Illusions and Delusions of the Supernatural and the Occult

Peter Levenda

Sinister Forces-The Manson Secret: A Grimoire of American Political Witchcraft

The roots of coincidence and conspiracy in American politics, crime, and culture are investigated in this examination of the connections between religion, political conspiracy, and occultism. Readers are presented with detailed insight into how Charlie Manson became a national bogeyman as well as startling connections between Nobel Prize-winning physicist Wolfgang Pauli, Carl Jung, and synchronicity; serial killers, multiple personality disorder, and demonic possession; and magic, surrealism, and mind control. Not a work of speculative history, this third volume of a three-part set is founded on primary source material and historical documents. Fascinating secrets are divulged involving Hollywood icons such as Marilyn Monroe, David Lynch, and Jane Fonda as well as links between the Cotton Club murders, the Bluegrass conspiracy, and the Son of Sam cult.

Paul Barber

Vampires, Burial, and Death: Folklore and Reality

In this engrossing book, Paul Barber surveys centuries of folklore about vampires and offers the first scientific explanation for the origins of the vampire legends. From the tale of a sixteenth-century shoemaker from Breslau whose ghost terrorized everyone in the city, to the testimony of a doctor who presided over the exhumation and dissection of a graveyard full of Serbian vampires, his book is fascinating reading. "This study's comprehensiveness and the author's bone-dry wit make this compelling reading, not just for folklorists, but for anyone interested in a time when the dead wouldn't stay dead."--Booklist "Barber's inquiry into vampires, fact and fiction, is a gem in the literature of debunking... [and] a convincing exercise in mental archaeology."--Roy Porter, Nature "A splendid book about the undead, illuminated by the findings of morbid anatomy.... The main value of this most interesting book is to remind us how far we have come in our ability to explain the world and how this has released us from at least some terrors."--Anthony Daniels, Spectator "This book is fascinating reading for physicians and anthropologists as well as anyone interested in folklore."--R. ...

Carlos Castaneda

Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge

5,From "one of the most profound and influential thinkers of the century" (Deepak Chopra) comes the first groundbreaking book in the series that introduces don Juan Matus--a Yaqui Indian sorcerer whose teachings transcend the boundaries of conventional knowledge. The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge is a captivating work of anthropology and spiritual exploration, first published in 1968. Presented as a first-person account of Castaneda's apprenticeship with a Yaqui shaman named don Juan Matus whom he meets in the deserts of Mexico, it blends mysticism and personal narrative, chronicling Castaneda's journey into the world of shamanism and his experiences with altered states of consciousness. Through powerful rituals, psychoactive plants, and profound teachings, Castaneda begins to unravel the mysteries of perception, existence, and the nature of true knowledge. With every page, you'll be drawn deeper into his quest to become a "man of knowledge"--someone who lives with unshakable purpose, clarity, and attunement to life's hidden forces. Perfect for seekers of spirituality, explorers of consciousness, or anyone curious about ancient traditions, this book is a ...