Böcker av Laura Perry

Journey through the Labyrinth to meet the Minoan deities of ancient Crete, who are still very much alive in the modern world

He has done unforgivable things, or so he believes.Can Adelphos forgive himself and open his heart to love once again? The city of Phaistos in ancient Crete is a bustling, prosperous place, where Adelphos son of Ida has the honor of being the Cattle Master, overseeing the herds that provide bulls for the temple's sacred leaping festivals. Despite that honor, despite his skill and popularity and success, Adelphos is not a happy man. He bears a grief that hides a shameful secret, one he could never admit to the man he loved. Now that man lies dead beneath the sea thanks to Adelphos's anger. When an unusually talented bull leaper arrives at Phaistos, Adelphos is torn between his desire for the new man, his guilt-plagued commitment to his dead lover - and his fear of the powerful goddess he has offended. When even his closest friends and family can't get through to him, will this new love be powerful enough to break the hold of the anguish in his heart? A gentle tale of grief and redemption, this story is very lightly steamy, heavily angsty, and full of longed-for happy endings.

Having given up her only child and her very identity to become a priestess in ancient Crete, an idealistic young woman struggles to find meaning in the day-to-day life of the temple; but when she is chosen to be the next High Priestess, she must call on both mystical and practical skills to protect her people from the encroaching Mycenaeans, who want to destroy the Minoans' way of life. Their island steeped in ritual and tradition, unchanged for centuries, the Minoans keep to their ways as the world around them moves on. Within the temple of Malia, Aria upholds the practices of her ancestors and the values that have kept her people-the children of the Great Mother Goddesses-safe and happy for generations, even when doing so chafes against her ambition. She knows that the rites of journeying, divination, and sacrifice are the foundation of the people's relationship with the gods. And the public ceremonies and feasts are the basis of the temple's relationship with the lay people: the balance between the divine and the material, the people's assurance that the High Priestess and her clergy will take care of them and provide for them, the way they have always done. Aria knows that as long as Ida's children take care of each other, the Great Mother will take care of them. But their tradition of sharing their goods and themselves with each other and the gods becomes a liability when the people from the mountains in the north of the mainland decide that wealth is something to be hoarded rather than given away. The newcomers' demands increase along with their greed, and the Minoans are hard pressed to maintain their traditional ways. What will become of a peaceful trading culture when their rivals decide to arm themselves and take what they want?

Liz just wants a happy birthday. Is that too much to ask? A beautiful antique bed: her birthday present to herself. The nice delivery men set it up in her bedroom, and then all Hell breaks loose. Literally. Her family is the usual pain in the you-know-where, and her boyfriend starts asking difficult questions, all on her birthday. But the ghost of her new bed's former owner is the biggest problem of all. When it turns out he's not basking in the glow of a happy afterlife, Liz must face some really nasty adversaries to help him. Why on earth would she risk her life and her sanity to help a ghost? Certainly not because she's in love with him. Certainly not.

The ancient world is a magical place. From the ziggurats of Sumeria to the temples of Crete and the pyramids of Egypt, the ancients call to us. Magic never dies, but only slumbers, awaiting discovery by those who would once again revel in its beauty and respect its power.Ancient Spellcraft is a practical book of spells and charms derived from ancient Pagan cultures including the Babylonians, Canaanites, Celts, Egyptians, Etruscans, Greeks, Hittites, Minoans, Phoenicians, and Sumerians. These ancient civilizations provide a wealth of magical workings-spells, charms, and divinations-that are simple and practical for modern use.These spells speak to the many human needs and desires of protection, prosperity, romance, fertility, healing, and divination. Each spell is described in detail, complete with step-by-step instructions as well as background information about the gods and goddesses involved, encouraging the reader to develop a relationship with these ancient deities who are still very much alive in our world today. This collection of spells, based in the ancient world but fully relevant for the 21st century, is a valuable addition to modern Pagan spiritual practice.

In this newly revised and updated second edition of Labrys and Horns, you'll find the pantheon, rituals, symbols and practices of Modern Minoan Paganism. MMP is a revivalist tradition that connects the deities of ancient Crete with modern Pagans in a living spiritual practice. With a pantheon headed by a triplicity of mother goddesses who embody the three sacred realms of land, sky, and sea, MMP calls us to remember a time when women were valued as equals to men, when the Great Mothers took care of all their children, and when the sacred touched every person every day of their lives. Minoan spirituality is so relevant to our times, when we're doing our best to move forward and away from inequality and oppression. This book can help you build relationships with the Minoan gods and goddesses and bring their blessings into your life, and from there, into the larger world.