* Examines the significant figures and groups of Finland's occult world, including their esoteric practices and the secret societies to which they were connected * Investigates the relationship of nationalism and esotericism in Finland as well as the history of Finnish parapsychology and the Finnish UFO craze * Looks at the unique evolution of Freemasonry in Finland, showing how, when Finland was still part of Russia and the Masonic order was banned, adherents created a number of other secret societies Finland has long been viewed as the land of sorcerers and shamans. Exploring the rich history of Finnish occultism, Perttu Hakkinen and Vesa Iitti examine the significant figures and groups of Finland's occult world from the late 19th century to the present day. They begin with Pekka Ervast, known as the Rudolf Steiner of the North, who was a major figure in Theosophy before starting a Rosicrucian group called Ruusu-Risti, and they look at the Finnish disciples of G. I. Gurdjieff and the grim case of the cult of Tattarisuo. Investigating the relationship of nationalism and esotericism in Finland, the authors tell the stories of Sigurd Wettenhovi-Aspa, who thought that Finns were the root of all Western civilization, and of Yrjoe von Groenhagen, who became a close friend of Heinrich Himmler and Karl Maria Wiligut. They also explore the history of Finnish parapsychology, the Finnish UFO craze, and the unique evolution of Freemasonry in Finland, showing how, when the Masonic order was banned, adherents created a number of other secret societies, such as the Carpenter's Order, the Hypotenuse Order, and the Brotherhood of February 17--which later became hubs for the OTO and AMORC. Unveiling both the light and dark sides of modern esotericism in Finland, the authors show how, because of its unique position as partially European and partially Russian, Finland's occult influence extends into the very heart of left-hand and right-hand occult groups and secret societies around the world.

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.

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.

During WWII there was an attempt to achieve invisibility called the Philadelphia Experiment. Afterward occurred the now famous time travel experiments named after the underground base at Montauk Point on Long Island. Now this third book in the Montauk series summarises the events of the first two books and then takes the reader on an even more spectacular journey. The discovery of ancient pyramids at Montauk leads to a connection with Ancient Egypt and its position as a gateway to other dimensions. Like a psychic detective story beyond the occult, venture into an unprecedented investigation of the mystery schools of the earth and their connection to Egypt, Atlantis, Mars and the star Sirius. Chapters on new psychotronic weapons, the history of Mars, the strange death of Ian Fleming in connection with the Philadelphia Experiment, underground at the Montauk Base.

Join Debra DeAngelo as she teaches you the ABCs and 123s of Paganism. The first section is all about your inner realm, where you'll become reacquainted with your true self and reconnect with your body. The second focuses on the natural world around you; you'll learn to spiritually connect with plants, animals, the environment, the planet, and the cosmos. The third is about the tantalizing mysteries of magic and mysticism, where you'll conduct simple rituals to further expand your Pagan experience. Pagan Curious is designed like a beautiful Pagan garden with 40+ activities spells, meditations, affirmations, altars, and meeting deity that will enchant your spirit and help you create a more magical life.

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).

A new edition of Steve Taylor's bestselling classic, in which the author provides an Afterword, including research developments that have occurred since the book was first published in 2005. "An important and fascinating book about the origin, history and impending demise of the ego - humanity's collective dysfunction. The Fall is highly readable and enlightening, as the author's acute mind is at all times imbued with the higher faculty of spiritual awareness." Eckhart Tolle

Rediscover the sacred nature of sex, pleasure, and the divine erotic in Halo Quin's Crimson Craft, a guide for sexual magic and a tool for personal healing, spell-casting, and devotional practices in witchcraft. By theorizing the ethics of embodiment and pleasure within these practices, Quin provides exploratory exercises and tips for taking them further, and safely, with a partner. Crimson Craft is an introduction not only to archetypes, deities, and divine powers but also to the context and benefits of using kink in ritual and creative writing, inviting you - the witch and magic-worker - to deepen your understanding of sexual magic's possibilities and sweetness.

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.

The Lords of the Seven Rays invites one to journey to their etheric retreat in order to learn from past lives. Application of the violet flame to past life memories can adjust them until balance is restored. (Philosophy/Metaphysics)

Following on from the popular Herbs of the Northern Shaman, this latest collection, Herbs of the Southern Shaman, describes psychoactive herbs that grow in the southern hemisphere. Written primarily for herbalists, witches and pagans, occultists, healers, therapists, botanists and gardeners and featuring a bibliography and glossary, it serves as a reference book for anyone interested in shamanism and herbs. 'Concise, knowledgeable, clearly and distinctly written...can be enjoyed on many levels: as a reference book, a spiritual guide, a horticultural manual, or simply for entertainment.' C.J. Stone, author and journalist

Herbs that can be used to affect the mental state of the consumer, as well as for their healing properties, have been a part of cultures and sub-cultures all around the world ever since our early ancestors first started experimenting to find out what various plants could be used for. Author Steve Andrews takes the view that the best herbs for use by shamans are those plant teachers that grow locally. This book is unique because it focuses only on those species that can be found growing within the northern countries of the world. Best-selling author Howard Marks, aka Mr Nice, described Herbs of the Northern Shaman as EXCELLENT! That was for the original version of this book when it was first published with black and white illustrations and photographs. Now, Herbs of the Northern Shaman has been updated to include additional species of herb and fungus, as well as a whole new collection of stunning colour photos by Katrinia Rindsberg. Besides well-known psychoactive herbs such as Cannabis, Morning Glory and Datura, other plants that have been said to have mind-altering properties are also described, plants such as the Meadow Buttercup, the Lime Tree and the Rhododendron.

The first of three harvest festivals, Lughnasadh represents the delight of seeing the first signs of effort beginning to pay off. It's the beginning of the culmination of summer-time's toil, and what you personally have sowed is now in the early stages of being reaped. This well-rounded introduction to the holiday comes complete with correspondences, rituals, recipes, and lore. Lughnasadh recipes include bean soup, baked bread, squash casserole, apple tart, and more; crafts include corn silk blessing wand, magical berry ink, and corn dolly.

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