*; Reveals how mask rituals are akin to shamanic journeying and allow the mask wearer to personify an ancestral presence, spirit, deity, or power *; Examines animal guising and shows how mask customs are tied to creation myths and the ancestral founders of a people, tribe, city, or nation *; Looks at morris dancers and mummers in the UK, Krampuslauf and Perchtenlauf in Germanic areas, the Gorgon myths of Greece, Norse Berserker rituals, and the annual Black Forest rite to awaken ensouled masks every spring There is a spiritual power in masks that transports one into realms unseen and gives voice to things unspoken.
An extensive look at the cartography and folklore of the afterlife worlds as seen by our ancestors *; Examines how ancient European cultures viewed the beyond, including the Blessed Isles of early Greek and Celtic faith, the Hebrew Sheol, Hades from Homer's Odyssey, Hel and Valhalla of the Norse, and the Aralu of Babylon *; Shows how medieval accounts of journeys into the Other World represent the first recorded near-death experiences *; Connects medieval afterlife beliefs and NDE narratives with shamanism, looking in particular at psychopomps, power animals, the double, the fetch, and what people bring back from their journeys to the spirit realms Charting the evolution of afterlife beliefs in both pagan and medieval Christian times, Claude Lecouteux offers an extensive look at the cartography and folklore of the afterlife worlds as seen by our ancestors.
A comprehensive guide to the ancient beliefs and spiritual power of subterranean spaces *; Examines in depth the myths, symbology, deities, and beliefs connected to the underworld from many different cultures and mystery traditions *; Investigates the role of the underworld in initiatory rites and mystical practices, such as the Orphic Mysteries, the chambers of reflections in Freemasonry, the cult of the Black Madonna, and the cult of Isis *; Discusses the telluric currents that run through ley lines, the significance of underground waterways, Hollow Earth theory, and the denizens of the subterranean realms, such as dragons, gnomes, and dwarfs Ancient cultures around the world understood the spiritual powers of the underworld.
*; Examines werewolf tales and stories from early Greece, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Eastern Europe, China, and Japan, as well as legends of other shapeshifting creatures such as were-tigers, were-jackals, and were-caribou *; Looks at the various ways people become werewolves, including pacts with the devil, magic, and spells, and explores ways to identify, escape, and do away with werewolves *; Includes the trial records from medieval Europe for individuals who were tried on suspicion of being werewolves and the personal records of people whose spouses could shapeshift into wolves An animal both mythical and real, a terrifying predator and the villain in many a fairytale, the wolf has haunted the human imagination since prehistoric times.
An in-depth look at ancient Greek practices for profound, lasting healing*; Explores hidden soul-healing practices including dream incubation and interpretation as well as sacred pilgrimage*; Examines how dreams, visions, and other non-normative events reveal the conditions needed to restore the soul and facilitate healing*; Includes successful healing techniques, practices, and case studies to reveal how healings are achieved with these methodsThe modern practice of medicine and psychology grew out of the ancient Greek healing tradition, said to be founded by Asklepios, god of healing and dreams.
*; Explores the schools of Solomonic magic around the world and works such as The Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon the King and The Hygromancy of Solomon *; Examines Solomon's magical possessions, including his famous ring that gave him command over animals, weather, demons, genies, and djinns, as well as his amulets, remedies, exorcisms, and charms *; Looks at the extensive presence of Solomon in folklore around the world, including in Armenia, Malaysia, Russia, Bulgaria, Morocco, India, and Egypt Looking at the Solomonic magical tradition and Solomon's profound influence on esoteric traditions around the world, Claude Lecouteux reveals King Solomon not only as one of the great kings of prehistory but also as the ancient world's foremost magician and magus.
Since Abraham Lincoln's death, generations of Americans have studied his life, presidency, and leadership, often remaking him into a figure suited to the needs and interests of their own time.
Known as 'Vetala Panchavimshati' in Sanskrit and 'Baital Pachisi' in Bengali, 'Twenty-Two Goblins' is a collection of tales and legends within a frame story, from India.
The Book of Were-Wolves By Sabine Baring-Gould was originally published in 1865 and remains the most important and most often cited book on Lycanthropy.
Did you know that the ancient Romans left sixty days of winter out of their calendar, considering these two months a dead time of lurking terror and therefore better left unnamed?
In this wonderful, vigorously contemporary translation, Craig Hill has captured the liveliness, satiric wit, and poetic beauty that made Jean de la Fontaine famous during his lifetime and his Fables celebrated as a masterwork of world literature ever since.
'Enthralling from beginning to shocking end' Hannah Whitten, bestselling author of For the Wolf**THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER**In the luscious, dark conclusion to the series that began with One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought - perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Explores our intertwined spiritual history with cats*; Examines spiritual and occult beliefs connected to cats from Mayan, Aztec, and Native American mythology as well as from ancient India, Samaria, Babylon, Japan, and Egypt*; Looks at spiritual behaviors attributed to cats as well as modern biological research into cat behavior and their highly sophisticated sensory systems*; Reveals the similarities between cat and human emotions and the deep connection between cats and meditationWe have been connected to cats for more than 30 million years.
A comprehensive look at the Grail that reveals its fundamentally Celtic nature beneath layers of Christian interpretations*; Emphasizes the significance of the Quest as an archetype of spiritual seeking*; By the world's preeminent authority on Celtic civilizationThe Grail has long excited the imaginations of those seeking to see beyond the world of appearances.
A practical guide to the magical systems of pre-Christian Iceland *; Reveals spells and workings drawn directly from surviving magical books from the 16th to 20th century preserved at the National Library in Reykjavk *; Explores the history of magic in Iceland through original translations of Icelandic folktales about famous magicians and about legendary grimoires, such as the Galdrabk, the oldest and most complete book of its kind *; Explains how to personalize the spells through the creation of unique signs and symbols based on the mythic names of Odin and Icelandic magical alphabets During the Christianization of Europe in the Middle Ages, many books of magic were lost as the ancient pagan traditions were suppressed.
Hidden within age-old classic stories lie the hermetic teachings of alchemy and Freemasonry *; Explains how the stages of the Great Work are encoded in both little known and popular stories such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Little Red Riding Hood *; Reveals the connection between Mother Goose and important esoteric symbols of the Western Mystery tradition *; Demonstrates the ancient lineage of these stories and how they originated as the trigger to push humanity toward higher levels of consciousness In his Mystery of the Cathedrals, the great alchemist Fulcanelli revealed the teachings of the hermetic art encoded in the sculpture and stained glass of the great cathedrals of Europe.
A full-color guide to fortune-telling with the Lenormand oracle *; Explores the meanings of the 36 Lenormand cards and their playing card insets to help build a resourceful, interpretative vocabulary *; Provides instructions for many spreads, starting with 3 or 5 cards and building to the Grand Tableau spread, which uses all 36 cards *; 416 pages and full-color throughout *; Reveals the origins of the Lenormand oracle from both coffee-ground symbols and playing card cartomancy More than 200 years old, the 36 Lenormand cards are an oracle combining standard playing cards with images from the everyday world, such as key, book, animals, and flowers.
A profusely illustrated history of the occult nature of the tarot from its origins in ancient Persia*; Thoroughly examines the original historical source for each tarot card and how the cards' divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols*; Provides authentic 18th- and 19th-century spreads and divination techniques*; Reveals the divinatory meanings of the cards as understood by diviners in the Middle Ages and RenaissanceThe origins of the tarot have been lost in the mists of time.
Blood Will Tell explores the ways in which writers, thinkers, and politicians used blood and vampire-related imagery to express social and cultural anxieties in the decades leading up to the First World War.
This study examines the process of unionizing domestic workers in Lebanon, highlighting the potentialities as well as the obstacles confronting it, and looks at the multiple power relations involved through axes of class, gender, race, and nationality.
This volume series on Women Society and Culture is an attempt to collate information from various sources on different themes strata it could serge a-s a repository not only to the masses but also to students, researchers.
This volume series on Women Society and Culture is an attempt to collate information from various sources on different themes strata it could serge a-s a repository not only to the masses but also to students, researchers.
