This book examines how and why practitioners of nature religion - Western witches, druids, shamans - seek to relate spiritually with nature through 'magical consciousness'. 'Magic' and 'consciousness' are concepts that are often fraught with prejudice and ambiguity respectively. Greenwood develops a new theory of magical consciousness by arguing that magic ultimately has more to do with the workings of the human mind in terms of an expanded awareness than with socio-cultural explanations. She combines her own subjective insights gained from magical practice with practitioners' in-depth accounts and sustained academic theory on the process of magic. She also tracks magical consciousness in philosophy, myth, folklore, story-telling, and the hi-tech discourse of postmodernity, and asks important questions concerning nature religion's environmental credentials, such as whether it as inherently ecological as many of its practitioners claim.
The aim of this volume is to provide a theoretically researched and practical guide to developing magical consciousness as an affective mode of thought. With its focus on interconnections, an increasing awareness of magical consciousness can have a positive social and environmental effect.
How does a mind think magically? The research documented in this book is one answer that allows the disciplines of anthropology and neurobiology to come together to reveal a largely hidden dynamic of magic. Magic gets to the very heart of some theoretical and methodological difficulties encountered in the social and natural sciences, especially to do with issues of rationality. This book examines magic head-on, not through its instrumental aspects but as an orientation of consciousness. Magical consciousness is affective, associative and synchronistic, shaped through individual experience within a particular environment. This work focuses on an in-depth case study using the anthropologist’s own experience gained through years of anthropological fieldwork with British practitioners of magic. As an ethnographic view, it is an intimate study of the way in which the cognitive architecture of a mind engages the emotions and imagination in a pattern of meanings related to childhood experiences, spiritual communications and the environment. Although the detail of the involvement in magical consciousness presented here is necessarily specific, the central tenets of modus operandi is common to magical thought in general, and can be applied to cross-cultural analyses to increase understanding of this ubiquitous human phenomenon.
Magic has played a part in most cultures throughout human history. Traditions and practices may differ but essential elements remain the same. This insightful history examines the roots and foundation of magic, and the way it has shaped our view of the universe and our place within it. The scope of the study is wide, covering a range of traditions from the wise woman of a sixteenth-century English village to a witchdoctor in Africa, or from the customs of the Native American shaman to those of the female shamans of Korea. From magic's origins in the Shamanic tradition came religion, which, for the world's first civilizations, had no distinction from magic. The book examines these beliefs, ideas and convictions through the ages until the present day, with the revival of a magical consciousness in the West and the new forms of goddess-centred witchcraft. The book includes an international sweep of ancient cultural traditions and details the medieval phenomena of witch-hunts that still have resonance in modern society. In addition, it explores the modern wicca movement, tracing the development from the 1900s and its links with the Celtic tradition. Drawing on the work of numerous scholars and experts as well as first-hand research by the author, this fascinating anthropological study invites reflection on the many ways that human beings have sought to relate to the world of the spirit. Lavishly illustrated with archival material, fine art illustrations of legendary magic workers, and special photography, this volume is a comprehensive examination of a fascinating and timeless subject.
This volume in the Greenwood Guides to Biomes of the World covers grasslands, those biomes the cover vast areas of the landmass of earth. It covers the two major types of grassland biomes: the temperate grasslands (such as the North American prairie), and the tropical grassland (e.g. the African savanna), examining all aspects that define these biomes: Vegetation, Geographical Distribution, Soil, Challenges posed by the environment, Adaptation of the plants and animals to the environment, Conservation efforts Maps, photos, diagrams, drawings, and tables accompany the text, as do sidebars that highlight habitats, species, and ecological relationships.
Hegel called him an idea on horseback, a description that suggests Napoleon Bonaparte's complexity, as well as the extent to which he changed France, Europe, and the world. Napoleon has been called a visionary, a pragmatist, a cynical opportunist, an ogre, and a demigod. Here, he is described in his own words and the words of his contemporaries: from his clannishness to his knack for being at the right place at the right time, and from his genius to his obsession with detail. Napoleon brought order out of the chaos of the French Revolution, pressed for revolutionary equality of opportunity, and planned a European union. In the process, he knew peace for only 14 months of his 15-year reign, marched his armies from Lisbon to Moscow, and caused the deaths of millions. In this resource, a detailed timeline, maps, illustrations, biographical sketches, and primary documents help students get a feel for the brief but enduring Age of Napoleon.
Children will love discovering the spellbinding world of witches and wizards contained in this volume, from soothsayers and alchemists to shamans and witch doctors, a whole host of world cultures feature in this new addition to a fun and inspirational series.
Readers relive all the joy, warmth, and hospitality of Christmas in the Old South. This collection features stories by Leigh Greenwood, Connie Mason, Nelle McFather, and Susan Tanner. Reissue.
Draws on the healing wisdom of many traditions in treating a variety of common problems. This book presents an approach which relies on the inner healing capacity that is latent in everyone, but which is largely untapped. It aims to transform your view of your body, and the role of your mind and spirit in your health.
1815, Nottinghamshire, EnglandMr. Robert Locksley is not the great-great-grandson of the infamous Robin Hood. He just happens to share the same name. And an estate in Nottingham. And the shame of an addled grandfather who liked to don green hosen and rob from their neighbors. The legend is nothing more than a source of embarrassment for Robert and now that he's come back from the horrors of war, he wants nothing to do with violence or suffering or Robin Hood again. It comes as quite a shock, then, when he discovers his peaceful home is in chaos and he is presumed dead! There's a new sheriff in town and nothing in Nottingham is as it should be. There's only one thing to do-bring Robin Hood back to life.Marianne Maidland never quite outgrew her fascination with Robin Hood. She used to romp through Sherwood Forest and dream of adventure. Returning to Nottingham as a cultured lady, she is sad to hear that Robert Locksley is dead and his beautiful estate is falling to ruin. But the good people of Nottingham are suffering, and she isn't sure why. She knows what they need, though; they need Robin Hood! If Robert isn't here to fill that role, then she will have to. How handy that she's an excellent archer and has just found Grandfather's old Robin Hood costume.Sparks fly-along with arrows!-when these pretenders collide. Would there be a happy ending for two daring rogues in the forest? Sure would!
In 1981, the San Diego Juvenile Court began placing chronic delinquents in a privately run, out-of-state program called VisionQuest. This report compares the recidivism rates for the first group of San Diego VisionQuest graduates with groups of similar San Diego delinquents who were placed in other correctional programs. It also examines a number of issues that have been major points of contention between the San Diego Probation Department and VisionQuest since the use of the program was first considered. The authors estimate that placement in VisionQuest reduced the probability that a youth would be rearrested within one year of release from 71 percent to 39 percent, making it more successful than the comparison groups. VisionQuest graduates also demonstrated a lower average annual post-release arrest rate.
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