Best Mythology & Folklore Encyclopedias Books
Here you will get Best Mythology & Folklore Encyclopedias Books For you.This is an up-to-date list of recommended books.
1. The Hero with a Thousand Faces (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell)
Author: by Joseph Campbell
New World Library
English
432 pages
Since its release in 1949, The Hero with a Thousand Faces has influenced millions of readers by combining the insights of modern psychology with Joseph Campbell’s revolutionary understanding of comparative mythology. In these pages, Campbell outlines the Hero’s Journey, a universal motif of adventure and transformation that runs through virtually all of the world’s mythic traditions.
He also explores the Cosmogonic Cycle, the mythic pattern of world creation and destruction. As part of the Joseph Campbell Foundation’s Collected Works of Joseph Campbell, this third edition features expanded illustrations, a comprehensive bibliography, and more accessible sidebars. As relevant today as when it was first published, The Hero with a Thousand Faces continues to find new audiences in fields ranging from religion and anthropology to literature and film studies.
The book has also profoundly influenced creative artistsincluding authors, songwriters, game designers, and filmmakersand continues to inspire all those interested in the inherent human need to tell stories.
2
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
Author: by Carl Sagan
Ballantine Books
English
457 pages
A prescient warning of a future we now inhabit, where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populaceA glorious book … A spirited defense of science … From the first page to the last, this book is a manifesto for clear thought.
Los Angeles Times How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don’t understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience and the testable hypotheses of science? Pulitzer Prize-winning author and distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan argues that scientific thinking is critical not only to the pursuit of truth but to the very well-being of our democratic institutions.
Casting a wide net through history and culture, Sagan examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies of the past as witchcraft, faith healing, demons, and UFOs. And yet, disturbingly, in today’s so-called information age, pseudoscience is burgeoning with stories of alien abduction, channeling past lives, and communal hallucinations commanding growing attention and respect.
3. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series) (Cunningham's Encyclopedia Series, 1)
Author: by Scott Cunningham
Llewellyn Publications
English
318 pages
Expanded and revised, this comprehensive guide features magical uses of over 400 herbs and plants from all parts of the world. With over 400,000 copies in print, this reference book is a must for all who perform natural magic. It features illustrations for easy identification of every herb, in addition to common names, use, and rulership.
4. Runes for Beginners: A Guide to Reading Runes in Divination, Rune Magic, and the Meaning of the Elder Futhark Runes
Author: by Lisa Chamberlain
English
136 pages
1912715015
Everything You Need to Know to Begin Working With RunesThe enigmatic nature of the runes is undeniable. In fact, the English word rune comes to us from the Norse word runa, which means a secret, or to whisper. As symbols, the runes mean little to the untrained eye, yet the magical energies they activate can be used for positive, impactful change in your everyday life.
But what are runes, exactly? On the surface level, runes are the characters in a writing system used by the ancient Germanic peoples of Europe. But unlike our modern letters, the runic symbols had been used for magical purposes long before they were fashioned into an alphabet.
This is known from runic inscriptions found on ancient artifacts as well as Germanic myth and lore handed down over the centuries. Indeed, those who work with the runes today are taking part in an age-old magical tradition established by our Northern European pagan ancestors.
In Runes for Beginners, best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain shines the light on these ancient symbols, showing you how to discover and utilize their unique magical energies. With both an eye toward tradition and a multicultural spirit, Lisa combines an appreciation for the Germanic roots of the runes with a more eclectic Neopagan approach.
5. The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume
Author: by Marvin W. Meyer
0061626007
HarperOne
English
The Nag Hammadi Scriptures, edited by Marvin Meyer, is the most complete, up-to-date, one-volume, English-language edition of the renowned library of Gnostic manuscripts discovered in Egypt in 1945, which rivaled the Dead Sea Scrolls find in significance. It includes the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and the recently discovered Gospel of Judas, as well as other Gnostic gospels and sacred texts.
This volume also includes introductory essays, notes, tables, glossary, index, etc. To help the reader understand the context and contemporary significance of these texts which have shed new light on early Christianity and ancient thought. The compilation of ancient manuscripts that constitute The Nag Hammadi Scriptures is a discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about the early Christian church, ancient Judaism, and Greco-Roman religions.
6. The Book of Symbols. Reflections on Archetypal Images
Author: by Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism (ARAS)
TASCHEN
English
808 pages
The Book of Symbols combines original and incisive essays about particular symbols with representative images from all parts of the world and all eras of history. The highly readable texts and over 800 beautiful full-color images come together in a unique way to convey hidden dimensions of meaning.Each of the ca.
350 essays examines a given symbol’s psychic background, and how it evokes psychic processes and dynamics. Etymological roots, the play of opposites, paradox and shadow, the ways in which diverse cultures have engaged a symbolic imageall these factors are taken into consideration.
Authored by writers from the fields of psychology, religion, art, literature, and comparative myth, the essays flow into each other in ways that mirror the psyche’s unexpected convergences. There are no pat definitions of the kind that tend to collapse a symbol; a still vital symbol remains partially unknown, compels our attention and unfolds in new meanings and manifestations over time.
8. The World's Religions (Plus)
Author: by Huston Smith
0061660183
HarperOne
English
The World’s Religions, by beloved author and pioneering professor Huston Smith (Tales of Wonder), is the definitive classic for introducing the essential elements and teachings of the world’s predominant faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, as well as regional native traditions.
This revised and updated edition provides sympathetic descriptions of the various traditions, explaining how they work from the inside, which is a big reason why this cherished classic has sold more than two million copies since it first appeared in 1958.
9. Wicca Spellbook Starter Kit: A Book of Candle, Crystal, and Herbal Spells (Wicca Starter Kit Series)
Author: by Lisa Chamberlain
English
315 pages
1912715473
Everything You Need to Know to Start Working Magic with Candles, Crystals and HerbsAre you looking for some inspiration to take your magical practice to the next level? The Wicca Spellbook Starter Kit from best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain offers three collections of spellwork focused on the powerful energies of candles, colors, crystals, mineral stones, and magical herbs.
Together, these books form a comprehensive grimoire of accessible, practical magic to help you further your own unique practice. Each Book of Shadows in this set expands on a form of magic covered in Lisa’s three beginner guides, Candle Magic, Crystal Magic, and Herbal Magic.
They can be used as companions to these guides, but they also stand on their own. The 160 magical workings within are designed for beginners and more advanced practitioners alike. Book of Candle SpellsBook of Candle Spells focuses on working with the Element of Fire, and the potent vibrational frequencies of the visible light spectrum.
10. Wheelock's Latin, 7th Edition (The Wheelock's Latin Series)
Author: by Frederic M. Wheelock
Collins Reference
English
608 pages
For nearly sixty years, Wheelock’s Latin has remained the optimus liber of beginning Latin textbooks. When Professor Frederic M. Wheelock’s Latin first appeared in 1956, the reviews extolled its thoroughness, organization, and conciseness; one reviewer predicted that the book “might well become the standard text” for introducing students to elementary Latin.
Now, nearly six decades later, that prediction has certainly proved accurate. This new edition of Wheelock’s Latin has all of the features, many of them improved and expanded, that have made it the bestselling single-volume beginning Latin textbook: 40 chapters with grammatical explanations and readings drawn from the works of Rome’s major prose and verse writers; Self-tutorial exercises, each with an answer key, for independent study; An extensive EnglishLatin/LatinEnglish vocabulary section; A rich selection of original Latin readingsunlike other Latin textbooks, which contain primarily made-up texts; Etymological aids, maps, and dozens of images illustrating aspects of the classical culture and mythology presented in the chapter readings.
11. Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals
Author: by Luisah Teish
HarperOne
English
288 pages
A refreshed edition of Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Ritualsupdated with a note from the author sharing the changes that have occurred in the 30 years since its original publication. “A book of startling remembrances, revelations, directives, and imperatives, filled with the mysticism, wisdom, and common sense of the African religion of the Mother.
It should be read with the same open-minded love with which it was written.”Alice Walker, author of The Color PurpleSince its original publication in 1985, Jambalaya has become a classic among Women’s Spirituality Educators, practitioners of traditional Africana religions, environmental activists, and cultural creatives.
A mix of memoir, spiritual teachings, and practices from Afro-American traditions such as Ifa/Orisha, and New Orleans Voudou, it offers a fascinating introduction to the world of nature-based spirituality, Goddess worship, and rituals from the African diaspora. More relevant today than it was 36 years ago, the wisdom of Jambalaya reconnects us to the natural and spiritual world, and the centuries-old traditions of African ancestors, whose voices echo through time, guiding us and blending with our own.
12. Alice in Wonderland: The Original 1865 Edition With Complete Illustrations By Sir John Tenniel (A Classic Novel of Lewis Carroll)
Author: by Lewis Carroll
B0948LPG76
English
101 pages
And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversation? Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in WonderlandThis Beautiful edition contains complete original black and white illustrations by Sir John Tenniel. Alice in Wonderland is an 1865 novel by English author Lewis Carroll.
It tells of a young girl named Alice, who falls through a rabbit hole into a subterranean fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children.
One of the best-known and most popular works of English-language fiction, its narrative, structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential in popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre. The work has never been out of print and has been translated into at least 97 languages.
Its ongoing legacy encompasses many adaptations for stage, screen, radio, art, ballet, theme parks, board games and video games. A True Classic that Belongs on Every Bookshelf!
13. The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History (Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia, 3)
Author: by S. Theresa Dietz
Wellfleet
English
256 pages
The Complete Language of Flowers is a comprehensive encyclopedia providing the meanings, powers, facts, and folklore for over 1,001 flower species. Along with a beautiful visual depiction, each entry provides the flower’s scientific and common names, characteristics, and historic meanings and powers from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry.
For centuries, symbolic flower meanings have fascinated readers, writers, poets, and suddenly smitten couples alike. Extremely popular during the Victorian era, these floriographies flourished and versed the public on the hidden meaning of popular flowers such as:Purple TulipEternal loveAmaryllisAdventurousness; Enthusiasm; PassionDaisyBeauty and innocence; Cheer; Childlike playfulnessSunflowerAmbition; Constancy; DevotionTogether with stunning full-color illustrations and two indexes, one for searching by common flower name and the other organized by meaning, this beautiful reference is a must-have for gardeners, florists, and flower enthusiasts.
14. The Mythology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
Author: by DK
B07CSSK6NP
DK (May 3, 2018)
May 3, 2018
Explore eighty of the world’s greatest myths and characters, from the gods of Greek mythology to the Norse heroes, retold and explained with engaging text and bold graphics. From early creation stories to classical hero narratives and the recurring theme of the afterlife, experience each myth and unravel the meanings behind the stories, getting to the heart of the importance of mythology to different cultures worldwide.
More than just stories, myths are a testament to the amazing creativity of humans striving to explain and make sense of the world around them. Here you will discover Zeus, god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods, and Loki, the cunning trickster with a knack for causing havoc, aided by his ability to change shape and gender.
Beyond the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greek, Roman, and Norse myths, this book delves into the stories of the Australian aborigines, the Cherokee, and the Aztecs, each brimming with amazing characters and insights into human existence. This newest title in the bestselling Big Ideas series pairs engaging visual style with global coverage of world myths – profiling everything from the well-known tales of the Greeks, Norsemen, and Egyptians to the legends of the Caribbean, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia – bringing the wisdom of the ages to life.
15. The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews (Llewellyn's Practical Magick)
Author: by Scott Cunningham
Llewellyn Publications
English
288 pages
One of the secrets of real magic is that it is controlled by the mind. The more things in your ritual to help your mind associate with your goal, the more powerful your ritual may be. Colored candles, scented oils, natural incenses, and more all add to the impact of the magic you wish to do.
But how do you know which incense to burn? Is it possible to add scented oils together to get a more powerful oil? And how do you make your own appropriately-scented tools? The answers to questions like these and hundreds more can be found in The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews by world-famous author Scott Cunningham.
This is a greatly expanded and rewritten version of The Magic of Incenses, Oils and Brews. It includes over 100 new formulas, proportions for each element of the recipes (the most requested feature from his previous book), how to substitute ingredients, and much more.
Besides the formulas, it also includes the exact methods of making all of these scented tools, including how to extract the essences from the herbs. Each one of the formulas in this magic book is precise and easy to make.Do you need luck?
16
Codex Seraphinianus
Author: by Luigi Serafini
Rizzoli
English
396 pages
An extraordinary and surreal art book, this edition has been redesigned by the author and includes new illustrations. Ever since the Codex Seraphinianus was first published in 1981, the book has been recognized as one of the strangest and most beautiful art books ever made.
This visual encyclopedia of an unknown world written in an unknown language has fueled much debate over its meaning. Written for the information age and addressing the import of coding and decoding in genetics, literary criticism, and computer science, the Codex confused, fascinated, and enchanted a generation.
While its message may be unclear, its appeal is obvious: it is a most exquisite artifact. Blurring the distinction between art book and art object, this anniversary edition-redesigned by the author and featuring new illustrations-presents this unique work in a new, unparalleled light.
With the advent of new media and forms of communication and continuous streams of information, the Codex is now more relevant and timely than ever. A special limited and numbered deluxe edition that includes a signed print is also available.
