Magick Matters

“The Mountain Chant: A Navajo Ceremony” by Washington Matthews

"The ceremony of dsilyídjeqaçàl, or mountain chant—literally, chant towards (a place) within the mountains—is one of a large number practiced by the shamans, or medicine men, of the Navajo tribe. I have selected it as the first of those to be described, because I have witnessed it the most frequently, because it is the most interesting to the Caucasian spectator, and because it is the best known to the whites who visit and reside in and around the Navajo country."...>>

“Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica” by Zora Neale Hurston

"As a first-hand account of the weird mysteries and horrors of voodoo, Tell My Horse is an invaluable resource and fascinating guide. Based on Zora Neale Hurston's personal experiences in Haiti and Jamaica, where she participated as an initiate rather than just an observer of voodoo practices during her visits in the 1930s, this travelogue into a dark world paints a vividly authentic picture of ceremonies and customs and superstitions of great cultural interest."...>>

“Hawaiian Shamanistic Healing: Medicine Ways to Cultivate the Aloha Spirit” by Wayne Kealohi Powell and Patricia Lynn Miller

"Aloha refers to the divine spirit of love that flows through all things. In this book, you'll learn how to cultivate the Aloha spirit with Hawaiian philosophy, Ho'oponopono, Lomilomi massage, and other traditional medicine ways. Hawaiian Shamanistic Healing explores the techniques of several renowned healing systems, including Kahi Loa, Heartworks Lomi, Big Island Massage, Traditional Hawaiian Touch Medicine, and Temple Style Lomi. Join authors Wayne Kealohi Powell and Patricia Lynn Miller, longtime students and practitioners of Hawaiian bodywork and shamanism, as they show you how to create space for miracles and open up to the healing energy of the divine."...>>

“Cannabis in Spiritual Practice: The Ecstasy of Shiva, the Calm of Buddha” by Will Johnson

"With the end of marijuana prohibition on the horizon, people are now openly seeking a spiritual path that embraces the benefits of cannabis. Drawing upon his decades of experience as a teacher of Buddhism, breathing, yoga, and embodied spirituality, Will Johnson examines Eastern spiritual perspectives on marijuana and offers specific guidelines and exercises for integrating cannabis into spiritual practice. The author explains how the great Hindu god Shiva enjoyed consuming bhang, a marijuana mixture that would cause his body to make spontaneous movements. From these cannabis-inspired movements, Shiva brought the body-focused practices of dance and yoga to the world. Examining the spiritual path of Shiva, including the Sadhu tradition, Johnson provides specific instructions and protocols...>>

“X-Treme Latin: All the Latin You Need to Know for Survival in the 21st Century” by Henry Beard

"In staff meetings and singles bars, on freeways and fairways, there are aggravating people lurking everywhere these days. But bestselling humorist Henry Beard has the perfect comeback for all prickly situations, offering a slew of quips your nemesis won't soon forget . . . or even understand. Beard's gift is his ability to make fun of popular culture and the current zeitgeist. In X-Treme Latin he provides Latin with an attitude, an indispensable phrasebook that taps the secret power of Latin to deliver, in total safety, hundreds of impeccable put-downs, comebacks, and wisecracks. Within its pages you will learn how to insult or fire coworkers; blame corporate scandals on someone else; cheer at a World...>>