An exploration of the anthropogenic landscapes of Lucca, Italy, and how its people understand social and environmental change through cultivation In Italy and around the Mediterranean, almost every stone, every tree, and every hillside show traces of human activities. Situating climate change within the context of the Anthropocene, Andrew Mathews investigates how people in Lucca, Italy, make sense of social and environmental change by caring for the morphologies of trees and landscapes. He analyzes how people encounter climate change, not by thinking and talking about climate, but by caring for the environments around them. Maintaining landscape stability by caring for the forms of trees, rivers, and hillsides is a way that people link their experiences to the past and to larger scale political questions. The human-transformed landscapes of Italy are a harbinger of the experiences that all of us are likely to face, and addressing these disasters will call upon all of us to think about the human and natural histories of the landscapes we live in.

"The Shape Shifters" offers a unique set of new tools keeping readers ahead of fast-moving curves. The simple analytical and "teaching tools" in this book can make any business nimbler and more decisive. The author provides hundreds of examples of how companies have redefined the shapes of their businesses, "shape shifting" faster and more often to match the changing shape of customer demands.

Owinus, the Maple Tree Fairy Leader, has disappeared shortly before the very important Summer Solstice Ritual. Without him, the ritual cannot be performed and everything in the forest will die. Ten-year-old Zuzu Broadwater must work with her best friend, Rosie, to find Owinus before it's too late. Together they face dangerous and magical creatures as they investigate the mystery.

Have you had experiences with telepathy, precognition or subtle energies? You are not alone. These and many other extraordinary abilities have been reported since the earliest days of humankind and hint at an indwelling potential we all share. To broaden our understanding of these abilities, Infinite Possibility compares eight different spiritual traditions and the Scientific paradigm to understand: How different cultures understand the extraordinary The range of abilities seen across cultures Where in the hierarchy of consciousness extraordinary abilities occur The methods used to evoke abilities And the risks reported in undertaking the extraordinary Perhaps you are interested in what your particular tradition has contributed to our understanding of the extraordinary. Or you may simply enjoy reading about the exploits of saints, lamas, shaman and intuitives. Whatever your reason, this exceptional survey of the worlds traditions is guaranteed to deepen your understanding of our infinite human potential.

A guide to ecstatic trance for spiritual and emotional development, spirit journeying, and connection to the collective unconscious • Describes more than 20 ecstatic trance postures for healing, divination, spirit journeys, shape-shifting, past-life recovery, and connecting to the Akashic field • Explores the physiology and psychology of ecstatic trance journeying • Provides guidance for those with little or no experience as well as methods to deepen practice Over the millennia shamanic trance journeying has been used as a way of healing, of providing answers to questions, and of offering solutions to individual, family, and community problems. Though traditionally it was the shaman of the community who went on such journeys, the revolutionary work of the late anthropologist Felicitas Goodman shows that we all have these shamanic powers. Her research on the body postures found in ancient primitive art and in the practices of contemporary shamans offers each of us the ability to experience ecstatic trance journeys firsthand. A student of Felicitas Goodman and Belinda Gore, psychologist Nicholas Brink examines more than 20 traditional trance postures for divination, decision making, letting go of guilt and grief, healing of illness and emotional pain, spirit journeys, shape-shifting, interacting with animal spirits and the dead, and discovering past lives. Exploring the physiology and psychology of ecstatic journeying, he offers guidance for those with little or no experience as well as methods for longtime practitioners to deepen their practice and reclaim the extrasensory power of our ancient ancestors. Offering solid theories of how ecstatic trance triggers healing and spiritual development, Brink explains how trance journeying allows us to tap in to the collective unconscious, or Universal Mind, and access the information matrix of the Akashic field.

This introduction to Ovid's Metamorphoses considers how Ovid defined and shaped his narrative, its cultural context, and its vivid depictions of the cruelty of jealous gods, the pathos of human love, and the imaginative fantasy of flight, monsters, magicand illusion.

Celebrate Celtic Symbolism, Mythology, and Magic throughout the Wheel of the Year Enjoy phenomenal healing and spiritual teachings from the trees with this powerful book of rituals. Sharlyn Hidalgo presents multi-faceted ceremonies for all thirteen moon months—and the final day of the Celtic year—from a practice she developed using the Celtic tree calendar and the Celtic tree ogham. These ceremonies will enhance your life, helping you build a deeper connection with nature and become a better steward of the planet. Celtic Tree Rituals leads you through each tree month, providing step-by-step instructions for the ritual, as well as group activities, song and dance suggestions, chants, and a guided meditation. You'll discover the ogham, keywords, totems, and deities for every month, plus special rituals for all eight sabbats. Sharlyn also provides stories for each month and a day that share her real-life experiences with the healing energies of the unseen realm and demonstrate how you can invite these healing relationships into your own life. This remarkable book is an essential tool for strengthening your creativity, community, and spirituality.

Princess Ka'ali is the savior of her world. But evil has taken control and it will stop at nothing to completely destroy Ka'ali's home. With her father gone, her friends stand beside her until the end. But when the war is waged, will evil win and destroy her home or will Ka'ali defeat it and bring peace back to her once beautiful home.

A second collection of plays from one of Britain's most original dramatists This second volume of plays includes Vampire: 'The height of comedy, a manic, hellzapoppin of invention, sliding from verbal frolics to pure slapstick' (The Times); The Glad Hand: 'A full-blooded theatrical experience which is also - praise be - good fun to watch. Its energetic, imaginative nonsense spills out ideas, situations, crises, comedy and political harangue in a fire-work display of non-sequitur, whiz-bang high spirits' (Sunday Telegraph); The Grass Widow: 'Hilariously confirms that Mr Wilson is the liveliest and most enlivening English dramatists of his generation' (Sunday Telegraph); Sabina: A typically surreal and unrestrained work ... wonderfully theatrical.' (Tribune) "Snoo Wilson tackles dark pockets of human endeavour with an original wit and a savage humour" (Financial Times).

Intro -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- Chapter 1: A Lost Pastoral Rhythm: The Poetry of John Montague -- Chapter 2: "The God in the Tree" : Seamus Heaney and the Pastoral Tradition -- Chapter 3: "Love Poems, Elegies: I am losing my place " : Michael Longley's Environmental Elegies -- Chapter 4: Learning the Lingua Franca of a Lost Land: Eavan Boland's Suburban Pastoral -- Chapter 5: "In My Handerkerchief of a Garden" : Medbh McGuckian's Miniature Pastoral Retreats -- Chapter 6: "When Ireland Was Still under a Spell" : Miraculous Transformations in the Poetry of Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill -- Conclusion: The Future of Pastoral -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.