The Art of Darkness is a visually rich sourcebook featuring eclectic artworks that have been inspired and informed by the morbid, melancholic and macabre. Throughout history, artists have been obsessed with darkness - creating works that haunt and horrify, mesmerise and delight and play on our innermost fears. Gentileschi took revenge with paint in Judith Slaying Holofernes while Bosch depicted fearful visions of Hell that still beguile. Victorian Britain became strangely obsessed with the dead and in Norway Munch explored anxiety and fear in one of the most famous paintings in the world (The Scream, 1893). Today, the Chapman Brothers, Damien Hirst and Louise Bourgeois, as well as many lesser known artists working in the margins, are still drawn to all that is macabre. From Dreams & Nightmares to Matters of Mortality, Depravity & Destruction to Gods & Monsters - this book introduces sometimes disturbing and often beautiful artworks that indulge our greatest fears, uniting us as humans from century to century. But, while these themes might scare us - can't they also be heartening and beautiful? Exploring and examining the artworks with thoughtful and evocative text, S. Elizabeth offers insight into each artist's influences and inspirations, asking what comfort can be found in facing our demons? Why are we tempted by fear and the grotesque? And what does this tell us about the human mind? Of course, sometimes there is no good that can come from the sensibilities of darkness and the sickly shivers and sensations they evoke. These are uncomfortable feelings, and we must sit for a while with these shadows - from the safety of our armchairs. Artists covered include Pablo Picasso, Georgia O'Keeffe, Francisco de Goya, Leonora Carrington, John Everett Millais, Tracey Emin, Vincent van Gogh, Barbara Hepworth, Paul Cezanne and Salvador Dali, as well as scores more. With over 200 carefully curated artworks from across the centuries, The Art of Darkness examines all that is dark in a bid to haunt and hearten. This book is part of the Art in the Margins series, following up on The Art of the Occult, which investigates representations of the mystical, esoteric and occult in art from across different times and cultures.

The author takes you on a journey to far-reaching corners of the world, where he drinks tea with loving Sudanese Muslims, prays in ancient Coptic churches, and whirls with Sufi dervishes in the desert. In seeking the mystical in extraordinary places, he discovers that an intimate relationship with God can be found in known religious practices. The key is not the practice itself, but the role of the mind and the heart. With the right intention and contemplative approach, the religious practice unveils an attentive and loving God. The author draws upon Rumi and Hafez, in Islam, and Saint Teresa of Avila and Thomas Merton, in Christianity, and many others to discuss the fundamental principles for embracing the Divine. By distilling the basic tenets and practices of Islam and Christianity, he finds they both hold similar mystical treasures. Learn new and ancient methods for meditation, prayer, chanting, prayer beads and pilgrimages. Closely examine the Koran's incredible poetry and beauty and gain insight into how it has brought millions to God. Learn about lectio divina, the ancient technique of listening to God's personal communication with you through the Bible. The author provides step-by-step instructions for you to begin to use these mystical tools. By the end of the book, you'll have taken your own journey into the heart of both Islam and Christianity and found Love.

H. P. Blavatsky introduces and clarifies her theosophical movement to the curious reader in this detailed text, which is written in the style of questions and answers. The Theosophic Society attracted popular interest for its esoteric and unusual nature; theosophy unites numerous mystical, spiritual and occult principles with the stated mission of finding the hidden truths of existence. This was accomplished through investigating ancient societies and writings, together with Medieval and Renaissance era authors, occultists and other mystics. With The Key to Theosophy, Blavatsky intended to demystify and clarify many of the finer points of the movement she founded. She not only discusses what topics the Theosophical Society has an interest in, but the organizational structure and leadership under which it operates The agreed beliefs among its members concerning man's place on the Earth, and how nature affects and controls humans perceptibly and imperceptibly, are likewise detailed.

Based on a series of lectures delivered by Rudolf Steiner in Paris, 1906 and transcribed by Eduard Schure, An Esoteric Cosmology is a concise but powerful book and essential reading for students of Steiner. A wide variety of topics are covered, including Intellect, the Mission of Christianity, Manicheism, God, Man and Nature, Involution and Evolution, History of Yoga, The Gospel of St. John, Christian Mysticism, The Astral World, The Devachanic World (Heaven), Dreams, The Evolution of Planets and Earth, Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Human Will, Redemption and Liberation and the Apocalypse.

A traumatic medical emergency and subsequent near-death experience combine to transform the life of author Peg Abernathy in "The Self-Full Life: A True Story That Will Help Your Soul Remember." These and other spiritually moving moments are weaved into a powerful personal odyssey of life, death, and rebirth.

."..I found myself alone, and I lay there as my body was being ravaged. I remember staring at the clock on the wall. 11:45 P.M., 11:46 P.M., 11:47 P.M. Where was everybody? "Help me " I whispered. All of a sudden, the thought of death passed through my body and I began to hear a low hum and then a soft roaring sound. I heard bells go off and I rolled over and grabbed the bars on the side of the hospital bed. My eyes were wide open but I could no longer see. All I could hear was the escalating roaring sound and distant voices. And I knew I was dying. I stopped fighting. I was going home."

The uniqueness of the United States of America sets it apart from any other country; people from all over the world come to our shores in pursuit of a way of life that is found nowhere else. Unfortunately, the once shinning light on a hill that America once was is growing dim. If the American people do not awaken from their slumber, take an active role in preserving what our founders and forefathers created and willed to us, that shining light willdisappear, never to shine again.

Meandering across the landscape of America is a metaphoric raging river that divides us unlike any time in our history. It is impossible to reside onboth sides of a river simultaneously and the time has come when we must choose one side of the other. If we take an uncomplicated, common senseapproach, we can easily discovery the reality of the state America is in today. There is only one bridge spanning the metaphoric river and for some, it is amystery. I invite you to journey with me to explore that mystery.

"Merlin's War: The Battle between the Family of Light and the Family of Dark" examines the fact that the history of the human race has been manipulated by a being so clever that we have had no idea he exists. In fact, he has hidden behind Lucifer-but Lucifer is not our devil. Much of what has been told to the human race has been designed to keep the truth at bay. Whose purpose did it serve to keep the human race unaware of its own origins and ignoring huge pieces of obvious evidence because there is no logical explanation for it? It certainly did not serve the human race.

Merlin is thought of by most humans as a simple embodiment of the wizard. "Merlin's War" reveals that he is much more; he is a powerful Creator God who is responsible for creating the human template and seeding life on the Earth. Moreover, Dracula is thought of as a fictional vampire, when he is, in fact, the being we call Satan, responsible for creating war and chaos on Earth and in other galaxies. There are two points of view to this story, and in order to be fair author Margaret Doner has agreed to tell both sides.

"Merlin's War "posits that it is time for the playing field to be evened out. The Family of Dark has been in control for too long; it's time for the Family of Light to move beyond the fear that has kept them enslaved.

Wicca is growing in popularity, and Cassandra Eason--much admired for her writing on spiritual subjects- takes a look at its origins, its uses in everyday life, and its gods and goddesses. She explains how magick functions; how to create an altar and what tools you'll need; how to make your own spells, rituals, and chants; how to find a coven, and so much more!

If you could ask a Shaman Elder any question, what would you want to know?
Forty-five questions are answered through the words of Shaman Elder Maggie who has practiced for over 50 years her centuries-old family lineage of Traditional Shamanism, trained by her own Shaman Grandmother.
See your life from a Traditional Shamanic perspective and eliminate the fears and problems that interfere with your own happiness. The questions in this book come from the thousands of emails that Shaman Elder Maggie receives through her Internet course and her free counseling service online.
Students of this book will:

• Discover the truth of your own energy and how to use it to your favor
• Learn how to stand in your power and be captain of your own ship
• Practice exercises you can use to bring balance to your life
• Find the spiritual joy in living
• Discover ways to practice mental awareness so you never get blindsided again
• Create physical health for yourself and those you love
• Improve your own life by adopting ancient Traditional Shamanic principles
  "The Shaman Speaks" provides wisdom for every day of your life
  "You put all these wonderful things out there for us to look at, ponder on, research, pick up and play with, or to pick up add it to our set of tools and learn to use. So, thank you for this most fabulous tool. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you."
  --Darill Hall
  "I don't know how many lives and loves you have saved or helped heal but you have done both here with us. Bless you, namaste "
  --Felicia Dale
  "I realize that your purpose is to show me how to find the answers within myself, which of course you knew all along. I know what it means to be a teacher now. You truly are wise, Shaman Elder Maggie." --John
  About the Author
  Shaman Elder Maggie has been providing counseling free of charge for nearly 30 years. She has a Doctorate of Divinity and is a Usui Reiki Master Teacher. She is an artist, a mystic, a visionary, a teacher, a friend to all and a lover of life. She is one of America's most beloved teachers of traditional Shamanism.
  Learn more at www.ShamanElder.com
  From the Modern Spirituality Series at Marvelous Spirit Press www.MarvelousSpirit.com
  OCC036030 Body, Mind & Spirit: Spirituality - Shamanism