, each enlightened master discovered how being receptive to all experience was the key to becoming one with the universe and its spontaneous patterns of order and chaos.

Humanity's creative role within the living pattern of nature *; Explores important scientific discoveries that reveal the self-organizing intelligence at the heart of nature *; Examines the idea of a living cosmos from its roots in the earliest cultures, to its eclipse during the Scientific Revolution, to its return today *; Reveals ways to reengage our creative partnership with nature and collaborate with nature's intelligence For millennia the world was seen as a creative, interconnected web of life, constantly growing, developing, and restoring itself.

The moving story of an expatriate coming to terms with her country's history, and her joyous spiritual and emotional rebirth as an African healer.

A ';what to expect' guide for first-time ayahuasca users paired with accounts from the author's extensive shamanic experiences in the Amazon *; Describes how to prepare for the first ceremony, what to do in the days afterward, and how to maintain a shamanic healing diet *; Details some of the author's own ayahuasca experiences, including an intensive trip in 2009 when he underwent 17 ceremonies *; Explores the many other plants that are part of the ayahuasca healer's medicine cabinet as well as the icaros, healing songs, of the ayahuasca shaman Since 1999 Jan Kounen has regularly traveled to the Peruvian Amazon to participate in ayahuasca ceremonies.

By understanding osogbo, the spirits of misfortune, we can better overcome them and return to health and balance in our lives *; Explains how misfortune works in this world as living spirits that plague humanity but are also a catalyst for self-development and conscious evolution *; Shows that we can overcome osogbo through eb, sacrifice, and hard work as prescribed by consulting the orishas through the casting of the diloggn *; Shares more than 40 ancient African sacred stories about the spirits of osogbo Beginning with the story of his goddaughter's battle with stage IV cancer, Lucumi priest cha'ni Lele explains the role of osogbo, or misfortune, in our lives.

A fully illustrated guide to the Masonic origins and present-day Masonic sites of Washington, D.

A fully illustrated history of the Temple of Solomon *; Examines the Temple of Solomon in the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, and Apocryphal writings *; Explores its role in the founding of Freemasonry, the legends of the Knights Templar, the doctrines of the Kabbalah, and the teachings of Islam *; Explains the sacred nature of the Temple Mount--the site of the Temple of Solomon--and the secrets that may still be hidden there *; Richly illustrated, including many photos and images from rare archives The spiritual heart of many esoteric societies, the Temple of Solomon was located atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a site venerated by the three great monotheistic religions as the intersection of Divine and human.

Explores the hidden history of Freemasonry from ancient Rome, through the Middle Ages, to the present*; Shows the close connection between medieval masons and the Knights Templar*; Illustrates the sacred nature of Roman and medieval trade associations*; Reveals the missing link that connects the lodges of modern Freemasonry to the medieval brotherhoods of buildersHistorians often make a sharp distinction between the operative Masonry of the Middle Ages and the speculative Masonry of modern times, emphasizing that there is no direct bridge connecting the two.

Sheds new light on the identity of the alchemist Fulcanelli*; Provides new understanding of the relationships between the most important figures of the esoteric milieu of Paris in the first half of the 20th century*; Includes a wealth of rarely seen documents, photos, and lettersFulcanelli, operative alchemist and author of The Mystery of the Cathedrals and The Dwellings of the Philosophers--two of the most important esoteric works of the twentieth century--remains himself a mystery.

A handbook for unlocking the soul's purpose and manifesting a fulfilling life *; Reinterprets the traditional Dharma system of ancient India as a map for revealing one's true purpose *; Provides tests for determining one's Dharma type *; Explains the benefits, challenges, and social, interpersonal, and health dynamics associated with each of the 5 Dharma types Have you ever wondered why, despite great obstacles, some people achieve success, while others, though given everything, seem to squander it away?

A comprehensive study of the use of talismans and amulets in the Western Mystery Tradition *; Provides an in-depth look at the medieval and Renaissance use of amulets and talismans, including the work of Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Athanasius Kircher *; Provides a full summary of the magical knowledge required to make an amulet or talisman, including the invocations required to activate their powers *; Reviews different kinds of amulets and talismans, from ancient jewelry and magical objects to the modern rabbit's foot or lucky horseshoe The use of talismans and amulets stretches back nearly to the dawn of man, from everyday items magically prepared, such as horns or coins, to intricate and beautiful jewelry imbued with protective powers.

An exploration of the profound Sufi practice of Itlak Yolu *; Examines the three main facets of this practice: zikr or breathing exercises, fasting, and mental suffering *; Shares new Sufi parables, the sayings of Sufi master Hasan Lutfi Shushud, and Rumi's philosophy on annihilation of the Self *; Reveals how once the Self is annihilated higher levels of perception are reached In this exploration of the profound spiritual practice of Itlak Yolu, the Sufi path of annihilation, Nevit Ergin examines the three main facets of this path: zikr or breathing exercises, fasting, and mental suffering.

A practical guide to creating plant extracts, essences, and complexes for use in Druidic sex magic rituals *; Explores the identification, harvesting, and magical properties of more than 70 flowers and trees *; Details the careful and meticulous spagyric preparation of plant extracts and complexes *; Demonstrates how plant compounds are used in Druidic sex magic rituals by both couples and groups In this practical guide to Druidic plant magic, Jon G.

An exploration of the chemical, biological, psychological, and experiential dimensions of ayahuasca *; Details the scientific discovery of ayahuasca's sophisticated psychoactive delivery system in the brain and body and its potential applications in medicine and psychology *; Includes contributions from Dennis J.

A biographical history of Aleister Crowley's activities in Berlin from 1930 to 1932 as Hitler was rising to power *; Examines Crowley's focus on his art, his work as a spy for British Intelligence, his colorful love life and sex magick exploits, and his contacts with magical orders *; Explores Crowley's relationships with Berlin's artists, filmmakers, writers, and performers such as Christopher Isherwood, Jean Ross, and Aldous Huxley *; Recounts the fates of Crowley's friends and colleagues under the Nazis as well as what happened to Crowley's lost art exhibition Gnostic poet, painter, writer, and magician Aleister Crowley arrived in Berlin on April 18, 1930.