On the day of Sant Jordi in Barcelona - as in all of Catalonia - people give one another a rose or a book. Not only couples do this. The Generalitat in Plaça de Sant Jaume is open to the public. In the palace and around it there is a large rose market. Books are available everywhere.
Sant Jordi: Day of the Book and the Rose
Documents show that the tradition of giving away roses as a symbol of love on the day of Sant Jordi, dates back to the 15th century, even though the exact date is not known. Furthermore, why this day is the day of lovers and Sant Jordi has become the patron saint of lovers is not known with certainty. In the most famous legend of Saint George he didn’t marry the princess - although he released her from the dragon - as the moral of this story was Christian baptism rather than love, according to the legend.
In 1926 Spain declared the 23rd April, the anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, the most famous Spanish writer, as Book Day, which coincided with the day of the feast of Sant Jordi. This led, however, to mean that Book Day was hardly celebrated. Only much later did the day of love also became a day of literature in the mind of the population.
Miguel de Cervantes. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered to be the first modern European novel.
Date and literary connection ~ England remembers the 23rd of April as the death of Shakespeare.
Some countries have their own versions of Lover's Day. Brazilians for example, celebrate Lover's Day, also called Dia dos Namorados, on June 12.
Lover's Day is also known as National Lover's Day in the US.
In 1995 UNESCO declared 23rd April as World Book and Copyright Day. This was to acknowledge that the book has historically contributed most to the spread of knowledge. The proliferation of books is a cultural enrichment throughout the world.
The soul in many religions, philosophical and mythological traditions, is the incorporeal and immortal essence of a living being. According to Abrahamic religions, only human beings have immortal souls. For example, the Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas attributed "soul" (anima) to all organisms but argued that only human souls are immortal. Other religions (most notably Hinduism and Jainism) teach that all biological organisms have souls while some teach that even non-biological entities (such as rivers and mountains) possess souls. This latter belief is called animism.
Personally, I believe the soul can be simply termed as the 'magic' that lives within us all. :o)
Anima mundi is the concept of a "world soul" connecting all living organisms on the planet.
Freydoon Rassouli
Eugenia Loli
Twin Flame ~
Throughout the course of your life, you may have had unusual or powerful dreams, visions, or fantasies of a mysterious person. You get a particular feeling and the energy of the individual feels familiar as if it is someone you have already met in the past or someone you will meet in some unknown future. You have a vague feeling that this person is real even if you can not see a face or invent their physical appearance in your mind. You have a feeling as if this person is 'out there somewhere' and may even know who you are on the same level.
There may be an unusual synchronicity or event that surround the initial meeting between first flames. Often you have a feeling or 'knowing' of something that you just can't quite put into words. Twinflames often encounter each other for the first time in an unexpected way out of the blue and usually there are synchronicities and strange occurrences or major shifts in energy the same week of the initial meeting.
Most twin flame couples are physically at a distance or live in different countries. Often there is something that prevents the twin flames from being physically together in the beginning. This is usually because there is much energetic work to be done on the mental and emotional levels before the physical meeting can occur. If the physical meeting were to occur too soon the energy can often be too intense.
The relationship is immediate, as though no time had been lost since you were last together. You feel comfortable with them and you feel you can truly be yourself with them. Sometimes conversations can seem to last forever and there is not much that twin flames are not willing to talk about. It's as if you could share your entire life with this person and there is a level of openness and understanding between you that brings a comfortable yet intriguing sense of familiarity.
You feel an overwhelming sense of love and attraction. This love is genuine and heartfelt and you feel magnetically drawn to their energy. This is not to be confused with lust or an obsessive love. Twin flame love is unconditional and transcends the ego.
Twin flames, also called twin souls, are literally the other half of our soul. We each have only one twin, and generally after being split the two went their separate ways, incarnating over and over to gather human experience before coming back together. Ideally, this happens in both of their last lifetimes on the planet so they can ascend together. So you probably haven't had many lifetimes with your twin.
Each twin is a complete soul, not half a soul. It is their task to become more whole, balancing their female and male sides, and ideally become enlightened, before reuniting with their twin. This reunion is of two complete and whole beings. All other relationships through all our lives could be said to be "practice" for the twin, the ultimate relationship.
Meeting, you feel a sense of completion that goes beyond words. Wholeness on a soul level that is beyond the physical. Each twin flame is still an individual and is not 'the other half of your soul' as if you are complete now that you have found them. It is a meeting an energetic mirror of your own soul. You share a vibration and resonate with them. ~ I call this the 'soul song' in book two. ;o)
Soul Mate ~
Soulmates are our soul family, the ones we do have many lifetimes and experiences with, who help us grow and evolve, create and dissipate karma. According to ancient wisdom, when the soul is "born" or descended from Source, it is created in a group. The souls in this group are our soulmates, ones who are very like us in frequency makeup. Then each of these souls is split into two, creating the twins.
A soulmate is someone you are close to at a soul level, and with whom you have had many shared experiences in different lifetimes, in various kinds of relationships -- siblings, parent-child, best friend, as well as romantic relationships. There is a deep love for each other, and a spiritual bond that sets them apart from the superficiality of most other people in your life. Conversations are generally deep, about personal growth and service to make the world a better place. We can have many soulmates in our lives, and they come to us to help us grow spiritually. More Here
Naked of Form
The Modern English word "soul", derived from Old English sáwol, sáwel, was first attested in the 8th-century poem Beowulf v. 2820 and in the Vespasian Psalter 77.50. It is cognate with other German and Baltic terms for the same idea, including Gothic saiwala, Old High German sêula, sêla, Old Saxon sêola, Old Low Franconian sêla, sîla, Old Norse sála and Lithuanian siela. Further etymology of the Germanic word is uncertain. The original concept is meant to be 'coming from or belonging to the sea/lake', because of the German belief in souls being born out of and returning to sacred lakes, Old Saxon sêola (soul) compared to Old Saxon sêo (sea).
In form ~ Odilon Redon
The Koine Greek word ψυχή psychē, "life, spirit, consciousness", is derived from a verb meaning "to cool, to blow", and hence refers to the breath, as opposed to σῶμα ("soma"), meaning "body". Psychē occurs juxtaposed to σῶμα.
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:
but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body."
In the Septuagint (LXX), ψυχή translates Hebrew נפש nephesh, meaning "life, vital breath", and specifically refers to a mortal, physical life, but is in English variously translated as "soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion"; an example can be found in Genesis 1:20.
Transformation ~ Kassandra Vizerskaya.
Words...
Freydoon Rassouli
The Ancient Greeks used the word "alive" for the concept of being "ensouled", indicating that the earliest surviving western philosophical view believed that the soul was that which gave the body life. The soul was considered the incorporeal or spiritual "breath" that animates (from the Latin, anima, cf. "animal") the living organism.
Francis M. Cornford quotes Pindar in saying that the soul sleeps while the limbs are active, but when one is sleeping, the soul is active and reveals "an award of joy or sorrow drawing near" in dreams.
Freydoon Rassouli
Words...
Drawing on the words of his teacher Socrates, Plato considered the psyche to be the essence of a person, being that which decides how we behave. He considered this essence to be an incorporeal, eternal occupant of our being. Socrates says that even after death, the soul exists and is able to think. He believed that as bodies die, the soul is continually reborn in subsequent bodies and Plato believed this as well, however, he thought that only one part of the soul was immortal (logos). Aristotle's discussion of the soul is in his work, De Anima (On the Soul).
Cathrine Langwagen.
Augustine, one of western Christianity's most influential early Christian thinkers, described the soul as "a special substance, endowed with reason, adapted to rule the body".
The 'origin of the soul' has provided a vexing question in Christianity. the major theories put forward include soul creationism, traducianism, and pre-existence. According to creationism, each individual soul is created directly by God, either at the moment of conception or some later time. According to traducianism, the soul comes from the parents by natural generation. According to the preexistence theory, the soul exists before the moment of conception. There have been differing thoughts.
David Joaquin.
In Hinduism, the Sanskrit words most closely corresponding to soul are jiva, Ātman and "Purusha", meaning the individual self. The term "soul" is misleading as it implies an object possessed, whereas self-signifies the subject which perceives all objects. This self is held to be distinct from the various mental faculties such as desires, thinking, understanding, reasoning and self-image (ego), all of which are considered to be part of Prakriti (nature).
The atman becomes involved in the process of becoming and transmigrating through cycles of birth and death because of ignorance of its own true nature. The spiritual path consists of self-realization – a process in which one acquires the knowledge of the self (brahma-jñanam) and through this knowledge applied through meditation and realization one then returns to the Source which is Brahman.
"For the atman, there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever – existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain". [Translation by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Srila Prabhupada).
When the Atma becomes embodied it is called birth when the Aatma leaves a body it is called death. The Aatma transmigrates from one body to another body based on karmic [performed deeds] reactions.
In Hinduism, the Sanskrit word most closely corresponding to the soul is Atma, which can mean soul or even God. It is seen as the portion of Brahman within us.
Freydoon Rassouli.
Daisy Lee
The flower itself unfolds worlds of deeper meaning. From stem, petal, leaves, color, stamen and pistol, there is so much to consider in the deeper realms of flower meanings. Take the time to contemplate the various nuances of "flower-power" in a symbolic perspective. You'll be delighted at every turn.
Since antiquity, flower symbolism has been a significant part of cultures around the world. Flowers accompany us in every major event in life--birth, marriage, holidays, graduations, illness, and finally death. Flowers have been grown in decorative gardens and used as an adornment for centuries on virtually every continent on earth.
Over the ages, humans have devised symbolic languages of flowers, which became popularized in the Victorian era. In the 1600's, Lady Mary Wortley was pivotal in bringing flowers and meanings to the public attention. Prior to her research and observations, the symbolism of flowers was quite esoteric. In Victorian times, certain flowers had specific meanings because the flower selection was limited and people used more symbols and gestures to communicate than words.
Floral symbolism varies according to the type of flower, how it is arranged, how many flowers in the arrangements, and combinations of flowers. Effectually, a floral bouquet as a gift could have endless symbolic meanings. Only someone savvy in the language of flowers and meanings would be able to crack the secret code.
Further, the Victorian era wasn't the only phase of intense floral discovery. Deeper meanings of flowers were used and interpreted by:
Native American Indians
Ancient Egyptians
Ancient Greeks
Ancient Celts
Japanese
Chinese
...and many more cultures around the world have their own specialized flower-language. HEREHERE
Finding the right flower to give to someone your love is an art.
Luli Sanchez.
Transmigration of a soul - Metempsychosis is a philosophical term in the Greek language referring to transmigration of the soul, especially its reincarnation after death. Generally, the term is only used within the context of Ancient Greek philosophy but has also been used by modern philosophers. Another term sometimes used synonymously is palingenesia. It is unclear how the doctrine of metempsychosis arose in Greece. The Orphic religion, which held it, first appeared in Thrace.
Orpheus, its legendary founder, is said to have taught that soul and body are united by a compact unequally binding on either; the soul is divine, immortal and aspires to freedom while the body holds it a prisoner (not released until death). More HERE
Stasia Burrington.
In a dream, I saw an ethereal purple flower ~ it was the source of everything. (Moi)
Enna, a character for a book I've yet to write called 'The Butterfly Bridge', traveled through water and white sands, her journey takes her into the universe where a beautiful, translucent, magical flower exists. It was quite a moving experience, and where my idea for the title 'A Carpet of Purple Flowers' and 'Calageata' derived. An ethereal flower/place ~ containing the karma of all life/souls.
I've written a short creation story which includes the Sindria, the first beings of light born from the source.
Lonely in Your Nightmare by Silvia C via DevianArt
Calageata (Swan-gate) ~ An otherworldly place for Sindria (care-keepers of souls).
Flower of Vororbla ~ Flower of karma. (Voror Flower)
Mists of Calageata (from the flowers) represent our forgetting in timelessness. In sleep during soul transition stages.
I love the tempo and lyrics in this song by Mree. It's how I see two souls (twin flames) joining, and it was perfect to listen to as writing a certain visualization in book one. It's not about perfection of the body (material form) but uniting of souls that have been separated for an extremely long time. Words spoken by the eyes are not comparable to the voice. It could be called 'insta love', but in truth, it is ancient love and far from instant, intangible to many, especially when not yet soul ready to meet their twin. ;o)
I'm not a religious person, but I do consider myself spiritual, though not in a heavy way, and by that I mean, my daily life is not filled with incense and meditation, not that there's anything wrong with that. ;o) I live, when able, in my mind, writing, researching, and creating art, that is, to me, a form of meditation - detaching from a systematic world and the surrounding city stresses. I believe that our creative muse connects to 'the source' becoming a form through which we can share experiences, dreams, and knowledge. People rarely show their inner selves, but through creativity, we can easily express/investigate parts that otherwise would remain hidden.
More research behind the spiritual/scientific concepts for the story can be found HERE
It has been quite the challenge to use these areas in a very subtle way so not to overload the story with information or get too deep into the psychology of life and death/soul and matter/form. A love story was the perfect way to explore these ideas. Helps that I'm a hopeless romantic, too. It's the reason that I write using fantasy and reality creating a blend of truth and myth. It is up to the reader to decide what is possible, or not. The layers within the story are concepts that go beyond tangible/literal thinking, so I don't expect everybody to connect to certain elements used in the book, but I've applied them as gently as possible, and I promise all is relevant to the bigger tale. :o)
Throughout nature, we find a cavalcade of energetic counterparts: Light/Dark, Male/Female, Increase/Decrease, etc., and the moon takes her place in the balance as the counterpart to the sun.
The sun is symbolic of the fraternal (male, yang) aspect of guidance; and so logically the moon stoically stands as the maternal (female or yin) influence.
The moon is considered a luminary, but she produces no light of her own accord. She is reliant upon the sun's light to reflect (mirror) her image to our earthly eyes.
This method of projecting light makes the moon a symbol of subtlety. Clarity, reflection, and indirect deduction are gained by passive means. Where the sun will boldly bear down its blaze upon a given philosophical subject - the moon softly enfolds our attention - illumining our psyche in a gossamer glow that is more open to esoteric impressions.
The phases of the moon symbolize immortality and eternity, enlightenment or the dark side of Nature herself. It might reflect inner knowledge, or the phases of man's condition on earth since it controls the tides, the rains, the waters, and the seasons.
It is the middle ground between the light of the sun and the darkness of night, and thus often represents the realm between the conscious and the unconscious.
In astrology, the moon is a symbol of the soul, and in the horoscope, it determines the subject's capacity for reflection and adaptation. It also provides an analogy for the stages of human development: the new moon is infancy, the crescent is youth and adolescence, the full moon is maturity and pregnancy, and the waning moon represents the decline of life, sleep.
To Native Americans, the butterfly is a symbol of change, joy, and colour. The butterfly was considered a miracle of transformation and resurrection. In the Old World, the soul.
We can all relate the butterfly's stages of life to our own life-phases...growing pains, times of ravenous hunger, times of vulnerability, moments of miraculous expansion.
When I started to type my first EVER draft, I felt overwhelmed, but the one thing that kept me going was why? Why did my muse pull me away from art into writing? The only answer that I could find is that I'm meant to be the one to tell this particular tale. I could've kept this fictional world a secret, but through art, I've learned to share. Odd as it may sound, sharing creativity, in various forms, can be quite a learning curb. This is something I've often reflected on because as a child, I hated anyone reading about the world and characters that I created, and later would keep my stories hidden away so that no-one else could read them. I'm not sure why perhaps I was too shy, but more than likely, I assumed that some magic would be gone from the work. Maybe there are many children that shy away in the same manner, and it's why nurturing early creativity in the education system is extremely important. These precious little people of wonder grow into adults with beautifully open minds as long as the right amount of freedom is given enabling them to use their imagination.
The sentence, 'If you are called, answer' powerfully resonates with me. There was no purpose for 'A Carpet of Purple Flowers' to be written, no reason beyond my imaginative muse at play, and yet all I wanted to do was tell the story. It moved me, and I fell in love with every part that played over in my mind. Not a day goes by when I do not visit the world or the characters. I wonder once the whole story is told if they will ever leave? I think perhaps not. They will become blurred memories of a place that my muse permitted me a rare glimpse into. I count myself very lucky indeed, and best of all, knowing that a few other people enjoyed the story, too -- magic!
So if you have a fictional world brewing inside you wanting to speak out further than the mind, let it. Write that story down and share it with the world. The people that are meant to read it, will. It doesn't matter how long it takes, just place one word after another and answer that calling. :o)
Let's not stifle creativity with more cuts to arts education. HEREHEREHERE
The UK’s status as a “global cultural leader” is at risk because it is lagging behind other countries in terms of arts education and government investment in the creative industries.
Patrick Brill, better known as Bob and Roberta Smith, is a contemporary artist whose “slogan” paintings blend the creative and the political.
Your message is that art education is now threatened, not just by government cuts but by an unspoken ideology that suggests art is not really important to a nation’s economic and social wellbeing?
"Yes, and, this is not a new way of thinking. It started in the 80s with Kenneth Baker [education secretary under Margaret Thatcher, 1986-1989], who didn’t want art in his national curriculum but was persuaded that it could be graded accurately not as a voice for self-expression but as a set of skills. I want us to re-engage with that postwar consensus that we need to expand creativity and who gets involved in it."
"I don’t regard myself as a political activist because I’m not as committed as true activists tend to be. I’m just angry about the constant assault on the arts and the destruction of education. I can be a bore on this issue but think its so incredibly important. You can’t stand back as an artist and not engage with it."
"In my book, the arts are not just important in themselves but fundamental to democracy. Kids need to think about ideas. If you teach them self-expression, you are adding to democracy. Why do you think oppressive regimes always try to censor art and lock up artists?"
