Books to Read: New Age

“The true University of these days is a Collection of Books.”
— Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), The Hero as a Man of Letters

New Age Books: fresh ideas that take us to sacred places...
	*Carlos Castaneda, Magical Passes: Practical Wisdom of the Shamans of Ancient Mexico* (1998), Harpercollins, ISBN: 0060175842**— For us to perceive any of the worlds that exist beside our own, not only do we have to covet them but we need to have sufficient energy to seize them. In this revolutionary book, Castaneda offers readers the key to this energetic conditioning for the first time, revealing a series of body positions and physical movements that enabled various sorcerers, and their apprentices, to navigate their own sorceric journeys. By sharing this centuries-old wisdom, he makes it possible for us to travel to some of these other realms, which are as real, unique,and engulfing as our own world. Castaneda offers both a philosophical history of magical passes and an innovative, easy-to-understand instructional format, complete with more than 450 computer-generated drawings. Written with humor, clarity, and authority, Castaneda's book further illuminates the true meaning of sorcery and magic. Avg. Review (6):
	*John Major Jenkins, Maya Cosmogenesis 2012: The True Meaning of the Maya Calendar End-Date* (1998), Bear & Co, ISBN: 1879181487**— Why does the Maya calendar end in 2012? In this groundbreaking book, Jenkins shows that the end date of the Maya long count calendar on December 21, 2012, marks the rare alignment of our solar system with the galactic center. This happens every 26,000 years, and the Maya believed this alignment would greatly accelerate human evolution. 200 illustrations. The author's book summary: The Maya were aware of our impending alignment with the Galactic Center and intuited that it will catalyze consciousness transformation for life on earth. Ancient knowledge speaks to our immediate future. The ancient site of Izapa is identified as the source of the Mayan's Galactic Cosmology, of the Long Count calendar and the Hero Twin Creation Myth. The true meaning of the shadow-serpent that appears on the Pyramid of Kukulcan at Chichen Itza every equinox is also decoded. Based upon nine years of intense research, this book presents a detailed and honest reconstruction of the lost cosmology of ancient Mesoamerica. Avg. Review (14):
	*Chris Morton & Ceri Louise Thomas, The Mystery of the Crystal Skulls: A Real Life Detective Story of the Ancient World* (1998), Bear & Co; ISBN: 1879181541*— An old Native American legend tells of 13 life-size crystal skulls, which are said to hold crucial information about humankind's true purpose and future destiny. The skulls would be discovered and their secrets revealed when humanity was sufficiently developed. The authors hear of this legend in the Belize jungles and set out on a quest to discover its truth. The Mystery of the Crystal Skulls* follows their journey from Maya temples to the British Museum, the Smithsonian, and to the crystal laboratories of Hewlett-Packard, where tests lead one scientist to conclude, “This crystal skull should not even exist.” In the end, shamans and native elders reveal the sacred knowledge the skulls contain and answer the questions this enduring mystery raises: Are the skulls artifacts from Atlantis, or are they extraterrestrial in origin? Made from piezo-electric quartz crystal, used in today's computers, are the skulls information storage devices? Do they possess telepathic qualities, allowing us to see deep into the past and predict the future? What is the message they bring about future earth changes and the destiny of humanity? Avg. Review (3):