Papyrus Decorated With Ancient Egyptian Symbols and Pictures

Last week I published a post about pipal leaves and the link with Buddhism. Like the leaves I also came across some papyrus paintings in my office. I was sent these over 15 years ago from Egypt in exchange for magazines I was publishing at the time - picture above.

Papyrus is the oldest form of paper, first created thousands of years ago by the ancient Egyptians. The 'paper' is made from the Cyperus papyrus plant - a type of bulrush - that grows on the banks of the Nile.

The word papyrus comes from the Greek word papuros. This is sometimes referred to by the Egyptians as pa-per-aa, which literally means 'of the Pharaoh'. The Arabic word of papyrus, however, is Bardy or maybe Warak Bardy,  The person who sent me the papyrus described it as Old Egyptian Bardy Paper.

The only coincidence I know about papyrus is with the The Mystery Of The Rosetta Stone. This is about a papyrus document that survived some 2000 years and helped with the translation of the Rosetta Stone.

Posts Featuring Ancient Egyptians:
How The Ancient Egyptians Sent Letters To The Dead
Maat And The 42 Principles Of Life And Death
Ancient Egyptians And Their World Of Dreams

The Amazing Church Choir Coincidence

This is a classic coincidence story which Warren Weaver mentions in his book, Lady Luck: The Theory of Probability. He recounts what he describes as a fascinating tale of coincidence that stretches our traditional notions of chance to their breaking point. This is Weaver's story:

"All fifteen members of a church choir in Beatrice, Nebraska, due at practice at 7:20, were late on the evening of March 1, 1950.

"The minister and his wife and daughter had one reason (his wife delayed to iron the daughter’s dress); one girl waited to finish a geometry problem; one couldn’t start her car; two lingered to hear the end of an especially exciting radio program; one mother and daughter were late because the mother had to call the daughter twice to wake her from a nap; and so on.

"The reasons seemed rather ordinary. But there were ten separate and quite unconnected reasons for the lateness of the fifteen persons.

"It was rather fortunate that none of the fifteen arrived on time at 7:20, for at 7:25 the church building was destroyed in an explosion. The members of the choir wondered if their delay was 'an act of God.'"

More coincidence stories:
Top 10 Coincidence And Synchronicity Stories

Warren Weaver's book:
Lady Luck: The Theory of Probability

Demobilization And Birth Date Coincidence

A small Sunday coincidence via Choodle-Umma-Chum-Chay I saw on Pinterest.

"My father was born 26 September 1900. This is my father's WW1 Demobilization Ration Book (for Soldier, Sailor or Airman) dated 26 September 1919 - so issued on his birthday. Another strange coincidence for his birth-date is his father sailing for South Africa on the Berwick Castle for Durban on this day in 1902."

~ Choodle-Umma-Chum-Chay

Other Coincidences:
Top 10 Coincidence And Synchronicity Stories

A Warning To The Pope If Liverpool Win The European Cup

Liverpool FC European Champions 1981

Here's a series of coincidences, though probably more meaningful to UK readers. They are self explanatory:

In 1981:

The Pope died
Prince Charles got married
Liverpool FC were European Champions

Liverpool FC European Champiuons 2005

In 2005:

The Pope died
Prince Charles got married
Liverpool FC were European Champions

Not doubt therefore the Pope will be on tenterhooks should Prince Charles ever marry yet again and Liverpool make it to the European Cup Final once more.

Other Coincidence or Synchronicity Posts:
A George Harrison Dream Coincidence
67 Identical Car Coincidence Photo
The Coincidence Of The Duplicate Flights

We Create The Afterlife We Desire

I was pondering what the afterlife will be like. I've read and written about near death experiences in the past and there often seems to be similarities within these stories - but there are also differences, which many writers brush aside.

For examples those with a Catholic upbringing may encounter a St Peter like figure at the Pearly Gates whereas a Muslim may experience themselves in green gardens with fountains while being attended by dancing girls, as described in Islamic literature.

I expect most of us hope we will all be treated equally when we die and any near death experiences should, therefore, be identical but this appears not necessarily to be the case. Surely there can't be segregation for varying religions and beliefs.

If we consider our dreams, now they are all different, dependent on our personal memories, hopes, fears and desires - born from the 'personality' of our unconscious mind if you like.

If we look at lucid dreams - where we realise we are actually dreaming - we can almost manipulate happenings. I can remember in one particular dream I told myself I didn't have to worry about what was happening because I was only dreaming. So I relaxed and observed, like watching a play at the theatre. And sometimes even our everyday lives can appear like this in certain situations.

Could it be that, just as our dreams are individual, so is death, dependent on the actions and thoughts while alive in our physical body? Some may undergo fantastic adventures. Others may suffer from recurring nightmares, trapped in some form of hell created by their own minds. While others may experience a kind of paradise conjured up by their expectations.

Of course, another possibility is that our 'surviving' personality re-enters another physical body and once more wakes up to the physical world. This may be via an embryo or a newly born baby but could also take over the body of a living person - some would call this possession.

All of this is speculation. It's also conceivable that in our dream-like existence. following death. we are open to spiritual influences from a realm far beyond what our human mind can imagine or comprehend.

Whatever happens to us following death I feel does seem to depend on our own beliefs and attitudes. If we close our mind to possibilities we may become trapped within our present fears and limitations. It could well rest with us to create the afterlife we desire.

Other Heavenly Posts:
Where Is Heaven?
The Sixth Stage Of Dying Is The Afterlife
Did This Doctor Visit Heaven?

Buddha's Pipal Leaves Lead To Egg Decapitation

Pipal leaves also known as Peepal or Bodhi Tree or even Ficus Religiosa

I mentioned a short while back that I was de-cluttering my office. It's not as easy as it seems, is it? Maybe it's just me, but I get sidetracked.

For example I picked up a book about Buddhism and, of course, opened it up and read: "Sitting under a pipal tree, in a forest near the village of Uruvela, Siddhartha deepened his analysis of reality," And this where he finally attained his Great Awakening.

"Ah," I remembered with a very minute awakening, "I just saw some pipal leaves in a fully packed, overflowing box I had looked into briefly."

So a detour to the box. I kept the pipal leaves (as in the pictures on this post) because of the link to Buddha. They are from India and came at a time when I used to publish magazines from home, including penfriend mags. I stopped doing this back in 1997, so shows how my office stuff has built up.

At the time I often exchanged my magazines for other items from countries where they had difficulties sending money to England. The pipal leaves were in lieu of payment. I received all sorts of strange things! Like the Egg Decapitator below - still in it's box!

The pipal (peepal) tree is also called the Bodhi tree - bodhi meaning wisdom or enlightened. I read on Wikipedia though that: "Not all Ficus religiosa, the Latin name, can be called a 'Bodhi tree'. A 'Bodhi tree' must be able to trace its parent to another Bodhi tree and the line goes on until the first Bodhi tree under which the Lord Gautama Buddha gained enlightenment." So a real Family Tree.

But getting back to my de-cluttering, I then came across a Christmas Card someone had also sent me from India - and on the front was a pipal leaf decorated with a hand painted Santa Claus. And above, on one of my other leaves, is what I take to be the baby Jesus.

I think my de-cluttering is really more of a memory exercise. I'll probably hang on to most of my stuff. There might well be a day when I desperately need to decapitate an egg for instance and I'll have the tool for the job. I'll just tidy up a bit instead.

Recent Random Posts:
The Ghost Who Needed Help For Her Baby
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14th Century Tintagel Post Office And The 6th Century Drain Cover Mystery

The Old Post Office Tintagel Cornwall

As I have a few photos left following yesterday's post - The Magic Of King Arthur And Tintagel Castle Cornwall - I thought I'd do a short post to finish off our walk.

One of the attractions in Tintagel village is the Old Post Office. This is actually a 14th century stone house of a medieval manor style.

It became known as the Old Post Office in Queen Victoria's time when the building was granted a licence to become the receiving office of mail for the local district.

The old red post box seen in the photo below, which is built into the wall, has Queen Victoria's initials.

Just up the road from the post office in Tintagel village my daughter-in-law's friend has a small cafe and restaurant called Charlie's and to the left of this there just happens to be another old fashioned red post box - though not as old as the previous one mentioned.

Changing the subject, but still with Tintagel, archaeologists discovered pottery from the 5th and 6th centuries on the eastern side of Tintagel Castle. There was also a slate slab covering a 6th century drain - see photo below.

As can be seen on the slab there is a rough cut inscription - parts are missing but it reads:

PATERN ... COLIAVIFIT ... ARTOGNOV

The significance of the inscription is a mystery but it seems that someone called Artognov wanted other people to know that he had made or built something here (by Tintagel Castle), Who he was, or what he had done is unknown.

But that's Cornwall for you - full of mystery and legends. Makes you wonder how things used to be.

Other Recent Cornwall Posts:
Sunshine Brings Out The Magic Of Charlestown Cornwall
The Magic Of King Arthur And Tintagel Castle Cornwall - 21 Exclusive Photos
10 Mystery Posts About Cornwall