John Matthews

A deck with card art drawn from original Nostradamus imagery is accompanied by a paperback explaining the history and prophecies of Michel de Nostredame.

In this card-and-book pack, the Green Man's tree wisdom and the Celtic Ogam tree alphabet combine to bring you an oracle of immense power.

A wide-ranging survey of the history of the Roman Empire—from its establishment to decline and beyond Empire of the Romans, from Julius Caesar to Justinian provides a sweeping historical survey of the Roman empire. Uncommonly expansive in its chronological scope, this unique two-volume text explores the time period encompassing Julius Caesar’s death in 44 BCE to the end of Justinian’s reign six centuries later. Internationally-recognized author and scholar of Roman history John Matthews balances broad historical narrative with discussions of important occurrences in their thematic contexts. This integrative approach helps readers learn the timeline of events, understand their significance, and consider their historical sources. Defining the time period in a clear, yet not overly restrictive manner, the text reflects contemporary trends in the study of social, cultural, and literary themes. Chapters examine key points in the development of the Roman Empire, including the establishment of empire under Augustus, Pax Romana and the Antonine Age, the reforms of Diocletian and Constantine, and the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Discussions of the Justinianic Age, the emergence of Byzantium, and the post-Roman West help readers understand the later Roman world and its impact on the subsequent history of Europe. Written to be used as standalone resource or in conjunction with its companion Volume II: Selective Anthology, this innovative textbook: Combines accessible narrative exposition with thorough examination of historical source materialProvides well-rounded coverage of Roman economy, society, law, and literary and philosophical cultureOffers content taken from the author’s respected Roman Empire survey courses at Yale and Oxford UniversityIncludes illustrations, maps and plans, and chapter-by-chapter bibliographical essays Empire of the Romans, from Julius Caesar to Justinian is a valuable text for survey courses in Roman history as well as general readers interested in the 600 year time frame of the empire.

Connect to dragon spirits and walk with them through the Wheel of the Year using this enlightening and powerful guide. Providing seasonal meditations and rituals, Year of the Magickal Dragon shows you how to build a relationship with each sabbat s dragon spirit and how that relationship improves your magickal practice. Virginia Chandler introduces you to legendary dragon spirits that are integral to the seasonal year, from Samhain s ancestor dragons to Beltane s dragons of making. Discover oil and incense recipes, spells, journaling prompts, altar work, stories, the history of dragons, and more. Honoring and developing a bond with these dragons empowers all areas of your life as you walk beside them every day of the year.

The first deck of its kind to explore long-misunderstood aspects of this rich world, The Byzantine Tarot uncovers new layers of wisdom and meaning to thrill Tarot users the world over and guide us in our lives today. Drawing upon the rich heritage of art, lore, and the complex courtly world of the Byzantine Empire, this glittering new Tarot reflects the extraordinary artistic style that flourished under the rule of the Byzantine emperors. Featuring a dazzling array of images depicting emperors and empresses, court officials, saints, and sinners, the deck faithfully echoes the iconography of the Byzantine world, drawing the reader in with its mysterious resonance. Card dimensions: 3" x 5 1/4"

In The Life of Training, John Matthews offers an accessible and original contribution to the philosophy of training for performance, building on his previous works Training for Performance (2011) and Anatomy of Performance Training (2014). With chapters on the seven characteristics of biological life - reproduction, stimulation, heritability, adaptation, growth, organisation and homeostasis - Matthews combines his unique approach with elements of Hannah Arendt’s mature philosophy to reach surprising and essential conclusions about the role time plays in training practices, and about the function of training practices in producing time and its tenses. Ideal for readers seeking to understand the relationship between training practices and human experience, on and off stage, or for teachers looking for a new, innovative approach to performance.

The Tarot of Light and Shadow presents a new multi-layered way of working with the Tarot: using two decks to explore the Shadow and Light sides of any questions at once. Although some professional readers have used this idea with different packs, and to great effect, this is the first time two Tarot decks have been designed specifically to work together. In fact, they can be seen not as two separate decks but as one deck appearing in two dimensions. The principle of the two-deck system can be explained as follows: there are two sides to every question and two sides to every answer. Answers come both from within and without. Inner influences as well as outer affect our choices and may dictate our concerns. When we face a problem or issue for which we turn to the Tarot for advice, there are many different ways to approach the query. The Shadow deck gives you insight into your inner world, your subconscious, your instinct and what is not yet in the light of consciousness, while the Light deck reflects the the outer world, the rational and what is already known about an issue. This ground-breaking two-deck system allows the reader to explore bothsides of such questions at once, and to find the best way forward in the blending of both answers.

Merlin remains the most famous and familiar image of the magician we possess. Best known as the advisor of the young King Arthur, he was also a famous seer, whose books of prophecies have been reprinted countless times since the Middle Ages and are still in print today. He has reappeared in numerous guises in modern times, in film, TV and books, as well as being studied as an exponent of shamanism, seership and ancient wisdom. Arthurian expert John Matthews examines the many guises of Merlin - as seer, prophet, magician and, perhaps surprisingly, as lover, and as an inspirer of people from all walks of life. He traces the historical origin of Merlin as a Celtic warrior, the later literary forms of his growing legend in the myths of Arthur, and his more recent manifestations in fantasy writing. Also explored is the important connection between Merlin and the Druids. Spanning the ages and delving into some of the most colourful corners of human history, The Book of Merlin presents a new look at an age-old character. The author has provided a new translation of the poems of Myrddin Wyllt, Merlin’s prophecies in the wilderness: ‘Snow to my knees, ice in my beard.'

We all remember the famous trains of yesteryear like The Flying Scotsman, The Royal Scot and The Waverley, passenger trains from the great days of steam, but behind the glamour of these celebrated expresses were the dirty unloved goods trains. Well into the 1980s it was possible to ride behind and experience most locomotives on passenger services, but the arrival of the HST and diesel multiple units soon changed this, and with the odd exception, today's locos can only be found working on freight trains. The interest in the goods or freight train has risen greatly in recent years even against a backdrop of reduced depots, yards and variety of workings. This book brings together the work of many of our most outstanding railway photographers featuring some of their best work from the mid 1950s right up to the present day. The old local trip with its wooden trucks, the long mixed goods, the heavy steel train and Speedlink services all feature from the steam, diesel and electric eras. Put these trains into picturesque Northern landscapes or set them against almost forgotten industrial backdrops and we hopefully have a book that captures the Freight Train in the North of England. AUTHOR: John Matthews was born at Preston Royal Infirmary in September 1951 and grew up in a terraced street devoid of a single car! He left school at sixteen with the modest achievement of two GCE O levels in English and Mathematics. A job in a bank and a short spell as a bus driver followed. 200 colour and b/w illustrations

The Grail legend is one of the most famous mysteries the world has ever known. This 78-card Tarot deck with spectacular Renaissance-style art relates to the quest for this sacred Christian relic and connects it to our desire to understand the puzzles within our own lives. Characters drawn from over 2,000 years of fascinating Grail historyincluding the enigmatic Knights Templar, one of the most influential groups of the Middle Agestake their place in the Major Arcana. The suits are represented by the four Grail Hallows: Stone, Sword, Lance, and Vessel. Discover the symbolism and stories of the Grail as a universal and potent representation of the search for truth, and find how to connect them with your own spiritual quest.

Congratulations on the opening of your new retail store You have worked hard to make your store a reality--now it is time to introduce your store to the all-important three-mile trade area surrounding it. Creating an exciting grand opening requires work upfront, but in the long run will make your store start off on the right foot in your community. It is critical to make a great first impression to both the community as well as your individual customers - and jump-start sales. This guidebook is designed to give you "how-to" instructions to make your grand opening a huge success. The key to a great grand opening is to use a variety of techniques included in this manual to call attention to your new store. That way, you will significantly enhance your store's image. In the end, there are many results you should look to achieve with a successful event. All in all, your goal is to create a buzz in the community that your store is now open and ready for business. Successful grand openings are able to attract enough of their target customers to their store and then provide those customers excellent service and products that have them returning again and again. This is the great type of killer grand opening you want to experience at your own store

Reveals the long-forgotten prequel to the Grail mythos and how it has profound resonance with modern times Unveiling the long-forgotten prequel to the Grail quest stories, Caitlín and John Matthews examine The Elucidation of the Grail, a forgotten 13th-century French text, and show how it offers the key to understanding the sevenfold path of the Grail and the deeper stories beneath the Christian Grail narrative. Beginning with a new translation of The Elucidation by foremost esotericist Gareth Knight and Caitlín Matthews, the authors provide a complete commentary on the poem, revealing a startling alternative cause of the Wasteland and the Grail quest, one which has a profound resonance with our own times. They examine the forgotten story of the Faery Wars and explain the Faery Accord, an agreement that once existed between humans and the Faery and upon which the spiritual and physical health of the land depends. The offering of the Grail and its regenerative powers by the Maidens of the Wells--Faery women--was part of this Accord. King Amangons and his men violated the Accord, through their abuse of the Well Maidens and other evil actions, causing the wasting of the land. The Knights of King Arthur seek to avenge the Well Maidens and rebirth the Grail to restore access to the lost paradisiacal “Courts of Joy” held in ancestral memory. On their quest, they encounter the Rich Company whose greed keeps the Knights occupied in long wars of attrition, yet their quest to restore the generous hospitality of the Wells--the true Grail, the Faery Grail--continues. In addition to the Faery Accord and Knights’ quest, the authors examine the Seven Guardians of the Stories, the Rich Fisher, the Courts of Joy and paradise lost, and the otherworldly Land of Women. They show how this lost book of the Grail reveals themes familiar to the modern world and offers hope of healing the rift between the worlds of Faery and human as well as restoration of our natural belonging to the land.

A Voyage to the River Sierra-Leone on the Coast of Africa is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1788. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.

The identity of Robin Hood has been questioned many times since the Outlaw of Sherwood first sprang to fame in the twelfth century. No two authorities seem able to agree as to his origins, antecedents, or even whether or not he was a historical personage or a mythical figure. Historians, both amateur and professional, have for years been bringing out new books in which they claim to have found ‘the real Robin Hood’, but his identity remains clouded. More recent studies have sought to push the boundaries of the story further out into recorded time – seeking Robin Hood among the records of government and law enforcement, in the ballads of the twelfth to fourteenth centuries, and in the folk memory of the people of Britain. For them, Robin is a product of the ballad-maker’s muse, or a literary fabrication based on the lives and deeds of several outlaws or the garbled memory of an actual person whose real life bore little or no resemblance to the romanticised songs of the ballad-makers. This is the only contemporary book to fully explore the mythology of Robin Hood rather than concentrating on the human identity of the famous outlaw. It ties Robin to the ancient archetype of the Green Man, the lore and legends of the Faery race, to the possible Eastern influence of the English Mummers’ plays, and suggests the real identities of several of the Merry Men.

In The Life of Training, John Matthews offers an accessible and original contribution to the philosophy of training for performance, building on his previous works Training for Performance (2011) and Anatomy of Performance Training (2014). With chapters on the seven characteristics of biological life - reproduction, stimulation, heritability, adaptation, growth, organisation and homeostasis - Matthews combines his unique approach with elements of Hannah Arendt’s mature philosophy to reach surprising and essential conclusions about the role time plays in training practices, and about the function of training practices in producing time and its tenses. Ideal for readers seeking to understand the relationship between training practices and human experience, on and off stage, or for teachers looking for a new, innovative approach to performance.

This is a fascinating collection of traditional Celtic stories to amaze and entertain. Animal tricksters, boasters and heroes all dwell herein, set amidst the dazzling universe of Celtic lore. Using the web link included in the book, play the drumming music, and allow yourself to be safely carried on a wave of sound, to experience your own shamanic journey. In this gentle trance you can find your totem Animal, and the 20 Totem Animal cards included will help you choose animal helpers for particular situations. Ask for guidance on life issues - for self-empowerment or simply for fun.

School safety does not have to be expensive, but it does have to be a priority. Every school district can make the proactive decision to create a culture of safety in their schools, a culture that demonstrates through its active campus safety teams, proactive threat assessment teams, realistic all-hazards drills and comprehensive training for students, faculty, staff and stakeholders that school violence in any form will not be tolerated. Throughout this book you will be exposed to safety innovations and security technologies. There is no doubt that some of these measures, when applied to the correct situation, can have a positive impact; however, creating a comprehensive safety initiative is always more about instilling values than about spending money. School administrators, teachers, students and parents must be committed to implementing necessary school safeguards from the physical design of the facility to its day-to-day management of safety and security concerns. A comprehensive and proactive school safety system must be grounded in actionable threat assessment teams, pragmatic school safety plans, realistic crisis response drills and sustained target hardening tactics. This 4th edition of the award-winning School Safety 101 places a renewed emphasis on the importance of threat assessment and identifying and responding to early warning signs prior to an attack. According to research 78% of all school mass shooters were current or recent former students from the school and that 68% of the time there were significant and obvious warning signs that were missed by schools, law enforcement and mental health professionals. School districts must place a renewed emphasis on actionable and comprehensive threat assessment teams that directly correlate threats with specific services and sanctions which can mitigate the possibility of a school shooting. This updated edition also presents familiar chapters on school safety preparation and response, including the importance of proactive campus safety teams remaining vigilant in conducting school safety audits and crisis response planning and practice that meets each specific school's needs and realistically represents the dangers schools face in the 21st century. The 4th Edition of School Safety 101 also presents new research from Mass Shootings: Six Steps to Survival and highlights the ESCAPE model, an easy-to-remember six-step process developed from actual actions taken and decisions made by individuals who survived these terrible attacks. The ESCAPE Model can be taught in an age-appropriate level to children of all ages, and when combined with basic pre-planning and civilian situational awareness, can potentially save lives in the event of an attack.

The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars. Delve into what it was like to live during the eighteenth century by reading the first-hand accounts of everyday people, including city dwellers and farmers, businessmen and bankers, artisans and merchants, artists and their patrons, politicians and their constituents. Original texts make the American, French, and Industrial revolutions vividly contemporary.++++The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification: ++++British LibraryT100565The tenth preliminary page numbered iv. A reissue of the 1788 edition, with a new titlepage, three additional leaves inserted before the list of contents, and eight additional plates. London: printed for B. White and Son; and J. Sewell, 1791. vii, 3],183, 1]p., plates: map; 8

The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars. Rich in titles on English life and social history, this collection spans the world as it was known to eighteenth-century historians and explorers. Titles include a wealth of travel accounts and diaries, histories of nations from throughout the world, and maps and charts of a world that was still being discovered. Students of the War of American Independence will find fascinating accounts from the British side of conflict. ++++The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification: ++++British LibraryT100566The dedication signed: John Matthews. Chester: printed by J. Fletcher, for the author, 1784. 24p.,21 plates; 4