From number one New York Times bestselling author Michael Pollan, a radical challenge to how we think about drugs, and an exploration into the powerful human attraction to psychoactive plants--and the equally powerful taboos Of all the things humans rely on plants for--sustenance, beauty, medicine, fragrance, flavor, fiber--surely the most curious is our use of them to change consciousness: to stimulate or calm, fiddle with or completely alter, the qualities of our mental experience. Take coffee and tea: People around the world rely on caffeine to sharpen their minds. But we do not usually think of caffeine as a drug, or our daily use as an addiction, because it is legal and socially acceptable. So, then, what is a "drug"? And why, for example, is making tea from the leaves of a tea plant acceptable, but making tea from a seed head of an opium poppy a federal crime? In This Is Your Mind on Plants , Michael Pollan dives deep into three plant drugs--opium, caffeine, and mescaline--and throws the fundamental strangeness, and arbitrariness, of our thinking about them into sharp relief. Exploring and participating in the cultures that have grown up around these drugs while consuming (or, in the case of caffeine, trying not to consume) them, Pollan reckons with the powerful human attraction to psychoactive plants. Why do we go to such great lengths to seek these shifts in consciousness, and then why do we fence that universal desire with laws and customs and fraught feelings? In this unique blend of history, science, and memoir, as well as participatory journalism, Pollan examines and experiences these plants from several very different angles and contexts, and shines a fresh light on a subject that is all too often treated reductively--as a drug, whether licit or illicit. But that is one of the least interesting things you can say about these plants, Pollan shows, for when we take them into our bodies and let them change our minds, we are engaging with nature in one of the most profound ways we can. Based in part on an essay published almost twenty-five years ago, this groundbreaking and singular consideration of psychoactive plants, and our attraction to them through time, holds up a mirror to our fundamental human needs and aspirations, the operations of our minds, and our entanglement with the natural world.

A top tarotist's secrets to personal growth, one card at a time. The two volumes of Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom have inspired a whole generation of tarot students. It has often been described by readers, booksellers, and teachers as the "Bible of tarot readers." It is also often cited as one of the landmark books in modern tarot, and it helped to launch the "Tarot Renaissance" of the 1980s. The two texts-one for The Major Arcana and one for The Minor Arcana--appear together in this volume, which is a reissue of the 1998 edition first published by Thorsons. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom draws on mythology and esoteric traditions and delves deeply into the symbolism and ideas of each card. It also gives the cards a modern psychological slant based on the pictures rather than a system of occult symbolism. This endlessly useful reference tool provides a concise history of tarot, introduces common spreads, and is a clear and readable book for both the beginning and advanced tarot student.

"Mitch Albom has done it again with this moving memoir of love and loss. You can't help but fall for Chika. A page-turner that will no doubt become a classic." --Mary Karr, author of The Liars' Club and The Art of Memoir From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tuesdays With Morrie comes Mitch Albom's most personal story to date: an intimate and heartwarming memoir about what it means to be a family and the young Haitian orphan whose short life would forever change his heart. Chika Jeune was born three days before the devastating earthquake that decimated Haiti in 2010. She spent her infancy in a landscape of extreme poverty, and when her mother died giving birth to a baby brother, Chika was brought to The Have Faith Haiti Orphanage that Albom operates in Port Au Prince. With no children of their own, the forty-plus children who live, play, and go to school at the orphanage have become family to Mitch and his wife, Janine. Chika's arrival makes a quick impression. Brave and self-assured, even as a three-year-old, she delights the other kids and teachers. But at age five, Chika is suddenly diagnosed with something a doctor there says, "No one in Haiti can help you with." Mitch and Janine bring Chika to Detroit, hopeful that American medical care can soon return her to her homeland. Instead, Chika becomes a permanent part of their household, and their lives, as they embark on a two-year, around-the-world journey to find a cure. As Chika's boundless optimism and humor teach Mitch the joys of caring for a child, he learns that a relationship built on love, no matter what blows it takes, can never be lost. Told in hindsight, and through illuminating conversations with Chika herself, this is Albom at his most poignant and vulnerable. Finding Chika is a celebration of a girl, her adoptive guardians, and the incredible bond they formed--a devastatingly beautiful portrait of what it means to be a family, regardless of how it is made.

The Jesus Discovery shows how a recent major archeological discovery in Jerusalem is revolutionizing our understanding of Jesus and the earliest years of Christianity. The Jesus Discovery is the story of a stunning new discovery that provides the first physical evidence of Christians in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus and his apostles. In 2010, using a specialized robotic camera, authors Tabor and Jacobovici explored a previously unexcavated tomb in Jerusalem from around the time of Jesus. They made a remarkable discovery—two ossuaries, or bone boxes, one carved with the earliest known image of Jonah; the other displaying a reference to resurrection. Since the newly discovered ossuaries can be reliably dated to before 70 AD, it is possible that whoever was buried in this tomb knew Jesus and heard him preach. In addition, the newly examined tomb is in close proximity to the so-called Jesus Family Tomb , and its discovery increases the likelihood that the “Jesus Family Tomb” is, indeed, the real tomb of Jesus of Nazareth.

In this thoroughly researched, scrupulously annotated and shockingly provocative book you’ll learn: how and why Cannabis prohibition began and what that has meant to America ; all the uses of hemp as medicine, food, fuel, fiber, paper, and as a plastic replacement ; the straight dope on marijuana smoke and its effect on the human body ; who profits from the prohibition and criminalization of Cannabis ; what you can do to speed up legalization and profit from the coming changes.

"Totem and Taboo" is a collection of four essays by Sigmund Freud that were published together in German in 1913. Freud sought to apply his theories of psychoanalysis to the study of anthropology and early human history. The four essays cover a wide range of topics. In "The Horror of Incest", Freud examines the varied and common rules in primitive cultures that limit contact between members of the same family. In "Taboo and Emotional Ambivalence," Freud posits that primitive cultures and their attitudes about magical objects are similar to the behavior of people with neurotic psychological conditions in the modern world. In "Animism, Magic and the Omnipotence of Thought," Freud draws comparisons between the primitive belief in magic and magical animals to obsessive and compulsive disorders. Finally, in "The Return of Totemism in Childhood," Freud, influenced by one of Charles Darwin's theories about the male-dominated arrangement of early human societies, looks for parallels with his own Oedipus complex theory in the structure of primitive cultures. A classic and influential work of early psychoanalysis, "Totem and Taboo" is an important read for students of both psychology and social anthropology.

First published in 1979, Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered is regarded by many as the most comprehensive, accurate, and accessible analysis of psychedelic drugs for the general reader. It records the extensive history of scientific research on, and societal experience with, psychedelic drugs. The Lindesmith Center reprint edition features a new introduction by the authors on recent developments in psychedelic research, as well as a preface by Dr. Ethan Nadelmann, director of the Lindesmith center.

Ecstasies is the culmination of Ginzburg's longstanding fascination with popular myths that are shared across different cultures and eras. Here he follows the accounts given by those accused of witchcraft centuries ago, gradually weaving them together into a startling pattern, revealing evidence of a hidden shamanistic culture that flourished across Europe for millenia. Photographs and maps.

Why computers and people can't use the same number system - and more! With the clear, engaging style for which The New York Times has praised him for "Explaining complex material better than any other living person," Isaac Asimov - author of over 180 books ranging from science and science fiction to history, religion, literature, and geography - startles and fascinates as only he can. Here is Asimov's utterly engrossing exploration of the miraculous universe of numbers - from man's first act of counting to the highest mathematics, from the smallest living creature to the dazzling reaches of farthest space.

Human beings have practiced the art of divination for millenia. In some cultures, diviners studied patterns in nature - the flight of birds, the forms of clouds, or the arrangement of the stars in the night sky. In others, they created elaborate divinatory systems such as the I Ching and the Tarot. Drawing from the legacy of 50,000 years of human encounters with the Divine, renowned Tarot scholar Rachel Pollack has created the Shining Tribe Tarot , a revised and expanded version of the popular Shining Woman Tarot . The Shining Tribe Tarot is steeped in symbolism drawn from culturally diverse systems including Neolithic rock art, Native American and African shamanism, Aboriginal art, the Kabbalah, Jungian psychology, and the traditional Tarot. The name Shining Tribe has a special meaning, says Ms. Pollack: "All of us who work with Tarot form a kind of tribe, one whose roots go back many thousands of years before the actual appearance of Tarot cards. This is the tribe of diviners, those special magicians, shamans, psychics, and visionaries who use cards, or sticks, or trees, or stones, or shells to communicate with the Gods." The accompanying book includes detailed descriptions of the origin and history of the symbols depicted on each card of this unique deck, as well as explanations of their meanings in divinatory spreads. In addition, you will also learn how to read the cards for a variety of purposes, including divination, advice, and guidance along your own personal sacred journey. Learn how to gain insights into the nightly messages from your subconscious mind with dream readings, and how to activate a card to bring its qualities into your everyday life. Rachel Pollack invites you to join the shining tribe of diviners and visionaries. As you continue along the sacred journey of self-discovery, let the Shining Tribe Tarot cards shine a path for you.

Demonstrates the most popular ways of telling fortunes, briefly traces the history of divination, and explains the finer points of interpretation.

For thousands of years before the beginning of recorded history -- the legends tell us -- a powerful civilization flourished in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This breathtakingly advanced island continent boasted splendid cities, golden temples, crowded seaports from which the far-reaching influence of Atlantis spread to the rest of the world, until its destruction in an overwhelming cataclysm. Now, based on careful study of scientific undersea research, Charles Berlitz proves that Atlantis is not legend but fact -- and unravels a mystery even more startling than the Bermuda Triangle! * What message lies buried with the mighty stone structures deep beneath the Atlantic? * What profound revelations about Atlantis have come to us from beyond the Earth? * Was Atlantis destroyed in an ancient nuclear war? * What great centers of Atlantean culture yet await discovery? With dozens of never-before-seen photographs and over 50 drawings.

2011 Reprint of 1950 Translation by William Turner. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Recommended, both as a fascinating and little-known document in the history of psychology and as a provocative reading of the history of psychology. (Religious Studies Review). Will interest many students of the history of psychoanalysis... Rank's conclusions contribute to present-day controversies about the status of psychoanalysis as a science. (Psychiatric Times ) The first complete English translation of a work that Rank published in 1930. It draws on anthropology, sociology, mythology, religion, philosophy, history, and literature to chart the development of the human psyche... The book's antimaterialistic passion makes it a compelling counterpoint to the stern biology of our own age, and the bounds it sets to what psychoanalysis can claim are justly drawn. (Wilson Quarterly ) Unquestionably Rank's most important work... This new translation is an effort to create a Rank for our millennium... [and it] reads elegantly and comfortably in English... The argument is complex and intricate, consisting of a long historical/ethnographic sweep that takes us from a 'primitive' state, via animism through the Christian or sexual era to the scientific era and modern development of psychology... Along the way we find traces of many of Rank's other brilliant psychological surveys -- the double, Don Juan, heroes' birth myths, the theme of incest -- woven into this massive canvas and viewed on the largest scale... Throughout this book, the grand tapestry is set with some remarkable gems of observation. (Naomi Segal Psychoanalysis and History ) This is the first complete translation of Otto Rank's fascinating text on the nature and history of the concept of the Soul and Will in the psychological history of humankind... a tour de force in vigour, scope and application to many contemporary issues such as sexual behaviors, the nature of dreaming, incest prohibitions and narcissism, to name but a few. (L.R. Edgar Journal of the Royal Anthropological Society ) In his last years, Otto Rank turned his lifetime of thought and learning toward two of the most difficult topics in human history: religion and the soul. The result was this now-classic work, available in this new, very accessible English translation. Unlike many other intellectuals of the twentieth century, Rank maintains a place for the soul rather than dismissing it as a fantasy. The soul and the beliefs about it, he argues, set forth the foundation for psychology, with its complex analyses of consciousness, self-consciousness, and personality. Rank's commentary is not limited to beliefs about individual souls but includes ideas about group souls, sometimes encompassing nations or generations. Rank suggests that it is in expression of group beliefs that the idea of the soul attains its greatest power. What is the soul? Otto Rank treats it as a universal and essential belief for individuals and their societies, constant in function but evolving in form through millennia. To borrow a post-Rankian metaphor, the soul was created in the big bang of irresistible psychological force colliding with immutable biological fact-our will to live forever against death. The collision creates a spark in our individual and social consciousness which through history has become both consolation and inspiration: the immortal soul. All ideologies reflect this phenomenon and modify its expression to suit the era. Otto Rank wrote before the atom bomb or television, both of which alter our perception of death without changing the fact. Rank's introduction of the soul as an essential part of contemporary psychology helps explain a number of perplexing, irrational phenomena in contemporary life.

Sequel to The book of pagan rituals. Contains the training material of a Northeastern Coven. Covers various branches of Wica, magickal tools, symbols, alphabets, and craft history.

In The Sleepwalkers and The Act of Creation Arthur Koestler provided pioneering studies of scientific discovery and artistic inspiration, the twin pinnacles of human achievement. The Ghost in the Machine looks at the dark side of the coin: our terrible urge to self-destruction... Could the human species be a gigantic evolutionary mistake? To answer that startling question Koestler examines how experts on evolution and psychology all too often write about people with an 'antiquated slot-machine model based on the naively mechanistic world-view of the nineteenth century. His brilliant polemic helped to instigate a major revolution in the life sciences, yet its 'glimpses of an alternative world-view' form only the background to an even more challenging analysis of the human predicament. Perhaps, he suggests, we are a species in which ancient and recent brain structures - or reason and emotion - are not fully co-ordinated. Such in-built deficiencies may explain the paranoia, violence and insanity that are central strands of human history. And however disturbing we find such issues, Koestler contends, it is only when we face our limitations head-on that we can hope to find a remedy.

How do psychic abilities work...and how can you tell if they're real? In this fascinating look into the history of spiritualism, celebrity psychic Sylvia Browne tells all: what's real, what's not, and how to tell the difference! Starting with her own personal odyssey, Sylvia covers the history of psychics dating from biblical times and reveals the truth about everything from witches and talking boards to angels and astral projection. Did you know... - If someone tells you that an object is "haunted..".they are probably fooling you." Objects can retain impressions of prior owners, like a photograph, but they don't contain the spirits of those on the Other Side." - If you get rid of one item in your house...it should be the talking board." Using one is like leaving your front door unlocked, inviting anyone (good or evil) to waltz right in." - Why Sylvia didn't believe in "living ghosts..".until she had a terrifying experience that changed her mind." The phenomenon called a doppelganger happened to her more than forty years ago." - How to tell if a psychic is giving you a good reading...or just followiwing a script." There are a few key phrases that can give away a fake." Through a wealth of personal stories and research into the lives of great psychics, Sylvia offers solid advice on how to put valid procedures to use and ignore the rest. The Truth About Psychics explains how you can spot a fraud and shows you how to tap into your own spiritualism and develop legitimate psychic skills!

""The Origins of Psychoanalysis: Letters to Wilhelm Fliess, Drafts and Notes, 1887-1902"" is a collection of letters, drafts, and notes written by Sigmund Freud to his close friend and colleague, Wilhelm Fliess. The book provides a fascinating insight into the early development of psychoanalysis, as Freud discusses his theories on sexuality, dreams, and the unconscious mind. The letters also reveal the personal struggles and conflicts that Freud faced during this period, including his own self-analysis and the breakdown of his friendship with Fliess. This edition includes an introduction by Peter Gay, a renowned Freud scholar, and a comprehensive index, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of psychoanalysis or the life and work of Sigmund Freud.""This is a new release of the original 1954 edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

""The Medical Man and the Witch During the Renaissance"" by Gregory Zilboorg is a historical account of the relationship between medicine and witchcraft during the Renaissance period. The book explores how medical professionals, such as physicians and surgeons, interacted with individuals accused of practicing witchcraft and the role they played in the persecution of witches. Zilboorg delves into the cultural and social context of the time, examining the beliefs and superstitions that shaped the attitudes towards witches and the methods used to diagnose and treat supposed witchcraft. The book also examines the impact of the witch trials on the medical profession and the development of medical knowledge during this period. Overall, ""The Medical Man and the Witch During the Renaissance"" provides a fascinating insight into the intersection of medicine and witchcraft during a tumultuous period in European history.Publications Of Institute Of The History Of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Third Series, V2.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

This book is divided into three parts. The first part contains The Legends of Moses the Man and Moses the Magician, which brings to life who Moses really was. It includes the legends of him as a magician found both inside and outside of the Bible. Part Two is How the Sacred Writings of Moses were Lost, which explains how additional books of Moses, beyond the first five books of the Bible, can be accounted for and what is in them. Part Three is called The Book of Miscellaney, which reveals the magical applications of Moses' additional books. This section includes the 44 Secret Keys to Universal Power, various magical seals, and explains the modern influence of the Kabbalah, which traces it to a Mosaic origin. This final section also includes a chart of all the revelations made by Moses to various people in the Bible. This is an excellent book combining hard-to-find historical information on Moses with the magical power that can be associated with him.

The ancient site of Tiahuanaco in Bolivia is one of the greatest archaeological mysteries in the world. Some experts date it to 17,000 years ago, although no one has conclusively determined its age. Located at the southern end of Lake Titicaca at about 13,000 feet above sea level, one can find oceanic seashells in the area and ruins of extensive docks on an earlier shoreline. How could this be? This book takes a radical approach by presenting evidence, found at Tiahuanaco, for Earth having had a different moon in the remote past. According to the author, the gravitational pull of this moon caused higher water levels in the area. It also caused a different rotational spin of our planet that is accurately documented in the ancient calendar, found and interpreted by the author and others, that appears on the face of Tiahuanaco's most iconic landmark, the Gate of the Sun. This well researched book contains many notes, charts, and diagrams to support the author's claims, as well as an Index and Bibliography for further reference.