History and the Cathars (Courtly Love):

This is an entry from my three volume encyclopedia.

CRUSADES, CATHARS AND 'COURTLY LOVE': - One of the greatest legacies of the revitalization of the teachings of 'brotherhood' in the 13th century of the Troubadors was sexual and gender respect. The Cathar 'dove' and Peace were not destined to last, but the education of people could not be squelched. It can be argued that the world was a better place then: the Americas were still part of the 'Brotherhood' although the Mediterranean warlike cultures of misogynistic deviate men had a strong foothold. Many people there were willing to see a different course of action based more on nurturing female aspects of our psyche. The Templars surely fought to protect the Cathars and they shortly thereafter had to reconfigure as the Knights of Christ in Portugal. Around that time one of the 'waves of Asians' came out of the steppes and brought the Pax Tartaris. These waves are becoming as exposed as the 'Sea Peoples/Hyksos' theory and some limited Trojan War. Temujin or Genghis Khan was not as barbarian as the Europeans and Tarim's recent pictures of 'red-heads' near the Great Wall in 1800 BC were in his Altaic region over a millenium before that. The history of the cultural evolution of man was benefited by the announcement of the modern man who is not our genetic blood and is much older (2x or more, If not a great deal more to tie in with the Flores Island seafarers of 800,000+ years where the Hobbit is now found.). Indeed the archaeological and genetic forensic as well as forensic tools, including linguistics blow the roof off the old 'his'-story!

But the Cathars failed to re-institute the 'Brotherhood' and living love that Jesus actually taught. Temujin came a lot closer to making an ethical and safe place in the largest Empire of the 'his'-torians. His progeny threw bodies infected with the Plague over the walls of Christian held trading centers on the Black Sea and the scourge became an important part of the oppression the Catholic Crusades were Inquisiting upon all people of Europe. The Treaty of Tordesillas later brought it to America to wipe out over 70 million within a hundred years: who is the barbarian? The noted authors and scientists of the Catholics like William of Rubruck detailed the quarantining methods and marmot origins of this 'Black Death' even before that. The truth is the Catholic leaders knew how this would assist in their feudal control and the 'sins and demons' ignorance which ultimately realized the 'Dark Ages' goal of reducing the knowledge of the masses to the point of complete slaves to their foul motives. The 70 million who had lived in North America before De Soto and Columbus (with his unusual fighting dogs) had kids who died during that hundred years too: so the total who died from biological warfare in the North American continent easily exceeds the 80 million who died in Europe. At this juncture the Flagellants were blaming the Jews for causing the 'Plague'. That is true to some extent because the Jews built a religion that the Romans took over and the Saxons and many Roman equestrian farmers (De Medicis) are Jews..

PROPOSED TABLE OF TRUE HISTORY!:

* 3,500 BC - Unification of Egypt and establishment of an exclusive Amazon trading area by aristocratic elite and priest/warriors with an army of soldiers given various grades of weapons in metal to protect and defend their assets or trading empires.

- The 'Brotherhood' is co-opted from within but the people are promised great things and matrilineal royalty becomes the norm.

- Similar 'elites' do the same in China, and maybe even an overlord reporting to the Egyptian based enterprise of Memphis or Crete.

- A plethora of secrets exist in trade routes, maps, use of explosives for effects of a spiritual nature, 'Lost Chord' and technologies of building. The 'Murrhine' vases allow salt water to be potable but toxic build up leads to deaths of valuable sailors who begin to catch on and become pirates (Berbers and Basques).

- Pyramids designed and later constructed to explain the magnificence of many things to the people. Myths of all sorts of divination abound
*2,000 BC - Families in places like Iberia of the Caspian Region which had a capital by the same name (now Tiflis) made alliances with - other regions of the world against the international ideals. This lead to factional fighting with Kelts (Amazons) fighting those who were more intermarried with Uighurs. The Silk Route was a haven for bandits and mixed breed non-aristocrats like the Phoenician Society of Pirates. The breakdown in egalitarian models and corporate ability to enforce trading monopolies was only partially due to weapon technology diffusion. It was more connected to the use of social engineering in the Temples that included prostitution (which the aristocrats later wanted for themselves (concubinage).

- Fractionalization of the former 'Brotherhood' was well along by the Hyksos intermarriage campaign. The House of Mallia in Crete was a prime mover in the aristocratic enterprise that may have its legacy in the Smyrna/Onassis and Sybaritic unproductive ideas of materialism. Where were the Mungo Man students and did such a human really have no genetic offspring who are alive today?
*1,800 BC - Sardinia was a major base for guarding the wealth and elite who trained their children and priests in a manner that was most secret. The Nuraghi secret is still well kept to this day. It is more than irony and humor that the poisonous plant that led to the use of the words or phrase 'Sardonic humor'.

- Scotland and the 'Emerald Isles' was a major haven for these elites and the more egalitarian among them who came there after the climatic and glacial effects were complete.

- Hierarchies of special interests allowed kings and nobles to 'front' for them and there were growing numbers of difficulties developing through what we call the ancient world or our 'his'- story. That history was being managed and the Hyksos (means foreigners) kind of history and ethnic or national interests were accentuated with a Hegelian dialectic of setting one side against the other. Secret 'mystery schools' were organized and structured with different terms of focus like the Therapeutae or Pythagorean Brotherhood. The pre-existing groups like Sarmoung and Great White Brotherhood retained a smaller number of those who knew more of what was going on. Tuthmosis is said to have been the organizer of these plans for the esoteric knowledge. Wars began in earnest and were culminated in the Trojan War which lasted more than ten years even though Troy may have been a central location for the negotiations for that period of time.
*1,200 BC - The end of the Trojan War which coincides with the archaeologic record of the destruction of the cities of Miletus and Jericho. It was not just in Troy but in 18 other theatres of operations including Arkansas.

- A four hundred year 'Dark Ages' developed as the trade once shared was curtailed and controlled by smaller groups of people with Greed as their primary motivation. Solomon and Hiram of Tyre are the best known of these.

*800 BC - The founding of Carthage and Etruria showed a group of people felt they could expand the trade and still control it and the people wouldn't get out of control. Others were averse to this and conflicts in the elite led to a greater sense of futility among those who were becoming more indolent and the technologies and creative entrepreneurial were diminishing, among them but not among the Pirates and spin off organizations.

*540 BC - A thirty year period of re-adjustment ended with Rome being founded and Sardinia was no longer a clearing house for the collected enterprises of the Phoenicians or other elites which had varying agendas. The total destruction of Sybaris and the Battle of Alalia are significant to this period.

There are many reasons to continue this history but you will make your own judgement based on the facts as the book progresses. The big question about the Mungo Man has not been addressed by any authors partly because it is new archaeologic information. However, in the spirit of 'mysterious possibility-thinking' we should make a stab at what is the outcome of these modern humans who were so developed long before us.

There is a wealth of information in legends like the Vedic literature and The Chronicles of Akakor among many others that refer to a type of human who is different from us. They had blue white skin and different coloured eyes like Krishna and Noah. Did they teach the poor and ignorant 'Homo Sapiens'? Were they the original developers of many fantastic technologies that leave us unexplainable evidence like the vitrified rocks? Who was Lhasa that Churchward 'records'? Maybe all the spiritual mystics like Jesus and the Cathars were somehow related to the remnants of these people or those they taught and the 'Dark Ages' was an attempt by our leaders to eliminate these vestigial truths. A Cornell mathematician by the name of Richard Thompson has authored and co-authored excellent scholarship that would support these 'possibilities'. We are sure that legends are proving to have more truth than myth in the archaeology that consistently disproves 'his'-story. It would seem likely that even if couldn't interbreed and produce offspring (At some point there is a good chance they developed genetic means to incorporate with us and leave no traces, just as we are able to clone and do similar things today.) we think they enjoyed sex with us.

This may explain the grottos where Sibylls and Oracles were known to hang out. It may explain the deep underground city in South America. The Vedic literature says they spent a lot of time in these places we know in all legends as the underworld. Can you think of what they might have done? Could they really have developed flying craft and the ability to work the kind of magic we can today? They had more time to do it! The Lupercal in Rome and the devotions to the grotto in all kinds of places may have been a different kind of sacrifice. There are some practices among the 'mystery schools' and even the 'Skull & Bones' Society of today that suggest they need certain ingredients of the human body and head. Maybe when de Vere (who wrote the foreword to Gardner's recent Bible Narrative about Anunnaki or the Elohim, as well as his own book) isn't kidding when he says we are 'food for their table'.

Weird! Isn't a good enough word for it! Crazed on power and deviate beyond imagination are just words that ridicule and achieve no feeling for the horror and obscenity of these practices. We have covered some of these matters in other places but we haven't dared to really go into great detail. The UFO material or other things that aren't just a cover for the 'black ops' and secret military operations, as they would have us believe, might have some roots in this 'possibility' too. What use would they have for our soul? It is so scary that Hubbard (Scientology's) and his Body Thetans or Napoleon's vision in the Pyramid might make sense along with Saunière's words on his Rennes castle ('This Place is Terrible'). And yes there were large caverns and grottos that held some awesome things there, if this is true. The whole matter of secrecy and propaganda or politicians and their lies, would begin to make sense.

If Hindu and eastern philosophy (the largest number of humans) has these legends and beliefs, no wonder the Catholics wanted to control the knowledge and call it heretical. The witches were their consorts and had to be killed. It makes sense in a totally disgusting way. No! I'm sure all the Crusades were actually what they said they were. Forget you even read this ridiculous 'stuff'. John Adams and his 'Dragons' or the Sarkeny Rend Rosicrucians have more to tell us, and how did they ever infiltrate the Christian church? When you go down this road there is truly a "Terrible" conclusion. No wonder love is hard to find and life was worth sacrificing for all so many good souls in the Forum or trying to brave the oceans to get away from what our leaders were doing. Forget it ALL! But remember we have the future of our children to think about, even if we aren't concerned about what really is the 'greatest good' for our 'brothers' and other life forms. Did I sense these 'visions' when I lived in Seth Adams' old home near Boston? Who knows? I don't. It was once an insane asylum and that is not irony either.

This kind of thinking also makes sense of the Nazis and other reprobates of history. Their interest in Rennes was more than prurient, perhaps even more than pecuniary, as some suggest. I've often told myself it can't be this bad and yet I wonder. Why?! Why do we continue to do the things we do to each other and this awesome and beautiful earth? How could the Pyramids hold so much knowledge? Is it time to ask some questions and end the 'black ops' or secret agencies? JFK thought so, and we know what happened to both he and Khrushchev after they agreed to end the Cold War. I suppose it is true that history repeats itself and I know there aren't enough good questions on the table, or even enough people who are capable of 'thinking'.

Author of Diverse Druids
Columnist for The ES Press Magazine
Guest 'expert' for World-Mysteries.com

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Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead Review

As recorded from antiquity down to the present day, every human culture, religion, and mythology we know of has incorporated within it beliefs, legends, folklore, and theological systems that incorporate such concepts as kingdoms of the dead, evils spirits, death gods, demons, the living dead such as vampires and zombies, apocalyptic scenarios, and the supernatural. In "Death Gods: An Encyclopedia Of The Rules, Evil Spirits, And Geographies Of The Dead", academician Ernest L. Abel has compiled an encyclopedic and alphabetically organized listing of these phenomena including the 'underworlds' from such diverse cultures as the Aztec, the Babylonians, the Celts, the Egyptians, the Christians, the Buddhists, the Greeks, the Norse, the Polynesians, and others. Also included is an impressive listing of 'death gods' and demons. Enhanced with the inclusion of extensive references and a comprehensive index, "Death Gods" is a unique and highly recommended addition for personal, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies, Mythology, and Religious History reference collections.

Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead Overview

In cultures throughout human history people have believed that some part of themselves continued to exist after they died. Part of that belief is that living can influence what happens to the dead in the afterlife, and the dead can return from the afterlife to affect the living. Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead describes the many ways the afterlife—especially that part of the afterlife commonly known as Hell—has been characterized in myths from around the world. The hundreds of entries provide readers with a guide to the afterlife as portrayed in these myths - its geography, its rulers, its inhabitants, how they got there, and what happens after their arrival. While the Devil is a prominent resident and ruler of the afterworld in many religions, especially Christianity, this book examines many other versions of Hell whether presided over by the Devil, Hades, or one of the many other rulers of the dead.

Death Gods provides concise encyclopedic entries on all aspects of the mythology of the afterlife: The underworlds form the myths of cultures from across the globe—for example, Xibalba, the underworld of the Quiche Maya; Di Yu, the underground realm of the dead in Chinese mythology; the gods and demons of the afterlife—the Hindu god of death and justice Yama; Ahriman, the evil twin of the benevolent god Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrian mythology; Buso, the invisible ghouls who haunt graveyards and feed on human corpses in Philippine mythology. The volume includes an extensive bibliography of the most useful resources for understanding the mythology of death and the afterlife.

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Update Post: Jun 29, 2010 20:30:13

Watch Clash Of The Titans - Part 1/13 FULL movie stream High DefinitionPart 1/13

Watch the full movie here: watch-moviez.info Clash Of TheTitans (2010) Part 1 Full Movie, Clash Of The Titans (2010) Part 1 Movie, Clash Of The Titans (2010) Movie Part 1, Clash Of The Titans (2010) Part 1 The Movie, Clash Of The Titans (2010) Part 2 Full Movie, Clash Of The Titans (2010) Movie Full Movie, Clash Of The Titans (2010) (2010) Movie Part 1 English Full, Clash Of The Titans (2010) Movie HD trailer. The ultimate struggle for power pits men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world. Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus is helpless to save his family from Hades, vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus and unleash hell on earth. Leading a daring band of warriors, Perseus sets off on a perilous journey deep into forbidden worlds. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, he will only survive if he can accept his power as a god, defy his fate and create his own destiny.

Check Out The Winged Prophet: From Hermes to Quetzalcoatl for $3.45

The Winged Prophet: From Hermes to Quetzalcoatl Review

Essentially this book gives a chapter for each of the 22 cards of the major arcana of the tarot, similarities are then made with the 22 Lamatl's of `The Book of Days' or the `Tonalamatl' of the Aztecs; correspondence is further made with the deities of Mesoamerica and also with classical European Mythology.

"The tonalamatl is a divinatory almanac used in central Mexico in the decades, and perhaps centuries, leading up to the Spanish conquest. It is Nahuatl in origin, meaning "pages of days". The tonalamatl was structured around the sacred 260-day year, the tonalpohualli. This 260-day year consisted of 20 trecena of 13 days each. Each page of a tonalamatl represented one trecena, and was adorned with a painting of that trecena's reigning deity and decorated with the 13 day-signs and 13 other glyphs. These day-signs and glyphs were used to cast horoscopes and discern the future. The best surviving examples of tonalamatl are the Codex Borbonicus and the Codex Borgia." (From Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia). It should be noted that there are apparently 2 additional trecena's reported by the author of this book; this then makes 22 trecena's, corresponding with the major arcana of the tarot.

I was glad for reading this book to further increase my knowledge of the tarot. My knowledge regarding Mesoamerican deities was fairly limited, so this information I also found very useful. On many occasions while reading this book, I wanted to put this book down and come up to speed via reading more about the Mesoamerican deities and the classical European Mythology (i.e. the Iliad and Odyssey etc); I would recommend doing this prior to reading this book, assuming you have the time. The connections that the author was trying to convey did not always match up for me; perhaps this was due to the gaps in knowledge on my part. Still I did learn a bunch of stuff even though I found this book a little hard going due to its dry nature. What made this book more difficult was trying to pronounce the Mesoamerican deity names and then trying to remember what these deities did in addition. I can't see why anyone would want to read a book like this but for a deep desire to know about spiritual matters. You've got to also wonder why this book is selling as low as it is on Amazon. Still I'm thankful to the author for all her hard work and for compiling all of this information; I have gained from reading this book.

I can't say that I'd use this book to say that all religions are essentially the same. I don't think that this was the intention of this book. I saw more that there is a deep esoteric undercurrent to be discovered.

The Winged Prophet: From Hermes to Quetzalcoatl Overview

The Egyptian and Italian tarot decks carry the hermetic discipline in the 22 cards of the major arcana. Demonstrates that whether we look to European or Aztec archetypes for inspiration, the wisdom of the gods is available to us all.

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Update Post: Jun 27, 2010 20:00:15

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Restless Dead: Encounters between the Living and the Dead in Ancient Greece Review

I bought this book as soon as it came out. I became a fan of S.I. Johnston as soon as I read her Hekate book.

In this book she describes the evolvement of the relationship between the living and the dead in ancient Greece. Being a Greek I was amazed of how much it has survived of what Greek think as far as the dead are concerned. It is very rewarding to see that so much of the old religion is still around us and that Christianity has not destroyed everything yet...

Having said that, this book is an academic endeavour and not a New Age or Neo-Pagan writing. Mrs. Johnston is a true scholar and she does honour to the University she teaches.

Read her other books too.

Restless Dead: Encounters between the Living and the Dead in Ancient Greece Overview

During the archaic and classical periods, Greek ideas about the dead evolved in response to changing social and cultural conditions--most notably changes associated with the development of the polis, such as funerary legislation, and changes due to increased contacts with cultures of the ancient Near East. In Restless Dead, Sarah Iles Johnston presents and interprets these changes, using them to build a complex picture of the way in which the society of the dead reflected that of the living, expressing and defusing its tensions, reiterating its values and eventually becoming a source of significant power for those who knew how to control it. She draws on both well-known sources, such as Athenian tragedies, and newer texts, such as the Derveni Papyrus and a recently published lex sacra from Selinous.

Topics of focus include the origin of the goes (the ritual practitioner who made interaction with the dead his specialty), the threat to the living presented by the ghosts of those who died dishonorably or prematurely, the development of Hecate into a mistress of ghosts and its connection to female rites of transition, and the complex nature of the Erinyes. Restless Dead culminates with a new reading of Aeschylus' Oresteia that emphasizes how Athenian myth and cult manipulated ideas about the dead to serve political and social ends.

"[This work] will represent the principal study of ancient Greek beliefs in the intervention of the dead, a topic of acute relevance to the study of classical literature, Greek religion, and the later cultures that spawned curse tablets and versions of Christianity." --David Frankfurter, author of Religion in Roman Egypt

"This is an incontestably useful book. . . . The author's scholarship is remarkable and her competence indisputable. Her laudably courageous and original analysis of the Erinyes leads us from archaic poetry, via the purificatory rituals and reforms of cult brought about by the mysterious Epimenides, to the Orphic tradition recently discovered in the Derveni papyrus--all of which enables Sarah Johnston to conclude by proposing an enthralling rereading of Aeschylus' Oresteia." --Philippe Borgeaud, author of The Cult of Pan in Ancient Greece

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Update Post: Jun 26, 2010 19:30:15

Mr Grizzly

The power and the strength of the Bear is as impressive to us today as it was to our oldest ancestors. In our bygone world powerful animals often represented the Sun, especially those animals that hibernated through the winter months. As the Sun declines they hibernate, the hours of daylight getting shorter each day, until it is reborn at the Winter Solstice, and these animals emerge from hibernation, renewed and gain strength each day.

Sadly the Bear is now extinct in Britain, but the strength of its spirit still remains alive. The Brown Bear died out in England in Scotland in the middle ages, and even earlier in Wales. There was never any evidence to suggest the Bear ever existed in Ireland at all during historical times.

They were hunted and persecuted out of existence. However, they were once very numerous and during Celtic times their skins were exported in large numbers from Scotland.

Bears are mostly vegetarian feeding mainly on nuts and berries as well as insects. However, after coming out of their hibernation in spring when food supplies are scarce they will sometimes attack a young boar or even a deer. A she-bear may produce up to twelve cubs during her lifetime.

Alpine grottoes and caves have been discovered dating back to 100,000 BC, that contain bear skulls and ceremonial hearths. We can imagine that to ancient people the bear caves represented the power of the invisible spirit world.

The Bear is one of the most revered animals in the world, and still even today thought to have enormous powers, they are able to hear sounds from great distances and able to remember.

When a bear is skinned they are said to resemble the same proportions as a man, and is human-like. They have always been identified with humans and the Tungus and Yakuts of Siberia called him Grandfather and in this land of great superstition it was believed that a man could turn into a bear if he crawled round a forest tree trunk three times, growling all the way.

The bears hibernation followed by emerging renewed in the spring, walking tall on its hind legs, has led to it being associated with regeneration and rebirth. Being regarded as a very mystical creature, our Celtic ancestors became cult worshippers, and the Celtic word for bear was arth or arthe, the Latin word is Artos and gives rise to the ancient name of Arthur. The legend of King Arthur sleeping in an underground cave until Britain needs him, recalls a bear in hibernation.

It seems likely that Arthur was originally a Sun god, and Arthur's underground sleep represented the rebirth of the Sun from the underworld of midwinter. In Gaelic tradition it is said that the Kean mathon (head of the bear) was one of the seven signs or names of star clusters engraved on the shield of King Arthur.

Male bears were sacred to the god Thor and the Celtic goddess Brighid is known as the daughter of the bear, and her spring festival of Imbolc follows the rebirth of the Sun in winter. Greek myth tells how the Great god Zeus, originally the Sun God was always looked after by two bears, who of course became Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. These constellations revolve around the Pole star the centre of the heavens. The Greek goddess Callisto was changed into the constellation of the Great bear and in myth became know as the nymph of Artemis and had two sons by Zeus. In a jealous rage Hera turned them into bears and Zeus turned them into constellations.

Bears were sacred to Artemis/Diana and at their Temple of Brauron just outside Athens, dances were performed by young girls dressed in yellow and called bears, these young maidens would then be rushed at by young men in a pre-marriage ritual as a mock hunt afterwards a goat would be sacrificed as a summer and winter solstice rite.

In Labrador when Eskimo's eat a bear's flesh this is a sacred feast and every morsel must be consumed and during this feast there is no talking only singing and drumming.

Bear - baiting continued in Britain until 1835, when it was outlawed. The Romans used bears in their arena's to perform and execute criminals and the sport of bear-baiting and indeed it was the Romans that introduced this cruel sport into Britain.

The Native American warriors would invoke tribal totems before going into battle and might have dressed in bearskins and go berserk calling upon the animals great spirit and courage to aid and possess them. In Native American teachings the bear is associated with the Dream Lodge, the inner space where the advice of the ancestors is sought.

It was once believed that when bear cubs were born formless and their mothers licked them into shape, hence the saying 'licked in shape'. In folk magic to wear a claw from a bear around the neck would take away the pain of childbirth, but in today's world the bear can still teach us many lessons, we learn that strength comes from within-not from what we own.

Think like a bear....he is connected to the earth and the spirit world; this is because he is at peace with himself. His movements are slow, sure and deliberate. He acts with purpose and in winter he enters his silent cave and emerges renewed in the spring.

You too can enter the stillness and seek and find the answers and strength to overcome problems and be the person you most want to be.

Written by

Amber.

Amber Famous Psychic - Book An Accurate Psychic Reading Today http://www.Amber-Live.com

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The Complete Dictionary of Symbols Review

I have bought several books on symbols recently and this is by far the best. It is well laid out with featured articles, good cross-references and, esp. impressive, footnoting of sources. While no book, especially of the encyclopeidic kind, can be "Complete" -- an admittedly pretentious title -- this book comes close. That's just marketing (like all the new cars and shaving cream advertised as the "ultimate" this or that . . .) The illustrations in this book, mostly line drawings, are attractive and well chosen. Whereas, the illustrations in other symbols books (such as Biedermann's "Dictionary of Symbolism") seem arbitrarily chosen, perhaps for their lack of copyright (!) or just for dramatic effect.
For what it is, unless you've got your own private Wikipedia, I don't see how anyone could be disappointed by this book.

The Complete Dictionary of Symbols Overview

The Complete Dictionary of Symbols is an engaging and accessible guide to more than 2,000 major themes, figures, and symbols that are commonly found in myth, art, and literature. Drawing on classical mythologies, Biblical themes, and traditional symbols from cultures worldwide, this user-friendly, attractively priced reference has comprehensive entries on everything from individual animals, plants, and objects to gods, goddesses, supernatural creatures, heroes, heroines, mythical episodes, prophets, saints, miracles, and myriad other subjects. Whether the topic at hand is Mercury or Merlin, the Egyptian ankh or the humble ant, engaging text reveals the origins and meaning of each symbol. Interspersed with the main entries are short articles on themes of special interest, such as the Sun, Moon, and stars, or common vices. Three hundred illustrations, an intuitive system of cross-referencing, and authoritative research make The Complete Dictionary of Symbols a reliable resource for school, home, or library.

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• The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols (Dictionary, Penguin)

Update Post: Jun 24, 2010 18:40:17

Check Out Dictionary of Images and Symbols in Counselling for $37.34

Dictionary of Images and Symbols in Counselling Review

Dictionary of Images and Symbols in Counselling Overview

This A-Z analyzes and explains numerous symbols and images and makes them specific to their use in counselling. Many are developed by the addition of possible psychological interpretations. The categorization of the schematic structure of the symbols aims to provide an easy reference. This book is intended for counsellors, nurses, social workers, occupational health practitioners and speech therapists.

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Update Post: Jun 23, 2010 18:20:17

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Oh My Gods!: A Look-it-Up Guide to the Gods of Mythology (Mythlopedia) Review

Finally a fun new introduction to Greek mythology for the new millenium kids! Oh My Gods! goes a long way to capture the excitement and the fascination of those incredibly dynamic Mt. Olympus beings. I've loved Greek mythology since 1958, when my grandmother dusted off D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths for me. D'Aulaire is still on my library's shelf -- and it's still just as dusty! Oh My Gods!, with its great graphics and photos, pop-up factoids, and crammed texts, will be greatly appreciated by kids raised on Dorling Kindersley layouts. This is a great addition to any mythology section, and it's the first book I'll give my grandchildren on the subject. Although not the last. As an introduction and a companion guide, Oh My Gods! is a lot of fun, but it just begins to scratch the depths of this fascinating subject.

Oh My Gods!: A Look-it-Up Guide to the Gods of Mythology (Mythlopedia) Feature

• ISBN13: 9781606310588
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Oh My Gods!: A Look-it-Up Guide to the Gods of Mythology (Mythlopedia) Overview

What would Apollo’s online profile look like? What would Aphrodite say if she had her own blog? Greek mythology hall of famers meet the modern age in a new series that brings the superstars of Greek myth to life with stories that put them in the pantheon! Complete with profiles, headshots, family trees, fascinating sidebars and irreverent surprises, Mythlopedia is for readers who love action, romance, power struggles and more!

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Update Post: Jun 22, 2010 18:10:21

CHTHONIC on CAPITAL CHAOS 2009

CHTHONIC on CAPITAL CHAOS 2009 perform "Sing Ling Temple" from their new album "Mirror Of Retribution" @ The Boardwalk~Orangevale, California 10-9-09 also on the bill were MALEVOLENT, TOXIC HOLOCAUST & SATYRICON Chthonic (sometimes typeset ChthoniC) is a Taiwanese melodic black metal band, formed in 1995 in Taipei. The group incorporates influences from traditional Taiwanese music including instruments such as the erhu (which is called a hena in their native Taiwanese). www.chthonic.tw Since their formation, Chthonic has released five studio albums. www.chthonic.org The band's stated goal is to use their music to bring ancient history and mythology into the modern era, especially the tragic history and unique myths of Taiwan (for example, those of the Seediq people). The name "Chthonic" is a Greek word which refers to the earth and can have implications of the underworld. In 2003, they won the Best Band Award at the Taiwan Golden Melodies Award Ceremony. The band is also banned in parts of China for their political views. www.myspace.com The lead vocalist, Freddy Lim, is notably active in the political scene and supports Taiwan independence. In February 2009, Freddy Lim and Doris Yeh participated with human rights activists at the Taipei zoo panda exhibit, which symbolises China's attempts to establish soft power relations with Taiwan. en.wikipedia.org

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Outlandish Adventures of Orpheus in the Underworld Review

Outlandish Adventures of Orpheus in the Underworld Overview

Recreates the myth of the Greek poet-musician who charmed the whole world with the power and beauty of his song.

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Update Post: Jun 20, 2010 17:20:22

Art And The Muse

Inspiration and envy make interesting bed-fellows, whilst at odds with one another, they combine perfectly to energize the mind and lubricate the sticky pathway that is the creative process. Inspiration, by definition is a theological influence with the sole purpose of solving problems, whilst envy is a fundamental part of human nature that causes more problems than it solves, however when the two are combined they fuse into what I believe to be a major factor in the flux of an Artists mind; The Muse.

The concept of the muse is one that has been around for centuries; Greek Mythology states the existence of 9 Goddesses (or spirits) known as 'hai mousai' which is a literal translation to 'men - think'. These Goddesses are believed to be the original source of inspiration for all Literature and Arts - they were the first instances of 'muse'.

However, the advent and study of Psychological science is something that has revealed that inspiration and the ability to focally scrutinize people and objects (to muse) to be something much more human than ancient Greek spirits; 18th Century Psychologist and Philosopher John Locke concluded that inspiration is come to naturally, by a series of ideas that begin as separate entities and are later gelled together in resonance to form an answer or previously unseen conclusion. This theory is hardly as romantic as that of the Ancient Greeks, but in an age of constant psychological scrutiny and obsessive interest in conditioning theories it is certainly more valid.

Another heavily studied aspect of the human psyche is one that we have all dealt with at some point; Envy. For many, it is a socially crippling curse that serves to damage self esteem, cause loathing of others and can ultimately cause clinical depression.

From the same school of thought as the aforementioned John Locke, came Immanuel Kant. Widely regarded as the last influential Philosopher of the modern European classics, Kante defined envy as comparisons we set between ourselves and others, which we then use to measure our own sense of self worth.

I believe that the theories of Locke and Kant are inextricably linked to Art(ists) and the (their) muse(s); In order to gain inspiration from another person, an Artist has to feel that a particular attribute of that person stirs some sort of emotion and therefore becomes a catalyst for inspiration. It is usually this attribute that the artist is envious of and therefore feels the need to portray, explore or sometimes destroy.

"I found him perfectly beautiful" was Lucien Freud's remark after his first meeting with Leigh Bowery at the Anthony d'Offay Gallery in 1988. Bowery had been 'performing' that day, modelling outfits that included several latex body suits.

Bowery's gargantuan body crammed into a skin tight suit is hardly what one would class as traditionally 'Beautiful', but Freud did. Was Freud referring to Bowery's physical appearance? Or was he describing something else, perhaps what Bowery's physical form and the outfits he wore stood for; confidence, freedom and individuality?

Despite being hideously overweight Bowery stood tall as a man unashamed of the fact his body was not stereotypically beautiful. He did not care that he lacked the figure of an Adonis and proudly displayed his curves in revealing clothes for all to see. It is this trait that I believe made Freud so fascinated with him. Where Bowery celebrated his form and flaunted it, Freud obsessed about its decline and documented it in his work, choosing to portray himself often in what could almost be described as a grotesque or unsightly fashion (see 'Reflection').

It is my theory that Freud became envious of Bowery with his open personality and confidence. He longed to rid himself of the insecurities and self doubt that had at some points in his life, led him to womanizing, which is well known to be a trait of those who crave attention and self gratification. At times these pursuits became so intense that it has led to rumours that he has fathered over 40 illegitimate children.

Freud's point of inspiration came from removing Bowery's most prominent 'defence'; his clothes. Without his fantastic Avant Garde ensembles Bowery was physically and figuratively naked. Out of his clothes his flamboyant personality would disappear, he would become shy and self conscious, or so Freud thought.

Bowery, to the contrary remained as confident as ever, posing however Freud desired, even in the most unflattering of positions without so much as a murmur that begged for assurance or compliment. A revelation that served only to fuel Freud's interest in the peculiar Bowery.

Posing for Freud was one of Bowery's favourite pleasures, until his New Years Eve death in 1994 Freud had not known that Bowery was HIV positive.

If Freud had have known about this would it have changed his opinion of Bowery? Would it have altered his perception of Bowery to the extent that he would have been repulsed that he had once been in his naked company? I don't know. One thing I do know is that Bowery clearly did not feel as attracted to Freud as Freud did to him. Freud was a source of income to Bowery, not a close friend, after all Freud was not one of the close few who knew Bowery's middle name.

In comparison to my next example of Artist(s) and the Muse, Leigh Bowery and Lucian Freud's relationship seems like a simple walk in the park rather than the tug of war between friendship and business it was.

Jane Burden, William Morris and Dante Rossetti lived a story that any Hollywood hotshot would have been proud to have written. A tale of Love, adultery, passion and betrayal all set in the charming time of late 19th Century, England.

As a child William Morris lived a steady life, his parents were not particularly rich but they did enjoy a good income that Morris felt the benefit of whilst being educated. He was very quick learning to read and was fully literate at a young age. Compare this to his model, muse and later wife Jane Burden who, for most of her younger years lived a life of poverty. With no money or particular aspirations then differences become quite apparent. Jane Burden was completely illiterate; she also lacked social skills such as company etiquette and basic manners. Something Morris and his family held in high regard.

It was a night at the Theatre that was to be a turning point in Burdens life. Sat in the 'Cheap seats' she was watching a production by the Drury Lane theatre company when friend and mentor to Morris; Rossetti, spotted her. He made no hesitation and quickly approached her to request that she pose for his friend (Morris) who was actively trying his hand at painting the human form.

Her first sitting was meant to take place little under a week after the initial meeting between her and Rossetti but Burden did not show, shocked and possibly a little intrigued by this, both Morris and Rossetti sought after Burden and eventually persuaded her to pose.

Once Morris and Burden had gained proper acquaintance they soon became emotionally attached and entered into a relationship that saw both parties benefit.

In a very similar situation to the afore-discussed Bowery and Freud; Morris' and Burdens' relationship seemed to thrive from what one could give the other. Burden gained education and respectable friends while Morris had a model that was perfect to the ideals of Pre-Raphaelite form. They married two years after they met.

Within two years of marriage Jane Burden had been taught to an exceptionally high literacy level and as for her etiquette and manners? Well, her contemporaries referred to her as "Queenly" I think that is all that needs to be said.

Morris was surprised and shocked to say the least at his new Wife's rate of learning, she had become perfectly prim and proper within the space of two years, something Morris had striven to do his whole life.

At this point it would not be completely out of the question to suggest that Morris may have actually become quite frustrated that his wife had not only re-created herself as a 'Lady' but also that she was actually becoming quite multi talented as she tackled other languages including French and Italian and not to mention a decent proficiency in Classical Piano.

Jane's new found hunger for knowledge and seemingly perfect ability to absorb it must have been tortuous to Morris, who had for years struggled with his abilities painting the female form, also at this time Rossetti was becoming very close to Jane and was in the artistic form of his life having completed several of his best works.

Being surrounded by people who could apparently turn their hands to pretty much anything and be successful must have caused envy if not catalysed the beginnings of an inferiority complex in Morris. But it is not just he who I am seeking to apply my theory of Envy causing inspiration, it is also Rossetti.

Despite his talent, his wealth, his charm and his heritage it was not Rossetti who took Jane Burdens fancy, it was his protégé William. This cannot have been easy for Rossetti whom would have been more accustomed to being the centre of attention due to his many enviable characteristics. When this was not the case I think Rossetti would have been left feeling quite disconcerted.

From Rossetti's self portraits it would seem that he had somewhat of a higher opinion of himself than others may have had. For example, the painting above (left) - a self portrait - portrays a handsome young man, full of Italian charm and beautiful curly hair reaching all the way down to a jaw-line that most men (myself included) would kill for, whereas the other painting - a portrait of Rossetti by William Hunt - shows not a beautiful man but a slightly gaunt, un-kept front profile with eyes that are slightly confrontational if not intimidating, quite a contrast to the confident, poised optical orbs of Rossetti's self portrait. Also his forehead in Hunts portrait is far more prominent than that of his own, this depreciates Rossetti's merit of beauty even further.

Rossetti's high opinion will have taken something of a knock at not being the first option of Jane Burdens primal desires; however that was all to change.

In 1874 Rossetti completed 'Proserpine' (pictured, previous page); a portrait of Jane Burden as Proserpina, a figure from Ancient Greek Mythology who was snatched from her life and made queen of the underworld for 6 months of the year, every year. When she goes to the underworld (Hades) the world withers and dies, and on her return life is reborn and flourishes, it is the story of the seasons. My thought on Rossetti using this particular myth to entitle a Portrait of a lady who had, according to many by this time, become his lover is quite a bold yet somehow enigmatic statement. If the story of Prosepina was to be a direct reflection of the situation between Rossetti and Burden then her adulterous interactions whilst in Rossetti's company would be the dark, murky depths of Hades and her clean cut, prim and proper marriage would be the dawn of light and the flourish of spring.

Rossetti's inspiration for this (and other) paintings of Burden was not drawn from any trait of Burden; it was drawn from the envy that despite all his advances Jane Burden and William Morris simply refused to be officially parted. If only it was Rossetti whom Cupid had spotted first.

Upon my near completion of this essay I stumbled across the work of a psychologist, whose reputation for the brilliant turned him into a household name and set the foundations for a dynasty of human beings whose achievement in academia are not just unrivalled they're unprecedented. His work has shaped the study of the human mind for a century and does not look as if it will be stopping any time soon.

His theory of psychosexual development (The theory that all human activity is driven by sexual desires) applies greatly to the Artists and their Muses discussed in this essay:

The interactions between Morris, Rossetti and Burden were so driven by sexual desire that they engaged in social sin and on two counts adultery, but ultimately defined a whole period of art.

Lucian Freud and Leigh Bowery had opposing sexual orientations but still engaged in intimate contact and secluded situations; surely a bond bound together in sexual charge?

Interesting is the fact that not only did Freud create a few masterpieces whilst engaging in a relationship with Bowery, he also played a part in proving one of the most profound Psychological theories ever. A theory constructed by no one other than his Grandfather; Sigmund.

I wonder where he gets his inspiration from?

Alexander Williams.

I like feedback:) AlexanderJW@ymail.com
Don't be shy.

I NEED VOICES FOR Hades VS Frazax The Battle For Persephone

No music cause im using vista. Story: One Day Demeter And her daughter Persephone were frolicing in a field, a devious Makuta named Hades loved Persephone, and stole her from demeter. Demeter roams the world looking for someone to save Persephone. She come apon a strong willed Makuta named Frazax, she tell him what happened to her and Frazax once being a father himself feels bad for Demeter and says yes to helping Demeter, Demeter teleports Frazax into Hades(the bionicle underworld) and tells him that she will continue to roam the world. Frazax find Hades sitting in a throne of bones "Shall we begin?" "I'd be delighted." That is a pretty big spoiler huh. Based of Persephone and The Return Of Spring a Greek Mythology story. Here is the real story: www.fanfiction.net Sadly Zeus will not be in this movie but I am planning on creating a sequel if this get get alot of hits. :)

Tantalus and the Curse of the House of Atreus

Tantalus (Tantalos) was the son of Zeus and the nymph Plouto. He may have been the king of Lydia, or Phrygia. He was father to Pelops, Broteas and Niobe. All three children feature in mythology, however Pelops and his descents are the focus of this article.

Tantalus was one of the few mortals who had the honour of joining the gods at their feasts on mount Olympus. He abused their hospitality, firstly by stealing ambrosia (food of the gods) and nectar (drink of the gods) and offering it to mortals. His greatest crime was to kill Pelops and offer him in a pie to the gods. All the gods except Demeter realised that the pie contained human flesh. Demeter had spent months searching for Persephone, her daughter who had been abducted by Hades, therefore she was so consumed by grief she ate part of Pelop's shoulder without realising. Zeus told Clotho, one of the three fates who controlled the span of mortal lives to bring Pelops back to life. Hephaestus (Hephaistos) made a new ivory shoulder to replace the missing shoulder.

Tantalus did not escape punishment for this crime against the gods. He was thrown into Tartarus, the darkest and furthest region of the underworld. Here he was constantly tortured in a fitting punishment for his crime. He stood in a pool of water that reached up to his waist and above him dangled fruits that grew on a tree. He was constantly hungry and thirsty, however every time he bent down to drink the water it vanished into the ground and every time he tried to take the fruit the branch that they grew from moved higher making them just out of reach. This would be Tantalus' eternal punishment.

Pelops grew up to become a hero. He decided to court Hippodamia, the daughter of king Oenomaus. Oenomaus would not allow any suitor to marry his daughter until he had participated in a chariot race against the king. If they lost, they were executed. If they won they would be able to marry Hippodamia. Oenomaus had the advantage of special winged horses (a gift from Poseidon) that were almost unbeatable. In stories suggest that Oenomaus was so protective of his daughter because he had committed incest with her. Pelops bribed Myrtilus, the charioteer of Oenomaus and changed the chariot lynch pins for wax replicas. As Oenomaus raced his chariot, the wax pins melted and he was thrown to his death. Pelops won Hippodamia. He later killed Myrtilus after he tried to rape Hippodamia. As Myrtilus was dying he cursed Pelops and his descendants.

Pelops and Hippodamia had two sons; Atreus and Thyestes. He also had a bastard son called Chrysippus. Chrysippus was believed to be the favourite son and possible inheritor of Pelops' throne. Hippodamia urged her sons to get rid of Chrysippus. Atreus and Thyestes threw Chrysippus down a well, killing him. Pelops exiled Hippodamia, Atreus and Thyestes. Hippdomia hung herself, Atreus and Thyestes then settled in Mycenae in the Peloponnese region of Greece.

The two brothers then tried to outwit each other for the throne of Mycenae. Atreus promised Artemis he would sacrifice his best lamb to the goddess. He discovered a golden lamb, therefore he hid it from the goddess and gave it as a present to his wife, Aerope. She gave it to Thyestes, her secret lover. He produced the lamb, declaring that the owner of it should be king. Atreus accepted this until he discovered his wife's adultery with his brother. They continued to quarrel over ownership of the throne. Finally Atreus invited Thyestes to a feast as a token of friendship. Thyestes accepted the offer and started to eat the food before him. What he did not know was that the meat he ate was the butchered bodies of his children. As soon as he realised what Atreus had done, he cursed his brother and his descendents. The only child to survive was Aegisthus.

Atreus had two sons, Agamemnon and Menelaus. Menelaus would later marry Helen of Sparta after she had been courted by most of the high ranking men of Greece. They all swore an oath to protect her before she married, so when she was abducted by Paris and taken back to Troy, Agamemnon and Menelaus gathered the Greeks together and made war on the Trojans. Agamemnon had married Clytaemestra, the sister of Helen. She was appalled when Agamemnon sacrificed Iphigenaia, their daughter. Iphigenaia had been sacrificed to Artemis so that she would send a favourable wind and allow the Greeks to set sail for Troy. Clytaemestra swore revenge for her daughter's death.

While Agamemnon was at war, she took herself Aegisthus as her lover. Aegisthus wished to avenge the death of his siblings, Clytaemestra the death of her daughter therefore they both plotted the downfall of Agamemnon. When Agamemnon returned home victorious from Troy, he was almost immediately killed by either Clytaemestra or Aegisthus (various stories suggest either of them actively murdering Agamemnon).
Clytaemestra and Aegisthus both ruled Mycenae and expelled Orestes, the son of Agamemnon. Orestes returned to avenge his father's murder a number of years later, encouraged by his sister Electra who had remained in Mycenae. Orestes murdered both Aegisthus and his mother. Their furies then pursued him for his blood guilt.

Finally, the god intervened. Apollo defended Orestes and the furies acted as prosecutor in a court style discussion of Orestes' actions. The outcome overseen by Athene was that the curse that had blighted the descendants of Tantalus should finally be lifted. The furies were ordered to become the Eumenides, or the kindly ones, meaning they should leave Orestes and his descendants alone.

Orestes regained the throne of Mycenae, killing Alete, the son of Aegisthus. This final murder would ensure that there was no one left to continue the family blood feud.

For more Greek mythology please visit http://www.mythologyhellenic.com

Jane Sproston was a teacher of Classical Civilisation and Classical Greek in a number of secondary schools. She is also an examiner of Classical Civilisation for a major examination board. Her website is http://www.mythologyhellenic.com

The Metaphysical View of Death and Life After Death Part 4

At times the soul undergoing transition is led across rivers with the aid of an escort. In Greek myths, Charon, the boatman, was assigned the task of guiding souls to the Otherside. Hermes, acting as psychopompos, led deserving souls to Olympus. The ushabtis, or statuettes buried with the dead among ancient Egyptians, could conceivably represent escorts or soul-bearers, aside from the usual interpretation of scholars of them being servants in the afterlife. In other religions, the escort of the soul is the Angel of Death, the grim reaper wielding a scythe as depicted in one of the cards of the Major Arcana of the Tarot--although the average Christian sees that being not as an escorter but as an avenger. Muslims call this Angel of Death, "Izrail." There is a possibility that escorts of the soul do not always fetch departing souls from the Otherside. They may, in fact, also come from our physical dimension aiding souls in their transition. What we are intimating is that the mastery of astral projection or lucid dreaming actually gives the mystic or psychic the power to act as psychopompos, or guide of the soul. Our own personal experience may suggest this, as we will relate below, however, we are not implying here that we have personally mastered the art of occult mobilization, or attained a spirituality of a high degree:

We (I, me, myself) once had a dear friend who was a Theosophist. Although there were decades of physical years between us, we were rather close. One day, we received a call informing us of her demise. Her passing was sudden and unexpected. Wondering what her condition was like in the bardo, that night we decided to be by her side to offer assistance. And so with affirmations, intense mind-programming, and a strong desire, we spontaneously attained a projection without strenuously going through the usual steps as taught in occult books and schools. Moments later, we were by her side, leading her to a certain place, to a certain spiritual guide or master with whom in the astral state we were well acquainted with. When we reached our destination, we said to her: "from hereon you are on your own. We shall meet again." After bidding her farewell, we were once again back in our physical body.

All along the projection, we were lucid and aware--aware that a part of us was asleep in bed; while another aspect, was active in another world. This is one of the signs indicating that the experience was not a dream. Soul-travel as we have mentioned before, is a mystery to the average religious devotee. Eventhough mystics, prophets and saints have alluded to this particular occult ability possessed by man, the average person still remains unconvinced and skeptical as to its reality; or from another perspective they fear it as a satanic gift. However, at least the Bahái'i faith firmly states the possibility for one to experience the afterlife while yet still alive and embodied on earth. Many modern saints such as Padre Pio were adepts of soul-travel.

Soul-travel, or astral travel is a natural mode of rest for the incarnating soul from the vicissitudes of everyday life. This usually occurs through sleep, but may be induced through various means. It is through this occult faculty that knowledge of the various dimensions may be gained. Ancient Greeks were familiar with the art of astral projection. In their myths there are many references to heroes visiting the underworld, such as Hercules, Aeneas, and Odysseus, or sorceresses such as Medea accompanying Jason, the captain of the Argonauts in his adventures--although she in her astral body. These myths probably refer to the astral aspects of the secret initiations of the ancient Mystery Schools.

The Occult Tradition

Before explaining the death process from the occult and metaphysical point of view, we ought to possess some knowledge of man's occult anatomy, for man's hidden structure and physiology play an important role in the release of the soul from its confinement to the form and the disintegration of the physical body and they are, therefore, a pertinent factor to our understanding of transition. It is also of some relevance to know the structure of the various planes or dimensions. We shall, therefore, consider these two essential topics briefly before discussing the process of transition from the occult perspective.

The Microcosm

Man, the microcosm, possesses several bodies, principles, or vehicles. According to Theosophy, these principles/bodies are seven in number: Monad, Atma, Buddhi, Higher Mental/Causal, Lower Mental, Astral Body, and Etheric/Physical. Christianity divides man's components into body, soul and spirit. The concept of man possessing several bodies is also to be found in Hinduism, the Qaballah, and Islam; and is in fact based on the teachings of the Ageless Wisdom; it is to be found underlying all spiritual traditions in one form or another. The Initiates of ancient Egypt, for instance, had a clear understanding of man's subtle anatomy as we can see from the following suggested correspondence with the Theosophical system:

Physical Body - Khat

Etheric Body - Khaibit (shadow)

Astral Body - Ka (double)

Lower Mental - Ba (heart-soul)

Causal Body - Sahu (spiritual body)

Higher Mental - Ren (name)

Buddhi - Khu/Ab (spiritual soul)

Atma - Sekhem (power)

Monad - Khabs

In average cases, the bodies directly involved in the death process and in the afterdeath state are of the first five-the physical body, etheric, astral, lower mental, and causal. In certain conditions it may involve the first two or three.

Each body or principle has energy-centers fully developed and functioning, or in the process of unfoldment. These energy-centers are called chakras in Hindu occultism and there are seven of major importance. In the physical body the endocrine glands and the plexi correspond to these chakras. The following are the Hindu terms for these chakras as well as their correspondence to the glands and their location:

Muladhara - gonads - base of spine

Svadishtana - spleen/pancreas - naval

Manipura - adrenals - solar plexus

Anahata - thymus - heart

Vishuddha - thyroid - throat

Ajna - pituitary - center of eyebrows

Sahasrara - pineal - crown

Every vehicle of consciousness possesses chakras, some of which are not functioning to its full potential or fully-developed as yet in the average human being. Chakras are channels and transformers of energy. They receive the influx of energies originating from higher spheres and distribute those energies to a lower principle. The frequencies or qualities of these chakras are associated with one's evolutionary development; this account for the many colours attributed to them by various authorities who often seemingly contradict one another. These chakras vibrate at a rate determined by the quality of the indwelling soul. During transition the soul escapes through one of these portals. One's evolutionary development determines where the soul would make its exit. According to occult teachings, it is favorable for the soul to be released through the crown chakra or other higher centers; escape through the lower centers results in a transition to one of the lower worlds. Generally speaking, the average person evacuates the body, in the process of transition, through the solar plexus chakra. This is because the manipura chakra is associated with the qualities of self-centeredness, and is the normal expression and polarization of the average person. Aspirants and servers of humanity often emerge out of the heart chakra, as this chakra is related to an expanding love for all sentient beings. Enlightened, spiritual souls pass out of the physical form through the crown chakra. This major center is associated with pure, lofty thoughts and feelings, with a sense of oneness and identification with all beings. It is this crown chakra that Hopi Indians believed to be the exit of the soul at death. Occultism declares that the point of exit indicates the realm that the indwelling soul would sojourn, whether it be in the lower regions of "hell," or in the upper localities of "heaven."

Connecting the various bodies together, like beads on a string, is the sutratma. This sutratma is sometimes referred to as the "silver cord." This term comes from one of the books of the Old Testament.

"Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern." (Ecclesiastes 12:6)

While the indwelling soul is incarnated in the physical form, the sutratma remains intact, connecting the lower form to the higher principles. It functions primarily as a channel for divine life forces--the energies emanating from the Monad. In sleep and in the astral state, when the awareness-principle roams about in the higher dimensions, this cord serves as a connecting link between the material body and the astral form. So long as this cord exists intact, the soul is bound to the physical body. Once the cord is severed, as occurs in the death process, the soul loses its connection with the physical body. A person may be in a coma, or in a cataleptic state with a resemblance of death, but so long as the cord endures, it is always possible for life to return--it is possible to "raise the dead," so to speak.

Another point to consider concerning man's occult anatomy which is relevant to our discussion of the process of transition are the seed-atoms. These atoms are vortexes of energies which collectively speaking, may be considered as the records of the unfolding soul, or as the soul's "book of life." They correspond to "Kiramun-i-Kaitibun," the recording angels in sufi teachings. Occultism teaches the existence of three seed-atoms--the mental, astral and the physical seed-atom. These atoms register all of the thoughts, feelings and actions of the incarnated soul. They are records of the quality and nature of the soul, and may be thought of as the memory book of all the experiences of the soul's past incarnated lives. They, therefore, also contain the records of one's karmic history. It should be noted that although Buddhism teaches reincarnation, they do not believe in a "self" that reincarnates. To Buddhists, that which reincarnates are the karmic traits of the awareness-principle. Although we will not consider the question of what survives and reincarnates, it is interesting to know that these "karmic traits" correlate with the contents of the seed-atoms.

The mental seed-atom is associated with the soul's consciousness and mental world of thoughts and ideas. In the physical body it resides in the pineal gland. One's feelings, negative and positive, are registered in the astral seed-atom. The liver is the temporary home of this seed-atom. The physical seed-atom abides in the heart. It is associated with the life-principle within the body. In the death process, the seed-atoms emerge out of the physical body in sequence, as we shall see presently.

According to occultism in general, in the beginning of a manvantara, or cycle of manifestation and creation, the First Cause emanated from Itself streams of energies of varying densities; or Spirit vibrating in a whole spectrum of frequencies. These energies, structured electronically in high and low densities, are the various dimensions, planes, realms, or mansions of the manifested Cosmos. In the Qaballah, these dimensions and planes are referred to as the 4 worlds and the sephiroths. According to theosophical teachings, there are seven planes that concerns man's present evolution. These seven planes are collectively called the cosmic physical plane. Though there are higher planes, we will not consider them, as they have very little to do with man's evolution, and are far beyond our status as human souls.

The seven planes, in theosophical teachings are called: Logoic, Monadic, Atmic, Buddhic, Mental, Astral, and Physical. Certain Sufi teachings refer to these various planes as: "Alam-i-tabi-at," "Alam-i-surat," "Alam-i-ma'na," "Alam-i-malakut," "Alam-i-jabarut," "Alam-i-lahut," and "Alam-i-hahut." Each of the seven planes mentioned are subdivided into seven lesser realms making 49 in all. The various heavens and hells (realms of joy and suffering) which the human soul sojourns and dwells are to be found in the Mental and Astral regions. In the upper regions of the Mental subplanes is to be found what is called the Causal plane. This is paradise proper where most souls go to rest before reincarnating in the physical dimension. Tibetan Buddhism refers to the Physical, Astral and Mental planes as the six worlds: the world of gods (Devaloka), of Titans (Asuraloka), of hungry ghosts (Pretaloka), of hell, of animals, and of humans. These descriptive realms symbolically refer to human behaviour and evolutionary development with a predominating characteristic vice: for instance, pride, envy, greed, hatred, ignorance, and desire. These six worlds are the abodes or heavens--or hell, as the case may be--of souls of varied spiritual development. Below we give the evolutionary level of souls in correlation with the six worlds that they vibrate in harmony with:

Causal-Higher Mental Planes - World of gods - Saints, masters . . .

Lower Mental Planes - World of Asuras - Philosophers, heroes . . .

Higher and Mid-Astral Planes - World of Pretas - Average man

Lower Astral Planes - World of Animals - Purgatory, temporary abode of average man.

Sub-Lower Astral Planes - World of Demons - Hell, temporary abode of evil and wicked men.

Physical Plane - World of Humans - Physical world, all types of souls.

Transition and the after death state

We have already discussed the various relevant parts of man's occult anatomy that are directly involved in the death process. We shall now see how they fit together in the soul's birthing process into another realm. It should be noted, however, that there are variations in the death process. We shall be considering the normal process of death for the average person, but before we do, let us consider how occultism advocates the method of assistance to the dying.

Occultism teaches the necessity for absolute quietness surrounding the dying. The moanings and wailings of relatives and friends should be kept at a minimum and away from the presence of the one undergoing transition. The dying's sense of perception is heightened during transition and is focused strongly on the bardo, and, therefore, it is imperative at this stage that nothing disturbs the dying person. To do so would distract the soul from liberating itself in the early stages of the bardo and prevent it from being reborn in a higher realm. It is said that orange light in the room of the dying helps the awareness-principle to maintain consciousness so that it would not miss the Clear Light of the first stage of the bardo. Oneness and identification with the Clear Light is what causes liberation for the soul--liberation from the necessity to reincarnate. Sandalwood incense and chanting of mantras also aid the dying to remain focussed and mentally alert. In the Tibetan tradition, certain guidance is given verbally to the dying pilgrim, that it may recognize the various stages of the bardo and what it should do once they are encountered and experienced. Occultism advocates similar assistance to the dying, since the basic purpose underlying both systems are one and the same, that is, the liberation of the soul from an unfortunate rebirth in one of the lower regions of the cosmos which causes evolutionary stagnation. The techniques for aiding the dying as well as dying fruitfully is well worth knowing--especially to practicing metaphysicians.

What is important to learn is the maintaining of one's mind and consciousness at a lofty level through constant meditation and mental reflection in everyday life. This polarizes the consciousness in the head chakra and facilitates the recognition of the dawning light in the first stage of the bardo. Dying consciously is more advantageous than dying in an unconscious manner for the above reason.

Strangely enough, depending upon our perspective, highly evolved souls are aware of the time and onset of their death. This inner knowing is derived from intuitive impressions from the Oversoul, or Higher Self. Such initiates are knowledgeable of the process of death and they transit in full awareness without a break or a hiatus in their consciousness. Some even attain what is called "the Rainbow Body." This is the transformation or the absorption of physical particles of the body into one's spiritual light during transition, leaving no empty corpse behind. This is alluded to in the biblical passage concerning the prophet Enoch, where it is said that he walked with God "and was not."

Those having seen the Clear Light and have united with it, or acquired the divine gnosis called "marifatullah" in Esoteric Islam encounters various esoteric/exoteric signs months and days prior to the death process:

[Note: The table of the esoteric/ exoteric signs may be seen as originally published at our website]

Copyright © 2006 Luxamore

Luxamore
Metaphysical teacher, counseler, healer and merchant of occult/magickal items of Indonesia.
http://www.indotalisman.com/
http://www.bezoarmustikapearls.com/

God of war 3 - Act 2 - Part 3 Of 10

Difficulty - Normal Act - 2 This act is mainly all about getting through the underworld to the greek god of the underworld Hades. This is the second god you kill in the game after Poseidon * See level 1*

Paeon

A new MOC, basically...he's named after the mythological Physicist of the Greek Olympian gods, since he's supposed to be a doctor-sort-of-type figure instead of a fighter, and he's also like, a mad scientist (oh, I'm SOOOO creative, LAWLz). Storyline-wise, he's got connections to Zovid and the ZealotMECHv.VII, and their capture of nearby energy Nitronians. He's not robotic, although he appears that way, and the two weapons he has are really surgical tools, but his largest ones. He'll appear in BoD eventually, when the series gets back on track again. Hope you like this...and don't spam me with music comments or lame "did you know that..." or "OMGAWSH, IT'S A DISGRACE TO MYTHOLOGY!!!" comments. 1. I know. 2. It's mythology, and if you're gonna treat mythology like it's still religion, uh, welcome to the real world. -.-" Music is "Lighten Up Francis" (Underworld 3 Soundtrack). I don't own the music, but I own the pictures and the MOC itself.

Great Price for $60.92

Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead Review

As recorded from antiquity down to the present day, every human culture, religion, and mythology we know of has incorporated within it beliefs, legends, folklore, and theological systems that incorporate such concepts as kingdoms of the dead, evils spirits, death gods, demons, the living dead such as vampires and zombies, apocalyptic scenarios, and the supernatural. In "Death Gods: An Encyclopedia Of The Rules, Evil Spirits, And Geographies Of The Dead", academician Ernest L. Abel has compiled an encyclopedic and alphabetically organized listing of these phenomena including the 'underworlds' from such diverse cultures as the Aztec, the Babylonians, the Celts, the Egyptians, the Christians, the Buddhists, the Greeks, the Norse, the Polynesians, and others. Also included is an impressive listing of 'death gods' and demons. Enhanced with the inclusion of extensive references and a comprehensive index, "Death Gods" is a unique and highly recommended addition for personal, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies, Mythology, and Religious History reference collections.

Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead Overview

In cultures throughout human history people have believed that some part of themselves continued to exist after they died. Part of that belief is that living can influence what happens to the dead in the afterlife, and the dead can return from the afterlife to affect the living. Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead describes the many ways the afterlife—especially that part of the afterlife commonly known as Hell—has been characterized in myths from around the world. The hundreds of entries provide readers with a guide to the afterlife as portrayed in these myths - its geography, its rulers, its inhabitants, how they got there, and what happens after their arrival. While the Devil is a prominent resident and ruler of the afterworld in many religions, especially Christianity, this book examines many other versions of Hell whether presided over by the Devil, Hades, or one of the many other rulers of the dead.

Death Gods provides concise encyclopedic entries on all aspects of the mythology of the afterlife: The underworlds form the myths of cultures from across the globe—for example, Xibalba, the underworld of the Quiche Maya; Di Yu, the underground realm of the dead in Chinese mythology; the gods and demons of the afterlife—the Hindu god of death and justice Yama; Ahriman, the evil twin of the benevolent god Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrian mythology; Buso, the invisible ghouls who haunt graveyards and feed on human corpses in Philippine mythology. The volume includes an extensive bibliography of the most useful resources for understanding the mythology of death and the afterlife.

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Update Post: Jun 13, 2010 14:50:12

Greek Readers Theater - Musto

Ms. Musto's 3rd Grade Greek Readers Theater at Ashlawn Elementary - Journey to the Underworld

Anankè ~ Frollo ~ Our Solemn Hour

Another vid focused on Frollo, and his tragic fate... The word "Anankè" in greek is assiociated to him, and means "fatality" In this vid sometimes the lyrics reflect Esmeralda's point of vue, sometimes Frollo's. Lyrics by Within Temptation : Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour. Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us. Sanctus Espiritus... In my darkest hours I could not foresee That the tide could turn so fast to this degree. Can´t believe my eyes How can you be so blind? Is the heart of stone, no empathy inside? Time keeps on slipping away and we haven´t learned, So in the end now what have we gained? Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour. Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us. Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve, can we break free from chains of never-ending agony? Are they themselves to blame, the misery, the pain? Didn´t we let go, allowed it, let it grow? If we can´t restrain the beast which dwells inside, it will find it´s way somehow, somewhere in time. Will we remember all of the suffering Cause if we fail it will be in vain. Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour. Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us. Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve, can we break free from chains of never-ending agony? Clips from the Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Disney.

The Spectre Hound

And a dreadful thing from the cliff did spring,
and its wild bark thrill'd around,
His eyes had the glow of the fires below,
'twas the form of the spectre hound

One of the most chilling omens of death in English folklore is the large, spectral demon dog called Black Shuck. A death omen comes to collect souls and if you have the misfortune to see Black Shuck - expect death to come within a year.

Ghostly Black Dogs are distinguished from normal flesh and blood black dogs by their large yellow or red glowing eyes (sometimes only one), and their ability to appear out of thin air, or into and out of the ground. The demon dog is about the size of a calf and sometimes even appears headless !

When the Black Shuck comes to claim his victims his bone-chilling howls can be heard rising above the wind. His feet make no sound, but people can feel his hot breath on their necks.

A common place to see the Black Dog is at a boundary. He lurks where people move from one locality to another, roads, footpaths, old trackways, bridges, crossroads, gates, doors, stairs and corridors. He can be seen near graveyards and barrows, along Leylines, and running down Corpse Ways or Spirit Paths. Folklore tells us that these ancient paths used to run to churches and spirits would travel along them from graveyard to graveyard.

In the 1890s, a teenage boy rescued from the North Sea told how he had been forced to swim further and further from the shore by a huge dog that chased him through the waters, its teeth gnashing at his neck and shoulders. In the 1920s and 30s, fishermen off Sheringham told of hearing the hound's howling on stormy nights. And as recently as the 1970s, he was seen pounding over the beach at Yarmouth.

Black Shuck is not confined to Norfolk. Another location is along the Sussex Downs with its old burial mounds, once the principal means of travel before the weald was cleared of its inpenetrable forest. And once, on a summer afternoon in 1577, he made a fateful trip across the border into Suffolk and attacked the congregation of St Mary's Church in Bungay. As the dreadful dog flew from the church, sated with blood, he is said to have left deep scorch marks on the door.

In 1933 the door was cleaned and burn marks were there for all to see. They remain there to this day.

There are many names for this terrifying visitor. Galleytrot, Shug Monkey, the Hateful Thing, Hell beast, Skeff or Moddey Dhoo and in the south of England you will hear names like Yeth or Wish Hounds. In Yorkshire he is known as The Barguest.

The name Shuck seems to go back to Old English (at least pre-1000 BCE). The Old English epic poem Beowulf describes the monster Grendel and his mother. Grendel is called a Scucca (demon)- and Scucc would have been pronounced pretty much then as it is today. The poem also says of Grendel that him of eagum stod ligge gelicost leoht unfaeger , 'a fire-like, baleful light shone from his eyes', Sounds like the Black Shuck to me.

The origins of the Black Dog have been lost in the mists of time but most likely originated from the Vikings who feared the hound of their god Odin All-Father, and brought their tales and lore to England. The word Barguest comes from the German 'Bargeist' meaning 'spirit of the (funeral) bier'.

In the folklore of old Europe, the dog is seen as both the guardian and consumer of dead spirits, as in the 'Wild Hunt' where a pack of dogs with a master of the hunt flies through the sky looking for lost souls. He also turns up in Egypt, Siberia, and North America. According to the Vedic mythology of ancient India, the dead must pass by the four-eyed dogs of Yama, king of the dead, and Greek mythology tells of the dog Cerberos, popularly endowed with three heads, who watches the entrance to Hades and there is the Egyptian Anubis, with the head of a dog. The Celts have their legends also, of white, red-eared hounds. But the concept of the underworld watchdog reached its fullest and most complex expression among the Germanic peoples.

Whatever the origin of the Black Dog, beware of him, he is still to be found in the wild lonely places of North England today.

About The Author

Susanna Duffy is a Civil Celebrant, folklorist and storyteller who creates rites and ceremonies for the milestones of life.

Disney's Hercules: The TV Series

intro to Disney's Hercules the TV Series about a demi god hercules who is half mortal and half god he is training to be a hero so that he can rejoin the gods on mount olympus while fighting Hades, the ruler of the Underworld who plans to take over mount olympus while attending high school.

Volcanoes - Their Formation and When They Erupt

Volcanoes received their name after the Roman god of fire, Vulcan. Ancient Romans believed that one volcano near Naples was the entrance into the underworld. In the Greek mythology Hephaistos had his forge underneath the volcanoes. When the gods were angry, people were punished by the fire of the erupting volcanoes. To placate the gods, people would throw sacrifice into the lava lakes, sometimes even human sacrifice.

The majority of close to 1500 active volcanoes on the earth are in the regions where the tectonic plate boundaries touch. To be considered active, the volcano must have been active during the last 1000 years. If there was no activity during that time, the volcano is considered extinct. Today, there are approximately 600 active volcanoes on land, mostly in Iceland, Hawaii, Java, the Aleutian Islands, Central America, Italy, and New Zealand. The incidence of volcanic eruptions on the sea floor is much higher.

When an oceanic plate collides with a lighter continental plate, the heavier plate slides underneath the lighter plate. This is called subduction. In this case, the part of the submerged plate melts. This fluid molten rock is called magma. The magma rises and spills onto the plate that is above it. When two plates drift away from each other, they create a rift in the earth's crust. In this case the magma also ascends. When this happens in the ocean, the magma forms new sea floor or volcanic islands. When it happens on land, it forms volcanic crests.

A volcanic eruption is often accompanied by release of liquid and gaseous material from the earth's interior. This material is concentrated from ten to one hundred kilometres underneath the surface. The temperatures at that depth may reach 1200 degrees Celsius. The molten rock collects in the magma chamber in the earth's crust. The concentrated magma is connected by means of a volcanic vent to the summit of the volcano. During a volcanic eruption, boulders, ash, dust, and gases are ejected. These phenomena may occur in the form of an explosion, when these masses are hurled high into the air above the volcano, or the lava just may slowly flow out of the volcano.

We recognise various types of volcanoes, in general by the type of lava. Shield volcanoes have a wide base and flat slopes, which are formed by lava flow. Lava flows far down the mountain until it congeals. Many so-called "hot spots" are shield volcanoes. An example of this type of volcanoes is Kilauea in Hawaii. In contrast, composite volcanoes (also called stratovolcanoes) have moderately steep sides formed by lava and ash. One of these composite volcanoes is Mount Fuji in Japan. Gaseous volcanoes are those that spew almost exclusively gases.

When the volcanic activity diminishes, quite often it leaves behind the so-called post-volcanic phenomena. These include hot springs and gases, and we may observe those in the form of geysers, fumaroles, and mudpots.

A volcanic eruption may cause a lot of damage. The eruption proper is less serious. The mudslides and floods, which in turn have negative impact on the population such as hunger or an onset of epidemics, are of far more serious nature. Another dangerous phenomena which may accompany volcanic eruptions are windstorms, heavy rains, and tornadoes, and may produce considerable damage.

It is seldom possible to predict a volcanic eruption. One positive side of volcanic activity is that it fertilizes the soil, uncovers ore deposits, and provides thermal energy from the hot springs, but this occurs only infrequently.

Volcanoes
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The Ten Best Books I Read in 2009

10. The Surrender of Persephone by Selena Kitt (2009; Phaze Books) retells the Classical Greek myth of the virgin goddess of spring, Persephone, and her abduction by the god of the Underworld, Hades. In myth, Persephone grows into her role as queen of the Underworld to become a powerful and mysterious goddess. In Kitt's uncensored version, Persephone chafes at her mother Demeter's restrictiveness and dim view of males, both human and divine.

Up from the depths of the earth comes Hades, also known as Aidon. He lifts Persephone into his chariot and takes her to the eerily lovely splendor of his Underworld kingdom, the land of the dead. In his mind, this is a perfectly acceptable arranged marriage, a deal between Aidon and Persephone's father Zeus. Persephone feels a mixture of fear and attraction to the handsome, amber-eyed god. A thoroughly modern spin on an ancient fable.

9. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris. Many things happen in this book (including Alcide's ascension to leader of the Shreveport pack and the appearance of a new fairy), but the entire effort is rather disjointed. Sookie is at her most fickle (she's suddenly keen on Calvin Norris and Eric, not so much Alcide and Quinn), and there is a notable lack of romance. Interesting, but not the best of the Southern Vampire series. On the other hand, Bill seems to want Sookie back...could the long-awaited reconciliation be in the works?

8. Dead After Dark by Sherrilyn Kenyon, J. R. Ward, Susan Squires and Dianne Love. The four stories in this collection are all highly entertaining. The best of the best is J.R. Ward's "The Story of Son." It's not part of her Black Dagger Brotherhood storyline, but it's excellent, with a truly engaging heroine and a darkly romantic, tragic hero, a bit like Z in the Brotherhood. (And he's my favorite.) This is the first I've read from the other authors, but I'll certainly be wanting more in the future thanks to this introduction. All of the stories could be themed "They came from different worlds." Very spicy, very diverse tales, all very good.

7. Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez. Ever since the days of Scoobie Doo, teens have wondered whether adults were conspiring to get them. And you know what? Sometimes they're right. Daisy Giordano is not only a resident of the quirky town of Nightshade, but also the only "norm" in a family of psychics. When girls at her high school start turning up undead, she and her hunky best friend Ryan must get to the bottom of this mystery. Is a vampire on the loose? Could it be Nurse Phillips, or perhaps Miss Foster, the head cheerleading coach? Daisy may not be gifted with her mother's and sisters' special powers, but she is smart, curious, and above all determined. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, Daisy can.

6. Hell's Belles by Jackie Kessler. There are many reasons to love Hell's Belles by Jackie Kessler (Zebra Books, 2007). One is its heroine, Jezebel, who is literally a cloven-footed demon spawned in the depths of Hell. When Hell undergoes a change in management, succubus Jezebel is forced to give up her career of seducing the souls from mortal men and become a nightmare. Jezebel doesn't adapt well to the change, fleeing the Lake of Fire to become a mortal. And, since mortals have to pay the rent, she becomes a stripper.

Lacking a soul, Jezebel certainly isn't planning on falling in love. Still, when she meets Paul Hamilton, she's more fascinated by him than an ex-demon should be. Paul is beautiful, to be sure, but with his "poet's eyes" and boxer's broken nose, he's also a sweet and sensitive soul.

Other characters in this book are also well-written and interesting. There's Daun, the incubus. He gets his own book, Hotter Than Hell, two more volumes into Kessler's Hell on Earth series. Then there's Lucifer himself, who's given perhaps the most sympathetic and romantic portrayal since Milton's Paradise Lost. I was delightfully surprised by Kessler's reinterpretation of Lucifer.

Another wonderful surprise awaiting readers of Hell's Belles is the music. Kessler animates Jezebel's strip club with with classic Melissa Etheridge, new INXS ("Pretty Vegas," with JD Fortune as lead singer), The Bloodhound Gang and, best of all, a U2 medley with "Desire" and "Mysterious Ways." I wanted to stick a five dollar bill into the paperback to tip the dj.

A fellow reviewer of Hell's Belles found the ending "a bit pat," but I disagree. The ending made me cry, with its poignant blend of sadness and hope. I highly recommend Hell's Belles to all lovers of paranormal and fantasy romance.

5. The Singular Exploits of Wonder Mom and Party Girl by Marc Schuster. First rule of parenting: you don't use drugs in front of your kids. Especially if you're the one member of the parent-teacher association charged with running the school's Just-Say-No program.

Audrey Corcoran is blindsided when her husband of ten years leaves her for a much-younger, thinner woman named Chloe. Desperate not to lose her young daughters the way she lost Roger, Audrey decides to get in touch with her fun side. Her adventures lead to her try cocaine, against her better judgement. In this tragicomic novel, Audrey copes with life on and off drugs.

I'm always a little amazed when a male author paints such a touching and realistic portrait of a woman's life. Scott Simon did it for 17-year-old Irena Zaric in Pretty Birds, and Marc Schuster does it for 30-something Audrey Corcoran. Thanks to Desperate Housewives, the suburban mom secretly on drugs may be something of a cliche, but Schuster never allows Audrey's life to become a caricature or a morality play. He simply gives her 292 pages to be her Wonder Mom & Party Girl self, and readers will be grateful for that.

4. Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta. Thoroughly enjoyable. In this witty novel, Acosta creates a wonderful heroine in Milagro de los Santos. Mil, as she is known to friends, wants what every girl wants: to be taken seriously as a writer, live in rat-free apartment, and maybe find a fabulous guy she can get serious with. That guy is definitely not her ex, Sebastian, the hot writer du jour (del dia?) who is sitting on top of a pile of dark secrets. Along comes Oswald, who may be a vampire, and whose secrets may or may not be of the dark variety. Wonderfully written, funny and romantic, this one is a real winner.

3. CrowWoman and MudGirl by Victoria Selene Skye Deme. The author is, I believe, the illegitimate love child of Sylvia Plath, Barbara G. Walker (who wrote the wonderful Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets) and American Indian writer Louise Erdrich. CrowWoman and Mudgirl is an all-too-brief collection of poems steeped in myth and folklore. The theme, generally, is the reconciliation of the age-old dichotomy of feminine archetypes: is a woman a sweet-faced angel, or a raging bitch-goddess? In Skye Deme's poems, she is daughter, lover, monster, and more. These are big poems for such a tiny book, and deeply satisfying. My personal favorite is "Dreary Summer Day." What sounds like something perfectly mundane is actually a beautifully spun vampire tale.

2. The Prestige by Christopher Priest. First, you have to see the movie, which stars Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as a pair of warring stage magicians. It's sort of a steampunk-ish thing, where turn-of-the-nineteenth century technology meets the late Victorian/Edwardian era. AFTER you've seen the movie (and drooled over your choice of Jackman, Bale, Scarlett Johannson or David Bowie), read Chris Priest's awesome book, which stunned me by being even weirder than the film.

1. GoneAway Into the Land by Jeffrey B. Allen. With its fantastic, edible fairy-tale landscape, weird descriptions, and heartfelt emotion, this is simply a great read for older children, teens and adult lovers of fantasy novels. Full of magic and adventure.

http://www.erinoriordan.blogspot.com