Spiritualism Books

Book SynopsisRock On is the crystal healing book for spiritual seekers who love to bend the mainstream rules and walk their own path. Whether you are an energy healer, a crystal lover, or simply a spiritual rebel with an open mind and an open heart, Rock On will teach you how to easily overcome life's everyday hurdles and heal yourself and those around you, using the power of crystals. Covering all aspects of crystal healing, from the scientific to the esoteric, and featuring 40 detailed crystal body layouts, Rock On is the definitive reference guide for those wanting to learn more about the hands-on side of crystal healing from a Master Crystal Healer with a fresh and unique perspective. If you are interested in all the hype about sparkly rocks but aren't sure about spiritual woo-woo, read Rock On's introduction and you won't be able to put the book down!

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Book SynopsisTransform your relationship with yourself, those around you, and the world in 2020_________In this powerful and inspiring book, family therapist and executive coach Rosamund Stone Zander shows us that life is a story we tell ourselves, and so we have the power to change that story.As children, we develop stories about how the world works, most of which are amended over time. But some stay with us, and these stories can be the source of behavioural and emotional patterns that hold us back. When we learn to identify and rewrite these stories, limitless growth becomes possible.By breaking old patterns and telling a new story we can transform not just our own lives, but also our relationships with others whether in a marriage, a classroom, or a business. With this new understanding of ourselves and our place within an interconnected world, we can take powerful action in the collective interest, and gain a sense of deep connection to the universe.Trade Review**A brand new vision for achieving human fulfilment from the NATIONAL BESTSELLING author of The Art of Possibility, Rosamund Stone Zander**Pathways to Possibility shows us that life is a story we tell ourselves, and that we have the power to change that story. * from the publisher's description *Zander introduces readers to an opportunity for transformation via rewriting our old stories, essentially changing the worldview we've gripped onto since childhood. -- Spirituality & HealthFresh, compelling, and uplifting. A well-written and accessible model for self-examination for even the most well-adjusted adult. -- BooklistFilled with fascinating stories illuminating the many challenges to our inner and global well-being, Rosamund Stone Zander has created a narrative to liberate our lives in ways we may have never imagined possible. Pathways to Possibility is a treasure trove of human journeys that reveals the deep nature of who we are and how we can create a more meaningful life and healthier world. -- Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., author of Brainstorm and The Whole Brain ChildRosamund Zander is the best companion to walk you through your next passage. Her words radiate possibility as she leads readers out of the darkness of an old story, showing us how to change it, open up, and move into the lightness of love and gratitude. -- Gail Sheehy, author of Passages and Daring: My PassagesIn this eloquent and elegant book, Rosamund Stone Zander offers us a visionary and practical guide to living fuller, more compassionate lives for ourselves and others. -- Sir Ken Robinson, author of The Element and Creative SchoolsRosamund Zander is a miracle. Her generous voice will resonate with you, change you and help you create work that matters. She is helping each of us grow up to become better versions of ourselves. -- Seth Godin, author of The Icarus DeceptionYou must read Pathways to Possibility for it is an extraordinary, unique book. Rosamund Zander helps us to see the connection between our inner selves and the nature of the natural world and the universe. In her gentle and compassionate but powerful voice she shares stories revealing the consciousness and inter connectedness of all living things, from butterflies to dogs, water crystals to ourselves. By the end we have a new understanding of who we are and our individual human responsibilities. -- Jane Goodall, award-winning primatologist and authorPathways to Possibility is a great stepping stone from Rosamund Zander's previous book, The Art of Possibility. I saw myself in this book: my relationship to my childhood, to the past, and to Nature, and the struggle and delight of helping a new self emerge. Zander has a shrewd understanding of human nature and a dispassionate compassion for all the troubled things we do as we get through our lives. She's teaching us all how to be architects of the spirit. -- Richard Preston, author of The Hot Zone

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Book SynopsisThe purpose of The Transparency of Things is to look clearly and simply at the nature of experience, without any attempt to change it. A series of contemplations leads us gently but directly to see that our essential nature is neither a body nor a mind. It is the conscious Presence that is aware of this current experience. As such, it is nothing that can be experienced as an object, and yet it is undeniably present. However, these contemplations go much further than this. As we take our stand knowingly as this conscious Presence that we always already are, and reconsider the objects of the body, mind, and world, we find that they do not simply appear to this Presence; they appear within it. And further exploration reveals that they do not simply appear within this Presence but as this Presence. Finally, we are led to see that it is in fact this very Presence that takes the shape of our experience from moment to moment while always remaining only itself. We see that our experience is and has only ever been one seamless totality, with no separate entities, objects, or parts anywhere to be found.

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Book SynopsisThe simple yet profoundly life changing story for anyone struggling to find their place in life. Gifted by millions to those they love.In a small cafe at a location so remote it stands in the middle of the middle of nowhere, a visitor finds three unusual questions on the back of a menu.Why are you here?Do you fear death?Are you fulfilled?With this food for thought and the guidance of three people at the café, the visitor embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Along the way discovering a new way to look at life, himself and just how much you can learn from a green sea turtle.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive guide to understanding and mastering healing and psychic techniques. Tap into your intuition, heart and soul and be amazed at how your skills unfold and develop in surprising ways.The Spiritual Guidebook includes information about opening the third eye, chakras, tarot, mediumship, crystals, reiki, healing, meditation, channelling, automatic writing, auras, scrying, psychometry, energy, essential oils, yoga, guides, shamanism, numerology, health, quantum physics, sacred geometry, self-hypnosis, mind power, past lives and spirit releasement. Written by Anna Comerford, an award-winning Australian psychic the Spiritual Guidebook will expand your psychic knowledge and intuitive-healing abilities in ways you never imagined.

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Book SynopsisTune into angel messages and experience the power of love and healing. Talk to Your Angels brings you traditional and not-so-traditional ways to meet your angelic guides. Jayne Wallace and Liz Dean unveil the signs of angelic presence and demonstrate the best ways to get closer to these celestial beings, with each tip illustrated by award-winning artist Sarah Perkins. Discover the signs and symbols that let you know your angels are nearby and connect with them using colours, flowers and crystals to strengthen your connection with the angelic realms. Learn, too, how to ask angels for help with everyday needs and personal challenges such as healing a relationship rift, letting go of the past and sending healing to loved ones. Trade ReviewA jewel of a compendium on connecting with angels, [this book] offers advice for both the novice and experienced angel-whisperer… Wallace, an author and professional clairvoyant, and Dean, an author of over 20 books and tarot decks, impart their knowledge in an understandable, approachable manner… beautiful, soothing, images. – Mystical Musings

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully designed, durable planner is filled with practical knowledge distilled from the most popular books in the bestselling Little Bit Of series. Written by expert authors, this series breaks down complex spiritual subjects into bite-size pieces of accessible, actionable information. Covering everything from auras, chakras, and crystals to dreams, palmistry, and tarot, it also includes monthly two-page views, weekly spreads, and note pages help you stay organized through the seasons. It is the perfect planning companion for those seeking metaphysical inspiration throughout the year.

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Book SynopsisA visual journey from the minute to the infinite, exploring the relationships and harmonies between all parts of the universe and inspiring personal contemplation regarding our own place within it. In The Cosmic Dance, renowned image alchemist Stephen Ellcock presents a pan-global collection of remarkable, arresting and surprising images drawn from the entire history of art to explore the ancient belief that the cosmos is reflected in all living things. Organized thematically, the visual journey begins with the microscopic, the particulate and the elemental; then explores the human body as a cosmos in miniature, the beauty of divine proportions and our search for spiritual enlightenment; before finally revelling in the colossal, the celestial and the infinite. An eloquent introduction provides an overview of the central themes and expert commentaries introduce each section. Detailed panels provide bitesize information on key concepts and key thinkers â from the four elements to CosmTrade Review'Visually overwhelming, profoundly uplifting … astonishing … Ellcock’s curation of images is a marvel of sympathy … the book’s accompanying text marches you briskly through a magnificent number of the world’s mythologies, religions, philosophies, arts, and sciences, drawing connections and noting similarities' - Julian Gough, Irish Times'Glorious … there’s great beauty here … The text too is engaging … Only connect, said EM Forster; here’s a mind-blowingly beautiful way to do it' - The Times LUXXTable of ContentsPreface: Regaining Perspective Introduction: As Above, So Below 1. The Infinitesimal Universe 2. God in Miniature 3. Divine Proportions 4. In Search of Nirvana 5. And So On To Infinity Bibliography Sources of Illustrations Sources of Quotations Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisThe Big Book of Wisdom is a guide on how to live a meaningful life, how to grow through adversity towards maturity, and making one's contribution, little by little, to a better, safer, cleaner, healthier, much happier world.This book on wisdom is BIG not because of its length, but because it is about everything and for everyone.Combining scientific findings with logical and intuitive reasoning, we are taken on a journey to look into our intellectual and spiritual experiences. Topics such as Capitalism, Education, Religion, Politics, Health, are explored and we look at the imbalance between our aims and values as well as the discovery of intersecting cosmic miracles of existence, life, consciousness, love and unity."An important contribution to the revival of wisdom discourse" David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer"This book is extremely practical and life-affirming, a must read for anyone on a spiritual journey." Betty Steinhauer, author of In Search of Spiritual Intelligence"During these uncertain times it offers a genuine tonic and encourages us all to reflect on the bigger picture." The British Journal of Psychiatry

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Book SynopsisEven during his lifetime, Ralph Waldo Emerson was called the Sage of Concord, a fitting title for this leader of the American Transcendentalist movement. Everything that Emerson said and wrote directly addressed the conduct of life, and in his view, spiritual truth and understanding were the essence of religion. Unsurprisingly, he sought to rescue spirituality from decay, eschewing dry preaching and rote rituals.Unitarian minister Barry Andrews has spent years studying Emerson, finding wisdom and guidance in his teachings and practices, and witnessing how the spiritual lives of others are enriched when they grasp the many meanings in his work. In American Sage, Andrews explores Emerson's writings, including his journals and letters, and makes them accessible to today's spiritual seekers. Written in everyday language and based on scholarship grounded in historical detail, this enlightening book considers the nineteenth-century religious and intellectual crosscurrents that shaped Emerson's worldview to reveal how his spiritual teachings remain timeless and modern, universal and uniquely American.

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth exploration of the practice, relevance, and purpose of spirit marriage around the world• Presents interviews with ten contemporary practitioners of spirit marriage, exploring how the relationship developed and the opportunities and challenges • Discusses the author’s own spirit marriage, including her awakening as an erotic mystic and her encounters with her Faery beloved • Explains how to cultivate a spirit marriage, sharing precautions and practices to spiritually prepare yourself and navigate the potential challenges of spirit marriage Exploring the phenomenon of the spirit spouse or spirit lover--an entity to which a human is psychically bonded--Megan Rose, Ph.D., examines the practice and purpose of spirit marriage around the world, presenting transcultural evidence of this form of sacred union in anthropological research, religious literature, mythology, folklore, and the oral tradition. She shares her in-depth interviews with ten contemporary practitioners of spirit marriage, including a Faery Seer, a Shakta Tantric, a West African Shrine Keeper, a New Orleans Voodoo Mambo, Haitian Vodou practitioners, and a ceremonial magician. Through these respectful interviews, the spirit-marriage practitioners tell their stories of initiation and of having a spouse who is both otherworldly and able to assist in waking- world activities. They offer intimate insight into this growing global practice and its larger evolutionary purpose. We learn about their experiences of first contact, the decision to marry, how the relationship is upheld by their community, and the impact on their other relationships. We also learn about the risks and challenges as well as one example of divorcing a spirit. Sharing her personal experience, the author discusses in detail her own spirit marriage, including the erotic nature of being “spirit filled” and her encounters with her Faery beloved. She explains how to cultivate a spirit marriage, sharing precautions and practices to spiritually prepare yourself, interpret your paranormal encounters, and navigate the potential challenges of spirit marriage. Presenting the first study of the transcultural, shamanistic practice of spirit marriage, this book shows how bonded relationships with spirits are needed now more than ever to assist with spiritual evolution.Trade Review“Until death do us part, we will love Spirit Marriage for expanding the usual ideas of what sex is to cosmic proportions. Anyone interested in romance, the erotic, and/or mysticism will find reading this book a match made in heaven.” * Annie Sprinkle & Beth Stephens, authors of Assuming the Ecosexual Position *“Megan Rose offers a well-researched path to meaningful, long-term relationships in the unseen realm. This is the book to read if you are interested in developing intimacy with spirits close to you and being relationally well about it.” * Pavini Moray, Ph.D., sex and relationship educator, founder of Wellcelium, and host of the Bespoken *“Broadens our usual conceptions about romantic love to include the dimension of the more-than-human. In tending and nourishing these sacred connections we step into traditions long suppressed or ignored but vital to our rounder sense of what it means to love and be loved.” * Craig Chalquist, Ph.D., author of Terrapsychological Inquiry *“An inspired and inspiring exploration of the phenomenon of the Hieros Gamos, and how it can contribute to the spiritual regeneration of human life on Earth. Regardless of whether you think you will ever enter into a spirit marriage-- or are already in one--you will find Rose’s book to be a heartfelt and deeply engaging exploration of this widespread spiritual practice. Read it, and prepare for new and compelling insights into the spiritual destiny of humanity.” * Bruce MacLennan, Ph.D., author of The Wisdom of Hypatia *“Have you heard the call of the Beloved? You are not alone. Megan Rose captures stories of people in loving relationships with spirits and provides a road map to enter into a relationship for those who have heard the call. She combines insights gained from these interviews with her extensive academic and magical training to arrive at a profound and nuanced understanding of the experience. Spirit Marriage is that rare book that grants voice to what has been hidden and encourages those who dare to follow the call to love.” * Brandy Williams, author of Practical Magic for Beginners *“There is a certain amount of intimacy in all forms of spirit contact, but for a small part of the community of practitioners the contact is as deep as that of a beloved spouse. Spirit Marriage is the first book to explore this phenomenon in depth. The book is particularly valuable because it contains stories from the lives of beings engaged in spirit marriages today.” * Ivo Dominguez Jr., author of The Four Elements of the Wise *“Megan Rose’s exploration of this widely practiced but little-known phenomenon is illuminated with impeccable scholarship and a deep intuition born of her own experiences in this area. I know of no finer book on this important topic. It belongs in the library of anyone seeking to understand the emerging possibilities of connection and collaboration with allies in the realms of Spirit.” * David Spangler, spiritual director of the Lorian Association and author of Apprenticed to Spirit *“Spirit Marriage is not only a guidebook to forming bonded relationships with Spirit, it is an invitation to awaken our own spiritual potential.” * Salicrow, psychic medium and author of The Path of Elemental Witchcraft *“Megan Rose takes us on an engaging journey through the history of spirit marriage, from its ancient roots to contemporary accounts of its modern-day practitioners. An important and illuminating study of a fascinating subject!” * Vere Chappell, author of Sexual Outlaw, Erotic Mystic *“It is through her embodiment of the three ‘keys’ of devotion, discernment, and discipline that the book becomes a catalyst for the reader’s own journey of divine or extraordinary embodiment. This book will phenomenologically alter you.” * Monica Mody, Ph.D., poet, author, and adjunct professor at the California Institute of Integral Stud *“This is a book that deserves careful reading with an open mind, not something to dismiss out of hand. It comes from the personal experience of the author and is not a new viewpoint--relationships between humans and other level beings have been recorded down the ages. An interesting and thought-provoking book.” * Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki, author of The Ritual Magic Workbook and The Shining Paths *Table of ContentsForeword by Orion Foxwood Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: Feminizing and Decolonizing Our Perceptions of Reality PART I The Past 1 Hidden in Plain Sight 2 History, Folklore, and Religion 3 The Occult and Psycho-Spiritual PracticePART II The Present 4 Contemporary Stories of Spirit Marriage5 The Faery Seer 6 The Shakta Tantric7 The West African Shrine Keeper 8 The Washington, DC, Witchdoctor 9 The New Orleans Voodoo Mambo10 The Haitian Vodou Practitioners 11 The Ceremonial Magician12 The Erotic Mystic: Journey to My Divine Self 13 The Erotic Mystic: Encounters with My Faery Beloved PART III The Future 14 Cultivating a Spirit Marriage 15 Practices and Precautions Conclusion: Normalizing the Paranormal Glossary Notes BibliographyIndex About the Author

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Book SynopsisWhat can you do when you carry scars not on your body, but within your soul? And what happens when those spiritual wounds exist not just in you, but in everyone in your life? Whether or not we have experienced personal trauma, we are all - in very real ways - impacted by the legacy of familial and cultural suffering. Recent research has shown that trauma affects groups just as acutely as it does individuals; it bridges families, generations, communities, and borders. “I believe that unresolved systemic traumas delay the development of the human family, harm the natural world, and inhibit the higher evolution of our species,” writes Thomas Hübl. However, just as trauma can be integrated and healed for a single person, groups large and small can also find recovery. With Healing Collective Trauma, this world-renowned spiritual teacher presents a hopeful road map to mending the mind, body, and soul. Here, Hübl explains the most recent science of trauma and shares the principles of his Collective Trauma Integration Process (CTIP), a protocol he has facilitated for groups in the US, Germany, Israel, and elsewhere. He examines collective trauma both from the perspective of the latest research and through a spiritual lens informed by 15 years as a meditation teacher. Including contributions from renowned experts from across the field of trauma treatment, as well as meditative practices to support both counselors and clients, Healing Collective Trauma presents a fresh perspective on trauma integration along with practical tools for beginning the journey to wholeness.

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Book SynopsisFor renowned teacher Adyashanti, every single moment contains a doorway into spiritual awakening. But what does it actually mean to "wake up" to the truth of reality? And what does it take to recognize these opportunities? In The Direct Way, Adya (as his students call him) offers a sequence of 30 practices intended to connect with and cultivate ever-greater awareness of the unseen dimensions of your being. From the simple expression of "I am," to an exploration of the spiritual heart, and all the way into the fundamental ground of being, these exercises emphasize that the process of awakening takes "many small glimpses, experienced many times." Adya concludes these lessons with practical pointers on how to integrate transcendent experiences into the everyday fabric of life-including your career, personal goals, and intimate relationships. No one experiences awakening quite the same way. With The Direct Way, not only will Adya show you dozens of pathways toward spiritual realization, but you will also discover an awareness as wide as the sky and as personal as your innermost heart.

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Book Synopsis'Gorgeous, an utter delight' MARIAN KEYESA charming debut that sparks with fun and fizz' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'A must read!' SOPHIE IRWIN'Storytelling at its finest' STYLISTA DAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE YEARLONGLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS'' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWN PRIZEMrs Wood is London's most celebrated medium. She's managed to survive decades in the competitive world of contacting the Other Side, has avoided the dreaded slips that revealed others as frauds and is still hosting packed-out séances for Victorian high society.Yet, some of her patrons have recently cancelled their appointments. There are reports of American mediums nearly materialising full spirits and audiences are no longer satisfied with the knocking on tables and candle theatrics of years gone by. And then, at one of Mrs Wood's routine gatherings, she hears something terrifying faint, but unmistakable: a yawn.Mrs Wood needs to spice up her brand. She decides to take on Emmie, a young protégé, to join her show. But is Emmie Finch the naïve ingenue she seems to be? Or does she pose more of a threat to Mrs Wood's reign and, more horrifyingly, her reputation than Mrs Wood could ever have imagined?Trade Review‘I absolutely ADORED it. Such a juicy read and written so beautifully. Charming, gorgeous, an utter delight’ Marian Keyes ‘Intriguing, witty and unique. A must read!’ Sophie Irwin, author of A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting ‘There’s much fun to be had in this vivid, delightfully original debut’ Daily Mail ‘A charming debut that sparks with fun and fizz’ Good Housekeeping 'The Other Side of Mrs Wood drew me in with its promise of ambition and rivalry on the Victorian séance scene. I found myself alternating between laughing, crying and an unsightly mixture of both as I followed Mrs Wood’s journey to stay on top in an industry that prioritises youth and novelty. This is an absolute triumph of a debut' Stacey Thomas ‘Wonderfully entertaining’ Harper’s Bazaar ‘Fans of Sarah Waters will love this clever debut’ Red Magazine ‘Engaging and wonderfully original’ Katie Fforde ‘Wildly entertaining and thoroughly gripping’ Reader’s Digest ‘Full of wit. Bubbling beneath its surface is a compelling commentary on the scant choices facing Victorian women determined to support themselves. Highly recommended’ Lianne Dillsworth, author of Theatre of Marvels ‘A joy to read, completely fresh and original with a wonderful cast of characters, featuring rival mediums, dark secrets and some truly delicious double-crossing. Witty, evocative writing, a huge treat of a novel’ Lucy Diamond ‘Think All About Eve, but set in the spellbinding world of Victorian mediums. Brilliantly witty' Frances Quinn, author of That Bonesetter Woman ‘Crackles with wit and mischief, a delicious read’ Louise Dean ‘Storytelling at its finest’ Stylist‘I absolutely ADORED it. Such a juicy read and written so beautifully. Charming, gorgeous, an utter delight’ Marian Keyes ‘Intriguing, witty and unique. A must read!’ Sophie Irwin, author of A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting ‘There’s much fun to be had in this vivid, delightfully original debut’ Daily Mail ‘A charming debut that sparks with fun and fizz’ Good Housekeeping 'The Other Side of Mrs Wood drew me in with its promise of ambition and rivalry on the Victorian séance scene. I found myself alternating between laughing, crying and an unsightly mixture of both as I followed Mrs Wood’s journey to stay on top in an industry that prioritises youth and novelty. This is an absolute triumph of a debut' Stacey Thomas ‘Wonderfully entertaining’ Harper’s Bazaar ‘Fans of Sarah Waters will love this clever debut’ Red Magazine ‘Engaging and wonderfully original’ Katie Fforde ‘Wildly entertaining and thoroughly gripping’ Reader’s Digest ‘Full of wit. Bubbling beneath its surface is a compelling commentary on the scant choices facing Victorian women determined to support themselves. Highly recommended’ Lianne Dillsworth, author of Theatre of Marvels ‘A joy to read, completely fresh and original with a wonderful cast of characters, featuring rival mediums, dark secrets and some truly delicious double-crossing. Witty, evocative writing, a huge treat of a novel’ Lucy Diamond ‘Think All About Eve, but set in the spellbinding world of Victorian mediums. Brilliantly witty' Frances Quinn, author of That Bonesetter Woman ‘Crackles with wit and mischief, a delicious read’ Louise Dean ‘Storytelling at its finest’ Stylist

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Book SynopsisLearn how to tap into your psychic and medium abilities through trusting your intuition and practising your craft.Have you ever felt as though you had a sixth sense, or had an experience you can?t quite explain? Or maybe you had a strange ?gut feeling? about a situation, and then it all came to fruition? These aren?t just coincidences, and in You Must Be Psychic, the UK?s favourite celebrity psychic, Chris Riley, talks you through the different aspects of the psychic gift and mediumship with tools and tips to tap into your abilities.Learn how to become more of an intuitive, how to connect to the spirit world, and how to protect your psychic ability from being taken advantage of by narcissists, energy vampires, and toxic personalities through Chris? practical guidance.Using accessible means such as meditation, tarot cards, and crystals, this book will help you learn how to better understand your abilities and what your future holds.

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Book SynopsisAt the end of August, accompanied by the sadhu, he set off on a “spiritual journey” to a holy lake—a journey from which he would never return.Lost in the Valley of Death is about one man’s search to find himself, in a country where for many westerners the path to spiritual enlightenment can prove fraught, even treacherous.Trade Review"Justin Alexander Shetler went to India in search of adventure and authenticity and never came back. Was his disappearance the result of a crime, an accident, or a profound spiritual transformation? This mystery beats at the heart of Harley Rustad’s gripping and propulsive book, which is part travelogue, part pilgrim’s quest, part detective story. The result is the classic hero’s journey updated for a hectic, hyperconnected world: think The Lost City of Z meets Eat Pray Love, only set in the Himalayas in the age of hashtags." — Kate Harris, author of Lands of Lost Borders "....leaves you with a sense of wonder and a sense of unease. It’s a book that is not easy to put down." — New York Journal of Books "Fascinating....In prose that moves like a clear river.... Rustad has done what the best storytellers do: tried to track the story to its last twig and then stepped aside." — New York Times Book Review "....a nuanced and gripping account....the latest in a rich seam of travel writing that captures the curiosity and hubris of the planet’s most restless souls." — Financial Times "Rustad does extensive research, including hundreds of interviews with those who knew Shetler, and undertakes his own journey to India, where he finds the cave in which Shetler spent his last days. The tale he tells is both a portrait of this complex, driven seeker, but also a cautionary story about the potential dangers visitors to India face on the path to spiritual enlightenment." — San Francisco Chronicle "Rustad’s gripping investigation of Shetler’s life showcases a late-model brand of very online enlightenment seeker. Think: flowing clothing, lots of meditation and shirtless pics captioned with inspirational platitudes. But there’s more to Shetler than such cliches might suggest — and more to this story than an ad hoc vision quest gone wrong." — Washington Post “A compelling read and a fascinating story, which Harley Rustad tells with great flair and even greater compassion. The parade of parents with kids gone-missing in India's Parvati Valley moved in parallel to my own plight—each of us facing the same suite of bewildering possibilities, from natural death to foul play to a new life.” — Roman Dial, author of The Adventurer’s Son “Haunting… a moving portrait…. Rustad draws readers into a tale of adventure and tragedy that, despite its dark outcome, is illuminated with a remarkable sense of humanity…. Equal parts tribute and travelogue, this is sure to enthrall those curious about a life lived to the extreme.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review “One of the most haunting books of recent times. Through spellbinding story-telling, drawn from impeccable research, Harley Rustad takes us not only into the evergreen story of a young man in search of his better self, but into the mystical pull of India, the latter-day community of global pilgrims, and the casualties found along the way. This is Somerset Maugham’s classic Razor’s Edge updated to the Age of Instagram." — Pico Iyer, author of The Art of Stillness and The Open Road “Rustad's portrait of Shetler and the land in which his life ended is remarkably well-crafted and captivating, a powerful addition to the literature of quests and wilderness exploration.” — Booklist “In Justin Alexander Shetler, Harley Rustad has found a character equal parts Shantaram and Into the Wild’s Christopher McCandless, only with the media savvy of Anthony Bourdain and the soulful charisma of Bruce Chatwin. It is hard to imagine anyone able to illuminate this haunted, driven, marvelously complex person as richly and thoroughly as Rustad has done here.” — John Vaillant, author of The Tiger and The Golden Spruce "Rustad proves himself here to be a masterful storyteller, unfolding character, plot, suspense, pathos, bathos and half a dozen other Greek nouns so meticulously that you’re not going to want to put this book down." — Toronto Star “A mysterious tale of a spiritual seeker, a survivalist on a motorcycle pilgrimage through the Himalayas, who places his trust in a sadhu, only to disappear like honey on a razor’s edge. A wonderful book.” — Wade Davis, author of Magdalena and Into the Silence "Fascinating." — Kirkus Reviews "The cautionary and haunting tale of Justin Alexander Shetler--who vanished in 'India's backpacker Bermuda Triangle' in 2016--raises compelling questions about the limits of spiritual seeking." — Shelf Awareness "Under Rustad’s watch, Shetler is a compelling, complex character: a man simultaneously craving solitude and validation — always searching, in the digital and real worlds alike." — Sharp Magazine (Canada) "Engaging, compassionate....nuanced, rather than salacious.... Rustad is as interested in exploring India’s enduring hold on the Western imagination, from Marco Polo to the hippie trail of the seventies to the present day." — Globe and Mail (Toronto) "A wonderful read, this is compelling story with a message in it for all explorers: don’t lose yourself while finding your soul....a gripping tale that reads like a detective novel." — The Explorers Journal "Rustad crafts the narrative masterfully...." — Outlook (India)

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Book SynopsisThe International BestsellerOn April 10, 2019, award-winning astrophysicist Heino Falcke presented the first image ever captured of a black hole at an international press conference—a turning point in astronomy that Science magazine called the scientific breakthrough of the year. That photo was captured with the unthinkable commitment of an intercontinental team of astronomers who transformed the world into a global telescope. While this image achieved Falcke’s goal in making a black hole “visible” for the first time, he recognizes that the photo itself asks more questions for humanity than it answers. Light in the Darkness takes us on Falcke’s extraordinary journey to the darkest corners of the universe. From the first humans looking up at the night sky to modern astrophysics, from the study of black holes to the still-unsolved mysteries of the universe, Falcke asks, in even the greatest triumphs of science, is there room for doubts, faith, and a God? A plea for curiosity and humility, Light in the Darkness sees one of the great minds shaping the world today as he ponders the big, pressing questions that present themselves when we look up at the stars.

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Book SynopsisJohn Henry Newman, one of the towering figures of the early Victorian Church of England, caused shock and outrage in equal measure when he announced his espousal of Roman Catholicism in 1845. His Apologia, written nearly twenty years later in response to a scurrilous public attack by Charles Kingsley, is a superbly crafted response to those who criticized his actions and questioned his motives, and traces his spiritual development since boyhood, his close involvement in the high church Tractarian Movement and his agonizing decision to reject the church he had been born into. Ostensibly an autobiography and a speech for the defence, the Apologia transcends self-justification to explore the very nature of Christianity and its place in the modern age.Table of ContentsApologia Pro Vita Sua - John Henry Newman Edited with an Introduction by Ian KerAbbreviationsIntroductionSelect BibliographyChronologyAPOLOGIA PRO VITA SUAAppendicesEditor's Notes

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Book SynopsisDISCOVER THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING MEMOIR, MY PHYSIC LIFE BY SALLY MORGAN AS SHE EMBARKS ON HER 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR.Sally Morgan is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift: she can communicate with the dead.At just nine months old, Sally had her first psychic experience. It took a personal disaster in Sally''s life to understand how to take control of the mysteries of the spirit world and become a globally respected professional medium. Now in her 11th year of touring, Sally has done thousands of readings for people who have experienced a personal tragedy, passing on the messages of spirits to their loved ones with astonishing accuracy.Discover amazing anecdotes that will send a shiver down the spine and the experiences that have shaped Sally''s long and successful career. My Physic Life is packed with honesty as Sally opens up about her most chilling spiritual readings, while chatting about her life as one would with a f

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Book SynopsisDrawing upon the various myths and legends contained in anecdotal biographies and placing them in as precise a historical framework as possible.

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Book SynopsisCelebrating Life is an intensely honest expedition that teaches you how you can be a master of your circumstances and make your life a celebration.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review'An absorbing and enchanting breathwork bildungsroman that moves us from the meniality of modern corporate culture to the mesmerisms of meditation' James Nestor, New York Times bestselling author of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art 'It's like Autobiography of a Yogi set in modern-day New York. It will stay in your heart long after you have put the book down'Vishen Lakhiani, CEO, Mindvalley; author of New York Times bestseller The Code of the Extraordinary Mind , Nautilus Book Award winner 'Like the WWII pilot forced to land his battle-damaged plane on "a wing and a prayer", Wall Street banker Kushal Choksi is forced by catastrophic events to embark on a remarkable journey of spiritual self-discovery. A poignant, funny, and thought-provoking read!' Carol Kline, New York Times bestselling co-author of Happy for No Reason, Love for No Reason , five books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and Conscious Luck: Eight Secrets to Intentionally Change Your Fortune 'Kushal delivers a powerful and earnest narrative of a curious mind's struggle to know what lies beyond the unknown and to find a purpose along the way' Jeffrey Perlman, brand architect, former CMO, Zumba Fitness. 'Kushal's authentic journey of self-exploration inspires us all to question what it really means to lead a successful life. His heartfelt account will appeal to anyone seeking answers from within'Chandrika Tandon, business leader, humanitarian and Grammy-nominated artist ' On a Wing and a Prayer is a life-changing spiritual adventure. Deeply insightful and superbly written!' Emma Seppälä, author of The Happiness Track ; science director at Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), Stanford University

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Book SynopsisSri M, a spiritual leader, highlights the significance of friendship in mentoring others. In a book by Mohini Kent, he covers topics such as love, life, religion, marriage, and death in a conversational manner. The book presents Sri M's teachings in an accessible and relatable way, appealing to readers of all ages.

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Book SynopsisWith characteristic candour, he shares intimate aspects of his life that bring meaning and balance to his journey as a successful digital entrepreneur.

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Book SynopsisA cutting-edge guide to the psychology and neuroscience of spiritual experiences Spiritual experiences have occurred within people around the world and throughout history, up to and including the present day. The founders of every major religion described them, philosophers since antiquity have pondered them, and according to recent polls, about 30% of people still report them. A century ago, philosopher and psychologist William James famously analyzed accounts of these experiences and raised questions for future scientific study. What triggers these events? How are the brain and body affected? How do these brief moments have such lasting effects? Now, modern science has some answers. This book invites readers into contemporary psychology and neuroscience laboratories around the world to learn about these elusive yet profound inner events. As it explores phenomena ranging from divine revelations to paranormal experiences to life-changing experiences of unity, findings from modern science are illustrated with a diverse set of personal accounts from believers and non-believers alike, plunging readers into deeply personal and sometimes transformative moments. Written by two renowned scientists in the field, this book is a deep exploration of the psychology and neuroscience of a range of profoundly meaningful experiences.Trade ReviewTheir [Yaden and Newberg] sensible and sensitive work should sit comfortably on the shelf next to James's. * Daniel Burke, The Washington Post *The most important book on the science of religion in my lifetime. * Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Author of Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness *If you have the slightest curiosity about the spiritual dimensions of life and death, and if you value an approach that explores the outer reaches of mystical experience, yet never pretends to know what we don't yet know, this is the book for you. * Susan Cain, NY Times Bestselling Author of Quiet and Bittersweet *This comprehensive and much needed book covers the latest science of psychedelics, spirituality, and altered states of consciousness in general. You will learn about the most cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience on these mental states while reading personal stories from people who have been fundamentally transformed by their visits to some of the most fascinating depths of human experience. I highly recommend this groundbreaking book! * Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., Author of Transcend and Host of The Psychology Podcast *What David Yaden and Andrew Newberg have done through their painstaking research is to provide the world with a 21st Century James. Like James, they are respectful of their subjects' experiences and careful not to pronounce judgments on the psychological and numinous worlds they inhabit. This book will become a classic. * Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister of Australia, Author of The Avoidable War? *In the scientific project of demystifying mysticism, Yaden and Newberg are the undisputed heirs to the legendary research of William James. The authors deftly plumb the caverns of neuroscience, psychology, pharmacology, philosophy, and religious studies to usher the nebulous world of spiritual experience into the spotlight of 21st-century academic discourse. An encyclopedic feat that transcends disciplinary boundaries, and sets the stage for a bold new era of inquiry. * Brian C. Muraresku, Author of The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name *This scholarly update of William James' seminal book, Varieties of Religious Experience, will be of great value to those interested in investigating the causes and enduring effects of sacred and secular spiritual experiences through a scientific lens. * Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., The Oliver Lee McCabe, III Professor in the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine *David Yaden and Andrew Newberg have produced a book that will bring you wonder, inspiration, and awe. It is for our 21st century what William James's Varieties book was for the 20th century: a comprehensive, open minded, rigorous exploration of human spiritual life * Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology UC Berkeley, Author of The Power Paradox *In this interdisciplinary study written for a general audience, the authors' declared aim is "to carry forward James's insights and fill in some of the empirical gaps of his speculations with decades of scientific work on spiritual experiences". * Arthur Holder, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, Theological Studies 84(2) *David Bryce Yaden and Andrew B. Newberg bring the field squarely into the modern day with The Varieties of Spiritual Experience: 21st Century Research and Perspectives...this book will offer you a deep well of thought and research to further your study and future questions that will hopefully lead to another book like this before the next century. * John W. Hall, PhD *The authors present a rich variety of perspectives from psychology and religious studies, and they draw from multiple culture... They enlighten our understanding of James at the same time as they update it, placing his work in the context of current psychological and neuroscientific research. In doing this with a highly accessible book, they have done us all a great favor. * Michael E. Nielsen, The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion *David B. Yaden and Andrew B. Newberg's The Varieties of Spiritual Experience: 21st Century Research and Perspectives engages thoughtfully with this science-and-spirituality nexus, considering the processes and psychological outcomes associated with an array of inner phenomena grouped under the umbrella of the "spiritual." The book reflects on the decades-long project of neurotheology in which Newberg was a founding figure, and takes up James's speculations about a science of religion with simultaneous modesty and ambition. * Alicia Puglionesi, H-Sci-Med-Tech *The title summarizes the ambitious goal of the book: establishing a foundational work for the twenty-first-century study of spiritual experiences...the book would be a perfect read for scholars from psychology and neuroscience and for scholars and graduate students from medicine, religious studies, philosophy, pharmacology, anthropology, and psychiatry. * Zsuzsanna Szugyiczki, Religious Studies Review *David B Yaden and Andrew B Newberg have written a seminal book that will be of high interest to mental health clinicians and researchers, pastoral counselors and caregivers, clergy, theologians, and philosophers. * Charles D.Mayer, Anglican Theological Review 103 *The Varieties of Spiritual Experience is a broad entree into contemporary research on spiritual experience and is a good go-to,...It would fit well in an undergraduate/graduate religious studies course as well as in a theory and methods class. * Benjamin Crace, Nova Religio vol 27.2 *Table of ContentsPART I: THE SCIENCE OF ALTERED STATES Chapter 1: Introduction: Toward a Science of Spiritual Experience for the 21st Century Chapter 2: William James: A Study in Human Nature Chapter 3: The Varieties: The Classic Text and its Impact Chapter 4: The Psychology of Spiritual Experiences Chapter 5: The Brain on Spiritual Experiences Chapter 6: Origins: Triggers of Spiritual Experience Chapter 7: The Pragmatic Principle: Positive and Pathological Experiences PART II: THE VARIETIES Chapter 8: Types of Spiritual Experience Chapter 9: Numinous Experiences: Encountering Divinity Chapter 10: Revelatory Experiences: Voices, Visions, and Epiphanies Chapter 11: Synchronicity Experiences:

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Book SynopsisRevealing the origins of today’s spirituality in the Gnostic tradition.Trade ReviewA paradigm shift in our understanding of religion, breaking new ground in scholarship on Gnosticism. -- Birger A. Pearson, author of Ancient Gnosticism: Traditions and Literature Anyone interested in New Age spirituality in all its diversity and fullness will savor the pages of DeConick's latest masterpiece. Her portraits of ancient 'Gnostic' movements are provocative and compelling; finding connections between these ancient worldviews and our own through popular culture and movies is a stroke of absolute genius. -- Nicola Denzey Lewis, author of Introduction to Gnosticism: Hidden Voices, Ancient Worlds DeConick has produced a fascinating, provocative, and readable interpretation of the Gnostic and Gnosticism. She emphasizes the transgressive nature of Gnostic spirituality, which confronted typical ancient spiritualities that made human beings subservient to the gods. Her book is a brave new salvo in the ongoing Gnostic Wars. -- Brent Landau, author of Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Wise Men's Journey to Bethlehem Scholarship on the histories of Gnosticism, esotericism, and mysticism has long glowed at the radioactive core of the comparative study of religion. April D. DeConick's work shines in this lineage. She demonstrates in rich detail how a new spiritual orientation that looks to a transcendent hidden God and engages in a radical criticism of ecclesial religion was first articulated in the ancient period and then resonated through the centuries to the present day, where it can best be seen in contemporary popular culture, film, and New Age thought, revelation, and experience. Enter the Gnostic New Age. -- Jeffrey J. Kripal, author of The Serpent's Gift: Gnostic Reflections on the Study of Religion DeConick offers a valuable corrective to the recent reluctance of many scholars to use the term Gnosticism. For her, Gnosticism is not so much an identifiable religion as it is a form of late-antique spirituality, an attempt to consciously realize that the essential human self is nothing less than the supreme divinity's very own life essence lying dormant and unrecognized within the core human self, waiting to be awakened and reunite with its divine source. DeConick illustrates this spirituality as analogous to various modern New Age movements reflected in contemporary literature and cinema. -- John D. Turner, coauthor of Plato's Parmenides and Its Heritage, vol. 1: History and Interpretation from the Old Academy to Later Platonism and Gnosticism DeConick has forcefully and elegantly thrown herself into the current scholarly debate on the Gnostics. In a book that is both rich in historical detail and passionate for deeper understanding, she argues that Gnostic spirituality not only provided a transformative and liberating experience for ancient devotees but it can also, even more, challenge and subvert the views of religious questers of the present, illuminating the modern search for spiritual truth. -- Bart Ehrman, author of Jesus Before the Gospels: How the Earliest Christians Remembered, Changed, and Invented Their Stories of the Savior A readable and engaging overview of ancient Gnostic beliefs and practices (in all their wild diversity) and a clear, meaningful guide for making sense of the often-chaotic source materials... [The Gnostic New Age] is sure to become a reference point for scholarly debate. ChoiceTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. The Matrix of Ancient Spirituality 2. The Gnostic True Man 3. Superpowers and Monsters 4. Paul and Gnostic Dogma 5. John and the Dark Cosmos 6. Gnostic Altered States 7. Hell Walks and Star Treks 8. Spiritual Avatars 9. The Pi of Politics 10. Pleasantville Religions 11. Gnosticism Out on a Limb Bibliography English Translation of Gnostic Sources Filmography Index

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Book SynopsisRevealing the origins of today’s spirituality in the Gnostic tradition.Trade ReviewA paradigm shift in our understanding of religion, breaking new ground in scholarship on Gnosticism. -- Birger A. Pearson, author of Ancient Gnosticism: Traditions and LiteratureAnyone interested in New Age spirituality in all its diversity and fullness will savor the pages of DeConick's latest masterpiece. Her portraits of ancient 'Gnostic' movements are provocative and compelling; finding connections between these ancient worldviews and our own through popular culture and movies is a stroke of absolute genius. -- Nicola Denzey Lewis, author of Introduction to Gnosticism: Hidden Voices, Ancient WorldsDeConick has produced a fascinating, provocative, and readable interpretation of the Gnostic and Gnosticism. She emphasizes the transgressive nature of Gnostic spirituality, which confronted typical ancient spiritualities that made human beings subservient to the gods. Her book is a brave new salvo in the ongoing Gnostic Wars. -- Brent Landau, author of Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Wise Men's Journey to BethlehemScholarship on the histories of Gnosticism, esotericism, and mysticism has long glowed at the radioactive core of the comparative study of religion. April D. DeConick's work shines in this lineage. She demonstrates in rich detail how a new spiritual orientation that looks to a transcendent hidden God and engages in a radical criticism of ecclesial religion was first articulated in the ancient period and then resonated through the centuries to the present day, where it can best be seen in contemporary popular culture, film, and New Age thought, revelation, and experience. Enter the Gnostic New Age. -- Jeffrey J. Kripal, author of The Serpent's Gift: Gnostic Reflections on the Study of ReligionDeConick offers a valuable corrective to the recent reluctance of many scholars to use the term Gnosticism. For her, Gnosticism is not so much an identifiable religion as it is a form of late-antique spirituality, an attempt to consciously realize that the essential human self is nothing less than the supreme divinity's very own life essence lying dormant and unrecognized within the core human self, waiting to be awakened and reunite with its divine source. DeConick illustrates this spirituality as analogous to various modern New Age movements reflected in contemporary literature and cinema. -- John D. Turner, coauthor of Plato's Parmenides and Its Heritage, vol. 1: History and Interpretation from the Old Academy to Later Platonism and GnosticismDeConick has forcefully and elegantly thrown herself into the current scholarly debate on the Gnostics. In a book that is both rich in historical detail and passionate for deeper understanding, she argues not only that Gnostic spirituality provided a transformative and liberating experience for ancient devotees but also, even more, that it can challenge and subvert the views of religious questers of the present, illuminating the modern search for spiritual truth. -- Bart Ehrman, author of Jesus Before the Gospels: How the Earliest Christians Remembered, Changed, and Invented Their Stories of the SaviorA readable and engaging overview of ancient Gnostic beliefs and practices (in all their wild diversity) and a clear, meaningful guide for making sense of the often-chaotic source materials. . . . [The Gnostic New Age] is sure to become a reference point for scholarly debate. * Choice *DeConick’s work is carefully researched, convincingly argued, and refreshingly accessible. * Reading Religion *The indisputable merit of DeConick’s approach is that it allows us to grasp shifts that have been taking place in the articulations of gnosticism over long periods of time. -- Fryderyk Kwiatkowski * Gnosis: Journal of Gnostic Studies *In this engaging and provacative book, April D. DeConick enters the continuing discussion of how to define and interpret Gnosticism. -- David Brakke * Journal of Religion *The author has performed a great service by showing the historical and continuing role of transgressive spirituality based on personal experience and representing a massive Gnostic awakening in our time. * Paradigm Explorer *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. The Matrix of Ancient Spirituality2. The Gnostic True Man3. Superpowers and Monsters4. Paul and Gnostic Dogma5. John and the Dark Cosmos6. Gnostic Altered States7. Hell Walks and Star Treks8. Spiritual Avatars9. The Pi of Politics10. Pleasantville Religions11. Gnosticism Out on a LimbBibliographyEnglish Translation of Gnostic SourcesFilmographyIndex

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Book SynopsisReconsiders Sherlock Holmes in light of Arthur Conan Doyle’s spiritualism. Brings together literary study and author biography to return the iconic Holmes to his mystical origins.Trade Review“McCuskey takes Arthur Conan Doyle to task for creating Holmes and setting a dangerous paradigm loose in the modern world, while tracing the origin of Holmes’s ostentatious pseudo-logic to Doyle’s belief in spiritualism.”—Phil Baker Times Literary Supplement“How Sherlock Pulled the Trick is a useful corrective to the popular image of Sherlock Holmes as a genius, and McCuskey’s examination of the ways he has been put to use by the forces of irrationality is illuminating. The book should act as a warning to those who are lazily tempted to drop in a Holmes quotation because they assume it will strengthen the validity of their claims, and remind the rest of us that employing him to support a statement does not confer legitimacy on it.”—Tom Ruffles Fortean Times“There is undoubtedly a strong dash of hocus-pocus in Doyle's presentation of Holmes's so-called Science of Deduction and Analysis, and McCuskey brings this out better than any other critic of Holmes that I've read. How Sherlock Pulled the Trick is certainly enough to make me question some of the confident—and, it turns out, credulous—pronouncements I've made about Holmes's scientific positivism down the years.”—Darryl Jones Preternature“How Sherlock Pulled the Trick is highly readable and often very engaging, driven as it is by the author’s energy and, at times, his outrage. It is also filled with a fascinating array of primary sources on science, spiritualism, and ways of thinking, from the nineteenth century to the present.”—Melissa Dickson Victorian Popular Fictions Journal“McCuskey’s study is not only a compelling work of literary criticism and cultural history, but a plea for scientificity in a rapidly heating world.”—Misha Kakabadze Correspondences“A detailed and insightful exposition of a powerful and compelling literary figure. We know Holmes is central to a late-Victorian worldview, and How Sherlock Pulled the Trick demonstrates how he is also significant today.”—Catherine Wynne,author of Lady Butler: War Artist and Traveller, 1846-1933Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroduction: The Book of Life1. Reason and Revelation, 18872. Reasoning Backward, 1881-18873. Theory and Preaching, 1887-19304. Wonderful Literature, 1930-20205. Negation at Any Cost, 2001-2020NotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisA practical, spiritual guide to finding true love by the internationally respected medium

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Book SynopsisDesign and Spirituality examines the philosophical context of our current situation. It explores how modernity and our highly constricted notions of progress, have contributed to today’s crisis of values.Trade Review"If the path to spiritual integrity lies through the way we use material things, every aspect of our relation to what is around us is significant. The challenge for us as human beings is to work out how we live humanly, taking our part in a larger and more mysterious set of processes – not trying to stand above or outside the world that makes us real. In a mixture of reflection, recollection and poetry, Stuart Walker anchors us in that ‘real world’ – so different from what we often mean by the phrase – and reintroduces us to our physical and spiritual selves."Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, author of ‘The Way of St Benedict’"Stuart Walker takes us on a captivating journey through places and times where he addresses what might be at the very core of the next revolution: spirituality and imagination. Design and Spirituality is highly refreshing, thought provoking and a most needed game-changer in the field of sustainable design. As a designer and researcher, I was thrilled by the challenging and inspiring form of the manuscript that demonstrates how design ways can also extend to academic writing. While recognizing and celebrating diversified worldviews, Walker shares with us a unique and profound reflection on the place objects occupy, and could occupy, in our lives. This book addresses critical aspects of dominant material cultures and the associated devastating production-consumption systems. It offers rare insights for designers by exploring alternative approaches to the world of objects, including ones that can lead to human fulfillment.I haven’t read anything like this in the field. It is about time that design - and other disciplines that share in its early history of the industrial revolution - delve into the important body of knowledge that age-old spiritual and wisdom traditions have to offer.Design and Spirituality is a wonderful and timely read, yet a work that will undoubtedly become timeless."Anne Marchand, Associate Vice-Rector, Research, Discovery, Creation & Innovation, Université de Montréal "In these short essays, Stuart Walker stimulates us to think more deeply about both design and the daily objects we take for granted. He argues that these are not just technical issues. They need to be considered in relation to wider questions about the kind of society we want to live in, the values we want to live by and in the end what we think and feel about the mystery of human existence."Richard Harries, former Bishop of Oxford, author of ‘Art and the Beauty of God’"This book is timely and important. Many professions are making a turn to spirituality to engage questions of sustainability, ethics, authenticity and integrity in their practice. This book addresses such questions with depth and creative insight for those working in architecture and design."Bernadette Flanagan, Chair, Spirituality Institute for Research and Education (SpIRE), Ireland"This book is a wonderful example of how creativity and imagination that emerge from the academic study of design show the way to spirituality and to values of meaning and purpose, reconciling these two paths of knowledge."Rossano Zas Friz De Col, SJ, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome"Design and Spirituality explores the realm of meaning and symbolism, bringing back a transcendental dimension of humanity that has been eroded from our professional environments in the modern Western world. Through the lens of spirituality, Walker challenges us to look beyond the surface of our material existence to access the infinite layers of beauty and wisdom available to all who dare to seek. Walker shows that, despite cultural and philosophical differences, we all share universal truths. Design and Spirituality opens a new era and vision for design well suited to the new societies we envision, calling us to transcend our creative concern – from commodity to communion, from despair to hope, from fate to destiny."Laura Santamaria, Director, Design and Culture, Loughborough University London"We should renew our material culture to be more ecological and human-centered. By bringing spirituality into the discourse, Stuart Walker’s book is an excellent contribution to the accomplishment of this urgent task."Laszlo Zsolnai, President, European Spirituality in Economics & Society Institute (SPES), Leuven, Belgium"This book provides a holistic picture of a novel way of how design can be informed by the past to move into the future. It provides a practical and pragmatistic direction towards the kind of sustainability that is necessary to solve unsustainability. To have a tenured veteran engaged in this type of thinking and research carves out a meaningful space for early career researchers to be bolder with their own research and practice."Spyros Bofylatos, Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering, University of the Aegean, Greece"Design and Spirituality embodies a series of inspiring and ingenious essays that explore and reconnect design and spirituality through the layers of interrelated topics involving the realities of everyday life through critical reflection, thus deepening and reaffirming the essence of design for sustainability. Design and Spirituality conveys ideas creatively and influentially, delving into the underlying social, cultural and environmental issues and presents an alternative medium of communication and discussion for design-related considerations, which is a fundamental source for designers, educators and researchers."Çağla Doğan, Professor of Industrial Design, METU, Ankara, Turkey"On the whole, this book is an interesting and inspiring read for anyone interested in connections between design, material culture and spirituality."Diane Hockridge, Journal of Religion, Media and Digital CultureTable of ContentsForeword 1. Introduction 2. The Nature of Design 3. Material Things and Spiritual Teachings 4. Sustainability and Secular Liberalism 5. Busyness and Wisdom 6. Heartless 7. When the Devil Drives 8. Nipping the Bloom 9. The Serpentine Walk 10. Language Speaks 11. A Complacency of Strangers 12. Insecticides and Suicides 13. Transcending Technology 14. Jericho Road 15. Design and Spirituality 16. Lucratively Loveless 17. Unity, Love and Design 18. Shallowness and Depth 19. An Impression of Intentionality 20. Failings 21. The Inner Flame 22. Religion and Atheism 23. Techno-spirituality 24. A Higher Purpose 25. Material Things and Spiritual Goods 26. Meaningful Design 27. The Deeper Significance of Things 28. At the Valley 29. Traditional Knowledge 30. The Dobby Stone 31. Natural Magic 32. Ex Voto 33. The Well of Fajã dos Padres 34. Sacred Smoke 35. Under the Volcano 36. An Expression of the Sacred 37. The Mexelhote and the Molinillo 38. An Object of my Affection 39. Memento Mori 40. Bread of Life 41. The Conference of the Blind 42. Something and Nothing 43. The Faraway Bird 44. Aesthetic Roots 45. Wabi Sabi 46. A Beachfront View 47. Local 48. Provenance, Presence and Posterity 49. Tradition 50. Nootka Sound 51. Along the Highway 52. Clear cut 53. A Northern Town 54. Vanity Fair 55. What is Truth? 56. The Spiritual Sensibility 57. A Suitable Metaphor 58. Higher Goods 59. Making Special 60. Truth, Goodness and Beauty 61. Creating from the Heart 62. Sine Fide 63. The Third Exit 64. Restart or Reform? Endnotes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWhy did ancient philosophers consult oracles, write about them, and consider them to be an important part of philosophical thought and practice? This book explores the extensive links between oracles and philosophy in Late Antiquity, particularly focusing on the roles of oracles and other forms of divination in third and fourth century CE Neoplatonism. Examining some of the most significant debates between pagan philosophers and Christian intellectuals on the nature of oracles as a central yet contested element of religious tradition, Addey focuses particularly on Porphyry's Philosophy from Oracles and Iamblichus' De Mysteriis - two works which deal extensively with oracles and other forms of divination. This book argues for the significance of divination within Neoplatonism and offers a substantial reassessment of oracles and philosophical works and their relationship to one another. With a broad interdisciplinary approach, encompassing Classics, Ancient Philosophy, Theology, Religious Studies and Ancient History, Addey draws on recent anthropological and religious studies research which has challenged and re-evaluated the relationship between rationality and ritual.Trade Review"[T]he book offers a good interpretation of Iamblichus’ De mysteriis and a wealth of important observations on various details of the material. The new approach it proposes to the study of Neoplatonic rituals promises insights in the field of Neoplatonic religiosity well beyond Porphyry and Iamblichus. This is an important contribution to research on theurgy." Bryn Mawr Classical ReviewTable of ContentsContents: Oracles and philosophy; Oracles, allegory and mystery cults; Debating oracles: pagan and Christian perspectives; Debating oracles: Porphyry’s Letter to Anebo and Iamblichus’ De Mysteriis; Divination, rationality and ritual in Neoplatonism; Divine inspiration, possession and contact with the gods in Iamblichus’ De Mysteriis; Divination and theurgy in Iamblichus’ De Mysteriis; Manifesting the gods: oracles as symbola; Bibliography; Index.

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