Collection: Spirituality & Religion

Magic, sorcery and witchcraft are among the most common themes of the great medieval Icelandic sagas and poems, the problematic yet vital sources that provide our primary textual evidence for the Viking Age that they claim to describe. Yet despite the consistency of this picture, surprisingly little archaeological or historical research has been done to explore what this may really have meant to the men and women of the time. This book examines the evidence for Old Norse sorcery, looking at its meaning and function, practice and practitioners, and the complicated constructions of gender and sexual identity with which these were underpinned.

Combining strong elements of eroticism and aggression, sorcery appears as a fundamental domain of women's power, linking them with the gods, the dead and the future. Their battle spells and combat rituals complement the men's physical acts of fighting, in a supernatural empowerment of the Viking way of life. What emerges is a fundamentally new image of the world in which the Vikings understood themselves to move, in which magic and its implications permeated every aspect of a society permanently geared for war.

In this fully revised and expanded second edition, Neil Price takes us with him on a tour through the sights and sounds of this undiscovered country, meeting its human and otherworldly inhabitants, including the Sámi with whom the Norse partly shared this mental landscape. On the way we explore Viking notions of the mind and soul, the fluidity of the boundaries that they drew between humans and animals, and the immense variety of their spiritual beliefs. We find magic in the Vikings' bedrooms and on their battlefields, and we meet the sorcerers themselves through their remarkable burials and the tools of their trade. Combining archaeology, history and literary scholarship with extensive studies of Germanic and circumpolar religion, this multi-award-winning book shows us the Vikings as we have never seen them before.

"This book is life-changing" - has been the response of those women worldwide. "Healing the Feminine Energy" is a spiritual guide, written with love and empathy for those who want to nurture their feminine energy. It's the perfect catalyst for those looking to ignite or go deeper into, their healing journey.

By learning how to embrace the deepest parts of yourself, you gain an increase in confidence, self-love and a clear understanding of the beauty of feminine energy.

We currently live in a society that discourages the expression of divine feminine energy, keeping millions of women from embracing their natural state.

Their natural connection to womanhood is shamed, trapping them in a state of unhappiness, lack of fulfilment and continuously attracting the wrong type of men.

This practical guide contains ancient wisdom, yet with a great understanding of the modern society that we live in.

And as you learn the powerful information that has been kept secret from you, experience a deep connection to your authentic self.

This is for the person who is excited about growing into an empowered, healthy woman. It is also for men who want to better appreciate the power of feminine energy (that is within them too and in their partners).

This guide will teach you:

• The traits of healthy femininity
• Practical exercises to get you in touch with feminine energy
• Understand the blocks and wounds that suppress feminine energy
• How to release the negative effects of trauma, heartbreak and abuse
• How to embrace a state of peace
• The empowered state that attracts healthy men
• The importance of self-care
• How femininity influences the people in your life and its ability to manipulate the environment
• Why you should be proud to be a woman

Learn to reconnect to the power that lies within and receive the practical exercises that will help you to protect and nurture this great energy.

TRAIN YOUR MIND TOWARD LASTING CONNECTION AND JOY

Eager to share the life-enhancing benefits he found in Buddhism, skeptic Scott Snibbe presents this 8-step programme that allows anyone to build positive mental habits. Inspired by the ancient Buddhist path to enlightenment yet firmly grounded in modern science, How to Train a Happy Mind is the first mainstream book to show how you can achieve happiness using analytical meditation. Working in much the same way as cognitive behavioural therapy, analytical meditation goes beyond the calm-inducing practice of mindfulness to actively train the brain through easy-to-follow narrative visualizations.

Breaking the path down into concise steps and written in a relatable tone with plenty of references to popular culture, this is the ideal book if you recognize your mind as both the source of your problems and the source of your solutions.

The classic guide to enlightened living that first presented the Buddhist path of the warrior to Western readers--with a new foreword and cover presentation.

There is a basic human wisdom that can help solve the world's problems. It doesn't belong to any one culture or region or religious tradition--though it can be found in many of them throughout history. It's what Chögyam Trungpa called the sacred path of the warrior. The sacred warrior conquers the world not through violence or aggression but through gentleness, courage, and self-knowledge. The warrior discovers the basic goodness of human life and radiates that goodness out into the world for the peace and sanity of others. That's what the Shambhala teachings are all about, and this is the book that has been presenting them to a wide and appreciative audience for more than thirty years.

Interpret the messages from your spirit guide and discover what your angel numbers are trying to tell you in this enlightening, informative guide to numerology.

You pull into your driveway and your clock reads 11:11 exactly; your favorite song runs three minutes and thirty-three seconds; on your drive to work, you are following a car whose license plate number ends in 1234. Are all these number coincidences or do they mean something more?

In this book, you will find the meaning behind these "angel numbers" and discover what the universe and your spirit guides are trying to tell you. Like your daily horoscope or tarot card pull, your angel numbers are there to guide you: and The Angel Numbers Book can clue you in on what they're trying to say.

With clear insight behind the meanings of angels numbers and sequences you encounter, this book is an accessible and inspirational reference to keep at hand.

From traditional to modern, from magical to mundane, this card-reading handbook is a one stop shop for anyone interested in the ancient art of Tarot.

Tarot experts Leanna and Beleta Greenaway tackle romance, marriage, health, careers, safety, children, and much more, as well as situational knowledge for those interested in taking on Tarot as a profession.

In The Magic of Tarot, readers will discover: the history and origins of the Tarot, how Tarot is moving with the times, tips on unleashing the power of the cards, housing and cleansing your decks, various card layouts for different situations, as well as full descriptions and explanations of each of the 22 Major Arcana cards, and 56 Minor Arcana cards.

The Magic of Tarot also adds illustrations of each card (right way and reversed) from two powerful Tarot decks - the modern One World deck and the traditional Rider Waite deck. Thoughtfully guiding readers through each card, the Greenaways compare the modern and traditional decks, establishing Tarot's relevance to today's world while retaining the mystery of the traditional interpretations. With a section dedicated to magic, readers also learn how to enhance the magic of Tarot through the use of crystals, pendulums, affirmations, and spirit guide communication.

Perfect for beginners and experienced card readers alike, The Magic of Tarot will take your card-reading skills to the next level to create a magical life.

What would it be like to move on from the past to the present and beyond? What would it be like to create as the God Heart (feminine) as well as the God Head (masculine)? What new wonders would come to be if we were to create with the thought of Love rather than the love of thought? These are the questions asked in Mirari: The Way of the Marys. Mirari begins in this way:

"You seek a description of a new way, a new time, as if it is a future that is already written. It is a future waiting to be birthed. An imminent birth that you are feeling with all your mothering instincts and concern for the new babe, the jewel of humanity and Heaven."

In Mirari, Mari Perron, who received A Course of Love twenty years ago, enters an intimate exchange with Mary of Nazareth. This dialogue gives life to "the way of Mary," briefly introduced in her earlier work. In this new book, Perron departs from its classic style and surprises us with her own vulnerability.

Here, the two women follow A Course of Love's call for "creation of the new" with the labor of the birth and the "Mother laws of care and nurture-given to all." Together, they demonstrate the radical energy that arises from within each one's sacred heart, and how, from our union in relationship, we know that the time is here to give birth to a new age.

Mary of Nazareth was not unfamiliar with this call or the grief that accompanied it. Her life, as well as the life of Jesus, announced an unwelcome breach in the old order. So too is it with A Course of Love and the new Way of the Marys. Mari Perron shares her personal experience of receiving A Course of Love and feeling unseen or as a mere vessel for its "learned wisdom." Her call to devotion and to the "unlearning" that is key to a new way of knowing, was heard by few. Mary and Mari assure us that it is from a feminine way of knowing-deeper than thought, and impossible to "learn"-that The New will arise.

As both women share their deepest grief, they gather readers close, nudging each of us to recognize and share our grief. This courageous act is prerequisite to healing our own and the collective feminine wound. Healing opens the way to unifying the feminine and masculine within, and the birth of an age that will end all such divisions. They invite us to rise up and join in the blossoming of the New Advent. We claim our time of Mirari: the wonder of coming to know the unknown that is our inheritance. In this radical new feminine way, we welcome receptive revelation that does not take us away from life or the personal milieu in which it occurs. Instead, it joins them fully.

Mari Perron knows that it is time for the feminine voice of God and of women to be recognized as a power that has always been-but been denied. Mari's aspiration to be a writer was overcome by her call to be a spiritual pioneer. Increasingly, she is a champion of the ways, often discounted, in which women come to know. Her work is alive with soul and depth and longing and a vision that will mid-wife the birth of The New.

We begin with a word both new and ancient. We begin with a return to the way of the Word made flesh. This will be the time of wonder-or Mirari.

Here, in our time of bringing the miracle to mystery . . . we offer Mirari as the way of the divine feminine . . .

This is not the masculine energy of going out to conquer the world. This is the birth of the new world.

Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your mind and manifest your deepest desires? Look no further than "1111 Magical Affirmations: Empowering Your Mind for Ultimate Manifestation," an extraordinary collaboration between Robert Zink and Agne Lecocq. Robert Zink, a leading expert on manifesting and the Law of Attraction, has joined forces with manifesting coach Agne Lecocq, a seasoned practitioner of empowering affirmations, to bring you a transformative guide to revolutionize your life.

Modern science and ancient wisdom traditions agree that the universe is a symphony of vibrational frequencies. In this beautiful, comprehensive, and unique work, Dr. Frawley elaborates the essential truths about cosmic sound, and how we can employ important mantras for healing, transformation and inner awakening.

For over thirty years, Opening the Hand of Thought has offered an introduction to Zen Buddhism and meditation unmatched in clarity and power. This is the revised edition of Kosho Uchiyama's singularly incisive classic.

This new edition contains even more useful material: new prefaces, an index, and extended endnotes, in addition to a revised glossary. As Jisho Warner writes in her preface, Opening the Hand of Thought "goes directly to the heart of Zen practice... showing how Zen Buddhism can be a deep and life-sustaining activity." She goes on to say, "Uchiyama looks at what a person is, what a self is, how to develop a true self not separate from all things, one that can settle in peace in the midst of life."

By turns humorous, philosophical, and personal, Opening the Hand of Thought is above all a great book for the Buddhist practitioner. It's a perfect follow-up for the reader who has read Zen Meditation in Plain English and is especially useful for those who have not yet encountered a Zen teacher.

Come to Pray! Come to Success!
Join five different families on five different continents as they make a special effort to perform their daily prayers on time and in congregation.
Salah is an obligatory act of worship that connects believers to Allah, eliminates all worldly differences between them, and unites them. Through simple text and beautiful illustrations, this book shows readers that no matter where they live, no matter what the weather, Muslims from around the world love praying together in the mosque.

The Complete Guide to the Interpretation of Horoscopes

Precise, comprehensive, and richly detailed, The Astrologer's Handbook moves far beyond the common 11 sun signs to the important planetary aspects--trines, squares, oppositions, conjunctions, and sextiles--discussing their impact on the human personality and exploring their subtle but firm influence on all our lives.

Although undertaken originally to meet the demands of professional astrologers, The Astrologer's Handbook is, happily, a book that serves every reader. The authors, two respected innovators in the field, explain carefully all of the central concepts and provide easy-to-follow instructions for doing a complete interpretation--both general and specific--of any natal chart.

For those who wish to actually cast their own charts, step-by-step directions are provided. Or, for those who prefer, special coupons are provided for purchasing personalized computer-gene rated horoscopes with complete tabulation of planetary aspects cross-referenced to the proper pages of this book.

With such bestsellers as A History of God and Islam, Karen Armstrong has consistently delivered "penetrating, readable, and prescient" (The New York Times) works that have lucidly engaged a wide range of religions and religious issues. In Buddha she turns to a figure whose thought is still reverberating throughout the world 2,500 years after his death.

Many know the Buddha only from seeing countless serene, iconic images. But what of the man himself and the world he lived in? What did he actually do in his roughly eighty years on earth that spawned one of the greatest religions in world history? Armstrong tackles these questions and more by examining the life and times of the Buddha in this engrossing philosophical biography. Against the tumultuous cultural background of his world, she blends history, philosophy, mythology, and biography to create a compelling and illuminating portrait of a man whose awakening continues to inspire millions.

Many people only ever dream of leaving it all behind to follow their heart. In "Wander," Ryan Benz shares the story of how he upended his 'successful' life and turned that dream into a reality.

In this raw and authentic memoir, Benz embarks on a journey of physical and emotional perseverance and transformation to discover what it means to live a truly meaningful life.

An encouraging read for the dreamer in each of us, "Wander" illuminates the impact wandering can have on a person's life and is a meditation on purpose, authenticity, and intentionality. While walking over two thousand miles from Georgia to Maine, Benz explores the nature of adventure, self-discovery, and what it means to follow your heart.

While telling the story of one man's quest for meaning, "Wander" also serves as a roadmap for the rest of us, inspiring us to awaken to the potential that lies within and choose the path truest to our being.

The definitive history of the military's decades-long investigation into mental powers and phenomena, from the author of Pulitzer Prize finalist The Pentagon's Brain and international bestseller Area 51.

This is a book about a team of scientists and psychics with top secret clearances.

For more than forty years, the U.S. government has researched extrasensory perception, using it in attempts to locate hostages, fugitives, secret bases, and downed fighter jets, to divine other nations' secrets, and even to predict future threats to national security. The intelligence agencies and military services involved include CIA, DIA, NSA, DEA, the Navy, Air Force, and Army-and even the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Now, for the first time, New York Times bestselling author Annie Jacobsen tells the story of these radical, controversial programs, using never before seen declassified documents as well as exclusive interviews with, and unprecedented access to, more than fifty of the individuals involved. Speaking on the record, many for the first time, are former CIA and Defense Department scientists, analysts, and program managers, as well as the government psychics themselves.

Who did the U.S. government hire for these top secret programs, and how do they explain their military and intelligence work? How do scientists approach such enigmatic subject matter? What interested the government in these supposed powers and does the research continue? Phenomena is a riveting investigation into how far governments will go in the name of national security.

The Ashtavakra Gita or the Song of Ashtavakra is a classical Advaita Vedanta scripture. It is written as a dialogue between the sage Ashtavakra and Janaka, king of Mithila. The work was known, appreciated, and quoted by Ramakrishna and his disciple Vivekananda, as well as by Ramana Maharshi, while Radhakrishnan always refers to it with great respect. Apart from that the work speaks for itself. It presents the traditional teachings of Advaita Vedanta with a clarity and power very rarely matched.