John Matthews – författare

The Green Man is an ancient and popular icon of the natural world – the very spirit of nature. Here, in this remarkable pack, his tree wisdom and the Celtic Ogam tree alphabet combine to bring you an oracle of immense power.The beautifully illustrated deck of 25 cards depicts each of the trees that make up this ancient Celtic alphabet. The Green Man is present in every image – sometimes obvious, sometimes hidden – inviting you to enter his world. You will discover tree lore, myths and symbolism, and you will learn the innermost meaning of each card, and how this age-old knowledge can guide you in your life today.

A beautiful set of Tarot cards depicting the wonder and magic of the legendary King Arthur, with an accompanying book explaining the meaning and symbolism of each card. The Arthurian Tarot represents the ultimate in Tarot design. Steeped in the sheer unequalled magic of the legends, history and traditions of Arthurian Britain, these exceptional cards capture in 78 frames all the wonder and beauty of King Arthur's realm. Conceived and designed by Caitlin and John Matthews and beautifully executed by Miranda Gray, this original pack reveals the ancient traditions of the Arthurian Mysteries as a living mythos for creative visualization and personal transformation. This exclusive pack comes complete with a fully illustrated guide to the divinatory and archetypal meanings of the cards -- the 22 Greater Powers and the 56 Lesser Powers. The suits of Sword, Spear, Grail and Stone, corresponding to the four elements of Western esoteric tradition as well as to the four seasons, empower the reader through the sacred quest for the Hallows.The book also gives original methods for reading and using the Tarot, including the Merlin's Mirror and Excalibur spreads, with sample readings to show their practical significance.

From unicorns and trolls to werewolves and griffins, this comprehensive guide is the key to discovering every magical creature from myth, folklore and legend around the world.This compendium of magical creatures explores the history, folklore and mythology of fascinating beasts throughout all the magical worlds. Including stories, celebrations, traditions, and amazing facts, the book spans every major culture across the globe.Many of the fantastic creatures described in the book have appeared in the fictitious worlds of the Brothers Grimm, Lewis Carroll, J.K. Rowling, Tolkien and countless other writers who have stirred our imaginations since childhood fairytales. From unicorns, giants, fairies, elves, goblins, dwarves and trolls to nymphs, mermaids, sphinxes, ogres, cyclops, dragons, salamanders, basilisks, banshees, werewolves, griffins, centaurs, satyrs and gremlins – this is the ultimate reference book on creatures from the magical world.Organized from A to Z for easy reference, the cross–cultural focus spans from the most ancient of creatures to those which have come to prominence more recent ly. Discover everything from obscure magical beings to everyday animals that carry magical symbolism.Find out more in The Fantastic World of Magical Creatures.

The most famous and influential work of English fantasy ever published, reimagined for a new generation of readers by John Matthews, one of the world’s leading Arthurian experts, and illustrated by internationally acclaimed Tolkien artist, John Howe. The tales of how the boy Arthur drew the Sword from the Stone, or the love of Lancelot and Guinevere, or how the knights of the Round Table rode out in search of the Holy Grail are known and loved the world over.It all began when an obscure Celtic hero named Arthur stepped on to the stage of history, sometime in the sixth century, and oral tales led to a vast body of stories from which, 900 years later, Thomas Malory wrote the famous Morte D’Arthur.THE GREAT BOOK OF KING ARTHUR presents these well-loved stories for a modern reader, for the first time collecting many tales of Arthur and his knights either unknown to Malory or written in other languages. Here, you will read of Avenable, the girl brought up as a boy who becomes a famous knight. You will learn of Gawain's strange birth, his upbringing amongst poor folk and his final rise to the highest possible rank – Emperor of Rome. There is also the story of Morien whose adventures are as fantastic and exciting as any to be found in the pages of Malory.In addition, there are some of the earliest tales of Arthur, deriving from the tradition of Celtic storytelling. Here is the original Arthur, represented in such powerful stories as ‘The Adventures of Eagle-Boy’, and 'The Coming of Merlin', based on the early medieval text Vita Merlini, which gives a completely new version of the great Enchanter's story.These age-old stories, still as popular today as they were from the Middle Ages onwards, are dramatically brought to life by the luminous paintings and drawings of John Howe, whose work on the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies has brought him a world-wide following.

The most famous and influential work of English fantasy ever published, reimagined for a new generation of readers by John Matthews, one of the world’s leading Arthurian experts, and illustrated by internationally acclaimed Tolkien artist, John Howe. Journey back to the legendary time of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, of Merlin and dragons, of the Great Quest for the Grail and the mysterious Otherworld of Faerie. A time of bravery, treachery and love.Here, you will read of Avenable, the girl brought up as a boy who becomes a famous knight, and of Gawain's strange birth and his rise to the highest possible rank: Emperor of Rome. Here too are some of the earliest Celtic tales of Arthur, and a completely new version of Merlin the Enchanter's story. There is also the story of Morien, whose adventures are as fantastic and exciting as any to be found in Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur.THE GREAT BOOK OF KING ARTHUR presents for the first time many long-forgotten tales, dramatically brought to life by acclaimed Tolkien artist, John Howe, to deliver a unique reimagining of the most famous and influential work of English fantasy ever written.

Fully illustrated collection of rare and previously unpublished tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, retold for a new generation by leading Arthurian expert, John Matthews, introduced by Sir John Boorman, director of the classic film, Excalibur, and illustrated with paintings and drawings by Tolkien artist, John Howe. It is a time of magic and adventure, of chivalry and courtly love, when great evil must be met with heroic deeds. It is a time of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.Realms of the Round Table presents for the first time an extensive collection of forgotten tales, retold for a new generation of readers by a modern-day Merlin, the world-renowned Arthurian authority, John Matthews. Contained within are a rich feast of Arthurian love stories and tales that delve deep into the darker mysteries of the Great Wood and the denizens of fantastic lands beyond.Here also is a heady mixture of magic, faery lore, wisdom and mystery – capturing extraordinary tales of Camelot’s greatest knights, such as Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain, and others less well known, and soaring from high adventure to mystical accounts of the Grail. There is even an Arthurian Christmas tale!These age-old stories, companions to those collected in the sister-volume, The Great Book of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, honour the work of Thomas Malory in his legendary Le Morte D’Arthur. They are dramatically brought to life by the luminous paintings and drawings of internationally acclaimed Tolkien artist, John Howe, to present a glorious reimagining of the most influential work of English fantasy ever written.

The consecration of the city of Constantinople in 330 CE on the emplacement of the Greek city of Byzantium was one of the most important moments in the whole of Graeco-Roman history. The foundation of the city responded to important changes in the social, political, and cultural character of the Roman empire of the first three centuries. In its role as the capital of the Byzantine Empire, it provided a setting for a new religion and the framework for more than a thousand years of continued Roman history in the east. From Byzantium to Constantinople explores, in great detail, the Graeco-Roman context of the city and its early history in the first century of its identity as the new Rome. The book surveys the events that led to the establishment of Constantinople, the circumstances of its foundation, and the first hundred years of its development as an imperial capital city resting upon a new religious identity. Based on a description and critical evaluation of the sources of the earlier history of the city of Byzantium, it attends to one document in particular--the Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae--a regional survey of the resources and monuments of the city, written in the early fifth century but preserving many details of the city as it had developed from its Greek and Roman background. Ranging from descriptions of Constantinople's facilities for the fighting of fires and distributions of bread, to the number of churches established in this period, the Notitia allows for a study of the economic and social diversity and housing conditions of its regions. Constantinople, the new Rome founded by the first Christian emperor, was not built in a day nor did it lack an earlier history as an important city in a strategic location. The integration of these diverse and variously problematic sources enables the foundation of Constantinople to be understood in terms of a developing understanding of its role, and as a series of initiatives that could be accommodated by the resources of the government as it responded to new and distinctly non-Classical loyalties.

The central theme of this book is the relationship between the `public' and `private' lives of the men who were involved in the politics of the western Roman Empire in the later fourth and early fifth centuries. A postscript updates the book with regard to the last fifteen years of related scholarly research.

Aimed at engineers, technologies, and architects, this professional tutorial offers sound guidance on the analysis and design of building power and illuminations systems.

Probably the oldest known spiritual discipline, shamanism is the timeless art of living in harmony with creation, providing a universal system to work with today, whatever our religion or spiritual affiliation may be. A reflection of a living tradition with a supremely practical approach to life, it teaches skills for living and ways to utilize latent abilities which we all possess. Celtic Shamanism derives from the native traditions of North-West Europe. The shamanic contribution of the Celts and their predecessors has been overlooked until recently, and is one of the last shamanic traditions to be explored. While it shares common elements with American, Australian and Siberian teachings, it derives entirely from Celtic source material. The Celtic Shaman offers a varied and easily followed plan of self-tuition for anyone interested in Celtic mythology and the Western mysteries.

Discover a complete system of magical work based on the myths of Arthur and his knights. With meditations, rituals, visualizations, and pioneering shamanic techniques, Arthurian Magic leads you on a profound soul journey designed to raise consciousness and offer deep levels of wisdom. From Dr. John Dee to the Order of the Golden Dawn to the more recent fascination with the mysteries of the Grail and the Templars, dozens of magical groups and countless individuals have turned to the myths of Arthur and his knights for initiation, inspiration, and instruction. This book is a guide for beginners and more experienced practitioners to incorporate the deep spiritual power of the Grail stories into their lives.

The Art of Childhood and Adolescence is composed of completely new research on the development of representational thinking from infancy through to adolescence. It makes an important contribution to the theory of children's development and to practitioners' understanding, as well as suggesting new paths of inquiry. The book draws on highly detailed longitudinal studies, conducted over 24 years (20 in London and 4 in Singapore). Line drawings and photographs are used to illustrate important concepts. Matthews, highly respected internationally, also sheds light on current debates, such as the opposition of culturally specific and universal development in children the world over.

The Art of Childhood and Adolescence is composed of completely new research on the development of representational thinking from infancy through to adolescence. It makes an important contribution to the theory of children's development and to practitioners' understanding, as well as suggesting new paths of inquiry. The book draws on highly detailed longitudinal studies, conducted over 24 years (20 in London and 4 in Singapore). Line drawings and photographs are used to illustrate important concepts. Matthews, highly respected internationally, also sheds light on current debates, such as the opposition of culturally specific and universal development in children the world over.

`This book is a tremendous resource for any early years setting. It enables us and encourages us to explore the process of artistic development through a fresh and inclusive lens' - Nursery World

`This book is a welcome update of an informative text describing the process of children's mark making as a visual, physical and interactive process urging us to consider how we as adults perceive and support young children's mark making activities both at home and school. John Matthews demonstrates the cognitive function of this early mark making in relation to general individual development' - Early Years

`A thought-provoking and informative book, this is essential reading for anyone involved in the education of young children' - Times Educational Supplement - Teacher

`Drawing and Painting is a fascinating and delightful read for tutors, practitioners and students and is highly recommended an essential text for early years courses at level 3 and above'- Under Five

This book has been revised to reflect recent developments in early childhood education, in developmental psychology and in our understanding of children's development in the arts. The author shows how this new model of children's development in visual representation has important implications for education.

The author examines children's development in visual expression and suggests how this development might be supported. The book takes issue with the inherited wisdom about children's development in visual representation. The traditional approach describes children's development in terms of supposed deficits in which children progress from `primitive' earlier stages to `superior' ones, until the `defects' in their representational thinking are overcome and they arrive at an endpoint of `visual realism'. This approach is the pervasive influence on curricular planning, in arts education and in early years education.

The author explains recent different models of development in visual expression. Instead of measuring children's efforts against an adult paradigm, the new models identify the modes of representation used by children as consequences of children's own intentions, motivations and priorities.

The writing is accessible and assumes no specialist knowledge of psychological theory, art, its history or interpretation. This book is essential reading for early childhood educators, at nursery and pre-school level, for other professionals who work with very young children and parents, as well as students and tutors on early years courses.

This is a revised edition of Helping Children to Draw and Paint: Children and Visual Representation, originally published in 1994.

`This book is a tremendous resource for any early years setting. It enables us and encourages us to explore the process of artistic development through a fresh and inclusive lens' - Nursery World

`This book is a welcome update of an informative text describing the process of children's mark making as a visual, physical and interactive process urging us to consider how we as adults perceive and support young children's mark making activities both at home and school. John Matthews demonstrates the cognitive function of this early mark making in relation to general individual development' - Early Years

`A thought-provoking and informative book, this is essential reading for anyone involved in the education of young children' - Times Educational Supplement - Teacher

`Drawing and Painting is a fascinating and delightful read for tutors, practitioners and students and is highly recommended an essential text for early years courses at level 3 and above'- Under Five

This book has been revised to reflect recent developments in early childhood education, in developmental psychology and in our understanding of children's development in the arts. The author shows how this new model of children's development in visual representation has important implications for education.

The author examines children's development in visual expression and suggests how this development might be supported. The book takes issue with the inherited wisdom about children's development in visual representation. The traditional approach describes children's development in terms of supposed deficits in which children progress from `primitive' earlier stages to `superior' ones, until the `defects' in their representational thinking are overcome and they arrive at an endpoint of `visual realism'. This approach is the pervasive influence on curricular planning, in arts education and in early years education.

The author explains recent different models of development in visual expression. Instead of measuring children's efforts against an adult paradigm, the new models identify the modes of representation used by children as consequences of children's own intentions, motivations and priorities.

The writing is accessible and assumes no specialist knowledge of psychological theory, art, its history or interpretation. This book is essential reading for early childhood educators, at nursery and pre-school level, for other professionals who work with very young children and parents, as well as students and tutors on early years courses.

This is a revised edition of Helping Children to Draw and Paint: Children and Visual Representation, originally published in 1994.

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 history—including the enigmatic Knights Templar, one of the most influential groups of the Middle Ages—take 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.

The first deck based on the epic story of Beowulf that takes you on an illuminating journey of self-discovery.

Discover the remarkable lives of 14 notable Celtic saints through stories, inspired poetry, and meditations.

Discover the wisdom of the renowned Elizabethan magus Dr. John Dee and let it guide you through the mysteries of your own life’s journey.

Imagine a time when vast helium-fueled airships took the place of aircraft, and where the hunger for adventure and exploration took the human race into stranger places than we ever imagined. The Steampunk Tarot imagines this in an alternate-reality tarot where The Technomage is king, and the Punk Diva is queen.Tumble down the rabbit hole into a construction of technology, machines, retro-art and culture, full of fantastic visions in a time and place that realizes an alternate world to our own. The world of steampunk combines Victoriana, the Gothic, and early invention with a huge dash of imagination and a tremendous sense of style. The Steampunk Tarot is a world apart: a nexus of opulence, innovation and alternate world-views that is reflected in 78 scenes. The 22 major arcana cards are the actors at the heart of the machine, the deos macninae or "the gods of the machine."Acting as mediators of the Gods of the Machine are the 16 court cards who are the Legates of the Omniverse, or ambassadorial representatives of the Four Leagues, comprising all the skills that maintain the Imperium: they are the movers and shakers—the Commander, Lady, Navigator, and Messenger, or King, Queen, Knight and Page. They oversee the other 40 cards of the minor arcana, who are the elemental worlds of Airships, Engines, Submersibles and Gears, or Swords, Wands, Cups and Coins.There are still things to discover and uncover in the Steampunk Imperium. Many new methods of spreading and playing with tarot cards are included, as well as methods of life-navigation by the use of skillful questions. The Steampunk Tarot is an adventurous tarot for the discerning diviner, to be appreciated both by tarot-users and steampunk fans the world over.

Tumble down the rabbit hole into a construction of technology, machines, retro-art and culture, full of fantastic visions in a time and place that realizes an alternate world to our own. The Steampunk Tarot imagines this in an alternate-reality tarot where The Technomage is king and the Punk Diva is queen.The world of steampunk combines Victorian and Gothic elements, and early invention with a huge dash of imagination and a tremendous sense of style. The Steampunk Tarot is a world apart: a nexus of opulence, innovation and alternate world-views that is reflected in 78 scenes. The 22 major arcana cards are the actors at the heart of the machine, the deos macninae or "the gods of the machine."Acting as mediators of the Gods of the Machine are the 16 court cards who are the Legates of the Omniverse, or ambassadorial representatives of the Four Leagues, comprising all the skills that maintain the Imperium: they are the movers and shakers—the Commander, Lady, Navigator, and Messenger, or King, Queen, Knight and Page. They oversee the other 40 cards of the minor arcana, who are the elemental worlds of Airships, Engines, Submersibles and Gears, or Swords, Wands, Cups and Coins.There are still things to discover and uncover in the Steampunk Imperium. Many new methods of spreading and playing with tarot cards are included, as well as methods of life-navigation by the use of skillful questions. The Steampunk Tarot is an adventurous tarot for the discerning diviner, to be appreciated both by tarot-users and steampunk fans.

In Walkers Between the Worlds, the authors reveal the development of both these traditions that were never far beneath the surface of Western culture and how they complement each other. As the orthodox structures of the West appear increasingly hollow and irrelevant, the Western way trod by the shaman and the magus remains vital, with many practical methods for reawakening awareness and reconnecting with the earth. In addition to its in-depth theoretical analysis, Walkers Between the Worldscontains practical exercises drawn from traditional teaching methods used by both native and hermetic traditions to help the reader explore these mysteries.

Taliesin, Chief Bard of Britain and Celtic shaman, was a historical figure who lived in Wales during the latter half of the sixth century. Encoded within his work are the ancestral beliefs of the Celtic and pre-Celtic peoples. In addition, his verse is established as a direct precursor to the Arthurian Legends--and Taliesin himself, shaman and shapeshifter, is said to be the direct forebear to Merlin. Though the bard's work is steeped in the rich traditions of druidic practice, few have explored the revelations of his writings--the secret poetic language of the bards, revelatory information about divination, the ancient mysteries of the Druids, and the cosmological rites that were central to Celtic worship. John Matthews, one of today's preeminent Celtic scholars, sheds new light on the poems of Taliesin and on the vast body of allusion, story, and myth that grew from his body of work and shamanic practice. With the help of fellow Celtic scholar Caitlin Matthews, the author presents completely new translations of Taliesin's major poems in their entirety, uncovering the meanings behind these great works for the first time.

John Matthews' brilliant analysis of Ammianus and his world is foundational for the study of the Roman Empire in the fourth century CE. Matthews' Ammianus is a man very much in touch with his times, engaged in many of the exciting events that he describes, and a commentator motivated by a passionate devotion to justice. The empire that he depicts in The Roman Empire of Ammianus is undergoing a profoundly important intellectual transition as Christians and non-Christians dealt with each other in new ways, and a profoundly important political transition as Rome's ability to control its frontiers was severely challenged. This new edition of the volume offers a new Introduction by the author, and corrections to the original text. In Matthews' brilliantly researched and compellingly written pages we encounter brigands, philosophers, bishops, barbarians and one of the most extraordinary figures in all of Roman history: the Emperor Julian, who occupies for Matthews - as he did for Ammianus - a central place in the history of these times. Ammianus has been recognized for centuries as the last great historian of the Classical Latin tradition. It is thanks to Matthews that we can at last begin to appreciate the brilliance and complexity of the tapestry he wove with his words.