Mystic's Magi Places

The Tomb of the Terra Cotta Warriors

2011-06-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

Thousands and thousands of life size clay warriors stand in silent and eternal defense of the amazing tomb of the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang Di and is called the most spectacular archaeological find of the twentieth century. Qin Shi Huang Di began his reign in China in 221 B.C. at the age of thirteen.

One of his first official acts was to begin the construction of his tomb. Another great work this emperor was responsible for was the Great Wall of China. What makes the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang Di so fascinating are the approximately 8,000 life sized clay soldiers and horses that stand in trenches and in three of the chambers of the tomb.

One of the most amazing things about the clay soldiers is the fact that they are not all the same. They have different clothes, facial expressions, hair styles and weapons. There are generals, officers and ordinary soldiers, young and old alike. The figures are made of terracotta which is a fine gray clay.

The figures were formed by pressing the clay into molds. The heads of the figures were made separately from several dozen different molds. Features such as facial hair, lips, eyes and ears were added by hand. The completed figures were fired until they were hardened and then painted, although most of the paint has worn off. One can only imagine just how life like these soldiers must have seemed when their vibrant colors were first painted.

One pit alone contains an estimated 6,000 of these life sized soldiers. Archeologists are still working at excavating the site and have yet to determine exactly how large the number of these figures will grow. It is a truly amazing sight considering the fact that only one percent of the tomb has been unearthed.

Not all the jewels and treasures buried with the emperor have been found. According to archaeologists who are familiar with the tomb, some of the treasures in the tomb are guarded by devices that are triggered to release a deadly volley of arrows at any intruder who would dare to approach. It is believed that the workmen who set up these traps were buried alive in order to be sure that the secret of the entrance way died with them.

Emperor Qin was a ruler that was full of contradictions. He was responsible for standardizing writing, language and currency, unifying China. On the other hand, he is known for his cruelty and fierce armies. In an effort to bring the Confucians in control, he burned their religious writings. When their spiritual leaders resisted, he over 460 of them put to death.

Emperor Qin was known for his extreme cruelty, and once had 400 enemy soldiers buried alive in one day when he ordered their execution. A total of 200 million people died during his efforts to unify China.

Workers extract a newly discovered warrior in Pit 1 of the tomb.

Detail of armor of one of the Terra Cotta officers.

Warriors after restoration, showing their original painted colors.

Badly damaged, recently unearthed warriors awaiting restoration.

Cave of Giant Crystals

2011-06-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

A legendary discovery was made in Mexico and is referred to as "The Sistine Chapel of Crystals" by geologist Juan Manuel García-Ruiz.

The "Cueva de los Cristales" or Cave of Crystals, is located 1,000 feet below the surface of a mountain in the Chihuahua desert region of Mexico and was discovered by accident when two miners were digging a new tunnel while removing the mineral rich water that filled the 30 foot by 90 foot cave.

Some of these crystals are up to 36 feet long. Until this discovery, the largest known crystals were found in the Cave of Swords, some of which are currently on display at the Smithsonian Institute, which is also part of the same tunnel system containing the Cave of Crystals.

When these magnificent caves were discovered, the mining company in charge of the operation re-routed their excavation project in order to preserve them.

Currently, geologists are analyzing the cave and its crystals and are studying core samples taken from the crystals. These core samples contain an organism that may or may not be a contributing factor to the growth of these amazing crystals.

How The Cave of Crystals Formed

As I mentioned earlier, the cave was filled with water that was rich in the mineral anhydrite.This water was essential in nurturing the growth of the monumental crystals as well as keeping the temperature within a small range around 136 degrees Fahrenheit.

This happens to be an ideal temperature for anhydrite to dissolve into gypsum which ultimately causes the crystals to grow.

Geologist Juan Manuel Garcia-Ruiz, who has done extensive research and exploration of the cave, reports that for approximately 500,000 years these crystals have been growing in the extremely rare and stable natural environment of the water filled cave.

The Cave of Crystals is situated on a fault that helps to create the environment necessary to promote their growth by forming hydrothermal fluids from the magma chambers below.

What happens is that the intensely heated mineral rich fluids are driven up and into voids in the bedrock. The water in the caves then vaporize and form these giant crystal caves that defy scientific understanding.

Crystals and Their Energy

We have known for some time that crystals give off energy. In fact, researchers have found that crystals give off more energy when being held than when they are sitting on a surface.

This fact leads me to marvel at the energy fields that are transmitted by these giant crystals. It has been discovered that Earth has magnetic and energy fields that previously could not be explained. For instance, certain monolithic structures in Europe were tested and found to have spiraling magnetic fields surrounding the individual stones.

It is also known that Earth emits waves. Known as the Schuman Resonance, they were previously recorded at about 7.8 Hz and varies according to geographical location.

Alarmingly, these waves have been rising dramatically. This is causing a great deal of concern since these waves are basically our planet's heartbeat. Our planet is constantly changing by means of shifting tectonic plates, continents and even volcanoes that form new ground.

There are abundant mysteries about our planet that we are yet to understand. Perhaps by studying the Cave of Crystals and other similar caves, we will be able to learn more about this living organism we call Earth and even learn to nurture it in order to promote a healthier global environment.

Penwith - At Lands End

2011-06-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

This unique balance is demonstrated in two ways. West Penwith is certainly in line for the distinction of being on the World Heritage List and it is also the site of many ongoing research projects involving the ancient sites and megalithic stones in the area.
Astronomy

At the turn of the twentieth century, Sir Norman Lockyer chose the megaliths of West Penwith as one of his study areas while developing his work on archaeo-astronomy.

He observed that from the Tregeseal stone circle (pictured above), the May Day sun rise could be seen rising behind a tall standing stone called the Longstone, who's tip is visible because it juts up from behind a ridge to the northeast of the site.

In recent times, researchers have directly witnessed unsuspected astronomical events at West Penwith sites. The peninsula's best preserved stone circle is Boscawen-un and has a leaning pillar stone set off center within the ring.

It points to the northeast and is confirmed that it indicate the rising midsummer sun when viewed from its base. Faint axe head carvings on the stone are thrown into strongest relief by the lighting of that particular sunrise. One of the 19 stones is a pure quartz stone that is named the moon stone, probably because of the facts that it seems to almost glow in the moonlight.

Another example of modern astronomical discovery involves the Neolithic stone chamber or dolmen of Chun Quoit.

Chun Quoit is an isolated monument on a broad expanse of high moorland. It is situated exactly in the right position for the midwinter sun to appear to set into a notch on a natural outcrop called Kenidjack (below), which stands prominently on the southwestern skyline as viewed from the Chun Quoit dolmen (above).

Geomancy and Earth Energies

In 1974, John Michell published one of the best regional studies of Ley type alignment. In his book, The Old Stones of Land's End, he took Lockyer's original Penwith astronomical sight lines and the best archaeological catalogue of sites and checked for alignments. What he found was astounding.

As it turned out, nearly all of the menhirs, stone circles and dolmens were on one or more alignments that were always perfectly accurate. Some were astronomical, but most were not.

He also discovered that each site in the line could be seen by the one before and it could see the next one in line. These sites were carefully spaced at a distance from one another that would facilitate just barely being able to see the next site in line, right at the point of the furthest distance of visibility.

This type of placement is common in almost all ley lines of the world. This kind of sentinel stone placement also accounts for the origin of steeples in churches. The steeples would serve as a guide for travelers who journeyed from one monastery to the next as they traveled towards their final destinations.

Strange lights are often seen near the entrance to Boleigh Forou. Boleigh Forou is an Iron Age subterranean chamber that is often bathed with tiny pricks of light, like stars, and thin spiral filaments moving over the interior granite surfaces of the chamber. Inside the granite Chun Quoit dolmen, archaeologist John Barnatt and photographer Brian Larkmans saw periodic short bursts of light flashing across the underside of the cap stone.

West Penwith is primarily granite country and so background radiation levels are relatively high. Inside enclosed granite structures like dolmens and fogous, the ambient radioactivity is heightened. This could even account for the fairy sightings that were often noted through the centuries.

In fact, Geiger readings taken as part of the Dragon Project are directly comparable to those obtained from inside the granite clad King's Chamber in the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The highest readings were found on the water surface at the Sancreed Holy Well (above), where the waters rise into a roughly hewn stone reservoir in a subterranean stone chamber. Many believe that the Sancreed well defines the personality, and is the spiritual center, of West Penwith.

Many people have noticed a sense of languor at this truly sacred spot and it has been suggested that heightened natural radiation can perhaps engender this feeling. It is a known fact that the Earth naturally resonates at a frequency of about 7.8 hertz that is known as the Schuman Resonance.

The Dazu Rock Carvings

2011-06-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Dazu Rock Carvings, located in the southeast portion of the Sichuan Basin in China, is a stunning example of grotto art dating back to the 7th century. Containing more than 50,000 statues and over 100,000 other figures, it is one of the most fabulous examples of archaeological treasure listed as a World Heritage Site, and beautifully illustrate the daily life of 9th to 13th century China.

The UNESCO World Heritage Center describes these carvings as being "remarkable for the aesthetic quality, their rich diversity of subject matter, both secular and religious, and light that they shed on everyday life in China during that period. They provide outstanding evidence of the harmonious synthesis of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism."

The most famous sculpture, which became the symbolic icon of Dazu, is a giant reclining Buddha that is one hundred and two feet long.

Beishan Buddhas

Wheel Of Life

The Wheel of Life represents the various human, animal and divine forms of reincarnation that, according to Buddhist beliefs, are the destiny of departed souls. How a person is reincarnated depends, of course, upon the merits achieved during his or her lifetime.

Circle of Life and Giant Buddha

Carving of Sakyanuni (Reclining) Buddha entering Nirvana,
accompanied by his disciples.

Part of the 18 Hells section of the carvings of the three realms.

The Eighteen Hells show what awaits those who commit sin during their lives on Earth. One carving even shows someone being punished by being struck on the knee.

Some of the carvings were intended to teach moral lessons and provide guidance to the souls of the area in a way they could understand since nearly everyone was unable to read or write.

More Images of the Dazu Rock Carvings

The William Ricketts Sanctuary

2011-06-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

Situated in the Dandenongs in a ferny glade, the William Ricketts Sanctuary is a place of beauty and tranquility, due to the natural setting and the mystical sculptures half hidden among ferns along enchanting pathways.

Made of clay from the Bendigo region, these breathtakingly beautiful and visionary sculptures create a magical presence. Ricketts wanted to express his respect for Aboriginal culture and foster a love of the Australian landscape with visitors via his artworks.

The sculptures encourage an exploration of the gardens whilst reminding all of the important mission in his work and promoting a respect for the land.

Visitors must pass by this pair (below), welcoming them and reminding them that respect of environment is fundamental.

Most of Ricketts’ clay works are of Aboriginal people – particularly their faces and hands – intertwined with vegetation and small Australian marsupials such as possums and kangaroos.

Through his artworks, he constantly reminds us of the special relationship that the Aborigines had to the landscape prior to White Settlement and the destruction that was wrought upon them.

He even expressed his activism by using his own face on the figure on the left in the image below.

The works are made of kiln-fired clay and in many cases have been attached to large boulders or stones located on-site. In fact, if you look closely you can see crack in the sculptures , and especially in the image above.

Over time, the moist and cool environment has allowed the sculptures to weather, thus facilitating their integration within the surrounding bush

The power of his vision of Aboriginal spirituality and respect for the natural world has assured his place in history as a unique artist.

Photographic records of his sculptures, particularly those from the sanctuaries of Pitchi Ritchi and Mount Dandenong which have been vandalized, are held in the archives of Australia's libraries.

Word soon spread about the extraordinary sculptures that adorned the Sanctuary and in the 1960’s the State Government of Victoria purchased the land and adjoining blocks for the purposes of creating a public reserve. Ricketts continued to live and work on the property until his death in 1993.

William supported himself through commissioned sales of his art and often created pieces as gifts. These signed original small pieces are increasingly sought after for private collections.

From 1949–1960 he made frequent trips into Central Australia to live with Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte Aboriginal people whose traditions and culture inspired his sculptures.

Many of his central Australian works are located at Pitchi Ritchi, near Alice Springs. a bird sanctuary run by his friend Leo Corbet. He considered the landscape an integral part of his sculptures.

In 1934 he started his major artistic work - creating the sculpture park now named William Ricketts Sanctuary. He worked on this project until his death in 1993.

There is a message in Ricketts’ work – to respect the Aboriginal people and their culture. But most importantly, to love and cherish the Australian landscape.

He believed that we – the people, the trees, the animals – were all one enormous organism created by God. And therefore we should express our love of God by caring for each other and our landscape. For Ricketts there was an obvious harmony between our Christian faith and the traditional beliefs of the Aborigines.

He spent two years in India, mostly at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram spiritual center in Pondicherry, developing spiritual empathy with Indian people and knowledge of their philosophy.

Ricketts not only argued that Australia’s progress depends on the preservation of its wild environments, but he saw himself as a defender of the aboriginal people. He believed he was enlightened and therefore had to lead the rest of Australian society down the same philosophical path.

His major works include the "Dromana" in the Seawinds Garden, Arthurs Seat, Victoria, and "Gun Brute", William Ricketts Sanctuary, Mount Dandenong, Victoria.

Sadly, the sanctuary was ravaged by fire, however, a number of the sculptures, although charred, still remain. Fortunately, the damage was not extensive and the sanctuary is still open for daily tours.

Restoration efforts to clean and repair them are underway and the foliage around them has already begun to spring forth once more.

When walking along those paths, it is easy to miss some of the smaller sculptures that might be partially hidden!

The sculptures below look as though it bears the scars of a fire.

More Images Of These Enchanting Sculptures

Many smaller works are in the collection of the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

For more about this magical place, check out

Aboriginal People Sculpture
From The William Ricketts Sanctuary

Although it is a bit grainy in spots, this video is amazing! It also features interview clips with Mr. Ricketts!