Book Description
The New York Times–#1 bestselling author and psychic Sylvia Browne and her son explore the ways in which spirits, angels, and God celebrate Christmas in Heaven and how the celebrations compare to those on Earth. Questions such as Are there presents and the exchanging of gifts? Do heavenly spirits decorate? and How is Jesus honored? are discussed, as is the idea of giving gifts from the heart, like the spirits and angels in heaven do, instead of giving store-bought goods. Information is also provided on the role of religious ceremonies in heaven and how they differ from the ceremonies of the living.
Customer Reviews:
Mostly Pictures.......2007-09-13
Cute book but very little reading.
mostly a picture book. I read this book in about 30 min.
Christmas In Heaven.......2007-07-04
I bought this book for a gift and the person I bought it for was delighted. It wasn't what either of us expected but we were certainly not disappointed. Beautifully illistrated also.
Christmas in Heaven.......2007-05-08
Finally a Christmas book with no Santa, reindeer, or Elves. The story was beautiful and the pictures were great!!!!
STUNNING!.......2007-04-07
The pictures are stunning! It makes me feel like that is what heaven feels and looks like. Makes me home sick.
Lovely, comforting and uplifting.......2007-03-02
Perfect for that "little something" gift you want to give to someone to inspire them, to send them your love at Christmas. Short and sweet, it's more like an extended Christmas card than anything else. Perfect for indigo and crystal children who absolutely love this stuff. But for many of us, it reminds us of the beauty and splendor of our "real" home, and not this nasty earth plane. Very nice. Would like to see more of these, perhaps for Valentine's Day? Easter?
Product Description
Throughout the ages, man has been engaged in a quest for knowledge. Generation upon generation of man have endeavored to discover the truths which make man honorable and life worth living. In that same tradition of humanity the greatest of these philosophers have sought as well to pass along what wisdom they have discovered that others may live a happier life and that mankind's chances of survival be unhanced. This book contains 2500 years of man's greatest wisdom, passed on in that same tradition of humanity that others may share in that wisdom.
Customer Reviews:
Not too bad.......2007-10-11
No issues with this book except it's pretty short. I was hoping there would be a lot more quotes in them. It's only got less than 10 quotes per page.
Inspirational Gift Book.......2007-08-08
This book can be previewed in full on the publisher's website free by following the links to this title in the E-Book section of the site. All of this publisher's books are available on this site so any book can be previewed before purchase.
Great Men, Great Thoughts, Perfect Title .......2007-08-04
I love this book. It may not have 2000 quotes in it, but I have to agree that these are some of mankind's greatest quotes. I received it as a gift and I find it easy to use and lovely to look at. It has over 100 of mankind's most profound insights in one place which makes them easy to refer to. The book was designed so that there are 7 or 8 quotes on a page with a beautiful color photograph next to each page of quotes that is appropriate to the theme of those quotes. The aesthetic affect is a reminder of the depth of life and livingness - something that often gets lost in our day to day lives. The wisdom relayed reminds me that we as mankind have very similar hopes and desires and dreams for ourselves and our family and friends. It is also very therapeutic to be reminded how GREAT each one of us really is. I recommend reading this little book and bringing some joy to your life. You deserve it.
Not worth the price..........2007-08-03
I have to say that I disagree with the majority of the previous reviewers, in that this book is really not that useful in my eyes. While it does have a few famous and inspirational quotes, it is definitley not worth paying $15 for. Like other readers have mentioned, the book is 50 pages long, with half of them being illustrations. The other 25 pages contain from 4-5 quotes each, for a total of maybe 100 quotes in the entire book. This is the type of book that you would expect to pay $3.95 for at a bookstore, and definitly not $14.95. My suggestion would be to stay away from this book. You are better off getting quotes off the Internet. Just my opinion...
Beautiful Book.......2007-06-11
Pick the book up and flip to any page whenever you are in need of an inspirational thought. Great to have in your own library; also makes an excellent gift for a book-lover.
Customer Reviews:
The Platform Sermons of the Sixth Patriarch.......2006-09-24
Whenever we are treated to a book written by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, the late Japanese academic scholar and Zen practitioner, we can count ourselves as being in the capable hands of a master expositor of the original Zen tradition of Buddhism. With this book, _The Zen Doctrine of No-Mind, The Significance of the Sutra of Hui-neng (Wei-lang)_, we are taken into the inner sanctuary of the Zen teachings as they were expressed by one of its greatest early propounders, Hui-neng, the Sixth -- and last -- Patriarch of Zen. As Suzuki tells us, Hui-neng was somewhat of an unlikely hero of early Chinese Chan/Zen as he was an illiterate day-worker in the rice mill at the monastery of his master Hung-jen, the Fifth Patriarch of Chan/Zen. Hui-neng had overheard someone reciting the Diamond Sutra one day and had an awakening. He immediately decided to seek the way of Buddhahood, and eventually spent a month travelling on foot to reach the Patriarch's monastery in the mountains.
In the opening paragraph of the book, Suzuki pays the highest tribute he can to Hui-neng by comparing the effect that his legacy had on the tradition of Zen as second only to that of its founder, Bodhidharma: "Without Hui-neng and his immediate disciples, Zen might never have developed as it did in the early T'ang period of Chinese history." He then goes on to praise the work attributed to Hui-neng, the Platform Sermons of the Sixth Patriarch, as an important addition to the Zen tradition overall, saying that: "It was through this work that Bodhi-Dharma's office as the first proclaimer of Zen thought in China came to be properly defined." It is interesting to note that this work that has been attributed to Hui-neng has been, as far as scholars are concerned, under suspicion as it may have been written by his disciples, and the fact that there is little evidence to link its composition directly to him. Although it is generally accepted that its contents were expounded (or at least recalled by those who compiled them) by Hui-neng.
Be this controversy as it may, there is no doubt in the history of contemplative literature of the authenticity of this message. And by the time the attentive reader finishes reading _The Zen Doctrine of No-Mind_ there is equally no doubt in his mind either. What we find here on many occasions is corroboration and parity with the teachings of the original Buddha, Siddhattha Gotama, thus validating, at least in part, Chan/Zen's link to the authentic Dharma as taught by Gotama. In modern times, Zen has been generally noted as having a slightly eccentric and different way of approaching its training and explanation of the meaning of its teachings. But here, we come across passages that could conceivably have come from the mouth of the Originator of the Dharma. We can see this similarity in a passage from the author such as the following:
"So long as the seeing is something to see, it is not the real one; only when the seeing is no-seeing -- that is, when the seeing is not a specific act of seeing into a definitely circumscribed state of consciousness -- is it the 'seeing into one's self nature.' Paradoxically stated, when seeing is no-seeing there is real seeing; when hearing is no-hearing there is real hearing. This is the intuition of the Prajnaparamita." Suzuki goes on to clarify: "When thus the seeing of self nature has no reference to a specific state of consciousness, which can be logically or relatively defined as a something, the Zen masters designate it in negative terms and call it 'no-thought' or 'no-mind', 'wu-nien' or 'wu-hsin'. As it is 'no-thought' or 'no-mind', the seeing is really the seeing."
What he is referring to here is a seemingly complex and paradoxical idea of perception and cognition which is relatively simply expressed by the Buddha in the following passage: "Herein, Bahiya, you should train yourself thus: 'In the seen will be merely what is seen; in the heard will be merely what is heard; in the sensed will be merely what is sensed; in the cognized will be merely what is cognized.'. . .When, Bahiya, for you in the seen is merely what is seen . . . in the cognized is merely what is cognized, then, Bahiya, you will not be 'with that'. When you are not 'with that', then you will not be 'in that'. When you are not 'in that', then you will be neither here nor beyond nor in between the two. Just this is the end of suffering."
What both of these passages are pointing toward is the cessation of extraneous mental proliferation while attending to the phenomena of existential experience. When one can look and see only the bare experience of seeing the object of sight without bringing in associative ideas and abstractions to color and flavor what is being seen, one sees merely what is there in front of the eye and nothing more, which is akin to the Buddha's famous statement of "seeing things as really they are." When the mentally proliferating mind can be restrained and quieted such that only seeing takes place, the mind is then able to comprehend the bare object without the added highlight of imagined phenomena (in the form of ideas and thoughts about the object) to muddy the field of vision. "Just this," Gotama says, "is the end of suffering."
Compare these with a quote on this same subject taken in the book from Hui-neng: "Dhyana (tso-ch'an) is not to get attached to the mind, is not to get attached to purity, nor is it to concern itself with immovability. . . . What is Dhyana, then? It is not to be obstructed in all things. Not to have any thought stirred up by the outside conditions of life, good and bad -- this is tso (dhyana). To see inwardly the immovability of one's self-nature -- this is ch'an (dhyana). . . . Outwardly, to be free from the notion of form -- this is ch'an. Inwardly, not to be disturbed -- this is ting (dhyana). When, outwardly, a man is attached to form, his inner mind is disturbed. But when outwardly he is not attached to form, his mind is not disturbed. His original nature is pure and quiet as it is in itself; only when it recognizes an objective world, and thinks of it as something, is it disturbed. Those who recognize an objective world, and yet find their mind undisturbed, are in true Dhyana. . ."
Wherever in Dharma study there is found a discussion of the Three Characteristics (Anicca or impermanence, Dukkha or dissatisfaction, and Anatta or selflessness) and their continual awareness during mindfulness practice, there one will find the authentic teaching as handed down by the Buddha. And wherever there is found the importance of the development and cultivation of the threefold summary of the Eightfold Path (Sila or ethics and morality, Samadhi or concentration-meditation, and Panna or wisdom-insight) there too one will find the authentic teaching of Gotama. And of course, the Noble Eightfold Path itself is an indispensible element of any practice intent on replicating the authentic teachings.
For those interested in Chan/Zen it is in the early years of its history where most of the authentic teaching of the original thesis of Zen can still be found in its pristine form, untouched by modern interpretation and undiminished of its original grandeur. This would include the teaching of such Zen luminaries as Bodhidharma and Hui-neng as well as such other ancient Zen masters as Seng-T'san, Hui-hai, Ma-tsu, Huang Po, Lin-chi, and Dogen, who came a bit later but was nonetheless quite influential and effective in the writings he left. In the present book one finds these teachings on the mind as seen through a Zen lens gathered together in unparalleled fashion. Suzuki has wrought a masterpiece of Zen wisdom with examples from many of the ancient sources all tied together with his exquisite commentary. If one were forced to find one source in order to learn about the inner workings of Chan/Zen, one would be hard pressed to find a better representation than _The Zen Doctrine of No-Mind_ .
Best Book on Zen that I ever Read.......2005-10-27
I have read about fifteen books on Zen. This one book helped me more than any other book on Zen. The big advantage of this book is the author's own realization of Satori, combined with his excellent understanding of English. Whatever may have been lost in the translation of the original Buddhist scriptures has been restored by this author. This is the only author that has both a deep realization, and an excellent command of the English language.
Zen and Analysis of Zen.......2004-10-24
This book, edited and published after the death of D. T. Suzuki, may be said to be as much a book of analysis of Zen as of Zen itself. It combines quotations from the Zen tradition with much comment on them and the subject in general. These comments include references to western psychology and Christianity. It is a good source of material for thinking about Zen.
The Definitive Classic on Zen Technique/Psychology.......2004-02-01
D.T. Suzuki writes very clearly what many who preceded him have stated, "the zen doctrine states there is no enlightenment to attain" ... The reader then is left to ponder, why buy the book? The answer is deceptively simple, maybe it is too simple ... perhaps to get insight into one's own mind and how it works.
The classic conundrum for human beings is -- seeing and understanding "the simple things". We create meandering pathways in our minds and attach emotions to these thoughts -- then we attach feelings to those thoughts -- we follow the thoughts and feelings believing that what we think is reality itself. Thinking is not the same as reality!
Three sentences from this extraordinairy book illustrate my point. "As the attainment of the Tao does not involve a continuous movement from error to truth, from ignorance to enlightenment, from 'mayori' to 'satori', the Zen masters all proclaim there is no enlightenment whatsoever, which you can claim to have attained." [p.53] "The doctrine of the Unconcsious as expounded here is, psychologically translated, that of absolute passivity or absolute obedience. It may also be translated as the teaching of humility." [p.67] This should serve to whet the appetite of those who are on the road to self-discovery ... for anyone else the book is useless. Erika Borsos (erikab93)(revised)
Zen Doctrine of No Mind.......2001-03-07
Of all the modern works on Zen, this book is unique. Through careful pacing, D.T. Suzuki generates the state of No Mind in the reader. To read this book is to not only understand it, but to directly contact the Zen Mind. This is not a hip or facile text, but one that stands on its own next to the great Sutras of earlier ages. Read as meditation, and meditating as one reads, this book is a mighty sword. Read for information alone, it will perhaps arouse the desire to meditate and attend to the art of mindfulfness
Average customer rating:
- This is what a Good Compilation Was Meant to Be Like
- Quite Different, But An "EXCELLENT READ"!
- Wonderful stories
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Christmas Spirits
Lynn Kurland ,
Casey Claybourne ,
Elizabeth Bevarly , and
Jenny Lykins
Manufacturer: Jove
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0515121746 |
Book Description
"Well-done and a bit out of the ordinary." (Library Journal)
USA Today bestselling authors Lynn Kurland and Elizabeth Bevarly-along with Casey Claybourne and Jenny Lykins-present four magical ghost romances celebrating the miracle of love.
Customer Reviews:
This is what a Good Compilation Was Meant to Be Like.......2006-12-31
This was a wonderful collection of short stories by popular artists that makes you wish for more.
The first story by Lynn Kurland was titled the Three Wise Ghosts. If you are a fan of Kurlands', you would be familiar with the MacLeod and De Piaget families. Megan MacLeod McKinnon has never held a job long and when her brother gives her the chance to prove herself by going to Scotland to scout out a castle for him she jumps at the chance. She ends up at a quant inn with one other patrol Gideon de Piaget. Gideon, a workaholic is ordered to go on vacation by his brother. When the ghosts of their ancestors plot to bring them together sparks fly and there is laughs aplenty. Megan must learn to be responsible and Gideon must learn to have fun in order for their lives to mesh. The antics of the ghostly ancestors keep you laughing.
The second story by Casey Claybourne, Keeping Faith, is the story of two people, Alice and Piers, who are barely living life because of the grief of losing their daughter Laura. Laura's ghost cannot find peace until her parents are reunited so she leads her mother to a homeless orphan named Faith. Alice sees Faith as a second chance for a family and Piers sees her as a painful reminder of his loss. If they can't heal their pain, they will never be a happy family again. Faith falls in love with the couple and steals their hearts as well.
The third story by Elizabeth Bevarly, Only Fifteen Shopping Days Left, is the story of a divorced woman, Sophie, facing her first Christmas alone. While working as an elf in a department story, the spirit of a long ago store Santa vows to see her married by Christmas. When the stores owner Mitchell meets and falls in love with Sophie, he knows he will do anything to keep her.
The last and best of the four stories is by Jenny Lykins and is called The Ghost of Christmas Present. When a woman named Alane goes to a secluded cabin for the Christmas holidays she is befriended by the resident ghost Jared. Jared can't help materalizing in front of the beautiful woman, she is the first woman in two hundred years to stir his heart. Alane cannot believe she is falling for a dead man, but their love is threatened by a curse. Jared was told when he finally learns to love he will find peace and finally move on, but if he allows himself to fully love Alane, he will lose her. This was a wonderful story but I can't give away too much or it will ruin it. I highly recommend this book.
Quite Different, But An "EXCELLENT READ"!.......2006-01-14
Each Author wrote very different stories, but each was very well done. I love Lynn Kurland and her story was the BEST.
Although I truly enjoyed Jenny Lykins story about Alane & Jared.
She made it so very real that you felt that you should try to reach out and help them somehow if you could. Also, Casey Claybourne has won over a fan with her story. I will try to find all of her books based on her story. This book is hard
to find and is worth the trouble.
Wonderful stories.......2000-03-12
This book is very hard to find, but it is worth all the trouble to get hold of a copy. If you are a Lynn Kurland fan, which I am the first story in the book is about members of the De Piaget and Mc Cloud clan. She has writen several books on these families and she finally joins the two families together in the present day. The other 3 books are in the anthology are wonderful. Do read this book if you can get it. It is worth it.
Customer Reviews:
The Spirit of Christmas: Creative Holiday Ideas/Book No 3 .......2005-12-17
A beautiful cover will make a lovely coffee table book. Includes some recipes, x-mas crafts, and decorating idea's. More valued for the beautiful cover than the contents.
Book Description
'The Spirit' is back and it's bigger and better than ever, with more Christmas concepts for making the holidays bright and beguiling. The 17th title in the popular Leisure Arts series inspires with ideas and how-to's for gifts, foods and decorations that appeal to all levels of skill and budget. From the fragrant eucalyptus leaf ornaments to the elegant edible chocolate decorations, readers will glean endless ideas for a fun-filled and festive Yule. Featuring 192 luminous pages and over 120 glorious photographs, The Spirit of Christmas gives new readers and old fans more than ever before.
Customer Reviews:
Spirit of Christmas Book 17.......2007-01-10
As expected from this series, the photograpy and presentation are beautiful and the instructions for recipes and projects clear and accompanied by diagrams where needed.
This year's decoration themes are Snow Business, a jolly, felt snowman theme for kids of all ages, Christmas Provencal, floral, muted shades of cream; Contemporary Classic, featuring amarylis to stunning effect; Twelfth Night Splendour, in burnished gold; Natural by Design with squash, fruit and greenery; and Woodland wonder with cardinals and natural decorations. I rather liked the pretty chocolate section featuring the "trees" on the front cover! Beautiful and delicious!
This is a great book!.......2003-07-31
I just loved this book! It has wonderful ideas on gift making and giving that aren't cheap or "cheesy". There is something to make for everyone on your gift list. It has been photographed beautifully and the directions are clear and concise. I highly recommend this book
Book Description
Brimming with stories, activities, folklore, and recipes, this popular holiday gift book traces the history behind many sacred traditions of the season and provides practical suggestions for celebrating the Winter Solstice as a joyous, life-affirming festival.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Guide to forming your own traditions.......2007-01-27
My family was looking to develop our own traditions and to understand why traditions where as they are today. This book was a wonderful source.
Solving the Mystery of Our Traditions.......2007-01-03
I absolutely loved this book and found it a great companion for the holidays. The author explains the background and history of Solstice, Christmas, Santa Claus, plant and animal symbols. He even explains the 12 Days of Christmas and includes activities, recipes, and rituals to celebrate the sacred days between 12/1 and 1/6.
This book is highly recommend for people wanting to know the why behind the celebrations.
A gathering of winter traditions from many sources.......2005-02-07
Most people who celebrate Christmas know that numerous elements of our modern traditions come from older religions than Christianity, but the range of source traditions astounds me. There is, for instance, no one source of the practice of observing the winter solstice itself, of myths involving the death or sacrifice and rebirth of a deity, or of father and son symbols for the old year and the new. Many sources are cited in the book as possible origins of Santa Claus, of the giving of gifts, and the custom of bringing greenery indoors.
It's not the diversity of customs that fascinates me so much as the variety of myths and stories that impact on an emotional level. When I consider the winter solstice traditions presented here, as a whole, I realize how similar all cultures are in their most basic concerns. The winter solstice was a time of great disquiet to people who lived close to the earth, more than a couple of centuries ago. The shortening of days, scarcity of food, and intense cold of winter carried far deeper implications for those who lived directly off the land and couldn't quickly transport needed goods. It's no surprise some important and deeply meaningful traditions arose from the resulting insecurity about the future.
Whatever the reason behind the timing of Christmas so near the solstice, and whatever your beliefs about it or your reason for reading, you'll find a wealth of information in The Winter Solstice. This impressively researched book even contains ideas for creating celebrations and traditions of your own. It's a fitting tribute to this most ancient holy day. If your celebration centers around the birth of Jesus, never fear. There's a wealth of commentary and research included on traditions specific to Christianity. But an open mind is required to sift through the myth, legend, history, and blending of customs. This is not a book conducive to fundamentalist thinking about religion-any religion, Christian, pagan or otherwise. It's far better suited to those with a penchant for myth and speculation.
A few of the subjects covered in the first chapter are The Returning Sun, Chambers of the Sun and Sun-Rites, with mention of those ancient structures built for the purpose of calculating or demonstrating the sun's return at the turn of the solstice, such as Stonehenge in England, New Grange in Ireland, and Mayan ruins. Zuni houses in North America contained objects and windows designed to catch the rays of the returning sun. Saturnalia, New Year rites, the Celtic Calendar, and the sun gods of Egypt and elsewhere are also mentioned, as well as a fifteen hundred-year-old Jewish commentary on the Babylonian Talmud. This is just a taste, mind you, and only from the first chapter.
The information is presented in short sections, so it's easy to pick up and read a few paragraphs. But these paragraphs will easily draw you in for a longer read. It can be read straight through, or enjoyed as a coffee table book to share with friends, and to stimulate discussion and speculation. It's a must-read, for me, during the December holidays.
Tradition and ritual without faith.......2004-11-15
I've always loved Christmas. But a few years ago I deconverted from faith; I found myself, as an atheist and humanist, longing for a connection to the holiday I loved. This book helped me forge a new perspective on, and a new connection with, Christmas as a worldly and human celebration.
Each chapter provides cross-cultural connections to the ideas, customs, and icons of Christmas. Even when Matthews seems to be reaching a bit, it makes for engaging reading, and provides the rest of us with a way to connect with America's (and much of the Western World's) most important holiday season. It's especially engaging to know the origins of certain figures and beliefs; rarely are the origins religious, but cultural and traditional. [My favorite chapter was on the Twelve Days of Christmas.] The presentation of faith-free rituals at the end of each chapter was especially welcome, and I have already incorporated some small, new traditions into my holiday activities.
I recommend it to readers of all faiths or non-faiths. Every open-minded reader can find something of interest. Only literal Fundamentalists will be offended!
getting into the spirit.......2004-09-02
a fascinating and stimulating account that seems to put things into the proper perspective. Makes the myths all the more enjoyable.
Average customer rating:
- True Meaning of Christmas
- A Pastor's View
- If You're Missing Baby Jesus
- Heartwarming tale
- Sweet story...
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If You're Missing Baby Jesus: A True Story that Embraces the Spirit of Christmas
Jean Gietzen
Manufacturer: Multnomah Gifts
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ASIN: 1588600246
Release Date: 2001-05-15 |
Book Description
This true story by author Jean Gietzen will unwrap the warmth of the real meaning of Christmas. Charmingly illustrated by Lila Rose Kennedy, it is a gift to treasure and share and will remind you of the joy of giving, and touch the hearts of all who receive it.
Customer Reviews:
True Meaning of Christmas.......2007-03-09
I bought this book to share with my children after a freind shared it with me. It is a nice little story that conveys the real meaning behind the Christmas holidays and helps children to focus on what is important and not so much what they want for Christmas. I wanted my small children to understand that giving to others is what matters most.
A Pastor's View.......2007-01-16
I am a pastor and found this story very touching. I read it to my congregation as a Christmas devotional and it was well-received.
If You're Missing Baby Jesus.......2002-12-28
This book is easy to read, simple in its point, and suitable for children as well as adults. As a 5th and 6th grade art teacher, I read it to my classes every year at the beginning of Dec., when we begin our Christmas projects, including recycling old cards to make new ones for a local family shelter. Much as "The Gift of the Magi" opened my eyes to what a "good gift" is, "If You're Missing Baby Jesus" illustrates the true meaning of Christmas. The fact that it is a true story makes the book even more attractive to me. It also brings the opportunity to teach things about "the good ole days," like living in a small town, you only needed to dial the last four digits of someone's phone number to reach them and there used to be such a thing as "penny candy." I usually can't get through the reading of this story without crying, it touches my heart so!
Heartwarming tale.......2000-12-16
This is a wonderful little story with beautiful illustrations that conveys the true meaning of Christmas. A good choice to read aloud to a group of children (ages 5 to 8 or so), the story contains enough humor to lighten the message.
Sweet story..........2000-12-15
This book isn't the most beautifully written or profound book I've ever read, but the sweet story touched me just the same. If you are looking for a family tale about the TRUE meaning of Christmas, this is the book for you. Childrens and adults alike will enjoy this holiday book.
Average customer rating:
- Mystical and Academic Book
- anti-christmas? no, just anti-marketing of a religion...
- Pagan Christmas
- Pagan Christmas
- A book of scholarship with fabulous interest!
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Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Origins of Yuletide
Christian Rätsch , and
Claudia Müller-Ebeling
Manufacturer: Inner Traditions
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ASIN: 1594770921
Release Date: 2006-11-04 |
Book Description
An examination of the sacred botany and the pagan origins and rituals of Christmas
• Analyzes the symbolism of the many plants associated with Christmas
• Reveals the shamanic rituals that are at the heart of the Christmas celebration
The day on which many commemorate the birth of Christ has its origins in pagan rituals that center on tree worship, agriculture, magic, and social exchange. But Christmas is no ordinary folk observance. It is an evolving feast that over the centuries has absorbed elements from cultures all over the world--practices that give plants and plant spirits pride of place. In fact, the symbolic use of plants at Christmas effectively transforms the modern-day living room into a place of shamanic ritual.
Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling show how the ancient meaning of the botanical elements of Christmas provides a unique view of the religion that existed in Europe before the introduction of Christianity. The fir tree was originally revered as the sacred World Tree in northern Europe. When the church was unable to drive the tree cult out of people’s consciousness, it incorporated the fir tree by dedicating it to the Christ child. Father Christmas in his red-and-white suit, who flies through the sky in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, has his mythological roots in the shamanic reindeer-herding tribes of arctic Europe and Siberia. These northern shamans used the hallucinogenic fly agaric mushroom, which is red and white, to make their soul flights to the other world. Apples, which figure heavily in Christmas baking, are symbols of the sun god Apollo, so they find a natural place at winter solstice celebrations of the return of the sun. In fact, the authors contend that the emphasis of Christmas on green plants and the promise of the return of life in the dead of winter is just an adaptation of the pagan winter solstice celebration.
Customer Reviews:
Mystical and Academic Book.......2007-08-30
First, this book is written by two German anthropologists and was only recently translated into English. The research is very thorough and objective. I'm sure someone would argue with this assertation, but I don't think I'd want dispute anthropologists who study ethnobotany and art history as well. They are more qualified than I am.
Second, the book is not really a how-to book as far as rituals and such. This is more about the traditions and symbolism which we believe to be Christian and part of Christmas observance. Imagine telling someone that Santa Claus is really the personification of a hallucinogenic mushroom, the fly agaric, often used in shamanic religious practices. St. Nicholas' sack has pagan symbolism. The Christmas tree was the Christian church's response to the pagans who worshipped the living tree, so cutting down and killing the tree would be the ultimate insult. Plants and recipes involving particular spices are also mentioned in here. The living evergreen wreath is exceptionally symbolic as the circle of life and the wheel of the year. Buying gifts and decorating like mad is a new phenomenon during the Christmas season as is evident in poems, stories, and sayings from as late as the early 1900s.
I believe this book would be educational and would benefit almost any reader. Pagans and Christians should all read this book. Some extremists wouldn't like it as it is in direct conflict with their beliefs.
I say buy the book or borrow it from a library for its educational value. If it had been available in English, I would have bought it sooner. I've been looking for a book like this for years.
anti-christmas? no, just anti-marketing of a religion..........2007-05-23
"the author's approach sound rather "anti-Christmas" as if the book is some sort of an indictment against Christmas due to its many pagan origins." - If you (not you but general "you") are a christian, the thought of Christ's birthday being set on a date that is not only NOT his birthday but also has a basis in paganism is disconcerting. the marketing of a religious holiday is sacrilegious and we do it all the time. (look at easter!)this is a common problem. christmas is a personal and spritual time for all to get together w/ their families, celebrate their way, and compare the year; not to "help" our economy by buying chinese crap at exhorbiant prices just to have them fall apart before new years!
"I am amazed how well Christian faith adjusted and adapted to fit the needs of so many different cultures and people...Christian faith as we know today is a product of many "adjust and adapt" concepts used by leaders of the Christianity through passage of time." - Christians didn't just "adjust and adapt" they purposely used pagan rituals mixed in with their rituals and beliefs for the ease of conversion and control of the poor and lower casts. using the fear of god and the familiarity of paganism is how kings kept the "lowly peasants" under heel. i'm surprised everyone doesn't know that one!
BTW: this is a great book for comparative theologists and curiosity seekers alike.
Pagan Christmas.......2007-02-20
An incredible book full of revelations. After getting my first 'Ratsch-book' I have been seeking out publications which he authored or co-authored. I have not been disappointed!
Pagan Christmas.......2007-01-16
What a wonderful way to teach the reasons why, than to read and repeat what's in this book. It has been a real learning experience.
A book of scholarship with fabulous interest!.......2006-12-13
Kudos to the author! At last a book about pagan winter celebrations and the origins of Christmas that a thinking pagan can sink his or her teeth into! The author is an anthropologist and an ethnopharmacologist. This book goes far beyond the fluffy books on Yule that are on the market and shows you amazing things! Of course you really need to read the whole thing. A cursory glance will cause you to think it's all about magic, mushrooms, and sex, but, hey -- it's pagan isn't it? I picked it up with the ho-hum attitude of "I probably know everything it's going to say," and was immediately mesmerized with the layout, the pictures, the information, everything! And the little known esoterica brought out here makes it really worth reading. Worth reading on many, many levels.
Average customer rating:
- The essential companion to "Spiritual Cannabalism"
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Rudi: In His Own Words
Swami Rudrananda
Manufacturer: Rudra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Bhagawan Nityananda
ASIN: 0915801205 |
Book Description
As a teacher, Rudi illuminated and enhanced countless lives. He didn't give answers, but showed students how they themselves could find what they needed within themselves. These are some of the words that energized and filled the spirit of his followers. "...an inspiring work for the spiritual seeker [and] an extraordinary glimpse into the teacher/student relationship from the teacher's point of view."--Body Mind Spirit Magazine.
Customer Reviews:
The essential companion to "Spiritual Cannabalism".......2002-08-11
With a foreword by Swami Chetanananda, head of the Nityananda Institute and one of Rudi's four senior students from the Brooklyn ashram days, "Rudi" is a collection of pithy short essays on a large range of subjects. In some ways, "Rudi" is a more practical book than "Spiritual Cannabalism", and its scope is more here-and-now. Frankly, it is a humbling book to read---all of one's own foibles are exposed in the reading. As an aside, all four senior students have gone on to be great figures in the contemporary spiritual world (I am happy to correspond on this matter).
As well, because of its somewhat segmented structure (in comparison to SC), it is a book that one can have handy at any time, to read a paragraph or two---and be woken up yet again (isn't it irritating how quickly we fall asleep!).
Unreservedly recommended.
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