Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Book Description
They can be found along the side streets of many American cities: herb or candle shops catering to practitioners of Voodoo, hoodoo, Santería, and similar beliefs. Here one can purchase ritual items and raw materials for the fabrication of traditional charms, plus a variety of soaps, powders, and aromatic goods known in the trade as "spiritual products." For those seeking health or success, love or protection, these potions offer the power of the saints and the authority of the African gods.
In Spiritual Merchants, Carolyn Morrow Long provides an inside look at the followers of African-based belief systems and the retailers and manufacturers who supply them. Traveling from New Orleans to New York, from Charleston to Los Angeles, she takes readers on a tour of these shops, examines the origins of the products, and profiles the merchants who sell them.
Long describes the principles by which charms are thought to operate, how ingredients are chosen, and the uses to which they are put. She then explores the commodification of traditional charms and the evolution of the spiritual products industry--from small-scale mail order "doctors" and hoodoo drugstores to major manufacturers who market their products worldwide. She also offers an eye-opening look at how merchants who are not members of the culture entered the business through the manufacture of other goods such as toiletries, incense, and pharmaceuticals. Her narrative includes previously unpublished information on legendary Voodoo queens and hoodoo workers, as well as a case study of John the Conqueror root and its metamorphosis from spirit-embodying charm to commercial spiritual product.
No other book deals in such detail with both the history and current practices of African-based belief systems in the United States and the evolution of the spiritual products industry. For students of folklore or anyone intrigued by the world of charms and candle shops, Spiritual Merchants examines the confluence of African and European religion in the Americas and provides a colorful introduction to a vibrant aspect of contemporary culture.
Customer Reviews:
Wanted more.......2007-03-10
I liked this book. It was interesting to learn about how African belief systems were transformed in the New World--and how profit was made from those transformed beliefs, mostly by white people. The author danced around this contradiction a bit but never really addressed it. I wish she had.
I felt disappointed by her section on High John the Conqueror Root. Her hints that the root is something other than Ipomoea jalapa were intriguing, but she never came to any conclusion about the herb's actual identity. This mirrored her hesitation about addressing the contradiction of white retailers selling the props of African American magic to black people.
This book had a lot of nifty details, though. I thoroughly enjoyed finding out what Indio's incense powder is made out of, for instance.
Groundbreaking Work.......2006-06-04
Carolyn Long's book is one of the foremost works on the subject of African American conjure. In fact, it was the first book-length work to examine modern hoodoo shops, which are its primary focus. I strongly recommend it as an interesting and informative read.
An interesting history of voodoo/hoodoo supplies.......2004-02-15
What an impressive book! Ms. Long has definitely done her homework on this tome. I have wondered for many years about the sources she discusses in this book, and I find it thorough, open-minded and extremely enlightening. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone curious about those strange little bottles of oils and perfumes, packets of powder, 7-day candles with silkscreened decorations on them, and any and all accoutrements of this most fascinating of subjects. I look forward to seeing more of her work!
perfect addition to my library.......2002-10-19
I have been researching hoodoo and voodoo for the past two years, but none of the books I've come across compare to Spiritual Merchants. Not only is it honest, but it's simple...it reads almost like a conversation. I appreciate the oodles of images and merchants, especially since Long distinguishes between their races. Unfortunately, most of the web sites are defunct. I will treasure this book always!
One of a Kind.......2001-07-26
What a great treat it's been to read Spiritual Merchants. Carolyn Long knew she was covering new ground, and it's obvious from the writing that she relished the field work. But what's at least as impressive is the depth of archival research. The preliminary history of Voodoo and hoodoo in the U.S. is really incomparable for its clarity and coherence. Carolyn Long should be congratulated for a terrifically written book--and UTP deserves the same for a beautifully produced book at a reasonable price. It's sure to be a standard for years to come.
Book Description
Set during the French and American wars in South Vietnam, Fourth Uncle in the Mountain is the true story of an orphan, Quang Van Nguyen, adopted by a sixty-four-year-old monk, Thau, who carries great responsibility for his people as a barefoot doctor. Thau manages against all odds to raise his son to follow in his footsteps and in doing so saves him, as well as a part of Vietnam's esoteric knowledge from the Vietnam holocaust. Thau is wanted by the French regime and occasionally must flee in to the jungle, where he is perfectly at home living among the animals. As wise and resourceful as Thau is, he meets his match in his mischievous son. Quang is more interested in learning Cambodian sorcery and martial arts than in developing his skills and wisdom according to his father's plan. Fourth Uncle in the Mountain is an odyssey of a single-father folk hero and his foundling son in a land ravaged by the atrocities of war. It is a classic story complete with humor, tragedy, and insight, from a country where ghosts and magic are real.
Customer Reviews:
Fourth Uncle is Fantastic.......2007-06-27
In buddhist legend, meditation adepts attain a "samadhi fantastic beyond description". This is Fourth Uncle. The magic, sorcery, and martial art stories give way to the natural magic of one pointed concentration - in the cave of the primoridal, original, and pristine mind. I enjoyed this book so much, in spite of the tragic backdrop of pre and post Vietnamese history. There is a great human truth here, that goes beyond religions, in the narration that radiates out through the eyes of a child coming into adulthood. There is also a lot of what is called by aboriginal peoples, "indigenous knowledge" about Viet Nam, which sadly may be disappearing because of enviromental desecration. This book is also a hommage to the folk doctor tradition. This tradition, so vital to the revitalization of the human spirit, is also in danger of being marginalized by institutionalized medicine. Better that it be accommodated for what it is - natural wisdom.
As good as it gets.......2007-06-27
I read a lot. I never write reviews. I will for this book because it is an all time great. A classic. You will never forget it.
Incredible!.......2007-04-18
This breathtaking autobiography has resonated really with me. Coming from a Vietnamese background as well as having a lineage of traditional healers, Quang's story has the same tones within the realm of traditional medicine that were told to me as a child.
As an acupuncture student, Quang's journey had a lot similarities to that in which I'm encountering. It was amazing reading this book because every step of the way, you felt as if you were with him.
With mysticism/magic, acupuncture, herbs, ghosts, spirits, and myriad of characters, Fourth Uncle... is truly one of the greatest qutobiographies that I've read in a long time.
A Transporting Tale.......2006-10-12
This book had me quickly transported to another world--the descriptions were rich and entrancing, the story fascinating--and the telling as if you're listening to Quang. I read this in hardcover over a year ago and many of the images are still vividly with me (not a common experience for me!).
Book Description
Highlights include:
• The History of Healing Within Paganism & Witchcraft
• The Aura & The Chakras
• Astrology & Healing
• Healing Sanctuaries
• Healing Wells & Springs
• The Healing Gods & Goddesses
• Healing With Magic
• Holistic Massage
• The Tarot & Divination
• Shamanistic Healing
• Herbalism
• Past-Life Regression Therapy
• The Physical Body & The Mind
Customer Reviews:
An excellent start.......2007-01-25
This is a very informative and in depth book on healing from a Pagan perspective. The information is at times hard to work through but it is worth it. Of course, one book can not a healer make but it is an excellent start.
Gavin, Stuart and Janet took a brave step in coming out and contradicting the teachings of the theosophists. It was however time. Just because their teachings were "accepted by most reputable occultists" in no way changes the fact that the theosophists were wrong. There are I suppose however individuals that still believe the world is flat. It seems that the good old theosophists never really asked the people who knew anything about the Chakra system. They had in fact though- due to their Victorianish problem with SEX - the second chakra far to the left and not centered.
un naco.......2006-07-07
There is a certain amount of deceit in the presentation of this book because even though in the cover Janet Farrar,Stewart Farrar and Gavin Bone are listed as the authors, when you open the book you realize it was only written by Gavin Bone.
The prose is dry and the lexicon limited, which makes this book tedious to read, although I don't know much about the author, this book made me lose interest in his work, through his writings, I get the impression that he grew up in a humble environment where culture was of little importance.
His teachings regarding the spiritual composition of man, i.e, chakras, etc, etc, actually contradict the version found in theosophical manuals, and in this case I don't think is an "innovation" but lack of knowledge, the theosophists studied the topic in depth, their knowledge was accepted by most reputable occultists, and a lot of it comes from ancient sources.
His job as a "nurse" which some claim is a great qualification to write about this topic,is I believe of little help since most of the nurses work is that of a maidservant, I realized that because most of my family members are medical doctors and while helping one nurse with her thesis.
Much better works on the topic of healing are those written by Israel Regardie (who did have qualifications to write about those topics) and Dion Fortune's.
great introduction to the healing arts..........2002-02-10
wonderfully written, well informed and all together an excellent introduction to the healers art. i think to better the information given one would need to begin an ejucation in medical studies.
Best On The Subject.......2001-12-24
This book took me a while to read, as the content was more than usually offered in this type of book. This is a massive undertaking by The Farrar's and Gavin Bone on the subject and is very professional and well written covering of the subject.
This book tackles the huge expanse of the Healing Arts as practiced by Witches and Pagans. It covers the origins of Healing in history and its association with Paganism. This books discusses various dedications, medical associations,ethics (rarely ever addressed in books on this subject) and various medical practices and techniques.
This is a text book on the subject, covering its chosen topics in depth, and is probably the best I've read. The section on Ethics of Healing, Code of Ethics and Conduct is worth having the book for that alone.
Though I am not a professional in the Healing Arts, I did find the book to be a fountain of information. Healing Rituals, self dedication rituals, information on herbs, chakras, spiritual healing, poppet work, auras; the list of topics goes on and on and is probably more information than I will ever use.
You can see the influence of Gavin Bone here, his 15 years in the medical profession shines as his input on medical and medicine related subjects. Though easy to follow, it is not a simple book by any means. It is geared toward the person who has chosen the Healing Arts as their calling and contains everything from rituals for the healer to what chakra rules what part of the body, discussion on herbs and their healing properties, counseling techniques, Shamanism and even a Last Rites Ritual.
The histories of medicine and spiritual healing are also priceless, as a collection of this information all in one book is rare. All these elements combined make the necessity of this book being in the library of anyone seriously interested in the healing arts.
The Farrar's and Gavin Bone have written a powerful book that fills the need to examine the healing arts and all its aspects deeply, professionally and with the respect it deserves.
A solid overview of healing from a Craft perspective.......2000-05-31
While implicitly touched upon in many works, few books are available that explicitly explore the world of health and healing in detail from a pagan or wiccan perspective. This unfortunate oversight has at long last been addressed. While it should come as no surprise that a medical ethnographer such as myself, who is looking at Craft healers and interested in ethnomedical systems, would find this book useful, I think the average reader with even a passing interest in healing from a Craft perspective would find the Farrar's and Bone's book a worthwhile introduction.
The authors strike a good balance between the ardently materialist conceptions of modern medicine and nursing, and the additional understanding of the non-materialist dimensions of health from the vantage point of modern pagans, wiccans, and others. For example, the brief chapter on Jung is excellent. It is not a thorough or complete dissertation, by any means, but it gives the reader a clear and concise treatment of the topic and it's specifically occult connections.
Although not a perfect book, this will nonetheless be a useful edition for anyone with an interest in health and healing and how this relates to the Craft at the dawn of the new millennium.
Book Description
Shrouded in secrecy and symbols, Kabbalah can be downright daunting for beginners. Mark Stavish bypasses the baroque ritual and cuts to the core of this esoteric tradition in Kabbalah for Health & Wellness.
Blending Kabbalist teachings with energy healing, this accessible, user-friendly guide offers a clear and practical application of Kabbalah. Students can learn to use the Tree of Life, the Hebrew alphabet, the Middle Pillar, planetary powers, and alchemy to direct energy for physical and emotional healing. Guided imagery techniques, meditations, and other exercises anchor these concepts in daily life-transforming mere ideas into personal knowledge, power, and experience. Requiring only fifteen minutes daily, these practices are designed to enhance healing potential, inspire spiritual awakening, and introduce readers to the lifelong "Path of Becoming."
Customer Reviews:
Excellent introductory work on Kabbalah.......2007-04-24
Having thoroughly enjoyed the author's previous work "The Path of Alchemy", I was interested to see how this book would read. I set aside my initial feeling of concern at the bizarrely coloured Tree of Life on the cover to concentrate on the material within. Once I started reading I was not disappointed. Mark Stavish has a very easy to read style that expresses ideas simply and in manageable quantities, an ideal formula for introducing the reader to the Kabbalah and its use for energetic healing. This is an excellent primer not just for anyone wanting to do energy work, but for an initial approach to Kabbalah. Whilst I may have disagreed with the author on odd points, I would strongly recommend this book as a very good basic introduction to Kabbalah and its use in energetic healing, exactly what it say in the title, in fact!
An infinitely practical vade mecum for Kabbalistic healing work.......2007-03-03
Kabbalah for Health & Wellness
From the Foreward by Colleen Deatsman:
"Mark Stavish is a fine teacher and an excellent writer. He breathes new life into the dry pages of ancient wisdom and finds ways to frame the antiquated in such a way that it is instantly useful to practitioners in the twenty-first century."
This is an excellent book for those who want to pursue a healing way based solidly upon Western Kabbalistic methods. As Deatsman writes, Stavish takes otherwise dry, obscure archaic theories and writings and lifts them out of the realm of the obtuse.
The healing methods presented in this book are very down to earth and come with enough detailed explanations so that the would-be practitioner will know why s/he is to do a certain thing, or not. However, the explanations, thankfully, do not run into overkill, that would otherwise make one's eyes glaze over.
Kabbalah is not a simple subject. And somehow Stavish finds a way of making this body of complex material accessible to the average person. That's an effort which cannot be sneezed at, as anyone who has tried to tackle the material of the Zohar can attest. What's more, taking such raw Kabbalistic material and trying to find practical ways in which to apply it is rather difficult without a scholar/mage at one's elbow.
Consider this work as the next best thing to having a well seasoned adept at your side.
All of Mark Stavish's writings are imbued with a sense of humility, compassion, and service to his fellow man (and woman!). It is rare to see all of these traits combined with genuine scholarly aptitude and a clear, unobtuse writing style.
A Balanced System of Development.......2007-02-21
Kabbalah for Health and Wellness is similar in many ways to The Kabbalistic Handbook for the Practicing Magician by Joseph Lisiewski. I say this because even a cursory reading of it shows that the two are philosophically similar. In what looks like his second book, Mark Stavish gives a take on Kabbalah that is simple, direct, and above all, practical, just as is Lisiewski's book. The material explores how to work with the basic ideas presented in the Sepher Yetzirah: the Cube of Space, the Tree of Life, fundamental associations, and basic Path Working. In addition, he rounds out his presentation with the Middle Pillar exercise, making it relevant to his system of thought and expereince. And all this to emphasize the essential necessity of being able to demonstrate the usefulness of these ideas in the material world. Like Lisiewski's book too, Stavish insists that too many works on Kabbalah are concerned with spiritual fantasies at the expense of real world benefits - making our lives healthier, happier, and more useful. He further advocates that healing physical and psychological illnesses is one of the most direct, concrete, and simple ways anyone can begin to prove to themselves and others the reality of magic. In other words, he gives ways in which the efficacy of magic can be demonstrated. Stavish's emphasis on 'subconscious synthesis' ("subjective synthesis" as Lisiewski calls it in his three books) and developing a personal attunement to the tradition one is working in rather than simply layering it on a mish-mash of ill conceived New Age clap-trap, is something everyone needs to hear and understand if they want to make real progress in their WORK.
My recommendation: get this books, study it carefully, and apply what it says. In fact, if you think of it, get Lisiewski's too. Both are intensely practical books that WORK. You won't be sorry you did.
Product Description
Samael Aun Weor, founder of the International Gnostic Movement and author of sixty books, lived for many years in close contact with the mysterious natives of the Sierra Nevada of South America. He and his wife Litelantes compiled and verified the knowledge they had been given by the Priests and Doctors of that region, and supplemented it with their own Initiatic wisdom, resulting in this book Occult Medicine and Practical Magic. Herein one finds many explanations of the medical knowledge preserved by the Lamas of Tibet and the Mamas of the Sierra Nevada, demonstrating with undeniable force the limitations of modern medicine and indicating the way to return to ancient medical wisdom. This work features treatments for an incredible variety of illnesses and conditions, such as cancer, asthma, the common cold, and leprosy. Includes: Introduction to Occult Medicine Preparation and Discipline of the Gnostic Doctor Classification of Plants (Elemental Magic) Occult Medication and Magical Works
Customer Reviews:
Visit your local shaman instead!.......2007-03-11
I purchased this book based on all the excellent reviews and commentaries of previous readers. I am not, nor do I profess to be, by any stretch, an authority or student of Gnostic teachings--however, I do have a great interest in the subject matter and have been an avid reader/follower of Metaphysical and Occult works for well over a decade.
My primary objective in reading "Occult Medicine & Practical Magic" was to undertsand how plants and their range of energies/vibrations interfaced with human healing and how I might apply that wisdom in aiding some of my own health issues.
Instead, I found the book's contents in these specific areas not only archaic but hugely impractical. Many of the formulas/concoctions are so esoteric in nature that only a gifted Shaman would be able to assist in the preparation and application of them.
Additionally, the Chapters on the "Introduction To Occult Medicines" were so heavily mired in religious and egotistical bias/judgement/rhetoric that I found it's overall content disappointing at best.
There were some gems of enlightened information such as Forklore From The Sierra Nevada.
Gleanings throughout the book however, were much harder to digest--for instance, the heading entitled Teaching's of Jesus, took on the usual 'literal' Biblical interpretation (i.e. Jesus' Mantra to raise the dead!)
I found it rather interesting that with all of Mr. Aun Weor's supreme levels of Initiation that he wasn't able to render the alleogrical meaning (astrological and psychological) of that famous Biblical parable.
If the reader is considering this book based on an interest of healing by way of plants, I'd strongly recommend the herbal classic "Back To Eden" by Jethro Kloss, for a fraction of this book's price tag. Also, "Plant Spirit Medicine" by Eliot Cowan. For those of you seeking rich, albeit palpable Occult/spiritual/ metaphysical guidance, log on to [...].
For those readers so inclined to undercover and investigate in-depth instruction on Magic, "Occult Medicine & Practical Magic" may prove of benefit.
Eye Opening.......2007-01-02
Wow was all I could say. A spiritual healer's almanac if there ever was one. The commentary concerning the astral plane and what really happens after death was very interesting and sheds light on the different spiritual parts of an individual which leave the personality behind to roam the earth like a phantom. This resolved many of my questions concerning the bible's after-death idiosyncracies. Who would of thought that some health problems have spiritual origins that can't be treated by modern medicine? I used the practice for passionflower tea to help me treat depression where other things have failed. A must have.
Healing the sick.......2006-02-09
This book contains many methods to help the sick.
There is a large section on elemental therapy (working with the spirits of the plants) with many beautiful photographs and illustrations of these plants.
There are many prayers, mantras and invocations included in this book. These have healed many sick people I have worked with, including those who did not have a good prognosis given by their medical doctors. Prayers, mantras and invocations are most helpful when said with complete faith.
Excellent alternative point of view.......2005-07-27
An excellent guide for those of us that are searching....Mr. Aun Weor brings up some excellent points, as well as illuminating various hidden details of the world around us. I have proven to myself (experimentally) at least some of his claims, which lends credibility to both his intent and his methods. I would highly recommend his works for those researching "that which is hidden".
Occult Medicine book.......2005-01-06
FORWARD TO THE READER:
"This book has been delivered as a 1977-1978 Christmas Message.
"This Message was proofed by the author, who later added many formulae of High Magic, Theurgy, Occult Botany, Thaumaturgy, Elementotherapy, Esoteric Medicine, Nahualism, etc.
"In reality, we truly have written this book for individuals who are presently weary of the many pseudo-occulist and pseudo-esoteric theories. It is written for those who want to enter into the internal worlds immediately. It is written for those who now yearn to enter into the laboratorium of Nature.
"Certainly, it is very painful for us to see people wasting their time miserably. We want practical magicians, true occultists and not simple charlatans. Authentic Gnostic physicians are needed, true magicians and botanists, practical people in medicine and magical matters."
-THE AUTHOR, 1977
In reference to his wife Litelantes:
"This female Adept possesses continuous consciousness, and through innumerable reincarnations, has succeeded in revitilizing and training certain occult faculties that, among other things, permit her to remember her past lives and the history of the planet and its races. On her own, she investigated and discovered the Jinn states mentioned by Mr. Mario Roso de Luna and Arnold Krumm-Heller. She collaborated with Master Aun Weor in the scientific investigation of the vegetable elementals mentioned in "A Treatise on Occult Medicine"...
"This powerful seer has all the wisdom of the centuries in her mind and with her clairvoyant faculties, has collaborated with Master Aun Weor, studying the various divisions of elementals in Nature."
-SAMAEL (in the third person)
GENERAL/MAIN OUTLINE (each category and heading has multiple sub-categories and sub-headings):
{1}Introduction to Occult Medicine, Preparation & Discipline of the Gnostic Doctor, Theurgy, Secrets of Practical Magic, The Fourth Coordinate
{2}Occult Medication & Magical Works, Conjurations and Prayers, Magic Invocations, Magic Exorcisms
{3}Elementotherapy, Medicinal Plants, Zodiacal Plants, Study and Exercise of Elemental Magic
{4}Occult Medication, General Purpose Medications, Medications, Healing from a Distance, Gnostic Medics
{5}Appendices
-This book is finally now available in a complete English edition fully illustrated with drawings, pictures, diagrams, maps and symbols. Photographs of the many various plants and flowers mentioned are also included.
A great sense of priveledge and joy fills you when you hold this book in your hands.
Thank you Thelema Press
Customer Reviews:
Something for US!.......2006-09-01
This book has been tremendously helpful to me not only as a Wiccan but as a drug/alcohol rehab counselor. I have gained a better, more thorough understanding of the 12-step program in general through this book's Wiccan modification of the program. My better understanding is, in turn, my clients' better understanding. My mentor and co-worker, herself a drug/alcohol counselor, said that in some ways, this book's rendition of the 12 traditions is better! (...and I have to agree!) I could go on and on, really, because I feel this book is of such importance to all faiths...but I'll just end here by saying that I'm very thankful that I found and bought this book. :)
Pagan recovery with a Pagan perspective.......2005-10-28
Ms. Collins delivers a break-through book for Pagans suffering from the debilitating dis-ease of addictions. Whatever the addiction from alcohol or drugs to helping others or buying too much, this book works on the intuitive level to address the cause and changes needed to find relief from a life ravaged by addictive behaviors.
For years the Pagan sufferer has had to make do with books written mainly from a Judeo-Christian perspective. While many have found such books helpful and used them to achieve a measure of relief from their addictions, there was something "not quite right" from a Pagan viewpoint. The Recovery Spiral addresses this lack in many Pagan addicts' needs for full recovery from addiction and its harmful side effects.
Ms. Collins based her book on her own recovery since 1974, and her specialized work on abuse and abuse related issues. She takes the Pagan addict on the Path of Recovery through meditation, ritual and tarot readings all based on a reworded 12 Step system of recovery with gentle humor and guidance. Through the stories of the author herself and several others in the book we learn how a Spiral Path of recovery can work in our own lives.
Each of the reworded 12 Steps is thoroughly explained in a Pagan perspective. The rituals are simple enough even for a beginner to the Pagan Ways. The author's voice is clear and concise in her explanations of Step work. The book's three distinct sections are well laid out for anyone wanting to use the book from the newest to recovery to those with many years of 12th Step experience.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to remove old baggage from their lives and replace it with healthy behaviors so they can live with a fuller connection to themselves, their friends, family and the Divine.
W. Lyon Martin Author/Illustrator of "An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child"
First step in filling a long-empty gap........2005-09-01
Ideally, a 12 Step program stresses *spirituality* in recovery, the Higher Power, however one recognizes it, be it God or one's Higher Self. In reality, being a Pagan in recovery can be a pretty lonely, isolating experience. Paganism in often mis-understood, which can put a damper on the openess, honesty, and 'fearless self-inventory' required for recovery.
This book goes a good way to addressing the specific needs of Pagans seeking recovery from chemical and process addictions, along with rituals, writing exercises, and mediations designed to bolster the teachings of each Step.
That said, the book has some serious flaws. It doesn't spend enough *time* on each Step, or the approaches one can take to them. I have often had to turn to Beattie's "The Co-Dependent's Guide to the 12 Steps" to supplement this book, because of the sheer lack of information. The outline is there, but the emotional connection is often missing. Too much time is spent on case histories and not enough on how to apply the step to one's own situation.
One of the tools used in the book is the Tarot--a very useful tool in itself. However, the results of the readings given in the book make me wonder just where the (card) reader was coming from. The interpretations of many of the cards are pretty far out from what I've learned--and more than a little negative. The spreads are also new and somewhat complicated, requiring a lot of page-flipping. There doesn't seem much point to the complexity of some of the spreads, which seem elaborate for the sake of elboration. (Is it *really* necessary to have a spread that puts cards at the main compass points instead of using the Celtic Cross?)
The feelings of isolation a Pagan may feel in a more mainstream recovery group is indeed a danger in its hinderance to recovery, in the 'cut-off' feeling that makes it that much easier to lapse.
The book also tries to cover too much territory--process addictions like co-dependency and sex addiction to chemical addictions like alcohol and narcotics. As such, there's a lot of jumping around and skimping. If you're looking for a focus on co-dpendency, or food-addiction, you'll have to read very closely.
The personal stories add depth, but I don't buy recovery books to read about other people, I buy them to help *myself*. A lot of the space given over to the lives of strangers could have been better used in giving concrete guidelines to Pagans in need.
This is not a bad book by far, but I would not rely on it and a group alone to bolster recovery efforts. One should have a book meant specifically for one's particular addiction to hand as well, for application of the Steps does indeed vary depending on the form of the addiction.
This book can alleviate the sense of 'otherness' and isolation experienced by those whose religious practices are outside the mainstream, and the re-wording of some of the Steps can make approaching them easier (and we all know, it doesn't matter how you get 'em to come in, so long as they *keep coming*.) I, for one, had the hardest time with the wording of Step One, and find this version something I can embrace without fear--but the complaint of twisting the Steps out of true by re-wording them is not without grounds. It appears that the rituals and Tarot exercises included were put in to replace the "Twelve Tools" present in most 12 Step programs. In fact, the idea of the Twelve Tools is never even mentioned in the text.
Use this book, if you're a Pagan--but use it with a 12-Step group, be it pagan or otherwise. Use it with other books as you work your program. This is just one tool for your recovery.
If you help organize a 12-Step group, read this book for an idea of what the closet Pagans in your group--present and future--may need. Anyone in recovery knows not to spurn a tool that can help bring us to sanity and balance, no matter how it's packaged or named.
Not my 12 step program.......2005-03-22
I do not recognize the 12-step program the previous writer refers to... "the profoundly Christian slant..?". Nah, that is not my 12 step program, thank god/God/HP... As far as I am concerned, part of Bill W's genius was that he made the AA program open for any spiritual orientation. You can get sober as an atheist, a buddhist, a muslim, a christian.. and a pagan of course....
Which is not to say you should/n't read this book - my concern is people that try to make the 12-step program into something it is not. It IS a simple program for complex people, of course...
Be wise!
At Last: A Pagan 12 Step Program!!.......2004-06-16
The most often used tool in the fight against addictions is the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Program. But as many pagans who have used this program know, it is very Christian oriented in it's beliefs and structure and only gives passing acknowledgment to other Spiritual Paths.
Ms. Collins has an M.S. in counseling and is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and has been a practicing Wiccan for thirty years. Her Masters work specialized in various abuses and abuse related issues. She offers in this book an option to the AA 12 Step Program. She has re-written the 12 steps so they fall more into place with general pagan beliefs and practices and includes some Wiccan principals as well.
The Pagan 12 Steps included in this book are brilliant and should find their way into mainstream 12 Step programs for the assistance in pagan addiction recovery. They are well thought out, right on the mark and place the responsibility of recovery on the individual with the assistance of Divine Presence.
The book also presents five 'Principles' for recovery. These principles assist in developing personal self worth, challenge each person to change, offer hope in recovery and foster balance, honesty, reality and success.
Ms. Collins offers an insightful personal process based on self examination through the use of Tarot Cards, and discusses various types of emotional and addictive abuses through the eyes of various persons who have gone through this self examination process, including herself.
There are small vignettes of people as they talk about their lives, their habits, their struggles with abuse, drugs, sex, family issues, relationships and other types of emotional stresses and issues in relationship to principles outlined by Ms. Collins. She goes over some Tarot spreads which highlight these issues and their base causes and assists you in the readings. She points out personal responsibilities which were missed, causes that may have contributed to their addictive issues, and solutions that are self initiated and Deity inspired.
While the 12 Step program is not always successful, it has proven to be very effective with most people who dedicate themselves to healing and change. The program as adapted for the pagan community in this book offers additional assistance focused on personal responsibility and beliefs.
I would recommend this to any practicing pagan counselor looking for a fresh view at the addiction recovery systems, especially those using the current 12 Step program. This book offers a very practical pagan addition to the program and can be used in conjunction with any program already in place.
Book Description
Set during the French and American wars, Fourth Uncle in the Mountain is a true story about an orphan, Quang Van Nguyen, who is adopted by a sixty-four year old monk, Thau, who carries great responsibility for his people as a barefoot doctor. Thau manages, against all odds to raise his son to follow in his footsteps and in doing so, saves his son, as well as a part of Vietnam's esoteric knowledge from the Vietnam holocaust. Thau is wanted by the French regime, and occasionally must flee into the jungle, where he is perfectly at home living among the animals. Thau is not the average monk; he practices an ancient lineage of Chinese medicine and uses magic to protect animals and help people.As wise and resourceful as Thau is, he meets his match in his mischievous son. Quang is more interested in learning Cambodian sorcery and martial arts than in developing his skills and wisdom according to his father's plan.Fourth Uncle in the Mountain is an odyssey of a single-father folk hero and his foundling son in a land ravaged by the atrocities of war. It is a classic story, complete with humor, tragedy, and insight from a country where ghosts and magic are real.
Customer Reviews:
A Long Dreamy Walk.......2007-05-17
The incredible story of a young man's life journey through the war-torn jungles of Viet Nam and Cambodia, learning from individuals who carry on their healing traditions amid chaos and change. The main character speaks to us as a child, in the "now", accepting every experience for what it is. His adventures, miracles and sorrows,are full of brilliant visions, taking you on a trip lit all the way by his magic "Shrew Stone". You will never forget it.
The best autobiography for my field!.......2007-03-01
So I'm a student in acupuncture as well a Vietnamese-American and this book hit home.
Alchemy, magic, spells, spirits, and monsters (to name a few), are all found in this book.
It's definitely a story that gave me goosebumps because of the fact that many or the supernatural stories are that in which my parents told me growing up. Also, if you're into acupunture/om you'll love this book for he gives a lot of insight to different ailments and Tx for them.
I think Dr. Quang Van Nguyen is a special person and Marjorie Pivar is generous to help him explain his story.
One of my top 5 books ever read.
Medicine for Body, Heart and Spirit.......2007-01-29
Fourth Uncle in the Mountain -- A Memoir of a Barefoot Doctor in Vietnam reveals a world that has all but disappeared in most of Asia, a world where Buddhas, earth spirits and shamans are as real as the food you eat and the bed you sleep in. The book itself opens in a trance, where Quang addresses the "flesh-eating sun" and makes the clouds "bang into each another." When I lived in Taiwan 25 years ago I had watched the shamans invite the earth god into their bodies, swallow ash, moan, jerk, swoon and beat themselves with red maces, write holy charms, and spray the afflicted with cascades of tea and saliva as fine as an evening mist. I was an outsider looking in. Quang's book, however, helps me see and understand what the shamans see. He writes from the perspective of an insider looking out, where it is the outer and not the inner world that is out of balance.
The imagery in this book is rich and yet the writing is clear and light. Arranged into short chapters, each story unfolds, offering at times distant and at others close, a perspective on the many people key in Quang's life. Their stories weave in and out of one another, each carrying his or her own yin and yang of energy. As one of the other reviewers commented, it is a pity that the Vietnamese names were transposed into American name order as this makes it harder to recognize and remember the identities of the personalities. Also, some of the Vietnamese terms were mispelled. However, these are issues that can easily be corrected in future editions of the work. What Nguyen Van Quang and his co-author Marjorie Pivar should be remembered for is their tireless devotion to revealing with loving detail the flowers, fruits, flavors, and fauna that make Vietnamese life so distinctive. These are the things that their "translation" of events make so alive and captivating.
Like the sweet smell of sandalwood incense, the story of Nguyen Van Quang's life transports the reader to that point in time and space where the spiritual and the material converge. In scene after scene he introduces the people who have changed his life. One after another he takes the reader to caves, temples, and street fairs to meet those that dwell within -- his adopted father, a Buddhist monk, who finds him as an infant abandoned in a basket on market day; Tiger, the truck driver who can outwit his competitors but not his own heart; Tattoo, the martial arts master who secretly teaches Quang the occult arts; and, many others, some that you will get to know but never quite "see."
This book is not just a well told collection of the remarkable characters in Quang's life. I have just returned from my third trip to Vietnam and Quang's quiet characterizations of the political legacies that constrain and drive Vietnam's modern life ring true. Chapter by chapter Quang takes you through the evolution of Vietnam's culture and drawing nearer and nearer, he reveals the sounds of that other world, the world of the dominating Chinese, the departing French, the opportunist Viet Minh, the conniving Viet Cong, the now-you-see-them-and-now-you-don't obliviousness of the American troops, and, the self serving fatuousness of the politicians of the South. Towards the end, as Khmer Rouge guerrillas terrorize the countryside and party politicians in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) neglect the very regions they had fought to liberate, Quang still hangs on. Despite the decades of war and centuries of foreign agression, he tells of another reality, where in his village near the Cambodian border Cambodians, Chinese, and Vietnamese trade, mingle, and marry one another, and how nearly all help each other, saving lives and suffering death together.
Quang's book is one that compels the reader to wonder what is more important in life and what is really real. Wile Quang seeks true realization in a cave apart from others, the outer world is lost in a cave of its own. He also reveals the rich world of Vietnamese spiritual and religious life, a world that values individual cultivation but for the benefit of society as a whole. As he grows older, Quang realizes that he can no longer live just in his small world of tigers, tunnels and charms, but go forth into the world of human relationships -- to meet the strong women and men of today who will become the Buddhas and memories that the shamans of the future world will call upon to guide, strengthen and heal.
If you want to understand Asian spiritual values, discover Asian history, or enjoy the tale of a life well lived, by all means read this book. This truly is one of those rare opportunities to view life not as an observer, but as a participant. Quang and Marjorie will truly take you down a path for which there is no map but for which there surely is a light.
Magical and Fascinating.......2006-11-14
I came across this book by pure chance. I didn't buy it for the Buddhism or medicine interest. I bought it because it piqued my interest. This book is fascinating and I could hardly put it down. I was reading the biography of a true sorcerer. I loved it.
My only downside to this book I did notice a few small contridictions in the text.
Esoteric Masterpiece.......2006-04-25
Old Asia hands, students of the Buddha, vets with old but vivid memories, practicioners who seek to heal both the body and the spirit...all will find familiar places, feelings, experiences in the pages of "Fourth Uncle in the Mountain." Vietnam is the most seductive and visceral place on earth. There, rarley is anything the way that is seems...the bizarre and uncanny are everywhere...irony is commonplace...and the spiritual world, though unseen, is omnipresent. Bac Si Quang knows...although he is in Vermont, his hands will guide me when I tend to the sick in Danang. With a bit of language practice and some Vietamese fonts, she will doubtless become the Umberto Eco of Southeast Asia.
Book Description
Sudhir Kakar, a psychoanalyst and scholar, brilliantly illuminates the ancient healing traditions of India embodied in the rituals of shamans, the teachings of gurus, and the precepts of the school of medicine known as Ayurveda.
"With extraordinary sympathy, open-mindedness, and insight Sudhir Kakar has drawn from both his Eastern and Western backgrounds to show how the gulf that divides native healer from Western psychiatrist can be spanned."—Rosemary Dinnage, New York Review of Books
"Each chapter describes the geographical and cultural context within which the healers work, their unique approach to healing mental illness, and . . . the philosophical and religious underpinnings of their theories compared with psychoanalytical theory."—Choice
Customer Reviews:
Where is the fire?.......2003-12-08
If you are considering this book or others, such as The Shortest Journey (Unwin Paperbacks.
ISBN 0-04-291018-8) / Kakar, Sudhir M.D. 1982, then please ignore the majority of the reviews here. Most are written by current members of the Quasi-Religious Group / Cult and as such as completely biased.
Whilst you could argue that their intentions are good, I would definitely recommend reading up on the organisation before taking part or `experiencing' it's practices.
There is a lot of information available on the web supporting and praising the group as the salvation of mankind, with it's leader Shri Mataji the second coming of Jesus or even as God. You should also be aware that also many accuse the Cult of many well publicised / documented scandals e.g. the child abuse, tax evasion etc.
While members of the group would have you believe that those who criticise it are bitter, failed members, I am sure that you will have the common sense to realise that there always are at least two sides to every story. There is a lot of smoke billowing around this group and it's self proclaimed God. Where is the fire then?
A great book about healers in India by a psychoanalyst.......2003-07-01
Kakar is an American-trained psychoanalyst who returns to India to explore shamanism and mysticism. Thus, he has the dual perspective of both an insider and and outsider. He has written an engrossing book which tells indepth stories of the lives and practices of Indian shamans, mystics and therapists. His fascinating narrative includes case studies of individual patients. For example, his discussion of Tantric and Kundalini yoga gives details beyond my wildest imagination. I found myself both disgusted at some of the descriptions and laughing at his own experience!
I couldn't put the book down. The only drawback is his psychoanalytic perspective. He is a Freudian, and his own analysis of the healers and patients gets mighty boring and repetitive. One guru critiqued him for his perspective, and I tended to agree with her. I learned to skip these sections.
Otherwise, this is a riveting book, although not one for people looking for New Age techniques. It is an accessible look at shamanism for those with a more serious interest in the subject.
Book Description
Regarded today as the father of modern medicine, Paracelsus (1493-1541) was in fact much more besides. Natural scientist, philosopher, alchemist, with a deep distrust of orthodoxy and rational thought, he intermixed Christian theology with the Qabalah, believing that magic reveals the invisible influences behind things, bringing heavenly forces down to earth.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent introduction to Paracelsus.......2002-11-06
Having read Jung's glowing praises of Paracelsus, as well as various accounts of his amazing life, I was very excited to read this book to get a better idea what his actual writings are like. This selection of excerpts is alternately enjoyable and baffling, since Paracelsus was a very complicated thinker with enormous ambitions, and it appears from these excerpts that his reach often exceeds his grasp. He takes an encyclopedic approach to explaining everything about the science of his day as he understood it, completely mingled with his personal theology. The Paracelsian universe is saturated with living and breathing forces, stars influencing everything but in very strange ways that seem to contradict each other, and the inner light of nature leaving signs strewn about everywhere for the enlightened person to interpret. It's rather daunting to read that you really can't just use a particular herb to cure something, because you have to choose the right herb at the right time to fit the current astrological environment as it relates to the person requiring healing. All very heady stuff, and it might be easy to dismiss Paracelsus as a wooly-headed dreamer except for the known historical facts about his rather heroic life, and his reputation for expending great amounts of energy helping the poor.
In summary, the book doesn't (and really couldn't) cover any of the many subjects that concerned Paracelsus in great depth, but it provides a wonderful survey and starting point for additional investigation into this great man's writings.
Books:
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? Dating methods as offered by mathematical statistics. Eclipses and zodiacs. Chronology Vol.I
- Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid
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