This book focuses on Abraham Abulafia's esoteric thought in relation to Maimonides, Maimonideans, and Islamic thought in the line of Leo Strauss' theory of the history of philosophy. A survey of Abulafia's sources leads into an analysis of the esoteric meaning on the famous parable of the three rings, considering also the possible connection between this parable, which Abdulafia inserted into a book dedicated to his student, the 13th century rabbi Nathan the wise, and the Lessing's Play "Nathan the Wise." The book also examines Abulafia's universalistic understanding of the nature of the Bible, the Hebrew language, and the people of Israel (or the Sinaic revelation). The universal aspects of Abulafia's thought have been put in relief against the more widespread Kabbalistic views which are predominantly particularistic. A number of texts have also been identified here for the first time as authored by Abulafia.

(New York, NY) Dr. Howard Scheiner invites you to share his "I" ON LIFE, as he continues his highly personal journey of life and spirit. He offers his readers a distinctive, and even greater, understanding of universal truth as he enlarges his vision for happiness and a joy-filled life. Moving further than his last book, REAWEKENING, he adds new perspective and perceptions to self-awareness. Filled with enlightenment and wisdom, it is offered from the same point of intersection of science and spirituality called "belief." Through examples of his own life, readers are again given understanding and insight into their own personal journeys. A successful Manhattan physician, Scheiner awakes each day happy to be alive, feeling blessed with the joys and sorrows of his life, joyfully connected to All-That-Is and thoroughly savoring his singular journey. "How can the heart soar in the midst of personal struggles and a world in crisis? How can one savor blissful delight when emotional or physical pain takes hold? The answer is easy to state: when one recognizes that the struggles are only illusory and that apparent crisis is a perfect backdrop that offers opportunities for learning and growth; pain is a teaching, and we designed the course... The seemingly impossible task is to take the answer and believe it to be true." While most everyone has dissatisfactions, not everyone questions, nor recognizes that there must be a better way. He invites investment in a spiritual toolbox and offers his tools to do just this. He again bares his soul with a highly personal and sometimes humorous and often shocking "I" ON LIFE, enlarging his interpretation regarding the concept of "God/Universe."

Bettina E. Schmidt explores experiences usually labelled as spirit possession, a highly contested and challenged term, using extensive ethnographic research conducted in Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and home to a range of religions which practice spirit possession. The book is enriched by excerpts from interviews with people about their experiences. It focuses on spirit possession in Afro-Brazilian religions and spiritism, as well as discussing the notion of exorcism in Charismatic Christian communities. Spirits and Trance in Brazil: An Anthropology of Religious Experience is divided into three sections which present the three main areas in the study of spirit possession. The first section looks at the social dimension of spirit possession, in particular gender roles associated with spirit possession in Brazil and racial stratification of the communities. It shows how gender roles and racial composition have adapted alongside changes in society in the last 100 years. The second section focuses on the way people interpret their practice. It shows that the interpretations of this practice depend on the human relationship to the possessing entities. The third section explores a relatively new field of research, the Western discourse of mind/body dualism and the wide field of cognition and embodiment. All sections together confirm the significance of discussing spirit possession within a wider framework that embraces physical elements as well as cultural and social ones. Bringing together sociological, anthropological, phenomenological and religious studies approaches, this book offers a new perspective on the study of spirit possession.

This new edition of Magick from Aiwass Books includes annotations shedding light on this challenging text. First published in Liber ABA (Part II), Aleister Crowley's dark masterpiece Magick is essential reading for students of Thelema and the occult. This guide to the principle tenets of black magic is a concise version of the more dense four-book magnum opus Liber ABA or 'Book 4' and is recommended to initiates.