Mysticism, Alchemy and Magic

The Middle Ages witnessed the blossoming of oral traditions whose echoes can still be found in many legends, fables, and tales today. In this collection of medieval tales of witchcraft, wonder, and the supernatural, Claude and Corinne Lecouteux explain how many of these stories arose in Classical Antiquity while some made their way into Dark Ages Europe from the Middle East and India. Offering com

In this exploration of the history of the runes from 1500 CE to the present day, Stephen Edred Flowers examines the five periods of runic revival: the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Romantic period, the early 20th century, and the late 20th century. For each period, he discusses both the scholarly studies and those focused on the esoteric mysteries of the runes--and how these two branches of

Offering an illustrated exploration of the origins and history of amulets, lucky charms, talismans, and mascots, including photos of unique and original artifacts from his extensive collection, Nigel Pennick examines these objects from a magical perspective, from ancient Egypt to the present. He looks at the age-old spiritual principles, folklore, and esoteric traditions behind their creation as w

A guide to the history and practice of Kimbanda, the black magic tradition of Brazil • Explains how Kimbanda´s presiding deity Eshu embodies both masculine and feminine principles, both god and devil, and thus represents human nature itself with all its vices and virtues • Discusses Kimbanda´s magical practices, initiation rites, sacred knives, and sacrificial offerings • Detai

Magic and politics seem like unlikely bedfellows, but in The King in Orange, author John Michael Greer goes beyond superficial memes and extreme partisanship to reveal the unmentionable realities that spawned the unexpected presidential victory of an elderly real-estate mogul turned reality-TV star and which continue to drive the deepening divide that is now the defining characteristic of American

Demonstrating the connections between astrology, alchemy, and yoga, Frederick Baker reveals how he discovered their correspondences by rotating the natural order of the zodiac, placing Aquarius and Capricorn at the bottom and Cancer and Leo at the top, to reflect the alchemical order of metals from lead to gold. This "Alchemical Tantric Arrangement" then revealed a corresponding alchemical order o

Part grimoire and part herbal formulary, this guide to the Poison Path of occult herbalism shares history, lore, and practical information regarding the use of poisonous, consciousness-altering, and magical plants. Author Coby Michael explains how, despite their poisonous nature, when approached with respect and reverence, baneful herbs can become powerful plant allies, offering potent medicine, m

The fossil record confirms that humanity originated in Africa. Yet somehow we have overlooked that Africa is also at the root of all that makes us human--our spirituality, civilization, arts, sciences, philosophy, and our conscious and unconscious minds. In this African-revisioned look at the unfolding of human history and culture, Edward Bruce Bynum reveals how our collective unconscious is Afric

As John Sandbach illuminates in depth, the Tarot is a portal to realms of wisdom. It not only can provide deep insight through traditional readings but also offers a hands-on way to learn multiple spiritual practices and metaphysical systems, each interrelated through numbers and the ways the systems are worked with to reveal cosmic truths.In this guide, Sandbach explores the deep interconnected m

Whether viewed as a mid-winter observance of the Winter Solstice or a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, for millennia cultures have taken time out to honour the darkest days of the year with lights, foods, and festivities.In ancient Egypt, people decorated their homes with greenery at the festival of the re-birth of the God Horus. The ancient Romans decorated their homes with vines and ivy

In initiation, something happens to us. We change. Some aspect of ourselves is transformed. The result is that the various forces within us—desires, dreams, motivations, and inspirations—are amplified, deepened, and redirected. Ultimately, the goal is to become your own creation, your better self, the person you wish to be.In this accessible guide to realizing your highest magical and spiritual po

In 1927 Julius Evola and other leading Italian esotericists formed the mysterious UR group. The purpose of this group was to study and practice ancient rituals from the mystery traditions of the world, both East and West, in order to attain a state of superhuman consciousness and power to allow them to act magically on the world. They produced a monthly journal containing techniques for spiritual

n this book, Rupert Spira distills the message of all the great religious and spiritual traditions into two essential truths: happiness is the very nature of our self or being, and we share our being with everyone and everything.

At present religious adherents outnumber non-religious by nearly 6 to 1 and world culture is divided between traditional and modern outlooks. In each of world culture's seven disciplines there are conflicting metaphysical and secular approaches. A unified world culture is essential if there is to be a World State, and The Secret American Destiny shows how America can heal this division by reviving

This anonymous fourteenth-century text is the glory of English mysticism, and one of the most practical and useful guides to finding union with God ever written. Carmen Acevedo Butcher´s new translation is the first to bring the text into a modern English idiom—while remaining strictly faithful to the meaning of the original Middle English. The Cloud of Unknowing consists of a series o

In his earlier book The Mystery of the Copper Scroll of Qumran Robert Feather analysed the Dead Sea Scroll engraved on copper that is considered the work of the secretive devout Jewish sect known as the Essenes who lived at Qumran around the time of Jesus. To continue his research into the Essene community's way of life and how its beliefs may have influenced the beginnings of Christianity he met

Calleman shows how the central axis of the universe correlates with the ancient Tree of Life.

He presents an alternative to Darwin's theory of biological evolution and suggests that life ...

Anjou Kiernan, creator of the Light of Anjou, online witchery shop and apothecary and named “One of the Magical Women on Instagram You Should Be Following” by Refinery 29, shows you how to create altars and sacred spaces based on the Wheel of the Year. Simple rituals and DIY projects give you the tools you need to mindfully reflect upon the seasonal Sabbats and holidays.Whether building a sacr

Freemasonry, as a fraternal order of scientists and philosophers, emerged in the 17th century and represented something new--an amalgam of alchemy and science that allowed the creative genius of Isaac Newton and his contemporaries to flourish. In Isaac Newton’s Freemasonry, Alain Bauer presents the swirl of historical, sociological, and religious influences that sparked the spiritual ferment and t

Otto Rahn's lifelong search for the Grail brought him to the attention of the SS leader Himmler, who shared his esoteric interests. Induced by Himmler to become the chief investigator of the occult for the Nazis, Rahn traveled throughout Europe - from Spain to Iceland - in the mid 1930s pursuing leads to the Grail and other mysteries. LUCIFER'S COURT is the travel diary he kept while searching for