Other religions and spiritual beliefs

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

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

Explains how to use your Taoist astrology birth chart as a personal nutritional guide for health, longevity, and organ energy balance Explores how to help balance your birth chi through your eating habits as well as explaining how foods address your five-element energetic profile Provides detailed food lists based on ancient Taoist wisdom that reveal their effect on the Yin, Yang, and five-element energies Shows how your five-element energies outline your life and influence success in relationships and at work We are each born with a unique combination of heavenly and earthly energies defined by the five elements and dictated by the universe at the moment you take your first breath.

A guide for achieving an enlightened mind through the art of non-doing Details meditation practices, focused on stillness of the mind, along with Patanjalis yoga methods to maintain a consciousness referred to as being in the zone Builds on Taoist, Confucian, and Hindu principles along with scientific findings to support wu-wei--the art of non-doing, non-forcing--as a way of life Explains how wu-wei practitioners cultivate intelligent spontaneity and effortless action to allow the natural harmony of the cosmos to prevail The practice of non-doing, non-forcing is an essential aspect of Taoism known as wu-wei.

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 Metzners 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 comprehensive guide to the core practices of the Universal Healing Tao System and the advanced esoteric practices of Inner Alchemy Explains each of the nine levels of Inner Alchemy and their more than 240 formulas Explores the Four Healing Arts for transformation of the emotional body, physical body, energy body, and spiritual body Provides simplified versions of core Universal Healing Tao practices to more easily integrate the system into your daily life Shows how these exercises were designed to increase longevity and ensure the survival of consciousness beyond death Explaining the evolution and core of the Universal Healing Tao system, Master Mantak Chia and William U.

A detailed guide to restoring the eight foundational areas of health Explains how each of legendary Taoist masters known as the Eight Immortals has a specific area of health as the focus of his or her teachings Offers practices, techniques and guidelines for each of the Eight Immortal Healer teachings, including the important roles of oxygen and water in the body, nutrition, detoxification, exercise, energy work, emotional pollution, and spiritual hygieneThe Eight Immortals are a group of legendary ancient Taoist masters, each associated with a specific area of health or a powerful healing technique.

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.

A story of awakening to remarkable shamanic powers, teachings, and techniques Describes the authors 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.

An experiential guide to the wisdom preserved in Europes 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 humanitys oldest spiritual tradition.

Exercises to deactivate emotional triggers, transform negative emotions into positive ones, and heal from PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction Provides illustrated step-by-step instructions on how to combine the eye movements of EMDR therapy with the energetic practices of the Universal Healing Tao Reveals how negative emotions are stored in the organs, where they also have effects on physical, mental, and spiritual health Explains how to release stored negative emotions, transform them into positive energy, and harmonize the energies of your organs Through the energy psychology practices from the 5000-year-old Taoist Chi Kung system, you can recycle negative emotional states into positive energy for your spiritual, emotional, and physical benefit.

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.

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.

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?

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.

A guide to the mental disciplines and visualizations that Masters have used for ages in their quest for illumination.

Translation and commentary of one of the most important texts of the Kashmirian Shivaism tradition of Tantra Author was a student of the late Kalu Rinpoche Explores the transmission of Mahamudra, the Great Cosmic Gesture Includes the Vijnanabharava Tantra, which contains the totality of the oldest source text on Yoga The Spandakarika, the "e;Tantric Song of the Divine Pulsation,"e; is said to have been transmitted directly to the sage Vasugupta from the hands of Shiva on Mount Kailas.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 authors 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 authors 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 healers 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.

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

The traditional understanding of Shiva told through stories and teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana Explains Shivas contradictory forms, such as destroyer or benefactor, and how his form depends on the needs of the devotee Reveals how Shivas teachings allow one to see through the illusions at the root of all grief and alienation in human life Explores Shivas relationships with Durga, Shakti, Sati, and Parvati and with his sons Ganesha and Kartikeya Shiva, the most ancient and complex deity of the Hindu pantheon, has been portrayed in many contrasting lights: destroyer and benefactor, ascetic and householder, wild demon slayer and calm yogi atop Mount Kailash.

A detailed account of the transformation of consciousness and discovery of lifes purpose brought on by peyote Shows how peyote and other visionary plants do not distort reality but gloriously unveil it, pulling the mind out of its cosmic slumber and revealing our unity with all life Explains the necessity when working with peyote to remain the master of ones mind and consciously work on oneself Examines how modern societys revulsion to sacramental plants and other consciousness expanders is deeply rooted in Western philosophy Charles Duits was caught in the grip of a dead-end existential and spiritual crisis.

An exploration of shamanism and the archetypal symbolism that sits at the foundation of all human life Not just an academic work.

An insiders 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 Shamans 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.

A diagnosis of cancer leads to healing and transformation in the Amazon jungle Explains in vivid detail De Wyss experience of being healed from cancer through visionary ayahuasca rituals in Ecuador Describes her apprenticeship and relationship with the shaman who cured her Explores the ways this spiritual medicine can heal the emotional origins of disease now plaguing our modern technological culture Chosen as one of the Top 10 Books of the New Edge by Jonathan Talat Phillips on The Huffington Post When composer and Bard College music professor Margaret De Wys learned she had breast cancer, the diagnosis shattered her comfortable life.

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.

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.

The Six Healing Sounds that keep the vital organs in optimal condition Presents vocalizations and accompanying postures that dissolve the tensions at the root of unhealthy chi flow and organ malfunction Shows how to release excess heat trapped around the organs and redistribute it to cooler regions of the body to bring balance, health, and calmness to the entire system Thousands of years ago Taoist masters discovered that a healthy organ vibrates at a particular frequency.

A working guide on how to achieve financial success by working with the lwa, the spirits of Haitian Vodou Provides spells and spirit work for job hunting, financial success, and career advancement Spells included are detailed and easy to follow--learn to Heat Up Your Business with Ghede or Peruse the Want Ads with Legba Haitian Vodou is a very practical and scientific craft: either you please the spirits and get results or you dont--often for good reason.

True account of a decade-long apprenticeship with Huichol shamans in the Mexican Sierra Madre Contains an insiders view of the Huichols shamanic spiritual practices, including their ritual use of peyote Offers the Huichol path to sustainable healing for individuals and our planet Never conquered by Europeans, the Huichol--known for their use of peyote in spiritual ceremonies--have thoroughly retained their ancient way of life.

An illustrated guide to releasing emotional and physical blockages in the pelvic area through massage Presents step-by-step instructions for sexual organ massages for women and men Explains techniques to release knots, unravel nerve and lymphatic tangles, dissolve toxins and sediments, and increase blood flow Effective for impotency, frequent and difficult urination, painful menstruation, ovarian cysts, menopause symptoms, painful intercourse, and low libido as well as back pain, sciatica, and hormone imbalance Our sexual organs play a major role in our physical and emotional health.

The shamanic roots of Taoist practice Explains the principles of the Taoist Medicine Wheel, including the Five Elements, the animals of the Chinese zodiac, and the trigrams of the I Ching Includes exercises from the Wheel of Love to access the Tao of Ecstasy Contains illustrated teaching stories about the Eight Immortals Thousands of years ago the immortals known as the Shining Ones shipwrecked on the Chinese coast.

A guide to nourishing the body through bone marrow rejuvenation exercises Presents exercises to regrow bone marrow, revive the internal organs, and prevent osteoporosis Explains the use of bone breathing and bone compression, hitting to detoxify the body, and sexual energy massage and chi weight lifting to enhance the life force within Most Westerners believe that a daily physical exercise program helps slow the aging process.

A guide to the advanced practice of Inner Alchemy, which brings the physical body into balance with the energy body Presents the second level of Inner Alchemy practices that use the eight forces of the pakua (bagwa) to collect, gather, and condense chi in the body Explains how to balance negative emotional energy with positive energy to detoxify, nourish, and integrate the physical and the energy body with the forces of nature Shows how to collect and channel the greater energies of the stars and planets to create unity between what is above and below Cosmic Fusion is an advanced level of Inner Alchemy that teaches how to bring the physical body into balance with the energy body--a necessary prerequisite for the formation of the universal body, the pearl of compassion that is one with Original Creation and the Universal Tao.

An introduction to the ancient Taoist exercise system of Tao Yin Includes 45 fully illustrated exercises that promote flexibility, strength, and balance in ones physical, mental, and spiritual energy Addresses the health needs of the musculoskeletal system and the unique physical stresses of a modern urban lifestyleIn the Western world, exercise focuses mainly on physical fitness and developing muscular strength.

Advanced Inner Alchemy exercises that promote the free flow of energy throughout the body in preparation for the Practice of the Immortal Tao Explains how to open the Great Bridge Channel and the Great Regulator Channel Includes exercises to strengthen and wrap the spinal cord with energy Reveals how to create a thicker aura to protect the body and receive the higher frequencies of the Universal ForceThe Fusion of the Eight Psychic Channels practice builds upon the Fusion of the Five Elements and Cosmic Fusion practices and is the final step in preparation for the Practice of the Immortal Tao.

A guide to the practice of Inner Alchemy, which allows you to control the energies of your inner universe to better connect with energies of the outer universe Teaches the essential first-level meditations in Taoist practice, also known as Fusion of the Five Forces, for self-healing and emotional and spiritual development Shows step-by-step how to remove negative emotions from the organs in which they are lodged by neutralizing and transforming the negativity back into positive energy Includes basic and advanced-level meditations Fusion of the Five Elements is the necessary first step in the Taoist practice of Inner Alchemy, in which one learns to control the generation and flow of emotional, mental, and physical energies within the body.

A guide to the foundational practice of smiling to the organs to promote deep relaxation and internal health Presents exercises that dissolve the physical and mental tensions that can cause energy blockages and unhealthy chi flow Shows how to recognize illness at its inception on the organ level and how to balance the emotions to heal it The Inner Smile is a practice that focuses gratitude and joy on the internal organs to resolve the physical and mental tensions that can lead to illness.

Explores the deep, internal work necessary for the effective practice of tai chi Reveals the Taoist principles that gave birth to the Yang-style tai chi forms Shows how tai chi can circulate powerful healing energies through the bodyTaoist adepts developed tai chi as both a martial art and a way to cultivate their physical body, energy body, and spirit body.

A fundamental Taoist practice for enhancing and utilizing chi Includes breathing and movement exercises to promote vitality and healing through the cultivation of chi in the tan tien and perineum areas Presents the foundational exercises that are essential for more advanced practices such as Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Cosmic HealingTan Tien Chi Kung is the art of cultivating and condensing chi in the lower abdomen--the tan tien--the fundamental power storehouse of the body.

A guide to the practice of the Lesser Kan and Li that gives birth to the soul body and the immortal spirit body Shows how to awaken higher consciousness through practices in total darkness that stimulate the release of DMT by the pineal gland Shows how to transform sexual energy into life-force energy to feed the soul body The Lesser Enlightenment of Kan and Li practice combines the compassion of the heart energies (yang/fire) with sexual energies originating in the kidneys (yin/water) to form and feed the soul or energy body.

Taoist meditation practices for increasing and maintaining mental awareness, memory, and clarity Details techniques to increase the level of chi energy in the brain Explains how to synchronize the left and right brain by activating the bodys energetic potentials Shows that by emptying the mind there is more energy to heal the body Wisdom Chi Kung teaches practitioners how to revitalize the brain: to repair function, increase memory, and expand capacity.

How to work with the chakra centers to heal unresolved psychic wounds Reveals how psychic injuries become lodged within the energy body Links one major developmental stage with each major chakra Provides a detailed guide to healing and clearing the tensions each chakra holds The chakra system identifies eight centers in the psycho-anatomy of humans, each one associated with a different part of the physical or energy body.

A guide to the seemingly effortless yet explosively powerful martial art techniques of Fa Jin Explains how to collect energy within and discharge it for self-defense as well as healing Explores how to counter the natural instinct to resist force with force and develop yielding softness through the 13 Original Movements of Tai Chi Illustrates routines for the partner practice of Push Hands (Tui Shou) Fa Jin, an advanced yang style of Tai Chi, complements the physical, mental, and spiritual conditioning available through solo Tai Chi practice and the internal martial arts of Taoism.

Sacred myths from Santera centered on nature and the natural world Includes more than 40 myths, stories, and histories from the Lucum tradition Reassembles the oral fragments from the African diaspora into coherent stories Demonstrates that the African peoples, specifically the Yoruba, had deep philosophies and metaphysics involving nature and the natural world Since ancient times the Yoruba of West Africa created sacred stories--pataks--to make sense of the world around them.