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An illustrated exploration of the folklore and mythology of sacred water found throughout the world. A companion volume to Sacred Wells, Water From the Sacred Well continues the quest for the underlying sacredness associated with water and the universal themes found in folklore and religious traditions from around the world. Blending personal exploration with archaeology, folklore, and ancient traditions, Water From the Sacred Well takes the r...

When we think of the "First Americans" we generally tend to think of the American Indian. After all, there is no doubt that the Indian has lived in North America for thousands of years, descended from those original explorers who trekked across the Bering land bridge. At least this is what we are taught in school. But is this entirely correct? Were there others that came perhaps before and during the original population of North and South Amer...

María Lionza is at once a native girl, born in the 16th century to an Indian chief in the Venezuelan region of Yaracuy, and a goddess of nature, peace and harmony to over eight million Venezuelans in the 21st century. Her name means "Mary of the boar, " taken from her full name "Santa María de la Onza Talavera del Prato de Nivar"-a title given by the Catholic Church in the attempt to Christianize her cult. This book is María's story, as muc...

A small book packed with the history and lore of the sword. Profusely illustrated, The Sword and Dagger in Myth & Legend explores the origins of the sword, its history from the bronze and iron ages to the modern day. It also explores such legendary and mystical weapons of Excalibur and the Durendal, swords which belonged to King Arthur and the hero Roland, El Cid's sword Tizona, Kusanagi from Japan and Mohammad's sword Zulfiqar. It also examin...

Charles Godfrey Leland was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 15, 1824. Immediately after his birth his nurse took the baby to the attic and performed a ritual, laying a Bible, a key, and knife on his breast, lighted candles, money and salt at his head. The nurse performed her ritual to ensure the child had a long life as a "scholar and a wizard." Her ritual was more successful than anyone would have guessed. If nothing, Charles Lela...

It was perhaps the most pivotal event in the world's history that the age old practice of magic was destroyed by a religion which would eventually dominate a large portion of the world and wield an incredible amount of power. Such an event was not a sudden thing. Laws were enacted in ancient Babylon to control black witchcraft and magic. The same incantations and spells used by black witches were not only allowed but encouraged when performed ...

Sacramento. Capital of California and home to a half million people and hundreds of symbols and images from an ancient past. These are the same symbols that have been part of the framework of the human psyche for thousands of years. While contemporary man of the 21st century may think that they are simply decorative manifestations of a by-gone era, they represent so much more. They represent the fears, dreams, ideas, beliefs and struggles that...

For the most part Hecate is seen today as the Goddess of Witches and Sorcery-but this wasn't always so. Hecate was at one time both protectress of women and children and Goddess of Death. She was, in her trinity aspect, goddess of fertility and prosperity, Goddess of the Moon, and Queen of Ghosts, shades and the night. It is interesting that she was seen both as the goddess of fertility and life as well as death. "Hekate can poison as well as...

According to ancient Ptolemaic writings, Ethiopians were the first men that ever lived and the first to worship the gods and to honor the gods with sacrifice. Some believe that the Ethiopians were the origination of Egyptian religion in the worship of Osiris as well as the worship of Zeus. The Ethiopians, according to Herodotus, "reverence of the gods Zeus and Dionysos alone, and these they greatly honour, and they have an Oracle of Zeus estab...

Death. We deny it. We fear it. Some of us welcome it. No matter what age we live in we keep the traditional feelings for our departed. We try to ease the soul into the afterworld as best we can. "Celebrations of life" provide a time for friends and loved ones to gather, share food and stories and grieve. Some who pass on are cremated to free the soul. Some are buried believing that the body will not become corrupted but will survive until the ...

The historic city of Pittsburgh has been the home to Native Americans and immigrants from around the world. It is also home to a large variety of gargoyles, grotesques and monsters carved in stone and adorning banks, government buildings and churches. Today thanks to a city that cares about it's past these icons can be found at the Dollar Bank, the Marine Bank, Union Arcade, the county courthouse, jail and mortuary and Pittsburgh's First Presb...

Perhaps some of our most mysterious, impressive and artistic symbolism can be found in our cemeteries. Ancient pagan, classical Greek and Roman, and the eternal symbols of hope, love and despair appear in many of our older places of rest. This book looks at the art, history and meaning of pre-twentieth century grave markers and tombs in the United States, from Nova Scotia and Maine to South Carolina and California. Illustrated with over sevent...

An illustrated analysis of the mysterious cup-marked stones found around the world from Russia to California, Great Britain, Sardenia and Ethiopia. These ancient cup-marked stones have been created since the dawn of time. They appear on every continent and have almost identical characteristics. With so many of them still in existence and so many people aware of them one would think that current day archaeologists would know what they are-what ...

Faeries, trolls, goblins--are these simply creatures of age old stories or are they much more? Legends of these Little People are universal across time, geography and cultures. Are the origins of these stories connected to a real race of tiny humans such as those found on the Indonesian island of Flores or to some other ancient and unknown cause?Sightings of these creatures continue to be reported in our modern time from Europe and Russia to N...

The Dark Wind provides a survey of witches around the world, their prehistoric origin and how society has viewed them throughout history. Folklorist Gary R. Varner explores the use of magic, spells and curses among indigenous groups as well as state approved religions such as those observed in ancient Rome and Greece, and how even contemporary Christianity uses many of the same "magic" combinations. Also examined is the current "witch craze" i...

One of the most ancient nations in the world, Ethiopia is a magnificent and diverse society attempting to hold on to its traditional ways in an ever changing world. The first nation to accept Christianity in the 4th century, indigenous religions and practices have been able to survive in a symbiotic relationship with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church mixing pagan beliefs and ways with the dominate Christian religion. Today, however, due to the mis...

A photo story of the archetypal symbols present on many of Kentucky's 19th century buildings, including gargoyles, Green Men and other strange and grotesque images carved in stone. Includes over 40 illustrations, index and bibliography.

In his seventh book on folklore and symbolism, Gary R. Varner provides a look at strange and grotesque images we see everyday on our churches, banks and in our cemeteries. Images with origins far older than the structures they adorn. What are the meanings behind these grotesque creatures, why are carvings of griffins and dragons, unicorns and Green Men found throughout the world on churches and cathedrals, government buildings and even apartme...

Folklorist Gary R. Varner takes a lengthy look at various myths, legends and beliefs of Native Americans in this book. Included are stories and archaeological finds from various lands that suggest cultural contacts between explorers from China, Japan, the Mediterranean and Europe with Native Americans in pre-Columbian times. Native American folklore and myths are examined including the universal legends of the flood and stories of the mysterio...

Amulets and charms have been used since mankind evolved from its distant origins millions of years ago. They have been used to protect and to harm, and in both the practice and avoidance of witchcraft and sorcery. They are made of wood and stone, clay, metal, plants and dead animals. They are carved into crude shapes and in the most exquisite forms. They may also be composed entirely of words, which are believed to have great power and magical...