Alternative belief systems

An exploration of the use of cannabis as a sacrament in spiritual practice *; Provides instructions for using marijuana for the spiritual practices of spontaneous movement, ecstatic dance, sitting meditation, and gazing meditation, allowing you to open the body's energies more fully and get closer to the Divine or your higher self *; Includes a new translation of the Five Moral Precepts of Buddhism, adapted to include energetic practices and the judicious use of entheogenic substances as a legitimate support for spiritual growth *; Includes access to 9 audio meditations With the end of marijuana prohibition on the horizon, people are now openly seeking a spiritual path that embraces the benefits of cannabis.

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 tale of initiation, adventure, and romance set within the medieval Crusades*; Shares in novel form the mystical rituals and techniques of the Nizari Ismailis (the legendary Assassins) communicated to selected Knights Templar during the Crusades*; Shows how the Gnostic traditions of the Cathars and Nizaris were blended to become the core of the ';heretical' doctrines for which the Templars were later condemned*; Sheds light on the contemporary conflict between Islam and the West and offers a natural path of reconciliation between these disparate culturesSet within the dramatic tableau of the medieval Crusades, this story of initiation, adventure, and romance follows members of the Knights Templar and Assassins as they discover a mystical tradition with the potential to unify, protect, and liberate humankind--the very heresy for which the Knights Templar were later condemned.

Combines cognitive psychology with Zen, Taoist, and Vedic practices to empty the mind*; Explains how eliminating external stimulation can alleviate stress and anxiety for a calmer state of mind*; Details meditation practices, such as open-awareness meditation, contemplation of Zen koans, and Vipassana meditation, and explores methods of digital detox *; Draws on classical yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism as well as cognitive science to explain how and why to fast the mindStop planning, stop comparing, stop competing, stop thinking, and just breathe deeply for a minute .

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.

How our unconscious minds connect with our families through dreams*; Shows how the connected dreamlife of families reveals itself in nightmares and unusual dreams, during critical times such as pregnancy, conflicts, and medical emergencies, and in shared, telepathic, and precognitive dreams*; Explains how dreamwork can help heal our psychospiritual selves and aid in both family and couples therapy*; Examines ancient dream traditions from Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and the ancient Egyptian Mystery SchoolsOur dreams, the most intimate part of us, form the truest expressions of our feelings and emotional beliefs about the world.

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.

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 guide to uncovering the enlightenment already within us *; Builds on Buddhist, Hindu, and Taoist wisdom to express the timeless and ever-present nature of enlightenment *; Reveals the negative impact of social and cultural conditioning on our psyche and how to counteract this through meditation and reframing our understanding of time *; Shows how to uncover the original spontaneous awareness we were born with In this philosophical, psychological, and spiritual exploration of enlightenment, Jason Gregory addresses how to access the original spontaneous awareness we all came into this world with.

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

A guide to the benefits and challenges of the use of cannabis in spiritual practice *; Includes chapters by 18 authoritative and influential voices of the modern cannabis movement, including Kathleen Harrison, Joan Bello, Hamilton Souther, Steven Hager, Chris Bennett, Dee Dussault, Jeremy Wolff, and Roger Christie *; Explores the use of marijuana in a wide range of spiritual practices, including meditation, yoga, chanting, visualization, shamanism, group ceremonies, work with other entheogens, and as a creative aid Truly a medicine for body and soul, one of cannabis's greatest gifts is its remarkable potential for spiritual healing and awakening.

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.

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.

Reveals the Hermetic underpinnings of modern scientific theories *; Offers a full reconsideration of the history of science from Newton to the present day as well as a Platonic-Hermetic perspective on modern technology *; Examines Hermetic resonances among the ideas of Gurdjieff, Robert Fludd, Marsilio Ficino, and cybernetics; Einstein and the Tibetan Bardo; Neoplatonism and artificial intelligence; and Rosicrucianism and the internet *; Shows how Hermetic doctrine is at the heart of what modern physics is now rediscovering: that consciousness permeates everything Contemporary scientific disciplines such as chaos and complexity theory, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science treat themselves as new fields of inquiry, but many of these ideas can be traced back to Hermeticism, the European intellectual tradition sparked by the rediscovery of the Corpus Hermeticum and Platonic texts in the 15th century.

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.

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.

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.

Explores how a secret cabal of influential families has shaped the United States according to the principles of sacred geometry and Goddess veneration *; Exposes the esoteric influences behind the National Grange Order of Husbandry *; Examines the sacred design and hidden purpose of the Washington Monument *; Reveals how the three obelisks in New York City depict the stars of Orion's Belt *; Explains how every baseball diamond is actually a temple to the Goddess In America: Nation of the Goddess, Alan Butler and Janet Wolter reveal how a secret cabal of influential ';Venus' families with a lineage tracing back to the Eleusinian Mysteries has shaped the history of the United States since its founding.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

A practical guide to the many healing and purifying uses of the mineral known as shungite *; Explains how shungite counteracts the harmful effects of EMF and radiation from computers, cell phones, Wi-Fi, and other electronic devices *; Cites many double-blind scientific and medical studies on shungite *; Explores how shungite acts as a natural antioxidant, immune booster, pain reliever, and allergen suppressant as well as water purifier and revitalizer *; Reveals how shungite contains fullerenes, which recent research shows are able to slow both the growth of cancer cells and the development of AIDS Found near the small village of Shunga in Russia, the remarkable mineral known as shungite formed naturally more than two billion years ago from living single-cell organisms.

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.

An exploration of sacred geometry, space, and time encoded in stone structures during four successive ages of megalithic building *; Examines the sacred knowledge carefully preserved in the Stone Age structures of Carnac, Stonehenge, Giza, and Teotihuacan *; Shows how our Stone Age ancestors created a practical system of mathematics, sophisticated enough to discern cycles lasting up to thousands of years *; Reveals how the Earth's shape and proportions mirror the time cycles of the heavens above Our Stone Age ancestors discovered that the geometry of the Earth provided a sacred connection between human experience and the spiritual worlds.

Details the process of spiritual initiation from aspirant to the highest Adept *; Explains the characteristics of each stage of initiation, including the associated psychological issues that need to be faced to move to the next stage *; Explores the long history of the Mystery traditions from ancient Egypt, Babylonia, and India to the modern Theosophy of Blavatsky and Bailey *; Reveals how the Brotherhood of Spiritual Adepts is increasing global tensions to prepare humanity for the Age of Aquarius and spiritual revelation As the precessional cycle transits from Pisces to Aquarius, great shifts in spiritual evolution are on the horizon--not for all of humanity as many in the New Age movement have generously hypothesized but for those who have undertaken the necessary spiritual preparation and initiatory work.

The Moon is not a cold, dead rock but a rich, fascinating world just as alive as Earth *; Investigates the Moon as the home of an alien intelligence who controls humanity *; Examines several of NASA's Apollo missions and the findings they concealed *; Reveals the many holes in the ';Giant Impact' theory about the Moon's origins and the evidence for a hollow, artificial Moon *; Explores the deep influence of the Moon on the collective mind of humanity and occult teachings about the Moon from the Qabbalah, tarot, and other sources Despite being the most prominent celestial body after the Sun, the Moon has many qualities that science has yet to explain.

A practical guide to recognizing and overcoming the patterns and influences of the four generations before you *; Provides exercises to uncover your family's psychological heritage, heal negative patterns of behavior and illness in your family tree, and discover your true self *; Explains how we are the product of two forces: repetition of familial patterns from the past and creation of new ideas from the Universal Consciousness of the future *; Interwoven with examples from Jodorowsky's own life and his work with the tarot, psychoanalysis, and psychomagic The family tree is not merely vital statistics about your ancestors.

The goddess origins of the Statue of Liberty and her connections with the founding and the future of America *; Examines Lady Liberty's ties to Native American spiritual traditions, the Earth Mother, Roman goddesses, Black Madonnas, and Mary Magdalene *; Reveals the sharp contrast between depicting ';liberty' as a female and the reality of women and other suppressed classes even today *; Explains how this Goddess of the New World inspires all people toward equality, compassion, peace-keeping, and environmental stewardship Uncovering the forgotten lineage of the Statue of Liberty, Bob Hieronimus and Laura Cortner explain how she is based on a female symbol representing America on the earliest maps of the continent in the form of a Native American ';Queen.

Meditation practices to awaken the body and create a mind like a mirror, to literally see things as they are *; Draws on the story of the monk Shenxiu to create a meditation practice for profound relaxation, inclusion and connection to the world around us, and realization of our essential nature *; Explains how our attitudes, beliefs, and bodily tensions distort our perceptions and lead to our sense of separation from the world outside our bodies *; Details techniques of vision, such as sky gazing, eye gazing, and mirror gazing, that lead to an ecstatic mindfulness Right behind your eyes, you are there.

BDSM sexuality as a powerful tool for self-transformation and the realization of magical and spiritual aims *; Details how to combine the 6 major types of S&M stimulation with sexual stimulation for magical and transformative purposes *; Explores sado-magical workings from both submissive and dominant perspectives *; Traces the roots of the BDSM tradition from ancient pagan and shamanic rituals to historical figures such as the Marquis de Sade, Aleister Crowley, and Anton LaVey Sex magic allows us to tap in to the most abundant power source available: sexual energy.

*; A study of the primordial figure of the Great Goddess and her continued worship through time as shown by the myths, shrines, and sanctuaries around the world that honor this powerful symbol of creation.

An insider's experience and personal transformation with ayahuasca and the religious philosophy surrounding it *; An intimate account of the genesis of the Santo Daime tradition *; Edited and introduced by Stephen Larsen, author of The Shaman's Doorway In search of something to restore his spiritual connection to life after his release from captivity as a political prisoner in Brazil, Alex Polari de Alverga had a transformative encounter with Padrinho Sebastiao Mota de Mela, one of the two revered founders of Santo Daime.

Explores the future predictions of cutting-edge scientists, spiritual teachers, and other visionaries and how we can affect the future *; Shares insights from the author's discussions with Dr.

Examines how the ancient customs of constructing and keeping a house formed a sacred bond between homes and their inhabitants *; Shares many tales of house spirits, from cajoling the local land spirit into becoming one's house spirit to the good and bad luck bestowed by mischievous house elves *; Explains the meaning behind door and window placement, house orientation, horsehead gables, the fireplace or hearth, and the threshold *; Reveals the charms, chants, prayers, and building practices used by our ancestors to bestow happiness and prosperity upon their homes and their occupants Why do we hang horseshoes for good luck or place wreaths on our doors?

Also available in an open-access, full-text edition at http://oaktrust.

A working guide to the proper methods of interacting with the full Vodou pantheon *; Includes the myths, cultural heritage, and ancestral lineage of the lwa and how to honor and serve them *; Provides an introduction and guide that is especially useful for the solitary practitioner *; Discusses the relationship between Vodou, Haitian culture, and Catholicism In The Haitian Vodou Handbook, Kenaz Filan, an initiate of the Socit la Belle Venus, presents a working guide to the proper methods of interacting with the full Vodou pantheon, explaining how to build respectful relationships with the lwa, the spirits honored in Haitian Vodou, and how to transform the fear that often surrounds the Vodou religion.

Reveals the 10 essential principles that can serve as a compass for a spiritual life *; Presents the foundational teachings of the Happy Science spiritual movement (more than 10 million members worldwide) *; Offers revelations from past spiritual leaders, including Jesus, Buddha, and Moses *; Includes information on the ancient continents of Mu and Atlantis and the structure of the spirit world In 1981 Ryuho Okawa began receiving revelations from the spirits of Nikko (1246-1333) and Nichirien (1222-1282), who had been outstanding Buddhist teachers during their lives.

A guide to the practice of planetary magic *; Offers tools for practitioners of green magic and folk magic to incorporate astrology into their practice *; Includes an extensive collection of magical remedies to resolve astrological afflictions *; Provides information on creating planetary altars and the astrological correspondences of traditional pagan holidays Traditionally, magically oriented astrology has focused on Sun-sign horoscopes while modern Western astrology has focused on attempting to become as ';scientific' as possible in hopes of aligning with its sister science of astronomy.