A guide to the history and practice of Kimbanda, the black magic tradition of Brazil * Explains how Kimbanda's 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 Kimbanda's 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. Exploring the history and practice of Kimbanda, also known as Quimbanda, Diego de Oxossi builds a timeline from the emergence of Afro-Brazilian religions in the 17th century when African slaves were first brought to Brazil, through the development of Orisha cults and the formation of Candomble, Batuque, Macumba, and Umbanda religious practices, to the modern codification of Kimbanda by Mae Ieda do Ogum in the 1960s. He explains how Kimbanda's presiding deity Eshu Mayoral embodies both masculine and feminine principles, both god and devil, and thus represents human nature itself with all its vices and virtues. Discussing the magical practices, initiation rites, and spiritual landscape of Kimbanda, the author explains how there are seven realms, each with nine dominions, and he discusses the entities that inhabit and govern each of them. The author explores spirit possession and Kimbanda's sacrificial practices, which are performed in order to honor and obtain the blessing of the entities of the seven realms. He discusses the sacred knives of the practice and the role each plays in it. He also explores the 16 zimba symbols and sigils used to attract the spirits most apt to realizing the magician's will as well as traditional enchantment songs to summon and work with those spirits. Offering an accessible guide to Kimbanda, the author shows that this religion of the people is popular because it recognizes the dark and light sides of human morality and provides a way to interact with the deities to produce direct results. DIEGO DE OXOSSI is a Chief of Kimbanda and Orishas Priest. For more than 20 years he has been researching and presenting courses, lectures, and workshops on pagan and African-Brazilian religions. He writes a weekly column at CoreSpirit.com and is the publisher at Arole Cultural. He lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Radu Cinamar rose to prominence after exposing a mysterious and unprecedented collaboration of American and Romanian military troops who conducted an expedition beneath the Romanian Sphinx in the Bucegi Mountains and uncovered the greatest archeological find of all time: a mysterious chamber some 50,000 years old containing holographic records of Earth's history, bio-resonance imaging technology, and three mysterious tunnels leading to the deepest secrets of the Inner Earth. Despite the political intrigue, turmoil and restriction around this great discovery, the leader of the expedition enabled Radu Cinamar to visit and explore these artifacts. Ever since, Radu's life has been a labyrinthine adventure of strange events, clandestine liaisons and extraordinary people and circumstances. In Transylvanian Moonrise, Radu is sought out by the mysterious Tibetan lama who orchestrated this discovery while working under an alias as Dr. Xien, a secret agent for the Chinese government. Radu's meeting with the lama is arranged by a mysterious alchemist whose ancestors have lived for hundreds of years by pursuing a secret tradition of the Great Work which prolongs life indefinitely until one can evolve beyond the physical plane. After the enigmatic lama reveals how he set the aforementioned events in motion in order to fix major imbalances in the Earth, he introduces Radu to a creature known as a yidam, an energetic and physical being created by a sand mandala ritual. After literally warping the space-time continuum, they take Radu on a mystical journey from Transylvania to the mysterious Land of the Gods in Tibet where he receives a secret initiation from Machandi, a blue goddess of ancient antiquity who is very much alive and is prepared to intervene on behalf of Mankind. Journey into this land of mystery and path of initiation and discover what really hides behind the veils of illusion known as the truth.

Witchcraft and paganism exert an insistent pressure from the margins of midcentury British detective fiction. This Element investigates the appearance of witchcraft and paganism in the novels of four of the most popular female detective authors of the era: Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh and Gladys Mitchell. The author approaches the theme of witchcraft and paganism not simply as a matter of content but as an influence which shapes the narrative and its possibilities. The 'witchy' detective novel, as the author calls it, brings together the conventions of Golden Age fiction with the images and enchantments of witchcraft and paganism to produce a hitherto unstudied mode of detective fiction in the midcentury.

The witching hour is that time when every fibre of your being says, This is the time to do the magick, the ritual, the enchantment for what I need. It is a time for your power to mature so that you may step from the problem at hand to the success that you desire. This book includes more than one hundred recipes and formulas as well as techniques for working with powders, herbs, plants, and a variety of other materials and tools. Silver RavenWolf s enchanting language energizes the deepest parts of your mind and spirit, awaking the inner magic that transforms your intentions into changes in the world.

Plague, a devastating and recurring affliction throughout the Renaissance, had a major impact on European life. Not only was pestilence a biological problem, but it was also read as a symptom of spiritual degeneracy and it caused widespread social disorder. Assembling a picture of the complex and sometimes contradictory responses to plague from medical, spiritual and civic perspectives, this book uncovers the place of music - whether regarded as an indispensable medicine or a moral poison that exacerbated outbreaks - in the management of the disease. This original musicological approach further reveals how composers responded, in their works, to the discourses and practices surrounding one of the greatest medical crises in the pre-modern age. Addressing topics such as music as therapy, public rituals and performance and music in religion, the volume also provides detailed musical analysis throughout to illustrate how pestilence affected societal attitudes toward music.

Magic in a box: Full of prompts that are derived from magic and spiritual practices that are approachable, and focused on accessing and growing personal power. This is the gift of feeling powerful, strong, and magical in the everyday. These faux matchsticks offer offers simple rituals and practices for aligning with nature, listening to intuition, and channeling the power within. Includes 50 faux matchsticks with printed prompts. Fans of After Amusements Family Time and You Make Everything Better will love this gift. This gift is ideal for: * Modern mystics * Spiritual seekers * Graduates

Examines Wiccan magic, rituals, traditions, and code of conduct
Get the scoop on this ancient spiritual path
Wondering what it takes to be a Wiccan? This plain-English guide introduces you to the vibrant world of Wicca and the practices of Witchcraft, describing its ancient origins, dispelling stereotypes, and explaining Wiccan beliefs, ethics, rituals, and holidays. You'll see what it means to live as a contemporary Wiccan -- and how to worship alone or with a group.
Discover how to
* Worship alone or join a coven
* Perform charms, blessings, and spells
* Obtain necessary tools and supplies
* Spot spiritual scams and inappropriate behavior
* Explore a spiritual path guided by nature

This Element argues that Ireland did not experience a disenchanted modernity, nor a decline in magic. It suggests that beliefs, practices and traditions concerning witchcraft and magic developed and adapted to modernity to retain cultural currency until the end of the twentieth century. This analysis provides the backdrop for the first systematic exploration of how historic Irish trials of witches and cunning-folk were represented by historians, antiquarians, journalists, dramatists, poets, and novelists in Ireland between the late eighteenth and late twentieth century. It is demonstrated that this work created an accepted narrative of Irish witchcraft and magic which glossed over, ignored, or obscured the depth of belief in witchcraft, both in the past and in contemporary society. Collectively, their work gendered Irish witchcraft, created a myth of a disenchanted, modern Ireland, and reinforced competing views of Irishness and Irish identity. These long-held stereotypes were only challenged in the late twentieth-century.

Handfasting is quickly becoming a widely practiced tradition, not only for pagans, but for people from all walks of life. This book is a thorough resource that shares ritual scripts, sample vows, and all the information you need to plan your own ceremony or serve as a celebrant for others. In Modern Handfasting, you will discover the history, practicalities, legal considerations, logistics, and magic of the big day. Author Liz Williams a priestess and long-time celebrant guides you through opening the ceremony, creating a circle, consecration, calling the quarters, vows, tying the knot, and closing the ceremony. You will also discover tips and stories from other celebrants as well as practical information for finding a celebrant, early planning, troubleshooting, working with ceremonial tools, and choosing colours, dates, and other details with magical correspondences.

Explores the unknown and suppressed aspects of Earth's past; reveals new information on the ET movement and secret teachings of the ancient Master schools.

The Good Ship Story Compass sails you away on a potentially life changing journey! Story Compass is a book of word and action, leading the reader on a ship's journey through the Four Directions Medicine Wheel! You step onboard, put on your captain's hat and sail away! Compass points take you sailing North, East, South and West to visit the story fields of the author, lifeline, ancestral banks and the mythical realms. Story becomes understood in a way you have possibly never been able to appreciate before. Archetypes for Mother Goose, Wild Merlin, the Prince from Sleeping Beauty and Anansi the Spider appear as the inspirational teachers for each compass point. Playful in tone, interactive in design and deeply explorative in its action, this startlingly original book is both a healing journey and an instruction manual.

Set 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. The tale begins with a young Persian student, Sinan, as he witnesses his teacher deliver the heretical Qiyama proclamation, seeking to abolish Islamic religious law in favor of a more mystical approach to spirituality. After completing his initiation into the revolutionary doctrines and practices of the Assassins - also known as the Nizari Ismailis or Hashishim - Sinan is appointed head of the Nizaris in Syria. Years later, after Sinan has become a wise and respected leader, he encounters Roland de Provence, a young member of the Knights Templar. Impressed by his courage and intelligence, Sinan selects him for initiation into the Nizari tradition. As readers follow Sinan and Roland through the process, they experience firsthand the transmission of these secret teachings and the paranormal, even magical powers of the Assassin adepts. Bringing to life the historical truths of his expertly researched bestseller The Templars and the Assassins, James Wasserman artfully traces the evolution of the Western Esoteric Tradition during the fertile cultural interactions of the Crusades.

BOOK 3 IN THE GRIPPING SUPERNATURAL SERIES BY THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE CHRONICLES OF ST MARY'S I don't know who I am. I don't know what I am. The identity of Elizabeth Cage has always been a mystery. Even she doesn't know who, or what, she is. But she's learned to live with it. Until now, when what should have been a peaceful holiday turns into anything but, and Elizabeth is forced to recognise that she isn't what she seems. But neither is anyone else. Has her whole life been a lie? Someone very badly wants to know the truth about Elizabeth Cage. And they'll do anything to find out. But who will live to regret it? Twisty, dark and incredibly gripping, the Elizabeth Cage novels are perfect for fans of Sarah Painter and Genevieve Cogman. Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'Jodi Taylor does brilliant, strong female heroes, and Elizabeth follows on from Max in the St Mary's series' 'I look forward to another adventure with this quirky and perfectly matched pair' 'Hold on to your seat and close your eyes if you dare!' 'Gripping and full of curious plot turns' 'An on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller where no assumptions can be made'

Finalist, 2021 Bram Stoker Awards (Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction) The first collection of essays to address Satan's ubiquitous and popular appearances in film Lucifer and cinema have been intertwined since the origins of the medium. As humankind's greatest antagonist and the incarnation of pure evil, the cinematic devil embodies our own culturally specific anxieties and desires, reflecting moviegoers' collective conceptions of good and evil, right and wrong, sin and salvation. Giving the Devil His Due is the first book of its kind to examine the history and significance of Satan onscreen. This collection explores how the devil is not just one monster among many, nor is he the "prince of darkness" merely because he has repeatedly flickered across cinema screens in darkened rooms since the origins of the medium. Satan is instead a force active in our lives. Films featuring the devil, therefore, are not just flights of fancy but narratives, sometimes reinforcing, sometimes calling into question, a familiar belief system. From the inception of motion pictures in the 1890s and continuing into the twenty-first century, these essays examine what cinematic representations tell us about the art of filmmaking, the desires of the film-going public, what the cultural moments of the films reflect, and the reciprocal influence they exert. Loosely organized chronologically by film, though some chapters address more than one film, this collection studies such classic movies as Faust, Rosemary's Baby, The Omen, Angel Heart, The Witch, and The Last Temptation of Christ, as well as the appearance of the Devil in Disney animation. Guiding the contributions to this volume is the overarching idea that cinematic representations of Satan reflect not only the hypnotic powers of cinema to explore and depict the fantastic but also shifting social anxieties and desires that concern human morality and our place in the universe. Contributors: Simon Bacon, Katherine A. Fowkes, Regina Hansen, David Hauka, Russ Hunter, Barry C. Knowlton, Eloise R. Knowlton, Murray Leeder, Catherine O'Brien, R. Barton Palmer, Carl H. Sederholm, David Sterritt, J. P. Telotte, Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock

A step-by-step practical guide to enhancing creative energy. In this step-by-step practical guide to enhancing creative energy, Evelyn Rysdyk explains, from the shamanic perspective, how creativity--or creative energy--is a life-giving force that frees the imagination, supports innovation, and awakens unique ways of thinking and feeling that can transform your life. She explores how to use the shamanic technologies of spirit journeying and ceremony alongside experiential shamanic exercises to release creativity-blocking patterns, reprogram the subconscious, engage the "right brain," boost imagination, overcome anxiety and destructive emotions, and become much more creative in daily life. Examining creative energy as a natural phenomenon similar to the tides, the author provides suggestions for when your creative energy is at a low tide as well as offering shamanic techniques for dealing with insecurities related to your creative pursuits and overcoming dysfunctional subconscious perceptions. Presenting a wealth of experiential exercises, rituals, and shamanic principles, this guide gives you the keys to unlock your own creative birthright.

Rachel True, an actress best known for her role in The Craft, is a lifelong occultist - she had been reading tarot cards long before being cast in the 90s witchy cult classic. Now, True shares her tarot knowledge through her unique guidebook and deck boxed set. Each card in the deck is uniquely made following a beautiful, multicultural aesthetic. True's guidebook helps readers use the cards as she does: with an intuitive approach, rather than assigning one literal definition to each card. She shares personal stories from her experiences in Hollywood to explain how the cards can mean something different for each person, depending on their unique set of circumstances. True's stance is that tarot cards don't predict the future, but rather suggest possible outcomes based on the reader's present energy.

This is not just another book it is a mission of truth given to moral man so that he may climb the nine steps of living immortality. It is the first metaphysical text book which clearly outlines the exact path through evolution which man must take in order to become God-man. This book will give all who read it the major steps towards attainment of the wonderful state of Cosmic Consciousness, then later explain how to pass through the most elevated state possible to man upon Earth, that of Ascension.

Ego is the feeling of being separate from God, from that which is, Since we feel we are separate or distinct from the Creator, as well as creation itself, there is no sense of connection with our inner essence, with the thing that has been in existence since the beginning of time. Some of us call it the "soul" some of us call it the "spirit". In reality, it is nameless it simply is (total bliss, total oneness).

This dynamic, radical departure from traditional Kabbalah books takes you into the Tree of Life not as an observer but as an active participant who engages with its sephirot. Presenting dozens of rituals, meditations, memoirs, and hands-on activities, Falling Through the Tree of Life immerses you in living, breathing magic, transforming the Tree from a complex topic into an embodied dance of love and learning.No matter your experience level, author Jane Meredith helps you explore each sephira in depth and use its real-world lessons to grow your practice. You'll begin like a butterfly falling through the Tree, unaware of its full power. But the farther you go, the more you'll fall in love with each sephira, from the beauty of Tiferet to the scholarship of Hod. This masterwork shows you how to enjoy the journey full of heart, spirit, and wonder.

The scientific and esoteric history of runic studies from the Renaissance to the modern era * 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. For each period, he discusses both the scholarly studies and those focused on the esoteric mysteries of the runes--and how these two branches of study were at first intertwined yet diverged in later revivals. Focusing in particular on the first runic revival, Flowers examines the use of runes during the Renaissance by the foremost magicians and scholars of the era, including mystic and scholar Johannes Bureus, the "grandfather of integral runology," who developed his own system known as Adalruna. In his examination of the runic reawakenings of the early and late 20th century, Flowers looks at how the runes were employed as part of a reassessment of Germanic identity, one school of which led to Nazi Germany. He explains how the Nazi use and abuse of the runes was misguided and revealed a lack of comprehension of what earlier rune scholars had discovered through their extensive studies of the past. He also offers a fresh look at the work of Guido von List and clears him of his guilt by association with the Nazis. Detailing the multilayered history of the runes, the author reveals the integrated way the predecessors of today's rune workers thought and conceived of the runes, highlighting how their discoveries helped shape modern magical practices and scholarly studies. He calls for a return of integral runology as was practiced during the Renaissance and before. By reuniting the two branches of runic study, blending the scientific with the magical, we make way for new discoveries in runology and a chance for a full-scale reawakening of integrated runic knowledge.

Historians of the early modern witch-hunt often begin histories of their field with the theories propounded by Margaret Murray and Montague Summers in the 1920s. They overlook the lasting impact of nineteenth-century scholarship, in particular the contributions by two American historians, Andrew Dickson White (1832-1918) and George Lincoln Burr (1857-1938). Study of their work and scholarly personae contributes to our understanding of the deeply embedded popular understanding of the witch-hunt as representing an irrational past in opposition to an enlightened present. Yet the men's relationship with each other, and with witchcraft sceptics - the heroes of their studies - also demonstrates how their writings were part of a larger war against 'unreason'. This Element thus lays bare the ways scholarly masculinity helped shape witchcraft historiography, a field of study often seen as dominated by feminist scholarship. Such meditation on past practice may foster reflection on contemporary models of history writing.