Books published by Aeon Books Ltd

A comprehensive guide to the understanding and practicing Buddhist meditationThe very idea that the teachings can be mastered will arouse controversy within Buddhist circles. Even so, Ingram insists that enlightenment is an attainable goal, once our fanciful notions of it are stripped away, and we have learned to use meditation as a method for examining reality rather than an opportunity to wallow in self-absorbed mind-noise.Ingram sets out concisely the difference between concentration-based and insight (vipassana) meditation; he provides example practices; and most importantly he presents detailed maps of the states of mind we are likely to encounter, and the stages we must negotiate as we move through clearly-defined cycles of insight.Its easy to feel overawed, at first, by Ingram's assurance and ease in the higher levels of consciousness, but consistently he writes as a down-to-earth and compassionate guide, and to the practitioner willing to commit themselves this is a glittering gift of a book.In this new edition of the bestselling book, the author rearranges, revises and expands upon the original material, as well as adding new sections that bring further clarity to his ideas.

Psychedelics drugs were routinely used in clinical research and psychotherapy until the 1960s. Since then they have been illegal except for a short period in the 1990s in Switzerland. During this window of opportunity, Dr Fischer began using psychedelics to assist the progress of those of her patients who were stuck. This book is a description of her use of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy; the groupwork, the technical approach, the substances themselves and how to work with them. There is a special focus on the preparation of the mindset, the setting and the integration as these are the most important determinants of good outcomes. This is a unique account and the definitive guide for the new generation of psychedelic psychotherapists.

A new paradigm that delivers a genuine transformation of occultism.The author of Advanced Magick for Beginners assumes no previous knowledge, only a willingness to explore what magick offers, yet it is apparent to anyone with a background in the subject that Alan Chapman is drawing on a wide range of experience, from classical Crowleyean Magick, to eastern metaphysics, and back again to Discordianism and Chaos Magick.Chapman's writing-style is humorous, direct, seductively logical, and his enthusiasm for the benefits of magick is both tangible and infectious.The novice magician will indeed find themselves equipped to commence all sorts of magickal operations: trance work, enchantment, divination, and even some of the higher forms of spiritual development. To experienced magicians, Chapman offers a subtler challenge: he revitalises magick by cutting it free from the extreme relativism Chaos Magick bequeathed, provocatively redefining it as: the art, science and culture of experiencing truth.

An indispensable guide for Pilates Instructors who may not have experience working with Parkinson's clients.This book is written for people with Parkinson's, especially in the early stages who are looking for an exercise regime that will keep them strong, flexible and as mobile as possible. Physiotherapists may also find this book a useful aid to their practice. Up to date medical information is provided, written in such a way that is easy to understand for someone from a non-medical background. In the early stages of Parkinson's, formal physiotherapy input may not be indicated however it is important that the client makes sure they incorporate an appropriate exercise regime into their routine.

Carl Gustav Jung pioneered the transformative potential of the deep unconscious. Psychedelic substances provide direct and powerful access to this inner world. How, then, might Jungian psychology help us to better understand the nature of psychedelic experiences? And how might psychedelics assist the movement toward psychological transformation described by Jung? Jungian depth psychology and psychedelic psychotherapy are both concerned with coming to terms with unconscious drives, complexes, and symbolic images. Unaware of significant evidence for the safe clinical use of psychedelic drugs, Jung himself remained wary of psychedelics and staunchly opposed their therapeutic use. His bias has prevented Jungians from objectively considering the benefits as well as the risks of using psychedelics for psychological healing and growth. Confrontation with the Unconscious intertwines psychedelic research, personal accounts of psychedelic experiences, and C. G. Jung's work on trauma, the shadow, psychosis, and psychospiritual transformation - including Jung's own confrontation with the unconscious - to show the relevance of Jung's penetrating insights to the work of Stanislav Grof, Ann Shulgin, Ronald Sandison, Margot Cutner, among other psychedelic and transpersonal researchers, and to demonstrate the great value of Jung's penetrating insights for understanding difficult psychedelic experiences and promoting safe and effective psychedelic exploration and psychotherapy.

Explores concepts central to Christianity, the kingdom of Heaven, son of God, baptism, and resurrection. Jesus is seen as a representative of an ancient and continuing wisdom tradition identified with that of the Sufis. By his distinctive use of stories for teaching purposes, his sayings, and what the Sufis call 'action-teachings', including those actions known as 'miracles', Jesus is shown to have been quintessentially a Sufi master.Max Gorman shows how Sufism illuminates from within concepts central to Christianity: the kingdom of Heaven, son of God, baptism, resurrection - which can then be seen as states and stages in an evolutionary philosophy.This new edition of the classic work includes a new chapter on Gnosis.

The descriptions of each tarot card are very reliable and very complete. Of particular interest are the alchemical associations and the authors work on the gematria or numerology of each card. For the first time a complete alchemical system is given for the whole deck. There is also a good deal of added astrological information and divinatory meanings and interpretations. Several excellent suggestions for studying and meditating on the cards are provided by the authors. This book is a balanced combination of both historical and new material presented by the Zalewskis that stands firmly rooted in Golden Dawn teachings and ritual practice. There are many interesting new innovations in this book. Fully illustrated with 78 all new tarot cards by Golden Dawn member and professional artist, Skip Dudchous.

An exploration of the ways in which the ancestors, from the archetypal to the personal, influence us in the present and implicate us in lives of subsequent generations. At a time when interest in family ancestry has never been greater, Sandra Easter¿s book introduces us to a powerful mode of psychological inquiry that engages the ancestors as living presences shaping who we are and the lives we live.Expanding the traditional focus of depth psychology beyond the realm of personal biography, the author finds evidence of the ancestors in dreams, visions, and symptoms of illness, and in nature and the land on which we live. Interweaving theory and practice, and drawing skillfully on C. G. Jung¿s work and personal reflections, the book is rich with real-life examples of women who, by establishing dialogues with the ancestors, have been able to work through personal and generational trauma and wounds, healing themselves and those in their ancestral lines. By exploring the unconscious psyche as the ancestral ¿land of the dead,¿ Easter argues we can also find greater meaning for our lives and better understand our own personal myth.Jung and the Ancestors is an important contribution to depth psychology, focusing on an area of Jung¿s thought largely overlooked, yet rendered increasingly significant in the wake of the publication of The Red Book. Easter¿s work will change the way you understand yourself and your relationship to those in your past and your future.

An accessible handbook for patients and practitioners, bringing new clarity to our understanding of CBD and cannabis.In recent years, the popularity of CBD products has exploded - with 'wonder drug' claims being made for nearly every ailment ranging from cancer to anxiety. But what do we actually know about this panacea?There is more often than not a cloud of confusion which surrounds CBD in its many forms. What does it actually do? What's the best way to use it? What's the difference between the vast array of products? Are there herb-drug interactions?Complementary practitioners are not trained in the benefits or contraindications of cannabis when used medically. A quick search on the internet often produces more confusion, with a plethora internet help forums springing up and manufacturers trying to jump onto the bandwagon - often creating products of dubious quality made from vague ingredients.Karin Mallion's new book aims to fill the gaps in our understanding of CBD. The CBD Handbook is an accessible guide, written for patients and practitioners alike, which provides readers with a history and overview of CBD and cannabis.It lists in detail which conditions and ailments CBD can help with and provides a detailed look at cannabinoids, THC, endocannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system. It also explores the different types of cannabis, the phytochemistry of cannabis, appropriate herbal medicine to use alongside CBD and cannabis, legal issues, case histories and issues around clinical use.

Debauchery. Depravity. Decadence.Just everyday life at the imperial palace.Whilst Emperor Nero plays with his new water organ and a cross-dressing eunuch, his wily secretary Epaphroditus manages affairs of state. But dissent and rebellion are growing across the empire, and Nero is soon to discover playtime is over.Praetorian prefect Nymphidius Sabinus, disgusted by the moral degeneracy, secretly plots the overthrow of Nero's court. Motivated by the traditional Roman values of valour and nobility, yet blinded by his own righteousness, Sabinus is ignorant of what he has unleashed - The Year of the Four Emperors.Palatine is the first in an enthralling four-book series about the tumultuous 'Year of the Four Emperors' which will appeal to fans of Lindsey Davis and George R. R. Martin.

Duplicity. Degeneracy. Destruction. One Empire. Two Emperors. Only one can survive.Rome, AD 69. Having spectacularly grabbed the imperial throne by way of a very bloody coup, new emperor Otho is horrified to discover another emperor already declared. Aulus Vitellius is relaxing in Germania, and his two generals, the twisted Valens and the handsome but dim Caecina, are marching colossal armies to Rome to claim his prize. Hopelessly outnumbered, all looks doomed for Otho, until a series of unexpected victories bring hope.Meanwhile, a former palace slave, Antonia Caenis, returns from Judaea with plans of her own...

'Many years ago in Mytherranea, before the stars had names, when daisies were still called days' eyes, and the moon stayed up all night to keep the darkness company, there lived a race called redbits...'So begins the tale of Rensal, a small creature trying to make sense of a big world. Running along one day, Rensal bumps into the Tall One, a wise and mysterious redbit who loves to talk. Over tea, toast, and berries, the friends discuss life, love, creation, dreams, death, and everything else that lies under the sun.This is a book that gets to the heart of what it is to be young, of the joys and sorrows and confusions of childhood, and of the questions that continue to be pertinent even when we are full-grown - how we live, how we love, and what - if anything - it all means.

This book is a memoir of the author's professional life as a psychologist and psychotherapist. It shows his progression from a hard-nosed behaviour therapist with a strong commitment to science to a psychodynamic therapist with an interest in narrative. Along the way he shows the way the main schools of psychotherapy (behavioural, cognitive, psychodynamic) work, drawing on case material from his professional practice. He shows the mistakes he made and the lessons he eventually learned from his patients. His focus on clinical cases enables readers to see psychotherapy in operation and get drawn into the ups and downs of trying to help some fascinating and often tricky people who rarely conform to what is expected of them.The book is free of jargon and can be enjoyed without any prior knowledge of psychology or psychotherapy. It is designed to entertain and inform the general readership about the mysterious world of psychotherapy, what goes on behind the consulting room door. It will be of particular interest to the increasing number of people who encounter psychotherapy either through their own experience of seeking help or the experiences of family and friends or through reading of popular books such as those of Oliver James and Irving Yalom.It should also prove invaluable for those interested in training as a clinical psychologist, counsellor or psychotherapist.

A Brain of My Own is about slavery, about brains stolen in childhood and before; brains that have been intruded upon, stopped, shrunk, paralyzed. We know about the history of people whose bodies were enslaved; but we know barely anything about the victims who appear free but whose brains are invisibly chained. Nor do we know about the international collusion, silence, and apathy that surround this kind of slavery.A Brain of My Own describes Wendy Hoffman's final years of attempting escape from the criminal mind control cult into which she had the misfortune of being born. This is her third memoir, and chronicles the final years of reclaiming her brain, including the ongoing abuse and torture during her recovery process. Hoffman describes the ways in which perpetrators manipulate the brain to create amnesiac barriers, methods held secret for generations. She exposes the duplicity of perpetrators functioning as normal people in the ordinary world and what is under their masks. She gives advice about how to spot seemingly helpful people who are actually out to destroy victims of mind control.This kind of dissociation is difficult to overcome, but the path back to full humanity is possible and happening.

Envision waking from a dream that felt 'big' and being able to understand why the characters, images and even landscapes appeared and what they are specifically communicating to you. What if you were able to unearth how your dreams can improve your relationships, raise your consciousness and illuminate your life's purpose?Dreams: Soul-Centred Living in the 21st Century is essential for everyone who is curious about the profound realm of dreams. It leads you on an exciting journey while accelerating your personal, professional and soulful evolution. Laura Grace Ph.D. provides cutting edge awareness and guidance in exploring your dreams.

A unique and essential textbook bridging the gap between herbal medicine therapeutics and orthodox medicine.Based upon a constitutional approach to treatment, The Handbook of Constitutional and Energetic Herbal Medicine is a synthesis of the traditional herbal approach integrated with biomedical constructs.While this holistic approach to treatment may seem incompatible with the biomedical approach, this is largely due to the lack of understanding of the medical interpretation of holism.In fact, the spirit, mind, body axis can be understood in terms of psycho-physiological processes and principles. It is a matter of interpretation and adaptation of principle.This book will appeal to those involved in both complementary and mainstream medicine seeking a holistic approach which is rational and interpretable in biomedical terms.

The ancient ritual drink used in religious ceremonies and known as soma in India and as haoma in the Zoroastrian tradition is praised in the highest terms - as a kind of deity - in both Zoroastrian and Vedic texts, which date from around 1,700 - 1,500 BCE. It is said to provide health, power, wisdom and even immortality. Many theories have been published about the possible botanical identity of this 'nectar of immortality', a plant which appears to have psychedelic/entheogenic properties.Matthew Clark spent several years researching and travelling widely in his quest of soma. In his fascinating, original and highly readable book, this modern explorer of ancient wisdom reviews scholarly research, explores mythology and ritual and shares his extensive knowledge of psychoactive plants and fungi. The author suggests that the visionary soma drink was based on analogues of ayahuasca, using a variety of plants, some of which can now be identified.Dr. Matthew Clark is a Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London), where he has taught courses on Hinduism. He has spent many years in India, which he first visited in 1977. He first engaged with yoga in the mid-1970s and lectures regularly on yoga and philosophy. He is also a song-writer and musician (Mahabongo).