1. What is parapsychology? It’s the scientific study of the factors underlying apparently paranormal experiences. At the Koestler Parapsychology Unit, we’ve always taken a broad approach to this topic, including (for example) what’s not psychic but looks like it’, the psychology of paranormal belief, and the social and historical context of paranormal experiences and beliefs. …
Magic and Shamanism. That’s what we’re about. We are Stephanie Yeh and Alan Joel. Whether you call it magic, magick, majick, wicca, paganism, shamanism or just plain cool, we study, research and teach as much useful knowledge in these areas as we can. We are Alan Joel and Stephanie Yeh, two researchers of the arcane …
Article by Rebecca I’m about to correct an ongoing error here at The Magical Buffet. As most of our readers realize, each month we discuss a creature, a mythology, and a symbol. Well, a creature is fairly easily defined as a creature, and in our second issue I discussed religion and myth with regards to …
By Ellen Evert Hopman, Druidess, Order of the Whiteoak (Ord na Darach Gile) Gaine daughter of pure Gumor, Nurse of mead-loving Mide, Surpassed all women though she was silent; She was learned and a seer and a Druid. (From The Metrical Dinsenchas- a history of the places of Ireland, compiled by medieval monks) Most modern …
It seems to me the game plan for Britney Spear’s latest album “Blackout” was, channel Janet Jackson. It’s not a bad idea. Britney and Janet are very similar. Neither are stellar singers, they’re both about a package. Sexy female singer with awesome choreography. Like other misguided female artists before her, Britney (or her people) chose …
On February 13, 2008 the organization Human Rights Watch sent a letter to King Abdullah bin Abd al-‘Aziz Al Saud on behalf of Fawza Falih, who has been sentenced to death by beheading for the alleged crimes of “witchcraft, recourse to jinn, and slaughter of animals”. The letter highlights in aggravating detail the gaping flaws in …
Freeze! It’s the Vice Squad! Part 3: The Saudi Arabian Edition. Read More »
Sweet! Ancestor worship is back! Seriously, I have always had an interest in cultures and religions that instead of fearing death and the specter of those who have died, revere those loved ones who have passed on. Unfortunately, most of the Western world is scared of those ideas and suspicious of those who embrace ancestor …
A Service for Spirits: Spoiler Alert! I Liked It! Read More »
For those of you playing along at home, the Chinese New Year is February 7, 2008, and we are about to enter the Year of the Rat. The Chinese lunar calendar is cyclic, with the same 12 representative animals going around and around. We’re about to leave the Year of the Pig behind us. Then, it …
I’ve never been to Toronto Canada. It’s on the “to do” list. Everyone I know that has gone there has had nothing but nice things to say. They tell me how clean it is, how nice the malls are, and that the dining is excellent. My friend Greg, from What Greg Eats, tells me when …
A Blog About the Miss Toronto Tourism Pageant. Yes, You’re Reading the Title Correctly. Read More »
Article by Rebecca Image by Will Hobbs (www.sirwilliamwesley.com) Sarah: Ow! It bit me! Hoggle: What’d you expect fairies to do? Sarah: I thought they did nice things, like… like granting wishes. Hoggle: Shows what *you* know, don’t it? From the wonderful movie Labyrinth. If you read The Magical Buffet and have not ever seen this …
