Deity

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden. If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome. But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed. Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate.."--

The book presents a broad survey of Greek votive terracotta figurines, a class of votives where previous scholarship has mainly consisted of research in specific sites and collections. They have traditionally been interpreted as inexpensive and inconspicuous votives for everyday use, but this study questions whether this is in fact the case. By introducing the theoretical model of chaîne opératoire for a life cycle study of the votive figurines the book moves through the stages of production, distribution, use and discard of the votives, the latter both in the sense of practical discard and in the end of use. The study is based on a selection of case studies and surveys of relevant material, allowing for in-depth analyses of the terracottas in those life stages of shifting contextual interactions. The approach furthers new knowledge on several levels, such as the value of the terracottas, their suitability and their popularity as dedications, their iconography and symbolism, the general votive practice, and the end of the terracotta practice. As such, the book is relevant for all who seek insights on terracotta figurines, votive offerings, ritual practice, as well as those interested in archaeological methodology, theory and contexts.

The annual festivals that are central to the south Indian religious tradition are among the largest religious gatherings in the world. This text offers a fieldwork-based study of 14 different religious festivals.

This collection contains four of the most cherished Tibetan Buddhist commentaries on the practices of visualization, mantra recitation, and meditative absorption—elements that form the core of development stage meditation, one of the most important practices of Buddhist Tantra. The texts within this volume—Ladder to Akaniṣṭha, Clarifying the Difficult Points in the Development Stage, The Four Stakes That Bind the Life-Force, and Husks of Unity—are among the most widely studied commentaries on this topic and have formed the basis for spiritual study and practice for centuries. In these eloquent and inspiring translations, Jigme Lingpa, Patrul Rinpoche, and Getse Mahāpaṇḍita explain the fundamental philosophy of the development stage, illuminating its profound insights into the nature of reality and how to utilize these insights through the practice of meditation.

DIVOnline investigative journalist Scott King investigates the death of a pop megastar, the subject of multiple accusations of sexual abuse and murder before his untimely demise in a fire ... another episode of the startlingly original, award-winning Six Stories series. 'A captivating, genre-defying book with hypnotic storytelling' Rosamund Lupton 'A chilling, wholly original and quite brilliant story. Deity is utterly compelling, and Matt Wesolowski is a wonderful writer' Chris Whitaker 'Matt Wesolowski taking the crime novel to places it's never been before. Filled with dread, in the best possible way' Joseph Knox _______________ A shamed pop star A devastating fire Six witnesses Six stories Which one is true? When pop megastar Zach Crystal dies in a fire at his remote mansion, his mysterious demise rips open the bitter divide between those who adored his music and his endless charity work, and those who viewed him as a despicable predator, who manipulated and abused young and vulnerable girls. Online journalist, Scott King, whose Six Stories podcasts have become an internet sensation, investigates the accusations of sexual abuse and murder that were levelled at Crystal before he died. But as Scott begins to ask questions and rake over old graves, some startling inconsistencies emerge: Was the fire at Crystal's remote home really an accident? Are reports of a haunting really true? Why was he never officially charged? Dark, chillingly topical and deeply thought-provoking, Deity is both an explosive thriller and a startling look at how heroes can fall from grace and why we turn a blind eye to even the most heinous of crimes... _______________ Praise for the Six Stories series 'A gripping exposure of the underbelly of celebrity and obsessive fandom with lashings of supernatural horror – Daisy Jones and the Six gone to the dark side. I couldn't put it down' Harriet Tyce 'Matt Wesolowski is boldly carving his own uniquely dark niche in fiction' Benjamin Myers 'Dark, twisty and incredibly clever ... an author to watch!' C L Taylor 'A dark, twisting rabbit hole of a novel. You won't be able to put it down' Francine Toon 'First-class plotting' S Magazine 'A dazzling fictional mystery' Foreword Reviews 'Readers of Kathleen Barber's Are You Sleeping and fans of Ruth Ware will enjoy this slim but compelling novel' Booklist 'An exceptional storyteller' Andrew Michael Hurley 'Beautifully written, smart, compassionate – and scary as hell. Matt Wesolowski is one of the most exciting and original voices in crime fiction' Alex North 'Insidiously terrifying, with possibly the creepiest woods since The Blair Witch Project ... a genuine chiller with a whammy of an ending' C J Tudor 'Frighteningly wonderful ... one of the best books I've read in years' Khurrum Rahman 'Disturbing, compelling and atmospheric, it will terrify and enthral you in equal measure' M W Craven 'Bold, clever and genuinely chilling with a terrific' Sunday Mirror 'A genuine genre-bending debut' Daily Mail 'Impeccably crafted and gripping from start to finish’ Big Issue ‘The very epitome of a must-read’ Heat ‘Wonderfully horrifying … the suspense crackles’ James Oswald ‘Original, inventive and dazzlingly clever’ Fiona Cummins ‘Haunting, horrifying, and heartrending. Fans of Arthur Machen will want to check this one out’ Publishers Weekly/div

The Ideal Source for Everything in Qi Men In Qi Men Dun Jia, the aspects of the subconscious mind or High Intelligence (or Divine Spirit) are recognised as the 10 Deities. Through the practice of Qi Men, insights can be gained into the interactions between the Spirit Realm and the Natural World to understand how the former affects our lives. The Spirit Realm exists within the highest level above that of Earth, Man and the Heavens, and to access this higher realm is to call upon the support and guidance of the deities, thus leading to a deeper understanding of life’s aspects and events. From Qi Men Forecasting to Qi Men Warcraft, the 10 Deities hold considerable influence over the energies present at any given occasion. Qi Men Dun Jia: The Deities for the first time, brings together a wealth of information on the 10 Deities for the versatile application of Qi Men Dun Jia. Discover how to recognise and interpret the guides and wisdom presented by these Deities, and through this process gain a deeper understanding of the self and the physical world.

Teaches the meditative techniques of Action and Performance Tantras the basis of all higher tantric practices.