Valentine's Day!

Saint Valentine's Day, commonly known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint valentine is celebrated on February 14th. What most people don't know is that Valentine's day is celebrated in many countries.
St. valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration for one or more early christian saints named Valentinus. It is said that Valentinus was imprisoned for preforming wedding for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. During his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius. As the legend goes, before his execution he wrote "from your valentine" as a farewell to her.
Saint Valentine's Day is offical feast day in the Anglican communion as well as in the Lutheran Church. Valentine's Day is also celebrated by the Eastern Orthadox church but it is celebrated on July 6th for the Roman Saint Valentine and then on July 30th for the honor of hieromartyr Valentine, the bishop of Interamna.

The day is mostly associated with love and became popular in the High Middle Ages when courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other with offerings. With the dawn of the 19th century hand written Valentines were made which gave way for mass-produced greeting cards.
There is no evidence of any link between Saint Valentine's Day and the rites of the ancient Roman festival, Despite many claims by authors. The celebration of Saint Valentine did not have any romantic connotations until Chaucer's poetry about "Valentines" in the 14th century. There are modern sources that claim links to unspecified Greco-Roman February holidays alleged to be devoted to fertility and love to St. valentine's Day. Before Chaucer in the 14th century, there were no links between the Saints named Valentinus and romantic love.

THINGS YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT VALENTINE'S DAY!

1. Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.
2. In the ancient Athenian calendar the period between mid-January and mid-February was the month of Gamelion, dedicated to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera.
3.In Ancient Rome, Lupercalia, observed February 13-15, was an archaid rite connected to fertility.
4.The festival of Juno Februa, meaning "Juno the purifier: or "the chaste Juno", was celebrated on February 13-14.
5. The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement  of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Chaucer wrote:
         For this was seynt Volantynys day
         Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.



 History Channels Valentine's Day history

 


PS: searching for important links for you guys I came across a video made by a guy that claimed that Valentine's day was a Satanic holiday.....it just stuns me at how people so closed minded can walk on the Earth these days when there are so many ways to do research. Instead they say things they don't understand are sins.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho BOOK REVIEW!

Amazon ** Barnes&Noble

Title: The Alchemist

Author: Paulo Coelho

Published: HarperCollins



I was on Amazon one day just looking at the book recommendations for me and I notice that it keep telling me to read The Alchemist. So I looked into the reviews for the book on Amazon and I noticed that it got quite a negative review from most women. Most women that read the book said it was and I quote "sexist fiddle-fabble" and "new age blather" there was also one that called the book a " childish fable." I fully expected not to like this book but I tried it anyways.

The book starts off with you following a shepherd and his sheep as he is trudging along across the Andalusian country side. The first few pages you learn a bit about the "boy" as he is called through out the book and how he can't wait to get to his next town to sale wool because there is a pretty shop keepers daughter there waiting for him. That night when the boy has his last rest before coming upon the town he has the same dream he has been having for days about finding treasure at the bottom of the pyramids of Egypt. The boy can't figure out why he keeps having this dream so the next day when he gets to the town he first goes to see a gypsy that is said to read dreams. The gypsy tells him after looking at his palms that his dreams are repeating for a reason and that he must go to Egypt and when he finds his treasure which she was sure he would he must give her a small portion of it.
The boy takes what the woman says as a bunch of crap and carries on with his normal duties. After the boy puts his sheep in a stable for a rest the boy goes to sit on a bench in the middle of town and read his brand new book that he traded to get. As he is sitting there a man dressed in white sits down next to him and begins to tell him about personal legends and omens. The boy getting annoyed was going to tell the man to get lost when all of a sudden the man dressed in white tells him about his dream that he keeps having and that finding that treasure is his personal legend and he should go get it.
The boy never told the man about his dream so how did he know this? After talking with the man in white the boy sales all his sheep and uses the money to start his journey to find his treasure. The boy comes across many people during his travels and learns many MANY things. The boy also meets the most beautiful woman he has every met and falls in love!



Rating:

Thoughts: As far as all the sexist bull that people were complaining about this was back in the old days and it takes place in the Middle East where women are very secretive and mysterious. Also the women of that time period and location had different values in the sense that they wanted to get married and have a family and if their husband left for war or work they would watch the deserts for their return.
What people have to remember is that times were different then and to just read the book and take in the message it gives you which is FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!


Quotes:

" It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary."

"Each day, in itself,brings with it an eternity."

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."



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The Boy Who Lived Between Universes

I was reading a book today and I came across a story that made me think and I thought I would share it with you today.

Markandeya was not born in our world. He was actually born in a previous world cycle, the last incarnation of our planet.
One day Markandeya noticed his parents were extremely upset. When he asked what was wrong, his father tearfully admitted that when Markandeya was born, the village astrologer predicted the boy would die on his sixteenth birthday.
Well, that very day was his sixteenth birthday. So now it was Markandeya who was upset! He ran to the nearby temple and threw up his arms around the image of the god Shiva.
At that very moment the god of death entered the temple, ready to slip his noose around Markandeya's neck and drag him out of his body. But just as Death reached for the young boy, Shiva materialized in front of them both, and he didn't look happy. In fact, Shiva was furious that Death would disturb a devotee who was worshiping him. Death was so terrified at Shiva's angry gaze that he ran away and never dared approach Markandeya again.
That was fine for the time being, but after a few billion years, a problem developed. the Sun eventually flickered out of existence; the Earth passed away; and Markandeya floated around in empty space for eons. Finally the Earth reshaped itself back into existence, and Markandeya was able to walk on terra firma once more. He reported what he'd experienced between worlds to anyone who asked.
What happens when the solar system dies, he explained, is that the Sun slowly turns red and expands to many times it present size. The surface of the Earth eventually becomes so hot no living thing can survive, and the planet becomes as bare as a turtle's back. Then the Sun explodes, emitting a burning wind that blasts the planet to ashes.

The strange thing about this Hindu story is that it describes the end of the world the way astrophysicists do but this story is older. Coincidence?

For more stories like this one read this book!

Book Cover Doppelgangers!

If you read then you if you haven't already are bound to come across look alike book covers. I have been having this problem a lot lately with this one picture of a hooded male which I will show soon. I understand there are just so many pictures that can be used but I just don't understand why people aren't more creative with the covers for books when there are so many things and people that are willing to do a photo shoot for a book cover.

Down below are some look alike book covers!

The so could have at least changed the color of the shirts or something!

OMG really!?

FOUR TIMES this picture was used!

Well at lest these people made an effort to make it look different.

Well both books are hot in a sense.

Remember the hood male I talked about earlier well this is the picture! I have seen this picture used at least 10 times!

So tell me have you come across any book cover doppelgangers lately?

Ghost Series! Poltergeist PART 2 Real Case!

The Amherst Poltergeist , Nova Scotia, Canada between 1878-1879
The case was actually investigated by actor Walter Hubbell who was interested in psychic phenomena. Walter's diary of the events he witnessed which became the popular book "The Haunted House A True Ghost Story".
Esther Cox was at the center of the poltergeist activity. Cox lived with her married sister Olive Teed, her sister's husband Daniel, their two kids, there was also another brother of Cox and another sister. Daniel's brother John Teed also lived with them.

The events in question began at the end of august 1878. Esther who was then 18 was almost sexually assaulted by a male friend. After that Esther was of course in great distress, shortly after this things began to happen. It started off with strange knockings, bangings ,and rustling. Esther then began to have seizures which would make her body swell and she would become feverish. Then objects around the house began to fly as if tossed by some unseen force.
The family called the doctor. During the Doctor's visit bedclothes began to move and the words "Esther Cox, your mine to kill" was scratched into the wall above the bed. The next day the doctor gave Esther a sedative to help relax her and help her sleep. Even when Esther was asleep noises and flying objects still continued along with tapped responses to questions that were being asked.
The phenomena continues for some months and visitors to the home would also hear sounds and witness objects moving by themselves. In December Esther became ill with diphtheria, while she healed from this illness no activity happened even when she stayed with her married sister in Sackville,New Brunswick. When Esther returned to Amherst the activity began again, but this time random fires would start around the house. By this time Esther claimed that she could see the "ghost" who threatened to burn the house down.
January 1879 Esther moved in with another family, even the the activity continued and was witnessed by a lot of people. The "ghost" was also spoken to and would answer questions by banging. Esther was starting to be slapped,pricked,scratched,and she was even stabbed in the back with a pocket knife by the "ghost".
Esther went to Saint John,New Brunswick were she was seen by a gentleman with an interest in science. It became apparent that Esther was being "haunted" by more than just one spirit. Three distinct spirits made themselves known by answering questions. Out of the three there was " Bob Nickle" who was the original "ghost" " Peter Cox" who was a relative of Esther and "Maggie Fisher".
The activity stopped for a just a short time while Esther visited friends at their farm near Amherst. As soon as Esther returned home the activity began yet again. Shortly after was when Walter Hubbell found out about the activity, he then moved into Esther's new home as a lodger to witness and investigate the activity going on. While Walter stayed with Esther he became a witness to flying and moving objects,strange fires, even objects appearing out of nowhere. Walter Hubbell was a witness to everything that was claimed to be happening even Esther's fits of swelling and pain. Walter also made contact with three NEW "ghosts" who called themselves as follows "Mary Fisher","Jane Nickle", and "Eliza McNeal".
Eventually Esther got used to the activity and Walter talked her into letting people pay her to hear her story and witness activity but due to heckling Esther shut down the tour. Esther once again returned to Amherst where she got a job working for a man named Arthur Davison. Sadly the job didn't last very long due to Arthur's barn burning down which he blamed on Esther. Esther was convicted of arson and was sentenced to four months in prison. After serving only one month Esther was released and returned home. Lucky for Esther though the poltergeist activity began to fizzle out before coming to a complete stop shortly after. Esther eventually got over her past and was married twice having a kid from each marriage before dieing an old woman on November 8,1912.

So after hearing this case what do you think about poltergeists? Are they really ghosts or are they just a manifestation of our frustrations?

IMPORTANT LINKS!!!

Poltergeist Website With More Information!

   part 1 of the Enfield Poltergeist Case.





    Famous ghost investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren show footage from a poltergeist case.

Ghost series! PART 1 Poltergeist

Poltergeist comes from the German words polter "to make noise" and geist "spirit" the term literally means noisy spirit. A poltergeist is the apparent manifestation of an invisble but noisy, disruptive or destructive entity. Most accounts of poltergeist manifestations involve noises and destruction that have no apparent cause. Reports also include inanimate objects being picked up and thrown as if by an invisible person, also knocking sounds, human voices, and physical attacks on humans that might include pinching, biting, scratching, and hitting.
Traditionally poltergeist are described in folklore as troublesome spirits who, unlike ghost haunt a particular person instead of a specific location. Poltergeist manifestations have been reported in many countries including the United States. The oldest recorded cases date back to the 1st century.
Poltergeist activity has often been believed to be the work of malicious ghosts and are believed to be closley associated with the elements (Earth,Air,Fire,Water).
Nandor fodor (British and American parapsychologist,psychologist,and one of the leading authorities on poltergeist) proposed that poltergeist disturbances were caused by human agents suffering from some form of emotional stress or tension. William G.Roll (a noted parapsychologist/psychologist) studied 116 different poltergeist cases and found the agents were often children or teenagers, and supposed that recurrent neuronal discharges resulting in epileptic symptoms may cause recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis. This means that it is believed that a stressed person can affect their surrounding by using temporary telekinesis.
The psychical investigator Guy William Lambert proposed a geophysical explanation for poltergeist activity with the activity of underground water and other factors. The energy of the Earth, weather,house foundation,and geological factors can account for most poltergeist cases. Water is a very powerful element it is thought that and underground water course may flow under "haunted" locations and that after heavy rainfall the stream could cause structural movement of the property, which could cause the house to vibrate or move objects.
A retired physical chemist named David Turner suggested that ball lightning could cause objects to move on their own. Some subject with poltergeist activity have shown signs of hysteria which would make the subject see and hear things that aren't really there. 

Easy by Tammara Webber BOOK REVIEW!

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Title: Easy

Author: Tammara Webber

Published: Berkley Trade



This book is about the college life of a girl named  Jacqueline and I was thinking ok so it's just a book about a college girl falling in love.....boy was I wrong. The book kicks into high gear in the first chapter which isn't found most often in books ( I like books that get right to the point). Jacqueline was just broken up with by her boyfriend of 3 years and was depressed and she didn't really want to go to this frat party that she was at in the first chapter but her room mate Erin made her. Unlike most people that go to frat parties she wasn't drinking and was told she would be the sober driver for Erin later that night. Erin of course was all over her boyfriend Chaz and wasn't coming back to their dorm that night so Jacqueline decided to bail. As she was walking to her car she was remembering her break up from her boyfriend and wasn't really paying attention to her surroundings at the time. She opens the door to her truck and pulls out her keys to drive back to her dorm when all of a sudden she is grabbed from behind by a male who then proceeds to attack her. With no way out she starts to panic when all of a sudden a dark handsome guy grabs her attacker saving her.
You would think that BAM that is the end of the story but NO as the year goes on she gets closer and closer to her savior which quickly turns to love. Her attacker on the other hand continues to prowl the campus ready to attack again.
Lucas is a college student (among other things) who has a dark cloud from his past hanging over his head. Something happened to him when he was younger involving his mother that has left him with many scars outside as well as in, so when he saw Jacqueline being attacked he thought of nothing else but saving her. He never thought that simple act of kindness could turn into something much more life changing.



Rating:

Thoughts: Let me just start off by saying that I went into this book knowing only that it was a love story but other than that I knew nothing of the plot. I kept hearing good things about the book from other readers and of course I love the way the cover looks (which is always a plus) so I looked into getting it. All in all this book was written pretty well and it read fast. My only problem with it is that I thought there could have much more story. Also this book is aimed for a mature audience due to its sex scenes so READERS BEWARE!


                                            

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