Some call him the Golden One; others, the Lord of the Silver Bow. To the Dardanians, he is Prince Aeneas. But to his friends, he is Helikaon. Strong, fast, quick of mind, he is a bold warrior, hated by his enemies, feared even by his Trojan allies. For there is a darkness at the heart of the Golden One, a savagery that, once awakened, can be appeased only with blood.Argurios the Mykene is a peerless fighter, a man of unbending principles and unbreakable will. Like all of the Mykene warriors, he lives to conquer and to kill. Dispatched by King Agamemnon to scout the defenses of the golden city of Troy, he is Helikaon's sworn enemy.Andromache is a priestess of Thera betrothed against her will to Hektor, prince of Troy. Scornful of tradition, skilled in the arts of war, and passionate in the ways of her order, Andromache vows to love whom she pleases and to live as she desires.Now fate is about to thrust these three together; and, from the sparks of passionate love and hate, ignite a fire that will engulf the world.Readers who know the works of David Gemmell expect nothing less than excellence from this author, whose taut prose, driving plots, and full-bodied characters have won him legions of fans the world over. Now, with this first masterly volume in an epic reimagining of the Trojan War, Gemmell has written an ageless drama of brave deeds and fierce battles, of honor and treachery, of love won and lost.From the Hardcover edition.

    And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena - Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

    It was originally published by the author under his own Tala Comics Publishing in four issues in 1999, and was collected into a special edition by Adarna House in September of 2005.The story centers on University of the Philippines Anthropology student Nicole Lacson, a girl who holds a passionate love for Filipino myths passed down from her grandfather. Together with a motley assortment of companions, she meets the mysterious Mrs. Enkanta and races to recapture enkantos (supernatural creatures) who have escaped and are causing havoc in the human world. The story also references historical and mythological Filipino heroes like Kubin, Sulayman and Lam-ang.(from http://en.wikipilipinas.org/)

    From unicorns, salamanders, satyrs, giants, elves and trolls, to dragons, nymphs, mermaids, werewolves and griffins — take an enchanting journey through the history, folklore, and mythology of these beasts from virtually every culture in the world. With stories and amazing facts on even the most obscure mythological creature, this is a cornucopia of magic and folklore.

    Rowling has created in her spellbinding series of novels. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to the World of Harry Potter explores all aspects of the wizarding world and explains factually in terms of their relationship to historical, literary, religious, scientific, or mythological roots.?In-depth information on the facts behind all seven books in the Harry Potter series?Covers all the relevant influences for the Harry Potter series, from religion and mythology to science and literature.?Can be read from cover to cover or used as a quick-reference guide

    They raise direct questions regarding the source of thought, the essence of our being and are as relevant today as they were 2000 years ago.The Isavasya proclaims the all-pervasiveness of this totality of consciousness which is here called Isha, the Lord, and urges one to let go the narrow and self-centered identity we are caught up in and rejoice in the flow of the infinite wholeness of Life.The word Kena means Who. This Upanishad concerns itself with the question of ones ID. Is there a separate I or is it merely a term used to describe the totality of cognizance. Is there an I beyond the limited, self-centered ID?The Mandukya examines the same idea but in a different way, exploring the states of consciousness all human beings experience namely, the waking state, the dream state and the deep sleep state, and postulates that there is a common experiencer in all these states, a witness, not affected by the states and which is the totality of consciousness called Turiya represented by the Pranava, OM.PrefaceThe Upanishads represent the high watermark not only of Hindu Philosophy but of spiritual literature anywhere in the world. These marvellous discourses and dialogues between self-realized seers, known as Rishis, and one or more disciples, contain powerful and eloquent statements regarding the ultimate reality in its multifarious facets. They have been well described as providing an ‘ecstatic slide show of reality, a privileged glimpse of the unitive vision in which all thing are one in a world aflame with God’. They contain some of the most eloquent passages such as – ‘I have seen that Great Being shining like a thousand suns beyond the darkness; it is only by knowing that being that we can achieve immortality’ and again, ‘Hear O children of immortal bliss, you are born to be united with the Divine; follow the path of the illumined ones and be united with the Supreme Being’.The universal truths articulated in the Upanishads have formed the basis for numerous commentaries down through the centuries, beginning with the luminous insights of Adi Shankaracharya. In our own times Sri Aurobindo, Sri Krishnaprem, Dr Radhakrishnan, Swami Ranganathananda, Eknath Ishwaran and other great seers and sages have produced commentaries and interpretations on various Upanishads. The Upanishads are enduring and unfailing sources of inspiration, and their impact grows with each successive reading. One of my favourites is the Mundaka which I have translated and upon which I have attempted a short commentary.The author of this book, Sri Mumtaz Ali, popularly known as ‘M’, has spoken extensively upon the Upanishads, based on his personal experience. The fact that a person born a Muslim should have such a deep insight into the Hindu tradition proves once again that the spiritual path accepts no boundaries. The three Upanishads upon which M has commented are among the most important – the Ishavasya, which is always given pride of place in any list of Upanishads, the Mandukya which expounds the deeper symbolism of the sacred symbol Aum, and the Kena where we have the marvellous allegory of the Devas who thought they had won a victory, whereas actually it was the victory of the divine Brahman. In this Upanishad we come across Shiva and Yaksha, whose identity the Devas are unable to comprehend, and are also introduced to Uma, Haimavati, the many splendoured daughter of the Himalayas, who appears as the mediator between the Devas and the Supreme Brahman.In these talks M has expounded in a clear and cogent fashion various aspects of these three great texts. I have pleasure in commending this book to spiritual seekers and students of Hinduism around the world.

    As soon as men began writing they made Helen of Troy their subject. For close to 3000 years she's been both the embodiment of absolute female beauty & a reminder of the terrible power beauty can wield. Because of her double marriage to the Greek king Menelaus & the Trojan prince Paris, Helen was held responsible for enmity between East & West. For millennia she's been viewed as an agent of extermination. But who was she? Helen exists in many guises: a matriarch from the Heroic Age who ruled over one of the most fertile areas of the Mycenaean world; Helen of Sparta, the focus of a cult that conflated the heroine with a pre-Greek fertility goddess; the home-wrecker of the Iliad; the bitch-whore of Greek tragedy; the pin-up of Romantic artists. Focusing on the “real” Helen–-a flesh-&-blood aristocrat from the Greek Bronze Age–-Hughes reconstructs the life context of this prehistoric princess. Thru the eyes of a young Mycenaean woman, she examines the physical, historical & cultural traces that Helen has left on locations in Greece, N. Africa & Asia Minor. This book unpacks the facts & myths surrounding one of the most enigmatic & notorious figures of all time.IllustrationsText AcknowledgementsMapsTimelineDramatis PersonaeFamily TreesForeword & AcknowledgementsIntroductionCherchez la femmeAn evil destiny Helen-hunting Goddess, princess, whore1. Helen's birth in pre-historyA dangerous landscapeA rape, a birthThe lost citadelThe MycenaeansThe pre-historic princess2. The land of beautiful womenThe rape of 'fair Hellen'Sparte kalligynaikaTender-eyed girls 3. The world's desireA trophy for heroes The kingmaker A royal wedding4. KourotrophosHermione A welcome burdenHelen, high priestessLa belle Hélène 5. A lover's gameThe golden apple Bearing gifts Alexander Helenam RapuitThe female of the species is more deadly than the male6. Eros & ErisHelen the whoreThe pain of AphroditeThe sea's foaming lanes7. Troy beckonsEast is east & west is westThe fair Troad The topless towers of IliumThe golden houses of the eastA fleet sets sail8. Troy besiegedHelen, destroyer of citiesDeath's dark cloud A beautiful death, Kalos ThanatosThe fall of Troy 9. Immortal HelenHome to Sparta The death of a queenThe age of heroes ends'Fragrant treasuries' The daughter of the ocean10. The face that launched a thousand shipsHelen in AthensHelen lost & Helen foundHelen, Homer & the chances of survivalVeyn fablesHelen of Troy & the bad SamaritanPerpulchra, more than beautifulDancing with the devilHelen's nemesisAppendicesThe Minotaur's islandLa ParisienneWomen of stone & clay & bronzeElemental Helen, she-gods & she-devilsRoyal purple, the color of congealed bloodEpilogue: Myth, history & historiaAbbreviationsNotesBibliographyIndex

    Until recently historians often dismissed these descriptions as elaborate fictions created by judicial interrogators eager to find evidence of stereotypical pacts with the Devil. Although this paradigm is now routinely questioned, and most historians acknowledge that there was a folkloric component to familiar lore in the period, these beliefs and the experiences reportedly associated with them, remain substantially unexamined. Cunning-Folk and Familiar Spirits examines the folkloric roots of familiar lore from historical, anthropological and comparative religious perspectives. It argues that beliefs about witches' familiars were rooted in beliefs surrounding the use of fairy familiars by beneficent magical practitioners or 'cunning folk', and corroborates this through a comparative analysis of familiar beliefs found in traditional native American and Siberian shamanism. The author explores the experiential dimension of familiar lore by drawing parallels between early modern familiar encounters and visionary mysticism as it appears in both tribal shamanism and medieval European contemplative traditions. These perspectives challenge the reductionist view of popular magic in early modern British often presented by historians.

    From goblins and fairies to dragons and Dracula, this encyclopedia covers them all with sparkling, readable text and stunning illustrations. Discover how the magic of stories throughout the centuries has kept these creatures alive in traditions and cultures around the world. Using a highly visual approach, featuring more than 400 photographs and illustrations, this book will introduce readers to each fantasy character within its habitat and genre. Cross-reference boxes direct readers to popular books and movies starring these fantastical creatures. This is a must-have for any fantasy enthusiast!

    The Pandava brother, Bheema, was lucky to have him as a son, for he saved his life more than once. And if it were not for this brave young rakshasa, the Kauravas may well have been the victors of the famous battle of Mahabharata.

    In The Disobedience of the Daughter of the Sun, he revives a hitherto unknown Guatemalan Tzutujil Mayan tale of the beginnings of the world with a poetic retelling of the story, 28 evocative drawings, and a critical analysis that both enlightens and entertains. Having lived with the Mayans and learned their language, Prechtel authoritatively retells the powerful tale of the Tall Girl who weaves the world in a loom, her parents the Sun and the Moon who repudiate her suitors, and the mysterious man who disguises himself as a hummingbird to lure her away. Prechtel expands this archetypal story with five layers of commentary, each teasing out a different wisdom and revealing its relevance to the world today.

    Where can you find the 'Devil's footprints'? What happened at the 'hangman's stone'? Did Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street, ever really exist? Where was King Arthur laid to rest? Bringing together tales of hauntings, highwaymen, family curses and lovers' leaps, this magnificent guide will take you on a magical journey through England's legendary past.

    Pagan religions have tended to be more concerned with practice than with theory and in a system that has no dogma - no legislated doctrine - that is as it should be. Yet as out movement grows and matures, it is inevitable that we will begin to think in a more abstract way about our models and systems. John Michael Greer has provided a primer on the kinds of ideas and themes that must be included in any discussion of the theology and philosophy of Neo-pagan religions.

    Now Lost Star of Myth and Time shows evidence the Ancients were not just weaving fanciful tales - science is on the verge of an amazing discovery - our Sun has a companion star carrying us through a great cycle of stellar influences. If true, it means the Ancients were right and our views of space and time and the history of civilization will never be the same. More than that, it would mean we are now at the dawn of a new age in human development and world conditions.

    A faithful rendition of the 2000 year old Song Celestial, Bibek Debroys translation resonates with the spirit of the original while using modern idiom and language. He captures, verse by verse, the essence of this ancient philosophical poem which debates eternal questions of right and wrong, action and consequence, and the conflicting nature of duty and love. The text stands by itself, complete and without interpolation, juxtaposed with the Sanskrit for easy reference, interpretation and explanation are tucked away as notes at the end. Authentic and readily accessible to the scholar and the non initiate, this edition of the Gita is essential reading for anybody who wishes to grasp the core of Indian philosophy and religion.

    Nineteenth-and twentieth-century scholars understood the term "mythology" as a gathering of song and story that derived from and described an identifiable world. Tolkien made a continuous effort over several years to construct a comprehensive mythology, to include not only the stories themselves but also the storytellers, scribes, and bards who were the offspring of his thought. In Interrupted Music Flieger attempts to illuminate the structure of Tolkien's work, allowing the reader to appreciate its broad, overarching design and its careful, painstaking construction. She endeavors to "follow the music from its beginning as an idea in Tolkien's mind through to his final but never-implemented mechanism for realizing that idea, for bringing the voices of his story to the reading public." In addition, Flieger reviews attempts at myth-making in the history of English literature by Spenser, Milton, and Blake as well as by Joyce and Yeats. She reflects on the important differences between Tolkien and his predecessors and even more between Tolkien and his contemporaries. This in-depth study will fascinate those interested in Tolkien and fantasy literature.

    In the Oxford Companion to World Mythology, David Leeming explores the role of mythology, or myth-logic, in history and determines that the dreams of specific cultures add up to a larger collective story of humanity. Stopping short of attempting to be all-inclusive, this fascinating volume will nonetheless be comprehensive, opening with an introduction exploring the nature and dimensions of myth and proposing a definition as a universal language. Briefly dipping into the ways our understanding of myth has changed from Aristotle and Plato to modern scholars such as Joseph Campbell, the introduction loosely places the concept in its present context and precedes articles on influential mythologists and mythological approaches that appear later in the Companion.The main body of Leeming's work consists of A-Z entries covering all aspects of mythology, including substantial essays on the world's major mythological traditions (Greek, Native American, Indian, Japanese, Sumerian, Egyptian), mythological types and motifs (Descent to the Underworld, the Hero, the Trickster, Creation, the Quest), mythological figures (Odysseus, Zeus, Osiris, Spider Woman, and Inanna) as well as numerous interrelated subjects such as fairly tales and legends. The Companion also locates myth in our lives today, relating it to language patterns, psychology, religion, politics, art, and gender attitudes. Many of the better-known and more significant myths are vividly retold in this volume that will be illustrated with maps, more than 70 black and white images, and eight pages of color highlighting the central role art has often played in the transmission and perpetuation of myth. Following the entries, a rich section of appendices will include family trees of the major pantheons, equivalency charts for the gods of Greece and Rome, Babylon and Sumer, as well as other traditions, an extensive bibliography, and an index.

    

    Fascinating facts abound: the Druids believed that only the wood of the yew tree was fit to make wands; a Ukrainian tonic of birch leaves contains the same healing properties as aspirin. A visually stunning and engaging guide, The Meaning of Trees is a fitting tribute to this most majestic of natural wonders. 8.60 inches tall x 0.80 inches long x 8.60 inches wide

    Forty-two chapters comprise Hillman's writings on the psychology of public affairs: urbanism, environmental aesthetics, citizenship, and politics.

    Dhruva countered the evil intentions of his scheming stepmother with intense devotion. Ashtavakra worked hard and by the age of 12 had absorbed all there was to learn. One was rewarded with a kingdom and a shining place in the celestial world for ever more; the other's brilliance brought his father back to life.

    We find in the same book the richness of a novel, a historical and above all spiritual coherence that can make sense of the world surrounding us; it is a challenge. A small miracle! If the presentation of the book reminds us of an epic narrative of science-fiction, and certainly, this book has a real epic 'breath of wind', The Secret of the Dark Stars examines the reality of our most distant past, the oldest civilization that gave birth to today's society, all to make sense of our present. The work of Anton Parks remains totally original, immersing the reader in a ceaseless ballet of questions and answers, playing with the roots of our most fundamental myths, the decoding of ancient and modern languages as part of an epic saga. Fiction or reality? It is up to the reader to decide. Anton Parks describes the functioning of the power struggles between the so-called "Gods" of the Egyptian and Sumerian pantheon by expanding the picture into a huge galactic bestiary, a highly complex and fascinating battle between multiple extraterrestrial civilizations whose identity is coded." Alain Gossens (Karma One) - Karmapolis.be, October, 2005 "The work of Parks remains unclassifiable and raises essential questions: what was happening on Earth before the coming of Man? What preceded and caused the advent of human civilizations? The author of the Secret of the Stars Dark fascinates thousands of readers around the world with his epic stories about the origin of human civilization. Parks just possibly restores to us our true genesis, the one which appears in the Sumerian texts, which, as a clairvoyant, he deciphers in a straightforward manner. Hang on, this is genuine Parks!" Nexus France, No. 43-44, Spring-Summer 2006. Anton Parks

    Bold, rich lyrics reveal the grand in the domestic, claiming the physical as an essential part of the -female experience, declaring that to live fully in the body is the truest, bravest, and most glorious form of worship.

    Seven essays offer a comprehensive survey of the legends in all of their manifestations, from theirorigins in medieval literature to their adaptation in modern literature, arts, film, and popular culture. It also demonstrates the tremendous continuity of the legends by examining the ways that they have been reinterpreted over the years. The indispensable reference on the subject, it also containsencyclopedic entries, bibliographies, and a comprehensive index. The extensive chapter-by-chapter bibliographies, which are subdivided by topic, augment the general bibliography of Arthurian resources. Comprehensive in its analysis and hypertextual in its approach, the Oxford Guide to Arthurian Literature and Legend is an essential reference book for Arthurian scholars, medievalists, and for those interested in cultural studies of myth and legend.

    Mummified animals are of four different types: food offerings, pets, sacred animals, and votive offerings. For the first time, a series of studies on the different types of animal mummies, the methods of mummification, and the animal cemeteries located at sites throughout Egypt are drawn together in a definitive volume on ancient Egyptian animal mummies. Studies of these animals provide information not only about the fauna of the country, and indirectly, its climate, but also about animal domestication, veterinary practices, human nutrition, mummification technology, and the religious practices of the ancient Egyptians. Contributors: Edda Bresciani, Aidan Dodson, Salima Ikram, Dieter Kessler, Abd el-Halim Nur el-Din, Paul Nicholson, Donald Redford, Susan Redford, Roger Lichtenberg, and Alain Zivie.

    This volume details the mystery teachings of the goddess Aset (Isis) from Ancient Egypt- the path of wisdom. It includes the teachings of her temple and the disciplines that are enjoined for the initiates of the temple of Aset as they were given in ancient times. Also, this book includes the teachings of the main myths of Aset that lead a human being to spiritual enlightenment and immortality. Through the study of ancient myth and the illumination of initiatic understanding the idea of God is expanded from the mythological comprehension to the metaphysical. Then this metaphysical understanding is related to you, the student, so as to begin understanding your true divine nature.

    Now in its second edition, it provides:a new introduction updated entries and four new entries on deities names of the deities as Hieroglyphs a survey of gods and goddesses as they appear in classical literature an expanded chronology and updated bibliography, together with a list of relevant websites drawings of the gods and emblems of each district a map of ancient Egypt and a time chart Presenting a vivid picture of the complexity and richness of imagery in Egyptian mythology, students studying Ancient Egypt, travelers, visitors to museums and all those interested in mythology will find this an invaluable resource.

    Jung, presents lectures on the symbolic meaning of several domestic and wild animals. According to Jung, the animal is sublime and, in fact, represents the "divine" side of the human psyche. He believed that animals live much more in contact with a "secret" order in nature itself and--far more than human beings--live in close contact with "absolute knowledge" of the unconscious. In contrast to humankind, the animal is the living being that follows its own inner laws beyond good and evil--and is, in this sense, superior. Hannah's previously published lectures were on the cat, dog, and horse. These lectures add material on the serpent, the lion, the cow, and the bull, illustrating how, in the light of consciousness, the archetypal images of animals can be positive and helpful. Here Hannah shows how our animal nature can become the psychic source of renewal and natural wholeness.The Archetypal Symbolism of Animals is the second volume in the "Polarities of the Psyche" series, edited by Emmanuel Kennedy-Xypolitas. This series focuses on the broad theme of the opposites in the psyche. In 2004, Chiron published the first volume, Lectures on Jung's Aion, by Barbara Hannah and Marie-Louise von Franz. Also in this series is the two-volume set of Barbara Hannah's Animus: The Spirit of Inner Truth in Women (2010): Volume 1 and Volume 2.This volume and its companions in the series are invaluable resources for a deeper understanding of Jung's ideas on archetypes in the human psyche.

    But where did the concepts come from? Who invented them? Almost two centuries ago, Jacob Grimm assembled what was known about such creatures in his work on 'Teutonic Mythology', which brought together ancient texts such as Beowulf and the Elder Edda with the material found in Grimm's own famous collection of fairy-tales. This collection of essays now updates Grimm, adding much material not known in his time, and also challenges his monolithic interpretations, pointing out the diversity of cultural traditions as well as the continuity of ancient myth.

    And antennae, branches, tentacles etc.Dr Price's Final Transmutation Guy OgilvyHow the Royal Society found, then lost, the secrets of alchemyLife from Earth: The Golem and Homunculi Gary LachmanThe mystical origins of artificial life. Photography by Maud LarssonRobot Power, Robot Pride Ken HollingsHow the robot found its selfShould they Live: on the Use of Dead Babies Don MaderThe hidden meaning of a sinister 19th century religious printMould Art Discovered by Doug HarveyBeauty grows in unexpected placesThe Court of Lust John BranstonWaldo Sabine: parapsychologist, poet, feminist, martyrSandoz in the Rain: The Life and Art of Wilfried Satty John Coulthart on a lost visionary hero of the psychedelic revolutionBoris Vian for Anglophones Doug SkinnerThe scandalous oeuvre of the man who shocked his worldRichard Jefferies and the Agitated Pool of Life Neil Mortimer introduces this early, apocalyptic ecologistAnagrams for Maya Deren Kevin JacksonArtist, film maker, voodoo priestessChange in a Parallel World: CFRussell, Louis Culling and the Book of Changes Steve Moore presents an eccentric history and a new I ChingSpirits of Place: Strange Encounters of an Anglican Kind Alan WalkerHow the Church of England answered The ExorcistOne More Nightmare calling... the Heathen Robert J WallisLoki the 'pervert god', Seidrsorcery and the Left Hand Path.Illustrations by Arik Roper and Carina Thor'nTerror by Night: the Sleeping Partner Roger DobsonMemoirs of a hag-ridden manFolklore of Underground London Antony ClaytonWhat rumours lie beneath the city's streets?Cesare Thodol Mark SamuelsOn brain fungus and other horrors. Illustrated by Betsy Heistand

    It also examines the many Celtic deities who were linked with animals and such natural phenomena as rivers and caves, or who later became associated with local Christian saints. And it explores in detail the rich variety of Celtic myths: from early legends of King Arthur to the stories of the Welsh Mabinogi, and from tales of heroes including Cúchulainn, Fionn mac Cumhaill and the warrior queen Medb to tales of shadowy otherworlds - the homes of spirits and fairies. What emerges is a wonderfully diverse and fertile tradition of myth making that has captured the imagination of countless generations, introduced and explained here with compelling insight.

    Although emphasizing the areas where Celtic languages and traditions survive into the present, the work does not slight the reaches of the Celtic empire, which was the largest language and cultural group on earth prior to the rise of Rome. In some 1,500 articles, many representing original research by the finest Celtic scholars, the work covers the Celts from prehistory to the present, giving comprehensive treatment to all topics from myth to music, religion to rulers, literature to language, government to games, and all topics in between.Entry into the rich world of Celtic scholarship has been difficult: The available information must be teased out of dense scholarly tomes or lightweight books emphasizing such popular elements of Celtic tradition as wee people, Druids, and blue-painted pagans. While this work treats those topics within its broad scope, the information is presented as scholarship, without the pop patina.

    This volume seeks to take that one step further, exploring every facet of this ancient land.Written by an international team of experts in the fields of anthropology, Egyptology, archeology, history, and the visual arts, Egypt is a unique blend of engaging text and evocative color photographs, paintings, lithographs, sculptures, artifacts, maps, and illustrations. This stunning volume will take you on a journey into the past, bringing to life the peasants, priests, and pharaohs that peopled Ancient Egypt.504 pages including a chronology, index, and credits. Illustrated with more than 750 full-color photographs sourced from leading museums, art galleries, and private collections from across the globe.

    This book brings the Celtic Goddess to life.

    For members of Yoruba diaspora, temporal and geographic distance has not fully erased their memory or cultural activism. Orisa worship remains one of the most prominent and recognizable evidence of this connection. With millions of Orisa practitioners in the world, Yoruba gods are very much alive and form part of the Nigerian and Yoruba diasporan religious experience. This Volume seeks to introduce new ideas, perspectives, and methodologies on Orisa worship. The chapters reflect a multi-disciplinary approach to orsia study, covering a wide range of topics such a divination, the practice of Santeria, festivals and songs, the creation of the orisa-based communities within the United States, and globalization of cults. Most importantly, the volume documents the survival of religious practices, and its important role of reinforcing cultural values within a community as well as empowering its members to progress in the modern world.

    A comprehensive history of the geography and people of Samoa

    Deemed illicit by imperial rulers and clerics and officially banned by republican and communist leaders, the fox cult has managed to survive and flourish in individual homes and community shrines throughout northern China. In this new work, the first to examine the fox cult as a vibrant popular religion, Xiaofei Kang explores the manifold meanings of the fox spirit in Chinese society. Kang describes various cult practices, activities of worship, and the exorcising of fox spirits to reveal how the Chinese people constructed their cultural and social values outside the gaze of offical power and morality.

    Here, their voices bubble up from the depths, enraged and sardonic, sorrowing and wild, finding themselves on new ground -- scattered across the American continent, marking a path for the seeker to follow, from New England universities to Hawaiian volcanoes, from dilapidated factories to Chinatown kitchens, from the Old East to the New West...

    It provides a compelling glimpse into the experiences of a student of a real mystery school, showing how occult systems can be valuable tools in self discovery. Dr. Vasey answers commonly asked questions such as: How to meditate, visualize, and explore inner worlds, What occult schools actually offer their students, Why the occult and magic have more in common with self improvement and psychoanalysis techniques than with the idea of wand waving, broom riding magicians

    The rich and varied oral tradition of this Native language family, one of the farthest-flung in North America, comes brilliantly to life in this remarkably broad sampling of Algonquian songs and stories from across the centuries. Ranging from the speech of an early unknown Algonquian to the famous Walam Olum hoax, from retranslations of “classic” stories to texts appearing here for the first time, these are tales written or told by Native storytellers, today as in the past, as well as oratory, oral history, and songs sung to this day. An essential introduction and captivating guide to Native literary traditions still thriving in many parts of North America, Algonquian Spirit contains vital background information and new translations of songs and stories reaching back to the seventeenth century. Drawing from Arapaho, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Cree, Delaware, Maliseet, Menominee, Meskwaki, Miami-Illinois, Mi'kmaq, Naskapi, Ojibwe, Passamaquoddy, Potawatomi, and Shawnee, the collection gathers a host of respected and talented singers, storytellers, historians, anthropologists, linguists, and tribal educators, both Native and non-Native, from the United States and Canada—all working together to orchestrate a single, complex performance of the Algonquian languages.

    on gender, nation, sexuality. reviews history, cinema, poetry, fiction, links tradition and contemporary issues. also addresses communalism. a provocative collection

    Isidora Forrest, an ordained priestess of the Fellowship of Isis, guides magical practitioners down a modern, devotional path to this popular Egyptian goddess. She discusses the practice of ancient offering rites and shows how they can be applied today for spiritual growth and sacred magic. Readers can choose from over seventy scripted offerings to Isis. Also included are the sacred hieroglyphs associated with Isis and how these powerful, magical symbols can aid in forging a strong connection with the goddess.

    Learn about thousands of trolls who have immigrated to America. Part II relates the adventures of the trolls in the New World, with essays on Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, "The Troll Capital of the World," and the troll carvings of Little Norway. Artist Judith Simundson tells how to make your own troll figurine out of paper mache.

    It explains the Egyptians passion for love and life.

    We marry no princesses, gain no kingdoms. We wrap no monsters' tongues in silken handkerchiefs embroidered with the monogram of the beloved, take no trophies which, when later our claims are challenged, we can show the king as proof of our worth and thus gain the prize. The dragons we face are in the mind.." We never learn her name, but we do learn her story. Being sent away from her home village to apprentice with the Wiseman of the Wood is the best thing that ever happened to her. Then she learns that her cousin, a foolish dreamer of a boy, has undertaken a quest that could either bring him a princess and a kingdom or lose him his head. Against her will she gets caught up in his dream-a dream that will take her to the far reaches of the kingdom in search of the Water of Life. And although she has been told that the stories of the wise are never told, she learns a lesson that makes her story worth repeating. The seven tales of enchantment in this book range from modern versions of old stories to new stories with common fairytale themes. They take place in the present day and in the mythic past, but they all have something in common. Although there are ogres to be fought and princesses to be won, curses to be broken and quests to be fulfilled, the real challenge each of the heroes must face is personal. And beyond fear, beyond doubt, beyond the consequences of unbearable choice comes the poignant realization that life is what you make it, and contentment means more than "happily ever after.

    Terzah has recently had a harling, and is far from happy with Zen's posting. Terzah despises humans and has nothing but contempt for those around him. However, when tragedy strikes the small community, and a human who Terzah realises was actually a friend to him dies unexpectedly, Terzah is moved to take in the woman's orphaned sons. Not every human agrees with this, as they feel humans should be raised by humans. Terzah finds himself fighting prejudice as keen as his own. Gradually, Terzah realises his attitude to humanity must change, as hara and humans are forced to work together to overcome common threats and dilemmas, so that the settlement will succeed and become a real community. Conflicts within his own family and dark secrets kept by his consort add intrigue and drama to the tale. Terzah's Sons gives a fascinating glimpse into the daily life of hara, far from the courts of the high ranking and mighty. These are hara who get their hands dirty, coping with life's problems as best they can in primitive conditions. Author Victoria Copus has captured the character of Terzah, the customs of the shamanic Kheops and the complexities of intertribal politics with a deft hand. This story is a skilful and insightful addition to the canon of the Wraeththu Mythos.

    Hartley Burr Alexander recounts the continent's myths chronologically and region-by-region, offering a remarkably wide range of nomadic sagas, animist myths, cosmogonies and creation myths, end-time prophecies, and other traditional tales.The stories begin in the far North, among Norsemen and Eskimos, and range through the land of the forest dwellers, with extensive representation of tribes such as the Iroquois and Algonquian. Legends from the Gulf region and Great Plains encompass sun worship and trickster pranks, and from the Indians of the mountain and desert come tales of Navajo gods and episodes from the ghost world. The collection concludes among the natives of the Pacific coast, with stories of secret societies, totemism and totemic spirits, and the Raven Cycle — the supernatural lore surrounding the black bird who hung the sun, moon, and stars in the sky, put the salmon in the rivers and the fish in the sea, and amused itself by fooling people with its shape-shifting tricks.

    All are a bit kinky, all have strange powers they can't explain or control, and all put themselves in harm's way through their attraction to dangerous men. What is their connection to one another? Can they discover who they are in time to save themselves from a nightmarish fate? Interweaving Celtic myth with a compelling mystery, "The Morrigan" will draw you into the lives of its memorable characters, inviting you to piece the puzzle together as the story moves toward its explosive climax.

    

    Discover exciting tales of King Arthur, Odysseus and the Cyclops, and Sinbad and the Roc, Stories, fables and mythology from around the world are accompanied by beautiful illustrations, making this a timeless collection to treasure

    Some of the tales in this book feature bold re-interpretations of familiar stories from Heathen lore such as the winning of the Mead of Poetry, the death of Balder, and Odins sacrifice of self to Self on the World Tree, Yggdrasil, to obtain the runes. Others take the reader on absorbing new adventures. Edgy and provocative, this volume offers startling and insightful glimpses into Odins nature, and is designed to help the reader draw closer to this multi-faceted God of light, shadows, and paradox.

    Even as a young child, Cannon displays some of the curiosity and courage that made him into the adventurer and Defender of the Elite Council that he is today. Plus, this issue includes an in depth interview with Marcus To, tons of sketches, as well as an all-new cover by artist Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald!

    The authors of this groundbreaking book argue that all the principal characters are aspects of the one Celtic sky god, Lugh, who was a comet. Against the background of a comet scenario, this re-interpretation of about 10 key Celtic myths shows how many of the descriptions in the myths fit the appearance of comets.

    But is it too late to change?

    Yeats's folklore and early prose fiction, edited according to Yeats's final textual instructions. Its extensive annotation makes luminous Yeats's 'fibrous darkness', that 'matrix out of which everything has come', by comprehensively dealing with oral and written sources, abandoned and unpublished writings. The documentation is especially designed to acknowledge Yeats's strategies of self-allusion and the special role folkloric prose plays in relation to his poetry, drama, autobiographical writings, speculative prose, essays and letters. Featuring a number of new images, this is the first time that a work of Yeats's has been edited according to 'Book History' principles, and will be fascinating reading for all students and scholars of Yeats. Winner of the 2006 Wheatley Medal prize for an outstanding index.

    Political leaders and intellectuals on both sides of the conflict debated whether support for National Socialism tainted Germany's entire population and thus discredited the nation's history and culture. The tremendous challenge that Allied officials and German thinkers faced as the war closed, then, was how to limn a postwar German identity that accounted for National Socialism without irrevocably damning the idea and character of Germany as a whole. In  the House of the Hangman chronicles this delicate process, exploring key debates about the Nazi past and German future during the later years of World War II and its aftermath. What did British and American leaders think had given rise to National Socialism, and how did these beliefs shape their intentions for occupation? What rhetorical and symbolic tools did Germans develop for handling the insidious legacy of Nazism? Considering these and other questions, Jeffrey K. Olick explores the processes of accommodation and rejection that Allied plans for a new German state inspired among the German intelligentsia. He also examines heated struggles over the value of Germany's institutional and political heritage. Along the way, he demonstrates how the moral and political vocabulary for coming to terms with National Socialism in Germany has been of enduring significance—as a crucible not only of German identity but also of contemporary thinking about memory and social justice more generally. Given the current war in Iraq, the issues contested during Germany's abjection and reinvention—how to treat a defeated enemy, how to place episodes within wider historical trajectories, how to distinguish varieties of victimhood—are as urgent today as they were sixty years ago, and In the House of the Hangman offers readers an invaluable historical perspective on these critical questions.

    Labyrinths have existed as a spiritual tool for thousands of years, and are found in countries all around the globe. In the last two decades, church leaders, lay people, and spiritual seekers have rediscovered and embraced the labyrinth. Mazes have their origin in much more recent history--from 15th century European recreational garden mazes--but are no less spiritually significant. Convinced that labyrinths and mazes have much to teach us, MacQueen invites readers on a sometimes mystical, sometimes mysterious journey of spiritual discovery.

    Concentrating on cross-gendered encounters, this book analyses these meetings, and the different motifs and situations they encompass, from the consultation of a prophetess by a king or god, to sexual liaisons and return from the dead. It considers the evidence for their pre-Christian origins, discusses how far individual poets and prose writers were free to modify them, and suggests that they survived in medieval Christian society because (like folk-tale) they provide a non-dogmatic way of resolving social and psychological problems connected with growing up, succession from one generation to the next, sexual relationships and bereavement.

    He is a shaman, a storyteller and the inspiration for one of Canadas most vibrant and exciting art movements, the Woodland School of Art. Through his magical paintings he has given new life to ancient Native legends and fables and has helped to restore the dignity of his once-proud people. This new edition introduces numerous previously unpublished works to the book, as well as commentaries by collectors who have followed Morrisseaus artistic development through the decades. It also includes Duke Redbirds The Ballad of Noval Morrisseau, a deeply spiritual poem that personifies the power the artists paintings have for his people. A true celebration of the art and life of this remarkable man, Norval Morrisseau: Return to the House of Invention, provides insights into the artists imagination and mastery of his medium. In three essays, and the quotations that accompany the paintings, we learn about Morrisseaus approach to his work and the important historical and cultural influences that shaped his art. He tells us, in his own words, about his travels to the dream-like House of Invention, his source of inspiration for both content and colour. In Norval Morrisseau: Return to the House of Invention, we learn of the myths and legends of his ancestors, which had a profound influence on his brush, and how they relate to his work. The book now contains paintings and other pieces created over Morrisseaus entire career . It is complemented by an essay by Donald C. Robinson, in which he describes the painters unique approach to the physical act of painting, and explains how Morrisseau has developed as a master technician and colorist despite having little formal training.Norval Morrisseau is truly one of the most original and significant artists Canada has ever produced. This exceptional volume stands as a testament to both his incredible talent as a painter and his inspiring depth as a man.