Eclectic and esoteric religions and belief systems Books

Book SynopsisHow Atheists rely on urban myths about religion to buttress their case against God. God, and the whole business of being dependent upon him, is being downgraded, downsized, downplayed, and most of all, just plain dismissed in the modern, cultured, educated parts of Europe and in academia. This process is powered and driven by a whole, growing series of interlocked urban myths about what is supposed to be involved in being a religious (and often specifically Christian) believer. This book examines and critiques those myths, showing how the Christian faith can be intelligent and supported by reason.

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from Pandeism: An Anthology this new volume brings you three returning authors and a dozen new ones, including renowned physicist and theologian Varadaraja V. Raman, communications professor and poet John Ross, Jr., mixed martial artist turned musician Jimmy "Ninja" Chaikong, Judaism blogger Roger Price, and mythohistorian Julian West. The theme of this volume is the creativity of the human mind - in art, in poetry, in recasting historical events in mythological terms, in film and television, and, indeed, in prose theological writing. A creative mind is a fire which gives light to the head, warmth to the heart, and nourishment to the soul, and we are blessed to present talents sufficient to fuel many a conversation to come. Indeed, perhaps the creativity of the human mind is a flickering echo of a greater mind which we all occupy.

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Book SynopsisEvery sense is tingling. Strange symbols loom out of the darkness, and incantations whisper through the air. It''s cold and quiet, so why don''t you feel completely alone? Welcome to The Museum of Witchcraft, a collection of 100 artefacts where a history of secret wisdom, female power and occult objects comes to life. Wander through its pages to discover why cooking is magic, which trees are most enchanted, how to create an amulet, where to find a witch mark and why bad weather could have you burned at the stake.With each page a beautiful display cabinet containing esoteric illustration and authoritative text, it''s time to discover the shadowy world of witches.

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Book SynopsisReveal the wisdom of the zodiac with this striking voyage through the skiesSpanning horoscopes and the heavens, constellations and Celtic zodiacs, divinatory practices, planets and beyond, this cosmic colouring book will help you to discover your spirituality and spark your creativity.Discover interstellar illustrations and insightful quotes as you turn the pages and delve into the ancient art of astrology. Read about zodiac signs from around the world, astrological houses and how to interpret birth charts and celestial bodies while you fill in captivating images and intricate designs.By connecting with the universe through curiosity and colour, you can uncover the study and practice of astrology, and harness the power of your sun, moon and rising signs. Unearth the influence of heavenly bodies and the secrets of the sublunar region as you complete the striking spreads in this beautiful colouring book.Inside, you''ll colour:- Western, Hindu

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Book SynopsisNew Age and holistic beliefs and practices - sometimes called the "new spirituality" - are widely distributed across modern global society. The fluid and popular nature of new age makes these movements a very challenging field to understand using traditional models of religious analysis. Rather than treating new age as an exotic specimen on the margins of 'proper' religion, "New Age Spirituality" examines these movements as a form of everyday or lived religion. The book brings together an international range of scholars to explore the key issues: insight, healing, divination, meditation, gnosis, extraordinary experiences, and interactions with gods, spirits and superhuman powers. Combining discussion of contemporary beliefs and practices with cutting-edge theoretical analysis, the book repositions new age spirituality at the forefront of the contemporary study of religion.Trade Review"The book moves the study of new age from the margins of the comparative study of religion. It resists the claim that religion must be institutional, yet similarly resists the idea that diffuse and individualistic phenomena, like new age, lack social and historical dimensions. New age - examined methodologically and discovered in rich empirical data - is revealed as religion, not fringe but central." - Carole M. Cusack, University of Sydney "Acumen Publishing continues to lead the way in the academic study of the overlapping fields of paganism, occultism, and New Age with this new collection - By treating New Age as 'core' or 'elementary' religion and by linking contemporary studies of New Age to classic literature on religion, the book has the potential to open new avenues of analysis and critique in anthropology." - Anthropology Review DatabaseTable of ContentsIntroduction: 'All mixed up': thinking about religion in relation to new age spiritualities, Ingvild Salid Gilhus and Steven J. Sutcliffe; PART I: RETHINKING NEW AGE SPIRITUALITIES 1. New Age, World Religions and Elementary Forms, Steven J. Sutcliffe; 2. 'All over the place': The Contribution of New Age to a Spatial Model of Religion, Ingvild Salid Gilhus; 3. Towards a New Paradigm of Constructing 'Religion': New Age Data and Unbounded Categories, Liselotte Frisk; 4. On Transgressing the Secular: Spiritualities of life, Idealism, Vitalism, Paul Heelas; 5. Hiding in Plain Sight: The Organizational Forms of 'Unorganized Religion', Ann Taves and Michael Kinsella; PART II: COMPARING NEW AGE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES 6. Narrow New Age and Broad Spirituality: A Comprehensive Schema and a Comparative Analysis, Norichika Horie; 7. Dolphins and other Humans: New Age identities in Comparative Perspective, Mikael Rothstein; 8. New Age, Sami Shamanism and Indigenous Spirituality, Trude Fonneland and Siv Ellen Kraft; 9.

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Book SynopsisNew Age and holistic beliefs and practices - sometimes called the "new spirituality" - are widely distributed across modern global society. The fluid and popular nature of new age makes these movements a very challenging field to understand using traditional models of religious analysis. Rather than treating new age as an exotic specimen on the margins of 'proper' religion, "New Age Spirituality" examines these movements as a form of everyday or lived religion. The book brings together an international range of scholars to explore the key issues: insight, healing, divination, meditation, gnosis, extraordinary experiences, and interactions with gods, spirits and superhuman powers. Combining discussion of contemporary beliefs and practices with cutting-edge theoretical analysis, the book repositions new age spirituality at the forefront of the contemporary study of religion.Trade Review"The book moves the study of new age from the margins of the comparative study of religion. It resists the claim that religion must be institutional, yet similarly resists the idea that diffuse and individualistic phenomena, like new age, lack social and historical dimensions. New age - examined methodologically and discovered in rich empirical data - is revealed as religion, not fringe but central." - Carole M. Cusack, University of Sydney "Acumen Publishing continues to lead the way in the academic study of the overlapping fields of paganism, occultism, and New Age with this new collection - By treating New Age as 'core' or 'elementary' religion and by linking contemporary studies of New Age to classic literature on religion, the book has the potential to open new avenues of analysis and critique in anthropology." - Anthropology Review DatabaseTable of ContentsIntroduction: 'All mixed up': thinking about religion in relation to new age spiritualities, Ingvild Salid Gilhus and Steven J. Sutcliffe; PART I: RETHINKING NEW AGE SPIRITUALITIES; 1. New Age, World Religions and Elementary Forms, Steven J. Sutcliffe; 2. 'All over the place': The Contribution of New Age to a Spatial Model of Religion, Ingvild Salid Gilhus; 3. Towards a New Paradigm of Constructing 'Religion': New Age Data and Unbounded Categories, Liselotte Frisk; 4. On Transgressing the Secular: Spiritualities of life, Idealism, Vitalism, Paul Heelas; 5. Hiding in Plain Sight: The Organizational Forms of 'Unorganized Religion', Ann Taves and Michael Kinsella; PART II: COMPARING NEW AGE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES; 6. Narrow New Age and Broad Spirituality: A Comprehensive Schema and a Comparative Analysis, Norichika Horie; 7. Dolphins and other Humans: New Age identities in Comparative Perspective, Mikael Rothstein; 8. New Age, Sami Shamanism and Indigenous Spirituality, Trude Fonneland and Siv Ellen Kraft; 9.

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Book SynopsisThe idea that the human body consists of 'subtle bodies' - psycho-spiritual essences - can be found in a variety of esoteric traditions. This radical form of selfhood challenges the dualisms at the heart of Western discourse : mind/body, divine/human, matter/spirit, reason/emotion, I/other. 'Angels of Desire' explores the aesthetics and ethics of subtle bodies. What emerges is an understanding of embodiment not exclusively tied to materiality. The book examines the use of subtle bodies across a range of traditions, yogic, tantric, theosophical, hermetic and sufi. 'Angels of Desire' shows the relevance of the subtle body for religion, philosophy, art history and contemporary feminist religious studies and theories of desire.Table of ContentsIntroduction Section I: Subjectivity Chapter 1: Subtle Bodies Chapter 2: Difference Chapter 3: Subtle Subjects of Desire Section II: Aesthetics Chapter 4: "Seering" Desire: The Between Chapter 5: Inhabiting Sight Chapter 6: Duree: the Aesthetics of Desire-Time Section III: Ethics Chapter 7: An Ethics of Emptiness Chapter 8: Witnessing: Detached Immersion Chapter 9: An Ethics of Grace: The Law of Desiring Angels Conclusion: The Angelic Ternary

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Book SynopsisIn his first major book since the phenomenal bestseller The Seat of the Soul, Gary Zukav reveals a revolutionary new path for spiritual growth.A great transformation is taking place. We are evolving beyond the limits of our five senses and increasingly able to access data that we could not previously detect. A new and surprising world is emerging, around us and within us. If we choose to realize its potential, we will forever alter our experiences of ourselves, our relationships and our surroundings.Gary Zukav explains how a powerful new dynamic is at play in human relationships. By focusing attention on the interior rather than the outer causes of suffering or joy, we can reach our full potential and generate authentic power, co-creating rewarding partnerships of substance and depth for the purposes of our mutual spiritual growth.Filled with fascinating examples as well as practical guidance, this remarkable book is the roadmap to profound change, pointing towards a fulfi lling, joyful way of life for us all.

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Book SynopsisIn the beginning was the word, and...you know the rest. Not like this you don't. In a new twist on a classic tale, Tom Carver re-imagines the Old Testament without the leading character. The Newer, More English Version takes an erudite look at the supporting players of the Pentateuch, with no Jehovah to steal the show. What's left is a varied cast of egomaniacs, revolutionaries, war criminals, genii and perverts: Joseph, smug careerist and part-time psychoanalyst; Moses, a revolutionary firebrand who just wants to belong; Abraham, the world's first and greatest global branding strategist; and one very strange tree...Trade ReviewClever and thought-provoking.-- Professor Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor and author

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Book SynopsisWhat is the principal secret of the universe? The ancient mystery saying called on the human being to 'Know Yourself!' Rudolf Steiner explains that this maxim is not asking us to study subjectively our own personal character, but rather to come to a knowledge of our true, archetypal human nature-and with it the position we occupy in the universe. In these eloquent lectures - formerly published as Man, Hieroglyph of the Universe - Rudolf Steiner speaks of the human being as the model of creation, the primary focus of the cosmos. In an extensive exposition he talks of the constellation of cosmic forces, zodiac and planets amongst which we find ourselves situated. Only a true knowledge of our human nature and the spiritual forces which surround us - the microcosm within the greater macrocosm - can enable humanity to progress, he says. This book is an important contribution to that goal: the development of a contemporary spiritual science of the human being.

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Book SynopsisSelected from the material given by Rudolf S teiner to members of his Esoteric School, this volume featur es exercises, meditations and practices for spiritual develo pment '

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Book SynopsisIn this collection, Rudolf Steiner deals wit h topics ranging from elephants to Einstein. He discusses, a mong other things, ants and bees, shells and skeletons, anim al and plant poisons, nutrition, the human eye and its colou r, and thinking '

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Book SynopsisThis volume contains Rudolf Steiner"s leadin g thoughts and letters written for the Anthroposophical Soci ety. In brief paragraphs they succinctly present Steiner"s s cience of the spirit '

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable discussions in this volume took place between Rudolf Steiner and workers at the Goetheanum, Switzerland. The varied subject-matter was chosen by his audience at Rudolf Steiner's instigation. Steiner took their questions and usually gave immediate answers. The astonishing nature of these responses - their insight, knowledge and spiritual depth - is testimony to his outstanding ability as a spiritual initiate and profound thinker. Accessible, entertaining and stimulating, the records of these sessions will be a delight to anybody with an open mind. In this particular collection, Rudolf Steiner deals with topics ranging from limestone to Lucifer! He discusses, among other things, technology; the living earth; natural healing powers; colour and sickness; rainbows; whooping cough and pleurisy; seances; sleep and sleeplessness; dreams; reincarnation; life after death; the physical, ether and astral bodies and the 'I'; the two Jesus children; Ahriman and Lucifer; the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ; Dante and Copernicus.

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Book SynopsisIn one of his most popular lecture courses - formerly published as Man as Symphony of the Creative Word - Rudolf Steiner presents an extraordinary panorama of spiritual knowledge centring on the human being. We are the harmony of creation - a microcosm - containing within us 'all the laws and secrets of the world'. Steiner begins by speaking about our inner relationship to three ancient and sacred representatives of the animal kingdom - eagle, lion and bul - and to the forces of the cosmos that form them. He goes on to deepen these themes by approaching the plant and animal worlds in the context of planetary and cosmic evolution. A new category is then introduced: the elemental nature spirits - the metaphysical beings who work with plants and animals. Steiner gives a unique and intimate description of them and describes the cooperation they offer to mankind. Finally, the human being - the 'harmony of the Creative Word' - is placed at the heart of this spiritual celebration of life.

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Book Synopsis‘Did Rudolf Steiner dream these things? Did he dream them as they once occurred, at the beginning of all time? They are, for sure, far more astonishing than the demiurges and serpents and bulls found in other cosmogonies.’ – Jorge Luis Borges. Rudolf Steiner, founder of anthroposophy, recorded his view of the world in many books, but also in over 5,000 lectures. Through the latter medium particularly, he explained his ideas on a wide range of subjects, including education, science, the social question, art, architecture, medicine and agriculture. Steiner spoke freely, using only minimal notes. But when explaining conceptually difficult subject matter, he frequently resorted to illustrating what he was saying with coloured chalks on a large blackboard. After the lecture the drawings were rubbed out and thus irretrievably lost – but not in every case. From the autumn of 1919, thick black paper was used to cover the blackboards, so that the drawings could be rolled up and stored. The trustees of Rudolf Steiner’s estate in Dornach, Switzerland, possess over 1,000 of these drawings, which visually document Steiner’s view of the world and his creative way of thinking. A selection of the drawings was first shown to a wider public in 1992. Since then, numerous exhibitions in Europe, America and Japan have generated great interest in Rudolf Steiner’s work.


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Book Synopsis‘The mission of our age is not to reproduce an ancient wisdom, but to engender a new one – a wisdom that points not only to the past but that works prophetically into the future.’ – Rudolf Steiner Beginning with ancient Egypt, the pyramids and sphinxes – and a comparison of that epoch with our own – Rudolf Steiner surveys a vast spiritual landscape of human development. In symphonic style, he describes the conquest of the physical plane in post-Atlantean civilizations, the relationships between the various cultural epochs, the human being’s connections with the kingdoms of nature and the different planetary bodies, and the relationship of animal forms to ‘the physiognomy of human passions’. Through this panoramic vision, we discover how the changed conditions of human consciousness call for a new spiritual understanding today. In her Introduction, Marie Steiner relates the special experience of being a member of Rudolf Steiner’s audience for this timeless series of lectures: ‘Enormous cosmic pictures were unfolded before the spiritual gaze of the listeners; insights were of such depths of ancient wisdom, views of distant futures of human and world development, that deepest devotion flowed through their hearts…’ This new edition features a revised translation, introduction, notes and an index.

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Book SynopsisFilled with wit, humor, and clear metaphor, this exploration into atheism is written specifically for young adults, though any adult interested in learning more about atheism will find value within. Not just focused on atheism, this crash course in logical thinking addresses the issues of indoctrination, whether it be religious, political, or commercial, and makes the case that morality is created through reasoning and logic, not through divine communication. Many hot topics are touched upon, such as traditional arguments for God’s existence, the relationship of evolution and religious belief, the incompatible nature of science and religion, and the harmfulness of both Christianity and Islam.

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Book SynopsisOur world today is increasingly characterized by speed, movement and flux. There is often a lack of sufficient time to do 'what needs to be done', and life seems to be marked by change, upheaval and revolution. But in the midst of this turmoil, say the authors, people are having conscious and semiconscious experiences of the etheric world - the world that comprises the forces of life. However, this growing sensitivity to the etheric realm only intensifies experiences of movement and upheaval. To counter such feelings, we should take hold of our inner life and strengthen the 'I' - our true self. Featuring essays supplemented with a substantial amount of source material from Rudolf Steiner and other authors, this book is an invaluable resource for inner development and the beginnings of true spiritual vision. We learn to practise the ability to add to every physical perception - whether of stone, plant, animal or another person - the etheric reality associated with that entity. This process leads us to become more aware of the 'after-image' and to become conscious within the etheric realm. Baruch Urieli comments that this 'is not an esoteric path but is, rather, an endeavour to bring the beginnings of a natural consciousness of the etheric to full consciousness and, hence, under the rulership of the ego'.

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Book SynopsisIn many ways, Rudolf Steiner is the forgotten genius of recent times. A powerful thinker, who developed an intricate spiritual philosophy based on his ability to research and perceive spiritual dimensions, Steiner is perhaps best known today for his legacy to education, medicine and agriculture. But behind these practical manifestations of his ideas lies a profound teaching, which he called a 'science of the spirit' or 'anthroposophy'. In these wonderfully succinct summaries of Steiner's thought, Roy Wilkinson introduces us to aspects of this spiritual philosophy. The twelve chapters are on the following themes: Rudolf Steiner, herald of a new age; reincarnation and karma; the spiritual nature of the human being; the development of human consciousness; evolution of the world and humanity; relationships between the living and the dead; forces of evil; the modern path of initiation; life between death and rebirth; the spiritual hierarchies; the philosophical approach to the spirit; the mission of Christ.

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Book SynopsisBorn in Holland in 1893, Zeylmans van Emmichoven was one of the original pioneers of anthroposophy, the science of spirit established by Rudolf Steiner. As General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in the Netherlands, he worked closely with Steiner. A medical doctor and founder of the Rudolf Steiner Clinic in Scheveningen, he also conducted important research into the influence of colours, the psychology of peoples and nations, and individual human psychology. Emanuel Zeylmans' biography of his father draws on some beautifully written and moving autobiographical extracts as well as numerous other first-hand source materials. He traces Zeylmans' remarkable life from his upbringing in Holland and his first contact with Rudolf Steiner to his later attendance at the momentous Christmas Foundation Meeting and his many travels around the world to further anthroposophy. He examines the spiritual conflicts in which Zeylmans became embroiled, his life during the war years, and his innovative work in many fields. The author also catalogues Zeylmans' written works, and gives a full chronology of his life. Willem Zeylmans van Emmichoven is a compelling documentation of a leading figure connected with Rudolf Steiner. It brings to life the context of his biography - an exciting and yet difficult time in the development of new spiritual ideas - and the vibrant individuals around him. Zeylmans is portrayed as a warm, dynamic and fascinating individual, with enormous interest in people from widely differing cultures and backgrounds. A real 'world citizen', he recognized that every nation has its own particular task and importance.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Anthroposophy can become fruitful in the world when a community of people is actively working with the Foundation Stone Meditation. When Zeylmans van Emmichoven revived this Meditation around the whole world, a process began through which the Anthroposophical Society itself, which has been through many conflicts and battles, could be healed again." - Joop van Dam

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Book Synopsis'Destiny Learning', a path of adult education conceived and developed by Coenraad van Houten (based on the work of Rudolf Steiner), is here expanded to show a threefold way of working with karma: understanding, transforming and ordering. This threefold approach opens new vistas for healing relationships and conflicts, for developing creative faculties for community building, and for taking initiatives based on freedom. The author widens and deepens his previous work on the theme, showing that learning from destiny, as well as awakening the forces of will, are ongoing processes. He offers practical advice that is directly applicable to everyday life. Although this book can be studied on its own, it is also a development and completion of themes from van Houten's earlier works, Practising Destiny and Awakening the Will. Crucial aspects of the threefold path of 'destiny learning' are here discussed and explained in greater detail. Anyone seeking to take their personal development in hand will find many nuggets of spiritual wisdom, based on a lifetime's work, in this short book.

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Book SynopsisA survey of recent history reveals a gloomy picture: an ongoing series of conflicts, wars and general turmoil. As a result of all this, the human emotional landscape has become littered with angry, bitter and vengeful feelings. The modern justice system, preoccupied as it is with finding and proving guilt, does little to remedy this tragic situation. However, many individuals and groups are seeking ways to break the never-ending cycle of recrimination. When faced with the question of what we can do to change and improve the world, one of the most radical and challenging answers is to learn to begin forgiving others for what they have done to us. In this powerful and moving book, Prokofieff shows how the forces which lead to forgiveness can be consciously and freely developed. Without preaching a morality of forgiveness, he sets before us the spiritual facts which speak for themselves. From Tsarist Russia to the concentration camps of Nazi Germany, to the battles taking place in the early history of the Anthroposophical Society, the author gives striking examples of people who have been able to forgive often terrible crimes.He provides multilayered analysis, pointing to the beneficial consequences of every single act of forgiveness. As he develops his theme, the importance of forgiving, not simply for personal salvation, but for the furtherance of humanity's evolution, is revealed in all its healing truth.

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Book SynopsisProkofieff draws on the whole extent of Rudolf Steiner's work and combines it with his own original spiritual research to form an intricate picture of the cosmic forces at play between Christmas and Epiphany. We are led on a tour through the circle of the zodiac and spiritual hierarchies, and shown how they form a path from Jesus to Christ. The author further explains that the Starry Script is a key to anthroposophical Christology, and shows how it relates to the conception of the First Goetheanum. Prokofieff guides us imaginatively through the interior of Steiner's architectural masterpiece, destroyed by fire in 1922, whose structure and decorations are seen to constitute a coherent esoteric map. Our task now, he suggests, is to build the First Goetheanum in ourselves and, through a new schooling of the self, strive for a truly modern path of initiation. Supplementary essays focus on the cosmic aspects of Sophia as well as the being of Michael. Prokofieff's seminal study offers a rich source of inspiration for those wishing to penetrate the mysteries of the Twelve Holy Nights and their relation to spiritual beings.

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Book SynopsisUsing the events of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor as his backdrop, T.H. Meyer studies questions of reality, truth and evil, offering important new perspectives. He shows that Anglo-American political practice (influenced by secret societies such as Skull and Bones) is based on an ideology of polarity and conflict. Meyer offers instances of this tendency, encouraging what Huntington famously referred to as a 'clash of civilizations'. For example, a week before George Bush senior spoke in Congress about the need for a 'new world order', a 'humorous' cartoon map in the Economist divided the world's continents into religious and philosophical blocks, creating a new region called 'Islamistan'. In 1997, Brzezinski wrote openly of US geostrategic plans, stating that it would be hard to achieve such goals 'except in the circumstances of a truly massive and widely perceived direct external threat'. This, apparently, was granted with the events of 9/11, and the subsequent launch of a 'war on terror'. The immediate comparisons, led by George W. Bush, with Pearl Harbor demand a reassessment of the events of 1941. Meyer points to conclusive evidence which suggests that Roosevelt deliberately provoked the attacks and failed to pass on intelligence to US Navy chiefs. Could it be possible that certain members of the US elite likewise deliberately remained passive before 9/11? Why, only two weeks after the attacks, were celebrations held at CIA headquarters in which Bush profusely thanked the secret services '...on behalf of the American people'? In contrast to the divisive thinking and 'conflict-management' of leading representatives of the Anglo-American elite (inspired by a contorted reading of some basic insights of the philosopher Hegel), the author shows how the holistic approach of Rudolf Steiner and Mabel Collins offers a radical, alternative way to deal with polarities, leading to the overcoming of conflict.Table of ContentsContents; Introduction; 'Islamistan' and the West The consensus on the new world order - before and after September 11, 2001; 2. The president who stayed in primary class; 3. The attacks on the World Trade Center - a many-layered catastrophe; 4. September 11, 2001 and Pearl Harbor Conclusions from a widely broadcast comparison; 5. 'Dishonesty as a fundamental characteristic of our time...' Notes on the current world situation; 6. Michael C. Ruppert - an American seeker of truth; 7. G.W.F. Hegel's dual path in the West Hegel's view of evolution as basis for western politics and esoteric schooling; 8. What can replace the 'survival of the unfittest' in positions of power?; Timeline for 9.11.2001 by Jose Garcia Morales; Index

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Book Synopsis'We have shown how in the course of time the being who was present in Elijah appeared again at the most important moments of human evolution on Earth - appeared again so that Christ Jesus Himself could give him the initiation he was to receive for the evolution of mankind. For the being of Elijah reappeared in Lazarus-John - who are in truth one and the same figure ...' Thus spoke Rudolf Steiner in his 'Last Address' to members of the Anthroposophical Society. This was his first and only indication of the connection between John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. As Prokofieff points out, Steiner intended to develop and bring to full clarity the short comment reproduced above, but his terminal illness prevented him from doing so. In this brief but enlightening booklet, Sergei O. Prokofieff addresses the mystery of the 'two Johns', solving many unanswered questions. In particular, he throws light on issues of 'incarnation and incorporation', the nature of John the Baptist's and John the Evangelist's respective initiations, the significance of their mutual work at the 'Turning Point of Time', and its relevance to our present day.

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Book SynopsisEarth is on the brink of a great awakening. Mother Earth is to be reborn and humanity will be reborn with her. We will open again to the One Heart. We all share the One Heart. It is the Heart of the Creator and a vast universe woven of unbreakable threads of love. Through this book, we explore our One Heart in the company of Elders and Guides, Ancestors and Angels, meeting as equals in these Circles of Love to weave peace. Share the insights and stories from these wise ones, including Elders-in-Spirit from the Indigenous traditions of the Earth, as they help us heal our hearts and prepare for a new beginning...Trade ReviewIt is with great enthusiasm that we welcome this important, path-breaking document. Revelatory and unique, this book thrusts us deeply into the New Age. Dennis Gaffin, Professor of Anthropology and Religion, Buffalo State University An astounding contribution to channeled works-every page is filled with beauty and without repetition. This seasoned traveler who speaks so eloquently of new universes needs to be listened to with gratitude and respect. Its quality will be recognized by all those on the spiritual path. Kay Mullin, PhD., author of Wondrous Land The Sacred Traditions of Earth's indigenous peoples remind us that our world is woven out of stories. In this book we are given the great gift of countless stories relayed by diverse voices drawn from many levels and dimensions of the One Heart of Being. Beautifully related, these stories offer a comprehensive vision for new times. This is a sorely needed mythology for the Crystal Age of Earth. John Graham PhD. Dublin City University, Ireland

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Book SynopsisAnd now I will unclaspe a Secret booke, And to your quicke conceyving Discontents, Ille reade you Matter, deepe and dangerous As full of peril and adventurous Spirit...- William Shakespeare, "King Henry IV", Part I. Whilst Shakespeare's genius is universally recognized, there is a hidden, secretive side to his work that is little known: the fact that he made use of a mysterious code that figures widely in the esoteric literature of the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. The Bard of Avon was a master of such encoding, and his methods were continued, in the Folio of 1623 and in his various memorials, by those who had known him. However, Shakespeare was not the inventor of this code. Among the many arcane authors who made use of it before him was Michel Nostradamus, the famous French prophet and savant. As David Ovason reveals, many leading esoteric writers - alchemists, occultists and Rosicrucians - contributed to this 'Secret booke'. Among the more outstanding English literary figures who used the code were the mysterious adviser to Elizabeth I, John Dee, the turbulent author of "The Alchemist, Ben Jonson", and the more classically-minded Edmund Spenser, whose poem "The Faerie Queene" is the best-known esoteric work of the period. "Shakespeare's Secret Booke" reveals many other literary figures who together form a remarkable underground literary movement, including the most influential esotericist of the period, Jacob Boehme, and alchemists such as the English polymath Robert Fludd. Another was Shakespeare's contemporary, the youthful Johann Valentin Andreae, credited as author of "The Chymical Wedding" - a Rosicrucian work replete with sophisticated examples of encoding. The fact that all these writers used the same or similar encoding points to a secret teaching designed to be recognized by initiates. Ovason explores and, for the first time, reveals what Shakespeare alluded to as 'a Secret booke'.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One The Secret Number Hamlet and ghosts - The Sonnets - The Tempest - Authors of the Secret booke - George Sandys - Four encoded portraits - Abraham Cowley - Love's Labour's Lost - William Blake - Robert Fludd - The two cupids Chapter Two Shakespeare's Curse Stone Shakespeare's tomb - Washington Irving - Ben Jonson - Francis Bacon - The curse-stone code - Samuel Ireland - The code unravelled Chapter Three Some Rosicrucian WorkS Ethan Allen Hitchcock - Shakespeare's tomb code - Liber M Mysterium Magnum - D.L.S. - Magica - Khunrath's Amphitheatrum - The Mystic Rose - The Phoenix, or Hermes Bird - Flaming Rose - Robert Fludd - Tabula Smaragdina - Atalanta fugiens Chapter Four The Sacred Monas of John Dee John Dee - Monas Hieroglyphica - John Milton - The Alchemist of Jonson - Alpha, Omega and Crux - Daniel Mylius - Saint Luke and Saint Matthew - Two Children - Michelangelo Chapter Five The Rosicrucian Code The Rosicrucian Temple of Schweighardt - Johann Valentin Andreae - Ezechiel Foxcroft - The Chymical Wedding - Pearls before swine - The Fifth Day - Naked Venus - The encoded script above the Venus - The Tree and the Fruit - The code within a code - Atman, Buddhi and Manas - Fludd's diagram of the secret Ternary - The Paracelsian Three Principles - Salt - Sulphur - Mercury - A Rosicrucian diagram of the secret Ternary Chapter Six Nostradamus his Codes Nostradamus - Propheties - First two quatrains - Iamblichus - Language of the Birds - Michael Maier - Jocus Severus - Quatrain 3:3 - The Battle of Lepanto - Pierre l'Estoile - Urbanus VIII - Bees - A 33-encoded quatrain Chapter Seven The Ego in Strife: Law & Boehme Portrait of Jacob Boehme - William Law - The Clavis - An Illustration of the Deep - Thomas Heywood - Michelangelo's Creation of Adam - Charles Bovelles - Das Auge and the A - Reincarnation diagram - Der Weeg zu Christo - Vesica Piscis Conclusion Picture section

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Book SynopsisThis major work comprises a comprehensive study of Eastern and Western esoteric streams and the occult powers that stand behind them. In Part 1 Prokofieff discusses the spiritual movement of Agni Yoga, presented to the world by Helena Roerich and her husband, the painter Nicholas Roerich. Part 2 focuses on the teachings developed by Alice Bailey, whilst Part 3 considers the relationship between Eastern and Western spiritual masters and the occult streams they represent. The first two Parts of the book give descriptions of both the Roerichs' and Alice Bailey's philosophy, based on their own perspective, together with anthroposophical commentaries that give an understanding of these two streams in the light of modern Christian esotericism. As Prokofieff points out, both the Roerichs and Bailey were convinced that the occult teachers who inspired them were the same as those referred to by the founder of Theosophy, Helena Blavatsky. Part 3 deals directly with the mystery of the Eastern teachers, or mahatmas, and their relationship to Christian esotericism. On the basis of extensive research, Prokofieff comes to the startling conclusion that the occultists whom both the Roerichs and Alice Bailey named as their leaders actually have nothing in common with Blavatsky's Eastern mahatmas. In Prokofieff's words: 'Hence...one has to do not with the Eastern mahatmas but with quite different occultists who had illicitly appropriated their names and then tried - while deliberately misleading their followers - to attain their highly dubious occult political aims with the help of the occult movements which had already been initiated.' Prokofieff argues that this appropriation led to a distortion of the age-old Eastern philosophies, giving them an anti-Christian character, and led to phenomena such as 'occult materialism', insidious political goals, and prophecies of a physically incarnating 'Messiah'. Previously available only in German as three separate books, with just an early version of Part 1 published in English, this long-awaited translation of Prokofieff's incisive study offers a fine schooling in discernment, judgement and spiritual insight.

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Book SynopsisThis volume explores the insight modern Theosophy can offer into the spiritual and social dimensions of art, artistic practice and creativity. It is part of a series of writings, collected under the banner ‘Modern Theosophy’ re-presenting important texts drawn from the history of the Theosophical movement and further complemented by texts from contemporary authors and innovative thinkers. Martin Firrell is a contemporary theosophist and a public artist using language in public space to engage directly with the public. His work promotes constructive dialogues about marginalisation, equality and more equitable social organisation, with the aim of making the world more humane. Aleksandra Loginovna Pogosskaia, A. L. Pogosky, or Madame Pogosky was a Russian emigre, an activist and business woman promoting Russian art in the West. She became a member of the Theosophical Society in 1909 drawn to the Society’s object of forming a ‘universal brotherhood of humanity’. She applied this idea to communal work in the arts. The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 to explore the interconnectedness of all life, the universal wisdoms held in ancient religions and myths, and the potential  latent in human beings.

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Book SynopsisThere is a mental malaise creeping through the collective human mindset. Mass psychosis is becoming normalized. It is time to break free... One of the key problems facing human beings today is that we do not look after our minds. As a consequence, we are unaware of the malicious impacts that infiltrate and influence us on a daily basis. This lack of awareness leaves people open and vulnerable. Many of us have actually become alienated from our own minds, argues Kingsley L. Dennis. This is how manipulations occur that result in phenomena such as crowd behaviour and susceptibility to political propaganda, consumerist advertising and social management. Mass psychosis is only possible because humanity has become alienated from its transcendental source. In this state, we are prisoners to the impulses that steer our unconscious. We may believe we have freedom, but we don't. Healing the Wounded Mind discusses these external influences in terms of a collective mental disease - the wetiko virus (Forbes), ahrimanic forces (Steiner), the alien mind (Castaneda), and the collective unconscious shadow (Jung). The human mind has been targeted by corrupt forces that seek to exploit our thinking on a grand scale. This is the `magician's trick' that has kept us captive within the social systems that both distract and subdue us. In the first part of this transformative book, the author outlines how the Wounded Mind manifests in cultural conditioning, from childhood onwards. In the second part, he examines how `hypermodern' cultures are being formed by this mental psychosis and shaping our brave new world. In an inspiring conclusion, we are shown the gnostic path to freedom through connecting with the transcendental source of life.Trade Review`Recognizing the root causes of the malaise ... is a crucial step, and I hope that the readers of this brilliant and profound book will recognize the urgency of taking it. - Ervin Laszlo.Table of ContentsForeword by Ervin Laszlo - Introduction: What's Going On? - PART ONE: OUT OF OUR MINDS - 1. The Magician's Trick - 2. An Invasion of the Collective Mind - 3. The Wounded Mind - 4. Ghosts in the Modern Machine - 5. The Metaphysical Malaise - PART TWO: THE UNREAL WORLD - 6. Our Hypermodern Condition - 7. The Spectacle of the Absurd - 8. The Spectral Gaze - 9. Normal Unfreedoms - PART THREE: THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF - 10. The Gnostic Vision - 11. The Quest for the Self - 12. Seeking a Personal Path - 13. The Transcendental Connection - 14. The Human Question - Notes - Suggested Reading

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Book Synopsis

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