Ancient Celtic Myth, Magic, And Medicine

The ancient Celts were an enchanting and mysterious pre-Christian people with a romantic and legendary history - a people of heroes, wizards, and fairies. Julius Caesar stated that the Celts (Gauls) were "brave, but headstrong and impetuous." These indomitable clans, identified by their language and culture, migrated from Central Europe and populated much of Western Europe, Britain, and Ireland until they were supplanted by the Romans, and later, Christianity.

The origins of the Celts in Britain are lost in remote antiquity, but many scholars now believe these mysterious tribes made their earliest appearance in Britain somewhere around 1500-1000 BC. Their migration to Britain occurred progressively over hundreds of years as they populated and ruled the modern day regions we know as England, Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany, the Isle of Man, and Wales. The Celtic languages today are split into two camps: P-Celtic is the old Briton, similar to Welsh, Cornish and Breton; Q-Celtic is Scots Gaelic, Irish, Manx, and the extinct Celtiberian of Spain.

The Celtic social structure was a mix of religious cosmology, animism, and democratic idealism with each tribe holding its own territory consisting of agricultural, forest, and wilderness lands. Other lands were worked in common for the chieftain, priests, the sick, and the poor. They were a fearless people; both men and women were trained as warriors.

Celtic society in Britain perpetuated many of the shrines and feast days of the earlier megalithic times with the most important Celtic feast days being the four annual "Fire Festivals." Celtic beliefs were polytheistic and their pantheon consisted of as many as four hundred deities. They also believed that upon death the soul transmigrated to other humans, and even other life forms. Later, with the advent the of Christianity, Druidism did not vanish, but merely transformed, and even when the historic St. Brighid converted to Christianity, she and her followers kept the sacred fire at Killdare.

The various Celtic clans or tribes were unified by their common priesthood, the Druids. The word "Druid" is derived from "dru" meaning "truth" or "someone immersed in knowledge." The Greeks were the first to record the word "Druidae" dating back to the second century BC. The various clans had their own sacred tree, crann bethadh, or "Tree of Life" standing as a totem in the middle of their territory. These Druid priests, men and women, preserved religion, law, scholarship, and science and had paramount influence over all with their sacred authority. They managed the higher legal system and courts and it took up to twenty years of training before being initiated into the order. Bards (keepers of oral tradition) and Ovates (philosophers and keepers of prophecy and divination) were in turn instructed and trained by the respected and erudite Druids.

Prior to the availability of Western alphabets, Celtic stories were largely passed on as oral tradition. The ancient storytellers of romantic myths fortunately preserved the beauty of Celtic culture. Interestingly, many of the mythical stories were not committed to paper for the first time until around 600-90 AD by predominately Christian monks.

The most famous Celtic legends are those of King Author and the wizard Merlin, the poet of Tweedsdale. The true identity and origin of Author is obscure and controversial. Even though the Arthurian Tales were written in Welsh (Welsh, was also the language of southern and central Scotland in the 6th Century), many historians now believe, based on historical and geographical evidence, that some of the romantic and heroic adventures of King Author actually took place in Strathclyde, Scotland. Some historians further conclude that Author may have been Clinoch, the King of the Britons. The original location of Camelot is still very much obscure with several areas in England and Wales laying claim. Merlin, the famous advisor and mentor of Author, was a Druid wizard, prophet, bard, tutor, and keeper of arcane secrets. He was rumored to have been the son of an incubus (demon), and a mortal woman who was a princess and later a nun.

The ancient Druids were also Shamans (female: Shamankas) as well as clergy, and their costumes often included long white robes, headdresses, and feathered capes. They often carried a rowan wood scepter (slat) as a sign of their power and rank which could be used as a wand to perform magick (magic). Druid magic is dependent on a sound and healthy awareness of nature and the spirits and gods who live in nature. It is rooted strongly in the four natural elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Many spells correspond to one or more of these elements. The four compass points each had a significant corresponding color: North - black, South - white, East - red, and West - grey. Druid rituals intertwined the use of the four elements, direction, colors, magic stones, incense, and the lunar calendar.

Birds including the raven, swan, goose, owl, eagle, ouzel, and crane were considered sacred in the Celtic culture. Other divine animals included the dog, cat, wolf, bull, boar, stag, horse, bear, salmon, ram, serpent, and butterfly. These animals are often depicted in intricate knotted patterns. The number three was also sacred to the Druids and had magical powers. This is exemplified in the Celtic triquerta, nonegram, trefoil, and the Triangle of Manifestation.

Many trees were also hallowed including the rowan, hazel, oak, and yew. The veneration or worship of the oak tree or oak-god was commonplace in Celtic and non-Celtic Europe; it could be used as food (acorns ground for flour) and to build shelter. Gatherings and festivals were often held in sacred oak groves.

The "little people" consisting of Dwarfs, Brownies, Elves, and Fairies are also a fascinating aspect of Celtic culture. These wee life-forms were deemed to be spiritual beings to whom the credulity of mankind has given an imaginary existence. The fairies, referred to as the "good neighbors," were beautiful miniatures of "the human divine form," in contrast to other less fortunate diminutive creatures. These prankish neighbors resided underground or in little green, rode upon milk-white steeds, and their clothing was most brilliant.

Leprechauns, a lucky and often imbibing type of male fairy, have become self-appointed guardians of ancient treasure (left by the Danes) burying it in crocks or pots. Their association with the rainbow and finding the "pot 'o gold" has forever ensconced the rainbow as a sign of prosperity.

The Gruagach (groo-gach) is a type of Brownie (Ulster House Brownie) that is believed to have traveled across the Atlantic with the sons and daughters of Ulster as they made new homes in the Colonies in the mid 1600s. They are still believed to exist to this day and are especially associated with the McKeen (Bann Valley) and McGregor families that landed in Boston harbor in 1718. All of these fascinating fantasy creatures are more readily seen by those gifted with "Second Sight," or the ability to see invisible objects, supernatural visions, and premonitions.

The esteemed Druids were the learned elite - the authority on just about everything including medicine. Their medical proficiency included the use of Medicated baths of herbs and milk, sweating-houses, trephining (drilling holes to relieve cranial pressure), sutures, probes, a crude stethoscope (made of a horn), healing oils, "healing stones" (still used in 17th C Scotland), and the use of rituals, spells, visions, and invocations. The Druid maxim for good health was, "cheerfulness, temperance, and exercise."

Healing magic might also involve invoking a deity of health and healing such as Airmid (Irish), Diancecht (Irish), Laeg (Irish), Meg the Healer (Scottish), Miach (Irish), Ariadne (Welsh/Cornish/Breton), or Clota (Scottish). Airmid was the daughter of the God of Medicine, Diancecht. She was a magician and herbalist adept in all the healing arts.

Astronomy and astrology was also used to aid in medical diagnosis. They worshipped the sun and the moon and had a rudimentary conception and veneration of the closest planets in the solar system. Every celestial event was an omen.

Herbs are plants used for aromatic, savory or medicinal purposes and often had associations with specific Celtic deities. Druids were especially skilled in botany and the use of herbs and poisons. Dosage forms included teas, Tinctures, Fomentations, syrups, and salves, Commonly used herbs include: Anise, Blackthorn, Caraway, Chamomile, Dandelion Dill, Elder, Eyebright, Foxglove, Wild Basil, Wild Garlic, Ginger, Hawthorn, Horse Radish, Ivy, Juniper (The berries were believed to have protective properties and were burned in the Scottish Highlands for purification), Lavender, Mint, Mistletoe (Favored by the Druids, and oaks sporting mistletoe, were most sacred. This herb was also seen as a sign from the Otherworld), Plantain, Rosemary, Rowan (Believed to avert the evil eye and very protective.), Skullcap, Sorrel, St. John's Wort, Valerian, and Yarrow (A sacred herb used as a love charm and one of the famous herbs of the "Lancashire Witches").

Other "cures" of a superstitious nature included: ingesting a fried or roasted mouse for smallpox or whopping cough, placing gold rings in the ears for sore eyes, swine's blood to remove warts, preserved serpent heads for treating snake bites, the healing power of used Baptismal water, and the use of amulets and talismans. The numerous sacred wells and lochs also offered healing powers for both body and mind.

Interest in the mysterious Druids has survived over many centuries. The Ancient Order of Druids was revived in 1781 in London and it is fascinating that Sir Winston Churchill was initiated into the Albion Lodge in 1908. Druidism also still exists in America with the two largest Druid Orders being Keltria and the A.D.F.

Fortunately, the history and beauty of Celtic culture have been preserved in customs and legends, art, music, literature, and antiquities for all to explore. When we realize that the simple eloquence of Celtic knotwork expresses the interconnection between destiny, the Three Worlds, and the human soul, we appreciate that it is not so simple, but beautiful, intricate, and intriguing. Through the continued study of the myth and magic of this legendary culture, we can better treasure the influence of the fascinating people called the Celts.

Copyright J Klemens 2008

Mr. Klemens is an accomplished author, writer, and practicing pharmacist. He has authored a book on integrative medicine and numerous articles in local, national, and international magazines, and web sites. Topics include integrative medicine, Oriental medicine, herbs and supplements, health and fitness, Scottish culture, and leadership and ethics. He is also listed in the Marquis Who's Who in America, a member of Clan Gregor, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. http://www.writers.net/writers/22138

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Incubus and Sucubus Mythology

Details of the attacks by an incubus/succubus vary form the mild to the horrific. Victims generally claim to feel the presence of some entity lying on top of them, making breathing difficult. In extreme cases the individual may feel he or she is be suffocated... even strangled. Other people claim to have seen horrible images, including black shapes, snakes, demonic forms and even the grinning and malevolent face of the incubus/succubus. There have been reports of heavy pressure on the chest, the sensation of biting teeth or limbs being painfully twisted. People have spoken of their eyes being open during the attack, but being unable to anything except darkness... unable to gasp or cry out, unable to breath or feel or hear anything. Details of being unable to move and being pulled into the bed make uncomfortable reading - but not as terrible as the mental anguish. Some people report feeling an evil presence (or even presences) and sensing imminent death. Imagine being unable to see who or what is assaulting you. Or - in the worse case scenario - gasping fresh air into your lungs after an attack, relieved that your 'nightmare" is over... only for the attack to start all over again, worse this time because you are awake and more aware of the presence.

The male version of this demon is the incubus, and while it drains a woman of her own strength it has an even more sinister agenda. It is supposed to mate with its victim to produce more incubi. The result of this unearthly union is known as a cambion, and when the child is born it appears to be a stillbirth because it shows no obvious sign of life. Its eyes may blink and its limbs may move - it may even speak, but it has no pulse and its breathing is invisible. Around the age of seven years the child will start to behave as a normal human child, but there are sharp differences. Not only is a cambion very beautiful; it often displays an evil character bestowed upon it by the demonic parent. It is also very intelligent and able to persuade even the most resolute human to carry out its wishes. Merlin, the wizard from King Arthur's classic legends, was supposedly the product of an incubus and a mortal woman, with some legends claiming Merlin's mother was actually a nun.

At one time there was a concern regarding the gender of incubi and succubi - it was claimed they were actually one demonic entity with the ability to change its depending upon the gender of its victim. It would transform itself into an incubus after it had been with a man, and use the seed it had collected upon the female victim. If the woman did conceive the result would still be a cambion, because although the child's genetic background was human the demonic intervention guaranteed paranormal development.

Stories about incubus/succubus demons have been told throughout history, and from all over the world. Here is a selection of some of the better-known characters:

Jewish folklore tells of Lilu, an incubus who visits women while they sleep. His feminine counterpart is Lilin. These demons were a particular source of anxiety for mothers because they were known to kidnap children. Ardat Lili was another succubus who would visit men at night to ensure the continuation of her demonic race. The incubus was Irdu Lili, who would visit human women to ensure they would produce his offspring.

El Trauco is a mythical dwarf residing on the Chilean island of Chiloé, who despite his hideous appearance has the ability to seduce women. His piercing gaze is feared by male islanders because it has the ability to kill. However there have been occasions when a strong willed man has been able to secure the services of El Trauco for one year, simply by fixing his own gaze upon this incubus first. These stories are rare, however, because El Trauco is able to sense human presence long before the person is sighted. So powerful is his magnetism that selected women (usually sleeping) will instantly fall in love with him, aided by the fact he disguises himself as a wealthy landlord or even a priest.

El Trauco's wife is the equally dreadful La Fiura, an incredibly ugly and shameless little woman who will cast a sickness spell upon anyone who rejects her advances. So foul is her breath it will scar a human and turn animals lame. Despite this she is an irresistible temptress who, after using her victims, will drive them insane.

Encantado is a Brazilian shapeshifter who spends his days as a Boto dolphin frolicking in the Amazon River. At night he takes on the appearance of a handsome young man who seduces young girls. He always wears a hat, because his head retains a prominent dolphin-like appearance when in human form. Encantado is very partial to parties and music, and despite coming from a utopian world craves the pleasures and hardships of human life. Encantado can also bewitch a person to make him/her do their bidding or turn someone into an Encantado. At their most extreme they can inflict sickness, insanity or death upon their victims. Fortunately for these freshwater dolphins (yes, they do exist) it is considered bad luck to kill a Boto. And do not make eye contact with one, or you will suffer nightmares for the rest of your life.

Zanizibar, an island off the coast of the African country of Tanzania, is the chosen abode of Popo Bawa, an incubus who selects male victims. His name means "bat-wing", and refers to his shadow rather than his physical appearance, which varies thanks to Popo Bawa's shapeshifting powers. During daylight hours he looks like an ordinary human being, but at night transforms into a shadowy ghostlike figure with a dreadful odour. He makes himself known by scratching on roofs and at windows with long talons. He also threatens his victims with longer and more vicious assaults should they dare tell anyone Popo Bawa has decided to pay them a visit. Yet it is claimed he becomes angry should anyone deny his existence.

Hungary's Liderc hatches from the first egg of a black hen, and is sometimes called "miracle chicken". Liderc flies through the night skies as a fiery light, sprinkling flames on the earth below. On landing it will shapeshift into a human and access houses through keyholes and chimneys, visible to its victims as a dead relative or loved one. It brings sickness and death to its victims, as well as making the house very dirty before departing. Birch branches and burning incense may stop Liderc from entering the house, but some claim it is very fast and hides in cemeteries. Another story claims Liderc attaches itself to a victim, shapeshifting into either an incubus or succubus depending on its victim's gender. In a twist on the vampire legend it may drink blood from its host, making the victim weak and tired. This Liderc likes to hoard gold, so its human companion becomes wealthy. This creature can be exorcised by either sealing it inside a tree hollow or persuading it to perform some difficult task, like carrying water with a sieve or moving sand with a rope. A second version of the Liderc is much smaller and live in boxes, pockets of discarded clothes, among rags or in glass bottles. Again the human will become wealthy, and may even find himself bestowed with mystical powers... but in exchange for his soul.

The "Hexanhammer" is a book written during the fifteenth century. Also known by its Latin name Malleus Maleficarum or "The Hammer of Witches", it contains information pertaining to witchcraft, and includes a section on the five methods used to stop attacks by a succubus or incubus:

Exorcism - an ancient and very common practice, whereby a priest or other religious leader calls upon God and, together with religious symbols such as Holy Water and Crosses, to cast out the demon. On occasion Angels and/or Archangels may also be called upon to assist with the exorcism.

Sacramental Confession - a sacred rite designed to protect by bestowing a blessing of spiritual grace through Christ; similar to baptism or confession.

Angelic Salutation - "The Angels' Greeting" calls for intervention from Mary, Mother of Jesus by repeating two verses from Saint Luke's Gospel in the New Testament.

Excommunication - spiritual leaders will ban the afflicted individual from the community until the demon leaves, or until the victim asked for spiritual intervention.

Transportation - moving the victim from his/her house to another place or town where he/she will be safe from the demon.

Unfortunately it appears not all succubi/incubi will respond to attempts to cast them out. A Franciscan friar named Ludovico observed: "They do not obey exorcists, have no dread of exorcisms, show no reverence for holy things, at the approach of which they are not the least overawed".

The writer was born in Africa, and lived there for the first 38 years of her life. She worked in the world of public relations for over five years, running her own PR company and dealing extensively with the world of journalism and the print media. She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/, a site for Writers. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Todd

Did King Arthur Really Exist?

For nearly a thousand years, people have been inspired and entertained by stories, poems, songs, paintings and tapestries about King Arthur, who has become the subject of one of the largest bodies of literature in the world. However, physical evidence has been so lacking as to appear systematically obliterated over the centuries. Even so, an abundance of truths has preserved in books, and more recently in films, of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the Holy Grail. All of these contain elements of truth and clues for those questing for historical facts behind the legends.

The body of Merlinius Ambrosius Dubricius, identified by historian Norma Lorre Goodrich in her book Merlin as the man better known throughout history as "Merlin" was, according to Goodrich, discovered on Bardsy Isle by the Bishop of Llandaff. Goodrich maintains that the Merlin's body was taken to the cathedral founded by Merlin at Llandaff, Wales. Geoffrey of Monmouth, author of one of the first histories of King Arthur, and an acquaintance of that same twelfth century Bishop of Llandaff, began his famous History of the Kings of Britain in 1120, the same year as the Bishop's discovery of the body. Geoffrey attributed his source to "a very ancient book written in the British language" (The History of the Kings of Britain, by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Bishop of St. Asaph, translated by Lewis G. M. Thorpe.) Coincidentally, Geoffrey was appointed archdeacon of Llandsaff (sp) in 1140.

Since Geoffrey of Monmouth, non-fiction and fiction writers have researched and written about King Arthur, inspiring readers to search for evidence that might prove the existence of this ancient king and his legendary kingdom. At least three of these writers have made discoveries, and have written about evidence that can still be seen today by those conducting their own grail quest.

Sir Walter Scott was a prolific poet and novelist. Historical fiction, a genre he helped create and popularize, reflected his keen interest in Scottish history, and his research led him to some major discoveries. He convinced the Prince Regent, later George IV, to search in Edinburgh Castle for the Scottish Honours, the Royal Scottish regalia which had disappeared over a hundred years before. The Honours were subsequently found. Sir Walter used to escort his friends at sunset to Calton Hill in Edinburgh to view below the Salisbury Crags ancient weathered carvings that he thought memorialized King Arthur.

One distinctive sculpted image that may be among those seen by Scott is still visible. It resembles a "helmeted man." This image was recently re-discovered by Kaye Hennig, author of King Arthur Lord of the Grail, who believes that it was created by the famous Merlin as a memorial to the real King Arthur. This giant head can still be seen quite clearly in the late afternoon on the Salisbury cliffs just across from The Palace of Holyroodhouse car park.

The late Dr. Norma Lorre Goodrich was professor emeritus of French and comparative languages at Claremont Colleges in California and the author of four Arthurian books: King Arthur; Guinevere; The Holy Grail; and Merlin. Her research located the territory of the 'real' Arthur in the borders area of what is now southern Scotland. She believed that the cave located on the Whithorn Peninsula, now called St. Ninian's cave, is Merlin's famous burial cave described by legends as created by request of his Lady of the Lake, Niniane. At this site Goodrich described seeing a burial niche high up on the left side of the ruins of the cave.

Dr. Goodrich and thousands of other visitors to this cave site over the centuries failed to identify remains of ancient art. Rock sculptures and traces of rock paintings are still visible. The images and faded paintings of larger-than-life standing figures in ceremonial attire and large and small chiseled faces of helmeted warriors and beautiful ladies bear an uncanny resemblance to descriptions of legendary Arthurian ancients. Towering above all, forty feet above the floor of the cave, is a rugged crowned head with red beard, strong shoulders, and grey mantle. Over the right shoulder another symbol is still visible, a giant heart-shaped shield with a legendary sword through it.

Those looking for stone sculptures of mythological or historical figures have been conditioned to look for sculptures created in the style of the Greek or Roman sculptors, art that was created in marble that allowed the artist to produce very recognizable human likenesses. The stone at the cave on Whithorn Peninsula is brittle with fissures and does not lend itself well to sculptures. Artisans could cut and chip the stone within the limitations of the rock and tools used to create a likeness but would then be forced to stop as the rock broke in the wrong direction. Unlike the lifelike images of the American presidents carved into cliff in the Black Hills, these ancient sculptures appear quite basic and rough. However, the intent of the Merlin and his artists appeared very clear to the couple who discovered the images. Visitors that plan their walk to the Whithorn cave when late afternoon sunlight casts shadows will find that these are the best conditions for viewing the sculpted stone figures and images.

This recent discovery by author Kaye Hennig and her photographer husband, Terrance, provides dramatic new evidence that may help secure the legendary Arthurians a place in history. Beyond that, the symbols seen in this ancient art could help explain how the Arthurians came to be lost and could provide clues to unravel the mysteries surrounding the legends of the Holy Grail. The couple believes that the ancient art was created inside this burial cave to serve as a record of King Arthur and his Merlin and as memorials to the notables of their legendary lost kingdom.

http://www.kingarthur-lordofthegrail.com/ http://discoveryofmerlinscave.wordpress.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terrance_Hennig

Do We Know the Date of the End of the World?

Do we really know for certain the date of the end of the world? We can read and study prophecy, and we can add our own interpretation to all that we learn. We can read the writing on the wall... if we choose to pull our heads out of the sand. There are prophecies of the possible end of the world made from different sources, by different people, at different times of history, and from different cultures and civilizations. Are these various prophecies now beginning to converge and point to a certain date for the end of the world or to a time of enormous change?

I urge you to see with your eyes and hear with your ears, and heed the warnings of what others of long-ago say about what may very soon transpire. Instead of the world ending with cataclysm, perhaps our earth will experience a great change. We can look at the signs and trends of what is happening in the world today and make educated guesses, and we can look at what past civilizations and seers have said and prophesied about the date of the end of the world.

The Bible - Book of Revelations

In the Book of Revelations, the Bible tells us of terrible droughts, disease,and plagues occurring in the end times. If you look at our world of today you will see that AIDS, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, Mad Cow disease, diabetes, heart disease, starvation, and a full list of cancers, are prevalent or epidemic. Earthquakes, droughts, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, oil spills, floods, and volcanoes are usually in our news, but now more of these dire things are happening with more rapidity than in any other time. All of this is occurring daily right before our eyes.

Merlin

The historical Merlin was one of Europe's greatest oracles. Merlin has been described in ancient texts as being a Celtic shaman, a kind of half-man and half-demon. Merlin's prophecies were published in 1135 and one of the things he predicted was that "A colony shall be founded by virgins in virgin soil." Does this Merlin prophecy point to the first American colony being established on land that became the state of Virginia? Merlin's words can certainly be interpreted to indicate this.

Merlin foresaw a British victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, and the horrors and evil of the holocaust. These events came true. Merlin said that a man on the shore of England will speak instantly to a man on the shore of France using a "speaking stone." That Merlin prediction sounds a lot like our common cell phones of today, doesn't it?

More important for our concerns, Merlin also predicted global warming and saw the seas rising, terrorist attacks, and planetary catastrophe. Merlin saw what appears to be a nuclear meltdown disaster in Great Britain with 20,000 dead and the River Themes turning red with blood. Merlin also saw that the "planets will run out of their appointed paths, planets will run riot through the signs." This prediction sounds incredibly similar to what would occur on our planet if the North and South poles changed their locations and a polar shift takes place, which has been proved by science to have happened before.

What happens on December 21, 2012?

Maybe we do know the date of the end of the world. Prophecies of the past provide us with very interesting information to consider. Both the Mayan calendar and the Chinese I Ching (or Book of Changes) predict that great change will soon occur on planet earth. Amazingly, it's on this date that the Mayan calendar ends, and the I Ching says that the end of days is on December 21, 2012.

Are the predictions and signs about a date of the end of the world coming true, or are they merely coincidence? I recommend this resource website; http://december2012endofworld.info to learn more. It is packed full of amazing information, and will explain many things, answer many questions, and certainly get you thinking about, wondering about, and questioning our future.

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2012 Survival Guide - How to Make it Out Alive!

Everyone not living under a rock has heard the different doomsday predictions about 2012, the end of the Mayan calendar. Many people are expecting the end of the world as we know it, while others see the date 21'st December 2012 as the dawn of a new age of heightened consciousness. The Mayan calendar ends on December 21'st 2012 and many people believe that this means that a catastrophic event will happen and wipe out the human race for good. It doesn't help that the signs are all there: Tsunamis, earthquakes and strange weather. Is this the influence of the gravity of the mysterious Planet X on course for a rendezvous with earth in 2012? Whether or not these prophecies are true can't be your main concern; you need to have a 2012 survival guide and a plan ready for survival - or be unapologetically be wiped out from history. Making sure you and your family survive should be your only concern.

Survival Tip #1)

Stock up on essentials. Make sure you are completely stocked up on the most basic of necessities: Food, Water and Medicine. If the world really will be hit by unimaginable natural disasters, then you can't sit around and wait. You do not want to be part of the stampede to the grocery store in a situation of panic and emergency. Stock up on food that can last for years and look into getting equipment for purifying water. You will need it.

Survival Tip #2)

Prepare yourself mentally. If 2012 does result in massive earthquakes and tsunamis, do not panic! It's important to be ready for disaster. You can trust that those who are unprepared will panic and do very stupid things to survive. To survive, you must stay calm and collected and take immediate steps to carry out your survival plan. Do not think your government will be there to help you. Remember Katrina? Now imagine a catastrophe ten times worse. You do not want to depend on other people for you survival.

Survival Tip #3)

Keep your sanity. Don't do any crazy things, just because you believe there will be no consequence after 2012. No one can predict with certainty what the world will look like after 2012. Don't burn any bridges or do something you will regret later. Just prepare for yourself and go about your life as you did before.

Survival Tip #4)

Stay in a safe place at December 21'st, 2012. If you have any plans of going out this day, then you should reschedule. In any emergency, it's always best to be in a controlled environment and not stuck on a road or in a mall with hundreds or thousands other people in panic. Some places will be safer than others. A 2012 survival guide can tell you exactly where. Unfortunately, there will not be safe places for everyone.

Survival Tip #5)

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Yes, it may be unpleasant to prepare for the end of the world, but it's for the best. If 2012 turns out to be nothing or only a small occurrence, then you have lost nothing. You are still alive and living well, but if the worst happens; if the predictions come true, then you will be very happy indeed that you took steps to prepare. Prepare for every scenario. Prepare for rioting and looting. Prepare for lack of electricity and infrastructure. Get ready.

We can only hope that the 2012 doomsday predictions do not come true. It's always a good idea to plan and train for an emergency though. As witnessed by Katrina, you can't count on your government to help you and you can't count on other people to help you. You MUST prepare. Take action today! The best 2012 survival guide can be found by clicking the link.

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Short History of Mothman Phenomena

First known reports are from 1926. Somewhere in south-eastern part of China, near the Xiaon - the second largest dam in whole country, first sightings were reported. Rumors begun to spread - people reported a huge black creature hovering above the dam. In the afternoon, 19th of January, 1926, the Xiaon Dam collapsed, sending over 40 billion gallons of water chasing unwitting farmers below. Entire villages were destroyed, over 15 thousands dead. Since that time the Man-Dragon is known as oracle of doom and symbol of destruction in China.

Some time earlier, a Russian newspaper Pravda wrote, that there were several encounters with strange creature, in which people where warned about the imminent crash of MD-82 aircraft, but these encounters are yet to be confirmed. No further sightings were reported - until one night of 1964.

The Ohio River Tragedy

A young woman with her father was driving down Route 2 along the Ohio River. They were heading toward the Chief Cornstal Hunting Grounds, West Virgina. Then, out of nowhere a man-like creature stepped onto the road in front of their car. Young woman along with her father saw a horrifying being - without head, and with illuminating red eyes on the torso of creature. Its skiing was grey, almost black, and creature was a lot larger than normal man. In a matter of seconds, the mysterious Mothman's wings unfurled from back, and being disappear in the darkness...

Few months later in 1965, small village named Point Pleasant in West Virgina turned from peaceful safe-heaven into a center of horror. For 13 months people were reporting encounters with "angels" or "giant butterflies'. People were terrified not just by the monster itself, but also by journalists and television crews seeking the creature.

A conclusion of these events was tragic - on 15th of December, 1967, the 700 foot long Silver Bridge above the Ohio River collapsed during rush hour traffic - 46 died. Based on these events, a book were written, as well as movie was created. The Mothman once again prove to be the bad omen - or maybe a warning?

Those, who were saved

11 years have passed before new sightings reported. On 10th of September, 1978, at a coal mine in Freiburg, Germany, miners encountered a terrifying black creature blocking the entrance to the mine. They were forced to retreat - so they begun to clean area outside the mine just to keep themselves busy, hoping that creature will leave. Around 8 am, a ground shuddered with tremendous force of underground explosion. 21 people were saved from dead by mysterious monster. This creature is known as Freiburg Shrieker. But - workers who were "saved" that day had fallen into sanity, or committed a suicide, or died in very young age. So - should they die that day?

The power of atom

We need to move eight years into the future to find out new sightings - beginning in April of 1985, employees of Russian Nuclear Power Plan in Chernobyl, Ukraine, reported sightings of a huge, dark and headless creature with gigantic wings and glowing red eyes. Some of these people have encounter the creature in person, some have been having horrifying nightmares.

The real horror came with 26th of April, 1986. A massive explosion shake whole power plant - the core of the reactor begun to melt. Thirty people died in explosion, ten more due to radiation exposure - untold casualties over the next years. Workers who survived says they saw a black creature hovering above the burning core.

Conclusions

Since the tragedy of Chernobyl, there were no new sightings of the creature - the Mothman activity stopped - but who know when it will start again? Will it be another sign of a tragedy coming? More than that - does the events inFreiburg are proof that future can't be changed, and those who have to die, will die no matters what? There are many questions, and so few answers...

Nathaniel is a psychic, energy worker and paranormal investigator, grab his ebook and learn how to develop psychic abilities.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathaniel_Webb

Connecting the Dots of the Paranormal: Hollow Earth Theory and The Lands Beneath

I know I've dwelled on fairies for quite a while in my articles, but this mostly due to their constant reappearance, in some form or another, as times go by despite how much our world changes and becomes more modern. This last aspect of their existence, called "The Lands Beneath" by the Reverend Robert Kirk in his book, ties in very well with other legends that our Earth may be hollow.

Hollow Earth Theory, if you are one hearing this term for the first time, is the concept, thought, or belief that the Earth is hollow. Normally it is believed holes exist at the poles of the Earth that can lead one inside. While no modern account really exists of anyone actually entering the Earth and returning to tell the story, it is had long belief across the globe in various forms as the times changed.

"The Lands Beneath" is what the beings Robert Kirk encountered in Aberfoyle, Scotland, called where they live. A place under the Earth. His books are really worth checking out, a lot of his writing lives on today as the basis for what we typically widely regard as fairy life and culture. The place, described by Kirk, is said to be as real as it is to you reading this article now, filled with forest, mountains, and countryside much like our fairytale vision of that today. He would have no feeling of traveling far if he did with his companion, and believed the world around him was thought into existance. Even the things he saw he was unsure were really there later, figuring that's how he thought it should look. It was a dreamlike world, seemingly controlled by thought.

Before getting into other areas here, a basic difference should be noted. The fairies of Kirk's writings went back to The Lands Beneath through passages of their own design in the hill and land forms where Kirk lived. The Hollow Earth Theory almost exclusively cites the poles at entrance points. This is a small, but I think important, detail.

The Greek's belief in Hades, Christianity's Hell, and the Egyptian's Underworld are great examples of how beliefs and thought of a place beneath us has changed over thousands of years. Another theory has been proposed that our Earth exists in layers. Us on the surface, caves and tunnels with their own culture and cities in the next layer, and finally the existance of a world like ours in the center. The idea of a dimly lit sun suspended in the center of the Earth seems to reappear in what seem to be unrelated stories and accounts of strange happenings to people, though few exist today. There is the idea that aliens are landing their spacecraft under the Earth as well, taking off and landing at their own leisure.

Without actually going inside can we find out how true any of our current theories or past beliefs are. Like many paranormal things a hollow Earth has many avenues of tradition, legends, and stories, even if they don't directly say so. By looking between the lines we are bound to fine bits of truth, maybe enough to discover if a place under us really exists.

Robert Kreuk is owner of The Future Sight Metaphysical Bookstore [http://www.fromhomebusiness.org/metaphysicalbookstore]. See our selection of books and ebooks aimed at conneting the dots to the paranormal.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Kreuk