Arkana Archaeology Thrillers: Volume 7 - The Sage Stone Prophecy In the series finale, the Nephilim and the Arkana scour the farthest reaches of the planet for the hiding place of the legendary relic known as the Sage Stone. At the same time, mortal danger threatens friends and foes alike as the cult's leader pushes humanity to the brink of extinction. The fate of the world hinges on the outcome of a final confrontation with both factions pinning all their hopes on a prophecy that might not mean exactly what it says. If you've followed this saga from the beginning, THE SAGE STONE PROPHECY reveals at long last who will claim the most sought-after relic of all and how many others will lose their lives trying.

To access the power of crystals, you must know their stories. Crystal Lore, Legends & Myths presents these fascinating histories and legends of the world's crystals. Crystals, gems, and semi-precious stones have long been sought for their beauty, power, and utility. Historically used as adornments, currency, talismans, and amulets, crystals have been reputed through the ages to bestow magic and power on the user. However, in order to fully harness each stone’s unique power, one must know the unique legends and lore attached to it. Every stone has a narrative or key that unlocks its power. Oftentimes, these legends have been lost—or even deliberately altered—to confuse and obscure. In Crystal Lore, Legends & Myths, leading crystal expert and metaphysical teacher Athena Perrakis presents the fascinating history of the world’s most powerful stones. This comprehensive collection of stones presents to you the legends and relics from different cultures and ancient civilizations, including Lemuria, Sumeria, Egypt and Atlantis, among others. Learn the fascinating stories of how gems and minerals were used to raise power, store wisdom and secret teachings, and give incredible healing—and tap into the powers of the crystals yourself!

Follow along on a journey through the enchanting realm of "The Quest for Inner Light," where the veil between magic and reality is delicately woven into a tapestry of adventure and self-discovery. In the lush expanse of Evershade Forest lies the quaint village of Luminae, a sanctuary for mages and scholars who dedicate their lives to the arcane arts. Among them is Elian, a mage whose unassuming presence masks a profound potential and an insatiable curiosity for the unknown. Driven by tales of an ancient legend, Elian seeks the mythical Inner Light, a beacon of unparalleled wisdom and power. The quest is fraught with trials that test the essence of their spirit, leading them through the enigmatic Whispering Woods and the ominous Gloomwood Forest. Each step is a dance with danger, where magic is both a formidable ally and a cunning adversary. By Elian's side is Aryn, a warrior whose past is a tapestry of battle and loss. United by their quest, they navigate realms where reality melds with mysticism, forging an unbreakable bond in the face of adversity. Their journey to the Heartstone Mountains is a mosaic of encounters, with each friend and foe shaping the fabric of their destiny. "The Quest for Inner Light" is not merely a tale of magic and adventure but a reflection on the journey within. It is a reminder that the most arduous quests are those that lead us to the depths of our own souls, where the true Inner Light resides. For Elian and Aryn, the quest is a mirror, reflecting the strength found in vulnerability, the wisdom in confronting fears, and the power of unity and friendship. Join Elian and Aryn as they traverse the boundary between light and shadow, discovering that the light they seek is not a distant treasure but a path that illuminates the heart's deepest truths, shining brightest when shared. "The Quest for Inner Light" is a voyage into the heart of magic, a testament to the enduring quest for wisdom, understanding, and the mystical bonds that unite us all.

The winds of war are blowing through the fast-changing land of Tobyn-Ser. This peaceful land of verdant forests is being ravaged by those who are destroying its natural beauty in the name of "progress". Jaryd, a young, powerfully gifted mage fulfills an ancient prophesy that heralds war when he binds to an eagle, becoming and Eagle-Sage. But which of the Mage-Craft's many enemies will they fight in the coming conflict? Across the water, unrest is growing in the Nals of Lon-Ser. Melyor, a street-smart woman with her own magic, who rose from nothing to become ruler, struggles to bring peace with Tobyn-Ser. But her efforts make her a pariah in a land with a long history of deadly coups. It will be up to Jaryd and Melyor to avert war. But can even these two young leaders keep their lands from falling into chaos as they seek to stave off the winds of war?

Qin Shi Huang had given himself the title of Divine Emperor. He had gathered the blood essence of millions of people as a medium, using the history books of BC as his foundation, using the sages of the Ancestor as a guide, and had arrogantly sacrificed himself to form the Heavenly Talisman. However, because of the obstruction of the capable Yu Xuanji, the Marquis Ding took the opportunity to steal it. After nine thousand years, the heavenly talisman finally fell into the hands of the young Ding Hong. — — This book is slow and hot, but the later parts are brilliant and cannot be missed. In the early stages, the main character was suspected to be a masochist, and the later stages were decisive and powerful. The upgrade system does not use training as the main line, but rather uses the Immortal Slaying Stream. Close]

Publisher Description

Culture and Disabilty is a groundbreaking work on persons with disabilities from diverse immigrant backgrounds. It is a pioneering and practical volume dealing with topics that have been too long ignored. Using a ‘cultural broker’ model and written by individuals who have emigrated to the U.S. from countries such as China, Korea, Jamaica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, Providing Cultural Competent Disability Services contains concrete examples, case studies, and recommendations that will help rehabilitation practitioners in their day-to-day activities. Providing Cultural Competent Disability Service also serves as an excellent supplemental text for undergraduate and graduate programs in rehabilitation and related disciplines. —Paul Leung, Ph.D., CRC, University of North Texas One in ten persons living in the United States was born in another country, and in many areas this percentage is much higher. Minority groups are currently underrepresented in the rehabilitation professions; consequently many persons with disabilities are served by professionals from a culture that may be very different than their own. Culture and Disabilty provides information about views of disability in other cultures and ways in which rehabilitation professionals may improve services for persons from other cultures, especially recent immigrants. Culture and Disabilty includes chapters with descriptions of the interaction of culture and disability. A model on "Culture Brokering" provides a framework for addressing conflicts that often arise between service providers and clients from differing cultures. Seven chapters discuss the cultural perspectives of China, Jamaica, Korea, Haiti, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Vietnam, focusing on how disability is understood in these cultures. Each of these chapters includes a discussion of the history of immigration to the United States, the role of the family and the community in rehabilitation, as well as recommendations for service providers on working with persons from each culture. Culture and Disabilty is a unique and timely text for students and instructors in disability-related programs. It is also a vital resource for service providers who work in cross-cultural environments.

Harvey Molotch's "city as a growth machine" thesis is one of the most influential approaches to the analysis of urban politics and local economic development in the United States. However, the nature and context of urban politics have changed considerably since the growth machine thesis was first proposed more than twenty years ago, and recent attempts to apply it to settings outside the U.S. have revealed conceptual and empirical limitations. This book offers a unique critical assessment of the contribution of the growth machine thesis to research in urban political economy. Written from an interdisciplinary and international perspective, it brings together leading urban studies scholars. These contributors explore three organizing themes: urban growth, discourse and ideology; new dimensions of urban politics; and the growth machine in comparative perspective. These themes not only provide the focus for the critical examinations of the growth machine thesis, but also offer exciting new ways of thinking about and researching urban politics and local economic development. As Harvey Molotch himself notes in this book's concluding chapter, "The growth machine idea makes a substantive argument about the empirical substance of U.S. urban regimes. It asserts that virtually every city (and state) government is a growth machine and long has been. It asserts that this puts localities in chronic competition with one another in ways that harm the vast majority of their citizens as well as their environments. It anticipates an ideological structure that naturalizes growth goals as a background assumption of civic life. In a social science realm where successful empirical generalizations have been few, the growth machine idea robustly and usefully describes reality." Contributors include Thabit Abu-Rass, Keith Bassett, Mark Boyle, Allan Cochrane, Kevin R. Cox, Kyle Crowder, Melissa R. Gilbert, Bob Jessop, Andrew Kirby, Mickey Lauria, Helga Leitner, John R. Logan, Harvey Molotch, Jamie Peck, Stephanie Pincetl, Eric Sheppard, John Rennie Short, Adam Tickell, Rachel Bridges Whaley, and Andrew Wood.

Written by a mix of established and rising stars in school politics, policy, law, finance, and reform this comprehensive Handbook provides a three part framework that helps organize this relatively new and loosely organized field of study. A central theme running through the book is how to harness politics to school equity and improvement. Key features include: Thematic Discussions – detailed discussions of key topics in educational politics are organized by themes and competing perspectives. The overarching themes are 1) the goals of the U.S. political system (justice, equity, opportunity, efficiency and choice); 2) the means and resources for reaching these goals; and 3) the political behaviors and compromises that seek to mitigate ideological differences and conflicts of interest. Research Oriented – in addition to summarizing the latest research connected to key topics, each chapter exemplifies and reports on the methods and techniques for further exploration of these topics. Reform Oriented – throughout the book and especially in the summarizing chapter, authors provide suggestions for improving the political behaviors of key educational groups and individuals: unions, superintendents, politicians, school boards, teachers, and parents.