Bali has long been known for its deep spirituality and extraordinary artistic heritage.The dances, dramas, puppetry and music of Bali are more than icons for the island; they are part and parcel of life—as expressions of devotion to the gods, as entertainment, and as a way of instilling cultural values on each generation. Balinese Dance, Drama & Music is a lavishly illustrated introduction to Bali's celebrated temple orchestra, the gamelan, to its ancient ...

"Within every woman there is a wild and natural creature, a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. Her name is Wild Woman, but she is an endangered species. Though the gifts of wildish nature come to us at birth, society's attempt to 'civilize' us into rigid roles has plundered this treasure, and muffled deep, life-giving messages of our own souls. Without Wild Woman, we become overdomesticated, fearful, uncreative, trapped."In her n...

"There are many books on mythology, but we do not know any quite like the present. It gives in a convenient compass all that the ordinary student need know, and the stories are carefully classified. Mr. Guerber has produced a book which is a delight to mind and eye alike."- The Aberdeen Free PressRichly illustrated and remarkably comprehensive, Myths of the Norsemen opens the gates of the ancient Northern world-where Odin rules Valhalla, Thor wield...

As I attempted to digest stories of spiritual cannibalism, of curses that could cost a student her eyesight or ignite the pages of the books she read, I knew I was not alone in my skepticism. And yet, when I caught sight of the waving arms of an industrious scarecrow, the hair on the back of my neck would stand on end. It was most palpable at night, this creepy feeling, when the moon stayed low to the horizon and the dust kicked up in the breeze, reaching out and pulling back with ...

Robin Hood is England's greatest folk hero. Everyone knows the story of the outlaw who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Nick Rennison's highly entertaining book begins with the search for the historical Robin. Was there ever a real Robin Hood? Rennison looks at the candidates who have been proposed over the years, from petty thieves to Knights Templar, before moving on to examine the many ways in which Robin Hood has been portrayed in literature and on the screen.

Shamanism in Siberiafrom Aboriginal Siberia, by M. A. CzaplickaA comprehensive review of the ethographic literature concerning Shamanism in Sibera."Siberia is regarded as the locus classicus of shamanism. It is inhabited by many different ethnic groups. Many of its Uralic, Altaic, and Paleosiberian peoples observe shamanistic practices even in modern times. Many classical ethnographic sources of 'shamanism' were recorded among Siberian peoples."

The handprint of British heritage is everywhere. British Roots takes a deeper look to tease out a warm world of fantasy, fables and fairies, entwined with the mystery and wonder of creation. It explores British culture and takes you on a journey through a rich tapestry of threads encompassing history, language, art, sport, architecture, humour, music, literature, education, religion, war, science, food and also those cherished eccentricities, customs, traditions, superstitions, supernatura...

An exploration of the many forms of the ancient myth of the Wild Hunt and its influence in pagan and early Christian Europe• Recounts the myriad variations of this legend, from the Cursed Huntsman and King Herla to phantom armies and vast processions of sinners and demons• Explains how this belief was an integral part of the pagan worldview and was thus employed by the church to spread Christian doctrine• Reveals how the secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted...

This collection investigates the origins of our most intriguing old-fashioned superstitions, many of which we still find ourselves abiding by today.Hundreds of the beliefs passed down through the generations have their foundations in our ancestors' efforts to ward off evil, which they blamed for hardship, illness and injustice in times when life was, as often as not, 'nasty, brutish and short'. Black Cats and Evil Eyes sets these superstitions in their historical and socia...

From the edge of the Darkening Land, where stand the mountains which encircle the earth-plain, eastward toward the Sunland, lie the great plains of America. Smooth and flat and green they stretch away, hundreds of miles, rising from a dead level into a soft rolling of the land, then into the long green waves of the prairies where rivers flow, where the water ripples as it flows, and trees shade the banks of the gleaming water.Here, amidst the vast sweep of the plains which stretch a...

Cambodia's mystic class of sorcerers, mediums, fortunetellers, and monks channel spirits, read fortunes in numbers and cards, and inscribe enchantments in flesh. But technology and modernity are changing these roles and rituals. Vanishing Act tracks down these singular people to document their lives, painting vivid portraits of men and women who live with one foot in the mundane and another in the magical.From Song Sokheng, who channels two childlike spirits, to a sorcerer who reli...

Words cannot explain to an outsider the sight and feel of the Japanese stage. And definitions and descriptions do not convey an exact image to people brought up on a concept of the theatre that differs so greatly from the Japanese as ours. In seeing something foreign, too, our eyes must be guided carefully, so that we know what we are seeing and how to look at it profitably.All of us are to be grateful for this book, because now, without leaving our countries, or for that matter ou...