Divining the Self weaves elements of personal narrative, myth, history, and interpretive analysis into a vibrant tapestry that reflects the textured, embodied, and performative nature of scripture and scripturalizing practices. Velma Love examines the Odu--the Yoruba sacred scriptures--along with the accompanying mythology, philosophy, and ritual technologies engaged by African Americans. Drawing from the personal narratives of African American Ifa practitioners along with additional ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Oyotunji African Village, South Carolina, and New York City, Love's work explores the ways in which an ancient worldview survives in modern times.

Divining the Self also takes up the challenge of determining what it means for the scholar of religion to study scripture as both text and performance. This work provides an excellent case study of the sociocultural phenomenon of scripturalizing practices.

Handbook to Lothar Kaser's Textbook "Animism - A Cognitive Approach." If we want to understand the animistic cognitive system we must focus particularly on its concept of man. Access to it can only be achieved by proceeding systematically. A basic prerequisite for this is a knowledge of the language spoken by the people whose culture is shaped by such an animistic system of thought. Incidentally acquired knowledge is not enough to give the outsider, whether missionary, teacher, doctor or nurse, the necessary insights for operating effectively within a society governed by an animistic cognitive framework. Why a textbook and a handbook on the same subject? A textbook seeks to address foundational issues and to ask general questions. A handbook on the other hand is concerned to deal with qualitative and quantitative research. This book is the companion volume of Lothar Kaser's textbook on Animism - A Cognitive Approach and provides the interested researcher a tool to guide one's own research into the cognitive aspects of a particular dimension of animism, namely, the concept of man. Robert Badenberg, trained at the Theological Seminary of the Liebenzell Mission. Graduate study at the Columbia International University (M.A.). Doctorate Degree from the University of South Africa (DTh). As author, missionary (he worked in Africa from 1989 to 2003), and mission ethnologist he commands much experience in this field.

The colonization and later conversion of the Faroe Islands to Christianity as the ways of the Asa-faith (Asatru) and Christianity collide...

Uspak asks to live with Odd; Odd agrees because of Uspak's connections even though he is aware of the man's bad reputation. Things go well until Odd wants to take a trip to go trading. He has to talk Uspak into becoming his steward and priest, although Uspak actually wants to do those things. While Odd is away, Uspak woos a rich woman named Swala and moves to her lands after a falling-out with Odd over the priesthood after Odd comes home. Odd tries to bring Uspak to trial but makes a legal mistake and fails. Going home disappointed, Odd meets his father, who promises to take on the case if paid what Odd would have paid anybody else who could have fixed things. Ufeig gets the jury to agree to do what they want to do, condemn somebody as infamous as Uspak, and get paid into the bargain, in spite of the legal technicality. The bribe is suspected by Thorarin, father of Uspak's wife, and his friend Styrmir, and they form an alliance with six other men to take Odd to court and hopefully fine him of all his money.

This is the story of Grettir who encounters a Draugr named Glamr that curses him to horrible bad luck Draugr are undead, and Glamr is one of the strongest of all

Within the West African cultural spirituality of the Yoruba, Ela is known as the Spirit of Light and Manifestation meaning all things came into existence here on Ikole Aye (Earth) by way of Ela. Ela can also be summarized as the Holy Spirit of Ifa and interchangeably used as another name for Orunmila Elerin Ipin Ibikeji Olodumare (Orunmila, Withness of Creation, Second to the Creator). It is by way of Ela that Ifa became acceptable throughout the world and Orunmila accepted by followers, including followers in secret. In "Ela, The Ifa Concept of Altered States," Awo Falokun opens the dialogue once again on how devotees can continue to seat Ifa in the West. His approach to the subject of Ela is not the way, but a way to create and maintain Extended Family and Community. Knowledge of Ela and the Orisa is not enough - through the possession (spiritual access to the wisdom) of Ela, Ifa devotees can begin to heal ourselves of the negative influences of the Western World View, past and present, and heal the Ifa Community and the world around us. In this book, Awo Falokun teaches that the basis of Traditional Yoruba Spirituality is Good Character, which is accessible through Ela, and how it is essential to go into possession with the Spirit of Orunmila in order to maintain good character and banish the negative forces that create ori buruku, i.e., gossip, jealousy, lying, stealing, violence, etc.

This saga tells the story of two Icelandic poets Gunnlaugr ormstunga and Hrafn Onundarson, and their competition for the love of Helga the Fair, granddaughter of Egill Skallagrimsson. The story opens with a prophetic dream of two eagles fighting over a swan, prefiguring the love triangle in the story. The story then follows Gunnlaugr as it describes his ambitious career as a court poet. He first competes with Hrafn (Raven) in verse and later in battle.

What is the first thing a Rastafari does when he/she wakes up in the morning? What is the correct way to grow dreadlocks as a Rasta? What products do Rasta in the Caribbean use to wash their dreadlocks and why? What are 10 Essentials of a Rastafari Home? What can one do to Convert to the Rastafari Livity? What are some Bible Chapters special to Rasta and why? "Rasta Way of Life" is a book for the student of Rastafari Livity. Follow the way life of Jah Rastafari, dictated to Rasta, to enter Holy Mount Zion.

In his richly illustrated Religion and Architecture in Premodern Indonesia Gaudenz Domenig investigates the nature of Indonesian ethnic religions by focusing on land opening rituals, sacred groves, and architectural responses to the custom of presenting offerings. Since deities and spirits were supposed to taste offerings on the spot, it was a task of architecture to attract them and to guide them into houses where offerings were presented. Domenig quotes numerous sources to show that certain material elements of the house were viewed as spirit attractors, spirit ladders or spirit pathways. Various 'exotic' features of Indonesian vernacular architecture thus become understandable as relics from times when architecture was still responding to indigenous religions practised in the archipelago.

A healing and balanced faith, Haitian Vodou is a member of the African Traditional Religions that came into the Western Hemisphere via the Transatlantic slave trade. Despite a much misunderstood image, Vodou gives its practitioners the tools to understand the world around them. By participating in an annual calendar of observances, rituals and services, servitors can engage with the Vodou "Mysteries," thereby enlisting their aid in helping lead a balanced life. Manbo Vye Zo uses her own story of becoming manbo or mother of the spirits as a stepping stone for her students and godchildren so they can learn by her example. An educational text as well as story, Manbo helps the reader gain a greater understanding of the faith as she leads us ever deeper into unexplored territory. Come experience the world of Haitian Vodou from an insider's perspective, and leave forever changed in your outlook on the world of Vodou.

In a spiritual autobiography shaped by years of living with a band of Salish Indian people after the Vietnam War, Tom Harmer shares his hard-won knowledge of their world and the nature spirits that govern it.

Leaving behind college, military service, and years of living off the land as he drifted aimlessly and smuggled draft dodgers and deserters into Canada, Harmer came to the isolated Okanogan region of Washington state in the company of an Indian man hitchhiking home after Wounded Knee. Harmer was desperate to make something of his life. He settled down for nearly ten years close to his Indian neighbors, adopted their view of the world, and participated in their traditional sweatlodge and spirit contact practices.

From his first sight of Chopaka, a mountain sacred to the Okanogan people, Harmer felt at home in this place. He formed close relationships with members of the Okanogan band living on allotments amidst white ranches and orchards, finding work as they did, feeding cattle, irrigating alfalfa, picking apples, and eventually becoming an outreach worker for a rural social services agency. Gradually absorbing the language, traditions, and practical spirit lore as one of the family, he was guided by an elderly uncle through arduous purification rites and fasts to the realization that his life had been influenced and enhanced by a shumix, or spirit partner, acquired in childhood.

Coming Full Circle is an interdisciplinary exploration of the relationships between spirituality and health among Coast Salish and Chinook communities in western Washington from 1805 to 2005. Suzanne Crawford O'Brien examines how these communities define what it means to be healthy and how recent tribal community-based health programs have applied this understanding to their missions and activities. She also explores how contemporary definitions, goals, and activities relating to health and healing are informed by Coast Salish history and also by indigenous spiritual views of the body. These views, she argues, are based on an understanding of the relationship between self, ecology, and community. Coming Full Circle draws on a historical framework in reflecting on contemporary tribal health-care efforts and the ways in which they engage indigenous healing traditions alongside twenty-first-century biomedicine. The book makes a strong case for the current shift toward tribally controlled care, arguing that local, culturally distinct ways of healing and understanding illness must be a part of Native health care. Combining in-depth archival research, extensive ethnographic participant-based field work, and skillful scholarship on theories of religion and embodiment, Crawford O'Brien offers an original and masterful analysis of Coast Salish and Chinook traditions and worldviews, and the intersection of religion and healing.

This book is designed for those who want to deepen thier awareness of Rastafari Culture. Many questions answered such as...Who created Rastafari and why? Why is King Selassie I so special in Rastafarianism? What are some of the Principles and Beliefs that Rasta live by day to day? What formula does Rasta use to enter Holy Mount Zion? What does it mean to "Live Natural" as Rasta? The truth of Rastafari and how it began still remains untold. As a Rastafari Empress it is the very purpose of my birth to explain the true meaning of Rastafari. Learn 16 Principles of Rastafari, as they pertain to "Self," "Others," and "Zion." 5 Truths of Jah, and the "meaning of life" according to Rastafari. Blessed.

This book is written to create awareness and see if adequate interpretation would be given to certain phenomena and calamities created by the vagaries of nature and induced by spirits, Agwu inclusive, and suggest how they can be resolved. To do this, Agwu has examined the concept in all its tendencies and ramifications.

It tries to explain the relationship between Agwu and other creatures from the sources of life-Supreme Being-to the least inanimate object. The moral standard set by Agwu to its worshippers has been a masterpiece incentive and also a source of inspiration to ordinary mortals who watch with admiration the special Agwu elect.

This story is about Gisli, a tragic hero who must kill one of his brothers-in-law to avenge another brother-in-law. He must endure as his passions of love and hate unfold in this classic tale of divided loyalties. Gisli is outlawed and forced to stay on the run for thirteen years before he is finally hunted down

This 300+ page volume contains valuable, previously unreleased knowledge of the religion commonly known as Asatru. It contains: the Poetic Edda including Hrafngaldr Odins and clearly labeled inspirational prose, afterlife and undeath, a large divination section including Runes, Seidhr and the Language of Birds, comprehensive glossary of the Gods and Goddesses along with Asatru religious words and terms, complete list of holidays, rituals, ceremonies, blessings and prayers, full-color chart on the back cover may be used for cross reference as needed, a new way to view the World-Tree Yggdrasil, and over 200 footnotes. It is a valuable addition to any library

Old lore, rituals, ceremonies and undead hauntings occur in this Story.There are also several references to the colonization of Greenland and one reference to an expedition to Vinland. It also mentions a journey by Guoleifr Guolaugsson and his crew to Great Ireland, which was said to exist beyond Vinland. Whether your interest is exploration or even the Undead, this classic tale is for you

Contents: About Skergard, In Memory of Lorenz Frolich, Haakon Jarl of Norway, Teaching Children Our Heathen Faith, The Dead In The Mountains, The Nine Affirmations (9a), How To Make A Viking Shield, Community (Prose), The Way of The Warrior, Ancestors (Prose), Path of Northern Shadows. The name "Skertru Now" is symbolic, because after Nine Years of "The Silence" it is the realization of Skertru, the commonality of our belief system as written in "Old Norse Religion, A Family Tradition, The Skergard Handbook." We have survived the Nine Year Silence as an organization and now our words will be shared with everyone. We chose a Raven holding three keys as our logo because the first two ravens answer to Odin, the third... we believe, answers to Holde.