Traditional rituals and ceremonies Books
Quarto Publishing PLC Goddess Stories
Book SynopsisLearn the powerful stories behind over 40 goddesses from around the world, and discover how you can embody their power to improve your wellbeing, and live your best life. From ancient myth to modern day icons, there’s a goddess to help you with every situation. Including some of the best and less well-known goddesses throughout mythology, and accompanied by a gorgeous illustration of each, learn the stories of: · Freya (Norse Goddess of Love, Beauty, and War)· Eostre (Celtic Goddess of the Dawn and Spring)· Guan Yin (Buddhist Goddess of Compassion and Mercy)· Nut (Egyptian Goddess of the Sky)· Selene (Greek Goddess of the Moon)· Jaci (Brazilian Moon Goddess)· Gaia (Greek Goddess of the Earth)· Pele (Goddess of
£15.19
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Legends of the Fire Spirits Jinn and Genies from
Book SynopsisA magnificent and indispensable portrayal of the rich folklore of the Islamic world.According to Islamic tradition, Allah created three types of beings: angels, made of light; humans, made of earth; and jinn, made of smokeless fire. Supernatural, shape-shifting, intelligent and blessed with free will and remarkable powers, jinn have over the ages been given many names - demon, spirit, ghoul, genie, ifrit and shaitan. Believed in by hundreds of millions of people throughout the world and from all faiths, jinn have played a particularly central role in the literature, culture and belief systems of the Middle East and the Islamic world.Legends of the Fire Spirits explores through time and across nations the enduring phenomenon of the jinn. From North Africa to Central Asia, from the Mediterranean to sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, this riveting, often chilling, yet reasoned book draws on ancient testimonies, medieval histories, colonial records, anthropologist''s reports and Trade ReviewRobert Lebling’s exhaustive and very readable account of jinn lore and legends traces the fascinating history of these strange beings … mortals interested in knowing more about these magical creatures must content themselves with Lebling’s absorbing study. -- Gary Lachman * Times Literary Supplement *The boundaries of Lebling’s work surpassed my wildest dreams. Lebling has left no stone unturned in his enquiry, roaming through traditional Eastern literature as well as the modern media. The result is a trulyextraordinary masterwork, a treasury within itself that can be consulted at random, dipped into as a bedside book, or read from cover to cover in a fabulous feast for the imagination and the enquiring mind. -- Tahir ShahA comprehensive reference ... easily the most authoritative and accessible recent work on the topic… . The book may strike a note with a younger audience fascinated by the occult, but many students of the Middle East, Islam and ancient history should find it a valuable addition to their libraries as well. -- Stephen L. Brundage * Aramco World *A long overdue compendium of the knowledge and history of the jinn ... a lifelong reference to the mysteries of the Middle East and their influence on both Western and Eastern cultures. * Arabnews.com *A superb study... . A glorious feast of anthropological forteana... . Even those familiar with Islamic literature will delight in Lebling’s pursuit of the “sons of smokeless fire". * Fortean Times *Table of ContentsForeword by Tahir Shah Acknowledgements Notes on Transliteration Introduction: The Nature of Jinn 1. Origins 2. Historical Encounters 3. By Their Deeds: Jinn Behaviour 4. Jinn Geography 5. Cultural Echoes Appendices Appendix A: Edward Lane’s Notes on the Jinn Appendix B: Muhammad Asad on the Jinn Appendix C: Jinn Physics Notes References Index
£26.49
HarperCollins Publishers A Witch Alone
Book SynopsisThis book carries on the tradition of the solo village witch emphasizing white rather than black magic. It is a practical manual of instruction for those who choose the solo path of study and particularly stresses the importance of being in tune with nature. As there are approximately 13 moons each year the book is divided into 13 parts. Each section is aimed at lasting from the new moon to the dark to make the student fully aware of the changing power in the tides of the sea and the tides of the self. The moon-long sections deal with a variety of taditional arts, skills and mental exercises which enables the aspiring witch to discover the inner world of magic inside him/herself.Trade Review"A must-read." P. Randall Cohan "Invaluable to the newcomer to paganism." Mystical Realms
£14.24
Vintage Publishing Haunted Air
Book SynopsisA collection of anonymous Hallowe'en Photographs from America, c.1875 - 1955The roots of Hallowe'en lie in the ancient pre-Christian Celtic festival of Samhain, a feast to mark the death of the old year and the birth of the new. It was believed that on this night the veil separating the worlds of the living and the dead grew thin and ruptured, allowing spirits to pass through and walk unseen but not unheard amongst men. The advent of Christianity saw the pagan festival subsumed in All Souls' Day, when across Europe the dead were mourned and venerated. Children and the poor, often masked or in outlandish costume, wandered the night begging 'soul cakes' in exchange for prayers, and fires burned to keep malevolent phantoms at bay.The photographs in Haunted Air provide an extraordinary glimpse into the traditions of this macabre festival from ages past, and form an important document of photographic history. These are the pictures of the dead: family portraits, mementos of the treasured, now unrecognisable, other. Torn from album pages, sold piecemeal for pennies and scattered, abandoned to melancholy chance and the hands of strangers.
£24.00
Emerald Publishing Limited Funerary Practices in Serbia
Book SynopsisFunerary Practices in Serbia is the first book to offer a concise yet highly informative study of the historical development and current state of funerary practices in Serbia. Situated in a constant dynamic struggle between traditional cultural customs and modern legislation, funerary practices in Serbia represent a particularly interesting field of research. In this study, Pavićević combines an investigation of long-term developments and recent changes to place contemporary practices in their wider historical context, emphasizing the complicated geo-political, demographic and cultural factors that have shaped funeral traditions in Serbia over time. In particular, she demonstrates how the country's frequent changing of borders and life under the rule of two great empires - the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman - fostered the emergence of colorful funerary traditions, such as open-casket burial and vigils around the body, that persist to this day in spite of government attempts to modernize funerary practice since the end of the 19th century. The book also provides illuminating insights into the legal framework surrounding current funerary practices in Serbia, the relationship between the state and private sectors, the ownership of cemeteries and gravesites, the role of churches and religious communities, religious and ethnic variations in funerary culture and traditions, and the development of modern cremation practices in Serbia. This book provides a useful and original resource for policymakers and practitioners interested in the historic, legal, technical and professional aspects of the Serbian funerary industry, and to researchers in cultural anthropology, history, sociology and cultural management.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Serbia: An IntroductionChapter 2. Historical Framework and the Development of Funerary Practices Chapter 3. Demographic and Legal Framework Chapter 4. Governance and the Funeral Directing Industry Chapter 5. Paying for the Funeral Chapter 6. Serbian Orthodox Church and Funeral Practices Chapter 7. A typical funeral Chapter 8. Religious and Ethnic variations Chapter 9. Management of Cemeteries Chapter 10. Cremation
£39.89
Headline Publishing Group The Little Book of Tea: Sweet dreams are made of
Book SynopsisA Celebration of Tea. One of the most popular drinks in the world, over two billion cups of tea are drunk every day! But how do you take yours? With one lump or two? At four o'clock with scones and jam?From humble beginnings in China over 5000 years ago, the humble cup of tea has become a staple in homes across the globe...'If you are cold, tea will warm you; If you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you' William Ewart Gladstone, former Prime Minister of the United KingdomTable of ContentsThe Teastory: A Potted History • Tea Rituals around the world • The Perfect Brew • Taking the Biscuit • Time for Tea! • Tea-ch me more!
£7.44
