Practical Religion

New York Times bestseller One of PW’s Best Books of the Year One of Amazon’s Best Books of the Month Why is religion still around in the twenty-first century? Why do so many still believe? And how do various traditions still shape the way people experience everything from sexuality to...

"Simplicity,” wrote legendary occultist Jack Parsons, “has been the key to victory in all the idea wars and, at present, Magick does not have it.” In Practical Magick, acclaimed historian and esotericist Mitch Horowitz responds to this call, distilling magick to its core essentials. Drawing upon ancient, Hermetic, Renaissance-era, and modern sources, Mitch dissects the building blocks of magick and provides formulas of immediacy, simplicity, and potency.

Jim and Doug have seen it all. They have worked with many couples and have studied extensively to uncover the essential elements for making marriages thrive. This book is their early wedding gift to you: a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate road map for beginning your union. Filled with premium fuel for the journey—including meaningful exercises, hard truths, and conversations starters—this book will nourish and guide your relationship for the long haul.

There is joy and triumph in the Christian life. But the victory can come through struggle. John White knows this balance and gives us the encouragement to persevere. Here is a guide through the basic areas of Christian living we wrestle with throughout our lives: faith, prayer, temptation, evangelism, guidance, Bible study, fellowship, work. In this very personal audiobook, he offers new Christians sound first steps and older Christians refreshing insights into the struggles and the joys of freedom in Christ.

The jhānas are eight progressive altered states of consciousness that can be identified with the aspect of the Buddha’s Eightfold Path called Right Concentration. Training in concentration leads to these states, each of which yields a deeper and subtler state of awareness than the previous one. The jhānas are not in themselves awakening, but they are a skillful means for stilling the mind in a way that leads in that direction, and they are attainable by anyone who devotes the time and sincerity of practice necessary to realize them.

This audiobook reveals the glorious weaknesses of today's new breed of leader, as well as the Bible's most famous ones. It supplies practical direction to anyone who aspires to be a more effective leader, showing that a "limping" leader can be the person God uses to accomplish amazing things.

In Religion and Science (1961), Bertrand Russell's popular polemic against religious dogma, he covers the ground from demonology to quantum physics, yet concedes that science cannot touch the profound feelings of personal religious experience.

For us to perceive any of the worlds that exist beside our own, not only do we have to covet them but we need to have sufficient energy to seize them. In this revolutionary book, Carlos Castaneda offers listeners the key to this energetic conditioning for the first time, revealing a series of body positions and physical movements that enabled various sorcerers to navigate their own sorceric journeys. By sharing this wisdom, Carlos Castaneda makes it possible for listeners to travel to some of these other realms, which are as real, unique, absolute, and engulfing as our own world.

Despite our best efforts, many of us struggle with the same sins time and again, leaving us feeling hopeless in our searches for freedom. Pastor and author Neal Lozano knows this firsthand - and he's laid out a strategy, based on his years of experience, for you to overcome Satan's influence in your life. By focusing on Jesus' work instead of on the intimidating aspects of evil spirits, Lozano will help you discover freedom from sin, understand the biblical model of deliverance, stay free from sin, and guide others to freedom.

Master 10 meditation techniques in 10 days with the step- by-step method in Practical Meditation for Beginners. The key to building a solid meditation practice is in the practice itself. From Zen and Vipassana to walking meditations and body scans, the simple practices outlined in Practical Meditation for Beginners make it easy to build an ongoing meditation routine that is best for you. Practical Meditation for Beginners offers a clear 10-day program for learning 10 different meditation techniques - one for each day of the program.

Palmistry is an ancient science and an unsurpassed tool for character and emotion analysis. Everyone has the ability to tap its potential for insight, reflection, and greater understanding-and world acclaimed palmistry expert Vernon Mahabal will tell you how. Talk to the Hand reveals the tricks of the palm reader's trade and is organized around the most popular questions and inquiries the author has received over the years. It serves as a fascinating field guide for those who want a quick, accurate way to assess their own and other people's talents, abilities, and more.

In Practical Mysticism, Evelyn Underhill distills the essential (and comprehensible) steps that comprise the process of achieving mystical understanding. Though she uses the pantheon of Christian mystics as her guide, her methodology transcends any particular faith and offers a common sense approach to self-improvement and enhanced awareness.

As a hypnotherapist with more than 20 years of experience, Victoria Gallagher has been acknowledged as an expert in personal growth and teaching the law of attraction. Practical Law of Attraction is a comprehensive user guide that goes beyond theory and helps you to create a success mind-set to manifest your desires, using easy-to-follow everyday action steps. Listeners are invited to explore their true, unlimited potential, using a variety of techniques including meditation, visualization, self-hypnosis, journaling, gratitude, affirmations, and more.

In this audiobook, Visconti also illuminates the alchemical underpinnings of Thelema, revealing how the ancient quest to transmute base metals into gold finds a modern parallel in the inner work of self-transformation. Through clear explanations and step-by-step methods, listeners discover how to harness elemental forces and ritual techniques as part of a personal "Great Work," bridging the everyday self with the divine spark of one's True Will.

There are some books on magick that teach it purely as spiritual advancement. There are others that teach it as a form of psychological self-help that effects only inner change. While magick can and should be both of these, it is something more. The Sorcerer's Secrets is about success in practical magick; it is a book that aims at change in both the outer and inner worlds. Beyond a mere spell book or training course, The Sorcerer's Secrets is a field manual on successful sorcery written by a professional sorcerer.

The Apothecary of Belonging is a magickal journey through each of the four seasons with plant allies as our guides and companions. Alexis J. Cunningfolk explores how to know ourselves as land and as beings who deeply belong to the land and one another. Learn about the energetic foundations of traditional western herbalism that flow through the seasons within and around us and explore ways to map your inner landscape.

One carefully crafted wish can serve as a match that ignites lasting change in your life. With Laura Day’s brilliant book, The Circle, listeners will learn how to develop their inherent intuition and to create everything they want in their lives. Dreaming about the future does not need to remain a mere fantasy; thinking about the things you want brings them into the present moment and allows you to make room for them to flourish in your life.

Any Christian mother and father, or grandmother and grandfather, desires what is spiritually best for their children. However, knowing how to pray for them can often be as challenging as knowing what to pray. Without proper guidance, our prayers are prone to become dry, repetitive lists of requests. With the help of Dr. Erwin Lutzer, you can learn how your best, loving intentions can become enriching, effective intercessions for your children or grandchildren. Trade your lists of requests for Scripturally-based prayers that will immerse you in God’s promises and will.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga brings spirituality back to yoga. It shows how the Seven Spiritual Laws play a crucial role in yoga's path to enlightenment while providing listeners with a wealth of meditation techniques, mantras, breathing exercises, and yoga poses. Whether a newcomer to yoga or an experienced practitioner, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga is a portal to yoga's deeper spiritual dimension and a beautiful step to a happier, more harmonious, and more abundant life.

Many people feel a growing disenchantment with modern life; that something fundamental is missing or ‘wrong’. Our increased material wealth is making us less happy, not more. Mental health issues are on the rise, and we face an environmental crisis. Somehow, we have lost our way. People long for a deeper sense of connection, a greater purpose, and a more sustainable and natural way of living. Yet people are often unsure as to what they can do to find this. If you are ready, the practice of shamanism holds many answers.