Mysticism Books

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Book SynopsisUnlock the ancient wisdom of the Tree of Life and understand the path ahead with this beautiful oracle from astrologer and Qabalah expert David Wells. Drawing on the mystic tradition of Qabalah, The Tree of Life Oracle will help you to learn more about the nature of the universe and yourself, connecting you with your soul to fulfill your purpose. The Tree of Life is central to Qabalah – a map of the universe and the psyche, the order of the creation of the cosmos, and a path to spiritual illumination, represented by 10 interconnected spheres. The Tree is rich with symbolism, and these symbols – drawn from astrology, Tarot, and ancient alchemy – are reproduced throughout the cards within the beautiful paintings of Roberta Orpwood. This deck of 44 cards – comprising 11 Sephiroth, 22 Paths, and 11 Magical Forces – harnesses the power of Qabalah to change people’s lives. An accompanying guidebook explains the meaning behind the symbols and suggests cards layouts for readings and interpretation. This mystical oracle deck is suitable for full or daily readings, as well as gently helping you to better understand the workings of the Qabalah, demystifying it and making it more accessible. The more you work with the cards, the more in tune you will be with the universe, coming to a greater understanding of the path ahead.

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Book SynopsisThe quest for happiness and fulfilment lies at the very heart of human life, but for Ibn 'Arabi there is a realm beyond our ordinary understanding of happiness, where the human stands truly fulfilled, in vision of Reality. This is a goal within the potential of every person. In this first English translation of a core chapter from the famous Meccan Illuminations (al-Futuḥat al-Makkiyya), Ibn 'Arabi comprehensively summarises all his major teachings on human perfectibility and true happiness. Using the imagery of alchemy and ascension, he gives the reader an extraordinary insight into the spiritual journey by contrasting two ways of acquiring knowledge: the rational and the mystical. With an introduction to Islamic alchemy, the Hermetic tradition and the mysterious elixir, this is an important text for anyone interested in Sufism, Islamic spirituality or alchemy.Trade ReviewThe Alchemy of Human Happiness is a major contribution to the study of Ibn ʿArabi in English. For researchers, Stephen Hirtenstein’s translation and his accompanying introduction and notes will enhance the study of the relationship between classical Sufism and the premodern sciences, a lacuna in Islamic studies. For students and their teachers, The Alchemy of Human Happiness will serve as an excellent introduction to the reinterpretation of Neoplatonism and Hermeticism within the context of Islamic and Sufi cosmologies. And for the interested reader, the lucidity of this work will make for a fulfilling learning experience. Most important, Hirtenstein’s mastery of Ibn ʿArabi’s corpus results in an invaluable translation. Cyrus Ali Zargar, Associate Professor of Religion, Augustana College; The Alchemy of Human Happiness (chapter 167 of Ibn `Arabi’s immense Meccan Illuminations) is an extraordinary 'road-map' of the process of spiritual ascension through all the levels of existence, carefully highlighting at each stage the indispensable role of the devoted practice and interiorization of the revealed guidance of the Prophet Muhammad and earlier prophetic messengers and guides. One of the most challenging chapters of the entire Futūhāt, it constantly intertwines complex allusions to the Qur’an and hadith, alchemy, medicine, Ptolemaic cosmology, embryology, and classical Sufi discussions of spiritual psychology and guidance. Yet Stephen Hirtenstein’s clear, polished English translation of this key section and his careful, essential annotation make this one of the most accessible, readable and lastingly important gateways to Ibn ʿArabi’s masterwork. James Morris, Boston College; It is always a challenge to translate Ibn `Arabi. The message that his teaching conveys is meant to be universal, but it is expressed in an idiom peculiar to the Islamic tradition, and, what is more, an idiom that draws upon the infinitely rich and subtle semantic universes of the Quranic revelation on the one hand, and the koinè of the “men of God” on the other. As a result, many attempts at translating his works tend to leave us disappointed to some degree. Not so with Stephen Hirtenstein’s English rendition of chapter 167 of the Futūhāt Makkiyya. A ceaseless reader of the Shaykh al-akbar, Stephen Hirtenstein makes comprehensible— or in other words “passes on”— to the English-speaking reader a doctrinal teaching whose understanding requires a seasoned acquaintance with the literary heritage of tasawwuf. In choosing to translate the 167th of the 560 chapters of the Futūhāt, Stephen Hirtenstein was well inspired: the theme explored in The Alchemy of Human Happiness—the spiritual journey— could not be more universal and better shared by all religions in the broadest sense: a journey at whose end the wayfarer, once they have agreed to the renunciation inherent in travelling, is led to the highest bliss there can be, a bliss granted to the one who, annihilated from their own self and all things, is immersed in the contemplation of the Eternal.Claude Addas, author of Quest for the Red SulphurTable of ContentsIntroduction; Translation Parts I and II; Appendix A: The Cycle of Creation according to Ibn 'Arabi; Appendix B: Macrocosmic and Microcosmic Correspondences; Bibliography; Index of Quranic References; Index of Futuhat Extracts; General Index; Arabic Text

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Book SynopsisWhat does the Bible really tell us about the heavenly host? Everyone knows that angels have wings, usually carry harps, and that each of us has our own personal guardian angel, right? We all have some preconceptions about angels from movies, television shows, and other media, but you might be surprised to know that a lot of those notions aren't based on anything from the Bible. If you read Luke 1:26–38 and imagine the angel Gabriel standing before Mary with neatly folded white wings, you're not getting that picture from anything the Bible itself says. What the Bible really says about angels is overlooked or filtered through popular myths. This book was written to help change that. It's a book about the loyal members of God's heavenly host, and while most people associate them with the word "angel," that's just one of many terms the Bible uses for supernatural beings. In The Unseen Realm Michael Heiser opened the eyes of thousands to seeing the Bible through the supernatural worldview of the ancient world it was written in. In his latest book, Angels, Dr. Heiser reveals what the Bible really says about God's supernatural servants. Heiser focuses on loyal, holy heavenly beings because the Bible has a lot more to say about them than most people suspect. Most people presume all there is to know about angels is what has been passed on in Christian tradition, but in reality, that tradition is quite incomplete and often inaccurate. Angels is not guided by traditions, stories, speculations, or myths about angels. Heiser's study is grounded in the terms the Bible itself uses to describe members of God's heavenly host; he examines the terms in their biblical context while drawing on insights from the wider context of the ancient Near Eastern world. The Bible's view on heavenly beings begins with Old Testament terms but then moves into literature from the Second Temple period—Jewish writings from around the fifth century BC to the first century AD. This literature from the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament influenced the New Testament writers in significant ways. With that important background established, the book focuses on what the New Testament tells us about God's holy ones. Finally, the book reflects on common misconceptions about angels and addresses why the topic is still important and relevant for Christians today.

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Book SynopsisBased on ancient Mayan, Olmec, and Toltec teachings passed down through the generations by the Twisted Hair Nagual Elders of the Sweet Medicine Sundance Path, the practice of Quodoushka offers practical guidance on sex, intimacy, and relationships as well as how to reach higher levels of orgasm and sexual ecstasy. Working with the healing power of sexual union and orgasm, this practice offers a path to repair emotional wounds and sexual insecurities, revive monotonous relationships, and discover the sweet medicine of sex. Revealing these once-secret teachings for the first time, initiated Quodoushka instructor Amara Charles explains the physical, energetic, and sexual qualities of the nine male and female genital anatomy types--such as Coyote Man or Buffalo Woman--and how to identify and best please each type as well as take pride in your own unique anatomy. Describing the nine variations of orgasmic expression--from avalanche to forest fire--she provides exercises for greater sexual pleasure and increased orgasmic intensity, including the Firebreath exercise, a method for reaching a full-body orgasm through breathwork. Covering role playing and sexual energetic work with the chakras and the light body as well as ceremonies to bring the sacred back into your lovemaking, the practice of Quodoushka reveals how we can--through pleasure--become more sensitive, creative lovers.Trade Review“Amara has a very special gift of being able to articulate these unique and insightful teachings that give real direction on how to heal and move forward as a sexual, spiritual being. She skillfully marries the disciplines of many cultures so that all may relate in some way and, therefore, receive benefit. This book is for anybody looking for expansion, expression, and a new path to enhance sex and intimacy in their lives.” * Laura Kimbro, OB/GYN DO, Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics *“Quodoushka’s Fire Breath full-body orgasm was absolutely the most valuable thing I ever learned about sex. This hotly anticipated brave book is a treasure trove of wisdom that raises the bar on sex education. Amara Charles knows these practices intimately, and her enthusiasm for her subjects rubs off. Great for beginners to advanced.” * Annie Sprinkle, Ph.D., author of Dr. Sprinkle’s Spectacular Sex *“The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka is a comprehensive introduction to a powerful way of connecting to and activating our inherent sexual potencies and abilities to experience pleasure. Amara Charles masterfully guides the reader through the cultural background of the practices into the realm of their concrete application, outlining a new understanding of sexual conditioning and experience while encouraging innovative ways of bringing greater pleasure into our lives. A thorough delight.” * Livia Kohn, author and professor emerita of religion and East Asian studies at Boston University *“With The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka, Amara Charles is helping to make our world a more peaceful and loving place. You will learn the Quodoushka teachings, which state that the lack of healthy sexual expression is the root cause of abusive, addictive, and violent behaviors. And you will learn specific steps you can take to transform your sex life into the sacred and healing practice it was meant to be!” * Veronica Monet, ACS, CAM, certified sexologist, couples consultant, and radio host of The Shame Free *“In The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka, Amara Charles captures the essence of intimacy. From personal experience I can say unequivocally that she is brilliant, knowledgeable, and an absolute cauldron of vital energy. This book will guide you to become a more caring lover, free blocked energy, and delight in your body to align your human, animal, and spiritual aspects. Charles’s explanation of sexual anatomy types is a genuine revelation. Sexual Practices of Quodoushka can make a quantum shift in the way you approach sex and intimacy.” * Steven Barnes, author, lecturer, and martial artist *“Quodoushka weekends led by Amara are always filled with indescribable sexual magick. With this book she combines a vivid literary style with her practical experience of working energetically through blocks to sexual enrichment. The wisdom rooted in the teachings of the elders comes alive on these pages. Amara has somehow captured their spiritual electricity.” * Richard Beck Peacock, film director and coauthor of Learning to Leave: A Woman’s Guide *“The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka is a tremendous resource for anyone trying to understand their own sexuality so that they can bring that sexuality to a relationship and participate fully in that relationship. How wonderful would it be if we could teach children sex through this voice as opposed to through television, the Internet, or pornography. I am of the belief that this would lead to far healthier sexual relationships as adults.” * Allen N. Chiura, M.D., urologist *“In Amara Charles’s brave new book The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka: Teachings from the Nagual Traditions, she introduces us to the little known world of sexual healing known as Quodoushka. You don’t need to be a tantra geek or a new age bindi wearing goddess to find this book transformational. Inside its easy-to-read pages, you will find a compassionate and extraordinary way to learn about sex. If you are ready to go deeper into your own sexuality, pick up this book.” * Pamela Madsen, author of Shameless: How I Ditched The Diet, Got Naked, Found True Pleasure and Someh *“Touching on the controversial history of the Quodoushka tradition and concluding with practices to sustain passion in long-term relationships, Charles’ brave book fuses sexuality with spirituality in a very practical, hands-on way. Your intimate life will surely find immediate benefit from this book.” * Merikah Robertson, Common Ground, October 2011 *“You don’t need to be a tantra geek or a New Age bindi-wearing goddess to find this book transformational. Inside its easy-to-read pages, you will find a compassionate and extraordinary way to learn about sex. If you are ready to go deeper into your own sexuality, pick up this book.” * Pamela Madsen, author of Shameless: How I Ditched the Diet, Got Naked, Found True Pleasure and Someh *“Imagine if we grew up in a culture where we were taught about sexuality and learned to be great lovers and healthy human beings. In The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka, Amara Charles shares once secret teachings and information in a fun and entertaining way that will help save relationships, lives, and our planet. Read this book and give thanks!” * Baba Dez Nichols, founder of the International School of Temple Arts, author of Sacred Sexual Healin *“The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka beautifully complements the ancient knowledge of the Taoist shaman. These transformational teachings reveal ways to deepen and strengthen relationships and offer a means to access the universal healing forces of creation.” * Master Mantak Chia, author of Healing Love through the Tao and Taoist Foreplay *“Passed down through the generations by the Twisted Hair Nagual Elders of the Sweet Medicine Sundance Path, the practice of Quodoushka offers practical guidance on sex, intimacy, and relationships as well as how to reach higher levels of orgasm and sexual ecstasy. Working with the healing power of sexual union and orgasm, this practice offers a path to repair emotional wounds and sexual insecurities, revive monotonous relationships, and discover the sweet medicine of sex.” * Branches of Light, October 2012 *Table of Contents Foreword by Thunder Strikes Acknowledgments Introduction: The Medicine of Sex--Learning Through Pleasure Part One Healing Our Sexual Selves 1 The Legacy of Quodoushka 2 An Initiation into the World of Sexuality 3 Unlocking Sexual Conditioning 4 Sexual Choices, Sexual Preferences 5 The Light and Dark Arrows of Sex Part Two Language, Anatomy, and Orgasms 6 A Natural Language for Sex 7 Our Genital Anatomy 8 Female Genital Anatomy Types 9 Male Genital Anatomy Types 10 The Nine Types of Orgasmic Expression 11 Increasing the Intensity of Orgasms 12 Sexual Healing Practices 13 The Eight Lovers’ Masks 14 Sustaining the Passion of Intimate Unions 15 Creating a Sacred Sexual Ceremony Afterword Resources Notes Index

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Book SynopsisIn 1988 the documentary Ring of Firewas released to great acclaim. The most startling sequence in the film is that of a Chinese-Javanese acupuncturist who demonstrates his full mastery of the phenomenon of chi, or bio-energy, by generating an electrical current within his body, which he uses first to heal the filmmaker of an eye infection and then to set a newspaper on fire with his hand. Ring of Firecaused thousands to seek out this individual, John Chang, in pursuit of instruction. Of the many Westerners who have approached him, John Chang has accepted five as apprentices. Kosta Danaos is the second of those five. In his years of study with John Chang, Danaos has witnessed and experienced pyrokinesis, telekinesis, levitation, telepathy, and much more exotic phenomena. He has spoken with spirits and learned the secrets of reincarnation. Most important, he has learned John Chang''s story. John Chang is the direct heir to the lineage of the sixth-century b.c. sage Mo-Tzu, who was Confucius''s greatest rival. His discipline, called the Mo-Pai, is little-known in the West and has never before been the subject of a book. Now, John Chang has decided to bridge the gap between East and West by allowing a book to be published revealing the story of his life, his teachings, and his powers. It will surely expedite what may well become the greatest revolution of the twenty-first century--the verification and study of bio-energy.Trade Review"A groundbreaking book. This is a remarkable and fascinating account of a truly phenomenal life." * Napra ReView *"It is well worth the read. For all of you with an adventurous spirit!" * Virginia Slayton, Convergence, Fall 2000 *"Danaos includes scientific, physics-based explanations of Chang's paranormal abilities which he witnessed. This publication identifies with the verification and study of bio-energy." * Frontier Perspectives, Fall 2000 *"I give this book my highest recommendation to any serious student of spirituality, metaphysics, or the martial arts. It was one of the best books I've ever read, and I devoured it in one day!" * Cynthia Sue Larson, RealityShifters News, May 2002 *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Looking through the Mirror 2. Lifeforce 3. Beginnings 4. The Immortals 5. The Story of Liao Sifu 6. Lessons to Be Learned 7. Yin and Yang 8. The Will of Heaven 9. The Keris 10. The Nature of Reality Epilogue Appendix One Appendix Two

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Book SynopsisThe definitive revised and corrected edition of this modern classic of Sufi poetry. Includes Arabic text, full transliteration, and English translation.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Secret History of the World, an exploration of the mystical forces that shape and protect usThe Sacred History is an account of the workings of the supernatural in history. It tells the epic story of angels, from Creation, to Evolution through to the operations of the supernatural in the modern world. This tale of how people and peoples have been helped by angels and other angelic beings is woven into a spellbinding narrative that brings together Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Elijah, Mary and Jesus, Mohammed, Joan of Arc, the angels who helped Hungarian Jews persecuted by the Nazis, and stories from African, Native American and Celtic traditions. Told from the spiritual point of view, The Sacred History relates every betrayal, every change of heart, every twist and turn, everything that looks like a coincidence, every portent, every clue, every defeat, every rescue moments before the prison door clangs shut. This is the angelic version of events.Trade Review'A new bible for the New Age, weaving mystical traditions from East and West, astrology, alchemy and angels into one amazing, life-enhancing story' Gyles Brandreth. * Gyles Brandreth *'A masterpiece. From the moment I began reading this book, I knew Booth had accomplished a remarkable feat of repositioning ancient knowledge in such a way that we see truth through yet another lens. I absolutely loved this book' Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Sacred Contracts. * Caroline Myss *'An aesthetic delight. But, more importantly, it deserves to be studied and read. Black is that rare thing: an author who is at once deeply esoteric and highly accessible. With The Secret History and The Sacred History, Black is doing for spirituality what The God Delusion and God is Not Great have done for materialism. Let's hope he opens the floodgates' Sevak Edward Gulbekian, New Review. * New Review *'The Sacred History is unlike any book I have ever read about spirituality. It challenged my beliefs from the very beginning and has renewed my faith in the fundamentally spiritual nature of reality' Philip Carr-Gomm, Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. * Philip Carr-Gomm *Table of ContentsPreface. Introduction: The Mystic Vision. Softly Falls the Dew... Mother Earth and Father Time. The Angel Michael and the Serpent. The Spider Woman Weaves her Spell. Isis and the Mystery of the Perfect Fit. Godly Lovers and Angelic Wives. Odin and the Angelic Theory of Evolution. The Story of the Previous Ring. The Mighty Men, the Men of Renown. The Gods Turn to Humans for Help. Orpheus, the Sphinx and the Timelock. Noah and the Waters of Forgetfulness. Rama and Sita - the Lovers in the Forest. Krishna, Snow White and the Seven Maids. Gilgamesh and the Elixir of Immortality. Abraham, the Father of Thinking in the Head. Moses and the Gods of War. Solomon, Sex and Beauty. Elijah in between the Worlds. The Buddha's Story. Socrates and his Daemon. Jesus Turns the World Inside Out. The Sun at Midnight. The Age of Miracles. The Mountain Comes to Mohammed. Charlemagne and the Paladins of Pain. Perceval Makes a Fool of Himself. Tales of the Arabian Nights. St Francis Takes the Gospels Seriously. The New Arabian Way of Loving. Dante, the Templars and the Road Less Travelled. Christian Rosencreutz and the Birth of Yoga. Joan and the Key to the Small Door. The Fairies Want our Juice. Paracelsus and the Mysteries of Spiritual Healing. The Cobbler Has Another Way of Knowing... Shakespeare and the Rosicrucians. Supernatural Stories in the Age of Science. Napoleon - the Great Magnet of the Age. Abraham and Bernadette. The Nabob of Odd. The Great Secret of This World. The Story of Life after Death. Jung and his Daemon. Fatima and the Secrets of the Guardian Angel. Hitler and the Hungarian Angels. The That Without Which. Lorna Byrne and the Mysticism of Everyday Life. Conclusion. Notes. Selected Bibliography. Acknowledgements. Index.

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Book SynopsisFrom the pyramids in the north to the temples in the south, ancient artisans left their marks all over Egypt, unique marks that reveal craftsmanship we would be hard pressed to duplicate today. Drawing together the results of more than 30 years of research and nine field study journeys to Egypt, Christopher Dunn presents a stunning stone-by-stone analysis of key Egyptian monuments, including the statue of Ramses II at Luxor and the fallen crowns that lay at its feet. His modern-day engineering expertise provides a unique view into the sophisticated technology used to create these famous monuments in prehistoric times. Using modern digital photography, computer-aided design software and metrology instruments, Dunn exposes the extreme precision of these monuments and the type of advanced manufacturing expertise necessary to produce them. His computer analysis of the statues of Ramses II reveals that the left and right sides of the faces are precise mirror images of each other and his examination of the mysterious underground tunnels of the Serapeum illuminates the finest examples of precision engineering on the planet. Providing never-before-seen evidence in the form of more than 280 photographs, Dunn's research shows that while absent from the archaeological record, highly refined tools, techniques and even mega-machines must have been used in ancient Egypt.Trade Review"I never cease to be astonished by Christopher Dunn's knowledge of ancient Egyptian technology. I believe he knows more of it than any man alive." * Colin Wilson, author of Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals, June 2010 *“This is an extremely important and original book. Christopher Dunn indisputably demonstrates that the ancient Egyptians were much more technologically advanced than the vast majority of modern Egyptologists, archaeologists, and historians ever dared imagine.” * Robert M. Schoch, Ph.D., author of Voyages of the Pyramid Builders and Pyramid Quest *“Christopher Dunn makes a stunningly convincing case that the makers of the ancient Egyptian stone monuments and images possessed sophisticated technologies rivaling our own in terms of their precision and capabilities.” * Michael A. Cremo, author of Forbidden Archeology and Human Devolution *“Christopher Dunn is an expert in his field. He knows a great deal about stone-cutting tools and has spent many years studying the ancient Egyptian monuments, sculptures, and artifacts. His findings are revolutionary. His word carries weight. If he is right, our perception of who the ancient Egyptians were may completely change. Read this book!” * Robert Bauval, author of The Orion Mystery, Message of the Sphinx and The Egypt Code *“Christopher Dunn’s painstaking work, literally, makes the ‘stones’ of the Egyptian gods speak. He provides profound archaeological evidence that shows an engineering consistency, suggesting an advanced intelligence, which understood the supreme science of sacred geometry. A must-read book for those who wish to understand the advancement of Egyptology in the world of today.” * J. J. Hurtak, Ph.D., author of The Book of Knowledge: the Keys of Enoch *“Utilizing almost 50 years of professional experience in engineering, manufacturing, tool-making, and space-age precision, Chris Dunn has provided an in-depth analysis of ancient Egyptian statuary, temples, and manufactured artifacts that has never been presented previously. This outstanding book, supremely well researched, amply illustrated, and complete with detailed photographs, will be cited as a major paradigm shift and reference source in the field for many years to come.” * Stephen S. Mehler, M.A., director of research, Great Pyramid of Giza Research Association *“Admirers of Egyptian art and architecture are most fortunate that Christopher Dunn directs his experienced engineer’s eye toward the Egyptians’ ancient stonework. By noticing the most minute details he reveals sophisticated craftsmanship and immense significance for all areas of Egyptology. Mathematicians will appreciate the amazing three-dimensional geometry made manifest in very hard stone. Dunn points the way for geometers to uncover sharper, more accurate analyses of the proportions of Egyptian design. This book is an important contribution to scientific scholarship by showing how archaeology can firmly rest on a measurable foundation.” * Michael S. Schneider, author of A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe *“In this book, Christopher Dunn has brought to the field of Egyptology a new approach, which has been needed for decades. His ability as an engineer and master craftsman has given him the insight to discover ancient technologies and techniques that have been missed by traditional Egyptologists. This book is a paradigm change for the way of thinking about our ancient history and ancestors. I highly recommend this beautiful illustrated book to both academic and alternative researchers and for anyone interested in new ways of thinking about our ancient past.” * John DeSalvo, Ph.D., author of The Lost Art of Enochian Magic and director of the Great Pyramid of G *“As with Newton and the apple, Chris Dunn got a vision when visiting Egypt. His engineering background allowed him to unleash incredible facts, and thanks to this highly detailed book, we can now share the same marvels.” * Alain Hubrecht, architect, writer, professor, and founder of the Association Transpersonnelle Belge *“If you want to see the precise high technologies ancient Egyptians really had, read this book. It is a serious donation to Egyptian legacy and an opus for the future of this planet.” * Antoine Gigal, author, researcher, and president of Giza for Humanity *“I believe, as Chris Dunn superbly details in this book, that ancient Egyptian sculptors and architects were so precise and their works so monumental that they must have used sophisticated technology, probably hidden in their time and now lost to ours.” * Mike Leckie, stone sculptor *"Whether you can fully grasp the intricacies of what he says, he makes it very easy to look at ancient monuments with new eyes, and a greater appreciation for the effort involved in creating them." * Michael Gleason, Reviewer, August 2010 *“. . . Chris Dunn, with over 20 years of investigation, possessing unique technical skills, and showing a keen, perceptive eye for detail, has unlocked the door to knowledge that will eventually overturn established thinking about the civilization we call ‘Ancient Egypt’.” * Alan Glassman, New Dawn Magazine, January 2011 *Table of Contents Foreword: Shifting Paradigms by Arlan Andrews Sr., ScD Foreword: Recognizing the Brilliance of Ancient Manufacturing by Judd C. Peck, Esq. Photographic Credits Acknowledgments Introduction One The Shadows of Luxor Two The Shadows of Ramses Three The Ramses Challenge Four The Shadows of Karnak Five The Shadows of the Serapeum Six The Shadow of the Sphinx Seven The Shadows of Denderah Eight Sticks and Stones: Tools of the Trade Nine In the Shadow of an Obelisk Ten In the Shadow of Egyptian Megamachines Eleven Walking in the Shadow of William F. Petrie Twelve Suspending Disbelief Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAfter his overwhelming and life-altering encounters with Shams of Tabriz, Rumi, the great thirteenth-century mystic, poet, and originator of the whirling dervishes, let go of many of the precepts of formal religion, insisting that only a complete personal dissolving into the larger energies of God could provide the satisfaction that the heart so desperately seeks. He began to speak spontaneously in the language of poetry, and his followers compiled his 44,000 verses into 23 volumes, collectively called the Divan. When Nevit Ergin decided to translate the Divan of Rumi into English, he enlisted the help of the Turkish government, which was happy to participate. The first 22 volumes were published without difficulty, but the government withdrew its support and refused to participate in the publication of the final volume due to its openly heretical nature. Now, in The Forbidden Rumi, Will Johnson and Nevit Ergin present for the first time in English Rumi’s poems from this forbidden volume. The collection is grouped into three sections: songs to Shams and God, songs of heresy, and songs of advice and admonition. In them Rumi explains that in order to transform our consciousness, we must let go of ingrained habits and embrace new ones. In short, we must become heretics.Trade Review“For the past fifty years Nevit Ergin has been working to bring into English the entirety of Rumi’s vast Divani Shamsi Tabriz. This last volume is the most incendiary and it clearly dissolves the boundaries of organized religion and national ego that keep us from the table of friendship that Rumi invites us to. . . . We are very grateful to Dr. Ergin for his life’s work.” * Coleman Barks, translator of The Essential Rumi *"It takes a great deal of courage to read The Forbidden Rumi as it may press a lot of buttons, not only about your own pathway to God, but your views and prejudices about love, religion, heresy and Islam. "All of Rumi’s poems have enjoined us to release the rules and open our hearts to our inner treasure of love, but these most controversial poems cut to the bone. "This final book of Rumi’s poems is a must-read for any serious student of spiritual ecstasy. They pose questions that make us wonder and re-evaluate our views about a religion that is portrayed as governed by extremists. They reveal a hidden face of Islam that may surprise even moderate Islamists. "Most importantly, these poems reveal that Islam too has always had a mystical, transcendent element that is its purest gift." * Lesley Crossingham, New Dawn, Mar-Apr 2007 *Table of ContentsIntroductionSongs to Shams, Songs to GodHe Took Me Under His Arm Split Wide OpenI Won’t Repent His LoveHow Can I Fool Him?WaterStay with MeConversations with God The Greatness of AbsenceHow Happy a TimeWhat a Bird!Love Letter to ShamsDeath Is Life for You More Than TheseWhat Can I Do?Give Up YourselfI Keep Smiling Why Are You Deceiving Me?He Embraced Me Like His Own Soul The Placeless PlaceEveryone Else Is a StrangerBeautiful OneThe Promise Is SweetStill Say NothingFlying High On Your WineOffer Your WinePlease Don’t GoIt Wasn’t Like ThatShamseddinThe Road Is Narrow Don’t Go AwayLifting the CurtainHis TraceWherever You AreDon’t Go Anywhere Without MeYour Blessing Is UnconditionalSongs of Advice, Songs of AdmonitionSearch ThereThe Best NourishmentFastingDivine RoadChoose LoveGod’s OceanWatch How God Opens the DoorThe Journey Starts HereAscend the Mountain of Love Don’t You Recall?These Two WorldsOutside the SackA Rascal in the BazaarJust Do It Your Overflowing SecretsThe Drunks of UnionAhead of the ThoughtThe Land of AbsenceLove Is Its Own Proof Advice to the Drunk at Heart Light and Shadow Words into DustTime to JourneyCome as You AreThe Language of the HeartFree WineThe Perfect Host A Helper of HeartsA Life Without Art God’s ArtistryAll That Is GoodOpen the DoorDonkey and OxCheckmateThe Caravan’s BellsSteal PearlsThis Temporary WorldSome AdviceMusic at the Tavern of Eternity The Eggshell of the BodyOpen Your Door Heaven’s DoorRebornSubmerged in AbsenceLife Is Coming to the Rose GardenThe Path in the HeartThe Rose’s PleaWhy Are You So Reasonable?You Are in His HandCries of ConfirmationWords of the SecretsHidden from the EyesYou Snatched My HeartThe Moon’s SlaveCut It ShortSongs of HeresyYou Can’t Get AwayI Came Back to YouEveryone Is Welcome to This SchoolA Stranger to Myself I Am the One!Wake Up from Your SleepHe Is Beyond PraiseTranslator’s Afterword

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is a brilliant book. It is the most innovative contribution to our understanding of Mughal history in my time. As a work of the first importance, and a step change in our knowledge of sixteenth-century India, it must be read by anyone interested in the fields of Islamic kingship, millenarianism, and astrology in the Muslim world and the early-modern world in general. -- Francis Robinson, Royal Holloway, University of London Moin deserves the highest praise for venturing into this contested terrain and writing a most interesting book about it. -- Andre Wink American Historical Review he has thrown an entirely new light on how early monarchs of India's greatest dynastic house asserted their claims to royal authority. His book should be read not just by historians of South Asia but equally by those of Central Asia and Iran, as well as by specialists in Islamic studies. -- Richard M. Eaton Journal of Interdisciplinary History In this unusually well written and elegantly carpentered book-he has a rare gift for building argument through narrative-Moin has delivered a major contribution to both Islamic history and the scholarship of sacred kingship. -- Alan Strathern History and Theory Moin outlines a formidable challenge to the conventional narratives of Mughal and, to a lesser extent, Safavid history that is likely to surprise even specialists... A valuable contribution to the field that ought to compel scholars to reevaluate key assumptions regarding kingship and sainthood in Mughal India. International Journal of Middle East Studies Too seldom does a plodding dissertation become transformed into an elegant monograph. This 2010 dissertation is the rare, and welcome, exception... The author has conducted deep archival research with an accent on visual history and astrology... The Millennial Sovereign does deliver on its promise. Journal of Islamic Studies A delightful study that seeks to provide early modern Islamic historical scholarship with a new model to conceive of politics in the pre-modern era... Rich Review of Middle East Studies A fine volume that will enrich the libraries of both scholars of Islam and scholars of early modern Europe. The Sixteenth Century JournalTable of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Tables Acknowledgments Note on Transliteration 1. Introduction: Islam and the Millennium 2. The Lord of Conjunction: Sacrality and Sovereignty in the Age of Timur 3. The Crown of Dreams: Sufis and Princes in Sixteenth-Century Iran 4. The Alchemical Court: The Beginnings of the Mughal Imperial Cult 5. The Millennial Sovereign: The Troubled Unveiling of the Savior Monarch 6. The Throne of Time: The Painted Miracles of the Saint Emperor 7. Conclusion: The Graffiti Under the Throne Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOffers a comprehensive study of the life, teachings, and following of the controversial Indian guru known in his youth as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and in his later years as Osho (1931-1990). Based on extensive ethnographic and archival research, it is suitable for anyone interested in religion and globalization.Trade Review"This book is a must... Smoothly written and accessible, without bias." OshoNewsTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Introduction: Gurus, God-Men, and Globalization 1. "India's Most Dangerous Guru": Rajneesh and India after Independence 2. "Beware of Socialism!" The "Anti-Gandhi" and the Early Rajneesh Community in the 1970s 3. "From Sex to Superconsciousness": Sexuality, Tantra, and Liberation in 1970s India 4. "The Messiah America Has Been Waiting For": Rajneeshpuram in 1980s America 5. "Osho": The Apotheosis of a Fallen Guru in 1990s India 6. OSHO(R)? The Struggle over Osho's Legacy in the Twenty-First Century Conclusion: The Spiritual Logic of Late Capitalism Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisLearn the art of witchcraft and embrace a positive, fulfilling lifestyle with this beginner’s spell deck.This stunning 60-card deck guides you through the foundations of witchcraft. This complex craft can be intimidating for new witches, but with the right tools, unlocking your inner power and manifesting your dreams is easy. Let this mystical collection empower you to bring different kinds of magick into your life and home. Inside you’ll find: - Spells and rituals for love, prosperity, healing, protection, cleansing, happiness, friendship, beauty, relaxation, and career advancement  - Divination methods to help you realize your destiny - A guide to moon cycles and planets, and how they affect your spellcasting  - Recipes for essential oils, incenses, salves, syrups, natural dishes, drinks, and teas - A 48-page introductory booklet to different types of magick, essential tools, and key ingredients - A beautiful, magnetic

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Book SynopsisFor centuries readers have comfortably adopted Julian of Norwich as simply a mystic. In this book, the author argues that this fourteenth-century thinker's sophisticated approach to theological questions places her legitimately within the pantheon of other great medieval theologians, including Thomas Aquinas, Bernard of Clairvaux, and Bonaventure.Trade Review"This is the best book I have seen on Julian, and one of the most energizing ventures in theology in the last several years."—John Wilson, Books and Culture -- John Wilson * Books and Culture *"The author writes with erudition, theological precision and flashes of humor. This is an enlightening book that makes an important and impressive addition to Julian scholarship."—Joan M. Nuth, America -- Joan M. Nuth * America *“The best theological exposition of Julian to appear so far....It shows why her thinking is still of value and how one might critically engage with it.”—Brian Davies, Commonweal -- Brian Davies * Commonweal *

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Book SynopsisGershom Scholem, the great humanist thinker and founder of modern Kabbalah, is all but forgotten today. But here, in a biography as daring and inquisitive as its subject, George Prochnik goes in search of Scholem, restoring the reputation of a vital intellectual and finding in his work a vision with the power to reinvigorate contemporary religious and political thought. Tracing Scholem's life from his upbringing in Berlin, where he experienced a close and transformative friendship with Walter Benjamin, Prochnik reveals how Scholem's frustration with the bourgeois ideology of Germany during WWI led him to discover mystic Judaism, Kabbalah, and, finally, Zionism. But having emigrated to what was to become Israel, Scholem again found himself a 'stranger in a strange land', ill at ease with a prevailing conservative form of Zionism. Prochnik follows Scholem to the modern Holy Land - only to find that he too is disillusioned by the state politics he encounters. But through his profound study of Scholem and his own experience of Jerusalem, Prochnik not only questions the ideological and religious constructs of Jerusalem, but finds an ethical way forward, showing how a new form of pluralism might energize Jewish thought.

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Book SynopsisThis is a translation of the spiritual poems of one of the greatest Ottoman Sufi masters, Mehmed Muhyiddin Üftade (1490-1580). Üftade was born and lived in Bursa, a hugely important spiritual centre at the height of the Ottoman Empire. He was founder of one of its main dervish orders, the Jelvetiyye, through the training of his famous disciple, Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi. In addition, Üftade composed a collection of poems, which express his spiritual quest in simple, direct and wonderfully human language, and these are presented here for the first time in English. Paul Ballanfat''s introduction provides a detailed overview of the main features of Üftade''s life and teachings, and of his cultural background, where sultans were often affiliated to Sufi orders. Particularly prominent in Üftade''s teaching was the thought of the greatest master, Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, and of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. Üftade had a direct spiritual connection with both of these extraordinary men and a great venerationTable of ContentsIntroduction by Paul Ballanfat The Poems of Uftade Notes to the poems Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIn America today, online spaces serve as critical alternatives for tech-savvy Muslims seeking a place to root their faith, forge religious identity, and build communities. With a particular focus on the Inayati Order, a branch of the oldest Sufi community in the West, Robert Rozehnal explores the online revolution in internal communication, spiritual pedagogy, and public outreach – and looks ahead to the future of digital Islam in the age of Web 3.0.Trade Review‘Essential reading for students and academics with interests in the diverse expressions of contemporary Islam, on- and offline.’ -- Gary R. Bunt, author of Hashtag Islam, and Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Wales Trinity Saint David‘Captivating, thought-provoking, and groundbreaking. Cyber Sufis is a serious attempt to explore the highly understudied and mostly overlooked spiritual and mystical dimension of the “digital ecosystem.”’ -- Sahar Khamis, Associate Professor of Communication, University of Maryland, and co-author of Islam Dot ComTable of ContentsIntroduction: Cyber Sufis in the Digital Age 1 Mapping Digital Religion and Cyber Islam 2 (Mis)interpreting Sufism 3 Sufism in the American Religious Landscape 4 Narrating Identity in Cyberspace: Inayati Tradition and Community 5 Virtual Practice: Inayati Rituals and Teaching Networks 6 Bridging the Digital and Analog worlds: Inayati Social Engagement 7 Contextualizing American Cyber Sufism Bibliography Notes Index

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Book Synopsis"The important thing is not to think much, but to love much, and so to do whatever best awakens us to love." —St. Teresa of Avila Journey to the 16th century to discover the fiery passion of Saint Teresa of Avila, one of Christianity's most inspiring saints. A tireless reformer and the mentor of Saint John of the Cross, Teresa's greatest legacy is her revelation of ecstatic love for God—a love so powerful that it pierces the heart like a burning sword. Through illness, hardship, and persecution by the Inquisition, this courageous mystic lit the way with her unquenchable spirit to an "interior castle," a place of unimaginable beauty and light where no darkness can touch us. Saint Teresa of Avila gives you a direct link to the living presence of this brave and gentle woman, to draw upon her strength in your own times of need.

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Book SynopsisRabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson was the charismatic leader of the Chabad Hasidic movement and its designated Messiah. Yet when he died in 1994, the messianic fervor he inspired did not subside. Through traditional means and digital technologies, a group of radical Hasidim, the Meshichistim, still keep the Rebbe palpably close—engaging in ongoing dialogue, participating in specific rituals, and developing an ever-expanding visual culture of portraits and videos. With Us More Than Ever focuses on this group to explore how religious practice can sustain the belief that a messianic figure is both present and accessible. Yoram Bilu documents a unique religious experience that is distinctly modern. The rallying point of the Meshichistim—that the Rebbe is "with us more than ever"—is sustained through an elaborate system that creates the sense of his constant and pervasive presence in the lives of his followers. The virtual Rebbe that emerges is multiple, visible, accessible, and highly decentralized, the epicenter of a truly messianic movement in the twenty-first century. Combining ethnographic fieldwork and cognitive science with nuanced analysis, Bilu documents the birth and development of a new religious faith, describing the emergence of new spiritual horizons, a process common to various religious movements old and new.Trade Review"In this fascinating study, Yoram Bilu, Israel's foremost scholar of Jewish popular religion, has succeeded in penetrating the world of Chabad's messianic subculture. He offers a brilliant analysis of how these Hasidim use visual media, apparitions, and letters to their deceased leader to create an 'apotheosis' of the Rebbe." -- David Biale * University of California, Davis *"This ethnographic exploration of the religious imagination in Chabad demonstrates that there is no one better equipped than Yoram Bilu to provide a theoretically sophisticated and phenomenologically sensitive account of the movement's messianic devotion to its deceased yet ever-present Rebbe." -- Thomas J. Csordas * University of California, San Diego *"With Us More than Ever is an important book for readers interested in Chabad, Hasidism, and contemporary Judaism. Its focus on the 'messianic ecology' yields a nuanced and dispassionate image of the acute messianism of the Meshichists—a community, or, perhaps, a state of mind, that has been discussed, criticized, and ridiculed, but hardly ever researched either quantitatively or qualitatively." -- Wojciech Tworek * Association for Jewish Studies Review *Table of ContentsContents and AbstractsIntroduction: Introduction chapter abstractThe messianic surge that swept Chabad in the late 20th century has not subsided following the death in 1994 of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last president of Chabad and the designated Messiah in the eyes of most Hasidim. Since then, the movement has been able to maintain its popularity and dominance despite the catastrophic loss. Focusing on the Meshichistim ("messianists"), the radical Hasidim who deny the Rebbe's death, the introduction documents the means they employ to fill the void of the Rebbe's "occlusion." The book makes use of a media-studies approach to examine how these means fill the critical role of making the absent Rebbe present. The data are based on interviews with Meshichists, participant observations in their gatherings, and meticulous perusal of messianic publications, primarily periodicals. The discussion includes a description of the charged interrelationships that developed between the author and the Hasidim during fieldwork. 1Chabad and the Messianic Idea chapter abstractThe chapter follows the vicissitudes of the messianic idea in Chabad from the movement's inception to the stormy years of the seventh and last leader, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. As shaped by its founder, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, Chabad was less prone to messianic tension than were other Hasidic sects. The fifth admor, Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber, resorted to messianic discourse in the late 19th century in order to battle the lure of secular ideologies such as communism and Zionism. His son and successor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, viewed the horrors of the Holocaust as messianic tribulations. But it was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson who generated acute messianic turbulence by advancing to his Hasidim the notion of imminent redemption. The Rebbe's messianic vision, kept alive by the Hasidim after his departure, forms the background for the means and practices that constitute the messianic ecology in contemporary Chabad. 2Meshichist Sociology chapter abstractThe chapter presents the major sociological features of the Meshichists. The Meshichists are more prevalent in the movement's periphery. Of Chabad's two main centers, they are more strongly represented in Israel than in the U.S. and more among the younger Hasidim in either place. –. In accord with the enthusiasm and high commitment typically displayed by religious immigrants and converts anywhere, new Chabadniks, coming from secular or other religious backgrounds, are overrepresented among the Meshichists. As a result of their outreach activities, Chabadniks anywhere tend to be more socially and politically involved in the wider society than are other ultraorthodox Jews, and the Meshichists all the more so. One indication of their assimilation into Israeli society is their use of military language in articulating their ideas and activities. 3Writing to the Rebbe: The Holy Letters Oracle chapter abstractThis chapter discusses the bibliomantic device the Hasidim developed to continue the dialogue with the absent Rebbe. The technique is based on inserting a petition randomly into one of the thirty-two volumes of the Rebbe's collected letters. Even though these letters were written to other people at other times, the petitioners maintain that the answers they receive are germane to their own pleas. The veridicality of the answers is redoubled when they play out in the real world. Following the miraculous stories associated with the Holy Letters Oracle, the chapter discusses its growing popularity and accounts for its success. The popularity and success of the technique seem to confirm the assertion of the Meshichistim that despite his occlusion, the invisible Rebbe is more accessible than ever. 4Sensing the Rebbe: Traces and Practices of Embodiment chapter abstractHow do the Hasidim perceive the absent Rebbe as close and involved? This chapter discusses a broad range of signs or "traces" of the Rebbe, such as the Rebbe's abode, his armchair, the dollar bills he distributed for charity, and the water from his ritual bath, which the Hasidim are adamant to keep intact and, where possible, to replicate. Primarily in Chabad headquarters in Crown Heights, but also in Chabad Houses all over the world and in the Meshichists' homes, these artifacts serve as focal points for ritual practices that involve the Rebbe as an active participant. The traces and practices interweave to produce a "messianic ecology" that actualizes the Rebbe among his followers. In the religion-media paradigm, these traces and practices are conductors of his presence. 5Seeing the Rebbe I: Chabad's Visual Culture chapter abstractChapter Five is devoted to Chabad's visual culture as evidenced by the widespread use of still photographs and film footage of the Rebbe, which bolster his visual salience to an unprecedented extent in Judaism. The elaborate cult that has been developing around the Rebbe's images borders on iconophilia. The pictures serve as focal points for this wide-ranging visual cult. They are used as amulets, thwarting threats and curing maladies; as magnets drawing and attaching passersby to the Rebbe; and as icons triggering the elaborate ritual encounters between the Rebbe and his devotees. The chapter discusses the Rebbe's iconic picture, in which he is shown waving his hand in encouragement, and how it has taken on a life on its own. 6Seeing the Rebbe II: Dream and Waking Apparitions chapter abstractChapter Six maps the Rebbe's apparitions in dreams and then moves to reports of apparitions in normal waking states. The author proposes a psychocultural model to account for these apparitions, deeming them evidence of contextual accomplishment rather than psychopathological deficit. Two distinct clusters of apparition experiences emerge, one associated with ritual and the other with mundane settings. In comparison to Christian visionary experiences, the Rebbe's apparitions are hyper-realistic, literal reinforcements of the claim that the Rebbe is alive. While this claim is audacious ontologically, it limits the epistemological horizons of the messianic imaginary and detracts from its significance as a "taste" of the redemption. 7Schneersoncentrism: The Rebbe Steers the World chapter abstractFor the Meshichistim, the invisible Rebbe is the center of the world. Chapter Seven conveys this conviction through the notion of "Schneersoncentrism," the belief that the Rebbe steers the world and navigates its events. It discusses two broad domains where the Rebbe's imprint on the world is indelible, according to the Hasidim: natural disasters, which the Rebbe is able to stop, and manmade political upheavals, which the Rebbe can rectify. According to his followers, the Rebbe's fingerprints are evident in key historical moments such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Exodus of its Jews, and the American victory in the second Gulf War. 8The Apotheosis of the Rebbe chapter abstractChapter Eight deals with the sensitive issue of the Rebbe's deification, a corollary of his centrality in the universe. While the Chabad mainstream argues that attempts to deify the Rebbe are limited to the movement's lunatic fringes, it shows that activists in the Meshichist camp are not hostile to these attempts and, under special circumstances, are even willing to give them a voice. The mystical doctrine of the tzadik in Hasidism, which views him as part of the divine system of emanations, and the messianic shturem in Chabad today help attenuate the deep-seated resistance in Judaism to glorifying a human being. 9"To Make Many More Menachem Mendels": Creation and Procreation in Messianic Chabad chapter abstractChapter Nine illustrates the divine role accorded to the Rebbe in the fantasy lives of some of his followers by zooming in on his alleged role in one domain of human misery: infertility and birth problems. Drawing on a small sample of dreaming and waking apparitions, the chapter shows how the childless Rebbe "reproduces" himself by providing childless couples with children in his image. In these reports the Rebbe appears as a creator no less than as a progenitor. 10Holy Place and Holy Time in Meshichist Chabad chapter abstractChapter Ten discusses the spatial and temporal dimensions of holiness in the messianic religion. For the Meshichists, who ordinarily refrain from frequenting the Rebbe's sanctuary in Old Montefiori Cemetery in Queens, the most sacred site is the Rebbe's abode on 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, dubbed "770." Viewed as the house of the Messiah and a wing of the future third Temple, 770 is the Meshichist hub, where the life routine with the Rebbe is kept intact. Replicas of 770 have been built in scores of places across the globe. The Meshichist emphasize two dates in Chabad's ritual calendar: Yod-Aleph (11) Nissan, the Rebbe's birthday, and Gimel Tammuz, the date of the Rabbi's disappearance, euphemistically called the Day of Redemption. 11The Omnipresence of Absence: Messianism in the Technological Age chapter abstractChapter Eleven discusses the present-absent virtual Rebbe, maintained in part by the magic of technology. In analyzing the properties of his virtuality, it is suggested that the Rebbe is multiple (reproduced), close and palpable, visible, accessible, and highly decentralized. The fact that the virtual Rebbe can be directly accessed and equally shared by all Hasidim poses a potential threat to Chabad's hierarchical structure and cohesion. 12Meshichists, Christians, Sabbateans, and Popular Culture Heroes chapter abstractThe dynamic common to past and present messianic movements is the focus of Chapter Twelve. It considers the struggles of Chabad's messianism in light of the Christian and Sabbatean precedents. It also poses a speculative comparison between the cult of the Rebbe that emerges from Chabad's visual culture and the adoration of charismatic entertainment and political celebrities in global popular culture. 13From Tzadik to Messiah: Comparing Chabad and Bratslav chapter abstractChapter Twelve proposes a systematic comparison of Chabad and Bratslav Hasidism. Both of these Hasidic movements lack the defining feature of a classic Hasidic sect, a serving tzadik-admor, yet they are enjoying unprecedented success. Can the flourishing of these two movements be attributed to the messianic expectations they both nurture? In support of this supposition, the chapter seeks to decipher the enigma of the growing popularity of these two "anomalous" Hasidic sects by dwelling on their propensity for border-crossing in various domains. Conclusion chapter abstractThe messianic surge that swept Chabad in the late 20th century has created the opportunity for studying the religious imagination at large, and as a subject in its own right. Messianic movements expand the boundaries of proper religious conduct and bring to the fore modes of action and experience the religious establishment shuns as extreme or subversive. The media and the practices that Meshichists employ to make the absent Rebbe present were born in this fertile, enabling ecology. More daring and pronounced than ordinary institutionalized religious beliefs and rites, they differ only in degree. The conclusion discusses the unprecedented extent to which the Rebbe-cum-Messiah is glorified, the boundless energy his elevated status generates in his followers, and their capacity to cope with the disappointment of his occlusion by sustaining a virtual Rebbe that is palpable and close.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive guide to the mysteries of the I Ching. Originally discovered around 3,000 BCE, the I Ching is a collection of symbols that explain how patterns in the universe change and shift. These sixty-four symbols contain within them one of the most powerful keys to understanding the world around us. The Secrets of the I Ching is the definitive guide to understanding the ancient mysteries and foundations of the I Ching.Authors Dr. David Lee and Joseph K. Kim guide the reader from the very beginning of Eastern thought, the concepts of Tao and Tai Chi, through the theory of Yin-Yang, Trinity, the Five Elements, and other critical concepts that will unlock the full meaning of the I Ching. Instead of simply re-interpreting the myriad of meanings ascribed to the I Ching, they focus on the symbols themselves, offering a new way of understanding its unique power.Filled with over three hundred images and backed by in-depth research and study, T

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Book SynopsisThe Holy Quran presents an irrefutable basis and belief system for the establishment of a stable and harmonious life in this world, and a triumphant return to Paradise in the Next. There are misunderstandings about the very source-springs of human well-being the belief in the spiritual realities of existence, the infinite love for the Holy Messenger, and the unity regarding the implementation of the divinely revealed programme for human society.Young people all over the world, Muslim as well as non-Muslim, are brought up and educated in an environment permeated by scientific materialism. It is modern learning which programmes their minds and causes them to reject anything they find incompatible with what they have been taught about man and life on the earth. This book will clarify the misunderstandings and confusions about Islamic spirituality on scientific grounds.Scientific orthodoxy refers to magnetic sensitivity in human beings, electromagnetic energies that permeate our atmosphere, the flow of positive and negative ions in the atmosphere affecting human brain activity, the function of the pineal gland and many other empirical sources of transcendent experience that are yet to be investigated. This magnetic energy basis of spiritual experience, which the scientific camp has been forced into revealing, has proved to be a welcome development of modern science from the point of view of Islamic spirituality.The younger generation of modern times will have their belief reconfirmed by the study of the scientific facts cited in this book. The scientific reality of Islamic spirituality is demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt.

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Book Synopsis"My heart wandered through the world constantly seeking after my cure, but the sweet and delicious water of life had to break through the granite of my heart."  When the words of Rumi enter your heart, something softens, breaks, and is subtly reborn. That he wrote the words seven hundred years ago in a medieval Persian world that bears little resemblance to ours makes their uncanny resonance to us today just that much more remarkable. Here is a treasury of daily wisdom from this most beloved of all the Sufi masters—both his prose and his ecstatic poetry—that you can use to start every day for a year, or that you can dip into for inspiration any time you need to break through the granite of your heart.

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Book SynopsisArunoday Singh's poetry collection "Unsung" delves into themes of love, loss, and longing, presented in simple yet piercing poems shared on Instagram. Divided into four sections, the poems explore the self, elements, healing, divinity, and the spirit's light and darkness.

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