Magus Of Strovolos Essays - Gnosticism, Mystics,

Magus Of Strovolos The neophyte stood in front of the altar with a large divine imagine facing her. On the alter was a folded white robe with a sword upon it. A initiated member of the inner circle lit white candles and incense while another switched on a powerful twin light to illuminate the divinely image. The highest member of the inner circle then took the sword, and preceded with the ritual initiation of the neophyte into the inner circle of the ancient mysteries. (Markides 124) This scene invokes the imagination to think of Freemasonry, fraternal organizations and even Witchcraft. This is a ritual steeped in the esoteric world of mysteries, but yet it is seemingly Christian! This is the world of Spyros Sathi, the Magus of Strovolos. A man of great spirituality and wisdom. He is known in his region as a great healer, and is highly revered for his gift. Today he coexists with the Christian church who would have most definitely sent the inquisitioner after him in the past. Although Spyros Sathi is a Christian holy man, is teachings are a swirl of Gnostic and alchemical mysticism. Mysticism is a spiritual discipline aiming at a union with the divine through meditation and contemplation. (Webster's 466) It has long played apart in religious traditions in every part of the world. "Those who claim to have actually experienced this direct revelation constitutes an elite tradition which transcends the boundary lines of individual religions, cultures and languages." (Adhayananda 1) There are many Mystic Schools of thought, but some of the more well known are; Ancient Egyptian, Cabalistic, Tantric, Yogic, Sufism, Alchemy and Gnostic. Spyros Sathi, also known as Daskalos, seems to work with all these traditions, especially Gnosticism. Of course I must add that there's always blurred boundaries between these traditions because they all inter link in various aspects. Daskalos transcends these boundaries, and uses these traditions as an artists would a palette. Daskalos is greatly influenced by the Gnostic-Christian legacy. His teachings mirror that of the Gnostic gospels. It was Simon Magus who first brought Gnosticism to light in the apostolic era. (Picknett & Prince 316) The first clue to Gnostic thought in Daskalos' teachings is his invisible master, Yohannan. "Daskalos went on to explain that Yohannan was none other than Jesus' disciple, John the evangelist, who spoke through Daskalos' body." (Maekides 6) The fact that John the evangelist is Daskalos' invisible master is very significant because John the evangelist was supposedly recipient of Jesus' secret teachings. (Pickett & Price 333) These teachings are what have come to light in the "Gnostic Gospels", found in the Egyptian desert, and date back to the fourth century.(Pagels xvi-xvii) These versions of the canonical gospels are very Gnostic in verse, and it is well known that the New Testament was not complied until 325 CE at the council of Nicaea by bias Catholic priest. Daskalos seems to be teaching those secret teachings of Jesus, which greatly differ from the current popular Christian doctrines. Another apparent correlation between gnosticism and Daskalos' teachings is the way each views the role of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus. In a Gnostic writing, Judas was held to be a man far advanced in the gnosis. "Judas's ?betrayal' was in fact an act of complicity with Christ's purpose, and he thus contributed to the scheme of salvation." (Holroyd 48) Daskalos has some very similar words about Judas; "The role of Judas is something within the Divine Plan because it facilitates its unfolding." (Markides 115) Although not as pronounced, but still worth mentioning is how the apostle Peter is portrayed. "I remember Peter was rough-looking, blondish, with heavy arms. He always held a stick, chasing people away from Jesus. Peter was envious of Yohannan because of his education. He apparently had an inferiority complex because he was illiterate. I remember that Yahannan would smile and shake his head whenever he would see Peter with the stick in his hand driving people and children away from master." (Markides 120) Although Daskalos is not informing us of some great new revelation in the personality of Peter , he has always been viewed as , for lack of better words, the "macho man" of the disciples, the fact that Daskalos makes this statement in reference to John the evangelist is! Lynn Pickett and Clive Prince write about the great occult scholar A.E. Waite, in their book, The Templar Revelation: "The presence of a secret tradition within Christianity that was behind the whole concept of legends also recognize the alchemical, hermetic and Gnostic elements in the

The Effect on the Church During the Black Death Essay Example

The Effect on the Church During the Black Death Essay Example The Effect on the Church During the Black Death Essay The Effect on the Church During the Black Death Essay Essay Topic: The Black Monk The Black Death stands as a convenient divider between the central and the late Middle Ages in Europe.Also known as bubonic plague was caused by an infectious flea on rats.It was highly contagious and the victims usually died in around 3 days after thefirst symptom.Itfirst erupted in the Gobi Desert in the late 1320s, without any available reason.It traveled fast infecting all Asia and in China the plague dropped the population about one hundred million over the course of the 14th century.Arriving in Italy in 1347 it spread quickly through the continent. By the time it was done with Europe it killed on fourth of the population or around twenty-five million people.Though the population dropped dramatic the Christian church suffered the most in this horrifying period of time. In the early and central Middle Ages the church was the most powerful group in Europe.It was the European government and the wealthiest group on the continent.When the plague started the church became even more p owerful and popular the ever.The Church dealt with the Plague in a number of ways. The most distinguished of these was that there were much more processions and vows, hoping of gaining recognition from God.In this quote by an unknown individual When in 1347 the plague was raging at Luebeck the confession was so great that the citizens, as if deprived of their senses, took leave of life and willingly renounced all earthly possessions. They bore their treasures to the monasteries and churches to lay them on the steps of the altars. But for the monks the money had no attraction, for it brought death. They closed their gates, but the people threw their money over the walls of the monasteries; they would brook no impediment in their last pious work, to which they were urged by mute despair. [Black] it is clearly seen that the church maybe became more popular than it ever was.As seen in the quote above the monks didn

23 Things Not To Say To Your Coworkers

23 Things Not To Say To Your Coworkers It’s important to get along with your coworkers. You don’t have to be best friends, but you do have to make sure you don’t alienate or offend anyone; you never know when you might need a favor or a contact or a helping hand. Here are 23 things you should absolutely avoid doing or saying at all costs. Keep your conversation non-contentious and keep your work life drama free.1. â€Å"How much do you make?†This is an awkward and unprofessional thing to ask. Even if your motives aren’t jealous and competitive, it puts everyone in an awkward position. If you really need to find out, there are probably other ways.2. â€Å"Can I borrow some money?†Okay, so you forgot your wallet in your car or in your other purse. Every once in a very little while it’s okay to ask someone to spot you, provided you pay them back the next day at the latest. But if you’re often â€Å"misplacing your wallet,† don’t be surprised if you never g et invited out for lunches or happy hours anymore.3. â€Å"Honestly†This little word can do a surprising amount of damage. If you feel the need to say it, people might wonder why. Are you not always speaking honestly?4. â€Å"Did you hear about†¦?†Just don’t gossip. It will only reflect badly on you in the long run. Especially if it’s a negative comment about a coworker. Keep your mouth shut and stay above the fray.5. â€Å"Those pants look great on you†Compliments are always nice, right? Just keep them neutral, and not based on someone’s appearance or physique. You never want to be accused of sexual harassment. Compliment someone’s earrings or briefcase instead.6. â€Å"You people always†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Any complaint that lumps people together- breastfeeding moms, religious people, political parties- is best never said out loud in the workplace. These kinds of comments can also get you in trouble for harassment.7. â€Å"When are you due?†If you haven’t explicitly been told by a woman that she is pregnant, don’t mention it- no matter how obvious you think it is. When she decides to share with you about her pregnancy, then (and only then) you can comment. This will save you from awkward moments when you make assumptions that don’t turn out to be true.8. â€Å"I’m sorry to bother you.†Why? If you’re really sorry, you won’t do whatever it is you’re going to do. Chances are, you have nothing to be sorry about. Try â€Å"Pardon me; do you have a sec?† instead.9. â€Å"I’m outta here†If you’re looking for another job, resist the temptation to ask your coworkers if they have any leads. At best, they’ll start writing you off as all but gone. And at worst, they’ll spill it to your boss.10. â€Å"Look at this rash.†Even if you think you have a fascinating medical problem, nobody at work really wants to be inv olved. It will probably just gross people out. Feel free to share if you have a headache, but not a boil or wart.11. â€Å"I think†Don’t preface everything with â€Å"I think,† particularly if you aren’t trying to express being unsure. If you know what you’re talking about, go ahead and say it directly.12. â€Å"Wow, I didn’t think you’d get that†Whether it’s a big project or promotion, you’ll win nothing expressing surprise that a coworker got chosen over you. The only acceptable answer here is â€Å"Congratulations.† Keep your shock to yourself.13. â€Å"When I’m in †¦ [insert fancy vacation spot]†If you’re lucky enough to be taking trips to fancy places, try not to brag. â€Å"While I’m away† is just fine for work purposes.14. â€Å"Am I invited?†Everyone is heading out to lunch and you’re still at your desk. Chances are, you weren’t invited. D on’t make things awkward. Give them a chance to ask you along, but if they don’t, then don’t make a scene.15. â€Å"Hook up†Even if you’re just innocently asking someone if they want to grab coffee over the weekend or after work, don’t use the words â€Å"hook up.† â€Å"Get together† will do just fine and spares you the weird sexual overtones.16. â€Å"They won’t miss these†You pocket some goodies from the snack room to take home to your roommates. All well and good unless you get caught- a fire-able offense. Never mind the fact that you shouldn’t steal from work; talking about it will only increase your chances of being caught.17. â€Å"My boyfriend blah blah blah†Constantly indulging personal details is not going to win you many work pals. It’s okay to talk about this with your actual pals, but keep your mouth shut when unsure of the company. You don’t want to be the TMI coworker vot ed â€Å"mostly likely to overshare.†18. â€Å"She took all the credit for my idea†Even if it’s true, you’ll look like a sore loser if you say it out loud. Keep it to yourself, or address the credit-stealer individually in a more appropriate circumstance.19. â€Å"Can I borrow your [personal toiletry]?†No coworker is close enough to share deodorant. Just don’t ask. If you need some, go buy it in your lunch break.20. â€Å"I’m suing.†Don’t make empty threats. If you have a legitimate grievance, talk to your lawyer about it, not your coworkers. Don’t compromise your case by blabbing off.21. â€Å"Your kid doesn’t seem†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Just say no to ever making critical comments about your coworkers’ children. If you don’t have something nice to say about them, keep your mouth shut- or lose the popularity contest before you’ve even begun.22. â€Å"Maybe you should join a gym†Unless yo u’ve been asked directly for fitness or diet advice, don’t broach this subject with anyone. Even if you think a bit of exercise could help them. They will almost always be hurt.23. â€Å"When are you retiring anyway?†Answer: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. Plus, it’s very unwise to make assumptions about a coworker’s age.

Airline Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Airline Marketing - Essay Example Thus, it is necessary for the company to decide which advertisement can work or not work for the company (Shaw 311). In this context, applicability of print advertising in the airline industry will be checked. The advantages and disadvantages of print advertisement will be offered. Print Advertising Print advertising normally includes newspapers, directories, technical press, leaflets, yellow pages, and magazines. In the UK, print advertising accounts for about 75% of all the advertising expenditure. It is estimated that some million advertisers’ use print media on a daily basis and that over 12000 publications are found in the UK (Blythe 486). Print adverting usually contains unasked for and sought after advertisements. Sought after advertisements is classified and categorized according to product brand and consumer need. These are advertisements are considered to be people’s choice as people seek out for them. They contain all the information required by the readers. Unsought after advertisements are the display advertisements that are made to be eye-catching and persuasive to the readers (Blythe 487). Some of the elements that make the unsought after advertisements gain the reader’s attention include: Text – the weight of the content tends to have a significant impact on capturing the reader’s attention. ... Permanence – it is important to note that print advertising unlike radio and TV is permanent. This is because the advertisement can be reread or clipped and saved. Among the print advertisements, magazines are kept for longer period than the newspapers while directories are normally kept for many years. Print media are easily read on airplanes, buses and on trains. This is because individuals rarely bring with them TVs or even radios on public transport. In such a case, the print advertising gets the readers full attention (Blythe 486). The success of advertising can be evaluated through checking coupon returns. Statistics are generally available on readership, circulation, and sales figures. These figures make the planning of media easier. Most of the magazines gather data on the reader’s characteristics and they are capable of telling potential advertisers about the readers’ demographics and the types of purchases they make (Blythe 487). Newspapers, magazines, and periodicals are the common types of print advertising used by most organizations as their marketing communication strategies. Each form of print advertising has its own advantages and disadvantages and thus it is the mandate of the organization or the company to choose the type of print advertising that suits them best. Newspapers are not costly hence; local retailers usually buy about 85% of them. Retailers use newspaper advertising extensively because it is relatively cheap in comparison with other forms of media advertisements. The newspapers offer local coverage thus a lot of money is not wasted in attempting to reach individuals outside the scope of company’s market area. It is timely and the advertisements can be placed prior to their appearance (usually

Managing services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing services - Essay Example The researcher then targeted UK websites in which people complained about food. These were ideal for the investigation because such parties are already quite willing to seek remedies for their problems. They were requested to take part in the survey and asked to click on a link which would provide them with access to the forms. After completion, volunteers were supposed to click on another link which would allow them to submit their responses to the researcher. The link was centrally placed in the form. Evans and Mathur (2005) notes that one of the advantages of online surveys is the ease with which one can access a large sample space. It is easy to obtain contacts if one already has a target audience. In this research, persons who complain about food services are already tried and tested clients of the service industry under analysis. Therefore, they are ideal for this food service investigation. The study involved an analysis of the responses obtained through mathematical methods. Currently, some elements of analysis are not complete but will be completed in the coming weeks. Respondents were to select specific answers from a set of four possible choices. It was relatively easy to analyse these outcomes. Duffy, et al. (2005) explains that one of the reasons why researchers are attracted to this method of market research is its speedy and relatively unproblematic response times. The research demonstrated that several customers paid attention to the degree of cleanliness in fast food restaurants. Simple things like whether a waiter dipped their fingers in the salad or used different tongs for different food items affected customer perceptions of the quality. Barber and Scarcelli (2010) echo these sentiments in their US survey which found that cleanliness was of primary significance to clients. A number of respondents also cited their interactions with service providers as a key indication of value. Some believed that fast franchises are too keen on

Managing services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing services - Essay Example The researcher then targeted UK websites in which people complained about food. These were ideal for the investigation because such parties are already quite willing to seek remedies for their problems. They were requested to take part in the survey and asked to click on a link which would provide them with access to the forms. After completion, volunteers were supposed to click on another link which would allow them to submit their responses to the researcher. The link was centrally placed in the form. Evans and Mathur (2005) notes that one of the advantages of online surveys is the ease with which one can access a large sample space. It is easy to obtain contacts if one already has a target audience. In this research, persons who complain about food services are already tried and tested clients of the service industry under analysis. Therefore, they are ideal for this food service investigation. The study involved an analysis of the responses obtained through mathematical methods. Currently, some elements of analysis are not complete but will be completed in the coming weeks. Respondents were to select specific answers from a set of four possible choices. It was relatively easy to analyse these outcomes. Duffy, et al. (2005) explains that one of the reasons why researchers are attracted to this method of market research is its speedy and relatively unproblematic response times. The research demonstrated that several customers paid attention to the degree of cleanliness in fast food restaurants. Simple things like whether a waiter dipped their fingers in the salad or used different tongs for different food items affected customer perceptions of the quality. Barber and Scarcelli (2010) echo these sentiments in their US survey which found that cleanliness was of primary significance to clients. A number of respondents also cited their interactions with service providers as a key indication of value. Some believed that fast franchises are too keen on

Managing services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing services - Essay Example The researcher then targeted UK websites in which people complained about food. These were ideal for the investigation because such parties are already quite willing to seek remedies for their problems. They were requested to take part in the survey and asked to click on a link which would provide them with access to the forms. After completion, volunteers were supposed to click on another link which would allow them to submit their responses to the researcher. The link was centrally placed in the form. Evans and Mathur (2005) notes that one of the advantages of online surveys is the ease with which one can access a large sample space. It is easy to obtain contacts if one already has a target audience. In this research, persons who complain about food services are already tried and tested clients of the service industry under analysis. Therefore, they are ideal for this food service investigation. The study involved an analysis of the responses obtained through mathematical methods. Currently, some elements of analysis are not complete but will be completed in the coming weeks. Respondents were to select specific answers from a set of four possible choices. It was relatively easy to analyse these outcomes. Duffy, et al. (2005) explains that one of the reasons why researchers are attracted to this method of market research is its speedy and relatively unproblematic response times. The research demonstrated that several customers paid attention to the degree of cleanliness in fast food restaurants. Simple things like whether a waiter dipped their fingers in the salad or used different tongs for different food items affected customer perceptions of the quality. Barber and Scarcelli (2010) echo these sentiments in their US survey which found that cleanliness was of primary significance to clients. A number of respondents also cited their interactions with service providers as a key indication of value. Some believed that fast franchises are too keen on