Customer Reviews:
A tale of a teacher.......2007-09-25
An extraordianary tale of a teacher from Cypress. A must read story for everyone interested in growing one self
It is not Greek! It is amazing!!!.......2007-01-10
This is about Gods work through this amazing healer in a such a remote island, Kyriakides nailed this one !!!!!!great book!!an eye opener to spiritual seekers!!!!!
a deeper view of the world we inhabit.......2007-01-03
I have often advised young people to travel the world, not as a tourist but for extended visits to immerse themselves in other cultures. If nothing else, the traveler encounters a diversity of beings and ways of living that change, to a greater or lesser degree, how one sees his or her normal life. New doors of perception open, new senses are enlivened, and when one returns "home" it is never quite the same as before. And that's what this book does to the spiritual or simply curious traveler.
Through young Markides' eyes, we stay at the home of a true magus, that is, one who understands how the life force operates beyond our normal perceptions. For the magus, it's somewhat of a workaday world of dealing with elemental beings, karmic energies (which he sometimes consciously "takes on" as a gift of mercy to others), and other forces of which we normal people are most often quite unaware. A magus, or magician, may be black (harmful) or white (helpful). In this case, get to see how a conscientious, helpful healer operates in a commonplace setting, surrounded by regular people. No pointy star-spangled hats or boiling pots of newts and goat hooves here. You'd walk right by him on the street.
This is a fascinating story sincerely chronicled by the author. We're given a peek behind the curtain of miracles and get a sense of how they happen, of what it takes (beyond the typical waving of a wand or sprinkling of stardust) to restore balance and healing where chaos and illness have prevailed. For anyone interested in the idea of natural or psychic healing, and to see how it happens in plausible, everyday circumstances, you'll really appreciate this story. Especially in this age of preposterous medical costs and the pharmaceutical shroud blanketing our health care system, it's encouraging to encounter a practice of real healing knowledge that's not only priceless, but free.
Confirms and Provokes..........2005-03-02
Have you ever looked into the topic of energetic healing? Have you ever looked at biographies and autobiographies of healers? I have. I've read lots of them. And the "Magus of Strovolos", which is about "Stylianos Atteshlis", a Greek Cypriot healer who lived until the early 1990's, did what no single book has done that I've read so far. It tied everything together and proposed a truly complete view of things, from reincarnation and Karma, to healing, astral projection, to philosophy, to ethics necessary to move into the work. And, it was absolutely hilarious at times...
But before you decide that "funny" isn't a good thing in a book that covers this topic, let me tell you that it's not funny through and through. It's deadly serious at times. And the subject matter is so thought- provoking that I've found myself reading this book (and the subsequent two that are now out of print), several times, just to be sure that I didn't miss anything.
It's THAT good...
The Origenal.......2004-07-31
If you have discovered this great book and can bring yourself to believe in it you have much to congratulate yourself on.
Book Description
At the novels center is Nicholas Urfe, a young Englishman who accepts a teaching position on a remote Greek island. There he befriends a local millionaire, but the friendship soon evolves into a deadly game and Nicholas finds that he must fight not only for his sanity but for his very survival.
Customer Reviews:
"a brilliant excursion through the mirror of appearance".......2007-07-14
The acid test of any great book, it seems to me, is: Does the reader feel enriched by the contents of the book they have just read?
"The Magus" certainly met that criteria for me. This is really a multi-faceted story - some would characterize it as an elaborate game. I think it is a hero's journey built around an infrastructure of archetypes. Fowles has admitted as much in his introduction to the revised edition; it certainly took much courage and tenacity to rewrite a book that had already grabbed the literary world's attention.
"The Magus" is a maze of allusions; this fact alone makes demands on the reader's attention. The many symbolic and literary references certainly relect Fowles vast erudition: there is archetype psychology; Tarot symbolism; existential philosophic conundrums; and Greek tragedy.
There is the enigmatic figure of Conchis (The Magus) mentoring a young schoolteacher (Urfe), much like the Don Juan/Castaneda relationship.
Through the maze of self-discovery, the story of initiation unfolds.
Conchis the magician seduces the young man with "mind games"; the apprentice ends up fighting for his sanity and his life. And, through the perceptual and psychologic ordeals the young man experiences, he still remains bewildered through it all (although his arrogance has been greatly diminished).
Fowles is an amazing narrative architect, a writer's writer who really works a multi-layer story. The convolutions in the writing keep the reading in forward gear throughout.
Fowles seems to demand the suspension of belief while he evokes the beauty of the Greek island setting, perhaps as a painter would. As such, the reader is expected to project their own interpretation thoughout. This is why the power of this book lingers long after it's been shelved.
Be prepared to be challenged. Highly recommended.
Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts
A mind game from start to finish........2007-07-06
I thoroughly enjoyed The Magus. It is more in depth than your standard dime store novel. It is a book that is profound, haunting and very erotic. I read it when I had time to take in all that I was reading. I found I couldn't put it down. It is well worth the 600+ pages.
This is a very intellectual novel. Fowles is well read and expects the reader to be as well. He interjects names and places from various classic novels, poems and writings, and expects the reader to know them - he doesn't give the references. Most I was familiar with, however had to look up a lot of the greek Gods & deities.
This book dealt with psychological and Jungian undertones, and someone interested in this genre will be rewarded. The entire book is a mindgame or "Godgame" as it is used in the novel. Both the main character Nicholas,as well as the reader, never knows what, or who is real, or what is staged. Throughout the novel I was challenged with guessing when the charade started. I found out in the end that I was right.
The end was a bit ambiguous, but found when I translated the closing phrase from Latin (the poem, Pervigilium Veneris), it helped me come to a conclusion about what happened between the two. I found also in my research that most everyone else who read the novel loved the book like me, and didn't understand the ending as well. The Magus generated the most letters to the author, more than any of his other works; mostly to ask what the book meant. He never gave an answer, only that it was up to the reader to come to their own conclusions as to how they interpret it.
Very good.......2007-06-19
A great book, it helped me break out of too long selfish funk. A shout in your brain to not assume or remember the worst in people and to not give yourself bogus reasons to do what you know is wrong. A unique plot, memorable characters and I think close to correct notions regarding free will. Was fowles a molinist?
A book I still love re-visiting.......2007-04-11
I first read this novel at sixteen years old and remember reading the book for two days straight to finish. I was entranced by the imagery and by the protaganist, Nick Urfe, who is one of my favorite flawed characters of all time. Even as an adult, I still enjoy re-reading this novel because I discover new tidbits every time. One thing that is interesting is that The Magus actually had TWO editions, both of which I have read. The first edition is much less detailed in the relationship between Nick and Allison. From interviews with Fowles that I have read, the ending is meant to be ambiguous and open-ended though to appease readers, he fleshed out the ending more and added the Latin quote at the very end to give a glimmer of hope. Roughly translated, the quote is "Tomorrow let him love, who has never loved; he who has loved, let him love tomorrow." For those who find the ending dissatisfying, I would assert that the journey of the book is what makes it a great book, and the ending somehow allows that journey to continue through the questions it raises.
Best Adventure Novel Ever Written.......2007-01-10
The novel lay on my bookcase for two years. I'd attempted to read beyond the first two pages on three separate occasions, only to quit and replace it to its shelf due to its unbearably pretensious introduction. It was soon, however, to become the most amazing novel I ever read. As somebody else in this forum indicated, you are better off tearing off the back cover without reading the synopsis first. I understand this is a huge leap of faith, but I agree with this reader. Trust in taking this leap and you won't regret it if you're an intelligent reader. Likewise, if you're looking for a hero who embodies the qualities of a perfect hero (e.g. John Grisham lover type), disperse of this novel with alacrity. Nicholas Urfe isn't a perfect hero. Far from it. He does, however, embody the perfectly honest man whose loyalty begins and ends with himself. Trapped in a mundane London life that pushes him towards meaningless romantic flings and then a suicide attempt, Urfe finds himself without any professional or personal reason to live. His parents, as explained in the first paragraph, are dead. He has no family, no ties, no base in life whatsoever. So he does what any honest man does in time of fight or flight. He flies. Landing onto a small Greek island, in a futile teaching position with his Oxford degree, Urfe soon finds himself on the greatest literary adventure that fiction has ever seen. Conchis is the island millionaire whose presence is as much myth as fact. Conchis arrives and leaves his private side of the island without real knowledge by any of the locals. His reputation is ill-reputed for mysterious reasons. Nicholas meets the mythical Conchis, however, after trespassing to this "other" side of the island during his suicide plan. What ensues is a novel so engrossing, so filled with twists and betrayals, untrustworthy women and dilemmas, that your own fate in life seems less important than Urfes. If you set the novel down for a few hours break, you'll find yourself back on the couch within fifteen minutes. You can't stop yourself. Your mind runs over the island adventure for years after, and you will find yourself hoping to forget the novel over the course of future years only so that you might enjoy it again sometime in the future. I've now read this novel three times, and loved every page with each reading. I look forward to forgetting it again in another fifteen years so that I might pick it up again and have one more perfect weekend. One might say this is the only benefit of Alzheimer's, the chance to enjoy such a great adventure with fresh eyes. If you've read The Most Dangerous Game and liked it, multiply the complexity of characters and excitement by ten, minimally. No other novel inspires the love of fiction more than this one. It's the perfect adventure novel. My only advice, outside of reading this, is that you wait until you have an unabated 3-5 days of reading.
Average customer rating:
- Received the book so promptly that it made my head spin.
- Decent but not earth shattering
- The cover art is nice
- An adequate bio of an extraordinary man
- sadly underwhelmed, but at least some of the pictures are great
|
Jimmy Page: Magus, Musician, Man: An Unauthorized Biography
George Case
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Reference
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Bluegrass
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Country
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Rock
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Rock
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Led Zeppelin IV (Rock of Ages)
-
Led Zeppelin: Concert File
-
Jimmy Page Past Presence
-
John Bonham
-
Led Zeppelin: 1968-1980
ASIN: 1423404076 |
Book Description
Jimmy Page - Magus, Musician, Man is a meticulously researched life story of Led Zeppelin's legendary guitarist and producer. From his childhood in war-torn Britain and his pivotal role in the recording studios that launched the British Invasion of the '60s to his milestone achievements, his dark, nefarious excesses with Led Zeppelin, and his emergence as a revered cultural icon and honored philanthropist, this biography - the first ever written about Jimmy Page - portrays all his spiritual, artistic, and personal dimensions. Swinging London, the Sunset Strip, Bron-yr-Aur, Kashmir, and Clarksdale: Magus, Musician, Man traverses through all of Page's hallowed stomping grounds and tells, at last, the complete story of one of rock 'n' roll's most enigmatic and influential talents.
Customer Reviews:
Received the book so promptly that it made my head spin. .......2007-07-19
I was in shock with the swiftness I received my book and the book was in perfect order too. Thank you.
Decent but not earth shattering.......2007-07-16
Case is a Led Zeppelin fan, that much is evident but he belabors the point losing all objectivity about his subject. The only thing new Case has to offer is his own, at times mind numbing analysis, as his book completely relies on secondary sources, much to this reader's disappointment. A good editor would have corrected the many grammatical errors not to mention some of the, albeit minor, factual errors in the work. He sums up entire tours and albums mostly to a few paragraphs focusing more on his own analysis (actually referring to Page's riffs on Trampled Underfoot as "Bootylicious.") Case offers little glimpse into the real life of Jimmy Page and his post Led Zeppelin accomplishments (although he did try to contact Page for his input). Despite the numerous flaws, this book was a fun read for a serious fan, particularly as a refresher. Still, Page fans will have to wait for something truly worthwhile. Hats off to Case for trying.
The cover art is nice.......2007-07-10
I have been a Page fan more than half my life. I started playing guitar because of Page. I was interested when I saw this book on the shelf and bought it immediately. It sat on my floor for weeks because I just felt it would be a let down, but finally curiosity got me to pick it up.
It was a let down. There is not a single point in this book that is original in any way. Most of the stories told have been told over and over and over again. It seems silly to try to write a biography about a guy who doesn't want to have a biography written about him.
I once asked the boxer, Marvin Hagler, if he would be interested in having a biography written about him. He said no. So, I did not write it. Not exactly a complex decision.
Jimmy Page rocks. This book does not.
An adequate bio of an extraordinary man.......2007-07-07
The packaging for this book is geared to sell. A beautiful black cover page, excellent photos, and an intriguing reference to Page as a Magus. Knowing all about Jimmy's excursion into the occult and his fascination with Aliester Crowley I still decided to purchase this book. I wasn't exactly disappointed that I had done so, however, the content definitely doesn't live up to the packaging. This is little here revealed about Page that a Zeppelin aficionado wouldn't know, and while it is noteworthy that the author shuns the outrageous media-hyped tour stories, it is at the same time unduly sparse about the facts of Zeppelins road career. The author also seems to lack insight on Plant's backgroud. For example, he completely misses the obvious allusions to JRR Tolkien's classic trilogoy "The Lord of the Rings" in songs such as "Ramble On", "The Battle of Evermore", and indeed "Stairway to Heaven". He can be somewhat forgiven for missing the reference in Plant's dog's name Strider.
The books strong points are when he discusses Page's career as a studio musician, and his involvement with Jemina Page his current wife and their philanthropic endeavors. Unfortunately this doesn't rescue the book from it's otherwise mediocre content.The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)
sadly underwhelmed, but at least some of the pictures are great.......2007-06-13
I had perhaps unfairly high hopes for this book, and to be honest read it cover to cover in about 24 hours. So I guess it either has something going for it or I am so starved for new biographical material on Jimmy Page that even a marginal rehashing of well-worn interview materials is still strongly compelling to me. As pointed out in other reviews anyone who has researched Page's career with any reasonable amount of due dilligence is not going to find much, if anything, new in Case's tome. In addition to the dearth of fresh material, I also at times found the narrative structure (ie -- combining pieces of disparate, sometimes strangely isolated, source interview snippets together to illustrate a point) to be a bit presumptuous. My main beef, however, comes when the author gets cute with his prose and mixes Led Zeppelin song titles in with his editorializing -- a truly amateurish literary device. Things get embarrassing every time he pullls this stunt.
That said, there's nothing really terrible about the project. The man knows his subject and is clearly a fan first and historian second. The book would have been stronger had Case stayed with his strength as a researcher and rounded things out more fully. Too me Magus, Musician, Man feels like a People Magazine caliber collage as opposed to a complete biography, unauthorized or otherwise. Maybe in light of the fact that Page isn't talking that's the best we can expect. Even so, with what is out there, and what the author tapped into for source material, a more complete picture was in his grasp. Case clearly could have used a good editor to clean up the multiple glaring typos and reign him in when he got too clever for his own good. The latter issues fall square on the shoulders of the publishers.
Book Description
The story of John Chang, the first man to be documented performing pyrokinesis, telekinesis, levitation, telepathy, and other paranormal abilities.
• The author, a mechanical engineer, provides scientific explanations of how these powers work.
• For the first time, the discipline of Mo-Pai is introduced to the West.
In 1988 the documentary Ring of Fire was released to great acclaim. The most startling sequence in the film is that of a Chinese-Javanese acupuncturist who demonstrates his full mastery of the phenomenon of chi, or bio-energy, by generating an electrical current within his body, which he uses first to heal the filmmaker of an eye infection and then to set a newspaper on fire with his hand. Ring of Fire caused thousands to seek out this individual, John Chang, in pursuit of instruction. Of the many Westerners who have approached him, John Chang has accepted five as apprentices. Kosta Danaos is the second of those five.
In his years of study with John Chang, Danaos has witnessed and experienced pyrokinesis, telekinesis, levitation, telepathy, and much more exotic phenomena. He has spoken with spirits and learned the secrets of reincarnation. Most important, he has learned John Chang's story. John Chang is the direct heir to the lineage of the sixth-century b.c. sage Mo-Tzu, who was Confucius's greatest rival. His discipline, called the Mo-Pai, is little-known in the West and has never before been the subject of a book. Now, John Chang has decided to bridge the gap between East and West by allowing a book to be published revealing the story of his life, his teachings, and his powers. It will surely expedite what may well become the greatest revolution of the twenty-first century--the verification and study of bio-energy.
Customer Reviews:
Mindblowing.......2006-10-23
This book blew me away. It's the incredible tale of John Chang, a internal arts master, as told by one his students. As the author is a former scientist, everything is presented in an objective, responsible, almost skeptical manner. Too often we forget what we're capable of and what the universe can offer us, with the right intent and commitment. This book is a great reminder.
Excellent read.......2006-10-22
Fascinating look into a nei kung practitioner's life. Danaos has a tremendous knack for descriptive storytelling and provides much information via [Sifu] John Chang regarding the inner workings of metaphysics and the fabled chi energy. However I question (and this may be a slightly cynical side of me) how the author managed to recall (or even take notes on) the numerous conversations he had with Chang so accurately. Either he has a near-Elephantine memory, or he was embellishing many experiences and details- and if the latter occurred it questions his credibility. It should never be underestimated writers' ability to overdramatize (and perhaps outright BS) for the sake of a more interesting book, and although there is no proof of this here, I think it's a valid question esp. given the subject matter (psychic abilities and the like) which has long been associated with unscrupulous individuals. Danaos either took phenomenal practically word-for-word notes of conversations, or he fudged here and there which calls into question the witnessed telekinesis, levitation, etc.
All this being said- whether the book represents the unblemished truth, imaginative fictions or a combination of both, it's a fascinating read as it gives a close and detailed look into the life, philosophies and workings of a truly remarkable man. Students of metaphysics, spirituality, psychic phenomena, paranormal and the mental/spiritual aspects of martial arts should find this a must-read.
Best Book I've Ever Read.......2006-07-11
This book is a must for anyone who is interested in Qi-Gong, Nei Kung, or Taoism and is also highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good story. Each chapter is split up into a narrative section(s), and an educational section(s).
This is a true story about the author's (Kosta Danaos) first couple of years under the tutelage of John Chang, an authentic taoist master. John has gained amazing powers through meditation and an art called Nei Kung. Some of these powers (healing, telekenesis, levitation, etc.) are demonstrated and explained throughout the book. Also, because Nei Kung uses a level system, the first few levels are also explained (unfortunately, you are not instructed on how to obtain said levels and any instruction mentioned is very vague).
The educational section(s) of each chapter simply explains and gives background on what's being discussed in the narrative section, making this an easier read for people who don't have extensive knowledge on Qi Gong or Taoism. Also, there are two appendices. One contains more explanation, background, and history on Taoism, Qi, Qi Gong, and Nei Kung, while the other, entitled "Observations and Speculation", contains, well, observations and speculation.
The only downfall to this book is that in two of the final chapters, "Epilogue" and "Appendix Two: Observations and Speculation", the author (Kosta Danaos) gets a little too "all over the place". It's as if he just wrote down every thought that came to mind (though I'm sure that's not what happened). This made these chapters feel more like a journal entry than a chapter in a book, they weren't really consistent with the rest of the book. However, this is a small price to pay for such a good read.
Definitely pick this one up.
No teachings to be found in this book, bad title........2006-01-08
I read this book twice. The second time with a highlighter. I found only about one page of actual teachings on how one can gain the abilities that he says his teacher has. His second book is even worse, it just repeats what is in this book.
Don't get me wrong I have studied the internal arts for years now and I truly believe that what he says his teacher can do can be done. But this is not the book to learn them from. He even says at one point that he does not give the instruction for fear of these powers falling into the wrong hand. Frankly the largest failing of this book is that it is very poorly written.
Honestly don't bother, read instead "The Magus of Strovolos" a much better book.
masters do exist.......2005-10-13
I have never met this guy but I have met a master with abilities that I only thought were written about in book. If anyone is interested this master still teaches in the US and can be found at emeiqigong.com. If you dont believe you will after training with the master, thats at least how it happened for me.
Customer Reviews:
Another Amazing Book.......2001-06-08
Second book by Markides looking at a spiritual healer and more. If you liked the first one, you will also love this one. More great true stories about spiritual healer Daskalos and his companions.
A great read.......1999-07-04
The Magus of Strovolos : The Extraordinary World of a Spiritual Healer was the first and only book approved by Daskalos ( the magus of Strovolos ). Even though Daskalos did not approve this book it is still worth reading. I highly recommend both of these books. Avoid the rest.
An excellent book on out of body experience and travel.......1999-05-30
Homage To The Sun is an excellent book on Daskalos Kostas, and their group the Order of the Unpointed Dagger.
It relates how Daskalos tells us how our Karma, Fate, and life is evolving through phases. He tells us how to briefly train for out of body experiences, and what we must face as to the spirits of the land and nature.
The book also relates about the more then four dimensions we in everyday life experience. He relates that we must cope with at least seven dimensions.
He also relates about the Logus, Supreme Being of the Universe and how we relate to it. Further what we must do to face it safely. Also the invisible forces of nature ethereal and natural good and evil.
He also explains briefly how we must treat each other.
Daskalos also relates how he worked with ufos. And how he with the aliens worked with forcing the satellite that was crashing to earth was later diverted to Canada's wastelands to minimize damage and injury.
The book is a sequel to the Magus of Strovolos, which is worth reading also. This first book in the series introduces the reader to the order of the Unpointed Dagger, Daskalos, Kostas, and the other members.
The last book is Fire In The Heart. All worth reading.
Sincerely,
Mike Andrew Kounas, B.S.E.E.
Researcher on Remote Viewing and other subjects.
Great!!!.......1999-02-26
The author describes the mystical aspects of Christianity that have been lost for hundreds of years.
Book Description
Dark Magus is a warts-and-all look at the real Miles Davis. As told by his son, this book strips away the public perception of Davis and gets down to the realities of his personality, his relationships, and his many quirks. Dark Magus details this enigmatic superstar's Jekyll and Hyde behavior: his swings between sobriety and prodigious drug use; his tender family moments and his destructive selfishness; his search for marital stability and his obsession with young women; his exalted musical talent and his ever-present personal demons. The author also delves into Davis' relationships with artists such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane, as well as his role as a mentor to young musicians, his obsession with sports, the ups and downs of his career, and the family's turmoil over his final will. "This book is a brilliant and engaging revelation of Miles' character through the recollections of his oldest son. It's a book about a legendary musician who was one of my closest friends, and a book that's second to none." - Clark Terry
Customer Reviews:
Non-exsistant writing style .......2007-05-10
When I bought this book I was excited, cause I felt that the son that lived and worked among the man that is Miles Dewey Davis, could and would provide a great,colorful, sometimes wonderful, sometimes tragic insight into him. This son, who is a psychotherapist, had NO deep insight inside Miles. He was a very un-poetic author. Painful even. Typos are peppered throughout the whole book. Phrases, and stories are repeated, with no elaboration. This was a hard read, so hard that I stopped at page 126, and I cant seem to pick the book up again.The book is only 168 pages too. I can't believe i'm going to say this: it's a bore!! BORING. And because there is no elaboration on the stories he tells that he experienced with Miles, you never walk away with any surprises. Uh, is this Miles Davis's life we are talking here? No. It's the story of a son with a very limited writing ability.
I collect books written about Miles Davis, and I'd have to say that THIS book is the worst!!!!!
Like Miles, Gregory is not the least bit averse to tooting his own horn.......2007-01-12
After reading Miles' autobiography written with Quincy Troupe, I thought this book would offer some more insight into MILES' life. Unfortunately, after a scant 100 pages of Miles biography (all of which was covered in better detail in the Troupe book), Gregory takes the next 60 odd pages to whine about being cut out of the will and explain his personal struggle with not getting any of Miles' money.
Whining about the will wouldn't even take the full 60 pages if Gregory wasn't constantly repeating himself. Its as if he expects that anyone reading any portion of the book didn't read the rest of it. "I was my dads nurse and bodygaurd," is mentioned at least once every two or three pages. Yeah, we get it... now maybe you could boast about someone else... maybe MILES DAVIS?!?
For someone who is as educated as Gregory repeatedly claims to be, you would think he'd see how retarded he looks whining about how hurt he is not to have daddy's money and then turning around to call the members of the family who did get the money materialistic.
Then again, I consider myself educated and I wasn't smart enough to stop reading this drivel... I kept thinking there would be some tiny morsel of information about Miles that I didn't know hidden in there. There isn't, so don't waste your time reading this.
....and this guy has a degree............2006-12-29
GEEZ, the book is writ' like a 12 year old kid, yet this man claims to have a big degree--whats more is he adds NOTHING of substance to the stories we may have read in Miles' autobio., or other works...just a bunch of regurgitation of stories already in print--and boring too--nothing to capture your attention too long, and trust me, I've read all I can find on Miles....
His own writing has a "Jekyl and Hyde" of its own in that one minute he hails his dad and the next he nails him....so, perhaps this schizophrenic energy has rubbed off, who knows...
all I know is I am GLAD that I got it used....
another thing is the annoying fact that he skips around like a kid on a jump rope--one minute your lost in the haze of the 70's, the next your sitting in Birdland waiting for Miles to play alongside Bird....
the only thing I liked this book for is the few rare photos in color that it has....
finally, when it comes to Miles, I am not hard to please--JUST GIMME MILES! but here, its hard to believe it was writ' by his OWN SON--and I think this is the reason I am so taken aback by the lack of inspiration or content....
maybe Squeaky can do a better job heh?
falls apart quickly.......2006-12-04
The first few chapters of "Dark Magus" deliver on the book's promise: it's chocked full of interesting insights into Mile Davis' family in St. Louis, his first wife, and the years up to his move to New York/Julliard.
Sadly, after this great beginning, "Dark Magus" quickly disintegrates in both content and writing style. While the beginning progressed chronologically and was written with an appealing insider's language and perspective, the last two thirds of the book are mainly disorganized ramblings without any new insight into Miles the father, the man, or the music.
I've read all of the main biographies about Miles: Ian Carr, Jack Chambers, George Cole, Brian Morton, Philip Freeman, Ashley Kahn, and of course Miles himself with Quincey Troupe have given us well-organized information and insight into one of jazz's most influential and profound artists. Gregory Davis' additions to this body of work are footnotes at best.
This book promises to provide an insider's view of Miles and his "evil/beautiful" sides. As far as his "evil" side is concerned, Miles paints a much worse picture of himself in his autobiography than Gregory does in "Dark Magus". Gregory was left out of Miles will... he appears to have beeen a devoted assistant to his father and a great guy, but he repeats the facts and his frustrations with his family over Mile's estate several times throughout the book. If you've read Mile's autobiography or many of the other bios listed above, you know Miles used drugs througout his life (after kicking heroin at an early age),was despicable in the mid to late 70s, partially cleaned up in the 80s, but was never an angel. Gregory adds no new facts to this "side" of Miles.
As far as Miles' beauty (which is why he achieved so much), Gregory frequently gives us little new insight into the positive side of his father, aside from a touching story of Miles running half naked carrying Gregory to the local hospital on a bitter winter night to save him from choking to death. Gregory's references to Miles music are tainted by chronological and factual inaccuracies. He lived with Miles and Fran in NYC, but the most we learn about this period is that when Miles was around, he expected the family to maintain some of the "traditional" manners Miles' father had insisted upon... we get no great new insight into Miles. Likewise for any time that Gregory spent with Miles in the 70s or 80s.
While I appreciate that Gregory pursued an advanced degree in psychology, "made it on his own", and shares his father's love of expressing himself through music, I'm afraid his book doesn't live up to its promises.
Pot holders required.......2006-11-28
Miles Davis was more than just a great jazz trumpeter. He was a man who lived his life at full speed, often with reckless abandon that could lead to powerful improvisations but could just as easily lead to painful family and love relationships. This book takes a new look at Miles, from a son's perspective. Love, hate, jealousy- the story is so lurid you'll need pot-holders to handle the material. A fun read.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent, but not light reading
- A Vast Scholarly Study Spanning Time and Place
- Beautiful Introduction to Western Mystery Traditions. . .
- Revised,updated, rewritten "The Western Way",omnibus edition
- A Western path of the heart
|
Walkers Between the Worlds: The Western Mysteries from Shaman to Magus
Caitlín Matthews , and
John Matthews
Manufacturer: Inner Traditions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Shamanism
| Earth-Based Religions
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Celtic
| Earth-Based Religions
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Mystery
| Fiction
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| New Age
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Occult
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Magic
| Occult
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Occultism
| Occult
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Mysticism
| Other Practices
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Matthews, John
| ( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Matthews, Caitlin
| ( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Sidhe: Wisdom from the Celtic Otherworld
-
The Mist-Filled Path: Celtic Wisdom for Exiles, Wanderers, and Seekers
-
Psychic Shield: The Personal Handbook of Psychic Protection
-
The Spiral of Memory and Belonging: A Celtic Path of Soul and Kinship
-
The Celtic Shaman
ASIN: 0892810912
Release Date: 2004-01-14 |
Book Description
A comprehensive overview of the Western perennial tradition--the hermetic tradition and the ancient earth wisdom of shamanic indigenous peoples
• Provides practical exercises to reawaken mystical awareness and reconnect with the ancient mystery traditions of our ancestors
• Reveals how earth wisdom and high magic complement one another
In
Walkers Between the Worlds, the authors reveal the development of both these traditions that were never far beneath the surface of Western culture and how they complement each other.
As the orthodox structures of the West appear increasingly hollow and irrelevant, the Western way trod by the shaman and the magus remains vital, with many practical methods for reawakening awareness and reconnecting with the earth. In addition to its in-depth theoretical analysis, Walkers Between the Worlds contains practical exercises drawn from traditional teaching methods used by both native and hermetic traditions to help the reader explore these mysteries.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, but not light reading.......2007-07-17
This is one of the most comprehensive & thorough books I've ever read in the realm of alternative spirituality. It gives an excellent overview of all the main topics in both native/Pagan/earth-centered practice and alchemical/Hermetic/celestial practice. However, it took me almost 2 years to get through the whole book, as it is written very intelligently and requires much reflection to truly digest. Definitely not a Llewellyn-fluff book (although those have their place)! You will need to invest serious thought and time to fully understand & incorporate this book's concepts into your life. For this reason I wouldn't recommend it as one of your first alternative spirituality books; come back to it when you have studied awhile first. It will help answer your questions & fill in the gaps of earlier teachings. My favorite part are the Practices, which are like guided meditations that help bring the sometimes dry text to vibrant life.
A Vast Scholarly Study Spanning Time and Place.......2007-05-12
It's impossible for me to know where to start with a book this dense. Even with all my years studying shamanism, Witchcraft, magic, and world religions, this book had lots of information that either elobrated on things only touched upon in other sources or explained things no other text ever tried to do. I knew I'd love the shaman section, but the magi section is where I learned a lot about paradigms I don't always agree with, but ought to know to be well rounded. As someone with no Christian background, I found the sections of early Christianity's involvement with mysticism fascinating. It helps if you have already read dozens of books on the history and practice of shamanism and magic so that the sheer volume of information doesn't overwhelm you. This is the rare book I can actually say advanced workers of magic in the Western Tradition can enjoy.
Beautiful Introduction to Western Mystery Traditions. . . .......2006-09-02
I really enjoyed this book and agree with many of the other reviews- it was a well-written look into the Western Mysteries, and divides its time equally between the shaman path and the magus. What I really liked was that the author's emphasized that shamanistic traditions are not inferior to the "high magic" branches of western tradition: this distinction is key in actually fully understanding the traditions. Overall and in-depth and enjoyable read with some useful exercises as well!
Revised,updated, rewritten "The Western Way",omnibus edition.......2005-06-21
For those who have been searching for years for a copy of Caitlin and John Matthews' "The Western Way", omnibus edition, which was the compilation of the two prior western tradition magical works "The Native Tradition" and "The Hermetic Tradition", here is their definitive work revised, rewritten, and updated. The Matthews stand as two of the premier writers and practitioners of Western Tradition magic and native "shamanic" modalities, within a Celtic framework. Along with serious Western Tradition practitioners and writers such as Gareth Knight, who wrote the forward for their original works, and R. J. Stewart, who collaborated with John Matthews on quite a number of books, the Matthews have written an intriguing manual for practitioners, leading you on a journey to the Otherworlds, and leading you back safely.
As a shamanic practitioner trained in the Harner method, as well as a Druid with the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, I can assure you that the practical principles Caitlin and John Matthews instruct in this tome are well worth the time, energy, and effort of those serious about magical and shamanic work. "A rose of the West should not seek to bloom like a lotus of the East", as the pioneers of formalizing Western Tradition have said, referring of course to Dion Fortune, Christine Hartley, William Gray, Gareth Knight, Israel Regardie, and others. This is not to disparage Eastern mysticism at all, only indicates that Eastern mysticism and practice is geared for the Eastern mind. Many people of Western cultures study Eastern practices, unaware that within their own Western cultural heritage there exists a lineage of spiritual and mystical traditions that are every bit as effective and enduring as the Eastern traditions.
Drawing from the myths, stories, poetry, ancient writings, and resources, the Matthews provide ample background to substantiate a legacy of Western magical and native traditions left to us by the giants who have gone before us. The Eastern mind and psyche is more attuned to the stillness, the still center, and simply being, while the Western mind and psyche is better engaged in activities and interactions with beings who habitate the many Otherworlds, as well as with our own Higher Self, and with our guardians and guides. These interactions can range from various divination methods, intuition, automatic writing communications, augury, scrying, inspiration, or actual verbal, aural, or thought-exchange interactions with beings. One can access otherworlds and walk therein, at will, with one foot in each world, hence the title of the book.
Considering there are organizations of medical doctors and other health care professionals who are now actively studying and practicing shamanism and shamanic techniques, in the USA and elsewhere, what was once a small and eclectic group of indigenous practitioners around the world has blossomed into thousands of people from all walks of life, called to this type of work and exploration, for whatever reasons. This book by the Matthews, whether one is drawn to Celtic shamanism, traditions, or magic, or not, can only help to enrich one's understanding and experience of shamanism and magic.
The practical exercises that were the hallmark of the earlier books remain, with enriching and updating as needed, but the structure of the prior works remains intact. I kept my omnibus edition of "The Western Way" even though most of it is incorporated within "Walkers Between the Worlds", for sentimental reasons, because it was the first book I ever read that was such a "synchonious" experience for me, one of the "Ah-ha" moments of my life, that I cannot let it go. It served me well when I was called to assist my late mother in crossing over to the Summerlands, and I took her on a journey to the Underworld so that she wouldn't be afraid of passing over, and she found it beautiful. That was prior to the "Walkers Between The Worlds" edition. All the important material and exercises from "The Western Way" were kept in the Walkers Between The Worlds" book.
Gregg Braden, author and speaker, has said that Mayan and other indigenous teachings refer to this time in the world as the time of the "Walkers Between the Worlds", and this has some significance to the year 2012, perhaps as a time of increasing and accelerating Earth vibrations.
A Western path of the heart.......2005-04-30
I first read this many years ago under its previous title THE WESTERN WAY. This wonderful book, written by two who have travelled the path deeply, gave voice and clarity to my own vague spiritual yearning, and helped me begin a rich and rewarding journey of my own. I, and many in the West, have looked eastward to find a spirituality perceived lacking in the West. Yet, a beautiful, rich and coherent spirituality does indeed exist in Western culture. This book brought me home again, and stirred the analeptic memory of my soul.
Poetic, scholarly and practical, this book offers many rich and engaging practica for exploration, none of which are terribly difficult. However, approach them with respect; do not underestimate the power of these exercises to open the inner mind and heart.
Book Description
A comprehensive look at the life of Elias Ashmole, who represents the historic missing link between operative and symbolic Freemasonry
• Explores the true role of occult and magical studies in the genesis of modern science
• Explains the full meaning of the term magus, which Ashmole exemplified
Elias Ashmole (1617-1692) was the first to record a personal account of initiation into Accepted Freemasonry. His writings help solve the debate between operative and “speculative” origins of Accepted Freemasonry, demonstrating that symbolic Freemasonry existed within the Masonic trade bodies. Ashmole was one of the leading intellectual luminaries of his time: a founding member of the Royal Society, a fellowship and later academy of natural philosophers and scientists; alchemist; astrological advisor to the king; and the creator of the world’s first public museum. While Isaac Newton regarded him as an inspiration, Ashmole has been ignored by many conventional historians.
Tobias Churton’s compelling portrait of Ashmole offers a perfect illustration of the true Renaissance figure--the magus. As opposed to the alienated position of his post-Cartesian successors, the magus occupied a place at the heart of Renaissance spiritual, intellectual, and scientific life. Churton shows Ashmole to be part of the ferment of the birth of modern science, a missing link between operative and symbolic Freemasonry, and a vital transmitter of esoteric thought when the laws of science were first taking hold. He was a man who moved with facility between the powers of earth and the active symbols of heaven.
Average customer rating:
|
The Eternal Hermes: From Greek God to Alchemical Magus With Thirty-Nine Plates
Antoine Faivre
Manufacturer: Phanes Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Greek & Roman
| Mythology
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mythology
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Fairy Tales
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Dreams
| New Age
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Gnosticism
| Church History
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0933999534 |
Book Description
Tarot is greater than the sum of its parts, but the focus is usually on division: Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, and Court cards. Here the focus is on the commonality of the cards through the four elements. Paul Hughes-Barlow looks at the relationships between the cards to build up a detailed picture of a situation, allowing readers to gain in confidence and accuracy. Through detailed examples and profound analysis of the cards, combined with specific meditations and guided visualizations, everything is provided to not only read the Tarot cards like an open book, but to also gain a firm grounding in a powerful and safe Magickal practice culminating in the Knowledge and Conversation of your Holy Guardian Angel.
“...Paul’s Quest is to find the science within the occult; yet if you bring science from the far future into our time it would be indistinguishable (to modern man) from magick. My conjecture is that Paul’s book is science of an extremely advanced form channelled to him by Intelligences (Spirits as he calls them) that turns the occult into science. A Grimoire from the far future.”--Tim Rifat, Author of Remote Viewing
Customer Reviews:
A Future Tarot Classic?.......2004-03-15
As a devotee of Paul Hughes-Barlow's "Supertarot" website, I was greatly
pleased with my recent purchase of his book Tarot and the Magus". Quite
simply, ALL the material with which I had become familiar (the Elemental
Dignities, Card Pairing and Counting) is present here, but in improved book
format. This, together with significant new material, in a single stylish
volume, attractively illustrated with (monochrome) images of the
Crowley-Thoth deck, makes this book a wonderful addition to any Tarot or
Magickal library.
For those (like me) in the process of honing personal systems of divinatory
"meaning" for the cards, the methods described here allow significant progress
towards producing useful readings in the interim. Separation of the more
"mechanistic" part of reading (forming an underlying Tarot "story") from the
subjective or intuitive process, allows additional meaning to be added as an
thin layer, according to the experience and the progress of the reader. As a
bonus the book could even be used with other popular decks based on the Thoth
structure but e.g. with more pictorial minor arcana scenes.
The book is structured around the traditional Eleven Chapters of Magickal
texts of history. A cursory glance at the text reveals too a significant
departure from the usual format of introduction and end material, surrounding
a lengthy list of card meanings! Each chapter here, begins with illustrated
pairs of Major Arcana cards, but selected according to a new, intriguing take
on an ancient Qabalistic (Atabash) sequence. Lest anyone be put off by the
notion, suffice it to say that this provides an interesting and logical take
on the Major orderings! Aces and the Minor (including Court) cards then take
their place in chapters, according to more familiar "Tree of Life" positions.
Rather than the usual commentaries on card meaning, the text here concentrates
on more useful, personal observations made by the author and includes notable
commentary on Crowley's original texts. In this sense, perhaps the book
becomes more appropriate for someone with some basic notion of Tarot? Despite
that, it remains an eminently approachable text and above all, appropriate to
someone with the serious desire to learn (a whole lot!) more.
The novel card ordering is also used to advantage, using Gematria values of
card combinations to generate new meaning and even suggest hitherto occult
(sic!) significance in the original Tarot card ordering! The specific topics
(cited above) form the remainder of each chapter. This had an effect of
curbing this reader's inate tendancy to "skip about" and miss out on other
important information!
Half way through the book, we are lead, albeit fairly seamlessly, into more
Magickal areas promised by the Title? Again, no very specialist knowledge,
experience or initiatory status is needed, but a basic understanding of some
terminology might be an advantage? This could e.g. already be within the grasp
of the many readers, particularly those familiar with or using the Thoth deck.
Some of them may also be familiar with the attribution of various "spirits" to
the Tarot cards. Previously, decks such as Lon MIlo Duquette's popular "Tarot
of Ceremonial Magic", gave correspondences for Enochian Angels, Goetic
Deamons, Shemhamphorash Angels and the lesser known Spirits of Crowley's
Liber 231! Despite this, the neophyte could perhaps be forgiven for being a
little confused as to exactly HOW these entities could indeed be useful?
Methods for evoking the Goetia are perhaps common enough, even in beginner
texts on High Magick! But these often seem to depend on a process of cajoling
reluctant entities, followed by extreme effort to restrain the powers thereby
released! Not for the fainthearted? But here, it is the authors view (and
indeed experience), that all these (especially Liber 231) spirits appear as a
direct and painless consequence of the presence of certain "unaspected" (qv)
cards revealed during the practice of reading techniques described in earlier
chapters. At very minimum this must represents a significant contribution to
the working and understanding of the relatively unfamiliar Liber 231 spirits.
Despite this reviewer's own Magickal experience being limited to "theory" in
these areas (and a background in professional science, laced with skepticism)
I found the topics discussed in this book to be totally captivating. True
knowledge of this material (and ones own Holy Guardian Angel) is perhaps
indeed something to which one might aspire? Overall Tarot and the Magus
represent a unique insight into the workings of a modern-time and practicing
Magus and Tarot Reader.
Books:
- The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones
- The Office Space Kit
- The Outsiders
- The Passionate Fictions of Eliza Haywood: Essays on Her Life and Work
- The Pilgrims of Rayne (Pendragon)
- The River of Lost Footsteps: Histories of Burma
- The Scarlet Letter (Penguin Classics)
- The Scarlet Letter (Penguin Classics)
- The Shakespeare Stealer
- The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into a Category of Bourgeois Society (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- American Beach: A Saga of Race, Wealth, and Memory
- The Samurai's Garden: A Novel
- Screen World Volume 56: 2005 Paperback Edition
- Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace
- Survival of the Fittest
- Theory of Modeling and Simulation
- The Jungle Book: A Pop-Up Adventure
- And Now a Few Words From Me: Advertising's Leading Critic Lays Down the Law, Once and For All
- Microsoft Money 2000 at a Glance
- The Bare Bones Book of Screenwriting
The Mountain of Silence: A Search for Orthodox Spirituality
Homage to the Sun: The Wisdom of the Magus of Strovolos
Gifts of the Desert: The Forgotten Path of Christian Spirituality
The Magus of Java: Teachings of an Authentic Taoist Immortal
Riding with the Lion: In Search of Mystical Christianity (Arkana)
