Symbolic process, myth, science, postmodernism and the environment are skillfully woven together in 13 essays that reflect the timbre of the times in terms of current issues in anthropology, philosophy and religion. The spectre of consciousness transformation provides a common underlying theme and Prattis provides a novel perspective on "who we are, where did we come from, where are we going". The current furor over the nature of science, postmodernism and symbolic processes in society is the driving force behind this collection of essays. Contents: PART I: Beyond Structuralism; Man and Metaphor; "Parsifal" and Semiotic Structuralism; PART II: The Poetic Turn and Postmodern Reflexivity; Dialectics and Experience in Fieldwork; "Reflections" as Myth; Reflexive Anthropology; (with D. Blair) Opening Ourselves up to the Voyage of Anthropological Practice; PART III: Process and Form; Celtic Festivals and Bilingualism Policy: The Barra Feis; Sacred Dance and Cultural Bridges; Death Breaths and Drivers: The Phenomenology of Shamanic Experiences; Metaphor, Vibration and Form; PART IV: Paradigms; Science and Sages―a Small Matter of Paradigms; PART V: Gaia and the Environment―Two Essays; Issues of Inner Ecology; Myth, Meditation and Transformation of Consciousness; About the Author; Author Index.

Anthropology at the Edge: Essays on Culture, Symbol and Consciousness

Politics & Social Sciences

Prattis, Ian

Anthropology

University Press of America

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 changed the world, now an environment framed by fear, uncertainty, hatred and fanaticism. Wise teachings about the mind bring spiritual warriors to the fore, to champion peace, environmental care, and non-violent reconciliation. The skills and methods of cooling anger, of dealing with the terrorist within, of putting the breaks on anger's translation into deadly harm, are found in meditation traditions with practical down to earth exercises. Eco-psychology, traditional ecological knowledge, and globalization, are brought into a discussion of events that take the reader on a sweep of history, from Chief Seattle's speech of 1854 to the World Trade Organization, and beyond- to the Tobin Tax and the reconfiguration of our global order. This is a different kind of book about Ecology and Consciousness.

The Essential Spiral: Ecology and Consciousness After 9/11

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Psychology & Counseling

Failsafe addresses issues raised in the Al Gore film An Inconvenient Truth. Just what have we done with the garden bequeathed to us? From outer space our beautiful blue planet has no divisions, pandemics or degradation. On the ground the same blue planet is torn asunder by violence, greed and reckless disregard for planetary care. Can we fix the planet? This is the wrong question... We remain ignorant to the consequences of the fact that everything interconnects. The right question is can we fix ourselves? Can we change the mindset that has created the global ecological emergency? We must embark on a different kind of human journey different to the crazed ego, greed and power traits that characterize our collective and presently mindless sojourn. We are neglectful of the fact that we depend on this tiny planet for everything. I give the reader a promise: This slim volume provides understanding, issues a call for the adventure of changing the existing world order by arriving at a deep understanding of what needs to be done in terms of changing our minds. Then I provide guidelines for action. Ian Prattis

Failsafe

Literature & Fiction

Manor House Publishing

Ian Prattis transports you to a faraway world free of Earthly problems - or so it seems. Earth in the near future is dying due to Humankind's damage to the environment. Children are sent via spacecraft to a distant planet to escape Earth and restart Humanity. Red-haired Catriona is astonished to find raven-haired Rising Moon already lives on the planet via ancient shamanic means. A sharing of cultures and technologies ensues as they join other Earth refugees to form a sustainable, caring community - but can they withstand the dark threat of invaders from Earth bringing very Earthly traits of treachery, rape, violent power struggles and murder? "Ian Prattis' admirable command of language brings to every scene a striking visual clarity." - Julia Ann Charpentier, Literary Critic "Ian Prattis has been gifted with the ability to move, encourage and inspire others through his books. He writes about ethics, religion, personal experiences... and excels at it... celebrate his many accomplishments with this literary masterpiece." - Joslyn Wolfe, Focus on Women Magazine

New Planet, New World

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fantasy

Manor House Publishing, Inc.

Our World is Burning: My Views on Mindful Engagement

Business & Money

Economics

Love & Catastrophē Poetrē (Broken Keys Publishing Anthologies)

Pretty, Jen

Wolf, Jamieson

Weatherall, Michel

Boulay, Brigette

Jeffreys, Codi

Sharma, Jagjeet

Maskell, Samantha Paige

Medina, Jocy

Poetry

Broken Keys Publishing

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