The Yezidis are a Kurdish-speaking religious minority, neither Muslim, Christian nor Jewish. At a time when studies of Kurdish nation-building are developing, this book is the first to consider Kurdish oral traditions within their social context and explain their relevance for a large Kurdish community.

The Yezidis are a Kurdish-speaking religious minority, neither Muslim, Christian nor Jewish. Their ethnicity has been disputed, but most now claim Kurdish identity. Their heartland, including their holiest shrine, is in the Badinan province of Northern Iraq, and it is the communities in this area which are the main focus of this book. Their highly eclectic religion appears to contain many elements of 'the religions of the book', especially Sufism, upon a foundation of ancient Iranian belief and practice.

Drawing is not only a relaxing and enjoyable pastime, but also one of the original mindfulness techniques, being a great way to be in the moment and observe your surroundings. Despite the common assumption that the ability to draw is a skill you either possess or you don't, it can be readily learnt with the right teacher guiding you. Christine Allison fulfils that role with her expertise and friendly, encouraging approach. With 10 step-by-step tutorials, Christine helps beginners navigate a range of subject matters and drawing media, providing them with a thorough grounding in the basics of this satisfying art. In addition to the tutorials, Christine provides advice on tools, materials and techniques, gives plenty of tips throughout and presents ideas on how to take each tutorial a step further. There's also a special focus on noticing the things around you that can make interesting subject matters, practising a drawing a day, and gathering a collection of reference material to inspire you - each explored in a feature spread, setting them apart from the tutorials.

This is a cult novel of polyamory (many loves) about seven people who love each other. Kerensa and Ryan, after fifteen years of happy traditional marriage, decide to follow their bliss, responsibly and honestly. They find more and more people with whom to fall in love and in bed

The more than 20 million Kurds in the Middle East are the largest nation in the world without their own independent state. Their struggles for international recognition may ultimately depend on their ability to convince the world that they have their own valid and mature identity. This survey of Kurdish culture describes the differences that exist in a community that is spread across four countries in the region - Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria - and recognizes that Kurdish culture is changing. Successive chapters deal with Kurdistan's written literature and oral tradition, the development of book publishing and other modern media, the range of Islamic and other religious beliefs that have shaped Kurdish identity, and Kurdish material culture including costumes, carpets and the everyday objects of village life.