To put the Pendle Witch Trails into context, imagine it’s 1612. Witch trials are sweeping through Europe. The shadow of the bloody crusades, finished nearly 200 years ago, still cast their shadow over a continent. Europe is in an era when the power of Rome is being challenged by the Reformation. Christianity has split into Roman Catholic and Protestant. Religious […]
The Pendle Witch Trials
The Cathars, crusades and the Holy Grail – What really happened.
The Cathars is a term used to denote people who practised Catharism, a term not used by the Cathars themselves. Catharism was a form of Catholicism but their beliefs differed from that of the Roman Catholic Church. Their history is centered around the 12th-13th century but historic documents from Catharism itself are nearly non-existent due to purges carried out by […]
Cancer Star Sign
The Cancer star sign is the fourth sign of the Zodiac and is a real family orientated sign. Water is the element of Cancer and it symbolises the emotional nature of Cancerians. Putting down roots, having a centered family life and close knit circles of family and friends that span all ages are all hallmarks of those born under the […]
Cardinal Signs
Signs in astrology can be grouped according to whether they are Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable and understanding this characteristic is crucial in being able to understand a birth chart. The interplay between the the element of a sign (fire, water, earth and air) and whether the sign is Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable can provide a great deal of basic information […]
I Am
You are more than just your flesh and bones. More than what you call your beauty, more than the belly you keep self criticising, more than the jokes you make to fit in, more than the mask you wear to keep up appearances, more than the brave face you put on, more than the fear you hide, more than the […]
The Nanny State
If you didn’t know what ‘The Nanny State’ meant, you’d be forgiven for thinking it almost sounds endearing. As if Nanny is somehow watching over you, keeping you safe in your childlike state, unaware of the big meanies out to get you in an ever more dangerous world. A quick search of the news throws up many examples of Nanny […]
Johnson & Johnson fined €515m for ‘fuelling opioid crisis’
Remember Johnson & Johnson? That stalwart that lurks in your kitchen cabinet with marketing names like Listerine, Aveeno, Johnsons Baby Lotion, Actifed, Band-Aid, Benylin and Clean & Clear among many more? That Johnson & Johnson that was recently ordered to pay nearly $4.7 billion to 22 women because its Johnson Talcum Powder was judged to have caused cancer? That Johnson […]
Tigers Eye
Tigers Eye is a (metamorphic) mix of rock, iron oxide deposits and red jasper, the latter giving the red layers that can be seen on closer inspection and the iron oxide giving it various hues of brown. Its formation gives it a chatoyant effect, meaning it changes colour in different light and angles. It resembles a tiger’s (or cat’s) eye […]
Veganism marches on – but is in danger of being over processed
Ask any vegan why they have chosen not to consume animal products and you’ll invariably get a reply firstly, about animal welfare and secondly, about our health – and in the broadest terms, our health includes the health of the planet we live on. Veganism, for the moment, is inextricably tied up with these two branches. And therein lies the […]
Tao Te Ching – verse Thirty Two
The Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tzu in the 6th Century BC (and possibly the 4th century BC), is an ancient Chinese text that forms the bedrock for Taoism. It appeals to a much wider audience than Taoists though because of its deep meaning and nearly an intuitive truth that can be felt. Composed of 81 sections, the Tao […]