Social sciences

The pen is truly mightier than the sword in this collection of more than a hundred digs, jabs, and outright put-downs from the world's most respected writers, about—each other! Vicious Nonsense reveals the acerbic side of beloved authors who became brutal critics when writing about their fellow wordsmiths.

Salvia divinorum has been used since ancient times by the Mazatec shamans of Mexico for divination, vision quests and healing. Known by many names - nearly all associated with the Virgin Mary, who has come to symboliSe the spirit of salvia - this plant ally is now regarded as the most powerful natural hallucinogen.

Best known as the first person to synthesise, ingest and discover the psychedelic effects of LSD, Albert Hofmann was more than just a chemist. A pioneer in the field of visionary plant research, he was one of the first people to suggest the use of entheogens for psychological healing and spiritual growth.

Misfortune works in this world as living vibrant spirits - known in the Santería and Lucumí faith as Osogbo - that plague humanity but are, also, a catalyst for selfdevelopment and conscious evolution.

Widely recognised by anthropologists as the most powerful and widespread shamanic hallucinogen, ayahuasca has been used by native Indian and mestizo shamans in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador for healing and divination for thousands of years.

Psilocybin, the active ingredient found in psychedelic mushrooms, is an invaluable natural resource for spiritually revivifying the human psyche and reconnecting us to the biosphere and the vast intelligence of Nature.

· Illustrated with vivid, full-colour photographs throughout · Details the many preparations and ritual objects as well as the struggles of the shamans to complete the ceremony successfully Near the radiant blue waters of Lake Baikal, in the lands where Mongolia, Siberia, and China meet, live the Buryats, an indigenous people little known to the Western world.

A rare in-depth look at the inner workings of Huichol shamanism • Describes the five sacred sites of the Huichol and their peyote ceremonies • Explains how the Huichol teachings of awareness, centered on the five points of attention, connect you to your true essence • Reveals the deep relationship between Huichol cosmology, Gnosticism, and Christianity, especially Jesus Christ and the ...

Identifies the patterns of our planet’s design within the natural landscape • Explains the geometry inherent in the mountains and coasts on all continents • Reveals how ancient monuments were built to reflect and enhance the Earth’s design, often connecting sites around the world • Includes detailed maps that show the simple geometrical relationships among the world’s mountains, ...

· With contributions by Sandra Ingerman, Hank Wesselman, John Perkins, Alberto Villoldo, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, Tom Cowan, Lynn Andrews, Linda Star Wolf and others · Also includes shamanic awakening experiences from those with unique shamanic paths - teachers, mothers, social workers, academics and popular entertainers How does one receive the “call” to enter onto the shamanic path?

In a lucid dream, you “awaken” within your dream and realise you are dreaming. With this extraordinary sense of awakening comes a clear perception of the continuity of self between waking and sleeping and the ability to significantly influence what happens within the dream, giving you the opportunity to genuinely experience anything without physical or social consequences.

Throughout mediaeval Christianity, religious works of art emerged to illustrate the teachings of the Bible for the largely illiterate population. What, then, is the significance of the psychoactive mushrooms hiding in plain sight in the artwork and icons of many European and Middle-Eastern churches?

· Shows how artists, inventors, and innovators carry the gene necessary for the future survival of humanity · Explains why children with this gene are so often mislabelled in public schools as having a disorder · Offers concrete strategies for helping children reach their full potential In ADHD and the Edison Gene, Thom Hartmann shows that the creativity, impulsiveness, risk taking, ...

A simple practice to heal your past and cleanse negative memories to live a more peaceful and harmonious life • Details how to apply Ho'oponopono to deal with traumatic past events, destructive thought patterns, family dynamics, daily annoyances, or any other disagreeable event in your life, from traffic jams to relationship break-ups • Draws on the new science of epigenetics and quantum ...

After returning from a tour of duty during the war in Afghanistan, Alex Seymour needed a way to cope with the extremes he experienced as a member of the Royal Marine Commandos, losing 7 men in his unit and having his best friend critically injured by a Taliban bomb.

Set within the dramatic tableau of the mediaeval Crusades, this story of initiation, adventure and romance follows members of the Knights Templar and Assassins as they discover a mystical tradition with the potential to unify, protect and liberate humankind - the very heresy for which the Knights Templar were later condemned.

After the deaths of Jerry Garcia, Timothy Leary and Ken Kesey, it appeared that the psychedelic revolution of the 1960s had finally been suppressed. But the opposite was occurring, evident in the popularity of transformational festivals like Burning Man and BOOM!

Following in the footsteps of a little-known group of esoteric seekers from the late-nineteenth century who called themselves “the Miracle Club,” Mitch Horowitz shows that the spiritual “wish fulfilment” practices known as the Law of Attraction, Positive Thinking, “the Secret” and the Science of Getting Rich, actually work.

One of the oldest and most potent natural stimulants, the leaves of the coca plant is the organic source from which cocaine is synthesised. Fresh coca leaves and products made from them have verified medicinal and healing properties - and not the same addictive qualities or negative side effects as cocaine.

In the occult classic THE MIRROR OF MAGIC, renowned Surrealist, Kurt Seligmann (1900– 1962), draws from his encyclopaedic practitioner's knowledge and extensive antiquarian collection to offer a comprehensive, illustrated history of magic and the occult from Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt to the 18th century.