Topic: Magick & Spirituality

In a follow-up to research showing that psilocybin, a substance contained in “sacred mushrooms,” produces substantial spiritual effects, a Johns Hopkins team reports that those beneficial effects appear to last more than a year.

Writing in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, Johns Hopkins researchers note that most of the 36 volunteer subjects given psilocybin, under controlled conditions in a Hopkins study published in 2006, continued to say 14 months later that the experience increased their sense of well-being or life satisfaction.

Our egos hold us bound. The ego uses fear to control us. Our false ego identity keeps us separate from each other. Spiritual leaders from Deepak Chopra to Eckhardt Tolle have admonished us to overcome our egos so that we may find our True Self and re-connect to everything around us. David K. Banner's "Frameshifting" finally provides practical tools to break the ego's hold.

David K. Banner wants to open us up to the possibilities of life. Too often, we are trapped in a single, fixed set of beliefs and attitudes that operate out of fear. Fear is generated as a weapon by the ego because it fears its own demise. The ego wants to keep us separate from everything else. But when we change our outlook on life, we can overcome the ego and know wholeness with the world around us. Spiritual teachers such as Deepak Chopra, Eckhardt Tolle, and Ken Wilber all emphasize the need to overcome ego. Banner's new book, Frameshifting: A Path to Wholeness, lays out a variety of tools to dissolve the dominance of the ego.

A few weeks ago, when we read "How to Hear the Voice of God" for a review, we were impressed. So much so, that we arranged an interview with Susan Shumsky, the book's author.

Several weeks back, when I reviewed Susan Shumsky's latest book, How to Hear the Voice of God, I was impressed. Although Ms. Shumsky has written and published at least four other books, and is quite well-known on the upscale side of the New Age circuit, as a lecturer and teacher, I had never before been exposed to her work.

Article Continues After Illustration

Susan Shumsky at work teaching.

Celtic art, with it's mysterious symbolism and ancient history is capturing the interest of everyday Americans. This article reveals some of the meanings attributed to the most noteworthy Celtic symbols and gives some insight into the spirituality of these ancient people.

There is an undeniable aura that surrounds Celtic designs and Druid traditions. Although I have strong family ties to both Ireland and Scotland, you don’t need a Celtic heritage to be enticed by the culture. It’s been said that as long as you respect Mother Earth and feel an affinity with the Celtic people you too have a Celtic soul.

Is religious intolerance an American value? American Freemason and author Dr. Patrick Swift says "No!" "One Mountain, Many Paths: An American Freemason Speaks Out For Peace" contains uplifting quotes from the sacred texts of all the great religious traditions including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

A psychologist and caregiver to 9/11 victims, Dr. Patrick Swift speaks out against religious intolerance in One Mountain, Many Paths. "I feel compelled to speak out as a Freemason against religious intolerance because it threatens to tear America and our world apart," says Swift. "Faith in God and religious tolerance are basic American values within our government and our Constitution. Founding Fathers like George Washington, Ben Franklin, and John Hancock understood the importance of this as Freemasons."

Article Continues After Illustration

Dr. Patrick Swift.

Denise Coates, Law of Attraction coach and author of the just released book, "Feel It Real! A Guided Approach To Bringing The Law of Attraction Into Your Life," says the one thing missing from most Law of Attraction teachings is a practical approach.

Denise Coates, Law of Attraction coach and author of the just released book, "Feel it Real! A Guided Approach To Bringing The Law of Attraction Into Your Life, says the one thing missing from most Law of Attraction teachings is a practical approach. Coates says, "Most of these books read like theoretical textbooks, explaining why the Law of Attraction works or by giving examples of it working in the teachers' lives, but rarely do they give the reader/viewer specific tools and processes to use to get the Law of Attraction working on a consistent and controllable basis."

Are you part of the meditation movement that is quietly changing the world? Meditation is simple, but you must practice meditation if you want to have a meditation practice.

For over 30 years, I have been meditating. For almost as many years, in workshops, consultations, friendly conversations, and writing, I have been encouraging, teaching, or leading people to meditate and create quiet times. During this time, the world has changed considerably, and so have I. My most important learning is: everyone is different. Certainly there are commonalities in meditating, but each individual is unique. I consider that meditation is one of the most empowering practices that anyone can engage in.

Article Continues After Illustration

Statue of Shiva meditating in Bangalore, India. Credit: Deepak Gupta

In the northern hemisphere June 21 is generally considered the longest day of the year, and traditionally it's the first day of summer - Summer Solstice. This is a bit of a contradiction, given that another of the day’s names is Midsummer - an ancient reference to the fact that this day is in the middle of Europe’s agricultural season. And there's yet another contradiction - the longest day on the annual calendar can sometimes fall a day or two later, depending on the year in question!

I am a Christian, and I’ve always been interested in Summer Solstice and the Pagan religion. I remember a horror film called Spellbinder, and the climactic scene was based around Summer Solstice. Since the advent of Christianity some 2000 years ago there is a view that ancient religions such as Paganism are inspired, controlled or even led by Satan. Thus solstice celebrations are rejected because they are viewed as Satanic in origin.

But this isn’t a true reflection of an old religion.

Ancient Egyptian history, mythology, and poetry still reveal truths about human nature. In "Hermetica," Paul Kiritsis reinvents Egyptian literature by retelling myths, creating new poetry, and giving stunning insights into culture and life.

What did the ancient Egyptians understand that we have forgotten? How did their literature differ from ours? Find out in Paul Kiritsis's new collection Hermetica: Myths, Legends, Poems. The book is both a collection of poetry and Kiritsis's own rendition of epic ancient myths and legends. Its title reflects both its sources in Hermetic literature and its concern with alchemy, primarily the alchemy of love.

The astrologer for Forest Whittaker and Uma Thurman, among others, has written a book that combines astrology with Kabbalah.

Cosmic Navigator is an entirely new kind of astrology book that combines ageless personality insights with the deeper archetypal wisdom of Kabbalah. Author Gahl Eden Sasson, who consults with many politicians, entrepreneurs and celebrities such as Forest Whittaker, Uma Thurman, Patricia Arquette, and John Cuasck, provides readers with answers to many of life's most important questions: When will I find my soul mate? Where do I fit into this world? Will I ever be a leader? Am I bound to my astrological fate or can I change it?

Article Continues After Illustration