The Ecology of Souls Companion (Ecology of Souls: A New Mythology of Death & the Paranormal)

***The Ecology of Souls Companion is also freely available online at the URL provided in Vols. One and Two.***Every territory requires a map, and the ecology of souls is no different. The Ecology of Souls Companion offers navigation to intrepid explorers of the unknown, containing 4,200 endnotes, a bibliography with hundreds of cited works, and three robust appendices, all of which add greater depth to earlier chapters. Both armchair enthusiasts and dedicated researchers will find within this bookinnumerable resources to serve as compass headings for further explorations into the uncharted wonders of the Otherworld.PRAISE FOR ECOLOGY OF SOULS“Those of us who work in these strangest of folklores work with conjectures, not certainties, with intuitions, not conclusions. Still, there are particularly gifted writers whom I profoundly trust to guide me. Joshua Cutchin is among them. Here are yet two more big books from him on a global comparison that many of us have made but no one has pursued to the literal ends of the earth, as he has here—that between the world of the dead and the world of the UFO. Please read these books. And please recognize that when we can only speak of these glowing presences as ‘threats’ in the sky, we might as well be trying to shoot down souls. Good luck with that.”— Jeffrey J. Kripal, J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, Associate Dean of the School of Humanities, Rice University“In Ecology of Souls, Joshua Cutchin makes the case for an ecological perspective on the paranormal, with the processes of death and dying seen as essential clues for unravelling its mysteries. Paranormal entities of all different kinds are conceived as psychopomps performing ancient cosmic functions—ushering souls in their transition to the other side. By applying comparative methods—examining patterns across different cultural and folkloric traditions, and exploring commonalities between experiential narratives—Cutchin builds an argument for the centrality of death in all manner of paranormal experiences. This book is a bold and innovative contribution to Fortean research and scholarship, and a kaleidoscopic expedition into the wilds of the paranormal ecosystem.”— Jack Hunter, PhD, editor of Greening the Paranormal: Exploring the Ecology of Extraordinary Experience“In a world where there are an infinite amount of questions, Joshua Cutchin has some of the answers! He offers a refreshing look into the concept of death and paranormal experiences through a fascinating lens while going back to our cultural lore. Whether you are curious or a skilled anomalous researcher, this book should be a must-add to any library.”— Alex Matsuo, founder and director of Association of Paranormal Study Read more