Tevan loves having a talent for magic. He never took the oath, yet he can do things the magicians around him can't even dream of. As a vassal, that's a great thing. As a newly-chosen landowner heir . . . well . . . it might pose a slight problem, since he just learned that magic is forbidden for landowners. But never mind! He probably won't get caught. And they're not serious about that death penalty anyway, are they? This is the story of the rising Keeper before Raneh.

Life hasn't suddenly become easy because Raneh's now the Keeper. Her life has been interrupted, and she struggles to pick up the pieces. The world has been interrupted, too. Magic no longer functions, and the food, travel, and health it provided have also vanished. There's nothing to help except the new system Raneh created, and nobody knows how to use it. Teaching it will be the work of a lifetime. Work that Raneh's willing to do. But the Ruler has a very different idea of what a Keeper should be doing.

The common theme of these essays is the emergence of the modern state in late medieval and renaissance France. They examine, on the one hand, how the image of the king was enhanced in a variety of royal ceremonials as well as in the political writings of Jean Bodin and Cardin le Bret. The limits of the sovereign's authority, on the other hand, were forcefully enunciated in the works of François Hotman and Théodore de Bèze. The stability of the monarchy was maintained by the noblesse de robe, a new form of hereditary nobility that virtually owned the high judicial and administrative offices they held. The last two articles are devoted, first to the author's view of the concept of the French king's "two bodies" and second to the life of his mentor, Ernst H. Kantorowicz, who wrote the seminal work, The King's Two Bodies.

Weber is increasingly being recognised as the theorist of modernity. Avoiding the mistakes of other classical thinkers, his sociological analysis has an increasing validity and relevance. Selected by one of the world's leading Weber scholars, this book introduces the work of this key thinker to a new generation of readers. Central themes highlighted in the collection are: * the developmental logic of world religions * the rise of modern capitalism * the multi-dimensionality of power in societies * the dilemmas of modernity * the theory of social action * ideal types and the objectivity of knowledge. The majority of the readings have been specially translated for this collection both to improve accuracy and to make Weber speak anew in the idiom of the twenty-first century. Each part opens with a short introduction explaining the sequence of readings, the flow of ideas and their intellectual context, and concludes with a guide to further reading.

The first book in what hopes to become a multiple award-winning series is The Magic Kingdom; a gripping story of magic, mayhem, and adventure--guaranteed to delight fantasy readers of all ages. A heartening tale of Ronnie Trudeau; a woman whose life was filled with ritual disappointments and frustrations, making it meaningless. There had to be more for her. She is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire a magical realm, but there is a catch that she must learn the hard way. Bennington was in ruins. The realm's elders refused to pledge the new ruler, the townsfolk were meager and hopeless, mythical creatures ravaged the land, a powerful sorceress plotted to destroy the realm, and a mighty demon lord vowed to kill anyone who assumed the throne. Will Ronnie sacrifice everything she has built in her current life to become Queen of a dying realm and assume responsibilities that no one else would dare?

How does magic work? This and many other questions can be answered by reading this book. Mickaharic outlines how to prepare to practice, how the primary instruments of the magician are developed and cared for, and a sample exercise to give you something to practice.

This volume, a directory of astrological correspondences, is the result of a research project that drew together the thoughts of many others into a reference book, assuming the role of a dictionary to astrologers, but vastly more complete. It is the only place where all sign, planetary and house rulerships have been brought together and put in a good workable order. It is organized in such a way that one can use the book for quick and easy reference, and it eliminates the need to search through various other volumes. In four parts: an alphabetical listing, a listing by planets, a listing by signs, a listing by houses. Plus an Appendix with special listings: principal bones of the body, principal veins of the body, chart of an organization, flavors and handwriting forms. Enthusiastically endorsed and used by professionals and students alike, no reference library is complete without this best-selling volume.

A thorough analysis of this important subject is badly needed. That is why this book addresses the vital issues of astrology authoritatively & in some depth. It explains the power & influence of astrology; how astrology claims to work; the world view about astrology; the truth about chart interpretation; the alleged evidence for astrology; why astrology works; astrology & the occult. It answers the questions: What exactly is astrology? Do the heavens really influence life on earth? What does the Bible say about astrology? Are astrology & Christian doctrine compatible? Many examples & experiences are shared in this extensive study on astrology.

Assemblies of rectangular stone pillars, or stelae, fill the plazas and courts of ancient Maya cities throughout the lowlands of southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and western Honduras. Mute testimony to state rituals that linked the king's power to rule with the rhythms and renewal of time, the stelae document the ritual acts of rulers who sacrificed, danced, and experienced visionary ecstasy in connection with celebrations marking the end of major calendrical cycles. The kings' portraits are carved in relief on the main surfaces of the stones, deifying them as incarnations of the mythical trees of life. Based on a thorough analysis of the imagery and inscriptions of seven stelae erected in the Great Plaza at Copan, Honduras, by the Classic Period ruler "18-Rabbit-God K," this ambitious study argues that stelae were erected not only to support a ruler's temporal claims to power but more importantly to express the fundamental connection in Maya worldview between rulership and the cosmology inherent in their vision of cyclical time. After an overview of the archaeology and history of Copan and the reign and monuments of "18-Rabbit-God K," Elizabeth Newsome interprets the iconography and inscriptions on the stelae, illustrating the way they fulfilled a coordinated vision of the king's ceremonial role in Copan's period-ending rites. She also links their imagery to key Maya concepts about the origin of the universe, expressed in the cosmologies and mythic lore of ancient and living Maya peoples.

Conjuring money and attracting love, reversing hexes and stopping slander-it's all in a day's work for the Hoodoo practitioner. This is true American folk magic, colorful and powerful, yet little-known outside of the bayous and backwoods of Louisiana. Let Ray Malbrough take you deep inside the Hoodoo mysteries. You'll learn the secrets of root working and magical baths, the Head Pot and the Medium's necklace. You'll discover how to divine the future with playing cards and cowrie shells, and how to work with the spirits of the dead. Step inside a world of magic and intrigue you never knew existed-enter the hidden world of the Hoodoo.