Folklore studies / Study of myth (mythology)

A landmark work that demystifies the rich tradition of Indian art, Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization analyzes key motifs found in legend, myth, and folklore taken directly from the Sanskrit.

The Origins and History of Consciousness draws on a full range of world mythology to show how individual consciousness undergoes the same archetypal stages of development as human consciousness as a whole.

The fascinating untold story of how the ancients imagined robots and other forms of artificial life-and even invented real automated machines The first robot to walk the earth was a bronze giant called Talos.

Kickass mercenary Kate Daniels is back in another breakneck urban fantasy adventure.

Deep within the wildwood lies a place of myth and mystery, from which few return, and of those few, none remain unchanged.

This witty and accessible book traces the history of Arthurian romance from medieval to modern times, explaining its enduring appeal.

The thrilling story of the healers, artists and prodigies once persecuted as witches from the three-time T.

WAR DRAGONS.

'Thick fog, shifting alliances and clever magic make the perfect backdrop for a sweeping romance - One Dark Window is enthralling from beginning to shocking end' Hannah Whitten, bestselling author of For the WolfELSPETH NEEDS A MONSTER.

An instant New York Times bestseller and Tiktok sensation, Vaishnavi Patel's stunning debut Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from Indian epic the Ramayana.

'A NEW, ACTION-PACKED, ENCHANTINGLY FUN SERIES' BooklistFrom New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne comes the start of a hugely entertaining new series set in the world of the Iron Druid Chronicles - about an eccentric master of magic solving an uncanny mystery in Scotland .

Discover what the cards hold with this clear, inspiring guide to tarot.

2012 is a literary and metaphysical epic that binds together the cosmological phenomena of our time, ranging from crop circles to quantum theory to the worldwide resurgence of shamanism, supporting the Mayan prophecy that the year 2012 will bring an unprecedented global shift.

A detailed step-by-step program for building a magical practice*; Offers a full 12 months of activities, rituals, spells, and exercises to help you acquire magical skills and knowledge and achieve your goals*; Details the practice of Egyptian Soul Craft, including how to work with the KA and the BA and how to perform magical workings with Egyptian deities*; Shares spells for specific purposes, from manifesting wealth to summoning lost things to healing ailments, as well as providing templates to create your own rituals and custom spellsIn this practical training guide, Don Webb lays out a detailed step-by-step program for building and sustaining a magical practice.

A guide to untaming yourself on a quest to discover your inner Sidhe nature, your ElvenHeart, for wholeness, healing, and awakening *; Explores who the Sidhe are and shares close encounters with them in our modern world *; Invites you to discover your ElvenHeart by journeying through the four portals of the StoneAnchor, the FlowDancer, the FireDreamer, and the WindSinger *; Offers gifts in the form of simple exercises to bring you into contact with your magical kin and rewild yourself Awaken to your closest kin, the Sidhe (pronounced ';Shee'), and let them inspire you to rediscover your gentle, wild, innermost nature, your ElvenHeart.

A deep exploration of the regenerative and magical secrets of sacred masculinity hidden in familiar myths both ancient and modern*; Reveals the restorative fungi archetype of Osiris, the Orphic mysteries as an underground mycelium linking forests and people, how Dionysus teaches us about invasive species and playful sexuality, and the ecology of Jesus as depicted in his nature-focused parables*; Liberates Tristan, Merlin, and the Grail legends from the bounds of Campbell's hero's journey and invites the masculine into more nuanced, complex ways of dealing with trauma, growth, and self-knowledgeLong before the sword-wielding heroes of legend readily cut down forests, slaughtered the old deities, and vanquished their enemies, there were playful gods, animal-headed kings, mischievous lovers, trickster harpists, and vegetal magicians with flowering wands.

Reveals myth and ';otherness' as keys to restoring self, nature, and society*; Shows how myths contain medicine to restore wholeness amidst trauma, exile, sudden life change, disability, illness, death, or grief*; Synthesizes lessons from shamanic practice, quantum physics, alchemy, soul poetry, wildness, social justice, and the author's lived experience*; Discloses the blessings of outsiderhood and the gifts and insights gained and contributed to culture by those who are marginalized and outcastThere is an ';other' that lives within each of us, an exiled part that carries wisdom needed for ourselves and the culture at large.

A psychomagic journey to awaken lucid dream consciousness*; Presents effective exercises and techniques, inspired by ancient texts, to deepen your personal awareness of the dream state and experiment with dreams for healing and divinatory purposes*; Each initiatory chapter includes a psychodramatic narrative designed to generate the perfect dream for each stage in the initiation*; Explains how dreaming has influenced cultural, religious, and spiritual thinking*; Includes access to a seven-part hypnagogic guided journey recordingInvoking MnemosyneGreek goddess of memory and eloquence, daughter of Heaven and Earth, mother of the Muses, and archetypal deity of the Asklepion dream temple traditionthis book initiates you into full dream consciousness, offering a lucid-dreaming ritual experience in the spirit of the Mystery Schools of antiquity.

A guide to ancient beliefs including instructions for magic and spellcasting*; Describes the arcane rituals, ancient beliefs, and secret rites of the Welsh Marches, including those of the Sin Eaters, Eye Biters, and Spirit Hunters*; Shares extracts from ancient texts stored in the archives of the National Museum of Wales, along with many original photographs of related artifacts*; Includes a Grimoire of the Welsh Marches, a wide collection of spells and magical workings along with practical instruction on crafting and castingIn this collaboration between a Druid and a witchcraft researcher, Jon G.

A complete guide to the techniques of the pre-Celtic Druids for understanding the past, present, and future *; Offers step-by-step instructions for a wealth of practices passed down across five generations of Welsh Druids *; Explains the three forms of divination used by the Druids: interpretive divination, such as reading the Sevens; inductive divination, such as reading the wind or smoke; and intuitive divination, whose tools include cup-stones and scrying mirrors *; Provides comprehensive instructions on how to craft and utilize your own magical instruments and tools, including botanical compounds, scrying wands, and slate speculum vitae In this practical guide, Jon G.

A collection of tales from the Middle Ages that reveal voyages to Heaven and Hell, the realm of the Faery, mystical lands, and encounters with mythic beasts *; Shares travelers' accounts of voyages into the afterlife, alarming creatures of unparalleled strangeness, encounters with doppelgangers and angels, chivalric romantic misadventures, and legends of heroes *; Explains how travelers' tales from the Middle Ages drew on geographies, encyclopedias, travel accounts, bestiaries, and herbals for material to capture the imagination of their audiences *; Includes rare illustrations from incunabula and medieval manuscripts Heading off to discover unknown lands was always a risky undertaking during the Middle Ages due to the countless dangers lying in wait for the traveler--if we can believe what the written accounts tell us.

An innovative, spiritual workbook that integrates the Tarot and the Kabbalistic tradition of Counting the Omer *; Explores the origins and meaning of the 49-day Kabbalistic meditative practice of Counting the Omer and how it can lead to spiritual revelation, personal insight, and connection with the Divine *; Reveals the correspondence of the Tarot's minor arcana with the Sephirot of the Tree of Life and explains how both relate to the Omer meditation *; Provides a daily practice workbook that explores the related Sephirot and Tarot cards for each day, examines their Kabbalistic and spiritual meanings, and provides questions for daily reflection and meditation guidance The 49-day mystical practice known as Counting the Omer is an ancient Jewish ritual observed between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot (also known as Pentecost).

Reveals the historical roots of the symbology of the Tarot in the Mithraic tradition of the Persian Magi and the Hermetic tradition *; Explores the Magian teachings on the Stoeicheia and how this magical alphabet was the template for the Tarot *; Explains how the sequencing of the Major Arcana is related to the images used in Mithraic initiation *; Looks at the original meanings of the Major Arcana using Mithraic symbolism, as well as the deep-level connections of the Tarot with Egypt, the Romani people, the Semitic tradition, and runes The Tarot is a mythic map of the world and of consciousness.

A comprehensive look at the history and practices of rural English witchcraft *; Explores witch's familiars and fetches, animal magic, and the forms of witchcraft practiced by rural tradespeople, such as blacksmiths, herbalists, and artisans *; Offers practical insight into spells, charms, folk incantations, herbal medicine practices, amulets, sigils, and tools of the craft *; Details the evolution of public perception of witchcraft throughout England's history, including the laws against witchcraft in place until the 1950s and witchcraft's contentious relationship with the Christian church In this practical guide, Nigel Pennick takes the reader on a journey through the practice of operative witchcraft in the British Isles from the Middle Ages and the Elizabethan era to the decriminalization of witchcraft in the 1950s and its practice today.

A practical guide to the ancient magical tradition of Russian sorcery and Eastern Slavic magical rites *; Offers step-by-step instructions for more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, amulets, and practical rituals for love, career success, protection, healing, divination, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and other challenges and situations *; Reveals specific places of magical power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells *; Explores the folk history of this ancient magical tradition, including how the pagan gods gained new life as Eastern Orthodox saints, and shares folktales of magical beings, including sorceresses shapeshifting into animals and household objects Passed down through generations, the Slavic practice of magic, witchcraft, and sorcery is still alive and well in Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as the Balkans and the Baltic states.

Reveals the long-forgotten prequel to the Grail mythos and how it has profound resonance with modern times *; Includes the complete text of the Grail prequel, The Elucidation of the Grail, a 13th-century poem newly translated by Gareth Knight and Caitln Matthews *; Examines the forgotten story of the Faery Wars and the role of Well Maidens in the Grail story *; Discusses the Seven Guardians of the Stories, the Grail Kings and Anti-Grail Kings, the Rich Company, the Courts of Joy, and the otherworldly Land of Women Unveiling the long-forgotten prequel to the Grail quest stories, Caitln and John Matthews examine The Elucidation of the Grail, a forgotten 13th-century French text, and show how it offers the key to understanding the sevenfold path of the Grail and the deeper stories beneath the Christian Grail narrative.

Original tales inspired by Native American and Norwegian folklore that highlight the wisdom of the divine natural world *; Shares unique stories about Earth Medicine and animal magic, inspired by the author's unusual Native American (Hopi) and Norwegian upbringing *; Interwoven with ancient teachings and everyday practical applications of Earth Medicine, such as grounding and dream interpretation *; Each tale is beautifully illustrated with the author's original art, which promotes spiritual understanding and the power of the Earth's healing properties *; Paper with French flaps Drawing on both her Native American (Hopi) heritage and her Norwegian upbringing, renowned mystic and intuitive healer Sonja Grace shares original wisdom tales, received through her heart and soul, to take you on a journey into the magic of Raven and Bear and the healing power of Earth Medicine.

A collector's edition of the classic, illustrated, and comprehensive history of magic and the occult *; Written by renowned Surrealist and magic scholar Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962) *; Includes all 250 illustrations from the original 1948 edition *; Explores magical practices and beliefs from their origins in the ancient world through the heyday of secret societies in the 18th century In the occult classic The Mirror of Magic, renowned Surrealist Kurt Seligmann (1900-1962) draws from his encyclopedic practitioner's knowledge and extensive antiquarian collection to offer a comprehensive, illustrated history of magic and the occult from Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt through the 18th century.

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.

A step-by-step guide to working with the runes throughout the year *; 2019 Nautilus Silver Award *; Explains how the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark each rule the calendar for a half-month *; Details the runes most powerful during each runic half-month, what they portend for personal and spiritual wellbeing, and techniques for creating relationships with them *; Includes structured devotionals for each half-month and runic initiation rituals for the 8 pagan Sabbats, or holy days, such as the Summer Solstice (Litha) and Lughnssadh (the first harvest holy day) The Old Norse runes, known as the Elder Futhark, have long joined forces with the cycles of the seasons to offer powerful initiations, guidance, and wisdom.

A 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.

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 comprehensive examination of the intertwined mythology, folklore, and literary history of the little people *; Explores the pagan roots of dwarfs and elves and their evolution in myth and literature *; Reveals the role the church played in changing them from fearless, shape-shifting warriors with magical powers into cheerful helpmates and cute garden gnomes *; Traces their history from ancient Celtic and Germanic lore through their emergence in the literature of the Middle Ages to their modern popularization by the Brothers Grimm and Walt Disney Most people are familiar with the popular image of elves as Santa's helpers and dwarfs as little bearded men wearing red caps, who are mischievous and playful, helpful and sly, industrious and dexterous.

A comprehensive A-to-Z reconstruction of the oral tradition of the Rom--gypsies--based on sources never before available in English *; Presents the origin myths and magical traditions of the gypsies, including their legendary ties to Egypt, animal ancestors, and tree spirits *; Examines the three major settings of gypsy folktales--the forest, the waters, and the mountain--and shows how their world is full of spirits *; Shows how the religious concepts of the Rom testify to a profound syncretism of the pagan traditions and Christianity Although their own myths and their common name point to Egyptian origins for the gypsies, the Rom, as they call themselves, originated in India, as evidenced by studies of their language.

A complete guide to the theory, practice, and history of Mazdan magic, the first organized system of magic *; Provides a complete curriculum of magical study and initiation centered on exercises keyed to the sacred Zoroastrian calendar *; Details advanced magical rituals and practices based on archaic Persian formulas, including fire rituals and divine invocations *; Explores the history and lore of Persian magic, explaining how the author reconstructed the original Mazdan system of magic Stephen Flowers explores the history, theory, practice, rituals, and initiations of the Mazdan magical system practiced by the Magi of ancient Persia, who were so skilled and famed for their effectiveness that their name came to mean what we today call ';magic.

An in-depth collection of ancient spells and magic practices drawn from rare and newly discovered texts *; Presents more than 600 magical prescriptions for healing and protection from both pagan and Christian sources *; Examines the practice of diagnosing illness through magic and explores ancient beliefs about curses and other evil spells and about devils, demons, and ghosts *; Includes spells from the heavily guarded gypsy tradition of magic and healing, drawn from newly discovered materials Since the beginning of history, people have sought remedies for the many ills that have beset them, from illnesses afflicting the body to threats posed by evil and hostile individuals.

A comprehensive examination of the historical and mythological evidence for every major theory about King Arthur*; Explores the history of every Arthur candidate and the geographical arguments that have placed him in different locations*; Examines 1,800 years of evidence for Arthur's life and the famous series of 12 battles fought against the Saxons in the 6th century*; Reconstructs the history of the 6th century in Britain, when the first references to Arthur and the core events of his reign appearFew legends have had the enduring influence of those surrounding King Arthur.

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.

Identifies the patterns of our planet's design within the natural landscape *; Explains the geometry inherent in the mountains and coasts on all continents *; Reveals how ancient monuments were built to reflect and enhance the Earth's design, often connecting sites around the world *; Includes detailed maps that show the simple geometrical relationships among the world's mountains, coastlines, islands, and ancient monuments From continent to continent across the globe, Mark Vidler and Catherine Young reveal that order is everywhere on Earth.

Discover the untamed paganism of the Vikings and the Germanic tribes prior to the complete Christianization of Europe *; Explores the different forms of magic practiced by these tribes, including runic magic, necromancy (death magic), soul-travel, and shape-shifting *; Examines their rites of passage and initiation rituals and their most important gods, such as Odin, Loki, and Thor *; Looks at barbarian magic in historical accounts, church and assembly records, and mythology as well as an eyewitness report from a 10th-century Muslim diplomat *; Reveals the use and abuse of this tradition's myths and magic by the Nazis Before the conversion of Europe to Christianity in the Middle Ages, Germanic tribes roamed the continent, plundering villages and waging battles to seek the favor of Odin, their god of war, ecstasy, and magic.

An exploration of the wild spirits that once roamed the lands and inhabited the waters and the pagan rites used to gain their good will *; Explores medieval stories and folk traditions of brownies, fairies, giants, dragons, will-o'-the-wisps, and demons *; Explains the specific rites performed to negotiate with the local spirits and ensure their permission before building on new land *; Shows how these beliefs carried through to modern times, especially in architecture Our pagan ancestors knew that every forest has brownies and fairies, every spring its lady, and every river malevolent beings in its depths.

Explains the relevance of ancient myths to the awakening to higher states of consciousness and enlivened experience of the world *; Shows how higher consciousness can arise within each of us by following the guidance found in ancient myths *; Reveals how myths influence our personal development without our awareness through their influence on our core values and culture *; Examines ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Hebrew myths, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the story of Osiris and Isis In this study of ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Hebrew myths, authors Lloyd M.

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.

The goddess origins of the Statue of Liberty and her connections with the founding and the future of America Examines Lady Libertys 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.

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 exploration of the many forms of the ancient myth of the Wild Hunt and its influence in pagan and early Christian Europe *; Recounts the myriad variations of this legend, from the Cursed Huntsman and King Herla to phantom armies and vast processions of sinners and demons *; Explains how this belief was an integral part of the pagan worldview and was thus employed by the church to spread Christian doctrine *; Reveals how the secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted these ghostly processions for soul travel and prophecies of impending death Once upon a time a phenomenon existed in medieval Europe that continuously fueled local lore: during the long winter nights a strange and unknown troop could be heard passing outside over the land or through the air.

A look at the close resemblance between the creation and structure of matter in both Dogon mythology and modern science *; Reveals striking similarities between Dogon symbols and those used in both the Egyptian and Hebrew religions *; Demonstrates the parallels between Dogon mythical narratives and scientific concepts from atomic theory to quantum theory and string theory The Dogon people of Mali, West Africa, are famous for their unique art and advanced cosmology.

A comprehensive and practical guide to the ancient oracle based on the runic alphabet of the Norse*; Reveals the symbolism and divinatory significance of the 24 rune "e;staves"e;*; Provides clear instructions on how to craft your own rune stones*; Explains the role of runes in the Norse wisdom tradition and its influence on such works as Tolkien's Lord of the RingsNordic runes are a potent and profoundly transformative magic system that gives contemporary readers access to the ancient wisdom tradition of Northern European cultures.

The profound influence of ancient cosmologies on our ideas about the human spirit *; Shows how ancient myths contain a sophisticated understanding of our relationship to the cosmos, derived from thousands of years of observation of the night sky *; Explains how ideas of the mind and spirit are still entwined with these ancient cosmologies despite the disruptive effects of modern astronomy *; Reveals how ancient ideas and contemporary cosmology might be combined into a new model for spiritual meaning Thousands of years before the first written records, humans were turning to the night sky as a source of meaning for existence and their place within it.

An in-depth look at the history, herbal uses, and spiritual aspects of the sacred trees in the ancient Celtic Ogham Tree Alphabet *; Details the 20 trees of the ogham alphabet and their therapeutic and magical virtues *; Examines the Forest Druid practices associated with each tree as well as the traditional uses in Native American medicine *; Describes the Celtic Fire Festivals and how each tree is featured in these holy days *; By the author of A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth YearThe Druids used the ancient Ogham Tree Alphabet to work magic and honor the dead, surrounding each letter with medicinal and spiritual lore.