Folklore studies / Study of myth (mythology)

The classical heritage continues to impact modern culture in many ways.

This volume offers 28 versions of the fable of "e;Beauty and the Beast"e;, with minimal adaptations from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and America.

The power of love within families; the complexities of relationships; the rites of passage for birth, coming of age, marriage, and death-these are some of the themes covered in this wonderful volume.

Myth, legend, and folklore have been entrenched in children's literature for several centuries and continue to be popular.

Using primary German-language sources, Altmann has gleaned a wonderful assortment of authentic tales to enchant and educate audiences of all ages.

The diverse peoples of the former Yugoslavia offer us a rich folk tradition with lively tales to delight readers of all ages.

Although there are many collections of Chinese folktales, few if any focus specifically on the tales of Taiwan, which have evolved in a tradition separate and distinct from that of mainland China.

Though nearly everyone is familiar with such great mythological figures as Hercules, Icarus, and Medusa, one may wonder what relevance these ancient characters, and their stories, hold for modern readers.

This descriptive analysis of contemporary Portuguese culture from a historical perspective covers topics ranging from art, cuisine, and music to government, politics, and religion.

Fairy lore concerns beliefs about elves, dwarfs, gnomes, trolls, mermaids, brownies, pixies, leprechauns, and many other beings found in world folklore.

This is a study of the manner in which certain mythical notions of the world become accepted as fact.

In the first book which deals entirely with the subject of time in Africa and the Black Diaspora, Adjaye presents ten critical case studies of selected communities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the American South.

For centuries, accounts of King Arthur and his court have fascinated historians, scholars, poets, and readers.

Placing heroes from a wide range of medieval traditions shoulder to shoulder, this title provides the opportunity to examine what is common across medieval mythic, legendary, and folkloric traditions, as well as what seems unique.

Take a journey into the fascinating world of Australia's Aboriginal culture with this unique collection of 33 authentic, unaltered stories brought to you by three Aboriginal storyteller custodians!

Altmann and de Vos are back with more great ideas for exploring contemporary reworkings of classic folk and fairy tales that appeal to teen readers.

Delve into a world of kelpies, mermaids, selkies, ghosts, warlords, and fairies.

This one-stop cross-cultural selective guide to recent retellings of myths and hero tales for children and young adults will enable teachers and library media specialists to select comparative myths and tales from various, mostly non-European cultures.

Alexander the Great (356-333 BC) was transformed into a legend by all those he met, leaving an enduring tradition of romances across the world.

Folktales are instrumental in ensuring the survival of oral traditions and strengthening communal bonds.

Alexander the Great (356-333 BC) was transformed into a legend by all those he met, leaving an enduring tradition of romances across the world.

It is often assumed that those outside of academia know very little about the Middle Ages.

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.

Details hands-on techniques, spells, and rituals paired with personal stories from the authors decades of magical practice Presents teachings on working with each element in different ways--such as divination, communication, healing, protection, manifestation, and enchantment Explores elemental altars, scrying and reading the bones, undines and fairies, working with runes and crystals, ancestral healing, weather sensing, fire gazing, candle magic, sex magic, and communicating with the Otherworld A Book of Shadows is a witchs sacred journal, filled with personal experiences and the intimate working of spells.

Explains in detail how the demotion or proved nonexistence of a planet marks the beginning of a roughly 30-year period in which that planets influence wanes Explores Plutos arc of influence on individual and collective life in depth, from its discovery in 1930 to the end of its influence in 2036 Offers examples from other demoted planets, such as Ceres, whose fifty-year reign as a planet corresponds very closely to the Romantic Era of history Recent research in astrology has shown that the discovery of a new planet correlates with the emergence of a new set of influences in individual and collective life.

2023 Coalition of Visionary Resources Gold Award Provides detailed instructions for making single-flower essences and magickal and therapeutic essence blends Shares new magickal uses for flower essences, from creating sacred space to dressing candles to preparing incense, as well as how to use essences in meditation, potions, spells, spagyrics, and ritual Includes a detailed directory of 100 flower and plant essences, complete with astrological, elemental, and magickal correspondences In this practical guide to using flower essences in witchcraft, alchemy, and healing, Nicholas Pearson provides detailed instructions for making and using flower essences based on traditional Western magick practices.

Shows how the astrological cycle around the signs of the zodiac represents the alchemical transformation of consciousness and chakra awakening Expands the meaning of each astrological sign based on its association with the chakras and the alchemical transmutation cycle from lead to gold Offers sample chart analyses to show how you can discover your spiritual challenges and opportunities Demonstrating the connections between astrology, alchemy, and yoga, Frederick Baker reveals how he discovered their correspondences by rotating the natural order of the zodiac, placing Aquarius and Capricorn at the bottom and Cancer and Leo at the top, to reflect the alchemical order of metals from lead to gold.

Explores the archetypal and classical male ideal found in ancient societies around the world Examines some of the problems facing men in the world today and shares practices to develop yourself in the face of these problems Provides techniques for developing your thinking and focus, overcoming fear, relaxing tension in your body, and developing a self-image more appropriate to who you are and aspire to be Ancient and classical societies have always had an ideal of manhood.

Explains how Kimbandas presiding deity Eshu embodies both masculine and feminine principles, both god and devil, and thus represents human nature itself with all its vices and virtues Discusses Kimbandas magical practices, initiation rites, sacred knives, and sacrificial offerings Details the seven realms and the entities that inhabit and govern each of them Although it has been demonized as a form of Satanic cult, Kimbanda--the tradition of Afro-Brazilian black magic--is a spiritual practice that embraces both the light and dark aspects of life through worship of the entities known as Eshu and Pombajira.

Looks at the age-old spiritual principles, folklore, and esoteric traditions behind the creation of magical objects as well as the use of numbers, colors, sigils, geometric emblems, knots, crosses, pentagrams, and other symbols Explores hundreds of artifacts, such as hagstones, Norse directional amulets, car hood mascots, objects made from bones and teeth, those connected with plants and animals, charms associated with gambling, and religious relics Includes photos of artifacts from the authors extensive collection Offering an illustrated exploration of the origins and history of amulets, lucky charms, talismans, and mascots, including photos of unique and original artifacts from his extensive collection, Nigel Pennick examines these objects from a magical perspective, from ancient Egypt to the present.

Explores the five periods of runic revival: the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Romantic period, the early 20th century, and the late 20th century Examines the use of runes by the foremost magicians and scholars of each era, including mystic and scholar Johannes Bureus, who developed his own integrated system of runology known as Adalruna Reveals how the Nazi misguided use of the runes showed a lack of comprehension of what was being discovered by scientific rune scholars of the day In this exploration of the history of the runes from 1500 CE to the present day, Stephen Edred Flowers examines the five periods of runic revival: the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Romantic period, the early 20th century, and the late 20th century.

Offers commentary for each story, revealing its historical context, cultural and esoteric associations, and hidden pagan beliefs Explores how the tales transformed over the ages and their origins in Classical Antiquity, the Middle East, and India Includes stories never-before-translated from their original Latin and many purposely left in obscurity due to scandalous depictions of popes and other notables The Middle Ages witnessed the blossoming of oral traditions whose echoes can still be found in many legends, fables, and tales today.

Explores the background and sexual magical beliefs of Paschal Beverly Randolph, Ida Craddock, Aleister Crowley, Maria de Naglowska, Austin Osman Spare, Julius Evola, Franz Bardon, Jack Parsons, William S.

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.

Explains how a Vampyre is not a blood-sucking mythical figure but a shaman who is skilled in gathering, using, and storing energy for magical power and personal liberation Reveals how to gather and store energy from the world around you and shares magical techniques, manifestation methods, and practices to utilize the energy you have collected Looks at servitors and familiars, vampyric runes, dream architecture, money magick practices, and sex magick techniques as well as advanced practices such as healing with vampyric magick In this initiatory guide, Don Webb explains how to learn from the myth of the vampire to gather, use, and store energy for magical power, manifestation, and personal liberation.

A guide to the history and practices of the Druids and the Celtic faith Reconstructs the Druidic faith from surviving remnants, parallels with other Indo-European traditions, and dedicated study of scholarly sources Details magical rites and ceremonies, methods for consecrating an outdoor temple, and customs for celebrating important festivals such as Beltaine and Samhain Discusses rules for firecraft, making offerings to deities and spirits, and the ancient Coligny calendar, including the names of the months in old Gaulish Druids and their magic, lore, and rituals have fascinated all those who encounter them, from the ancient Greeks and Romans onward.

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 Campbells heros 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.

A complete guide to working with the Birth Odus of your Orishas Birth Chart Offers step-by-step instructions to calculate your Birth Odus and cast your full Orisha Birth Chart Presents detailed interpretations of each of the 16 Birth Odus, showing how their energies manifest in an individuals personality, relationships, financial status, and general approach to life Shares self-transformation techniques to help you improve the positive qualities of your chart while embracing, integrating, and neutralizing negative energies and tendenciesMuch like the celestial influences revealed by a natal astrology chart or the numerology of your birth date, African spiritual traditions believe that every person has specific personal energies ruling how we relate to each other and the way we foresee and achieve life goals.

An exploration of the traditional rites of auspicious building and crafting Explains the ceremonial beginnings and Hermetic principles in the laying out of foundations not only for sacred buildings like temples but also for homes and barns Examines the principles and ceremonies of electional astrology and details how to compute natural time, as opposed to clock time Shares examples from ancient Egypt, Iran, India, and Europe that range from the Stone Age to the Renaissance and include secret societiesWhen we make things--whether a building, a sacred space, or a magical object--there is a precise moment when the artifact comes into being as a separate entity.

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 authors 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.

Examines Aleister Crowleys 30-year-long intimate association with Paris Investigates the tales of Crowley raising Pan, going mad, and working gay sex magick in Paris Uncovers Crowleys involvement in the Belle poque with sculptor Auguste Rodin and other artists and in the 1920s with Berenice Abbott, Nancy Cunard, Man Ray, Andr Gide, and Aime Crocker Reveals Crowleys expulsion from Paris in 1929 as a high-level conspiracy against CrowleyExploring occultist, magician, poet, painter, and writer Aleister Crowleys longstanding and intimate association with Paris, Tobias Churton provides the first detailed account of Crowleys activities in the City of Light.

Presents four loving, feisty old witches, one for each season, who share earth-honoring wisdom, rituals, and spells to help you embrace your journey through the sacred latter half of life Filled with magical recipes, inspiring ceremonies, playful activities, and meaningful meditations You are invited into the magical world of four loving, feisty old witches, one for each season, who share earth-honoring wisdom, rituals, and spells to help you embrace your journey through the sacred latter half of life.

A presentation of seven essential texts, central to the Hermetic Tradition, never before published together Includes Theogony, The Homeric Hymn to Hermes, The Poem of Parmenides, The Poimandres, The Chaldean Oracles, Hymn to Isis, and On Divine Virtue, each translated from the original Greek or Latin Presents interpretive commentary for each text to progressively weave them together historically, poetically, hermeneutically, and magicallyLinked to both the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth, Hermes Trismegistus is credited, through legend, with thousands of mystical and philosophical writings of high standing, each reputed to be of immense 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.

An illustrated reference book on a seminal figure of occult philosophy and Renaissance thought Explains Fludds thoughts on cosmic harmonies, divination, the kabbalah, astrology, geomancy, alchemy, the Rosicrucians, and multiple levels of existence Includes more than 200 of Fludds illustrations, representing the whole corpus of Fludds iconography, each one accompanied by Godwins expert commentary Explores Fludds medical work as an esoteric Paracelsian physician and his theories on the macrocosm of elements, planets, stars, and subtle and divine beings and the microcosm of the human being and its creative activities, including material never before translated One of the last Renaissance men, Robert Fludd (1574-1637) was one of the great minds of the early modern period.

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.

A detailed guide to the three successive initiatic archetypes: Craftsman, Warrior, and Magician Investigates the symbolism, rituals, and metaphysical aspects of each initiatic archetype, from the alchemy and shamanism of the craftsman, to the subtle energy work of the warrior, to the sex magic practices and Higher Self work of the magician Shares meditations, practices, and transformational techniques for each archetype Investigates the similarities between contemporary Western occultism, from Crowley to Chaos Magic, and the positive thinking mind metaphysics movement Exploring the craftsman, warrior, and magician archetypes--three vocations that echo the traditional tripartite division of society--Angel Millar reveals how these archetypes represent the three successive stages of spiritual growth in an individuals life.

An illustrated guide to the occult history, serpent magic, and practical application of the I Ching Reveals how the sacred language of the original eight trigrams of the I Ching was discovered by a wisdom serpent known as Fu Xi Explores how the I Ching formed the basis of the earliest Taoist philosophies, its complex correlation with human DNA, and its relationship with artificial intelligence Provides new contemporary analysis of each of the 64 hexagrams, their changing lines, and archetypes of the I Ching Includes original artwork highlighting the serpent magic within the system and tools to help you interpret the I Ching based on your own individual experience One of the oldest books in the world, the I Ching has been used in China for millennia to open a dialogue with divinity, gain insight and wisdom, and pull aside the curtain of reality to reveal the light of the heavens.