Ancient Teutonic religious ceremonies as practiced by the Vikings. For modern day practitioners of Wotanism, Asatru and Odinism.

An examination of the sacred botany and the pagan origins and rituals of Christmas • Analyzes the symbolism of the many plants associated with Christmas • Reveals the shamanic rituals that are at the heart of the Christmas celebration The day on which many commemorate the birth of Christ has its origins in pagan rituals that center on tree worship, agriculture, magic, and social exchange. But Christmas is no ordinary folk observance. It is an evolving feast that over the centuries has absorbed elements from cultures all over the world--practices that give plants and plant spirits pride of place. In fact, the symbolic use of plants at Christmas effectively transforms the modern-day living room into a place of shamanic ritual. Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling show how the ancient meaning of the botanical elements of Christmas provides a unique view of the religion that existed in Europe before the introduction of Christianity. The fir tree was originally revered as the sacred World Tree in northern Europe. When the church was unable to drive the tree cult out of people’s consciousness, it incorporated the fir tree by dedicating it to the Christ child. Father Christmas in his red-and-white suit, who flies through the sky in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, has his mythological roots in the shamanic reindeer-herding tribes of arctic Europe and Siberia. These northern shamans used the hallucinogenic fly agaric mushroom, which is red and white, to make their soul flights to the other world. Apples, which figure heavily in Christmas baking, are symbols of the sun god Apollo, so they find a natural place at winter solstice celebrations of the return of the sun. In fact, the authors contend that the emphasis of Christmas on green plants and the promise of the return of life in the dead of winter is just an adaptation of the pagan winter solstice celebration.

The myths and legends of the Norsemen have entertained both old and young alike for hundreds of years. This fascinating collection contains stories retold from the Icelandic Eddas, the principal sources of knowledge of Norse mythology, and the Sagas of the ancient world of the Vikings. Following the deeds of the powerful Norse gods, such as Odin, Thor and Loki, and filled with a host of fantastic creatures and objects containing magical properties, the tales in Norse Mythology will conjure up a world of heroism and romance that will enthrall readers.

"Go To Your Roots" is a phrase which has been gaining increased impetus and significance among the 21st century Euro-Heathen Tribes throughout the Western World. Whether one currently aspires to Norse Heathenism, Celtic, Druid, Slavic or the Olympian pantheon, the rapid decline of the West that we are witnessing all around us, brings with it a rekindled and unavoidable 'Revelation of Thought' among those who understand the vital importance of returning to their indigenous roots of being. The mightiest oak tree cannot stand for long without its roots to support it. Likewise, any building without a strong foundation will also topple easily. The strength of any nation are its people, but just people alone, no matter how high in number will not sustain their identity very long without the foundation of unity, culture, traditions, myths and legends and ancestral gods. The writings of author Ron McVan have been circulating throughout the Euro-Tribe Heathen circles for over 25 years and remain a font of guiding inspiration, knowledge and ethnic awakening. In his most recent release, "The Book of Wotan", the author has accumulated a virtual treasure of information on the Teutonic Allfather god Wotan, along with a variety of additional writings from leading Wotanist thinkers and scholars from Thomas Carlyle to the current Euro-Heathen writers of our times. As with all of Ron McVan's previous books, they are lavishly illustrated and laced with many of the authors inspirational poems. Included also in "The Book of Wotan" the reader will find the full Havamal (words of the High One, Wotan), The Voluspa (Prophecy of the Volva) and much more pertinent knowledge of interest and value to those who aspire to the Wotan Path and pantheons of the Euro-Tribes.

Winner of the 2007 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism A New York Times Book Review Top Ten Book of the Year Time magazine Top Ten Nonfiction Book of 2007 Newsweek Favorite Books of 2007 A Washington Post Book World Best Book of 2007 In this sweeping and dramatic narrative, Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker, weaves together the histories of the twentieth century and its music, from Vienna before the First World War to Paris in the twenties; from Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia to downtown New York in the sixties and seventies up to the present. Taking readers into the labyrinth of modern style, Ross draws revelatory connections between the century's most influential composers and the wider culture. The Rest Is Noise is an astonishing history of the twentieth century as told through its music.