The Triumph of the Moon is the first full-scale study of the only religion England has ever given the world--modern pagan witchcraft, otherwise known as wicca. Meticulously researched, it provides a thorough account of an ancient religion that has spread from English shores across four continents. For centuries, pagan witchcraft has been linked with chilling images of blood rituals, ghostlike druids, and even human sacrifices. But while Robert Hutton explores this dark side of witchery, he stresses the positive, reminding us that devotion to art, the natural world, femininity, and the classical deities are also central to the practice of wicca. Indeed, the author shows how leading figures in English literature--W.B. Yeats, D.H. Lawrence, and Robert Graves, just to name a few--celebrated these positive aspects of the religion in their work, thereby softening the public perception of witchcraft in Victorian England. From cunning village folk to freemasons and from high magic to the black arts, Hutton chronicles the fascinating process by which actual wiccan practices evolved into what is now a viable modern religion. He also presents compelling biographies of wicca's principal figures, such as Gerald Gardner, who was inducted into a witch coven at the age of 53, and recorded many clandestine rituals and beliefs. Ronald Hutton is known for his colorful, provocative, and always thoroughly researched studies on original subjects. This work is no exception. It will appeal to anyone interested in witchcraft, paganism and alternative religions.

    "An autobiographical account of how a psychiatric nurse specialist became a folk medicine healer; this also explains the origins and practice of one of the oldest forms of medicine in the New World."--Kirkus.

    This distinctive book and deck of 52 beautifully illustrated cards celebrate the many faces of the Goddess as she has been worshipped around the world since the beginning of time. 52 cards Book is 208 pp, b&w illus., pb. Not sold separately.

    Everyday Magic updates the ancient arts to fit your busy lifestyle. It promotes the use of modern convenience items as viable magical tools, and it incorporates the use of easy-to-find spell ingredients--most of which are already in your kitchen cabinet. It discusses the items and forces that boost magical work, as well as offering a multitude of time-saving tips and a large assortment of recipes for creating your own incenses, potions, and powders. More than 300 spells and rituals cover the everyday concerns of the modern practitioner.Set your spell into motion and speed up the results with "magical boosters" Magnify your focused intent and energy flow with herbs, flowers, trees, and stones Learn how to perform ancient arts with modern tools: your coffee maker, blender and crock pot Make your own magical powders, sachets, bath salts, potpourris, incenses and oils Discover the secret to success in magical workings Practical spells for more than 300 purposes 1999 COVR Award Winner

    Mystics have studied the energies associated with names for centuries, but The Hidden Truth of Your Name is the first book to synthesize their fascinating findings into one compelling resource--offering in-depth profiles of 750 American names. Created by a team of linguistic experts and specialists, this beguiling reference guides you through the illuminating intricacies of three ancient systems of divination--and shows you how to apply them to create a subtly nuanced portrait of any name you choose.- KABBALAH--This ancient Hebrew system of letter-and-number analysis helps you discover what the mathematics of your name adds up to in terms of work, relationships, and spiritual energies.- THE RUNES--The letters of this old northern European alphabet, for centuries an honored source of religious and magical values, open surprising windows to self-discovery and change.- NUMEROLOGY--The key numbers of your name contain potent truths about the positive and negative aspects of your true nature--and your destiny.Complete with the principle colors, gemstones, and herbs that harmonize with each name, this delightfully accessible book at last gives you the means to uncover the hidden truth and unique traits of your name.

    The Bathhouse at Midnight, by one of the world's foremost experts on the subject, surveys all forms of magic, both learned and popular, in Russia from the fifth to the eighteenth century. While no book on the subject could be exhaustive, The Bathhouse at Midnight does describe and assess all the literary sources of magic, witchcraft, astrology, alchemy, and divination from Kiev Rus and Imperial Russia, and to some extent Ukraine and Belorussia. Where possible, Ryan identifies the sources of the texts (usually Greek, Arabic, or West European) and makes parallels to other cultures, ranging from classical antiquity to Finnic. He finds that Russia shares most of its magic and divination with the rest of Europe.Subjects covered include the Evil Eye, the Number of the Beast, omens, dreams, talismans and amulets, plants, gemstones, and other materials thought to possess magic properties. The first chapter gives a historical overview, and the final chapter summarizes the political, religious, and legal aspects of the history of magic in Russia. The author also provides translations of some key texts.The Bathhouse at Midnight will be invaluable for anyone--student, teacher, or general reader--with an interest in Russia, magic, or the occult. It is unique in its field and is set to become the definitive study of Russian magic. Librarian Note: An Alternate Cover Edition to ISBN 9780271019670 can be found here.

    J. Conway and Lisa Hunt. Using her deep knowledge of the ancient Celts and working with the ancient dragon energies, Conway has designed one of the most vivid and powerful Tarot decks ever. The art for this deck was created by fantasy illustrator Lisa Hunt. Her brilliant and surprisingly intense watercolor amplifies the meanings of the cards. Her different types of dragons are filled with passion and life that will bring chills to your spine as you look at each card. No words can really express the beauty of this deck. The amazing detail to attention on each card, from delicate scrollwork on clothes to the intensity of the expressions on the people and many different dragons will astound you. The included 216-page book explains the symbolism and meanings of each card. Included are four Tarot spreads to help make The Celtic Dragon Tarot a part of your daily life. Also featured are instructions on how to meditate with this deck, including three guided meditations. Numerous spells are given that use this deck and candles for healing, luck, protection, love, and more. You'll even learn how to develop your psychic abilities. This is the kit that has it all. A beautiful, well-conceived deck and a thorough book. Whether you are interested in the Tarot, the Celts, magic, or self-improvement, this kit is a must

    The author considers the advantages and disadvantages of working in groups and presents new ideas for developing magical techniques for the 21st century.'

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

    

    Anyone caught by surprise in the open fields or depths of the woods would see a bizarre procession of demons, giants, hounds, ladies of the night, soldiers, and knights, some covered in blood and others carrying their heads beneath their arms. This was the Wild or Infernal Hunt, the host of the damned, the phantom army of the night--a theme that still inspires poets, writers, and painters to this day. Millennia older than Christianity, this pagan belief was employed by the church to spread their doctrine, with the shapeshifters' and giants of the pagan nightly processions becoming sinners led by demons seeking out unwary souls to add to their retinues. Myth or legend, it represents a belief that has deep roots in Europe, particularly Celtic and Scandinavian countries. The first scholar to fully examine this myth in each of its myriad forms, Claude Lecouteux strips away the Christian gloss and shows how the Wild Hunt was an integral part of the pagan worldview and the structure of their societies. Additionally, he looks at how secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted these ghostly processions through cult rituals culminating in masquerades and carnival-like cavalcades often associated with astral doubles, visions of the afterlife, belief in multiple souls, and prophecies of impending death. He reveals how the nearly infinite variations of this myth are a still living, evolving tradition that offers us a window into the world in which our ancestors lived.

    In fact, the Tarot is one of the oldest and most enduring tools of self-transformation. "Tarot Journeys "by Yasmine Galenorn takes you on a voyage of self-discovery through the images and symbols of the cards known as the Major Arcana. Through guided meditation, you will hone your powers of visualization, develop a deeper ability to concentrate, and even effect changes in your life. "Tarot Journeys" leads you through 22 guided meditations, one for each of the cards of the Major Arcana, on a long inner journey to stimulate imagination. Working with the meditations can help you understand your transformation through various lifecycles. The meditations in "Tarot Journeys "guide you through the story of human growth and understanding, from the search for self to the tearing down of limitations to the transforming integration of your true nature. The practice of these guided meditations, either by yourself or with a group, allows you to explore your inner knowledge of the Tarot and establish a personal relationship with each card and its meaning. "Tarot Journeys" is unique in two ways. First, it uses Pagan archetypes throughout. The Empress becomes the Goddess, the Devil becomes the Horned God, and the moon becomes the Priestess. Second, the book includes a free CD, with two of these lyrical journeys recorded over beautiful music. Let this book and CD guide you with gentle wisdom on your path through life. Get "Tarot Journeys" today.

    Packed with detailed color photographs, the book is a must-have for forest landowners, game and wildlife managers, biologists, outdoors enthusiasts, students--anyone with an interest in the intricate and often unexpected interrelationships between the flora and fauna of our region’s forests.Features:Descriptions of native and nonnative (exotic or invasive) plants, including 330 species of forbs, in 180 genera: grasses, sedges, and rushes; woody vines and semiwoody plants; shrubs; palms and yucca; cane; cactus; ferns; and ground lichen650 color photosMap of physiographic provinces56 simple black-and-white drawings of flower parts, flower types, and inflorescences, leaf arrangements, leaf divisions, shapes, and margins, and parts of a grass plantGlossaryIndex of genera by family, index by wildlife species, and index of scientific and common names

    

    Medieval and renaissance traditions of geomancy use simple but powerful methods of interpretation that are easy to use, and based on the flow of elemental energies through the earth. This book teaches those methods, drawing from writings that have been completely out of print since the Renaissance.

    In addition, you'll find recipes designed for each holiday, spellwork for different seasons of the year, and ceremonies for such Pagan-oriented days as the Feast of the Fallen Warriors, Lupercalia, and Kamehameha Day.

    Within the mind of every human being is a cosmos that matches the physical cosmos atom for atom. If you can learn how to tap the motherlode of wisdom in your inner cosmos, virtually anything in the universe comes within the realm of your understanding. You will cultivate your visualization skills, feed your creativity, and understand the true potency of rituals performed by only using your imagination! These pathworkings take you through ancient civilizations Egypt, Greece, Celtia, and Alexandria and even into the new millennium. You'll find your way into the mystical realms of the Tree of Life, the Angelic, and Elemental worlds, or explore shamanic workings, the Craft, and the Fairy Faith. From each pathworking you will gain new insight into timeless truths, and the wide variety of pathworkings in this book will help you find a path that works best for you. You can also refer to a working that is appropriate for the specific life situation in which you find yourself. Soon you'll be able to project your consciousness into astral scenery of your own making to find solutions to your personal challenges or to open up new opportunities in your life. If you can visualize it, you can make it happen!

    According to tradition, this was taken as he lay "under a cloak," presumably seeking inspiration from his, pagan, deities. First published in 1979, the present edition expands its discussion of the background to this peacable adoption of the new faith, and its growth under succeeding generations. The author shows how tolerance and pragmatism were early features of the Icelandic church.