The Odyssey of Sacred Knowledge, is the historical sequel to Mystifying Square, Divine Proportions - Nature's Black Box. It chronicles the five-thousand-year-long odyssey of the world's second measuring instrument - the Square-of-9 - from 3000 BCE Babylon to 21st century United States. It tells the story of the men and women who over the ages tapped the secrets of the universe and discovered the matrix of space-time - the heartbeat of all cycles, biological or inanimate. When stripped of its theological content, the Biblical narrative brings to light the era's scientific advances, as well as the troublesome lineage concealed in the Old Testament. It emerges that the Square-of-9 is the centrepiece of the Torah's five books, and that the Hebrew patriarchs' choice of heir dictated the course it would travel over the next five-thousand years. The Odyssey of Sacred Knowledge begins in the Garden of Eden where, according to the Genesis story, the first known humans lived. The serpent coiling round the Tree of Knowledge, the Tree's forbidden fruit, and the awakening of Adam and Eve are the seeds that germinated this volume. The serpent alludes to a spiral, the Garden's trees to a life-supporting environment and to the pristine surroundings humanity was yet to explore.

Follow the fantastic odyssey of one woman as she explores shamanic realms, encountering spirit animals and other teachers who answer her deepest questions and provide her with life-changing guidance and healing. Widowed, childless, and alone, 60-year-old Ema bravely decides to expand her self-knowledge by embarking on a spiritual adventure. She meets with author Sandra Harner, who leads her through five sessions of Harner Shamanic Counseling (HSC), a highly effective system of personal problem-solving in which counselors help clients enter a shamanic state of consciousness using a specific sonic rhythm. While in this state, clients seek out helping spirits, who offer insight, wisdom, and healing. By the end of her sessions with Harner, Ema has discovered her own innate ability to find answers to pervasive personal questions, overcome inhibitory fears, and acquire self-confidence and wisdom. She has found a sense of personal empowerment and a newfound joy in existence--and decides she wants to continue her journeys independently. From 1999 to 2011, Ema ventures on a total of 64 journeys, each one chronicled in this book, thanks to taped recordings of her simultaneous narration. In addition to serving as an invaluable resource for students and practitioners of shamanism, psychology, and alternative modalities of therapy, Ema's Odyssey enchants us with its lyrical poetry and unique wisdom, and inspires us with its demonstration of courage, curiosity, persistence, and humility. Perhaps most importantly, we come away with the added assurance that we are not alone, that there are oft-untapped resources we all can access, given the tools and trust in our own experience.

Sacred Knowledge is the first well-documented, sophisticated account of the effect of psychedelics on biological processes, human consciousness, and revelatory religious experiences. Based on nearly three decades of legal research with volunteers, William A. Richards argues that, if used responsibly and legally, psychedelics have the potential to assuage suffering and constructively affect the quality of human life. Richards's analysis contributes to social and political debates over the responsible integration of psychedelic substances into modern society. His book serves as an invaluable resource for readers who, whether spontaneously or with the facilitation of psychedelics, have encountered meaningful, inspiring, or even disturbing states of consciousness and seek clarity about their experiences. Testing the limits of language and conceptual frameworks, Richards makes the most of experiential phenomena that stretch our understanding of reality, advancing new frontiers in the study of belief, spiritual awakening, psychiatric treatment, and social well-being. His findings enrich humanities and scientific scholarship, expanding work in philosophy, anthropology, theology, and religious studies and bringing depth to research in mental health, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology.

Sacred Knowledge is a compilation book containing parts of ancient sacred texts and books within Alchemy, Mysticism, Magic, Kabbalah, Tarot and the esoteric doctrine. The purpose is to preserve these sacred texts and support the original authors and their works.

A TRUE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY WARRIOR: A Spiritual Odyssey There are no coincidences. You came across this book through a connection between your hungry spirit and the writer's desire that you be nourished. Which parts of you it will awaken will be as individual as your yearnings, but the words are guaranteed to feed your soul. Join Rev. Bill as he recounts his spiritual journey in selected stories through a life which began with a seemingly unending dysfunctional childhood, included an astonishing tour of duty in Vietnam, and then opened into one of the widest benevolent lives ever. His entire existence has been lived out under a spiritual umbrella that keeps him safe no matter how powerful the storm. Not afraid to go out into the rain, Rev. Bill's humility, integrity, loyalty, faith and courage is expressed through his every move. His investment in recounting events provides all readers to experience places they've only dreamed about. The situations allow reflective readers to parallel the events to their own lives. And in the end, each reader will stand with him at Machu Picchu, Peru and begin his or her own odyssey. In effect this book is a road map to Rev. Bill's personal, spiritual and emotional destination. Metaphorically the 'map' is on the seat of his pickup. When you begin the book he's essentially handing you the keys and offering you the opportunity to experience his route, after which you'll be able to tweak your own map. Here is What Others Have To Say About This Book: "You will enjoy and be inspired by his tales of the inexplicable, and may well find inner strength for facing your own difficulties in life. This is a great man and I'm proud to call him my friend." Shadoe Stevens; radio and television personality and TV and movie producer, artist "A warrior in the true sense, Bill awakens us to the depths of soul combat, taking us from the war zone to the hearts of all he touched." Maureen McGill, author, associate professor at Pacific Lutheran University "Bill McDonald is the real spiritual deal. He's made a tremendous impact on me, guiding, encouraging, and educating me in ways that have opened my eyes and my soul, and have helped me to become a better and happier person." Gayle Lynds, New York Times' bestselling author "When I first met Rev. Bill, I knew immediately that there was something special about this man. In his book, you are able to walk a spiritual path with a man who has served his country, lived to tell about it, and then refocused his energies on alleviating the suffering of those around him. The stories in his book are those of an individual who has opened himself up to the transcendental, and written about his insights. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ventured, or thought about venturing, down the road of higher purpose." Christopher Martini, writer, director, producer, actor "Most of Bill McDonald's stories contain the line ..".and so I went with my feelings" and that choice has always worked out for him. Extraordinarily gifted, Bill lives in a rich cosmos where spiritual assets and knowledge are intertwined. Although he has experienced poverty, abuse, physical and emotional pain, and war, Bill thrives. In his new old book, Warrior, he shares tragical, magical tales that inspire and confound -- and celebrate the many perspectives of life." Joyce Faulkner, award-winning author of "In the Shadow of Suribachi," "Windshift," and "USERNAME." "Bill's book is one that has superb descriptions of the life's lessons learned from the hell of combat to an incredible, miraculous journey home to his truest self. His story is entertaining, spiritually enlightening, inspirational, and filled with guiding wisdom. It is a book that will surely bring all readers to their own Spiritual awakening." Nancy Clark, international author, Divine Moments: Ordinary People Having Spiritually Transformative Experiences.

Mayan civilization once flourished in what is today Guatemala and the Yucatan. The Mayan sacred book the Popol Vuh tells of the creation of the universe, the world of gods and demi-gods and the creation of mankind.

William S. Schmidt is an associate professor of the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago. He is the author of two books and numerous articles in the fi elds of counseling and spirituality. He is the editor of the Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health published by Taylor and Francis.