(Part 2) 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 products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Up-Runes-Complete-Divination/dp/1578633257
This is the best guide to runes currently on the market. It's written by a Heathen (Norse polytheist) priestess and witch who specializes in rune work. Even some of the more conservative Heathens who won't variate from the lore recommend it. The book is both a guide to divination and rune magic all in one.
This mirrors the argument of "if you eat meat, you believe in oppressing women." I had a friend who had a book about feminism and vegetarianism, called The Sexual Politics of Meat. I actually did think the book was interesting, and it made some interesting points about the weirdly sexual ways in which meat products could be advertised, as well as certain cultural practices surrounding the consumption of meat (the book was chocked full of drawings of "sexy" cuts of pork, etc, and brought up how men and women in certain scoieties were proscribed from consuming certain parts of animals).
But, like a lot of academic work, the author veered off into completely beyond reasonable territory, conflating meat eating in and of itself with the oppression of women.
I actually do think that there are arguments against our food system and it's heavy reliance on meat (and dairy, and eggs). The amount of water and grain that has to go into feeding these billions of animals is putting a great deal of strain on our resources. Seven billion people cannot consume lots of steak and ham and chicken.
The idea is that animals are sentient beings capable of pain and are self aware and thus should be included in the organizing of society along anti hierarchial lines and should also be given at least basic respect such as not being enslaved. exploited, killed or being the property of another needlessly. This is split within anarchism some viewing it as a logically consisent step others not so much. Some short good readings are animal liberation and social revolution by Brian Dominick as well as many other essays and zines that are easy to find. For more indepth long book i would suggest
Making a Killing the Political Economy of animal rights http://nkatz.org/animaliam/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Bob-Torres-Making-A-Killing-The-Political-Economy-of-Animal-Rights-2007-1904859674.pdf
The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-vegetarian Critical Theory- http://www.amazon.com/The-Sexual-Politics-Meat-Feminist-vegetarian/dp/1441173285
For a whole bunch of free ebooks try these two torrents
https://onebigtorrent.org/torrents/23299/Animal-Rights-Animal-Ethics--eBook-Collection--1-0-Oct-2013--Various-Authors--104-Books
and
https://onebigtorrent.org/torrents/23446/Animal-Rights-Animal-Ethics--eBook-Collection--2-0-Jan-2014
With those you should find books on any subject related to animal rights you could ask most unfortunatly not with a anti capitalist perspective but most easily fitting along with a anarchist worldview
Now to answer your specific questions
What are we allowed to do to them and under what circumstances?
I view anything that doesnt exploit them , murder them, treat them as property etc... as acceptable so for example your current relationship with your dog can probably stay although we have to reexamine the concept of ownership
Can we use them for labor in any circumstances?
Directly I dont think so although there are some animals such as horses where as long as they are allowed free roaming i see no problem with riding again as long as it follows the criteria i see no problem
Is there anything that could justify eating them/their flesh?
If there was no choice either eating them or dying or starvation I think it would be justified otherwise it should be avoided at all costs
Will anarchist society neccesarily have to be vegan (assuming no in-vitro stuff has been invented) in order to be morally consistent?
Again this is a split within the anarchist movement but I would say yes as I see no reason being less intellegent should exclude non human animals from critics of hierarchies
Can animals really consent to anything at all?
Animals can be said to consent to some things even though they cant communicate with langauge they can in other ways and it can be obvoius when an animal is being pleased with its circustances and when they are not even though they dont vocally communicate they still get their opinions out in other ways
I hope I helped and feel free to ask any more questions you have
Yesterday, at around 5pm EST, Wolf Blitzer said on CNN that Obama would be making an announcement about space aliens. I wasn't paying much attention to the TV, so I asked my girlfriend for confirmation that she had heard the same thing (which she had). From what I can tell, CNN has made no mention if it since, and I can't find any references to this announcement on the net (though perhaps my Google-fu is weak).
This comes at a time of personal significance to me. I had an interest in UFOs/aliens when I was about 12, but during the 15 years since I've shifted to a rather skeptical position. Last weekend, I started reading RA Wilson's Cosmic Trigger. I decided to allow my skepticism to lapse somewhat as I read this, and suddenly I'm thinking a lot about UFOs/aliens. Shortly afterwards, astronaut Edgar Mitchell was in the news, talking about his belief in UFOs/aliens. And now this.
Am I being paranoid? Am I just starting to "see the Fnords" (in the Illuminatus! parlance)? Or is our collective conscience being eased into a big announcement about aliens?
Thanks for reading my nutty post :)
This book might interest you. It has a lot of research into accounts of children who remember past lives. They usually stop speaking about their past lives by the age about 5.
It's the "thoth" tarot. I'm loving this autocorrect though lol
Thoth Tarot Deck https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572815108/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OoL0DbFGQWQEZ
I'm highly surprised no one's mentioned Advanced Magick for Beginners yet. It's one of the best chaos magick books I have ever read, and would recommend reading it before even diving into Gordon White's stuff. And this comes from my 7 years experience in new age/new thought/occult studies and practices. Also, the Psychonaut Field Manual gets an honorable mention.
I kid you not
The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-vegetarian Critical Theory, 20th Anniversary Edition
This book (another bestseller) is in its 20th anniversary. Amazon has a nice summary along with reader comments:
>Many cultures equate meat-eating with virility, and in some societies women offer men the "best" (i.e., bloodiest) food at the expense of their own nutritional needs. Building upon these observations, feminist activist Adams detects intimate links between the slaughter of animals and violence directed against women
Also look at this quote:
http://djinaunchained.tumblr.com/image/48863264552
Seriously, one CANNOT SIMPLY MAKE THIS SHIT UP !
i highly recommend this one.
I bought it a couple of years ago and i love it.
https://www.amazon.ca/Only-Astrology-Book-Youll-Ever/dp/1589796535
Wow. This one is good. Too good.
Also, check out the book by the author of this article, Leslie Keans UFOS
Game-changing book.
Many people I know who seriously work with the runes will periodically stain them with their own blood as an offering. The runes are considered to be independent spirits by many, rather than just a divination "tool" and should be treated very respectfully and cautiously. Remember that they are embedded in a cultural context and it's important to understand Heathen cosmology and theology properly to work with them. A few recommended resources: this book, this one and this site.
Regardless of individual opinions of Crowley the man, when it comes to Crowley the magician you'd find it hard to find a more comprehensive work on correspondences than his '777 And Other Qabalistic Writings Of Aleister Crowley, Including Gemetria & Sepher Sephiroth' https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0877286701/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_tI-BCb9K7YCF8.
This was further researched expounded on & expanded by Dr Stephen Skinner in his excellent 2008 work 'The Complete Magician's Tables'
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0738711640/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_4K-BCbS9R4B0G
There should be plenty of info in these two volumes alone to get you where you want to be correspondence-wise. I find them both invaluable. Good luck 👍
Note for those that aren't aware/lurkers: Peter Carroll's Liber Null and Psychonaut are works in the realm of Chaos Magic, an occult area that has been emerging since the 1970s. Liber Null is a primer, of sorts. Like an introductory textbook for people joining/studying Illuminates of Thanateros (IOT).
My suggestion is to take LaVeyan Satanism(and the Satanic Bible) with a grain of salt, at least when you are starting out. I'm not saying there isn't something deeper to any of it, but a surface reading is going to get you mired in what is largely a satire on Christianity aimed at duping the credulous into giving the Church of Satan money.
As you read any subject you should not be doing so with the express purpose of looking for something to believe in. Discover what you believe in as you go based on your experiences and through finding out what will produce results, because ultimately if it doesn't change your life and help you manifest your will/desire, then it's not worth anything more than make believe.
Develop critical thinking skills
I normally recommend these works for beginners:
The Disinformation Guide to Magick and the Occult
Liber Null
Condensed Chaos
For reliable sources:
High Magic's Aid by Gerald Gardner
Aradia: Gospel of the Witches by Charles Godfrey Leland
1: Witchfather: A Life of Gerald Gardner: Into the Witch Cult by Philip Heselton
Lid off the Cauldron by Patrica Crowther
The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton
Foundations of Practical Magic: An Introduction to Qabalistic, Magical and Meditative Techniques by Israel Regardie
A Witches' Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar
Witchcraft for Tomorrow by Doreen Valiente
Modern Magick: Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts by Donald Michael Kraig
Magical Power For Beginners: How to Raise & Send Energy for Spells That Work by Deborah Lipp
Fifty Years Of Wicca by Frederic Lamond
For essential materials,
-An athame
-A wand
-A pentacle
-A chalice
-Incense and censer
> Would I be considered a true Wiccan if I hid it from those around me?
Yes, you would be considered a "true Wiccan." Most Wiccans since the inception of Wicca kept secret the fact they were witches. It's only in very recent times that people are so forward about the fact that they're witches. I myself keep it pretty well hidden. Only those in my coven and my closest loved ones know that I'm Wiccan.
>When choosing a patron/matron do you pick from literally any gods/goddesses?
The concept of a patron/matron deity is relatively new to Wicca. Originally, the Goddess worshiped by the Witches was the Lunar Goddess of Fertility - often called Diana, Aradia, Hekate, Isis, the Queen of Elphame, etc. The original God worshiped by the Witches was the Horned God of Death and Resurrection - often called Pan, Cernunnos, Janicot, etc. However, in recent times, Wiccans (myself included) have begun working with all types of Pagan deities. So in short, yes, you can pick any god or goddess you feel a connection with.
> Can you celebrate the Wiccan holidays and still celebrate things like Christmas?
Yes, most Wiccans still celebrate cultural holidays such as Christmas.
It's a good book by good authors. If you're interested in it, purchase it.
There are a few parallels here to what I refer to as astral parasites, and Robert Bruce calls Negs, Castaneda referred to as Flyers, and the Gnostics termed Archons. While I recognize that the universe does indeed have a 'circle of life' pattern to it with everything feeding on everything else at lower levels of reality (at higher levels, one thing becomes every other thing and it's all Oneness anyway), I don't believe that I SHOULD be contributing to particular entities which have become (or have chosen to become) disconnected from the Light/Source etc. (This guy has an interesting take on the nature and motives of such entities. Just found it tonight while looking for a link discussing Castaneda's Flyers.)
Personally, I would not invite such beings into your area or have further dealings with them. In any shamanic studies I've undertaken, insects that feed on me have always been bad things to avoid or stamp out (often being the astral form of a physical disease/virus). The part of your description that sent off 'alarm bells' for me was how you described it as a "robot with no mind, just a job to feed". That's EXACTLY how all astral parasites I've encountered have been. They're like insects - they feel nothing, care nothing, only feed. If they do communicate, they'll say whatever it takes to get you to feel bad and submit so they can feed off your guilt, depression, anger, fear etc. They will laugh and tell you how weak and pathetic you are in an attempt to dominate and cause submission. You have to ignore that, remain calm, and continue to fight back without allowing emotions to distract or sabotage your efforts. It may be a shark's nature to feed on meat, but I will NOT be on the menu today, thanks.
Prior to engaging in hallucinogenic activities, you should probably be using a banishing ritual/ceremony or similar to ensure that unwanted outside influences are cleared away and kept out, and your preferred focus and direction for the trip are maintained. Because I began my training in a ceremonial style, I use the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram as my default method for beginning and ending every working unless the symbolism/energies raised by it aren't as compatible with the working at hand, in which case I'll switch to a different symbol set and use a variation of the Hammer Rite (Runes) or similar (this is basically just a modified LBRP anyway - same format).
I encourage you to read Robert Bruce's material regarding how Negs operate and how to get rid of them. Then compare with Castaneda's works (which are very entertaining reads and provide food for thought, even if they aren't 'authentic Mexican sorcery' as advertised - many of the methods still work pretty well).
Edit: This excerpt from Mike Harner's The Way of the Shaman might also interest you.
Fair enough. I recommend this recently written book about UFOs and incidents in past 50 years that are really Unindentified and Flying Objects. Way that they behaved suggest they could all be intelligent.
I'm not referring to Roswell, it's a minor event that gain publicity a bit too much.
I'll just write few examples so you can either read from this book or search for them on internet.
Tehran incident, where a military jet chased a flying object, fired at it and bullets were bouncing off. Same thing in Chile.
British military base near Rendlesham forest. Three officers investigate a bright light landing near the base in forest. One touched the object and it was, I quote: "dark, cold and metallic". Also saw and drew symbols in his notepad which he saw on one side, there's a photo somewhere cause it's in the book. Object visited that place two times in few days apart.
Flying object with bright lights appearing in Belgium, thousands of witnesses reported seeing it across 100kms of territory, few policemen, military officers were there also. One guy even flashes his headlights towards the object and it flashes back! Literally hundreds of eyewitnesses that gave their story and drew the same triangle shaped dark object with three lights underneath.
Incursion at O'Hare airport where a bright flying object levitated at one airstrip seen by couple of airport personnel, pilots, radar technicians and after few seconds sharp liftoff through clouds leaving a hole in clouds long after it left.
Sightings in Phoenix, AZ. A large object possibly few kms in diameter appeared, thousands of people saw it, and most known person was a governor of Arizona, Fife Symington.
Also, few other stories are covered, all backed by interviewing military generals and reports of technical people and agencies from France, UK and Brazil. USA closed such agency in the 60's and it is way behind other countries when UFOs are in question.
Obviously, thousands of sights can be described as weather phenomena but this books tells about those few examples of really amazing events that obviously can't be explained as natural.
If you're really interested in this, I highly recommend this book.
EDIT: Some facts checked and revised just now from the book.
I'm not sure about essential to every occult library (and I realize some of these aren't necessarily considered primarily 'occult' texts), but here are a few I've found useful:
The confusion is understandable, and complicated by the (interesting) history of 'Book 4', ...which necessarily, was composed of 4 separate sections, composed over several years . Subsequently, 'Book 4' has been printed (and re-printed) both in parts and in whole - the copy you link here appears to be limited to the first two sections (indicated by "Reprint of 1913 Edition").
a 'complete' Book 4 will contain;
1: liber ABA part 1: mysticism (1912)
2: liber ABA part 2 : magick (elementary theory) (1913)
3: Magick in Theory & Practice (1929/30)
4: ΘΕΛΗΜΑ - The Law (Equinox of the Gods) (1936/37)
Laurie Cabat wrote a really great book on this subject called "Celebrate the Earth: A Year of Holidays in the Pagan Tradition" it really helped things make sense for me.
The other book that helped me a lot was The Witch's Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar. In it, they have combined two of their books into one big volume of info (the book is huge). One of those books is Eight Sabbats for Witches which is hard to find as a single book right now, but is 8 sample rituals as well as a lot of information on the different meanings to the Sabbats.
Has anyone actually read the Sexual Politics of Meat A Feminist-vegetarian Critical Theory. It's super interesting though I haven't read it in a decade now. It was my vegan - feminist primer in the 1990s. I even wrote a huge feminist-vegan zine article about how abstaining from eating meat is a feminist political act using the book as a resource.
You're wrong about the evidence. There are case studies on so called "veridical near death experiences" where information is gathered during the out of body state that could not be otherwise perceived.
A good book (ignore the cheeky title) is Stop Worrying! There Probably is an Afterlife which covers several of these cases in addition to much more evidence.
Indeed, the place you go when you die may be the same place you were before you were born, and you may simply have lost your memory/ability to perceive that place.
I would recommend getting started with Newton's books, this one and this one. Newton's work is written with what I thought was a surprising no-bullshit approach, and it's packed with information. If you're anything like me, this will lay a decent foundation for any other reading you might want to do later. I'm currently reading Weiss's work, which is interesting, but written in a sparser, more subjective, more speculative style. For me at least, I couldn't take Weiss half-seriously if I hadn't read Newton first.
The following responses are my current speculations, and so to be taken with a lot of salt:
> For me it would seem that in order for reincarnation to exist it would require the presence of a higher conscience being.
I have no idea whether this is theoretically required or not. However, reports from regressions do indicate the presence of not one, but countless more highly evolved spiritual beings, who are like us, and incarnated in the past, but have progressed farther than we have so far (perhaps because they are older). It appears that we are working to be like them, too, and that the purpose of this is to become like, and perhaps eventually merge into, the universal soul (God). The universal soul described in regression reports appears to be unlike the personal god described by Abrahamic religions. We don't interact with it overtly, but we sense it, we exist in its presence. There's no point in praying to or worshiping this entity, for in a way, you are already one with it.
> Second what is the reson or purpose of experiencing multiple lives if we cannot consiously remember them?
To take each life on its own merits. To take it seriously. To not treat it like a video game, from which you can log out at any time. To wipe the slate clean, to keep us from blaming each other in this life for injustices done to each other in previous lives. The point is that we learn compassion and wisdom, and this is not helped by remembering indefinitely how your current brother was an abusive father, or someone who stabbed you in the back in a past life. Each soul needs to be given a new chance.
My understanding is that Earth is a particularly harsh part of the universe, for souls learning difficult lessons. I suspect that, if we were allowed to remember our experience as spirits, many of us would want to quit our Earthly lives as soon as possible. Our yearning for spirit life would sabotage the lessons we came to learn here.
Apparently there are other planets, and non-planet environments, where existence is not as harsh, and the souls inhabiting them have full awareness. It's possible that Earth could become like that if we work together to learn our lessons and develop in that direction, but it's possible also that we may destroy it, having to resume our incarnations somewhere else.
We have also abused and distorted knowledge given to us. Tibet had a brutal feudal regime based on Buddhism - they knew of karma, yet instead of this helping them become kind and compassionate, they used it as an excuse for the upper classes to treat others poorly. They figured, being miserable in this life must be due to something bad the person did in a past life, so there's no point for a well-off person to worry about it.
> Third whats the point in the end once we have completed our journey?
Becoming like the universal soul, possibly merging with it. I'm not sure that we can even fathom the end goal. We can fathom the intermediate goals, e.g. to become more like the advanced souls who are ahead of us in learning.
> Fourth us it our soul or oyr conscience that is reincarnated or are they the same thing?
It seems to be the same thing.
> And lastly are new souls generated to replace ones that have achieved enlightenment?
I can't say I understand the universal cycle, but it seems like souls are constantly being created. Newton describes how one of the available activities as spirits is to care for new souls being born.
This happened to me in College, and sways from crazy anxiety for years, to peace for a few years, to atheism and just generally depressed about it, back to peace and hope, to Atheism... it is never stable for me.
For me the only way I can cope with Death when I'm not feeling crazy Atheist is to find real tangible evidence of, well, some kind of existence after. (Good luck, I know.) My favorite books helping with my own personal death related anxiety are
Old Souls Dude's been studying "past lives" his whole life. Interesting to say the least, and not preachy. More objective.
Emmanuel's Guide to the Cosmos Note - there is nothing scientific about this book at all - however if there does happen to be some kind of soul-system, this one makes the most sense to me personally.
I also enjoy the Tibetian book of living and dying and reading up on weird shit the Llamas can do / have done.
Reading up on Near Death Experience can be cool, too. I know a lot of people believe NDE's are chemically induced and that is certainly viable, but I've read a couple accounts that just... ring kind of true to me, idk. You'll have to decide for yourself.
All the best.
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law!
I will answer some of your questions in random order. I am a Thelemite but in no way do I speak for all Thelemites, or for Aleister Crowley.
First off, I would start by contacting Seven Spirits Camp in Tucson. They will no doubt be able to answer many of the questions you have. I would also consider purchasing a copy of "Liber ABA: Book 4" which is arguably one of the most important books any magickian could own. It contains, among others, "The Book of the Law" and "Magick in Theory and Practice"; the latter being a book that will answer many of the questions you asked in your post (and many other questions as well). MTP is, in my opinion, the best book on the subject of magickal practice ever written. Liber ABA is an expensive book but believe me when I tell you it is worth every penny and a whole lot more!
As for other occult groups, you will find people from all of them associated with Thelema. Thelema is not a doctrine that pushes out other beliefs and all of us began somewhere else before coming here. I myself came to the OTO as an ordained Gnostic Luciferian priest. Thelema fit well with my existing beliefs and complimented them nicely. I've met Wiccans (which, by the way, Crowley had a hand in helping to found), Satanists, and even ex-Jehovah's Witnesses if you can believe that! We all share one thing. We are each looking to understand the truth within ourselves. You must do the same for "Thou hast no right but to do thy will. Do that and no other shall say nay."
Good luck in your journey!
Love is the law, love under will.
They wrote one of the most quintessential works on Wicca in the 70s. What Witches Do and Eight Sabbats for Witches were later combined into one work called A Witches' Bible, and it remains one of the gold standard texts of modern day Wicca.
The authors are/were initiates of Alex Sanders, who was infamous in Britain in the 60s for declaring himself/being declared in the media as the King of the Witches. He made phony claims of initiation by his grandmother, but as it turns out, he was either taught, initiated, or given the BoS by a Gardnerian priestess.
Candles from anywhere are fine to light the altar and the room. I recently got a huge pack of candles for $2 at ikea clearance.
Must-read books:
Gary Yourofsky -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4
All My Heroes Still Wear Masks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDuBslRfXxg
McLibel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBpbaVJo9gE
Earthlings - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCU1WUQXMbs
Lucent - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KArL5YjaL5U
SPECIESISM: THE MOVIE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTggRpTzcA0
OpenDoor - The Vegan Society 1976 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlTYjaQLy2o
A.L.F. Behind the Mask: The Story Of The People Who Risk Everything To Save Animals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfKXq9BL29o
Vegecated - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19qSsUI79Ro
Sharkwater - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI1YBCMqbik
The Cove - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp8-nAfsjCk
Paul Watson:The Whale Warrior-A Pirate for the Sea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nzbTsrOUxw
Bold Native (click watch film to see it for free) - http://boldnative.com
I AM AN ANIMAL - The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx3VXmav0rk
Angels of Mercy - Animal Liberation Front - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SooKjnaU4c
The Paw Project - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yihVLIkVRzo
Your Mommy Kills Animals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-wMecABC84
Meat The Truth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHCCFjB8M48
Vanishing Of The Bees - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-JjQH_HUHQ
At the Edge of the World - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286499/
Project Nim - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1814836/
Virunga - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3455224/
The Elephant in the Living Room - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111313/
An Apology to Elephants - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2836524/
Blackfish - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2545118/
Forks Over Knives - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567233/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
The Ghosts in Our Machine - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2654562/?ref_=tt_rec_tt
Food INC - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286537/?ref_=tt_rec_tt
Emptying the Skies - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3302498/
Skin Trade - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1576702/
Of Dogs and Men - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4460258/
Revolution - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2350608/
Unity - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2049636/
Peaceable Kingdom - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435715/
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3302820/
Eating Animals - Jonathan Safran Foer - http://a2zkaraokeshop.com/onlinepdfbooks/5may27.pdf
Consider The Lobster - David Foster Wallace - http://www.columbia.edu/~col8/lobsterarticle.pdf
Animal Liberation and Social Revolution - Brian A. Dominick -http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/brian-a-dominick-animal-liberation-and-social-revolution.pdf
VEGANARCHY - Anti-Speciesist Warfare and Direct Action - https://animalliberationpressoffice.org/publications%20online/VEGANARCHY-Anti-Speciesist-Warfare-and-Direct-Action.pdf
Animals - The Hidden Victims Of War - http://www.animalaid.org.uk/images/pdf/booklets/war.pdf
Animal Liberation - Peter Singer - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Liberation_(book)
The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-vegetarian Critical Theory - Carol J. Adams - http://www.amazon.com/The-Sexual-Politics-Meat-Feminist-vegetarian/dp/1441173285
Check Your Beer / Wine / Liquor - http://www.barnivore.com
Locate Animal Enterprises Near You - http://www.finalnail.com
Download Cruelty-Cutter to scan an item and have an immediate response about its animal testing status - http://cruelty-cutter.org
Read about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Enterprise_Terrorism_Act
Read about Ag-gag laws - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ag-gag
Sending positive vibes your way, it sounds like you are approaching this issue in a very healthy manner. I also have Household Worship, and I think while a community of Hellenists might find it useful, it may not be exceptionally well suited to you. But if you are looking for a clear cut ritual, you've got it right there.
I'd advise you to look into a burial method that you feel your gods would approve of. Most Gods have some connection to nature, so a natural burial might be fitting. If you are a devotee of Poseidon, perhaps the sea urn might work. Or, if Apollo and the Muses hold your heart, perhaps you may look into having your ashes placed within a vinyl record.
Now, during your funeral, you'll want some expression of your beliefs voiced. Myths might be difficult, as many of your loved ones may not be Hellenic. Fortunately, our faith is peppered with numerous philosophers who have left behind great quotes about our next step. Cicero notably has several:
>That last day does not bring extinction to us, but change of place.
>The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.
>The nearer I approach death the more I feel like one who is in sight of land at last and is about to anchor in one's home port after a long voyage.
Epicurus:
>The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.
Socrates:
>Be of good cheer about death and know this as a truth, that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death
If you would like more, I'd love to share with you what I can. What deities are you close to? I can try to think of ways to incorporate them into the ceremony?
And do you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, or nothing at all? There are beautiful Greek myths and poems that correspond to all three. Would be glad to see if I could dig some up for you.
sure. i'll help you out. if you or your parents have an amazon account, make a wish list. then send me the link so i can buy you the gift through my account.
https://www.wikihow.com/Create-an-Amazon-Wishlist
i'll send you the deck of your choice and i won't need to know your address or anything. my treat to encourage the hobby :)
​
if you need some inspiration, here are some of my favorites:
the wild unknown
ethereal visions
the fountain
​
tbh though, i own about ... 30 or so tarot decks at this point and i'd guess about 25 of them i've purchased for myself, haha. i pick and choose what tarot "rules" to follow since i believe the cards will tell me what they will tell me no matter what :)
I think you may actually want at least a couple of different books here. But to get you started with a book that includes the lists of many deities and other entities, astrological, stone, color, and other correspondences, check out The Complete Magician's Tables. It's a really nice and useful book.
With regard to prayers and invocations, I'd say you may have better luck if you look at books that are specific to that tradition. For example, I'd find it unlikely that you would find any book that very comprehensively lists every single thing (including lengthy stuff like prayers and invocations) about both Judeo-Christian angels and about Hindu deities.
Not OP, but:
They're sigils--not in the old school medieval ceremonial sense, but in the contemporary chaos magician sense. Grant Morrison did a nice talk on them once. Basically, sigils are visual representations of a specific intent.
tl;dr--witchcraft.
Here's a nice link: http://www.mookychick.co.uk/health/spirituality/magical_sigils.php
Here's an often cited book on sigil making: https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Sigil-Magic-Creating-Personal/dp/0738731536
Well, most Hellenic reconstructionists practice individually. There are some groups but I don't know the status/how viable are most at present.
But a couple to reach out to:
Labrys, which also published the book "Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship.
Based in Greece is the Supreme Council of Ethnic Hellenes (YSEE) which "represents the Hellenic Ethnic Religion and is not a political organization or party".
Elaion is an active group (interacting mostly online but also conducts "PAT" rituals (Practicing Apart Together) in which members conduct the same rituals at the same time).
As for individuals, you might want to crosspost to r/HellenicPolytheism/.
Yes! There are quite a few (at least as far as pagan groups go). There's a large hellenic polytheist community on tumblr (just search tags like hellenic polytheism, hellenismos, or different deities). Here is the wiki article. There have been various groups slowly gaining popularity since the late '90s in and outside of Greece. This book describes what day to day Hellenic worship looks like.
I think your desire isn't all that uncommon. The idea that if you are able to communicate with a definitive non-corporeal "other" it'd be proof of a life/world beyond ours and then we'd feel a lot more comfortable with ideas such as death. I'll point out some texts that might help guide you but first some pointers.
So to this end I recommend the following books:
Cosmic Trigger by Robert Anton Wilson. I can't recommend this enough. It's Robert Anton Wilson telling stories about and giving insights into his own diving into the world of occultism, psychedelics and general weirdness.
Oven ready chaos by Phil Hine - Free online via his site More of a practical how-to for modern occultism. Again, good knowledge and good humor.
Pacts with the Devil by Christopher Hyatt and Jason Black. Ok, I'm not actually encouraging you to make a pact with any entity for starters, but this book is very good if somewhat hokey at times. There's some workable ritual in it, but mostly I think you'll be interested in the sections where the authors talk about their own experiences working with spirits.
Anyway, I am wishing you the best, feel free to message me if you have any questions. I hope you find the answers you need.
"Modern" is a pretty broad category -- it would help to know more about what kind of art style you're looking for. For example, are you hoping for something that's more minimalist, or detailed? colorful, or monochrome? digitally drawn, or painted? focused on figures, or more inventive with imagery?
That said, here are some decks in a pretty wide variety of styles that come to mind when I think "modern art." I personally own the first six decks on this list and can vouch that I like them; the rest I don't own but I know other people like them.
I have to stop here otherwise I'll just keep on going, lol, I love talking about different tarot decks. So I'll just leave you with a note that there are lots of items in the Little Red Tarot shop that might interest you.
Hope this helps!
Diana Paxson's Taking Up the Runes is very well-regarded by almost everyone.
And if I can sneak in a bit of self-promotion, while learning the runes myself (not that I'll ever be done learning) I created a playing card deck with runes, images, and meanings on them. It's helped some of my friends learn as well. It's mostly based on the meanings given in Taking Up the Runes, plus a little bit of extra I've picked up here and there.
There's the nineteenth century school of spiritualism that has a lot to say and describes a system like you're asking for.
Then you have the entire world of nde's and everything they describe, which is mostly judgment and reincarnation. Life after life is good place to start or ian stevensons books.
Then you have hypnotic regression and the whole Michael Newton school of thought.
Then you have plain Jane religion, especially Buddhism, especially the esoteric stuff like the Tibetan book of the dead.
Personally, the best book on this subject I've read on this subject is this and it touches of most of the above. I suggest you check it out as a starting point and work your way from there:
https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Worrying-There-Probably-Afterlife-ebook/dp/B00GBLRNTS
If he was in the military and overseas, then I suppose he never really was an option as a possible explanation. I would feel safe in ruling him out.
These are the only facts that you have.
Now, here are some assumptions that you made that weren't warranted:
Actually, there are cases of family members being seen in places where they couldn't have been. Showing a few pictures could have turned up something interesting.
There are even more cases of people reporting dead family members (sometimes their death was unknown to the witness) being where they shouldn't have been. Again, showing a few pictures might have produced interesting results.
So you go through a family album with your son (at the time; too late now) and rule all that out.
(If you are interested in reading a balanced book that deals with some of these things, check out Greg Taylor's Stop Worrying! There Probably Is an Afterlife. http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Worrying-There-Probably-Afterlife-ebook/dp/B00GBLRNTS )
If you had ruled those things out, then you might have some kind of glitch. As it is, I think this probably belongs in a paranormal sub somewhere.
You asked earlier, "And please elaborate on how evidence can guide us to most likely solutions is full of unwarranted assumptions from the 1920s." That isn't exactly what I said. I said, "There's a load of assumption in that, and those assumptions haven't been warranted since the 1920s at least."
Here's a wiki quote: "In the mid-1920s, developments in quantum mechanics led to its becoming the standard formulation for atomic physics."
That, and what it implies about the nature of reality, is something that should be common knowledge by now. But it isn't. (In fact, just this week there was an announcement about new evidence pointing toward there being multiple universes, some even lying very near our own, yet invisible to us. This comes shortly after other evidence that "bruising" evident in the background radiation suggests our universe has "bumped into" other universes in the past.
I'll just give you a sample of some recent articles discussing the issue of the multiverse and its implications:
> Last month, a team of scientists at the South Pole announced that their telescope, Bicep 2, had discovered gravitational waves, colossal ripples in space time. The finding, which has been disputed and has yet to be confirmed, would not only back up our models of the Big Bang but also provide strong evidence for inflation and the reality of the multiverse.
> Recent discoveries like this suggest space may have inflated to an infinite extent after the Big Bang. Physicists believe that the inflationary process was capable of creating matter as well as space, in similarly infinite quantities.
> In which case, go far enough and you will see an exact “repeat” of the stars and galaxies we see around us, including another planet Earth and another you – and every variation thereof, including worlds where Elvis lives, where Hitler won the Second World War, and where strange creatures like unicorns graze on alien pastures. This is a respectable idea. “To get rid of that conclusion,” Tegmark says, “either inflation is wrong … or space is in fact not infinitely stretchy.”
Here's another with some very interesting implications:
> A second possibility is that our universe is part of a larger system called the multiverse in which all possible values for m and b can occur and lead to many -- in fact, an infinite number of -- separate, logically consistent universes. Most of those values lead to universes in which life does not exist, while others have randomly selected values for m and b that are within the very narrow range to allow life to eventually emerge. We observe the weird values for m and b because we are here to experience them. This is called the anthropic cosmological principle, and it represents the dilemma facing physicists today.
>
> If we live in the first kind of universe, we expect that at some point we will eventually understand all there is to know about it and come up with a single, complete mathematical theory explaining all of its significant details. There will be no impediments to making all the necessary observations and creating the ultimate logical model with no unprovable assumptions to launch the mathematics. For example, all the fundamental constants in nature will be derivable from inside the mathematical theory and will no longer be quantities that we have to observe and measure.
>
> If we live in the second kind of universe, we have a problem. If the multiverse exists, we can never observe any of these other universes to prove or disprove their existence. The fundamental constants that make our universe look the way it does and make life possible are not unique and derivable from some grand supertheory but are randomly assigned and can in principle take on any value from 0 to infinity. We are simply lucky to be living in a life- and sentience-friendly universe where the constants we see and even the laws of nature make this possible.
There's a long chain of thought and experiment that brought us to this point. I think everyone should be more familiar with it, but especially if one is interested in the unexplained.
You have something that is bothering you, but you have been a bit like the fellow who lost his keys and is looking for them under a lamppost. Another fellow comes to help him look, but together they still can't find the keys. Finally the second fellow says, "We've looked everywhere, are you sure you lost them here?"
"Oh, no; I lost them over there," says the first fellow, pointing into the darkness. "But the light is so much better over here."
One Buddhist philosopher who spent considerable effort examining the concept of rebirth was Dharmakirti. You might want to take a look at some of these papers:
Another general book looking at rebirth from a Buddhist perspective is Rebirth and the Western Buddhist (Dan Martin).
Looking at Ian Stevenson's work is a good idea. You may also want to read Old Souls: Scientific Search for Proof of Past Lives by Tom Shroder, a journalist who accompanied Stevenson during some of his field research.
For a history of the Tibetan tulku recognition practices, check out Incarnation: The History and Mysticism of the Tulku Tradition of Tibet by Tulku Thondup.
This happens a lot!
http://www.amazon.com/Old-Souls-Scientific-Search-Proof/dp/0684851938
My favorite books are the following:
About the Goddess:
When God Was a Woman
The Great Cosmic Mother: Rediscovering the Religion of the Earth
The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetic Myth (FSG Classics)
On occult knowledge:
The Kybalion by The Three Initiates
On sigils:
Practical Sigil Magic: Creating Personal Symbols for Success
Magick: Liber ABA
Are you a person that's into crafting, painting, woodworking, etc.? If so, studying a little about Thelemic symbols or magickal tools could give some ideas on how to create a unique item for using in a magickal ritual.
If not, Etsy is a fun place to find occult gifts like magickal tools (wands, pantacles, cups, swords, robes, tarot cards, talismans, crystals, art) from craftspeople that specialize in this kind of thing. Almost all aspiring magicians need some or all of these things for ritual in the Thelemic system.
You could also get 'blank canvas' type tools for the magician to create their own talismanic work: a nicely crafted blank notebook as a grimoire/magickal journal or large format blank art paper (and paint/markers/pens) to create sigils, seals, and pantacles.
The books of Thelema are nice for collecting as well, if she doesn't already have these:
http://www.amazon.com/Magick-Liber-ABA-Book-4/dp/0877289190
Nah, it's totally on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0877289190/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501562410&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65
. You are just in the learning stages, but I do recommend these books.
1st. Hellenic Polytheism by LABRYS
Due to the fact that the book give you a starting point. Easy to read and very informal to give you a basics as a starting point. Scripts and photos as guides.
2nd Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored by Sarah Kate Istra Winter
Still a beginner book, but with more detail on relationships with the Gods, festivals, and rituals.
Seriously doubt this is ET related at all.
Seems like a mental condition, like some kind of schizophrenic (seeing something that isn't there) depression with 3rd party entity clairvoyance.
For sure continue to see a therapist, but also consider alternatives. I am by far not an expert on anything like this, but have my doubts that your average therapist is going to be able to explain clairvoyant realities (reality because you actually experienced it multiple times).
For more insight on what may be happening on the paranormal spectrum of this, I strongly suggest you read "Psychic Self Defence" by Robert Bruce. Note 4.5/5 stars after 80 reviews. (read the reviews).
Some of it may be applicable to you.
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Psychic-Self-Defense-Handbook/dp/1571746390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501277543&sr=1-1&keywords=psychic+self+defense+robert+bruce
Anything you can do to remain as healthy and happy as possible should reduce the frequency and severity of these events.
My best to you.
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.
Wow that deck looks pretty groovy! Might I ask if you're also into psychedelic experiences?
I actually got into tarot because the art in the [Ethereal Visions](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ethereal-Visions-Illuminated-Tarot-Deck/dp/1572819251
) deck is so beautiful.
I have also ordered but haven't yet received the Tattoo Tarot deck because American Traditional tattoo flash is one of my very favorite art styles.
I have not, but I have read and listened to a lot of work by people like Terrence McKenna. I really like True Hallucinations: Being an Account of the Author's Extraordinary Adventures in the Devil's Paradise. And I've read almost the entire catalogs of Hunter S Thompson and Ken Kesey.
I also love Quantum science (I'm getting close to melting my blu-ray set of Cosmos I watch it so much).
I'll definitely check it out!
EDIT: Just reserved it from my library system. This is the right one, correct?
http://i.imgur.com/BMDP80A.jpg
> From my understanding he researched children that had allegedly remembered previous lives. There's so much room for contamination there that it makes the study flawed from the beginning. The kids could have picked that information from their family and surroundings; they could have made rather vague claims for which finding a match by sheer luck would be easy, or the researcher may have intentionally or not omitted the mispredictions made by the subjects (confirmation bias). It's just not enough to prove anything.
I agree it's a difficult topic to tackle, but I think he took a nice, manageable bite. He studied thousands of cases and eliminated or at least heavily caveated those with a strong opportunity for contamination; his particular specialty was the intersection of children with past-life memories and children with birthmarks (testing the hypothesis that birthmarks, like phobias, might be residues of past-life violence).
If you're interested, I found this book about him Old Souls; Thomas Schroder (note, it was written by a journalist who, if memory serves, at least claims to be biased against the plausibility of Stevenson's research at the beginning) to be very good. Actually, that was my introduction to Stevenson.
> [W]hen it comes to something with such consequence as one's life stance it seems justified to do one's homework and base it on the best available evidence.
I would agree; the question is how much reincarnation, yea or nay, should really affect one's life stance. Why would it really matter?
I don't think "demons, aliens, and all things occult" are typically covered in a single, definitive work. Especially because "aliens" are usually part of UFOlogy and not occultism.
Regarding occult topics though:
- The New Encyclopedia of the Occult
- Three Books of Occult Philosophy
- Dictionary of Demons
- A Dictionary of Angels
- The Golden Dawn
- Gems of the Equinox
- The Complete Magician's Tables
- The Magician's Companion
There are literally hundreds of other resources available too, but these are the ones I could think of off the top of my head.
Aside from Liber 777, Stephen Skinner's The Complete Magician's Tables is quite good.
I also like to refer to Harold Roth's correspondences at his Alchemy Works website.
For a biography I suggest This one
you can find works here
and some more here.
If you like Liber Null I suggest picking up Frater U.'.D.'.'s book on sigils. Which can also be found here
I would recommend the same book that u/modern_quill recommended to me, [Liber Null by Peter J. Carol](Liber Null & Psychonaut: An Introduction to Chaos Magic https://www.amazon.com/dp/0877286396/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nvWfAbD787VQK)
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
Are you talking about this one?
https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Bible-Complete-Handbook/dp/0919345921
Well it's not us that outputs this type of shit:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Sexual-Politics-Meat-Feminist-vegetarian/dp/1441173285
"Cosmic Trigger" by Robert Anton Wilson.
Although I read it when there was just the one, not Volume One :)
Pretty much anything by Robert Anton Wilson... His fiction can be hard to approach (Illuminatus Trilogy, Schrodinger's Cat Trilogy), but his essay work is fantastic and will, in fact, blow your mind to pieces.
Cosmic Trigger I
http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Trigger-Final-Secret-Illuminati/dp/1561840033/ref=pd_bbs_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239034673&sr=8-5
Cosmic Trigger II
http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Trigger-II-Down-Earth/dp/1561840114/ref=pd_bbs_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239034673&sr=8-9
Cosmic Trigger III
http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Trigger-III-After-Death/dp/1561841102/ref=pd_bbs_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239034673&sr=8-12
Coincidance
http://www.amazon.com/Coincidance-Head-Robert-Anton-Wilson/dp/1561840041/ref=pd_bbs_sr_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239034673&sr=8-10
Robert Anton Wilson Explains Everything:
http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Anton-Wilson-Explains-Everything/dp/1591793750/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239034673&sr=8-13
I recommend reading the Cosmic Trigger series by Robert Anton Wilson.
Pt1: http://amzn.com/1561840033
It's also easy enough to find a PDF of it if you look around.
The books are all about those subjective paths to truth he calls 'Reality Tunnels'. Give it a read.
A few random ones other players have found useful:
Hi! Ok, I need to talk about the end game first: If you practice enough, you not only will get results, but you will start getting them all the time, without actually doing anything. Looks wonderful? Yes and no. The problem here is not to get to that point, but who you will be when you get there.
If you have hate, insecurities, fears, those will start to manifest too on their own. Basically what you are inside will all become 'external'.
That is why the very first thing you need to learn, and keep practicing daily, is banishing.
The goal of banishing is to align you with the divine, and to clean you up and transform you. As Crowley said about the LBRP "Those who regard this ritual as a mere device to invoke or banish spirits, are unworthy to possess it. Properly understood, it is the Medicine of Metals and the Stone of the Wise".
Roughly, the four elements correspond to core elements of the human personality: air is thought, fire is will, water is emotion, and earth is the physical. So it is like a respiration: First you exhale all the used up/low/unwanted elemental energy in each quarter. Once you have emptied, you can then 'inhale' the high grade stuff delivered to you by gently asking the archangels.
The quabalistic cross at the beginning serves to make a first rough alignment with the divine and draw a bit of energy to kick start the process: You pull some energy from above, ground it down below, then equilibrate it between Severity/Strength/Mars and Mercy/Jupiter. The center of the cross then becomes Tipharet/Beauty/Sun (Brush up on your tree of life if needed to understand that better).
I recommend reading Israel Regardie's 'Middle Pillar'. By the way don't start up on the Middle Pillar straight away, you risk being blown off by the energy since you are not a proper vessel to it yet (been there). Repeated practice of the LBRP is needed first. The middle pillar is used to basically draw a shitload of energy into you.
Once you have started a daily practice of banishing, you can safely take up magick. There I have to, once again, recommend Alan Chapman 'Advanced Magick for Beginners'
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1904658415
Everything you need to know about magick is in there. Will save you the trip through Old School Ritual/Chaos Magick. It is really extremely simple once you get the knack. Just play with it, and start practicing it balls to the wall. You'll get results, just remember to choose wisely what you want and plan in advance, because you can be damn sure you will get exactly what you asked for.
Also, the goal of it is not to get something for nothing. This will transform you as much as it transform the world around you. It will then be made obvious by experience that internal and external is the same thing. Hopefully at this stage you will have found your 'true will' and everything will be peachy.
Edit: Because I tend to repeat myself a lot when the kids are around :)
check out this book
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MTENOC/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Journey of Souls By Michael Newton, is the book you are looking for. It outlines life before and after embodiment. A lot of it resonates and feels true to me
This book has a chapter of stories like that.
https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Worrying-There-Probably-Afterlife-ebook/dp/B00GBLRNTS
Sure! A couple books I can recommend:
Stop Worrying! There Probably is an Afterlife
Surviving Death: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for an Afterlife
Both of those authors have videos on youtube and podcasts and such.
You may also be interested in the Orch-OR theory of consciousness.
True Hallucinations: Being an Account of the Author's Extraordinary Adventures in the Devil's Paradise https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062506528/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_oe9PDb6S2MEDA
The Complete Magician's Tables.
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Magicians-Tables-Stephen-Skinner/dp/0738711640
It sounds like you're able to work a lot with correspondences. For that alone I'd recommend Stephen Skinner's Complete Magician's Tables. You'll find numerous correspondences between quite a few plants and planets, signs, entities, etc. From there you can work out when to harvest, perhaps the type of metal tool, things you can use them for, etc.
Going a little more plant-centric, Cunningham's Encyclopedia is a nice reference.
edit: linked to skinner's book
I recently fell into the Occult world as well. A was given a deck of tarot cards. It was the Rider-Waite deck. I started reading about it and a spark lit. Now I am consuming everything I can get my hands on.
I like MindandMagick as well. Also, I found this video on the Hermetic Principles very helpful and well explained.
As for reading, I have started reading the Liber Null by Peter Carroll and Condensed Chaos by Phil Hine. Recommend both if you're interested in Chaos Magick.
Some of the seminal works on Wicca are Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. by Scott Cunningham and Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland.
Good luck on your journey. Personally, I am starting small by working on my meditation, mindfulness and single-pointed thought. Also, studying the tarot a few cards at a time.
> Liber MMM
Its also a part of Liber null if your interested in more information on the topic.
The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
I Am That - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Love hearing others having these types of experiences! If you want to dig deeper and gain further insight into that line of thought and experience more, check out the book “I Am That: Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj,” it’s one of those books that opens your mind to new facets of perception and awareness of how connected we all are. (Right down the rabbit hole of I am you, you are me, him, them, her... we are one type awareness... expressions of the universe using consciousness to experience life from multiple perspectives all at once, most oblivious to our connection with a false cognition of “individuality”). If you take each chapter in and mull it over before moving on to the next, it can be quite an experience.
I Am That
The Psychedelic Experience by Timothy Leary and Ram Dass
http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Timothy-Leary-The-Psychedelic-Experience-The-Tibetan-Book-Of-The-Dead.pdf
About Consciousness:
I AM THAT by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-That-Nisargadatta-Maharaj/dp/0893860468
Be as You Are By Ramana Maharshi
https://www.amazon.com/Be-As-You-Are-Teachings/dp/0140190627/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526748482&sr=1-1&keywords=be+as+you+are
The Way of The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526748504&sr=1-4&keywords=the+way+of+the+peaceful+warrior
The most obvious book on traditional Wicca is Janet and Stewart Farrar's A Witches' Bible
Welcome to the community! There's really no right or wrong way to start, but as far as a "newbie"/beginner goes, there are a couple beginner's guides that I'd recommend any interested novice pick up. Wicca For Beginners is a great place to start for a general overview of the practice. A more extensive guide would be A Witch's Bible, and if you're looking for more Druidic/"Green Witch" type material, the Grimoire for the Green Witch is pretty extensive.
That should about cover basic/introductory stuff. I've been practicing Wicca my entire life, so feel free to PM me if you've got any questions. I'd be more than happy to introduce you to Paganism.
Most pagan religions — reconstructionism, Shinto, Shenjiao, Hinduism — have much the same approach: you share food and drink and make symbolic offerings like fire and incense. Actions can also be offerings, like song, music, and dance. A bunch of flowers is always nice. Then there are gifts like statues, paintings, or just nice objects. Ancient Greeks offered everything from pottery animals to sea-shells. Of course votives like that do tend to build up: temples used to bury them eventually! Gifts to charity can be vowed as offerings to appropriate gods — I give annually to a hospice in honour of Hades and Persephone and to a veterans' charity for Ares.
A good book is
Hellenic polytheism: household worship
and you can find more advice on specific gods at
https://neosalexandria.org/the-pantheon/
This is exactly why I decided not to go into the sciences. They're just so devoid of meaning in most areas unless you get really lucky. Otherwise you're stuck with a 9-5 working for some corporation that isn't doing any kind of meaningful work, or even work with a big payoff waiting at the end like curing a disease you're passionate about eliminating, or creating a wonderful piece of technology. I wouldn't work with spirits, personally, if by that you mean angels and demons or ghosts.
There is a place for the essence of consciousness in things, for example m1thr0s once told me that he would not been able to divine the secrets of the I Ching so readily if he did not, on some level also love and respect Fu Hsi or King Wen, as there is a kind of consciousness link going on there that lives in infinity.
Some deities have been very helpful to me, not so much with finding a very lucrative career, but in aiding me financially so I had the time and energy to both manage a household and an occult business (The Abrahadabra Institute) the goddess of happy households, Hestia. She is helpful in a way that is not time consuming or intrusive and her presence is only asserted when she thinks it is very important, for example, getting married to the right person or calling attention to things to refocus on the happiness of the family, like making a special dinner or freshening up the decor. Anyone who has been to my house knows I'm basically Suzie homemaker and most of this I would attribute to her influence and my natural Yin inclinations. I sort of invoked her on a whim one day and she has stuck with me ever since then, much to my surprise. So yeah I would recommend Hestia since it doesn't sound like you're in need of anything "occult" right now, and she deals with the basic desires and happiness of earth-bound life.
With Hestia, in the traditional way which can be acquired from the LABRYS Polytheistic Community in Hellas:
https://www.amazon.com/Hellenic-Polytheism-Household-Worship-1/dp/1503121887
You want to always have a flame going in the house, somewhere. If that is a gas stove, great, that is also her traditional location, the cooking fire. If not, you can use those cheap mexican candles they sell for witchcraft at the grocery store in the glass vials, unless you have a cat they will burn for a week and not go out.
"The Crowley Tarot" by Akron and Hajo Bahnzaf has I Ching correspondences for every card. The book is designed to go with the Crowley Thoth Tarot (second link below), but the correspondences should apply with any deck.
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Crowley-Tarot-Handbook-Cards/dp/0880797150
Thoth deck: https://www.amazon.com/Thoth-Tarot-Deck-Aleister-Crowley/dp/1572815108
I've personally always been a fan of the Thoth deck or the Hermetic Tarot. My main deck is a vintage printing of the Rider-Waite though. Basically just find one you resonate with and can easily interpret. Also as /u/somegermanlady pointed out, traditionally tarot decks are supposed to be a gift given wrapped in cloth.
If you want other deck recommendations, just let me know what kind of art you like and I can probably recommend something!
I've been loving the ethereal visions illuminated deck! I never fully connected to the standard RWS, and this gives me just enough of the symbolism with artwork that I really enjoy. The cardstock is also really good. If anyone is interested, here it is :) Ethereal Visions Illuminated Tarot Deck https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572819251/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oCEYBb4CWWZS2
I'm a traditionalist, so i've been using rider-wait for a long while, but I would like to save up for some prettier decks! Linestrider is a popular favorite, but really, for all the right reasons... It's so gorgeous! Etheral Visions is also a fav of mine... I'm a huge sucker of that kind of style. I also wish I could remember the name of the deck, but I remember a really nice foresty-themed one that had like a deer-man on it! I want to say it was something-something irish woodlands? I'm probably 99% wrong knowing myself.
and this is me being a large nerd more than anything, but I would love cardcaptor sakura cards!
Have to agree with this, even though I'm a little bit deck crazy at times lol.
If that doesn't appeal to you, there are a few decks that are pretty closely based on RW. I like the Ethereal Visions deck a lot and wouldn't say it'd be a bad deck to start with.
I would also advise patience. Runes are powerful symbols, runes convey messages, runes influence the world around us. Not being familiar with the runes could make you regret this decision for the rest of your life. This requires a lot more than a day to think about.
What actual message are you trying to convey? That would certainly help us help you. I'm not a runic scholar myself, in any sense. Although, I've heard great things about the first half of this book. I haven't read it myself yet but I did recently purchase it.
This book
https://www.amazon.com/Only-Astrology-Book-Youll-Ever/dp/1589796535
Yep! Here's a link to a book I like.
[The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need] (https://www.amazon.com/Only-Astrology-Book-Youll-Ever/dp/1589796535/ref=zg_bs_12624_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZGX3BK2Y9EXF33W91VQW)
I also learned from cafeastrology.com and the forums at linda-goodman.com. Also a few others that I can't remember.
Please keep in mind this is just a hobby of mine. It takes a ton of time studying and practicing to get a feel for how a chart works together to describe a person. If you want a really accurate reading I'd go to a professional. Have fun! :)
/r/astrology would be a great resource too. This is a subject I dabbled in quite frequently in my younger days, since then though my attention span has meandered elsewhere. One of the better books I read on the matter, especially for a beginner, was called The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need, by Joanna Martine Woolfolk.
One thing I would point out on regards to Freemasonry and Astrology, is that in the time our ritual was originally written Astronomy and Astrology were considered by most to be one and the same. Does this mean astrology has relevance to the modern possibly scientific minded Mason? Maybe or maybe not. Astrology is however its own vocabulary of symbols and symbolism which has intertwined its way into Western culture. A lot of Freemasons live for that sort of stuff. I know that's what attracted me to explore astrology as a young man and eventually pursue Freemasonry more recently.
One interesting overlap between the two is the circumpunct which Freemasonry has taken as one of its many insignia. It is also the astrological (and subsequently astronomical) symbol for the Sun.
“The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need” seems like a fit.
https://www.amazon.com/Only-Astrology-Book-Youll-Ever/dp/1589796535/ref=nodl_
“The author gives an easy, logical way to integrate the interpretations of the sun signs, moon signs, planets, and houses in any given chart, something not easily done or often seen in general astrology books”.
I loved it. There’s downloadable software that comes with the book so you can input info to get your house, planets, etc.
Plenty of information if you’re just starting out.
If you're looking to dive headlong into practice, I found Advanced Magick for Beginners to be a helpful, fun read.
i can't help you with making rituals as i'm pretty new to the practical side myself. i haven't read these, but they've been highly recommended by multiple people:
[modern magick by daniel michael kraig](http://smile.amazon.com/dp/0738715786
)
advanced magick for beginners by alan chapman
> How do I undo the conditioning that causes me to irrationally fear/reject/recoil at any mention of the Devil, Serpent/Snake, Baphomet, and other spiritual concepts that would go against my Pentecostal upbringing?
practice, both in the sense of trying repeatedly and developing a practice. the more educated you become about the significance of these symbols, the less the perverted pentacostal interpretation will appeal to your instincts or even stand out.
knee-jerk reactions from ingrained beliefs are a function of the lower emotional and animal body. you (your reason) are riding a horse that gets spooked whenever it sees a snake or a goat, and whenever it gets spooked, you get spooked and attribute significance to the horse getting spooked. someone with mastery over their horse would calmly allow the horse to be spooked and simply rein it in.
Sort of depends on the type of book you're looking for but here are some of my faves in no particular order: Illusions, Stalking the Wild Pendulum, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Dancing Wu Li Masters, The Holographic Universe, Center of the Cyclone, True Hallucinations, The Archaic Revival, Be Here Now.
Found it. And available on kindle too, so even better! Sweet!
The UFO leaks are just UFO's being mentioned in cables. For the record, if you want a good source on UFO's, PLENTY has been leaked already by very good sources who are prepared to testify before congress.
That information is so earth moving that most people just brush it off as kooks being kooks, but yeah, they're not. When someone retires from the Department of Defence as a senior commander and tells you he personally investigated a landed UFO in Rendlesham, it's about time to sit up and listen.
Start with Leslie Kean's fantastic book. It's better than anything Wikileaks will ever release on the topic.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/UFOs-Generals-Pilots-Government-Officials/dp/0307716848
This book - http://www.amazon.com/UFOs-Generals-Pilots-Government-Officials/dp/0307716848
Its only the most credible cases from the most credible people. Many of these cases are not only eye witness accounts from military pilots and personnel, many are backed up by radar evidence as well.
Here's the Amazon link.
I concur, This book was fascinating.
Old Souls. Not exactly evidence for ghosts, but if this is possible, why discount them outright?
There's a great book called Old Souls that you should definitely check out.
This one is good, but i recommend the Complete Magicians Tables by Stephen Skinner.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Magicians-Tables-Stephen-Skinner/dp/0738711640
Better laid out, more complete, and provides a commentary for each table in the back to offer some explanation.
As well, AC made some mistakes back when Liber 777 was published that the Author of CMT addresses
I found this to be a really good book for beginners.
Answers to all of your questions, and more!
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Sigil-Magic-Creating-Personal/dp/0738731536/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459321261&sr=8-1&keywords=practical+sigil+magick
Favored among chaos magicians mostly.
Use goes way back to cave man times..the whole draw a animal on a wall, draw spears through it, then go out and manifest it in real life and hunt your food, in theory you made or had a idea, to see a deer... then to kill it. then you did it, kind of basic magick. basic sigil idea in a way.
Symbols and sigils..that's a huge topic so much to cover im not a expert so I won't try to explain it much.
Sigils are basically just taking a idea or concept, making it into a sigil/symbol of some sort that represents your desire...then charging it some how with a energy. You then after it is charged find a way to launch it into the universe to manifest...this can be done a lot of ways... through pain, have sigil on papper, burn it, when you get burned slightly use that pain to imagine the sigil going into the ether of the universe and being launched off, using pain as a gate way in theory. You can also use dance, dance to exhaustion and then when you're so tired and collapse you fall and mentally visualize the sigil being launched...
or sigil sex magick. you can draw the sigil on your girlfriend/partner or what ever, reach orgasm..at point of orgasm you launch the sigil mentally into the universe to manifest. or you can use masterbation..same theory.
It's basically a "cool" way of spell casting in my eyes..or a lower downed version if you do it that way.. for any sigils to really work i'd think to launch them you'd need a actual circle to entrap that energy so it can be launched..and perhaps the methods of charging and launching it should be well thought out and done.
Basically just a desire, made into a sigil/symbol, fired off into the universe....
they have a hit and miss way of working out so i've heard. it's really tricky random shot magick. they supposivly take the least resistance way of manifesting and apparently this can really fuck you over if your wish isn't that well put out. you basically write out what you want then turn that into a sigil, should of been more clear, but that's the drift of it basically from my perspective.
I saw this book and it looks quite promising - http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Sigil-Magic-Creating-Personal/dp/0738731536/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458016502&sr=8-1&keywords=sigil+magic+frater
Looks like a good place to start.That or grant morrisons lectures on chaos magick and sigils, that's how I found out about it.
Read http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0738731536/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1464459207&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=practical+sigil+magic&dpPl=1&dpID=41PJ07r82dL&ref=plSrch it's a great primer for Modern occult approach to magickal workings.
Also this book is an outstanding primer. Don't get the kindle version, go with the real deal http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0738715786/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1464459573&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=modern+magick&dpPl=1&dpID=51203F9fNtL&ref=plSrch
Here is a link to arguably the best introduction to wicca that there is.
https://www.amazon.com/Wicca-Solitary-Practitioner-Scott-Cunningham/dp/0875421180/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1519634712&sr=8-3&keywords=wicca+guide&dpID=51j%252BwKpACML&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
This was the first "occult" book i have ever purchsed/read. I am not a wiccan but that book "opened the doors" for me so to speak. Once I realized that i was interested in much more than just wicca the following book by peter j carrol steered me in the right direction based on the practical exercises in an almost textbook like format.
https://www.amazon.com/Liber-Null-Psychonaut-Introduction-Chaos/dp/0877286396/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519634960&sr=1-1&keywords=liber+null&dpID=516TsWggnKL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
It is very difficult to establish any kind of reading order for occult studies. Occultism itself is an infinitely tangled strand of truths, half-truths, and lies. It is difficult (perhaps in possible) to identify a starting point and (getting lost is part of the fun).
Nonetheless, I will do my best to identify some possible entry points.
https://www.amazon.com/Liber-Null-Psychonaut-Introduction-Chaos/dp/0877286396/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501867525&sr=8-1&keywords=liber+null+and+psychonaut
A quick google or YouTube search will help with this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mtzU9mVlk0
Grant Morrison cause he's punk rock.
You can find the Equinox online here.
The print edition of Book 4 is much better than any of the online copies I've found. However, I find that Daniel Ingram's guidance on breathing and meditation is more direct and easier to follow.
You may want to look into a few Crowley biographies before you dive too deep into purchasing all of his books. Context may help you decide whether you want some guidance here and there or are ready to commit to the entire path.
That, I have done.
You might like this one. It’s pretty intense. Can take a lifetime to get through. Worth a read. (imho) :-)
I Am That.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0893860468/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_pqh.zb7F4FVDE
I Am That by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-That-Nisargadatta-Maharaj/dp/0893860468/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371198892&sr=8-1&keywords=i+am+that
Once you have a clear idea what meditation is about I highly recommend "I am that" by Nisargadatta Maharaj
http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-That-Nisargadatta-Maharaj/dp/0893860468/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414876267&sr=8-1&keywords=i+am+that
It gets right to the very core of being. It answers any question you can have (Q&A Style). Maharaj is a realized man who were vistited by people and asked questions, which were taped and later written down to this book.
Maharaj reached enlightenment by always staying with the feeling "I am". After 3 years realization happened.
Any answer to the question "who am I?" using words (language) will be limited and incorrect because the world is far more dynamic, complex and mysterious than human languages, which are just apes making noises at each other.
But here's an idea:
There was a guy called Nisargadatta Maharaj who wrote a book called I Am That. The book itself is supposed to be profound, but you can understand the most important lesson from just the title.
When answering the question "who am I?" most people point to things outside of themselves and say "I am this" or "I am that." They say they are a Christian, Australian, Lawyer who is named Bob Smith. Are all these things who you are really? No, they are just the result of outside accidents. If you had been born in a different place 100 years ago all these things would be different.
Most people are too "close" to their identity and thoughts to see this reality. By observing your thoughts, meditation helps you create a distance and objectivity.
So "who am I?"... The answer meditation might give you is not something you'll be able to write down on paper. As another commenter said, "Have a look at what's experiencing the thoughts." This is almost like a spotlight turning back to shine light onto itself. When you look at who or what experiences your thoughts, what do you find?
You can most certainly think of some prayers on your own— after all the Gods do want to hear from YOU. I use a few different books to help me out with set prayers. They are these books:
The last two list hymns and prayers to different Gods and they’re just wonderful. My prayer routine at night for example consists of praying some of the prayers in these books to the Gods Im closest too, then I i pray this prayer (https://pieandhotdogs.tumblr.com/post/129529920089/daily-hellenic-polytheist-prayer-evening) and then I say different prayers to the different Gods—I talk to them personally, thank them for all the blessings, ask them to protect me, any special petitions, etc. Usually I pray with a candle lit and some incense burning. Offerings can consist of different things—food, coins, wine, etc. I use sea shells and rocks for Venus since she came from the sea, plastic little dolphins for Neptune since he’s the King of the Sea, olives for Athena. Basically, things that mean something to the Gods. Doesn’t have to be too elaborate :)
Your last question is a really good one and one I can’t immediately explain. Sometimes you just feel it— i always feel sooo calm when praying to Hestia and Venus. And sometimes you see manifestations of things you pray for under the realms of certain Gods. I ask Apollo for help with writing at times and when the inspiration comes I feel very connected to him. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful on that question—although it is a good one!
Cosmic Trigger - Robert Anton Wilson has provided me with lots of entertainment and also trajectories for things to learn about in the future. Read it 10 years ago and it shaped a great deal of the things that I am into now.
Cosmic Trigger: Robert Anton Wilson was a bit of a mindfuck.
I find her book a bit dated and limited. Robert Bruce's material has served me much better. Wish I'd had his book 20 years ago!
"The Practical Psychic Self-Defense Handbook"
He's clearly tried to make measurable what is difficult to measure and, when at an impasse, throw out old superstition advice and jargon, resetting perspective. He's seems to be one of the few that just tries to focus and relay what "just works", often going through retrospectives like "I tried this, it had this effect, so I then tried to approach it this way and it had these results."
That kind of meticulousness is vital in these field(s); it's so hard to make measurable with what seems to have a constant impasse to find (repeatable) measurements. The title of the book still makes me cringe a little, but I think that's my own cultural baggage more than anything and he's one of the few authors on these topic(s) that doesn't set off my "BS o' Meter".
His insights are invaluable and his thinking is sound, IMHO.
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Psychic-Self-Defense-Handbook/dp/1571746390
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.
By Matt Hughes you can see pictures of his deck by searching and if you scroll down enough, you'll find this exact card
I just bought this deck https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572819251/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and so far it's been super nice to work with. Time will tell, though, as we're just getting adjusted.
This is one of the best: https://smile.amazon.com/Taking-Up-Runes-Complete-Divination/dp/1578633257
She compares a bunch of different meanings provided by various people, explains the history and the uses, and generally gives you the clearest foundation.
Also: avoid Blum.
I would ignore almost all online sources for that sort of thing.
The most historically accurate source of runes, by one of the most respected authors, is here - https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Up-Runes-Complete-Divination/dp/1578633257/ref=sr_1_2?crid=5RT9VX1B0Q8U&keywords=taking+up+the+runes&qid=1572210026&sprefix=taken+by+mino%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-2
I thought this book ( "All Around the Zodiac" Bill Tiernay ) was really useful when I started. You may also like "The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need".
http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Magick-Beginners-Alan-Chapman/dp/1904658415
In this book it offers this framework for ANY magic (I cut and pasted this from a review - it appears in the book repeatedly):
For example
According to Mr Chapman's theory following those 6 guidelines will enable you to create your own rituals, complicated or simple. On some level what you put in, you will get out.
Edit: Chapman, not Carroll.
Read and do the exercises from this short but epic book.
Then read this and diligently work the practices for years.
Magick and meditation can't give you easy answers to the hows and whys of existence, but they will give you the tools and discipline to make the best of the time that you do exist.
I'm very sorry for your loss. Just a few points...science is not ye close to explaining what consciousness is or providing an explanatory mechanism for how it arises from electro-chemical brain activity. And with that, no can say what occurs at death with irrefutable certainty. I wouldn't look for scientific evidence of an afterlife...I don't believe science to be the appropriate medium for this (I say this as a scientist myself and someone who is passionately pro science). Direct experience is a much better medium I think. If you are interested, I would recommend you research near death experiences, death bed visions, death bed phenomena witnessed by others, after death visitations, and maybe talk to sympathetic hospice people who have a lot of experience of being around the dying. I'm not sure any of these things will provide anything approaching hard evidence, but taken together they are at the very least strongly suggestive that death is something far more mysterious than what mainstream science understands, and the relationship of brain to consciousness is likewise also something more mysterious.
A recommended book that explores all this evidence without trying to convince you, it just lays it all out there and allows one to make up their own mind (if they wish). Interesting stuff.
https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Worrying-There-Probably-Afterlife-ebook/dp/B00GBLRNTS
ni li ike ala tawa mi!
mi lukin kin e lipu ni: lipu "lipu pi kon moli ike" pi jan Posi.
mi lukin kin e lipu ni: lipu "o pilin pona tan ni: ken la moli li moli ala" pi jan Telu
mi lukin kin e lipu ni: lipu "ilo mute pi pali toki" pi jan Losepete
Honestly, the best evidence and narrative defending the paranormal has been compliled lovingly into this easy to read book:
https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Worrying-There-Probably-Afterlife-ebook/dp/B00GBLRNTS
It covers a wide range of topics and is impeccably researched, regardless of its goofy title.
I find anything done for video/tv/movies is sensationalist, driven entirely by a profit incentive, mostly dishonest, and frankly - pretty stupid.
This is the concept of pre-birth karma. It is not only responsible for people born with genetic diseases, it is responsible for situations/families that you are born in, your personal circumstances, and everything else.
In many life-after-death experiences such as in these books...
... They all share very similar stories in which you "decide" your current lives' initial conditions prior to birth. The concept is that the "soul" wishes to learn a lesson and chooses an appropriate time, place, circumstance that exercises the best suited probabilities for learning the lesson. The Buddha often talked about common karmic implications: Such as criminals often get reincarnated as animals or humans that suffer as victims of their own crimes. Nothing in the world can beat karma because essentially, it IS the LoA that you have performed on yourself prior to birth. The LoA is law.
For example, the greedy person rebirths as a person in poverty. Maybe the lesson for him is to learn the value of not being greedy. A murderer will become a murder victim. The LoA is not unfair, because essentially, it is your own "soul" which had decided for it to happen through the LoA - you just have had soul amnesia.
In Eastern divination, there is something known as the I-Ching. They believe that a person's "destiny" comprises of both a free-will component as well as a "capacity". Everyone is born with a capacity, and it is their own decisions in life that will decide how far within that capacity the person will be able to develop to.
In my opinion, prior to birth, you develop a mental-astral body that embodies these handicaps. For example, you might be deaf, blind, having a genetic malformation, etc. Then this mental-astral body (or the "soul) is attached to the physical body being developed within the womb through the "silver cord" at the Throat chakra. This is where life sparks, the soul occupies the nervous system and adapts to it. But realize that the DNA, the circumstances, the parents have already all been "selected" prior to the occupying. It is only because the "soul" has chosen for a Down syndrome life. Well, so here are the two common interpretations of the LoA with respect to reincarnation. Of course, there is a subtle difference.
In Buddhism, reincarnation is treated more like a domino-effect, rather than a "soul" travelling from one body to another. It is more like a candle lighting up another candle. The previous candle can die independently without affecting the second candle. (This might account for the eternal damnation/judgement that Christianity advocates. ) The thing is that the second candle is ALSO caused from you, so there really isn't a "soul". (A bit of a digression, I apologize.)
To answer your question more directly, well, it is the soul's own choice to be born in that way. The second thing is, it could very well be possible to improve the situation. However, due to the "capacity" mentioned when I talked about the I-Ching, it might or might not be possible. (Maybe a cure/suppression of the symptoms is invented in the era? Who knows.) What we can do, is to influence the present with our decisions and use the LoA to better ourselves right now. However, we must also realize that everything "bad" that happens is essentially just another lesson for you to learn.
Hope this helped.
Hmm. Sounds like a good book actually. I'd love to read another view on that. Off too check that out. Ive found the more I "explore" this area, the more fascinating it becomes.
Check out the journey souls
Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MTENOC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NIj1CbVVHRR2R
Take a look a this book it's one man's life time research into the subject. It's seriously the most amazing book I've ever read.
My wife has been reading Journey of Souls, which compiles case studies of people who have died and were recovered. It has some interesting stories and theories on what happens after we die. The book compiles similar events together and draws conclusions from them to learn things about the afterlife. Even if you don't believe in the afterlife, you can read the stories and draw your own conclusions. It's a good book if you are interested in these types of things.
Yay!!! I LOVE this contest !! I am digging reading everyones favorites. I love get to know to know you things like this anyways congrats on your raise !!
Heres my favorites
1.Song- Bloom by Odesza
2.Book- [Terrence McKenna True Hallucinations.]
(https://www.amazon.com/True-Hallucinations-Extraordinary-Adventures-Paradise/dp/0062506528) Ive had this book since i was 15, I am now 38 and Ill still read it like once a year. But It got stolen from me last year when I had a bunch of room mates :(
3.Movie- now this is a hard one, maybe Eternal sunshine of a spotless Mind Its so sad though!
4.Favorite game is Monopoly I like custom versions too!
That's why I said something about it, so you would be aware that some people use the term differently. A book of the same name was published by McKenna in the late 80s.
Terrence McKenna - True Hallucinations.
Ahh...
I highly recommend starting with this beautiful book: True Hallucinations. It's an account of some of his travels in the Amazon, and includes many artfully told tales of his first / early experiences with psilocybe mushrooms and various DMT containing substances.
A wonderful audiobook of it exists, in which Terence Mckenna reads the book to you himself with light electronic accompaniment.
Have you read Universal Love, Said The Cactus Person by Scott Alexander?
> “Universal love,” said the cactus person.
>
>“Transcendent joy,” said the big green bat.
>
>“Right,” I said. “I’m absolutely in favor of both those things. But before we go any further, could you tell me the two prime factors of 1,522,605,027, 922,533,360, 535,618,378, 132,637,429, 718,068,114, 961,380,688, 657,908,494 ,580,122,963, 258,952,897, 654,000,350, 692,006,139?
>
>“Universal love,” said the cactus person.
>
>“Transcendent joy,” said the big green bat.
>
>The sea was made of strontium; the beach was made of rye. Above my head, a watery sun shone in an oily sky. A thousand stars of sertraline whirled round quetiapine moons, and the sand sizzled sharp like cooking oil that hissed and sang and threatened to boil the octahedral dunes.
>
>“Okay,” I said. “Fine. Let me tell you where I’m coming from. I was reading Scott McGreal’s blog, which has some good articles about so-called DMT entities, and mentions how they seem so real that users of the drug insist they’ve made contact with actual superhuman beings and not just psychedelic hallucinations. You know, the usual📷 Terence McKenna stuff. But in one of them he mentions a paper by Marko Rodriguez called A Methodology For Studying Various Interpretations of the N,N-dimethyltryptamine-Induced Alternate Reality, which suggested among other things that you could prove DMT entities were real by taking the drug and then asking the entities you meet to factor large numbers which you were sure you couldn’t factor yourself. So to that end, could you do me a big favor and tell me the factors of 1,522,605,027, 922,533,360, 535,618,378, 132,637,429, 718,068,114, 961,380,688, 657,908,494, 580,122,963, 258,952,897, 654,000,350, 692,006,139?
Do you know of any attempts to verify if contact is real, like in the quote above?
​
Because if we lack verification, it's more likely that human minds just happen to have a common, reproducible flaw: thinking they came in contact with higher consciousness when chemical brain imbalance happens. One way to reliably reproduce the bug is taking DMT.
I recently read this new book:
UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go On the Record
And I'm astonished at how open other countries governments and militaries are to discussing UFO's visiting Earth, sightings, etc. It's not kooks and crazies: John Glenn saw one, military, civilian pilots, cops, top security officials at military bases, Belgium's top general now retired and so on. France and England have opened up their books. I have a relative who was in the military when they all saw a UFO and were sworn to secrecy.
Why is the US remaining so secretive on a phenomena which is undeniable?
IMHO, it only contributes to the saying: "NASA: Never a Straight Answer." Your response?
When will NASA come clean on the alien issue? I've seen video of missions where UFO's buzz Apollo rockets and space shuttles.
http://www.amazon.com/UFOs-Generals-Pilots-Government-Officials/dp/0307716848
An Apollo astronaut claims that the truth about extraterrestrial life has been buried in a cover-up by the U.S. and other governments. Former NASA astronaut Edgar Mitchell spoke on Monday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where he urged that humankind go out and become part of the wider planetary community. Mitchell also talked about the supposed UFO crash in his hometown of Roswell, New Mexico, and said that an unnamed admiral had confirmed the incident but now denied it.
http://www.livescience.com/7705-astronaut-claims-ufo-hush.html
http://www.amazon.com/UFOs-Generals-Pilots-Government-Officials/dp/0307716848/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303763593&sr=1-1
There is no hard evidence available, yet. There is only circumstantial evidence which mostly consist of personal testimonies, and there are some videos and photos available. That's the maddening thing about this phenomenon - the level of claims are so high that the evidence needed to prove it is also very high. But, even though there is no hard evidence yet, the claims itself can be considered individually and some inferences can be drawn from it. Read this book for more info. It's a very well written book and you can draw your own conclusion from the text. The author was also on Colbert Report sometime back. Also, watch this.
I'm reading this book right now by Leslie Kean. It has commentary from high ranking military officials from around the world and delves into well documented cases.
Here's the ones I can remember off the top of my head:
-Belgium 1989
-Iran 1976
-Peru 1980
-Chicago O'Hare (2005?)
Not sure how much video there are of these ones...
The Complete Magician's Tables
https://www.amazon.ca/Complete-Magicians-Tables-Stephen-Skinner/dp/0738711640
Are you going through an A.'.A.'. Student Examination?
Let's break this down.
What is a Talisman?
Answer: A talisman is an object believed to contain certain magical properties thought to draw good luck to the possessor, or offer the possessor protection from possible evil or harm. - Wikipedia
What is Numerology?
Answer: Numerology is any belief in the divine, mystical relationship between a number and one or more coinciding events
How do I find the meaning/ideas/associations of a number?
Liber 777
The Complete Magician's Tables - Skinner
Is there a recognized way to go about this?
References to materials to get you started.
Do you have any further questions or anything you would like to know in particular?
I feel like getting a bunch of versions and reading them with and against each other is a good way. I don't read Chinese, so I don't really know for sure what I am missing in the translations. I like Huang's translation and my teacher recommends that one as a good translation but I also have Baynes and Cleary's translations.
Plum blossom oracle is a way to use the I Ching without needing coins or sticks. One uses events and anomalies, basically the world around us, to construct the hexagrams using the attributes and correspondences of the various trigrams as guides. Two good books on this are I Ching Numerology by Da Liu and The Tao of I Ching: Way to Divination by Tsung Hwa Jou. Both these books have tables of correspondences which I find very helpful.
I am very fascinated by connections between the Chinese system and Egyptian magical systems. When in the Qigong state during meditations and exercises I have often connected with energies that strike me as very Egyptian. Granted, I doubt there has to be any sort of historical link for me to connect with it on that plane, but it's interesting to entertain.
My understanding is that the "elements" are more phases/states or different manifestations of Qi than actually different things. They can definitely be used to balance each other out (I manage my chronic back pain (water) by balancing it out with heart energies (heart) and by containing/blocking it using the stomach/spleen/pancreas (earth), while continuing to build up the water energies to become stronger.
I don't own this book but The Complete Magician's Tables seems like it'd be really helpful for syncretic explorations.
Despite the name this book is good and easy introduction: Practical Sigil Magic - Creating Personal Symbols for Success
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Sigil-Magic-Creating-Personal/dp/0738731536
Easy to find as pdf also
After you learn to use sigils, I'd recommend to check memes and stories as sigils. An naturally learn the theory behind magic so you have better understanding what consequences of your actions might be.
Liber Null & Psychonaut: An Introduction to Chaos Magic
I am brand new to the theory of Thelema. I was overwhelmed by the amount of material, all of which seemed to be absolutely mystically esoteric. From a bit of study and opinion I found that Book 4 is the magnum opus for Aleister Crowley's work, and was written as a straight forward guide; understandable to beginners and full enough to continue improving the adept.
Last week I purchased the second revised edition and could not be more pleased with my introduction to Thelema.
This is where I recommend to begin. I have not set it down since it arrived and have gone from a minor curiosity to a full study of each text it references; many of which are included within it's appendix.
Magick: Liber ABA, Book 4 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0877289190/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_XL0OAbWWKM3BR
It is a sizeable book with a price to match, but it is the corner stone; beautiful and durable I will add.
Every book recommended for students can be found here as well.
http://www.astrumargenteum.org/en/library/
Some of the books are not linked in the A.'.A.'. website, but can be found in a quick copy paste the title Google search.
Yeah, I agree. Your ideas are directly in line with some of the advaita Vedanta gurus. you might enjoy:
https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-That-Nisargadatta-Maharaj/dp/0893860468
I think you sound like a pretty normal girl. You seem to be a bit smarter then most and a bit more depressed, but beside that you sound just like everybody else:
"People dont really know me, lonely but special, anxiety, me me me."
And of course you open a thread just about you, cuz it feels kind of good to talk about yourself, right? Center of attention and stuff. And thats OK, thats normal. Most people feel that way.
For me, the so-sad-its-almost-funny thing about our being so self-obsessed is that almost nobody knows who they are. Do you have an answer? Who are you?
I started the search for who I really am a couple of years back and Im sure it helped me a lot. I didnt make things easier, but it gave me a solid foundation, something to stand on, something to hold on to. Inside myself, not dependent on outer circumstances.
If you are interested, i recommend to check out:
And of course I will answer any PMs or comments regarding this.
There is A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook by Stewart and Janet Farrar.
Gary Yourofsky -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4
All My Heroes Still Wear Masks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDuBslRfXxg
McLibel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBpbaVJo9gE
Earthlings - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCU1WUQXMbs
Lucent - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KArL5YjaL5U
SPECIESISM: THE MOVIE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTggRpTzcA0
OpenDoor - The Vegan Society 1976 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlTYjaQLy2o
A.L.F. Behind the Mask: The Story Of The People Who Risk Everything To Save Animals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfKXq9BL29o
Vegecated - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19qSsUI79Ro
Sharkwater - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI1YBCMqbik
The Cove - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp8-nAfsjCk
Paul Watson:The Whale Warrior-A Pirate for the Sea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nzbTsrOUxw
Bold Native (click watch film to see it for free) - http://boldnative.com
I AM AN ANIMAL - The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx3VXmav0rk
Angels of Mercy - Animal Liberation Front - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SooKjnaU4c
The Paw Project - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yihVLIkVRzo
Your Mommy Kills Animals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-wMecABC84
Meat The Truth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHCCFjB8M48
Vanishing Of The Bees - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-JjQH_HUHQ
At the Edge of the World - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286499/
Project Nim - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1814836/
Virunga - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3455224/
The Elephant in the Living Room - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111313/
An Apology to Elephants - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2836524/
Blackfish - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2545118/
Forks Over Knives - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567233/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
The Ghosts in Our Machine - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2654562/?ref_=tt_rec_tt
Food INC - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286537/?ref_=tt_rec_tt
Emptying the Skies - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3302498/
Skin Trade - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1576702/
Of Dogs and Men - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4460258/
Revolution - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2350608/
Unity - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2049636/
Peaceable Kingdom - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435715/
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3302820/
Eating Animals - Jonathan Safran Foer - http://a2zkaraokeshop.com/onlinepdfbooks/5may27.pdf
Consider The Lobster - David Foster Wallace - http://www.columbia.edu/~col8/lobsterarticle.pdf
Animal Liberation and Social Revolution - Brian A. Dominick -http://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/brian-a-dominick-animal-liberation-and-social-revolution.pdf
VEGANARCHY - Anti-Speciesist Warfare and Direct Action - https://animalliberationpressoffice.org/publications%20online/VEGANARCHY-Anti-Speciesist-Warfare-and-Direct-Action.pdf
Animals - The Hidden Victims Of War - http://www.animalaid.org.uk/images/pdf/booklets/war.pdf
Animal Liberation - Peter Singer - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Liberation_(book)
The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-vegetarian Critical Theory - Carol J. Adams - http://www.amazon.com/The-Sexual-Politics-Meat-Feminist-vegetarian/dp/1441173285
Check Your Beer / Wine / Liquor - http://www.barnivore.com
Locate Animal Enterprises Near You - http://www.finalnail.com
Download Cruelty-Cutter to scan an item and have an immediate response about its animal testing status - http://cruelty-cutter.org
Read about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Enterprise_Terrorism_Act
Read about Ag-gag laws - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ag-gag
SnapShot 1, SnapShot 2, SnapShot 3
https://www.amazon.com/Hellenic-Polytheism-Household-Worship-1/dp/1503121887
Is that the book?
This book is great for going over household worship and some traditions involved with it. I really enjoyed it.
I'm merely pointing out one possibility however it's the possibility I believe has the highest probability of being true. You're trying to ask me what has influenced me in this direction. I would have to tell you it has to do with direct experience with phenomena that falls outside the realm of everyday ordinary reality. To go into it here would make too many people uncomfortable and since it was my direct experience it is not something easily provable or transferable. In other words I could tell you but you'd never believe me and I'd have no way to prove it, so I might as well not even go there.
I can however furnish you with reading material that may eventually help you have your own direct experience of non-ordinary reality which might lead to your own revelations.
some of these links will be amazon links but I'm not getting paid by them no worries.
You can do it with buddhist meditation here is a decent guidebook: http://www.interactivebuddha.com/mctb.shtml
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
here are some other resources that may be helpful.
http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0880103728
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882692047
http://www.amazon.com/Not-His-Image-Gnostic-Ecology/dp/193149892X
http://www.workofthechariot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Trigger-Final-Secret-Illuminati/dp/1561840033
http://www.amazon.com/Valis-Philip-K-Dick/dp/0679734465
http://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Dream-Yoga-Complete-Conscious/dp/156455743X
You could always just go the lazy route and eat 6 grams of dried psilocybe cubensis alone in a silent dark room. I hear that works for a lot of people but it's not really what I'm into. :)
good luck!
OP this is the last website to ask questions regarding anything that is beyond tangible.
Anyway, of everything I've read on such subjects this book helped me the most, and I highly recommend it, (to everyone.) Disregard the name, (Final Secret of the Illuminati), it's tongue-in-cheek and you'll get the joke once you finish.
Also, here is a used copy if you're broke.
for your consideration
The Practical Psychic Self Defense Handbook: A Survival Guide by Robert Bruce
I know of this book https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Psychic-Self-Defense-Handbook/dp/1571746390 which I have never read but will
Robert Bruce has a good book on practical psychic self-defense. Dion Fortune's book on the subject is an old classic. Or you can trying getting an appointment with Simon Parkes.
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Psychic-Self-Defense-Handbook/dp/1571746390
https://www.simonparkes.org/jinndemonic-possession
You can find it on Amazon here
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Psychic-Self-Defense-Handbook/dp/1571746390
There's an affirmation that the author encourages to use frequently :
"I am loved and I am worthy. I am safe and I am free. I am powerfully protected. I am master of my body and ruler of my mind."
I've been attacked in every imaginable way through the years. I call on my higher self and stay grounded in my power. I've commanded entities to banish themselves from my presence and they obey. You have to take control of yourself and become the alpha and the master. Revoke any permission you may have given them. Stand in your power!
I'm a fan of this science deck depending on the vibe I'm going for. When on the opposite end of the feels, I go with the Tarot of Ceremonial Magick. I've also been known to use the Jungian Archetype Deck but it is very hard to read (IMNSHO) and I recommend Robert Wang's book to go with it.
I'll also dabble with a Thoth Tarot, too.
But, tell the truth and shame the devil, I get my best readings, both for myself and giving to others, with the good ole' Rider-Waite. Its the set I learned on, using the visuals adds to my read and its simple
Rider Waite Smith deck
Thoth deck and the Duquette book
Tarot de Marseilles and the Ben Dov book
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.
Taking up the Runes, by Diana Paxson, is pretty good.
The book that I found most useful is Freya Aswynn's Northern Mysteries and Magick.
A great source is also Diana Paxson's Taking Up the Runes.
Love your set. Enjoy your journey!
Edit: You may also find this site useful.
Taking Up the Runes
Info | Details
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Amazon Product | The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need
>Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. By using the link above you get to support a chairty and help keep this bot running through affiliate programs all at zero cost to you.
The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need
http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Magick-Beginners-Alan-Chapman/dp/1904658415
I enjoy debating and apologize for being an ass at times; being on the defensive keeps my guard up. I really resent my "read a book" statement, as you - unlike gamewarrior - didn't throw the first punch. When baiting threads like these, I often have four or five arguments going at once and forget who's being facetious and who's genuinely interested in discourse. :)
Funny you brought the issue of my masculinity back up, I'm currently reading The Sexual Politics of Meat which directly addresses the issues of "masculine meat" and the neutering of any males that chose to abstain (among many other sexist issues).
>I definitely like being in a relationship but it doesnt make me feel happier ot more manly. Although it is satisfying to be able to have someone to share with.
Really?
lol tell you what. stop masturbating and read the cosmic trigger books from robert anton wilson.
http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Trigger-Final-Secret-Illuminati/dp/1561840033/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395442048&sr=8-1&keywords=cosmic+trigger+robert+anton+wilson
Grab all three of the series and read them in order. They're not what they look like. The author was an engineer and psychologist and a really famous author in his time. his books also spawned it's own subculture, if you can call it that. discordianism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discordianism
You'll do yourself a favour if you stop the masturbation. If you have a girlfriend, it will improve your sex-life, because you'll be more horny. More animal.You'll also be more proud of yourself after sex, (the manliness I mentioned), which is triggered by a testosterone push. (just like a goal hitting football player, for example)
It's also economics. Being able to have it at will, whenever, drops the value to rockbottom.
This, of course, only works if you don't and can't sex whenever you two want.
Read these books. Follow my advice. Your life will change and your question will be answered.
If you don't believe it ... try it and prove me wrong.
You're welcome.
Recorded radar signatures and photographs are physical evidence of a phenomenon. Handwaving things as "photoshopped" is disingenuous. Discounting corroborated eyewitness testimony as not worthy of consideration is disingenuous since such testimony is used every day in courts of law. There is a certain threshold of proof which is impossible to attain when you are talking about flying objects, particularly if it turns out the extraterrestrial hypothesis is the correct one. The skeptics will only be convinced of UFOs being a legitimate phenomenon (not necessarily from extraterrestrial origin) if a flying object crashed in their backyard or, if as Neil explains, absurdly, that somehow some 'alien' property was stolen from within the alleged spaceships.
I'd postulate the threshold for evidence required for a formal investigation to be opened has long since passed, and if not for the taboo surrounding UFOs (and the profound implications of the extraterrestrial hypothesis) that skeptics would not disagree.
I suggest you read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/UFOs-Generals-Pilots-Government-Officials/dp/0307716848
>It is science fact that beyond theoretical constructs any communication suffers from a one year per light year time lag.
Which goes out the window when discussing capabilities of a society advanced enough to travel here. These are OUR limitations of science. It isn't established science, until we've broken the barrier. We couldn't break the sound barrier for thousands of years, but even though it was beyond our understanding at the time, it was possible. No, what you are saying is not sound science. If they have the capability to come here, then they can manipulate time/space; it would be a given.
Also, real-time isn't real when discussing our real-time feeds either. In fact you standing in front of me and talking to me wouldn't be true real-time either. It takes time for the light to reflect off of you, travel to me, and process in my CNS. It takes even longer for the sound to travel to my censors. We're talking about relative terms, not absolutes. A few seconds or hours is a completely different conversation than millions of years. I know that you're not dumb enough to not comprehend this basic information.
>Surely you have a friendly physics resource you can reach out to that you won't call arrogant and childish
I only have resources available that discusses our primitive understanding of physics, but you didn't make a post about human capability did you?
>If the common mystique around UFO encounters isn't human centric, why does it so imbued with abduction and human study?
What are you talking about? Ancient aliens and x-files? That isn't real. Pick up Leslie Kean's book about documented cases. Unless your happy with getting your information from ancient aliens, paranoid youtube videos/comments, and the national enquirer. If you are on youtube soaking the crazy shit up, check out one of her interviews. There are several good ones like when she went on Michio Kaku's show or Colbert Report; It was a New York Times best seller for ever, so there is a lot of promotion. Again, cite something real, not something you've made up and call the common mystique.
I've been being constructive and giving you what you've asked for. You're talking about all this stuff in the abstract and citing moronic views that are extremely far from reality, when there is heaps of stuff involving scientists, government reports, official testimony, actual journalists, and hard evidence. Discuss reality.
Edit: I just want to point out that Michio Kaku actually went out and helped promote her book without her even though he received no financial intensive to do so. Why would he do that do you think? He's a respected physicist if you don't know who he is.