“Catholic Hipster: The Next Level: How Some Awesomely Obscure Stuff Helps Us Live Our Faith with Passion” by Tommy Tighe

"Do you have what it takes to become a next-level Catholic hipster? Building on the overwhelming popularity of The Catholic Hipster Handbook, Tommy Tighe is back with a new cast of fellow hipsters—including Haley Stewart, Samantha Povlock, Matthew Sewell, Fr. Damian Ferrence, and Patrick Neve—to share overlooked saints, forgotten prayers, and profound practices that define the countercultural Catholic lifestyle, inspiring you to live your faith in radical ways. The Catholic Hipster Handbook successfully defined Catholic cool. In Catholic Hipster: The Next Level, editor Tommy Tighe and his squad of hipsters delve even deeper into the Church’s countercultural 2,000-year history and kick it up a notch by helping you answer the call to act on your beliefs. The...>>

“The Evil Eye: A Casebook” edited by Alan Dundes

"The evil eye—the power to inflict illness, damage to property, or even death simply by gazing at or praising someone—is among the most pervasive and powerful folk beliefs in the Indo-European and Semitic world. It is also one of the oldest, judging from its appearance in the Bible and in Sumerian texts five thousand years old. Remnants of the superstition persist today when we drink toasts, tip waiters, and bless sneezers. To avert the evil eye, Muslim women wear veils, baseball players avoid mentioning a no-hitter in progress, and traditional Jews say their business or health is "not bad" (rather than "good"). Though by no means universal, the evil eye continues to...>>

“Rosicrucian Magic and Symbols: The Ultimate Guide to Rosicrucianism and Its Similarity to Occultism, Jewish Mysticism, Hermeticism, and Christian Gnosticism” by Mari Silva

"Have you ever asked yourself what the real meaning behind the rose cross is? Have you ever wondered about its significance in Rosicrucian culture? Ever wondered about the significance of Rosicrucian history today? This book aims to explore and discuss the fascinating esoteric meanings behind many different symbols used by the Rosicrucian Order and its various mystery schools. If you are curious about the symbolism and magic associated with the rose cross, this book is for you. In this book, you will: Explore the origins of Rosicrucianism Learn about the history and mysteries surrounding Christian Rosenkreuz Understand the truth behind alchemy and its symbolism ...>>

“The Weird Middle Ages: A Collection of Mysterious Stories, Odd Customs, and Strange Superstitions from Medieval Times” by Charles River Editors

"In the time period between the fall of Rome and the spread of the Renaissance across the European continent, many of today’s European nations were formed, the Catholic Church rose to great prominence, some of history’s most famous wars occurred, and a social class system was instituted that lasted over 1,000 years. A lot of activity took place during a period frequently labeled derogatively as the “Dark Ages,” and while that period of time is mostly referred to as the “Middle Ages” instead of the Dark Ages today, it has still retained the stigma of being a sort of lost period of time in which Western civilization made no worthwhile progress after the advances...>>

“Leprechauns: The Myths, Legends, & Lore” by Bob Curran

"Explore the magic, mischief, and mystery behind Ireland’s most iconic and beloved mythical creature: the leprechaun. Leprechauns have been at the heart of Irish culture for years, capturing our hearts and minds alike—but how much do we really know about the leprechaun, anyway? Often depicted as a little bearded man who partakes in mischief, no one knows if he is a fallen angel, diminished god, or son of fairies? What does he do all day? And what’s the story behind that hidden pot of gold? In Leprechauns, prominent folklorist Bob Curran looks at the origins of this hero of Irish lore. He explores the superstitions surrounding the leprechaun and his enduring place in popular culture, and...>>