Blogs

Pictures of the week: From a hungry gorilla to North Korean border guards in high heels

'Motaba' the gorilla is bananas for, ahem, bananas, but 6-year-old Ella O'Brien and her 4-year-old sister Bridget are safe from the ape thanks to a glass partition (Newspix / Rex Features)

Lost in a sea of brilliantly colourful flowers at the appropriately named Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California (Reuters)

This otherwordly image of a waterfall in California was created by colourful glow sticks placed under water as well as long exposure photography (Sean Lenz/Kristoffer Abildgaard/Rex Features)

Unlikely friends: Cindy, an 8-week-old kitten, has found an unusual friend in Harvey, an 8-year-old golden retriever. Dogs and cats are normally enemies - think Tom & Jerry - but old hound Harvey has become protective of the young tabby at the Lost Dogs Home in Melbourne (David Caird/Newspix / Rex Features)

Like others this week Louis Maier was affected by the news of Margaret Thatcher's death. But the tattoo-enthusiast paid an unusual permanent tribute to the former Prime Minister - by tattooing her face onto his leg. His tribute to the Tory leader refers to claims she helped invent the Mr Whippy ice cream when she worked as research chemist exploring the effect of emulsifiers (SWNS)

Gun check, hat check, high heels, check - these North Korean soldiers are ready to report for duty at the border with China along the banks of Yalu River. The hermit kingdom is said to be preparing for a further missile launch further heightening tensions in the region. (Reuters)

A woman and child pass graffiti daubed on a wall on the Falls Road in west Belfast. In life as in death Margaret Thatcher polarised opinion and in parts of the country 'street parties' celebrating the former Prime Minister's death were held. Those held in Bristol and Brixton, London, ended in violence (Reuters)

An orphaned polar bear pulls a quizzical look at the camera with a teddy bear by its side. This young polar bear cub was left an orphan after its mother was shot dead by hunters. But the adorable animal has become a global sensation after it was rescued by an Alaskan zoo and built a relationship with some of its current occupants - teddy bears (SWNS)

Russian President Vladimir Putin lies on the snow while playing with his two dogs in Russia. This image is the latest in his photoshoots which put the leader in decidedly macho poses, such as riding bare-chested on a horse or swimming in a lake (Reuters)

Let there be light: This dramatic image of lightening was taken of the night sky over Patterson, Arkansas (Reuters)

Two years ago a destructive earthquake devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch, claiming 185 lives. Now the city has found innovative ways to rebuild such as using giant shipping containers for small business start-ups (Caters)

'Marooned' by Steve Brockett shows villas surrounded by a sea of greenhouses in Spain. The picture was an entry to the Environmental Photographer of the Year Awards (Steve Brockett)

The Ways of the Archons - James Gilliland

We have spoken earlier about the archons, the regenerate ETs, astral beings, at the lowest james_gilliland1level some real dark serpent beings. As I write this article they are really pissed off hitting me with some real sickening painful energies. They were working last night in my dream state creating extreme negative scenarios with old lovers, family and friends. As I speak I am laughing at them. Before I continue with this article I have to clear them to insure the information is correct.

There, now that that is done we can continue. I hate to burst the bubble of many new agers, yet there is a war going on. It is an interdimensional war, which is acted out as above so below. The below is the gross uneven dispersal of wealth, the planned obsolescence, the enslavement through dependency, the pollution and destruction of the environment, as well as the manipulation and mind control through various mediums.

The above is the archons who feed off of the negative emotions, the pain, suffering, sadness, sorrow, etc. They have manipulated humanity through the network, which is filled with false dreams, the American Dream, desires, wants and needs including the need for acceptance and approval by social consciousness through external means. These manufactured desires are all external designed to keep everything external, trapping souls in the physical 3d reality. They focus on the first three chakras survival, sex and power, now even using those close to you to hit you in the 4th chakra to take you out of love and into confusion, pain, and suffering.

There is a story of Buddha’s awakening where the dark lord uses fear, tsunamis, hordes or demons fires, his sexy daughters, his own wrath all to pull Buddha from his center. To trap him back into the 3d reality he was transcending. This is happening on a grander scale, because the archons are loosing their battle with the 5th, 6th, and 7th dimensional beings, the very Source itself. They are pulling out all stops, using everything at their disposal to keep the awakening Gods, “YOU” trapped in be ‘lie’ ving your 3d reality is all there is to you and in this lies your security. Many are falling, going back to what they believe is security, trying to recreate the past, completely sabotaging their awakening, agreements with their higher selves, their spiritual families, and the very source itself.

In some cases those observing on high are just shaking their heads almost in disbelief at the self-sabotaging choices and actions carried out by wounded egos. These higher beings know soul evolution will not be stopped, the reactions to actions against universal law cannot be avoided and try as it might, the wounded egos will experience the lessons no matter how hard they may be to get back on track with soul evolution and spirit.

These higher beings also know it is not the destiny of Earth to neither fall into the hands of the archons nor be under the control of their network. The saviors need to trust, allow those who have chosen the path of the ego, the false security of the external to have their lessons no matter how hard they may be. It is time to practice loving detachment, set some firm boundaries and be an example by refusing to participate in the dramas of those who have chosen to act in ways that are self serving, impacting those around them, humanity and the Earth in a negative manner.

It is time to know who the dark forces are, their ways and buck up for battle. The ultimate power is love, many will fall even those closest to you yet now is the time to rise up to the new 5th dimensional energies rather than join those who have chosen the downward spiral. Know that this too shall pass, it is a process and hopefully when it all gets sorted out after some real hard lessons you just might see those who fell on the other side of this shift. It is up to those who are not seeking help, choosing not to participate in the awakening and healing process and continue with the ego driving their destiny to save themselves. We no longer have the luxury of dragging them along nor should we. It is time to step out of the archon network, know it for what it is, realize it is on the way out yet it will do everything in its power to create as much chaos, pain and suffering possible to maintain its sick little world.

Hang out with and support the real wayshowers, the ones who are empowering you to make your own personal God/Spirit/Creator connection, break the bonds of enslavement due to external means, the need for acceptance and approval outside of self, attachments to people places and things.

The old external 3d ways are coming to a close. The balance between internal and external, Christ consciousness where God knows itself to be man/woman and man/woman know themselves to be Gods is coming. It is time to flow with it, become it. In the days to come trying to hang on to the past, the old ways, the old world will become the greatest insecurity and hold the hardest lessons. It is a time for right living, right choices, right actions. Be well.

James Gilliland
www.eceti.org
www.bbsradio.com
www.worldpuja.net

Bert Hardy: Photographs of bygone Britain

Famed war-time photographer Bert Hardy would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year and is regarded as one of the country's best photojournalists. Although he is well-known for his war photography, his images of post-war Britain and spontaneous everyday situations are also a visual feast. Images of children at play, war-time goodbyes and a royal wedding are due to go on display. An exhibition of his images at the Photographer's Gallery in London is open from April 4 to May 23.

Two young women sit on a railing in Blackpool in 'Maidens in Waiting', 1951. This is one of Hardy's most recognisable images (Bert Hardy/ Getty Images)

A tearful woman's farewell at 'Wartime Terminus, Paddington Station', 1942 (Bert Hardy/ Getty Images)

Men and women sit on the steps of a fountain at Picadilly Circus, London in 'Picadilly Circus', 1953. Bert Hardy was born into a working class family in Blackfriars, London (Bert Hardy/Getty Images)

A priest talks to a young girl among debris left by the Blitz in 'Life of an East End Parson', 1940 (Bert Hardy/Getty Images)

A teacher leads a young class across the street in 'Teachers', 1956 (Bert Hardy/Getty Images)

Two boys walk arm-in-arm in 'Gorbals Boys, Glasgow, Europe’s worst slum,' 1948 (Bert Hardy/ Getty Images)

Although Bert Hardy is most famous for capturing everyday lives and everyday people, this shot of then Princess Elizabeth on her wedding day is also remarkable. 'Royal Wedding, King George VI with The Bride, Princess Elizabeth', 1947 (Bert Hardy/ Getty Images)

A group of girls walk down the street in 'Pretty Girls of Leicester', 1948. Hardy also worked in Asia as Lord Mountbatten's personal photographer and covered the Korean war (Bert Hardy/ Getty Images)

A group of men chat by a lamp post in 'Too Many Spivs', 1954. Hardy is best known for his work during the Second World War and in post-War Britain (Bert Hardy/ Getty Images)

Children playfully run after a parson in 'Life of an East End Parson', 1940 (Bert Hardy/ Getty Images)

Pictures of the week

Hundreds of beautiful cranes obscure the sky by a lake in northern Israel. The stunning image was taken by Liron Hamelnick, 29, at Hula Lake Park in the Middle Eastern country. The majestic birds use the lake twice a year as a brief stopover from Europe to Africa (Caters)

A line of Masai people wait to cast their vote. Millions of Kenyans voted in an election amid fears of a repeat of violence and bloodshed that shocked the African nation five years ago. Allegations of doctored votes were raised by current Prime Minister Raila Odinga but his rival Uhuru Kenyatta has retained a lead as counting draws to a close. In 2007 more than 1,200 people were killed after the result was disputed (Reuters)

This photo of a bright blue glacier was taken by Marketa Kalvachova, 32, who is dubbed the 'Ice Queen'. The photographer travels thousands of miles every year to find the unusual landscapes in the coldest corners of the globe (Caters)

Invocation of Forgiveness and Love

http://youtu.be/YnP_lQRCTpE

Anrita Melchizedek

Published on 24 Mar 2013
Invocation of Forgiveness and Love

By Anrita Melchizedek www.pleiadianlight.net
Music by Mike Hammer www.michaelhammer.com
Mp3 download www.pleiadianlight.net/free-downloads
Global Prayer Facebook Link-Up http://www.facebook.com/events/436176...
Daily Link-in ~ 9pm your local time or whatever time suits you
Please consider signing my petition

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Have...

Through the Overlighting of Mother Father God, I experience my Self within the Unity Grid of Divine Love and One Unity Consciousness.

Through the radiance of the Cosmic Heart of All Creation, I now connect with my Beloved I Am Presence and the I Am Avatar Consciousness of Light.

I now invoke the presence of all the Enlightened Masters and Beings of Light from On High,
to bring tranquillity and peace into my Life, those of my loved ones and all Life on this earth plane.

I now surround myself in the Violet Transmuting Flame of Forgiveness and Transformation,
the Pink-Orange Flame of Divine Love and now the Golden Flame of One Unity Consciousness.

As I forgive and Love, finding compassion and gentleness within my heart for all those that I perceive have caused me an injustice, I know that the way forward is trusting and surrendering to the Divine,
having a determined outcome and yet not determining the outcome, understanding my pre-birth agreements and karmic contracts, creating win-win situations within my Life, and truly understanding the Divine Perfection within the seemingly imperfection.

I now bring a focus to my personal relationships, with my parents, my partner, my children, friends and family, releasing any issues of resentment, anger and separation, miscommunication, betrayal and lack of Love.

I communicate clearly and lovingly, cutting old cords and creating new cords of compassion, appreciation and Love, knowing that my Beloved I Am Presence is center stage,
guiding and directing me in my everyday Life.

I now bring a focus to the children of the world, that need Love and nurturing, that have been abandoned, abused, traumatized or homeless.

I send my Love and the combined Love of All Creation, touching the heart and Soul of each child in the Illuminating Light rays of Divine Love, sharing my Love and receiving this back tenfold through the power of magnetized thought and Divine Love.

There is only Love, and this is my guiding Light.

I Am Love,
I Am Light,
I am compassionate and loving,
breathing hope into all situations that seem challenging and heartbreaking.
In my strength and courage,
in my wisdom, power and illuminating intelligence,
I create change within my Life,
and upon this earth plane.

For I am co-creating heaven on earth,
and my heart's dreaming,
and the knowing that all paths before me are pathways of Divine Love;
And so it is.

And now, my precious friends and family take a few minutes to send your Love to all those you know are going through challenging times and would truly appreciate your Love and support.

A global prayer vigil will be held every day at 9pm your local time should you wish to link-in.

Blessings and much Love

Anrita Melchizedek

Anrita Melchizedek has uploaded Sacred Cosmic Fire of Stability and Equilibrium.

Sacred Cosmic Fire of Stability and Equilibrium

http://youtu.be/TCAjOCLygnE

Published on 4 Mar 2013

The Sacred Cosmic Fire of Stability and Equilibrium

Mp3 download http://pleiadianlight.net/free-downlo...

Written Invocation and Elders message http://pleiadianlight.net/march-2013-...

In this month of March, amplified through the Equinox on March 20th/21st, we experience the sacred Cosmic Fire of Stability and Equilibrium through the Overlighting of Helios and Vesta, Sanat Kumara, the bridge to Solar Christ Consciousness, and the many Illumined Beings of Light from On High assisting in this Golden Age of Light.

We are invited into the etheric Spiritual Sun Temple of Helios and Vesta to experience this sacred Cosmic Fire of Stability and Equilibrium wrapped in beautiful copper-gold and pink-gold flames of Light, and surrounded in an Electronic Ring of Fire, a shield of pure God essence.

Stability requires we are unchanging in the face of adversity, looking through our Master eyes at all of Life around us. And through the sacred Cosmic Fire of Stability and Equilibrium we experience a blending of earthly and Spiritual experience, manifest as Stability, and the immutability of Mother/Father God. As these sacred transfiguring Flames of Divine Love, we are leading the way through our Divine Love and the recognition that all Life is Divinely equal, with the knowing that only the levels of "Cosmic Consciousness" awareness differs from individual to individual. Stability brings a level of emotional equilibrium, as we release old karmic patternings, false beliefs and judgments, and experience a deeper sense of "controlling our frequency" through the radiance of the Cosmic Heart of all Creation and the Patterns of Perfection, in the knowing that all is Divinely Perfect. We find contentment, peace and stillness of mind and heart in our collective union with the Divine, trusting and surrendering to all that unfolds, while co-creating our heart's dreaming.

To fully comprehend the Sacred Cosmic Fires of Helios and Vesta, and how each sacred Cosmic Fire imbues us with the radiant Light frequencies and key codes of the New Earth Templates, we bring a focus to our I Am Avatar Bodies of Light, actualized through the merging and integration of our Beloved I Am Presence, the creation of our Crystalline Bodies of Light and the activation of our Crystalline Sun DNA templates

The Crystalline Life-Code Seed Atoms being activated at this time are experienced through every sub-atomic particle within our Beingness, and these new sub-atomic particles frequencies carry the key codes in geometric formations, sonic vibrations and color codes for holding the Light unwaveringly in this Golden Age of Light, bringing about Stability. This transformational process and related chemical reaction affects all of the energy centers in our physical bodies; as well as the organs and body parts, central nervous system, and sensory system, brain chemistry, bio-circuitry, and the endocrine system.

It affects the cells, the mitochondria, the DNA, and the hormones. Additionally this creates the holographic energy field of Divine Love within and around us, further activated through the Crystalline Sun DNA templates.

Read More: http://pleiadianlight.net/march-2013-...

Invocation by Anrita Melchizedek http://pleiadianlight.net

Artwork by M Art Dimension www.martdimension.com
Thaddeus music "The Spiritual Sun" by Sanaya Roman www.orindaben.com

Pictures: Rio’s Olympic rowing lake filled with 65 tonnes of dead fish
By Eurosport | World of Sport – 4 hours ago

A huge clean-up has been launched in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon after 65 tonnes of dead fish filled the waters which are set to play host to the 2016 Olympic rowing events.

The lagoon, authorities say, became deoxygenated after heavy storms, which washed ‘a large amount of organic matter’ into the lake.

The clean-up is still underway, and is not the first time that the lagoon has suffered such misfortune. In 2009 an estimated 100 tonnes of dead fish, predominantly shad, had to be removed from the waters after a similar incident.

As you can see from the picture above, taken during the Pan-Am Games in 2007, the lagoon hosted rowing successfully.

But you can see the horrific pictures of the Lake as it is this week below:

Understanding the Ray of Love & Wisdom

From The Elohim Masters Appollo & Lumina

When we embrace the energies of Love and Wisdom through the Essence of the Elohim Masters, it brings forth a feeling of gentleness and understanding of the Golden-Yellow Ray Spectrum of Light.  Elohim Apollo and Lumina share with us a feeling of understanding how to fully allow the aspect of Perception and Wisdom to be experienced within the human condition.  They both ground this energy for each of us within the Earth including Gaia.  It is through their understanding to us that we start to allow our Divine Wisdom to be illuminated within our world.

Apollo and Lumina are also known as Cassiopea and Minerva in various esoteric teachings.  They represent the Divine Flame of Illumination which allows the Mental Mind to surrender into the concept of receiving and acting upon God’s Divine idea and direction of understanding how to manifest it.  Lumina is the Goddess of Wisdom as she personifies the essence of God through her extending her hand of knowledge to each of us so that we may see our own Divine Will being manifested within our Wisdom of the Self.

Both Apollo and Lumina share their extensive knowledge and expertise with the Divine Flame to show us our way of understanding it and accepting our divinity upon this Earth.

We are, Apollo and Lumina, keepers of the Divine Flame of Illumination for Love and Wisdom.  It is our divine pleasure to speak to you in this moment.  We ask of you how many times during the day do you express your breath to accept your own Divine Flame?  This is a very important question to ponder as the energetic exchange coming from your Higher Essence into the body cannot be felt unless you command it to be so through your breath.

The breath is the divine connection of the Source of Light and many times it is forgotten unless you are completing a task in which it is important, like walking, running, exercising, deep periods of meditation, and exerting your physical energies.  But it is more important to reflect on these elements in your day.  You body cannot survive without the breath and the deepest reflection that can occur happens through this action of your physical self into the spiritual self and then back through the physical essence.

This will help the Mental Mind to surrender into your highest wisdom of light.  When you start to meditate, don’t you take deep breaths and allow your body to relax?  Yes, of course you do; and if you don’t, then you are missing a very good point in your acceleration process.

This is the entry point of you learning how to create and allows the Mental Body to accept the process of illumination.  Trying to do it from just the mental thoughts will never work as you are a supreme being of light so that source of light must be manifested from your Higher Self.  How does the Higher Self find the illumination it is searching for?  By allowing the frequency from God’s Source to come within the mental thoughts through the frequency of the breath.

It is so very simple to remember but yet, many of you forget time and time again.  If you think of yourself as beam of light filtering into all areas of existence, that light is manifest by the pure essence of its arrival.  When it enters the body, how does the physical self know what to receive?  These are the questions that you must ponder when realizing the essence of Illumination.  We cannot feel illumination from within the physical as we are just acting within that response of experiences.  As you come within the physical body, you bring the fluidness and light of God’s Will in your breath.  By allowing yourself to breathe through it, you are accepting you have acquired Wisdom that needs to be shared and acknowledged to the Earth.

This is when the Mental Mind becomes the Higher Mind, and you accept the definitive light within your totality.  Thoughts can become reality as you perceive it from the higher sense of yourself and not the lower self trying to create the changes necessary.  This is where Love and Wisdom is acknowledged within your physical reality.  Perception of the moment is a necessary aspect to allow the initiatory response to be fully active within your consciousness.  It can only work in this manner by activating it through your breath to the Higher Mind into the Physical Self.  This is the chain of events that must be created in order to have the illumination of the mind within your physical creation.  This will then help you to understand your Wisdom allowing the depth of Love that is being given to you in each of these moments.

We know that the transition of learning this process is not an easy one but once you acquire it and fully act upon it in all of your moments, then you will be able to perceive your life as the Light and God Force that you are.  You will see that God’s illumination is truly yours.  You can accept, acknowledge, and embrace it fully.

We honor each of you for walking this pathway of Light and want you to know that we will help you to honor yourself in the process.

We are the Elohim Masters of Love and Wisdom,

Apollo & Lumina

So Mote It Be, In The Light of Oneness

Written & Channeled by Rev. Christine Meleriessee

©2013 Walking Terra Christa, Rev. Christine Meleriessee & Mike Hayden, Ascension Mastery ~  All Rights Reserved.  No use without prior written permission allowed except for sharing the post in its entirety along with the link to this page; WalkingTerraChrista-Elohim Appollo & Lumina, 2nd Ray of Love & Wisdom.

22 RAYS Challenge is a powerful email course to understand and incorporate the Rays of God by receiving background information on each ray with an attunement.

The Illusion of Reality ~ consciousness & quantum theory

http://youtu.be/CRkDicwjRQs

"All matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration. We are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. There is no such thing as death, life is a dream, and we're the imagination of ourselves."

~ Bill Hicks

HMRC warns of fake rebate emails
By Jessica Winch | Telegraph – Tue, Feb 19, 2013 14:02 GMT

Fraudsters are stepping up efforts to trick people into handing over their personal details by bombarding them with fake tax rebate emails.

HM Revenue and Customs has warned that almost 80,000 "phishing" emails were reported by taxpayers during 2012.

The taxman said activity tends to increase around this time of year because taxpayers have just sent in their self-assessment returns.

The emails, which often contain a link to a clone of HMRC's website, typically ask recipients to hand over their card and bank details, date of birth, national insurance number and their mother's maiden name in order to get a rebate. The details are then sold on to organised criminal gangs to commit fraud.

Gareth Lloyd, head of HMRC's digital security said: "HMRC does not email customers about tax refunds we only ever contact customers who are genuinely due tax back in writing, by post.

"If anyone receives an email offering a tax rebate and claiming to be from HMRC, please send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it permanently."

The revenue body said that last year it noticed a spike in the number of a phishing emails being reported after the self-assessment deadline.

HMRC took action to close down 522 illegal sites in 2012, which showed these emails originated from countries including the United States, Russia, Japan, as well as various parts of central and eastern Europe.

The emails often begin with a sentence such as: "We have reviewed your tax return. According to our calculations of your last year's accounts, a tax refund of (an amount) is due."

The self-assessment deadline day was on January 31, when a record 9.61 million people filed their tax returns on time this year.

Legitimate information about tax rebates will be sent out in the coming weeks, but this will arrive in the post and not on email. Genuine tax rebate forms, known as P800s, will never ask for credit or debit card details.

HMRC said the scam is a persistent one, with similar numbers of phishing emails having been recorded over the last couple of years, although the numbers will be the tip of the iceberg as many emails go unreported.

Anyone who receives such an email should delete it and report it, but must never try to reply, HMRC said.

The revenue body advises that anyone who believes they may have fallen victim to an email scam should tell their bank and card issuer as soon as possible.

• What's your story? Tell the author at money@telegraph.co.uk

Pictures of the Week

Roaring past in front of a wall of fire, the Tinstix of Dynamite team perform at the Melbourne International Airshow. The team mix dramatic flying techniques with fire displays to put on a stunning show (Alex Coppel / Newspix / Rex Features)

Tang Yuan, an Alaskan Malamute dog, is only 38 days old - but weighs a hefty 20kg. Nicknamed 'Fluffy Rice Ball' the adorable animal is well insulated against the cold and snow in Songyuan, north-east China's Liaoning Province. Owner Wang Xian says he doesn't feed Tang Yuan too much - his pet just happens to grow very quickly. "A lot of people said I abused the dog for making it so fat, but its fluffy hair makes it look big." (HAP/Quirky China

The driver of this car smashed into the Sevenoaks branch of Specsavers making the message of the company's advert - "Should've gone to Specsavers" - all the more poignant. Although the branch was open at the time luckily no one was hurt. An ominous looking red liquid seeping out from under the vehicle was reported to be brake fluid or coolant (Ben Bridges/Rex Features)

Prince Harry engages with a partially sighted child at St Bernadette's Centre for the blind in Lesotho. The centre is supported by his charity Sentebale and was founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. It helps vulnerable children in Lesotho get the support they need to lead healthy and productive lives. Prince Harry was in Lesotho for the first time since 2010 to inspect the work of his charity and raise funds for a new project (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Dutch company Mars One plans to start a colony on the Red Planet in 2023. The firm already has 8,000 emails from more than 100 countries volunteering for the programme. The eventual goal of the company is a colony of 80,000 people at the cost of a mere $36billion (£16bn)

Aesha Mohammadzai was 18 years old when her husband cut off her nose and ears as punishment for running away from his family's abuse. The Afghan fled to America and her mutilated face was the memorable cover of 'Time' magazine in 2010. The image shocked the world and brought to light the abuse suffered by Afghan women. Aesha has since successfully completed reconstruction surgery and lives with an adopted family in America. The 23 year-old has urged women who suffer from abuse to: "Never give up and don’t lose hope" (Dan Martland/ITV)

Australian entrepreneur Clive Palmer has unveiled ambitious plans to build a replica of the Titanic and repeat the route the doomed liner took when it sank in 1912. Mr Palmer said 40,000 people had already registered interest in tickets for the maiden voyage of 'Titanic II'. He is funding the project entirely on his own, but insists the near-identical replica will be a 'ship of dreams' and a 'blockbuster' (Blue Star Line/Reuters)

Sorry, this looks like who? This waxwork, apparently of football legend Pele, is one of many celebrity 'lookalikes' up for auction at David Lay Auctions in Penzance, Cornwall. A collection of life-size lookalikes are going under the hammer in March. Although they used to take pride of place in Madame Tussauds, London, the waxworks bear only a slight resemblances to their real-life counterparts and are now seen as novelty items (SWNS)

Do You Want To Spend Valentine’s Day With The Emissary Of Divine Love Himself?

Sanat Kumara and the Holy Kumara’s Are Stepping In To Assist Lightworkers In Learning to Access Our Multi-Dimensional Self through the Study of the Venusian Rays of God.

What are the Venusian Rays of God and how can they assist me more than any other teachings I am learning presently? This is probably a very good question as many individuals do not understand how the Rays of Venus can offer a depth within our soul’s memory to bring into our present awareness.

First of all, the Venus way of existence comes directly through our Beloved Teacher Lord Sanat Kumara who was the Planetary Logos until the 1950’s when this post was taken over by Lord Buddha. He is loved and admired by many lightworkers on this planet but truly, why is he so special to us? He understands the pathway of accepting a new way of existence. He has worked with many of us in between our lifetimes as we visited the planet of Venus and in most cases, spent a lifetime or two with them. He initiated the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of White Light to assist the Goddess teachings from Lemuria to go into safe keeping through the ages of time.

We are learning to be awakened by these teachings in our present circumstances. Now he is re-appearing to many of us to help us walk into the New World of Terra Christa or the New Earth. It is time for us to remember what we have learned while experiencing life on Venus and the teachings that are very important for us in this present timeframe.

The most magnificent part of this series is that it is not just about Sanat Kumara. We have a unique opportunity to tap into a part of our history as a Lightworker to learn about Venus once again as we are introduced to the Holy Kumaras that are the seven flame holders of the Rays of God. In actuality it becomes a remembrance and not an introduction. We know and love each of these beautiful beings. They are offering their services to step into our world of creation as they ignite each of the flames within us.

Now what does this mean actually?

The Venusian Beings work and live in a 10-dimensional level of creation. It incorporates only love, pure joy, and acceptance of God’s Essence represented by the Venusian Rays to be infused within us. We work with these energies within our full body system. They do not correlate with any specific chakras but work within the framework of the Full Body System which is what we are now trying to achieve. The process that each individual will go through will help them to take the focus away from each specific chakra and intuit the ray essence to speed along the process. In actuality an individual works directly within their Highest Essence to incorporate the frequency by allowing the Mental Mind to surrender through the process. There will not be any thinking about it ~ it will just occur.

This may be confusing to someone that works deeply from their Lower Mind and are having a challenging time of understanding how to allow it to surrender into the Higher Mind. You have just found the teaching to assist you in this process. As Sanat Kumara as our guide, he introduces each individual to each of the flame holders that will work with each person individually to process the blockages that may be holding an initiate from accelerating themselves within the physical body.

The Venusian Flame Holders of the Rays of God:

• Lord Sanatka – First Ray, Blue Flame, Will of God
• Lord Sa Ananda – Second Ray, Yellow Flame, Wisdom of God
• Lord Sa Na Tana – Third Ray, Pink Flame, Love of God
• Lady Sujata – Fourth Ray, White Flame, Purity of God
• Lady Kapila – Fifth Ray, Green Flame, Science of God
• Lord Sa Na Kumara – Sixth Ray, Purple-Gold-Ruby Flame, Peace of God
• Lord Sanat Kumara – Seventh Ray, Violet Flame, Freedom of God

As part of, and due to your taking on the responsibility within these teachings, participants also have the availability to visit the Kumara’s in your own meditations or on the Inner-Plane level. This is a personal connection to each of the Holy Kumaras who most of us know very little about. They bring a renewal in sharing their light with us to assist us in walking in a 10-dimensional level of consciousness; which will be the higher vibrational essence on the New Earth. The benefits are tangible as working with these beings assists an individual to move through the process on an accelerated basis which is a great dispensation in our current time. [Be aware anyone can ask their Guides and Higher Self to have an audience with any Master on the Inner-Plane. It is then up to the specific Master to choose to honor such request. By taking this type of class, the Kumaras have already agreed to conditional interaction. ]

A Special Message from Lord Sanat Kumara on the Venusian Rays of God

It is with my utmost pleasure to take the teachings of the Venusian Essence into the Hearts of the Lightworkers who are truly my deepest comrades of the Light. Each of the Holy Kumaras is quite excited to be part of this second series about the Kumara Teachings. Our first meetings were absolutely miraculous as we were all introduced to the Lightworkers of the New Earth.

We understand that each of you are undergoing great changes within your environment and personal lives. It is because of these moments that we want to step forward and assist any individual that chooses to experience our essence in this manner. There truly is not much information about our lives on Venus, but we want to change that. You may find that you are completely comfortable with a certain Flame Holder that you knew in Lemuria or Atlantis as it is our time of remembrance. We are coming together to unite our essences in One Creation which happens to be on the New Earth. Going through this process can be quite challenging in many ways and that is why we are here to help.

Eventually Venus will be very interactive with Terra Christa. It is part of the Divine Plan for our essences to come together. Until that can occur, many individuals need to be awakened into their remembrance of the power and light that they held during those times. There is great knowledge to be accessed from those timelines that will benefit each of us in different ways. Our goal is to work with as many lightworkers as possible to help ignite these remembrances which in turn, are going to assist humanity in accepting the light formations necessary upon the Earth. GAIA has arrived into the 4^th dimensional reality and the more light that can be infused within the planet, the more successful we will be in acquiring the necessary structure to allow this to happen.

Our first goal is to assist individuals on a personal basis to realize their potentials but also to see the downfall of their lower self being too activated within their reality. This is a very big task and in order to assist the masses of the people we need as many lightworkers to assist. So it must come from within each of you and the responsibility that you may feel to walk upon the New Earth. It cannot be done just by wishing it to be but must be from a very concerted effort of desiring to create the New World of Light.

Each of you that are attracted to my energies and those of the Kumaras, know only too well, what it takes to be responsible in the light of God’s Heart and Will. We take our work very serious and only work with the best of the best. We honor our friendships deeply and they never die from timeline to timeline but are acknowledged deeply in the Heart of the Soul’s Essence. It is our time to assist the Earth in a new way of being that has never been done before. It takes great diligence and patience to walk this pathway of enlightenment. It is not for the weak-minded or the One’s that are n ot ready to accept their destiny.

I extend my hand and the hands of the Kumaras to work with each of you in this updated program. We have taken what we have learned from our previous seminar series which was very powerful and go to deeper levels of creation to assist each individual in understanding their process of continuance within this timeline. You will be introduced to each Kumara and develop a personal relationship with them. Timelines of the past will be ignited to assist you in your growth. You will be able to accelerate your body so that the higher chakras can be ignited within your physical existence as we will work with you to accept the Full Body of Light which will then open up the doorway for the higher chakras to be ignited within you just by allowing it To Be. You can then work through those higher chakras on your own with the flames of the Kumaras along with the energies of the Spiritual Hierarchy representing the new Earth. You will then be able to ignite a 10-dimensional consciousness within you to accelerate your 5^th dimensional body. Eventually, these tools will help you to accept the 10-dimensional body that will not be integrated until the New Earth is fully in place for several years. So you will be accepting the higher realms within your consciousness to help ground these energies for Terra Christa.

So as you can see I am very excited to work with each of you individually and collectively. I hope I have the opportunity to work with you on a much deeper level as I have in Lemuria.

In blessings of our Oneness,

I AM Lord Sanat Kumara

We will hold a free introductory class on February 14. If you feel you have an interest in this series, please join us.

Each person will download the MP3 files from our previous workshop series in which you, the student, will be introduced to each of the Holy Kumaras. We will then hold three more group calls through the duration of the program working within those specific ray energies which are live calls where new information that will come forth. We are also offering discounted personal sessions for individuals that would like to receive one-on-one assistance from the Flame Holders for each of the three segments (Flame Holders 1-3, 4 & 5, and 6 & 7). There are more details available on Walking Terra Christa, http://walkingterrachrista.com/series-sanat-kumara/.

In Expressions of Oneness,

Rev. Christine Meleriessee & Mike Hayden

Ascension Mastery

The Operating Room of the Future - InSightec - Dr. Kobi Vortman Technion Alumnus

http://youtu.be/IfJemqkby_0

InSightec® is the pioneer and global leader in MR guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) . InSightec developed ExAblate, a product which pioneers the use of MRgFUS, and provides a personalized non-invasive treatment that can replace invasive procedures and offer therapeutic alternatives to millions of patients with serious diseases around the globe. Interview with Technion alumni Dr. Kobi Vortman, Founder and President and Baruch Avruch, Vice President of Operations from InSightec. InSightec web site:

www.insightec.com

8 of the Quietest Places on Earth
Katie Waldeck - February 16, 2013

There are fewer and fewer places on our planet that are free from human intrusion. Popular national parks are packed with tourists in the summer. The sound of honking horns and car alarms drowns out bird calls and howling wolves. But there are places so remote that human noise is practically nonexistent. This isn’t to say these places are silent. In fact, nature can be loud when left (relatively) undisturbed. Click through to check out some of your planet’s quietest places.

1. Samboja Lestari, Borneo

For decades, the tropical rain forests of the world’s third largest island were logged at an alarming rate. In the town of Samboja, deforestation, climate change, floods, droughts and fires ravaged this precious ecosystem — it was so bad, that the flora and fauna native to the area were on the brink of extinction. That is until, in 2001, when the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation began buying up land in the area and began the process of returning it to its natural state. Though the forest has not been fully restored, it is one of the best places on earth to hear the howl of the native orangutans far away from the noise of logging and farming.

2. Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
This 21,000 square mile game reserve, one of the largest of its kind in the world, is home to exactly zero permanent human settlements. The Tanzanian government strictly controls all human activity in the reserve, so almost all of the noise that you’ll hear comes strictly from the animals. Elephants, crocodiles, hippopotami, and zebras, just to name a few. On a trip to the area, perhaps the loudest sound you’ll hear is the roar of a lion!
Image Credit: Murky1 via Flickr

3. The Hoh Valley, Washington
Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is home to some of the most undeveloped national park land in the United States. The picturesque beauty of this virgin temperate rain forest, the largest of its kind in North America, is also considered to be the quietest place in the United States. Is it any wonder, then, that it is also one of the largest areas in the continental United States without roads?!

4. Kronostky Nature Reserve, Russia
Thousands of acres protected land and not a road in site. This nature preserve is located in remote Far Eastern Russia — closer to Alaska than it is to Moscow. Save from the 3,000 tourists allowed into the park for 5 hours at a time via a pricey helicopter ride, only scientists are allowed to explore this vast, unique landscape. It’s home to the country’s only geyser basin and Eurasia’s highest active volcano. Though you won’t hear much in the way of human activity, the park is home to incredible animals, including some of the largest brown bears on the planet.

5. The Kalahari Desert, Southern Africa
The vast expanse, over 350,000 square miles, of the Kalahari desert crosses into a whopping six different Southern African nations. But it’s home to very, very few people — in an area that’s considerably larger than the state of Texas, there are only 20,000 people. As one of the most remote places on earth, the Kalahari Desert is also one of the quietest. Better to enjoy the endemic animals like meerkats and the Kalahari lion, of course!

6. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
You’d be hard-pressed to find a place more remote — and more difficult to get to — than the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in far northeastern Alaska. Nearly twice the size of Massachusetts, there are no roads within or leading to the refuge. Most visitors — all 1,500 of them each year — arrive by aircraft. Though there are a handful of tiny villages, most of the noise comes from the area’s vibrant wildlife: polar bears, caribou, and wolves, just to name a few.

7. Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka
Deforestation has devastated many of the world’s most incredible ecosystems — but not this one. Its remote location means that the dense forest is virgin, and home to an impressive array of endemic wildlife. Limited human activity in the area means that you’re far, far more likely to hear the chorus of tropical birds than the sounds of traffic or construction.

8. The Science Lab: the (Artificially) Quietest Place on Earth
There is silence and then there’s silence. This Minnesota-based laboratory blocks out a whopping 99.99% of all sound. It’s so quiet that you have to sit down, because the sounds you make when you’re moving are blocked out and make it difficult to balance. The longer you’re in there, though, the more you can hear your body’s internal workings: your heart beating, your stomach gurgling, maybe even the sound of your lungs. As cool as that sounds, visitors to this anechoic chamber find it deeply unsettling. In fact, the longest anyone has ever lasted in the chamber was 45 minutes. Your brain begins to hallucinate sounds afteer some time in such utter silence.

This day of your life

Dear Friends

I hope you were able to attend my recent online seminar, The One Secret You’ve Been Searching for Your Entire Life.

It was a truly wonderful experience for me, as over 4,000 people from all over the world attended the seminar live.

Many have written in to say that it has provided them with a deeper understanding of themselves and why they are here, and a clarity about how to finally create a life that expresses their truest self.

If you haven’t heard the audio yet, I invite you to listen to it here.

Like most people, you probably have moments in your life where you feel deeply connected to your soul, fully alive, and more able to act from a place of compassion and purpose.

Unfortunately, these moments are usually far too fleeting, and it is very difficult to make them happen.

I’ve recently developed a 3-step process that invites you to connect with your soul and live from that Divine place in each and every moment, allowing you to create a life that is authentic and fulfilling in every way.

I believe it is the most important work of my life so far.

**** Announcing ****

Living From Your Soul: A 9-Week Journey to Create a Life That Expresses Your Truest Self

In just 9 weeks, this course takes you through a unique, 3-step process that shows you how to:

1. Awaken to your soul

2. Connect with your soul

3. Live from your soul each and every day

If you sense that there’s more to life than what you’re experiencing now, and if you want the tools and knowledge to begin living from your soul, then please join me for this 9-week course and begin to change your life today.

You can find out all the details here:

Living From Your Soul

Your friend,

Neale Donald Walsh

P.S. If you haven't listened yet to my online seminar "The One Secret to Finding What You’ve Been Searching For Your Entire Life" you can download it here.

PLANETARY ~ SHARED BY REV. CHRISTINE MELERIESSEE

On Sunday, February 10^th we experienced a New Moon which was very interesting as it moved from Capricorn into Aquarius representing being restrictive within ourselves and learning to flow with the energies.  We have been experiencing some very powerful energies which Spirit has been speaking that the time in February will be very parallel to what we experienced in December 2012.  It is a time to fully understand what you are going through, allow the process to happen, and walk into the new way of thinking and feeling.

This can be a very challenging experience for individuals who do not understand how to tap within themselves to awaken into a new perspective of awareness.  Just because an individual ‘wakes up unto their beginning essence’ does not mean that they will understand how to process the feelings and thoughts that are happening in their lives.  This pathway is one riddled with great challenges, but also enhances the best that we are in each moment.

February is going to help us expand further into our own consciousness.  We all come to this Earth for a purpose and some of us have more responsibility than others to help create the new frequencies to be fully grounded.  But one thing is certain; if you are reading this material, you have an important role to fulfill within your existence.  These energies are helping us to be better, to be more confident, loving, and compassionate, and to express it to others.  So instead of worrying what you are feeling in each moment, allow the essence of Grandmother Moon to assist you into the next phase of our awakening.

This New Moon has also brought us more activation(s) within the Angelic realm to be integrated within our Being.  This energy started in January and with each new moon we are being activated to remember more of our Angelic Presence.  What this means is that the angel that We Are is intertwining into the human that we have become.  It is all very exciting as we reach into our angelic essence to remember and acknowledge those timelines that we have forgotten.  We are learning to become the Angelic Beings grounded upon the New Earth.  So if you have been feeling unsteady and unsure of yourself, know that it is changing you deeply.  We may not understand how the process is working or the depth that it is occurring for some time.  Our job is to just expand into these frequencies and allow the newness to settle within our physicality.  Your mind is going to want to try and understand; please know that cannot happen as the Higher Mind is now being fully activated within your physical structure.

As we experience these elements, we may be finding that we will do things in a completely different way than we did before; or we may realize that a part of our-self is now our true reality.  The changes that are happening within each individual are so minuet that it may not be detectable without a fine microscope so just allow the feelings to project within your consciousness and accept your new reality.  It is a wonder of love and grace.

As we expand into this new paradigm of Light, we experience a beautiful day of Love on February 14^th.  If you take the time to truly accept the energy of Love within your Heart coming from your Highest Essence, you will start to acknowledge how deeply you are loved and in so many ways.  Jonathan Parker facilitates a World Sound Healing Day, (http://www.worldsoundhealingday.org/) in which every individual chants the sound of “AH” for five minutes at 12 Noon around the world.  This sound resonates from the Heart of God into each of our own hearts and has been utilized by the Divine Mother & Father God in our transmissions from the Clarion Temple of Oneness.  So take some moments on this day to accept the Love that is being guided through your Angelic Essence into the One Being that You Are.

COSMIC LEVEL ~ UNIFIED WHOLE OF ONENESS, MANY BEINGS OF THE ONE LIGHT CONSCIOUSNESS

Greetings and love on this day.  It is very exciting to share and experience the new paradigm of light that is being acknowledged within the Earth Plane levels and to have each of us expand deeper than we ever thought possible.  We, of the Unified Whole Command, are also within our expansion process just like each of you are doing so it is no mistake that we should celebrate our Light with each other.  We plan to do just that.

This month of February is going to help each of you to understand a deeper part of your expansion with feelings.  As you have gone through the changes and elevated your vibrational levels, you have also had to adjust within the physical reality that is changing for you.  We understand the process of not accepting the conditioning process that you have had to experience through this transition of Light unto the planet.  We applaud you that you continue diligently even though the feelings and thoughts you may be having do not reflect the essence that is expanding within your creation.

As we delve deeper into the core of GAIA, there are many levels of timelines that she has held onto that are affecting each of you greatly.  It is not just your personal timelines that you need to process, but her essence is changing with each step that you make within yourself.  The conditioning factor of this transition is one of great sacrifice and without your diligence we could not have created the opening doorways into the New World.  BUT WE ARE ACHIEVING IT ~ and we want to share with you our excitement that is paramount to what you are experiencing presently.

We know the process you have been undergoing, and understand the challenges that are resulting from each of those intense moments within you.  We also understand that you are receiving wonderful gifts each time you go through another intense doorway of change.  The acceleration that is occurring presently is due to the creation of you wanting to do so, and none of you understand the depth of your ability to continue the walk into your future world.  Actually, what is being achieved presently is having the capability to accept the changes as the information has not surfaced except in small bits and pieces as each new development of your world has been revealed.  But that is about to change and you are going to experience it yourself.  You must remember that it must come in waves of light for you to accept the nuances of your future to become manifest in who you are presently.

Changes are resulting within your world and around you for the explicit reason that IT IS TIME.  The creation of your planet has become stable, whereas, previously it was uncertain of the outcome of Gaia.  But with the transition of more individuals awakening upon the planet, the residual effect of the transmutation has taken GAIA’s world into a new existence where love and acceptance is the common rule and not the lower worlds that have resulted in your experiences of the past.

It is now a time of complete reversal within your world and we are excited to experience it with you.  The changes that are about to occur must first be felt within your Heart as all of our Hearts are blending together.  You see in order for us to make the manifestation of the New World occur we must honestly take a few moments with a breath of light and experience the essence of the Purity of Love to be within.  This is going to take practice because the lower mind forgets and wants to run forward with the thoughts.  It is imperative that during this week to not to allow that to happen.

As you move further into your Acceptance, you will start to feel it.  You see YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO EXPRESS IT WITHIN YOU.  You have a body and that body has taken precedence over everything in your world.  But that is no longer the case.  You are learning to accept the light formations that are being transmitted to you in your sleep state, in your meditations, and even your awakened state of consciousness.  It is coming in Light Codes to intertwine within your physical reality.  But you must take a moment and allow this essence to be fully within you as you walk through your days.  Without it, it will be lost and so will you.  This is the power of the light at this time.

Previously we spoke about the Rainbow of Lights that are emanating from the Elders That Surround the Throne of Grace.  They have been continuing to be commanded into each and every soul, but now is the time to understand that you must accept them.  You cannot work without them; they are the commanding energy from the Essence of the Divine Will and Love of God.  You have been created through your physical essence by these commanding light frequencies but that is not All That You Are.  That is the beauty of what is occurring presently.  You are all of these and more and will see the Power, the Love, the Joy, and Expression of ALL THAT IS to be commanded within you.

This week all these frequencies are coming within the planetary level once again on the next phase of Light.  It is assisting everything you know to be and all will change within these essences.  Your world needs it deeply and it cannot change overnight but it is happening within the increments of light formations with each passing planetary exchange of the Sun, the Moon, and all inter-related elements of creation as we come into the Creation of the Oneness.

What does this mean to you presently?  Well, we say to you, “What is it that you do not understand?”  Or let us put it this way, “What is it that you are not seeing within yourself?”  The Rainbows of Light along with the Angelic Transmissions are activating seeds of creation that you previously forgot to help you remember while deflecting the parts of yourself that do not fit your present reality.  Taking some moments and allowing these essences to intertwine within you is going to allow the Acceptance that you have been searching for.  It will help to remove the parts that have been lost, the elements that you need to purge in order to have the full functionality of an ascended being of light.  Mind you, this is just the beginning and it will not occur instantaneously but each of you is going into the depth of your Soul’s Essence to find what you have been looking for.  BUT YOU MUST STOP AND FEEL IT COMING.  Let it flow within you and expand your auric field beyond the frequencies that you never thought you could hold within you.  It may stay for a moment or longer depending upon where you are within your own consciousness.  BUT IT MUST BE IN THE SUPREME LIGHT OF THE PURITY OF YOUR ESSENCE AND NOT WITHIN YOUR PHYSICAL SELF.  It is a gift and it is time for you to receive it.

Expand your consciousness in these moments as you fully accept a new part of your Divinity into your World.  Doing so is going to help the essence of human consciousness to accept itself deeper than ever received upon this planet.  It is the awakening of GAIA and now is the time to fully reflect and enjoy the ecstasy of Oneness Within.

Learning to expand these essences within you daily will help you to acknowledge the deeper parts of yourself.  You will also be able to remove the lower thoughts and feelings that need to be put into the light.  They will arise and utilize these frequencies of your angelic self to turn them into the purest essence you have ever experienced needs to be the defining rule in your life.  But if you choose to stay within them, you shall go deeper into the abyss and pain that you have endured for a very long time.  The Light and the Dark are moving into Oneness but holding onto the Dark will only separate the Light from you as the gap between the two will become wider.  Then there will not be Light and only Darkness which will cause the separation within and then within the world.  But the Light is so strong upon Planet Earth presently that the Light will win but everyone needs to do their internalization of the Self to allow it to happen more quickly.  It will be like a wave as more individuals receive the Light, there will not be anything else, but the LIGHT of GOD.

It is time to understand yourself more deeply than you ever thought you could.  It is not from your physical mind but with a breath of fresh air that the acceptance will enfold within you.  Your lower self will cease to exist but you must allow yourself to surrender within the process of Light.

The choice is yours to fully embrace your Light and Power within God’s Embrace.  We look forward to walking with each of you in the Oneness of Light that we Are.

We are the Unified Whole Command standing amongst each of you in Oneness.

So Mote It Be in the Light That We Are!

©2013 Walking Terra Christa, Rev. Christine Meleriessee & Mike Hayden, Ascension Mastery ~  All Rights Reserved.  No use without prior written permission allowed except for sharing the post in its entirety along with the link to this page; http://walkingterrachrista.com.

Have a wonderful Weekend, and week ahead Dear Friends and Members of Shamballa. Love and many Blessings. Melodie

Chinese New Year is a foodie heaven

Culinary delights and recipes of the Chinese Spring Festival

By James Lawrence | Yahoo! Contributor Network

Yahoo! Contributor Network - The famous Peking Duck!

Chinese New Year is a foodie heaven

China is famously obsessed with food, and at no other time is this more apparent than during the country's New Year or Spring Festival.

This centuries old traditional of marking the end of the winter season is today still a family-focused affair.

Different regions embrace their own traditions of marking the start of the spring and ensuring that good fortune and prosperity will be enjoyed by their loved ones with the giving of Hong Bao (red envelopes filled with money).

Yet, despite the regional variation, one factor does unite every family across China and Chinese communities across the globe, which is, of course, the importance of food.

Indeed, when probing the background of this colourful and vibrant festival, it's worth remembering that this is a land where work, play, romance, business and family all revolve around good nosh.

Meals are not simply about satisfying hunger, they are a vital part of the Chinese social fabric: business deals are struck and friends are made over Dim Sum and Peking Duck.

It is literally always considered the first priority during social occasions - when the Chinese meet their usual greeting is 'Ni Chifan le ma?' - 'Have you eaten yet?'

So, unsurprisingly the key element of the Chinese New Year involves families gathering to feast on New Year's Eve, before enjoying a week-long holiday, celebrating the arrival of spring with fireworks, parades, and more fireworks! The festival begins on the stroke of midnight on the first day of the Chinese lunar month, and can fall anywhere between January 20 and February 19. The ancient Chinese lunar calendar dictates that the New Year begins on the first night of a new moon after the sun enters Aquarius. In the UK this year it will fall on February 10th.

The origins of this festival in the Chinese Calendar are complicated, but in essence popular myth states that in Ancient China a monster known as Nian would devour villagers on New Year's Eve, until a God disguised as an ordinary man asked Nian to devour other monsters in the region, before departing together. The villagers, grateful for being given a peaceful existence, were told to use fire and the colour red to warden off any beasts that should return. This is, of course, an entertaining yarn but ultimately no one really understands for definite the historical origins of the festival.

But then, most Chinese won't worry too much about how it all began and will just enjoy the colourful celebrations and New Year's Eve feasting that involves such treats as duck, lobster (especially in the south) and of course, the vital spring rolls.

For those of you who are planning to celebrate at home, here are some of the more traditional dishes and festive treats to serve on New Year's Eve:

Chūn juǎn recipe (Spring Rolls)
Arguably the most famous Chinese dish of all, spring rolls are named precisely because they are traditionally consumed during the New Year celebrations. You can buy the pastry today at supermarkets, as starting from scratch is quite a messy effort! Vary the filling as you like and feast on this delicious Chinese treat.

Jiaozi recipe (Chinese Dumplings)
The ubiquitous Chinese dumplings are always served over the Spring Festival and originally hail from Northern China, where traditionally the pastry is shaped as money, to bring good fortune and wealth for the year ahead. Making them from scratch is something of a labour of love; requiring time and a lot of patience but again, you can purchase them from select stores. If you are going to do it the hard way, make a large batch and freeze them in advance for your party.

Beijing Kaoya recipe (Peking Duck)
Everyone's favourite Chinese dish, Peking Duck at its finest is simply exquisite: tender, aromatic duck breast wrapped in pancakes accompanied by plum sauce is a moreish proposition. No wonder it soon disappears from the table at restaurants! Purists will say that only in Beijing can you sample the real deal: in the Chinese capital the ducks are roasted in ovens fired up with fruit tree wood. For the rest of us, try the recipe above.

Lo hon Jai recipe (Buddha's Delight)
A fantastic vegetarian dish that consists of over 18 different types of vegetables cooked in soy sauce until they are tender, sometimes with the addition of seafood or egg. The ingredients vary depending on which region is doing the cooking. The above recipe is a classic version of the dish.

Niangao recipe (Chinese New Year Pudding)
The perfect way to end your New Year's Eve feast, Niangao is a rich, sticky, rice pudding that is most often consumed in Eastern China. It is not hard to make and will impress your sweet toothed guests no end. It can be baked or steamed, depending on your preferences but baking is easier, as you don't have to stand fretting over the stove.

Màn màn chī!
Celebrating Chinese New Year in London
Also, don't forget the New Year's Eve parade in London, which begins in Trafalgar Square at 10:00am on Sunday.

There will also be performances from local schools and community groups on a stage in Shaftesbury Avenue and naturally, food stalls and festivities galore in China Town.

Finish the day with the glorious Fireworks display at 5:55pm.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year is a foodie heaven

Environmental Photographer of the Year:

Stunning photos of relationship between humans and nature

These are just a few of the entries for this year's Environmental Photographer of the Year Award. Amateurs and professional photographers have submitted their images depicting environmental and social issues which sees a wide range of subjects, from waste in Ghana to a beautiful starry night in Namibia. The thought-provoking and beautiful images will be displayed at the Royal Geographical Society from April 10. Exhibition photos were whittled down from 3,000 and the three prizewinners will be announced April 9.

'Hong Kong Hole' by Stuart Chape where Westernised skylines spring up like flowers (Stuart Chape)

'Nuclear Winter' by Zoltan Balogh by Lake Bokod, Hungary. Fishermen's houses are built on stilts above the surface of the water. Smoke rises the Oroszlány Power Plant in the background (Zoltan Balogh)

'Polluted Landscape' by Lu Guang in Holingol City, China. Due to the vast presence of coal mines, meadows are left devastated and no sheep or cattle can survive there. In order to preserve the image of the city, the local government installed 120 sculptures of sheep and cattle on the meadow (Lu Guang)

'Uyuni' by Javier Arcenillas is of the world's largest salt flat in Bolivia. Expanding for 4,086 sq miles, the stunning white desert contains 43% of the world's lithium reserves (Javier Arcenillas)

'Survivors' by GMB Akash in Bangladesh. The decreipt building houses eighty families of sweepers, the lowest in the caste system and regarded as 'untouchables' (GMB Akash)

'GPAction' by Steve Morgan, snapped 180km off the coast of Greenland. A group of international Greenpeace activists climb onto the oil rig with the hope of stopping the drilling in Baffin Bay which is a fragile home to vulnerable wildlife including polar bears and sea whales (Steve Morgan)

'Quiver Trees by Night' taken by Florian Breuer in Namibia shows the unusual trees silhouette against the bright Milky Way (Florian Breuer)

'E-Waste in Ghana' by Kai Löeffelbein. This striking image shows a man with an old computer on his head in the middle of a waste dump. Up to 50m tonnes of toxic electronic waste accumulate annually in the world and many are exported from developed countries to developing nations (Kai Löeffelbein)

'Farmer under the Sun' by Alamsyah Rauf in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. A farmer dries her rice under the hot sun, her head protected by a large hat and scarf (Alamsyah Rauf)

Fantastic Fungi - The Forbidden yet most Sentient Fruit of Nature

http://youtu.be/nsyNGWdw5bM

Published on 3 Sep 2012

"An excerpt from the feature documentary by Louie Schwartzberg following notable mycologist, Paul Stamets, as he discusses the important role mushrooms play in the survival and health of the earth and human species."

Like our channel http://www.facebook.com/NatureIsAwesomex

Original user source: https://www.youtube.com/user/LouieSchw...

Ice Age Art: Sculptures and carvings dating back thousands of years on display

 
Extraordinary pieces of art created between 10,000 to 40,000 years ago are to be displayed at the British Museum. The collection gathers pieces on loan from museums all over Europe. The work will be show alongside modern pieces by Mondrian, Matisse and Henry Moore, who in particular felt the influence of the ancient art. The exhibition is open from February 7 and continues until May 26.

Spear thrower made from reindeer antler, sculpted as a mammoth. Found in the rock shelter of Montastruc, France, the sculpture is estimated to be between 13,000 and 14,000 years old (The Trustees of the British Museum)

Sculpted from steatite, found at Grimaldi, Italy, about 20,000 years old. Musée d'archéologie nationale, France (RMN/Jean-Gilles Berizz)

The Venus of Lespugue, a 25,000 year old ivory figurine discovered near the Pyrenees in 1922. Collection d'anthropologie du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle / Musée de l'Homme. (MNHN - MH / Daniel Ponsard)

A carving on the tip of a mammoth tusk depicts two reindeer one behind the other; 13,000 years old approximately, Montastruc, France (The Trustees of the British Museum)

A fragment of decorated reindeer bone has two reindeer engraved on the surface with two reindeer, one of which is now incomplete; Palaeolithic age which ended 10,000 years ago (The Trustees of the British Museum)

The oldest puppet or doll made of mammoth ivory, on loan from Moravian Museum, Anthropos Institute

The Venus of Dolní Věstonice, the oldest ceramic figure in the world dated between 29,000 - 25,000 BC, found at the Dolní Věstonice archaeological site in the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic. On loan from Moravian Museum, Anthropos Institute

The oldest known portrait of a woman sculpted from mammoth ivory found at Dolní Věstonice, Moravia, Czech Republic. c.26,000 years old (Moravian Museum, Anthropos Institute)