Saturday, 18. February 2006
The Mercator Celestial Globe

Andromeda ('The Chained Lady' or 'The Princess of Ethiopia'): From Greek myth that relates Andromeda to the nearby constellations of Perseus, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia.

Click all the pictures for a larger view

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Pisces ('The Fish'): In the Zodiac. Representing two fish, bound together by a twisted cord. In Greek lore, the fish are Aphrodite and Eros, her son, who transformed themselves into fish to avoid the monster, Typhon.

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Ursa Minor ('The Little Bear'): Also known as the Little Dipper, the North Star is the bright star at the end of the bear's tail (or the dipper's handle).

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Taurus ('The Bull'): Connected to several Greek myths, in one of which the bull was Zeus in disguise. Part of the Zodiac.

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Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) is best known for the first use, in 1569, of the map projection bearing his name. This was the first projection on which any given compass bearing could be plotted as a straight line, thereby greatly aiding navigation at sea. Mercator was a publisher of maps and atlases, but he is only known to have produced one pair of globes: a terrestrial globe in 1541 and a matching celestial globe in 1551. These globes were produced while Mercator was in Louvain where he had lived since entering the University of Louvain in 1530. Surviving examples of the Mercator globes are rare and the pair at the Harvard Map Collection are the only known matched pair in America.

The Mercator Celestial Globe
Category: Astrology & Astronomy |




The Dragon Robes

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The ancient Chinese conceived the world in terms of five elements–earth, wood, fire, metal, and water–created by the interaction of two fundamental forces: Yin (passive) and Yang (active).

All natural phenomena were caused by the dynamic interaction of the five elements,which corresponded with the five directions of the terrestrial realm (east, south, west, north, and center). The five colors (blue, red, white, black, and yellow), the animal deities (dragon, phoenix, tiger, tortoise, and snake), and the seasons of the year (fall, spring, summer, and winter) were also used to symbolize the five directions. The placement of the symbols on a dragon robe, based on the diagram of the Chinese cosmos, was believed to enhance the wearer’s mystical relationship to the universe.

Earth was the center of the universe, represented by the Yellow Emperor, and was to be ruled by the emperor. The color yellow was reserved for the emperor and the opening within the collar of the dragon robe was understood to represent the center of the world. Once the dragon robe was donned the emperor was firmly in charge on earth.

The use of rich symbols and colors was especially important for rulers who hoped to achieve harmony of the natural and human worlds through performing the correct rituals and ceremonies. The robes were often conceived as abstract representations of the universe, with the emperor (his head, to be exact) at the center, reflecting the view that imperial authority was an integral part of the universal order.


The Chinese word for "dragon" is spelled out in roman characters as either lung or long. In China, the dragon was credited with having great powers that allowed it to make rain and to control floods (by striking the river with its tail, causing it to open and thus divert the floodwaters). dragons transported humans to the celestial realms after death; this belief was so prominent that "to mount the dragon" became a euphemism for dying.

The dragon was described visually as a composite of parts from nine animals: the horns of a deer; the head of a camel; the eyes of a devil; the neck of a snake; the abdomen of a large cockle; the scales of a carp; the claws of an eagle; the paws of a tiger; and the ears of an ox.

The emperor, his sons, high-ranking princes, and high officials who had been rewarded for their duties were permitted to wear robes decorated with five-clawed dragons called long. Other princes, and noblemen of the third and fourth rank, wore robes decorated with four-clawed dragons called mang. Three-clawed dragons decorated the robes worn by fifth-rank officials and selected worthies.

Abstract ideas, hopes, and feelings have traditionally been expressed in China by physical objects. These symbols come from ancient Chinese folklore, philosophy, and religion, or may arise out of visual puns. The popularity of the bat motif, for instance, is based on its association with the word for happiness, which is pronounced in the same way as the word for bat. The Chinese language has many such rebuses that contribute to the rich symbolism of these robes.

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During the Qing dynasty, a complex system of clothing styles and decorative motifs was developed. Qing dynasty fashion reflected the dual influences of the nomadic Manchu conquerors and the sophisticated Han Chinese. This on-line exhibition provides a greater understanding of these objects in their historical context and a brief introduction to the rich symbolism of Chinese design. The dragon robes are not only beautiful objects, but also meaningful expressions of a Chinese worldview.


The Dragon Robes by the San Diego Museum of Art. (English)
Category: Religion & Early Cultures | Symbols & Geometry |




Friday, 17. February 2006
Discover Ayurveda

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Ayurveda is the oldest surviving complete medical system in the world. Derived from its ancient Sanskrit roots - ‘ayus' (life) and ‘ved' (knowledge) – and offering a rich, comprehensive outlook to a healthy life, its origins go back nearly 5000 years. To when it was expounded and practiced by the same spiritual rishis, who laid the foundations of the Vedic civilisation in India, by organising the fundamentals of life into proper systems.

The main source of knowledge in this field therefore remain the Vedas, the divine books of knowledge they propounded, and more specifically the fourth of the series, namely Atharvaveda that dates back to around 1000 BC. Of the few other treatises on Ayurveda that have survived from around the same time, the most famous are Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita which concentrate on internal medicine and surgery respectively. The Astanga Hridayam is a more concise compilation of earlier texts that was created about a thousand years ago. These between them forming a greater part of the knowledge base on Ayurveda as it is practiced today.

The art of Ayurveda had spread around in the 6th century BC to Tibet, China, Mongolia, Korea and Sri Lanka, carried over by the Buddhist monks travelling to those lands. Although not much of it survives in original form, its effects can be seen in the various new age concepts that have originated from there.


Discover Ayurveda (English)
A great portal on Ayurveda
Category: Body & Health |


Quiz: What religion do you fit in with?

You fit in with:
Taoism

Your ideals mostly resemble those of the Taoist faith. Spirituality is the most important thing in your life. You strive to live by all of your ideals, and live a very intellectually focused life.

60% spiritual.
20% reason-oriented.

What religion do you fit in with? (English)

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Category: Games & Humor |


Hinduism Today Magazine

Today I bring you the Hinduism Today Magazine (English)

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As the new millennium approaches, the world's oldest religions is donning shining new clothes. The age-old Hindu philosophy passed from mouth to mouth in tiny villages across India is now going high-tech, thanks to Hinduism Today, the preeminent global journal of Hindu Dharma. This Hawaii-based publication is shedding its broadsheet image after 18 years and transforming into a sleek, easy-to-carry, full-color magazine. Its on-line version is not quite as eye-catching but will bring every aspect of Sanatana Dharma to millions of Internet users across the world. Hinduism, which had always been the domain of unchanging swamis in far-off ashrams, is now entering the


computer age with Hinduism Today. Founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramaniyaswami and published by the Himalayan Academy on the idyllic island of Kauai in Hawaii, the magazine is totally service oriented.

Get your free reading in the Digital Edition, Jan/Feb/Mar, 2006. Full color PDFs.

Previous HTML issues can be found on the archive page.
Category: Books & Magazines |


Hot News or Hoax?

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Waterworld: how life on Earth will look 1,000 years from now by The Times. (English)
An apocalyptic vision of life 1,000 years from now has been painted by a team of scientists studying the effect of global warming.

The origin of life - In the beginning... by The Economist. (English)
How life on Earth got going is still mysterious, but not for want of ideas.

Ex-Beatles Guru Aims at Bigger Goals by The Jamaica Observer. (English)
At his age - believed to be 89 - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has no interest in dwelling on the halcyon days of the 1960s and '70s when he was guru to the Beatles and the Beach Boys and his Transcendental Meditation movement was the new buzz on college campuses.

Spooky action and beyond by Sign & Sight. (English)
Viennese physician Anton Zeilinger talks about teleportation, the information stored in a human being and freedom in physics.

Same story in German: Nicht mal Gott weiss, wie es ausgeht von der Weltwoche. (German)
Der Wiener Physiker Anton Zeilinger denkt über Dinge nach, die er sich eigentlich nicht vorstellen kann. Es geht darum, in vielleicht tausend Jahren eine Kaffeetasse zu teleportieren – ohne dass dabei der Henkel auf der Strecke bleibt.

Spaceships of the future by Pravda. (English)
Humans can build spaceships capable of reaching the Moon within minutes; a flight to Mars will take 2.5 hours, and a flight to Alpha Centauri, which is scores of light years away from Earth, will take a mere 80 days.


Some news-links do not last long. In this case please send me a note.
Category: News & Stories |


Thursday, 16. February 2006
Magical Omaha

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Four fabric art meditations on the natural elements of earth, water, fire and air. These images are all based around spiraling energies, set within the ancient mandorla shape symbolic of the Divine feminine.
Invoke the four directions dressed in style! Or add a great accent to a costume. These are very soft, flowing garments with elegant lines. Extremely comfortable! These light Capes are designed to be a decorative accent or sun protection.


Fire Elemental Cloak:

A golden dragon, symbolizing life force energy and longevity, holds a crystal ball in front of a blazing sun disc, invoking the energies of fire: energy, passion, light, movement.

Magical Cloaks and Capes


Dryad Designs- Magnificent World Tree by Paul Borda:

The Norse World Tree or Yggdrasil is depicted with Odin sacrificing himself as an initiation into the Mysteries as referenced in the Havamal. Above him Ratatosk, the squirrel ferries insults between Niddhogg the dragon, the force of destruction in the tree's roots and the Eagle who represents the highest spiritual light. The three Norns are seen as Past, Present and Future as they constantly pour healing waters on the tree's roots to heal the damage of Niddhogg. Below them sits Hel in the Underworld flanked by Asgard with its Rainbow Bridge and Jotunheim with Mimir's Head.
Available Finishes: Stone and Wood.


Dryad Designs Statues and Plaques

Crystals, Runes, Amy Brown Statues, Asatru and Wiccan books, spell candles, chalices, Herbs, Wooden Book of Shadows, tarot, great jewelry, Dryad Designs, Sabbat cards, Handfasting Supplies, Aromatherapy, magical oils, ritual items, cloaks, Free Spells and much more!

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Magical Omaha (English)
This shop is realy incredible! Whatever you are looking for - it seems like they have EVERYTHING!
Category: Lifestyle & Trend | Products & Services |


Tuesday, 14. February 2006
Art by Daniel Martin Diaz

I continue to be amazed and inspired by many artists both past and present, who have been successful in capturing the complexities of the human spirit. We run from those things that we cannot explain. These are the things that we must attempt to explain through art. All the beauty and tragedy that is life. The world between imagination and completion is an infinite one. It is a solitary journey, yet the many paths are full of wanderers who are also searching and eager to share their findings.

I am most influenced by the great amount of human suffering that has occurred throughout history and one’s undying faith in the after life. Often times I am subconsciously influenced by world attitudes or stories and also by the people I am closest to. I prefer to keep an open mind and let the subject matter take on a life of its own.

I have developed a technique of minimalism which has simplified every aspect of my work, from the use of a limited pallet on distressed wood to my hand made wooden frames. The use of Latin has allowed me to explore an ancient language that is as expressive as it is beautiful.

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Click the picture for a larger view

The Los Angeles Times has written that the work of self-taught artist Daniel Martin Diaz "... is steeped in traditional Roman Catholic iconography culled from Diaz's Mexican American upbringing as well as medieval and Renaissance art. But the artist's spin on this iconography, however shaped by his own faith, is also informed by the likes of Mark Ryden, the Clayton Brothers and other Lowbrow artists. It is broodingly personal and lends the work a compelling, esoteric edge ..."

The Art
of Daniel Martin Diaz

Category: Art & Visions |


Articles by Philip Coppens

Orcadian stones

The Orkney Islands sit on the northern tip of the British mainland. It is rumoured that one inhabitant once wrote “Bergen, Norway” as his nearest train station, rather than Edinburgh – let alone London as the nearest capital. The islands seem remote and yet they are the centre of a megalithic community whose traces remain clearly distinguishable in the landscape.
The Ring of Brodgar, one of the highlights of any visit to the islands, has an area of 90,790 square feet (8,435 m2) and thus ranks third in size after the Outer Circle at Avebury and the Great Circle at Stanton Drew, in what many consider to be the true heart of the Megalithic World, the coastal areas of south-western England and French Brittany.

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Though Europe’s western facing Atlantic coasts, from Orkney down to Morocco, are known to have communicated throughout Megalithic times and are considered to be “one”, the question remains why this civilisation stretched so far north. Or to rephrase the problem: it is not odd to find megalithic monuments in the Orkneys, but why are they so monumental – on par with monuments found in the heartland of this civilisation?

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Island of the Giants

The three small islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino float in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily and east of the Tunesian coastline. Though small, their history dates back thousands of years – and continues to throw a magical spell on many visitors. And we need to ask whether the modern tourists are the last in a series of sun worshippers that came to these islands.
Various megalithic monuments are located on Malta, dated at approx. 4000 BC. What is important is that the buildings are unique in style and that their builders – as is so often the case – are unknown.


Many interesting Artikles about enigmatic landscapes and megalithic civilisation around the world: Articles by Philip Coppens (English)
Check also his other projects.
Category: Buildings & Places |


Hot News or Hoax?

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Discovering the Land of Trolls by OhmyNews. (English)
People come to Northern Norway not only for the auroras and to see its Arctic landscape, but also to hunt for trolls, the mythical creatures rumored to hide in the forests and mountainsides.

When Deja Vu is More Than Just an Odd Feeling by Ottawa Citizen. (English)
British researchers are embarking on what they're calling the world's first study of chronic deja vu, a condition where people can recite details of situations or people they've never before encountered.

Stone Age marvels which inspire and astonish by The Scotsman. (English)
Not the seven biggest visitor attractions, nor the biggest money-spinners. Seven man-made objects with the power to transcend themselves and their surroundings. Bits of human creativity that amaze and impress.


Some news-links do not last long. In this case please send me a note.
Category: News & Stories |


Monday, 13. February 2006
The Prehistoric Alignment Of World Wonders

Easter Island, Nazca, Ollantaytambo, Paratoari, Tassili n'Ajjer and Giza are all aligned on a single great circle. Additional ancient sites that are located within one tenth of one degree of this great circle include Petra; Perseopolis; Khajuraho; Pyay, Sukothai and Anatom Island.
Near Ollantaytambo, Machupicchu and Cuzco are within one quarter of a degree. The Oracle at Siwa in the western Egyptian desert is within one quarter of a degree. In the Indus Valley, Mohenjo Daro and Ganweriwala are within one quarter of a degree. The ancient Sumerian city of Ur and Angkor temples in Cambodia and Thailand are within one degree of the great circle. The Angkor temple at Preah Vihear is within one quarter of a degree.

The alignment of these sites is easily observable on a globe of the earth with a horizon ring.

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The Prehistoric Alignment Of World Wonders by Jim Alison. (English)
And don't miss the inside part The Great Pyramid
and Golden Section Alignment of Ankgor, Nazca and San Francisco.
Category: Buildings & Places | Symbols & Geometry |


Hot News or Hoax?

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Pharaonic tomb find stuns Egypt by BBC News. WITH PICS AND VIDEO. (English)

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Archaeologists have discovered an intact, ancient Egyptian tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the first since King Tutankhamun's was found in 1922. A University of Memphis-led team found the previously unknown tomb complete with sarcophagi and five mummies. The archaeologists have not yet been able to identify them.


Here is a slideshow (22 Pics) of the tomb.

Stranger in the sky by The Times of India. (Enlish)
This one's straight out of Koi Mil Gaya. A flying object hurtling down the Himalayan slopes, changing colour and direction upon spying human beings and leaving four men of science bewildered. But this was no silver screen gimmick. The four witnesses have been searching for the answer to the mysterious visitor they espied on September 27, 2004, while on a scientific trip to the Chandra Basin, high in the Himalayas.

Thousands of child 'witches' turned on to the streets to starve by The Guardian. (English)
Tens of thousands of children live in the cemeteries, markets and streets of Kinshasa feeding on rubbish, begging and stealing. Most are there because of witchcraft accusations - mostly from their own families. The phenomenon is spreading, with recent cases of child abuse motivated by the belief that the child is possessed by evil spirits, showing up in London, Paris and Amsterdam.

Haunted Happenings by The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. (English)
Sherry Wingrove, owner of the R&R Station, said she began noticing strange things happening soon after she and her husband, Ray, bought the business. "Things would disappear and then reappear later. You heard footsteps when no one was there, and you could hear children bouncing a ball upstairs and pots and pans would fly off the racks," Wingrove said. "For 13 years I wondered what was going on."

Elsewhere a similar story: Eerie tales haunt North Texas home by The Houston Chronicle. (English)
Officials dismiss them as fiction, but stories seem to scare would-be buyers in Pantego.

Pastor Feels Called to Fight Demons by Toledo Blade. (English)
The Rev. Bob Larson has been kicked, bruised, choked, and spit upon. His ribs have been broken, he has been scratched and bitten, and he's received death threats. But Mr. Larson has not been deterred from his calling, which is casting out demons and helping people get back on the road to healing.


Some news-links do not last long. In this case please send me a note.
Category: News & Stories |


Sunday, 12. February 2006
Video Hata-Yoga Lesson II

Take your 35 minutes 59 seconds Yoga Lesson today (Western style):



Enjoy a free Yoga Video from My Yoga Online. Really a wonderful exercise!


My Yoga Online is really a fresh, innovative, and ultra-modern way to practice Yoga, Pilates, and Meditation. Unfortunately you have to pay for the high quality Yoga and Pilates Videos.
Category: Movies & TV | Yoga & Fitness |


Pocketful Of Stars

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Use your mouse to control.
To jump press mouse button on the little girl. A power bar will appear.

Coose your power level aand release the mouse button.

Collect all stars an catch the falling.

Pocketful Of Stars

A lovely game ...

Category: Games & Humor |


Saturday, 11. February 2006
The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art

The four-armed, golden form of Prajnaparamita has a specific role in Newar Buddhism. She personifies the Dharma aspect in the symbolic representation of the Three Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

In the popular imagery of this triad, a Buddha (most often Shakyamuni) represents the Buddha, Prajnaparamita to his left embodies the Dharma, and Sadakshari Lokeshvara on the right signifies the sangha, or community. This iconographic convention is widespread in Nepal and is often depicted on toranas of Buddhist monasteries and in independent sculptures or paintings Thus, in Newar Buddhism, one takes refuge in a personified version of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. This exquisite image of Prajnaparamita from Nepal would have been part of the Buddha-Dharma-Sangha group.

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This offering tray is actually a two-dimensional map of Mount Meru, the sacred mountain that represents the entire universe and exists conceptually in the heart-mind of every practitioner.

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The center circle contains a vajra, made of rubies and turquoises, that defines the sacred space of the mountain. Gem flowers and bejeweled symbols of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism “float” in a cosmos composed of tightly wound wire spirals symbolizing the surface of the water. The lavish beauty of this jewel encrusted Guru Puja Mandala clearly demonstrates that both the known patron and the artist were seeking to give new meaning to the transcendent beauty and celestial splendor of Mount Meru.


Known as “Beautiful Creation Lord of the World,” Shrishtikanta Lokeshvara is a form of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara that is unique to Nepal. Depicted in this modern painting is his “universal form,” in which Shristikanta emanates the entire Brahmanical pantheon for the benefit of all sentient beings. To express his all-pervading altruistic compassion, he is shown with one hundred and twenty-one heads, arranged in the shape of a pyramidal tower and surrounded by vast hood of nagas (serpent beings). His one thousand hands also express the vastness of the reach of his compassion for living things and the myriad deities around him emphasize his significance as a generator of all things sacred.

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The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art. Exhibition by Professor John C. Huntington and Assistant Professor Dina Bangdel. (English)
Tibetan, Nepalese, Mongolian, Indian and Chinese paintings, manuscripts, sculptures, textiles and ritual implements illuminating the ideals and teachings of Buddhism.
Category: Religion & Early Cultures |


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