Эзотерика

Различные книги в жанре Эзотерика

Mysticism

Jess Hollenback

This sweeping study of mysticism by Jess Hollenback considers the writings and experiences of a broad range of traditional religious mystics, including Teresa of Avila, Black Elk, and Gopi Krishna. It also makes use of a new category of sources that more traditional scholars have almost entirely ignored, namely, the autobiographies and writings of contemporary clairvoyants, mediums, and out-of-body travelers. This study contributes to the current debate about the contextuality of mysticism by presenting evidence that not only are the mystic's interpretations of and responses to experiences culturally and historically conditioned, but historical context and cultural environment decisively shape both the perceptual and affective content of the mystic's experience as well. Hollenback also explores the linkage between the mystic's practice of recollection and the onset of other unusual or supernormal manifestations such as photisms, the ability to see auras, telepathic sensitivity, clairvoyance, and out-of-body experiences. He demonstrates that these extraordinary phenomena can actually deepen our understanding of mysticism in unexpected ways. A unique feature of this book is its in-depth analysis of "empowerment," an important phenomenon ignored by most scholars of mysticism. Empowerment is a peculiar enhancement of the imagination, thoughts, and desires that frequently accompanies mystical states of consciousness. Hollenback shows its cross-cultural persistence, its role in constructing the perceptual and existential environments within which the mystic dwells, and its linkage to the fundamental contextuality of mystical experience.

Rewriting Magic

Claire Fanger

In Rewriting Magic , Claire Fanger explores a fourteenth-century text called The Flowers of Heavenly Teaching . Written by a Benedictine monk named John of Morigny, the work all but disappeared from the historical record, and it is only now coming to light again in multiple versions and copies. While John’s book largely comprises an extended set of prayers for gaining knowledge, The Flowers of Heavenly Teaching is unusual among prayer books of its time because it includes a visionary autobiography with intimate information about the book’s inspiration and composition. Through the window of this record, we witness how John reconstructs and reconsecrates a condemned liturgy for knowledge acquisition: the ars notoria of Solomon. John’s work was the subject of intense criticism and public scandal, and his book was burned as heretical in 1323. The trauma of these experiences left its imprint on the book, but in unexpected and sometimes baffling ways. Fanger decodes this imprint even as she relays the narrative of how she learned to understand it. In engaging prose, she explores the twin processes of knowledge acquisition in John’s visionary autobiography and her own work of discovery as she reconstructed the background to his extraordinary book. Fanger’s approach to her subject exemplifies innovative historical inquiry, research, and methodology. Part theology, part historical anthropology, part biblio-memoir, Rewriting Magic relates a story that will have deep implications for the study of medieval life, monasticism, prayer, magic, and religion.

Forbidden Rites

Richard Kieckhefer

Preserved in the Bavarian State Library in Munich is a manuscript that few scholars have noticed and that no one in modern times has treated with the seriousness it deserves. Forbidden Rites consists of an edition of this medieval Latin text with a full commentary, including detailed analysis of the text and its contents, discussion of the historical context, translation of representative sections of the text, and comparison with other necromantic texts of the late Middle Ages. The result is the most vivid and readable introduction to medieval magic now available. Like many medieval texts for the use of magicians, this handbook is a miscellany rather than a systematic treatise. It is exceptional, however, in the scope and variety of its contents—prayers and conjurations, rituals of sympathetic magic, procedures involving astral magic, a catalogue of spirits, lengthy ceremonies for consecrating a book of magic, and other materials. With more detail on particular experiments than the famous thirteenth-century Picatrix and more variety than the Thesaurus Necromantiae ascribed to Roger Bacon, the manual is one of the most interesting and important manuscripts of medieval magic that has yet come to light.

The Transformations of Magic

Frank Klaassen

In this original, provocative, well-reasoned, and thoroughly documented book, Frank Klaassen proposes that two principal genres of illicit learned magic occur in late medieval manuscripts: image magic, which could be interpreted and justified in scholastic terms, and ritual magic (in its extreme form, overt necromancy), which could not. Image magic tended to be recopied faithfully; ritual magic tended to be adapted and reworked. These two forms of magic did not usually become intermingled in the manuscripts, but were presented separately. While image magic was often copied in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, The Transformations of Magic demonstrates that interest in it as an independent genre declined precipitously around 1500. Instead, what persisted was the other, more problematic form of magic: ritual magic. Klaassen shows that texts of medieval ritual magic were cherished in the sixteenth century, and writers of new magical treatises, such as Agrippa von Nettesheim and John Dee, were far more deeply indebted to medieval tradition—and specifically to the medieval tradition of ritual magic—than previous scholars have thought them to be.

Energy Reflections

Angela Rena

We are all energy and once we realize we are energy we understand we can influence the atmosphere. Energy Reflections focuses on relationships with men and women and is here for the reader to read, digest, and reflect. Take the wisdom from within and journey on towards your best self.

Anatomy of Yoga for Posture and Health

Leigh Brandon

Yoga is one of the most popular fitness, health and wellbeing pursuits in the world. With this book, the millions of yoga practitioners worldwide who practise the sport will benefit from seeing what happens inside their bodies when they assume yoga poses. «Anatomy of Yoga for Posture and Health» focuses on the benefits of yoga for improving posture and general health, and introduces the reader to a range of techniques chosen with these goals in mind. Its premise is the fact that good posture and spine strength lie at the core of the body's health, and this book will help you to achieve that through a better understanding of how your body works. The book is divided into five sections, each of which describe a different set of essential yoga poses targeting different areas of the musculoskeletal system. Each pose is illustrated with a detailed anatomical drawing showing exactly what is happening to the muscles and the skeleton during the move. Sure to be a valuable reference for yoga practitioners at every level, this book features everything readers need to know to use yoga to improve their posture and health, and to learn about its effects on their body.

Dancing in the Dark

Bernadette Stankard

Uniquely geared to the needs of family caregivers; written by authors with personal and professional experience in family counseling, dealing with depression and recovery.Incorporates twelve-step principles, but can be used by those in or out of recovery.Inclusive; no matter the relationship (parent/child, adult-child/elder-parent, intimate partner, same-sex, roommate) readers will find their needs addressed.Contains meditations, prayers, quotations, resources and suggested activities, so readers of all learning styles will find help.

Riding a Straight and Twisty Road

James Hesketh

James Hesketh, motojournalist and motorcyclist in recovery, offers readers a rare inside look at the social and cultural history of motorcycling and the relationship between drug/alcohol use and recovery. An insightful, engrossing read that will resonate with those who can appreciate the fellowship of recovery and the road, whether or not they have ever ridden a motorcycle.

My Life As a Border Collie

Nancy L. Johnston

In this fun, inviting look at a serious topic—codependence—Nancy L. Johnston shares the life lessons she learned from her observations of the relationship behaviors exhibited by her pet collie, Daisy: «The book began by my noticing behaviors in Daisy that resemble the codependent behaviors in me, which I have been working to moderate through my recovery. Daily I am struck by our tendencies to attend to others, to herd, to overreact.» Johnston's delightful book examines twelve specific behaviors that, in their extreme form, can be codependent. It also offers new information on codependence and help for it, including the latest research-supported findings, so that readers can understand «What am I doing that is not producing the relationship results I really want?» Nancy L. Johnston, MS, LPC, LSATP, is a licensed psychotherapist and licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner in private practice in Lexington, Virginia. She has thirty-three years of clinical experience addressing a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues. Johnston specializes in treating adolescents and adults, and has always had a special interest in addiction and its effects on both individuals and family systems. Her first book, Disentangle: When You've Lost Your Self in Someone Else, was published by Central Recovery Press in 2011.

Bible of Karate Bubishi

Группа авторов

This comprehensive translation of the Bubishi—the ancient manual of karate—is the most complete available. Karate historian and authority Patrick McCarthy spent over ten years researching and studying the Bubishi and the arts associated with it. The English translation of this remarkable tome includes numerous explanations and notes. McCarthy's work also includes groundbreaking research on Okinawan and Chinese history, as well as the fighting and healing traditions that developed in those countries, making it a goldmine for researchers and practitioners alike.For the final word on the true origins and spirit of classic Okinawan martial arts, one need look no further. No other classic work has had as dramatic an impact on the shaping and development of karate as the Bubishi.