Soon she falls in love with this man she has never seen, but in a moment of doubt she betrays his trust. To win back his love, Psyche must show that she is as brave as she is beautiful by performing three impossible tasks.Perhaps the greatest love story of all, Cupid and Psyche is unsurpassed in its richness and drama. Marie Craft's lively, suspenseful retelling of this classic Greek myth will appeal to young and old alike. And these legendary lovers have inspired forty lush luminous paintings by award-winning artist Kinuko Craft.Lavishly illustrated and thrillingly told, here is a book to be treasured forever.

    Carol Rose introduces the reader to the little--and not so little--folk, delightfully various and, at the same time, strikingly similar from country to country. Wherever humans have lived, the supernatural beings have dwelt alongside us. People serve to explain the unexplainable--the strange disappearance of a traveler in a dark wood, that odd thumping in the attic, the fresh cream turned sour overnight. Often they reveal the stoic humor with which human societies have faced their difficulties. But whatever their source, our guilts, fears, dreams, or imaginations, the spirits have fascinated and enchanted us through the millennia. Chosen by Library Journal as a Best Reference Source.

    She embodies the energy of chaos and creativity, creation and destruction, death and rebirth. Images of Her, however, have been conspicuously missing in the Western world for centuries—until now, when awareness of the Goddess is re-arising in many spheres, from the women's movement to traditional religion, from the new discoveries of quantum physics to the dreams of ordinary men and women. Why now particularly? The answer provided by Marion Woodman and Elinor Dickson is bold and thrilling: the reemergence of the Divine Feminine in our time indicates our readiness to move to an entirely new level of consciousness. The reemerging Goddess calls for a shattering of rigid categories, a willingness to hold opposition. She calls us to marry reason and order to creativity, and to embrace the chaos that can ultimately lead to wisdom and transformation on personal and global levels.

    Provocative and exhilarating, full of wit and wisdom, these lectures are windows into one of the great minds of our time.

    He begins with a mystery: Why is the most important god in the Rg Veda, the oldest of India's sacred texts, known by a secret name--"Ka," or Who?What ensues is not an explanation, but an unveiling. Here are the stories of the creation of mind and matter; of the origin of Death, of the first sexual union and the first parricide. We learn why Siva must carry his father's skull, why snakes have forked tongues, and why, as part of a certain sacrifice, the king's wife must copulate with a dead horse. A tour de force of scholarship and seduction, Ka is irresistible.

    This fully illustrated, greatly expanded edition of Kris Waldherr's best-selling classic includes 100 goddesses (74 more than the original edition) along with their stories, symbolic significance and cultural roles applicable to life today. While the original book was structured alphabetically - one goddess for every letter of the alphabet - this new edition is structured around the feminine rites of passage: Beginnings, Love, Motherhood, Creativity, Strength and Transformations. Lavishly designed, this visually stunning book is testament to the power, passion, wisdom and beauty of women of all ages, all stages in life, everywhere.

    He then takes a revealing look at the mystical origins of Christianity in Jesus - His Religion, Or the Religion About Him? and explores how Christianity has diverged historically from those teachings in a brilliant and well researched critique of the Church. In Democracy in the Kingdom of Heaven Watts then carries his inquiry one step further, and asks if indeed a monarchical religion still makes sense in a democratic society. Watts takes a fascinating look at the ultimately anthropomorphic quality of man's view of his god in Images of Man. Here he is only half kidding when he says that "In the beginning there was Man, and he created God in his image," pointing to the highly subjective nature of our inquiry into the highest orders of reality. In the final chapter, Religion and Sexuality, Watts again looks at organized religion, but with more than a touch of humor as he suggests that churches today are sexual regulation societies, and precious little else. To make this point Watts asks, "How else can you get thrown out?" He then goes on to discuss the social implications of the Church's investment in moral issues, and demonstrates that this may in fact be a ploy to cover up for the lack of any substantial religious teaching in organized religion today.

    His comprehensive study covers all the British Isles and the whole sweep of history from the earliest written records to the present day.

    Temple of the Cosmos explores Egypt's sacred geography and mythology; but more importantly, it reveals with unprecedented clarity an ancient consciousness in tune with the rhythms of the earth. The ancient Egyptians experienced their gods not as remote beings but rather as psychic and natural forces, transpersonal energies that played a part in everyday life. This direct experience of the gods shaped the Egyptian concepts of human development, healing, magic, and the soul's journey through the Underworld as described in the Books of the Dead. While building on the pioneering efforts of R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz and others, Temple of the Cosmos is much more than a recapitulation of previous theories of Egyptian spirituality. Rather, this book breaks new ground by placing the work of other Egyptologists in an original, magical context. The result is a brilliant reimagining of the Egyptian worldview and its sacred path of spiritual unfolding.

    These stories introduce a new generation of readers to age-old Celtic favorites including "The Magic Shoes," "The Pot of Gold," and the great love story "Tír Na N'Óg." Included with each story are lively illustrations, background notes, motifs from the Celtic tradition, and a pronunciation guide.Author Biography: Una Leavy is the author of Harry's Stormy Night and Goodbye Pappa. Susan Field is a television set designer and the illustrator of The Sun, the Moon and the Silver Baboon and The Smallest Whale.

    

    This beautiful illustrated book is the result of eight years exhaustive research into the myths, magic and healing power of trees.It has comprehensive information on all the main species of tree and written in an easy to use and accessible style by an Arch-druidess.This book contains all the practical information you need to identify each tree as it changes throughout the year and includes:comprehensive physical and descriptions and botanical informationthe legends and myths surrounding each treethe healing powers and magical properties of the individual tree

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    What better a character to introduce children to Hindu mythology than Ganesha, the god of new beginnings? Often impulsive, forever generous, the elephant-headed god with the fat belly makes mistakes but learns from them. He fills the world around him with laughter. These stories deliver up a pantheon of Hindu deities and support such concepts as nonviolence, respect for life, and the folly of vanity. This collection of Hindu folktales for middle readers features stories about the Hindu god, Ganesha, who is easily recognized because of his elephant head. Author, Uma Krishnaswami introduces the stories by recalling her own introduction to Ganesha and goes on to offer a mythological context for the tales. Included among these classic stories are "Ganesha's Head", "The Broken Tusk", and "Why Ganesha Never Married". Most of the stories come from Hindu legend; one comes from Mongolia, where Ganesha made his way into the Buddhist tradition. The simple pen-and-ink illustrations support the themes and a helpful pronunciation guide and glossary are also included.

    It narrates the fortunes of a royal household torn by conflict. Unable to decide on a suitable heir to a throne he has sworn to protect, an ancient patriarch gives in to the capricious demands of warring cousins. Hatred and envy flare into a fratricidal war.Samhita Arni’s compact and accessible narrative allows readers from other contexts to get to know this ancient tale whose massive cast of characters is part of every Indian child’s imagination. Her beautifully illustrated version of the ancient epic is a worldwide success. It has been translated into Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portugese.“Reading this enchanting work is really one of the best ways to approach The Mahabharatha, both for adults as well as for children.”—Roberto Calasso

    From brooding over broken mirrors to never taking a bath on a Friday, these deeply-rooted beliefs reveal much about the Filipino psyche.National Book Award winner Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz's thoughtful selections and Katti Sta. Ana's droll illustrations make for a delightful compendium of our most familiar and fascinating beliefs. A gift book for friends of all ages.

    Drawing on a range of literary, iconographic and archaeological sources, Jan Assmann reconstructs a world of unparalleled complexity, a culture that, long before others, possessed an extraordinary degree of awareness and self-reflection.

    These inspirational tales follow the path of life--from creation and birth, through adolescnce, love and marriage, to death and the renewal of the spirit. 120 full-color illustrations.

    Includes traditional stories reflecting the cumulative wisdom of Sufi, Zen, Taoist, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, African, and Native American cultures.Tales from ancient India. Jataka tales. The talkative turtle ; The wise master ; A flock of birds --Tales from the Panchatantra. The lion makers ; The blue jackal who showed his true colors ; The lion and the rabbit --The blind men and the elephant. Tales from China : Taoist parables. Blinded by greed ; The stolen ax / based on a tale by Lieh Tzu --The best fit / based on a tale by Han Fei --The powerful fighting cock ; Whose dream is this? ; The useless tree / based on a tale by Chuang Tzu --A farmer's horse ran off / based on a tale by Lui An. Zen stories from Japan. A monk with heavy thoughts --The wild strawberry --Empty-cup mind --A dispute in sign language --Giving the moon. Tales from ancient Greece. Aesop's fables. Antlers ; Everyone agrees to peace ; Mice in council --Tales of Mount Olympus. Baucis and Philemon ; Echo and Narcissus. Tales from the Middle East : Sufi stories of Mulla Nasrudin. The boatman --The smuggler --Feeding his clothes --Looking for the key. Tales from the Jewish tradition. Feathers (Eastern European, Hasidic) --This too shall pass (Ancient Israel, a King Solomon legend) --The wooden sword (Afghanistan). Tales from the Christian tradition. The legend of St. Genesius --Amazing grace : the story of John Newton (1725-1807) --The prodigal son : a parable from the New Testament. Tales from Africa. Fire, water, truth, and falsehood (Northeast Africa, Ethiopia) --The red and blue coat (Central Africa, Congo) --Tongue meat (East-Central Africa, Swahili) --Why wisdom is everywhere (West Africa, Ashanti). Tales from Asia and Southeast Asia. The parts of the house argue (Philippines) --The tiger's whisker (Korea) --Little Lizard's sorrow (Vietnam). Tales from Europe. The three wishes (England) --The wooden bowl (Germany) --The happy man's shirt (Italy) --The dancing lass of Anglesey (Scotland). Tales from the Americas. How war was ended (North American Arctic, Central Yup'ik Eskimo) --How the quetzal got its red breast (Central America, Maya) --Old Dog and Coyote (Mexico, Otomi) --Paca and Beetle (South America, Brazil) --Gluscabi and the magic game bag (North American eastern woodlands, Abenaki). Proverbs from around the world

    Her ineffable presence somehow overlooked! This oversight, this loss of memory, is tragic and the cause of great suffering and misery among the inhabitants of the world. Only those beset with chronic spiritual amnesia could be so forlorn as to arrive at such a lamentable condition!The Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother Kali represent in book form an attempt to remind humanity of their divine parentage, of their source of origin, and of their perfect inner nature. In order to re-introduce humanity to the Universal Mother, twenty-four powerful representations which attend Her remarkable personage and which are eternal portions of Her august form are discussed throughout these pages.This book is a "must read," not only for aspirants and devotees, but also for followers of Eastern religion and philosophy and for every interested advocate of the Divine Mother path, regardless of cultural bias, personal preference, or historical orientation.Mother Kali is the Universal Archetype, the primeval Matriarch, the all-pervasive, indivisible ocean of pure Consciousness which is simultaneously Transcendent, Immanent and Absolute. As the great sage, Vyasa, has stated in the ancient writings of Vedic lore and scripture: "The power of the Divine Mother is very great. This whole cosmos is urged into activity by Her and thus goes rolling on and on incessantly. Even the Divine Incarnations are under the inluence of Her power and perform their various functions continually."

    Was the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey a single individual who created the poems at a particular moment in history? Or does the name "Homer" hide the shaping influence of the epic tradition during a long period of oral composition and transmission?In this innovative investigation, Gregory Nagy applies the insights of comparative linguistics and anthropology to offer a new historical model for understanding how, when, where, and why the Iliad and the Odyssey were ultimately preserved as written texts that could be handed down over two millennia. His model draws on the comparative evidence provided by living oral epic traditions, in which each performance of a song often involves a recomposition of the narrative.This evidence suggests that the written texts emerged from an evolutionary process in which composition, performance, and diffusion interacted to create the epics we know as the Iliad and the Odyssey. Sure to challenge orthodox views and provoke lively debate, Nagy's book will be essential reading for all students of oral traditions.

    In this second volume, the focus is the human body as a carrier of deep psychological insights and sacred meanings. Whether idolized or abused, the body is the object of much fascinated attention, even obsessive preoccupation, in the contemporary Western world. What has been missing from our culture's preoccupation is an appreciation of the body's organs as symbols of the deepest contents of the human psyche. This book surveys the richness of meaning found in a wide range of beautiful sacred images from the world's traditions and explains what the symbolism of our physical form teaches us about the inner realities of our consciousness, spirit, and divine essence.

    As anthropologist Ashley Montagu notes, Knight's eighteenth-century work combines seriousness of purpose with ingenuity and wit. Its companion piece, Wright's nineteenth-century survey, ranges even further in scope, embracing the worship of the female as well as of the male generative powers. Both works have long been out of print, and this new edition will prove a great benefit to students and scholars.

    The Women's Devotional Bible 2 combines all the features of its best-selling predecessor with a fresh, two-color design to bring you 52 weeks of new daily devotions from some of Christianity's most trusted women. - Back by popular request are Mother Teresa, Joni Eareckson Tada, Susan Lenzkes, Gloria Gaither, and others. New contributors such as Rosa Parks, Luci Shaw, and Elisa Morgan join them in taking you to God's Word for clear-sighted perspectives on subjects as varied as single parenting, nature, cancer, confidence in God, divorce, and grandparenting. From the heartwarming to the poignant, you'll find encouragement, inspiration, and insight into topics that are important to you

    It is a medieval Sanskrit text, comprising a summary study in poetic form of the Bhagavata Purana. It was composed by Melpathoor Narayana Bhattathiri, (1560-1666 A.D.) one of the celebrated Sanskrit poets in Kerala. Even though the Narayaneeyam was completed as early as 1586 A.D., it appeared in print only after more than 250 years. The Bhagavata Purana is a major Hindu scripture consisting of about 18,000 verses, mainly devoted to the worship of Krishna.

    It includes accounts of the scholars and theologians who have endorsed or rejected the flood story.

    A completely new and original collection, it was drawn together by the author in his travels around Ireland.

    His description of Saint Nicholas personified the jolly old elf known to millions of children throughout the world. However, far from being the offshoot of Saint Nicholas of Turkey, Santa Claus is the last of a long line of what scholars call Wild Men who were worshipped in ancient European fertility rites and came to America through Pennsylvania's Germans. This pagan creature is described from prehistoric times through his various forms--Robin Hood, The Fool, Harlequin, Satan and Robin Goodfellow--into today's carnival and Christmas scenes. In this thoroughly researched work, the origins of Santa Claus are found to stretch back over 50,000 years, jolting the foundation of Christian myths about the jolly old elf.

    

    The original Counter Reformation myths saw the individualism of Don Juan, Don Quixote, and Faust as a problem to be quelled by death or mockery. However, the Romantic period, a time more favorably disposed toward myth, saw their dissension not as unacceptable disorder, but rather as admirable and heroic behavior. This incisive study traces attitudes toward these figures and the Romantic product Robinson Crusoe from disapproval to awe to skepticism, examining them as icons of such problems as solitude, narcissism, and the claims of the self versus the claims of the community. Pointedly, none of these figures marries or has a lasting relationship, save for the selfless devotion of a single male servant. Watt argues that the myths of Don Juan, Don Quixote, Faust, and Robinson Crusoe remain the distinctive products of Western society, embodying the most basic values of modern culture.

    A collection of folktales from various cultures in Mexico, all focusing on the important roles of women, such as Rosha, a young girl who rescues the sun; the goddess Tangu Yuh; Kesne, a Zapotec princess; and the Virgin Mary.

    

    Here you will find tales of the cat who saved the rooster from the clutches of the vixen, the runaway bun who wouldn't be eaten, Mr Kotsky, the fiercest animal in the forest, and many more.

    The origins and historical significance of each legend are examined and recurring motifs are traced through the ages and around the world. Over 2,500 detailed entries form the second part of this guide, providing a fascinating and comprehensive reference source to one of the most influential and misunderstood strands of social and literary history.

    A. Wilding's Latin Course for Schools, published in three parts, is well established as an excellent introduction to the language, providing details of grammar and syntax in an ordered and easily assailable sequence. Continuous translation from original sources is used throughout the course from the earliest stages, both in order to give pupils a sense of achievement and to instill in them a genuine interest in Latin.

    Symbols tell a story but we must first know how to read them. Otherwise, one just sees a picture without the intended message. This book produces the key to understanding many important symbols. For centuries emblems and symbols have been used for trademarks, watermarks, and decorative purposes. These were covered well in Volume One. Volume Two moves into many sacred and mystical areas, covering such things as the heavenly twins, the white horse, the sign of the cross, fire and fire cults, standing stones and dolmens, gardens, fruits & flowers, the tree of life, Via Dolorosa and Jesus, and ends with a conclusion that brings both volumes together. There is a wealth of information to be found in this book because Bayley was a true master in etymology and the origins of words. The drawings are quite simple since they're either the earliest known version of the symbol or the artist was not that elaborate, but the information contained herein is unsurpassed. This book stands well on its own and Volume One does not have to be read first in order to understand it.

    

    Its five chapters argue that the feminized landscapes, militaristic women, and beautiful female corpses of the Roman epic tradition should be interpreted in conjunction with the use of the genre by ancient educators as a means of inculcating Roman codes of masculinity and femininity in their pupils. The issues addressed are of interest not just to classicists but also to students of later poetic traditions and to those pursuing gender studies.

    

    In an engaging and entertaining style, she explore myths and fairy tales involving victims and heroes and encourages individuals to reach a new level of spiritual and emotional maturity.

    Here in one sumptuously illustrated collection are thirty-five of the best-known and loved stories of seven of our world's religions. Read or listen to their stories and you will understand more about different beliefs and the people who base their lives on them.The stories, taken from the mythic traditions of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Native American, and Sacred Earth, represent a rich storehouse of history, tradition, and symbols of humanity's deepest needs and longings. They are our spiritual legacy.Sacred Myths gives equal importance and credence to each religion, conveying the message that there are many paths to truth and all deserve respect.Each chapter has been checked for accuracy and approved by appropriate religious authorities and representatives. the book includes a brief explanation of each religion includes a brief explanation of each religion, suggested reading list, glossary of terms and pronunciation key.Inspiring and illuminating, Sacred Myths is a spiritual heirloom for readers of all ages.(Jacket Description)Your children (and you) will fall into this book. Even before the stories begin, the illustrations envelop you in their lush, exotic worlds, where enchanted lakes yield treasure, virgins give birth, and elephants hold up the world. Marilyn McFarlane retells five classic stories in each of seven major religious traditions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Native American and a miscellaneous category of Greek and other pagan myths she calls Sacred Earth. Many you'll recognize—David and Goliath, the Loaves and the Fishes, the Buddha and the Bodhi Tree—and others will be as fresh and captivating to you as they are to your children. Appends useful Pronunciation Guide, Glossary and list of Further Reading.

    The catalog covers the spectrum of Eskimo painting, graphic art, basketry, wood carving, skin and cloth sewing, dolls, engraved ivory from 1866

    The male phallic was recognized as the bringer of life and the progenitor of the human race. As with many ancient cultures, a more complete understanding of the phenomena of sexual intercourse was to remain a mystery and, even by today's standards, some of those mysteries remain.It is evident that the belief of the reciprocal principles of nature, male and female, light and dark, active and passive; was known in most of the primitive religious systems of both the old and new worlds. Thus, what resulted was the widespread, common veneration paid to the sexual parts, as they were associated to the productive and generative principles in nature.The origin of phallic worship is hidden behind so much obscurity that very little is actually known about it. The Phoenicians, Egyptians, Phrygians, Greeks, Hindus, and many others have legends and myths concerning phallic worship that date back to prehistory. This book explores the origins of phallic worship, its influence on the religions of antiquity, serpent symbolism, the tree of knowledge, the "fall of man", and sun-god worship in antiquity.The intricate correlations that Ancient Symbol Worship makes concerning the origin of phallic worship throughout the ancient world includes important knowledge which would otherwise not be known today.

    Journey with Thor to Giant Land to retrieve his stolen hammer; help Theseus through the dark corridors of the Labyrinth to do battle with the dreaded Minotaur; trace Sir Gawain's path through the maze to the mysterious Green Knight; and lead the Blackfoot brave Poia to the Sun's lodge and home again. 10" x 10". Color illus.

    Homer, His Art and His World takes Homer out of the preserve of specialists, and carefully outlines the historical background to Homer and his poetry. Current perspectives on the Iliad and the Odyssey are explained clearly, and narrow philological questions are deliberately avoided.Written in an accessible style for lovers of Homer and all who would like to be, Latacz's book brings Homer closer to the modern audience as a poet, and not as a historical source. Homer, His Art and His World includes sections on the relevance of Homer to modern issues in literary criticism; on contemporary culture and history, including the Mycenaean era; the renaissance of the eighth century B.C.E.; and the poetical context of Homer's work; as well as specific chapters on the Iliad and Odyssey and features peculiar to each poem.Homer, His Art and His World will be of interest to a broad range of readers, including those interested in the literary history of Western culture.Joachim Latacz is Professor of Greek at the University of Basel, Switzerland. James P. Holoka is Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Eastern Michigan University.