Prof. Ballard's Library

A very small collection at the moment but one that will grow. Click on the links to purchase the books.

How-to Guides

How Psychic Are You? 76 Techniques to Boost Your Inate Power Julie Soskin. We may not realize it, but we all have psychic experiences at some point in our lives, whether it is an immediate and inexplicable feeling from a person or place, a flashing sense of another's thoughts, or a startling premonition of an event to take place in the future. This interactive guide contains techniques and exercises that help you identify and develop your psychic skills. You will also learn how the power of intuition can enrich your everyday life by helping you become more in tune with yourself and the world around you. With a vibrant, full-color package packed with photographs and illustrations, How Psychic Are You? is a fun and practical introduction for the psychic in all of us! Canadians click here.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune-telling Arlene Tognetti and Lisa Lenard. Youre no idiot, of course. Youve had your "fortune" read and know that Tarot is an ancient and fascinating art form. But when it comes to understanding what the Hermit and High Priestess tell you, you feel like a fool--though not the adventurous Fool in the Tarot deck. Take fate into your own hands! The Complete Idiots Guide to Tarot and Fortune-Telling deals you the cards and explains what the pictures say about you. Soon, youll be off on an exciting journey of self-discovery. Canadians click here.

Mythology

Asian Mythology: Myths and Legends of of China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia Rachel Storm. An A to Z of the characters, significant events, locations and sites of interest, with superb pictorial spreads on the mythical themes and symbols central to the culture. Handy cross-references throughout.Canadians click here.

Lilith: The Edge of Forever Filomena Maria Pereira. Discusses the historical myth of Lilith from pre-Judaic sources and civilizations, through Hebrew lore and legend, into modern Judaism. Shows how the ability of a woman to enjoy sex and participate in the celebration of sex with another became the foundation for Judaeo-Christian sin and evil. Canadians click here.

Mythology Edith Hamilton. This classic compendium is her tribute. "The tales of Greek mythology do not throw any clear light upon what early mankind was like," Hamilton explains in her introduction. "They do throw an abundance of light upon what early Greeks were like--a matter, it would seem, of more importance to us, who are their descendents intellectually, artistically, and politically. Nothing we learn about them is alien to ourselves." Fans of Greek mythology will find all the great stories and characters here--Perseus, Hercules, and Odysseus--each discussed in generous detail by the voice of an impressively knowledgeable and engaging (with occasional lapses) narrator. This is also an excellent primer for middle- and high-school students who are studying ancient Greek and Roman culture and literature. Canadians click here.

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes Edith Hamilton. Renowned for her love and knowledge of classical leterature, Edith Hamilton created a legendary bestseller in this masterful retelling of the great Greek, Roman, and Norse myths. Canadians click here.

The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Vol 1 Francis James Child. 305 distinct ballads, -- Volume I contains 1-53 -- most with multiple variants, with commentary that traces the origins of the ballad stories through the literature and traditions of much of the western world. Professor Child's painstaking research ranges from ancient Greece to medieval Norway, with translations and detailed citations for all of the sources on which he draws. Canadians click here

The Hero with a Thousand Faces Joseph Campbell. Originally written by Campbell in the '40s-- in his pre-Bill Moyers days -- and famous as George Lucas' inspiration for "Star Wars," this book will likewise inspire any writer or reader in its well considered assertion that while all stories have already been told, this is *not* a bad thing, since the *retelling* is still necessary. And while our own life's journey must always be ended alone, the travel is undertaken in the company not only of immediate loved ones and primal passion, but of the heroes and heroines -- and myth-cycles -- that have preceded us. Canadians click here

The Masks of God: Creative Mythology Joseph Campbell. This is the final volume of "The Masks of God" series. This particular book comprises the inner story of modern culture, spanning our entire philosophical, spiritual and artistic history since the Dark Ages, and treating modern man's unique position as the creator of his own mythology. Canadians click here.

Olmec Riddle : An Inquiry into the Origin of Pre-Columbian Civilization James C. Gruener. An enjoyable book that reflects scholarly research - based on comparative mythology, theology, archeology (including recent discoveries), and theories of the evolution of cultures worldwide. This book offers a balanced view of intertwined discvoveries, and bridges seemingly divergent fields of academic study. This limited edition hard bound book is 544 pages , with a comprehensive bibliography, 20-page glossary, and a complete subject and cross-reference index. The book features 11 color plates, 10 black-and-white photographs (from the archives of the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution), and 35 beautiful line drawings by William Holmes.

The Power of Myth Joseph Campbell. Among his many gifts, Joseph Campbell's most impressive was the unique ability to take a contemporary situation, such as the murder and funeral of President John F. Kennedy, and help us understand its impact in the context of ancient mythology. Herein lies the power of The Power of Myth, showing how humans are apt to create and live out the themes of mythology. Based on a six-part PBS television series hosted by Bill Moyers, this classic is especially compelling because of its engaging question-and-answer format, creating an easy, conversational approach to complicated and esoteric topics. For example, when discussing the mythology of heroes, Campbell and Moyers smoothly segue from the Sumerian sky goddess Inanna to Star Wars' mercenary-turned-hero, Han Solo. Most impressive is Campbell's encyclopedic knowledge of myths, demonstrated in his ability to recall the details and archetypes of almost any story, from any point and history, and translate it into a lesson for spiritual living in the here and now. Canadians click here.

The Way of the Warrior: Stories of the crow people Henry Old Coyote. The telling of stories to pass on traditional values is vividly manifested here by four stories recorded just as they were told by three Crow storytellers born in the 1800s. The first describes the cult of the Crazy Dog, whose members vow to die in battle "as if it meant nothing." The second revolves around Red Bear, the great early nineteenth-century Crow leader who always exhibited modesty and unfailing respect for his elders. The stories of two other brave warriors document the fact that fame and glory are "elusive and fleeting in the Crow way of life." One warrior loses the respect of even his own clan as he lets his temper prevail over his actions and dies in ignominy. The other oversteps the boundaries of tradition by taking too many wives, and he, too, becomes an object of pity. These stories, so painstakingly recorded, can easily be adapted by contemporary storytellers to convey moral teachings, making them, in Bauerle's words, "as valuable to the Crow people today as they were two hundred years ago." Canadians click here.

The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets Barbara G. Walker. This fascinating, scholarly hodgepodge spotlights the feminist underpinnings of myth, religion, and culture. Before being lionized as zaftig Norse angels who guided strong warriors to Valhalla, Valkyries may have offered rebirth through cannibalization. "Little Red Riding Hood" was based on Diana, goddess of the hunt. Marriage was once considered a sin, not a sacred union: St. Bernard once proclaimed "it was easier for a man to bring the dead back to life than to live with a woman without endangering his soul." A few of the other topics expounded upon are the Milky Way, Cinderella, the moon, and males giving birth. While some of the references put a cranky feminist spin on words that might in context have different meaning--St. Paul's oft-quoted "better to marry than to burn," for example--much in this vast tome will dazzle dabblers and intellectuals alike. Canadians click here.

The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and and Importance of Fairy Tales Bruno Bettelheim. The great child psychologist gives us a moving revelation of the enormous and irreplaceable value of fairy tales - how they educate, support and liberate the emotions of children. Canadians click here

Scottish Wonder Tales from Myth and Legend Donald Alexander MacKenzie. Sixteen colorful, time-honored tales provide thrilling accounts of giants rumbling down mountainsides, of a magic wand that turns stone pillars into warriors, of Beira, the cruel old Queen of Winter, of Bride, the youthful goddess of spring and growth and more. Lively, highly readable collection will captivate lovers of folklore and mythology and fascinate anyone interested in ancient Scottish culture. Canadians click here.

Women Who Run With the Wolves Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Folklore, fairy tales and dream symbols are called on to help restore women's neglected intuitive and instinctive abilities in this earthy first book by a Jungian analyst. According to Estes, wolves and women share a psychic bond in their fierceness, grace and devotion to mate and community. This comparison defines the archetype of the Wild Woman, a female in touch with her primitive side and able to rely on gut feelings to make choices. The tales here, from various cultures, are not necessarily about wolves; instead, they illuminate fresh perspectives on relationships, self-image, even addiction. An African tale of twins who baffle a man represents the dual nature of woman; from the Middle East, a story about a threadbare but secretly magic carpet shows society's failure to look beyond appearances. Three brief, ribald stories advocate a playful, open sexuality; other examples suggest ways to deal with anger and jealousy. At times, Estes's commentary--in which she urges readers to draw upon and enjoy their Wild Woman aspects--is hyperbolic, but overall her widely researched study offers usable advice for modern women. Canadians click here.

Fiction

Metamorphoses Ovid, Mary Innes (Translator). This volume presents the Latin text, with an Introduction and full commentary, of Book XIII of the Roman poet Ovid's long work Metamorphoses. It discusses in detail Ovid's treatment of his sources and sets out the ways in which he adapted earlier literature as material for his novel enterprise. Guidance is offered on points of language and style, and the Introduction treats in general terms the themes of metamorphosis and the structure of the poem as a whole. Canadians click here.

The Iliad Homer, Robert Fitzgerald (Translator). This translation of The Iliad equals Fitzgerald's earlier Odyssey in power and imagination. It recreates the original action as conceived by Homer, using fresh and flexible blank verse that is both lyrical and dramatic. Canadians click here.

The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights Richard Francis Burton (Translator). Full of mischief, valor, ribaldry, and romance, The Arabian Nights has enthralled readers for centuries. These are the tales that saved the life of Shahrazad, whose husband, the king, executed each of his wives after a single night of marriage. Beginning an enchanting story each evening, Shahrazad always withheld the ending: A thousand and one nights later, her life was spared forever. Canadians click here.

Three Theban Plays Sophocles, Robert Fagles (Translator). Aristotle called "Oedipus The King," the second-written of the three Theban plays written by Sophocles, the masterpiece of the whole of Greek theater. Today, nearly 2,500 years after Sophocles wrote, scholars and audiences still consider it one of the most powerful dramatic works ever made. Freud sure did. The three plays--"Antigone," "Oedipus the King," and "Oedipus at Colonus"--are not strictly a trilogy, but all are based on the Theban myths that were old even in Sophocles' time. This particular edition was rendered by Robert Fagles, perhaps the best translator of the Greek classics into English. Canadians click here.