The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood (Repost)

The group is described as an exclusive sisterhood whose members train their bodies and minds through years of physical and mental conditioning to obtain superhuman powers and abilities that can seem magical to outsiders.

A process cannot be understood by stopping it. Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it. ( Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam)

Acolytes who have acquired the breadth of Bene Gesserit abilities are called Reverend Mothers within the organization’s ranks.

Oppose a religion with another religion only if your proofs (miracles) are irrefutable or if you can mesh in a way that the fanatics accept you as god-inspired.

The Bene Gesserit choose to use indirect methodologies to further their goals, rather than wield overt power themselves.

When God hath ordained a creature to die in a particular place, He causeth that creature’s wants to direct him to that place.

They have noted the Taoist principle that whatever rises must fall; and so rather than taking direct control of the human race, they instead manipulate the social and political order with subtlety and insinuation, often using extraordinarily long-term stratagems spanning generations.

The mystery of life isn’t a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.

The Bene Gesserit avoid appearing too rich or powerful, or revealing the extent of their powers, to prevent being seen as overtly responsible for the rise and fall of governments and empires, and to avoid any organized backlash.

. It’s shocking to find how many people do not believe they can learn, and how many more believe learning to be difficult.

The Bene Gesserit practice “religious engineering” through a faction called the Missionaria Protectiva.
Collectively known as Panoplia Prophetica, these myths, prophecies, and superstitions provide the opportunity for a Bene Gesserit to later cast herself as a guide, protector, or some other figure in fulfillment of a prophecy in order to manipulate the religious subjects for protection or other purposes.
These myths also exploit religion as a powerful force in human society; by controlling the particulars of religion, the Bene Gesserit have a manipulative lever on society in general.

Fanatics (and many are fanatic on one subject or another) must know where you stand, but more important, must recognise who whispers in your ear.” – Missionaria Protectiva, Primary Teaching

The swords of Damascus (Repost)

The remarkable characteristics of Damascus steel became known to Europe when the Crusaders reached the Middle East, beginning in the 11th century.
They discovered that swords of this metal could split a feather in midair, yet retain their edge through many a battle with the Saracens.
The swords were easily recognized by a characteristic watery or ”damask” pattern on their blades.

Such blades were reputed to be not only tough and resistant to shattering, but capable of being honed to a sharp and resilient edge.

The original method of producing Damascus steel is not known. Due to differences in raw materials and manufacturing techniques, modern attempts to duplicate the metal have failed.

For eight centuries the Arab sword makers succeeded in concealing their techniques from competitors -and from posterity. Those in Europe only revealed that they quenched in ”red medicine” or ”green medicine.” A less abrupt form of cooling, according to one account, was achieved when the blade, still red hot, was ”carried ina furious gallop by a horseman on a fast horse.”

Writings found in Asia Minor said that to temper a Damascus sword the blade must be heated until it glows ”like the sun rising in the desert.”

According to Dr. Nickel, once blades of Damascus steel had been rough-shaped by hammering, they were ground to a fine edge. When they were hammered chiefly on one side, a curved shape resulted – the origin of the sabre, he said.

The finest blades ever made, he added, were the Samurai swords of Japan, whose blades may contain a million layers of steel. The layers resulted from hammering out a bar to double its original length, then folding it over as many as 32 times.

The multiple layers used by the Japanese and by makers of the Malay dagger or kris are sometimes referred to as ‘ ‘welded Damascus steel.” Although the production method differs from that of true Damascus steel, the blades may show a very similar pattern.

20 SEC READING: part of the ocean

There was once a wave in the ocean, rolling along, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the swiftness of the breeze.
It smiled at everything around it as it made its way toward the shore.

But then, it suddenly noticed that the waves in front of it, one by one, were striking against the cliff face, being savagely broken to pieces.

‘Oh God!’ it cried. ‘My end will be just like theirs. Soon I, too, will crash and disappear!’

Just then another wave passing by saw the first wave’s panic and asked:
‘Why are you so anxious? Look how beautiful the weather is, see the sun, feel the breeze…’

The first wave replied:
‘Don’t you see? See how violently those waves before us strike against the cliff, look at the terrible way they disappear. We’ll soon become nothing just like them.’

‘Oh, but you don’t understand,’ the second wave said. ‘You’re not a wave. You’re a part of the ocean.’

The True Measure of Success

I woke up today with a perked up mood. It’s because I received a text message from someone in the high ranks. This is about my application for a good position in some institution. I’ve been starting to make queries for this a couple of months after I passed the licensure exams. Having passed the NLE is such an ephemeral bliss. The moment I saw my name on the roster of passers, I felt rapture but that was it for it was followed by what I so-called series of unfortunate events. I did my best in so many job exams and interviews in order to pave my way towards my desired position. However, none of it was a success or is it just a blessing in disguise? No one knows for sure and it’s for me to unravel yet.

I have so many realizations right after becoming a licensed nurse and now having to fend for myself. It was a very rough adjustment period. It’s a hard trek. Being fresh from the four corners of the classroom, I find it arduous to adjust with how things in the real life are. This is way too different from how life of a student is, just a routine of being always present in school, doing good in exams and quizzes, burning the midnight candle and the cycle just ends on your graduation today which I believe, for me, is already the cup of success that would quench all my longing yet this just the very beginning of it all. This is life! Life seems not an easy pursuit at all. Circumstances don’t take place just like in the classroom wherein if you just piously study all your lessons, you can achieve what you want, good grades and high recognition. We are now in another graduation season. Graduates all beam with their smiles and hopeful of a better and brighter future. But, with how things seem to be right now, with all the unrest and cataclysms going on, are we still entitled of a better tomorrow? If you look at things that way, you will just wallow in depression because there seems to be a no way out of all these crises. Everything seemed morbid and there’s no way to run but instead stay put on where you are and cling on for some divine providence. There’s no other way but HIM.

I must say that student life wasn’t at all that easy for me. It seemed I am always in a tight competition. Everyone is a rival. I even wonder why students are so hungry for high academic standing and recognition. This is what I’ve realized you cannot bring your Latin award with you when you get in to the real game of life. People will not really recognize you for your scholarly achievements. You will not be riveting in your name SUMMA CUM LAUDE or whatever meritus you have. How we play fair in our student life is not yet the true measure of success. You can not utterly say that a dull student has no better future to behold. Life can play hard tricks on us and we need to compose ourselves in order to be ready for that. Life is a game and the outcome lies on how we play it.

Repost from Paulo Coelho's blog : You, who they call Lord

EM PORTUGUES AQUI: Você, que eles chamam Senhor
___________________________
by Abbot Burkhard

You, who I can feel deep inside my soul.
You, who has created this world.
When I look into the microcosmos, in the macrocosmos, everywhere I find you.
I sense your greatness.
You, who they call Lord,
who they call Father,
who they call Allah,
who they call Jahwe,
You, who is there.
Who is with us. Who walks with us.
The older I become, the more I can call you friend.
You are the friend of my life, who loves me and who called me to carry your message to the people.
Thank you.
I want to ask for everyone who is here today, to feel some of God’s Greatness and His love, who wants us, who loves us.
Jesus Christ showed us a way which we can walk together.
In spite of everything and everyone, we can find ways together,
seek and find ways which will gift us with a better and more beautiful life.
Paulo has written that he is searching for the sense in his life.
And while searching he went across new paths, wrong tracks and detours, like the all of us.
Let’s keep on looking for you in the humans beings that are present in our path.
Amen

LOVE: Meager but not Absence

Okay. I would just like to share something from my Daily Paulo Coelho Message and it goes like this:

"A cactus in the desert could survive with little water. But not without water at all. Just like for a human, they could live somehow with little love but not with its total absence."

    Today is just another Monday and I'm back with the usual stuff. Sprawled in front of the PC, technical writing. This is how my usual day turns out these days. This may seem sedentary but I kinda enjoy it. I can just loosen up a bit without having to push myself hard. I must admit I've been too hard on myself lately. I'm pushing myself beyond the limit, trying to really become the person that I'm not. So now that I've got the chance to just chill a bit, I would take the opportunity to write my daily blog. This brings out a lot of fun! Although nothing is really that interesting written in this blogspot, I take pride in writing still. So long as there is the internet, I can continually do this stuff and I can return to the days for as long as I want. Probably, I was really born to write. It's where I can best express my dear self. It somehow also brings the best in me.

    I think I'm going a bit far-fetched with my opening topic (laughs). Let us go back to it then. I believe that adage holds to be true. Even in the primordial days, it is believed that IT'S LOVE THAT FEEDS THE GODS AND THE GODDESSES. That is a line from the movie Clash of the Titans. I just find that one really striking. I believe in it so. Our existence is utterly impossible without LOVE. I mean, we are created in God's love. People always have the notion that love always fall in the context of Eros but that's not always the case. We also have other forms of love such as AGAPE. It is a Greek word translated in to English as LOVE, love of God/ Christ or mankind to be more precise. This is immensely true. I have not really been in to any serious relationship for almost 21 years of my existence and I must say, I am contented with it though of course sometimes you also need some affection from the opposite. However, life and love are not just really all about that. Love has a broad context. As of now, I am satisfied and will always be satisfied with the love that I get from my parents, friends and other people who has sympathy for me. I am always grateful for that. It's what I tightly grip at when I'm at my lowest. If you want LOVE, show some LOVE. Learn to embody it. Happy Monday! :) May you all have lots of LOVE. Live life, love life!

Bene Gesserit Litany against fear

I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.

Part of my daily routine is visiting Paulo Coelho's blog. I was still in high school when I first read a bestselling book that he authored, The Alchemist. This was written in different languages and had sold over million of copies all over the world. There are so many things to learn from his novels, a lot of witty words to ponder upon. Until now, I am still keeping up with every Coelho novel. Be inspired, read a Coelho!

An Afternoon Cup of Coffee

I wasn't really able to write for this blogspot I believe for 2 days now. It's because I was really preoccupied with unfinished tasks. Finally, I was able to wrap up everything last night. I deserve to spend the weekends without having to worry about stuffs. So, here I am this afternoon, eyes glued to the PC screen. I didn't really have the enthusiasm to make an entry here days ago because I don't like the layout of my blogspot. Yeah. I know it's a pretty lame reason but yes, that's pretty much it. I don't like how this blogspot used to appear but right now, I am already loving it. I was all determined to study closely how I can modify the design of the blogspot. You may think that this is just an easy task but really, I'm no techie. So, I'm still on the verge of learning how stuffs here work. To knock it all off, I was able to find the answers to my queries. Since no one was really able to answer me right on Facebook and Twitter on how I can edit my blog template then I do all the googling stuff and was lead to many matches but found a single site that was pretty much helpful. Thanks to that blogger help site. I forgot the exact name (laughs). Again, I am feeling lazy today. I was too idle to move a single muscle but I really want something done today. I hate it when I'm being so unproductive, just sprawled in front of the TV doing nothing. That is so pathetic! But yeah, after I have edited the template for this, I decided to write what I feel like writing today. This afternoon, I was still craving to eat siopao though I already had one the previous day. I still feel like eating siopao with stuffed chicken in it. hahaha! I also enjoyed a few yemas and a cup of creamy coffee. The coffee was so refreshing. It rouses up my senses. Whew! Today is just another Sunday. This is my third week of spending my days just at home, literally. I don't really have complaints on that. I love staying home. I'm a big home buddy. You can just imprison me at home and I promise, I won't be grumbling about it. haha!! I just love of how laidback it is to be just staying in our home indeed sweet home. I have a couple of plans for the upcoming months. I'll probably be enrolling in a post graduate study or another course. So, what else? Probably, that'd be all for now. I hope to write again for tomorrow.

First Thing in the Morning

The scrumptious mac ;p

Potato Love ;*

I haven't written an entry in this blog for a couple of days. Well, nothing really spectacular happened. Alright. Today is another rainy day and again, I just love it! I roused up wee in the morning today because papa woke us up for our breakfast. I don't usually wake up that early to eat my breakfast. I'd rather be sleeping (laughs) but yeah, today I woke up a bit early for my usual waking up time. I ate macaroni salad and some fried potatoes for breakfast and I couldn't put myself back to sleep. So, I'm just gonna start my day by blogging instead. Although I am not really a morning person, I'm more of the nocturnal type, I still love waking up wee in the morning. If I'm to choose between the different times of the day, I'd be choosing mornings. The moment you wake up in the morning, it feels like you are being reprieved and renewed. Just as we say, tomorrow is another day. It means we should start anew and just let go anything repugnant that happened and turn a new leaf. I also find mental clarity at the beginning of the day. It's where we are freshest. I believe it is very crucial to start your day in a very optimistic fashion, otherwise you'll end up with a day full of jinx. I usually want a productive day. So, you will most of the time find me making activity plans for the day. It is easy to plot the stuffs that you want to do. The hard part is on how you can faithfully stick to it without swerving to some unnecessary things. To get us a common denomination, just try to live your day like it's your last! Live up to the bits of it because there's no point in turning back time. Live life!

On a Rainy Day

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.

I was born under the water sign, Cancer. I actually love to hear the sound of the rain softly falling on the tin roof and  finally to the ground, just like it's babbling its endless whisper in to my ears. The sound of it is very relaxing and induces me a deep sleep. What a good way to relax after several days of the hustle and bustle. I am just among those people who love the rain so much. Some find it loathsome as it hinders them from going outdoors and doing their thing but still, I so love the rain. I'd like to see it gracefully falling down and kissing the earth. I just find significance in the rain. Some people may just think that it's a mere precipitate but my notion is more than that and beyond the scientific realm. It's like something that cleanses the soul and purifies the heart. It's very rejuvenating. Today is no exception to the days I love the most! It's a very rainy Monday. The rain leads me to my deep thoughts and makes me think of the beautiful things. The rain, I believe, is just another manifestation of God's abundant love. Raindrops are blessings falling from the heavens. Catch them with arms open wide! Happy 5th blogging day for me and onwards! ^0^

Photo Fun

I always have the passion for the arts. I am fascinated with the masterpieces of Picasso, Monet, de Goya, Michelangelo and many others. Truly, I have a big heart for aesthetics. It is utterly that not a lot of people are really born to have that certain kind of craft. Well, I mentioned those stuffs because today I have found a new passion- that is editing pictures. Well, I must say that I don't yet edit pics just like a pro though I already have the dexterity and the potentials. I just find it so fulfilling to see the outcome. Aside from photo editing (which I'm in to right now), I also paint just any concept out of the blue. I'll be posting my pieces by next time, I just don't know exactly when. For now, I'll be showing you some of the novice-edited pics! Again, happy blogging everyone! Take care you all

Zit Away

When I was still a sophomore and still have that lovely skin. :(

I used to have that immaculately clear complexion especially on my face. I'm also very particular with hygiene and followed a certain type of skin care regimen. I didn't fall short of that. I give my skin extra care and regularly pamper it. I love my skin way then! Never did I suffer from any skin impurities but I must admittedly say that I do have a very sensitive skin. I think my skin is so thin that blood vessels become easily visible especially on my cheeks. I flush easily. Unluckily, when I reached the age of 19 and just about to enter my senior year in college, I begin to have small, red and very ugly bumps on my face. It was so horrible and I couldn't stand the sight of it. I wished I would just disappear! I don't mind the pain of those swollen bumps but it's definitely killing my self-esteem. I don't have the guts to face people because of my ugly face. Yuck! Until now, I am still suffering from zits. I'm wondering when will these all go away. When can I have back my spotless face? I am so sad. Can anyone help me on this? I think I have already tried every beauty product that there is, including the expensive ones. However, my skin impurities won't simply go away. I really am so desperate. Have you suffered something like this before? Gals, I'm open to suggestions. Please suggest me a good one so I can at least give it a try and see if it works well for me. Thanks!

Chapter One

P.S. Does this hair color look good on me? lol ;D

Alright. This is my very first day writing for this blog site. Well, this is just another Abby day. Nothing turns out to be so special today except that we were having a very hot weather in the morning and suddenly poured in the afternoon. This is so sick! Forgive me if I don't know yet how to make this blog appear presentable. Please consider, this is my first time here (laughs). Anyway, I really am so happy that I can now start blogging, writing the things that happened in the life of Abby. Oh, writing blogs is also a great avenue that can enhance our prowess. It's also relieving to share my thoughts. So, do I need to say more? This would be all for now. I will be starting my daily blogs. Happy blogging everyone! :)