John Matthews

Caitlin Matthews

"From unicorns, salamandars, satyrs, giants, elves and trolls, to dragons, nymphs, mermaids, werewolves and griffins -- take an enchanting journey through the history, folklore, and mythology of these beasts from virtually every culture in the world."--Page 4 of cover.

The Ultimate A-Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic

The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have captured the world's imagination since medieval times. The tales of King Arthur are rooted in history, but over the years the facts have become shrouded in myth and mystery. In this beautifully illustrated book Arthurian expert John Matthews explores the legends that have grown around the king and uncovers the mysteries of Arthur's Britain. The numerous characters surrounding King Arthur are introduced and the facts behind the epic saga are revealed. •Contains 120 color and black-and-white images •Covers Merlin, Guenevere, Lancelot, the Holy Grail, and all the mythic search for characters

Dark Age Warrior and Mythic Hero

King Arthur

This exhilarating exploration provides authentic textual background to a complex mythology about nine of the women in Arthurian legend. In addition, there are guided visualizations for each of the Ladies, which will open pathways to readers on their own personal quest.

Ladies of the Lake

“[A] well-researched, rather scholarly book...fanciful illustrations, in both black-and-white and color.”—Publishers Weekly. “Matthews...offers a very attractively presented collection...Not since Jeremiah Curtin, W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and others at the turn of the century has such a collection been assembled... Each story is followed by a short yet informative note on the tale and its sources, and there is a good bibliography and index. This book would be attractive to younger readers as well as adults and is recommended for most public and academic libraries.”—Library Journal. “[The] collection is varied and brilliant... beautiful illustrations.”—KLIATT.

Classic Celtic Fairy Tales

Reveals that ways that those who are willing and able to alter the way in which they perceive the world around them may one day see fairies and other creatures of legend and lore.

How to See Faeries

An illustrated collection of tales featuring notable trickster characters such as Raven and Hare, from the folk traditions of many countries.

A Collection of Trickster Tales

Trick of the Tale

This unusual book traces the author's connection with a "Faery" or Sidhe being. Full of wisdom and interesting details about this "cousin" race to humanity, the text includes six exercises and an illustration of a "Great Glyph," which acts as a tool of attunement with these graceful beings.

Wisdom from the Celtic Otherworld

The Sidhe

Caitlín Matthews

Beneath the orthodox religions that lay claim to the soul of Western man runs an esoteric current that has preserved the lore and hermetic traditions of our ancestors. Walkers Between the Worlds explores the ancient earth wisdom of the shaman, and the Gnostic and Egyptian mysteries of the East. Practical exercises drawn from these traditions are included.

The Western Mysteries from Shaman to Magus

Walkers Between the Worlds

Mark Ryan

Will Worthington

Based on seasonal rhythms and ancient festivals, The Wildwood Tarot gift set draws inspiration from pre-Celtic mythology and shamanic mysteries. This stunning new tarot card deck introduces us to classic forest archetypes--including the Green Man and Woman, Archer, and Blasted Oak--and explains how to use them as a meditation system, divinatory oracle, or reference. Will Worthington's powerful pagan images connect us with a long-lost world that can help us make sense of our own.

Wherein Wisdom Resides

The Wildwood Tarot

Relates the battles and exploits of Queen Boadicea following the death of her husband, King Prasutagus, against the historical and cultural background of the period

Warrior Queen of the Celts

Boadicea

Michael J. Stead

Beautiful collection of photographs. Exploration of the British Isles reveals the wide and varied spread of the Arthurian story.

A Photographic Odyssey

King Arthur's Britain

Secrets of the Druids

Bob Stewart

Richard Hook

Details the culture, weapons and places associated with King Arthur and compares his true sixth century origins to the romances and chronicles of the Middle Ages

Warriors of Arthur

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Šibalské pohádky

Shaman, Prophet, Magician

Merlin

Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures

A car accident in California and a deadly assault in Provence leaves two boys 30 years apart battling for their lives. Dominic Fornier is the French detective at the heart of the case which takes him from town hall archives to the corridors of power.

Past Imperfect

An extensive investigation of the origins and numerous sightings of the mysterious and terrifying figure known as Spring-Heeled Jack • Shares original 19th-century newspaper accounts of Spring-Heeled Jack encounters as well as 20th and 21st-century reports • Explains his connections to Jack the Ripper and the Slender Man • Explores his origins in earlier mythical beings from folklore, his Steampunk popularity, and the theory that he may be an alien from a high-gravity planet Spring-Heeled Jack--a tall, thin, bounding figure with bat-like wings, clawed hands, wheels of fire for eyes, and breath of blue flames--first leapt to public attention in Victorian London in 1838, springing over hedges and walls, from dark lanes and dank graveyards, to frighten and sometimes physically attack women. News of this strange and terrifying character quickly spread, but despite numerous sightings through 1904 he was never captured or identified. Exploring the vast urban legend surrounding this enigmatic figure, John Matthews explains how the Victorian fascination with strange phenomena and sinister figures paired with hysterical reports enabled Spring-Heeled Jack to be conjured into existence. Sharing original 19th-century newspaper accounts of Spring-Heeled Jack sightings and encounters, he also examines recent 20th and 21st-century reports, including a 1953 UFO-related sighting from Houston, Texas, and disturbing accounts of the Slender Man, who displays notable similarities with Jack. He traces Spring-Heeled Jack’s origins to earlier mythical beings from folklore, such as fairy creatures and land spirits, and explores the theory that Jack is an alien marooned on Earth whose leaping prowess is attributed to his home planet having far stronger gravity than ours. The author reveals how Jack the Ripper, although a different and much more violent character, chose to identify himself with the old, well-established figure of Spring-Heeled Jack. Providing an extensive look at Spring-Heeled Jack from his beginnings to the present, Matthews illustrates why the worldwide Steampunk community has so thoroughly embraced Jack.

From Victorian Legend to Steampunk Hero

The Mystery of Spring-Heeled Jack

London is an ancient city, whose foundation dates back literally thousands of years into the legendary prehistory of these islands. Not surprisingly it has accumulated a large number of stories, both historic and mythical, during this period, many of which, though faithfully recorded at the time, have lain almost forgotten in dusty libraries throughout the city. The Secret Lore of London is a guide to the legends, including a discussion of their importance as part of the oral tradition of Britain, combining Prehistoric, Celtic, Arthurian, Roman, Saxon and Norman levels - each of which has contributed to the many-layered life of the city. The first part contains a unique selection of essays (some printed here for the first time) by experts in their fields, each of whom possesses a unique interest in the legends of these islands, and who have written widely on associated themes. The second part of the book will consist of a Gazetteer of the sites mentioned which are still in existence, together with various other sites of associated interest, compiled by the Editor, the contributors, and members of the London Earth Mysteries Group. This part will be fully updated and extended to include many more sites. The result is a wide ranging and wholly fascinating book, with wide sales application possible. A series of appendixes will include William Stukley's extraordinary document The Brill, which relates to the ancient prehistoric sites around the area of present day St. Pancras, and excerpts from some of the best known 19th and early 20th century works on Legendary London by Lewis Spence and Harold Bayley Containing essays and writings by key figures from the world of mythology and a foreword by Peter Ackroyd, this book explores the secrets of the city.

The Secret Lore of London

Wil Kinghan

Damon Albarn

Dr John Dee (1527-1609) - arguably the most famous of the Elizabethan magicians - was a visionary who straddled the worlds of science and magic. Court astrologer to Elizabeth I, he devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination and Hermetic philosophy. His work led him into the realms of angelic magic, and during the last thirty years of his life he invested a great deal of time and effort attempting to commune with angels in order to learn the universal language of creation and bring about the pre-apocalyptic unity of mankind. Dee considered all his activities to be different facets of the same quest for an understanding of the divine forms he saw as underlying the visible world, and which showed themselves as oracles - words of wisdom from angelic sources. Now best-selling author John Matthews and award-winning artists Wil Kinghan has transformed Dee's work into The Oracle of Dr John Dee.

John Matthews

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