In the aftermath of an interstellar war an enigmatic star is discovered, travelling towards the Solar System from the galactic core. Its appearance adds a new and dangerous factor in the turbulent politics of the inhabited worlds as the rival factions - the power-holders of the ReUnited Nations, the rebels who secretly oppose their power, and the Religious Witnesses - all see advantages to be gained. But what awesome technology started the star on its journey half a million years ago - and why?

In early Christianity it was established that every church should have a light burning on the altar at all times. In this unique study, Eternal light and earthly concerns, looks at the material and social consequences of maintaining these ‘eternal’ lights. It investigates how the cost of lighting was met across western Europe throughout the whole of the Middle Ages, revealing the social organisation that was built up around maintaining the lights in the belief that burning them reduced the time spent in Purgatory. When that belief collapsed in the Reformation the eternal lights were summarily extinguished. The history of the lights thus offers not only a new account of change in medieval Europe, but also a sustained examination of the relationship between materiality and belief.

890 AD France. The last imperial heir of Charlemagne is dead, and every duke is proclaiming himself king. Egilolf, a former soldier, could care less. He needs to steal bones. A saint's bones. With the prospect of a large payout, he recruits the scribe Aristeus, a refugee fleeing Viking invasions. Perhaps he should have told his new companion the true reason he's pilfering saints. Together the thief and scribe must dodge bandits, Vikings, and warring lords-not to mention their own lies-only to find unearthing bones the easiest step. Yet Egilolf's fiercest battle is the one within. How can defending the weak be just, when God abandons him when he has to kill? And when Vikings become more than a faceless enemy to Aristeus, will he, like the ancient martyrs he's always extolling, risk death to convert them?

For more than twenty years, Lawrence Stoller has been creating art that is, quite literally, like nothing else on earth. Working in the medium of rock crystals and gemstones - from those that fit in the palm of one's hand to massive installations weighing a ton or more - he is at the forefront of pioneering an astonishing new medium. This book collects a stunning spectrum of Stoller's work, as well as fascinating stories about the pieces' origins, including history and science of mineralogy, and mind-bending musings on the metaphysical and healing properties of these mystical stones.FEATURES:Nearly 200 images of Stoller's incredible works, in high quality four-color reproductionProse, poetry, and behind-the-scenes stories of how these works were created, making this more than just a glorious art book

This previously unpublished title shows Campbell's remarkable mind engaged with a favorite topic, the myths and metaphors of Asian religions. The book collects seven lectures and articles ranging from the ancient Hindu Vedas to Zen koans, Tantric yoga, and the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Campbell conveys complex insights through warm, accessible storytelling, revealing the intricacies and secrets of his subjects with his typical enthusiasm.--From publisher description.

The authors present the first volume to focus exclusively on Tiffany's renowned ecclesiastical windows and the ideas and stories behind them.

In this moving and provocative anthology, the bestselling author of The Book of Qualities presents poems, myths, and prayers celebrating the fundamental cycle of life--night into day, sun and moon, and dark into light. Embellished with Gendler's own evocative and brilliantly vivid art.

Quest for Eternal Sunshine chronicles the triumphant, true story of Mendek Rubin, a brilliant inventor who overcame both the trauma of the Holocaust and decades of unrelenting depression to live a life of deep peace and boundless joy. Born into a Hassidic Jewish family in Poland in 1924, Mendek grew up surrounded by extreme anti-Semitism. Armed with an ingenious mind, he survived three horrific years in Nazi slave-labor concentration camps while virtually his entire family was murdered in Auschwitz. After arriving in America in 1946—despite having no money or professional skills—his inventions helped revolutionize both the jewelry and packaged-salad industries. Remarkably, Mendek also applied his ingenuity to his own psyche, developing innovative ways to heal his heart and end his emotional suffering. After Mendek died in 2012, his daughter, Myra Goodman, found an unfinished manuscript in which he’d revealed the intimate details of his healing journey. Quest for Eternal Sunshine—the extraordinary result of a posthumous father-daughter collaboration—tells Mendek’s whole story and is filled with eye-opening revelations, effective self-healing techniques, and profound wisdom that have the power to transform the way we live our lives. An inspirational biography of a Holocaust survivor overcoming depression and PTSD. An essential new addition to Jewish Holocaust history.

Strengthen Your Connection with Your Immortal Soul In 2010, popular author Richard Webster had a brush with death. Emerging from that experience, he felt compelled to study and write about the soul—the spiritual and eternal part of each of us. In his friendly and accessible manner, Webster explores beliefs and customs regarding the soul, past lives, and reincarnation in cultures all over the world. Learn about auras, chakras, lucid dreaming, and the planes of existence. Read true accounts of near-death experiences, past-life memories, and encounters with soul mates. Discover the Seven Rays—powerful universal energies that have a profound effect on the soul. Many people believe that every person's soul is attuned to a particular ray to help it achieve its purpose in this incarnation. Experience the energy of each ray and use the quizzes, meditations, and exercises included here to determine which ray you are using most, and the life purpose you are here to fulfill.

The writing of a requiem is a special challenge for any composer. The great requiems of the past by composers such as Mozart, Verdi and Berlioz interpret the sacred requiem text literally, offering prayers of salvation for the departed, whose souls are assumed to be in purgatory facing a terrible judgment. Eternal Light: A Requiem, by the Emmy Award winning British composer and internationally acclaimed broadcaster Howard Goodall is a stunning new requiem for the modern day. In contrast it is intended to provide solace to the grieving, reflecting on the words of the Latin Mass by juxtaposing them with poems in English. Speaking about the work, Howard Goodall said, "For me, a modern requiem is one that acknowledges the unbearable loss and emptiness that accompanies the death of loved ones, a loss that is not easily ameliorated with platitudes about the joy awaiting us in the afterlife. This, like Brahms', is a requiem for the living, addressing their suffering and endurance, a requiem focusing on the consequences of interrupted lives." Also available in single octavo format, is Lead, Kindly Light (057153323X). Buy digital tracks from iTunes. Complete CD also available from Amazon.com.