Ursi's Eso Garden

The March 14, 2006, eclipse at 24 Virgo forms a trine to his natal Moon and Mercury creating a grand trine aspect, (the eclipse also makes a wide trine to his second house Sun.) The three months prior to the eclipse and the six months following will be one of the most significant in terms of George’s career and his status. He will certainly win at least one Academy Award and, with the effects of the eclipse in play, find that even greater achievement and success will follow this year.

These affects will be most significant in the first part of 2006 (which includes the Golden Globes and Academy Awards), in the fall of 2006, and early in 2007, and will urge him to move onto more ambitious and substantial goals. I’m certain he has already been feeling the kindling of this. As he moves through this year, he will find himself taking on greater challenges in his life.

Celebrity Astro Profiles by Raymond J. Sette. (English)

© Jessica Galbreth

Many images in biblical iconography have several meanings or interpretations. Water in the Old Testament symbolises both prehistoric chaos (Genesis i:2) and God's anger expressed in the form of the flood or deluge (Genesis vi:8). In the New Testament water becomes a symbol of the Holy Spirit (John iv:14) and through baptism the water washes away original sin, bringing 'new birth'. In Revelations the Christian faith is likened to 'living fountains of waters' (Revelations vii:17).

The Creation of the World

Since ancient times artists have used the language of symbols, expressing different concepts, ideas and emotions through images. Without an understanding of this language it is difficult to comprehend the works of artists and craftsmen of the past, in which each detail often has a specific purpose. Contemporaries would have been more familiar with the biblical subjects and their message than we are today. Whilst it is possible to appreciate a work of art for its aesthetic value, we can never truly appreciate such a work without understanding the meaning it was given by the original author.

Homöopathie ist eine alternative Heilmethode, auf die rund zwei Drittel der Deutschen vertrauen. Vor allem Frauen glauben an die sanfte Medizin und gehen mit ihren Kindern zum Homöopathen. Aber auch viele Männer finden inzwischen den Weg.

„Homöopathie ist eine Reiztherapie“, erläutert Christoph Trapp vom Deutschen Zentralverein homöopathischer Ärzte.

Sebastian Kneipp war im 19. Jahrhundert der berühmteste Deutsche nach Bismarck. Er verwandelte das Dorf Bad Wörishofen innerhalb von zehn Jahren in eine europaweit bekannte Heilstätte. Obwohl er kein Arzt war, ist sein Name in der Medizin so fest verankert wie nur wenige andere. Dabei tat Pfarrer Kneipp (1821 bis 1897) hauptsächlich eines: Er predigte Wasser. Damit fand er Hundertausende Anhänger.

Today I bring you the
Skeptical Inquirer Magazine
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. (English)

This dynamic magazine tells you what the scientific community knows about claims of the paranormal, as opposed to the sensationalism often presented by the press, television, and movies.

Previous issues can be found on the archive page.

The March/April issue has been released and the free content offered in this issue includes:

To illustrate his belief in the magnetic relationship between the sun and the vegetable kingdom, Kircher designed this heliotropic sunflower clock by attaching a sunflower to a cork and floating it in a reservoir of water. As the blossom rotated to face the sun, a pointer through its center indicated the time on the inner side of a suspended ring. Kircher claimed that it didn't work well because enclosing it in a glass case would block the sun's attractive force, and that it was 'therefore susceptible to inaccuracies due to the wind'.

Sphinx Mystagoga

Alongside Egyptology, Kircher's most abiding scholarly interest was the study of magnetism. Impressed by William Gilbert's De Magnete (1600), Kircher began his researches while enjoying the patronage of the Elector- Archbishop of Mainz at his court in Aschaffenburg. Kircher's first book, Ars Magnesia (Wurzburg 1631) compiled the results from his experiments with historical anecdotes and an argument for for magnetism as a ratification of the authority of God, kings, and the priesthood. This latter philosophical premise indicates the breadth of influence Kircher would eventually attribute to magnetic forces.

Finding of Moses

Dr. He Qi was the first among Mainland Chinese to earn Ph.D. in the Religious art after Cultural Revolution. He wrote his dissertation while studying at Hamburg Art Institute in Germany, where he was also able to pursue research in medieval art. His work has been well received overseas: He has exhibited in Kyoto, Hong Kong, Geneve, Hamburg, London, St.Paul, San Francisco, Berkeley and Madison, as well as in mainland China.

Losing Paradise

More from the Richel collection:

The Pentacle, or five-pointed star, is a protective symbol. It represents the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water and the fifth element, aether or spirit. According to the Golden Dawn system of magic, the pentagram with the point uppermost is the "Sign of the Microcosm" and represents a man with arms and legs extended. When the pentacle has the point downwards it can represent the Horned God.

This picture shows a pentacle, carved in wood, used as a Pendulum for dowsing.

The Mandrake is a very mysterious root, which on account of its resemblance to the human form, was believed to possess occult properties which could cause it to become animated. On account of its potency, it was much sought after by magicians, but as it could not be uprooted without danger of death, a dog was tied to the root. When pulled, the root would give a shriek, and the dog would immediately fall dead. Mandrakes were often dressed in miniature human clothes and kept in tiny coffins on a mantle piece or in a convenient nook about the home. They were revered and considered to be powerful protection charms as well as being valued as aphrodisiacs and powerful anaesthetics. It is almost impossible to see or handle a mandrake without talking to it. They really do have personalities. The Richel images capture the personality and spirit of these wonderful ancient magical roots.

The Herbalist is packed with exciting, new ideas for using herbs in hundreds of different ways, from cooking and crafts, to making your own beauty products. Over 60 herbs are described in detail, from the everyday parsley and mint, to the more exotic salad burnet and soapwort. As well as gardening and growing advice, there is information on their culinary and medicinal uses.

There are over 70 mouthwatering recipes, from quick soups and sauces to delicious dinner party dishes. There are serving suggestions and ideas for using herbs to decorate the table, including centerpieces and ice bowls. Also included are instructions for making herb vinegars and oils, herbal teas, and country drinks and for drying and storing herbs.

The Sule Ceti

Comparable to Angkor, by its gigantism and a great number of temples, the city of Bagan still counts today more than 800 buildings out of the 5,000 which were constructed between the eleventh and fourteenth century. The peak of the Kingdom of Bagan was attained under the very reign of its founder, Anawrahta, who edified the first pagoda, Shwezigon, the Golden Pagoda.
In the third century B.C, the great King Ashoka, (272-232, B.C) of Mauriya Dynasty converted to Buddha's doctrine and sent missions to Southeast Asia, to spread the Teachings of the Great Wise Man.

The Royal City of Bagan

Shwedagon

According to the legend the Kyaik-htee-yo Pagoda was built by a Buddhist hermit, with the help of the King of Celestial, 2400 years ago!

A stupa was built on top of a stone which is approximately 20 feet high and 25 feet wide. This stone, the base of this famous pagoda, was chosen as it looked like the shape of the hermit's head.It is a miracle that the stone itself stands right on the edge of a cliff for hundreds of years.

Many earthquakes disturbed the region. However, nothing had happened to Kyaik-htee-yo Pagoda.

Other Places in Myanmar.

The Neolithic or New Stone Age, when plants and animals were first domesticated and polished stone tools appeared, is evidenced in Burma by three caves located near Taunggyi at the edge of the Shan plateau that are dated to 10000 to 6000 BC. The most complex of these, the Padhalin cave, contains wall paintings of animals, not unlike those found in the Neolithic caves at Altimira, Spain or Lascaux, France. These paintings may be interpreted as an indication that the cave was used as a site for religious ritual. Thus, caves were among the earliest sites used for Buddhist worship in Burma.

Floor plan of Myazedei

The multiple images of the Buddha in Burmese art are excellent examples of this peculiarity in which the Buddha is most frequently shown seated with legs folded; left hand in his lap, palm upward; right hand on his shin, palm inward with fingers pointing toward the earth (bhumisparsa mudra). This hand gesture is symbolic of his overcoming the last obstacle to enlightenment, self-doubt. After years of asceticism and many days’ meditation under the Bodhi tree, the Buddha began to doubt that his past lives had been sufficiently perfect to warrant attaining enlightenment.