Traces the pagan-Christian link of the symbolism of the axis-mundi from standing stones and market crosses to the inscribed slabs and free-standing crosses of the Celtic-Christian era. Examines the ornamented Celtic crosses from such places as Brittany, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Cumbria, Ireland, and Cornwall.

Presenting lore that can spiritually enrich anyone's life, this one-of-a-kind encyclopedia is devoted to the esoteric in Judaism-the fabulous, the miraculous, and the mysterious. In this second edition, Geoffrey W. Dennis has added over thirty new entries and significantly expanded over one hundred other entries, incorporating more knowledge and passages from primary sources. Jewish esotericism is the oldest and most influential continuous occult tradition in the West. This comprehensive treasury of Jewish teachings, drawn from sources spanning Jewish scripture, Talmud, the Midrash, the Kabbalah, and other esoteric branches of Judaism, is exhaustively researched yet easy to use. It includes over one thousand alphabetical entries, from Aaron to Zohar Chadesh, with extensive cross-references to related topics. With a quick reference glossary and illustrations throughout, this encyclopedia puts thirty-five hundred years of wisdom in your hands.

'A major work ... an extraordinary tour de force, [this book] will materially help to bring both sides (science and paranormal studies) together in a way which could lead to real and important advances in our view of the universe' - New Scientist First published in 1978, Mysteries is the powerful and enlightening sequel to The Occult, continuing Colin Wilson's investigations into the paranormal, the occult and the supernatural. The experience of his own panic attacks gave Wilson his insight into the concept of the ladder or hierarchy of selves with which we are all associated. In this book he fully explores this idea of multiple selves, explaining how our lower, childish selves are linked to depression and anxiety. The book offers an optimistic message to counteract our contemporary tendency towards pessimism and nihilism: purposeful activity will always allow us to call on our higher selves and bring concentration, control and a sense of meaning into life. Wilson uses the concept of the multi-personality to explain a wide range of paranormal phenomenon, from dowsing and demonic possession to precognition and spoon-bending, and he analyses the work of all the big names in 20th-century supra-rational research (from T C Lethbridge to Margaret Murray to Carl Jung) from this perspective. The story ranges widely, from the stone circles to 1960s LSD adventures, and Wilson's analysis is woven with hundreds of entertaining paranormal anecdotes and case studies taken from throughout history, including his own experiences of dowsing at the Merry Maidens stone circle and of visions and lucid dreaming.

Is America an assignment of destiny? What is the symbolism of the Great Seal of the U.S.? Who was the mysterious stranger who swayed the signers of the Declaration of Independence? According to Lord Bacon, The New Atlantis seems to have been set apart for the great experiment of enlightened self-government long before the founding fathers envisioned the rise of the American Republic. Investigating the often neglected fragments of history, evidence is presented indicating that the seeds of democracy were planted one thousand years before the beginning of the Christian Era.

Everyone knows that being different is a good way to be unpopular, but what if you're so different that people think you are an actual servant of evil? Conform or Be Cast Out is a history of humankind's tendency not only to shun nonconformists, but to label them as devils, demons, and Satan worshippers. Beginning with scapegoats and devil figures in folklore and mythology, the book moves on to look at other aspects of nonconformity such as witchcraft, the Inquisition, spiritualism and medical conditions once mistaken for lycanthropy, vampirism, and demonic possession before concluding with a discussion on aspects of contemporary culture ranging from heavy metal music to zombie movies.

In the early period of Ancient Egyptian history, earlier than in any other culture, before the Hindus, Buddhists, Kabbalists and Taoists, there was a teaching of the TREE OF LIFE. This was a special teaching describing the secret wisdom about the nature of the universe and of the soul as well as a path to make the journey, through varied phases of spiritual evolution, from mortal to immortal and from earth to heaven and beyond. The goal is to regain one's divine stature and transcendental place. In its earliest form, originated in Ancient Egypt, it was related to theurgical religious system developed in the priests and priestesses of the Ancient Egyptian city of Anu and the Tree was seen as the source of life. This book explains that teaching, which has been available to all, but missed by those who did not possess the keys to unlock its mystic formula. In this volume the Creation teaching of Anu, the TREE OF LIFE metaphysical teachings, disciplines and techniques, from the hieroglyphic texts, for activating the Tree, are given.

Looking Back on the Future takes the reader on a mystical journey into the Andean Cosmo-Vision, the ancient teachings of Andean spirituality, and their relevance for our current world. As a bridge to awakening, and our collective evolution, this body of knowledge is timeless and essential in nature, holding keys to guiding our global family back into Ayni (sacred reciprocity), and harmony with each other, the Earth, Stars, and all Life. In this book you will learn about the 7 Saiwas, Universal Laws that lead to the transformation of consciousness and reconnection with our origins. Traditionally, these teachings and transmissions are passed down to the initiate and Paqo, (Masters of the Living Energy), during their training, which is how I received them. I've been given permission by my teachers to bring this timeless wisdom forward, and share these gifts with those ready to anchor the Light of the Golden Age here on Earth. It is my prayer that this book assists you and all beings to attain Unity within and without as we pass through this portal and Shift of the Ages.

Who Needs Light? is a prescription for what ails "the general suffering public" in our families and communities throughout the world's philosophically Cartesian cultures where thought is seen as more valuable than emotion. Beginning with infant brain development, the author identifies startlingly familiar influences of Darkness from a new point of view-that of the difference between Head People and Heart People. The book includes a guide which defines the characteristics and habits of Abusive Personality Types. In lay terms, it shows how to identify and avoid these archetypal "Children of Darkness" wherever one might find them. Dr. May uses case studies, meditative exercises, original poetry, science and oral history to lead us step-by-step through the oppressive forces of materialism, self-centeredness and authoritarian religions which have shaped our present-day civilization. Her final vision is one of hope and radical spiritual evolution.

Based on an ancestral Hawaiian shamanic ritual, the healing practice of Ho'oponopono teaches you to cleanse your consciousness of negative memories, unconscious fears, and dysfunctional programming and grant yourself forgiveness, peace, and love. The process is deceptively simple - first you must recognize your own responsibility for creating the events in your life, then you are ready to apply the mantra of Ho'oponopono: I'm sorry, Forgive me, Thank you, I love you. Repeated several times over a dedicated interval, the negativity is replaced with inner peace, love, and harmony and, as the stories in this book show, sometimes even miracles take place. In this step-by-step guide, the authors explain how to apply Ho'oponopono to traumatic past events, destructive thought patterns, family dynamics, daily annoyances, or any other disagreeable event in your life. Drawing on quantum physics and epigenetics, they explore how Ho'oponopono works - how thoughts and consciousness can affect the expression of your DNA, the materialization of your goals, and the behavior of those around you.

For fifteen years, Amber K's "little green book" has guided thousands down the life-changing path of magick. Selling more than 200,000 copies, "True Magick" has truly struck a chord with Witches, Pagans, and magicians around the world.
Presented here for the first time is the revised and expanded anniversary edition of "True Magick." It features the same delightful introduction to the history and lore of magick, in addition to several varieties of magick, ranging from shamanism and Norse Magick to Voudun and Qabala. Amber K explains the basics, such as how to find or create ritual tools, establish a temple, plan a ritual, and cast spells safely and ethically. New material includes six more chapters, recommending reading for each chapter, and more than 100 added exercises.

Stir up passion with violet or nab a new job with honeysuckle. From parsley to periwinkle, people enjoy herbs for their aroma, taste, and healing abilities, but few are aware of the enchanting powers harnessed within these multipurpose plants. Breathing new life into herbal folklore and wisdom, Ellen Dugan introduces the magical side of these natural treasures.
The author of "Cottage Witchery" describes the magical traits of flowers, roots, trees, spices, and other commonly found herbs. Under her guidance, readers learn the basics of magic and spellworking so they may safely explore herbal magic on their own for health, luck, prosperity, romance, protection, and more

Learn shapeshifting - and transform your life. Some of the most powerful secrets of the ancient shapeshifters, alchemists, shamans and magicians are revealed. With this information readers will be able to awaken the power of animals and nature within them and develop the ability to communicate with and express their totem's medicine more powerfully. Also, readers will learn to travel in the dream and spirit worlds. Through The Art of Shapeshifting, inner spirits and potentials will be awakened, empowering a person's being and transforming their lives.

Elen of the Ways is about the ancient shamanism of Britain. Elen Sentier grew up in a long family lineage of following the Deer Trods; in this book she tells of the old, forgotten ways of our ancestors. Through her own experience, stories, practical exercises and journeys with the deer, Elen takes you into the realm of the Boreal Forest, of which Britain is a part, to show how the Deer Goddess is the spirit of this land. To walk the deer trods is to realise how close and connected you are to nature and everything in this beautiful world which we share with our non-human brethren. You learn, too, that our everyday world and otherworld are intertwined. Elen of the Ways is both here and there at the same time. You will find her everywhere.

Wizards are everywhere! Interest in wands, spells, and wizardry has never been higher. This magical little book is filled with legends, lore, and spells you can try on your own.

Text in English & Hebrew. In this essential collection, the mystic Rav Yehuda Ashlag outlines the truths behind the Kabbalah in a form for everyone to understand. Kabbalist Rav Yehuda Ashlag was arguably the most profound mystic of the 20th Century and is revered by students of Kabbalah to this day. His writings are studied and discussed on an on-going basis for the deep insights they offer. Among his many gifts was his ability to take complex concepts and dissect them piece-by-piece, walking the student through them, and distilling them down to their essence. The 12 essays presented here cover all of the basic Truths of Kabbalah. The writings are essentially about human dignity and how people must behave toward one another in order to eliminate chaos in the world. A man before his time, Rav Ashlag issued warnings prior to World War II about impending calamity; sadly, they went ignored.

An introduction to the ritual tools and practices found in the Druid tradition. Held deeply within Celtic mythology, the crane bag is both a symbol of sovereignty, as well as an item containing the ritual tools of the Druid. With the proper use, it can further the Druid in working with the tides of nature, finding his or her own place in the environment, living in balance, harmony and peace. In ritual, these tools and practices can guide one to deeper levels of meaning and understanding within the tradition, helping the Druid on his or her journey through life and towards integration with the natural world.

Moncure Daniel Conway (1832 1907), the son of a Virginian plantation-owner, became a Unitarian minister but his anti-slavery views made him controversial. He later became a freethinker, and following the outbreak of the Civil War, which deeply divided his own family, he left the United States for England in 1863. He gained a reputation for being the 'least orthodox preacher in London', and was acquainted with many figures in the literary and scientific world, including Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin. In this two-volume work, first published in 1879, Conway draws from examples across the world to discuss the origins and decline of beliefs in demons. In Volume 1, he classifies types of demon and argues that the various types are personifications of the main obstacles to 'primitive man': he finds in mythology across the world examples of animal demons and demons of hunger, fire and disease.

Sefer ha-Zohar (The Book of Radiance) has amazed readers ever since it emerged in medieval Spain over seven hundred years ago. Written in lyrical Aramaic, this masterpiece of Kabbalah exceeds the dimensions of a normal book; it is virtually a body of mystical literature, comprising over twenty sections. The bulk of the Zohar consists of mystical interpretation of the Torah, from Genesis through Deuteronomy. The ninth volume of The Zohar: Pritzker Edition completes this running commentary on the Torah. Rabbi Shim'on and his Companions explore passages from the middle of the book of Numbers through the end of Deuteronomy. Among the remarkable sections is Rav Metivta, an account of a visionary journey by Rabbi Shim'on and some of the Companions to the Garden of Eden, where they discover secrets of the afterlife. Later in the volume appears the story of the Yanuqa (Child)—a wunderkind-and-enfant-terrible who amazes and teases, challenges and stumps the rabbis. Near the very end of the Zohar on the Torah comes the remarkable section known as Idra Zuta (The Small Assembly). This dramatic narrative describes the last gathering of Rabbi Shim'on and the Companions before his death. Here the master reveals profound mysteries of divine being, and then departs from this world to unite ecstatically with the Divine Feminine, Shekhinah. Before departing, Rabbi Shim'on invites all of the Companions to his wedding celebration above.

The World and God Are Not-Two is a book about how the God in whom Christians believe ought to be understood. The key conceptual argument that runs throughout is that the distinctive relation between the world and God in Christian theology is best understood as a non-dualistic one. The “two”—“God” and “World” cannot be added up as separate, enumerable realities or contrasted with each other against some common background because God does not belong in any category and creatures are ontologically constituted by their relation to the Creator. In exploring the unique character of this distinctive relation, Soars turns to Sara Grant’s work on the Hindu tradition of Advaita Vedānta and the metaphysics of creation found in Thomas Aquinas. He develops Grant’s work and that of the earlier Calcutta School by drawing explicit attention to the Neoplatonic themes in Aquinas that provide some of the most fruitful areas for comparative engagement with Vedānta. To the Christian, the fact that the world exists only as dependent on God means that “world” and “God” must be ontologically distinct because God’s existence does not depend on the world. To the Advaitin, this simultaneously means that “World” and “God” cannot be ontologically separate either. The language of non-duality allows us to see that both positions can be held coherently together without entailing any contradiction or disagreement at the level of fundamental ontology. What it means to be “world” does not and cannot exclude what it means to be “God.”

The dialogue continues . . . When Neale Donald Walsch was experiencing one of the lowest points of his life, he decided to write a letter to God. What he did not expect was a response, with extraordinary answers covering all aspects of human existence - from happiness to money, to faith. The resulting book, Conversations with God, was an instant bestseller on publication in 1995 and has since sold millions of copies world-wide, changing countless lives everywhere. Conversations with God: Book 2 is the second volume of the original Conversations with God trilogy that expands to deal with the more global topics of geopolitical and metaphysical life on the planet, and the challenges facing the world. This incredible series contains answers that will change you, your life and the way you view others. Also by Neale Donald Walsch and available from Hodder & Stoughton: Conversations with God, Books 1 and 3, Communion with God, Friendship with God, Applications for Living and Meditations from Conversations with God, Book 1.

Poison Prescriptions is a stunningly illustrated grimoire of some of the most notorious plants: henbane, datura, belladonna, among others. It is also a practical guide to plant magic, medicine and ritual, offering advice to professional and home herbalists, to those interested in forgotten lore and the old ways, and to all those who wish to reclaim control of their own wellbeing. This book urges the resurrection of the ancient tradition of using these witching herbs in ritual and medicine. Now is the time to relink magic and medicine in the context of modern herbalism and contemporary witchcraft. Discover: Safe ways of interacting with the witching herbs to usher in wellbeing and healing. Practical activities ranging from meditations and folklore writing to wreath making and beer brewing. Step-by-step instructions to creating the powerful witches' Flying Ointment and using it in ritual, sex magic and lucid dreaming.

An introductory guide to one of the oldest and most enduring wisdom traditions, and how its powerful practices can help you find healing and wholeness. Shamanism is an ancient tradition, found in all regions of the world, in which we connect with spirit energies and work with them to guard the wellbeing of our community and its people. Shamans are intermediaries between worlds and are usually 'called by spirit' to embark on this life-changing path. A trained psychotherapist, Christa Mackinnon was profoundly transformed by her discovery and experience of shamanism. She now dedicates her life to bringing shamanic approaches to therapeutic communities. In this book, she teaches how to: - use shamanism to help you heal, find fulfilment and reconnect with your life calling - undergo transformative journeys for healing and spiritual development - use dance as a tool for awakening and freedom - build an altar, create a sacred space and conduct ceremonies - connect with spirit helpers and ancestors This book was previously published under the title Shamanism (Hay House Basics series).