Best of
Mysticism

2013

Signs on the Horizons: Meetings with Men of Knowledge and Illumination


Michael Sugich - 2013
    Michael Sugich, an American writer who was initiated into a traditional Sufi order over forty years ago and who lived for 23 years in the sacred city of Makkah Al Mukaramah, has kept company with some of the greatest Sufi saints of the age from many parts of the world. His book is a unique eye-witness narrative of a mystical tradition that today hides in plain sight, veiled by the turbulence and materialism gripping the Muslim world. It is a spellbinding personal memoir told with eloquence, empathy, self-effacing humor, insight and love.

Lectures on Bhagavad Gita


Vivekananda - 2013
    All the lectures were delivered in 1900.

The Black Folder: Personal Communications on the Mastery of Hoodoo


Catherine Yronwode - 2013
    All of these three-hole-punched information sheets -- the Lucky Mojo Shop Flyers and the Hoodoo Workshop Hand-Outs -- were then collected together into a black school-report cover -- which we called The Black Folder. As the years went on, the content of The Black Folder grew and grew and grew, until there were so many pages that they could no longer easily fit into a single report cover ... and so we put together the complete set of all of the past Missionary Independent Spiritual Church Workshop flyers, plus a complete set of all of the Lucky Mojo shop flyers into a 136 page professionally printed BOOK. The name of the book is "The Black Folder" -- but don't let the name (or the cover) fool you -- it's a regular 8 1/2" x 11" trade paperback book, like nothing else available anywhere.Contributors include an all-star line-up of well-known conjure doctors from around the world: ConjureMan Ali, Deacon Millett, Dr. E., Lara Rivera, Prof. Charles Porterfield, Dr. James Dotson, Khi Armand, Sister Robin Petersen, Sindy Todo, Susan Diamond, Marin Graves, Miss Elvyra Curcuruto-Love, Ms. Robin York, Dr. Johannes Gardback, Michele Jackson, Valentina Burton, Tanisia Mooney, and catherine yronwode.

Saint Teresa of Avila: Passionate Mystic


Mirabai Starr - 2013
    A tireless reformer and the mentor of Saint John of the Cross, Teresa offers us an enduring revelation that we can achieve an ecstatic love for God so powerful that it pierces the heart like a burning sword. Through illness, hardship, and persecution by the Inquisition, this courageous mystic lit the way with her unquenchable spirit to an interior castle, a place of unimaginable beauty and light where no darkness can touch us. With Saint Teresa of Avila, Mirabai Starr presents a beautiful devotional reader that gives you a direct link to the living presence of this brave and gentle saint. Filled with the inspirational prayers Teresa used herself, translations of her most inspired writing, and stories from her remark-able life, this book is a small treasury of contemplations and living wisdom perfect for any home shrine or spiritual library.

In Search of Being: The Fourth Way to Consciousness


G.I. Gurdjieff - 2013
    According to Gurdjieff, the wars raging at this very moment are nothing more than millions of sleeping people trying to annihilate millions of other sleeping people. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as progress and evolution as long as humanity remains asleep. Two hundred conscious people could change the whole of life on the earth, Gurdjieff says. If we want to become those conscious people, we must learn how to change ourselves. With the help of self-knowledge and an understanding of our relation to the universe, we can awaken to a higher level of being—if we wish to change ourselves.All of Gurdjieff's fundamental principles and methods of transforming the intellect, emotions, and body, in the system known as the Fourth Way, are presented in this book in his own clear, precise words preserved by his closest pupils.Arranged in an orderly sequence of passages drawn from two primary sourcebooks —P. D. Ouspensky's In Search of the Miraculous, and Views from the Real World, recorded and arranged by Mme. Jeanne de Salzmann—this material is an indispensable introduction for those determined to undertake the efforts and practices necessary for awakening consciousness.All the basic concepts and methods are covered, including: • man is "asleep" • we have no unified "I" • the need for self-knowledge • functions of the human "machine" • states of consciousness • levels of being • three centers: moving, emotional, and thinking • personality and essence • the possibility of self-development • self-observation • remembering oneself • conscious evolution • the law of three forces • the ray of creation • the law of octaves • the Enneagram, a universal symbol • the variety of spiritual ways • esoteric Christianity • working in groups • the necessity of schools

Dream Yoga: The Tibetan Path of Awakening Through Lucid Dreaming


Andrew Holecek - 2013
    Dream Yoga brings the best from modern science and Tibetan wisdom to offer you this extraordinary opportunity. With expert guidance you'll learn everything you need to know to penetrate the mysteries of the night, including:Meditations for calming and clarifying your mind• How to have lucid dream states naturally using Tibetan practices and contemporary dream induction techniques• Practical tips for overcoming common obstacles, enhancing dream recall, working with nightmares, and gleaning insights from your dreams• Bringing your skills together to explore the deepest dimensions of awakened consciousnessEach night you touch into the possibility of enlightenment. With Dream Yoga you will emerge from the darkness of ignorance into the luminous experience of awakening—in every moment, day or night.

The Kingdom of Heaven Within You, Vol 1: The Teachings of Meister Eckhart


Meister Eckhart - 2013
    He points out that the exalted state of heaven's kingdom is not merely something to be realized after physical death, but may be realized here and now as one allows God's presence to unfold in one's life. And this is the essence of Christian mysticism. He also gives us beautiful instructions on the proper handling of our own desires and their significance in our growth in the life of Christ. The following unique translations of Meister Eckhart's teachings are included in this volume: The Kingdom of Heaven is Nigh The Birth of Christ in the Soul The Poor in God

The Adventure of I: A Journey to the Centre of Your Reality


Tania Kotsos - 2013
    It is unlike other books on the subject in that it is founded on what is called Top-Down-Living, which is to live life from the higher vantage point of your Real Self. Only by raising your degree of consciousness above the Physical Plane of your physical experience and the Mental Plane of your thoughts, desires and emotions, can you have directive power over them. Trying to change your physical experience at the degree of consciousness of the physical you is akin to manipulating an already printed photograph and expecting the changes to be reflected when you print it out again from the original negative. The Adventure of I teaches you how to change the 'original' so as to create lasting change in your life.You will gain an unparalleled understanding of the underlying mental nature of the Universe and how your mind creates your reality through It. You will discover the masculine and feminine principles of your mind and how they work together for the same purpose that is creation. You will learn precisely why your mind must, by definition, be one and the same with the One Universal Mind of The Absolute in Its entirety, for which nothing is impossible. You will learn about the seven Universal Laws and other Principles that govern everything and everyone in the Universe, and how to use the Higher Laws to master the Lower Laws and transcend the influence of polarity and rhythm in your life. You will learn practical techniques for consciously creating your experience of reality, one desire at a time, under the direction of your will and the knowing of your intuition. You will discover long-lost secrets about the nature of the Universe and your mind's central place within Its Omnipotence, and much more.Ultimately, The Adventure of I will empower you to utter the most profound statement, 'I AM I', with full authority, and in so doing, you will become the master of your destiny.

Spiritual Torrents


Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon - 2013
    From there the torrent experiences resurrection and a life lived in concert with the will of God while still going through many stages of refinement. At last the torrent finds its way into the vast, unlimited sea. Even here the torrent does not totally come to be one with the vast ocean until it has once more passed through the final dealings by the Lord. The reader will find this book to be the saga of one believer's journey with Christ. It does not serve as a pattern for any other life, but simply allows the readers to see how Guyon viewed the Lord's work in her life. Nevertheless, this is one of the greatest books ever written on the subject of the cross as it works in the life of the believer.

God for Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter


Greg Pennoyer - 2013
    Winner. By delving deeply into the Christian tradition they reveal what one theologian has called the “bright sadness” of Lent—that it is not about becoming lost in feelings of brokenness, but about cleansing the palate so that we can taste life more fully. Lent and Easter reveal the God who is for us in all of life—for our liberation, for our healing, for our wholeness. Lent and Easter remind us that even in death there can be found resurrection.

Kriya Secrets Revealed


J.C. Stevens - 2013
    Every piece of material that could possibly assist in helping you maximize results from your Kriya practice is in this workbook. This material has been carefully crafted to protect anonymous sources and to respect all copyrights. It is, essentially, a synthesis of every possible concept or technique, which will help you understand Kriya yoga as never before.All the material used here has been meticulously arranged into lessons with step-by-step instructions, including quotes from Lahiri Mahasaya, which have been freshly translated into an easy-to-understand style. New graphics have also been devised to better help explain the techniques. In addition to exacting instruction in various Kriya techniques, the book also discusses the theory and philosophy of Shyama Charan Lahiri, in order to help you get to the core of the Kriya yoga philosophy. From beginning to end, it was written in order to help you break free from anything hindering your Kriya practice.

A Bead and a Prayer


Kristen E. Vincent - 2013
    Readers will explore the history and art of using beads in prayer, discover ways to pray with beads, and learn how beads can help them deepen their faith, understand Christian beliefs, and listen to God. Instructions for making prayer beads are included. Great for Christians with no experience in using beads for prayer, Sunday school classes, women's groups, prayer groups. Youth and children will also enjoy making prayer beads, led by someone using this book as a guide.

Answering the Contemplative Call: First Steps on the Mystical Path


Carl McColman - 2013
    Now McColman is back with Answering the Contemplative Call, to show readers how to apply the riches of the mystical tradition to daily living.This book is organized in three sections:"Recognizing the Call," Explores how each one of us is called to the mystical life, and what that might look like."Preparing for the Journey," shows what we need to do in response to the contemplative call."Embarking on the Adventure" considers what those first steps on the path might look like.Along the way McColman quotes from the great mystics of the Christian tradition who have also traveled this path, including Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, Evelyn Underhill and more.In Answering the Contemplative Call, McColman offers a practice that will help readers come to a place meaning and purpose in their lives.

Oneing: The Perennial Tradition


Richard RohrJamie Manson - 2013
    Contributors include Richard Rohr, David Benner, Cynthia Bourgeault, Diana Butler Bass, John Esposito, James Finley, Robert Sardello, and others. "Oneing," the title of the journal, is a word that was used by the Christian mystic, Lady Julian of Norwich (1342-1416), to describe the encounter between God and the soul. The Rohr Institute publishes "Oneing" with Jesus’ words at heart: “that all may be one” (John 17:21).

Letting in the Wild Edges


Glennie Kindred - 2013
    Season by season, we are shown how to grow and manage native edible and medicinal plants in our gardens or on the wild edges of the land. Included are foraging tips and many recipes for making kitchen medicines and delicious food from our finds.By letting the wild native plants into our lives, Glennie helps us reconnect with our rich herbal heritage and enter into a new relationship with our local environment. She encourages us to forage, grow, and eat our edible natives, season by season, and also to strengthen our health with their healing properties.She explores many different ways to mark and celebrate the seasons, especially outside on the land, which support our ability to adapt and grow for the benefit of the Earth and ourselves.This is a practical, optimistic and inspirational treasure trove for a more creative, integrated, self-reliant future.

The Mystic Path of Meditation: Beginning a Christ-Centred Journey


David Cole - 2013
    In this delightful book, David Cole gently invites readers to rediscover this ancient path to deeper relationship with God. David writes with a spirit of ease and joy as he guides us through meditation with scripture, our breath, our bodies, and the natural world. This insightful and accessible book is a welcome addition to the contemplative renewal of our time."—Mark Kutolowski, OblSB, Salva Terra peace pilgrim and founder of New Creation Wilderness Programs

Hildegard of Bingen: Essential Writings and Chants of a Christian Mystic--Annotated & Explained


Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook - 2013
    Her body of work is unusually expansive in terms of genre and subject matter for any theologian of her time, and includes powerful descriptions of her visions, advice to influential nobles and royalty, theological correspondence with fellow manastics, liturgical songs, and medical and scientific works.Hildegard's strong personality and vivid spiritual experiences still speak to readers within the church as well as those who are not formally religious but who have an interest in mysticism, the spiritual life, and feminist and eco-spiritualities, or who are drawn to Hildegard through the arts, particularly her music.This unique introduction to Hildegard's world and writings presents a wide range of her texts grouped by theme, providing a deeper understanding of this influential spiritual figure than can single-themed collections. Insightful and instructive annotations provide historical background and place selections within the wider context of Hildegard's understanding of the spiritual life and the natural world.

The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic


John Shelby Spong - 2013
    John Shelby Spong, bestselling author and popular proponent of a modern, scholarly and authentic Christianity, argues that this last gospel to be written was misinterpreted by the framers of the fourth-century creeds to be a literal account of the life of Jesus when in fact it is a literary, interpretive retelling of the events in Jesus' life through the medium of fictional characters, from Nicodemus and Lazarus to the "Beloved Disciple." The Fourth Gospel was designed first to place Jesus into the context of the Jewish scriptures, then to place him into the worship patterns of the synagogue and finally to allow him to be viewed through the lens of a popular form of first-century Jewish mysticism.The result of this intriguing study is not only to recapture the original message of this gospel, but also to provide us today with a radical new dimension to the claim that in the humanity of Jesus the reality of God has been met and engaged.

The Žižek Dictionary


Rex Butler - 2013
    His prolific writings - across philosophy, psychoanalysis, political and social theory, film, music and religion - always engage and provoke. The power of his ideas, the breadth of his references, his capacity for playfulness and confrontation, his willingness to change his mind and his refusal fundamentally to alter his argument - all have worked to build an extraordinary international readership as well as to elicit much critical reaction. The Zizek Dictionary brings together leading Zizek commentators from across the world to present a companion and guide to Zizekian thought. Each of the 60 short essays examines a key term and, crucially, explores its development across Zizek's work and how it fits in with other concepts and concerns. The dictionary will prove invaluable both to readers coming to Zizek for the first time and to those already embarked on the Zizekian journey.

The Universal Master Key


Franz Bardon - 2013
    352 pages.

Magic of the Northgate


Josephine McCarthy - 2013
    Written for magicians/occultists, pagans, priests and priestesses, this book looks in depth at the techniques, contacts, methods and ritual actions that can be undertaken when approaching Earth Magic. Working with land spirits and faery beings, building shrines, living in a magical home, working with the magical elements, connecting with ancient deities, working with ancestral burials, understanding and living with resident ghosts, weaving power, plus learning how to connect and work with storms, are just some of the magical mysteries contained within the North Gate.

The Book of Undoing


Fred Davis - 2013
    It is an experiential journey, wherein the reader follows a mock client's Awakening Session with the author. These sessions have helped people around the world come to Nondual realization. It's suggested that the reader actively participate in the question and answer sessions which form the bulk of the book. Fred extends the invitation for you to awaken right here, right now. It's Here or nowhere. It's Now or never.

The Mystical Teachings of Jesus (From the Heart of Jesus)


Kim Michaels - 2013
    

The Art of Hoodoo Candle Magic in Rootwork, Conjure, and Spiritual Church Services


Catherine Yronwode - 2013
    

Julian's Gospel: Illuminating the Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich


Veronica Rolf - 2013
    offers a convincing reconstruction of Julian's life in the social, cultural, political and religious milieu of fourteenth-century Norwich, along with a comprehensive commentary on her Revelations - rendered here in a new and faithful translation from the Middle English.

The Lyre of Orpheus: Popular Music, the Sacred, and the Profane


Christopher Partridge - 2013
    It is uniquely able to move us, to guide the imagination, to evoke memories, and to create spaces within which meaning is made. Popular music occupies a place of particular social and cultural significance. Christopher Partridge explores this significance, analyzing its complex relationships with the values and norms, texts and discourses, rituals and symbols, and codes and narratives of modern Western cultures. He shows how popular music's power to move, to agitate, to control listeners, to shape their identities, and to structure their everyday lives is central to constructions of the sacred and the profane. In particular, he argues that popular music can be important 'edgework,' challenging dominant constructions of the sacred in modern societies. Drawing on a wide range of musicians and musical genres, as well as a number of theoretical approaches from critical musicology, cultural theory, sociology, theology, and the study of religion, The Lyre of Orpheus reveals the significance and the progressive potential of popular music.