Download or read book The Dance of the Mystai written by Tinnekke Bebout and published by . This book was released on 2013-02-01 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Dance of the Mystai is an experiential and magickal journey for those wishing to discover the Lunar Mysteries and the ways of Hekate. The book is an organic outgrowth of the work of the author and her Sisters as they have grown and rediscovered the ancient goddess and her rites. Within these pages are a collection of essays, poetry, goddess lore, and practical ideas for growing and living a personal Path based on the Lunar Mysteries.
Download or read book Mystai written by Peter Mark Adams and published by Scarlet Imprint. This book was released on 2019-12-01 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "I have read Mystai with admiration of both your insights and their presentation by the publisher. I have loved all these characters for years. To treat them as mnemonic solves at a stroke the intrusion of mythical beings among contemporary Romans that has stymied other interpreters." Joscelyn Godwin “A meticulous study of this book will most likely feel like a daydream transporting the reader to the ancient world of the Mysteries and their gods initiated by Adams’ eloquent writing and personal insights supported by beautiful images of the frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries and other ancient iconographies and artefacts. The functional combination of text and imagery is what makes Mystai such a potent and inspiring book ... I wholeheartedly recommend that those interested in the Mysteries, both in theory and practice, should indulge in Mystai seeking within every page an epiphany and a celebration of the great god Dionysos immersing oneself into the ritually-centred visuality of the Villa of the Mysteries to generate a beautiful and untamed constellation of theurgic experiences” Damon Zacharias Lycourinos “Peter Mark Adams has done it again just like his prior book ‘The Game of Saturn’, Mystai is a feast for the eyes, the mind and the senses. Its a beautifully designed book: the colours, the materials, the printing, the fonts, the imagery and of course the content itself is tremendously enjoyable and extremely enlightening ... His analysis of the imagery and its meaning, how this would have been utilised in a ritual context, has given us a graduate level course in the ancient Greek mysteries. Peter Mark Adams has quickly become one of my favourite authors in this genre. His work is extremely unique and insightful he has a way of revealing historical mysteries that no one else has elucidated” Greg Kaminsky, The Occult of Personality Podcast “Peter Mark Adams has done it again just like his prior book ‘The Game of Saturn’, Mystai is a feast for the eyes, the mind and the senses. Its a beautifully designed book: the colours, the materials, the printing, the fonts, the imagery and of course the content itself is tremendously enjoyable and extremely enlightening ... His analysis of the imagery and its meaning, how this would have been utilised in a ritual context, has given us a graduate level course in the ancient Greek mysteries. Peter Mark Adams has quickly become one of my favourite authors in this genre. His work is extremely unique and insightful he has a way of revealing historical mysteries that no one else has elucidated” Greg Kaminsky, The Occult of Personality Podcast The Dionysian themed frescos of Pompeii’s Villa of the Mysteries constitute the single most important theurgical narrative to have survived in the Western esoteric tradition. No other practitioner account of the ritual process for conducting a mystery rite has survived down to today. The frescoes’ vivid and allusive imagery illuminates both the ritual activity of the participants as well as its esoteric import. The frescoes, created in the most private rooms of the extensive Roman villa, were never meant to be seen by anyone other than the members of the all-female Bakkhic thiasos who conducted their most secret rites within them. Buried and preserved for posterity by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE, these stunning proto-Renaissance images guide the viewer through the consecutive stages of a theurgic rite of initiation into the mysteries of Dionysos. Arising from within the unique interface between Greek and Roman culture in Southern Italy, the frescoes attest to the survival of an unbroken initiatic tradition of Bakkhic mystery rites on the Italian peninsula stretching back to the fifth century BCE. The recent restoration of the frescoes has provided a fresh opportunity to elucidate the ritual processes hidden in plain sight. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, Peter Mark Adams draws on current scholarship on dithyrambic performance; the ritual dress of Greco-Roman priestesses; classical philology and the comparative ethnography of rites of higher initiation. With the same attention to detail which he demonstrated in The Game of Saturn, Adams reveals the stages of initiation encoded and accomplished in dance, gesture, ordeal and sign. Adams interprets the frescoes through the distinct performative lens of the ritualist, throwing light, for the first time, on the significance of the ritual vocabulary and the phenomenology of ritual participation. We are pulled into the dance ourselves, and emerge transfigured by the experience.
Download or read book Theoi Megaloi written by Susan Guettel Cole and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2015-11-16 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Preliminary material -- INTRODUCTION -- HISTORY OF THE SAMOTHRACIAN SANCTUARY -- THE MYSTERIES -- GREEK INITIATES AND THEOROI AT SAMOTHRACE -- THE SAMOTHRACIAN GODS AND THEIR WORSHIPPERS AT OTHER SITES -- ROMANS AT SAMOTHRACE -- NOTES -- INSCRIPTIONS WHICH MENTION -- PAPYRI -- SAMOTHRACIAN MYSTAI AND EPOPTAI -- INDEX -- PLATE I -- Map I. Sites from which Mystai came to Samothrace.
Download or read book Keeping Her Keys written by Cyndi Brannen and published by John Hunt Publishing. This book was released on 2019-04-26 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the past few years Hekate has gained increasing popularity around the world. While there are books written about the historical Hekate, there is a lack of information applying this knowledge for personal development and practicing witchcraft. Keeping Her Keys blends the ‘keys’ of personal development, magick and the ancient goddess, Hekate, together. Topics include the power of prayer, how to create sacred space, and guidance on spell crafting. In the final chapter readers can perform an optional self-initiation to become a Keeper of Her Keys.
Download or read book Greek Mysteries written by Michael B. Cosmopoulos and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2005-08-18 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by an international team of acknowledged experts, this excellent book studies a wide range of contributions and showcases new research on the archaeology, ritual and history of Greek mystery cults. With a lack of written evidence that exists for the mysteries, archaeology has proved central to explaining their significance and this volume is key to understanding a phenomenon central to Greek religion and society.
Download or read book City of Sokrates written by John Willoby Roberts and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the main features of Athenian life in the latter half of the fifth century BC, including aspects such as schooling, literacy, taxation, culture, the arts and philosophy. The contents of this edition have been extensively updated.
Download or read book The Case for God written by Karen Armstrong and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2009-09-22 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A nuanced exploration of the role of religion in our lives, drawing on insights of the past to build a faith for our dangerously polarized age—from the New York Times bestselling author of The History of God Moving from the Paleolithic age to the present, Karen Armstrong details the great lengths to which humankind has gone in order to experience a sacred reality that it called by many names, such as God, Brahman, Nirvana, Allah, or Dao. Focusing especially on Christianity but including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Chinese spiritualities, Armstrong examines the diminished impulse toward religion in our own time, when a significant number of people either want nothing to do with God or question the efficacy of faith. Why has God become unbelievable? Why is it that atheists and theists alike now think and speak about God in a way that veers so profoundly from the thinking of our ancestors? Answering these questions with the same depth of knowledge and profound insight that have marked all her acclaimed books, Armstrong makes clear how the changing face of the world has necessarily changed the importance of religion at both the societal and the individual level. Yet she cautions us that religion was never supposed to provide answers that lie within the competence of human reason; that, she says, is the role of logos. The task of religion is “to help us live creatively, peacefully, and even joyously with realities for which there are no easy explanations.” She emphasizes, too, that religion will not work automatically. It is, she says, a practical discipline: its insights are derived not from abstract speculation but from “dedicated intellectual endeavor” and a “compassionate lifestyle that enables us to break out of the prism of selfhood.”
Download or read book Ancient Greek Holidays written by Mab Borden and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2024-04 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ancient Greek Holidays is a remarkable book that explores the ancient seasons and religious observance practices of the ancient Greeks. Mab Borden's meticulous research paints a vivid picture of the interconnectedness between mankind and the Gods. This book is invaluable for those interested in the religious traditions of ancient Greece. Ancient Greek Holidays is an immersive book delving deeply into the sacred days, months, and seasons, offering profound insights into the significance of the ancient Greeks. Meticulously detailed, each sacred day unfolds before the reader, revealing the honored deity and the intricacies of the associated social and ritual activities. Comprehensive explanations of the ancient Greek calendar within Ancient Greek Holidays allow readers to grasp the interconnectedness between celestial rhythms and religious observances. The appendices further enhance knowledge with a wealth of information, including mapping deity holidays to corresponding months. This additional layer of understanding enriches the reading experience, providing a comprehensive overview of the spiritual tapestry woven throughout ancient Greek society. The reader will embark on a journey through the vibrant festivals dedicated to revered gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Athena, and Apollo. Gaining insights into the rituals, ceremonies, and beliefs that shaped ancient Greek spirituality, readers will deepen their understanding of the cultural and religious significance of these holidays. The reader will be immersed in a world where every day held a unique connection to the divine. Experience the solemnity of religious processions and the joyous celebrations of harvest festivals as the ancient Greek holidays come alive before you. These ancient traditions inspire readers to reflect on their own spiritual practices and find resonance in the wisdom of the past. Ancient Greek Holidays will transport the reader to a time when the sacred rhythms of life were intricately woven into the fabric of society. Unveiling the secrets and traditions of ancient Greek holidays, this book invites you to rediscover and appreciate the profound beauty of these spiritual observances. Immerse the reader in the rich tapestry of the ancient Greek spiritual calendar and awaken a renewed appreciation for the sacred rhythms that shaped their lives.
Download or read book Contemporary Review written by and published by . This book was released on 1880 with total page 1044 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Great Transformation written by Karen Armstrong and published by Vintage Canada. This book was released on 2009-02-24 with total page 594 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From one of the world’s leading writers on religion and the highly acclaimed author of the bestselling A History of God, The Battle for God and The Spiral Staircase, comes a major new work: a chronicle of one of the most important intellectual revolutions in world history and its relevance to our own time. In one astonishing, short period – the ninth century BCE – the peoples of four distinct regions of the civilized world created the religious and philosophical traditions that have continued to nourish humanity into the present day: Confucianism and Daoism in China; Hinduism and Buddhism in India; monotheism in Israel; and philosophical rationalism in Greece. Historians call this the Axial Age because of its central importance to humanity’s spiritual development. Now, Karen Armstrong traces the rise and development of this transformative moment in history, examining the brilliant contributions to these traditions made by such figures as the Buddha, Socrates, Confucius and Ezekiel. Armstrong makes clear that despite some differences of emphasis, there was remarkable consensus among these religions and philosophies: each insisted on the primacy of compassion over hatred and violence. She illuminates what this “family” resemblance reveals about the religious impulse and quest of humankind. And she goes beyond spiritual archaeology, delving into the ways in which these Axial Age beliefs can present an instructive and thought-provoking challenge to the ways we think about and practice religion today. A revelation of humankind’s early shared imperatives, yearnings and inspired solutions – as salutary as it is fascinating. Excerpt from The Great Transformation: In our global world, we can no longer afford a parochial or exclusive vision. We must learn to live and behave as though people in remote parts of the globe were as important as ourselves. The sages of the Axial Age did not create their compassionate ethic in idyllic circumstances. Each tradition developed in societies like our own that were torn apart by violence and warfare as never before; indeed, the first catalyst of religious change was usually a visceral rejection of the aggression that the sages witnessed all around them. . . . All the great traditions that were created at this time are in agreement about the supreme importance of charity and benevolence, and this tells us something important about our humanity.
Download or read book Summary of Food of the Gods by Terence Mckenna written by Alden Marshall and published by Condensed Esoterica. This book was released on 101-01-01 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A concise and professionally-researched summary of Terence Mckenna's book: "Food of the Gods". From Alden Marshall’s Condensed Esoterica series, this complete summary provides a fast and straightforward way to understand and study the main ideas and concepts of the original source text. About the Original Book: Food of the Gods by Terence Mckenna is filled with the personal aspects of his personality and hopes mixed into the history of essential elements through the text and different cultures. McKenna expresses his desire for the legalization of drugs and the return to archaic traditions. In this book, he discusses the ancient use of drugs focusing on plant hallucinogenic and how they might be responsible for shaping humanity in the present; aspects such as language, behavior, and consciousness are explored at length regarding human evolution. Added-value of this summary: * Save time * Understand the key concepts * Expand your knowledge Note to readers: This is an unofficial summary and analysis of the book and not the original book itself. Alden Marshall and the Condensed Esoterica Collection are wholly responsible for this content and are not associated with the original author in any way. You are encouraged to purchase and read the original text in addition to this summary.
Download or read book The Ancient Greeks written by Stephanie L. Budin and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2004-11-23 with total page 486 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ancient Greeks established the very blueprint of Western civilization—our societies, institutions, art, and culture—and thanks to remarkable new findings, we know more about them than ever, and it's all here in this up-to-date introductory volume. Ancient Greece chronicles the rise, decline, resurgence, and ultimate collapse of the Greek empire from its earliest stirrings in the Bronze Age, through the Dark Ages and Classical period, to the death of Cleopatra and the conquests by Macedon and Rome (roughly 3000 B.C.E. to 30 B.C.E.). Drawing on the latest interpretations of artifacts, texts, and other evidence, this handbook takes both newcomers and long-time Hellenophiles inside the process of discovery, revealing not only what we know about ancient Greece but how we know it and how these cultures continue to influence us. There is no more authoritative or accessible introduction to the culture that gave us the Acropolis, Iliad and Odyssey, Herodotus and Thucydides, Sophocles and Aeschylus, Plato and Aristotle, and so much more.
Download or read book The Contemporary Review written by and published by . This book was released on 1880 with total page 1046 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Psychedelic Mystery Traditions written by Thomas Hatsis and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-09-11 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive look at the long tradition of psychedelic magic and religion in Western Civilization • Explores the use of psychedelics and entheogens from Neolithic times through Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance to the Victorian era and beyond • Reveals how psychedelics were integrated into pagan and Christian magical practices and demonstrates how one might employ a psychedelic agent for divination, sex magic, alchemy, communication with gods, and more • Examines the role of entheogens in the Mysteries of Eleusis in Greece, the worship of Isis in Egypt, the Dionysian mysteries, and the magical practices of the Thessalian witches as well as Jewish, Roman, and Gnostic traditions Unbeknownst--or unacknowledged--by many, there is a long tradition of psychedelic magic and religion in Western civilization. As Thomas Hatsis reveals, the discovery of the power of psychedelics and entheogens can be traced to the very first prehistoric expressions of human creativity, with a continuing lineage of psychedelic mystery traditions from antiquity through the Renaissance to the Victorian era and beyond. Describing how, when, and why different peoples in the Western world utilized sacred psychedelic plants, Hatsis examines the full range of magical and spiritual practices that include the ingestion of substances to achieve altered states. He discusses how psychedelics facilitated divinatory dream states for our ancient Neolithic ancestors and helped them find shamanic portals to the spirit world. Exploring the mystery religions that adopted psychedelics into their occult rites, he examines the role of entheogens in the Mysteries of Eleusis in Greece, the worship of Isis in Egypt, and the psychedelic wines and spirits that accompanied the Dionysian mysteries. The author investigates the magical mystery traditions of the Thessalian witches as well as Jewish, Roman, and Gnostic traditions. He reveals how psychedelics were integrated into pagan and Christian magical practices and demonstrates how one might employ a psychedelic agent for divination, magic, alchemy, or god and goddess invocation. He explores the use of psychedelics by Middle Eastern and medieval magicians and looks at the magical use of cannabis and opium from the Crusaders to Aleister Crowley. From ancient priestesses and Christian gnostics, to alchemists, wise-women, and Victorian magicians, Hatsis shows how psychedelic practices have been an integral part of the human experience since Neolithic times.
Download or read book The Salmon Mysteries written by Kim Antieau and published by Kim Antieau. This book was released on 2010-09-05 with total page 121 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Demeter's search for Persephone, her daughter lost in the underworld, inspired the Eleusinian Mysteries, a nine day celebration so powerful and awe-inspiring much of it remains a secret to this day. Now, in a radical reimagining of this potent and ancient story, renowned novelist and mythologist Kim Antieau updates the tale for modern sensibilities through the life cycle of a most remarkable creature: the salmon. Salmon live in two worlds: salt water and fresh water. They are shapeshifters, transformers, and finally, pilgrims searching for home. Relying on ancient sources and modern speculation, Antieau writes about what happened during the nine day celebration of the Eleusinian Mysteries and offers a template for creating your own mysteries to celebrate and honor the cycles of Nature, your community, and your life. The Salmon Mysteries is mystical inspiration and a practical tool for transforming your life and your community.
Download or read book City of Sokrates written by J.W. Roberts and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2002-09-11 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this extensively updated second edition, including an up-dated index and bibliography, J. W. Roberts explores the main features of Athenian life in the latter half of the fifth century BC.
