In this dazzling history, Patrick Harpur links together fields as far apart as Greek philosophy and depth psychology, Renaissance magic and tribal ritual, Romantic poetry and the ecstasy of the shaman, to trace how societies have used myths to make sense of the world.

     - Chuang-tzu: The "Inner Teachings" of a widely influential compendium of wisdom stories, fables, and anecdotes. - Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries: Another core text of Chinese Taoism, containing teachings also attributed to the author of the Tao Te Ching. - The Book of Leadership and Strategy: Lessons of the Chinese Masters: One of the great Chinese teachings on the subtle arts of management and leadership at all levels. - Sex, Health, and Long Life: Manuals of Taoist Practice: The techniques contained in these five texts reveal the transformative influence sex can have when wisely practiced.

    Ostensibly concerned with turning base metals into gold, alchemy was in fact dedicated to transforming the lead of self into the gold of spirit. This brilliant history of alchemy traces its sources back to ancient Egypt, and presents alchemy as a useful, practical system of self-transformation. Each of the seven steps of alchemical transformation is explained, with hands-on techniques and exercises, treating alchemy as a living discipline for achieving a spiritual awakening.

    Now, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, one of the world's leading authorities on Qigong, has translated and written commentaries to make these ancient and profound teachings accessible to everyone. Using ancient Buddhist and Taoist documents as its foundation, this book analyzes and discusses theory and training methods in a modern, scientific manner, and presents safe ways for you to begin your own practice.Improve your health and strength through the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic). Work towards longevity and enlightenment with the Xi Sui Jing (Marrow/Brain Washing Classic). Qigong, the Secret of Youth is an invaluable guide for Qigong practitioners and Martial Artists who want to explore deeper levels of internal energy training.Learn the keys to rejuvenating and reconditioning your body. Discover methods for nourishing the brain and bone marrow. Includes Qigong exercises and massage techniques.

    . . teaching the insight necessary to begin changing your “lead” issues to “gold” (changing the “bad” in our lives to “good”).      Caroline delves into this rich field of inquiry by describing how you can begin to become a “Spiritual Alchemist”—being able to change the way you look at yourself and your contract through the chakra system—universal patterns of consciousness that influence your psychological spiritual development.      As part of this fascinating discussion, Caroline even illustrates the alchemical concepts present in the story of The Wizard of Oz!

    Adepts of the Alchemical Tradition2. Hermetic Symbols of the Great Work3. Human Regeneration by Alchemy4. Alchemical Transmutations Psychologically Interpreted5. Chinese & Tibetan Alchemy

    Reveals the conspiracy by Leonardo, Newton, Goethe and other members of the initiate tradition to influence the course of history by magic.

    Each entry includes a definition of the symbol, giving the literal (physical) and figurative (spiritual) meanings, an example of the symbol used in alchemical writing, and a quotation from a literary source. There are fifty visual images of graphic woodcuts, copperplate engravings and hand-painted emblems, some reproduced here for the first time.

    Related material on Rosicrucianism and Jacob Boehme's writings are included, as well as the Bacstrom manuscripts in eighteen volumes with English translations of early alchemical books, a volume of manuscripts from Count Cagliostro's library, Comte de St. Germain's triangular manuscript on vellum, a portion of Ripley's Scroll in full color, the William Law edition of Jacob Boehme with manikin plates attributed to Rubens, and more. Printed in a limited edition of one thousand copies, folio volume, 9" x 12," library binding, 314 pages handsomely illustrated with eight full-color plates and facsimiles of title pages and frontispieces.

    Natural scientist, philosopher, alchemist, with a deep distrust of orthodoxy and rational thought, he intermixed Christian theology with the Qabalah, believing that magic reveals the invisible influences behind things, bringing heavenly forces down to earth.