Are you looking for a table of contents?
A nice neat list of categories?
Maybe a well ordered index?
How might we discern such a collection?
Fiction / Non-Fiction? Art / Science? History / Economics? Nature / Self?
You will find that the WCH Book/Paper recommendations can't be compartmentalised so simply and since the universe has a tendency to present what is needed when ready, the archive has been added to the site in no particular order.
(although, if you want a little nudge, we've included an irrational rating system)
So please take your time, enjoy and see what resonates with you :)
p.s. there's tonnes of amazing works out there that aren't included in this list, so keep going where that cardinal pull takes you <3
This is the astonishing idea behind the holographic theory of the universe, pioneered by two eminent thinkers: physicist David Bohm, a former protégé of Albert Einstein, and quantum physicist Karl Pribram. The holographic theory of the universe encompasses consciousness and reality as we know them, but can also explain such hitherto unexplained phenomena as telepathy, out-of-body experiences and even miraculous healing.
Sapiens, the book, takes us on a breath-taking ride through our entire human history, from its evolutionary roots to the age of capitalism and genetic engineering, to uncover why we are the way we are.Sapiens focuses on key processes that shaped humankind and the world around it, such as the advent of agriculture, the creation of money, the spread of religion and the rise of the nation state. Unlike other books of its kind, Sapiens takes a multi-disciplinary approach that bridges the gaps between history, biology, philosophy and economics in a way never done before. Furthermore, taking both the macro and the micro view, Sapiens conveys not only what happened and why, but also how it felt for individuals.
The value of Yogananda's Autobiography is greatly enhanced by the fact that it is one of the few books in English about the wise men of India which has been written, not by a journalist or foreigner, but by one of their own race and training--in short, a book about yogis by a yogi. As an eyewitness recountal of the extraordinary lives and powers of modern Hindu saints, the book has importance both timely and timeless. To its illustrious author, whom I have had the pleasure of knowing both in India and America, may every reader render due appreciation and gratitude. His unusual life-document is certainly one of the most revealing of the depths of the Hindu mind and heart, and of the spiritual wealth of India, ever to be published in the West.
The Power of Now has in a short time already proven to be one of the greatest spiritual books written in recent times. It contains a power that goes beyond words, and it can lead us to a much quieter place beyond our thoughts, a place where our thought-created problems dissolve, and we discover what it means to create a liberated life.Throughout The Power of Now, there are specific practices and clear keys that show us how to discover for ourselves the “grace, ease and lightness” that come when we simply quiet our thoughts and see the world before us in the present moment.‘Practicing the Power of Now’ book is a carefully arranged series of excerpts from The Power of Now that directly give us those exercises and keys. Read this book slowly, or even just open it at random, reflect on the words, reflect even on the space between the words and – maybe over time, maybe immediately – you’ll discover something of life-changing significance. You`ll find the power, the ability to change and elevate not only your life, but your world as well.It is here, now, in this moment: the sacred presence of your Being. It is here, now, not in some distant future: a place within us that always is and ever will be beyond the turmoil of life, a world of calm beyond words, of joy that has no opposite.It is in your hands. Start practicing the power of Now.
Extract from site: "In the ten years since Alef Trust was established, we have learned a great deal from our students and faculty. The Alef Trust ethos is one of mutual growth and transformation; every day we grow a little more as we teach, listen, research, read, reflect and discuss.It has been our privilege to work with so many talented and dedicated individuals. It is with great pride, therefore, that we offer out for the first time, a curated collection of work that has grown from our MSc programme in Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology.All the students whose work is presented here are practitioners; they share with us a will to make a difference in the world. We hope this is the first of many editions and we’d love to know what you think. If you have any comments or reflections on this collection please get in touch with us using the contact form below.We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed producing this collection and do feel free to share."
While living in Mexico, Alejandro Jodorowsky became familiar with the colorful and effective cures provided by folk healers. He realized that it is easier for the unconscious to understand the language of dreams than that of rationality. Illness can even be seen as a physical dream that reveals unresolved emotional and psychological problems. Psychomagic presents the shamanic and genealogical principles Jodorowsky discovered to create a healing therapy that could use the powers of dreams, art, and theater to empower individuals to heal wounds that in some cases had traveled through generations. The concrete and often surreal poetic actions Jodorowsky employs are part of an elaborate strategy intended to break apart the dysfunctional persona with whom the patient identifies in order to connect with a deeper self. That is when true transformation can manifest. For a young man who complained that he lived only in his head and was unable to grab hold of reality and advance toward the financial autonomy he desired, Jodorowsky gave the prescription to paste two gold coins to the soles of his shoes so that all day he would be walking on gold. A judge whose vanity was ruling his every move was given the task of dressing like a tramp and begging outside one of the fashionable restaurants he loved to frequent while pulling glass doll eyes out of his pockets. The lesson for him was that if a tramp can fill his pockets with eyeballs, then they must be of no value, and thus the eyes of others should have no bearing on who you are and what you do. Taking his patients directly at their words, Jodorowsky takes the same elements associated with a negative emotional charge and recasts them in an action that will make them positive and enable them to pay the psychological debts hindering their lives. ☯
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an experience genuinely satisfying is a state of consciousness called "flow." During flow, people typically experience deep enjoyment, creativity, and a total involvement with life. In this new edition of his groundbreaking classic work, Csikszentmihalyi demonstrates the ways this positive state can be controlled, not just left to chance. "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" teaches how, by ordering the information that enters our consciousness, we can discover true happiness and greatly improve the quality of our lives.
How do we preserve what makes us human in an age of uncertainty? Are we now just consumers shaped by market forces? A sequence of DNA? A collection of base instincts? Or will we soon be supplanted by algorithms and A.I. anyway?In Clear Bright Future, Paul Mason calls for a radical, impassioned defence of the human being, our universal rights and freedoms and our power to change the world around us. Ranging from economics to Big Data, from neuroscience to the culture wars, he draws from his on-the-ground reporting from mass protests in Istanbul to riots in Washington, as well as his own childhood in an English mining community, to show how the notion of humanity has become eroded as never before.In this book Paul Mason argues that we are still capable - through language, innovation and co-operation - of shaping our future. He offers a vision of humans as more than puppets, customers or cogs in a machine. This work of radical optimism asks: Do you want to be controlled? Or do you want something better?
The Celestine Prophecy contains secrets that are currently changing our world. Drawing on the ancient wisdom found in a Peruvian manuscript, it tells you how to make connections between the events happening in your own life right now...and lets you see what is going to happen to you in the years to come.The story it tells is a gripping one of adventure and discovery, but it is also a guidebook that has the power to crystalize your perceptions of why you are where you are in life...and to direct your steps with a new energy and optimism as you head into tomorrow.
The book discusses various psychological and spiritual ideas that are rooted in many ancient Eastern traditions, such as how opening to new possibilities can help an individual establish a connection with the Divine.The main character undertakes a journey to find and understand a series of nine spiritual insights in an ancient manuscript in Peru. The book is a first-person narrative of spiritual awakening. The narrator is in a transitional period of his life and begins to notice instances of synchronicity, which is the belief that coincidences have a meaning personal to those who experience them.
A Unique Guide On How Highly Sensitive People Can Heal Psychologically And Spiritually. Learn Ways To Use Your Gift Of Intuition And Go From Surviving To Thriving.
It's important to realize that this gift is one that you should feel proud of. It's good to be a caring and sensitive person who has concerns about other people's feelings. The trick is knowing how and when to use this gift and when to set healthy boundaries.Unfortunately, we live in a World where the energy vampires and narcissists lurk and the empath, if you're not careful, can often be the victim.It's not your fault, there are many people who are damaged through trauma and childhood experiences, these experiences can make a person turn toxic and lead to a situation where they lack their own light, so then they have to try and take it from others.Having awareness around these potential traps can help protect you and guard against these people who just want to take.Let us be clear, being an empath is a beautiful thing. Be proud of your healing essence as the World desperately needs you right now as there is so much to be healed! It should not be viewed as a weakness but your very own SUPERPOWER!
Exploring the Astrological Traditions: Tropical vs Sidereal, and the enigmatic Ophiuchus constellation.
Tropical zodiac is based on the relationship between the Earth and the sun. The zodiac is aligned with the ecliptic, the apparent path the Sun takes through the sky over the course of a year. The signs are fixed to this path rather than the actual positions of the constellations. The tropical zodiac is divided into 12 signs, starting with Aries at the vernal equinox (around March 21). Each sign corresponds to a 30-degree segment of a 360-degree circle. Tropical astrology focuses on the seasonal cycle and the Sun's apparent movement, creating a framework that remains constant despite the shifting background of the stars.
The sidereal zodiac is divided into 12 signs, similar to the tropical zodiac, but these signs are aligned with the fixed stars. Each sign corresponds to a specific constellation. Due to the precession of the equinoxes, which is a slow shift in the orientation of Earth's rotation axis, there is a gradual shift of about 1 degree every 72 years. This means that the tropical zodiac (which is fixed to the seasons) and the sidereal zodiac (which is fixed to the stars) can differ by about 23-24 degrees. These change correspond with different ages that happen every 2000 years. So in the age of Pisces, the spring starts in the Pisces zodiac sign, but in the Age of Aquarius, it will actually start in the Aquarius sign.
Vedic (Indian) astrology, primarily uses 12 signs, similar to Western astrology. However, it is based on the sidereal zodiac, which considers the actual positions of constellations, hence different from tropical zodiac. The Vedic system is based on the lunar calendar, corresponding to lunar mansions. These are 27 mansions, divided over the 12 zodiac signs: the Moon "visits" each nakshatra as it travels through the 12 signs of the zodiac about every 27.3 days. Even though the moon has 13 full moons, its travel remains through the 12 signs. Each sign contains 2.5 nakstatras spanning 13.20 degrees of the zodiac.
The Tropical and Vedic are both systems of calculation that do not include the 13th sign, however the degrees of Tropical and Vedic both differ and hence Vedic can be compared to Sidereal astrology in that they’re both different from tropical astrology. Vedic astrology uses a sidereal system which is an even 30 degrees. However, not all sidereal is Vedic and there is a number of sidereal astrologers who actually use the 13 sign systems. The 13 Sign system is a type of sidereal astrology where they use the midpoints between constellations system, hence signs are calculated based on the size of the constellation in the sky. With this calculation, Virgo lasts from Sept 15 to Nov 3, and Libra is a mere short Nov 4 to Nov 22. And it includes the 13th sign Ophiuchus that lasts from Dec 7 to Dec 18. Both the Tropical and Vedic/Sidereal differ in that they have taken all the constellations and divided them equally in degrees, whereas the 13 sign system divides them based on their actual size in the sky, offering a more precise calculation of movement.
Thirteen signs till the Dragon fell...twelve were left to tell the tale.
Ophiuchus, known as the "Serpent Bearer," is a constellation with rich symbolism and significance in both occult circles and ancient myths, including those of Egypt. In many esoteric traditions, Ophiuchus symbolizes healing, transformation, and the integration of dualities (the serpent as both a symbol of wisdom and danger). Since it is located between Scorpio and Sagittarius, it can allude to the crossing over from the material to the spiritual realm within the zodiac. In Vedic astrology, there is a similar concept of Gandhanta points, one of which falls between Scorpio and Sagittarius, which represents crossing over from the material to the spiritual realm, however this is again part of the lunar mansions within the constellations. The serpent imagery also represents a kundalini awakening in many gnostic and occult circles. The dominant models of astrology do not recognize this constellation as part of the zodiac systems, however, I am intrigued by learning the significance of this sign and how it can inform my personal spiritual journey. It is a sign drenched in mystique and fuelled by the secrecy of occult traditions and to me it represents a door that can lead to enlightening revelations about the self and the world.
As for the endless debate between astrology circles: I am of the belief that any system of astrological systems are correct, both Tropical and Sidereal as well as those who choose to include the 13th sign within their zodiac system.
I see a significant distinction between the Sidereal and Tropical systems of astrology, each offering unique perspectives. The Sidereal system provides a more global and abstract view, focusing on the full movement of constellations as observed from Earth. This perspective influences the collective unconscious and can herald major shifts in our universal outlook, such as the anticipated Age of Aquarius. On the other hand, the Tropical system emphasizes a more localized approach, centering on how our star—the Sun—affects our personalities and daily lives. While I find the Sidereal approach helps to offer profound insights into the larger cosmic patterns within the universe, I also appreciate the accessibility of the Tropical system. Both systems hold value: the Sidereal system embodies what I consider true occult knowledge, often remaining elusive to many, and even fewer circles that choose to include the 13th sign. On the other hand, the Tropical system provides a practical framework that is easier to grasp for beginners as well a wider population. Ultimately, I believe neither is superior; they are distinct systems that serve different purposes in our understanding of ourselves and the universe.
The mathematical calculations of the systems may differ, I believe that astrology is a study in pattern recognition, and both schools of thought actually have the validity because of their historical significance. Astrology is beyond mathematics and logics, it doesn’t require scientific proof, it requires observation and intuition. No matter how the planetary placements were calculated, we ultimately have been able to uncover patterns within ourselves and the universe through building on a framework over centuries: centuries of gathering occult knowledge, centuries of intuitive work by various seekers, and centuries of observing and trying to make sense of celestial, as well as, world events. Lest we may forget, time is a flat circle.
The Psychedelic Experience, created by the prophetic shaman-professors Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzer and Richard Alpert, is a foundational text that serves as a model and a guide for all subsequent mind-expanding inquiries. In this wholly unique book, the authors provide an interpretation of an ancient sacred manuscript, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, from a psychedelic perspective. The Psychedelic Experience describes their discoveries in broadening spiritual consciousness through a combination of Tibetan mediation techniques and psychotropic substances.
The Doors of Perception is a philosophical essay, released as a book, by Aldous Huxley. First published in 1954, it details his experiences when taking mescaline.The book takes the form of Huxley's recollection of a mescaline trip that took place over the course of an afternoon in May 1953. The book takes its title from a phrase in William Blake's 1793 poem 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell'.Huxley recalls the insights he experienced, which range from the "purely aesthetic" to "sacramental vision". He also incorporates later reflections on the experience and its meaning for art and religion.
What if the Second Coming didn't quite come off as advertised? What if "the corpse" on display in that funky roadside zoo is really who they say it is - what does that portend for the future of western civilization? And what if a young clairvoyant named Amanda reestablishes the flea circus as popular entertainment, and fertility worship as the principal religious form of our high-tech age? Another Roadside Attraction answers those questions and a lot more. It tell us, for example, what the sixties were truly all about, not by reporting on the psychedelic decade but by recreating it, from the inside out. In the process, this stunningly original seriocomic thriller is fully capable of simultaneously eating a literary hot dog and eroding the borders of the mind.
"An exploration of the afterlife and communication with the dead. Author's career has included being both a professional psychic and a professional scholar. Addresses questions about God, heaven, and hell and gives evidence for existence beyond death. Explores historical accounts, religious scholarship, near-death experiences, and after-death communication"
Part 1. The evidence for survival. Can survival after death be proved? -- How real is real? -- Near-death experiences -- After-death communication -- Reincarnation.
Part 2. The social construction of the afterlife. A comparative history of the afterlife -- The genesis of sin -- "Spiritual evolution," nontime, and the ego.
Part 3. Dying, death, and beyond. The fear of death: causes and cures -- Preparing to die -- Going through the threshold and the period of adjustment.
Part 4. All about contact -- It's okay to talk to the dead, but what happens when the dead talk back? -- Familiarity : the key to successful contact -- Ghosts, thought forms, and "earthbound spirits" -- Telepathy : your tool for after-death communication -- How to make contact --
Conclusion : What would the world be like without the fear of death?
Which gods created the world according to the ancient Egyptians? How did they explain the sun's movements and its disappearance at night? In what ways did mythology permeate their lives? And what did they believe happened in the afterlife?
This handy guide to Egyptian mythology explores how the ancient Nile-dwellers explained the world around them. It delves into the origins of life, the creation and evolution of the world, and the reigns of the gods on earth, before introducing us to the manifestations of Egypt’s deities in the natural environment; the inventive ways in which the Egyptians dealt with the invisible forces all around them; and the trials and tribulations of the life hereafter.
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