“The Romance of Reality: How the Universe Organizes Itself to Create Life, Consciousness, and Cosmic Complexity” by Bobby Azarian

"Why do we exist? For centuries, this question was the sole province of religion and philosophy. But now science is ready to take a seat at the table. According to the prevailing scientific paradigm, the universe tends toward randomness; it functions according to laws without purpose, and the emergence of life is an accident devoid of meaning. But this bleak interpretation of nature is currently being challenged by cutting-edge findings at the intersection of physics, biology, neuroscience, and information theory—generally referred to as “complexity science.” Thanks to a new understanding of evolution, as well as recent advances in our understanding of the phenomenon known as emergence, a new cosmic narrative is taking shape: Nature’s simplest...>>

“Trans Talmud: Androgynes and Eunuchs in Rabbinic Literature” by Max K. Strassfeld

"Trans Talmud places eunuchs and androgynes at the center of rabbinic literature and asks what we can learn from them about Judaism and the project of transgender history. Rather than treating these figures as anomalies to be justified or explained away, Max K. Strassfeld argues that they profoundly shaped ideas about law, as the rabbis constructed intricate taxonomies of gender across dozens of texts to understand an array of cultural tensions. Showing how rabbis employed eunuchs and androgynes to define proper forms of masculinity, Strassfeld emphasizes the unique potential of these figures to not only establish the boundary of law but exceed and transform it. Trans Talmud challenges how we understand gender in Judaism...>>

“Beyond Gnosticism: Myth, Lifestyle, and Society in the School of Valentinus” by Ismo Dunderberg

"Valentinus was a popular, influential, and controversial early Christian teacher. His school flourished in the second and third centuries C.E. Yet because his followers ascribed the creation of the visible world not to a supreme God but to an inferior and ignorant Creator-God, they were from early on accused of heresy, and rumors were spread of their immorality and sorcery. Beyond Gnosticism suggests that scholars approach Valentinians as an early Christian group rather than as a representative of ancient "Gnosticism"—a term notoriously difficult to define. The study shows that Valentinian myths of origin are filled with references to lifestyle (such as the control of emotions), the Christian community, and society, providing students with ethical instruction...>>

“The Kabbalah of Light: Ancient Practices to Ignite the Imagination and Illuminate the Soul” by Catherine Shainberg

"In this step-by-step guide to kabbalistic practices to connect with your natural inner genius and liberate the light within you, Catherine Shainberg reveals how to tap instantly into the subconscious and receive answers to urgent questions. This method, called the Kabbalah of Light, originated with Rabbi Isaac the Blind of Posquieres (1160-1235) and has been passed down by an ancient kabbalistic family, the Sheshet of Gerona, in an unbroken transmission spanning more than 800 years. The modern lineage holder of the Kabbalah of Light, Shainberg shares 159 short experiential exercises and practices to help you begin dialoguing with your subconscious through images. The images that pop up during these practices are unexpected and revelatory, and...>>

“Dirtbag Astrology: Sign-by-Sign No-Filter Cosmic Truths” by Alberto Toribio

🕵️🐷🕵️ zero-day🕵️🐷🕵️ "A no-holds-barred, medium-spicy, cosmic truth bomb from the Dirtbag Astrologer himself! Astrology—what is it good for? According to Alberto Toribio, The Dirtbag Astrologer, this ancient art is best for getting laid, destroying your enemies, and improving your life. Not necessarily in that order. But maybe in that order? Toribio guides readers through the horrible ins and outs of the twelve sun signs, from Cancer the Simp to Aggro Aries. You will feel attacked, and you will laugh bitterly about the signs of your exes, and afterwards, you will follow Toribio through the whats and whys of Moon and Rising Signs, Houses, Transits, and other crucial information that will lay bare your emotional truths and...>>