In the October issue, you learned about Baba Vanga (1911–1996), a clairvoyant and znahar, a woman who heals with herbs and possibly a little magic. Many people say these women obtain their ability from a saint, angel, or Samodiva (woodland nymph). Vanga’s relative’s, however, said her power came from the healing mineral springs where she … Continue reading Healing Volcanic Springs by Ronesa Aveela
Christmas is just around the corner and there is an atmosphere of festivity and fun in the streets. We may now associate the word Christmas with thoughts of presents, of Santa Claus, of mulled wine and decorated trees. But have you ever considered where the word originally came from? A Greek and Latin Pairing In … Continue reading Wordsearch: On the Origins of Christmas
Christmas is a very special time in Trinidad and Tobago. In the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, companies and families hold many parties. Festive activities include exchanging presents and singing Christmas songs. The television and radio stations play Christmas carols and songs as well as traditional and contemporary carols from the USA. A piece of … Continue reading CHRISTMAS IN TRINIDAD
Is healing outside of modern medicine miraculous or perhaps even magical? Do you know where Bulgaria is? It’s nestled along the western side of the Black Sea, just north of Greece. The country is perhaps best known to the Western world for the city of Varna, the place where Dracula set sail on the Demeter. … Continue reading Bulgarian Magical Healers: Don’t Call Me a Witch!
For a lot of parents in the UK, Halloween is about dressing up your children in cute pumpkin (or other) outfits, which when they look back on the photos, they’ll cringe and wonder why you did that to them. It’s also about keeping them entertained with sweets, or sometimes trying to offer them healthier versions … Continue reading Halloween – Amanda Steel
“My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Mankind’s fascination with the sea has sparked imagination since the first person beheld its mighty waters. Curiosity led people to invent the means to travel across … Continue reading Mermaids, Silver Butterflies, and Miracles
Fantasy worlds can be magical, terrifying, and brutal all at once. The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village by Ronesa Aveela tells the tale of a 12-year-old boy named Theo who journeys to a mystical land called Zmeykovo (Dragon Village) to rescue his sister. The map below shows all the places he visits as he tries … Continue reading What’s Your Fantasy World?
Wouldn’t it be nice if your children grew up in a world where one group of people didn’t hate another? Where we didn’t think of those who are different from us as all being “terrorists” or any of the many other derogatory names people call each other? This goal of accepting cultural diversity is probably … Continue reading Cultural Diversity
Mom's Favorite Reads 