Oriental Magic

Does there lie in mankind's remote past a single origin for the beliefs and practices of magic found in nearly every culture in the world? Behind the distortions and grotesqueries of magical practices, could there be clues to processes worthy of our objective consideration? First published nearly forty years ago, "Oriental Magic" is still the definitive work on the subject. Its publication was the culmination of five years of research into rare artifacts, obscure manuscripts and travels into remote areas where strange magical practices endure. The "Singing Sands" of Egypt, the invisible rulership of Sufism, subcutaneous electricity, and the prehistoric sources of Babylonian occult practices are just a few of the intriguing subjects described. The author includes personal accounts of "training" under a Ju-Ju witch doctor, a demonstration of Hindu levitation, and translations of secret alchemical and magical formulae. Revealed is an astonishing similarity in magical beliefs, practices and terminology of places as diverse as China, the Near East, Scandinavia and Africa. "Oriental Magic" includes a myriad of illustrations, including unique photos of places and people associated with the mysterious world of magic. Only an author of Shah's experience, dedication, and knowledge of human nature could assemble such an array of arcane information into a dazzling picture of human beliefs and practices. This new release is sure to attract the attention of a new generation of interested readers. Nine-year-old Lara is the daughter of the r-the leader of her cattle-raising clan. While she spends her days tending to the cattle, her heart lies with her beloved gray mare. When Lara goes to the highlands to set the cattle out to graze, she finds the mare in the process of a difficult birth. Lara vows to take care of the foal as a dying promise to the gray mare, and with the help of a childless milk-cow, she cares for the spindly-legged filly. But just when she is confident that the foal can survive, a rival clan captures them both, and throws Lara's life into turmoil. When the filly is eventually given to a titled baron in the castle town of Athenry, Lara, determined to stay with the horse no matter what, goes along. Together, she and her beloved horse face seemingly insurmountable challenges, but all along Lara keeps two things in mind. One day, she will manage to flee, and will set off in search of the family that she was taken from. And she will not leave without her silver mare. Cover Title Copyright Contents LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FOREWORD PREFACE 1: MAGIC IS INTERNATIONAL 2: JEWISH MAGIC 3: SOLOMON: KING AND MAGICIAN 4: THE OCCULT IN BABYLONIA 5: EGYPTIAN MAGIC 6: JU-JU LAND OF THE TWIN NILES 7: THE FAKIRS AND THEIR DOCTRINES 8: THE ARABIAN CONTRIBUTION 9: LEGENDS OF THE SORCERERS 10: CALLING THE SPIRITS 11: IRANIAN MAGIC 12: MAGICAL RITES OF THE ATHARVA VEDA 13: INDIA: RITES OF THE PRIEST-MAGICIANS 14: INDIAN ALCHEMY TODAY 15: A NEW THOUGHT-FORCE? 16: LOVE-MAGIC 17: THE OCCULT ART IN CHINA 18: WONDER-WORKERS OF TIBET 19: MAGIC ART OF JAPAN BIBLIOGRAPHY LIST OF NOTES GLOSSARIAL INDEX Captured By Members Of Another Irish Clan, Lara Continues To Protect The Young Filly, Dannsair, And Ponders How They Might Escape Together. Katie continues her journey to Fort Laramie, but is disappointed when she is unable to find her uncle