Reddit mentions: The best spiritualism books

Please go through these books, I don't quite know if this is against subreddit rules, but these are some of the most authentic texts on Yoga, of which meditation and pranayam are different aspects.

Light on Yoga - BKS Iyengar

The Heart of Yoga - TKV Desikachar

Also, highly recommended: Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy

To answer your questions specifically, first of all, I am just a beginner in the path and only an Enlightened Guru can give answers with clarity, but

> Do I breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth?
>Do I breathe in through the nose and out through the nose?
> In through the mouth and out through the mouth?


It is clearly stated in all ancient Yogic texts that 'Nasika' [The Nose] should be the only organ used in Breathing, because the 'Prana' [Life] absorbed through this natural pathway directly energizes 'Ida' and 'Pingala', and through them the 'Sushumna'; the Yogic interpretation of the Central Nervous System.

The mouth should never be used to breathe in Yoga. However there are a specific set of Breathing Exercises [Pranayamas] and other techniques that use the Mouth for Inhalation and Exhalation such as 'The Khechari mudra'. Please be mindful and seek out proper instructions before engaging in these practices.


> Are there any cognitive differences between these methods or are they all the same and simply up to preference?

There are a lot of differences between different practices and methods. The Body is a fantastically complex machinery, and that is just a part of the story.There's a lot going on. For a beginner, the simplest way is this: study different methods, and pick one that you can easily settle into. The most important thing now is to DO. Focus on your breath, focus on an idol, a mathematical symbol, a meaningful song, a black dot in a light coloured wall, anything that resonates with you. This is 'Dharana', the awakening of consciousness, of which your concentration is a part. When you are comfortable in the physical aspects of it, then comes the stillness, the 'Samadhi'. But that will happen when it will :)


> Should I hold my breath at any point during the breathing, such as "box breathing" which is a mediation breathing pattern used by the Navy seals.

In Yoga, these breath control methods are known as 'Bandh' ; [loosely translated - 'Closing the Gates']. Again, my advice is to study, research, meditate, seek out an enlightened Guru. The books listed above are great resources to learn more about these ancient techniques.


> From an experienced meditators perspective this must seem awfully comical so sorry if I come across as dumb or uninformed but I would like to know each of your specific preferences to breathing in meditation.
Thank you for reading this, it means a lot.



Your questions carry a lot more depth than you think, or I may know. What I know from my Guru is this: The Yogic Sciences are 100% empirical, and 100% experimental. It encourages you to be conscious, present. Do, and see results. I wish you joy, and Good luck!

If you haven't already checked these books out, I recommend it--to get an idea of what sort of magic might be a good starting point, considering the area:

• The Candle and the Crossroads: A Book of Appalachian Conjure and Southern Root-Work by Orion Foxwood--HIGHLY recommended!
  
  
• Appalachian Folklore Omens, Signs, and Superstitions by Nancy Richmond, for some nice magical tradition & history.
  
  I grew up in the Poconos, and my mother's family still lives in the Appalachian Mountains on farms around Hazleton, PA, so I get the "feeling overwhelmed by nature and history!!" perspective lol. What's really neat about that area of the country is that there are a TON of Slavic/Eastern European traditions that came from immigrants who settled the area to work its farms and coal mines. Over the years, they've all merged into a sort of unique Appalachian magic schema that is a distinctly American magic system that you're in a great position to leverage. Also realize that "superstitions" are just spells in disguise--find the underlying logic, and use that to your advantage when you want to cast magic.
  
  So with those books, and go from there. DEFINITELY start a container herb garden, as /u/vampbun suggested.
  
  
• Rosemary will need to come indoors if it's in a container during the winter, otherwise you'll get root rot. It's a perennial woody herb native to the Mediterranean and brought over by Italian immigrants. Great for memory, mind-enhancement, and fidelity.
  
  
• Basil does best with lots of hot sunshine and water. (I recommend Sweet Basil, or Ocimum basilicum for your first attempt--not the fancy stuff until year two.) It's a "hot," energetic herb that does well with protection and energizing entire spell mixes. Mine usually needs to be replanted every year, but you can collect the seeds from last year's plant. MAKE SURE you cut off the flower heads whenever they start to bud--while bees like it, it dilutes the chemical/medicinal/magical properties of the leaves. When it goes to bud, then it's basically done for the year.
  
  
• THYME is DAMN easy and versatile, grows like a damn weed. Mine's almost three years old now, and it produced like MAD last year--I've got mason jars full of just dried leaves. Make sure you trim it often and lovingly.
  
  
• Yarrow would be a good--and "witchy" ;)--addition to an herb garden. Great to attract bees and butterflies, and most folks find it easy to grow. My mother managed it in the "we grow rocks" soil of the Poconos which can be poor when not amended, so it should be a good choice for you.
  
  
• Lemon balm smells nice, grows like mad, and should work well with various spells--it plays nice with other herbs in mixes. Don't plant in the soil if you're not okay with it taking over.
  
  
• For a distinctly "witchy" plant, try planting Mugwort in a corner where you don't mind it completely taking over. Makes a great meditation balm after infusing in a base oil, and powers up any sort of spellwork I've tried.
  
  .... lol sorry, got a little carried away there. Feel free to ask me questions if you've got 'em or if I can help in any way!

Lovely message and very well written, thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom with us.


>But anything can overwhelm us if not balanced properly (including working on our Paths), so from time to time, we may need to step back, and maintain some space and breathing room.
If our Paths seem to be becoming a burden, then we may need to rearrange our Paths. Keep things fresh and interesting. Keep the Path stimulating.

Very true, the way I go about my Path is to follow what I feel is right but that has also gotten me into some very dangerous places without me even knowing. For me I seem to go overboard with everything until I realize I may have gotten lost along the way and it seems a lot of the healing/knowledge comes from the return. When you are picking up the pieces you realize what is worth keeping and what was weighing you down. One of my main teachers showed me what I felt was the end product was in fact just the beginning and I had to let go what I thought I acquired to see both sides of the coin.

Coming back home to be with my family has been such a healing moment for all of us although it was not easy it forced me to learn different aspects of the whole. In the next month i'll again be in a completely different environment living with my Brother and his Soulmate which is very exciting. I feel this next stage of my life is going to be about putting all the pieces together and seeing what grows.

>I guess we just need to go with the flow, and trust our intuition and perception.

<3

>Writing absolutely helps. I often go back to posts written here (this sub) and elsewhere that I've written, in moments of clarity that remind me of what's important in my life.

Great advice. I recall you telling me to read the old posts when I was down and when I saw it I still couldn't. I feel I need to do more of this as when I was in my down times although at the time I could only hold onto the crumbling foundation. The refreshing part was when the last block fell I realized the Light and Love I acquired was still with me and perhaps that was the lesson I was learning at the time.

>I think one of the greatest tactics of self-improvement is changing our mindsets. To view our time in the Abyss, our pasts mistakes, transgressions, etc as Scars on our bodies and minds. And to view these Scars as the cement we need to pave our Paths.

Such a wonderful way to put it, thank you!

>Regarding your white light experience, I first wondered whether it was an innate psychic ability or an internal/external entity of sorts....then I realized maybe there is no difference. The mind (and consciousness) is more than matter.

I agree what your saying. I feel we all have the potential to unlock whatever it is we seek but we must show ourselves and the systems around us that we are serious about our goals. Before the injury I wasn't spirtual in any sense but I did have a strong mind/body connection from lifting weights to the point of it being an addiction. I also was always having OBE's when I was younger not realizing what it was and I would allow fear to overcome me. It wasn't until I was 26 and I was drawn to this book https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Beyond-Body-Out-Body/dp/0062513710/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2JY6QPTRQHJW7R0XNHHS which changed my Life as it allowed me to have my first Outer Body expeirence. This experience allowed me to connect the dots I needed to make the next steps. After that moment I wrote myself a note on google docs telling my future self how excited I was to become an explorer of the mind, a journeyman into the unknown.

Thanks again for taking the time for sharing such a wonderful message!

Much Love and Life!

It looks like you are asking the right questions. It's normal to feel overwhelmed with this.

>Happines is when you let go of your ego,when you make peace with being computer with no free will,making peace with the fact that we are not gods but insignificant blink in the grand universe that doesnt matter to anybody.

Why do you think that dropping the ego will make you happy, isn't happiness is a charasteristic of the ego?

I think a more realistic goal would be to feel peace, to be ok with whatever happens. If you were happy all the time it would eventually be torture. Like having your favorite meal everyday.

>I want to make choice between good and evil

If the person is simply a computer running some software, then the choice is not yours to make. Why worry?

This is very hard to explain in a single comment, and without feedback (like a conversation). But the key question here is: What am I?

To me, it feels like your pain comes from not knowing yourself. There are many ways to start the journey into yourself, depending on your background, you might find some easier than others.

If have a philosophical/scientific background, Alan Watts might help you. Out of Your Mind, Become What You Are, and The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are are all great reads, it doesn't matter which one you pick, they are all pretty similar.

Alternatively, Mooji might help you with his extreme simplicity and straight-to-the-point style of writing/talking. Vaster Than Sky, Greater Than Space: What You Are Before You Became is a great book for starting out your spiritual journey, although it will require an open mind.

There are many other alternatives, but I think those are good starting points. I know linking some books is not the best way to help out but I feel like I would only confuse you more if I keep talking so, Alan and Mooji can do a better job than me in that regard.

If you have any questions though, feel free to ask/DM me.

For the sake of completeness, I'll give it a shot at replying to your original questions:

What is choice? An illusion created by mind. You could see it as inverse-rationalization of what just happened. Like, when you have to pick whether you want to eat A or B, and cant decide, you spend a few minutes with it and then... you make a completely sporadic choice!

Who makes it? It's simply a matter of action/reaction, it was made for you by your environment and conditioning.

Who regrets it? Mind.

What are we humans? Humans are not separate from the rest of the universe. Form and Name are big lies.

Does it even matter? It matters if you pay attention to mind. Mattering only exists in Mind's realm. Nothing matters if there isn't someone to worry about it.

Congrats and welcome to the club...or maybe almost to the club (though it sounds like you were possibly close). :)

There are tons of books out there on the subject of Out of Body Experience / Astral Projection. You will find that authors generally fall into one of three categories: -1- traditionalists (with occult explanations for OBEs); -2- realists (believe OBEs are entirely internal experiences, lucid dreams, or some other natural phenomena / hallucination); -3 - mystics (believe the realms explored are real or diverging realities / planes of existence).

I've read and amassed a small library on this subject because it became very important to me when I started regularly having OBEs. Through my reading and personal experiences, I definitely recommend starting with two of the better known authors in the mystical camp: Robert Monroe (who has already been mentioned), followed by William Buhlman. The books you want are Journeys out of Body and Adventures Beyond the Body. These books will do a good job of covering many great OBE techniques, as well as provide inspiration and motivation. They're good reads too... :)

Some may recommend books by Robert Bruce, but I would advise against his stuff (at least in the beginning)...his energy work is an interesting approach...however, if your goal is to gain OBE / AP quickly, there are better methods.

I am currently working my way through Explorations in Consciousness by Frederick Aardema. This book is very very good. I would go so far to say that it is possibly my favorite book on the subject. The author does such a great job of pulling together information on the subject from all sides...it is (mostly) a non-mystical take on OBEs, but completely objective and inclusive of all possibilities.

Anyway, the topic of OBEs is something that is very personal and you should formulate your own conclusions. Give it time though and remain open. Read as much as you can on the subject. I think you'll find though that once you have a full-fledged OBE, you will figure out what you believe rather quickly. For me, I simply "knew" it was real. Hard to put in words, really beyond this knowing.

Just keep trying and practicing and eventually you'll end up either having lucid dreams you can control, or intentionally astral projecting. either one leads you to the same realm/space.

I recommend getting in tune with meditation, and also working with the chakra system this well help you work through those vibrations and help get your mind in a more better state in order to achieve such experiences.

as far as encounters with other beings go, I can't really comment on that it's up to you to honestly decide if you felt it was just your mind or a actual encounter, but you're on the right track for sure, just keep documenting dreams and recording results and exploring eventually things will come about.

If I may ill recommend the following book.

http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Beyond-Body-Out---Body/dp/0062513710/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457883512&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=astral+travel+journeys+beyond+the+body

This book will change the way in which you experience the astral, my dreams haven't been the same sense I read this and applied the techniques along with using dream supplements. If you want wicked dreams try the supplement called alpha brain if you have the money to spare, even if you don't want the no brain fog effects the dream states it can induce is quite intense. ... In one dream I got sucked into the clouds, levitating and spinning around as a storm and a god like voice commanded and was talking to me. it asked what I wanted to know.. long story short i got sucked into the cloud whirling around all while some godly voice was spitting odd knowledge to me... gibberish sub concious mumbo jumbo? maybe. but the thing is, supplements + knowing what your doing or dream herbs in general + knowing what your doing can lead to crazy experiences, so much fun so if that's your cup of tea definitely try that out. If alpha brain is to much for you you may try out a cheaper dream herb thats safe as well.

Im no master astral traveler but the astral realm is loads of fun, even more fun on supplements lol. be safe, have fun, record results.

It's the Winter Solstice, so that's probably why your searching isn't turning up anything. You are so thoughtful to do this for her! What to get her obviously depends on her personality and interests, so if you could tell us a little bit more about her in general that would probably help.

Not knowing what kind of things she already has does make it difficult to recommend things, but I'm going to link you some books that are of general interest but not the kind of thing that most folks already have in a basic library, if that makes sense.

The Return of the Light and In the Light of the Moon are two charming little books full of stories from around the world about the Winter Solstice and the full moon, respectively.

The Charge of the Goddess - The Poetry of Doreen Valiente is a small volume of poetry by one of the most influential women in Wicca.

The Circle Within is a thoughtful, down-to-earth guide for better incorporating Wicca into one's daily life. Very helpful.

The Earth Path is perfect for the ecologically-minded. It shows witches how to really get out in nature and experience it.

A Book of Pagan Prayer is a plain little book packed with a huge variety of prayers and information on creating them.

Depends on what I want, study or practice. But my most recent have been...

Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silence-Power-Quiet-World-Noise/dp/1846044340/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453563033&sr=1-1&keywords=silence+thich+nhat+hanh

For daily living the books by Thich Nhat Hanh are fantastic, especially the power of silence. The book is aimed at all audiences but really goes in to depth showcasing how life in the west especially has become out of control, we are constantly imbued with noise, constantly thinking and never truly coming home to ourselves, so our suffering is always 'ours' carried by us everywhere until it begins to spill out in our actions and thoughts.

In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Buddhas-Words-Anthology-Discourses-Teachings/dp/0861714911/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453563240&sr=1-1&keywords=Bikkhu+bodhi

I really like both this book and the middle length discourses for when I desire to feel 'closer' to the teachings. This book in particular takes teachings from the the pali canon and presents those which bear the most relevance to life today. The teachings are very profound and each suttra is very powerful. Many of the questions here could be easily answered by reading these translations of the discourses by Bikkhu Bodhi.

Although I do feel these are books for the book shelf as the suttras are kept purposely intact but it means there is a lot of cumbersome repetition and one or two suttras a session are best I find.

Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: Majjhima-Nikaya: New Translation (Teachings of the Buddha)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Middle-Length-Discourses-Buddha-Majjhima-Nikaya/dp/086171072X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453564072&sr=1-1&keywords=bhikkhu+bodhi+the+middle+discourses

This book focuses more on the Buddha's time at jetta grove and a lot of the pages describe his dealings with the monastics, but also detail his meetings with all walks of life from princes to simple villagers. There is the classic hell suttra too, which is gruesome and had me in contemplation for a while! The teachings are profound though and any discerning Buddhist would benefit from reading the texts.


http://www.buddhanet.net/chin_bud.htm

'The translated teachings of Miao Yun'

This is not so much a book as a collection of teachings which have been translated for a western audience. The words however contain a lot of wisdom and really detail the framework of a path from human to buddha-hood and the importance of cultivating core values such as wisdom and compassion.

I used to love all those new age books! Why not head down to the used bookstore and pick up half a dozen books that look fun out of that section? There's always something entertaining there. If she's a true believer, avoid anything that suggests people can survive by eating nothing but air.

Or, if she's not a true believer but just interested in the subject, have you considered getting her some non-fiction books that delve into the psychology behind ghost sightings and such? Like Investigating the Paranormal (less skeptical) or Demon-Haunted World (much more skeptical)?

Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches was a fascinating read and IIRC largely historical. She might also enjoy branching out into a book like The Predictioneer's Game, which is about game theory and how to use it effectively in modern life.

If she likes mysteries at all, I suggest Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time. It's about a police officer who is laid up in hospital and decides to use the time to solve a famous historical mystery. You could also consider biographies of strong and active women who inspire -- Princess Diana, maybe, or Martha Stewart?

(Edited to add links)

I see. But no worries, information about how to do them are all over the internet nowadays.

There's this three-part video seminars by Michael Raduga "Leave your body in three days":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQjAIlFZWWc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dj9gTiLHf8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BMnGi8yxTQ

He also has free article and e-books that might help you here:

https://obe4u.com/how-to-lucid-dream/

https://obe4u.com/lucid-dreaming-books-free/

And other books that you can try finding online for free or purchasing to support the author:

Astral Dynamics Book by Robert Bruce:

https://www.amazon.com/Astral-Dynamics-Out-Body-Experience-ebook/dp/B008K06AOM

Journeys out of the body by Robert Monroe:

https://www.amazon.com/Journeys-Out-Body-Out-Body-ebook/dp/B00OWWOM2O

And many others, too.

And there's also always the Wiki of this subreddit that contains basic information that will hopefully serve you well, including dispelling misconceptions about AP, Self-defense in the Astral Planes, and various other reddit posts, articles and websites that contain very useful information. We also made sure to organize a table of contents for this as well to help with information overview:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AstralProjection/wiki/index

If you truly want to go back practicing this skill, it seems you will have to go back from square one, but at the very least it seems practicing the basics again will catapult you quickly towards immediately being able to induce conscious OOBE/Astral Projection, like a muscle memory being awakened once more.

It's a whole new world out there, I really highly encourage you to continue; this skill will help you tremendously on your journey towards personal and spiritual development (I gave some ideas on how in this sub's wiki, around the "Benefits of Astral Projection" section).

Best of luck on your journeys.

It is confusing, but not something that can be easily summarized in a post.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143038192/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_SHufAbVP5DDP8 is still a good breakdown of the modern pagan movement and different groups you might find. http://www.witchvox.com looks like it was designed in the 90s but is still a good resource and is updated, you can find groups there too. http://wildhunt.org is a news blog if you want to see what’s going on today. There are other sites but that’ll get you started.

You can probably tell some folks are a bit sensitive about history. Some swear up and down that their traditions go back unbroken since forever, others will say that all neopagan traditions are reconstructionist and formed in the last century or so (give or take 50 years). The sensitivity comes from people feeling that the newer the tradition the less legitimate it is… but aren’t all religions and spiritual paths made up by someone?

Here’s the thing. You are in charge of your own spiritual journey and your connection to whatever you call your higher power/s is your own and no one else’s. Imho humans are creatures of habit and ritual. It sets the mind to task, even if that’s getting a cup of coffee and reading your email before work to help set up your day. Pagan rituals are a fame work to help you create sacred space, and there’s a psychology to it. What Wiccans call raising a cone of power is similar to what Jim Morrison did in his trancelike long performances where they would speed up and slow down the tempo, ending it in a release. Lots of pagan rituals across many paths use this old technique of syncing heartbeats with music. Other religions use this to a greater or lesser degree but most pagans use it with intent along with myth and symbolism of the wheel of the year which is a death/rebirth myth we re-enact over and over. It’s up to you to figure out what it all means. Beyond historic fact you decide your truth. There’s no dogma really. All the different traditions do is provide structure to work in. There’s no ‘true’ path. Just yours.

If you like more academic reading, I suggest The Hero with a Thousand Faces (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1577315936/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_C9ufAbYFREXB5
Out of Your Mind: Tricksters, Interdependence, and the Cosmic Game of Hide and Seek https://www.amazon.com/dp/1622037529/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_G.ufAb9673FJ3
Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345409876/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_J-ufAbH37W34C
None of these are ‘pagan’ books, think of them more as companion philosophy/psychology behind myths. The last book is geared more towards women but it’s a good read regarding the female archetype in myth.

Nobody can give you concrete answers. You gotta do what anyone curious must do. Read and figure it out for yourself.

If you want to read something on this topic, take a look at this book: https://www.amazon.com/Afterlife-Unveiled-Telling-About-Their/dp/1846944961/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478554893&sr=8-1&keywords=afterlife+unveiled

It is written by Stafford Betty, a professor of Religion at California State University (I think). First off, this isn't based off the usual scientific evidence we are used to in our published Science - otherwise you wouldn't be posting this question. This is based off hundreds of spirit medium accounts across last 200 years across different parts of the world (with a lot of verification going on by the professor in different ways). The professor found them to be coherent in their descriptions, cross-verified them, did whatever verification he could to make sure he only included "truthful and authentic" accounts and then organizes all his findings in this book. Of course I took all of it with a grain of salt since it does involve placing faith in the professor that he did his job as he said, but the reading itself is pretty stimulating and revealing. You will learn a lot about various ideas that may exist in the after-life. And the fact that most accounts recorded separately across eras/locations agree on a lot of detail is pretty interesting in itself.

And just philosophically speaking (i.e. even if all of it is BS in factual terms), it's a great read.

EDIT: Looks like he is out with a new book, that focuses on the evidence part:
https://www.amazon.com/When-Ever-Become-Dying-AFTERLIFE-ebook/dp/B01J1XO2QE/ref=la_B001KDCRH0_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478555274&sr=1-2

I haven't read it but I might.

The Following list is taken from the Witches & Warlocks FB page. (This is Christian Day's group)

Witches and Warlocks Recommended Reading List
This is a collection of books recommended by our admins and participants in the group. Books must be approved by the admins so if you'd like to see one added to the last, please post it in the comments at the bottom of this list and, if it's something we think is appropriate, we'll add it! We provide links to Amazon so folks can read more about the book but we encourage you to shop at your local occult shop whenever possible! :)


BEGINNER'S WITCHCRAFT BOOKS

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft
by Raymond Buckland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0875420508

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America
by Margot Adler
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0143038192

Grimoire of the Thorn-Blooded Witch: Mastering the Five Arts of Old World Witchery
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635500

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738702765

The Kybalion: The Definitive Edition
by William Walker Atkinson (Three Initiates)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1585428744

Lid Off the Cauldron: A Wicca Handbook
by Patricia Crowther
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1861630328

Mastering Witchcraft
by Paul Huson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0595420060

Natural Magic
by Doreen Valiente
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0919345808

Natural Witchery: Intuitive, Personal & Practical Magick
by Ellen Dugan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738709220

Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern Days
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635055

The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738705314

Power of the Witch: The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment
by Laurie Cabot
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385301898

Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation
by Silver RavenWolf
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703192

Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703389

Witch: A Magickal Journey
by Fiona Horne
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0007121326

Witchcraft for Tomorrow
by Doreen Valiente
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0709052448

Witchcraft Today
by Gerald Gardner
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806525932
The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical Transformation
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/073870265X
The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill
by Robin Artisson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982031882

WITCHCRAFT HISTORY AND RESOURCE BOOKS

Aradia or The Gospel of the Witches
by Charles Godfrey Leland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982432356

Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints & Sages: A Guide to Asking for Protection, Wealth, Happiness, and Everything Else!
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0062009575

The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca
by Rosemary Ellen Guiley
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0816071047

Etruscan Roman Remains
by Charles Godfrey Leland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1494302519

The God of the Witches
by Margaret Murray
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0195012704

The Weiser Field Guide to Witches, The: From Hexes to Hermione Granger, From Salem to the Land of Oz
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634792

ADVANCED BOOKS ON WITCHCRAFT AND MAGIC

Blood Sorcery Bible Volume 1: Rituals in Necromancy
by Sorceress Cagliastro
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935150812

The Deep Heart of Witchcraft: Expanding the Core of Magickal Practice
by David Salisbury
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1780999208

Teen Spirit Wicca
by David Salisbury
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1782790594

Enchantment: The Witch's Art of Manipulation by Gesture, Gaze and Glamour
by Peter Paddon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936922517

Initiation into Hermetics
by Franz Bardon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1885928122

Letters from the Devil's Forest: An Anthology of Writings on Traditional Witchcraft, Spiritual Ecology and Provenance Traditionalism
by Robin Artisson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500796360

Magical Use of Thought Forms: A Proven System of Mental & Spiritual Empowerment
by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowick and J.H. Brennan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567180841

Magick in Theory and Practice
by Aleister Crowley
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500380679

The Plant Spirit Familiar
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982774311

Protection and Reversal Magick
by Jason Miller
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1564148793
Psychic Self-Defense
by Dion Fortune
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635098
The Ritual Magic Workbook: A Practical Course of Self-Initiation
by Dolores Ashcroft-Norwicki
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578630452
The Roebuck in the Thicket: An Anthology of the Robert Cochrane Witchcraft Tradition
by Evan John Jones, Robert Cochrane and Michael Howard
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1861631553

The Satanic Witch
by Anton Szandor LaVey
http://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Witch-Anton-Szandor-LaVey/dp/0922915849
Shadow Magick Compendium: Exploring Darker Aspects of Magickal Spirituality
by Raven Digitalis
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VS0N5K
The Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition
by Orion Foxwood
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634075
The Underworld Initiation: A journey towards psychic transformation
by R.J. Stewart
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1892137038

HERBALISM, CANDLES, INCENSE, OILS, FORMULARIES, AND STONES

A Compendium of Herbal Magic
by Paul Beyerl
http://www.amazon.com/dp/091934545X

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
by Scott Cunningham
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0875421229

The Enchanted Candle: Crafting and Casting Magickal Light
by Lady Rhea
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806525789

The Enchanted Formulary: Blending Magickal Oils for Love, Prosperity, and Healing
by Lady Maeve Rhea
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806527048

Incense: Crafting and Use of Magickal Scents
by Carl F. Neal
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703362

Magickal Formulary Spellbook Book 1
by Herman Slater
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0939708000

Magickal Formulary Spellbook: Book II
by Herman Slater
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0939708108


SPELLCASTING AND SPELLBOOKS
Crone's Book of Charms & Spells
by Valerie Worth
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567188117

Crone's Book of Magical Words
by Valerie Worth
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567188257

Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061711233

Everyday Magic: Spells & Rituals for Modern Living
by Dorothy Morrison
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567184693

Pure Magic: A Complete Course in Spellcasting
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578633915
Utterly Wicked: Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions
by Dorothy Morrison
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0979453313
The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook
by Denise Alvarado
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635136

The Voodoo Doll Spellbook: A Compendium of Ancient and Contemporary Spells and Rituals
by Denise Alvarado
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578635543


THE ANCESTORS AND WORKING WITH THE DEAD
The Cauldron of Memory: Retrieving Ancestral Knowledge & Wisdom
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738715751

The Mighty Dead
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982774370

Speak with the Dead: Seven Methods for Spirit Communication
by Konstantinos
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738705225
The Witches' Book of the Dead
by Christian Day
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635063
_____
TAROT

78 Degrees of Wisdom
by Rachel Pollack
http://www.amazon.com/dp/157863408

You sound like a bright eyed youth. Don't dim your bright eyes by seeking "realizations" by ingesting a chemical, man. It's only temporary, superficial "enlightenment". Be honest with yourself, you're just totally stoked and eager to take some drugs and "like, have all these PROFOUND realizations and get a way positive outlook man...". It's not like you haven't already crafted an image and an identity for your post-trip self that you fully intend on living up to..

What if I told you transcendental meditation and astral projection makes people think of things differently in a positive way and have realizations that they benefit from, similar to a great LSD experience? Would you be eagerly wanting to try it, and wanting to convince your girlfriend to try it too? Fuck no you wouldn't because you lack the discipline and you know it. You want to take a short cut that requires literally no thought or effort. You like drugs, and you want to justify your drug use as some kind of enlightenment-seeking, neo-shamanic, vision quest. You want to be a part of the internet counter culture of "educated drug users, who do their research".

What are your interests and hobbies in life? Do you have priorities? Let me recommend you books that will broaden your horizons to some mind blowing topics

In Search of Time: The History, Physics, and Philosophy of Time

Cybernetics, Second Edition: or the Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine

Astral Projection and the Nature of Reality: Exploring the Out-of-Body State

The Origins and History of Consciousness

Nothing: A Very Short Introduction

It could be viewed as a kind of hallucination I suppose but the experience is all encompassing. It's like you're really there. It's quite a visceral experience but in a surreal, dreamy way.

The kinds of experiences we can have are varied from person to person. And similarly, the way we interpret them can be just as varied. To some it is an extremely religious, spiritual experience. To others it's more like "well, that happened." So it really depends on you.

Fear of death is definitely an existential concern. But I think pursuing a special experience may not really be what you're looking for. I just can't say for you whether it would be validating or not. But you can explore lucid dreaming or OBE as something interesting to do. Treat it as a hobby if you're interested. But don't put too much into expectations for it to have special answers. At least that's my advice. Wish you well.

I don't have too much time to reply to this although I do want to suggest you do some research. A book that I would suggest is "how God works: a logical inquiry of faith" by Marshall Brain. It has some awesome information and logical points that I believe will help you figure things out. Best of luck brother.

http://www.amazon.com/How-God-Works-Logical-Inquiry/dp/1454910615

Historical

• Women in Old Norse Society - Probably one of the most balanced looks at the roles of men and women before, during, and after Christianization.
  
• The Dancing Goddess: Folklore, Archaeology, and the Origins of European Dance - Wonderful look at some of the origins of tradition that are rooted in dance from an Indo-European perspective.
  
• Norse Magical and Herbal Healing - Written in Iceland around the year 1500, the little book now known only as AM 434a is a treasure trove of medieval medical knowledge. It contains a number of magical spells, charms, prayers, runes, and symbols to bring health, wealth, and good fortune. The roots of the healing traditions in AM 434a go back thousands of years before the book itself was written.
  
  General Heathen Cultural Interest
  
  
• Gods of the Blood: The Pagan Revival and White Separatism - Really in depth book about the racialist Pagan movements, their origins, and how they think.
  
  
  The following are a bit controversial, but I feel they are worth reading:
  
  
• NeoPagan Rites by Isaac Bonewits - This is a rather religiously agnostic book, but it speaks to how to create rituals that work.
  
• Seeking the Mysteries: An Introduction to Pagan Theologies - I honestly found this book useful to be able to understand theological construction from a non-Christian POV.
  
  

I absolutely believe that you are receiving "signs" from your friend!

Shortly after my grandmother died she visited me one night in my sleep. I wasn't having a nebulous kind of dream, it was as real as I'm sitting here now.

It was SO GOOD to see her again! We chatted for about 20 minutes and I asked a lot of questions about her experience in the afterlife.

My first question was, "So, what's it like? What happens when we die?"

She answered, "Well, it's not like what you were taught in Sunday School", then went on to explain what happens and what "heaven" was like... as best as she could.

To sum up everything she told me, she said, "I'm home now. This is where I'm supposed to be."

The whole experience was very comforting and assuring.

I'm sure your friend is sending you signs to let you know that he is OK. I encourage you to just "talk" with your friend. He will hear you and know that you are thinking about him.

Edit: Here is a book I recently read. It's called The Afterlife Unveiled: What the dead are telling us about their world. I can't say that I 100% believe everything that was written in the book but it sure did answer a lot of questions I had and confirmed my experience with my grandmother.

Here is his second book on the subject.

James DeKorne has an excellent amalgamated version up on his website called the Gnostic Book of Changes. It includes the Wilhelm version for which Carl Jung famously wrote an excellent forward. I recommend that you read that forward regardless of which version you ultimately settle upon.

I’ve likewise found Lon Milo Duquette’s I Ching of Mi Lo to be eminently readable and, therefore useful. It’s a good option if you don’t mind e-books.

As for physical copies, the one I use most often the “Original I Ching Oracle” printed by the Eranos Institute. It weighs in at a whopping 864 pages (!), but it’s quite thorough and offers a sort of “tag cloud” approach to the Tarot.

Best of luck at any rate. The Eastern “software” of the I Ching doesn’t always run smoothly on my Western “hardware”.

Glad to hear you're enjoying my stuff!

So, naturally all these will be geared more towards folk magic as that's what I practice:

Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic(http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodooherbmagic.html)

Also known as "The Green Bible." Herbs and root found all over the America's and how to use them. Should be on every budding wizards shelf.

Blood in the Bayou
https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Bayou-Operations-Techniques-Conjure-Work/dp/1936922789

A more shamanic treatment of Conjure. Very good for getting to know spirits and how to work with the land around you.

A Deck of Spells: Hoodoo Playing Card Magic in Rootwork and Conjure
(https://www.amazon.com/Deck-Spells-Playing-Rootwork-Conjure/dp/097196128X/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZJM8Z08C7Q2N5CNYV96A)

An amazing asset. Covers how to read cards as well as how playing cards can be used in spellcraft. This will change the way you do magic forever.

The Sporting Life: How to Help Yourself with Hoodoo from the Streets to the Sheets
https://www.amazon.com/Sporting-Life-Yourself-Hoodoo-Streets/dp/0996147128/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499446765&sr=1-4

A must have for the budding illegalist! This is an amazing history of lumpenprole magic as well as practical techniques any Anarcho-Mage should aim to know. From how to keep the cops away to drawing clients to a whorehouse, this is truly a one-of-a-kind

COMMUNING WITH THE SPIRITS: The Magical Practice of Necromancy
https://www.amazon.com/COMMUNING-SPIRITS-Magical-Practice-Necromancy/dp/1413484379

In my mind the only book that deals with the possibilities and dangers of Necromancy in a real way. No fluff, no filler, just practical techniques for working with dead people. Something you'd find in a college course on magic.

Not sure if there's any books that cover Cannabis and Tantra. There is a book 'Cannabis and Spirituality' but I haven't read it.

Would be interested to know your experiences as I've had some pretty intense things happen as well.

Hey! This is a great topic to explore! I highly recommend these books as they talk about this, in depth, and from different points of view:

The Starseed Transmissions

The Universe is a Dream

The Dissapearance of the Universe

Yes. My tip is to do good research; read the primary sources related to the myths/deities you are working with, along with any credible secondary sources. A good resource is Serith's A Book of Pagan Prayer

Check out “Cannabis and Spirituality: An Explorer’s Guide to an Ancient Plant Spirit Ally”. (https://www.amazon.com/Cannabis-Spirituality-Explorers-Ancient-Spirit/dp/1620555832) I thought it was pretty good.

This book is amazing and offers a bunch of insights from different people.

https://smile.amazon.com/Cannabis-Spirituality-Explorers-Ancient-Spirit/dp/1620555832?sa-no-redirect=1

You might be interested in the story from the guy who spent time with sahdus in India. Lots of different perspectives in that book.

Excerpt from the OP

>So, how can an individual realize that they are the universal self? In what way can a person who is under the impression that they are a separate individual enclosed in a bag of skin effectively realize that they are Brahman? This, of course, is a curious question. It proposes a journey to the place where you already are. Now, it’s true that you may not know that you are there, but you are. And if you take a journey to the place where you are, you will visit many other places than the place where you are, and perhaps when you find through some long experience that all the places you go to are not the place you wanted to find, it may occur to you that you were already there in the beginning. And that is the Dharma, or “method,” as I prefer to translate the word. That’s the method that all gurus and spiritual teachers fundamentally use. So, they are all tricksters, but in the most beneficent sense of the word trickster. [Source](https://www.amazon.com/Out-Your-Mind-Tricksters-Interdependence-ebook/dp/B01N78BJEF/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1495554527&sr=1-1&keywords=9781622037537
)

Like Terence McKenna, I prefer Alan Watts' speaking to his writing. His lecture series Out of Your Mind had an extremely powerful impact on me (transcript available in book form).

I have been reading (actually listening to the audiobook) a book that offers a lot of practical advice for using cannabis for meditation, creativity and spirituality. Might be an interesting read for the more introspective among us.

https://www.amazon.com/Cannabis-Spirituality-Explorers-Ancient-Spirit/dp/1620555832

https://www.amazon.com/Astral-Projection-Nature-Reality-Body/dp/1571744479

This is the one I've read. :)

I would start with this book, it was my fist one and still my fav

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Beyond-Body-Out-Body/dp/0062513710/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525805331&sr=8-1&keywords=william+out+of+body

This is the first channel through which I ever came into contact with the subject of aliens in a meaningful way.

Just came out with a new book y'all.

https://www.amazon.com/Backwoods-Witchcraft-Conjure-Magic-Appalachia/dp/1578636531

https://www.amazon.com/Besom-Stang-Sword-Traditional-Witchcraft/dp/157863637X

https://www.amazon.com/Candle-Crossroads-Appalachian-Southern-Root-Work/dp/157863508X

https://www.amazon.com/Conjure-Workbook-Working-Root/dp/1936922568

https://www.reddit.com/r/pagan/comments/706j10/granny_magicappalachian_books_to_recommend/

http://oakthorne.net/wiki/index.php?title=Appalachian_Granny_Magic

https://appalachianink.net/2015/09/06/the-last-of-the-granny-witches/

https://wildhunt.org/2012/12/appalachia-the-spirit-in-the-mountains.html

https://home.wlu.edu/~lubint/Touchstone/AppalachiaMagick-Irvin.htm

https://witchesofthecraft.com/2018/05/05/different-paths-of-witchcraft-appalachian-granny-magic/

http://stregheria.com/

https://paganlibrary.com/reference/on_hereditary_italian_witchcraft.php

https://www.rueskitchen.com/

https://www.amazon.com/COMMUNING-SPIRITS-Magical-Practice-Necromancy/dp/1413484379

5)https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Beyond-Body-Out-Body/dp/0062513710/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1505779612&sr=1-1&keywords=astral+projection+buhlman

One book is this and the other is this. Both by Robert Munroe.

>Again, it is not their historicity that is important - you said yourself that doctrine isn't any more true because it is older and I agreed.

Well, let's distinguish age from accuracy. By "historicity," I mean the degree of verifiable reliability of a text. Something can be old but still be reliable. However, the gospels do not appear to be a reliable record. Only an old one.

>The "proof" you seek will most likely never come to you if you are approaching it from this angle. This is not something you "think about" for a while and then "get". It is something you live, and then experience. I mean this in a very practical sense.

I look at it like this. Claims of miraculous events are made about a man. He walks on water, raises the dead, casts out evil spirits, converts water to wine, multiplies fish and bread enough to feed a small army. He's purported to have said that he's the son of God. And not in the colloquial way they used back then, that we were all "sons of God" or "children of God." And not even in the way that the regional kings used. He's purported to have said that he's the direct issue of the creator of the universe. Half man, half deity, and no one comes to his dad but through him.

If this person was standing in front of me right now, saying these things, I'd back away slowly and keep my hand on my wallet. If other people were saying these things for decades, in an oral tradition where facts get mixed up and the storytellers embellish, and it's getting translated from Aramaic to ancient Greek in the process, I think I'd have even less reason to believe their claims. I don't think it's a bad angle to say, "I'm not so sure about that" until shown otherwise. What I live and experience never crosses over into a realm where such claims become compelling.

And I do actively explore the possibility of the supernatural. I just don't do it from a theistic perspective. While theistic perspectives of this phenomenon do exist, they are decidedly outnumbered by non-theistic experiences of people who have no particular implulse towards challenging or doubting the claims of any religion. Of course, I readily admit that their claims are just as potentially suspect as those of a theist. But these are claims that I can actually test.