Best Selling Books by John Matthews

Explores the theme of the Green Man in mythology, folklore, and literature throughout history, in such guises as Merlin, Robin Hood, Herne the Hunter, the Green Knight, Enkidu, and Cernunnos.

The story of the Grail and those who seek it remains one of the most enduring myths known to the West. In this book the stories and legends are explored in depth and the ongoing spiritual Quest outlined by a world-renowned authority on the subject. Also included are a series of meditational exercises to help the seeker find his or her own way to the heart of the Grail.

Taken as a whole, these sources throw much light upon the political, social and religious organization of the Goths, and on the nature of their relations with the Roman stte in the period before their fateful crossing of the Danube in 376. --Book cover.

An exploration into the myths surrounding the figure of Robin Hood

Restores Gawain to his true role as the honorable representative and servant of the Goddess.

The myths and legends of King Arthur and his knights, of the enchanter Merlin, and of their quests and adventures, form one of the greatest cycles of stories ever composed. In this book the most important tales are explored in depth by one of the world''s best known authorities on this subject. Also included are a series of meditational exercise to help the reader find his or her way to the heart of the Arthurian mysteries.

We train because we are human and we become human because we train. This is the surprising and original conclusion of Anatomy of Performance Training, in which John Matthews shows how training is a very human response to the problems of having a body and living in the world. Using illustrative case-studies of professional practice, each chapter addresses a specific body part, offering a self-contained discussion of its symbolic and practical significance in the artistic, and commercial, activities of training. These anatomical case-studies are cross-referenced with other disciplines (such as sport, high diving, deep diving and artisan craft) to further expand our understanding of performance. Stand-alone chapters, ideal for reference, build towards an overall conclusion that the uniquely human practice of training is emerging as a new and pervasive ideology globally. Ideal for readers seeking to understand the relationship the body has with the theatre and training, or for teachers looking for a new, innovative approach to performance, Anatomy of Performance Training is an accessible, original contribution to the philosophy of training for performance.

Looks at myths, legends, and ceremonies that honor the sun, and includes a history of ancient cultures that worshiped the sun and songs, meditations, and activities for various festivals.

"A gathering of well-informed scholars provides a sober, sensible, and fascinating overview of the history of the Rosicrucian movement, still one of the most controversial and least understood byways of European philosophy and thought. The volume includes four of the foundational documents of the original Rosicrucians from the early 17th century and carries the Rosicrucians'' influence down to the later 19th century."--Publisher''s description.

An introduction to the techniques and methods of Celtic shamanism, a wholly Western system which, while sharing common elements with North American, Australian and Siberian teachings, derives entirely from Celtic sources.

‘Leader of the three British legions against armed men ‒ Lucius Artorius Castus.’ The Arthurian legend begins with this man.

Book with accompanying talisman template poster and 28 oracle cards.

This book compares the beginning of symbolic thought in human infancy with that of our close primate relatives, the chimpanzees. Drawing upon his years of detailed observations, Matthews offers an in-depth analysis and interpretation of chimp behaviour to present an unprecedented account of the beginnings of symbolic thought. The implications for our understanding of symbolism, language, art and education are enormous, as are those about our origins and our place within nature.

Traces how the grail has been portrayed in the various forms of the familiar Arthurian legend.

The text is composed of research on the development of representational thinking from infancy through to adolescence. It makes a contribution to the theory of children''s development and to practitioners'' understanding.

Merlin remains the most famous and familiar image of the magician we possess. In this new book, Arthurian expert John Matthews examines the many guises of Merlin.

This volume tells in exciting detail the story of four great warlords from the early medieval era.

Throughout the ages and across the world in many shapes and guises, as healers, mystics and literary figures, wizards have played an important part in real-life communities and in the imagination of many cultures. Often illuminating the future and explaining the past, wizards have always had a very powerful role. This text traces the origins and legends of wizards, charting their myriad expressions through time and across cultures. It also includes a number of meditations and practices at the end of each chpater that enable us to make use of some of the legendary skills of the wizard.

In The Life of Training, John Matthews offers an accessible and original contribution to the philosophy of training for performance, building on his previous works Training for Performance (2011) and Anatomy of Performance Training (2014). With chapters on the seven characteristics of biological life - reproduction, stimulation, heritability, adaptation, growth, organisation and homeostasis - Matthews combines his unique approach with elements of Hannah Arendt''s mature philosophy to reach surprising and essential conclusions about the role time plays in training practices, and about the function of training practices in producing time and its tenses. Ideal for readers seeking to understand the relationship between training practices and human experience, on and off stage, or for teachers looking for a new, innovative approach to performance.

Many people long for an alternative to the commercial industry Christmas has become. This illustrated, full-color book, brimming with folklore, stories, recipes, games, activities, decorating ideas, and songs, will help families who are burned out on Christmas create celebrations more in keeping with the heartful spirit of the original Winter Solstice festivals.

A comprehensive examination of the historical and mythological evidence for every major theory about King Arthur • Explores the history of every Arthur candidate and the geographical arguments that have placed him in different locations • Examines 1,800 years of evidence for Arthur’s life and the famous series of 12 battles fought against the Saxons in the 6th century • Reconstructs the history of the 6th century in Britain, when the first references to Arthur and the core events of his reign appear Few legends have had the enduring influence of those surrounding King Arthur. Many believe the stories are based on historical truth. For others Arthur represents the archetype of the brilliant monarch reigning over a fairy-tale kingdom, offering his knights the opportunity to prove their mettle in battle and find gnostic illumination through initiation into sacred mysteries like that of the Grail. Presenting the culmination of more than 40 years’ research, John and Caitlín Matthews examine the historical and mythological evidence for every major theory about the existence of King Arthur. Drawing on modern techniques in archaeology and scholarship, they reconstruct the history of the 6th century in Britain, the period when the first unambiguous references to Arthur appear. They explore the history of every Arthur candidate, the geographical arguments that have placed him in different locations, and the evidence for his life and famous battles fought against the Saxons. Was the greatest British hero of all time not a king but a 2nd-century Roman officer active around Hadrian’s Wall in Cumbria? A 5th-century soldier who operated in areas as far apart as Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, or Brittany? Or an entirely mythical fiction that provided a figure of light during a dark period of British history? Examining other literary figures from the 5th century such as Vortigern and Ambrosius, the authors also break down the plots of all the major Arthurian romances, including those by Chretien de Troyes, Sir Thomas Malory, and Robert de Boron, to reveal the historical events they are based on. Piecing together the many fragments that constitute the image of Arthur, both the man and the myth, the authors show how each face of Arthur has something to offer and how his modern popularity proves the enduring power of the hero-myth, truly earning Arthur the title he first received in the 15th century: The Once and Future King.

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.

In The Eyeball Killer, investigating cop John Matthews with journalist Christine Wicker, exposes the private demons that turned one man''s sick fantasies into one of the most appalling murder sprees in the annals of Texas crime. And in his jail cell, where he has been imprisoned for life, Charles Albright still paints pictures of women''s eyes. Photos.

Geïllustreerde encyclopedie van voorspeltechnieken uit de gehele wereld, met hun oorsprong en techniek.