English Mythology

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. It is of immense importance to the culture of the Indian subcontinent and is a major text of Hinduism. Its discussion of human goals (artha or 'purpose', kama or 'pleasure', dharma or 'duty' and moksha or 'liberation') takes place in a long-standing tradition, attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society and the world (the nature of the 'self') and the workings of karma.

In the US and Canada, spiritualism's primary focus was on communication between the living and the dead. The spiritual tradition traveled around the world, especially in Latin America, where it evolved in different ways. The Puerto Rican influence on modern Western magic is profound but largely unheralded. Beginning in the early 20th century, Puerto Rican immigrants to the US introduced espiritismo to the US spiritual landscape, strongly affecting the way magic was practiced. Hector Salva's book places Puerto Rican espiritismo in this broader perspective.

Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: a fascinating journey through Japan’s folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins of these fantastical and mythical creatures. With information on their cultural significance, and how it’s been spun into today’s popular culture, this tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games.

As you study the African myths, legends, and folklore through this guide, you will find that there are so many gods and goddesses, and so many different versions of certain stories, that it will blow your mind. The intricate myths in this book have been lined up and collected to help you understand some of the earliest, most ancient beliefs from those living on the African continent. Some have been influential in our day, and some have been completely forgotten except for vague traditions that have been passed on from one generation to the next.

The Aztecs believed offerings of human blood and human lives were necessary to the continued running of the universe. Indeed, in Aztec myths, the gods themselves make sacrifices of their own blood and even of their entire bodies in order to create a universe humans can live in and, in one story, to create humans themselves. To the ancient Aztecs, these practices seemed fitting, necessary, and honorable, helping to connect the world of humans to the divine world of the gods, a universe that in Aztec myth took shape in cycles of creation, destruction, and rebirth.

Ever familiar and instructive, Davis shows why the ancient tales of gods and heroes, from Mount Olympus to Machu Picchu, from ancient Rome to the icy land of the Norse, continue to speak to us today, in our movies, art, language, and music. For mythology novices and buffs alike, and for anyone who loves a good story, Don't Know Much About Mythology is a lively and insightful look into the greatest stories ever told.

Japan has seen the rise and fall of emperors, samurai warriors, isolation, expansion, defeat, rebirth, and much more. In this book we explore the magnificent history of Japan from its early origins to its rise as a modern superpower.

From the translator of the best-selling Poetic Edda comes a gripping new rendering of two of the greatest sagas of Old Norse literature. Together the two sagas recount the story of seven generations of a single legendary heroic family and comprise our best source of traditional lore about its members - including, among others, the dragon slayer Sigurd, Brynhild the Valkyrie, and the Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok.

In a world where rational, scientific explanations are more available than ever, belief in the unprovable and irrational - in fringe - is on the rise: from Atlantis to aliens, from Flat Earth to the Loch Ness monster, the list goes on. It seems the more our maps of the known world get filled in, the more we crave mysterious locations full of strange creatures. Enter Colin Dickey, cultural historian and tour guide of the weird.

Worship of the Feathered Serpent can be traced back 2,000 years, and the Serpent’s cults appear all across Mesoamerica. The Olmec, the Aztec, and both the Yucatec and K’iche Mayans all had different names for this deity, including Kukulkan, Q’uq’umatz, and Tohil...Quetzalcoatl was and remains one of the most interesting and enlightening stories ever to have come out of any civilization, and his stories offer a better understanding of the Mesoamerican world.

Wickedly sassy and newly deceased, Morgan must tackle her karmic debt hunting demons on Earth. Dumped on the shady side of Pasadena, she teams up with a quirky trio of hunters: a repentant werewolf, a shape shifting Pucca, and a Phobic Djinn. Although Heaven erased her memory, she’s determined to discover the truth behind her death even if it means uncovering a murder. Her investigations unveil something far more sinister – an angelic plot to release the Old Gods with Morgan as the key. Get ready for a hellishly thrilling adventure that defies Heaven itself! Remember, karma’s only a ...

With only a few dollars to her name and her beloved dog Copper by her side, Selena flees her past in the city to claim her late aunt’s house in the desert town of Quartz Creek. The scorpions and spiders are better than what she left behind. Because in Quartz Creek, there’s a strange beauty to everything, from the landscape to new friends, and more blue sky than Selena’s ever seen. But something lurks beneath the surface. Like the desert gods and spirits lingering outside Selena’s house at night, keeping watch.

★★ Do you love British inspirational Regency romances? The Seeking Series is a collection of three faith-filled, clean, sweet, and wholesome stories. Fall in love with heartwarming romance, delightful characters, Romany Gypsies, faith in God, and the promise of second chances. ★★ The three books in this collection include: Seeking Fortune There are lies more believable than the truth. Losing his wife and daughter to influenza shook James Colchester’s faith in God. As another epidemic threatens, he’s torn between what’s best for his fragile son: fleeing to his Welsh homeland, ...

One treat a day! A 23-volume series of 365 treats: stories, facts, questions and answers, and science experiments for young listeners.

Death is not the end of Bryn’s story. It’s only the beginning. Brynja Danelsdottir never dreamed of being a Valkyrie, but the Fates have their own designs: Bryn’s plans to escape her family’s poverty and travel the world are destroyed when she gets pregnant by the chieftain’s son, and her once-lover betrays and kills her. Now the goddess Freya has summoned Bryn’s spirit to Asgard, the world of the gods, and offered her a choice: join the Valkyries in protecting humanity and Asgard alike, or stride through oblivion’s gate, and face the final end. Bryn refuses to be cast away, ...

All over the world, sunflowers grow in ditches, farm fields, and yards. They tower over the surrounding plants, their strong stems supporting the weight of their heads as they steadily rotate throughout the long summer days, always facing the sun as they bring joy to everyone who spots them. Sunflowers have the distinction of being one of the world’s happiest flowers. They have become a symbol of happiness, unity, and faith throughout the years. Whether you are an experienced sunflower grower, someone who has always been curious about sunflowers, or an author who would like to incorporate...

Designed for a new generation of psychedelic facilitators and seekers, Psychedelics and the Soul invokes the traditions of Jungian depth psychology, mythology, and Indigenous cultural wisdom to meet a critical question of our times: How can the emerging field of psychedelic medicine heal the soul amid planetary crisis and collective opportunity?

Step back in time to Ancient Greece. Allow the gods, goddesses, and other entities to delight and amaze you. Dimitrios, a slave boy who is plucked from the marketplace to live comfortably with an Athenian master, benefiting from the education and tender love provided to him, is your guide through this frequently mythological world, albeit with flashes of genuine life where mortals dwell. MIGHTY ZEUS, the god above all other gods, is ready to welcome you to this world of wonder. Enjoy your journey to the fullest in the lines of this amazing poetry.

Long Listed for the GRATIAEN AWARD 2019 Nominated for Best Youth Literature at the State Literary Award 2020 When efforts to rescue a kidnapped princess are hindered by mysterious beings who inhabit the waters of the Indian ocean Ape hero Hanuman must overcome the enchantments and wiles of the Mer-Queen before the expedition falls to the forces of the Demon King. Mermaids, Demons, Gods... It is 8000 years B.C. Sita Devi, the wife of Lord Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya, has been abducted by the Demon King Raavana. Hanuman, the Ape hero, is tasked with building a bridge to facilitate the ...

What if the act of giving was the oldest magic of all? Gebo (ᚷ), the rune of sacred exchange, is more than a symbol of generosity—it is the heartbeat of connection, reciprocity, and divine balance. In this devotional and workbook, author and rune practitioner Jón Vaningi invites readers into the intimate mysteries of Frigg, Norse goddess of weaving, wisdom, and unseen gifts. Through mythic storytelling, poetic invocation, and hands-on spiritual practices, Gebo: Sacred Gift of Frigg guides you into the living pattern of mutual grace where true transformation unfolds. From the silence of...