Who founded Russia? August 31, 2008

It is an intesting part of the Russian history and apparently not very popular for political reasons. Who founded Russia? The general belief says it were Slavs, but that was not exactly so. It was the Vikings whom Russian earlier history should be thankful to – the first Russian prince was a Sakandinavian named Rurik, but not only that…There is a fasicinating historical material behind.

The Vikings came to Russia through the trade routes from Sweden down the Russian rivers, particularly the Don and the Dnieper, which led south to the markets of Bulgar, Khazaria, Byzantium and the Caliphate. Some reached as far East as the Caspian Sea and as far south as Baghdad. They traded amber, furs, honey, slaves, wax and weapons, for the luxuries of civilization, silk and silver (large hoards of Arab dirhems have been found throughout Scandinavia.)

 image via sunnyway

They founded the great cities of Starja Ladoga, Kiev and Novgorod. They were known as Rus, a name whose origins are the subject of some controversy. The majority view seems to be that it is a Finnish name for the Vikings of Sweden, but it seems to have ended up being used to describe all Russians, whether Norse or Slavic. The Rus were described in 922 by the Arab diplomat Ibn Fadlan thus:
“Never before have I seen people of more perfect physique. They are tall as date-palms, blonde and ruddy.”(Roesdahl, 1991)

The wave August 29, 2008

 image by axinia

I was standing on the shore
     a mighty wave came with a big roar
i was far away
     the wave rushed forward in the play
gently did it tickle me
     i felt the cool waters with glee
a moment passed
     the water receeded into the vast
how empty did i feel
     without the water, was my life real?

Why most of commentors on my blog come from India? August 28, 2008

 image by axinia

This is the question which I ask myself when I see the list of my stamm-commentor, but also the random ones…

I am Russian living in Austria, and my blog is dedicated to spirituality in general, although such topics as Russia and Austria, or generally western mindset are well covered. Posting on spiritually, one can not avoid India, right. But it is not that I post more on India than on any other subject!

So is it because Indians are so sensitive to Spirituality? Or simply because they are the most passionate commentors in the world??

I keep meeting people who read my blog and NEVER comment here. And I have lots of readers from all over the world! But WHY Indians?

I would really love to understand that mystery…

LOVE;

axinia

Why it is good to celebrate birthdays August 26, 2008

 image by axinia

Today in the morning I`ve got a call from an old friend with some heartfelt birthday wishes. He said “I know you are a happy person and it is difficult to wish you something… I wish you that today you will not only be happy, but that you feel very festive and celebrate this day properly!” – and that was The Message!

When we get older, many of us stop celebrating birthdays  – at least what I see around. Especially in the West, which is obsessed with youth, ladies don`t want to show off their aging. And so the beautiful child-like celebration slowly dies out…

I followed the advice and kept the festive and joyful mood the whole day long, and that felt great! – I think the importance and the power of a birthday is that it takes you back to the roots, reminds on a child in you and awakens some unique sweetness… And also when other people learn about your birthday, their hearts melt and they the pour their best wishes upon you… Such are very moving and benevolent moments in life!

Let`s keep celebrating our birthdays!

(for those who got their second birth via self-realisation this special pleasure is twice a year 🙂 )

LOVE; axinia

A cat tale and my life August 25, 2008

image by vova

I love this cat tail story because I love cats and I am a happy person 🙂

I think that we love stories/books/films, with which we can identify ourselves. So this is a story with which I can identify myself in every sense:

— A cat tale about the tail of a cat —

A big cat saw a little cat chasing its tail and asked, “Why are you chasing your tail so?”

Said the kitten “I have learned that the best thing for a cat is happiness and that happiness is in my tail. Therefore I am chasing it and when I catch it, I shall have happiness.”

Said the old cat “My child, I too have paid attention to the problems of the universe. I too have judged that happiness is in my tail. But I have noticed that whenever I chase it, it runs away from me, but when I go about my business, it just seems to come after me wherever I go.”

————-

LOVE, axinia

Your Blog Is Your Personal Coach! – or why to start blogging August 24, 2008

 image by katisommer

Every day thousands of people join blogosphere. Blogging is not just something new. It is the new way of living for those who choose that amazing way of expressing oneself and communicating with the world (online AND offline!). Now for those who still hesitate – to blog or not to blog? – I have put together some points that might be attractive. Why? Because blogging in may ways is the easiest and cheapest way of a personality training: YOUR BLOG IS YOUR COACH.

So what happens when you start blogging? What do you gain?

1. Determination -especially if your blog has a certain theme, you will want to keep collecting materials and posting good pieces on that. Even if it determination is not your strength, you will have to learn it. What is great about blogging in that this learning process happens naturally, in the flow. Your blog will teach you to follow your ideas determinedly!

2. Commitment – oh, that is a gold-value quality today, when more and more modern people avoid committing themselves to any serous relationships. And blogging can become very serious when you will find out one day that there are hundreds/thousands of readers waiting for your next post out there!

The most beautiful part of the human body August 23, 2008

To me eyes is the most beautiful part of the human body, because the eyes manifest the connection between the body and the soul, between the matter and the spirit.

There is a proverb saying that the eye is the mirror of the soul, alternatively that to understand what the person is like it is enough to look into his or her eyes. The eye tells us not only about the character of a person, but can reflect the physical state of the whole body. Some doctors use the eye for diagnostics. This method, which was used in olden times, is still used by a few physicians under the name “irridodiagnostics”. In some way, the eye is something like database of the human being.

I have found two interesting scientific facts on the human eyes.

1. Russian sientist and famous eye surgeon Ernest Muldashev has done a comparative study on all eye shapes of the human races and published a book“«Whom we are originated from»where he comes to an interesting conclusion that the “average” human eye is that of a Nepalese. Later Muldashev develops a far-fetched theory on the origin of mankind which seem a bit absurd to me, but I really like his eye comparative analysis.

What do you see here? August 21, 2008

 image by axinia

Sky Painting (clouds) is one of the most fascinating things to watch and capture – always on the move, changing every second, showing fantastic shapes and colours… How many of us have been collecting clouds as children?…

This is an interesting piece of Sky Art which I shot last night – it has caught my attention with its mysterious shape which seemed to be telling something…

I saw a heart and a DNA (same shape as Kundalini). Do you see anything else?

1000thanks! 🙂

LOVE; axinia

What Jerusalem did William Blake mean with his poem? August 20, 2008

There is an exceptionally beautiful poem by William Blake JERUSALEM (1804). They say, the poem was inspired by the apocryphal story that a young Jesus, travelled to England and visited Glastonbury. This legend is linked to an idea in the Book of Revelation ( 3:12 and 21:2) describing a Second Coming wherein Jesus establishes a new Jerusalem. What kind of new Jerusalem? And why in England?

However as usual, with the saintly people and poets one never know the true meaning of the message ( a post on the fascinating story on Michelangelo`s paintings follows!)… I feel that there is so much behind this Blake`s poem  – much more that the regular critisc explain here. 

One of my first posts in this blog was actually on William Blake, for I consider him to be the gratest Western spiritual poet. His panings, prints and poems emit amazing vibrations, and I was lucky enough to touch the originals – post here.

And now- enjoy the Jerusalem by Blake (song):

The poem itself:

Want to be a boss? August 19, 2008

 image by axinia

How many people dream of being a boss? Nobody knows, but I guess many. Such applications as status, respect, money are pretty attractive.

I am convinced that being a boss is a challenge not for everyone and actually not at all that attractive! What I see around is that people in charge (in business or politics) are in fact much poorer off than “normal people”.

Here are some good reasons taken from personal experience and HR books:

 – a boss is an object of critics and rumors (starting from dress or hairstyle till family life and hobbies – everything is under the magnifier)

– a boss is a stressful and dangerous job (whoever failed, the boss is the one who is responsible)

– a boss has normally no weekends and celebrations – any time anything can happen and he/she has to be available