Mysticism, magic and occult interests

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.

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.