Chali Center

"Celticity" has been adopted as a node of self-identification by a variety of peoples at different times. During the 19th century, French nationalists gave a privileged significance to their descent from the Gauls. The struggles of Vercingetorix were portrayed as a forerunner of the 19th-century struggles in defence of French nationalism, including the wars of both Napoleons (Napoleon I of France and Napoleon III of France). Basic French history textbooks could begin with the famous words "Nos ancetres les Gaulois..." ("Our ancestors the Gauls..."). A similar use of "celticity" for 19th century nationalism was made in Switzerland, when the Swiss were seen to originate in the Celtic tribe of the...

Wow this is a truly hard questions; to start with what gives me the inspiration. I have to say it's the characters themselves that inspire me. It depends on who they are what's happening in their life, one heroine may have had tender feelings for the hero for a long time and impending doom could set it in motion or maybe she will never see him again. It all depends on what's happening to the hero and heroine. Since it is the characters that determine why and how the scene takes place it is also up to them on what will become of it. I have found inspiration in music, depending on what I am writing at the time, if it's Celtic and this the music I listened when writing Fay's Wish, well I have a...

General summary of city: Bruges, Belgium, from the Norse word 'Bryggja' meaning "mooring place," is one of the three regions and the capital of Flanders. Bruges has a population of over 100,000 and covers an area of approximately 138 km. This historic city, with its natural link to the sea, became a commercial center for European trade in early medieval times, as the harbor filled with ships carrying wool, grain, and wine. In a short while, the door opened for trade with countries on the Mediterranean Sea and the first fleet of ships arrived from Genoa, Italy. With the increase in international trade and the influx of capital, Bruges soon became an extremely wealthy city and a worldwide banking...

Indo-European was spoken about 6000 years ago (4000 BC) by a seminomadic people who lived in the steppe region of Southern Russia. Speakers of the languages migrated eastwards and westwards; they had reached the Danube valley by 3500 BC and India by 2000 BC. The dialects of Indo-European became much differentiated, chiefly because of migration, and evolved into separate languages. So great was the variety among them that it was not until 1786 that the idea was put forward that a Family of Indo-European languages actually exists. In the twentieth century Indo-European languages are spoken in a wide arc from Bengal to Portugal, as well as in countries as distant as New Zealand and Canada, to which...

When one thinks to Greek Deities, Hestia, probably does not come to mind. Less dramatic than others, she still played an important role in Greek culture.The Greek Deity Known as HestiaIn ancient Greece, fourteen Olympians made up the pantheon of gods that were worshiped by the Greeks. While some of these deities are extremely well-known today, such as Zeus, Aphrodite and Athena, others are less familiar. These gods, while not in the forefront of Greek mythology, still played a major part in the lives of the ancient Greeks. One of these is Hestia, the first and last born daughter of the Titan Chronos.In pre-Olympic mythology, the story is told of how the Titans Chronos and Rhea had twelve children...

The Arabic language is an ancient tongue that dates back to earlier than the 6th century. It is a language steeped in history, and shrouded in mystery. Today, the Arabic language is the 5th most spoken language on the planet, and it is the official language in many Middle Eastern countries, such as Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. If you are interested in the study of ancient Near Eastern history, modern Middle Eastern history, religion, or foreign language, learning the Arabic language will help you in your academic pursuits. There are several ways you can go about learning how to read, write, and speak Arabic.If you feel that you should learn the Arabic language for...

There seems to be a trend to leave the cities - to get in touch with one's own self. People seem to start listening to the little voices inside of themselves, their gut feeling or nudges. Word got out, that there are friendly people wherever you go, especially out west and in the country, where they can grow a garden, raise livestock, hunt and fish and where people can be more independent of the things the rest of the world is doing. If someone has a job they can do from home, there are Internet connections available via satellite from even the very remotest spots, and most small towns make it a point to have Internet connections available. People, who work from home and are connected to the rest of...

Is there a mystery here to be unravelled? Is there a serpent code being held by the Grail myths? Can we uncover this code by taking a look at the Lady of Lake? The answer is yes to all these questions, for held within the folds of the coiled snake we shall discover the truth of the origin of the Arthurian tales and the strange watery Lady who was to give Arthur his sword.There are various names attributed to the 'Lady of the Lake;' Nimue and Vivienne are the two most used, but most pertinent to us here is 'White Serpent.' Nimue is probably Mneme or Mnemosyne, who is one of the Muses or 'water nymphs' from Roman and Greek mythology and who gave out weapons - just as the Lady of the Lake did. Vivienne...

In many cases a marriage is recognized both by a church and the state. While the legal requirements for a wedding are established by the state, many couple wish to follow certain religious traditions to have their marriage recognized in their church as well. In the Catholic religion marriage is considered sacred and is one of the sacraments of the faith. The Catholic Church puts forth their own requirements for a marriage to be recognized in the eyes of the church.The Claddagh ring has a special meaning in a traditional Irish wedding. The Claddagh ring is a traditional ring that looks like two hands holding a heart that is adorned with a crown. Tradition holds that Claddagh rings be passed down...

The Halloween Bat. Did you know that...At this time of year you can expect to find the Halloween bat all over town. They areeverywhere. You can see them in almost every window, pasted on doors, and very often evenhanging from porches. As familiar as they are, there are some important and interestingfacts that you probably did not know about them.* First off, bats are the only mammals that have the ability to fly. * There are over one thousand different species of bats.The most frequently occurring Halloween bat we have is the blood sucking Vampire bat. Thevampire drinks blood. How spooky is that. And, how appropriate for a Halloween bat. But thetruth of the matter is that this bat suffers greatly...

Before you get too excited, read below to find some great tips about travelling to Athens. If you plan ahead, you'll ensure that your Athens vacation is the best it can be!Getting to Athens: Using a Greek Travel AgentYou might be frightened about using a travel agent you're not familiar with - especially from a foreign country. Have no fear, using a reputable Greek travel agent is probably the safest and most affordable way to schedule your visit to Athens.There are several reasons why using a Greek travel agent can help your travels go more smoothly. One, they are very familiar with the Athens area and can direct you to the right hotel, activities and travel methods during your stay. A travel agent...

All over the world, people celebrate Christmas. Although this holiday is obviously associated with the Christian faith, the date and customs are much older. In the very beginning of the Catholic Church, the heads of the church recognized it would be easier to "write over" existing celebrations instead of attempting to wipe them out. Most people would agree that of all the pagan holidays assumed by the Roman church in its earliest attempts to convert the world to Christianity, the changing of Christmas from the pagan renewal celebration to the birth of the Christian Messiah has been one of the most successful. This holiday is now recognized even in countries that are not predominantly Christian. In...

To simplify the story of the Allen Roundheads for those who haven't heard it before.Will Allen of Mississippi obtained a Boston Roundhead gamecock from Dr. Fred Saunders and crossed him over some hens that a blend of Redquill and Grist Grady. The Gradys' were originated seemingly as a succession of battle crosses by Col Grist of GA. Some of the breeds making up the Gradys were Claiborne, Shawl neck (Southern USA Whitehackles) and Warhorse, plus a bit of Spanish blue stock.Since all these breeds are straight comb, it would seem that Boston cock had very strong pea comb genes to give that characteristic to his offspring and descendants for generations to come to this day- after 100 yrs. or so.I have...

Multi-polaristic lateralists are tripping over each other like Inspector Clouseau and salivating at the mouth Cujo style in the hope that China will challenge American hegemony. Best to heed some prudent advice; hold off with the Asti Spumante. China still has a long way to go before it is a bona-fide integrated superpower. They have some internal issues (such as environmental and ideological) they need to iron out before they can project true power - and they know this. We, on the other hand, seem to be ignoring this at our peril.The Dragon is not a stranger to being a great power. Chinese history is littered with great achievements. It stands to reason therefore as the world...

The Victorian era was from 1837-1901. This was the reign of Queen Victoria of England. In that time people would wear whatever she thought looked good.In the beginning, Victorian jewelry purer 18-22 karat gold. In 1854, gold was standardized and had 9, 12 or 15 karats. It had to be stamped and hallmarked. The other metals used if not gold were electric gilt, mercury gilt, pinchbeck and silver.The design of Victorian jewelry came from nature. Birds, flowers and trees with detailed engravings. Repousse were large solid pieces that had fluted and raised edges. Cannatille jewelry used strands of gold wire that were twisted and wound into intricate designs.Near the end of the Victorian era, Egypt...

Celtic Crosses - An Ancient and Powerful Symbol 03rd May 2007 Author: Martin Mallett The cross of the Celts and Celtic Christianity is a symbol of beauty and also a possessor of many meanings. It resembles a traditional Christian cross, with a circle drawn around the joints of the two arms of the cross. It is regularly referred to as the Irish Cross or the Cross of Iona (both an island and a Gaelic name). One feasible meaning of the cross is the unity of two types of belief systems. The cross symbolizes Christian belief, while the circle symbolizes a pagan moon Goddess. This coincides with the Irish legend, that St. Patrick introduced this symbol when trying to convert the pagan people of the...

For most people the use of a car rental is a necessity. It generally is done as the result of a need for a replacement vehicle for a period of time. Most people do not rent cars on a regular basis and do not know all the ins and outs involved in the rental contract. There are some very basic, although important steps that should be followed when renting a car.You do not need to have personal auto insurance to rent a car; they will ask you if you would like to purchase their insurance for the duration of the rental contract. If, however, you have your own insurance policy, be sure to call your agent to see if you are covered during your use of a rental car. If your personal auto policy covers you...

Whenever we read the great tales of ghosts and goblins, of gods and their helpers, of priests, lore, and magic, we are always struck with the idea that these spirits have emotions, that they are suffering from human frailties, and that they have a will power. The origin of the idea of the soul, of the spirits and the gods, all comes from the most human desire: immortality, freedom from fear of death. As it so happens to be natural, humans desire to avoid pain, suffering, misery, and death. The idea that death or the end of life is not really the end of life, and that a misery-less future awaits those who die, this idea is a relatively attractive one. With an afterlife, there is no death, so it...

1. HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2. SUMMER'S END 3. SPOOKY 4. THE COLD SHOULDER 5. HALLOW'S EVE 6. BOBBING FOR APPLES 7. TRICK 8. OR TREAT 9. JACK O' LANTERN 10.THE GREAT PUMPKIN 1. HAPPY HALLOWEEN Of all the mainstay holidays that populate our year, Halloween is one of the oldest, dating back thousands of years. Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Easter and even Christmas are youngsters by comparison.Follow me and I'll take you on a trail that follows it through the ages to the costume and candy nighttime promenade we celebrate today.2. SUMMER'S END Originally starting out as an ancient Celtic holiday, Druidic priests regarded the day as the end of the year and a celebration for the year's harvest. October...

Music Medicine Soothes the Soul and the Body Researchers throughout the world are reporting intriguing new ways about how sound vibration heals the body, mind, spirit and the environment. The words people choose to speak and the music people listen to have profound power to decrease pain, draw people out of emotional and mental isolation and even clear polluted water. And scientists are discovering that certain deep space sounds are amazingly similar to the sounds of dolphins, Tibetan bowls and human choirs. Why Is this Important to You? Because you can use music, song, vibration and words to dramatically affect your own health and the well-being of other people. The impact, potential and mystery of...

Although they seem to be things of the past, reminders of ancient Greek deities are all around us. When you read the following names, more than a few will look familiar.Ancient Greek DeitiesThe Greek Pantheon was a polytheistic system of thought and religion that assumed its Greek deities existed independently and individually. Their roll was to rule diverse aspects of the mortals every day life. Myth and culture is gathered in the Pantheon from where the deities leave toward their corresponding realm.Due to the Hellenic polytheist beliefs in ancient times, deities formed relationships with each other on a more human scale. Compared to one-deity approaches in many modern religions, Greek deities had...

Part 1The Beginning "Where did it all begin?"I don't think anyone can answer this question with certainty, but there are plenty of good hypotheses. Every culture has some form of hand to hand combat in its history. Combat without weapons usually appears in the form of wrestling and sometimes boxing. Looking at the history timeline, one good hypothesis is that the wrestling techniques of Jiu-Jitsu could very well have come from Ancient Greece. Olympic games were one of the Greek's strongest traditions. It is most likely that along with Greek ideas, came one of its most popular sports, Pankration. Pankration was a sport that involved both boxing and wrestling techniques and became more popular to the...

A Mega-Frame is like the ornate framing that surrounds a picture or painting. It encloses and defines information. Amateur and professional artists deeply appreciate the value of framing: the right frames will enhance their pictures - the wrong frames will devalue them. Many an artist has created works that have not become truly expressive or beautiful until they have been enclosed in the right frame.Framing has a long and rich history. The Sophists of ancient Greece were masterful framers and re-framers. Aristotle coined the word "atechnoi" to describe it. One of ancient Rome's greatest orators, Cicero, elevated frames ("statis") to an art form. His speeches are still studied by students of...

The Lighthouse of Alexandria is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is the most recent Wonder to be built, having been built during the reign of Ptolemy I of Egypt, a commander under Alexander the Great who took over control of Egypt after Alexander's death. Historical records indicate that the Lighthouse was commissioned in 290 B.C. and completed some 2 decades later.The Lighthouse of Alexandria is also the most well-recorded of the six destroyed members of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World (the Pyramids of Giza being the only Wonder still standing), since it was still in operation until a serious of earthquakes demolished the structure over a few decades in the early 14th...

As the saying goes, what's old is new again. That's never truer than when it comes to home decorating. Buddhist art in general - and Foo Dogs in particular - has become increasingly popular with professional and amateur decorators alike. Many people were first exposed to Buddhist art when feng shui - the Chinese art and science of arranging space in harmony with the environment - first became popular. Although feng shui has is roots in Taoism, the Chinese incorporated Buddhist art, such as Foo Dogs, into the design of their buildings from the second century B.C. Foo Dogs, sometimes known as guardian lions, are generally placed on either side of a building's entrance. According to Buddhist...

[Note: This paper contains images which may be seen as originally published at our website]As a support for our statement above, we might mention the Tarot cards as an example. These esoteric cards nowadays degraded to a method of divination, was actually a training manual for the promotion of one's spiritual and divine expression in the world of matter. The pictorial diagrams of the Major and Minor Arcana holds secrets that the casual operator of the cards are unaware of. When properly understood the Tarot cards take us step by step to our goal of human perfection through the alchemical process.Having gone underground the Initiates of the Mystery Schools were quick to appropriate the popular...

Is there a mystery here to be unravelled? Is there a serpent code being held by the Grail myths? Can we uncover this code by taking a look at the Lady of Lake? The answer is yes to all these questions, for held within the folds of the coiled snake we shall discover the truth of the origin of the Arthurian tales and the strange watery Lady who was to give Arthur his sword.There are various names attributed to the 'Lady of the Lake;' Nimue and Vivienne are the two most used, but most pertinent to us here is 'White Serpent.' Nimue is probably Mneme or Mnemosyne, who is one of the Muses or 'water nymphs' from Roman and Greek mythology and who gave out weapons - just as the Lady of the Lake did. Vivienne...

The traditions of the Celtic people and Celtic jewelry go back for centuries. The Celtic people were a proud culture and used handcrafted jewelry to express many aspects of their culture. Many of the best pieces of jewelry made today originate from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall where many of the Celts eventually settled over the years. As more and more people around the world discover the beauty, culture and charm behind the remarkable fine metalwork found in Celtic jewelry, the availability of Celtic jewelry has increased along with it to meet the growing worldwide demand for well-made Celtic rings. As with anything popular, there is a tendency for jewelry makers to try and cash in on the...

A journey through the history of chocolate reveals that this mysterious food has woven its story throughout multiple cultures and continents impacting civilizations culturally, socially, economically and spiritually. A study of the history of chocolate begins by going back in time to the realm of the Maya Indians and the Olmec Civilizations of Central America.The word cacao was found in the Olmec vocabulary nearly 3,000 years ago. The hot, humid, but shady climate of the tropical rain forests of this region was perfect for growing cacao plants. The Maya felt the cacao tree was owned by the gods and the pods were offered as a gift from the gods to man. The cacao pod became the symbol of fertility and...

Surprisingly, weddings are one of the unchanged rites of passage through history. Nearly all of the customs we observe today are simply echoes of the past. Everything from the veil, rice, flowers, and old shoes, to bridesmaids and processionals, at one time, bore a very specific and vitally significant meaning. The wedding ring and the engagement ring is no different.The Tradition Of The Wedding Ring:Since the days of the early Egyptians, the circular shape of the wedding ring has symbolized undying, unending love. A primitive bride usually wore a ring of hemp or rushes, which had to be replaced often. The Romans used durable iron to symbolize the permanence of marriage. Today of course, the...

The history of the Celtic peoples goes back thousands of years. The early Celts displayed their skills in complex artwork particularly metal, jewelry and weapons as they were regarded as fierce warriors by the Romans. Evidence of celtic crossses and celtic artwork can still be found all over Ireland.Modern Celtic peoples have evolved symbols for themselves, and in the North American people of Celtic descentoften wear these symbols to show that they are of Celtic descent. The ancient Celts passed knowledge down through an oral tradition of storytelling and didn't keep many written records, consequently, there is little evidence of their tattooing remaining even though celtic cross tattoos and celtic...

A History of Tapestries. A tapestry wall-hanging in your home brings not just interior beauty but also a sense of history. European weavers have produced these textiles for centuries, including the medieval, renaissance and Arts and Crafts periods.Tapestries have been woven for hundreds of years in diverse cultures. Both ancient Egyptians and the Incas buried their dead in tapestry woven clothing. Important civic buildings of the Greek Empire, including the Parthenon, had walls covered by them. However it was the French medieval weavers who brought the craft to fruition.In the 13th and 14th centuries the Church recognized the value of tapestries in illustrating Bible stories to its illiterate...

The futile, but never-ending debate over which account of human origins may or may not be taught in public schools, drones on yet again. Most American Christians continue to fight the less-than-good fight, oblivious to the fairly obvious point that the Bible commands God's people, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." This clearly requires Christians to avoid having their children taught by pagans -- meaning that God requires them to avoid sending their children to public schools. This is a sinful, but common, practice among baptized households.So then, having said our mind on the subject, we move onto the questions of logic as they pop up in the debate. Several of the proponents of Mr...