Tne Impaler Messiah

By Facile Lupasc Sfintes

 The story starts of with Vlad escaping from being a hostage from the Turks. In an in located at Wallachia follower of Vlad Tepesh conspire to route a preteder to the throne named Dan. These friend are actually Vlad's loyal knight they travel with him to Hungary to get troops and support from Hunyadi, a Wallachian power broker now in the Hungarian military.  They fight the Turks in Constantinople but the objective is not to defend Constantinople but rather to observe the Turks.

In the land of Wallachia there are many troubles. The noble who were appointed by previous voivodes are not loyal to the country of crown bu rather to their own self interest. Then you have the german merchants in Brasov who continually defy Vlad. Then you have the overall problem of the Ottoman Empire. They demand tribute, soldiers and grain. When Vlad ultimately defies them it is war. In Wallachia Vlad does not have to just contend with the Turks he also has internal divisions. Those that know the history know tha Vlad handled them with exceptional brutality which is what the traitors deserved.

Every bit of historical fiction about Vlad portrays things in different lights. Some of them portray Vlad and Mehmet as practically brother while growing up in the Sultan's castle.  This portrayal has Vlad being rebellious and always against the Ottoman Empire. Events leading up to Vlad dealing with the merchants and nobility are also portrayed differently. In this work both groups do some treachery which provokes a response from vlad. Now the book does not end with his death but rather it ends with a betrayal, something common in that part of the back in the day.

Great piece of historical fiction. Showcases his military capabilities and how he used his wit to defeat his oppressors. Great beginnin novel for those jus getting thei feet wet with Dracula history.

Lately some good historical fiction has been coming out about Vlad Tepesh and it is not about vampires rather it is about a messianic figure who is destined to save his nation and lead them out of oppression

Beware the Evil Eye and how to Combat it!

 

The Evil Eye

By Antonio Pagliarulo

Lately you have had some great fortune blow your way. Got a new car, sporting nice clothes and you got the trophy lover. Then bam all of the sudden you get hit qwith a series of events that can only mean one thing, someone gave you the evil eye. The evil eye is born of jealousy and envy and sometimes the person who gave it to you is unaware that they gave it to you. Might notice someone staring at you intently or hey may pay a complimnt but underneath it all they are slipping you some bad energy. the evil eye is known the world over  and it goes by many different names. Lately it has become a trend to wear a nazar or blue eye from the middle east in order to repel the danger.

The author grew up in an Italian American household and was raised around the mythology o the evil eye. His olsder female relatives were experts in diagnosing and getting rid o the evil eye. There are several ways someone can hex you with the evil eye. One way is for someone to compliment you like "gee that is a real cool are" and some passive aggressive comment might be thrown in. Sometimes they just stare at you an at other times they are openly hostile. When you are hexed with the evil eyes sometimes you feel psychologically off and at other times you are hit with headaches, insomnia or other physical maladies. There are instances when things just start going bad.

the author gives techniques on how to diagnose the evil eye and how to be rid of it. Included in this volume are deities and saints who help you fiht against the evil eye. There are also stone and herbs that also combat the evil eye.  the book also lists talismans that have been traditionally used to ward against the evil eye. He pulls his methods from his own background and from that of other cultures.  Neat little book!

The Divine Feminine from the Coasts of Africa

 

Orisha's, Goddesses and Voodoo Queens

By: Lilith Dorsey

From Lilith Dorsey comes a tour de force that gives someone new to African-Carribean Religions an overview of the female deities within the Afro Carribean Religions. There are many. Depending on the religion you are working with you will call the deities of Voodoo either Orishas or Loa's. Afro Carribean Religions such as Voodoo (New Orleans), Voudou (Haitian), Candolombe, Santeria or Hoodoo developed under the boot of a harsh slavery. Based on African traditions back home, the slaves did their best to keep the practices alive. But it was difficult  as the slave masters tried to suppress this practice and force them into Christianity. Plus slaves from different parts of Africa were thrust together. No common language and no common religion makes it hard to mount a rebellion. Often times the religion and spirituality of the slaves combined with that of the master's Christianity, native American practices and with that of other slaves.

The way voodoo is structured is that Bondeye is the main creator god and under this god were the Loa, Orisha or spirits who ran the affairs of the universe. The Loa is what one works with or prays to if they want to do magic or do rituals. Hoodoo is voodoo with a catholic lay over it. If a human being is spiritualy advanced enough they can beome a Loa in their lifetime, as what happened with Marie Lavaugh. the religion was the slaves way of combatting an unjust system they were forced into. being suppressed has forced it to develop in diferent ways than it could have if left out in the open. Voodoo houses can be real secreteive as well and not too open to outsiders.  The author stresses and rightly so that if you want to get serious about Voodoo you need to get initiated along with proper training.

The book is primarily about female Orisha's. Now not only has the African religions been mligned and a certain space must be reclaimed but also the sacred feminine has been maligned and must be restored. These Orisha's can be role models for women to stand up to the patriarchy, Covered in this book are thirteen female Loa. They are Oshun, Yemaya, Oya, Nana Baruku, Mami Wata, Erzulie, Aida Wedo, La Sirene, Annie Christmans and Maman Briggitte along with Pomba gira, Marie Lavaugh and Santa Muerte. The coverage of these deities is as follows. First there is a description of the deity and an explanation of the lore behind them. Next comes mention of how some artists have honored them. Finally there are recipes and rituals to connect with these deities.

An excellent book fo beginners to Voodoo or someone who wants an overview of the dieties and Afro Carribean Religions.

Libraries of the Subconscious

 

Lost Wisdom 

By Heather Lynn PHD

Libraries those great repositories of knowledge. There is one is every city, in fact several in every city and they have been with us since ancient times. Looking back to ancient times we come across two great libraries. One is in Egypt and the other in Mesopotamia. Both libraries are no longer in existence. It is somewhat of an open question as to who built the library in Alexandria. It may have been rebuilt a coupe of times. Certain sources say Julius Ceasar burned it down when he attacked ships in the Egytptian harbor. Others say Christians burned it down while others would have you believe that Muslims burned it down. Speculation continues did it really burn down and did it exist.

Asshrbanipal was supposed to be trained as a priest hence he had all thsi philosophical knoledge and scientific knowledge. He collected all this stuff in one big library. After the fall of Assyria the libray fell to disuse and was buried under stone. Many were still left as raw clay. Once fired up we had a treasure trove of knowledge. Other clay tablets were so baly smashed up that many years later we ar still trying to piece them together.

The Library in Epheus is just a fascade left standing. Epheseus is known for it's temple to Artemis. It was founded by a Greek ruler who was told in a divination that he should build a cirty marked by a boar and a fish.It while cooking that the fish jumped out of the frying pan and then a boar fled from the fire of the camp. Hence Epheseus was found. Another library or it's ruins wefe found in the city of Cologn Germany. It was built by the Romans and housed a substancial amount of scrolls.

Dr. Heather Lynn believes that information is not just passed down through books. Rather like the cloud all livin things are connected to the universal or collective consiousness. Not sure if I one hundered percent buy into it but is it not weird that two people all the way across the world with no contact with each other come up with the same idea at the same time. Civilizations do it as well. The book is short and concise but I wish it could have been longer and more fleshed out. She has many good insights.

Alternate Djinn Reality

 

A Master Of Djinn

by P.Djeli Clark

In an alternate reality the scenery of World War I looks a lot differnt then it does here. It is a world filled with Djinn from an opening torn into the Kaf or Djinn world. Marids, Ifrits and ghouls walk the streets with human beings. The technology is a little bit different as well. Robots or automatons serve an warm up coffee. Mechanical dogs guard the doorways to ministries checking out those who enter.  An important backdrop is back in the 1800's Al Jahiz a sufi mystics opened the gateway to the world of the Jinn.

Much like in our world there are secret brotherhoods sudying the mystica arts, kind of reminiscent of Aleister Crowley and his studies of magic in Egypt. Shrine and temples are built for the gods of old. The brotherhood is attacked by a man in a gold mask. He kills everyone in the brotherhood. He can duplicate his baody and he can command the Djinn. Some say he is Al Jahiz. Despatched to the case are fatma an her partner Hadia.They are part of the ministry that investigates paranormal activity. Together with other members and Fatma's girlfriend Sitti , who is a follower of bastet, go forward battling Djinn as tehy solve the case. After killing the brotherhood the masked man creates a disturbance in the city promising to reveal all. He also robs a ministry of angels where he steal the sword of Al Jahiz an Solomon's Ring.

Who is the masked man? What is his motive? In the end we find out who it is and they is a nice battle that ensues with some reconciliation between Djinn and man. there is more in the series.

Tex Mex Vampires

 

Vampiros Del Norte

By Isabel Canas

In 1836 Magdalena and nestor were roaming the chapparal in search of Spanish gold. What they found instead was a ravenous beast that walked on al fours only to approach them on it's bipedal legs. Looking much like a bat this feral beast has no eyes. It feasts on both animal and human blood. These vasmpires were much discussed in the lore of the abuelas. Confronted by the beast after followin orbs of light. Magdalena is attacked and almost dead. Nestor brings her back...almost dead and then the father who owns the rancheros they both live on and work on chases him off.  He works independently for different rancheros. He has an affair with a widow named Celeste. He left the ranch for 9 long years.

Magdalena gows into a curandera or healer albeit with a damaged aura. the vaqueros or workers start geting sick with sustos, she knows the evil that is afoot. Not only are vampres a plague bu the American army is invading Mexico and the army and ay able bodied men are being called in to fight. Nestor returns to find his loved one alive. Upon his return there is a ton of drama as teh two reconcile. This is also a classic Romeo and Juliet tale. Nestor is a vaquero or a worker for the rachero. Magdalena is the daughter of the patron or owner of the ranchero. Their love is forbidden. They must overcome lots of challnenges.

On the battle field they realize that the ranchero is vulnerable to vampire attack. They head back and along the way they fight many vampires. Back at the ranchero there are challenges taht contiue to plague their love. At the end there is a ferocious vampire and it is learned that the vampires and the invading American army are in league. These vampires are not your classic vampire. While salt drives them back they never really apear to be human, rather they are wild animals that hunt to survive like any other but they do comprehend human speech and they are capable of acting like humans even thouh you will never mistake them for one. The story also deals with forbidden love..a worker fallin or the bosses daughter and all he rules their society must follow to conform with ettiquette. Excellent book. They should base a series or a movie on it.

Vampiros of El Norte

By Isabel Canas

In 1836 Magdalena and nestor were roaming the chapparal in search of Spanish gold. What they found instead was a ravenous beast that walked on al fours only to approach them on it's bipedal legs. Looking much like a bat this feral beast has no eyes. It feasts on both animal and human blood. These vasmpires were much discussed in the lore of the abuelas. Confronted by the beast after followin orbs of light. Magdalena is attacked and almost dead. Nestor brings her back...almost dead and then the father who owns the rancheros they both live on and work on chases him off.  He works independently for different rancheros. He has an affair with a widow named Celeste. He left the ranch for 9 long years.

Magdalena gows into a curandera or healer albeit with a damaged aura. the vaqueros or workers start geting sick with sustos, she knows the evil that is afoot. Not only are vampres a plague bu the American army is invading Mexico and the army and ay able bodied men are being called in to fight. Nestor returns to find his loved one alive. Upon his return there is a ton of drama as teh two reconcile. This is also a classic Romeo and Juliet tale. Nestor is a vaquero or a worker for the rachero. Magdalena is the daughter of the patron or owner of the ranchero. Their love is forbidden. They must overcome lots of challnenges.

On the battle field they realize that the ranchero is vulnerable to vampire attack. They head back and along the way they fight many vampires. Back at the ranchero there are challenges taht contiue to plague their love. At the end there is a ferocious vampire and it is learned that the vampires and the invading American army are in league. These vampires are not your classic vampire. While salt drives them back they never really apear to be human, rather they are wild animals that hunt to survive like any other but they do comprehend human speech and they are capable of acting like humans even thouh you will never mistake them for one. The story also deals with forbidden love..a worker fallin or the bosses daughter and all he rules their society must follow to conform with ettiquette. Excellent book. They should base a series or a movie on it.

Omuamuma the Interstellar Asteroid

 Extra Terrestrial

By Avi Loeb

It was a few years ago that an interstellar asteroid type object sailed through our solar system. It's long cigar like shape was rather od and it drew lots of attention. When I said interstellar I meant that it came from outside the solar system. It is very rare for objects to travel accross space and enter into another solar system. It would have to have lots of propulsion for it to travel from one solar system to the next. It was first spotted from a super strong telescope in Hawaii and hence teh name of the asteroid is call Omuamuma . It's trajectory was rather odd as it sailed right on through ou solar system and pat the sun. Usually objects like this smash into a planet or get caught in some other body's orbit. Since it caught a lot of attention there was speculation that this miht be extraterrestrial. That is waht Harvard's Avi Loeb felt, and this wnet against the established grain of thought that does not really believe in life out there in the stars.

This large rock is rather strange and some of the facts miht lean into extra terrestrial origin. First off in order fo it to sail through our solar system it had to have lots of force pushing it. This could happe though a planet exploding and bits o debris go flying around or someone sent it for one purpose or another. At certain points it appeared to accelerate in order for it to maintain speed and accelaerate it would have to have somekind of fuel. the burn off should have eroded some of the rock o taken some of th ice of it's surface. There have been speculaions as to why it is able to do that, some have said tha the ice was made of hydrogen but i does not hold water. Pardon the pun.

What could possible fuel this rock to fly. There is no exhaust coming from a fuel supply. The author says it is light sails that ge there power from sunight. The next question is what is this rock and what is it's purpose. the author posits that is could be a buoy or some debris from an old space craft. The cilization that produced i could be extinct. While the author spend a good chunk o the book discussing this interstellar object he also goes into the speculation about life in the universe and what it would be like t make contact. The author also suggests exploring other planets and doing archaeology to disover the remnants of other civilizations to see what we could learn from them. This part can get real philosophical. He also goes into his background as well. Informative read.