Eclectic and esoteric religions and belief systems

The rites, practices, and texts collected by the mysterious UR group for the use of aspiring mages.

In this important study of the meaning of the Grail, one of Europe's greatest esoteric philosophers discloses the pre-Christian and initiatic sources of this symbolic motif that is so central to Western mythology and culture.

This important survey of alchemical symbols and doctrines sets forth the mysterious worldview and teachings of the practitioners of the "e;royal art.

Julius Evola's final major work, which examines the prototype of the human being who can give absolute meaning to his or her life in a world of dissolution*; Presents a powerful criticism of the idols, structures, theories, and illusions of our modern age*; Reveals how to transform destructive processes into inner liberationThe organizations and institutions that, in a traditional civilization and society, would have allowed an individual to realize himself completely, to defend the principal values he recognizes as his own, and to structure his life in a clear and unambiguous way, no longer exist in the contemporary world.

*; Explores esoteric practices for individual development, handed down from a primordial tradition and discernable in alchemy, Hermetism, religious doctrines, Tantra, Taoism, Buddhism, Vedanta, and the pagan mysteries of the West *; Reveals the ultimate magical goal of the ';Absolute Individual,' the immortal and divine potential that requires rare gifts and extraordinary efforts for its realization This volume, the third in the series, complements the first two, yet they are not strictly sequential, and their contents can be read in any order.

An exploration of the sexual practices and doctrinal secrets of Gnosticism*; Reconstructs the lost world of Gnostic spiritual-erotic experience through examination of every surviving text written by heresiologists *; Investigates the sexual gnosis practices of the Barbelo Gnostics of the 2nd century and their connections to the Gnostic Aeon Sophia, the Wild Lady of Wisdom *; Explains the vital significance of ';the seed' as a sacrament in Gnostic practiceExamining every surviving text written by heresiologists, accounts often ignored in favor of the famous Nag Hammadi Library, Tobias Churton reveals the most secret inner teaching passed down by initiated societies: the tradition of sexual gnosis--higher union with God through the sacrament of sex.

A practical guide to the magical systems of pre-Christian Iceland *; Reveals spells and workings drawn directly from surviving magical books from the 16th to 20th century preserved at the National Library in Reykjavk *; Explores the history of magic in Iceland through original translations of Icelandic folktales about famous magicians and about legendary grimoires, such as the Galdrabk, the oldest and most complete book of its kind *; Explains how to personalize the spells through the creation of unique signs and symbols based on the mythic names of Odin and Icelandic magical alphabets During the Christianization of Europe in the Middle Ages, many books of magic were lost as the ancient pagan traditions were suppressed.

An in-depth study of the sacred meanings behind ancient and enduring symbols *; Explains the multiple forms and uses of symbols from ancient times to the present day, reflecting their roots in folk magic and the Western Mystery tradition *; Examines more than 40 glyphs, such as the cross, fleur de lis, and pentagram, as well as several families of symbols, such as craftsmen's marks and runes *; Includes more than 300 unique woodcuts, drawings, calligraphy, and photographs--many never before reproduced From ancient rock and cave art to the contemporary brand logos of politics and business, human beings have always created symbols to denote specific ideas, groups, or important objects as well as to convey deeper information than can be communicated in words.

A step-by-step guide to the rituals of Enochian magic for reaching the higher spiritual realms *; Reveals missing practical instructions for the Enochian magic system received by John Dee and Edward Kelley *; Explains that the angelic realm is only the first and farthest away of the spiritual realms surrounding God *; Shows how to connect with the higher worlds beyond the angels to tap more fully in to the magical power of the Divine In this comprehensive introduction to Enochian magic and beyond, John DeSalvo explains how the magic system transmitted by the angels to John Dee and Edward Kelley in the 16th century has until now remained incomplete and thus not as powerful as the angels intended.

New commentaries on Aleister Crowley's Book of the Law reveal how it is connected to both Right- and Left-Hand Paths *; Examines each line of the Book of the Law in the light of modern psychology, Egyptology, Gurdjieff's teachings, and contemporary Left-Hand Path thought *; Explores Crowley's identification with the First Beast of Revelations as well as his adoption of the Loki archetype for becoming a vessel of love for all humanity *; Recasts the Cairo Working as a text of personal sovereignty and a relevant tool for personal transformation *; Includes commentary on the Book of the Law by Dr.

An extensive study of ancient books of magic and the magical practices preserved in the few surviving grimoires *; Includes spells, talisman formulations, and secret magical alphabets reproduced from the author's private collection of grimoires, with instructions for their use *; Explains the basic principles of medieval magic, including the doctrine of names and the laws of sympathy and contagion *; Offers an overview of magic in the Western Mystery tradition Grimoires began simply as quick-reference ';grammar books' for sorcerers, magicians, and priests before evolving into comprehensive guides to magic, complete with spell-casting rituals, magical alphabets, and instructions to create amulets and talismans.

A profound understanding of the surrealists' connections with alchemists and secret societies and the hermetic aspirations revealed in their works *; Explains how surrealist paintings and poems employed mythology, gnostic principles, tarot, voodoo, alchemy, and other hermetic sciences to seek out unexplored regions of the mind and recover lost ';psychic' and magical powers *; Provides many examples of esoteric influence in surrealism, such as how Picasso's Demoiselles d'Avignon was originally titled The Bath of the Philosophers Not merely an artistic or literary movement as many believe, the surrealists rejected the labels of artist and author bestowed upon them by outsiders, accepting instead the titles of magician, alchemist, or--in the case of Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo--witch.

IT WAS through Saint Germain's assistance that I was privileged to have the experiences recorded in this series of books, and that permission has been granted for them to be put in a form which can be given to the public.

This monograph begins with a puzzle: a Babylonian text from late 5th century BCE Uruk associating various diseases with bodily organs, which has evaded interpretation.

This monograph begins with a puzzle: a Babylonian text from late 5th century BCE Uruk associating various diseases with bodily organs, which has evaded interpretation.

Your Concise Guide to All Things Catholic No matter what you want to know about the Catholic Church, you'll find the answer in this one-volume guide.

This book is an extrapolation of the research I conducted for my doctoral thesis about my people's struggle to come to terms with native title claim processes, in which we are required to prove our connection to land, culture and kin.

Ashrams in Europe twenty-five hundred years ago?

Can you be an atheist and still believe in God?

As the host of one of National Public Radio's most popular interview programs, Michael Krasny has spent decades leading conversations on every imaginable topic and discussing life's most important questions with the foremost thinkers of our time.

The books of the Bible are not the only ancient writings to tell the stories of Jesus and his followers - other Gnostic texts have also been found as well.

The first complete historical and philosophical investigation into the ';invisible fraternity' of the Rosicrucians *; Contains the latest research on the origins of the Rosicrucian movement *; Presents the ties between Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, and the Templars *; Written by a ';perfected' Knight of the Rose Croix and the Pelican (18th degree, Ancient and Accepted Rite) For nearly 400 years, incredible myths and stories have been woven around the ';invisible' Brothers of the Rose Cross, the Rosicrucians.

A practical guide to Dr.

The search for the real historical person known as John the Baptist and the traditions that began with him *; Explores why John the Baptist is so crucially important to the Freemasons, who were originally known as ';St.

The inspiration and insight of these Gnostic writings can become a companion on your own spiritual journey.

This ancient Gnostic text can be a companion for your own spiritual quest The Secret Book of John is the most significant and influential text of the ancient Gnostic religion.

Reveals how the Rothschild Banking Dynasty fomented war and assassination attempts on 4 presidents in order to create the Federal Reserve Bank*; Explains how the Rothschild family began the War of 1812 because Congress failed to renew a 20-year charter for their Central Bank as well as how the ensuing debt of the war forced Congress to renew the charter*; Details Andrew Jackson's anti-bank presidential campaigns, his war on Rothschild agents within the government, and his successful defeat of the Central Bank*; Reveals how the Rothschilds spurred the Civil War and were behind the assassination of LincolnIn this startling investigation into the suppressed history of America in the 1800s, Xaviant Haze reveals how the powerful Rothschild banking family and the Central Banking System, now known as the Federal Reserve Bank, provide a continuous thread of connection between the War of 1812, the Civil War, the financial crises of the 1800s, and assassination attempts on Presidents Jackson and Lincoln.

Use ecstatic trance to journey to the time of Beowulf and learn first hand the ancient magic of the early Nordic people *; Reveals a hidden side to the epic of Beowulf through the perspective of Queen Wealhtheow *; Shows how Grendel respected and would not harm Queen Wealhtheow because she practiced the ancient magic of the Mother Goddess Freyja *; Explains how the magic practices of Queen Wealhtheow provide a blueprint for our emergence from the warlike nature of the past millennia into a time of peace and compassion for our Great Mother Earth Using the altered state of ecstatic trance to access the memories of the Universal Mind, Nicholas Brink takes us back to ancient Scandinavia, to the time of the epic of Beowulf, the oldest piece of literature written in the English language.

*; Examines how integrating important alchemical images with Gaian science can offer insights into our interconnectedness with Gaia *; Looks at how the four components of the living earth--biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere--mesh with the four elements of alchemical theory and the four functions of consciousness as understood by depth psychology *; Offers guided meditations and contemplative exercises to open your receptivity to messages from the biosphere and help you connect more deeply with Gaia During the scientific revolution, science and soul were drastically separated, propelling humanity into four centuries of scientific exploration based solely on empiricism and rationality.

A guide to harnessing the ancient power of hieroglyphs *; Reveals hieroglyphs as magical tools for manifesting ideas in the material world *; Offers in-depth interpretations of 60 hieroglyphs and guidelines for understanding them as words of power, oracles, and dream symbols *; Explains how to create your own hieroglyph cards and amulets and use them for divination, meditation, and manifestation work Words are magic.

An exploration of the origins, influences, and legacy of the scandalous Hell-Fire Clubs of the 18th century and beyond *; Reveals the club's origins in the work of Rabelais and the magical practices of John Dee and how their motto, ';Do What You Will,' deeply influenced Aleister Crowley *; Explores the cross-fertilization of liberty and libertinage within these clubs that influenced both U.

Reveals how the largest Sun Temple in the world, built according to Hermetic principles, is located at one of Christianity's holiest sites: the Vatican *; Shows how famous Renaissance philosophers and scientists called for a Hermetic reformation of Christianity by building a magical Temple of the Sun in Rome *; Explains how the Vatican architect Bernini designed St.

An investigation into the historical Jesus and the veracity of the Gospels *; Reveals the biblical Jesus as a composite figure, a blend of the political revolutionary Judas the Galilean and Paul's divine-human Christ figure *; Matches the events depicted in the New Testament with historically verifiable events in Josephus' history, pushing Jesus' life back more than a decade *; Demonstrates how each New Testament Gospel is dependent upon Paul's mythologized Christ theology, designed to promote Paul's Christianity and serve the interests of the fledgling Gentile Christian communities Scholars have spent years questioning aspects of the historical Jesus.

In The Atheist's Way, Eric Maisel teaches you how to make rich personal meaning despite the absence of beneficent gods and the indifference of the universe to human concerns.

A guide to meaningful life choices for living an ethical life without theology or religious faith.

In this personal memoir, a former evangelical Christian shares her journey away from her confining faith toward a happier, healthier, nonreligious life.

Using logic, common sense, philosophy, ethics, history, and science, the author rebuts every argument that claims to "e;prove"e; the existence of God.

One man shares the story of his transformation from evangelical Christian to atheist and examines the train of thought that brought him there.

A fun trip to the so-called "e;Hell"e;.

Eight chilling stories of crime, disaster and unusual deaths from southeastern Pennsylvania.

Baur published Die christliche Gnosis in 1835.

"e;Either you believe in possession or you do not.

'Witches occupy a clear place in contemporary imagination.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________'Deliverance is an intriguing, strangely comforting book that shines a light into a world that's little talked about' - The Mail on Sunday___________________________________________________________________________________ I turned towards the door.

'Intriguing' - The Sunday Times'A rousing read' - The Irish Times'A bright light of Francophone feminism' - The New York TimesRenowned journalist Mona Chollet recasts the witch as a powerful role model: an emblem of strength, free to exist beyond the narrow limits society imposes on women.

This insightful essay delves into old Scottish records to uncover the grisly truth behind the country's witch trials.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive.

"e;The Vampire - His Kith and Kin"e; is a 1928 work by English clergyman and author Montague Summers.

"e;The Phoenix and the Carpet"e; is a 1904 fantasy children's novel by E.