patrickarundell.com

The Magazine...

Feeling Sheepish...

One of the most endearing sights in the Spring in the UK must be the lambs playing in the fields. Who would have thought that these little creatures have a long pedigree of folklore and mythology associated with them?

Indeed, rams skulls have been found in shrines dating back to 8,000 BCE. In Ancient Egypt there were a number of sheep related gods including; Khnum, Heryshaf and Amun; sheep in Madagascar fared even better - eating them was taboo as they carried the souls of the ancestors.

In the ancient Greek colony of Kyrene; Aristaios was worshipped by herdsmen because he was the protector of both the men and their flocks. In Western astrology the ram is the symbol of Aries which is the first astrological house; it also appears in Chinese astrology.

In Mongolia shagai are dice made from the sheep's cuboid bones which are used in divination. The Roman’s used sheep to foretell the future, although they preferred to use the sheep’s liver.

Ovine symbols - such as the ceremonial blowing of a shofar - still find a presence in modern Judaic traditions. Followers of Christianity are collectively often referred to as a flock, with Christ as the Good Shepherd. Sheep certainly seem to lead the flock of mythical animals.

Astrology and Politics...

There may seem times when it is hard to figure out how politicians make their decisions - but this is not the case if you live in Burma.

Burma is ruled by its military, but the government itself is ruled by astrology, folklore and numerology. Not that these interests are unusual in Burmese culture.

Most Burmese people have an astrological chart drawn up at birth and many consult psychics to guide their daily lives.  Indeed legendary author, Neville Shute refered to astrology in the country in his 1951 book "Around the Bend" which is a brilliant read.

All Burma's modern rulers have consulted soothsayers. For example, the country's independence from Britain on 4 January 1948 was formally declared at 4:20am, a time considered favorable by astrologers.

In 1970 General Ne Win decided to change Burma’s traffic laws from driving on the left-hand side of the road to the right-hand side because his astrologer felt that Burma had moved too far left politically.

Many of the military officers who have exercised power since 1988 have had personal astrologers. Like most Burmese, they believe that names and dates of birth carry significance and, being equated with particular planets, can influence events on earth.

The generals are also known to practice Yadaya, which aims to manipulate the results of astrology or portents.

However, what is much less positive is that, Burma is an extremely oppressive regime and therefore by implication the association with astrology is not positive. However, in India too an astrologer will hold the rank of minister and sit in at Cabinet meetings.

Bottling things up…

A Witch-bottle is a small flask of about three inches high this was usually made from green or blue glass, although some are made of pottery.

Historically, the Witch-bottle contained the victim's (the person who believed they had a spell put on them) urine, hair or nail clippings, or red thread from sprite traps.

Recently, the Witch-bottle has been filled with rosemary, needles and pins, and red wine. Historically and currently, the bottle is then buried at the farthest corner of the property, beneath the house hearth, or placed in an inconspicuous spot in the home.

It is believed that after being buried, the bottle captures evil which is impaled on the pins and needles, drowned by the wine, and sent away by the rosemary.

In other traditions the bottle is disposed of by being thrown into a fire, when it exploded, the spell was broken or the witch killed. More usually, the Witch-bottle was believed to be active as long as the bottle remained hidden and unbroken.

People went through a large amount of trouble in hiding their Witch-bottles - those buried underneath fireplaces have been found only after the rest of the building has been torn down or otherwise disappeared.

The Devil of a Job…

When your career advisor asked you what job you wanted to when you left school, the chances are you didn’t think “ah, yes. think I’ll do a Diploma in Exorcism, at college!”

This particular career path sounds more relevant to the Middle Ages than the 21st Century, but in fact you would be mistaken; the Vatican has a number of specialists in this area.

The best known is Gabriele Amorth (born May 1, 1925) who is an Italian Roman Catholic priest. Amorth has been the Vatican's top demon fighter for 25 years and boasts some 70,000 exorcisms.

Father Amorth, now close to 85, is honorary president of the International Association of Exorcists. He fought for the Resistance in the Second World War, then took a law degree and entered the Church.

He began conducting exorcisms shortly after his ordination 60 years ago and in 1986 he was appointed by Cardinal Ugo Poletti, then the Vicar of Rome, as assistant to Father Candido Amantini, the chief exorcist, eventually succeeding him.

Amorth believes Adolf Hitler and Stalin were possessed. He claims to have seen people spit nails, glass and rose petals during exorcisms.

As dramatic as this all sounds, don’t worry, Father Amoth has said that in actual fact there are only a very small number of exorcisms carried out worldwide!

Phew! Maybe after all, you can stick to thinking about that nursing or plumbing training course!

2012...

The Nibiru collision is a supposed fatal encounter between the Earth and a large planetary object which certain groups believe will take place in the early 21st century.

Believers in this doomsday event usually refer to this object as Nibiru the idea was first proposed in 1995 by Nancy Lieder, founder of ZetaTalk.

Lieder describes herself as a contactee with the ability to receive messages from extra-terrestrials from Zeta Reticuli via an implant in her brain. Lieder’s idea spread beyond her website in 2001, when Mark Hazlewood, a former member of the ZetaTalk community, published her notions in a book. Lieder later accused him of being a confidence trickster.

Hazlewood since has changed his views and now says that there are intelligent alien forces acting to protect us as a species, and that we are set to ascend to a higher level of consciousness in 2012. This idea has found many supporters amongst various esoteric commentators.

Not least many writers point to the Mayan calendar which appears to support the notion of 2012 being a momentous, though not necessarily a disastrous year. According to the Mayans December 2012 marks the ending of the current b'ak'tun cycle of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar.

In 1966, Michael D. Coe asserted in The Maya that "there is a suggestion...that Armageddon would overtake the degenerate peoples of the world and all creation on the final day of the thirteenth [b'ak'tun]. Thus...our present universe [would] be annihilated [in December 2012".

In the mid-1990s, John Major Jenkins suggested that the Maya intended to tie the end of their calendar to the winter solstice in 2012, which falls on December 21. Jenkins suggests that the Maya based their calendar on observations of the Great Rift, a band of dark dust clouds in the Milky Way, which the Maya called the Xibalba be or "Black Road." Jenkins claims that the Maya were aware of where the ecliptic intersected the Black Road and gave this position in the sky a special significance in their cosmology.

According to the hypothesis, the Sun aligns with this intersection point at the winter solstice of 2012. Jenkins claimed that the classical Mayans anticipated this conjunction and celebrated it as the harbinger of a profound spiritual transition for mankind.

Whilst the winter solstice of 2012 is a certainty (even if its effects are not) astronomers do not accept the existence of Nibiru. They point out that Nibiru would be easily visible to the naked eye and would create noticeable effects in the orbits of the outer planets. Some Nibiru supporters claim the planet is hidden behind the Sun, though such a claim is geometrically impossible. Still, many internet sites continue to proclaim that Nibiru will reach Earth during December, 2012. Only time will tell.

Adder Stone...

The legend of St. Hilda states that she wanted to build an abbey in the grassland around Whitby in Yorkshire but was hampered in her attempts due to the large number of adders in the area.

Fortunately, by a series of spells and prayers she was able to make the reptiles turn into tight spirals and roll over the cliffs to the beach below. As they rolled they produced poisonous saliva which turned them into fossils. These later became protective amulets.

Unfortunately for legend these strange items are not the remains of snakes but ammonites – a type of prehistoric molluscs. They vary greatly in size but the smaller ones can be turned into amulets.

However, the legend is not totally erroneous, for the adder is the only venomous snake in the UK so if there were indeed venomous snakes in the area of the proposed abbey they would have been adders.

Even in Victorian times local wise women would rub snake bites with the stones to ensure the swelling died down, however since the adder’s bite is seldom fatal this would have happened anyway with or without the help of folk remedies. These stones were also used to fend off nightmares and were hung above the sufferer’s bed at night, something like an Native American Dreamcatcher.

Ananke

Pi…

If you are lucky enough to visit somewhere with a large Chinese population and ask for a lucky charm don’t be surprised if you end up with something that looks like a disc with a hole in it – not unlike a polo mint.

This is a Pi or sometimes Bi disc. The hole is said to represent the path to heaven. The disc’s owner is encouraged to meditate on the hole and visualise travelling through it and into the sky.

There is also a notion that if you believe you are entering a time of tribulation you should rub the disc with your fingers and keep on doing so until your problems pass away. This is a very old tradition reaching back 5,000 years, one Chinese tomb dating to the fourth millennium BC contained 24 Pi discs, and in this case their role was to protect the tomb’s occupant.

Although most modern discs are fairly plain, older examples can be ornately decorated with dragons, these discs are indeed fortunate for their owners and they are highly valued.

Ananke

Bezoar stones

These peculiar objects were used in medicine as a counter-poison and as a means to lighten one’s mood. Weight for weight they were valuable than gold. Indeed, they were popular that fakes were produced including three owned by Napoleon.

There are various stories concerning their origin – some believed they were the solidified tears of a deer which cried in agony as the result of a snake bite. However by 1788 doubts were being cast on their efficiency and some even doubted they were stones at all; they were right to. Bezoar stones are in fact, a concretion found in the fourth stomach of many ruminants, basically, something like the hairballs produced by domestic cats.

However, some Bezoar stones are far, far, older; these are found in rocks. They are also known as coprolites and are the petrified remains of prehistoric animal droppings. I think I’d prefer to risk the poison!

Ananke

Laughing Buddha

Buddhism began roughly 2,500 years ago in Northern India and today about 500 million people follow this faith.

Some Buddhist wear an amulet in the shape of a plump, crossed leg, long-eared, potted bellied man; this is the Pha or Laughing Buddha. He is said to bring gold luck and protect anyone who wears his image from sudden death.

He symbolises happiness, kindness, joy and wealth. His round tummy is a representation of happiness and wealth, it is said if you rub his belly once a day you will increase your chances of good fortune.

Ananke

Playing snap in the sewers…

Not every myth or legend harks back to ancient civilizations or exotic cultures some seem to thrive in the most modern of urban environments such as New York. Take the famous New York legend which claims that alligator’s prowl the great city’s plumbing.

The story states that a few decades ago, a vogue for pet baby gators swept through the city. People soon tired of the scaly snappers and disposed of them by flushing them down the loo. Hundreds of discarded reptiles ended up in the city's drains, where they fed on raw sewage, rats and unfortunate sanitation workers. Deprived of sunlight for decades, the alligators became blind and albino. Today, they still slither through the system chomping on who or whatever is unlucky enough to get in their way. Fortunately for New Yorkers (if not the alligators) the sewer system is just too cold for the razor toothed reptiles to survive; let alone reproduce. If by some stroke of fate the cold didn't kill them, the polluted sewer water certainly would.

So how did this urban legend start? In 1935, newspapers reported a single alligator being caught and killed in an East Harlem sewer. In 1959 a book entitled The World Beneath the City was published by Lippincott. Written by Robert Daley, it is a history of the problems involved in the development of the network of utilities underneath Manhattan Island complete with a chapter entitled: "Alligators in the Sewers”. It is based on the author's interviews with Teddy May, who had been Commissioner of Sewers in New York for some thirty years. According to May, sewer inspectors first reported seeing alligators in 1935 but no one believed them. Persistent reports, led May to go down to find out for himself. He found that the reports were true and two foot long alligators were rummaging around in the pipes. May started an extermination campaign, using poisoned bait followed by flooding of the side tunnels to flush the beasts out into the major arteries where hunters with .22 rifles were waiting. He announced in 1937 that the 'gators were gone. However, it should be noted many have even questioned of May’s account. The legend revived in the 1960s, at least partly because Thomas Pynchon mentioned blind albino alligators in the city's sewers in his novel "V." Perhaps this is where the other strand of the legend developed some versions claim after being dumped the young alligator lived the majority of its life in an environment not exposed to sunlight, and thus it would lose its eyesight and the pigment in its hide and become albino.

Although albino alligators exist they are very rare and there have never been any official sightings of this kind of alligator in New York City. If all this is making the idea of a trip to the Big Apple less appealing rest assured a real, live sewer-gator hasn't been spotted since before World War II, so you can breathe easy next time you go to the loo.

Bloody Mary not just a drink...

In folklore and children's street culture, "Bloody Mary" is a gruesome game of “dare” in which a ghost of the same name (or sometimes other names, such as "Mary Worth") is said to appear in a mirror when summoned.

One of the more common ways participants attempt to make her appear is to stand before a mirror in the dark (most commonly in a bathroom) and repeat her name three times, though there are many variations. Some include chanting a hundred times, chanting at Midnight, spinning around, rubbing one's eyes, running the water, or chanting her name thirteen times with a lit candle. In certain variants, Bloody Mary is often believed to be the spirit of a mother who murdered her children. In stories where Mary is supposed to have been wrongly accused of killing her children, the summoner might say "I believe in Mary Worth." According to the Mary Worth form of the legend Mary is typically described as having lived in the locality, years ago.

Some versions say that if you chant her name thirteen times at Midnight into a mirror she will appear and you can talk to a deceased person until 12:01, when Bloody Mary and the dead person you asked to speak to will vanish. Other variations say that the querent must not look directly at her, but at her image in the mirror; she will then reveal the querent's future, particularly concerning marriage and children.

This may echo older divination rituals in which one stares into a mirror in a darkened room to catch a glimpse of the face of their future spouse. On the other hand, various people have surmised that the lore about Bloody Mary refers to Queen Mary I of Emgland whose violent reign earned her the nickname Bloody Mary. It would seem that there is no historical evidence for the existence of an idividual who fits the Mary of fable, still historical fact is unlikely to discourage thrill seeking youngsters who can’t resist looking in the mirror during the witching hour!!!

Ananke

Wood you believe it…

Nearly 2,000 people in Ireland have signed a petition to prevent a tree stump which apparently looks like the Virgin Mary from being removed from a churchyard.

Workmen made the discovery after cutting down trees at Holy Mary Parish Church in Rathkeale, County Limerick. Scores of people have since gathered there to pray. Nevertheless, parish priest Father Willie Russell has urged people not to worship at the tree.

Equally, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Limerick said its reaction to the discovery was "one of great scepticism". Despite the Church's misgivings, it seems the petition will be successful. Noel White, who sits on Rathkeale Community Council's graveyard committee, informed reporters that the stump will stay. A prayer vigil was held at there on Thursday night and locals have turned the stump into a shrine.

Drum powwow

I imagine if you asked a Westerner to name a quintessential Native American Instrument they would name the drum whilst singing is at the centre of much traditional Native American ("First Nations" or "First People") music. There are several instruments that are integral to the music, often as accompaniment. Drums, rattles, and flutes are the most common traditional instruments played, but certain peoples have distinct instrumental traditions and legends related to their instruments. Those in the know say you can't have a Powwow without a drum, for it carries the heartbeat of the Indian nation. It is also felt to carry the heartbeat of Mother Earth, and thus calls the spirits and nations together. It is said that the drum was brought to the Indian people by a woman, and therefore there is a woman spirit that resides inside the drum. It treated with respect and care, and strict behaviour is expected of anyone coming in contact with the drum. The drum is often thought to help bring the physical and mental side of a person back in touch with his or her spiritual or heart side. As with many things in the Indian culture, the drum is used to bring balance and rejuvenation to a person through their participation in dancing, singing or listening to the heartbeat.

The Powwow drum is a large wooden base of around twenty six inches in diameter covered with hide (buffalo, deer, or cow), today, cow hide is used although buffalo hide drums can still be seen. Forming a circle, eight or more men strike the drum in unison with covered mallets. In the Northern style of singing, drums are smaller and are often commercial bass drums, like those used in marching bands. In a nod to modern technology the sticks used to strike the drum are usually thin fibreglass rods with a leather handle and leather padded head. The men then blend their voices with the beating of the Drum to create the song. In the Southern tradition women are not seated at the drum or allowed to strike it, but instead sit on the second row behind the men and sing. The people on a drum are required to know many songs because a good drum is expected to be able to sing for an entire Powwow without repeating a song. A song is started by the lead singer, who does not announce what song they are about to sing but instead begins with the lead. The songs are often in the Indian language of the drum members. It is the responsibility of the drum members and especially the lead singer to be able to sing and play whatever kind of song is requested by the master of ceremonies or the arena director for any given event.

Obviously in such geographically massive area there are regional variations; some of the drums used are very different to the usual perception of such instruments, for instance, some cultures favour water drums which are played with the feet. Similarly, Native peoples of the Pacific coast may use square drums which are also played using the feet. One of the differences between Southern style Powwows and the Northern style are the way songs are sung. Northern songs are sung in a much higher falsetto voice and follow a different format to the way they are arranged in the South. Still, despite cultural differences the sound and meaning of the drum has a profound place in the indigenous cultures of the United States.

Ananke

The Last Straw

Corn dollies are a form of straw work associated with the harvest customs of Europe before mechanisation. The word "Dolly" probably has little connection with the child’s toy but may be a corruption of "idol" or may have come from the Greek word 'eidolon' (that which represents something else as does the word 'idol'). Before Christianisation, in traditional pagan European culture it was believed that the spirit of the corn (in American English,"grain") lived amongst the crop, and that the harvest made it homeless. Among the customs attached to the last sheaf of the harvest were hollow shapes fashioned from the last sheaf of wheat or other cereal crops. The corn spirit would then spend the winter in this home until the "corn dolly" was ploughed into the first furrow of the new season or burnt to release its occupant. James George Frazer author of ‘The Golden Bough’ discussed the Corn-mother and the Corn-maiden in Northern Europe, and the harvest rituals that were being practised at the beginning of the 20th century:

"In the neighbourhood of Danzig the person who cuts the last ears of corn makes them into a doll, which is called the Corn-mother or the Old Woman and is brought home on the last waggon. In some parts of Holstein the last sheaf is dressed in women's clothes and called the Corn-mother. It is carried home on the last waggon, and then thoroughly drenched with water. The drenching with water is doubtless a rain-charm. In the district of Bruck in Styria the last sheaf, called the Corn-mother, is made up into the shape of a woman by the oldest married woman in the village, of an age from 50 to 55 years. The finest ears are plucked out of it and made into a wreath, which, twined with flowers, is carried on her head by the prettiest girl of the village to the farmer or squire, while the Corn-mother is laid down in the barn to keep off the mice. In other villages of the same district the Corn-mother, at the close of harvest, is carried by two lads at the top of a pole. They march behind the girl who wears the wreath to the squire's house, and while he receives the wreath and hangs it up in the hall, the Corn-mother is placed on the top of a pile of wood, where she is the centre of the harvest supper and dance."

"In East Prussia, at the rye or wheat harvest, the reapers call out to the woman who binds the last sheaf, “You are getting the Old Grandmother....In Scotland, when the last corn was cut after Hallowmas, the female figure made out of it was sometimes called the Carlin or Carline, that is, the Old Woman. The name the "Old Woman" (Latin vetula) for such "corn dolls" was in use among the Germanic pagans of Flanders in the 7th century, where Saint Eligius had to warn them to desist from their old practises:"[Do not] make vetulas, (little figures of the Old Woman), little deer or iotticos or set tables [for the house-elf, compare Puck] at night or exchange New Year gifts or supply superfluous drinks [a Yule custom].
—The Golden Bough, chapter 45

In Great Britain corn dollies are mainly made from wheat, oats, rye and barley although modern makers use specially produced corn which is like the older varieties. As modern corn is unsuitable for making the dollies due to its short stem length. However, a number of English farmers are still growing the traditional varieties, mainly because they are in great demand in thatching, a craft which is enjoying a renaissance. Different countries use differing materials to make these objects, in Ireland the rush is a popular medium, in France palm leaves are the favoured material. Traditionally, corn dollies are named after the geographical areas where they developed these include: The Norfolk Lantern, Okehampton Mare, Welsh Longfan and the Kincardine Maiden. These skills are enjoying something of a resurgence and if you live in the UK you may be lucky enough to find a craft centre which runs courses in this ancient art.

Corn dollies were not the only use skilled country folk found for the last stalks of corn. One of the most charming traditions was that of the Country Man’s Favour. This was usually a plait of three straws (although favours can be made with two, three, four or more straws) tied into a loose knot to represent a heart shape. It is reputed to have been made by a young man with straws picked up after the harvest and given to his loved one. If she was wearing it next to her heart when he saw her again then he would know that his love was reciprocated.

If you take a trip into the British countryside you may also see ridge finials adorning the thatched roofs of some cottages.These are straw sculptures which are placed on the ridge of the roof. They are sometimes purely for decoration, but can be the signature of a particular thatcher. Animal shapes are the most common. In Upton Magna in Shropshire a fine dragon stands guard on one property. In days gone by, hay-ricks would also be thatched and topped with a straw decoration.

Ananke

The Electrifying Nikola Tesla

Does the name Nikola Tesla ring any bells? Unless you are of a scientific bent the answer is probably not, yet during his lifetime he was, alongside Thomas Edison and Guglielmo Marconi, the most celebrated inventor of the age. His polyphase system of Alternating Current (AC) remains the basis for transmitting electricity across power lines and drives induction motors – another Tesla design – in everything from CD players to submarines. Tesla is often credited with starting the "Second Industrial Revolution" but his genius touched on much more than just motors. His writings, patents and inventions included early models for radio, X-ray-emitting tubes, fluorescent lighting, robotics, radar, aircraft, missiles and, heading further out into the unknown, energy weapons, weather control and – his great dream – the wireless transmission of electricity. He was sensitive, mild-mannered and eccentric. He never married, nor seemed to have intimate relations with either sex. He lived his entire adult life in hotels where he insisted on calculating the cubic volume of any food or drink that he consumed. Scientists still remember his contributions to research and his name survives as a unit measuring the intensity of a magnetic field, as a crater on the far side of the Moon and a small planetary object. His ideas continued to inspire both respectable scientists and legions of backyard free-energy researchers.

In 1888 his refined polyphase system utilised rotating magnetic fields rather than mechanical parts to drive its motors, removing the friction and vibration that dogged earlier motors and vastly increasing their efficiency. As a result Tesla swiftly gained the attention of the inventor and businessman George Westinghouse, who had an AC generating plant in Buffalo, New York. Westinghouse bought up the Tesla system and hired him to upgrade his existing power plants. Word of their partnership soon spread to Edison, whose DC system was proliferating along the East Coast and the Edison PR machine went into overdrive, warning of the dangers of AC – which was actually considerably safer. In 1893 when Westinghouse was awarded a contract to install a hydroelectric plant at the base of the Niagara Falls Tesla presented himself as the tamer of currents, engulfed by sparks, flames and halos of light.

In 1899, he convinced hotelier Colonel John Jacob Astor to invest in his vision of a global, wireless communications network that one day would allow us to communicate with the denizens of Mars. A purpose-built laboratory was constructed outside the town of Colorado Springs. With an armoury of huge coils, amplifiers and transformers inside and outside, a 142ft (43m) tall transmitter mast he could experiment with massive currents, sending artificial lightning into the air which be seen and heard for miles around. Those whom approached claimed the ground crackled beneath their feet, and sparks flying from their horses’ hooves. To say Tesla’s neighbours were long suffering he is an understatement, for example he blew the town’s entire electricity supply, causing a blackout, fortunately he repaired the generators himself.

His claim that he had received radio signals from outer space, most likely Mars or Venus. This makes Tesla the first radio astronomer, although he himself assumed that the signals were directed by another intelligence. Tesla’s schemes became even more grandiose when Wardenclyffe planed to build the world’s first industrial park, housing 2,000 workers, hundreds of generator and transformer buildings and a 187ft (57m) tower with a 120ft (37m) earthing rod underground topped by a 55-tonne, 68ft- (21m-) diameter copper dome. This colossal transmission tower was to be twinned with another in England; the pair would transmit radio signals and energy across the Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps it is not surprising to learn the project faltered when the money ran out. By 1905, Wardenclyffe was being hired out to anyone who would take it and eventually it was used to stage vaudeville performances. The tower was finally demolished in 1917.
In later life, Tesla became fascinated by cosmology; he criticised Einstein’s ideas. On his annual interview day, he regaled the press with pronouncements about death-rays and free energy. In 1931, Time magazine featured Tesla on its cover, dedicating four pages to celebrating his 75th birthday. But as the years wore on, the ever-reclusive Tesla was reduced to a caricature: the mad genius.

Ananke

Spooky Slope…

Sometime ago the Seminole tribe left their home in the Cherokee nation and travelled south until they came upon Lake Wales in south-central Florida. The small group found a high campsite with excellent fishing. Nearby was Iron Mountain, the highest point in Florida, believed to be the home of the Indians’ god of the Sun. For several years, they enjoyed a peaceful existence. One day a gigantic bull alligator appeared that would devour tribe members. One day, Chief Cufcowellax saw the animal with yet another human meal in his jaws. The chief dived in and swam after the killer. The legendary battle raged for 30 days and 30 nights. Finally, the hero emerged from the lake. The conflict created a depression in the ground that quickly filled with water to become another lake, this was Ticowa. This became considered as a holy place, many years later Chief Cufcowellax was buried on its shore.

The influx of white settlers eventually pushed the Indians away from their home. Mail haulers used the Lake Ticowa trail carrying communications from coast to coast. They noticed that their horses were straining harder than they should while going down the hill – in fact, they seemed to be working as hard as if they were trotting uphill. They were equally amazed as their teams struggled to get downhill. These postal agents christened the spot ‘Spook Hill’. Later, the rutted, muddy road was paved over. The locals noticed that their cars appeared to roll up the hill when they put their transmission in neutral. Word spread, and even today thousands of tourists come to test the phenomenon for themselves and, yes the cars still appear to act in the same way.

Optical illusions such as these can easily be explained when the level horizon isn’t visible and visual perspective clues aren’t really 90 degrees vertical. Trees and walls that are off the vertical plane can cause a descending slope to appear to ascend instead. Our eyes may fool us with a false perspective, producing a mistaken estimation of the slope’s angle. The best way to determine whether a road is level is with surveying equipment. Checking a reliable topographical map of the area would also be helpful. This approach may not go down well with the local tourist industry though – today, in Lake Wales, there is the ‘Spook Hill Elementary School’ which supports student fund-gathering by selling T-shirts adorned with the image of Casper the Friendly Ghost, and on ‘Casper’s birthday’ a celebration is held, complete with a treasure hunt, parade, and carnival.

Ananke

Hollow Earth Theory...

Hollow Earth theory is a belief that the planet has a hollow interior and a habitable inner surface. Early cultures all over the globe believed that there were strange lands under the ground but the hypothesis of a Hollow Earth has been contradicted by modern understanding of planet formation. Nevertheless there are still some people who accept the idea.

Proponents of the notion of a hollow planet included Edmund Halley. Who, in 1692 suggested the idea of Earth consisting of a hollow shell about 8500 miles thick, two inner concentric shells and an innermost core, about the diameters of the planets Venus, Mars, and Mercury. Atmospheres separate these shells, and each shell has its own magnetic poles. The spheres rotate at different speeds. Halley proposed this scheme in order to explain anomalous compass readings. He envisaged the atmosphere inside as luminous and speculated that escaping gas caused the Aurora Borealis.

De Camp and Ley also claim that Sir John Leslie expanded on the idea, suggesting two central suns. Leslie certainly proposed a hollow Earth in his 1829 Elements of Natural Philosophy, but did not in fact mention interior suns. In 1818, John Cleves Symmes, Jr. suggested that the Earth consisted of a hollow shell about 1300 km (800 miles) thick, with openings about 2300 km (1400 miles) across at both poles with 4 inner shells each open at the poles. Symmes became the most famous of the early Hollow Earth proponents. He proposed making an expedition to the North Pole hole but the President of the United States stopped the attempt. Though Symmes never wrote a book about his ideas, several authors published works discussing his views. McBride wrote Symmes' Theory of Concentric Spheres in 1826. In 1868, Professor W.F. Lyons published The Hollow Globe which put forth a Symmes-like Hollow Earth hypothesis but didn't mention Symmes. Symmes's son Americus then published The Symmes' Theory of Concentric Spheres to set the record straight.

Early in the twentieth-century William Reed, wrote Phantom of the Poles (1906). He propounded the idea of a hollow Earth, but without interior shells or a sun. Marshall Gardner wrote A Journey to the Earth's Interior in 1913 and an expanded edition in 1920. He placed an interior sun in the hollow Earth. He even built a working model of the hollow Earth and patented it. Gardner made no mention of Reed, but did take Symmes to task for his ideas.

Perhaps the most notorious person with and interest in the Hollow Earth hypothesis was Adolf Hitler. He was certainly well aware of the Thule Society which speculated about Tibetan myths concerning openings into the Earth. There is even the theory that Hitler ordered a research journey for such an opening in Antarctica, this is based on a speech of Admiral Dönitz during the Nuremberg Trials. Dönitz spoke of "an invisible fortification, in midst of the eternal ice." Stories have also circulated that Hitler escaped into these hollow lands within the Earth after World War II via an entrance in Antarctica. The pages of the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories also began to promote the idea of a Hollow Earth based on a fictional account which was claimed to be genuine, known as "The Shaver Mystery” Richard Sharpe Shaver, the author, claimed that a superior pre-historic race had built caves in the Earth, and that their degenerate descendants, known as "Dero", live there still, using the fantastic machines abandoned by the ancient races to torment those of us living on the surface by calling to us. Thousands of readers wrote that they, too, had heard voices from inside the Earth. A book by "Dr.Raymond Bernard" which appeared in 1964, The Hollow Earth, introduces ufology to the Hollow Earth mix. The book revisited Reed and Gardner's ideas but ignored Symmes. Bernard also added his own idea that UFOs come from the interior of the planet.

However unlikely it may seem, the idea of this planet being hollow is still with us. In 2005, Steven Currey Expeditions planned to visit the North Pole region to explore for a possible opening into the inner Earth. Brooks A. Agnew took over as leader on Currey's death in 2006, with the plan of taking 100 scientists and film makers to the supposed Arctic "opening" in 2009. Other writers have proposed that "ascended masters" inhabit subterranean caverns or a hollow Earth. Antarctica, the North Pole, Tibet, Peru, and Mount Shasta in the USA, have all had their advocates as the locations of entrances to a subterranean realm referred to as Agartha.

In contrast to arguing that humans live on the outside surface of a hollow planet, (the "convex" hollow-Earth hypothesis), some writers have claimed that our universe itself lies in the interior of a hollow world, calling this a "concave" hollow-Earth hypothesis. Cyrus Teed, a New York doctor, proposed a concave hollow Earth in 1869, calling his scheme "Cellular Cosmogony". Teed founded a now defunct cult based on this notion, which he called Koreshanity. Teed's followers claimed to have experimentally verified the concavity of the Earth's curvature, via surveys of the Florida coastline. Equally, the mathematician Mostafa Abdelkader wrote several scholarly papers working out a detailed mapping of the concave Earth model. In one chapter of his book On the Wild Side (1992), Martin Gardner discusses the hollow Earth model articulated by Abdelkader. According to Gardner, this hypothesis posits that light rays travel in circular paths, and slow as they approach the centre of the spherical star-filled cavern. No energy can reach the centre of the cavern, which corresponds to no point a finite distance away from Earth in the widely accepted scientific cosmology. A drill, Gardner says, would lengthen as it travelled away from the cavern and eventually pass through the "point at infinity" corresponding to the centre of the Earth in the widely accepted scientific cosmology. Supposedly no experiment can distinguish between the two cosmologies. Martin Gardner notes that "most mathematicians believe that an inside-out universe, with properly adjusted physical laws, is empirically irrefutable". I wonder…

Ananke

Oh what a picture...

A panoramic NASA camera known as Spirit has produced an image of an oddly shaped boulder that appears to show eye sockets and a nose leading to speculation it might be a Martian skull. If the image is of a skull its owner would have had binocular eyes 5 cm apart and cranial capacity of approximately 1400 cc. The ‘nose’ area is broad and blunted which would be expected in a cold and windy landscape and the small ‘mouth’ suggest that the creature was a carnivore. However, before you get too excited, previous images of a skull spotted on Mars in 2006 were believed to have been the result of tampering. Furthermore, the famous Face on Mars, snapped by the Viking 1 spacecraft in 1976, which showed the shadowy likeness of a human face was found to be a trick of the light when the area was re-photographed in 1998.

Ananke

Surprising prezzies...

Are you always losing things in your house? Well it could just be that you are untidy, however if the objects are small, reappear in a site you have already checked or somewhere totally illogical or just disappear never to be seen again you could be experiencing asportation.

In contrast if strange objects appear seemingly from nowhere this is known as apportation, these are often thought of as gifts from the spirit world which are made manifest on this plane, often such gifts have a particular meaning to the person who receives them. These events may happen naturally or in some cases be associated with mediums and séances. When they happen in a mundane setting it can be sign of poltergeist activity, although some appear to have a human origin: Eleanore Zugun was a human who seems to have been capable of apporting various objects such as rocks from a creek and garments from room to another. Psychical researcher Harry Price took the girl to his lab to study her. He discovered that one of her apports was an enamelled letter like those used on the building's bulletin board. The letter was inside of a box in a cupboard that was four stories below them. Price put the box with the letters in a place known only to him and locked it up. The letter, "C," vanished while secured in its container. Dr. R. J. Tillyard, one of Price’s colleagues, visited. After he left, when he was on the train, he found the missing letter in his pocket.

Like much poltergeist type phenomena apports are often focused on an individual person in a household, frequently a teenager. Indeed, many mediums claimed to have had experience of unintentional apports long before they begin working in their chosen field. Therefore, it is not perhaps that surprising that many psychic investigators do not believe they are connected with ‘ghosts’ but are actually related to telekinetic activity – the theory that the human mind can interact with the material world in some unexplained manner. Furthermore, such activity seems to be connected with an individual experiencing high levels of stress or emotional trauma, which does not imply that these individuals are consciously causing these events, rather, they subconsciously projecting their angst onto the physical world.

Apports can also have religious dimension with the Sufis and Hindus both accepting the notion that certain holy people can produce this phenomena; any objects which appear are often given to followers as a special blessing.

What is curious is that these happenings are recorded across many cultures and through many periods of history – makes you think doesn’t it? Incidentally, if you are experiencing the above don’t be too perturbed the chances are everything will calm down within a few weeks!

Ananke

Kris...

In the West we tend to think of knives as utilitarian objects with little spiritual value outside the world of neo-paganism and Wicca. However, this is far from the case with the asymmetrical bladed Kris of Indonesia, which has a spirit and life force of its own. Furthermore, each Kris has a personality which it is believed can be benevolent or malevolent.

The Kris probably came into being around 1361. A Kris can be past down to the family line for generations and some of the more ancient Kris have blades worn down by yearly ceremonial cleanings. Usual only one Kris is worn at a time, unless the wearer is a warrior in which case he may wear three: one which was a family heirloom, one which was a gift from his father-in-law, and his own.

The interaction between the blade and its owner is crucial, its positivity or negative can be tested by making cuts on a leaf, or placing the Kris underneath one’s pillow. If good dreams ensure the Kris is fortunate for its possessor, in contrast, nightmares suggest the Kris is not compatible with its owner. However, that does not mean the Kris is inherently flawed, it is simply it has a personality clash with its potential master or mistress.

The bond between a human and the Kris is said to be so strong that a Kris will on end and attack its owner’s enemies without human intervention. Furthermore, the Kris is so important to its owner that before battle a warrior offers a sacrifice to it at its shrine. Equally, it is very bad luck to point a Kris at someone, so before battle drills with real Kris special rituals are enacted to ensure that no one is harmed. In contrast, the Kris is also used in traditional dances.

More recently the Kris has developed a political symbolism and is associated with Malay nationalism. Its image also appears on certain coins in Borneo; far from being an obscure spiritual symbol the Kris is obvious a vital part of certain Indonesian cultures.

Ananke

Maneki Neko

If you are ever in Japan, or anywhere there is a Japanese population you sooner or later you’ll see a statue of a cat with its paw raised, this is Maneki Neko. The name translates as Beckoning Cat. To Western eyes it may seem to be waving rather than beckoning but this is due to cultural differences, as far as the Japanese are concerned it is definitely beckoning.

This figure is believed to bring luck to its owner, if it beckons with its right paw it is said to bring money, if it uses its left paw it will bring in customers which is why it is often seen in shops and banks. Others claim that if the business is selling alcohol the left handed form is best because the left hand is associated with drinking in Japanese culture. Furthermore, the higher the paw is held the luckier the figure will be.

If you look closely at a Maneki Neko you may notice it is wearing a collar with a bell, this echoes back to the Edo period when pet cats wore collars made from red flowers. The bell told the cat’s owner where their pet was. Often the Maneki Neko holds an early Japanese coin called a koban; sometimes coins are placed by the figure to bring good luck.

The Maneki Neko was first documented in the 1870s, although its origins are probably older and are lost in the mist of history. Legend provides a number of origins for this unusual object. One states a noble man was caught out in the rain seeing a tree he sheltered under it; ahead of him he saw a temple cat which appeared to be beckoning him; curious, he left his shelter and followed it, as he did so a bolt of lightening struck the tree causing it to fall. The nobleman went to the cat’s owner who was a monk and endowed the temple in which he served with a large some of money. When his feline saviour died the first Maneki Neko was made in its honour.

Another, but more melancholy story states there was once a very beautiful courtesan who had a pet cat which she adored. One day her pet continually pulled on her robe, the madam of the brothel, where she worked, believed the cat was possessed and sliced off its head. The stroke was so powerful the head flew off striking and killed a snake which was hidden in the roof. The poor courtesan was so distraught to cheer her up one of her clients made her a little statue of her pet. This gift caught on and the Maneki Neko was born. Yet another legend tells of an old woman who was so poor she had to sell her cat. The old woman fell into a restless sleep and dreamt her cat told her to make a clay statue in its image and sell it. The old lady did so. The statue sold and she made many more, eventually she became rich.

Whatever the origin of the Maneki Neko, this unusual image is becoming more and more popular, today it is even possible to buy one beckoning in the Western fashion, particularly in the USA where they have quite a following.

Ananke

Horse Sense

If you live in Europe, America or Australasia you will no doubt have come across the notion that horseshoes are lucky. This widespread idea so ancient its origins have been lost and even how it works seems to vary from place to place.

One legend has it that The Devil saw a horse running over cobbles the shoes it was wearing sparking against the stone. The Devil was so impressed he demanded a blacksmith make him a pair too. Unfortunately, The Devil found his new footwear painful and told the blacksmith to remove them. The wily craftsman said he would only remove them if The Devil swore never to enter a home with a horseshoe above the door.

In the UK the shoe is usually hung with the opening facing upwards to keep the luck in, in contrast in other countries it is placed with the gap downwards. Sometimes in the UK the shoe is slightly tilted so the bad luck can run out whilst the good luck stays put. Furthermore, many claim the most fortunate horseshoes are those that have been worn by a horse, if you find one so much the better – bought shoes are said to be less effective.

In Italy the direction of the shoe is not seen as so important what matters is where it is placed – at the side of the door so it can be touched as one enters the building.

So, next time you are wandering in the country why not keep an eye out for a discarded horseshoe? If you find one it could just bring you some good fortune.

Ananke

Itchy Hands…

You may know the idiomatic phrase “so and so has an itchy palm”, it means that they are angling for a tip.

Folklore also has something to say regarding itchy palms and it also tends to allude to money. It’s said that if your right hand itches it may mean that money is coming your way however don’t scratch it or you can reverse your good fortune.

In contrast you can increase your luck if you follow this rhyme:

“…Rub it on wood and it’s sure to come good.
Rub it on my knee and it’s sure to come to me…”

Should your left hand itch you will part with your cash – still, at least you get the satisfaction of scratching it. To confuse things somewhat, some sources claim if your left hand itches your finances will improve but if your right hand itches you will meet someone new or go on a journey.

The only problem is I am not sure if all this applies universally, or if the meanings are reversed if you’re left-handed, nor is it clear how this works if you are ambidextrous.

Ananke

Shamanism

If you could watch the panoply of history unfold it is very likely that you would find Shamanism acting a major spiritual force in almost every culture: from the heat of Africa to the biting cold of the Artic Shamans have and continue to guide their people.

So what exactly is it that a Shaman does? To a degree this depends on the culture in which he or she finds themselves but they all work in realities distinct from the Western world. Furthermore, any insights or knowledge they gain as a result of this is brought back and put to use in the day to day world. Shamans tend to see nature as an integrated whole; animals, plants and rocks all have a ‘life’ and whilst on a Shamanic journey they can interact with these energies.

Accessing a journey can take different forms, some can be quiet and meditative but others are reached by energetic dancing, singing and drum beats, or imitating the behaviour of the animal whose sprit is to be vital during the journey. Australian Aboriginal Shamans believe in using crystals to facilitate journeying as they are understood to be solid pieces of light. Shamans in certain cultures such as those in Mexico use naturally occurring drugs to travel to their destination, these are not taken for recreation but with reverence and great respect for the source that produces them. Many Shamans favour special costumes when they are working such as an animal pelt or feathers, these echo the characteristics of the spirits that they hope to meet.

A Shamanic journey has been compared to lucid dreaming. The Shaman interacts in the alternative universes they visit just as they would in this, they can think, plan and communicate with its inhabitants, however, this does not mean the situation will develop according to some pre-existing script; journeys can be pleasant or distinctly unpleasant according to the reality they are in and its independently minded inhabitants. Apart from the problems encountered in other universes, Shamanic rites can be very painful, dangerous and/or scary, Shamans might be respected but this respect could also be tinged with fear. Perhaps this explains why Shamanism was seldom a career choice but a role forced upon an individual marked out by fate; as in Siberia. This might be a physical trait, a medical condition or a family tradition - although in something of a break with the past modern Western Shamans do decide to follow this path themselves.

So, next time you watch a documentary or read about a strange and exotic culture, remember that your ancestors and theirs were not so different. Indeed, they trod very similar spiritual paths.

Ananke

Biodynamic Agriculture...

You are probably aware of organic food production but I wonder if you’ve ever come across the notion of biodynamic agriculture? The movement began in 1924 when a group of farmers concerned about the deteriation of the soil asked Rudolf Steiner to lecture them on its improvement.

Biodynamic agriculture views the farm holistically and as living organism. It believes the soil requires careful tending for future generations and that without good soil farming is impossible. The health of the soil is said to affect the health of the crops, this in turn improves the health of the animals that eat it and the humans who in turn eat them. Obviously, this requires a liberal application of manure and compost but it also neccessitates the rotation of crops; foods such as potatoes which draw a lot of nutriants from the soil are replaced the following cycle with crops that nourish the land such as peas: equally, deep rooted crops are replaced in turn with surface rooted vegtables. Futhermore, the farmer needs to sunderstand the optium depth to plant each crop for their soil they also need to understand astrology so they can decide the best time to plant according to astroloical influences, thus working with nature rather than against it.

Each farm aims to be self-sufficent in relation to energy, plants and stock. The farmer needs to understand the requirements of his or her farm since what works on one farm may not work at all on another. They also need a basic knowledge of herbalism, so they can prepare plant based fertilisers to feed their land. This is very hard, skilled work but it must be so much more rewarding than running say, a large industrial poultry unit where the welfare of its creatures and the land is seldom given a thought – reassuring indeed!

Ananke

Making a move...

Most people find moving home irksome to say the least, whether you are a student moving into digs, renting a smart apartment, or feeling you way gingerly along the property ladder there seem a thousand and one test and tribulations before you get the keys to your
“des-rez”. If this sounds familiar, take comfort in the thought that all over the world in many cultures others are going through the same type of stress.

Furthermore, each of these has come up with ways to make the process less daunting.
In Thailand, it is traditional to let the spirits know you are moving in and offer them food, water, incense and flowers, these gifts encourage the local spirits to be friendly and protective. In the morning, the new householders bring rice, water and a knife into the house. The rice and water mean that there should always be enough to eat and drink, whilst the knife protects the family from evil spirits.

Western thought tends to eschew knives in relation to moving domicile. If a friend gives knives as a housewarming gift it’s believed the friendship will dissolve. However, offering them a penny in exchange is said to mitigate any harm. You should also avoid carrying a spade or hoe in your home; once again any harm done can be erased by walking out backwards still carrying the implement via your entry route.

One of the most widespread traditions is for the occupant that is moving out to leave bread, salt and wine for the new tenant. Bread symbolises the wish that the owner will never go hungry, salt that their life will have flavour and wine brings happiness and prosperity. The first person to enter a new home should carry a new broom to sweep away bad luck, in contrast never bring an old broom into a new house or it can bring misfortune in with it. Some people also favour sprinkling salt in each room and door way to discourage negativity.

Certain times are considered best for changing addresses such as when the Moon is waxing, Fridays and Saturdays are inauspicious: the Tamils favour Thursday as optimum time to relocate. When you leave your new pad for the first time it is traditional to use the same door you used for your entrance, otherwise you may find it difficult to settle in your new abode.

The natural world also has a part to play in easing the stresses of moving: if swallows nest under the eaves of your new home you will be happy there, similarly if a grasshopper or frog visits you your household should be a fortunate one. Fennel stuffed in keyholes or hung over the door deters the evil eye and ivy growing over the roof is claimed to prevent fires – what damage it does to your roofing tiles is another matter.

Ananke

Alchemy

If you think about alchemy you probably imagine an old man turning lead into gold, or course you’d be right but only partly so. Alchemy is not only an esoteric practise it is also a spiritual path and associated with medicine.

Alchemy is a very ancient subject reaching back to Ancient Persia, Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece, China and Rome, although the goals of alchemy in these societies differed greatly. The idea of producing gold or silver was known as chrysopoeia and was a more Western approach. However, this may not have been quite as literal as we tend to imagine, it could refer to a spiritual path in which the body symbolised by lead was transformed into immortal solar energy symbolised as gold; a view taken by Zosimos of Panopolis. This type of alchemy recognized three stages nigredo (-putrefactio), in which the failings of the person were burnt away. Albedo, something akin to enlightedment. And finally, Ruedo, reddening: unification of man with God. In this case the use of strange symbols and chemistry was merely a way to form a smokescreen and hiding the heretical spiritualism of alchemy from the Inquisition.

Whether they were trying to produce a physical gold or spiritual enlightenment both paths sought The Philosopher’s Stone this mysterious substance would enhance the alchemist’s skills to such a point anything was possible. Alchemists became revered individuals not due to their ability to make gold or for their spiritual wisdom but because they discovered new dyes, ways to improve metal, gunpowder, new methods of tanning hide and improved ceramic production.

The Chinese approach was radically different; they were not interested in gold. They viewed alchemy as a way to preserve life, although in some cases the elixirs they produced did more harm than good. Islamic alchemists held the middle ground, they certainly wanted to produce gold but they were also interested in artificial life. They were closest to modern chemists and some of the equipment they used is still used by scientists today. In Europe up until the 16th century alchemy also had a scientific approach Isaac Newton was a keen alchemist. However, by the 18th century science as we think of it had sounded the death knell of alchemy; or so it may have seemed.

In the 19th century alchemy was revived not in the form of chemistry but in the field of psychology and in particular in the work of CG Jung who took a spiritual approach to the subject. He was interested in how a person could reach a more fulfilled state and studied both Western and Chinese forms of this discipline.

So alchemy has come along way from its early roots yet it can still produce great wealth, if you don’t believe me ask JK Rowling author of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone.

Ananke

Super spiders!

Perhaps you know the saying ‘if you wish to live and thrive, let a spider run alive’, if not you can probably think of some other folklore concerning these creatures. The spider has been used in human culture to represent many things. It has symbolized patience due to its hunting technique of setting webs and waiting for prey, as well as mischief and malice because of the poison which is posessed by some species.

Although not all spiders spin webs, many do, as a result they have been widely associated with weaving, spinning and net making. In Ancient Egypt, the spider symbolised the goddess Neith in her aspect as spinner and weaver of destiny. There is also a Greek legend concerning a woman called Arachne. Arachne was adept in the art of weaving. Eventually, she began to consider herself a greater weaver than the goddess Athena and recklessly challenged the Goddess to a weaving contest to prove her skill. Athena wove the scene of her victory over Poseidon. Foolishly, Arachne wove a tapestry featuring twenty-one episodes of infidelity amongst the Gods, which angered Athena. So, whilst the goddess conceded that Arachne's weaving was perfect, she was infuriated by the mortal's pride. In a rage Athena destroyed Arachne's tapestry, loom and shuttle. As a result Arachne hung herself. Athena took pity on her and transformed her into a spider. Futhermore, Athena made sure that the spider retained Arachne's weaving abilities.

In Native American mythology, the spider’s web appears in a legend regarding the birth of the constellation Ursa Major. The constellation is percieved as seven men transformed into stars who climb to paradise by unrolling a spider’s web.The Navajo have a spider related creation myth that argues that Spider Grandmother created all things through the shimmering threads that came out of her belly.

In Christianity spiders were often viewed in a negative manner. St. Conrad of Constance is sometimes represented holding a chalice with a spider in it or over it. This refers to a story that when he was celebrating mass a spider fell into the chalice. Spiders were mistakenly believed to be poisonous, nevertheless Conrad drank the wine with the spider in it as a token of faith and of course he survived.

In more recent history, the famous legend of Robert the Bruce, of Scotland depicts a spider as a symbol for hope. According to legend Bruce hid in a cave after a series of military failures against the English. Whilst hiding in the cave he saw a spider, which continued to fail to climb up its silken thread to its web. After repeatedly failing to climb upwards, the spider eventually succeeded due to perseverance. Taking this as a symbol for hope and perseverance, much like the saying "try, try and try again", Bruce came out of hiding. Bruce eventually won Scotland's independence.

To this very day spiders play a part in our folklore. You might not recognise the name Linyphiidae, but these tiny black spiders are known as money spiders in the UK and are said to bring good luck and or money if one lands on your body. This one spider even arachnophobes might be glad to see - well, maybe!

Ananke

The Runes...

The fact you are browsing this site means you are probably aware of tarot cards, crystal balls and various forms of astrology. However, unless you are a fan of fantasy fiction you may not have come across the Runes.

Runes were a form of alphabet developed in Northern Europe and represent the Old Norse language used by the Scandinavian peoples up to circa 700AD. They tended to vary from country to country and over the period of their usage, for example in Scandinavia the number of Runes were reduced to sixteen, while in England the number was increased to as many as thirty-three. They were used pragmatically for communication and esoterically in spells, curses and divination.

According to legend, Odin, chief of the Norse gods, speared himself to a tree in a self-sacrificial attempt to receive occult knowledge. As he hung suspended for nine windy nights, he learned the mysteries of the Runes, which he then passed on to his people.

There is some question regarding how they were used for predicting events and what materials were used in their production. Ancient sources suggest that they were thrown and meaning was found in their pattern and relationship to each other.

The spread of Christianity saw a concerted effort to stamp out the use of the Runes. By the mid 1600's Runes had been erased from the minds of most of the world and a law was passed in Iceland making possession of Runes punishable by burning, blimey their bankers wouldn’t even be threatened with that.

Today the German futhark (Runic alphabet) of the eighth century is generally used for divination and occult work. The Runes were reintroduced to public consciousness in the 1980s by the Ralph Blum who produced the popular Book of Runes, he also introduced the ‘blank’ Rune which is a Rune stone with no image on it; there is no obvious record of this Rune being used historically.

As a point of interest Tolkien author of Lord of the Rings used real Runes for his design for the dust jacket of The Hobbit the script reads:

"The Hobbit or There and Back Again, being the record of a year's journey made by Bilbo Baggins; compiled from his memoirs by J.R.R. Tolkien and published by George Allen & Unwin."

Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction!

Ananke

Testing your talents

Ever fancied testing your own psychic abilities? Why not make yourself some Zener cards? These cards were designed by Psychologist Karl Zener early 1930s for experiments conducted with his colleague, parapsychologist J. B. Rhine. They are usually used to conduct experiments for extra-sensor perception (ESP) particularly clairvoyance. There are 25 cards in a pack and each card has one of four symbols on them usually a star, waves, a plus sign, a square or a circle. So in each pack there are four star cards, four circle cards and so on.

To Make Your Own Zener Cards.

You’ll need 25 identical pieces of white card – about the size of playing cards and thick enough so the light doesn’t shine through enabling the person taking the test to see the symbols.

A Pen

On one card draw a star, on the other a wave, on the next a circle, then a square on the following card, lastly draw a plus sign. Do this 5 times for each symbol.

You should have five cards for each symbol, giving a total of 25 cards.

Now for the The Test. First you need a friend!

Get them to shuffle the pack. They then need to pick up a card and note the design – obviously they don’t show you the card. Using your intuition you tell them what card you think they picked. They then return the card to the pack; shuffle the pack and pick a card for you to guess again.
Parapsychologists believe that if you are guessing rather than using psychic abilities you should expect to get 20% (1 hit per 5 tries) of the cards right. The higher above 20% you can get correct the less likely your results are occurring by chance alone.

However, don’t assume just because you don’t get a good score you can’t be psychic there are many different types of psychic phenomena and this test may simply not pick-up on your special skills.

Ananke 

Orb and Spectre

An orb in astrology is the distance between fixed points or planetary angles as calculated by the degrees apart – ie 3 degree orb, 7 degree orb.

However, the word orb can be applied in another context - referring to a circular object that appears in photographs which may or may not appear to leave a trail suggesting movement.

‘Orb’ here was coined by some US paranormal researchers. Those who believe orbs to have a paranormal origin claim they show intelligence and controlled movement, some orbs have been claimed to show human faces within their structure. There are many explanations for this phenomena some esoteric others scientific, let’s look at the esoteric first.

Some people argue orbs are evidence of spirit activity, or to put it another way, they are the residue of living beings that have died. This argument is supported researchers who have studied near death experiences (those occasions when a person is clinically dead for a short time and after being resuscitated they claim that whilst ‘dead’ they had some kind of vision or encounter) it seems a number of near death experiences mention interaction with orbs. Others argue the world is multidimensional; other intelligences live in these other dimensions, for some reason occasionally the dimensions cross and this is when we see their orb like inhabitants. It’s also been suggested that orbs are guardian angels or guides.

However, other people have more mundane explanations; one of these is the notion of backscatter. Modern compact and ultra-compact cameras, especially digital cameras are very small, as a result the distance between the lens and the built-in flash has decreased, thereby decreasing the angle of light reflection to the lens and increasing the likelihood of light reflection off normally sub-visible particles such as dust, pollen, liquid particles or other foreign material within the camera lens. Though backscatter orbs usually appear as either white or semi-transparent circles, they can occur with whole or partial color spectrums.

Why not make some artificial orbs and compare them to the ones on the net or in books and see what you think? Here’s how…

Take your digital camera outside and throw some dust no less than 4inches in front of the lens - multiple ‘orbs’ will appear in the picture! Or to create some different orbs take a spray bottle (to simulate humidity) and aim the spray parallel to and directly in front of the lens. Once again you should see multiple orbs.

Let me know what you think!

Ananke

Egyptian Musk...

Egyptian Society was egalitarian in that women were considered virtually equal to men, in terms of the law. This equality was often shown at its best in some of the most famous females, who were usually favoured wives such as Nefertari whilst others were Pharoahs in their own right. Hatshepsut was one of these women.

Her famous Mortuary Temple at Dier el Bahri was renowned for its beauty. She was familiar with the cosmetics of the time and a great user of Frankincense. The 27th Dynasty was specifically noted for the royal use of perfume. Cleopatra wrote three books on cosmetics - only fragments survive.

The Temple of Horus at Edfu has a spectacular 'laboratory' which covers the entire walls on the Preparation of Kyphi. The recipe is available but the proportions were kept secret. The only known and considered to be the closest accurate attempt to make this ancient formula to summon the gods, was produced by the late Margaret Bruce, a Weardale folk botanist.

John Garland

Mellow Yellow? Not Quite!

The word yellow has been integrated into English since circa AD 900; it developed from closely related words in the Latin and various Germanic languages.

It’s often associated with the summer and the East in Western Culture. More particularly in heraldry it stands for the positive virtues of faith, constancy, wisdom, and glory.

It has also been thought of as being a colour that represents playfulness, light, creativity, warmth, mental powers, charm, confidence, vision, joy, enthusiasm, optimism, and an easy going attitude about life.

For years yellow ribbons were worn as a sign of hope by people who waited for soldiers to return from war. Today, they are still used to welcome home loved ones, particularly in the USA.

Yet, yellow also has many negative associations, among them are jealousy, treachery, cowardice (although paradoxically in Japan it is associated with bravery), aging, and illness, indeed in the
Middle-ages actors wore yellow to symbolise the dead and it is the colour of mourning in Egypt.

In Hindu belief, yellow represents the solar plexus charka. This is the third chakra, located around the bottom of the sternum. The ‘solar plexus’ is associated with the sun (solar-sun) and it is where we gather our courage and will power. When this chakra is not functioning properly, we are fearful or ‘yellow bellied’.

So, if you are feeling down in the mouth, why not try wearing an item in this colour but don’t over do it, too much yellow can make you irritable.

Ananke

Faeries

There are multitudes of faery sightings from yesteryear to modern times. It is generally believed that faeries and pixies occur without warning.

Here, earlier this year, in this little West Somerset port of Watchet, an avid ghost-hunter was amazed to see "what at first looked like dragonflies" - but, it was after midnight. He said he was sure there were four of them "and…they resembled small people in flight around an elder tree, in the local car park ... I was walking the dog, and there they were!"

West Somerset is said to be among the last surviving 'faery-realms', and even today, superstitious local will not venture out, particularly at twilight, when the 'good folk' are said to be at their most active.

John Garland

The Cuckoo...

In the UK, many people feel the Spring really has arrived when they hear the call of the cuckoo. People even write to the press simply to claim the honour of being the first person to hear the bird’s call!

The cuckoo is a Summer visitor all over the UK but is especially numerous in southern and central England, even though its numbers seem to be declining recently. It is a dove-sized bird with blue grey upper parts, head and chest with dark barred white under parts. The female lays her eggs in the nests of other birds, especially meadow pipits and reed warblers. Many children in the UK are taught this folk rhyme to help them remember the cuckoo’s habits:

The cuckoo comes in April
He sings his song in May
In the middle of June he whistles a tune
In July he flies away.

The cuckoo is one of the creatures that is the focus of a good deal of folklore and it is often used for divination, associated with simple spells, or act as the focus of legends. One myth claims the cuckoo can only stop its calling when it has completed three large meals of cherries. Until recent times, in parts of England, on hearing the cuckoo, workers would down tools, get a barrel of ale and walk to where the bird was heard singing and drink to its health. This custom, which has sadly disappeared, was called "wetting the cuckoo”.

If you are a bit short of cash, wait until you hear the cuckoo; when you do so jingle some money in your pocket and, according to folklore, you will be well-off for the rest of the year. If you hear the bird on St Tiburtius’ day which is the 14th April, you should turn over all the money in your pockets, spit and not look at the ground. If you do this whilst standing on soft ground, you will have good luck. However, you need to be sure the ground is soft, because if it is hard, bad luck will follow!

One must also avoid counting the Koos, especially the superstitious - so as not to cuck one's koos.

The notion that cuckoos can foretell the future can be seen in the following rather gruesome children’s rhyme:

Cuckoo, Cherry Tree,
Good bird tell me,
How many years until I die?

The answer is the number of calls the bird make. You may prefer another verse which works the same way but is a little more cheerful:

Cuckoo, cuckoo tell me true,
Tell me fair and fine,
How long will I unmarried pine?

I think I’ll just stick to carrying coins - just in case I hear a cuckoo calling, what about you?

Ananke 

Orange...

Orange is the kind of colour it is hard to ignore, most people seem to love or hate it, but it certainly grabs one’s attention. Perhaps that explains why it shares red’s association with energy, although it is also associated with enthusiasm but this is tempered with balance.

Physiologically it seems to stimulate our appetite and digestion, just think of how may fruits and vegetables are orange or have orange tones; apricots, peaches, tangerines, carrots, pumpkins and of course, oranges. This fruit comes from an evergreen tree, Citrus aurantius, and the word "orange", comes from the Old French ‘orenge’ the word first appeared in English in1300. The tree is evergreen and ever-bearing, thus the colour orange came to symbolise fruitfulness.

In astrology it is connected to the freedom loving energetic fire sign Sagittarius. It is the colour of the second charka; a vortex of energy which is located in the stomach area and governs vitality and health. Worldwide orange seems to be a colour which has come to symbolise a number of religious view points: Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism all favour this colour.

In Northern Ireland orange is associated with Protestantism, this is due to the influence of the Protestant king William of Orange. William was Dutch and even today in The Netherlands orange is symbolic of the Dutch royal family and patriotism.

Colour theorists also tend to believe orange can stimulate conversation and intellectual endeavour – so wearing orange could be helpful if you need to produce an important essay or report.

Simply Red

We tend to think of colour as solid, in fact it is a form of energy of varying wavelengths and frequencies. Humans can usually perceive 7 main colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. However, we can only see three: red, blue and green. Our brain mixes these together to enable us to experience all the other colours.

Red is the lowest colour in the visible spectrum and is described as a warm colour. It is associated in esoteric thought with the base charka. It has been claimed red makes our heartbeat increase and our blood pressure rise.

Red is a colour that energises the individual and if you are feeling a bit lethargic it could be worth wearing red as it could pep you up. It is also argued it can stimulate the appetite. Red is also associated with strength, courage, leadership. It is a larger than life colour literally, anything painted red will appear bigger and it will also stand out as red dilutes other colours.

Various culture react to this colour in different ways, in China it is associated with good luck, in India it is associated with purity, yet in South Africa it is the colour of mourning. It is also used as a symbol for assorted negative phenomena; anger, war, violence and brutality and in Christian art the devil is often illustrated as red.

From an astrological stand point red is associated with Aries and the fiery Mars.

Ananke 

Reading between the lines….

There are many different ways to try to predict future trends, some can be complex, yet others are very simple. One of the simplest must be bibliomancy: biblio refers to the use of books as a means to assess the future. Any book can be used, although sacred texts seem to have a long history of being utilised this way. There are various methods used in bibliomancy, here are a few.

Method One

You will need:

A random way of generating numbers (picking numbers from a telephone directory, using bar codes, or code numbers from catalogues etc.) and also a book.

Concentrate on a question.

Add the digits you have picked at random together (for example: 24, 5, 10. becomes 2+4+5+1+0= 12, this means you would turn to page 12).

Repeat the procedure again with different numbers (for example: 100+25+15. becomes 1+0+0+2+5+1+5= 14, this means you would read the 14th line down).

The text could then tell you something about your question, either the answer or how to approach producing a solution.

Method Two

Visit a library; wander around the shelves whilst concentrating on a question. Take a book randomly from one of the shelves. Pick a page number at random and you may have the answer to your question, or at least a useful insight.

Method Three

If you find a book which has fallen on the floor, pick it up. Concentrate on and question or issue. Then think of a number and open it on the corresponding page. I can’t guarantee a useful answer but if nothing else you’ll have a tidy room!

Ananke

Jade…

If you fancy winning at the racecourse, according to reputation, the very hard stone, Jade, or Nephrite - varying from green to white, should be carried in your pocket or purse.

This was also revered by the Chinese, for carved in the shape of a Bat or Stork it represented longevity and a protection against liver disorders.

The Greeks and Romans believed that Jade was efficacious against stomach, kidney and epileptic conditions.

New Zealand Maoris highly esteemed Jade for its sacred powers, said to embody all the virtues of their ancestors. It was traditional to bury it with the last male member of the family. As the stone of New Zealand it is called the 'Tiki' - worn around the neck as a protection against adverse influences.

John Garland

Fragrances…

It goes without saying that there is no comparison between synthetic perfumes and those famed, hand-made luxuries of yesteryear. 17th and 18th century perfumers were especially acclaimed for their creations, made with authentic essential oils in the purest grape spirit.

Many of these perfume-makers named their alluring fragrances after exotic places and fashionable resorts such as 'Memphis', sold to travellers of the Nile Valley.

The drifting, ageless scent of Lavender, made in the 1800's was made from finest Mitcham Lavender, whereas the equally heady bouquet called 'Campanule' was said to have been favoured by 'ladies of a certain disposition'.

Queen Victoria made 'La Reine' her greatest choice. Light and subtle it was made for her by the Bond Street perfumer Septimus Piesse. Other royal perfumes include 'Bouquet de Caroline' - flowery yet compelling...and a rather snazzy erotic scent, dedicated to the Empress whose name it bears, 'Eugenie'.

The Tarot perfume 'Medici' was formed from a secret recipe and word by Tarot readers to the nobility.

Eat your heart out, Chanel..!

John Garland

Well dressing...

Until the Age of Materialism took over, the Church, far from destroying many Pagan practices, preserved and jealousy guarded them.

One such was the universal homage given to the Goddess of healing wells and springs, known in the UK as Ascension, traditionally held on 16 May. Another date for well-worship was St.John's Day, 24 June.

These spectacular ceremonies in which wells and springs were decked with images and flowers were observed as thanksgiving for the divine gift of water.

A small pool or sunken pot in your garden will suffice - garland - no pun intended - with petals ... give words of thanksgiving and it is believed that good energies are assured.

John Garland

Hare today...

Traditionally, March is associated with hares, perhaps this is due to the hare’s habit of behaving very oddly in spring. At this time these usually retiring mammals can be seen in broad daylight chasing one another around and "boxing"; one hare striking another with its paws (probably the origin of the term "mad as a March hare"). It had been thought that this was inter-male competition, but closer observation has revealed that it is usually a female hitting a male, either to show that she is not yet quite ready to mate, or as a test of his determination.

This seldom seen animal has been associated with acts of prophecy and folklore for centuries. Boudicca was said to have released a hare as a good omen before each battle and to divine the outcome of battle by the hare's movements. It is remarkably fertile (one doe can produce 42 young a year); so it is no surprise that the hare is an emblem of fertility, abundance, sexuality, lust, rampant growth and excess. It became the emblem of Gods and Goddesses such as Venus, Aphrodite, and Cupid.

Pliny the Elder prescribed its meat as a cure for female sterility and reported that if you ate a hare your body would be sexually attractive for nine days. However, the hare could also cause problems during pregnancy; if a hare crossed the path of a pregnant woman she would miscarry or give birth to a child with a hare-lip.

In pagan societies the hare was often sacred; to discourage the old ideas medieval Christians changed the hare into an animal of ill omen. It was claimed witches’ shape shifted into hare form to suck cows dry: furthermore, a witch in hare form could only be killed by a silver crucifix.

Sailors considered hares so unlucky they could not be mentioned at sea. In contrast, a hare’s foot was said to avert rheumatism, cramps and help actors perform, or was carried as a general good luck charm. However, losing the foot would prove very unfortunate – it had certainly been unlucky for the hare!

Ananke

Does Money Grow on Trees?

The “Money Tree” is usually thought of as an imaginary tree connected to the saying "money doesn't grow on trees". It also appears in fiction, as a tree whose leaves resemble banknotes and whose fruits look like coins, but once placed in a pocket or are about to be spent, turn to dust.

However, there is a real Money Tree - at least in relation to Feng Shui. A Feng Shui Money Tree is a house plant used in order to attract prosperity and wealth. Its botanical name is Pachira. It’s also known as a Malabar Chestnut, Guiana Chestnut, Provision Tree, or Saba Nut - fortunately (no pun intended)!

A Money Tree is easy to care for, needing average light and water. Although, one should be aware that they can grow to seven feet high and three feet wide! Um, lots of dosh coming there then.

The plant can shed its succulent pods during the winter time, but after that, it starts to re-grow them. Money trees can have their trunks artificially twisted adding to their aesthetic value and making them more precious.

The shape of the Money Tree’s succulent pods represents the five main elements in Feng Shui of Wood, Water, Earth, Fire and Metal. And this is what makes the Feng Shui Money Tree so important, as it can add any missing elements to a building.

As the name suggests, they should be placed anywhere that money is kept, or near cash registers in businesses, or in the North West of a building or place - the area associated with cash in Feng Shui. Certainly worth a try in these straightened times!

Ananke

The Moirae were the Greek fates...

The Moirae were the Greek fates, although the Romans had a similar concept called Parcae or Fata. The Moirae were: Clotho (spinner) who spun the thread of life from her distaff onto her spindle. Lachesis (drawer of lots) who measured the thread of life allotted to each person with her measuring rod. Atropos (inexorable) was the cutter of the thread of life. She decided the manner and timing of each person's death.

The Moirae controlled life from birth to death; even the gods treated them with caution. The Moirae were independent, they ensured that the fate assigned to every being by eternal laws might take its course without obstruction. Zeus, as well as the other Gods and man, had to submit to them. The Moirae spun the thread of every life and directed the consequences of being’s actions according to the counsel of the Gods. Still, it was not an inflexible fate; Zeus had the power of saving even those who were already on the point of being seized by their fate. Equally, The Moirae did not directly interfere in human affairs but availed themselves of intermediate causes and determined the lot of mortals conditionally.

The Greeks variously claimed that they were the daughters of Zeus and the Titaness Themis (Institutor) or of primordial beings like Nyx (Night) or Chaos. The Moirae were usually described as cold, remorseless and unfeeling, and depicted as old crones or hags. Despite their forbidding reputation, their cult was fairly widespread as there was a sanctuary to them at Olympia, Corinth, and Sparta and adjoining the sanctuary of Themis outside a city gate of Thebes. Equally, The Moirae could be worshipped as Goddesses; brides in Athens offered them locks of hair and women swore by them. Perhaps it was just as well to keep the right side of the fearsome trio.

Ananke

Kismet

What were Horatio Nelson’s last words? Common knowledge is divided between “Kiss me Hardy” and the more esoteric “Kismet Hardy”. What is ‘Kismet’? It is an Islamic concept: the word itself is derived from the Arabic word qismah which entered the English language via the Turkish word kismet, meaning either ‘the will of Allah’ or ‘portion, lot or fate’. In English the nuance tends to suggest inescapable destiny - a notion few modern astrologers accept.

Perhaps because of this exotic background the word has been used in connection with some very diverse products. Kismet has been the single word title of at least six films. It has also been used as a name for; a Marvel super-heroine, various software programmes, a Dutch indie band and even a chocolate bar.

Unfortunately Nelson could not have said “Kismet Hardy”. Firstly, Hardy was not there at the time of Nelson’s death: secondly, the word did not enter English usage until 1849. According to William Beatty the surgeon on The Victory he actually said “Thank God, I have done my duty. Drink, drink. Fan, fan. Rub, rub”. So Nelson seems to be a historical figure that drew myths to him like bees to honey. Did you know for instance he never wore an eye patch?

Ananke

Musician John Martyn 1948-2009

It was with great sadness to hear that one of the musical greats of the last 30 years, John Martyn, passed away on the 29th January, 2009.

John Martyn (birth name Iain David McGeachy) was born on the 11th of September 1948, and was an early pioneer of moving folk music away from its narrow parameters and fusing it with soul, jazz and blues. He had the sweetest of voices and an incredible guitar playing style.

Martyn was blighted by excruciating pain in recent years, after having a lower leg amputated and was confined to a wheelchair, however, he did continue to tour.

Known to suffer from an addiction to alcohol, John Martyn had Mercury conjunct Neptune in Libra in his Natal horoscope. This aspect can lead to awesome imagination and in this zodiac sign brilliance which, in his case, created a beautiful ethereal atmosphere and haunting words. However, this planetary aspect can also expose subjects to the need for escapism – in all its many forms. With Martyn’s voice as much a part of his sound as his guitar playing this magical projection will also have been aided by this planetary aspect – showing both the opportunities and challenges that astrological influences can bring.

If you would like to know more about this legend, please visit…

www.johnmartyn.com

Midheaven Books...

Midheaven Books, the preeminent international astrology book shop celebrates its 15th birthday this year by relocating to The Wellspring Bookshop, 5, New Oxford Street , Central London.

Midheaven Books have provided unstinting support to a whole generation of astrologers’ and researchers worldwide, including notable practitioners Stephen Arroyo and Liz Greene. If you want to order a book or make an enquiry about some of the rare or high quality publications John stocks, please telephone him on - (UK) 0207 272 1466 or (International) +44 207 272 1466.

Ley ways...

Mysteriously mystical and controversially captivating. So what happened to rocket 1855 Hereford ( England ) born, pinhole camera inventor, brewery outrider and folklorist Alfred Watkins, to great renown? Well, as he explored local hills he discovered Ley lines and to this day his discoveries continue to enthral Ley way hunters, worldwide.

Controversial in the myriad archaeological minds (who fiercely shunned his theories) Watkins deduced from his tireless walks and map making, that ancient straight tracks seemed to link and lead to pagan sites, earthworks and earliest known churches. These also aligned with certain heavenly bodies including the Sun and the Moon.

Yet the Old Testament brims with mention, and cannot be ignored, for their notes rapport with geographical observations…“Thus saith the Lod, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” says Jeremiah vi,16. And from the same…“Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps:set thine heart towards the highway, even the way which thous wentest” xxxi, 21.

It’s now generally held that Ley lines led to places of sanctity, measurably empowered by some form of invisible luminosity, an otherworldliness which has been experienced by the “Sensitives”. Indeed, Shakespeare and Goethe are among the poets, novelists, playwrights and artists who have recorded their impressions of Ley ways and sacred circles.

The subject remains a considerable area for continuing investigation by numerous Ley societies, groups and University departments. The widely respected dowser and author John Gilman told me that he has encountered much remarkable phenomena at hundreds of stone circles and other places of historic worship. He has been dowsing with his divining sticks more than 20 years. He said…“we are the beneficiaries of a vast knitted folk pattern, the warp and weft of deliberate comings and goings in our land for thousands of years…still visible and trailing power across the millennia. Dowsing only sharpens the ability to recognise it.”

He agreed that the Leys of themselves do not reflect any particular influence, but rather the ancient places they reach. A root word for dowser is Dodman. And quoting Watkins from his famous 1925 book “The Old Straight Track”…“at Wilmington in Sussex, The Long Man, with his 240 feet length cut in the turf on the hillside, the largest and perhaps the earliest representation of prehistoric man in England, carries two staves…The surveyor alone carries two rods. The Long Man is the dod-man, the prehistoric surveyor…”

The whole issue of Ley ways is tantalising stuff, loaded with enigmatic hassles and guaranteed to open up incredible dimensions for seekers of earthly and unearthly realities.

John Garland

Numerology - does it really add up?

An indisputable magic carpet to understand, motivate and inspire is offered by the universality of numbers. The wisdom of knowledge of Numerology takes the pulse of humanity in both computable and infinite ways, and has been a core essence of astrology, medicine and science since the innovation of language, be it Babylonian, Chinese and other elderly civilisations.

Like astrological divination, Numerology is both romantic and enterprising. Without its natural creativity, the understanding of nuclear physics, the building of great and small structures, transportation by air, sea and highway to the economic achievement, little of today’s democratic cultures would exist. UK and overseas 16th century archives record many astrological pamphlets by various zodiacal writers on the supremacy of so-called mystical numbers.

In the Orient, to understand the potency of particular numbers meant being able to unlock the hidden codes of fortunate dates, individual winning combinations and the right moment to do things.

In the Far East , and elsewhere, certain astrologers were employed by the powers that be to construct a Numerological Chart, not only mapping out an individual’s destiny, but apt days to set a chosen action into orbit.

One Numerological aspect, disputed by the ancient Chinese was that 1 was not the starting point, but that the mystical prime began at 0 in other words, nothing. Because if nothing comes from nothing, this is reasonable, or at least challenging to argue that the understanding of 0 within the concept of Yin and Yang, could be the most extraordinary potency of math as we know it.

But who has the keys to this cryptic knowledge? Do such numero-mystics survive? It has been suggested that a veiled tradition lies in the I Ching and that some of its initiates have occasionally published startlingly accurate predictions to a specific month, concerning contemporary national and international events.

In 1984, a Chelsea ( London , England ) doctor and friend of the famed philosopher and psychoanalyst C. G. Jung, confided among her I Ching circle, a hint of the arcane 0. Later, the writer was given a part written log-book of the late Lady Frieda Harris, artistic exponent of The Crowley Tarot Deck, containing a series of curious clues. Apparently, the numeral 8 is also of great significance. Whacky? Doubters there will be.

Numeral 8 according to Solar tradition, associates with Leo - symbol of splendours: the Sun and Moon in deific unity. The Eighth Chinese calendrical Moon, par excellence, symbolises the harvest, parades, lion-dancers, and recognition of the Jade Hare’s Feast. Coinciding with the Eighth birthday of the Moon, is becomes a double celebration. The Sun, Yang, and the Moon, Yin personifies life and rebirth.

There is also a theory, that numeral 8, used within a particular combination of numbers, ensure success in ‘honourable’ or ‘worthy’ endeavours.

Esoteric book Reviews...

Who’d think there was so much bite to an apple? However, it is easy to be attracted to cider’s beginnings – still a popular vogue for its pagan rituals and mystical ethos.

And the publication - Somerset Cider, Folklore and Customs, is a magical feast, from the compelling first line “Cider is loved throughout the world”, and there is much to fall in love with here.

Also from this author, Jon Dathen, is Ogham: Wisdom of the Trees which has been called “a landmark work of its kind”. This is a wonderful and enlightening journey into the secret language of treelore, which adventurously explores Celtic tree language.

Trees’ wider symbolism and use in healing is fascinatingly researched, and in my opinion, stands out as one of the most comprehensive studies since the scholarship of the late Robert Graves.

The author, a folklorist, told me…“I am a continuing student of ancient mysteries and psychical interests”.

It also goes to show, that small-press and alternative publishers can, and often do print quite brilliant “page-turners”.

John Garland

Somerset Cider, Folklore and Customs, £8.95 - ISBN 186163250 – 9
Ogham, Wisdom of the Trees, £9.95 - ISBN 186163167 – 7
Both titles are available from Capall Bann. http://www.capallbann.co.uk/

Talismans - the power of luck

Whether you believe in their magic or not, the world teems with gems, charms and talismans. They obviously have a presence of their own. To see the shapes, lines, patterns and often seemingly inscrutable imagery, as a myriad of mystical detail, lends its own magnetic appeal.

From great antiquity; talismans, charms and gems have been part of every religious and spiritual path. Whether you accept the view of astral forces at work, or simply as lifeless, crafted objects, for their owners they were icons of faith, hope and confidence.

Gems are mined from the earth, a talisman is constructed by hand on esoteric principles, while an amulet is a specific object such as a holed stone or jay’s feather.

Even today, all of these are carried to either procure love, money or some other desire. In time’s past many talismans were engraved or drawn on parchment, metal or stone.

In every major faith path they came to represent a particular aspect of a god, goddess or other hierarchical deity.

Among the beloved is Buddha, favoured by the Brahmins as chief holy figure as opposed to Brahma of the Hindus. ‘Hanuman’, the Monkey god is revered by many Indian sects. Egypt ’s ‘Crux Ansata’ supposedly gifted long life and protection, whereas Etruscans chose the pine cone for wealth and health. The frog was given to love goddess Aphrodite, born from the starry surf of the sea.

Earliest Chinese records depict the mystical dragon, bestowing good fortune to all who wear one. Two bats signify helpful insights. The peach signals longevity. Feng, a phoenix styled bird is based on the legend that aeons ago set fire to its nest of dried grasses by magnifying the heat of the sun. It perished, but from the ashes it was reborn in all its fabulously feathered glory, continuing to benignly reign over the destinies of all … like a reflecting mascot of life becomes the life itself.

If you want more information about talismans, ask, and we shall strive to provide a well researched answer!

Know your onions…

Did you know that fruit and vegetables can be linked to divination? And the onion is one in particular. Ideal in these chilly times, when soups and stews can be so comforting or if you are located in warmer climes, perfect to add more flavoursome taste to salads.

In days gone past, health-giving properties were an important consideration and often involved writing questions during Victorian Harvest festivals. The onions were placed in a special corner of the church. The first to sprout meant a positive outcome.

A countrywoman once told me that this custom was, in fact, practised on Christmas Eve. Divination through onions is called “Cromniomancy”. I wonder how many of you know of other forms of divination, either through fruit, vegetables or flowers? Please use the contact Patrick form and let me know... John Garland.

Click here for more....http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cromniomancy

Astrology and Religion

Many people believe, and especially the sceptics of astrology that it and religion are mutually exclusive. You can see by clicking here…… extracts from the Bibles that we have here under the Astrologers’ Prayer.

In fact, I love visiting churches steeped in history, mystery and spirit. And France is one of the finest places to do so. Some 20 years ago I took in Chartres with friend Jill, more recently the stunning Saint Jean-Baptiste in St Jean-de-luz on the La Cote Basque. Louis XIV got married here. The church is made up of a single nave topped by three floors of magnificent wooden galleries. Rather like a modern football stadium with executive boxes!

Anyway, these memories were prompted by this excellent piece sent to me by reader Carol Klimowich. Many thanks Carol. Please send in your interesting experiences.

“…Hi, Patrick,

Thought I'd just send you a few snippets on Chartres Cathedral, apparently there's a book called the mysteries of Chartres , I'll have to look out for it.

The astrological number 12 is the most common number in the 3 large rose windows, north, south and west each divided into 12 segments.

The influence of astrology also shows up in the zodiac signs over the door way on the west side, in a zodiac window and in the towers of the sun and the moon, an outdoor sun dial and an astronomical clock.

In a year Chartres circles around the sun in 1107km, the length of the nave is precise at 1107 metres, the cathedral was built on a special measurement 0,738 while its a 100,000th part of a parallel where Chartres is located on.

Where did the so called “uneducated" medieval people get this knowledge? Was it that the builders processed a very good knowledge of astronomy? It’s believed that it is more precise to say knowledge of astrology.

There are astrological signs in sculptures and the stain glass windows, although at Chartres it looks that there is something deeper since the cathedral has been reproduced on the earth as the Gamma star in the Virgo constellation. One of the windows depicts in detail the 12 signs of the zodiac.

Apparently Rheims is based on the shiniest star of the Virgo Constellation, Spica (Alpha Virginis) Benedictine Abbeys in Normandy reflect the Big Bear constellation.

On another bit of curiosity… Chartres does not have any tombs, this is because they wanted to emphasise the virginal quality of the place. Also the stain glass windows that adorn the cathedral are even more stunning as they are almost completely original from the very first day that they were put in until present day. In 700 years no one has been able to reproduce the glow that the stained glass windows show, under all weather conditions.

Sounds such an interesting place…”