Mytologi

This crazy world whirled around her, men and women dwarfed by toys and puppets, where even the birds are mechanical and the few human figures went masked . . . She was in the night once again, and the doll was herself.One night Melanie walks through the garden in her mother's wedding dress. The next morning her world is shattered. Forced to leave the home of her childhood, she is sent to live with relatives she has never met: gentle Aunt Margaret, mute since her wedding day; and her brothers, Francie and Finn. Brooding over all is Uncle Philip, who loves only the toys he makes in his workshop: clockwork roses and puppets that are life-size - and uncannily life-like.Books included in the VMC 40th anniversary series include: Frost in May by Antonia White; The Collected Stories of Grace Paley; Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault; The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter; The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehmann; Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith; The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West; Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; Heartburn by Nora Ephron; The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy; Memento Mori by Muriel Spark; A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor; and Faces in the Water by Janet Frame

A collection of novellas and stories from one of the most critically acclaimed authors in the fantasy genre, Robin Hobb. Including work written under her pseudonym, Megan Lindholm.Bingtown heiresses rub shoulders in this wonderful collection with vampires and alien musicians, tramps and feral cats.In The Homecoming, Lady Carillion Carrock and a number of other Jamaillian nobles are sailing to the Cursed Shores. Their journey is not by choice: for plotting against the Satrap, their wealth has been confiscated and they have been exiled. Until now, Carillion has done nothing but lead a life of privilege. She believes they are bound for wondrous cities, cities where ancient kings and queens dusted their skin with gold and wore jewels above their eyes. But when she is marooned by the ship's unscrupulous captain, she will soon discover the grim reality of what survival in the Rain Wilds entails.The Silver Lady is a would-be writer, ekeing out a dull existence by working in a Sears store. The one day a man comes in: fortyish, pleasant-looking. Nothing out of the ordinary. Except he says his name is Merlin, and he's about to change her life.Rosemary got involved with the wrong man. Pell is lazy, good for nothing, a bully. Her best friend Hilia knew it and so did her tom cat, Marmalade. But love is blind: Rosemary had Pell's baby, renovated the cottage his grandfather left in his will, turned its land to good use; and then he left her for another woman. Now he's back, and something must be done...

From New York Times best-selling author, Kim Harrison, comes the first book in her brilliant series, The Hollows; packed with vampires, werewolves and witches - don't miss out on the sexiest urban fantasy you'll read this year.Rachel Morgan lives in a world where a bioengineered virus wiped out most of the world's human population - exposing the existence of supernatural communities that had long lived alongside humanity. It's her job as a white witch working for Inderland Security to protect the humans from things that go bump in the night.For the last five years Rachel has been tracking down lawbreaking Inderlanders in modern-day Cincinnati, but now she wants to leave and start her own agency. Her only problem: no one quits the I.S.Marked for death, Rachel will have to fend off fairy assassins and homicidal werewolves armed to the teeth with deadly curses.Unless she can appease her former employers by exposing the city's most prominent citizen as a drug lord, she might just be a dead witch walking.

Woods play an important role in horror, fantasy, the gothic and the weird. They are places in which strange things happen, where you often can't see where you are or what is nearby. This new collection showcases the best supernatural stories from the real forests of Britain, and notes on the folklore which inspired these deliciously sinister tales.

Reynard was once the most popular and beloved character in European folklore. Expanded with new interpretations, innovative language and characterisation, this edition is an imaginative re-telling of the Reynard story and as relevant and controversial today as it was in the fifteenth century.

This latest addition to our successful series offers a new selection of myths, featuring Arthur's knights of the round table, his love for Queen Guinevere and, of course, the ultimate betrayal by his friend, and most trusted knight, Sir Launcelot. All awaken the magical and exciting world of King Arthur.

A detailed and easy to use resource for Fairylore.

BESTSELLER, KTÓRY DOTYKA SERC I DUSZ CZYTELNIKÓW NA CA¿YM ¿WIECIE W DWÓCH WERSJACH J¿ZYKOWYCHINSPIRUJ¿CA, INTYMNA PRAWDZIWA HISTORIA, KTÓRA POMO¿E CI W DRODZE PO MARZENIA.Poczujesz si¿ tak, jakby¿ sam prze¿y¿ to wszystko, z czym autorka musiäa si¿ zmierzy¿, a na köcu odkryjesz wraz z ni¿, jak möna si¿ na nowo duchowo odrodzi¿ i spojrze¿ na ¿wiat z nadziej¿ i wiar¿. Odkryjesz w sobie ukryt¿ m¿drö¿, si¿¿ i pokochasz w¿asn¿ dusz¿, aby móc stä si¿ tym, kim powiniene¿ by¿. MI¿O¿CI¿.Najwi¿kszym marzeniem Moniki by¿o zamieszkä w Anglii. W 2004 , gdy Polska wesz¿a do Unii Europejskiej, zdecydowäa si¿ zrealizowä to marzenie, rzucaj¿c si¿ w obj¿cia przeznaczenia i wyje¿d¿aj¿c w nieznane. Pomimo ogromnych wyzwä od dnia pierwszego, pozostaje nieugi¿ta, przezwyci¿¿aj¿c swe s¿aböci i dzielnie pod¿¿a za marzeniami. Gdy nagle traci wszystko, na co tak ci¿¿ko pracowäa, decyduje si¿ opowiedzie¿ swoj¿ histori¿, pokazuj¿c tym samym, ¿e nigdy nie nale¿y si¿ w ¿yciu poddawä, niezale¿nie od tego, jakie przeszkody zsy¿a nam los, oraz ¿e droga do poznania samego siebie, nie zawsze us¿ana jest ró¿ami.Historia dzielnej polki opisana z lekköci¿ i rzadko spotykan¿ szczeröci¿ daje niezwyk¿y wgl¿d w ¿ycie emigranta. To prawdziwa próba wytrwäöci i odwagi, ale przede wszystkim, podró¿ do duchowego öwiecenia, poznania siebie i znalezienia prawdziwej mi¿öci.

Wicca For Beginnersis your comprehensive guide towards understanding the real basics of what the Wiccan path is about. Full of historical knowledge and important figures like Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, and Aleister Crowley, Wicca For Beginners will take you onto an intellectual journey andeducate you on the true basics, laws, and honor code that is barely touched on. Sure you can buy someone's book about magic, but Wicca For Beginners is a true guide that will stay with you throughout the tests of time. It stays away from typical mainstays like how to cast spells and telling you what tools you need to have and instead focuses on your need to know the real basics behind spellcasting in general, how you can use tools that are specifically important to you, and how to communicate with the deities you are connected to.While reading this book you'll be able to understand:The dark history behind paganism.Understand basic definitions like Wicca, Coven, Pagan, and Neopagan.Understand there are different styles to perform rituals and ceremonies.Understand that each coven has a different aspect of worship.Know that it's okay if you want to be a solitary witch.Read on rumors that researchers like Margaret Murray or occultists like Eliphas Levi concluded and what occurred after.Separate the Aleister Crowley the occultist from the Aleister Crowley the fictional character.Give yourself the ability to compare and contrast past ardanes from the founding Gardnerian era to the more modern ardanes today.And five basic spells to help you in your everyday life.Reveal the ancient and cultural significance behind the Pentagram.Understand who the Goddess and God really are, what they represent, and how they can help you as a beginner starting their Wiccan path.

A refreshing collection of enchanting fairy tales that reflects the spectrum of human sexuality.

Aesop's Fables, or the Aesopica, is a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. Of diverse origins, the stories associated with his name have descended to modern times through a number of sources and continue to be reinterpreted in different verbal registers and in popular as well as artistic media.The fables originally belonged to the oral tradition and were not collected for some three centuries after Aesop's death. By that time a variety of other stories, jokes and proverbs were being ascribed to him, although some of that material was from sources earlier than him or came from beyond the Greek cultural sphere. The process of inclusion has continued until the present, with some of the fables unrecorded before the later Middle Ages and others arriving from outside Europe. The process is continuous and new stories are still being added to the Aesop corpus, even when they are demonstrably more recent work and sometimes from known authors.Manuscripts in Latin and Greek were important avenues of transmission, although poetical treatments in European vernaculars eventually formed another. On the arrival of printing, collections of Aesop's fables were among the earliest books in a variety of languages. Through the means of later collections, and translations or adaptations of them, Aesop's reputation as a fabulist was transmitted throughout the world.Initially the fables were addressed to adults and covered religious, social and political themes. They were also put to use as ethical guides and from the Renaissance onwards were particularly used for the education of children. Their ethical dimension was reinforced in the adult world through depiction in sculpture, painting and other illustrative means, as well as adaptation to drama and song. In addition, there have been reinterpretations of the meaning of fables and changes in emphasis over time.

"The Morrigan is one of Pagan Ireland's most famous--and notorious--goddesses. Her name translated as "phantom queen" or "great queen," the Morrigan is famous for being a goddess of war, witchcraft and death, protection and retribution. This book also explores her patronage of motherhood, healing, shapeshifting, and the land. Classified among the Sidhe (fairies), the Morrigan dates back at least to Ireland's Iron Age, but she is as modern as she is ancient enjoying a growing contemporary and global following. Author Courtney Weber provides a guide for the modern devotee of this complex, mysterious goddess that encompasses practical veneration with modern devotionals, entwined with traditional lore and Irish-Celtic history."--Provided by publisher.

Peter Christen Asbjørnsen (1812–1885) and Jørgen Moe (1813–1882) were energetic writers and researchers best known for their monumental collection Norske folkeeventyr (Norwegian Folktales), which introduced the lively traditions of Norwegian storytelling to readers around the world. Tiina Nunnally is an award-winning translator of Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish literature. Her many translations include Sigrid Undset’s first novel, Marta Oulie; the Minnesota Trilogy by Vidar Sundstøl; and Ola Larsmo’s Swede Hollow, all published by the University of Minnesota Press. She translated fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen, and her translation of Kristin Lavransdatter: The Cross by Sigrid Undset won the PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize. In 2013 she was appointed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for her efforts on behalf of Norwegian literature in the United States. Neil Gaiman is a New York Times best-selling author of award-winning titles including Norse Mythology, American Gods, The Graveyard Book, Good Omens, The View from the Cheap Seats, and the groundbreaking Sandman graphic novels. He is a prolific creator of works of prose, poetry, film, journalism, comics, song lyrics, and drama. Several of his titles have been adapted for television, including the critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated adaptation of American Gods and his miniseries of Good Omens, based on the novel he co-wrote with the late Sir Terry Pratchett. Originally from England, he now lives in the United States.

Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Neverwhere (1995), Stardust (1999), the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning American Gods (2001), Anansi Boys (2005), and Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett, 1990), as well as the short story collections Smoke and Mirrors (1998) and Fragile Things (2006). His screenwriting credits include the original BBC TV series of Neverwhere (1996), Dave McKean¿s first feature film, Mirrormask (2005), and the Doctor Who episode 'The Doctor's Wife' (2011).

MARKUS ZUSAK is the bestselling author of six novels, including THE BOOK THIEF. His books have been translated into more than forty languages, to both popular and critical acclaim. He lives in Sydney with his wife and two children.Find Markus on his blog www.zusakbooks.comFacebook /markuszusakInstagram @markuszusak.

A modern reimagining of a classic fairy tale by one of most bewitching, idiosyncratic British writers of the twentieth century.Bella Winter has hit a low. Homeless and jobless, she is the mother of a toddler by a man whose name she didn't quite catch, and her once pretty face is disfigured by the scar she acquired in a car accident. Friendless and without family, she's recently disentangled herself from a selfish and indifferent boyfriend and a cruel and indifferent mother. But she shares a quality common to Barbara Comyns's other heroines: a bracingly unsentimental ability to carry on. Before too long, Bella has found not only a job but a vocation; not only a place to live but a home and a makeshift family. As Comyns's novel progresses, the story echoes and inverts the Brothers Grimm's macabre tale The Juniper Tree. Will Bella's hard-won restoration to life and love come at the cost of the happiness of others?

An authentic book of regional magic and lore from an esteemed Scottish author

Africa south of the Sahara possesses a rich body of folk tales and legends passed down over hundreds of years, often sharing similar elements. This collectable hardback offers a hefty selection of stories - of the gods, origins, trickster exploits, animal fables and more - from the Yoruba people of west Africa to the San people of southern Africa.

Meditation can be defined as a practice of mental exercises aimed at controlling the mind, specifically to quiet unwanted thoughts and distractions. Why is this necessary? Many people profess belief in something greater than themselves but struggle to articulate what that is. If asked, "Who are you?", most would point to their physical body. Yet, there is a deeper reality beyond our physical existence.Many believe in a soul but may not truly understand it, often reacting to death with fear or mourning. In reality, human beings encompass more than just a physical body; there exists a deeper essence known as the Higher Self.Due to distractions and erroneous lifestyles, people often fail to recognize their higher selves and experience life limited to ordinary existence until death. The Higher Self is akin to air: free and expansive when unobstructed, yet trapped within the confines of the individual personality. Just as air caught in a bottle cannot circulate freely, the human soul, when entangled with desires and fears, loses sight of its universal nature.This limited existence, defined by ego-consciousness, leads the soul to mistakenly identify as individual rather than universal. The ego acts as a veil, obscuring the expansive reality of our true selves. Through Yoga Philosophy and Meditation, individuals can break free from this confinement to rediscover their boundless essence.The manuscript primarily explores themes of Meditation, Spiritual Enlightenment, and Ancient Egyptian Wisdom. It emphasizes meditation as a path to inner peace and spiritual awakening, drawing heavily from the mystical teachings of Ancient Egypt.The book highlights the transformative power of meditation in achieving mental clarity and deeper self-understanding. It addresses common issues like anxiety and depression, offering meditation as a viable solution.Targeted at those interested in spirituality and ancient wisdom, the book is suitable for beginners and those with meditation experience. It aims to guide readers toward profound personal transformation through the lens of Ancient Egyptian teachings.Dr. Muata Ashby, a renowned expert in religion and holistic healing, lends credibility to the work with his extensive background. His approach combines ancient wisdom with practical meditation techniques, providing actionable insights for achieving inner peace and enlightenment.The book presents practical applications of meditation, including methods that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Regular practice promises outcomes like improved mental health, emotional stability, and a deeper connection to the divine.Key themes include Kemetic wisdom, Egyptian metaphysics, and insights from the Book of the Dead, along with the significance of hieroglyphs and the importance of spiritual growth.Discover how Ancient Egyptian wisdom can transform your life in Meditation: The Path to Enlightenment. Dr. Muata Ashby reveals the secrets to achieving inner peace and spiritual awakening, blending ancient teachings with modern practices. This comprehensive guide offers insights for personal transformation, addressing common challenges like anxiety and depression through meditation.Whether you are a beginner or experienced, this book equips you with valuable techniques to enhance your spiritual practice. Explore themes of Kemetic wisdom and Hermetic philosophy while gaining tools for mental clarity and emotional stability.Start your journey to enlightenment today and unlock the transformative power of meditation. This book is your essential guide to discovering a deeper connection to the divine and achieving true inner peace.

"No event in our world is real, my friend. Everything that occurs in this universe is illusory... And in a world of appearances, in which no thing and no event has any permanence, any reality of its own—whoever is master of certain forces can do anything he wishes..." So speaks a character in Two Strange Tales, a pair of novellas in which Westerners are caught up in the uncanny realm of Eastern religion and magic. In "Nights at Serampore," three European scholars, traveling deep into the forests of Bengal, are inexplicably cast into another time and space where they witness the violent murder of a young Hindu wife. In "The Secret of Dr. Honingberger," a respectable Rumanian physician vanishes without a trace after experimenting with yogic techniques in his quest for the legendary invisible world called Shambhala. In Two Strange Tales, author Mircea Eliade combined yogic folklore with the literary genre of the supernatural suspense tale so as to reveal dimensions of experience that are inaccessible to other intellectual approaches. These well-crafted stories will appeal to both lovers of the supernatural and those fascinated by mysticism of the East.

This new book of classic tales brings the stories of the ancients to life, from the birth of creation by the sun god Ra, the murder of Osiris, and the revenge of Horus, to the underworld and afterlife. The Egyptians explained the effects of famine, harvest, floods and death by creating a pantheon of gods that still holds our fascination today.

India, one of the great, ancient civilizations spawned a fascinating canon of myths and legends. With multiple gods, and a riot of colour and character this fantastic new book, explores the themes and landscapes that created the tales, and retells the stories of Krishna, Buddha and Shiva, and some of the many different versions of creation.

A new collection of botanical British folk tales about plants and wild flowers, journeying through the seasons of the year