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...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Is the classic, accepted view of the life of Christ in some way incomplete? The authors of The Messianic Legacy present a provocative and meticulously researched look at Christ and the history of Christianity.“Enough to seriously challenge many traditional beliefs, if not alter them.”—Los Angeles Times Book ReviewExplosive, thought-provoking, fiercely compelling, Holy Blood, Holy Gr...

The prime importance of the rude fragments of poetry preserved in early Icelandic literature will now be disputed by none, but there has been until recent times an extraordinary indifference to the wealth of religious tradition and mythical lore which they contain.The long neglect of these precious records of our heathen ancestors is not the fault of the material in which all that survives of their religious beliefs is enshrined, for it may safely be asserted that the Edda is as ri...

The Library of Alexandria is an independent small business publishing house. We specialize in bringing back to live rare, historical and ancient Books. This includes manuscripts such as: classical fiction, philosophy, science, Religion, folklore, mythology, history, literature, politics and sacred texts, in addition to Secret and esoteric subjects, such as: occult, freemasonry, alchemy, hermetic, shamanism and ancient knowledge. Our Books are available in digital format. We have approximat...

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...

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...

Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Robert Kempt is an insightful collection that captures the rich folklore and storytelling traditions of the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains region of North America. Kempt delves into the oral traditions of various tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Crow, among others, presenting their myths, legends, and tales that have been passed down through generations. The book serves to preserve these narratives, showcasing their cultural signi...

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...

WINNER OF THE 2017 SMITHSONIAN SECRETARY’S RESEARCH PRIZESince its origins in 1967, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has gained worldwide recognition as a model for the research and public presentation of living cultural heritage and the advocacy of cultural democracy. Festival curators play a major role in interpreting the Festival's principles and shaping its practices.Curatorial Conversations brings together for the first time in one volume the...

An element of great value to the student of religions is, that the scarabæus symbol, is the earliest expression of the most ancient idea of the immortality of the soul after death that has reached our day, taking us back however to a period which may be considered as civilized and enlightened and yet, so encompassed with the mists of the past, that the mental eye of today cannot grasp that past with much tangibility, and giving us almost cause to think, that the doctrine of the immortality...