Best new age & spirituality books according to redditors

We found 4,629 Reddit comments discussing the best new age & spirituality books. We ranked the 1,794 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.

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Subcategories:

Meditation books
Books about druidism
Gaia religion books
Books about shamanism
Astrology books
Chakras books
Channeling books
Divination books
Mental & spiritual healing books
New-age-books
New thought books
New age books
Reincarnation books
Theosophy books
Books about Urnatia
Spiritualism books
Celtic religion books
Angels & spirit guides
New age goddesses books
Wicca, witchcraft & paganism books

Top Reddit comments about New Age & Spirituality:

u/somedingdong · 700 pointsr/todayilearned

A knife in the hands of a chef can help to feed ourselves and loved ones, and can create culinary wonders; in the hands of a child it can do great harm, or even be deadly. Knives aren't illegal because a child might get a hold of one and kill or do harm--one might say that would be stupid.

INDEED!!

"LSD-25 does not kill" is a true statement.

IMO, in most cases, one should supplement their psychedelic experiences with psychological or spiritual counseling, not use these drugs this way and that way. They're tools for our use, not abuse. Ironically, not allowing adults access to LSD and psychedelics seems to make them more available to kids who shouldn't be doing them.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic/dp/1594774021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371481744&sr=8-1&keywords=the+psychedelic+explorer%27s+guide

u/deadaluspark · 200 pointsr/AbandonedPorn

It's a bit garbled from the original, but it's from a book about Indian Native American Shamanism called The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Castaneda. They are talking about the use of mescaline (Mescalito being the spiritual being associated with its use). As someone who has used hallucinogens but has not really explored Shamanism, I rather think the guy had a lot of issues before he was forced to leave. Anyway, it's not so much "angry" as, well, you get the idea.

The passage in question (sorry about the length):

> Sunday, 20 August 1961

>Last night don Juan proceeded to usher me into the realm of his knowledge. We sat in front of his house in the dark. Suddenly, after a long silence, he began to talk. He said he was going to advise me with the same words his own benefactor had used the first day he took him as his apprentice. Don Juan had apparently memorized the words, for he repeated them several times, to make sure I did not miss any:

>“A man goes to knowledge as he goes to war, wide-awake, with fear, with respect, and with absolute assurance. Going to knowledge or going to war in any other manner is a mistake, and whoever makes it will live to regret his steps.”

>I asked him why was it so and he said that when a man has fulfilled those four requisites there are no mistakes for which he will have to account; under such conditions his acts lose the blundering quality of a fool’s acts. If such a man fails, or suffers a defeat, he will have lost only a battle, and there will be no pitiful regrets over that.

>Then he said he intended to teach me about an “ally” in the very same way his own benefactor had taught him. He put strong emphasis on the words “very same way”, repeating the phrase several times.

>An “ally”, he said, is a power a man can bring into his life to help him, advise him, and give him the strength necessary to perform acts, whether big or small, right or wrong. This ally is necessary to enhance a man’s life, guide his acts, and further his knowledge. In fact, an ally is the indispensable aid to knowing.

>Don Juan said this with great conviction and force. He seemed to choose his words carefully. He repeated the following sentence four times:

>“An ally will make you see and understand things about which no human being could possibly enlighten you.”

>“Is an ally something like a guardian spirit?”

>“It is neither a guardian nor a spirit. It is an aid.”

>“Is Mescalito your ally?”

>“No! Mescalito is another kind of power. A unique power! A protector, a teacher.”

>“What makes Mescalito different from an ally?”

>“He can’t be tamed and used as an ally is tamed and used. Mescalito is outside oneself. He chooses to show himself in many forms to whoever stands in front of him, regardless of whether that person is a brujo or a farm boy.”

>Don Juan spoke with deep fervour about Mescalito’s being the teacher of the proper way to live. I asked him how Mescalito taught the “proper way of life”, and don Juan replied that Mescalito showed how to live.

>“How does he show it?” I asked.

>“He has many ways of showing it. Sometimes he shows it on his hand, or on the rocks, or the trees, or just in front of you.”

>“Is it like a picture in front of you?”

>“No. It is a teaching in front of you.”

>“Does Mescalito talk to the person?”

>“Yes. But not in words.”

>“How does he talk, then?”

>“He talks differently to every man.”

>I felt my questions were annoying him. I did not ask any more. He went on explaining that there were no exact steps to knowing Mescalito; therefore no one could teach about him except Mescalito himself. This quality made him a unique power; he was not the same for every man.

>On the other hand, the acquiring of an ally required, don Juan said, the most precise teaching and the following of stages or steps without a single deviation. There are many such ally powers in the world, he said, but he was familiar with only two of them.

>And he was going to lead me to them and their secrets, but it was up to me to choose one of them, for I could have only one.

>His benefactor’s ally was in la yerba del diablo (devil’s weed), he said, but he personally did not like it, even though his benefactor had taught him its secrets. His own ally was in the humito (the little smoke), he said, but he did not elaborate on the nature of the smoke.

>I asked him about it. He remained quiet. After a long pause I asked him:

>“What kind of a power is an ally?”

>“It is an aid. I have already told you.”

>“How does it aid?”

>“An ally is a power capable of carrying a man beyond the boundaries of himself. This is how an ally can reveal matters no human being could.”

>“But Mescalito also takes you out of the boundaries of yourself. Doesn’t that make him an ally?”

>“No. Mescalito takes you out of yourself to teach you. An ally takes you out to give you power.”

>I asked him to explain this point to me in more detail, or to describe the difference in effect between the two. He looked at me for a long time and laughed.

>He said that learning through conversation was not only a waste, but stupidity, because learning was the most difficult task a man could undertake. He asked me to remember the time I had tried to find my spot, and how I wanted to find it without doing any work because I had expected him to hand out all the information. If he had done so, he said, I would never have learned. But, knowing how difficult it was to find my spot, and, above all, knowing that it existed, would give me a unique sense of confidence. He said that while I remained rooted to my “good spot” nothing could cause me bodily harm, because I had the assurance that at that particular spot I was at my very best. I had the power to shove off anything that might be harmful to me. If, however, he had told me where it was, I would never have had the confidence needed to claim it as true knowledge. Thus, knowledge was indeed power.

>Don Juan said then that every time a man sets himself to learn he has to labour as hard as I did to find that spot, and the limits of his learning are determined by his own nature. Thus he saw no point in talking about knowledge. He said that certain kinds of knowledge were too powerful for the strength I had, and to talk about them would only bring harm to me. He apparently felt there was nothing else he wanted to say. He got up and walked towards his house. I told him the situation overwhelmed me. It was not what I had conceived or wanted it to be.

>He said that fears are natural; that all of us experience them and there is nothing we can do about it. But on the other hand, no matter how frightening learning is, it is more terrible to think of a man without an ally, or without knowledge.

u/jam3v · 96 pointsr/todayilearned

The overall goal is to do whatever it takes to make yourself enjoy life as much as possible. Of course, within moral reason. Check out The Satanic Bible. It's a very short and interesting read, and surprisingly unpretentious.

P.S. I am not a Satanist, I just like reading interesting things.

u/pattyfritters · 86 pointsr/pics

For people who don't know, She wrote a book that basically consists of commas after every word. It's extremely weird to read. http://www.amazon.com/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541 If you click on the picture of the book you can read the first few pages.

u/beardedheathen · 43 pointsr/AskScienceFiction
u/srosorcxisto · 31 pointsr/satanism

A good place to start is the sub’s sticky, followed by the Satanic Bible if you want to dig deeper. We are Egoists as well as atheists. Since we believe that all gods are the product of man’s mind, and that rational self-interest is the foundation of morality, it follows that if we are going to make up a fictitious god as a metaphor, the god that best serves that paradigm is ourselves. We do not believe that we are literal gods (as in the supernatural type), but rather use that symbolism as a tool to aid in decision making. If everyone puts themselves first, everyone is better off.


>“All religions of a spiritual nature are inventions of man. He has created an entire system of gods with nothing more than his carnal brain. Just because he has an ego, and cannot accept it, he has to externalize it into some great spiritual device which he calls ‘God.’

>God can do all the things man is forbidden to do—such as kill people, perform miracles to gratify his will, control without any apparent responsibility, etc. If man needs such a god and recognizes that god, then he is worshipping an entity that a human being invented. Therefore, HE IS WORSHIPPING BY PROXY THE MAN THAT INVENTED GOD. Is it not more sensible to worship a god that he, himself, has created, in accordance with his own emotional needs—one that best represents the very carnal and physical being that has the idea‐power to invent a god in the first place?” -- The Satanic Bible, Anton LaVey



As far as ethics, we subscribe to the idea that each individual acting in their rational self-interests will also lead to the best outcomes on a societal scale. For more information on the ideas of rational egoism, I suggest the works of Stirner (or Rand if you want the pop-culture version).


It is also often missed that man is a social animal and empathy is part of the human condition. For most, in addition to the practical benefits of benevolent (but not altruistic) behavior, there is also happiness to be found in compassion towards the deserving.

As an example, I give to charities that I feel are helpful to the society (I just sent a donation to ProjectPrevention) which I live in (benevolence to others as a practical act) and to some specific causes simply because I derive pleasure from helping those causes like the Shire Free Churche’s Hope Project (compassion to satisfy my own ego). In both of these cases I am helping others for purely selfish reasons.

Likewise, inflicting harm on others (without their consent) usually does not bring happiness to most people. For those that do like to cause unnecessary harm, that behavior is tempered by the vast majority of people who do not want to live in that type of society. Morality is determined by the individual, but still subject to judgment by others; if someone believes they have a right to steal, they will not get far before running into a well-armed someone else that disagrees. We do believe in Law and Order as well as the individual’s right to self-defense and retribution. Criminal acts are not tolerated by Satanism.

Edit: Typos, sources, links and clarity

u/Loud_Volume · 30 pointsr/conspiracy

SS: A question asked for centuries. Are we more than our physical body? Do we have a soul? Something that has been debated, argued, and fought over. After doing personal research on the subject and experiencing 2 out of body experiences, it piqued my interest and I went down a rabbit hole I will never regret. Today I wanted to share this research that has been done by the CIA on this subject. Regardless of the mountains of data already on the subject, this is something that cuts straight to the heart of the issue and doesn't hide behind fluff.

First off, I would like to give credit to /u/no1113 for originally posting and sharing this here 6 months ago. This did not get the attention it deserved and something like this is a great find to share. Thank you /u/no1113

Here is the original thread: https://np.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/6r5hk1/the_cia_and_the_continuance_of_individual/

Here is a direct link to the CIA archive: https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700210016-5.pdf

And here is the relevant text, copied from the above mentioned thread.

> 27. Consciousness in Perspective. Having ascertained that human consciousness is able to separate from physical reality and interact with other intelligences in other dimensions within the universe, and that it is both eternal and designed for ultimate return to the Absolute, we are faced with the question: “So what happens then?” Since memory is a function of consciousness and therefore enjoys the same eternal character as the consciousness which accounts for its existence, it must be admitted that when consciousness returns to the Absolute, it brings with it all the memories it has accumulated through experience in reality. The return of consciousness to the Absolute does not imply and extinction of the separate entity which the consciousness organized and sustained in reality. Rather, it suggests a differentiated consciousness which merges with and participates in the universal consciousness and infinity of the Absolute without losing the separate identity and accumulated self-knowledge which its memories confer upon it. What it does lose is the capability for generation of independent thought holograms, since that can be done only by energy in motion. In other words, it retains the power to perceive but loses the power of will or choice. In exchange, however, this consciousness participates in the all-knowing infinite continuum of consciousness which is a characteristic of energy in the ever present. Consequently, it is accurate to observe that when a person experiences the out-of-body state, they are, in fact, projecting that eternal spark of consciousness and memory which constitutes the ultimate source of their identity to let it play in and learn from dimensions both inside and outside the time-space world in which their physical component currently enjoys a short period of reality.

I would also like to personally recommend some great books on the subject that go into great detail about the soul and our life between life. Remember, energy cannot be destroyed, only moved! Consciousness is energy, we cannot be destroyed, only our physical bodies fall away but our truth essence, our spark, our light of consciousness that we all hold, lives on. Truly amazing information and liberating as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855

https://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184995

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/163451.Between_Death_Life

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Souls-Plan-Discovering-Meaning/dp/1583942726

u/Pickleburp · 23 pointsr/Thetruthishere

Sure. :) I was trying not to hijack the thread, but I'll just put the list here and that way anyone can have it. Keep in mind, these aren't all collections of stories, some of them are research topics, but none of them that I've browsed through look like bad reads. The ones I have read I've tried to note.

Iroquois Supernatural: Talking Animals and Medicine People - Michael Bastine, Mason Winfield - most closely related to thread topic

Life After Life - Raymond Moody - Very good intro to Near Death Experience research

Reunions: Visionary Encounters with Departed Loved Ones - Raymond Moody

Journey of Souls - Michael Newton - Read this one, it was great, changed my views on reincarnation

The Day Satan Called - Bill Scott

Hunt for the Skinwalker - Colm Kelleher, George Knapp - read parts of, need to finish

The Vengeful Djinn - Rosemary Ellen Guiley - I've read this one, it's really good too, has a large "slow" section in the middle that quotes the Q'uran a lot, but some good creepy Djinn stories.

The Djinn Connection - Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Ghost Culture: Theories, Context, and Scientific Practice - John Sabol

Zones of Strangeness - Peter A. McCue

Lost Secrets of Maya Technology - James O'Kon

The Mythology of Supernatural - Nathan Robert Brown - this one might sound cheesy, but I've read a book on world mythology by the same author, and apparently the writers of the show did their research

Holy Ghosts: Or How a (Not-So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump in the Night - Gary Jansen

u/wanyekest99 · 23 pointsr/microdosing

I'm blown away by how LSD seems to be able to actually get down to the core of our issues. I had my first trip two days ago but I had the exact opposite outcome - I had a rather small dose (approx 75-80ug) but had a wonderful time. The "message" I got is that I worry too much about work, and life in general, and that just need to I relax and that everything is okay. However, my issue is that I work up to 60-80 hours a week 9-10 months of the year. Weed on the other hand made me feel pretty much worthless and made me even more anxious and self-critical and even less motivated to get out of bed. My absolute biggest fear about doing LSD was what if I would find out that I'm an asshole? How the hell do I cope with that? Fortunately this relatively small dose helped me to step outside myself just enough to realize that I'm a much more decent human being than I give myself credit for.

Now, I'm obviously not an expert, and I still haven't had time to fully reflect on the trip and integrate the things I experienced but now that I've dipped my toes in psychedelics for the first time I've begun understand a little bit how it works, and it's no miracle cure for sure (and I don't know if anybody has ever claimed that, but it's easy to get that impression from all of the experiences people share).

From the information and stories I've gathered from other people (and it seems to be true from my short experience too) is that it can bring you immense clarity, but I won't fix your problems. There's a very interesting podcast I listened to last night, where Neal Goldsmith talks about the importance of the work that comes after the trip. If you don't do anything with what you experienced during the trip, he argues, it can create even more damage. https://psychedelicsalon.com/podcast-499-psycheology-psychedelics-and-the-study-of-the-soul/

If I were you in your shoes (I once was, so I can relate to your situation and how you feel), I'd start with digging a little bit deeper about your past and history and try to find out why you can't muster any will-power to worry about life.

Just to give you an example from my own life, I used to care about nothing except partying and music. I wanted to become a rockstar (hah!) and/or a nightclub owner, even though I had no idea of what it takes to get there. I wanted to become successful (whatever that meant at that time) without doing all the hard work. Basically all my dreams (mostly just empty shallow daydreams) revolved around the nightlife (this was from when I was 20 until I was 30). I had some part time jobs here and there, but nothing that could support me 100%. Fortunately, a few years ago I had a little bit of luck and got some freelancing gigs which just grew and blew up, and within 2-3 years I went from my parents paying my rent and being $20.000 in debt to driving a nice car and earning within the top 10% However, and this is the moral of the story, I'm absolutely not happier now than I was before. If anything, I'm more anxious and scared and I haven't really felt pure joy in years. And what I've learned about myself, mostly by reading books and meditating, is that everything in my life has been driven out of fear. 5-10 years ago I was doing nothing to get out of the bed because I was scared of the world and everything and everybody. Rejection in my world view has always been such a hard thing to cope with, that I'd rather not even try. Fast-forward 10 years and to anybody on the outside world I'm probably considered successful, but I feel nothing like that. I'm still struggling every dingle day with the exact same fears as I did back then, but they manifest in a different way. I now work 80 hours a week because I'm scared to turn down work. What if I turn down a project and they'll find somebody else? I haven't had a proper vacation in 3 years. Do you see the irony? I used the be scared to get out and look for work, now I'm scared to say no to work. It's not really a fun way to live.

If I were you, I'd take a break from drugs completely, and spend some time (a LOT of time) reading some books. Start with psychology and spice it up with some business (or whatever it is you want to do). You actually seem to have the luxury of time to be able to do that, so make use of it. Try to find out what fears inhibit you from going to where you want.

Here's a book that I'd recommend you starting with: https://www.amazon.com/Drama-Gifted-Child-Search-Revised/dp/0465016901

It's a relatively short read (less than 150 pages), and when I first picked it up, it spoke to me already in the first pages and gave me the motivation to start digging deeper within myself. I'm not sure if it's available on kindle, but I'm sure you can find it on PDF or audiobook if you know where to look. If not, let me know and I'll dig it up for you. If that book resonates with you I'd be happy to share some more with you.

Sorry for the long rant - I hope it helps. Good luck!

edit: Also, if you haven't already and you for whatever reason won't decide to stay off drugs for a while, at least read Fadiman's book on psychedelics before proceeding. There are lots of valuable information in there on how to conduct a safe practice: https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys/dp/1594774021/ref=sr_1_1/166-4346259-0867716?ie=UTF8&qid=1484133871&sr=8-1&keywords=james+fadiman

u/supajunebug · 18 pointsr/TrollXChromosomes

Hi, not Wiccan, but eclectic druid, which is also a subset of Paganism. There are loads of online communities to check out! Firstly, I'd say browse the r/wicca, r/pagan, and r/druidism (shameless plug lol) subreddits, as they're filled with loads of info and opinions. Be warned on r/pagan, since there are LOADS of different types of pagans, you'll get some wildly different opinions. There's plenty of other subreddits (r/witchcraft, for example), but those were the ones I started with.

I also love the Pagan channel on Patheos, which if you haven't browsed before, is a really interesting conglomeration of religious blogs. While I don't use it very often, WitchVox is also referenced as a really good online hub for finding local groups.

For books, this one is a fucking fantastic introduction to Paganism as a whole. It was my first real read on the topic. For Wicca in particular, Scott Cunningham is typically the one people point to for learning how to practice solitary. I also found Wicca for Beginners to be a super quick but useful intro. If you want a more general history of witchy goddess nature-worshipy religions, I am currently reading Drawing Down the Moon and love it.

Finally, if you have any Unitarian churches in your area, reach out-- they frequently have pagan or earth-centered study groups you can always visit!

Like I said before, I'm way more druidy, so if you want suggestions for learning about that (or just want to talk pagan-y things to admittedly a baby pagan), lemme know! :)

u/IsayLittleBuddy · 17 pointsr/conspiracy

I read this book about 7 years ago. I'm sure you would like it if you haven't come across it, yet.

u/Nefandi · 15 pointsr/occult

>What book have you read that gave you instructions on how to do something and when you did it, it worked?

For me my first such book was "The Art of Dreaming" by Castaneda.

I don't follow it explicitly, but I do many similar things especially compared to the early sections of the book, and with good results, and therefore have confidence that the book is 100% solid: Initiation into Hermetics by Franz Bardon.

>I don't want base concepts or history, I want results.

All results-oriented books are basically cut off at the knees and you won't get very far with them. Do you understand why? Probably not, or you'd not be asking like this. So let me try to explain why.

All your intentions are conditioned. Your intent does not operate in a vacuum. Thus when you move your arm, this is conditioned by the idea that you have an arm, that you can validly move it toward an object which you consider to be a valid object, inside a valid universe and so on. In other words your confidence rests on a vast network of entrenched beliefs and based on that you produce intentions which are conventional and limited.

So for example, can you leave your body? Probably not. Why not? Because in your likely worldview you likely are the body and it makes no logical sense to intend to leave it. The body can't leave itself, so it's senseless. And if you try, you experience failure. Then you start to look for results-oriented books which work while you ignore the problems in your own psyche that keep you back.

So for an occult intent to become properly operative, that intent needs to first be made sensical. This requires the books you hate! The theoretical books. The contemplative books. The books that superficially seem to have no point to them. The books that help you clear out the debris of old occult-inhibiting beliefs and replace them with the occult-enabling beliefs.

And if you are the sort of a person who doesn't want to get stuck in a belief system just for the sake of the occult, you need to go higher toward meta-beliefs (beliefs about beliefs), the way Chaos Magick does.

So your results orientation is a severe obstacle, actually. It's a throw back to materialism and convention.

Let's return to a book like "Initiation into Hermetics." If there ever was a results oriented book, that one is it. That book is void of theory and it just contains exercises which work. The problem is, your psyche is very likely not prepared for what will happen once you succeed with the exercises. Furthermore, some of the exercises might sound nonsensical to you if you don't have the theoretical grounding first. And you won't be able to follow something you consider nonsensical. So even the best results-oriented book might fail for you if it doesn't match your mental propensities.

That doesn't mean there aren't stupid fluff books out there. Because there are! But many excellent and worthwhile books are not in fact immediately results-oriented.

u/cannonfunk · 14 pointsr/oldpeoplefacebook

This reads more like schizophrenia than "old person."

See: Lark Voohies' [Lisa Turtle from Saved By The Bell] book True Light: A, superior, take, unto, the, premier, haloing, of, tenuation. Readily, available, True Light, provides, resource, into, time's, motifed, and, vestuved, authenticate, revelation.

And, yes, that's the actual title.

u/[deleted] · 14 pointsr/IAmA

This is definitely brainwashing. Denial, participation, then true believing. Read Prometheus Rising, it's absolutely fascinating description of Timothy Leary's 8 neurological circuits.

It essentially explains the concepts then shows you how the concepts are used to brainwash someone. And of course, being born is the first way we are brainwashed. We instantly begin to learn to beliefs and dogmas of our caretakers (parents, usually).

Edit: I should add, the book describes brainwashing but it's main purpose is an explanation of Leary's 8 circuits of the brain. It's not focused on brainwashing, but it talks about it and is very fascinating.

u/proverbialbunny · 13 pointsr/history

Robert Anton Wilson wrote about this experiment and how it works in the book Prometheus Rising. It is a surprisingly fascinating subject.

u/EinarrPorketill · 13 pointsr/Futurology

There's entire books written on how to take psychedelics responsibly to maximize the benefit. People shouldn't expect to just take psychedelics and conquer their anxiety without knowing what they're doing. It takes a bit of knowledge about how to navigate your own consciousness to "transcend" the anxiety and attain a state of complete inner peace. Basically lay down with calming music, eye shades preferred, look within your mind. Accept and surrender to everything you experience: even to the point where you think you're dying and you just let it happen. It sounds scary, but when you come out the other end of that, you feel fantastic because you conquered life's greatest fear. Anxiety is normally gone for the rest of the trip at that point. Many people experience jaw tightness while on a psychedelic, but that goes away too along with the anxiety.

There's other pitfalls you have to watch out for too. A main one is that you shouldn't put any expectations on the experience. Just be fine with whatever is happening in your mind and let it all happen on its own.

Reading The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide is what helped me go from having anxious trips to beautiful spiritual experiences:

https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys-ebook/dp/B0051OHLVG

These are many of the same things that therapists conducting studies into psychedelics have their patients do. It's really decades of illegal personal experience that has determined the more effective ways to take psychedelics, not the recent scientific studies. The studies are just trying to prove the efficacy.

u/lotictrance · 13 pointsr/videos

LaVeyan Satanism is fairly reasonable. It's basically just atheism with certain philosophical tenets added in.

...mostly. I should mention that there's a big current of occult practice in most Satanism; LaVey himself wrote out a lot of 'spells' in his books, for whatever reason. How Satanists justify that basically comes down to personal preference (if they do so at all).

Philosophically, though, Satanism is pretty sane stuff. I identified myself as a Satanist for years, I still would but 'secular humanist' fits more accurately now, I think.

Edit: For those curious, there are, more or less, three major camps of Satanism, with varying degrees of differentiation.

LaVeyan Satanism is largely based on the works of Anton LaVey, and is more or less represented by the Church of Satan. The Satanic Bible basically outlines its essential positions. Like he says in the video, this form of Satanism is essentially atheist, using Satan as a metaphor for human potential and drive, as well as other things. By nature it tends toward iconoclasm, and many people (myself included) use LaVeyan Satanism as a transitory period between theism and atheism.

Setian Satanism is an offshoot from the 1970s of LaVeyan Satanism that's directed by the Temple of Set. It's an officially recognized religion in the US which even boasts chaplains in the military. Unlike LaVeyan Satanism, Setians focus very heavily on magickal and occult doctrine, and the Temple's organization mimics many other magickal orders. It's very ritual-heavy and there's some debate about whether it's atheist or not (mainly, whether Set is a symbol or an entity). The ultimate goal is Xeper, which (more or less) comes from the Egyptian word Kheper, a dung-beetle deity who's name symbolized transformation.

Luciferian Satanism is a decentralized, theist form of Satanism. The different approaches to Luciferianism are too wide to list here, but they commonly identify with a literal Satan figure to whom they pray, in the hopes of achieving a transhumanist, Promethean transformation (similar to Setians). Traditions vary between Hebraic Satanism to Norse and everything in between. There are many organizations based on Luciferianism, but none really have the size and weight of either the Church of Satan or the Temple of Set.

Hopefully someone finds this interesting.

u/SuperAngryGuy · 13 pointsr/atheism

I remember being in the army and having Christian types trying to preach to me. Even in the chow hall I'd have some asshole come sit down next to me and say something like, "Have you heard the Good News?" and then start talking about Jesus.

I kept a copy of the Satanic Bible by Anton Levay as a joke and would invite them to my bible study group. They mostly left me alone after that.

u/Fey_fox · 12 pointsr/cringepics

Weird is subjective. Everyone is a little 'weird', we all have our picidillies that someone somewhere would find odd. To me some of the weirdest folk I've met are the ones that are obsessed with normalcy.


It's my guess that this particular dude feels very powerless. He's probably alone and has no friends, so he does what a lot of folks do in this situation, they go inside their head and think so much until their hopes, fears, and perceptions of the world and the relationships they have become delusional obsessions. To right the wrongs they feel the world has (or the wrongs done to themselves), many turn to a doctrine or system where they feel like they can gain control. Religion is one example, especially cult like ones with lots of dogma, but it can be anything really. This dude opted to focus on the occult. He's probably read a lot of books, and the photos he's taken indicate he's looking to gain fear and respect via 'shocking images'. The drawings on the ground look like veve imagery, or maybe some crap from the Necronimicon (which was written as a joke btw) but he's definitely not apart of Voudo (voodoo) or any occult group or alternative religion I know of. He may even believe in what he's doing, if so he's not much different than those Appalachian churches that dance with snakes and drink poision, except he's being public. One thing fosho he ain't no Alister Crowley. At least he wrote some decent poetry.

Anywho, shit like this is what happens when people face a lot of rejection and are alone, and they either further isolate, but a clue and grow out of it, or try to become their own brand of cult leader & continue to try to impress people.

… still though, just a guess


Source: I know of a lot of weird crap

u/wellrelaxed · 12 pointsr/Paranormal

If you're really interested in souls and spirit guides, I'd suggest a book entitled Journey of Souls by Michael Newton. It was suggested to me a couple months ago on reddit. Really good book.
http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

u/quantumcipher · 12 pointsr/occult

IIRC this book (intentionally) left out the inner order rituals of the R.R. et A.C., as did Cicero's "Self-Initiation" book on the GD, which I would also recommend. These inner order rituals can be now accessed, at least the amended version used by the subsequent Alpha et Omega group (one of the few true G.D. lineages) in "Secret Inner Order Rituals of the Golden Dawn" by Pat Zalewski, much to the dismay of contemporary G.D. groups. You can also find a more novel and elaborate (and equally exclusive) reproduction of the Whare-Ra version of an Enochian manuscript from their Inner Order known as "Ritual X" once you've gone over the other material, or should you wish to add it to your collection.


Whether these will be of any use to you is debatable. If you feel a particular connection with the G.D. current and curriculum give it a shot and see how it resonates with you. If it does not, you can always go the A.A. route and see if Thelema (or your take on it) is your thing.

For a more practical approach, I would recommend "Initiation Into Hermetics" by Franz Bardon first, followed by "Modern Magick: Twelve Lessons in the High Magickal Arts" by Donald Michael Kraig. Then decide which path, or lackthereof, you would like to explore from there.

u/Kropotki · 12 pointsr/australia

Now lets move onto the real "medicinal" stuff, Psychedelics.

LSD, MDMA and Psilocybin are among the most powerful drugs when used in regards to therapy when fighting depression, anxiety, addiction, PTSD and all sorts of disorders.

Therapy conducted with Alcoholics with LSD found that it took one LSD therapy session to break addiction in 50% of the patients, has any other drug ever had such a success rate?

http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-ebook/dp/B0051OHLVG

I would recommend anyone interested in the medicinal use of psychedelics pick up this book from the godfather of Psychedelic therapy James Fadiman, Ph.D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A34x6W-3lJI

u/Jim_E_Hat · 11 pointsr/ConspiracyII

McKenna was quite a raconteur, but his theories are kind of out there. Interestingtly though, the cave paintings mentioned in the article also depict therianthropes and geometric patterns commonly seen by one under the influence of psychedelics. That's the most convincing argument I've seen for the idea that these substances led to spirituality and art. Graham Hancock wrote about that.

u/seagoonie · 11 pointsr/spirituality

Here's a list of books I've read that have had a big impact on my journey.

First and foremost tho, you should learn to meditate. That's the most instrumental part of any spiritual path.

 Ram Dass – “Be Here Now” - https://www.amazon.com/Be-Here-Now-Ram-Dass/dp/0517543052 - Possibly the most important book in the list – was the biggest impact in my life.  Fuses Western and Eastern religions/ideas. Kinda whacky to read, but definitely #1

Ram Dass - “Journey Of Awakening” - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006L7R2EI - Another Ram Dass book - once I got more into Transcendental Meditation and wanted to learn other ways/types of meditation, this helped out.

 Clifford Pickover – “Sex, Drugs, Einstein & Elves…” - https://www.amazon.com/Sex-Drugs-Einstein-Elves-Transcendence/dp/1890572179/ - Somewhat random, frantic book – explores lots of ideas – planted a lot of seeds in my head that I followed up on in most of the books below

 Daniel Pinchbeck – “Breaking Open the Head” - https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Open-Head-Psychedelic-Contemporary/dp/0767907434 - First book I read to explore impact of psychedelics on our brains

 Jeremy Narby – “Cosmic Serpent” - https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Serpent-DNA-Origins-Knowledge/dp/0874779642/ - Got into this book from the above, explores Ayahuasca deeper and relevancy of serpent symbolism in our society and DNA

 Robert Forte – “Entheogens and the Future of Religion” - https://www.amazon.com/Entheogens-Future-Religion-Robert-Forte/dp/1594774382 - Collection of essays and speeches from scientists, religious leaders, etc., about the use of psychedelics (referred to as Entheogens) as the catalyst for religion/spirituality

 Clark Strand – “Waking up to the Dark” - https://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Dark-Ancient-Sleepless/dp/0812997727 - Explores human’s addiction to artificial light, also gets into femininity of religion as balance to masculine ideas in our society

 Lee Bolman – “Leading with Soul” - https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Soul-Uncommon-Journey-Spirit/dp/0470619007 - Discusses using spirituality to foster a better, more supportive and creative workplace – pivotal in my honesty/openness approach when chatting about life with coworkers

 Eben Alexander – “Proof of Heaven” - https://www.amazon.com/Proof-Heaven-Neurosurgeons-Journey-Afterlife/dp/1451695195 - A neurophysicist discusses his near death experience and his transformation from non-believer to believer (title is a little click-baity, but very insightful book.  His descriptions of his experience align very similarly to deep meditations I’ve had)

 Indries Shah – “Thinkers of the East” - https://www.amazon.com/Thinkers-East-Idries-Shah/dp/178479063X/ - A collection of parables and stories from Islamic scholars.  Got turned onto Islamic writings after my trip through Pakistan, this book is great for structure around our whole spiritual “journey”

 Whitley Strieber – “The Key: A True Encounter” - https://www.amazon.com/Key-True-Encounter-Whitley-Strieber/dp/1585428698 - A man’s recollection of a conversation with a spiritual creature visiting him in a hotel room.  Sort of out there, easy to dismiss, but the topics are pretty solid

 Mary Scott – “Kundalini in the Physical World” - https://www.amazon.com/Kundalini-Physical-World-Mary-Scott/dp/0710094175/ - Very dense, very difficult scientific book exploring Hinduism and metaphysics (wouldn’t recommend this for light reading, definitely something you’d want to save for later in your “journey”)

 Hermann Hesse – “Siddartha” - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/siddhartha-hermann-hesse/1116718450? – Short novel about a spiritual journey, coming of age type book.  Beautifully written, very enjoyable.

Reza Aslan - “Zealot” - https://www.amazon.com/ZEALOT-Life-Times-Jesus-Nazareth/dp/140006922X - Talks about the historical Jesus - helped me reconnect with Christianity in a way I didn’t have before

Reza Aslan - “No god but God” - https://www.amazon.com/god-but-God-Updated-Evolution/dp/0812982444 - Same as above, but in terms of Mohammad and Islam.  I’m starting to try to integrate the “truths” of our religions to try and form my own understanding

Thich Nhat Hanh - “Silence” - https://www.amazon.com/Silence-Power-Quiet-World-Noise-ebook/dp/B00MEIMCVG - Hanh’s a Vietnamese Buddhist monk - in this book he writes a lot about finding the beauty in silence, turning off the voice in our heads and lives, and living in peace.

Paulo Coelho - “The Alchemist” - https://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0062315005/ - Sort of a modern day exploration of “the path” similar to “Siddhartha.”  Very easy and a joy to read, good concepts of what it means to be on a “path”

Carlos Castaneda - "The Teachings of Don Juan" - The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671600419 - Started exploring more into shamanism and indigenous spiritual work; this book was a great intro and written in an entertaining and accessible way. 

Jean-Yves Leloup - “The Gospel of Mary” - https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Mary-Magdalene-Jean-Yves-Leloup/dp/0892819111/ - The book that finally opened my eyes to the potentiality of the teachings of Christ.  This book, combined with the one below, have been truly transformative in my belief system and accepting humanity and the power of love beyond what I’ve found so far in my journey.

Jean-Yves Leloup - “The Gospel of Philip” - https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Philip-Magdalene-Gnosis-Sacred/dp/1594770220 - Really begins to dissect and dive into the metaphysical teachings of Christ, exploring the concept of marriage, human union and sexuality, and the power contained within.  This book, combined with the one above, have radically changed my perception of The Church as dissimilar and antithetical to what Christ actually taught.

Ram Dass - “Be Love Now” - https://www.amazon.com/Be-Love-Now-Path-Heart/dp/0061961388 - A follow-up to “Be Here Now” - gets more into the esoteric side of things, his relationship with his Guru, enlightenment, enlightened beings, etc.

Riane Eisler - “The Chalice and the Blade” - https://www.amazon.com/Chalice-Blade-Our-History-Future/dp/0062502891 - An anthropoligical book analyzing the dominative vs cooperative models in the history and pre-history of society and how our roots have been co-opted and rewritten by the dominative model to entrap society into accepting a false truth of violence and dominance as “the way it is”

u/macaronisalad · 11 pointsr/pics

Did you co author this?

u/Natasha10005 · 10 pointsr/oldpeoplefacebook

That girl from Saved by the Bell Lark Voorhies wrote a book kind of like that, but with commas. http://www.amazon.com/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541

u/sanchopancho13 · 10 pointsr/reallifedoodles

No, OP is Lark Voorhies.

u/AreaManReddits · 9 pointsr/rupaulsdragrace

Maybe Bianca went to the Lark, Voorhies, school, of, writing.

u/tryptronica · 9 pointsr/RationalPsychonaut

My suggestion would be to get a good understanding of how belief systems work, how humans are hardwired to react to the world and the mechanics of creating and trying out new reality tunnels. The best place to start is with Robert Anton Wilson's Prometheus Rising. He presents an amazing way to approach this whole topic including suggested exercises to make it understood deep in your neurons.

Once all this is clear, you will be able to really start communicating with nearly everyone, not just the hippy-aliens. :)

u/SushiAndWoW · 9 pointsr/Thetruthishere

What you described sounds like an interesting way for a spirit friend of yours to help you out in life. It's possible that some assistance in crucial moments was necessary to ensure your path unfolds as planned. Apparently, your protector has a flair for appearing to you dramatically.

Chances are that the armor is just his personal choice, the role in which the friend wanted to present himself to you this time. Maybe it symbolizes a history the two of you share, or maybe it's armor he wore in an incarnation he enjoyed living.

If he said goodbye, chances are that his role in your life is indeed over, and you won't be seeing him again. Your life is yours to live. It's likely you'll see him again on the other side. :)

You probably don't need to research this further, but if you want to, I recommend this and this.

u/oneofyourFrenchgrrls · 9 pointsr/tarot

this is a good book about working with the Thoth tarot

u/Adventureous · 9 pointsr/AskWomen

More or less, yes. There are a lot of great resources out there. I did have a friend who read them, but even though she got me into them, I really taught myself.

First, discard any and all nonsense about "you have to be gifted your deck" or "you have to bury your old deck in the ground." It's bull, really. A lot of Tarot "myths" like that are, mostly born from traditions passed down, I imagine. But you can absolutely buy your own deck, and used decks too. It's a great way to see if you like a style of deck without dropping a ton of money for nothing.

Some people recommend never reading for yourself, while others swear that they can only read themselves. In reality? Read for whoever you want.

The main thing is to realize that Tarot really is what you make of it. So many people have so many ideas of what it is, from communing with spirits/collective unconscious/gods, to psychology and Jungian archetypes, and I don't think any one way is right or wrong. Tarot is Tarot, whatever that means to you.

There are also a lot of decks out there. "Tarot" isn't limited to just Tarot; there's actually a lot of different types of cartomancy out there, like Lenormand and Oracle cards. I don't know Lenormand myself, and am only beginning on working with an Oracle deck.

And then you have different types of Tarot itself: Thoth Tarot decks and similar ones, mostly "invented" by Aleister Crowley; Rider-Waite/Rider-Waite-Smith decks, sometimes called RWS, commissioned by the Order of the Golden Dawn; historical decks, based off the tarrochi card game popular in the Renaissance; and some decks just barely following a Tarot deck and pretty much created by the author. None of them are better than another, it's all just based off of what you like and what you feel drawn to/comfortable with.

For good or for bad, there are many, many resources out there. Always critically examine what you're reading from.

Aecletic Tarot is a good first stop. Not only does it have listings of decks, from popular to rare, with pictures and sometimes reviews, but it has a lively forum section where you can find just about anything related to Tarot there.

Biddy Tarot is a site I have used in the past. Careful, though, it seems that they have been promoting their online Tarot course more and more. I've never taken it, so I can't say whether its bad or good, but I always feel a little wary about Tarot courses. I feel like you never know what kind of instructor you'd get -- there are some people out there who are a little too... "fluffy bunny" as it can be said at times. That is to say: no scholarship or scholarship based on poorly-researched books, often promoting an unbalanced and inaccurate worldview on the Roma people or Wiccans or anything else. I digress: if you stick to the free parts of the site with card meanings and spreads, its pretty good, and generally the first place I hit when I can't quite get the feel of a card.

Next, there's always reddit's very own /r/tarot. It's not terribly active, but there's good people there. Ask questions, read what is posted, and you can learn a lot. Everyone has different opinions, though, so keep that in mind. And plenty of people trade free readings there, so it's a good place to practice as well!

There are some wonderful Youtube channels out there as well. I'd like to link you this one in particular, because it's a great place to start learning how to discern sources. I also love Rose from The Cackling Moon, and she has a great Tumblr blog that could point you to a ton of good diviners there as well.

As for actual books, I had some around here, but its been so long since I read them that I don't know where they've gotten to. I know one was Tarot for Dummies, which was okay for a start. The other was Complete Book of Tarot Spreads, which I'd peg at intermediate. (That's probably the level I'm on myself). One I want but have yet to get is Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack. Again, Aecletic Tarot has a good list going, and you can always ask /r/tarot for their favorite books as well.

A few tips for getting your first deck:

  • As I said above, there are so many out there, so pick one you like the best. That said, most resources out there are for Rider-Waite-Smith decks and their clones, so you might find that its easier to start out with in that. But there are a lot of varieties out there, so find a pretty one that draws you in. You'll be spending a long time studying them. For that matter, if you find one and don't "click," try another. I've had several different decks over the year, including one that I really ended up hating. I have one of my original RWS decks that I mainly read with, and it suits me just fine even after all these years.

  • The Little White Book (often referred to affectionately as LWB) is good for starting out, but can seriously hold you back. It's just simple keywords and phrases that can be associated with the cards, but honestly you'll find that there's so much more than what can be expressed in a few words, especially when you take in a whole context of a spread.

  • Conversely, don't be afraid to reach for resources when you do a reading. Seriously, don't put pressure on yourself to memorize all 78 card's meanings. Sometimes going through a couple different sources can a meaning stand out to you, especially when you start looking at the card less individually and more in combinations.

  • Keep a journal. Write down your spreads and your interpretations of them. Not only will you be able to look back and see what you found was right, but you'll find common themes in certain cards or card combinations.

  • Cards have different symbolism for different people. Sure, they may have general themes, such as The Tower being a card of disaster or sudden change, but we can all have an opinion or feeling of a card all our own. I highly recommend writing your thoughts on different cards down in your journal too: what jumps out at you, what you didn't notice at first glance, how the card makes you feel. Eventually, you'll impart your own meanings onto them.

  • Don't be afraid of certain cards, though. Media likes to play up cards like Death or The Devil, but they aren't evil or scary, and they don't mean your going to die or get possessed by the devil or anything. Generally, the meanings are symbolic: Death is an ending (or sometimes, a new beginning), and the Devil can mean you let your passions and vices control you.

  • No matter what they cards say, they are changeable. In fact, often the point of Tarot reading is to see where you are now and if you don't do anything, where you'll end up. It's generally a tool for great self-reflection more than predicting anything concrete in the future, I've found.

  • After you've been reading for a while and shuffling your deck (regular card shuffling is okay, but the method doesn't really matter as long as they're shuffled well) and you find it getting difficult to read the cards, try putting them in "order" like it was freshly out of the box. It's kind of a reset button. I don't know if its psychological or "magical" but it works for me. There's lots of ways to "cleanse" a deck, though, so do what you feel is best.

  • This one may be a tad advanced, but I feel like I should say something on it: research Tarot ethics. This is a big one when you start reading for other people. Ask yourself: what kind of questions would you be comfortable answering to the best of your ability? Generally, most readers avoid medical questions (including pregnancy-related) and legal ones, and many avoid reading about third parties without permission out of respect. And if there's a less than pleasant implication in the cards, how would you handle that? Would you tell the truth? What would you do if they reacted negatively? What would happen if they disregard it, it came to pass, and blamed you? It's a lot to consider. If you just read for yourself, obviously that's not a big deal, but keep it in mind if you ever read for someone else.

    Last but not least, I have to comment on your username... I love pugs! Sadly, the last pug in the family, my grandma's old guy, was put down tonight. I'm going to miss him, but it was his time to go to rest.

    Good luck with your journey into Tarot. I hope it pans out well for you, and that I was in some way helpful :)
u/PotatoPotahto · 9 pointsr/teenagers

Kay I'm home now.

oh god, where to start.

Anton LaVey called his religion Satanism for two reasons.
Reason #1) He only wanted people with an open mind.
Reason #2) He believed that humans crafted the idea of God from our ego, as we needed something to guide us, something to have us know right from wrong, a moral code, with a punishment for not following it. If the God is the Ego, and Satan is the opposite of God, then Satan would be the carnal human desires. Satanists "worship" these bare, core, carnal desires of human nature. (Lust, Greed, Rage, etc. (Known in the Christian Religion as "The 7 Deadly Sins")) This is why you'll sometimes see people wearing a shirt that says "Worship Yourself".

Satanists DO have principals they follow. For instance, The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth.

Personally, I like to describe LaVeyan Satanism as "the religion of not giving a single fuck" because of what we believe. You are free to do what you please as a Satanist, so long as your actions do not harm another (without justification) or impose on their rights as a human. Example: Free Love. Go ahead, be gay if you want, be lesbian if you want to be, love who you want. If you want to have a 5 person all-male orgy, there's nothing stopping you from doing that, so long as everyone consents.

Another thing about Satanism people may find "wrong" is:
>If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.
>If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.

These are some things that are entirely up to the practicing individual. Use whatever force YOU DEEM necessary to stop the problem. If YOU PERSONALLY BELIEVE murder to be the appropriate response to someone's actions towards you, GO FOR IT.

Personally there's only 3 things that condone murder for me:

  1. Threatening my life
  2. Threatening my family's life
  3. Threatening my loved one's life

    You may have noticed that yes, we have rituals, and yes we call on "demons" to help us complete these rituals.

    We're not actually asking for literal demons help. (This next part is where I usually lose people, fast.) We're using what we believe to be the power of our minds to will something into happening, I'm really not experienced with that though so don't take my word for it.

    There you go, a very quick, very sloppy, kind of half-assed overview of LaVeyan Satanism. That was a LOT harder than I thought it would be to answer, Fuck.

    For more info, check out:
    Our Fundamental Beliefs
    The Nine Satanic Statements
    The Nine Satanic Sins
    Pentagonal Revisionism: The 5 Point Program
    Buy the bible!

    If you do have further questions, PLEASE PLEASE feel free to ask me. Hell I'd be willing to do an /r/teenagers AMA if it gets enough interest.
u/An_Angry_Badger · 8 pointsr/satanism

Church of Satan (LaVeyan)

The Satanic Temple (Humanists using Satanism for shock value)

Joy of Satan (If you ever receive a link to this site, turn around and go home)

I also recommend reading the Satanic Bible. It's a quick read, and will explain everything you need to know about LaVeyan Satanism. Here's a link to Amazon for $10. LINK

Good Luck :)

Also, what is a sidebar?

u/Bwongwah · 8 pointsr/satanism

1: [Amazon](The Satanic Bible https://www.amazon.com/dp/0380015390/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_C.Hgzb5J3HQQ5) or call your local bookstore to see if they have one in stock. My Barnes and Nobles only carries one at a time to prevent people from vandalizing it.

2: You can say Hail Satan to anything. I said it multiple times today, my wife and I say it when something cool happens or something works out in our favor. Essentially it is the vocal equivalent of "praise god", but since we don't believe in god or Satan and we praise ourselves, saying Hail Satan is like "yay me" or an affirmation.

As far as Lucifer, one of the titles for Satan, no we(LaVeyan) do not worship Lucifer. Luciferians on the other hand revere Lucifer as a liberator character but also a deity who they do not worship.

If you have more questions I would be glad to answer them through PM at any time. :)

u/sacca7 · 8 pointsr/Meditation

Thoreau: Walden, although non-fiction, may be the closest.

Ram Dass: How Can I Help, also non-fiction, has stories that are perhaps what you are looking for.

Ken Wilber One Taste. Wilber's meditative "journal" for a year. It's one of my 5 top books ever.

Ken Wilber: Grace and Grit. "Here is a deeply moving account of a couple's struggle with cancer and their journey to spiritual healing."

In another area are Carlos Castenedas books, which came out as non-fiction but there have been arguments they are fiction, and I don't know or mind either way. They are based on shamanistic drug use, but I believe it all is possible without drugs.

The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge

I have not read (Lila) Kate Wheeler's works, but I have heard of them. I've not read them mostly because if I can't get them at the library, I am too cheap to buy them.

Not Where I Started From

Nixon Under the Bodhi Tree is a collection of works and the authors there might lead you to more of their works.

I did read Bangkok Tatoo which has some Buddhist meditation themes in it, but it wasn't really to my liking.

The Four Agreements is said to be like Carlos Casteneda's books, but I have not read it.

Bottom line, I've read a lot, and I can't find any matches in my memory for Herman Hesse's Siddhartha. If I think of any I'll add it as an edit.

If you find anything interesting, please pm me, no matter how far in the future it is!

---

Edit: as per the reply below, I've added here if anyone has "saved" this post:

I thought of two more, these actually should be higher on my earlier list:

The Life of Milarepa : "The Life of Milarepa is the most beloved story of the Tibetan people amd one of the greatest source books for the contemplative life in all world literature. This biography, a true folk tale from a culture now in crisis, can be read on several levels.... "

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance which was the start of all books titled, "Zen and the Art of ____." "One of the most important and influential books written in the past half-century, Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a powerful, moving, and penetrating examination of how we live . . . and a breathtaking meditation on how to live better."

u/blackbird2raven · 8 pointsr/heathenry

I second The Longship.

​

Asatru is a type of Heathenry. Heathenry is an umbrella term for religions, philosophies, piety, lifestyles that are based in Germanic Paganism and/or Germanic Pagan culture.

A good place to start is reading books.

Here are the ones I recommend:

A Beginner's book: https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Heathens-Guide-Asatru/dp/0738733873/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542673929&sr=8-1&keywords=heathenry

​

And the Poetic Edda translated by Jackson Crawford: https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Stories-Hackett-Classics/dp/1624663567/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542673980&sr=8-1&keywords=jackson+crawford

​

Also, for some spiritual music to meditate to, I recommend starting with

Wardruna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fnPwj1AMpo

And this song by Heilung: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqdk34f210w

​

Ancestors are very important to Heathenry, so I would meditate on some of your ancestors that have passed on, if you don't already.

​

Connect with the energies of your local land and woods. Some Heathens think these energies are literal beings called Land Wights. Some see them a bit more fluid and amorphous but still relational energies tied to the local land.

​

I also recommend learning a bit about the three major ritual forms: Blots, Sumbels, and Fainings.

​

At least, these are the places I would begin.

u/Swampfoot · 8 pointsr/Documentaries

You really should read Randi's book Flim-Flam. It describes how incredibly rigorous his methodology is, he uses the essence of the scientific method. Double-blinding, repeated trials, etc.

He incorporated the one thing scientists assumed they were competent in, but weren't - detecting deception.

u/SecretAgentMan_007 · 8 pointsr/Paranormal

If you are not familiar with his work, you may be interested to read Dr. Michael Newton's books 'Journey of Souls' and 'Destiny of Souls'. Dr. Newton discovered he could regress his clients to not only remember past lives, but also to a state where they could remember their 'soul memories' from our conscious time spent in between incarnations. His work in researching this in between lives state answers many questions as to what happens when we die, what we do in between, why we come back, and why we forget. Very interesting to ponder. Here is a clip of a documentary that was dedicated to Life Between Lives (LBL) hypnosis work. Please consider checking it out. I have personally had an experience with this hypnosis after reading his books and wanting to know for myself. They sort of address this in the video clip. It is an academic exercise to ponder these concepts, but it is another thing entirely to have an experience for yourself and know for yourself what it is like. Anyway, thanks for reading.

u/ThePsylosopher · 8 pointsr/shrooms

Glad to hear things went okay and thanks for posting a follow-up!

>I am a little sad for him because he didn't find what he was looking for. Any advice on this?

Where to start? There are so many differing approaches and ideas on how best to use mushrooms for self-improvement that it's difficult to offer proper advice. I guess the best general advice I could offer is to learn as much as you can and then experiment with techniques to find what works best for you and your husband but also don't become too attached to any technique; it's best to remain fluid.

To be more specific, consider some of the following ideas...

Work on setting specific intentions beforehand. What do you want to get out of this trip? What are your emotional intentions? Write it down, talk about it, just put some energy into forming and understanding your intentions before the trip.

During the trip, let go of your intentions. Your conscious mind does not now how to achieve your intentions otherwise you wouldn't need mushrooms. Often times during a trip I come to the realization that my compulsion to label, understand and rationalize are what is inhibiting me from progress. To that end meditation is quite useful for quieting the compulsions of the mind.

After the trip journaling is again useful. The ineffable lessons learned are best assimilated by attempting to articulate those lessons, whether that means talking about them or writing it does not matter.

But, as many will say, mushrooms won't always give you what you seek but they do tend to give you what you need. I deeply understand the desire for results but gaining a handle on tripping is essential otherwise it's just brainfuck masterbation (sorry for the crude wording.) In that sense, it's probably best that your husband didn't get as deep as he felt necessary. The brain's ability to deceive us is uncanny so it's important to begin to recognize the self deception before going too deep.

Personally I believe mushrooms only suspend your mental barriers; the hallucinations are a product of your mind's inability to fully comprehend your personal truths and see through the deception. Everything you encounter in a trip is nothing more than you, whether you see a hideous monster or yourself as a scared, crying, vulnerable child (for example) depends on your ability to recognize your mind's deception. Your mind deceives you in this way to protect you from something you were unable to cope with at the time you experienced it.

On a side note, check out The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide and also consider looking into a practice known as holotropic breathwork, it can produce very similar effects to mushrooms and works incredibly well as an adjuvant to tripping. I found this article in particular rather compelling.

If there are any ideas I can expand upon, don't hesitate to ask. Good luck to you and your husband on future travels!

u/jconn93 · 7 pointsr/JoeRogan

Read "The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys" by James Fadiman. It is an outstanding guide to tripping and trip sitting and is essential reading for anyone interested in being well prepared for using psychedelics effectively.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051OHLVG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T1_83LDzb2FNQPV4

u/Jerrdon · 7 pointsr/neopagan

Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-centered Religions is the best basic and yet thorough introduction I have found yet. Highly recommended, for I have not found a book that explains this clearly before or since.

u/RomanOrgy69 · 7 pointsr/occult

I always recommend to start with reading to develop an understanding before you completely dive in.

My favorite books for beginners are:

Liber Al vel Legis/Book the Law by Aleister Crowley - Book Crowley wrote in 1904 in Cairo. It contains, in my own opinion, the most supreme occult philosophy and theology.

Liber ABA/Book 4 by Aleister Crowley - Book written by Crowley that covers everything you may wish to know, from yoga to meditation to working tools to ritual to magick techniques.

The Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune - Arguably the most comprehensive and most easily understood on the qabalah to have ever been written.

The Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley - Explanation of the tarot.

Circles of Power by John Michael Greer - An excellent guide to the hermetic magickal practices of the Golden Dawn.

Enochian Magick in Theory along with Enochian Magick in Practice - Great guides on one of the most popular systems of magick.

The Mystical and Magical System of the A .'. A .'. - Book on the methods of achieving enlightenment in the system utilized by the A .'. A .'.

u/dgamble · 7 pointsr/skeptic

Sure ... try "Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions"

It also has a great introduction by his friend Isaac Asimov.

Here is a link to it in Amazon, so don't take my word on this, check out the 84 reviews there. http://www.amazon.com/Flim-Flam-Psychics-Unicorns-Other-Delusions/dp/0879751983/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317469950&sr=8-1

u/tux68 · 7 pointsr/santashelpers

Well this idea is not 100% risk free, but would be something unique... a deck of tarot cards and a lil booklet on how to tell fortunes can be had for around $20 []. They're interesting to look at even if she doesn't ever try to tell a fortune with them. Of course, you don't really want her to take it too seriously, so maybe a lighthearted card would set the right tone.

Dunno. Either way hope you find something she's happy with.




[
] https://www.amazon.com/Rider-Tarot-Arthur-Edward-Waite/dp/091386613X

u/Doc-in-a-box · 7 pointsr/funny
u/MarvinParanoidDroid · 7 pointsr/Jokes
u/Thunderhead · 7 pointsr/books

Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson. It just may change your perspective on life and reality.

u/Swadapotamus · 7 pointsr/Psychic

One of my best friends committed suicide, and about 5 years later, I suddenly heard her voice in my head. She told me, "I'm sorry it took me so long. I can't stay long - I'm just here to help you rebuild your heart a bit." I heard her for about a week, and then she was gone. She never explained where she was or why it took so long for her to reach out...but I suspect souls have their own paths and timelines. There's actually an interesting book called "Journey of Souls" by Dr. Newton (https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855) that may help you - it describes what may happen between lives for a soul. While my guides said it only gets part of the picture, it's still interesting and comforting nonetheless. I'm so sorry for your loss.

u/cedriczirtacic · 7 pointsr/tarot

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack has been very useful to me as I'm still learning: https://www.amazon.com/Seventy-Eight-Degrees-Wisdom-Book-Tarot/dp/1578634083

u/PacificTwins · 7 pointsr/Drugs

As a tool for personal and professional success. I use MDMA, cannabis and psychedelics as tools for personal and professional success. I treat them like any other food supplement and use them judiciously as enhancers for meditation, business, creative pursuits, accelerated learning, networking, goal planning, visualization, yoga, exercise, sex, general mindfulness, guided meditations and visualizations, examining habits to break bad ones and form new ones, breaking out of routine ways of doing and thinking, connecting with people, nature, animals, wildlife and all that is. Now and then I do let loose and party like an animal - gotta nurture the hedonist and binge on the beauty and pleasures all around us.

I am currently experimenting with using these experiences to quickly make my first million. For example, a few months ago I dosed 50mg of MDMA at an important networking event and I made more substantive, meaningful connections that day than I ever have in similar events, and that has led to some incredible working relationships that I credit to the heart-opening presence I had with people. I always work on capturing the feelings and states during those experiences so I can access them during my sober times and make it a part of who I am.

Some resources:

Micro-Dosing: The Revolutionary Way of Using Psychedelics
http://www.highexistence.com/micro-dose-lsd-psychedelic/

Using Psychedelics Wisely: A veteran researcher explains how psychedelics can be used to give beneficial results
https://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/writings/stolaroff_using.shtml

Cannabis Shamanism (free monthly video-streamed cannabis-guided journeys by an Ayahuasca shaman)

u/respectthegoat · 6 pointsr/television

The actor that played Screech went a little off the deep end, He stabbed a guy a few years ago on Christmas. He also stared in the Saved by the Bell porno parody.

Lark Voorhies the actress who played Lisa Turtle has also gone completely insane. She now writes books that are pretty much unreadable.

u/tartacus · 6 pointsr/gaming

Nope. More like Lark Vorhees (Lisa Turtle from Saved by the Bell)

u/EnuffDakka · 6 pointsr/videos

It has to be difficult if you keep telling yourself that, mate.

Here, just for you, because it's all in your mind. And if you aren't in control of your mind, who is?

u/drhex2c · 6 pointsr/EBEs

I think most people here are confusing alternate reality/ethereal/astral entities with physical aliens from other planets. The difference being that humans can relatively easily contact alternate reality entities as we can enter their realms where space/time are not limiting. We've been doing this since the time of the earliest humans have walked on Earth. Wherein, physical aliens from other planets, we can't visit them as we lack the technology (faster than light physical travel and/or teleportation machines). That said, some advanced techniques of Astral travel allow objective human consciousness (but not physical body) to travel infinite distances and witness physical realities without needing to be physically present... Well I should mention there's claims of spiritual masters able to physically materialize anywhere but I digress...

If you want to contact alternate reality type entities, then you may want to pickup some books on "magick" and specifically magical evocation. One of the better books might be "The practice of magical evocation" by Franz Bardon. Warning though, this is not for neophytes, and you're playing with fire if you start playing with this stuff. Much like people to play with Weegee boards, then endup having their houses and lives haunted. Read a lot and understand WTF you are getting into before actually doing anything. You can fulfil your curiosity by learning. Don't jump into the car and drive down the highway before you take lessons from experts in a parking lot.

A safer way to contact and interact with ethereal entities is through Astral Projection. I suggest reading "Astral Dynamics" by Robert Bruce

Lastly, if you want to contact real live physical aliens, (and why in the world would you want to do this since many seem to have a habit of doing ungodly things with humans), then you may want to start by visiting the UFO hotspots of the world. You can google around for that. There's definitely some. Then after that perhaps consider Greer's CS5 protocols to make contact in those hotspots - though I have a feeling he's mostly making contact with Ethereal entities not physical aliens.

Good luck, and stay safe!

PS. Stay away from all drugs, unless you really know what you are doing. Staying sane is the only way to have objective experiences. Taking drugs leads to easy experiences but most are going to be highly subjective like a dream where everything is made up by your mind, not an actual reality - though your brain will interpret it as such - then you become insane, or at minimum start believing in things that your own mind created. You'd be losing your mind as you let the crazy out ;-)

u/servant_of_the_wolf · 6 pointsr/tarot

You might consider Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot by Lon Milo DuQuette.

Edit: formatting

u/Bukujutsu · 6 pointsr/Anarcho_Capitalism

My perspective on drugs: I like them. I think they can be valuable tools and provide wonderful experiences.

I currently have a good reading list I'm working through for a planned project that will require a lot of LSD. I'm interested in LSD and MDMA psychotherapy to help solve some deep-seated problems (you have no idea how far from normal I am) and for general self-improvement. Fascinating subject, particularly the works by Stanislav Grof.

The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys: http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic/dp/1594774021

LSD Psychotherapy: Exploring the Frontiers of the Hidden Mind
http://www.amazon.com/Psychotherapy-Healing-Potential-Psychedelic-Medicine/dp/0979862205

LSD: Doorway to the Numinous: The Groundbreaking Psychedelic Research into Realms of the Human Unconscious
http://www.amazon.com/LSD-Numinous-Groundbreaking-Psychedelic-Unconscious/dp/1594772827

Tripping: An Anthology of True-Life Psychedelic Adventures
http://www.amazon.com/Tripping-Anthology-True-Life-Psychedelic-Adventures/dp/0140195742

The Doors of Perception: Heaven and Hell
http://www.amazon.com/The-Doors-Perception-Thinking-Classics/dp/1907590099

Through the Gateway of the Heart (about MDMA)
http://www.maps.org/gateway/

Thanatos To Eros, 35 Years of Psychedelic Exploration
http://www.maps.org/t2e/

Had to do a lot of searching and reading just to find what was worth reading, avoiding pseudoscience and quasi-religion. Oi, this is going to be a lot of work, but that's probably what it will take to sort out the trainwreck of my mind.

u/soxruie1414 · 6 pointsr/seduction

I'm taking 100 ug shortly, once I have the house to myself. I've taken mushrooms a few times but haven't experienced anything too spiritual. . I just finished reading The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide, and I feel like I'm at a good point in my life to try LSD now. Thanks for the well wishes!

u/_PageMaster_ · 6 pointsr/AstralProjection

Initiation into Hermetics

Self mastery and increase of energy help a lot. On the astral plane movement is very heavily based on focused will/desire

Making sure you don’t have heavy screen time helps as well

Some more things to do are make sure you eat and drink well, have some light exercise a few times a week and keep screen time as low as you can.

u/redalastor · 6 pointsr/pettyrevenge

The Satanic Bible is 9 bucks on Amazon. For best effect, I suggest asking if they would like to study the Bible with you, then get this book out and open it to chapter 5 (Hell, the Devil, and how to sell your soul).

u/johnnywatts · 6 pointsr/skeptic

I've found The Satanic Bible to be great for skepticism, if you're looking for a more religious bent. Some parents read The Holy Bible to their kids, and The Satanic Bible teaches you to ask hard questions and make up your own mind about things (instead of simply taking someone's word for it).

u/earthforce_1 · 6 pointsr/canada

Don't forget the Satanic Bible. Watch the do-do hit the fan over that!

u/SpotISAGoodCat · 6 pointsr/pagan

I am a recovering Christian (grew up Southern baptist, eventually went non-denominational) who is looking for a path of some kind.

My wife has always related to and followed paganism and very easily went back to it after our schism from the church. My mother very strongly associated with Celtic beliefs (our family way back was from the Isles) but she passed away before I was able to talk to her about them in depth. I'm struggling to define what I feel, believe, and desire.

I mention my previous Christianity because that is all I've ever known. I practiced for 39 years of my life by devoting myself to one figure head, reading from one specific book, and channeling one specific spirit. The switch to paganism and its leniency on such practices is both freeing but also a huge adjustment for me to make. I'm not saying I want to devote, read, or channel paganism the same way I did Christianity but I just don't know where to begin. I would love to meditate and see visions of something to lead me where I should be or have dreams that introduce me to something or someone to guide me.

My apologies if this comes off as more of a word vomit than anything else. I would love and appreciate some insight or advice on how to begin this journey. The Seeking website linked above is already open in my browser and I plan to read that. I've also been reading Paganism: An Introduction to Earth- Centered Religions as well. But nothing beats Reddit and hearing from people who have been there themselves.

u/UsurpedLettuce · 6 pointsr/pagan

Indigenous polytheism is typically a-doctrinal, and pretty much any reconstructionist or recon-derived religious body is going to be likewise. So there is no one book about "Nordic beliefs", nor any central text that will let you practice as a "Norse Pagan". If you really want to read about the mythology, you can't go wrong with the Eddas and Sagas, and you can choose a translation of your liking for that one. But, it cannot be understated, that mythology is not religion, and if you're interested in approaching Norse Paganism (Heathenry or its derivatives) seriously, you'll need to look into more of the contemporary practice. A book like this one is a good place to start.

If not and you're just interested in the mythology, then /r/Norse is thataway.

u/roriksson · 6 pointsr/asatru
u/SpiritKarmicDragon · 5 pointsr/sydney

Get one. Works wonders.

Edit: It's actually not a terrible read if you ignore the enochian key section.

u/Ladikn · 5 pointsr/atheism
u/iamcorvin · 5 pointsr/news

The Satanic Bible and Satanism are not "globally rejected", even the US armed forces has a document that outlines religious requirements with Satanism included (DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY PAMPHLET NO. 165-13).

That said, I'm with you on the whole hand kids a stack of religious texts from various religions and let them decide for themselves.

u/nbtry · 5 pointsr/satanism

>You can't just pick what you like and throw away the rest!

No one here is doing that. I recommend you read the sticky, the Church of Satan website and pick up a copy of The Satanic Bible while you're at it.

Satanism has nothing to do with pedophilia, and never has. Do your research and come back when you're ready to have an actual conversation.

u/liwiathan · 5 pointsr/pagan

I see this book recommended pretty often, and it's the book I initially picked up. It was a very enjoyable read in very understandable vernacular. I know you're asking for something quick, and a book might not be it, but I mostly read this on my lunch breaks. It was nice to have little bits at a time to mull over through my day.

u/ColorOfSpace · 5 pointsr/Psychonaut

If you really want to dig into this buy a Thoth Tarot deck, Crowley's book, and probably also Duquette's book to give you a good primer on Crowley.

Modern Tarot decks are visual representations of the Tree Of Life because almost all modern decks are based on either the Rider-Waite-Smith deck or the Thoth Deck. Waite and Crowley were members of the Hermetic Order Of The Golden Dawn which used the tarot as a tool for learning Kaballah(among other things). I'm suggesting the Thoth because it's better in almost every way and you will really appreciate the artwork. The small cards are the sephiroths (ace=kether, 2=chokmah... 10=malkuth, the suit of wands represents the tree of life in the kabbalistic world of atziluth(the classical element fire and the first Yod in the Tetragrammaton) etc...) and the major arcana represent the 22 paths between the sephiroths(Atu 0 The Fool connects Kether and Chokhmah, Atu 1 The Magus connect Kether and Binah, etc...). Here is some of the artwork The Magus, The Universe, The Ace Of Cups. The cards will give you more to meditate on then you could possibly get through in a single lifetime.

Also Malkuth means Kingdom and is related to the physical world. The Knowledge and Conversation Of The Holy Guardian Angel is attributed Tipheret.

I'm glad to see some conversation about the occult on here. I don't think anyone would argue that all occult and mystical practices arise from the type of shamanism the people in this forum practice. The two types of approaches go great together whether you are into Kabballah, Buddhism, Daoism, or any other system.

The Tree Of Life is just a map created by people who have been there before. It might be fun to just storm off into the wilderness without knowing where you are going, but your chances of finding something interesting will increase greatly with the help. I've had great luck performing a little ritual where I get into a trance, take a hit of hash, invoke one of the cards, and experience it's energy. It's much more powerful than just taking a drug to see what will happen and all kinds of interesting synchronicities will start appearing in your life.

Good luck! If you have any questions I can try to answer them.

u/GratersGonnaGrate · 5 pointsr/Psychonaut
u/cameltoe_of_the_boob · 5 pointsr/Glitch_in_the_Matrix

And this book. A hypnotist regresses adult patients through their past lives, taking special interest in what happens in the time between lives-- kind of a setup phase where you acknowledge what you need to work on in your next lives. I really enjoyed it.

u/Likeable_Username · 5 pointsr/occult

I got a great deal from 78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollock.

https://www.amazon.com/Seventy-Eight-Degrees-Wisdom-Book-Tarot/dp/1578634083

u/azzy667 · 5 pointsr/tarot

For Rider-Waite deck I like the classic Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom book by Rachel Pollack.

u/Enthusiastically · 5 pointsr/psychology

Well, maybe, but having a psychedelic experience in the clinical context is much different than just doing a psychotherapy session an hour after ingesting LSD. No one is suggesting psychotherapy stays exactly the same with just adding LSD.

You would be wrong if you thought that LSD is these clinical settings causes a bad trip. It's very rare for someone to have a bad psychedelic experience in a clinical context. But even if they do, the very best place for somebody to be if they start to have a bad trip is in the hands of a skilled clinician. A recommended book to learn techniques on guiding people through psychedelic experiences, including managing bad experiences.

Further, these people are already in bad places with lots of anxiety, such as PTSD, alcoholism or end of life anxiety. This isn't a matter of choosing between no anxiety and a chance of an experience that provokes anxiety. This is a matter of treating already existing and severe anxiety (or another condition) that hasn't responded to other alternatives.

It's simply a matter of doing the studies and comparing outcomes. For example, a retrospective analysis of studies of alcoholics found this across a single dose of LSD:

>Of 536 participants in six trials, 59% of people receiving LSD reported lower levels of alcohol misuse, compared to 38% of people who received a placebo. “We were surprised that the effect was so clear and consistent,” says Krebs. She says that the problem with most studies done at that time was that there were too few participants, which limited statistical power. “But when you combine the data in a meta-analysis, we have more than 500 patients and there is definitely an effect,” she says. In general, the reported benefits lasted three to six months.

u/Lucifereus · 4 pointsr/occult

I'd reccomend getting books or pdf's like Modern Magick 12 Lessons in high magick http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Magick-Twelve-Lessons-Magickal/dp/0738715786

Or Franz Bardon's Initiation into Hermetics http://www.amazon.com/Initiation-into-Hermetics-Franz-Bardon/dp/1885928122/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449847399

Those are quite practical

u/flubio123 · 4 pointsr/psychedelicbookclub

[Supernatural: Meetings with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind by Graham Hancock] (http://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Meetings-Ancient-Teachers-Mankind/dp/1932857842) submitted by /u/Bamsix

u/MLGmeMeR420- · 4 pointsr/Denmark

Jeg har lige fået en Kindle Paperwhite.
Havde ellers svoret jeg ikke skulle starte på en ny bog førend jeg færdiggør [den] (https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Meetings-Ancient-Teachers-Mankind/dp/1932857842) jeg er i gang med. Den er faktisk rigtig spændende, men en stor bog, og jeg har sjældent tid at fordybe mig længere tid ad gangen.

Men jeg fik lagt en del bøger på readeren... Bourne trilogien, og Millenium trilogien, samt enkelte andre. Sidstnævnte på svensk, ovenikøbet.

Det er faktisk ret sjovt at læse på svensk. Jeg syntes selv det kunne være fedt at læse på original sprog, uden at noget går tabt i oversættelsen, men er egentlig overrasket over, hvor meget jeg skal koncentrere mig, og hvor mange ord jeg ikke kender den eksakte betydning af. Så det er en lærerig proces. Akkurat som det var at læse Irvine Welsh's bøger (Trainspotting, Porno, Skagboys).

u/DarkByte9 · 4 pointsr/Drugs

Its one of the best psychological toolkits available for diagnosing and analytical problem solving.

I would recommend this book: The Psychedelic Explorers Guide

u/sp0oky · 4 pointsr/satanism

Amazon Link

$8.99 new or $4.17 used.

u/Prophet_of_Darkness · 4 pointsr/satanism

Buy the Satanic Bible for $10. It's relatively short, and will tell you everything you want to know. Also check out the links in the sidebar.

u/plonk519 · 4 pointsr/satanism

Check Amazon.com - there are hundreds of reviews there, and many of the top ones are actually in-depth and insightful.

u/dadtaxi · 4 pointsr/atheism

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380015390/65537-21

fundie at work had a screaming meltdown when i 'forgot' this on my desk.

Luckily boss had a sense of humor. Promised him not to bring 'my religion' to work if he also promised not to bring his.

He still cannot bring himself to sit next to me in meetings. :)

u/sursurring · 4 pointsr/books

I would guess it's because it's a fictional book. Unless you mean this, which is just a mashup of religious and occult fabrications.

u/GyroscopicSpin · 4 pointsr/books

The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Casteneda. It was a very intriguing read and I'd suggest it to anyone with a somewhat mature mindset.

u/atomicpenguin12 · 4 pointsr/paganism

Before I start answering your questions, I want to point out that you are pretty fixated on magic in your questions. I think it should be noted that magic, while it does have a relationship with paganism and some pagan traditions use it very heavily, is separate and distinct from the religious practices of paganism. Not all pagan traditions practice magic and its debatable that this sub is meant for the the discussion of the religious aspects of paganism rather than discussion of magic. You should by all means feel welcome to seek information about paganism here, but if magic is what you are interested in, you might have more luck asking in more magic oriented subs like r/occult or subs like r/Wicca or /r/witchcraft that cater specifically to the traditions that do use magic. I should also mention that I'm by no means an expert on paganism or magic, but I know a thing or two about a thing or two. On to the answers!

  1. I recommend you start by reading as much as you can. There is a lot of information out there, specifically for wicca but applying pretty broadly to paganism, that you can find for free on the internet that should serve as an adequate introduction to paganism and the pagan magical practices. As you read those and learn more, you will be able to better discern good information from less useful information and better choose for yourself which tradition you feel is right for you, but as a beginner I'm of the opinion that even bad information will serve its purpose and later be discarded. I specifically recommend this book as an introduction to paganism (I know you have issues with your family, but if you can get a hold of it I personally recommend this book): https://www.amazon.com/Paganism-Introduction-Earth-Centered-Religions/dp/0738702226. Books by Cunningham, Buckland, and Oberon Zell are also pretty beginner friendly, albeit somewhat specific to their traditions. For a digital source, I recommend this: http://www.witchology.com/contents/opensourcewicca/gardnerianindex.php. It is digital collection of (supposedly) Gardner's book of shadows and it should serve as a good launching point into Wicca. I also recommend this guide: http://bluefluke.deviantart.com/gallery/52627976/THE-PSYCHONAUT-FIELD-MANUAL. It's specific to Chaos Magic (I'll talk about it in a bit) and not really pagan, but it covers the basics of magic very eloquently and succinctly. Even if you plan on following a more involved tradition, I think this document is a pretty good launching point.
  2. It's easy to get caught up in the different traditions of magic and I think its important to understand that magic is not a D&D class. Its a practice for spiritual growth and, sometimes, for obtaining material gain. As such, I recommend you don't get hung up on the differences between different magical traditions or try to master all of them. Try out as much as you want and find a path that feels right for you. Having said that, you seem to already to be familiar with witchcraft, as exemplified by Wicca and the less popular Stregheria. This is a folk tradition of magic, more pagan than other paths and based on using tools that are already on hand. The hermetic tradition, as exemplified by the Order of the Golden Dawn, is a tradition that supposedly was created by Hermes Trismegistus, was heavily influenced by Cabalah, passed through Platonic philosophy for a while, and was eventually rediscovered in the Enlightenment and heavily Christianized. It is a very western school of magic and is very abrahamic in flavor and ideally involves a lot of props, specific incantations, and steps. It's also worth noting that Gerald Gardner borrowed many elements from the hermetic tradition when he was founding Wicca and drafting his original book of shadows. Thelema is the magical tradition of Aleister Crowley and was started when he decided that the Order of the Golden Dawn just didn't have enough Crowley in it. I don't know much about this tradition, apart from the fact that originates in hermeticism, but that's definitely a name you'll see around. Chaos Magic is a relatively new paradigm in magic, originating with the Illuminates of Thanateros and emphasizing that it doesn't matter what trappings you use in magic as long as you personally believe that they will work. There are of course various indigenous practices of magic and you might find them interesting to read about, but I recommend you stay clear of them if you aren't a member of that culture. Its a respect thing and, if you're approaching these traditions as an outsider, there's a lot that you won't understand anyway. If you do seek out these traditions, I recommend you find a teacher who can properly initiate you, and one that is actually a member of the culture in question. I definitely recommend you don't seek out Shamanism unless you're called to it (and you'll know if you are).
  3. Other people have said this, but Witchcraft and Wicca are actually not synonymous. Wicca is a tradition of witchcraft, as are other traditions like Stregheria and arguably Voodoo, but witchcraft itself is separate from these and there are many witches who prefer not to associate with such labels. You can call yourself a witch if you feel that the term applies to you. Or you can call yourself simply a pagan if you choose to generally follow a pagan path.
u/BabeOfTheAbyss · 4 pointsr/occult

Magick is for all, I would recommend working on the kabbalah for a start, or reading the liber 4, not necessarily in that order, maybe try liber 4 and then A Garden of Pomegranates by Israel Rgardie and Mystical Kabbalah by Dion Fortune. The Hardcover edition of Liber 4 is a great edition. I have it and it is amazing, and not as complex as most of his writings. This book has a lot of appendixes too, that helps. Having the Thoth Tarot deck and the Book of Thoth and studying its correspondencies with the tree of life is very helpful too.

Fascinating readings anyway.

About what he is in relation to mankind, better judge yourself from his writings.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Thoth-Egyptians-Equinox/dp/0877282684/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z

http://www.amazon.com/Thoth-Tarot-Deck-Aleister-Crowley/dp/1572815108/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422560601&sr=1-1&keywords=thoth+tarot+deck


http://www.amazon.com/Magick-Liber-ABA-Book-4/dp/0877289190/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422560336&sr=1-2&keywords=magick

http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Pomegranates-Skrying-Tree-Life/dp/1567181414

http://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Qabalah-Dion-Fortune/dp/1578631505/ref=pd_sim_b_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TNF7RPG3Y67DX4G00QH

u/CoreyMatthews · 4 pointsr/Thetruthishere

Hey, I've never commented or anything in this sub, but your post caught my eye. I (like many redditors) consider myself a member of the skeptics community, and I mostly subscribe to this sub b/c these stories are fun to read around halloween time. The one book that I cannot recommend highly enough is James Randi's "Flim Flam". Randi is kinda considered the grandfather of the modern skeptic movement, he's an awesome dude, super nice, super funny, super smart, and this book does a great job of explaining all kinds of popular superstition from psychics to alternative healing. here's the link to the book on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flim-Flam-Psychics-Unicorns-Other-Delusions/dp/0879751983/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373087973&sr=1-1

but also you can check out his site randi.org or watch some of his youtube videos. Penn and Teller's show "Bullshit" also covers a lot of these topics, videos of which are also on youtube. I'm actually very much into these topics so let me know if you have any other questions or anything.

Cheers

u/nickbus11 · 4 pointsr/tarot

Just the regular Rider deck amazon link

u/otterbot12 · 4 pointsr/tarot

I would suggest the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, which you can buy for pretty cheap on Amazon. Most other decks are based on this system and almost all books and websites for learning the cards use this deck. When you start to learn, the LearnTarot website is free and very helpful. Have fun! Exploring Tarot is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

u/Bluenosedcoop · 4 pointsr/pics

I much prefer this picture of [NSFW] Tifanni Amber Thiessen [NSFW]

And Lark Voorhies is an absolute nutjob now, A nutjob book she wrote http://www.amazon.co.uk/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541 and a video of her talking gibberish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AobTzmW5sRw

u/chachaheels5687 · 4 pointsr/iamverysmart

Read her books!

u/savantrep · 4 pointsr/books

But this book by Lark Voorhies of Saved by the Bell fame is ok??

u/PsychedelicFrontier · 4 pointsr/RationalPsychonaut

Not really a guide but I love The Joyous Cosmology by Watts. Has a bit more woo than a materialist might like, but Watts' brand of woo is palatable and non-dogmatic -- more of a try "try THIS on for size" than a "so THIS is this the way the universe is."

You may also find The Secret Chief Revealed insightful in terms of the therapeutic benefits to tripping, and how to approach psychedelics seriously.

Prometheus Rising, while more of an owner's manual to the human mind than a tripping guide, can help with recognizing your own biases and trying new perspectives -- highly relevant to the psychedelic experience and beloved by many psychonauts.

u/eugenia_loli · 4 pointsr/DMT

This is the book you're looking for: https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 It's information gotten via deep hypnosis by a PhD psychotherapist. I've seen many similarities of what's described in that book to some DMT reports. The most recent one, I think, it was a couple of months ago.

u/coyoteka · 4 pointsr/occult

I'd recommend checking out general "energy work" stuff. This book is one of the best I've ever found:

https://www.amazon.com/Astral-Dynamics-Out-Body-Experiences/dp/1571746161/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=astral+dynamics&qid=1572989589&sr=8-1

u/Zerrian · 4 pointsr/AstralProjection

Unfortunately, I haven't done any of these yet. I'm still learning but have been on the verge of having my first astral projection, which I believe is close.

If you do a bunch of searches within this subreddit, you'll see plenty of people writing about their experiences and such, traveling to other locations on earth, going to different planets, etc.

There is one author/APer, Edgar Cayce, also known as the sleeping prophet. He allegedly observed Jesus on several different occassions during his APs. He also made some prophecies about the future as well. What they are and what he claimed I'm not sure yet. I haven't started reading any of his books yet but I'll get there eventually.

I'm currently reading Robert Bruce's book, "Astral Dynamics," which helps you learn his methods. Just recently trying out his suggested light trance work, I believe I was on the verge of having my first ever astral sight. Sadly, I got distracted by the loss of my meditation music and that my closed eyelids were getting brighter even though my room was as dark as I could make it for 11:30 am. If you're curious about learning, I highly recommend the book.

I mentioned above I'm still learning but I've only been at it for about 2+ months now. I believe I've picked it up rather quickly but I tend to do that with anything. My initial process of trying to AP was very chaotic with no focus. I found a YouTuber I like that helped me understand the process, in a scientific method. Picking up the above book by Bruce has truly expanded my understanding. It's not hard to do but just like anything, it takes intent, commitment, patience, and practice. You can check the majority of my comments by clicking my name to see the links that I lead most people back too.

Any other questions, I'd be extremely happy to answer! :)

u/amoris313 · 4 pointsr/occult

It's easiest to think of the astral plane as a real place, lower levels of which roughly correspond to our physical plane (while even lower levels could correspond to some people's ideas of 'hell'), while other higher aspects can be like alternate realms/worlds. When you sleep, a part of you often floats above your physical body like a boat tied in the harbor. If you train yourself to see through that floating astral body, you can do 'astral work' i.e. have a presence in the land of dreams, and then see just how real that land can truly be, especially around the 'real-time zone' (in the part that corresponds to the physical world you know).

Because I've dealt with spirits for years, I would say that what you experienced was an astral encounter with helpful spirits, the results of which became apparent after you woke up. It's not uncommon to become suddenly more aware while dreaming and then have a dream turn into a fully conscious astral event. I've been pulled out many times by spirits and human mentors. Welcome to our world! It only gets weirder and more fascinating from here. ;)

Edit: Buy or download this book. It will tell you everything you need to know.

u/losian · 4 pointsr/askscience

> I’ve heard that it snaps them out of it almost instantly but no one really knows why.

Time for further reading! This book is positively marvelous, and looks at the idiotic way we've avoided study of these exact sorts of substances for treating things like Anxiety/depression/etc. It's by a fellow involved in some of the original LDS/psilocybin research back when, who is by all means a well educated professional - all the folks in the book are as well. It's not a bunch of hippies, it's professionals in their respective fields testing what we can do, and being shut down abruptly for silly reasons. Even looking beyond the purely therapy-based uses there were some curious, but needing much further study, aspects about enhancing cognition, focus, creative thinking, etc. - I'm sure we've all heard of the many artists and such who are inspired by substances, but not as much about stuff like part of the discovery of DNA, math theorems, and so on.

Small studies have been down which have showed 80%+ success rates in "moderate to high improvement" with regards to depression and shit. That's HUGE. What's interesting is that a significantly massive part of the psychadelic+therapy benefit seems to come from setting the right expectations and making it a therapy, not a recreation. Preparation is key, as is setting up a space to do it in - pleasant music and lighting, calm and safe, not some clinical doctor's office or sterile testing area. Further, it helps to bring stuff to think about, questions you've written yourself, photos of family and other nostalgic things, that sort of deal.

It's amazingly fascinating that one single session for a drug that is out of your system completely in days can facilitate months if not years of progress by 'normal' therapy methods in a few days - and that's in the words of PhD types who are studying it.

There's a lot of unknown about these sorts of substances and how exactly they can facilitate such outcomes, because we only just recently have finally begun to research them again, as we should have been since the 60s.

I mean, the issue is that our antidepressents kinda suck. Many of them barely beat out placebo, and the best ones are only about twice as effective as placebo. Anything that hits 50-80% should be earth shattering, and some of the potential studies that were done and have been done recently again finally have showed that at the least, so it's just.. it boggles my mind that we will cling to an obviously unscientific mantra of stigma and ignorance for so long when peoples' lives could have been changed in the last four decades for the better.

u/Watawkichaw · 4 pointsr/microdosing

Order a book or go down a rabbit hole of videos from James Fadiman...

​

https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys/dp/1594774021

​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A34x6W-3lJI

u/stopitbrrruce · 3 pointsr/grammar

it was! i almost went full Lisa Turtle

u/Dumpmaga · 3 pointsr/politics
u/bumbadeen · 3 pointsr/ShittyChangeMyView

Nobody seems to have told Lark Voorhies. She's a comma freak.

u/pertnear · 3 pointsr/suggestmeabook

Lark Voorhies True Light

It's basically unreadable rantings of a schizophrenic.

Lisa Freaking Turtle. Sad.

u/haha_thats_funny · 3 pointsr/Psychonaut

So far, my thinking has led to be believe these are core things I aim to achieve:

  • Intense focus and concentration
  • Highly increased ability to learn
  • Highly increased ability to unlearn
  • Better (in terms of efficiency and a better correlated model to the things I'm thinking about) abstract thinking
  • Achieve a better and faster (read: more efficient) way to analyze and think about things
  • Meta-cognition

    ----

    > The 4 Hour Chef

    Very interesting. I've actually been taking cooking courses on Rouxbe (presumably the best online cooking school).

    > Moon-walking with Einstein

    I actually bought this book recently. I'm been developing my mental palace, which got me interested in this book. I plan to read it, but is second to my current book I'm reading on Epistemology, Prometheus Rising. It's quite interesting because the book has a list of exercises to better understand the contents of each chapter, and I've already meditated for over an hour by chapter 2 as it's exercises have requested. Regardless of the book, I've been putting in at least half an hour a day.

    I agree with you that exercising seem to the the key.

    > Shamata-meditation

    There are a variety of <something>-meditation it seems. How would one go about finding the best type?
u/186394 · 3 pointsr/Psychonaut

Prometheus Rising and Quantum Psychology. There's pdfs around the net of most of his stuff.

u/BookBookRead · 3 pointsr/books

Thank you for this. A link to Wilson's book HERE for other people who haven't heard of it.

u/jessefleyva · 3 pointsr/spirituality

You should read Journey of Souls by Michael Newton.

https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855

u/eyver · 3 pointsr/Glitch_in_the_Matrix

Not from this sub, but a collection of true stories from hypnotherapists on exactly this topic can be found in books by Brian Weiss and Michael Newton. I highly recommend starting with Many Lives, Many Masters since it's easy to read and sort of the "gateway drug" to this whole world. Michael Newton's books, like Journey of Souls, go into far more detail (and include word-for-word transcripts from dozens upon dozens of his therapy sessions).

This is fascinating to me because the general premise of both these books (as well as many others by other legitimate hypnotherapists who have put clients "under" to the point where they could access past lives as well as lives between lives) is exactly what's quoted in the short excerpts in OP's post: we are spirits living in imperfect and irrational human bodies, and our entire experience on this planet is essentially so we can learn and grow as spirits. In fact these books indicate that Earth (and our human experience) is a more "advanced" or "accelerated" school for spirits (and more difficult as a result).

All of this stuff fascinates me because the story is so consistent among all these therapists who have had first-hand experience with clients "tapping" into this world and among all the anecdotal stories on subs like this.

u/battymcdougall · 3 pointsr/occult

Personally speaking, I use the Crowley Thoth deck. You are probably on the right track in regards to dumping the R-W deck for this colossus of Tarot. It is a bit intimidating to get all the symbols and their meanings in the Thoth deck but hang in there. Should you need any help along the way, there is this book-
http://www.amazon.ca/Understanding-Aleister-Crowleys-Thoth-Tarot/dp/1578632765
As well as other resources. So far as how it all relates, I think it relates somewhat nicely. There is still debate as to how the Tarot Cards got lumped together with the Tree of Life, but I'm not going to get into that. For me, I found the relation to the Paths a very helpful one. The meanings/relationship to the Tree of Life and the elements, from the Tarot are yours to interpret, yours to discover and make your own. This is what is both maddening and wonderful about the Tarot. In many ways, it's rudderless nature allows for the person working with it to make up the story for themselves And there's the beauty! No need to worry about forcing meaning when it is not relevant. If it feels relevant to you, meaningful to you, go for it. That's magic.
I'll give a quick example. To me, Tiphereth/Beauty is the highest human point on the Tree of life. Before that we have Netzach/Victory. Connecting the two is path 24 Death- which for all intents and purposes is Change. How do I connect these? Again, to me Netzach is a highly emotional Sephiroth, it's chief gods being that of Love- Venus, Aphrodite, etc. Love prompts one to feel a great deal of emotions, some good and some bad and some very very bad. This is why I equate it to this Sephiroth, among other reasons. Alright, so this isn't a short example but bear with me. So, how does one get to the higher Sephiroth Tiphereth? Death. Change. Killing those lower base things within us that hold us back. All the petty emotions; the ones that sully the name of love. Cut 'em down. Conquer your emotions, claim Victory over them. Then, one can get to a place of greater understanding; A place of Beauty- Tiphereth. Crowley, when writing about this card put it this way- 'The Universe is Change; every Change is the effect of an Act of Love; all Acts of Love contain Pure Joy. Die daily!'
To me, this makes sense. It carries meaning.
Hope this helps.

u/cornicelloselkie · 3 pointsr/tarot
u/milkyway9 · 3 pointsr/LSD

The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide by James Fadiman, he talks about microdosing which I have found to be awesome.

u/Werecow19 · 3 pointsr/Psychedelics

Thank you for sharing your story. I would suggest reading the Psychedelic Experience by Tim Leary, Richard Alpert and Ralph Metzner (link below). In its comparison of the psychedelic experience to the philosophies of Tibetian Buddhism, the book provides a good explaination of the experience you had and why you are stuck there.

The Psychedelic Explorers Guide is also a modern work that explains things from a more Western clinical perspective. When you better understand how different personalities and neurosis then you may experience a beneficial change in perspective for what you went through during and after those trips.

I don' think you are dealing with a slip in reality, it is a slip in identity and you havn't fully reclaimed your grip. Beyond that book, I urge you to go deep into the Eastern philosophies surrounding identity - that is the direction you need to go.

Take care, I hope you begin to heal soon. Feel free to PM me with questions/concerns.




The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead (Citadel Underground) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0806516526/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_c8i3Ab7AY8RKF

The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594774021/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Hhj3AbNCZ42KT

u/jimmycarr1 · 3 pointsr/Psychonaut

You can try this book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic/dp/1594774021


There is bound to be some info on MAPS or Erowid somewhere if you do some searching.


If you prefer some human contact but don't want to pay a professional, then I am quite happy to guide you through an experience some time if you'd like. I'm a tripsitter on Tripsit and I have helped a few people through this sort of thing before, although arguably it won't be as beneficial as a professional therapist or shaman would be.

u/jlmeredith · 3 pointsr/microdosing

I highly recommend reading this book if you have not already. My wife and I have been working with Dr. Faidman's treatment recommendations for 4 years off and on now. My longest period of 4 day Cy le dosing was 18 months. Now I dose 1-3 times every couple of months. I usually try to tie my dosing with the full moon as I seem to be unusually affected by full/new moons. The cycle of DOSE/REST/REFLECTION/DOSE (4 days) has worked well for me.

The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594774021/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aow-BbMYXWQ23

u/trippinglydotnet · 3 pointsr/Psychonaut

Start with: How to Change Your Mind (start with this detailed annotated summary). The pop culture starting point these days. The summary is all you need to read to understand the entire book but the book is well worth the time.

After that you'll have more ideas where to do. Below is a lot of stuff. I've watched/read all of them, so happy to answer any questions/give more guidance.

​

Study the "classics" by taking a look at these (skim the long ones to start):

Seeking the Magic Mushroom (first western trip report on mushrooms)

My 12 Hours As A Madman (another historically important trip report)

The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based On The TIbetan Book of the Dead (classic book on guided trips)

LSD My Problem Child by Albert Hoffman

Al Hubbard: The Original Captian Trips

​

Docs to Watch:

The Sunshine Makers (documentary)

Orange Sunshine (documentary)

Aya: Awakenings (documentary)

Dirty Pictures (documentary)

A New Understanding: The Science of Psilocybin (documentary)

Hoffmans Potion (documentary): r/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFfblVjCwOU"

​

And a whole lot of others:

​

Books


The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide – James Fadiman
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction – Gabor Mate
Storming Heaven: LSD and the American Dream – Jay Stevens
Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from clinic to campus – Erika Dyck
The Natural Mind: A Revolutionary Approach to the Drug Problem – Andrew Weil
Acid Hype: American News Media and the Psychedelic Experience – Stephen Siff
Acid Dreams: The complete social history of LSD – Martin A. Lee and Bruce Shlain
Drugs: Without the Hot Air – David Nutt
A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life – Ayelet Waldman
Neuropsychedelia: The Revival of Hallucinogen Research Since the Decade of the Brain – Nicolas Langlitz
The Harvard Psychedelic Club: How Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Huston Smith, and Andrew Weil Killed the Fifties and Ushered in a New Age for America – Don Lattin


Videos


Terence McKenna discusses the stoned ape theory

A Conversation on LSD – In a video from the late 1970s, Al Hubbard, Timothy Leary, Humphry Osmond, Sidney Cohen and others reflect on LSD’s heyday

Alison Gopnik and Robin Carhart-Harris at the 2016 Science of Consciousness Conference

The Future of Psychedelic Psychiatry – a discussion between Thomas Insel and Paul Summergrad

Documents, Articles & Artifacts


Al Hubbard’s FBI file

Remembrances of LSD Therapy Past – Betty Grover Eisner’s unpublished memoir about her role in developing psychedelic therapy

LSD, Insight or Insanity – Transcript of excerpts from hearings of the Subcommittee
on the Executive Reorganization of the Senate Committee on Government Operations [concerning federal research and regulation of LSD-25] May 24, 1966

The Brutal Mirror: What an ayahuasca retreat showed me about my life —A Vox writer’s first-person account

​

Forums


Ayahuasca.com: Includes experience reports, discussion of spirituality, ecology, healing, and recovery by means of the vine are collected here. A place to learn from members of ayahuasca churches, as well as a few foreign language channels.

Bluelight: A 20 year old online harm reduction forum that fosters open and factual discussion of drugs and provides support for those seeking recovery from addiction.

DMT Nexus: A hub for underground psychedelic research on botanical sources of tryptamines and other psychedelic compounds.

5Hive: A newer forum devoted specifically to 5-MeO-DMT — synthetic, botanical or toad-derived.

Mycotopia: All things mycological — discussions of edible, wild, and psychoactive fungi.

The Shroomery: A forum  devoted to cultivating psilocybin-containing mushrooms and sharing trip reports.

TRIPSIT: A 24/7 online harm reduction resource.  Users can chat instantly with someone about their drug experience, or questions they may have about about the safe(r) use of a wide variety of controlled substances.

u/badkittysmiles · 3 pointsr/LSD

Youtube, if you can!

Make a throwaway or an unlisted stream/video.

If you're a gamer, that's an easy activity to partake in. Otherwise, you can follow the Psychadelic Explorer's Guide and set up a few questions for yourself now that you could work through while tripping. Things that you may want to explore about yourself, those around you, those in the world.

If you're a problem solver by career/nature, maybe prime yourself with some difficult puzzles/programming challenges/financial quandaries and try to delve into them while tripping. You may get quite a bit of insight and gain a creativity in regards to solving said challenges.

Or just pump iron while reacting to some interesting podcast! Who knows what could be interesting to do for you and to watch for others!

u/DigitalMindShadow · 3 pointsr/TripSit

http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic/dp/1594774021

I would recommend that you get a copy of this book and use it to prepare yourself. It's written by a psychedelic researcher from the Sixties who carried on his work even after it was banned by the federal government. It's filled with lots of great information about how to make the most positive and productive use of psychedelic drugs.

u/Senseoffendr · 3 pointsr/microdosing

To this date, there are no fully controlled empirical studies on the subject of microdosing. The only research that's has been released are excerpts from Jim Fadiman's pseudo-qualitative study. You can read about those in his book "The Psychedelic Explorers Guide" or on ResearchGate.

https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys/dp/1594774021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482396978&sr=8-1&keywords=psychedelic+explorers+guide

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308138461_Microdose_research_without_approvals_control_groups_double_blinds_staff_or_funding

But I know that some institutes are heavily discussing conducting fully controlled neuro-based research on microdosing and will probably start around late 2017.

u/1337sh33p · 3 pointsr/gamedev

It would seem /r/gamedev is not the most receptive audience to such questions... That and the fact that you aren't asking anything specific.

To the haters, there has been at least one study: Psychedelic agents in creative problem-solving: A pilot study. showing psychedelics (specifically acid) can aid creative processes.

I would suggest taking a look at the Psychedelic Explorer's Guide; it's an evidenced-based look at safe practices for using psychedelics both for spiritual ends (parts 1-2) and creative problem solving (part 3). Specifically it lays out how to organize your environment so you can actually achieve things while using psychedelics (referencing the above study).

I don't have any tips for game design specifically, but I imagine that you'll get much better results brainstorming ideas rather than actually working on development problems, but you never know... reduced short term memory can be a bitch though.

Beyond that I think the book is your best bet, since unfortunately little research has been done on these topics because of restrictions and it's been a little while since I was actively studying such things myself...

you might have more luck reposting to /r/askdrugs or /r/psychonaut, but tbh I don't expect many over there will have done much gamedev (then again, you never know).

Hope this helps

u/moscowramada · 3 pointsr/occult

I found the section. The misspellings are not present in my translation. In fact all of the language is different in my book. It seems like your PDF and my book had different translators.

You can preview it and see the same section on Amazon at the link below.

https://www.amazon.com/Initiation-into-Hermetics-Franz-Bardon/dp/1885928122

It's called the "Human Being: The Body" in the book. In the book, it reads:

\> The external visible appearance of the body resembles a beautiful garment, and beauty with all its aspects is...

The rest goes on like that. In the book it's grammatically correct and doesn't have spelling errors.

u/leo_of_daat · 3 pointsr/occult

not a grimoire per say but i find franz bardons book initiation into hermetics a good place to start for energy work.

one thing it talks about is drawing life force and/or white light from the universe or yourself and impregnating it with your wish or desire. One thing to keep in mind working with life force, if its for yourself use you own lifeforce. if its for someone else draw it from the universe.

bardon says to do this because if you use your own engery on someone else you might take on a bit of their karma due to a connection i think.

https://www.amazon.com/Initiation-into-Hermetics-Franz-Bardon/dp/1885928122/

u/Aserth · 3 pointsr/occult

Franz Bardon IIH. Exactly what your looking for. Get a good physical copy of the book and dont rely on PDFs, cheatsheets etc.

Comment I made on another post on it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/occult/comments/5ij1d9/iih_first_step_help/

Good version(which I have)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Initiation-into-Hermetics-Franz-Bardon/dp/1885928122

u/catherineirkalla · 3 pointsr/occult

A good place to start I think is reading Shamanic Voices by anthropoligist Joan Halifax. It isn't a how-to guide or anything, but gives intimate accounts of Shamanic practices throughout the world. It includes records of rituals performed by Maria Sabina that you may find especially interesting.

After that, I'd recommend Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy by reliigious history professor Mircea Eliade. Its a bit thick but is very thorough in its treatment of Shamanic practices through the millennia and around the world, including descriptions of numerous techniques used for entering trance states, cosmologies, symbolism, initiations, and powers claimed by Shamans. This is an academic work, however and won't give you step by step instructions (if that is what you are looking for).

If you are looking for something a bit lighter, Supernatural by Graham Hancock is an interesting read. In it he looks at parallels between drug-induced experiences, Shamanism, fairies, and reports of extraterrestrials. If I had known that last part before I read it I probably would have skipped this book but he actually made some very interesting points that I think makes the book worth reading. Also, he relies heavily on Joan Halifax's book as a source and spends a decent amount of time discussing Maria Sabina and psilocybin usage.

The beginner how-to department is an area I'm less versed in but I've heard good things about this book and its companion. Personally I'd generally recommend getting oneself intimately familiar with current and past Shamanic practices through the academic works on the subject and then creating a personalized system - though commercial how-to guides can certainly provide some practical hints and inspiration.


u/dirtranger · 3 pointsr/Glitch_in_the_Matrix

Research on DMT and on hallucinogens in shamanism has shown different users describe and draw the same entities. Graham Hancock collated some of that data. *typo

u/brash · 3 pointsr/science

This was basically the thesis of Graham Hancock's book Supernatural

u/nastymax · 3 pointsr/booksuggestions

Biocentrism. It's a really interesting look at how the universe is shaped by consciousness and the scientific search for the meaning of life http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1935251740?pc_redir=1396332448&robot_redir=1

u/scarabin · 3 pointsr/LosAngeles

i'm not suggesting any course of action but i understand mushrooms are easy to grow at home after a certain learning curve (shroomery.org has lots of info on this), and trichocereus pachanoi, a mescaline-laden cactus frequently used in ceremonies, can be purchased on ebay, flourishes in gardens all over california, and can be prepared easily on a stovetop. both of these offer an experience nearly identical to lsd (though experienced psychonauts can tell the difference in much the same way experienced marijuana users can tell the difference between cannabis strains) and avoid the whole "drug trade" thing. it's still illegal to do unfortunately so i'm not recommending it, just passing on readily available information i've read.

if you'd like to know more about the therapeutic use of psychedelics i would highly recommend reading the psychedelic explorer's guide, by james fadiman www.amazon.com/kindle-store/dp/B0051OHLVG

u/PsychedelicVisions · 3 pointsr/MDMA

You Need:

The Psychedelic Explorers Guide by Dr. James Radioman

The book outlines exactly what you should do for a therapeutic session, with directions for both the subject and the guide. It was written by Doctors who practiced psychedelic therapy (including MDMA) before it was made illegal.

I highly recommend this for what you're trying to do.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051OHLVG?btkr=1

u/Axximilli · 3 pointsr/satanism

I've been reading through Baphomet: The Temple Mystery Unveiled lately and it's an incredible insight into the history and beliefs behind Baphomet.

A great place to start with LaVeyan Satanism is The Satanic Bible

u/AnkhStar · 3 pointsr/atheism

Man, that's laziness. Typing your request literally takes more effort than going to Amazon and searching for "Satanic Bible". Not to mention you have to wait around for your request to be filled, IF it's filled.

In Chrome (assuming you're already an Amazon user, since you requested the link):

  • Click New Tab button or CTRL+T

  • Type "am" and Amazon.com pops up (because it was already in my browsing history)

  • Hit TAB and search for "Satanic Bible"

  • Hit Enter

    ** Lo and behold, SEARCH RESULTS! **

  • Click top result for Satanic Bible

    That was 17 key presses and a couple mouse clicks.

    Edited for late night spelling

u/JasonUncensored · 3 pointsr/satanism

I thought about it for a few minutes when I saw the post, and I came to pretty much the same conclusion.

I believe The Satanic Bible specifically mentions that children should avoid claiming to be Satanists until they are not only old enough to make such decisions, but to endure any fallout that might come about.

Of course, if your parents are Satanists(lucky you!), you might have a different, more positive viewpoint, but you'd definitely be in the minority.

u/darnthisanarch · 3 pointsr/occult

I dabbled with LaVeyan Satanism and JOS in my late teens, early twenties.

​

Why did I pray to Satan?, because in LaVeyan Satanism, he (along with Beliel, Lucifer, and Leviathan) represent the four elements, with Satan corresponding to Fire. So, I'd use him in the same way Fire would be used in other magick systems.

​

Please note that the Satan of LaVeyan Satanism is not the same Satan as in Christianity.

​

Edit: Just google Church of Satan, and you'll get one point of view.

​

" As Anton LaVey explained in his classic work The Satanic Bible, Man—using his brain—invented all the Gods, doing so because many of our species cannot accept or control their personal egos, feeling compelled to conjure up one or a multiplicity of characters who can act without hindrance or guilt upon whims and desires. All Gods are thus externalized forms, magnified projections of the true nature of their creators, personifying aspects of the universe or personal temperaments which many of their followers find to be troubling. Worshiping any God is thus worshiping by proxy those who invented that God. Since the Satanist understands that all Gods are fiction, instead of bending a knee in worship to—or seeking friendship or unity with—such mythical entities, he places himself at the center of his own subjective universe as his own highest value. "

u/Discipulus-Satanas · 3 pointsr/satanism

Read through the Sticky

Grab yourself a copy of the Satanic Bible

This doesn't cover everything but it's a strong start

u/twjpz · 3 pointsr/atheism

https://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Bible-Anton-Szandor-Lavey/dp/0380015390/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538604250&sr=8-1&keywords=satanic+bible

the hardcover version is listed at a steep $666, but the mass market paperback is only about 10 bucks. have fun!

u/NeinNyet · 3 pointsr/atheism

Ready.

Hard cover only $666

u/The_Devils_Concubine · 3 pointsr/satanism

Please read the sticky in this sub. Otherwise, many of the answers to the questions you're asking here can be found in books, so I'm going to recommend some:

  1. The Satanic Bible. If you're interested in Satanism, this is one of the best places to start. You'll probably find a lot of the answers you're seeking within its pages. It's a short read, might take you a day tops to get through it.

  2. The Invention of Satanism. This is an excellent academic text. It has no agenda outside of providing history on Satanism itself as a religion. It covers early origins of Satanism (aka devil worship), the romantic Satanists such as Milton and Blake, the beginnings of the Church of Satan and LaVey's origins, the Temple of Set, all the way on up to modern day with The Satanic Temple.

  3. Lords of the Left Hand Path This would be considered more advanced reading, as it delves into a general Left Hand Path philosophy rather than focusing just on Satanism. It's a dense book, but will go a long way to filling in the 'sacrifice, magic, evil' part of your post.
u/thyssyk · 3 pointsr/tifu

So, she is a very confused person who has been told some very awful things about the world. I'd recommend you get her a few books to help open her mind.

This one for sure...

Heck, anything on this list!

And make sure you remind her that fire is a gift from Prometheus, and is not the realm of Satan, if she burns it, she has to thank Prometheus instead of renouncing Satan, but that the act of burning anything is technically a worship act to a non-christian being.

Then just shake your head gently and say "It is just so much easier to be a good person." cue you walking away with a pensive look struck across your face

u/RDS · 3 pointsr/conspiracy

Ishmael (and the rest of the series) by Daniel Quinn opened my eyes in my senior year of high school.

It's about a Gorilla, who has lived beside man for a number of decades and teaches a pupil through stories and analogies about how we are already at the cusp of civilization collapse. It's about a lot more than just that, namely the relationship of humans, animals, the planet, and how humans have a unique, egotistical view of themselves where we deemed ourselves rulers of the planet.

Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins is an eye opener as well.

Other great reads:

Magicians of the Gods by Graham Hancock.

Necronomicon

UFO's by Leslie Keen

Siddhartha - Herman Hesse

I also really enjoyed the Myst series by Rand & Robin Miller (the books the game is based on). It's about worlds within worlds and an ancient race of authors creating worlds through magical ink and books (sci-fi/fantasy).

u/Redbirdfromtheeast · 3 pointsr/Fantasy

The Necronomicon wasn't written by Lovecraft, he mentions it in several stories but other publishers capitalized on it by releasing their own versions of "The Necronomicon". He did write History of the Necronomicon but you're probably talking about this one.

u/thomascgalvin · 3 pointsr/AskScienceFiction

Sure, you can grab a copy for yourself.

For a tome that threatens to unmake reality itself, the Men of Science at Miskatonic University have been pretty loose with the reprint rights.

u/xbenzerox · 3 pointsr/Lovecraft

Yes. Someone made one awhile ago. I had it in high school 20 years ago and thought it was so cool. It's really just a bunch of symbols and "spells" though. Not much to read. Yep..This is it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0380751925/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1406291847&sr=8-1

u/sharer_too · 3 pointsr/suggestmeabook

Not novels, but -

[The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Electric-Kool-Aid-Acid-Test/dp/031242759X) - a very readable account of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters by Tom Wolfe

[The Teachings of Don Juan] (http://www.amazon.com/Teachings-Don-Juan-Yaqui-Knowledge/dp/0671600419/ref=la_B000APXVFG_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404522090&sr=1-1) - presented at the time as research/non-fiction, since questioned, but still pretty fascinating

u/DaGoodBoy · 3 pointsr/fantasywriters

A History of Warfare by John Keegan [Goodreads] Gives a clear understanding of how different cultures influence military organization and tactics. I was looking for a book to help someone who doesn't have a military background (me) understand and describe how the military and culture intersect and influence each other.

The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Castaneda [Goodreads]. Uses an interesting, anthropological POV to describe an alternative view of perception and reality. Very handy if you want to create a magic system that does not conform to clearly explainable rules of logic and order, but is still believable and self-consistent.

u/lrich1024 · 3 pointsr/pagan

I found Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions to be useful when I was just starting out.

u/foxglovesanddragons · 3 pointsr/witchcraft

Paganism: An Introduction to Earth- Centered Religions https://www.amazon.com/dp/0738702226/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6P6KDbP3YDEE4

It will ask you what you believe and lead you through the questions.

u/ThorinRuriksson · 3 pointsr/asatru

As far as texts, a good beginners book is A Practical Heathens Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve. Not perfect, but one of the better starter texts I've seen.

I'm not big, myself, on regular prayer. I stick to blots on the important days, and individual sacrifices where I feel they are needed. To my brand of heathenry to gods don't need us bothering them all the damned time.

u/Skollgrimm · 3 pointsr/asatru

My advice? Do whatever feels right to you. Many modern heathen organizations have developed new rites and ceremonies, such as the profession ritual you've been reading about. I don't think it's based on anything historical, and it just rubs me the wrong way because it strikes me as a holdover from the religion of the White Christ. On the other hand, heathenry is not the religion you were born into, so it may seem entirely appropriate to have a profession ritual. Additionally, we shouldn't feel bad about practicing our religion differently than how our ancient ancestors practiced it, since religions evolve over time. We couldn't even practice it their way if we wanted to, given the huge gap of information we have.

As far as a good place to start, I hear a lot of good things about this book:

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0738733873/ref=gno_cart_title_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

u/viciarg · 3 pointsr/thelema

> And does anyone know which meanings Crowley personally ascribed to the cards?

Check out the Book of Thoth.

The Thoth Tarot is special in that its genesis in symbolism and meaning is very well documented through the letters Crowley and Harris wrote during its creation, the Book of Thoth itself and by Crowley's other works which shed light on what he thought about some aspects of the Tarot and its various correspondences. Nonetheless reading the cards is a matter of interpretation. Individual, personal interpretation. You might have wondered why the chapter with the divinatory meanings of the cards in Lon's Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot is so short compared to the rest of the book. It's because these are Lon's interpretations, not yours or any kind of objective truths. Get to know the cards by heart, check out the correspondences on the Tree of Life and from astrology and alchemy, the connections between them and the symbolism depicted in the images. Of course be inspired by the interpretations of others, but do not consider these as truths. Rather try to reconcile the apparent contradictions in different interpretations and find your own way to read their message.

There's a reason why the cards are images, not text. They speak at a intuitive, asthetic level to us, beyond rationality, and they speak directly to you.

u/HerzogZwei2 · 3 pointsr/booksuggestions

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre, Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan for general science.

Stuff by James Randi, Michael Shermer for general stuff about new age crap.

The Panic Virus by Seth Mnookin and Deadly Choices by Paul Offit on the Anti-Vaccination movement.

Damned Lies and Statistics by Joel Best and How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff (Also see How to Lie with Maps by Mark Monomonier for a similar subject) for questioning stats and graphics used in the news.

Is there anything specifically you're interested in?

u/kylev · 3 pointsr/skeptic

Wow, I just started watching and one of his intro slides is, "There's lots of fiction about this stuff in movies, so there must be something to it." I can't imagine that he's going to use that as some sort of actual point, but it's kinda sad to see it even brought up...

Edti: Hrm... he's gone on to special pleading and a number of other fallacies.

I feel like a lot of this was covered in Flim Flam and elsewhere. I don't know enough about the specific stuff he's presenting as evidence to comment. It's interesting, but I'd have to look a lot further to be convinced.

u/PeachPlumParity · 3 pointsr/tarot

Here are the basic, basic decks.

The Rider-Waite-Smith Deck, on which most decks base their symbolism. Has many different versions, such as the Radiant RWS or the Universal Waite Tarot. Most decks you find will be based on this one.

The Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley, which relies much more on occultism and knowledge of the symbols to read. If you want a project that you can really lose yourself in and study for, this is probably a good deck.

The Marseille Tarot which, unlike the other decks I've listed, does not fully illustrate the Minor Arcana (Ace-10 of Cups/Swords/etc). Instead they are called "pips" and don't show a scene, so you have to rely on your knowledge of the cards to read them.

These are the three most well-known tarot traditions for symbolism upon which most other decks are based, with RWS being the most popular in the English-speaking world. Marseille, as I understand it, is very popular in non-English speaking European countries, and the Thoth is just the Thoth.

You don't have to stick to these decks though. Choose any deck that you feel speaks to you. What's most important is feeling connected with your deck, that way you don't lose interest in the cards before you've learned all you can about them.

​

u/NXNDO · 3 pointsr/tarot

The Rider-Waite deck is pretty standard, I'm new also and almost all the youtube videos I've seen say it's the best deck to start with since the drawings and symbols help you memorize the meanings, and you can move on to more "fun" decks after you learned them all.

​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/091386613X?pf_rd_p=8e0819a9-0ef1-44cd-9544-a7f28374af8b&pf_rd_r=02QFBEAQHWXQQK8JH2QG

u/BuckeyeBentley · 3 pointsr/DnD

I had looked online at actually buying one and on amazon at least they were suuuper expensive, so I bought a tarot deck, pulled the right amount of cards following this guide mostly. Then I tea dyed them and dried them off between paper towels and pressed by a heavy book and used some scrap fabric and a tassel to complete the ancient magic deck look.

If anyone wants to do the same, my suggestion to you is to do the tea dying in waves and not let them sit too long. I let the whole deck soak for a few hours in a pot of tea that had been made with 14 black tea bags and the glue separated on some of them splitting the backs from the faces. They stuck back together but I lost a few of the cards. Doesn't really matter I guess, but for anyone's future reference.

u/JBgreen · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Call all you want, after reading- (A holographic universe) I became interested in his work.

u/whatispunk · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot.

This book posits an incredible theory for how the universe, memory, and consciousness work.

Read more about the theory here.

u/uptwolait · 2 pointsr/cogsci

I just searched and found Michael Talbot's book on Amazon. Read the first reviewer's comments, they seem to address your concerns.

u/JustBeingZack · 2 pointsr/atheism

I feel like you bringing up
> Was it all the symbolism the Illuminati flashed before your eyes?

Is just proof that you're here to try and spark conflicts and upset people. If that is not the case then I do feel that this specific quote is disrespectful.

As I suggested, please go and read a satanic bible and also visit The Satanic Temple's website. Those should paint a pretty good picture of modern day Satanism. Alternatively, you can just ask me specific questions and I can provide answers. WARNING: I'm not trying to convert you or push a mindset on you! These are merely suggestions so that you may further your knowledge in these areas as you seem to know much about Christianity and Jesus but little about opposing views/arguments against that.

To answer this quote from you
> I wouldn't be so surprised if this was r/satanism, but it is r/atheism.

I agree that there are many different "sects", if you will, of satanism, but most of these sects are atheist in nature; hence, why I'm here and trying to educate you as best I can on the matter. Speaking as general as possible, Satanists don't believe in some great amazing sky God who created humanity as a bunch of worshipers, nor do satanists believe in many of the "holy texts" from other religions that have been mostly disproved by history.

Now let me go ahead and elaborate on this quote of mine because you keep coming back to it.
> Satan is perfect

You said something about how Satan symbolizes evil and corruption. Where does that definition come from, who taught you that, and why is this the case? When I read the satanic bible, that is not the impression I got. In fact, when you research Lucifer and many of the popular names of Satan, many of them have really amazing and beautiful origins. From what I've studied, these were mostly erased/twisted after the Christian church came into contact with the "pagans" who worshiped or new these Gods/"demons".

This is why I feel that Satan is a perfect counter in situations like the one from the original article. It makes people think. It makes people ask questions and many times the answers to those questions have to be found in something other than the religious text that they started in. Satanism doesn't have the "this is it, the only thing you're allowed to believe or you burn for eternity" clause that forces people to cower in fear about studying or believing anything other than what they started with. It encourages the opposite.

I'm happy to continue this discussion as long as you are and I apologize if you genuinely feel that this
> You people are not being very respectful at all.

is true. That isn't what I've intended in any of my discussion so far.

u/proudly_godless · 2 pointsr/atheism

The Satanic Bible by LaVey is currently a #1 bestseller on Amazon. Seems like there's a lot of good stuff in there.

u/Dr_Karate · 2 pointsr/todayilearned

Who? Satan? You mean like this?

u/SystemFolder · 2 pointsr/satanism

According to Amazon, it is exactly 0.7 inches thick and 272 pages long. It's a quick read, though; especially if you're reading it to gain an understanding rather than an intense study.

The Satanic Bible https://www.amazon.com/dp/0380015390/

u/Foxkill2342 · 2 pointsr/funny

http://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Bible-Anton-Szandor-Lavey/dp/0380015390

Holy crap it was a lot cheaper when I bought it.

u/son_of_creation · 2 pointsr/infp

Cool, have you read The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor Lavey?

u/irreleventuality · 2 pointsr/JUSTNOMIL

My First Book of Mormon Stories?

Bhagavad-Gita for Children and Beginners?

The Littlest Satanic Bible? Looks like the Satanic Temple has a kid's thing, but it's already been linked.

Prepare her for a world full of Fnord with The Itty Bitty Principia Discordia? Hmmm... Can't seem to find a kids version of this.

I know! I know! Teach her about the ways of Slack with The Book of the SubGenius: The Sacred Teachings of J.R. "Bob" Dobbs and its companion Revelation X: The Bob Apocryphon, Hidden Teachings and Deuterocanonical Texts of J.R. "Bob" Dobbs! They don't have a kid's thing either, but such is life! (This SubGenious stuff is. a. hoot.)

u/Rubenick · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

I have tons of graphic novels on my lists :P don't know if they count as "books"... but those are also my favorites to read :) Batman all the way :D

But in the spirit of Halloween... I have the "Black Bible" (aka satanic bible) on my wishlist O_o... And no, I'm not a Satanist ;) I just find all the occult and demon stuff interesting and I think it would be a interesting/scary thing to read :D

u/the_carcosan · 2 pointsr/occult

I cannot speak from experience, but there seems to be quite a few people out there who are working with the Cthulhu mythos and are writing books for people to do the same.

A few that immeditately come to mind are Donald Tyson and Kenneth Grant. And of course there is the Simon Necromonicon, which some people claim to be a legitimately effective magical text.

u/zebus_0 · 2 pointsr/GhostAdventures

It doesn't matter anyway. It wasn't a real ritual lol. It is a bunch of stuff from https://www.amazon.com/Necronomicon-Simon/dp/0380751925 this book, released in 1977 that is a just a hodgepodge of random crap Simon thought sounded metal.

u/abagofdicks · 2 pointsr/movies
u/Gleanings · 2 pointsr/freemasonry

When teens show me their new scary book, I like to flip to the publisher's page and show them it was published by Avon.

Then I try to turn them on to Lovecraft himself. So is the script for The King in Yellow appropriate for Scottish Rite?

u/ArchetypeAdHominem · 2 pointsr/randomactsofamazon

If the occult counts as creepy.
Necronomicon

u/zire513 · 2 pointsr/suggestmeabook

Can you even get this book?

Edit: https://www.amazon.com/Necronomicon-Simon/dp/0380751925

I guess you can buy it, and btw the comments on this book are hilarious.

u/professoroblivion42 · 2 pointsr/suggestmeabook

This book has been sitting in my to read stack a while: http://www.amazon.com/The-Occult-Colin-Wilson/dp/1842931075, and is supposed to be an excellent book on what you mention. He also wrote another book, The Outsider, with more of a philosophical bent that I've partially that's the reason I know about him. Another one you might want to consider is:

http://www.amazon.com/Teachings-Don-Juan-Yaqui-Knowledge/dp/0671600419/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410349123&sr=1-1&keywords=don+juan+carlos+castaneda

which was undertaken originally as an anthropological study of shamanism but became more of an examination of black magic.

If you're interested in more general ideas of why people think about gods and monsters then I would definitely check out William James' Varieties of Religious Experience, which talks about the possible psychological underpinnings of mystical thinking. This lecture along similar lines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WwAQqWUkpI is also fantastic.

My brother has read a lot more concerning this and has many more books that I could ask him about if you'd be interested. I mostly just dabble.

u/djIsoMetric · 2 pointsr/LSD

It’s been 20 plus years since I’ve read this. The teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda.

u/ManIsBornFree · 2 pointsr/history

another great place to start looking is the counter-cultural movements of the 60's-70's, the hippies, and how Carlos Castaneda and the CIA basically brought Psilocybin to the cultural forefront.

In looking into this, the CIA aspect is pretty cool, but Carlos Castandea is the man you need to look into. basically, the worst anthropoligist/cult leader of all time.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Castaneda
https://www.amazon.com/Carlos-Castaneda/e/B000APXVFG

https://www.amazon.com/Teachings-Don-Juan-Yaqui-Knowledge/dp/0671600419/ref=la_B000APXVFG_1_1/156-2591314-2549246?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485859299&sr=1-1


u/magdamakethetea · 2 pointsr/Drugs

It would probably be good to check out some of the literature from the guys who spent their lives trying to characterize the whole thing.

some examples: LSD ketamine Peyote

u/Greydonstepper · 2 pointsr/occult

I would just follow the series.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Teachings-Don-Juan-Knowledge/dp/0671600419

It's fiction but based on truths. It's filled with these actually. The later books aren't as powerful. Warning! these books will inspire a vision quest! Have fun and be safe if you do. (Have someone watching over you).

u/EmptyFractal · 2 pointsr/LSD
u/mushroomfather · 2 pointsr/pagan

I'm reading Paganism: An Introduction to Earth- Centered Religions. I like it so far, but I'm only at chapter two.

u/terriblehashtags · 2 pointsr/Wicca

Sidebar and wiki, obviously. You might also want to try out a couple books and resources to get you started. I'm partial to Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions to give an overview of all of the various aspects of nature-based religions (so it covers Wicca, modern druidism, and other paths).

If you're looking for more of a magical introduction, though, Lisa Chamberlain's Wiccan series isn't abominable. "Wicca for Beginners" is a good read in particular if you're looking for more on specifically Wicca.

Be aware that there seem to be as many interpretations of the Wiccan path and magic practice overall as there are stars in the sky and so you'll run across people who will disagree/despise any book you pick up. Also, for many, Wicca is a religious practice, not just a magic path. (For me, magic and religion are deeply intertwined.) So it's not just "sorcery" or a magic path that you're going to be exploring--you'll also be learning about deities and spirits that many practitioners truly believe exist and should be respected/worshiped for magic to "work."

... and then you'll run across Wiccans who say the gods are allegorical and it's all just a symbolic way to think about cosmic energy. It runs the gamut.

So yeah, start there, and it ought to give you a pretty good foundation from which to continue your magical and spiritual explorations.

u/ever_l · 2 pointsr/pagan

If a book appeals to you, I picked up this one recently. What's neat about it is that it has exercises in it such as going for a nature walk to connect with the current season, meditation to meet a deity, and so on. It serves as a good source of general pagan information while also giving you the tools to figure out what YOU believe.

u/Ghost_in_the_Mac · 2 pointsr/asatru

Good afternoon ma'am.
First of all, you have to "educate yourself" on asatru only because of you, because it is your will and not anybody elses. That's not how it works. It won't work for you in the long run.
I would recommend for you to start with this
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Heathens-Guide-Asatru/dp/0738733873/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473098430&sr=8-1&keywords=practice+guide+to+asatru
Has lots of practical knowledge, not just theorics.
After this if you want to dive deeper just ask.
BTW, keep an eye on your husband. That resentful, mysoginistic behaviour won't end well.

u/S4MH41N · 2 pointsr/Vikings_TvSeries

Yes. I became interested in Viking culture not long before I heard of the show, but the show has definitely helped keep my curiosity going. My interest in Norse history goes like this:

  • Interest spiked after realizing Immigrant Song by Led Zepplin is about Vikings (around mid 2012-ish)

  • Started looking into the culture, discovered Wardruna

  • Bought a book about runes, the myths, etc

  • Vikings comes out on History channel (I remember thinking, "Man, Wardruna should do music for this show!" And then mfw)

  • Recently started looking into Asatru and stuff that is still going on in this age that can be tied to Vikings

    My interest in the Vikings isn't necessarily about the specific dates, locations, etc. It's more about the lifestyle, the myths, the attitude they had. And Vikings does a great job, IMO, of keeping that interest going. It's inspiring me to get in touch with nature again, learn how to do things I've never done, etc. Plus it's entertaining!

    EDIT: Here's the two books I've bought (so far) regarding Viking history. You'll note that they're basically children's books. The first one deals with the myths on a children's story level, the second has more in depth analysis on the myths, but without the pictures. I think simply reading about the things the Vikings may have lived by is better than just learning what date Bjorn raided "whatever-land". Anyways, here's the two books I have:

    Book of Norse Myths: Kid's book with pictures, walking you through the myths on an introductory level

    The Norse Myths: A much more comprehensive book about the myths

    I also have two other books related to Norse history or culture:

    Practical Guide to the Runes

    Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru: For learning about the way a heathen's mind works and how he lives his life. I don't follow the stuff in the book, but I'm putting some of it into practice as I explore my ancestral connections
u/RockGnasher · 2 pointsr/occult

What are you interested in? Wicca, candle magick, hermeticism and alchemy, Setianism, Qabalah, tarot, mythology, astrology, goetia, esoteric christianity? A little bit of everything?

My recommendation is to start with something you're really interested in and pick up that one thing. If you're interested in Crowley, then you might be interested in tarot. My suggestion is getting a simple book by a laymen's author like Amber Jayanti on the tarot. As you read the book, circle, highlight or write down (or add to a shopping list) sources to which that author refers - Jayanti may cite Paul Foster Case a lot. Once you read some Case books, then you'll start to see Crowley pop up. Pick up Lon Milo DuQuette's book on Crowley's Tarot. Then you can probably read Crowley's Book of Thoth.

My other advice is not to worry about not picking up every little detail of every book. You won't have the schema necessary for every small detail in every book, and part of reading in the occult is rediscovering the deeper meaning of something you thought you already knew, like a spiral upward.

u/IAO131 · 2 pointsr/thelema

93 - I would look in Book of Thoth for a lot of symbolism as well as, of course, 777. I can tell you that the Vesica Piscis is understood to be a feminine symbol, composed of two intersecting circles, forming the Yoni. It is usually 'balanced' by various 'masculine' symbols, often those of the cross or some form thereof, in or around it. That one is fairly obvious.

u/keryskerys · 2 pointsr/tarot

I completely agree with your comment.

The Thoth tarot is wonderfully deep, if you are also interested in studying the occult symbology.

If you prefer a gentler approach to learning, then other decks - especially R/W are a good starting point.

I only came to love the Thoth deck after using RW for tarot for several years, and, in addition, studying occult disciplines. And I read The Book of Thoth before I read "Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot"

Rider-Waite is a fantastic learning tarot, and far, far more powerful as a teaching deck than most others on the market today IMHO.

u/Mr_Tarradiddle · 2 pointsr/tarot

I have that deck! See customer images in link:

https://www.amazon.com/Rider-Tarot-Arthur-Edward-Waite/dp/091386613X

u/lenore14 · 2 pointsr/occult

I completely understand and that’s why I always use my Rider Tarot deck. It’s simple nothing beautifully drawn or crafted, just the basics. The Rider Tarot Deck https://www.amazon.com/dp/091386613X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9fyXBbFK5VFG7

u/haveanicedaytoo · 2 pointsr/orangeisthenewblack

I just want to make it clear that I'm not making fun of her because whatever mental condition she has, I've never seen anything like it before and I'm just really sad for her. She actually was my favorite after Slater. :C

Anyway, she wrote some books, and, almost every, single, word in, the, book, has a, comma, after, it. Google isn't really helpful in figuring out what's going on with her. Her mom says bipolar, Lark says lupus, but I don't know if lupus can do that but I do know that bipolar doesn't make people delusional in that specific way (I was misdiagnosed as bipolar for almost 5 years so I had a lot of time researching the damned thing...) I hope she's doing better now.

u/Zack_and_Screech · 2 pointsr/iamverysmart

If it weren't for the lack of commas, I would swear this was written by Lark Voorhies

u/Alpha_Delta_Bravo · 2 pointsr/funny

I've never vomited in a mall so perhaps not. I have only ever thrown up outdoors (due to alcohol) or in a toilet at home.

To answer your question, which apparently I was missing but now see due to your Lark Voorhies style sentence.

How do you know if somebody collapses in a locked stall in a public restroom? The only possible way I would know would be to have a visible area under the stall where I would see a person laying on the ground or for them to verbalize their need for medical attention. I don't believe that is reason these gaps exist, but it would certainly serve a purpose. To prevent them from "rotting for days" obviously public places have cleaners who come in regularly so this wouldn't happen. They would knock, get no response, unlock and find this pile of bodies of all the people dying on the crapper out there. Do you have a phobia of this scenario? People die alone all the time. They have heart attacks in cars, they get in solo car accidents sometimes caused by heart attacks. They have aneurisms. Contrary to popular belief, if a person goes into full cardiac arrest and collapses at the mall they probably aren't going to live anyway no matter how much medical attention they get. People die all over the place. It's life. Many people lived and died before you, and many people will live and die long after you are gone. If you are relying on the public to come get you out of a bathroom stall I would invest in medic alert jewelry for any chronic conditions as well as push button gps medical alert systems. If you keel over in a bathroom in most places, people will probably think you are strung out and ignore you or at best tell the staff to come mop you out the door.

Take a look at this, it seems like it is right up your alley.
https://www.amazon.com/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541

u/GnomeChomski · 2 pointsr/atheism
u/caveat_cogitor · 2 pointsr/oddlysatisfying

https://www.amazon.com/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541
True Light: A, superior, take, unto, the, premier, haloing, of, tenuation. Readily, available, True Light, provides, resource, into, time's, motifed, and, vestuved, authenticate, revelation.

u/PhatsCadwalader · 2 pointsr/worldbuilding
u/csjo · 2 pointsr/books

I, mean, the, book, itself is, utterly, amazing but this is the best review of True Light: A, superior, take, unto, the, premier, haloing, of, tenuation. Readily, available, True Light, provides, resource, into, time's, motifed, and, vestuved, authenticate, revelation.
By Lark Voorhies (Lisa Turtle)


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/review/1450243541/R10ZG1TJNW0020/ref=mw_dp_cr?cursor=2&sort=rd
Short, sweet, and, to, the, point.

The other reviews are pretty great, too.

u/Blackblade_ · 2 pointsr/TheRedPill

>You can't develop intuition without analyzing everything you do.

Yes, you can. Intuition isn't something you learn, it's something you have simply by existing. Your brain already has the experience to make split second decisions outside of your "slowly grinding mental process." Most people don't realize this because they have "monkey brains" (to borrow a phrase from the Zen masters), and they can't stop themselves from thinking too much about what they are doing. They get in their own way!

There are quite a number of methods and techniques for honing one's intuition, especially a sense for interpersonal relations and "people skills." A lot of techniques associated with the western occult tradition make this their central focus.

Part of developing intuition is developing means of communicating with your own subconscious. The subconscious doesn't communicate in words, but it can be trained to work with symbols. That's why so much of the occult is obsessed with symbolism and seemingly counter-factual narratives.

Some excellent books that offer practical guides for developing intuition:

u/karasutengu · 2 pointsr/psychology

Brainwashing yourself for fun and profit... Prometheus Rising by RAW might be an alternative place to look.

u/illogician · 2 pointsr/PhilosophyofScience

Wilson is a lot of fun if you approach his stuff with the right attitude. You can't expect to agree with everything he says. If you did, he would probably slap you and tell you "think for yourself, schmuck!" Part of his deal is that he intermingles fact, fiction, and hyperbole so that the reader has to continually ask themselves "how much of this do I really believe?" What really messes with the reader's head is that many of his seemingly crazier points actually stand up to fact-checking.

>"For any formal effectively generated theory T including basic arithmetical truths and also certain truths about formal provability, if T includes a statement of its own consistency then T is inconsistent."

I'm not sure if anakantavada includes arithmetical truths or truths about formal provability, so it might not fall into the Godel trap. But I'm still not totally clear on what anakantavada does or does not entail. It seems, at least intuitively, to be making a very important point: our understandings of things are usually partial and seemingly conflicting accounts may just be drawing attention to differing aspects of a thing. But then maybe anakantavada is just one aspect of things as well. Perhaps this can all be coherent - I'm not sure.

As much as I enjoy paradoxes, sometimes a contradiction is just an indication that one has made a mistake in reasoning.


>I was judging "truth" in a pragmatic sense as "Ideas … become true just in so far as they help us to get into satisfactory relations with other parts of our experience. (1907: 34)"

This seems to me to set the bar too low. Can't false ideas also help us "get into satisfactory relations with other parts of our experience." It seems implausible to deny this, given how regularly people are satisfied with their false ideas, and yet to accept it pretty much eviscerates the notion of truth. I have some sympathy with many aspects of pragmatism - particular the point that theory and practice don't come apart as easily in practice as they do in theory - but the pragmatic theory of truth always struck me as unhelpful.

>For questions about ethics and purpose, religion and philosophical frameworks are much better. Being able to solve problems with one's emotions and intuitions is a lot better than cold reason.

I agree to a certain extent about the value of emotion and intuitions, but they need to be checked by feedback from reason because our biases can run amok and don't always have built-in standards of decency. Sometimes what peoples' intuitions tell them is ethically abhorrent.

When it comes to religion, I'm not as optimistic as you are. Religion can be quite dangerous for propagating incredibly harmful values and shielding them from legitimate criticism. In America, we've got conservative Christians referencing a collection of writings from the bronze-age to justify repressive laws aimed at women and homosexuals. They tell us global warming is nothing to worry about because the literal end of the world is coming at the hands of God, and that their religion, being the one true one, needs to be all over our courtrooms, classrooms, and government buildings. In the Middle East, we're seeing religion used to justify suicidal terrorism, extreme misogyny, stoning apostates to death, and anti-semetic attitudes that rival those of the Third Reich (Mein Kamph is still a bestseller in several Muslim countries).

On the other hand, we find that many of the most atheistic countries in the world also rank among the happiest and have the best human rights records (e.g. Norway, Netherlands, Denmark). That gives me hope a less religious future might be on in which we all get along a little better.

Loved the Asimov passage!

edit: A good place to start with Wilson is Prometheus Rising.

u/NoHero3s · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

The hard part is life on Earth, the easy part is what comes afterwards. In my personal opinion, one of two things happens upon death:

  1. Your existence ends. That's it. There is nothing more. Thus, there is nothing to be afraid of, because there is...nothing. No joy, no pain, no sadness. Just like turning off the switch, similar to when you go unconscious.

  2. You will move into the afterlife. There are a multitude of thoughts of what the afterlife will be. Personally, I don't believe that there is a 'hell' , in the conventional sense of the word. On Earth, we are in physical form. If you believe that you have a soul, the only logical progression upon death of your physical body is transcendence to a new spiritual realm, or back to the spiritual realm that you came from. The point of hell, in this situation, is moot. And really, what would be the purpose of hell? To live life for 30, 40, 80 years...and then spend an ETERNITY suffering? There is no logical, reasonable or realistic basis for this.

    What is entirely possible, and what I believe, is that Earth is essentially a 'school' for the souls. We are sent here to live through existence, to learn, for the better or for the worse. Life is a series of lessons, and each life we live grows our soul. Our short existence on this Earth is merely the schoolyard, and when we die, we get to review our life, see what we did wrong, what we did right, and then contemplate how we can make things better, or see what the next life can possibly offer us.

    In a way, this could be considered 'heaven', but I don't see it as such. I just see it as our true existence. So in this sense, there should be no fear of dying - you will die when your time comes, and you will die because you accomplished what you needed to do.

    A book that really changed my perspective on existence, religion, life and death in general is the Journey of Souls. That being said, I was always anti-religion, anti-God, and always believed that life is a one shot deal, and that my pure existence was just happenstance of the right molecules and materials coming together.

    After reading that book, I'm not religious, I don't go to church, but I do feel more comfortable about my life, my perspective of death, and have a much more open mind to all the world religions. I believe that every religion does have something right in what they teach - reincarnation, morals, treating people well...but no one religion seems to have gotten it entirely correct.
u/master_baiter · 2 pointsr/ChildrenOfTheLight



Short answer to your question is, No, I don’t believe there is an eternal hell a being can go to. However, if you have ever experienced great time passing in a dream that takes place in a short nap, I believe that as creative beings empowered within the Divine, being literally God forgetting Itself, one can dream/experience long periods of suffering or what might be deemed “hell.” I believe if one is doing self-centered, self seeking behaviors, and taking these fears into multiple lifetimes they will likely keep experiencing profound suffering in lifetimes that will be very “hellish” until they “learn their lesson.” By that, I don’t mean a matter of punishment being done for being “bad” meted out by some point keeping Deity watching the scales of justice and making sure to balance them. I mean more a cause/effect. Like if I don’t want to get all wet I wouldn’t jump into the pool. If I woke up each day and jumped into a pool while saying to myself “this time I won’t get wet” eventually I will “learn the lesson” that jumping into pools causes the experience of wetness. This is what I believe is meant by the Eastern descriptions of Karma, merely the natural consequences of certain attitudes and behaviors. If I refrain from showering I will be stank within a day or two. It’s not cosmic punishment from a wrathful god for the Evil of not showering that I am experiencing the retribution of condemnation to a be a stank ass, it’s just Natural Law. If for many lifetimes I keep using everyone as if they are disposable and channeling all of my angers and fears into “I gotta cheat them before they cheat me” I think my existence will stay hellish until I “get it” and decide to stop following those patterns. The second way a person could experience a “hell” is described by some NDEs and Astral Journeying experiences. They suggest that once we die, in between lives those conditioned patterns can play out for a while as a “dream of hell.” That can be a hell like experience for the spirit experiencing it, but once again that would be a hell of their own making that can be left as soon as the spirit “wakes up.” Primarily it could be found by the Souls own self condemnation and so they decide not to journey to the light but keep circling around lost as they know they “don’t deserve the light.”


My overarching worldview is that of non-duality or Advaita Vedanta which basically specifies that the only “real” thing is the unification with Source/Oneness/God/The Unchanging. To transcend it completely and realize your true is the goal of that specific outlook. More accurately described as realizing that you already Are That and you can’t not be. Ultimately this would result in residing in the Awareness of that Truth as the seat of your perception instead of identifying with the limited separate you that thinks it’s an individual human m. My favorite Teacher in this outlook is Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. His teachings can be found here: http://www.maharajnisargadatta.com/I_Am_That.pdf



All of these other discussions about the manifested world and our place in it as individual souls are moot to the point of view of the Advaita Vedantaschool of thought. To it, speculation about cosmology, other lives, and heaven/hell is about as pointless as trying to deposit money in the bank that you won in a dream or trying to arrest an actor for a crime his character committed on stage. Because if this is all transitory and ultimately “a dream of separation,” then all mental chatter is just part of the dream.

However, I moderate that view because for myself as I am still appearing to be in this present context. Here, now, the “me” typing these letters is what I am presented with. If I am going to be appearing to exist at this time on this planet in this realm, I might as well be trying to play the game at the forefront of my present experience effectively.



My beliefs in reincarnation are based on others’ research and my own regression hypnosis and meditations.


I will offer some of my influences below so you could investigate further yourself if you feel interested in it.


IISIS (Institute for the Integration of Science Intuition and Spirit): http://www.iisis.net/index.php?page=semkiw-reincarnation-past-lives-principles&hl=en_US
This site offers many case studies of people claiming they remember their previous lives and documented with scientific rigor.

The Journey of Souls by Michael Newton
PDF: https://archonmatrix.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Journey-Of-Souls-by-Michael-Newton-PDF.pdf
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855
In this book psychologist Michael Newton offers transcripts from some highlighted cases of over 700 people he did regressive hypnosis on. The way he got his data was placing people under hypnosis, having them recall their past life and then guiding them to continue the memory until they travel to the place they went between lives. The results are remarkably consistent from person to person, even though the clients weren’t given any expectation of what they would experience. Generally the people die, see a light, travel to it, are met by a person of authority, love and light that usually fits their predominant religious outlook (Jesus for Christians, Krishna for Hindus, Glowing white orbs for agnostics, etc) After that, select members of their “soul group” come and say “hi.” (Could be a loving grandmother, or brother, etc) the soul group is the family of souls they share many lifetimes with that are around the same stage of soul evolution. There are also guides an octave or two above the evolution of the whole group that radiate love and give guidance. Also common is life reviews and then picking from several different future incarnations to go back and try and learn what we need to develop specifically in our weak spots. This books data suggests everyone comes to earth willingly because we could stay hanging out in Soul Paradise forever but the rate of evolution is super slow and so each soul wants to advance and then get to world building. Like once a soul gets advanced enough it becomes a Demi-God and makes its own universes.


Near Death Experiences (NDEs)
Near-death.com
One of the more interesting NDEs on that site is the story of George Ritchie who traveled places on earth with a being of Love he believed to be Jesus. This seems to offer evidence of the idea of a soul creating their own hell to exist in for a while as a result of their own judgment of themselves: https://www.near-death.com/experiences/notable/george-ritchie.html#a05a

A solid overview of the gamut of experiences NDEs can appear as is found on this page of their site:
https://www.near-death.com/science/research/out-of-body-experiences.html


Astral Journeyers
One of the most practiced astral journeyers I ever came across in my internet wanderings was the experiences of the late Frank Kepple, an active participant on the forum astralpulse.com. Using the Monroe Institute’s Gateway Program CDs he was able to journey extensively in the realms of spirit and he documented his findings for the other members there. The gestalt of his findings overlap considerably with findings of both NDE experiences and Michael Newtons between life regression case studies. They also indicate spirits can be “stuck” for a while in their own self made hell realms if they were living automatic lives based on self centeredness. The admins their collected all his writings into one cohesive doc found here: http://www.astralpulse.com/frankkepple.html

(The CDs he used can be found here:
https://www.monroeinstitute.org/Gateway%20Voyage%20Program )

One other belief system that echoes this ontology is the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism that speak to souls going to “hell realms” and “god realms” between lives based on their “karma.” As the true nature of things get lost and diluted through generations of distance from the source material coupled with the dogma that inevitably arises when a belief system gets modified for a wider general population mainstream, I feel those descriptions are a bit distorted from the original teachers who had the experiences and as they were canonized they have evolved to be more along the lines of a worldview that hell realms are a “punishment for being bad” instead of the more likely experience of “self created dream of hell” that more recent research suggests.


As to your question on what I meant by Higher Self, I mean the soul/energy body described in the above references that is connected to evolved guides and soul groups and knowledge of all the lives you’ve lived. That aspect of You knows the real reason you incarnated in this specific lifetime and what goals you’re trying to achieve with regard to your evolution.

I will always be to some degree agnostic of all of these views. I sort of assign mental probabilities to all of my beliefs that give them likelihoods. The idea that modern Christianity is completely right and every conflicting viewpoint is the work of the devil? I give that a 3%. The idea that I am a sentient AI-bot in an elaborate quantum simulation? 13% The idea that I am just a perceiving consciousness in the center of void with literally nothing and no one else existing, just projecting the experience of other people with no internal perception or consciousness of their own that phase in and out of existence when I leave and re-enter the room they appear in? That solipsist view might be closer to 33%. These other ideas I present of Advaita Vedanta, soul evolution and reincarnation get a higher rating of 70-80% by me. However, the more I progress on my path the more I realize I know nothing.

u/MsUnderwood · 2 pointsr/lawofattraction

Here's a book about NDEs specifically

Check out books from Robert Monroe, a former scientist, who has learned how to OBE at will and has studied/taught others to as well.

A subreddit for people who have experienced or are in the process of achieving OBEs (also called astral travelling or astral projecting) https://www.reddit.com/r/Astral_Projection/

Tons of Youtube videos as well a lot of them report similar things but of course keep in mind Youtubers aren't always the most reliable

I like TedXTalks for subjects like these, check out the first 2 videos

Another thing related to astral projection is remote viewing, where you're able to see other places without physically going there. CIA is currently looking into and trying to weaponize this technique

u/lotusflowerjasmine · 2 pointsr/exmormon

Start with this one: God and the Afterlife: The Groundbreaking New Evidence for God and Near-Death Experience https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062279556/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vxgSBbC82834X

And when you’re ready for it, go on to this one: Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671657860/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RzgSBbJ4CQSWD

Then this one: Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives https://www.amazon.com/dp/1567184855/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RygSBbAD9C961

u/greatunknownpub · 2 pointsr/MorbidReality

I haven't read that one, but another great book in that vein is Journey of Souls by Michael Newton. Really opened my mind to some amazing possibilities.

u/LunchNap · 2 pointsr/conspiracy

After some unique meditative experience and a couple rabbit holes thanks to r/conspiracy I've been practicing, so I am by no means a seasoned astralnaut. I'm reading the following right now and it's been very helpful. I've had some mediocre success but the symptoms I've experienced align with what I've been reading. /r/AstralProjection is a great place to start.

Astral Dynamics: The Complete Book of Out-of-Body Experiences by Robert Bruce

u/ErisianBuddhist · 2 pointsr/AstralProjection

If you're interested, pick up a copy of Astral Dynamics. I find a lot the metaphysics advocated for highly speculative and to be taken with a few grains of salt, but the exercises have been very effective, at least for me. It's also a fantastic primer for the sorts of experiences you are likely to have across a broad range.

u/Llama_Sutra · 2 pointsr/occult

Have a look at Robert Bruce's book Astral Dynamics. I don't care for his new-age style marketing, but his material is sound, original, and road-tested.

u/robot_one · 2 pointsr/taoism

There is good old John Chang, in the Magus of Java books. While John Chang is an interesting dude, don't expect anything practical from the books.

Chronicles of Tao is fiction, but an entertaining story. His writing is esoterically accurate in that he draws from other teachers. For example, the different planes described in Astral Dynamics are things he sees while in deep meditation. This absolutely blew my mind at the time until I read a little more about the guy who the books is about. Now I've come to the conclusion that he draws from other authors and teachers.

The author Hua Ching Ni writes a lot of books. He has an acupuncture school in Los Angeles called Yo San University. Some of his stuff is pretty esoteric, but not much practical instruction.

It's definitely worth it to learn some TCM theory.

I honestly haven't come across any good qigong books. I took a class with one of this guy's students, it had a good breadth of standard stances. The book would probably make a good introduction. I'm pretty sure that book is available online somewhere if you are willing to violate copyright laws.

I read a pdf of this book on Taoist Sorcery. It gave some insight to some of the esoteric spirit petitioning crazyness. A lot of ritual and burning of yellow paper.

Other than that it is a lot of meeting different teachers, learning their practices, then going home and working on that stuff. You shouldn't need to keep paying someone in order to keep practicing.

u/FraterAVR · 2 pointsr/occult

Please, please, don't take this the wrong way or be offended, but reading this made me extremely sad -- especially the part about giving up and moving to chaos theory instead.

If you want to understand the basics of the structure of the Tarot and learn some simple rituals, then I would strongly suggest this book and deck by the Ciceros.

Without a firm grasp of the basic Tarot, I feel that Crowley's Thoth deck and book will be too confusing. If you insist on learning the Thoth before the basic Tarot, then I would suggest supplementing Crowley's text with this book by Duquette.

Please don't give up... just study a lot more theory! Good luck!

P.S. PM me if you'd like and I can point you copies of these books online.

EDIT: You may also be interested in this other book by the Ciceros. I have a copy but I've only flipped through it. Don't let the cover or title turn you off. Check out the Table of Contents and you'll see it hits a lot of important topics and provides a lot of example rituals.

u/rawillis3 · 2 pointsr/tarot

Some years ago I read Lon Milo Duquette's book on the Thoth deck

https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Aleister-Crowleys-Thoth-Tarot/dp/1578632765

and came away with the impression the king/queen/knight/page sequence is a matter of emphasizing, respectively, the fire/water/air/earth aspects of the particular suit energy. I read these as a matter of enacting or embodying these aspects, and I have (almost) completely gotten away from identifying, say, queen wands as a particular individual, but usually as an aspect of the querent, or a role she is undertaking.

Which I guess also means I am largely disregarding imagery, but that was sort of baked into my early experiences with a "dark" deck in which some of the imagery was literally so dark as to be almost indecipherable. These days I mostly read with playing cards.

u/OrionsArmpit · 2 pointsr/tarot

Crowley's Book of Thoth is also available online for free as it's now public domain. There's also an excellent thoth book by Don Milo that's almost required reading if you're into Crowley mysticism as it relates to the Thoth tarot: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Aleister-Crowleys-Thoth-Tarot/dp/1578632765

I'd recommend getting the large format Thoth deck, there's a ton of tiny detail that kind of gets lost in the smaller reprints.


That said, the Rider-Waite deck comes from the same Hermetic tradition and has much of the same symbolism. The imagery is a little less... dense? Surreal? and a bit easier to relate to at first (plus all the pip cards are illustrated, making the minor arcana easier to learn). There are also a bunch of excellent resources for the RW since its sort of the "default" deck.

u/SlCDayCare · 2 pointsr/occult

This is my favorite book on the Major Arcana.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fools-Pilgrimage-Kabbalistic-Meditations/dp/0835608395

I think the author is Donald Tyson, but Portable Magic is a great book on constructing rituals for tarot.

As for learning card meanings almost any is fine to get yourself started. I usually recommend starting with whatever your local library has on it instead of spending money or searching for a .pdf.

However if you get a Thoth Deck this is the most reccomended book on it.

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Aleister-Crowleys-Thoth-Tarot/dp/1578632765


u/AllanfromWales1 · 2 pointsr/Wicca

For me, the key thing with divination is that you are trying to answer a question, not just looking for the book meanings of the cards/runes/whatever. So, at least to start, you need a fairly simplistic interpretation of what each tool means, and a lot of flexibility to apply that to the situation in front of you.
In terms of remembering what things mean, I found Tarot books most useful which start from the basis of 'the two's mean this, the threes mean this etc. when applied to the relevant suit', so there was some sort of pattern to follow rather than 78 individual meanings. My memory is poor these days, but I think Rachel Pollock's 78 Degrees of Wisdom was good for that. It is, in any case, one of the all-time classic Tarot books.

u/robbyhaber · 2 pointsr/tarot

By far my favorite is Rachel Pollak's Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot https://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634083/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_alPTCb8MYZDZ1

u/to55r · 2 pointsr/occult

I have enjoyed this one.

Probably not a beginner's book, and I don't agree with everything that's presented, but it has helped me make connections that I might not have come to on my own. Easily one of my favorites.

u/bukvich · 2 pointsr/occult

> I had especially in mind free resources from the internet.

All of these books are interesting in places: sacred texts tarot

The best ones I have read are not online:

The Thursday Night Tarot: Weekly Talks on the Wisdom of the Major Arcana by Jason Lotterhand
and
Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot by Rachel Pollack

u/t4rusky · 2 pointsr/tarot

Honestly one of the best books I've found for starting is Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack

https://www.amazon.ca/Seventy-Eight-Degrees-Wisdom-Book-Tarot/dp/1578634083

It gives a great fundamental look at the history of the cards as well as teasing some more advanced topics, so you can really take any topic from the book and go wild with your journey. It works with the RWS deck which most people start with I would say, but the wisdom is universal. It's a great resource and I've never stopped sourcing it even though I've gone through tons of other books since reading this one.

u/tdolsen · 2 pointsr/Drugs

If you want something a little more in-depth, can I recommend The Psychedelic Explorers Guide by James Fadiman.

u/gamyak · 2 pointsr/shroomers

Entire books have been written on this subject and all of them agree that several factors go into making a trip insightful. Some of these factors are: set, setting, drug, dose, and guide. Unfortunately for you, 1.25g of cubensis isn't great and since you are doing this tomorrow and still asking for advice, you probably don't have a great set or guide. That leaves you with making sure you have one hell of a setting. Really though, just have fun tomorrow. If you want a more insightful trip, do a bit of reading up on the subject, start meditating, and give yourself plenty of time to make sure everything is set up just right before your next trip. By the way, here is one of me favorite books on the subject.

u/ptntprty · 2 pointsr/GetMotivated

You're welcome.

For a user's guide, you might look into this book.

I haven't read it myself yet but it's known to be a good resource, and the author is well regarded.

u/pigpeyn · 2 pointsr/PsychedelicTherapy

I haven’t gotten to this yet but it sounds like it could help:

Jim Fadiman’s Psychedelic Explorers Guide

https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys/dp/1594774021

u/buttercupbride · 2 pointsr/AmItheAsshole

NTA - I take a micro dose of psilocybin for my bipolar, PTSD and various other things. I’ve spent my whole life on various awful prescribed chemical drugs that have never worked but given me terrible side effects.

It has changed my life. My husband and my parents all know and support me. My Mum said I’m a different person (for the better).

Try reading some more about it:

https://thethirdwave.co/microdosing-course/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Really-Good-Day-Microdosing-Difference/dp/1101973722

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys/dp/1594774021

But yes be careful who you tell. I understand the need to talk to friends but this is a very unknown subject still and people are extremely judgemental. TV hasn’t helped by already glorifying it and there are huge misconceptions about LSD.

Also in my country (the UK) it is illegal so there are risks. I took part in a study. The medical establishments are researching and getting there but it’s too slow and I had run out of viable options for my mental health personally.

To anyone considering doing this please do your research and be very careful. I’m not encouraging anyone else to do this without careful consideration and assessing the risks. I researched this for months before I started it as I had never taken LSD before and was petrified.

Edit: changed stared to started for spelling doh!

u/clararockmore · 2 pointsr/Psychonaut

Set = the user's mindset, beliefs, mood, expectations about the drug experience, etc.

Setting = the physical environment in which the drug experience takes place, which can consist of the location, objects in the space (art, plants, furniture, etc.) smells or sounds, music, and other people/beings that are in the surroundings.

Check out James Fadiman's Psychedelic Explorer's Guide if you're interested in learning more. He goes into a lot of detail about different things that contribute positively and negatively to set and setting. Lots of his work is geared at therapeutic/spiritual drug experiences, but it's very useful information even for personal/recreational use to help direct your trip as you'd like.

u/shallowbookworm · 2 pointsr/NoStupidQuestions

You'll enjoy this, The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys, it's also on Hoopla, the free library ebook and audiobook app.

u/Taqiyya22 · 2 pointsr/australia

You should have a therapist you take it with. I would recommend reading the "Psychedelic explorers guide" and having a copy on you as well, it's a book for therapists to properly guide people through psychedelic trips

https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys/dp/1594774021

u/windupgodzilla · 2 pointsr/psychedelicsupport

I don’t know much about courses but, if you haven’t read it, The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide by James Fadiman might have some of what you’re looking for.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594774021/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_kukVCb2GMQ6YT

Also, the Zendo Project occasionally does training courses. I was too slow in signing up for one in June at Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in NY and it sold out. Next time.

u/47themessenger14 · 2 pointsr/Drugs

Lol, yeah. I'm apparently a glutton for psychological punishment. I had another unresolved BPM II type experience about a two years later, again completely by accident, lost my marbles while laughing at my cat. I discovered the BPM model a few months after that and suddenly a million light bulbs went off in my head. I tried to replicate Stan Grof's experiment's a year and a half after learning about it and AGAIN, unresolved BPM II experience, and that one was probably the worst because 1) I had taken a HUGE dose that time thinking it would help [IT DOES NOT, --just enough-- is perfect ~200µ] and 2) I fully allowed the LSD to work me over because that was my intention. Neither I nor my guides fully understood what we were doing and I experienced the most harrowing six hours (read: one million trillion years) lying on my bedroom floor. One of my guides claimed she could see my carotid artery just about jumping out of my neck quite rapidly.

Eventually I was able to bring an LSD session to resolution, but I used the Psychedelic Explorer's Guide by James Fadiman as the guide book. Stan Grof's work is excellent and provides a good model for interpreting the experience but is really written from the interior of the trip. The 6-stage model used by Dr. Fadiman is much more written for the guide and extremely easy to follow. The guide is 90% of the trip, only 10% the voyager.

Resolution of a high dose experience is more than worth it if you don't have a risk of serious mental health problems and have the balls to carry it out. Since I did it feels like the wheels of life have been greased. I'm much less liable to be angry, it's much much much easier to build rapport with people who believe differently than I, enjoying and staying in the present moment is much easier, and I feel like I understand my purpose in life.

Thank you so much for your interest. I think learning about the theoretical models used for psychedelic experience can vastly improve one's psychedelic experiences.

u/silascade · 2 pointsr/occult

I read a description of "Initiation into Hermetics" by Franz Bardon on Amazon. It said:

> Franz Bardon is considered by many as the greatest adept of the 20th century. A tireless worker for the light, he survived Hitler's concentration camps but died a victim of Communist persecution in 1958. He left behind him four legendary books which have become acknowledged classics of occult literature.

As a believer in and neophyte practicioner of magick, I mean this question seriously. How do you die a victim of Communist (or really any kind of) persecution when you're supposed​ly the greatest adept of the century? Can't you magick your way out of that sort of thing? Am I misunderstanding how magick works?

u/WitchDruid · 2 pointsr/witchcraft

The Following list is taken from the Witches & Warlocks FB page. (This is Christian Day's group)

Witches and Warlocks Recommended Reading List
This is a collection of books recommended by our admins and participants in the group. Books must be approved by the admins so if you'd like to see one added to the last, please post it in the comments at the bottom of this list and, if it's something we think is appropriate, we'll add it! We provide links to Amazon so folks can read more about the book but we encourage you to shop at your local occult shop whenever possible! :)


BEGINNER'S WITCHCRAFT BOOKS

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft
by Raymond Buckland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0875420508

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America
by Margot Adler
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0143038192

Grimoire of the Thorn-Blooded Witch: Mastering the Five Arts of Old World Witchery
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635500

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738702765

The Kybalion: The Definitive Edition
by William Walker Atkinson (Three Initiates)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1585428744

Lid Off the Cauldron: A Wicca Handbook
by Patricia Crowther
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1861630328

Mastering Witchcraft
by Paul Huson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0595420060

Natural Magic
by Doreen Valiente
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0919345808

Natural Witchery: Intuitive, Personal & Practical Magick
by Ellen Dugan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738709220

Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern Days
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635055

The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738705314

Power of the Witch: The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment
by Laurie Cabot
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385301898

Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation
by Silver RavenWolf
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703192

Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703389

Witch: A Magickal Journey
by Fiona Horne
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0007121326

Witchcraft for Tomorrow
by Doreen Valiente
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0709052448

Witchcraft Today
by Gerald Gardner
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806525932
The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical Transformation
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/073870265X
The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill
by Robin Artisson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982031882

WITCHCRAFT HISTORY AND RESOURCE BOOKS

Aradia or The Gospel of the Witches
by Charles Godfrey Leland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982432356

Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints & Sages: A Guide to Asking for Protection, Wealth, Happiness, and Everything Else!
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0062009575

The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca
by Rosemary Ellen Guiley
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0816071047

Etruscan Roman Remains
by Charles Godfrey Leland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1494302519

The God of the Witches
by Margaret Murray
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0195012704

The Weiser Field Guide to Witches, The: From Hexes to Hermione Granger, From Salem to the Land of Oz
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634792

ADVANCED BOOKS ON WITCHCRAFT AND MAGIC

Blood Sorcery Bible Volume 1: Rituals in Necromancy
by Sorceress Cagliastro
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935150812

The Deep Heart of Witchcraft: Expanding the Core of Magickal Practice
by David Salisbury
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1780999208

Teen Spirit Wicca
by David Salisbury
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1782790594

Enchantment: The Witch's Art of Manipulation by Gesture, Gaze and Glamour
by Peter Paddon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936922517

Initiation into Hermetics
by Franz Bardon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1885928122

Letters from the Devil's Forest: An Anthology of Writings on Traditional Witchcraft, Spiritual Ecology and Provenance Traditionalism
by Robin Artisson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500796360

Magical Use of Thought Forms: A Proven System of Mental & Spiritual Empowerment
by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowick and J.H. Brennan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567180841

Magick in Theory and Practice
by Aleister Crowley
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500380679

The Plant Spirit Familiar
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982774311

Protection and Reversal Magick
by Jason Miller
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1564148793
Psychic Self-Defense
by Dion Fortune
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635098
The Ritual Magic Workbook: A Practical Course of Self-Initiation
by Dolores Ashcroft-Norwicki
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578630452
The Roebuck in the Thicket: An Anthology of the Robert Cochrane Witchcraft Tradition
by Evan John Jones, Robert Cochrane and Michael Howard
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1861631553

The Satanic Witch
by Anton Szandor LaVey
http://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Witch-Anton-Szandor-LaVey/dp/0922915849
Shadow Magick Compendium: Exploring Darker Aspects of Magickal Spirituality
by Raven Digitalis
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VS0N5K
The Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition
by Orion Foxwood
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634075
The Underworld Initiation: A journey towards psychic transformation
by R.J. Stewart
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1892137038

HERBALISM, CANDLES, INCENSE, OILS, FORMULARIES, AND STONES

A Compendium of Herbal Magic
by Paul Beyerl
http://www.amazon.com/dp/091934545X

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
by Scott Cunningham
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0875421229

The Enchanted Candle: Crafting and Casting Magickal Light
by Lady Rhea
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806525789

The Enchanted Formulary: Blending Magickal Oils for Love, Prosperity, and Healing
by Lady Maeve Rhea
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806527048

Incense: Crafting and Use of Magickal Scents
by Carl F. Neal
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703362

Magickal Formulary Spellbook Book 1
by Herman Slater
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0939708000

Magickal Formulary Spellbook: Book II
by Herman Slater
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0939708108


SPELLCASTING AND SPELLBOOKS
Crone's Book of Charms & Spells
by Valerie Worth
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567188117

Crone's Book of Magical Words
by Valerie Worth
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567188257

Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061711233

Everyday Magic: Spells & Rituals for Modern Living
by Dorothy Morrison
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567184693

Pure Magic: A Complete Course in Spellcasting
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578633915
Utterly Wicked: Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions
by Dorothy Morrison
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0979453313
The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook
by Denise Alvarado
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635136

The Voodoo Doll Spellbook: A Compendium of Ancient and Contemporary Spells and Rituals
by Denise Alvarado
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578635543


THE ANCESTORS AND WORKING WITH THE DEAD
The Cauldron of Memory: Retrieving Ancestral Knowledge & Wisdom
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738715751

The Mighty Dead
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982774370

Speak with the Dead: Seven Methods for Spirit Communication
by Konstantinos
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738705225
The Witches' Book of the Dead
by Christian Day
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635063
_____
TAROT

78 Degrees of Wisdom
by Rachel Pollack
http://www.amazon.com/dp/157863408

u/faderskibet · 2 pointsr/Denmark

[Her] (https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Meetings-Ancient-Teachers-Mankind/dp/1932857842). Jeg er bare en mongol til at sætte tid af til boglæsning, efter at have sat barn i verden, og jeg vil hellere spille gombuder når jeg "har fri".

u/mama146 · 2 pointsr/booksuggestions

You might be interested in Graham Hancock take on this subject in Supernatural: Meetings with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind

u/jambrand · 2 pointsr/Showerthoughts

Check out Biocentrism by Dr. Robert Lanza. His entire life's work is a theory that amounts to this - that the physical world as we know it is derived from biological experience; in essence, we are all rendering our personal video game within a server that manages the bigger picture. It's really, really compelling.

His answer is that the tree in the forest doesn't exist in the first place, so there's nothing there to make a sound if no one is rendering it. He actually uses that example several times in the book.

u/xenomouse · 2 pointsr/infj

These are not fast questions, haha.

>What do you think is on the other side of the black hole?

Theoretically, if the black hole is part of a pair that were created from entangled subatomic particles, then they would be connected by an Einstein-Rosen bridge, and (again, theoretically) if you were to allow yourself to be sucked into one of them you'd emerge wherever the other one happens to exist. This could be in another galaxy, or yeah, some people think it's possible you could end up in another universe.

>Is there a lot of universes?

Theoretical physicists (particularly those working in string theory) are starting to think that yes, there are. Brian Greene and Michio Kaku have written reasonably accessible books on this theory, if you're interested.

>what about aliens?

Of course. It is highly unlikely that in a universe filled with billions of galaxies, each of which contains hundreds of millions of stars, only one of them would have a planet in its orbit that is capable of sustaining life. Robert Lanza hypothesizes that, in fact, the universe is biocentric - that life and consciousness are not mere accidents, but what the structure of the universe is based around. This, too, would suggest that life cannot then be confined to one planet.

>What happens to the infj emotion after their death? Are you thinking of reincarnation?

Not reincarnation exactly, no. My beliefs are pantheistic in a way that isn't really compatible with reincarnation in the traditional sense. My concept of "God" is, essentially, "the combined energy of the universe". Part of this energy is used to power my body and mind; what some might call a soul. But my "soul" isn't a discrete entity; it is made of energy, which is fungible. So, when I die, that energy (and therefore, I) will return to "everything". Of course, it will then be used to power other things... perhaps another life form, perhaps a star, or wind, or electricity. But it won't be the "same" energy - just as, if you pour a cup of water into the ocean and then fill another cup from it, it won't be the "same" water. It comes from the same source, but the individual molecules are probably going to be different. But I do think our thoughts and memories remain, as a sort of... resonance, let's say. They become part of everything, too. When people talk about remembering past lives, most likely they are accessing these resonating memories. But, not because your soul has moved into their body - rather, because you, and they, are part of the same whole.

Which, I guess, might sound like quibbling - it's not that different from reincarnation, not really. It's just that one view sees every soul as separate, and the other does not.

u/uncle_pistachio · 2 pointsr/Psychonaut

If you want to further your understanding of the universe you should read this and this. 2 of the most mind altering books I've read.

u/fatty2cent · 1 pointr/RationalPsychonaut

I picked up a used copy of Rational Mysticism at Half priced books but haven't started to read it yet. It might be down your ally. Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks and the Psychedelic Explorers Guide by James Fadiman may also be what you are looking for

u/jeffreyianni · 1 pointr/UpliftingNews

This [book](The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1594774021/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_g.kKDbJCG76ZR) will help you plan your sessions.

u/_stuntnuts_ · 1 pointr/billiards

The gist of microdosing is that you ingest just enough for the experience to not be "trippy", but still having the increased energy, concentration, and creativity that the LSD brings. Those things translate well onto a pool table.

FAQ from /r/microdosing

BTW: That book is only $14 on Amazon. Please consider supporting the author instead of stealing their work.

u/ineedmymedicine · 1 pointr/Drugs

Most of my books I have read are about mushrooms or psychedelics in general. This one seems rather popular, though.

u/mitch2you80 · 1 pointr/askMRP

Hijacking this top post to recommend everyone who’s not familiar with psychedelics yet to read this book before experiencing them. It’ll answer most of your questions and give a good idea of whether you’re ready to have a positive experience.

https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys/dp/1594774021

u/Greyfolded · 1 pointr/LSD

First off, I would not recommend dosing by yourself for your first time. You'll probably be alright if you do, but it's preferable to have someone you trust around. If you have someone else there, you can take a slightly larger dose, one more prone to induce mystical experience.

You mention that you are very strong mentally. This is not necessarily a good thing in this domain. If you're able to contain and pigeonhole the experience with your mind, you'll miss out on the magic that can happen when you are eclipsed by the experience.

You seem like a smart dude. Do some reading beforehand so you're prepared:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic/dp/1594774021

u/NineteenEightyTwo · 1 pointr/trees

I was doing the Franz Bardon Initiation into Hermetics method.

I just got to the "clear your mind" part. That is hard, but rewarding, as I have had some success with it and helped me get control of my emotions, but that was just a side-effect because I didn't even know that would happen.

u/MarquisDesMoines · 1 pointr/occult

Hey man, sorry for the too long delay in getting this information to you. Hopefully you haven't given up hope :)

Anyway, in terms of meditation I'm going to recommend the following sources which are my personal favorite.

  1. Here are some good techniques from the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn (weird name I know, but they do quality work). When it talks about "taking Refuge" and that sort of thing they're talking about a ritual opening they borrowed from Buddhist traditions. Really any sort of ritual opening you like (ex. reading from a holy book of your choice, visualizing a white light surrounding you, banishing etc.) will work.

    That page has a good general system that's borrowed from the old Order of the Golden Dawn. It might not click with you personally in it's entirety but take from it what you will.

  2. My absolute favorite beginners text for spirituality of any sort though is Israel Regardie's "Art of True Healing." The key to this one is really working through the system methodically. I don't know what your previous experience is, but I found that even with my years of practices of different sorts just refocusing on rhythmic breathing and that alone did wonders for me. Take your time. Make haste slowly and don't underestimate the importance of simply focusing on your breath. The rest of the text is a guided visualization that's borrowed in part from the Golden Dawn and in part from Eastern techniques. The technique can be adapted easily to other traditions though.

  3. I'm also a huge fan of Alan Watts. You can find a really excellent talk of his about meditation here. It's long but it's good.

    There's a start for you. I have some books I'd also recommend but it seems like you are primarily starting by internet research (which if fine, but you'll find it to be somewhat limited). But if you liked the JoS stuff, you'd probably like where they stole it from even better. Which would be this book: http://www.amazon.com/Initiation-into-Hermetics-Franz-Bardon/dp/1885928122

    Anyway, glad I could be of help and I wish you well on your path. Feel free to message me if you'd like to chat more.
u/Wood_Warden · 1 pointr/conspiracy

DMT: The Spirit Molecule :: describes how DMT spikes are released when we're born and die and the connections the author believes are made once we understand that the pineal gland is the seat of the spirit.

The Archaic Revival: Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the Amazon, Virtual Reality, UFOs, Evolution, Shamanism, the Rebirth of the Goddess, and the End of History by Terence McKenna :: Discusses origins of mankind and the probable development of higher-consciousness through psilocybin and other entheogens. Also discusses beings in realms that closely resemble the same realms discussed in the book My Big T.O.E. below.

Supernatural: Meetings with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind by Graham Hancock :: Discusses how, through different culture's entheogens (natural cultural psychedelics), one can see/visit/communicate with other beings co-evolving with us through history. Just like humans are evolving in this plane, this author believes that the stories of Elves or Fairies are the same beings that have now become Greys/Aliens in today's mythos. He discusses his journeys and experiences as well as other's first-hand accounts on certain entheogens and the patterns seen.

Not In His Image: Gnostic Vision, Sacred Ecology, and the Future of Belief by John Lamb Lash :: discusses how the current Judea-Christian god is a counterfeit-mimic deity (villain of the galaxy basically) and how we're trapped in a false-copy (matrix) of a more perfect realm. Goes through the Gnostic mythos that shows and explains how they came to write/believe such concepts.

My Big T.O.E./Theory Of Everything by Thomas Campbell :: doesn't use psychedelics to achieve other states of consciousness but uses transcendental meditation and science to map non-physical matter realities. The author is one of the early students from the Monroe Institute (of Out-of-Body experience fame).

u/iPood · 1 pointr/Drugs

[This](http://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Meetings-Ancient-Teachers-Mankind/dp/1932857842/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251848163&sr=1-3 "I was having trouble just googling supernatural") (by Graham Hancock) is what you're talking about, right?

I'll try and find a copy.

u/molotavcocktail · 1 pointr/Ayahuasca

https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Meetings-Ancient-Teachers-Mankind/dp/1932857842/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

He talks specifically about the serpent and how it is painted by indigenous tribes all over the world who have no contact w each other.
This is how I first heard of Ayahuasca

u/Vaxthrul · 1 pointr/conspiracy

Even less, the amount of MAO is honestly pretty small, so the amount of MAOI (which is what you are attempting to get from the Syrian Rue seeds, I use them personally for mine) you need is equally small. You can reduce it down further after lemon juice brewing into a syrup or whatever, slides down like molasses. Learned that from my early years messing around with DXM (Don't do DXM kids, it's synthetic and creates big ol' lesions in your brain with extended use!) My problem with them was not getting all the other debris apart from the actual seed that you are trying to get to, which have traces of ergot if I recall correctly.

Harmaline is a mild hallucinogen as well. I experimented with it separate before engaging in Ayahausca. A mild amount boiled out as per Ayahausca preparation. Saw some pretty neat OEVs that laid over reality and persisted when I closed my eyes. Auditory hallucinations as well. Not worth the purge in my opinion though.

Don't forget! MAOIs are extremely hazardous, and you must change your diet before ingesting and after to avoid 'side effects' - typically including fermented foods and drinks, such as jalapenos and anchovies. Do your research before ingesting any substance you don't trust or are unsure of!

DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THESE SUBSTANCES:
You can combine the processed Syrian Rue with other related psychedelics to include Psilocybin shrooms (by extension MDMA) and LSD. This will potentate the effects by a large margin so I highly recommend a sitter even for an experienced user.

One personal anecdote was a handful of pins, approx. 1/8 oz and a small pinch, maybe 1/4 tsp. of the Syrian Rue substance.

I blasted off approx. 25~30 minutes in, felt like I was between being awake and dreaming as far as head-space was concerned, with extreme OEVs. When I finally came down, it was about 10 hrs later.

Again, I can't stress this hard enough - these substances are dangerous without proper research and preparation. Erowid.org was my best source (thikal and phikal by extension) when I was researching. I also recommend Graham Hancock's book Supernatural, it starts off with him describing the how's and why's and how it feels to take iboga. Insightful musings to think about while you're addled. Also I don't want you guys stampeding straight for the iboga, work your way up, and be safe!

u/CodeSquad · 1 pointr/JoeRogan
u/evilf23 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

you ever read graham hancock's work? you might enjoy his book "supernatural". he has an interesting theory on this. Even if you think he is a crackpot it's still an interesting read.

http://amzn.com/1932857842

u/elbags · 1 pointr/Psychonaut

Hey man, I read a really interesting book which talks about this whole conscious-centric where there exists no objective reality. We could very well be the centre of the universe. Do your research on the author before reading the book if you want. The book's called Biocentrism by Robert Lanza. Have an open mind and maybe, just maybe, your view of the world could be wrong. It's worth seeing an in-depth perspective of the other side, one which makes a lot of scientifically proven claims (it's not a pseudo-science-y kind of book). Anyways, yeah it's up to you. Just putting it out there.

u/Planned_Apathy · 1 pointr/todayilearned

For those interested, here's the relevant book:

http://www.amazon.com/Biocentrism-Consciousness-Understanding-Nature-Universe/dp/1935251740/ref=la_B004NDEASI_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408994278&sr=1-1

It's also available on iTunes as an audiobook, which I found interesting for the most part. And I think you'll see more of what the article title implied was in the article.

u/etdeagle · 1 pointr/Psychonaut

So interesting! I had exactly the same thought the other day and meditated on it. My interpretation is that our physical senses help us perceive what is inside us (the physical world). It is the past, the distillation of causality through our bodies, and that our intellectual, emotional and spiritual senses (brain, heart and soul) help us perceive what is outside of us, it is the future and the space of "free form causality". Almost as if the role of our selves (body + soul) was to convert free-form causality into reality like plants convert mud, energy and CO2 into physical structures (the plants themselves).

There is an interesting book on the topic by the guy who cloned the first embryos http://www.amazon.com/Biocentrism-Consciousness-Understanding-Nature-Universe/dp/1935251740/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415340655&sr=8-1&keywords=biocentrism and a section on this in Pickover's book here: http://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Wonderland-Visual-Adventures-Fractal/dp/031212774X

u/SophisticatedPeasant · 1 pointr/SanctionedSuicide

Uhmm, no, sorry but Psychic Phenomena has been proven in laboratory settings. Hell even Quantum Physics is starting to acknowledge the relationship between mind and matter, just look up the Observer Effect.

A close family member calling you out of the blue, somehow "sensing" or "knowing" that youre contemplating suicide isn't a "coincidence".

https://www.amazon.com/Entangled-Minds-Extrasensory-Experiences-Quantum/dp/1416516778

This is precisely what is wrong with this world. We are psychic beings by nature, but because of the selfishness of a handful of fear oriented "Elites" who've decided that they need to have more perceived material wealth than others and privilege and prestige have done everything within their power to chemically and culturally lobotomize this out of us (via Sodium Fluoride, Vaccines, and primary "education" and media enculturation, and now GMO foods).

http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=14949

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2014/08/22/fluoride-affects-consciousness-will-act/

To make matters worse (or to have a poster child to spread the fear oriented, hopeless gospel of the "Elites") we had the emergence of Mechanistic Reductionistic Science via Rene Decarte and this related nonsense that if a million monkeys typed on keyboards randomly for a million years eventually the entire works of Shakespeare will be produced.

No. Sorry. Divine Intelligence is a part of it. Reincarnation is real. ET's are real. Having to karmically deal with suicide, which I believe is the point of this life for me (to deal with the karma of suicide via a time out, possibly as a ghost) is a real potential consequence of said act.

https://www.amazon.com/Biocentrism-Consciousness-Understanding-Nature-Universe/dp/1935251740/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479113035&sr=1-1&keywords=biocentrism+by+robert+lanza

https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Truth-Forbidden-Steven-Greer/dp/0967323827

So yeah, this really irks me when I hear people chalk up psychic experience to random happenstance.

They then invariably go on to claim that consciousness is an epiphenomenon of interactions of bio-chemistry within our nervous system.

What a crock.

I personally prefer the idea that the human brain is a filter that allows us to function in this exquisitely compelling virtual reality experience (as both Albert Einstein and more recently where we incarnate ad infinitum to learn and grow as spiritual beings.

If we were to see the glory of all of existence without said filter we would be overwhelmed and incapable of functioning in this plane.

Back to psychic phenomena, I mean please explain away a few dreams I've had where weeks later I was doing exactly what I was in the dream I had a few weeks earlier, or all of those moments knowing that something specific was going to happen moments before it happened, or hey, how about this one, which most everyone has, knowing someone is going to call you, sometimes to the point where you look at your phone, think of that person, and then your phone rings. Or how about all of the dogs that know their owners are coming home (Rupert Sheldrake).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKHUaNAxsTg

https://www.amazon.com/Dogs-That-Their-Owners-Coming/dp/0609600923/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=

Mainstream Science has become the new high priesthood tasked with perpetuating the current [failed] paradigm, the Status Quo, the current order (any coincidence here between the Elites poisoning and literally brainwashing you and paying people large sums of money to confirm the idea that youre just having this one finite life experience on this little lonely rock floating in space and then that's it? Sounds like a great way to bring out the worst in people, to create a world seething with conflict as everyone "has just this one life so I better fucking get mine, even if I have to step on your head to do so" all of which benefits the "Elites"), just as the Catholic Church was tasked with doing the same in the 16th century and locked away Galileo under house arrest for daring to suggest that our planet occupied a helio-centric orbit around the parent star and not the other way around. Now it's the same thing all over again with Quantum Physics and the dawning realization that mind and matter are related, that we can influence others through intent and prayer, and that we are likely eternal spiritual entities occupying temporary host bodies for: boredom, entertainment, lessons, pick one or all of the above. (our actual psychic potential is far more extensive, to include, yes, telekinesis via yogic lore etc. and astral projection, remote viewing, hell the CIA was paying remote viewers in the 1980's at Stanford Research Institute to spy on the Russian's and they wouldn't have paid millions of dollars without first ascertaining the effectiveness! I can't make this up, look up Project Stargate, I'm tired of posting links).

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/there-is-growing-evidence-that-our-universe-is-a-giant-hologram

https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855

My $ .02. Sorry if I offended anyone here.

Hold the door open for me, I'm right behind you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq69-MI9TA0

"Reality is an illusion, albeit a very persistent one" - Albert Einstein

u/RichardMoisten · 1 pointr/Showerthoughts

If anyone wants to know what this guys getting at read the book Biocentrism by Robert Lanza. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1935251740?pc_redir=1411497125&robot_redir=1

u/SavageDark · 1 pointr/LSD

I suggest you do a little reading on psychedelics https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys-ebook/dp/B0051OHLVG#nav-subnav this is the book I read. You really want to do your first trip right the first time:)

u/tattood · 1 pointr/LSD

If they actually want to learn, there is literally no better source than Fadiman's The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide

u/helpfiles · 1 pointr/Psychonaut
u/Moxxface · 1 pointr/Psychonaut

The psychedelic experience is by Timothy Leary, and is a manual based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. On amazon here.
The pyshcedelic explorer's guide is by James Fadiman, found here.

The power of now is good too, it will certainly prime you for ego death. I definitely recommend reading Be here now too, the illustrated middle part that I used during the come-up are just fantastic, you see people mention it all the time here. So many great things to meditate on in there. Opening the doors of perception, I have not read this one, but I have had it recommended often. The joyous cosmology by Alan Watts is short but great too. He describes his experiences with LSD, and the world that you enter. He is amazing with language.

u/nannaloora · 1 pointr/Suomi

Yleisesti teemasta suositellaan luettavaksi James Fadimanin kirjaa The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide. Fadiman tutki psykedeelejä jo puoli vuosisataa sitten, ja mikroannosteluilmiö on saanut paljon tulta purjeisiin juuri hänen jutuistaan.

u/EntheoGiant · 1 pointr/Drugs

> what do you mean that a few weeks of research is not enough?

I believe OP is alluding that people 'studying' the effects of LSD (and it's pharmacology etc) for weeks is STILL insufficient in preparing them for the actual experience.

It's the difference between reading a book about swimming and getting in the pool.

It's an entirely different ballgame.

With that said, OP, for a newbie it is FAR MORE important that they trust you and you are patient with them than their 'knowledge' about a substance.

Take a look at James Fadiman's book for some ideas on how to communicate the importance of set/setting/mindset etc. and always start small.

I've introduced many newbies to psychedelics and I always take it super slow and step through their (irrational) objections together and explore their fears etc...

Most of the time their response is: "oh man! I had no idea" and overwhelmingly positive.

My advice would be to ask about their life goals, challenges, intentions, and motivations for exploring psychedelics etc. and reverse engineer those so you could easily connect them with the benefits of psychedelics.

At least, that's my approach.

u/ArchMunky · 1 pointr/psychology

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by anchoring; care to explain?

Yes, I would say that hypnosis was involved in a sense. I first dropped into a shallow meditative trance before using the visualization. That trance state had the added benefit of taking me outside of my head a bit so the anxiety wasn't affecting me as much. But it was sometimes difficult to get down to that level; meditation during anxiety attacks is somewhat difficult. :)

I would say there are two things that helped me make this type of visualization work for me. First, I'm a computer programmer so the concept of "changing the software" is pretty embedded in my mind. I used to joke that I was "hacking the brain". :)

But the thing that really started me thinking in this direction was Michael Talbot's book The Holographic Universe. Some of the things mentioned in this book really made me think about how the mind is structured.

u/GhostWithToast · 1 pointr/science

The Holographic Universe theory has been stating this for a while. David Bohm and the implicate order. It's fascinating stuff and it makes total sense, I highly recommend it.

u/just_somebody · 1 pointr/IAmA

> How reliable is your information about your friend? What was the test like? Do you know? Additionally, did the people giving her the test know that it was for a TV show? Because if they did, it is not a double-blind study and is thus unreliable.

Honestly, I don't know the details.

> ... until someone with no interest in reincarnation being true does this experiment (a double-blind study), I must regard his claims skeptically.

I believe Dr. Stevenson has a very dispassionate approach to his research. He doesn't come across as someone who set out to prove that reincarnation exists.

As an example, he titles his book, "Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation", not, "Twenty Cases that Prove Reincarnation Beyond Any Doubt." On the other hand, the readers of the book often remark that "suggestive" is an understatement, and that the evidence in the book is very compelling.

> ... you can think of nothing else that would explain the evidence?

The only theory which seems to make sense is the one of a Holographic Universe. Basically, it says that we are not "real"; we seem to be living in a giant hologram. But, I understand this theory isn't yet widely accepted in scientific circles.

To know more, please see this book: The Holographic Universe

u/Futant55 · 1 pointr/FanTheories

Never heard this before, but I would like to know.
My own Incubus theory is that the song A Crow left of the Murder is about the book The Holographic Universe I read this book and the lyrics to the song seem to relate to the book a lot. Every pece contains a map of it all is key in holographic principle. Also there is an episode of MTV Cribs where Brandon shows this book on his bookshelf and says its a really good read.

u/Garmondo · 1 pointr/AskReddit
  1. The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle
  2. The Nag Hammadi Library edited by James M. Robinson
  3. The Halographic Universe by Michael Talbot
u/dracho · 1 pointr/evolution

THE physics book that changed the way I think about life, thinking, and just everything in general: The Holographic Universe, by Michael Talbot. It is astounding.

Referenced numerous times in The Holographic Universe and explains in detail the implicate vs. the explicate orders of the universe/multiverse/everything in which we all live: Wholeness and the Implicate Order, by David Bohm.

I suggest reading Talbot's book first, then move on to Bohm's. Read with an open mind and you will probably understand yourself better. Have fun!

EDIT: I should have thoroughly read all of your text, OP; sorry about that, but I would not call these books "very simple reading". A background in chemistry, physics, and astronomy would help. I am extremely interested in these subjects, (more generally I just love science) and was a senior in HS when I first read them. I understood most concepts and theories contained therein but every time I re-read them I always find new "truths"... if there are such things.

u/modern_quill · 1 pointr/satanism

So... I'm writing up another post in notepad with a lot of Reddit comment formatting code and whatnot as a starter for creating quality stickies. Here's what I'm working with currently. There will be more to come. Feedback is welcome:


***


Link to previous Q&A sticky: Sticky 1, Sticky 2



Unlike many other subreddits, we at /r/Satanism enjoy nearly complete freedom of speech. The tradeoff for that free speech is that sometimes you will be exposed to ideas or opinions that you don't agree with. Keep in mind that bad behavior and not bad ideas will get people banned from this subreddit. As Satanists most often believe in stratification, the voting buttons in /r/Satanism can be used to that end. Because of this, moderators like myself likely will not remove links to sites that you would expect to be removed from other subreddits.


***


FAQ:


Note: This FAQ is written by moderator of /r/Satanism and member of the Church of Satan, /u/modern_quill. I am trying to remain unbiased and fact-based in these Q&A responses, so if you feel that I have somehow misrepresented your organization or philosophy, please let me know and we can work together to make the appropriate corrections.





Q: What is Satanism?


A: This is a simple question, but it has a complex answer because it depends on who you ask. Satanism as a philosophy and religion was first codified by Anton Szandor LaVey in his 1969 publication of The Satanic Bible. Some people refer to this secular Satanism as "LaVeyan Satanism" as a nod to Anton LaVey. The Satanic Bible borrows from the works of Might is Right by Ragnar Redbeard, Ayn Rand's Objectivism, and Frederich Nietzche's Der Wille zur Macht. This is the most widely practiced form of Satanism and is championed by the Church of Satan (CoS) to this day. At its most basic definition, "LaVeyan Satanism" is about living the best life that
you want to live, and bending the world around you to your will to achieve that goal. A Satanist sees themselves as their own God. There is, of course, much more to Satanism than that very basic definition, but we expect people to do their own research as well. Most LaVeyan Satanists will simply call it Satanism, as there is only one form of Satanism from the Church of Satan's perspective. Members of the recently formed secular organization called The Satanic Temple (TST), by comparison, see Satanism as political activism. The Satanic Temple often makes news headlines with their efforts to establish a separation of church and state and do not include The Satanic Bible as part of their organization's canon, but rather The Revolt of the Angels by Anatole France. There are also theistic Satanists, some believe in a literal Satan and some do not. Ask a theist like /u/Ave_Melchom what they believe and they'll likely share their thoughts with you, but you probably won't find very many theists that share the same philosophy. There are also more esoteric organizations such as the Temple of Set (ToS), which was formed by former Church of Satan member Michael Aquino after infighting within the organization in 1975 caused many theistic members to split away and become Setians. /u/Three_Scarabs and /u/CodeReaper moderate /r/Setianism subreddit and are a wealth of information on the subject. There are also organizations that fall into a more neo-nazi ideology such as the now defunct Order of Nine Angles (ONA or O9A) and self-stylized "Spiritual Satanists" of the Joy of Satan (JoS), which are often not tolerated by other members of this subreddit. The words, "Fuck off, Nazi!" have become somewhat of a meme on /r/Satanism.





Q: If Satanists don't believe in Satan, why call it Satanism at all? Why not Humanism?


LaVeyan A: Modern secular Satanists see humans as just another animal within the greater animal kingdom, no better than our avian, reptilian, or mammalian friends. Our technology and our intellectual advancements may have placed us at the top of the food chain, but it has merely encouraged humans to be the most vicious animals of all. To us, Satan is a metaphor that represents our strength, our pride, our intellect, our carnality, and all of the so-called sins as they lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification. The Hebrew word Satan simply means adversary, and Satanists take that adversarial stance to a great many things in their lives; the way we approach an issue, the way we tackle a problem, the way we overcome an obstacle. While Humanists may try to live like Bill & Ted and be excellent to eachother, a Satanist recognizes that emotions like anger, even hate are natural to the human animal and we shouldn't feel guilty for such natural inclinations. While Christians may turn the other cheek when wronged, you can be sure that a Satanist will have their revenge, with interest.


*

Q: Do you sacrifice or molest children/animals? Do you drink blood?*

LaVeyan A: No. Sacrifice is a
Christian concept that was projected on to innocent Satanists during the "Satanic Panic" of the 80's and early 90's by charlatan law enforcement "consultants" and Christian religious "experts". One trait common to Satanists is their love of life as Satanists view life as the greatest of indulgences; children and animals represent the purest forms of life and imagination that there are. In fact, the abuse of children and animals is forbidden by the Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth. Also, why would we want to drink blood? Christians* are the ones that (symbolically) eat the flesh and drink the blood of their savior. I'd rather enjoy a nice scotch.


Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth


  1. Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.

  2. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.

  3. When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.

  4. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.

  5. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.

  6. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.

  7. Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.

  8. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.

  9. Do not harm little children.

  10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.

  11. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.


    ***

    More FAQ Below - (10,000 character maximum per post.)

u/Konraden · 1 pointr/politics

I found a Satanic Bible once in a parking lot when I was in high school. I kept that shit.

u/songwind · 1 pointr/Fantasy

My junior high principal forbade us from bringing D&D rulebooks and the like because "they are Satanic." This must have been around 1986 or 87.

I asked my parents if I could buy a copy of the Satanic Bible and take that to read instead, but my Dad gave me some lame excuse about not dealing w/ me being suspended to make a point.

u/Invisible-War · 1 pointr/IAmA
u/DeliriumRage0138 · 1 pointr/exmormon

Anton Lavey's satanic bible is the best "holy" Book around. Fascinating stuff, and totally misunderstood by fear mongering christians.

It's like $10 here

Enjoy.

u/Oliver_Moore · 1 pointr/CasualConversation

That would be The Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey.

It's actually quite interesting.

u/OrangeChucker · 1 pointr/satanism

If i'm being wooshed, so be it.

Satanism has many different spins, one such spin was done by a man named Anton LaVey, who wrote This Satanic Bible. It's arguably the most popular/mainstream spin on Satanism and some people like to identify as LaVeyan Satanist rather than just Satanist.

Similar to how there are so many different spins on Catholicism there can be drastic differences between each spin.

u/PersephoneNarcissus · 1 pointr/Ghostbc
u/ericarlen · 1 pointr/reddit.com

"If you're feeling really adventurous, why not 'Do as thou wilt' and check out The Satanic Bible by Mr. Anton LeVey. Come see what kind of whacky adventures he and his friends have been having!"

u/psykotedy · 1 pointr/books
u/ShakeWeightMyDick · 1 pointr/DnD
u/dscares · 1 pointr/writing

There was a guy back in the 70s, I think, who wrote a "real" Necronomicon based heavily off Sumerian mythology, with references to Marduk, Ishtar, Nyaralathotep, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Necronomicon-Simon/dp/0380751925

It's actually kind of a fun read if you're into that kind of thing.

And now that we're talking about it, you may look at kabbalah and Chaldean Christianity. They're like sister mysticisms to the Key of Solomon and get into Zoroastrian ideas as well and early Arabic demonology, with jinn and other spirits.

It's kind of interesting stuff. I found this, which may be dense, but might help:

https://hermetic.com/texts/chaldean

u/DormiensVigila108 · 1 pointr/Shamanism

Furthermore, look into Carlos Casteneda's "Teaching of Don Juan". It discusses the use of entheogenic plants, dark magic, shamanic shapeshifting, etc. There's some controversy over this book arguing that the shaman/brujo/diablero whom the author goes under the tutelage of is made up; but many believe that he stands as a narrative device, aggregating the many lessons that Castaneda, an anthropology student, learned from his time with the migratory Yaqui people into a single person's teachings.

It's a pretty quick read and discusses the deployment of or traveling as spirit animals to harm one's enemies.

u/AbstractLogic · 1 pointr/Psychonaut

This is a book tha all psychonauts should read. It is not a fiction but it reads like one. This book is freaking awesome. It is hard to put down. Must read.

The Teachings of Don Juan.
http://www.amazon.com/Teachings-Don-Juan-Yaqui-Knowledge/dp/0671600419

u/RKBA · 1 pointr/politics

Yes, I disagree totally. I never much cared for baseball, but as I recall I was concentrating on hitting the damn thing instead of trying to "will" it over the fence. You would probably enjoy the Carlos Castaneda books immensely. Seriously. Check it out,it's very enjoyable and "spooky" fiction. Or is Norman Vincent Peale more your style.

u/spacecadetzen · 1 pointr/Drugs

http://www.amazon.com/The-Teachings-Don-Juan-Knowledge/dp/0671600419

No one should ever consume a psychedelic without at least reading this book, reading errowid extensively, or sitting down and talking with a shaman.

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mescaline/mescaline.shtml

http://www.american-buddha.com/teach.don.juan.4.htm

>"Does Mescalito take any form when he shows himself?"

>"Yes, any form."

>"Then, which are the most common forms you know?"

>"There are no common forms."

>"Do you mean, don Juan, that he appears in any form, even to men who know him well?"

>"No. He appears in any form to those who know him only a little, but to those who know him well, he is always constant."

>"How is he constant?"

>"He appears to them sometimes as a man, like us, or as a light. Just a light."

mescalito is chaos, the very spirit you conjure up within when you take peyote. he's like the vengeful, old-testament god combined with the modern satanist form of satan. He wants you to have a good time, but you're gonna go through some shit first.

u/dw_pirate · 1 pointr/pagan

This book isn't a bad place to start. It's a tad on the fluffy side, but it's an okay primer.

u/sunryke · 1 pointr/pagan

I recommend Paganism: An Introduction to Earth- Centered Religions
And good luck my friend

u/blindpiper · 1 pointr/asatru

The Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru is everything you're looking for.

u/RedShirtDecoy · 1 pointr/Norse

Here are the books I started with that have been very helpful...

I did not start with the Eddas, I started with this book...

[The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland](
http://www.amazon.com/Norse-Myths-Pantheon-Folklore-Library/dp/0394748468)

It is a modern launguage retelling of the Lore in an easier to follow format. I read this book first so I have an understanding of the specific myth then I dive into the Eddas.

I also purchased a few Asatru specific books that give an overview of the Gods and Goddesses, give a brief history lesson, and discuss some of the rituals of Asatru like Blots, holidays, toasts, ect.

Essential Asatru: Walking the Path of Norse Paganism

A Practical Heathens Guide to Asatru

and

Heathenry: A Study of Asatru in the Modern World This one I have not read yet so I have no idea how good it is.

I also purchased The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology

I have a really hard time reading the Eddas since I have always had a hard time with that type of poetry so I have only purchased the one Edda and I am slowly making my way through it. There are a few different Eddas out there so read reviews of them on Amazon before buying to see what everyone is saying about it.

I didnt do this with the Asatru Edda and after I bought it found out they tend to fill in holes in the myths with their own assumptions. Im not educated enough to give examples but most of the reviews mention it. I was advised not to read that version until I become more familiar with the Lore as it was written first. Also, this book is as physically large as a school text book. It is soft cover but very awkward to hold and read.

Good luck. I am very much a beginner but have found the above resources helpful.

u/michaelnero · 1 pointr/heathenscholar

Added items according to the posts from /u/anarchoheathen. I'll update with /u/bi-furious' post tomorrow evening. Also, can someone sort out the categories for Odroerir Journal, Culture of Teutons, and Myth of Eternal Return? I haven't read them and want to make sure they're listed properly.

Introductory

  • If You're New to Asatru - Steven Abell
  • An Asatru Blog
  • A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru - Patricia M. Lafayllve
  • Four Documents on Asatru - Bill Linzie

    Mythology

  • The Poetic Edda
  • The Prose Edda

    Runology

  • Anglo Saxon Rune Poem
  • Norwegian Rune Poem
  • Icelandic Rune Poem
  • An Introduction to English Runes - R.I. Page
  • Runes and Runic Inscriptions - R.I. Page

    Legendary

  • Heimskringla
  • Sagas of The Icelanders
  • Saga of the Völsungs
  • Saga of the Jomsvikings
  • The Agricola and Germania - Tacitus
  • The History of the Danes - Saxo Grammaticus
  • Beowulf

    Cultural

  • Life in Anglo-Saxon England - R.I. Page
  • Chronicles of the Vikings: Records, Memorials and Myths - R.I. Page
  • The Viking World - Stefan Brink, Neil Price
  • The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature - Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson
  • Odroerir Journal
  • The Culture of the Tutons - Vilhelm Grönbech
  • The Myth of the Eternal Return - Mercea Eliade

    Weekly Study Group

  • Week 1, 1/7/15 - The Völuspá
  • Week 2, 1/14/15 -
  • Week 3, 1/21/15 -
  • Week 4, 1/28/15 -
u/runBAMrunfaster · 1 pointr/asatru

A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru has been a pretty good foundation for me, give it a crack. It lays down a lot of the basics, including generally accepted forms of both blóts and symbels.

u/viclucas · 1 pointr/occult
u/ThelemaAndLouise · 1 pointr/Wicca

here is the book

and here is the deck

also, here is a stylized reworking of the crowley thoth deck, which has illustrations for the pips and is a little simpler. I would recommend getting the original thoth, but if it simply does not speak to you, this is very close.

u/ThatWerewolfTho · 1 pointr/occult

It seems very boring to a lot of mystic newbs but I've been evangelizing the shit out of Qabalah lately. If you want to see the connections between all things and the machinery that runs the universe, this is the place to start.

Begin with something breezy that'll let you ease into the concepts: Lon Milo DuQuette's Chicken Qabalah. It's like an exegesis of Douglas Adams's Life, The Universe, and Everything.

Then dive in deep.

Dion Fortune's Mystical Qabalah

Aleister Crowley's Book of Thoth

This shit will blow your mind wide open. You can see how the 10 Sephiroth directly correspond to the 10 dimensions of the universe, how the first 4 correspond to actual space and the 5th to time as we understand it.

It'll show you the operating schematic for literally everything and how we are all connected and sprang forth from the same no-thing. Every new page I read blows my mind.

u/Nocodeyv · 1 pointr/occult

Not entirely sure if this is what you're looking for, but, there's a handful of books that people have written that attempt to explore the symbolism and meaning of Crowley's deck.

A friend of mine, a member of the local OTO Lodge and EGC, has several. I know these two are in his library for sure:

- Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot
- The Thoth Companion

There's also the old stand-by, Crowley's own exploration and essay about the deck:

- The Book of Thoth

Apologies if these aren't what you're looking for, and I hope someone comes along that can answer your questions more satisfactorily.

u/thepoliteslowsloth · 1 pointr/occult

Check out the Thoth tarot book for more info on reading the cards. I also recommend reading Lon Milo Duquettes book on understanding the Thoth Tarot. Also also, check out liber Theta from Temple of Thelema . There's also an explanation and analysis on divination with Tarot from Soror Meral in Temple of Thelema's periodical called In the Continuum.

book of thoth

understanding Thoth tarot

liber Theta

in the Continuum vol 1

You'll want to read issue no.7 for divination

u/georgesmileyface · 1 pointr/tipofmytongue

Could it be James Randi's Flim-Flam?

u/wonderfuldog · 1 pointr/atheism

>able to pierce themselves with large swords / skewers, after their rituals.

Fuck that. I can do that. You can do that.

If they can do that, then anybody can do that.

If you can't do that either, then they can't do it. It's what magicians call a "trick".

>They wouldn't be able to do so before the rituals.

Bullshit.

If they can do it after the ritual, then they can do it before the ritual.

>I have seen it

I believe that.

But what you saw wasn't supernatural or paranormal.

It was just people sticking pointy objects into themselves (or pretending to.)

I've seen someone doing that too. The guy doing it specifically said that it was just a trick. I have no idea how he did it.

The most likely explanation based on what I saw is that he just stuck a pointy object into his body. I could be wrong about that.

>you are dismissing that they are illusionist who have nothing better to do but perform in temples or along the street??.

Please, please, please -

read this

Net of Magic: Wonders and Deceptions in India, by Lee Siegel

- http://www.amazon.com/Net-Magic-Wonders-Deceptions-India/dp/0226756874 -

It's a very good book about the thousands of illusionists in India who have nothing better to do but perform in temples or along the street. The author is an anthropologist and a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and a good friend of a lot of these street illusionists.


and read this

Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions, by James Randi

- http://www.amazon.com/Flim-Flam-Psychics-Unicorns-Other-Delusions/dp/0879751983/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312470111&sr=1-1 -

Yes, you know what you saw. But you don't know anything else.

The people that you saw were doing magic tricks. People have been doing these tricks for thousands of years. They know how to fool people.

They fooled you.

u/themisanthrope · 1 pointr/TrueReddit

Sure!

The book basically talks about the way we come to conclusions in everyday life, the things we believe and why we believe them. The author delves into commonly held (and untrue) beliefs like the belief that there are more E.R. visits during a full moon, etc. While he does debunk some of these myths,this isn't a "debunking" book like Flim-Flam. Some of the most interesting stuff he talks about involves confirmation bias and how we evaluate inconsistent or ambiguous data. If this type of stuff interests you at all, I cannot encourage you enough to pick up this book from Amazon or your local library.

u/Enewetak · 1 pointr/offbeat

>John of God will seat a subject for his "visible surgery" stunt and apparently scrape the eyeball of the patient with the edge of a knife. I believe that this is a variation of the usual trick — illustrated on page 177 of my book, "Flim-Flam!" — in which a knife-blade is inserted under the eyelid of a subject with little or no resulting discomfort. With the Brazilian faker, the "scraping" motion gives it a much more fearsome aspect, but for several good reasons I doubt that any contact takes place with the cornea.
>
>The sclera — the white section of the eye — is relatively insensitive to touch. Try touching that area with a finger or any clean object, and you'll see this is true. The cornea, however, is very sensitive — among the most sensitive areas of the body. Incidentally, it's also the fastest-healing organ, which accords very well with Darwinian standards; being able to see is one of our very best sensory means of defense.
>
>Most persons — and I'm one of them — have a difficult time watching the eye being touched. We tend to empathize with the situation, and I'm sure that some readers are at this moment involuntarily squinting in distaste as they read these words; we're that reactive to eyeball-touching. Few persons will resist looking away when John of God seems to scrape an eyeball, and I note that he's furtively watching the position of the camera as he performs this stunt, blocking the view with his body when a close-up is sought.
>
>There's also the distinct possiblity here that John of God introduces a temporary local anaesthetic — benzocaine would work — onto the eye surface, which would allow contact with the cornea. We don't know, though we could have found out....
>
>In any case, unless an anaesthetic has been introduced, it is impossible for this man to be touching the cornea of a human eye as he appears to do, without causing immediate involuntary flinching from the patient. The JREF will stake its million-dollar prize on that statement.

Reference -
From James Randi's commentary on John of God's modus operandi. James Randi is a professional magician and scientific skeptic who has offered a One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge to anyone who can demonstrate a supernatural ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. He has written a book Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions about such fakery.

u/Sparqs · 1 pointr/books

Flim-Flam by 'Amazing' James Randi.

I was given this book in college by a (physics) professor, partly in response to another (philosophy) professor's promotion of Carlos Castaneda's works. I hadn't been particularly swayed by Castaneda, but Randi opened up the world of skepticism and rationality.

u/Hypatia415 · 1 pointr/DebateAnAtheist

You may be interested in the debunking efforts of magician/illusionists like The Amazing Randi, Penn and Teller and Houdini. They explain clearly how many of these illusions are performed. My first book of this type was called Flim Flam, by James Randi. (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0879751983/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_oCldBb1CNAYME)

You also may want to check out The Skeptical Inquirer: https://www.csicop.org/si

Good luck. Leaving a family tradition can be traumatic.

u/appothecary · 1 pointr/DMAcademy

My handouts were a hit at the table. I stained them using coffee, folded them every which way, even stuck them in some clothes which went through the wash.

If you have the time you can get Strahd's seal from AliExpress or for a little more money on Etsy if you need it sooner.

I actually really dislike the official tarokka deck. I think it looks tacky af with the 90's style tribal tattoos around the edge. I replaced mine with a tarot deck from Amazon. I can't find the exact link but there's a few cool ones (and a bunch more you may like). You'll just have to use the name on the card instead of the book but my deck had some pretty similar cards.

u/YashicasIntuition · 1 pointr/tarot

I love these 2.....

This one is the best value. It's a solid deck and comes with a book and a paper tarot spread. If you bought the deck alone it would be much more than this. I recommend this one to my students. https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Tarot-Learn-Read-Cards/dp/0738711500/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2492TY300PB54&keywords=guilded+tarot+deck&qid=1557425818&s=gateway&sprefix=guilded%2Cstripbooks%2C154&sr=8-2

I also really encourage them to start here https://www.amazon.com/Rider-Tarot-Arthur-Edward-Waite/dp/091386613X/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=rider+waite&qid=1557425881&s=gateway&sr=8-2

​

My last favorite that I tell them about is this one but it's a little more pricey https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Tarot-Ellen-Dugan/dp/0738728004/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=witches+tarot&qid=1557425951&s=gateway&sr=8-2

u/DeltaTarot · 1 pointr/tarot

For what it's worth, the deck I started with is the Rider tarot deck

u/i-am-qix · 1 pointr/delusionalartists

Reminds me of the book written by Lark Vorhees, the actress that played Lisa Turtle on Saved By The Bell. Every word she didn't copy and paste from the Bible has a comma between it, she makes up words in most sentences, it's complete nonsense, she misspells her own name on one of the pages (just one), and every chapter is called "The Light".

I bought it. I was crying laughing.

https://www.amazon.com/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541

u/AJofTX · 1 pointr/sextears

True Light by Lark Voorhies (who, by the way, played Lisa Turtle in Saved by the Bell): http://www.amazon.com/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464320861&sr=1-1&keywords=lark+vorhees Hopefully you can use the "Look Inside" feature.

I DO expect a William Shatner impression and will accept nothing less.

u/Interestedpartygoer · 1 pointr/tipofmytongue

This one? Lark Voorhies from Saved By The Bell.

Apparently she is just crazy about the comma, so it could be any one of her surprisingly many books.

u/novague · 1 pointr/books

this is great!!! some really really awful ebooks out there- check out Lisa Turtle's books- from saved by the b ell. LARK VOORHEES!!! ooof. http://www.amazon.com/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541

u/hlabarka · 1 pointr/books

Ohhh seriously, this is the winner...
The book grown up Lisa from Saved By the Bell wrote

u/canyoufeelme · 1 pointr/WTF

FINALLY a sequel to that Lark Voorhies book. I've been dying to know what happens.

u/sqrlmasta · 1 pointr/windowsphone

>Okay, but what, service, do you think you'd use, if you were simply, someone who used, a lot of unnecessary commas?

I don't know, but maybe try reaching out to Lark Voorhies for some suggestions.

u/chasingatoms · 1 pointr/funny
u/nightgames · 1 pointr/todayilearned

Sounds like True Light: A, Superior, Take, Unto, The, Premier, Haloing, Of, Tenuation. Readily, Available, True Light, Provides, Resource, Into, Time's, Motifed, And, Vestuved, Authenticate, Revelation. by former Saved by the Bell star Lark Voorhies. Apparently it's written with comma's after almost every other word.

u/NO_HOMOphones · 1 pointr/IAmA

And at 40 years old now, I do wonder if writing wasn't for me. All in all, I think I should have become a dentist!

I don't know the first thing about good or bad writing, but I do know DeSade is on the shelf at Barnes and Noble. I once tried to read 120 days of Sodom, and it goes something like this:

girls gets pussy devoured by wolves

man pours molten lead in a 12 year old's vagina

man puts gun in a woman's asshole and pulls the trigger


Toward the end it's not even writing, as so much it's a laundry list of fuck up shit in simple subject/predicate phrases. And somehow that's fit to be on the shelves at BN?

And if DeSade wasn't bad enough, what the fuck is this:

http://www.amazon.com/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541

Everything,is,written,like,this,reason,known,deer,authenticate,bitcoin,poundsign.

u/fappynerd · 1 pointr/gifs

Are you Lark Voorhies? (Saved by the Bell):

"Lark Voorhies, gloriously, resurrects, the victored, Phoenix, compelled, and, complete, unto, awaited, timelines, there, unthwarted. A, Masterful, carousel, on, tow, to, consider, Trek of the Cheshire, convincingly, entails, the, rite, of, way, unto, pedistaled, titlement, aborn, the, fremounted, vestule, presumed."

https://www.amazon.com/True-Light-tenuation-authenticate-revelation/dp/1450243541

u/DownComeTheMickey · 1 pointr/TrueAtheism

robert anton wilson - prometheus rising. it's not specifically about leaving or debunking christianity, it's more about freeing yourself from harmful societal conditioning and how to deal with your own internal bullshit. pretty much everyone i know has read it and nobody has come away from it empty-handed. a lot of writeups for it online have some new-age hippy dippy shit, but it's really not at all that way. i think it's one of the more logical things i've read.

u/dumbasswaiter · 1 pointr/science

This book, while a little "out-there" and dated is all about this kind of thing.

u/cradlesong · 1 pointr/Transhuman

Perhaps books like The Art of Memory, The Logic Of Failure, Prometheus Rising, Finite and Infinite Games could offer some new perspectives.

Edward De Bono's work on lateral thinking might also be of interest.

u/catwok · 1 pointr/AskReddit

A lot of angst and soul seeking, lol.

Couple books I thought was kick ass at that age:

Prometheus Rising

The Book: The Taboo Against knowing Yourself

The former was more valuable to me then the latter, but if you haven't run into the concepts in it before, it's valuable.

u/Doc_Strangeluv · 1 pointr/AskReddit

You can reformat your hard drive! It sounds like you have some real positive motivators in your life, too.

I think you're looking for some form of re-imprint/cognitive behavioral therapy to help set your mind on the right track, much like the brainwashing the army likely put you through, but to your own advantage. Many recovering alcoholics find this refuge in religion. A church might actually be a good bet for you, but as an avid redditor, you may be more geared towards finding your own solution. Counseling is helpful, but it sounds as if you want to set your own direction.

In the meantime, you want to avoid stress and lower your cortisol levels. A few ways to do this besides prescription drugs would be:

  • restful nights' sleep (8 hours is just a guess)

  • maintain a nutritious diet

  • Omega 3s (eat fish)

  • daily exercise (to a certain level)

  • massage

  • pranayama yoga (this is, in my opinion, the best technique you can learn to reduce stress)

    the mind is a powerful tool, but for many of us, (especially those predisposed to addiction and depression) it can be a challenge to control.

    Maybe try some self help books for some good mind control techniques. I don't particularly agree with the philosophies of all of these, but there are good things to be gleaned from each; (Tony Robbins, Deepak Choprah, Richard Warren, Christopher Hyatt, Viktor Frankl, Feeling Good, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Art of War, Tao of Pooh, 48 Laws of Power, The Secret, Prometheus Rising).

    However you DECIDE TO PROGRESS, have fun!
u/TheDude1985 · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

Read the book Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson and learn about the 8-circuit model of consciousness, reality tunnels, and techniques to manipulate consciousness.

http://www.amazon.com/Prometheus-Rising-Robert-Anton-Wilson/dp/1561840564

To understand others, you must first understand yourself and the nature of consciousness.

u/AnomalousVisions · 1 pointr/philosophy

Very interesting. Have you checked out Robert Anton Wilson's Prometheus Rising? That has some interesting exercises as well.

u/smasheyev · 1 pointr/Retconned

From Bezos to your doorstep for the low low price of $14.77

https://www.amazon.com/Prometheus-Rising-Robert-Anton-Wilson/dp/0692710604/

...

Mine ran me $15.76, but now costs $19.99

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1561840564/

u/bill_lee · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Prometheus Rising- Robert Anton Wilson

In short, this is a book about how the human mind works and what you can do to make the most of yours.

u/Johnny10toes · 1 pointr/TheRedPill

It's interesting that you point this out at this time. I'm currently going through some lessons at https://www.khanacademy.org/ and some apps brushing up on Algebra because I want to learn Calculus and Calculus because I want to learn Physics. Now... I wasn't good in math. I'm still not but Algebra I was decent at and have forgotten tons of stuff. But the reason for learning is maps, models, realities, ideas, etc.

> When you're a hammer everything is a nail.

We are in a bit of a Hammer/Nail situation here on /r/TheRedPill and this place was where my first version of reality dropped. You see TRP is our hammer and sluts/feminism/beta is our nails. We see the confirmation of our theories everywhere, but we're looking for them. If you're a feminist that's your hammer and the patriarchy is your nail, the evidence is everywhere. If you think you're beautiful then you'll find evidence of that.

My second drop in reality was from reading The Gervais Principle.

Then we have a conglomerate of things that started making me change how I view things in quick succession. Prometheus Rising, Be Slightly Evil, Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed The Art Of War and I'm sure there were a few more in there. Texts from John Boyd prove useful and tie into the other books and brings us back to models of our reality.

OODA Loop and at Art of Manliness -- At it's basic you may already be doing this. But at it's most complex you're probably not. It's not just about building a snowmobile either but that's a good way to explain it. And while we're on the subject of snowmobile this is the reason I want to learn Calculus and Physics and Transactional Analysis and Psychology and ... you get the point. I may find pieces of my snowmobile in one that I can use in another. Ideas that I can rip apart from Physics and use in Psychology or whatever.

This can be useful in that maybe a hammer is not the best tool for the job. Maybe you need a ruler. Which brings me to my point.

Intelligence

> Intelligence has been defined in many different ways such as in terms of one's capacity for logic, abstract thought, understanding, self-awareness, communication, learning, emotional knowledge, memory, planning, creativity and problem solving. It can also be more generally described as the ability to perceive and/or retain knowledge or information and apply it to itself or other instances of knowledge or information creating referable understanding models of any size, density, or complexity, due to any conscious or subconscious imposed will or instruction to do so.

It's not so much that you know more about what is being debated it's that you can use information about things you do know to refute the debater. For this you're going to use all of your intelligence. Emotional, Academic, Social and whatever else. Sometimes having Social Intelligence means just shutting up and not debating.

u/Spotted_Blewit · 1 pointr/brexit

>These are programmed responses

Have you read this book?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prometheus-Rising-Robert-Anton-Wilson/dp/1561840564

u/oD323 · 1 pointr/atheism

I highly recommend Prometheus Rising

u/Wylkus · 1 pointr/InsightfulQuestions

To this day there is still no greater book for opening up the world of thought than Will Durant's The Story of Philosophy. This book is indispensable.

Aside from that the best advice, as many here have noted, is to simply read widely and often. Here are some other books I can personally recommend as being particularly insightful:


u/ObscuroMagna · 1 pointr/ForeverAlone

The Game is a fun read.

I got a lot out of reading Prometheus Rising, and a great deal out of reading Monsters and Magical Sticks

They are game changers for me. It helped me connect with people a lot more efficiently, once I got the basic ideas of each down.

u/mememuncher · 1 pointr/AskReddit
u/egypturnash · 1 pointr/Psychonaut

Discovering the Illuminatus! trilogy in my college years really changed the way I look at the world. Well worth reading. It's got some definite Problems - it's very much a thing of its time, and its attitude towards women is pretty objectifying. That said, it's still a great mind-opener.

Be sure to read the appendices. They lay out explicitly some of the philosophical and magical ideas alluded to in the book.

And then if you need more, go grab RAW's Prometheus Rising which is more explicitly about How To Play With Your Brain For Fun And Profit.

u/_angel · 1 pointr/Psychonaut

This? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong

I've never heard of it before. Nifty!

You can start with mindfulness meditation. Try doing it constantly while you're doing your every day automated chores, like dressing, cleaning, teeth brushing, driving, shopping, and other tasks that don't take up much mental horsepower.

Lightly watch your breathing. Don't alter it, just try to concentrate on it without changing subjects in your mind. Watch what you're doing in the moment. Don't think about what you're going to do an hour from now, or tomorrow, or next week. Don't think about yesterday. Don't think at all, just be in the now. It is a pain in the ass to do and can take months to years of practice, but it will lower the ADHD type tendencies. The more you do it the more you'll be able to concentrate on one thing at a time without jumping around and losing track of what is going on.

The autism stuff can be more beneficial than it is not imho. However, it has to be coupled with the sponge personality type imho. When I say sponge personality type I mean the type of personality that loves to learn new things constantly. They are reading text books, studying new things, reading wikipedia, and doing a bunch of intellectual things all day. They have fun learning new things. People who are autistic tend to love to solve puzzles and figure things out, so that knowledge draw can turn into intellect and then intelligence if you try to figure out how something works. It isn't just pulling in knowledge but putting yourself in an imaginary real world situation where you'd have to use that knowledge. For me this means making programs which is puzzle solving, and recently a lot of psychology and neuroscience stuff. I love figuring out how my own brain works and how I can utilize it in ways the average person can't. I mentioned the book Prometheus Rising the other day as it is all about how to utilize the brain in ways the average person can't do without that unlocked mental horsepower from meditation, types of sex, yoga, tripping, or a near death experience. A friend of mine who is similar has been looking up a lot of crazy math and quantum physics stuff. I think he was reading GEB. A Strange Loop is like a non crazy math nerd explanation of the same thing. I haven't read it yet, but it is on my to do list. MIT has a class under it, but personally I'd rather just read the book. Another friend of mine has been doing a lot of random chemistry work as that is another form of puzzle solving I'd suspect.

The idea is to find a subject you really enjoy and chase it to its extreme. Start at the beginning, even elementary level stuff, and then keep going until the masters degree level, and then the research level, and just keep moving towards figuring more and more out about that type of subject.

The best part is adult ADD has a hole in it. It makes one super interested in something they would normally be interested in, and not much else. It allows for you to find a drive and carry it out beyond the average person. This often involves digging around a bunch of stuff that you wouldn't normally be interested in to see if you bump into something you end up being interested in but didn't realize.

If you want to try enjoying some of the stuff I like, I highly recommend checking out programming. It depends what you want to do, before you choose what to learn. Me, I enjoyed automating tasks in the past. I was tired of having to download all the TV shows and movies I watch, so I decided to write a program that automatically does it and goes above and beyond any previous made software I could download. Then I moved into AI coding and data organization when I started writing bots that collected information which I found fun. shrugs

My boyfriend who isn't crazy interested in figuring things out started playing with an Adriano a couple of weeks ago. He got an LCD and a bunch of stuff and made a little robot thing. I'm thinking about taking some of his stuff and making a system that detects the BPM in music, and then has rerecorded light patterns I can flick through and then I'm going to make a jacket with EL wire in it that lights up for stuff like Burning Man.

There is so much you can do. There is more information in one day on this planet than you can obtain in your entire life. There is an infinite level of things to play with. It really is fun.

So, I recommend trying things differently. Not finding things to do, just to do them, but finding things to figure out and discover like a puzzle. The world is a playground and your mind is the player. It is just how you choose to approach it.

However, I admit a personality change is extremely hard to do. You'd have to force yourself for months to years before falling into it. However, if you get good at meditation and learn how you can reprogram your subconscious in such a way that allows you to alter your personality without forcing it. Everything would come out natural as if you had always already been that way. Explaining that is a pain. Prometheus rising explains how it is possible and asks you to open your mind to it. I can tell you with absolute certainty it is possible, but learning what it is is the first step. Once you figure that out the next steps are much easier. Feel free to PM me in the future if you want help with this, but please start with the book, or some other knowledge gain.

u/IdentitiesROverrated · 1 pointr/Reincarnation

Wow, fascinating!

I can't really offer any answers other than what you can read in Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls. I'm just going to say that if you haven't read them yet, you likely should, especially with your background. Newton's work is the only really credible (and useful!) report of the afterlife that I've so far encountered.

Perhaps it might help to mention that other hypnotists have corroborated Newton's reports, and are getting the same consistent images from their own clients as well - including people of various religions and cultures who have never been exposed to the books.

If you ever arrive at the bottom of this story involving Don, Paul, and Kurt, I would be very interested to know what you find out. I wouldn't worry about falling into some kind of vicious cycle. It does sound like you've come here in this life to break their hearts, but the way they've all fallen for you suggests that they're willing participants in the lesson. The way you feel nothing for them makes me think this life and body have been chosen for you so that you don't get scarred in the process.

Having this as an episode in your life doesn't necessarily mean that this is what your life is all about, or that it must end prematurely. There might be all kinds of different things in store for you, this might just be something you've come to do before the other things happen.

I've fallen for someone in a similarly inexplicable way as you describe Don, Paul, and Kurt falling for you. I hope that what she felt for me was very different from the complete lack of empathy you are describing for these guys. Regardless, it was probably the most painful experience of my life. I had a precognition that it would be extremely painful on day one. I asked myself, do I want to do it anyway? The answer was a resounding yes.

I seem to have emerged from the pain, for the most part, though I'm still battered and bruised. I continue to have love for this person. I, too, have no answers. I tried looking for them, but no longer really expect to find them.

Some things, I suppose, we might only find answers for when we die. I suppose it's possible to live without them. It's not like we have a choice.

u/jadedapprentice · 1 pointr/exmormon

I'll start with an author whose work in comparative mythology is exceptional and deeply spiritual in a way that's very conscious of the difference between organized religion and spirituality. He's got a lot of books, some more scholarly and others much more approachable. Two examples here:

"Since lies are what the world lives on...those who can face the challenge of a truth and build their lives to accord are finally not many, but the very few"
--Joseph Campbell, [Myths to live By] (http://www.amazon.com/Myths-Live-Joseph-Campbell/dp/0140194614/)

“Half the people in the world think that the metaphors of their religious traditions, for example, are facts. And the other half contends that they are not facts at all. As a result we have people who consider themselves believers because they accept metaphors as facts, and we have others who classify themselves as atheists because they think religious metaphors are lies.”
― Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor

Next, if you really want to stretch there's a remarkable series of books created from first-hand accounts from hundreds of individuals under hypnosis to map out the nature of what might be termed our spiritual home or "life between lives" - I find this to be more credibly presented and much more consistent with the many well-documented near-death experiences that are continuously being studied by groups like NDERF and IANDS and Dr. Newton's methodology makes these books a compelling read:

Michael Newton, Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives

Michael Newton, Destiny of Souls: More Case Studies of Life Between Lives

These aren't for everyone, and the idea that there is a proper place for spirituality can be hard to swallow for those who feel scarred by organized religion, but they've been helpful in my own personal journey to stay grounded while I escape a church that's obsessed with sexuality, the pursuit of money for itself above even the welfare of its members, and even the smallest perceived deviation from its accepted belief system and practices.

u/mogaly · 1 pointr/UFOs

Well, yeah, that makes sense, but even though it's such a tongue in cheek idea, UFOs being alien craft just makes some sense. I love having fun theorizing all this. What would make sense is them coming to help us out right about now. Think about it. Think about how conscious we are. We don't seem to have much trouble comprehending the vastness of space, and all of it's contents (some, I should say). That being said, according to the spiritual world, we're close to FULL consciousness. If that was the case, Aliens wouldn't be too far ahead of us, but quite far spiritually. (Earth's spirituality is mostly quite fucked up and backwards. Organized religions, I'm looking at you. But, at any rate, we're killing our planet. According to the spiritual world (and me, due to many experiences, awake, drug free) Earth, or Gaia if you will, has a soul, just like everyone else. (I believe this because I've left my body a couple times). So yeah, we are killing Earth, this wonderful life-giving spirit, and why would aliens (if they exist) let this happen? If everything is as the spiritual community says (a lot of evidence, I'd suggest reading "Journey of Souls" RIGHT the fuck now. link Done by a Ph.D. It's just JUST a bunch of conversations with hypnotized people. It's amazing. Anyway, back to what I was saying, if we're killing this planet, and we're closer to the Aliens than we originally thought in MENTAL development, but not spiritual development, now would be the perfect time for an intervention. Besides, this universe is so much more malleable than anyone tells you. I have proven this to myself every day.

It's a shame we throw out spirituality, because in the end, it's more real than this hell-hole of a society.

u/dreamUnraveler · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Hey! Please don't even consider prematurely taking your life... from all I've read the karmic situation you're in will need to be resolved either in this life, or after... and it's way harder after.

So, on a lighter note:

Why are humans afraid of dying? Maybe because they haven't read (or don't believe) "Journey of Souls"...

Yea... getting past the fear of dying, even welcoming it can really open up the opportunity to be thankful for and really wake up and enjoy the unfathomably amazing gift that living is.

I kind of see two primary divergent philosophical rivers here (of course many tributaries on each):

First: afterlife+karma+fate(+reincarnation?)

Second: death as final+no objective morality+we're all just random cosmic blobs.

I'm pretty firmly in the karma camp... I'm not sure what your life partner situation is, and I'm certainly not a counselor, but I do believe that letting someone else have such negative impact on your outlook on life requires your consent (very likely not conscious)... People do get divorced/separated, and do find happiness later... people also go to counselors and resolve issues... I'm certainly not saying that any path in front of you is easy, but I truly believe that picking a path to explore will bring you much more than ceasing forward motion... One odd piece of life-partner relationships is that much of the strength of the relationship is dependent upon the self-esteem of the individuals, and that self-esteem can't be dependent upon the partner... The more you find yourself... your true self... the you that you really love... that your sister and parents unconditionally love... the stronger your relationship will become... assuming your partner can keep up... (at least that's my opinion from my experience and from others I've known)...

Best wishes for pursuing your the best path for you! Thx for sharing!

u/flexylol · 1 pointr/Glitch_in_the_Matrix

Journey of Souls by Michael Newton.

https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855

There's lots of crap out there on that subject, but also a few really good ones like those books.

u/MoonbeamThunderbutt · 1 pointr/spirituality

I'd really recommend the book Journey of Souls by Michael Newton if you're searching for "meaning of life" stuff. It made me remember why I'm here and made me feel so much less anxious about everything. I know what's truly important now: learning lessons, growing as a person, and enjoying the masquerade of life here on earth.

Human life is a dream that we forget isn't real, because getting sucked into the role is fun and it's how we learn. We are so much more than what we appear to be, but it's ok not to remember. Just do the best you can and enjoy life for what it is: an opportunity to feel the sunshine on your face, help others, try new things, and overcome struggles.

u/SwanSpirit · 1 pointr/starseeds

Hi, I can see I'm completely out of place here but, anyway, I hope it may help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk5bSG78pbQ

https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855

Greetings

u/Jparsner · 1 pointr/UFOs

I believe the different dimensions/densities is a massive part of it all.

Earth is a experiment. It was designed to see what would happen if we were cut off from our spiritual nature; cut off from the cosmos. This is the 'barrier' so many people talk about who are able to astral project. Psychics and mediums know of the barrier as well. This is also why astronauts all talk about that sense of 'cosmic unity' when they are in space... they are literally outside the barrier in some instances.

Life after death... read Journey of Souls

Lots of little bits in there that shed some light on the experiment and what is going on here.

I believe we're all multi-dimensional beings... you're accessing a more limited perspective of your 'ultimate self'.

God, Source, the Universe... it's not a singular, omnipotent being IMO. God is consciousness, everything is conscious in our Universe, big things, small things, all matter, all the electrons... you and I are sparks, fragments of God. The naming convention doesn't matter, it's a massive ocean of energy that we're all a part of. There is no one book that explains this concept... I've read a lot of spirituality articles/books and have made my own conclusions. That's really the best way to start getting into it... just reading a lot and certain things will resonate, other stuff won't.

u/Mhopkins892 · 1 pointr/BlackPeopleTwitter

I'm not a religious person but I highly recommend the book Journey of Souls Case Studies of Life Between Lives https://www.amazon.com/dp/1567184855/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AYrRDbMMG3P5C

I hope you're doing alright

u/white_bread · 1 pointr/IAmA

Possibly people make it all up but if you read Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives it appears to document that his subjects all recount the same story.

u/Sleepymelmo · 1 pointr/Psychic

I haven’t mediated regularly in a long time. I do it now for helping me calm myself when I need to. I think some of my experiences freaked me out a little bit. But buzzing in the ears (and ringing) is common and is said to be associated with exiting the body- this is very accurate in my experience, although ear ringing is also associated with passing out. I recommend you read this book for guidance on astral travel as it’s the best one I’ve found. It talks about the trance phase and gives excellent techniques. I only ever did once, maybe twice- but I had many lucid dreams around this time as well. I say maybe twice because one time it seemed to go wrong and one time it seemed to go right. I asked for guidance and protection the time it went right.

u/hylozics · 1 pointr/conspiracy

heres a way to experience other dimensions.

It describes a lot of different techniques you can use to induce your own out of body experience along with a lot of other things you can do with your astral body.

​

​

https://www.amazon.com/Astral-Dynamics-Out-Body-Experiences/dp/1571746161/ref=sr_1_1/144-3013289-5983700?ie=UTF8&qid=1537768574&sr=8-1&keywords=astral+dynamics+robert+bruce&dpID=51rNaBMGpvL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

​

​

u/Atmic · 1 pointr/AstralProjection

Absolutely. He's my favorite AP researcher/author -- very pragmatic, non dogmatic approach based on empirical evidence. I've even paid to work with him during a weekend seminar.

He has a lot of great work, but the seminal piece in my opinion is Astral Dynamics. That's a link to the 10-year revised/updated version, but the original is just fine if you run across it.

You can get a taste of his style with 'Treatise on Astral Projection', an early online work from 1994.

u/Captain_Midnight · 1 pointr/atheism

>Again, it is not their historicity that is important - you said yourself that doctrine isn't any more true because it is older and I agreed.

Well, let's distinguish age from accuracy. By "historicity," I mean the degree of verifiable reliability of a text. Something can be old but still be reliable. However, the gospels do not appear to be a reliable record. Only an old one.

>The "proof" you seek will most likely never come to you if you are approaching it from this angle. This is not something you "think about" for a while and then "get". It is something you live, and then experience. I mean this in a very practical sense.

I look at it like this. Claims of miraculous events are made about a man. He walks on water, raises the dead, casts out evil spirits, converts water to wine, multiplies fish and bread enough to feed a small army. He's purported to have said that he's the son of God. And not in the colloquial way they used back then, that we were all "sons of God" or "children of God." And not even in the way that the regional kings used. He's purported to have said that he's the direct issue of the creator of the universe. Half man, half deity, and no one comes to his dad but through him.

If this person was standing in front of me right now, saying these things, I'd back away slowly and keep my hand on my wallet. If other people were saying these things for decades, in an oral tradition where facts get mixed up and the storytellers embellish, and it's getting translated from Aramaic to ancient Greek in the process, I think I'd have even less reason to believe their claims. I don't think it's a bad angle to say, "I'm not so sure about that" until shown otherwise. What I live and experience never crosses over into a realm where such claims become compelling.

And I do actively explore the possibility of the supernatural. I just don't do it from a theistic perspective. While theistic perspectives of this phenomenon do exist, they are decidedly outnumbered by non-theistic experiences of people who have no particular implulse towards challenging or doubting the claims of any religion. Of course, I readily admit that their claims are just as potentially suspect as those of a theist. But these are claims that I can actually test.

u/TweetPoster · 1 pointr/todayilearned

@flyinglotus:
>2012-02-28 06:54:21 UTC

>If astral projecting is something you're curious about, this is something I suggest you read. amazon.com

----

[^[Mistake?]](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=TweetPoster&subject=Error%20Report&message=http://reddit.com/30n01i%0A%0APlease leave above link unaltered.)
^[Suggestion]
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u/demlegs_doe · 1 pointr/tarot

Check out [this book](Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot https://www.amazon.com/dp/1578632765/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RnwAyb7JQ3T1Q) instead. It's basically The Book of Thoth rewritten to be more easily understood. Liber Theta is also available for free as an online resource.

Honestly, you don't need to feel connected to your deck immediately. That connection sometimes doesn't develop until you've been using it for a while and have really gotten to know it. I'd suggest continuing to study with your Thoth deck while you research other Thoth based decks until you find one you like. Tabula Mundi is my personal favorite.

u/imightbejake · 1 pointr/tarot

I recommend reading books. There are a zillion books about the Waite-Smith deck. For the Thoth deck, this book is a must read.

Edit to add: This series was very helpful to me. The "Tarot Reversals" one by Mary K. Greer is the bomb.

u/InsideOutsider · 1 pointr/occult

I recommend [Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634083/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Nsbyyb2ZCJ74A)

u/andrejevas · 1 pointr/Psychic

http://www.amazon.com/Seventy-Eight-Degrees-Wisdom-Book-Tarot/dp/1578634083

Just get a copy of that. It's fifteen bucks, get a common deck like the Rider-Waite. Another 10 probs.

Tarot is more of a personal learning experience. Paying someone a hundred bucks to pat you on the back isn't gonna help. Learn it with your wife maybe?

I enjoy it. I pull it out every so often and learn a bit more about the subconscious shit going on with me in my life. Meditation is similar.

btw, that book is the best.

u/IbisWalker · 1 pointr/tarot

Ok. Start with these books. And know that despite what you’ll learn, it is still 100% okay for you to enjoy Tarot without using them for divination. Lots of people do and that’s a wonderful thing.


The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot

Tarot - The Open Reading

u/Foolness · 1 pointr/TrueFilm

Good advice. I recommend this and this for those reading this thread.

u/throwrainbowbatman · 1 pointr/tarot

The tarot can be for you whatever you want it to mean.

I've been doing it on-and-off for maybe about six years now, and every single time I return to it my method feels more refined and more "me" as I get older and learn more about myself.

For me, tarot is like a fun-house mirror. The same mirror can be held up to different people and they can have much different reactions to it. Some people go "Wow, I look funny!", and others can go "Dammit, my thighs are huge". People have different reactions and interpretations of the same readings.

I've met a tarot reader who would always un-reverse the cards because he doesn't like reading reversals. I've met another one who would only answer yes/no questions with a full tarot deck. Some people take the pictures on the cards as the only definition, some people depend entirely on books that are independent from the cards, and some people just make shit up entirely depending on their own personal experiences. Some people think they have supernatural properties, and some people (like me) think they're entirely random, but when people read them they put meaning into them based on their lives.

There's no wrong way to use a tarot deck, and there's no wrong way to view tarot or to interpret the cards. They're a subjective tool in that way, almost like an art. How you want to approach tarot will come in time as you practice and refine your methods and you come to figure out what the cards mean to you.

In getting to know them: that really depends on you. I started out with reading this book, completely unrelated to the tarot, but it helped jump-start my interest in it. I also give readings to other tarot readers, since I've found them more likely to "believe" and therefore less likely to argue, so long as they lean more eclectic. I also give myself readings frequently, just single-card readings to answer simple questions, or I toss out a card when I'm hanging out with my friends and they ask questions like "What would happen if I ordered pizza at three in the morning". I know a common method is to just draw a card each morning and dedicate that day to paying attention to that card, but I'm too scatterbrained to remember to do that, plus I feel it imparts too much importance to something that I don't take all that seriously normally. I also like writing so sometimes I do spreads for my characters or for story planning.

That's a lot, but I hope some of it helps!

u/butkaf · 1 pointr/LSD

http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic/dp/1594774021

http://www.maps.org/research/cluster/psilo-lsd/cns-neuroscience+therapeutics_2008-passie.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbUGRcuA16E

Basically what LSD does is make various parts of the brain interact that ordinarily don't interact. Pieces of information are linked together and related to one another. Specific contexts related to that information are lost more and more at higher doses.

u/classical_hero · 1 pointr/Drugs

James Fadiman's new books is all about how to use drugs (mostly LSD) for creative and religious purposes. I would recommend it:

http://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys/dp/1594774021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312246276&sr=8-1

Unless you are mostly interested in using the drugs for personal development and changing your personality, in which case Neal Goldsmith's new book Psychedelic Healing might be better.

u/batosaiman6 · 1 pointr/LSD

Buy this book and read it or have the to be trip sitter read this.


https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic-Journeys/dp/1594774021

I also try to have MORE than enough music JUST IN CASE you need to change the vibe,set and setting are everything, I often plan like a party, a trip party that is. I have lights and toys and candy and fruit and glowsticks

If you can,benzos are a must for if things get a bit hairy.

u/TitaniumDreads · 1 pointr/todayilearned

Lots of people talking about personal experiences here both good and bad. Rather than thinking of psychedelics as inherently pure or inherently evil, it's probably best to regard them as a tool like a circular saw. They can be extremely useful but super dangerous if you are untrained.

the psychedelic explorers guide is a good "manual" for the tool of mushrooms.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeutic/dp/1594774021

The author, james fadiman did a pretty good interview on the tim ferriss podcast
http://fourhourworkweek.com/2015/03/21/james-fadiman/

u/Vfeldin · 0 pointsr/occult

Bluefluke's guide

Prometheus Rising

Liber Null

Power Before Wisdom This site isn't always 100% accurate in my experience, but a decent resource nonetheless.

Happy hunting!

u/AvaniD · 0 pointsr/AskReddit

This book helped me. It may be BS, but I'm going with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855

u/odawg21 · 0 pointsr/pics

Spirit energy is never destroyed. It is recycled, takes on new shapes and forms. Where one life ends, another begins. The cyclical nature of energy and the amazing design of our universe implies that there would be no waste. Also, the fact that our lives as humans seem to just be a series of tests and events which become "lessons" or opportunities for spiritual growth lead me to believe that one life is simply not enough to break into the upper echelons of enlightenment.

Highly recommend Journey of Souls by Michael Newton PH. D. Very interesting stuff, studying both past lives, and what our spirits are up to in between lives. That last part is really what blew me away.

Also, great book just for life in general- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle- this book continues to help me in my day to day life and I haven't read it in years.

u/AnimusHerb240 · 0 pointsr/tarot

I decided to cruise the town one day and check out all the local occult shops. One was mostly focused on wicca. I happened to put my address on their e-mailing list, and one day I received an e-mail from them about a series of beginner tarot classes that would be held nearby for $30, presumably taught by an acquaintance of the owner of the shop.

I didn't attend these particular classes, but my point is you might try finding local community stuff in a similar manner, by poking your head in an occult shop and asking around.

I have consulted these sources:

u/whattothewhonow · 0 pointsr/atheism

Gee, I wonder what practitioners of Satanism might believe in? I bet Google would be able to tell me.

Check it out! The first link is the official webpage for the Church of Satan

I wonder if there is some sort of information about what they believe? Yep, there it is, right on the first page and there's even a convenient link to Amazon so one can purchase The Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey.

Now if only there was someone willing to hold your dick and aim while you piss maybe your shoes wouldn't reek of urine all the time.

u/himmlerite · 0 pointsr/Christianity

Excuse me sir.... But if you get the Kindle version it won't burn.

u/speakEvil · 0 pointsr/AskReddit

This little pamphlet is somewhat educational. Or just kidnap her and wait till she's old enough to decide whether or not she should get baptized. Depending on, you know, whether she has invisible friends past her childhood.

u/poisongasez · 0 pointsr/shittyadvice

Oooh the restraining order. That's the type of stuff she's into, I get it. ;) Go to her home and slit your wrist, and use the blood to create pentagrams and various satan symbols and versus from The Satanic Bible all over the walls and floor of the house. Then grab a virgin lamb and stick it exactly 24 times and take its blood and lather it all over your body. When she arrives grab a nearby wine bottle and beat it over her head until conscious. Drag her body to the blood pentagram you previously drew with your blood and gently write a "666" on the base of her forehead. Fuck her body furiously and ejaculate inside of her, and make sure every last drop of your semen is inside her. Once complete, strap her down to the floor with chains connected to the ground and through her wrists and arms. When she awakens, tell her everything you have done to show her your affection. Then cover her in gasoline and light a match. Place the lit match carefully between her breasts and gently stick your penis in her vagina while rubbing the gasoline on her body. When the gasoline lights, continue to duck her gently, and burn together.

u/bolivarbum · 0 pointsr/books

You might like The Teachings of Don Juan. Not your normal anthropology book.










u/NewChristianThrwwy · 0 pointsr/HellenicPolytheism

I doubt greek epic poems would tell me how to worship and how to view the world as a hellenic pagan?

Was thinking something more like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0738733873/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1492611596&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=asatru

A general guide of sorts.

u/skeeveholt · -1 pointsr/funny
u/Ghostwoods · -1 pointsr/writing
u/Downvote_the_Facts · -1 pointsr/samharris

>I didn't even imply that, speaking of intellectual shortcomings. Furthermore, I could just snipe back and say your intellectual shortcomings are quite obvious if you don't recognize pragmatism as bullshit. Can we not do this?

>I'd have much more respect for you if you bothered tackling what I actually said.

>So instead of wasting our time pointlessly going back and forth like that, I'll just repeat what I said and see if you deal with it this time.

>1) I said that most everyone understands "truth" to have a particular meaning, and if you use "true" to mean something else, you're going to mislead and confuse people. That is entirely independent of whether or not pragmatism has any merit.

Everyone once thought the Earth was flat. Just because something is widely accepted doesn't mean it's right (or true)

>2) I said there are other words you could use that mean the same thing you're trying to say, but are not going to needlessly confuse people.

I agree that saying knowledge is much easier to understand. Jordan is just using the lingo that pragmatic philosophers use

>3) Peterson should have acknowledged that and used another word. "When I say "true" I mean X, but I realize that's confusing, so instead I'll say it like this."

See question #2

>4) Peterson's refusal to do so shows he has an ulterior motive. This is, I believe, being able to say some religious belief that has no evidence is true.

Again he is going off of a previously formed philosophy. He never once every says Religion is historical fact, or true. Only that it is useful. I explain it more below.

>4a) This is a bastardization of pragmatism.

No it isn't. You guys keep getng stuck on this one word and not the actual views Jordan is presenting.

If you expand your understanding to something other than Material Realism, we could actually have a decent conversation. His argument is that you can't form an ought to be from an is. Science cannot answer it all, and Mythology is just as important to forming a usable truth (I would call it something like "necassary knowledge" but I understand why JP uses truth, as in science sometimes provides, or could provide, insufficient truths)
Biocentrism and Beyond Biocentrism, both by Dr. Robert Lanza, are good books if you're looking for an opposing view from Material Realism.




u/TitusBjarni · -1 pointsr/unpopularopinion

LSD is a powerful therapeutic tool. With great power comes risks. Of course there's stories of people messing up their brains on LSD because there's a lot of stupid people who take too much, take it in the wrong setting, take it with the wrong mindset, or take it when they're predisposed to schizophrenia.

Proper education will prevent more harm than criminalization ever has. People who want to do a psychedelic need to be taught to respect the drug first, instead of taking it to "get fucked up" or "trip balls" or some other immature shit. There's entire books written on the subject of how to maximize the therapeutic value of psychedelic experiences. Using a psychedelic immaturely is like letting an immature 12 year old drive a car.

Still, the stats relating psychedelic use to mental health don't show too much overall risk.

21,967 respondents (13.4% weighted) reported lifetime psychedelic use. There were no significant associations between lifetime use of any psychedelics, lifetime use of specific psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, peyote), or past year use of LSD and increased rate of any of the mental health outcomes. Rather, in several cases psychedelic use was associated with lower rate of mental health problems.

u/archonemis · -3 pointsr/fullmoviesonyoutube

Motion picture uses visuals.

A skilled artist can use symbolism and metaphor.

Gaspar Noe has all the subtlety and nuance of Bill Clinton in a brothel.

You seem to be suggesting that film simply an't convey idas. I disagree. A film cannot get into your head the way a book can, but you can layer, reinforce and imply concepts in such a way that a audience can understand something that is not purely visual. A couple exaples that come immediately to mind are: Vertigo [1958], Ikiru [1952], 2001: Space Odyssey [1968], Metropolis [1927] and, for those who wish for something a bit more modern and 'accessible', Mean Girls [2004].

A good example of a DMT flash in the visual medium?

http://youtu.be/EElaqhquY00

I get the impression that you haven't spent a lot of time on the subject. You seem to have something of a passing fancy on this. I would say that you get out of these things what you put in. By everything you've said so far you are clearly not someone who has invested much time into the subject.

Spend some time on it and maybe do some Ayahuasca.

http://youtu.be/t6p9tC4_oME

http://youtu.be/l9nFs2PeWw0

http://www.amazon.com/Food-Gods-Original-Knowledge-Evolution/dp/0553371304

http://www.amazon.com/DMT-Molecule-Revolutionary-Near-Death-Experiences/dp/0892819278

http://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Meetings-Ancient-Teachers-Mankind/dp/1932857842/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373246015&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Paths-Outer-Space-Psychedelics/dp/159477224X

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayahuasca

u/NewbRule · -5 pointsr/biology
u/gamerguy666 · -8 pointsr/satanism

Well it's on amazon my mistake, But it still took like 2 seconds to find but here.

https://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Bible-Anton-Szandor-Lavey/dp/0380015390

By the way I don't mean to sound rude however this was NOT hard to find man.