Courage to Enlighten (Dr. C. Riley Auge)

My name is Dr. C. Riley Auge. I hold a B.A. in English and Education, an M.A. in Folklore and Mythology, and a PhD in Anthropology (Cultural Heritage Studies with an Archaeology emphasis). The common thread running through this serpentine educational trek is the interest in people’s beliefs and stories of spiritual or preternatural beings, which has led me to my specialized area of research: the archaeology of ritual, religion, and magic, particularly the material expressions of these beliefs. My academic research and publishing business, Courage to Enlighten, captures my personal philosophy and approach to life. This approach is characterized by an insatiable curiosity and need to follow the less (or un-)trodden path. To venture into the unknown, to follow one’s own interests, even though--and especially when--that path runs contrary to the expected norm, takes courage and confidence. However, the light one generates and shines into the darkness has the power to not only illuminate one’s own way but also to bring enlightenment to others through the knowledge gained by going beyond the margins. The books I author and the others featured here are representative of this ethos.