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Books > Mind, Body & Spirit > The Occult
A marvelous book, at once comprehensive and highly readable, a
fascinating analysis of doomsday cults and apocalyptic anxiety.
--Michael Owen Jones, University of California, Los Angeles The End
of the World As We Know It makes accessible to both scholars and
general readers the amazing panorama of millenarian scenarios
abounding in America at the end of the millennium. --Robert S.
Ellwood, University of Southern California Will stand for some time
as the best survey and analysis of the meaning and place of
apocalypticism and millennialism in American culture. --Religion
and Literature Fascinating and] intelligent . . . should be
required reading. --Psychotronic From religious tomes to current
folk prophesies, recorded history reveals a plethora of narratives
predicting or showcasing the end of the world. The incident at
Waco, the subway bombing by the Japanese cult Aum Supreme Truth,
and the tragedy at Jonestown are just a few examples of such
apocalyptic scenarios. And these are not isolated incidents;
millions of Americans today believe the end of the world is
inevitable, either by a divinely ordained plan, nuclear
catastrophe, extraterrestrial invasion, or gradual environmental
decay, Examining the doomsday scenarios and apocalyptic predictions
of visionaries, televangelists, survivalists, and various other
endtimes enthusiasts, as well as popular culture, film, music,
fashion, and humor, Daniel Wojcik sheds new light on America's
fascination with worldly destruction and transformation. He
explores the origins of contemporary apocalyptic beliefs and
compares religious and secular apocalyptic speculation, showing us
the routes our belief systems have traveled over the centuries to
arrive at the dawn of a new millennium. Included in his sweeping
examination are premillennial prophecy traditions, prophecies
associated with visions of the Virgin Mary, secular ideas about
nuclear apocalypse, the transformation of apocalyptic prophecy in
the post-Cold War era, and emerging apocalyptic ideas associated
with UFOs and extraterrestrials. Timely, yet of lasting importance,
The End of the World as We Know It is a comprehensive cultural and
historical portrait of an age-old phenomenon and a fascinating
guide to contemporary apocalyptic fever. Daniel Wojcik is Associate
Professor of English and Folklore at the University of Oregon and
author of Punk and Neo-Tribal Body Art. He received his Ph.D. in
Folklore and Mythology from the University of California, Los
Angeles.
Prepare thyself! This famous magical grimoire is a powerful tome,
purportedly written by King Solomon, the 10th-century monarch
rumored in legend to be a master magician himself. Deciphered from
ancient documents found in the depths of the British Museum, this
1888 work-translated by one of the most notorious Victorian
occultists-was the first appearance in the English language of the
hidden secrets and potent incantations of the Old Magic. Discover
the archaic mysteries of. . exorcising demons . laying curses .
rendering oneself invisible . making a magic carpet . claiming
treasure possessed by spirits . and much more! British magician and
eccentric SAMUEL LIDDELL MACGREGOR MATHERS (1854-1918) also wrote
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage and The Kabbalah
Unveiled.
The story of King Solomon has fascinated spiritual and religious
writers for millennia - this book advances a theory that Solomon
was infact a Magi who created many of the rituals, spells and
symbols important to occultists. Although the idea that Solomon
carried some sort of mystical powers is not new, this book purports
to be written in the ancient king of the Jews' own hand. The
magical symbols and diagrams which are situated alongside the
various rituals and incantations are intricate, containing
pentacles and other shapes. Towards the end of the book a large
table is appended, detailing a selection of mystical alphabets and
their English. For his investigation, Mathers delved deep into the
archives of the British Museum, unearthing an old French manuscript
of the text which he duly translated into English. He also
replicated the diagrams and symbols; these efforts resulted in this
modern English version of the old Solomon manuscripts, and an
increase in interest toward writings hitherto obscure.
WITCHCRAFT AND THE BLACK ART - A BOOK DEALING WITH THE PSYCHOLOGY
AND FOLKLORE OF THE WITCHES By J.W. Wickwar. Originally published
in London in the early 1900s, this scarce early work on Witchcraft
is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. Obscure
Books Press have now republished it, using the original text and
artwork. The old craft of the witches was a close order. Its
members were sworn to secrecy. Although some records were kept,
very few of these still exist today. In early ecclesiastic and in
mediaeval literature, however, references to witchcraft are
numerous. This book endeavours to set out in an interesting manner
the story of the craft from earliest times. The book's three
hundred and twenty pages contain fourteen comprehensive chapters:
Witchcraft: A Primitive Cult. - Initiation and Ceremony. - Spells,
The Evil Eye, and Possession. - Practical Witchcraft. - Witchcraft
on the Continent. - Werewolves and Vampires. - Blood and Fire in
England. - Demons and Mascots. - Witch Hunting cameos. - A Typical
English Witch Trial. - Witchcraft in America. - Witchcraft
Phantasmagoria. - A Typical Witch Tract. - The Last Phase. This
book will prove a fascinating read for anyone interested in the
occult arts, and will provide much information to historians of
this hitherto arcane subject. "What are these So wither'd, and so
wild in their attire, That look not like the inhabitants o' the
earth. And yet are on't?" Banquo.
LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES--NOT EVEN DEATH
Dr. Elisa Medhus never believed in life after death. As an
accomplished physi-cian, she placed her faith in science. All of
that changed after her son Erik took his own life and then reached
out from the other side.
Intimate, heartbreaking, and illuminating, go on an incredible
journey from grief and skepticism to healing and belief. Based on
Medhus's wildly popular blog, Channeling Erik, "My Son and the
Afterlife" provides answers to the most universal questions of
being human.
At once tragic and uplifting, Erik speaks from the other side with
candor, wisdom, and depth as he describes his own experiences and
provides new answers about the nature of souls, death, and the
afterlife--answers that have the potential to change our lives
forever.
As a Kurd in an increasingly hostile Iraq in the 1970s, David
wanted to fulfill his mother's dream for him: To become a U.S.
citizen-no small feat given that he was not allowed to leave Iraq.
In his own words, David provides unique insights into Iraq under
the rise of Saddam Hussein, and tells of the seemingly
insurmountable obstacles that he overcame to meet this dream, of
his new life in America, and of the many challenges,
disappointments, and betrayals along the way. This is also the
story of how David chose to listen to the lessons of the universe.
Introduced to angels through a meeting with an intuitive, David's
newfound knowledge and his intuition led him to Dr. Wayne Dyer,
Doreen Virtue and Deborah King, and increased his awareness of
"divine orders"-instructions from the universe. David shares his
amazing journey, his connection to God and the angels, his
certification as an angel therapy practitioner, and how he finally
understood that nothing happens by accident. Only by accepting that
the heartache in his life was in divine order did he decide to
trust God and the angels, and realize that there were better things
waiting for him. David has learned how to stand on his own, and
invites you to trust along with him that everything will happen in
divine timing and divine order, including your life's mission.
'A wonderful book by a fabulous author, very highly recommended.'
Louise DouglasA tale as old as time. A spirit that has never
rested.Present day As a love affair comes to an end, and with it
her dreams for her future, artist Selena needs a retreat. The
picture-postcard Sloe Cottage in the Somerset village of Ashcombe
promises to be the perfect place to forget her problems, and Selena
settles into her new home as spring arrives. But it isn't long
before Selena hears the past whispering to her. Sloe Cottage is
keeping secrets which refuse to stay hidden. 1682 Grace Cotter
longs for nothing more than a husband and family of her own.
Content enough with her work on the farm, looking after her father,
and learning the secrets of her grandmother Bett's healing hands,
nevertheless Grace still hopes for love. But these are dangerous
times for dreamers, and rumours and gossip can be deadly. One
mis-move and Grace's fate looks set... Separated by three hundred
years, two women are drawn together by a home bathed in blood and
magic. Grace Cotter's spirit needs to rest, and only Selena can
help her now. USA Today bestselling author Judy Leigh writing as
Elena Collins, brings you this unforgettable, heart-breaking,
gripping timeslip novel set in a world when women were hung as
witches, and fates could be sealed by a wrong word. Perfect for
fans of Barbara Erskine, Diana Gabaldon and Louise Douglas. Praise
for Elena Collins: 'A profoundly moving, beautifully written and
emotional story that skilfully combines two time frames into one
unputdownable book. I was completely immersed in Grace's story from
the beginning: despite it taking place 400 years ago. The modern
day storyline was also delightful with some wonderful characters.
In short a wonderful book by a fabulous author, very highly
recommended.' Louise Douglas
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