Cultural and media studies

Reveals the occult wisdom and multidimensional layers of meaning hidden in the Nordic Rune stones *; Explores the practice of the Uthark divination system encoded within the traditional exoteric Futhark system of reading the runes *; Traces the relationship between the rune stones and numerology, the Cabbala, alchemy, Gothicism, and sigil magic *; Examines the history of the runes and the ancient spiritual mysticism of Odin Uncovering the dark side of the Nordic rune stones hidden beneath their traditional interpretation, Swedish scholar and runologist Thomas Karlsson examines the rune work of Swedish mystic and runologist Johannes Bureus (1568-1652) and professor Sigurd Agrell (1881-1937), both of whom devoted their lives to uncovering the secret uses of rune stones concealed from all but the highest initiates.

Reveals the origins and history of the New England witch hysteria, its continuing repercussions, and the multilayered practices of today's modern witches *; Shares the stories of 13 accused witches from the New England colonies through interviews with their living descendants *; Explores the positive role witches played in rural communities until the dawn of the industrial age, despite ongoing persecution *; Includes in-depth interviews with 25 modern witchcraft practitioners, interwoven with practical information on the sacred calendar, herb lore, spells, and magical practices New England has long been associated with witches.

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.

Cutting-edge explorations and discussions of DMT experiences and plant sentience from leading luminaries in the field of psychedelic research*; Includes contributions from Rupert Sheldrake, Rick Strassman, Dennis McKenna, Graham Hancock, Jeremy Narby, Erik Davis, Peter Meyer, David Luke, and many others *; Explores DMT beings, plant sentience, interspecies communication, discarnate consciousness, dialoguing with the divine, the pineal gland, the Amazonian shamanic perspective on Invisible Entities, and the science behind hallucinations Encounters with apparently sentient beings are reported by half of all first time users of the naturally occurring psychedelic DMT, yet the question of DMT beings and plant sentience, interspecies communication, discarnate consciousness, and perhaps even dialoguing with the divine has never been systematically explored.

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 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.

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.

Explores the potential of psychedelics as medicine and the intersections of politics, science, and psychedelics *; Explores the tumultuous history of psychedelic research, the efforts to restore psychedelic therapies, and the links between psychiatric drugs and mental illness *; Offers non-technical summaries of the most recent, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca *; Includes the work of Rick Doblin, Stanislav Grof, James Fadiman, Julie Holland, Dennis McKenna, David Nichols, Charles Grob, Phil Wolfson, Michael and Annie Mithoefer, Roland Griffiths, Katherine MacLean, and Robert Whitaker Embracing the revival of psychedelic research and the discovery of new therapeutic uses, clinical psychologist Dr.

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.

A bold exploration of modern psychedelic culture, its history, and future *; Examines 3 modern psy-culture architects: chemist Alexander ';Sasha' Shulgin, mycologist-philosopher Terence McKenna, and visionary artist Alex Grey *; Investigates the use of microdosing in extreme sports, the psy-trance festival experience, and the relationship between the ego, entheogens, and toxicity *; Presents a ';History of Visionary Art,' from its roots in prehistory, to Ernst Fuchs and the Vienna School of the Fantastic, to contemporary psychedelic art After the dismantling of a major acid laboratory in 2001 dramatically reduced the world supply of LSD, the psychedelic revolution of the 1960s appeared to have finally run its course.

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.

Explores the visionary, mystical, and ecstatic traditions that influenced the music of the 1960s *; Examines the visionary, spiritual, and mystical influences on the Grateful Dead, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, the Incredible String Band, the Left Banke, Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, and others *; Shows how the British Invasion acted as the ';detonator' to explode visionary music into the mainstream *; Explains how 1960s rock and roll music transformed consciousness on both the individual and collective levels The 1960s were a time of huge transformation, sustained and amplified by the music of that era: Rock and Roll.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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

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

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

A fully illustrated 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.

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 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.

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.

Understanding ecstatic spirit possession for physical and spiritual healing *; Details the author's direct experiences working with Brazilian miracle healer John of God (Joo de Deus) and African high shaman Credo Mutwa *; Includes stories of psychic surgery, spirit possession, and shamanic healing rituals *; Explains how each of us is capable of miraculous healing Margaret De Wys first became aware of ecstatic trance healing when she was a young girl fascinated by the rapture of the Holy Rollers.

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.

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 memorial volume to one of this century's most colorful and pioneering figures in the consciousness movement *; A wide array of individuals from all stages of Leary's life provides a comprehensive view of the man and his impact on American culture One of the most influential and controversial people of the 20th century, Timothy Leary inspired profound feelings--both pro and con--from everyone with whom he came into contact.

A detailed study of the history and usage of opium*; Explores the use of opium as a major healing herb and a popular relaxant*; Details the opium practices adhered to in the Chinese tradition*; Includes information on the suppression of opium by the modern pharmaceutical industryOpium.

A diagnosis of cancer leads to healing and transformation in the Amazon jungle *; Explains in vivid detail De Wys's 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.

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?

An investigation into experiences of other realms of existence and contact with otherworldly beings *; Examines how contact with alien life-forms can be obtained through the ';inner space' dimensions of our minds *; Presents evidence that other worlds experienced through consciousness-altering technologies are often as real as those perceived with our five senses *; Correlates science fiction's imaginal realms with psychedelic research For thousands of years, voyagers of inner space--spiritual seekers, shamans, and psychoactive drug users--have returned from their inner imaginal travels reporting encounters with alien intelligences.