Modern paganism, Druidry and earth religions Books

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Book SynopsisPerhaps the first serious attempt to collate the vast body of druidic knowledge from verifiable ancient sources and Celtic survivals into one usable and practical volume as a handy reference for druids and a learning tool for the would be druid. Inspired by the medieval Irish 'Scholar's Primer' this work is the culmination of 15 years research and practical exploration of what it means to be a druid in a modern context.Trade ReviewLuke Eastwood gives us the first accessible Irish study on druid history and practice. This book opens the door to Celtic spiritual practice with clarity and grace. (Caitlin Matthews, Author of Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom & The Celtic Spirit)

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Book SynopsisThe role of a visionary is to help dream the future into life. Throughout the ages, shamans have played the role of visionary within their communities. Yet how does one open to visions and allow the messages we need to hear to come through? Exploring how to access your creative potential to shape and hold a strong vision for yourself and others, visionary teacher Carol Day shares hands-on tools and step-by-step shamanic practices to become more visionary and connected to the world around. She explains how to prepare for shamanic visioning and details Earth Whispering practices to expand the senses, set intentions, and connect deeply with intuition and spirit helpers. Detailing the visionary quest, the author offers exercises to open up to different dimensions and initiate a conscious relationship with the elements through the creativity wheel. Introducing animal and archetype support systems, she shares advice on working with guides and soul protectors, such as elemental spirits, birds, trees, and the fae. She presents visionary practices to help you connect, acknowledge, and honor the past, present, and future--each of which is connected with an element, a spirit animal, and a plant spirit. She shares a sacred time-travel journey in the symbolic form of a loop, taking you first through the present, then opening to an exploration of the realm of the past and the ancestors, continuing into the vision of the future ones, and ultimately back to the beginning of time. Taking you through the three pathways of time, this guide presents shamanic tools to help you prepare to receive visions, release the burdens of the past to heal your ancestral line, and bring clarity to your visions of the future.Trade Review“Carol never fails to delight with her creative and visionary approach. This book had me smiling all the way through as she expertly guides us along a fun, empowering, and expansive journey toward wholeness and truth within a carefully crafted structure. Her writing and encouragement reflects the depth of her experience, respect, and love for both the mythical and the human. Carol is listening to a wider calling, and with this book as our guide we can’t help but do the same.” * FAY JOHNSTONE, shamanic herbalist, Reiki teacher, and author of Plant Spirit Reiki and Plants That S *“What do unborn babies dream, floating in their private (yet cosmic) ocean in the womb? Is our umbilical cord a bridge for dreams as well as nourishment? Does our dreaming add to the dreaming of the Earth long before we even see daylight? This new book by Carol Day will help you open doors to the visionary realm, as is your birthright. It will make you an intentional Earth Whisperer, using dreaming as a power tool. You will learn how to continuously place yourself and your relations (plant, animal, mineral, ancestral) in sacred wholeness—the same divine wholeness that dreamed you into being, long before you were even conceived! Treat yourself to this most magical book to become a world-class dreamer!” * IMELDA ALMQVIST, painter, forest witch, and author of North Sea Water in My Veins and Medicine of th *“Shamanic Dreaming is full of practical wisdom to find your sense of belonging through time and your continuing role in the unfolding story of the earth. It is full of fun and imaginative ways to connect deeply with yourself and to co-create a better understanding of your calling and the vision for the earth. All this is guided with the support of deep listening to nature, spirit, and the mythical through all dimensions of time and space. This book will change your life--as it did mine! It will give you a sense of living in deep harmony with yourself and the earth in your own unique way. The deep truth and authenticity of this book is so needed for the creation of a new vision for connected earth community.” * GILLIAN DUNCAN, mindfulness coach and teacher and founder of the Moment Is Now *"The book allows you a hands-on approach and asks you to attune yourself to everything all around you. There are tasks for you to complete throughout, all of which can bring a deeper understanding of your mindset and learning to be present.I recommend quickly browsing the book before you begin, as some tasks require items you might not just have lain around, such as a shamanic drum. If you’ve already got one, great. But just check beforehand, because getting all ready for one of the tasks only to find you’re missing the key ingredient can be a huge disappointment." * Kate Hames, Musing Mystical *Table of ContentsForeword by Sandra Ingerman Preface Introduction Act 1 CallingScene 1 Heeding the Calling Chapter 1 Presence and the Three Pillars Chapter 2Calling Scene 2 Tuning Chapter 3 The Visionary QuestChapter 4 DimensionsChapter 5 Passion, Creativity, and Fire Chapter 6 Guides Scene 3 Nature’s CommunicationsChapter 7 Weather Spirits Chapter 8 Birds Chapter 9 TreesChapter 10 The Fae Scene 4 Animals and Archetypal Support Systems Chapter 11Brain Opening and MappingChapter 12DreamtimeChapter 13Journeying Chapter 14 Archetypes on the Land Scene 5 Reflecting Act 2Loop Scene 1 Prep Aligning with LoopScene 2 Present Lifetime Chapter 1Land and Perspectives on Time Chapter 2 Rose and Soul Chapter 3 Spirit of the Age Chapter 4 Nature’s Eternal KnowingScene 3 Ancestral PathwaysChapter 5 Introduction to Ancestors Chapter 6 Safe Practice Chapter 7 Dreaming with the Ancestors Chapter 8 Ceremonies of Release and Surrender with the Ancestors Scene 4 Future Pathways Chapter 9 Waters of the EarthChapter 10 A Cleaning-Up JobChapter 11Journeying and the Oracle Chapter 12Unity Scene 5 Wishes for the Future Finale Vision Hoop Overview of Exercises Bibliography AcknowledgementsAbout the Author

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Book SynopsisMany neopagans today are drawn to honor the fairies but find that the modern-day path to Fairy is hidden in mist and shadow. Yet the path is still there, waiting for those who are ready to seek it out. This is a guidebook for those seeking a path that combines modern neopagan witchcraft with the older Celtic Fairy Faith. Topics include basic beliefs and practices, holidays, tools, altar set up, and theology, with the intent of giving the seeker a solid grounding in the basics of modern Fairy Witchcraft.Trade ReviewMorgan Daimler takes you on a journey into the fascinating world of fairy witchcraft, lovely book on a wonderful subject. --Rachel Patterson - Author of Pagan Portals Kitchen Witchcraft & Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch -

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Book Synopsis'Shaman', meaning 'intermediary between spirit and the natural world', has become a much overused word in the West. It's not a job title one can give oneself, and in indigenous societies, a shaman is usually born to this role. Ya'Acov Darling Khan is one of the few westerners who have been acknowledged as shamans by indigenous elders or teachers. After being hit by lightning, Ya'Acov took a 30-year journey into the heart of shamanism to seek his own healing, and to learn how he could serve others with the wisdom he acquired through his experiences. He has studied with indigenous teachers from the Arctic Circle to the USA and South America, and has taken part in ceremonies in such diverse locations as Welsh caves to the depths of the Amazon rainforest. Nowadays, Ya'Acov continues to study and regularly journeys to the Ecuadorean Amazon to work alongside the Achuar and Sápara people. For thousands of years, shamans helped the people in their communities remain in balance with themselves, each other, the natural world and the spirit world. This beautifully written book is not only a powerfully honest, humorous and inspiring memoir, but a guidebook for those from many cultures and walks of life wishing to return to their indigenous roots, and be part of midwifing a more benign human presence here on Earth as part of a new dream.Trade Review‘Jaguar in the Body, Butterfly in the Heart is a magnificent adventure story that travels like an arrow right into the heart of what it means to be a conscious human being. Like all stories told with unflinching honesty and humility, this one has the potential to heal the reader, and help him or her remember who they really truly are.’Dr Christiane Northrup, New York Times bestselling author of Goddesses Never Age and Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom‘Jaguar in the Body, Butterfly in the Heart charts the journey of a young man treading the path of an ancient vocation in a modern world. In his wise, funny and tender book, Ya’Acov Darling Khan writes of his teachers and experiences with compelling generosity and practicality, and lessons abound. Shamanic teaching that is accessible and divine.’Sophie Dahl, author‘Ya’Acov Darling Khan has written an exquisite and important book that places the great and deep work of shamanism in its rightful context in this critical time in human history. For too long, shamanism has been seen as a left-field weekend pastime that is divorced from the challenges that we face as a species. Ya’Acov’s story of his 30-year initiation into the shaman’s world is an invitation for us to look deeply into what matters most to us and to find the courage to live from this place. Ya’Acov’s book is vital for all of us who are ready to find the passion, dedication and courage to bring our visions to Earth and to leave a legacy for our descendants that we can be proud of.’Lynne Twist, Co-founder of the Pachamama Alliance and author of The Soul of Money‘An important shamanic ritual involves “dismembering and remembering” – releasing dysfunctional patterns of thought and behaviour in order to embrace beneficial new ones. Through this beautiful book Ya’Acov offers that ritual for a world of humans who need to rebalance and remember themselves and their relationship with all else. He sings the shapeshifter’s song; that song awakens a new dream, it manifests a new reality.’John Perkins, New York Times bestselling author‘As our world rocks with each new onslaught of unresolved human pain, there comes a bright light to remind us that we have resources far beyond our own: that we have help if we ask for it and that help is transformative. Written with integrity, authenticity and the flowing, addictive poetry of a born storyteller, Ya’Acov’s book is a must-read for anyone who seeks to share in the bounty of the greater spirits of this world and beyond. Ya’Acov’s journey as a shaman began long before the current fashion for all things shamanic. When it comes to spirituality, many people talk the talk, but few actually embody the teachings in their day-to-day life.’Manda Scott, teacher of shamanic dreaming and author of the Boudica series and Into the Fire‘Ya’Acov Darling Khan’s journey reveals the hard path that goes from a sincere but innocent day-dreaming about shamanism, to the struggles, doubts, failure and eventual victories to be found for those who travel far enough and persist for long enough to discover the secrets of shifting consciousness, and then bring them back to the world of our everyday affairs. What I love about him and the journey he shares in this book is that his passion for the Spirit has always been so strong, and was not broken when ego-driven fantasies were shattered again and again by the bitter-sweet kiss of everyday reality.’Victor Sanchez, researcher, author, teacher and founder of El Arte de Vivir A Propósito (The Art of Living Purposefully) and toltecas.org‘Ya’Acov is a medicine man of the highest integrity. His shamanic skill and embodiment transcend culture to reach the universal place of humanity and spirit. One doesn’t declare oneself a shaman, the people do. When we are in the rainforest together, the indigenous people line up for healings with Ya’Acov, who works side by side with the elder tribal shaman. In his book, Ya’Acov demystifies the original vocation, one often shrouded in misperceptions and aggrandizement in modern times. As our current systems and structures break down, more and more people are turning to the ancient shamanic worldview of interconnectivity and meaning. Jaguar in the Body, Butterfly in the Heart provides a blueprint for how to authentically walk the path.’David Tucker, Pachamama Journeys Director

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Book SynopsisJourney into the world of Ayahuasca and healing. A mysterious and powerful plant medicine with curative powers that is drunk as a tea during a sacred ceremony, Ayahuasca has been known to change people''s lives dramatically. But what was once a healing experience practiced only by Indigenous South Americans - and sought out by the adventurous few - has, in the past fifty years, become increasingly popular around the world.Hachumak, a Peruvian medicine man, has been practicing traditional healing arts in his country for more than twenty years. His unique approach is based on ritualistic simplicity and highlights the essence of the Art, which includes the borrowed forces from Nature. In this remarkable book, he shares his knowledge and experiences to broaden our understanding of this powerful medicine and protect it from misuse and exploitation.Whether you are among the uninitiated and curious, or a seasoned journeyer, you will gain a deeper understandin

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Book SynopsisDruidry is very much alive and relevant in the world. This title lets you discover how to embark on this green and magical path - and enrich your life with its ancient wisdom. It offers a structured course of study that highlights the mysteries, magic, and modern practice of this nature-based tradition.

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Book SynopsisA century ago, groups descending from the famed Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn fused the occult lore of the Western magical tradition with the nature spirituality of the Druid Revival. This book provides students with a complete curriculum of Druidical magic and occult wisdom.

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Book SynopsisShares Native American shamanic teachings in a way that is easily understood by people from any culture

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Book SynopsisThis beginner s guide to Paganism shows readers basic skills like grounding, centering, and meditation while introducing deities and magic

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Book SynopsisJohn has often been around death, and has experienced near death several times himself Whilst having one of these experiences he had a life changing moment, which moved him to his Pagan beliefs and spirituality as a way of life. His life changed for the better since finding the inner peace which this brought him. It is from his own beliefs that has come this introduction and overview of Summerlands. John has worked within the funeral trade, and has seen the outpouring of grief from family, friends and loved ones. Offering comfort to the bereaved and inspiration and hope for others the ideas and simply told truths will help give understanding of the afterlife.

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Book SynopsisRituals are the new resolutions.Find peace, manifest change and harness your personal power with this new book from clairvoyant-to-the-stars, Emma Lucy Knowles.Featuring 52 rituals - one for every week of the year - this book will help you to:- avoid burnout- charge your creativity- conquer self-doubt- manifest good things- burn bridges (the bad ones)- rediscover your joyWritten in Emma's helpful and non-judgemental style, discover simply daily rituals to help you shut out the noise of the digital world and find meaningful connection to yourself and the world around you.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of A Book of Pagan Prayer comes a new companion book, a pagan devotional for all occasions. A PAGAN RITUAL PRAYER BOOK allows readers to choose from over 700 prayers to find the perfect petition or invocation for many sacred life events. For Pagans of any tradition, the book includes an extensive section on the requisites of ritual and how to use ritual and prayer to create lasting change in your life and in the world. A PAGAN RITUAL PRAYER BOOK is organised thematically, making it convenient to use if one is seeking prayers for specific occasions, seasons, times of day, meals or milestones. From the Autumn Equinox and the Full Moon, to birth and death and the high holidays of the pagan Wheel of the Year such as Beltane and Samhain, A PAGAN RITUAL PRAYER BOOK gives readers the tools to invoke, embrace and honour the major events that make up our lives.

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Book SynopsisThis book demonstrates how to communicate and make contact with ancestral spirits, including practical methods for seeking their guidance. Raven Grimassi explores the realm of the ancestors and the role of reincarnation in the soul''s relationship to ancestral lineage. He explains the interactions between ancestors, the living and the dead and examines how communication with the ancestors is strengthened through various techniques and ritual practices. True to Raven''s style, the book will include folklore, legend and superstition surrounding the topic. Shrines, altars and offerings are discussed in detail, ancient practices related to communing with the ancestors are revived and new rituals are provided, including an exercise to lead readers into the "cavern of the ancestors" through guided imagery. Sacred sites, power places, special portals to the ancients, reincarnation and the "restless dead who are still bound to the earth realm" - he covers it all.

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Book SynopsisTHE BARDIC BOOK OF BECOMING is a warm, user-friendly, eclectic introduction to modern Druidry that invites you to take the first steps into the realms of magic and mystery. It is a long and winding path leading to tremendous self-transformation. In this book you will be introduced to the various techniques and practices of a Druid in training.Written by Ivan McBeth, the cofounder of Vermont''s Green Mountain School of Druidry, the book incorporates lessons, visualisations, rituals and magical stories. Many different activities and exercises are included that provide the reader with hands-on learning. McBeth, also, shares personal stories that demonstrate his own journey from spiritual seeker to Druid.

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Book SynopsisAsatru is a modern pagan tradition whose roots lie in the ancient myths, folklore, sagas and historical artifacts of those who lived in pre-Christian times in what is now Iceland, Scandinavia, Scandinavian-influenced Scotland, Germany and other parts of northern Europe. In ASATRU, author and longtime practitioner of Asatru, Erin Lale, provides readers an accessible introduction to this heathen religion, one of the fastest growing religions in United States and Europe. The book includes these key topics:. A brief exploration of Asatru''s mythology and prehistory, its contact with Rome and its history up to the present day. A comprehensive survey of Asatru''s many gods and goddesses. The rituals, including holiday celebrations, toasting rituals, weddings and other life events. The moral virtues of a true Asatruar: courage, honour, loyalty, truth, hospitality, industriousness, self-discipline, self-reliance and steadfastness. The magical practices of rune divination, spells and bersarkrgangr (a form of trance magic) . A look at the "universalist" and "folkish" interpretations of the Asatru tradition and the "hijacking" of the symbolism of the northern European religions in the 19th and early 20th centuries Readers new to Asatru and experts alike will find this book to be an invaluable resource in understanding this heathen tradition.

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Book SynopsisThe word shamanism is frequently bandied about but rarely used accurately. Shamanologist Nicholas Breeze Wood coined the following definition:"A shaman is someone chose by the spirits [typically at/before birth] and who can go into a controlled and repeatable deliberate trance state, during which they:A) experience ''spirit flight,'' where they go to meet the spirit worlds and meet spirits, who they either fight with, negotiate with, or trick, in order to create change in this physical world, or B) are often taken over/possessed by the spirits (normally ancestral shaman spirits, or local land spirits) while in this physical world-the spirits using the shaman''s voice and body to heal, or give advice to members of the shaman''s community. Without the spirits, and their blessing, a shaman can not exist or function. Without the trance state, it is not shamanism."Author David Shi, for whom these are family traditions, explores the history and practice of shamanism.What is it? Where is it from? How does one become a shaman? Shi guides readers through unfamiliar territory-the landscape of North Asia-and through what are largely hidden and unfamiliar traditions. SPIRIT VOICES takes and in-depth look at three main cultural shamanic traditions: Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungus.SPIRIT VOICES features history, first-hand experiential reports, mythology, and folklore to explore the spirits, spirituality, and practices of true shamanism. In addition to history and analysis of North Asian shamanism, Shi also provides practical information for those readers seeking to implement practices that are appropriate to non-initiates and outsiders to the culture.

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Book SynopsisIntroduces the principles and techniques of core shamanism and explains how to use these techniques to access the advice and wisdom of healing spirits.

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Book SynopsisA guidebook for communicating with the departed and gaining first-hand knowledge of life beyond death• Reveals that the easiest way to communicate with the departed is through dreams• Offers methods for helpful and timely communication with deceased loved ones• Provides powerful Active Dreaming practices from ancient and indigenous cultures for journeying beyond the gates of death for wisdom and healingWe yearn for contact with departed loved ones. We miss them, ache for forgiveness or closure, and long for confirmation that there is life beyond physical death. In The Dreamer’s Book of the Dead, Robert Moss explains that we have entirely natural contact with the departed in our dreams, when they come visiting and we may travel into their realms. As we become active dreamers, we can heal our relationship with the departed and move beyond the fear of death. We also can develop the skills to function as soul guides for others, helping the dying to approach the last stage of life with courage and grace, opening gates for their journeys beyond death, and even escorting them to the Other Side.Drawing on a wealth of personal experience as well as many ancient and indigenous traditions, Moss offers stories to inspire us and guide us. He shares his extraordinary visionary relationship with the poet W. B. Yeats, whose greatest ambition was to create a Western Book of the Dead, to feed the soul hunger of our times. Moss teaches us the truth of Chief Seattle’s statement that "there is no death; we just change worlds."

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Book SynopsisIt has been more than 50 years since sacred mushrooms were plucked from the shamanic backwaters of Mexico and presented to the modern world by R. Gordon Wasson. After sparking the psychedelic era of the 1960s, however, the divine mushroom returned underground from whence it mysteriously originated. Yet today, the mushroom’s extraordinary influence is once again being felt by large numbers of people, due to the discovery of hundreds of wild psilocybin species growing across the globe. In The Psilocybin Solution, Simon G. Powell traces the history of the sacred psilocybin mushroom and discusses the shamanic visionary effects it can induce. Detailing how psilocybin acts as a profound enhancer of consciousness and reviewing the research performed by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Johns Hopkins University, and the Heffter Research Institute on psilocybin’s ability to dispel anxiety in the terminally ill and its helpful effects on obsessive-compulsive disorder, he examines the neurochemistry, psychology, and spirituality underlying the visionary psilocybin experience, revealing the interface where physical brain and conscious mind meet. Showing that the existence of life and the functioning of mind are the result of a naturally intelligent, self-organizing Universe, he explains how sacred mushrooms provide a direct link to the wisdom of Nature and the meaning of life.Trade Review“Simon G. Powell has crafted a magnificent, multifaceted argument for the reintegration of psychedelics into science, culture, psychotherapy, and religion to inspire our unbalanced species before we ‘push the biosphere into total decline.’ The Psilocybin Solution persuasively illuminates the profound social value of large numbers of people experiencing communion with and direct personal perception of Nature as a single system of self-organizing intelligence. A massive accomplishment!” * Rick Doblin, Ph.D., founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studi *“This book provides a clear and up-to-date picture of what goes on in the brain during the visionary psilocybin experience. The author’s intrepid speculations, centering on information as the fundamental stuff of the universe, are clearly signposted. The writing is lucid and a joy to behold, an important contribution.” * Jeremy Narby, anthropologist and author of The Cosmic Serpent, Intelligence in Nature, and The Psych *“The profound experiences unlocked by the visionary psilocybin-containing mushrooms are more than a recreational holiday for the mind. They are, in fact, the key to understanding that consciousness is not an aspect of reality, it is reality itself.” * Dennis McKenna, Ph.D., ethnopharmacologist and coauthor of The Invisible Landscape *“A worthy successor to Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception, The Psilocybin Solution takes the reader behind the grand curtain of reality with a compelling hypothesis that approaches a unified field theory of human consciousness in an intelligent and interconnected universe.” * Bill Linton, CEO of Promega *“In this fascinating and provocative book, Simon G. Powell speculates on the nature of reality. He posits that Nature is a deliberate and intelligently behaving system, and he proposes that psilocybin, by altering the neurochemistry of the brain in specific ways, enables novel patterns of information to emerge, allowing the psyche to become a sort of conduit to the Other. If in fact that is what actually happens, then entheogens (psychedelics) are much more important to the human species than has been realized.” * David E. Nichols, Ph.D., president and cofounder of the Heffter Research Institute *“It’s as if these fungi, which grow wild on most of the Earth’s land surface, beckon us to commune with them, Powell hints. And if we do have the chance, we’d do well to heed his advice on the “retuning” process. This communion offers a link with the intelligence of Nature. Opening the doors of perception and returning to entheogenic wisdom could ultimately create a more mystical, meaningful society.” * Nexus Magazine, Vol. 18, No. 6, October 2011 *“Read this book. Follow directions in the last chapter closely. Confirm or deny.” * Diana Reed Slattery, Reality Sandwich, October 2011 *“Overall, another adequate introduction to entheogenic thought but one that, interestingly, broaches questions about neurology more explicitly than others, in attempting to locate entheogenic thought in a wider metaphysics.” * Psychedelic Press, November 2011 *“All in all, this is a stimulating and revolutionary volume, whatever your take on “chemically induced theophany.”” * Mac Graham, Whole Life Times, December 2011 *Table of Contents Foreword by Graham Hancock Preface Prologue A Question of Life and Death One Sacred Ground Two An Ancient Form of Communion Three Psilocybin Flows in and out of the Western Mind Four Investigating the Earth’s Alchemical Skin Five The Mushroom and the Synapse Six The Stuff of Consciousness Seven A Universe of Information Eight Does the Universe Compute? Nine The Fantastic Hypothesis Ten A Neo-Shamanic Climax Epilogue Trick or Treat? Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWidely recognized 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. Made from the Amazonian vine Banisteriopsis caapiand the DMT-laden leaf of Psychotria viridis, ayahuasca is regarded as the embodiment of intelligent plant beings who can offer spiritual teachings and healing knowledge to those who respectfully engage with them. Many Western-trained physicians and psychologists now acknowledge that ayahuasca allows access to spiritual dimensions of consciousness, otherworldly realms and beings, and visionary experiences indistinguishable from classic religious mysticism. With contributions from leading psychoactive scholars Dennis J. McKenna, Ph.D., Charles S. Grob, M.D., and J. C. Calloway, Ph.D., on the ethnopharmacology, psychology, phytochemistry, and neuropharmacology of ayahuasca, Ralph Metzner provides a comprehensive exploration of the chemical, biological, psychological, and experiential dimensions of this Amazonian hallucinogen. He includes more than 20 firsthand accounts from people who have participated in ayahuasca rituals and experienced major life changes as a result. He details the scientific discovery of ayahuasca’s sophisticated psychoactive delivery system in the brain and body as well as the deep psychological impact of this potent entheogen. He concludes with his own findings on ayahuasca, including its applications in medicine and psychology, and compares the worldview revealed by ayahuasca visions to that of modern cultures.Trade Review“The Ayahuasca Experience is a most valuable resource, encompassing the history, psychology, spirituality, scientific understanding, and raw experience of the Amazonian ‘vine of the spirits’ now entwining itself into the Western psyche. Metzner’s work is particularly recommended to those first encountering ayahuasca, who require an authoritative, user-friendly guide to the mysterious terrains opened by this traditional, sacred medicine.” * Robert Tindall, author of The Jaguar that Roams the Mind and The Shamanic Odyssey *“Thought provoking, wide ranging, and well reasoned, Metzner’s collection of essays and self-reports contains an extraordinarily wide representation of subjective effects of, and scientific findings regarding, ayahuasca in the modern West. It provides ideas for future research and is essential for beginners and veterans in the field.” * Rick Strassman, M.D., author of DM T: The Spirit Molecule and clinical associate professor of psychi *“Ralph Metzner, world-famous pioneer of psychedelic research and consciousness explorer, brings together a masterful collection of writings exploring the nature of this extraordinary sacred potion, from its chemical and biological properties and psychological effects to its enormous healing and spiritual potential. This book will be an inspiration for lay audiences and a treasure trove of information for scholars studying consciousness and the human psyche.” * Stanislov Grof, M.D., author of LSD : Doorway to the Numinous, Healing Our Deepest Wounds, and When *“The Ayahuasca Experience is a classic in the enthogenic literature genre.” * Ruth Parnell, Nexus, June 2014 *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Amazonian Vine of Visions Ralph Metzner, Ph.D. 1. Ayahuasca: An Ethnopharmacologic History Dennis J. McKenna, Ph.D. 2. The Psychology of Ayahuasca Charles S. Grob, M.D. 3. Phytochemistry and Neuropharmacology of Ayahuasca J. C. Callaway, Ph.D. 4. The Experience of Ayahuasca: Teachings of the Amazonian Plant Spirits Initiation into Ancient Lineage of Visionary Healers Raoul Adamson We Are Experiencing the Joyful Phenomenon of Re-creation Cristina Santos Having So Recently Experienced My Death, It Felt Miraculous to Be Alive Stefan C. Breaking from the Bondage of the Mind Kate S. A Vision of Sekhmet Ganesha The Pieces of My Life Fell Together in a More Meaningful Pattern Ava S. Knowledge Was Graciously Invoked in Me by the Plant Teacher Oregon T. Here Began a Series of Teachings about the Nature of the Heart Joseph S. A Vision of the Fabric That Is Woven by Us All Caroline S. Ethereal Serpents Held Me in Thrall Shyloh Ravenswood I Was Exploring Being with Greenness Pamela C. Liquid Plum’r for the Soul I. M. Lovetree The Plant Spirits Help Me to Heal Myself and Others Eugenia G. The Great Serpentine Dance of Life Raimundo D. A Most Palpably Buddhist-like Experience Renata S. Journey to the Emerald Forest Richard N. The Long, Multifaceted Journey of Jewish Experience Abraham L. Teaching the Body Its Relationship to the Spirit Wahtola H. Ancient Augury of My Resurrection Barry F. An Entirely New World of Spirit Beings Frank Owings Death and Rebirth in Santo Daime Madalena Fonseca Nature Has Embraced Me, Blown the Breath of Life into Me Stefan C. The Buddha, the Christ, and the Queen of the Jungle Ganesha Agony and Rapture with Santo Daime Raoul Adamson 5. Conclusions, Reflections, and Speculations Ralph Metzner, Ph.D. Notes on Contributors

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Book SynopsisA step-by-step practical guide to enhancing creative energy. In this step-by-step practical guide to enhancing creative energy, Evelyn Rysdyk explains, from the shamanic perspective, how creativity--or creative energy--is a life-giving force that frees the imagination, supports innovation, and awakens unique ways of thinking and feeling that can transform your life. She explores how to use the shamanic technologies of spirit journeying and ceremony alongside experiential shamanic exercises to release creativity-blocking patterns, reprogram the subconscious, engage the “right brain,” boost imagination, overcome anxiety and destructive emotions, and become much more creative in daily life. Examining creative energy as a natural phenomenon similar to the tides, the author provides suggestions for when your creative energy is at a low tide as well as offering shamanic techniques for dealing with insecurities related to your creative pursuits and overcoming dysfunctional subconscious perceptions. Presenting a wealth of experiential exercises, rituals, and shamanic principles, this guide gives you the keys to unlock your own creative birthright.Trade Review“This book is a wonderful read and a deeply empowering way to heal our stolen creativity, and bring us back home to ourselves. Unlocking and repairing our creativity is essential work, and Evelyn puts the key to this locked, vital passion right in the palm of our hand with this book. This book is about discovering the seed of our birth right again, and about helping that seed grow into a strong and mighty tree, full of beauty.” * Nicholas Breeze Wood, editor of Sacred Hoop Magazine *“Art is a process that brings nature back to people, and shamanism is a process that brings people back to nature. This soul-nurturing awareness is elegantly illumined throughout the pages of Evelyn C. Rysdyk’s latest book, Shamanic Creativity, where visionary inspiration, symbolic meaning, and archetypal wisdom are given earth-beautifying ceremonial expression as spirit medicine for healing the ills of our postmodern world. Highly recommended!” * don Oscar Miro-Quesada, coauthor of Lessons in Courage *“Evelyn Rysdyk is a brilliant shamanic teacher who has helped to pioneer shamanic teachings in our time. She knows how to take some of the deeper ancient cross-cultural mysteries and share them with a modern Western culture. Evelyn performed her ‘magic’ again with Shamanic Creativity. This practical guide contains the support, inspiration, clear communication, and shamanic guidance you need to tap into the deepest level of your creativity. This is such a timely book as we all need to own our destiny to create our highest dreams.” * Sandra Ingerman, MA, author of Walking in Light and coauthor of Speaking with Nature *“Kudos to Evelyn Rysdyk’s new book Shamanic Creativity. This overdue and inspiring book offers in simple language the tools to free old energy blocks, patterns, and ways of thinking to manifest a creative and fulfilling life beyond your expectations. Read it and follow the rituals, energy work, and spirit journeys. It’s a must, not just for those who practice shamanism but for anyone who wishes to rediscover and ignite their birthright’s life passion.” * Itzhak Beery, author of The Gift of Shamanism, Shamanic Transformations, and Shamanic Healing *“In this moment when we dearly need to access the full range of our wildhearted creativity, Evelyn Rysdyk offers us a way to do just that. Shamanic Creativity is not just for those who identify as ‘creatives’ but for all of us to discover how we unleash our creative superpower. We are creating the path as we walk it, and we need to course correct. Evelyn offers direct, accessible practices to awaken our slumbering creative potential to be that course correction now, to offer unique new solutions, ingenious risks, and heartfelt weaving of it all together. With the shamanic practices offered and the hope Evelyn inspires, we might just innovate our way into a future that supports the insanely, improbable, fragile, beautiful reality of life on Earth.” * Christina Lee Pratt, founder of Last Mask Center *“As a teacher of sacred art I often tell my students that our own life is the greatest piece of art we ever make! We are all part of creation, and it is through our own creations (in the widest possible sense of the word) that we express the innate and divine force within us. Creativity unlocks, heals, and supports wholeness. Evelyn Rysdyk’s new book presents a map and ‘creative cardinal rules.’ Ultimately, she tells us how to transcend conflict and contradiction, view those as fertile ground for new insights and projects, and, in her own words, arrive at homospatial thinking. Treat yourself and get started today!” * Imelda Almqvist, author of Sacred Art and Medicine of the Imagination *“The ideas and suggestions offered in Shamanic Creativity are interesting, inspirational, and supportive for anyone wanting to connect with the creative forces of the universe as well as their own. Evelyn Rysdyk is the epitome of shamanic creativity and a great guide.” * Mama Donna Henes, urban shaman and author of Bless This House *“Once again Evelyn Rysdyk shares her deep understanding of shamanic practice coupled with her lifelong experience as a creative artist. You can trust her, as both shaman and artist, to guide your own creative energies into life patterns that will bring greater harmony and empowerment to your everyday life. It will be a joyous journey!” * Tom Cowan, author of Fire in the Head and Yearning for the Wind *“Creative energy is our birthright. It is life itself speaking through us. In Shamanic Creativity, acclaimed author and experienced guide Evelyn C. Rysdyk teaches us how to connect with this limitless vitality, removing the blockages and allowing it to flow unimpeded.” * Hillary S. Webb, Ph.D., author of Yanantin and Masintin in the Andean World *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION The Power of Creative EnergyONE How Shamanic Creativity Supports Wholeness Preparatory Practices Tapping into the Creative Energy In and around You • Notebook-Naming CeremonyTWO Feelings: The Dance of Dissonance and HarmonyClearing and Repair Repairing Your Energy after Experiencing Fear or Anger • Ceremony for Slaying the Bully’s Words • The Holy Eraser Talisman Ceremony • Reprogramming the Subconscious THREE Nurturing Your Creative Brain Breathing Exercises and Workouts for the Senses As Easy as One, Two, Three, Four! • Meditation: Four In, Seven Hold, Eight Out • Using Your Eyes • Using Your Ears • Using Your Limbs • Writing the Right Brain Awake • Alternate Nostril Breathing FOUR Altered States and CreativityElevating Awareness Using Fire to Experience the Dark Side of the Moon FIVE Shamanic Journeying to the Lower and Upper Worlds Spirit Journeys Meeting Your Power Animal • Asking a Question of Your Power Animal • Merging with Your Power Animal • Meeting a Teacher and Asking a Question • Performing an Offering of Gratitude • Meeting Your Creative Mentor • Meeting an Ancestor and Asking a Question • Honoring the Ancestors SIX Shamanic Journeying into Unknown Territory Off-the-Map Forays Cruising to the Primordial Sea 145 • Traveling into the Brain • Exploring the Earliest Galaxy • Visiting the Future SEVEN The Ebb and Flow of Creative Energy Daily RitualsCharting Your Creative Tidal Flow • Shaping and Remembering Your Dreams • Morning Gratitude Bath Ceremony • Breathing with the Trees • The Chicago Dog Method EIGHT Building the Imagination Curiosity Calisthenics Creating a New Bread Crumb Trail • Imagining Senses • Question Reality, Man! • Ten Ideas • Mixing It Up • Lateral Thinking Puzzles • Brainstorming for One • What Is It? • A Three-Minute Story NINEEmbracing Your Highest ConsciousnessAn Extraordinary Journey The Radiant Field of Infinite VibrationsTEN Protecting and Actualizing Your Creative Potential Transmutation Tactics Removing Self-Sabotaging Programming • Turning a No into a Yes for You CONCLUSIONA New Paradigm of Creativity RESOURCES Creative Organizations and Supplies Notes Bibliography Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisExplores ancient mask customs, rituals, and traditions throughout Europe, from Scandinavia and England to Germany and France to Greece and Rome• Reveals how mask rituals are akin to shamanic journeying and allow the mask wearer to personify an ancestral presence, spirit, deity, or power • Examines animal guising and shows how mask customs are tied to creation myths and the ancestral founders of a people, tribe, city, or nation • Looks at morris dancers and mummers in the UK, Krampuslauf and Perchtenlauf in Germanic areas, the Gorgon myths of Greece, Norse Berserker rituals, and the annual Black Forest rite to awaken ensouled masks every spring There is a spiritual power in masks that transports one into realms unseen and gives voice to things unspoken. Within the context of ritual, putting on a mask places the wearer at the intersection between the present and the past, the living and the dead, this world and the Otherworld. Masks make it possible to activate ancient archetypes, with the mask wearer reanimating or personifying an ancestral presence or spirit, a deity or power, an animal or a being of the eldritch world. In this illustrated study, Nigel Pennick explores the magical and spiritual aspects of mask wearing from ancient times to the present. He examines the many mask traditions around Europe and shows how mask rituals are similar to shamanic journeying and near-death experiences and can induce ecstatic states that allow the power signified by the mask to take possession of the individual wearing it. He also looks at the practice of dressing up as sacred animals and mask wearing as it relates to ostenta, events that occur suddenly and without warning that are considered a token or sign from the Otherworld. Unveiling the sacred power of masks, the author shows how masks allow us to transport into realms unseen, embody ancestors and otherworldly entities, and connect with traditions that stretch back to time immemorial.Trade Review“A thorough and sensitive review of the varied use of masks through time. Most valuable to me is Pennick’s understanding as to how masks allow us to outwardly reflect our inner spiritual reality. There is too little literature on this subject, and this book is a valuable addition, written with sensitivity and understanding.” * Peter Coyote, actor, Zen Buddhist priest, mask teacher, and author of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Meet *“This book is a gem! As always, Nigel Pennick explores his intriguing subject with ferocious intensity, beautifully balancing his lenses from telescopic to macroscopic. He writes with a density of detail and archival attention, galloping through centuries in single sentences, crisscrossing countries and even continents in single bounds. His prodigious knowledge, gathered and retained over a lifetime, pours forth--a cornucopia of richness--and sometimes may seem like simple lists but which transcend as categorical abundance of evidence that lead up to his anecdotal expansions. Well done, Mr. Pennick!” * Linda Kelsey-Jones, president of San Marcos Area Arts Council and director/curator of The Walkers&rs *Table of ContentsPREFACEThe Meaning and Function of Masks INTRODUCTION Incarnating the Spirit Depicted by the Mask 1 Ensouled Artifacts and Death Masks 2 Masks and Representation3 Gods, Images, and Ostenta4 Animals as Ostenta 5 Eldritch Beings: The Dark World of the Indeterminate6 The Furious Host 7 Spectral Animals beyond the Wild Hunt8 Masks of Invisibility 9 The Powers of Animal Skins10 Animal Disguise--Horses 11 Animal Disguise--Other Animals 12 Straw Bears, Straw Men, and Jack O’Lent 13 Dragonry 14 Civic Giants 15 Misrule, Comedy, Masks, and Puppets16 Masquerades 17 Carnival Characters, Mumming, and Mummers’ Plays18 Mummers: Characters, Disguises, and Costumes19 Rural Ceremonies, Performance, and Disguise 20 Molly Dancing and Garlanding 21 Fire, Misrule, and Disorder 22 Crime, Rebellion, and Ritual Disguise 23 Pantomime and Futurism24 Authoritarian Suppression of Festivals PostscriptGlossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive introduction to the Voudon Gnostic system of magic• Analyzes the syncretic magical system of Voudon Gnosticism and the traditions from which it is sourced• Explains the practices of Voudon Gnosticism in detail, including how to speak with the Lwas (spirits) and establish relationships with them• Explores the history of Voudon Gnosticism and significant teachers like Martinez de Pasqually, Lucien François Jean-Maine, and Michael BertiauxThe Voudon Gnostic system—a unique melding of Haitian Vodou with Gnosticism, Martinism, and other traditions—is one of the most creative and rich ways to explore magic. Providing a comprehensive introduction to this complex magical tradition, Frater Vameri explores its history and practices, initiating novices and more advanced readers into his own Voudonist world and the tradition’s conceptions of life and death.Vameri begins by exploring the foun

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Book SynopsisTaking both Zen and Druidry and embracing them into your life can be a wonderful and ongoing process of discovery, not only of the self but of the entire world around you. Looking at ourselves and at the natural world around us, we realise that everything is in constant change and flux - like waves on the ocean, they are all part of one thing that is made up of everything. Even after the wave has crashed upon the shore, the ocean is still there, the wave is still there - it has merely changed its form. The aim of this text is to show how Zen teachings and Druidry can combine to create a peaceful life path that is completely and utterly dedicated to the here and now, to the earth and her rhythms, and to the flow that is life itself.

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Book SynopsisA complete study course in classical and cross-cultural shamanism, teaching the reader all s/he ever needs to know about shamanism, shamanic healing, soul retrieval, spirit extraction, house cleansing, cleaning the energy body, working with the souls of the dead - and much more.

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Book SynopsisElen of the Ways is about the ancient shamanism of Britain. Elen Sentier grew up in a long family lineage of following the Deer Trods; in this book she tells of the old, forgotten ways of our ancestors. Through her own experience, stories, practical exercises and journeys with the deer, Elen takes you into the realm of the Boreal Forest, of which Britain is a part, to show how the Deer Goddess is the spirit of this land. To walk the deer trods is to realise how close and connected you are to nature and everything in this beautiful world which we share with our non-human brethren. You learn, too, that our everyday world and otherworld are intertwined. Elen of the Ways is both here and there at the same time. You will find her everywhere.

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Book SynopsisIn Earth Alchemy - an updated edition of Glennie Kindred's The Alchemist Journey - she explores a powerful fusion between the ancient healing art of alchemy and the energy inherent in each of the eight Celtic festivals. This practical guide, written in Glennie's accessible style, show us how to work with each seasonal and alchemical shift, and use the natural energy of transformation to experience ourselves in a new way. It takes us on a journey of discovery, to find our gold, the source of our healing and happiness. Earth Alchemy includes: • A key to the Earth Festivals and creating celebrations that encourage our natural ability to transform and change. • Key alchemical concepts and how they are tied to eternal natural laws we can all harness • How to recognize natural phenomenon and their subtle meanings for our personal healing.• Experiencing the unity and interconnection of ourselves as part of the Earth. Beautifully illustrated with Glennie's own deep evocations of alchemical spirit, this book is a must read for anyone who is seeking to commune more closely with the natural world and who wishes to become a powerful force for change in the world.Trade ReviewGlennie Kindred is one of those rare understated experts who is supremely knowledgeable about her field of Earth traditions and yet who is modest and understated. Kindred Spirit An informative and profound, yet simple to understand approach to the expansive subject of Alchemy. Paradigm Shift

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Book SynopsisEach of us is connected to various people through 'energy strands' - energetic cords that link us to our environment and create an exchange and flow of energy between us. We can be connected via energy strands to people both from our present and our past. This book, by renowned author and self-development teacher Denise Linn, helps you discover the strands of energy that flow to and through you. She explains how we can have attachments to family, ancestors, friends, lovers, crowds and pets. Some energy strands allow us to feel vibrant and alive; others deplete and weaken us. Most of us are unaware of these energy strands, but we can usually feel them on a subconscious level. In Energy Strands, Denise Linn shares some of the methods she's learned over the years to release the cords that bind you and empower the strands that strengthen and heal you. You will learn practical tools to clear negative cords from unhealthy attachments, toxic relationships and spaces. This includes working with sound, breath, meditation and visualization. The ancient shamanic techniques in this book will support you in finding harmony and balance in your life through understanding these powerful lines of energy.

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Book SynopsisPaganism 101 is an introduction to Paganism written by 101 Pagans. Grouped into three main sections, Who we are, What we believe and What we do, twenty topics fundamental to the understanding of the main Pagan traditions are each introduced by essay and then elaborated upon by other followers and practitioners, giving the reader a greater flavor of the variety and diversity that Paganism offers. With introductory essays from leading writers such as Emma Restall Orr, Mark Townsend, Brendan Myers, Jane Meredith, Alaric Albertsson and Rachel Patterson and with supporting vignettes from those at the heart of the Pagan community, Paganism 101 offers a truly unique insight.Trade ReviewProfessor Ronald Hutton - It is often said, correctly, that Paganism is an umbrella term covering a rich profusion of traditions, attitudes, experiences and beliefs. What better way to reflect that reality within one book than to get so many good writers to represent it?

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Book SynopsisMany people crave a spiritual life without wanting to belong to rigid religions with the almost unavoidable power structures and politics that involves. This book explores how to construct your own spiritual path, considering the implications of seeking a spiritual life without wanting organised religion to dominate it. As such it has applications for Pagans, atheists, agnostics, heretics from any mainstream faith, and seekers of all kinds.

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Book SynopsisThe Shaman Within explains how our ancient wisdoms can now be employed to tackle the big issues that trouble our minds, ravage our bodies and quash our spirits. Through a very personal journey; the travels, experiences, rituals, highs and lows of the protagonist, an amazing tapestry of insights and answers is woven before our very eyes. And the threads of this tapestry consist of the incredible healing and empowerment that our long-forgotten 'rites of passage' afford us. The lessons within enable us to feel more complete, at one with ourselves, our environment and the universe that created us. This book speaks to all who seek true fulfilment and imparts the tools to achieve it.Trade ReviewOnce I began reading this book I couldn't put it down. Barbara delivers a powerful and timely message. Through accounts of her own experiences and the timeless wisdom passed onto her by many wise teachers, we are taken on a journey of discovery of ourselves, leading us to a deeper and more profound awareness of all that we are. -- David Hamilton

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Book SynopsisDruidry is currently exciting much interest but has an image that is not usually associated with urban life. In The Handbook of Urban Druidry, author Brendan Howlin presents Druidry in an easy-to-understand way, making the concepts open to everyone.

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Book SynopsisThe members of the Web PATH Center, a pagan church and spiritual community in Lyons, NY, wondered what would happen if they wrote a book about sex. The book needed to be spiritual. It needed to be sexy. It needed to be explicit. Sacred Sex and Magick is the result. The group describes how ordinary ritual practices like grounding and creating a cone of power involve sensuality and rising kundalini energy. They explain how to use that power in making magick happen. Then they share secrets of the Great Rite and how to include the power of the sacred marriage at home. This book is for people who want a spiritual path that involves the physical ecstasy of sex and the dynamics of magick that works. Solitaries, pagan partners and spouses, and people with spirit lovers will all dance with the ecstasy found in this book.

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Book SynopsisWhen a Pagan prays, there are many uncertainties - who we pray to, what we pray for, and what might happen to us as a consequence. Not having the same structures as other religions, Pagans can't frame prayer in the same ways, and our experiences are likely to be wilder and more personal. This book is both a wide ranging exploration of what prayer means in different faith and cultures, and a personal journey into a spiritual practice.

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from the author's successful book Shaman Pathways - Elen of the Ways, this is a practical handbook filled with tried-and-tested exercises, journeys and experiential work for the reader to engage in. Essential reading for anyone wanting to begin the old British paths.

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Book SynopsisThe Earth needs your help. The Fae are calling you to harness the power of Nature. In return they offer assistance to enable you to thrive in this very modern world, in balance and harmony, and with a sprinkle of very real magic. The Way of The Faery Shaman, gives insight as to who the Faeries really are, which element they are connected to, and how to work with that element in order to bring about the magic that is actually all around us.

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth manual for practicing Fairy Witchcraft including theology, fairy lore, rituals, holidays, and magical practices. This book aims to pick up where Pagan Portals - Fairy Witchcraft leaves off and teach interested people the comprehensive practice of this system of honoring the Fair Folk and liminal Gods by blending the old Fairy Faith with modern paganism.

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Book SynopsisThe Goddess of Witches, Queen of Shades and Shadows, and the ever-eternal Dark Muse - Hekate, Fair Queen of the Shadow-Lands, haunts the pages of this poetic devotional, enchanting those who love Her with the charm only this Dark Goddess can bring. Join in the journey as we meet Hekate, Queen of Sorcery, in the realms of Dream and Enchantment, weaving magic through the Worlds - Seen and Unseen. We take flight to the Lands Eternal in this part devotional, part grimoire and learn how to venerate this Great Goddess of antiquity and connect with the Spirits of the Shadow-Lands...

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Book SynopsisPagan Portals: Australian Druidry works as a supplement to the study of Druidry and other nature-based spiritual paths as practiced in Australia. The seasons, animals, plants and ancestral histories of the land in Australia are quite different from those of the Celtic lands where Druidry originates. Julie Brett discusses the difficulties of following a nature-based tradition in an environment wildly different from Druidism's place of origin, and offers practical information on how to adapt the practice of Druidry to suit the energy of the land and respect its spirits and ancestors.

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Book SynopsisThose who have grown up with Pan as a playmate remember how, back in the day, it would be possible for a young child to disappear into the woods with only a dog for company for hours on end without there being a hue and cry raised in its absence; and it was on those woodland rides and pathways - summer or winter - that Melusine Draco often encountered Pan.

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Book SynopsisAspecting the Goddess is a memoir, a workbook and an exploration of twelve different Goddess myths. Aspecting, or drawing down a Goddess, is an invitation to share our bodies and our experience with the divine feminine. Step by step, this book unfolds different levels of this practice.

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Book SynopsisFor the entire Pagan community Christmas should be one of the most sacred times of the year, but the lack of any formal written liturgy has consigned the festival to a minor observance in the Pagan calendar. Have a Cool Yule demonstrates that history proves the festival to be a wholly Pagan event, worthy of being acknowledged as one of the Great Festivals along with Beltaine and Samhain. With all the different strands of Pagan custom brought to the hearth-fire of the Mid-Winter Festival, we all have something to celebrate in time-honoured fashion, whether our ancestors are Briton, Celt, Norse or Anglo-Saxon.

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Book SynopsisDuring the pandemic, surgeries closed their doors to their patients, and told them to self-isolate and take paracetamol. People became frightened and felt abandoned to cope with a virus against which there seemed no answer from mainstream medicine. Since then, there has been a groundswell of interest in plant medicine, and this book will help readers feel empowered and able to help themselves heal and thrive using tinctures, teas and other recipes, but without having to train as a medical herbalist. Amongst the alluring recipes are Menopause Tea, Horse Chestnut Gel and Brain Spice Condiments, and chapters include Nourishing Your Adrenals, Herbs for the Heart and Muscles and Joints. There's a huge amount of wisdom here garnered from Jo's 22 years of practising herbalism. There is nothing as magical as picking a weed from under a hedge, brewing it in the cauldron of your teapot, and using that potion to restore health. It’s everyday alchemy, and it transforms us from the base metal of material gratification into the gold of recognizing the exquisite power of nature. Secrets from a Herbalist’s Garden meets the pull to recover from illness or to alleviate a long-standing condition, as well as the yearning for a new way of life, where growing and harvesting herbs with the seasons is adopted as a new holistic lifestyle. You might consult the text with a specific ailment or a plant to harvest, but it would also guide you to a more spiritual and seasonal lifestyle.Trade Review"Enlightening! This book has reignited my own knowledge and connection to our herbs which nature has generously provided. I love the seasonal connections, makes it much easier to know when the herbs are available, all at the right time." - Margaret McGair, Biodynamic Association UK"Jo reminds us of how our ancestors lived close to Nature in harmony with it, and respected what each Plant and Herb had to offer. Reading this one is reminded of the old truth - Nature is always the best Teacher." - Michelle Hawcroft, Psychic Medium & Tutor, College of Psychic Studies"[An] uplifting guide . . . charming black-and-white line drawings punctuate the pages, and Dunbar's compassionate approach will appeal to readers looking to get in touch with nature. Readers with an affinity for natural remedies will find this a resource worth returning to." - Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisAccess the gifts of transformation, heal the self, and live in harmony with one another and with the Earth by journeying through the wisdom wheel—a fresh take on the traditional medicine wheel—its archetypes, and its four wisdom challenges.The teachings of the medicine wheel have existed from the beginning of time. Today, however, we are creating modern paradigms of shamanism while drawing on the sacred traditions of the past. In this book, shamanic practitioner Alberto Villoldo explains that the medicine wheel is also a wisdom wheel: an advanced tool for working toward personal and planetary transformation. By journeying through the wisdom wheel and its four directions—South, West, North, and East—each of which is associated with an archetypal animal and sacred journey, you will be able to access powerful healing energies and step into a new personal and collective destiny.

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