Asatru, the Nordic Indigenous Religion of Europe, is one of the world's most ancient ethnic and cultural traditions. It is a rational, positive and empowering religion, which complements science and allows for freedom of expression. Asatru fosters the concept of critical thinking, self-empowerment and knowledge over blind faith. Asatru values honour, gender equality, representative government, personal accountability and tradition. Profoundly allegorical and deeply philosophical, Asatru is about the importance of the family and connection to nature. The Nordic tradition does not fear its gods, has no devil, and no concept of eternal sin. On the contrary, Asatru fosters the natural interaction within nature and challenges its kin to live active and responsible lives. Although a religion with a deep and powerful ancestral heritage, Asatru is as much about the present and future as it is about the past. This book provides a definitive guide to Asatru, the Nordic Indigenous Religion of Europe - its development, its unyielding history, major events and military victories. Inclusive of the Klovekorn Asatru Rituals, gain an insight into Germanic myths, sacred sites and cultural heroes. Be inspired by a revelation of Nordic philosophy, symbols and ancient cultural practices. Understand the Nordic deities and allegories of Odin, Freja, Tyr, Thor, the Nordic Easter and Yule Festivals. Learn how to read, write and use runes, the ancient ancestral language of the Germanic Peoples. If you have Germanic or Anglo-Saxon heritage, this book reveals the faith and tradition of your ancestors and bloodline - rediscover what you have lost and what your internal spirit yearns to regain, your true and natural religion. This is a must read book for all Europeans and persons of Anglo Saxon heritage. It will become a life-long reference companion. Although Thors mighty hammer, one of the symbols of our tradition, hangs from the necks of only an exclusive few, being replaced by an alien religion some thousand years ago, its grasp on the European imagination and folk soul remains unshaken. Rediscover your true natural ancestral pedigree.

Drawing on two years of ethnographic field research among the Navajos, this book explores a controversial Native American ritual and healthcare practice: ceremonial consumption of the psychedelic Peyote cactus in the context of an indigenous postcolonial healing movement called the Native American Church (NAC), which arose in the 19th century in response to the creation of the reservations system and increasing societal ills, including alcoholism. The movement is the locus of cultural conflict with a long history in North America, and stirs very strong and often opposed emotions and moral interpretations. Joseph Calabrese describes the Peyote Ceremony as it is used in family contexts and federally funded clinical programs for Native American patients. He uses an interdisciplinary methodology that he calls clinical ethnography: an approach to research that involves clinically informed and self-reflective immersion in local worlds of suffering, healing, and normality. Calabrese combined immersive fieldwork among NAC members in their communities with a year of clinical work at a Navajo-run treatment program for adolescents with severe substance abuse and associated mental health problems. There he had the unique opportunity to provide conventional therapeutic intervention alongside Native American therapists who were treating the very problems that the NAC often addresses through ritual. Calabrese argues that if people respond better to clinical interventions that are relevant to their society's unique cultural adaptations and ideologies (as seems to be the case with the NAC), then preventing ethnic minorities from accessing traditional ritual forms of healing may actually constitute a human rights violation.

1 Enoch, written in great antiquity, is a text of ecstasy and heavenly vision purported to be written by Enoch, seventh from Adam, who "lived 365 years and was no more, for God took him." This book was influential and widely read in the early church, as witnessed by its quotations in the Biblical books of Jude and 1 Peter.

Did you know that Canis Minor is actually a "fox," and not a "dog"? Did you know that the ship of the Argonauts stretches across the sky? Did you know that Pisces is actually representing the Greek Gods Aphrodite and Eros? Have you ever wanted to know why and how the constellations came to be? Most ancient cultures saw pictures in the stars of he night sky. The earliest known efforts to catalog the stars date to cuneiform texts and artifacts dating back roughly 6,000 years. These remnants, found in the valley of the Euphrates River, suggest that the ancients observing the heavens saw the lion, the bull, and the scorpion in the stars. The constellations as we know them today are undoubtedly very different from those first few--our night sky is a compendium of images from a number of different societies, both ancient and modern. By far, though, we owe the great debt to the mythology of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Excavation of Goebekli Tepe has revealed the hitherto unknown religion of the "Neolithic Revolution." Almost twelve millennia ago the cult was established, at the northern end of the Fertile Crescent, by priests who were hunter-shamans, miners of flint and weapon-makers. Progress in weapon manufacture resulted in overhunting, a temporary surplus of meat, too many human hunters, and a decline in prey animal populations. Shortages of prey animals elicited a priestly cult that specialized in the regeneration of life. Priestly minds rationalized taking control of plants and animals and thereby encouraged domestication--which led to "hyper-domestication," or, what evolved as our history of civilization and our history of religions.

A short introduction to Witchcraft or Wicca with its symbols, spells, and practices.

Awo Falokun Fatunmbi presents in "Ebora" a revealing account and understanding for the first time of Africa's metaphysical aspect of Odu Ifa releasing the connection of Spiritual Warriors within our lives. A dupe Awo Ogun. - - Ifasina O. Agbede In this book, Awo Falokun Fatunmbi continues to make lasting contributions to our understanding of the Yoruba cosmos. In "Ebora," Awo Falokun provides an in depth explanation of the often misunderstood topic of Spiritual Warriors in Ifa. Set to the rhythm of the universal hero's journey, baba takes us on a voyage into the Yoruba spiritual world. This book also provides instruction on how to embark on the journey to self-transformation with the help and guidance of the Yoruba Spiritual Warriors. - - Awo Fategbe Fatunmbi

This research takes an integrative approach to the study of Hellenistic cult and cultic practices in an important part of western Asia by employing a combination of archaeological, numismatic and historical evidence. Although any thorough investigation of Seleukid religion would prove illuminating in itself, this research uses religion as a lens through which to explore the processes of acculturation and rejection within a colonial context. It discusses the state attitude towards, and manipulation of, both Hellenic and indigenous beliefs and places this within a framework developed out of a series of case studies exploring evidence for religion at a regional level. The study outlines the development of religious practices and expression in the region which formed the birthplace of the modern world's three most influential monotheistic religions.

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

Focused on the indigenous African belief that ethics and spiritual growth are irrevocably linked (Iwa Pele), this book provides clear direction for those interested in the spiritual path of Ifa. Filled with Techniques and Understandings for Beginners and Adepts alike, Iwa Pele continues to be a "Must Have" book for Western Ifa Followers to understand how and why the tradition is practiced. It is with great excitement that we welcome this second edition of what has become a classic in Yoruba literature. In this ground breaking book, Babalawo Falokun Fatunmbi continues the work of Yoruba writers such as Dr. Wande Abimbola and others in unmasking the deep cosmological and theological principles of the Yoruba people. This exposition of the theology of the Yoruba people challenges the prevailing prejudicial assumptions regarding the depth, beauty and relevance of African theological thought. Titled "Iwa Pele," this book focuses on the indigenous African belief that ethics and spiritual growth are irrevocably linked. Written in a highly accessible manner and in a style easily assimilated by the Western mind, this great work also provides sensible direction for those wishing to embark on the spiritual path of Ifa. Each chapter provides instruction for the adept on Ifa/orisa veneration as done in the traditional manner.

Designed to be an extremely simple introduction, this book covers the runes of the Elder Futhark from the point of view of someone who has worked with them, read the poems, and translated them on his own for many years. Included are two simple spreads (a 3-rune and a 9-rune spread) and an introduction to Odin's Eye, as well as a modern rune poem written by the author for the Elder Futhark

This book aims to give students an introduction to the religious and social world of ancient Israel. It consists of two parts. The first explores the major religious offices mentioned in the Old Testament, including prophets, priests, sages and kings. As well as considering what these key people said and did, the author traces the process someone might have gone through to become recognised as a prophet, priest or sage, and where you would have had to go in ancient Israel if you wanted to locate someone who held one of these offices. In the second part the focus is on the religious beliefs and practices of the "common" people as this was the group that made up the vast majority of ancient Israel's population.

The Breton lai is a narrative poem, usually accompanied by music, that appeared in France about the middle of the 12th century, carried by travelling musicians and storytellers called jongleurs. What is important about them is that they contain a great deal of faery and supernatural lore deriving from Celtic myth, legend and folktale. This collection of twelve tales focuses on faery lore in the lai tradition. Nine are taken from anonymous medieval jongleur sources; the other three are from the more courtly tales collected by Marie de France in the late 12th century. Gareth Knight, a scholar of medieval French as well as an established author on esoteric faery lore, provides a vivid and lively translation of each lai along with a commentary which takes a perspective both historic and esoteric.

Who are the "Gemini Twins?" Where did Sagittarius come from? Why would anyone ever choose a "Compass" as a constellation? Many people have read and learned a great deal about the Constellations, and a few have an idea of what each of the 88 groups of stars represent. But, how many know the legends behind the celestial objects that loom over head? This book teaches you the legends behind the myths. The reader will learn the true stories of the stars.

Meditations ("thoughts/writings addressed to himself") is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 CE, setting forth his ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in "highly-educated" Koine Greek as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. It is possible that large portions of the work were written at Sirmium, where he spent much time planning military campaigns from 170 to 180. Some of it was written while he was positioned at Aquincum on campaign in Pannonia, because internal notes tell us that the second book was written when he was campaigning against the Quadi on the river Granova (modern-day Hron) and the third book was written at Carnuntum. It is not clear that he ever intended the writings to be published, so the title Meditations is but one of several commonly assigned to the collection. These writings take the form of quotations varying in length from one sentence to long paragraphs. His stoic ideas often involve avoiding indulgence in sensory affections, a skill which, he says, will free a man from the pains and pleasures of the material world. He claims that the only way a man can be harmed by others is to allow his reaction to overpower him. An order or logos permeates existence. Rationality and clear-mindedness allow one to live in harmony with the logos. This allows one to rise above faulty perceptions of "good" and "bad." (wikipedia.org)