Who Was Genghis Khan? by Nico Medina

 Who was Genghis Khan? – the founding father of Mongolia and the powerful ruler of the largest contiguous empire in history.

Temujin (1162-1227), later called Genghis Khan, was born near the modern-day border of Mongolia and Siberia. Like all children on the steppe, he grew up hunting and riding horses.

When his father died, his own clan rejected his family. Life on the steppe was pretty harsh. He had to learn how to fend for himself.

When his father was alive, he found a bride for Temujin. At sixteen, he claimed his bride.

He knew he was still in danger and needed allies to protect his clan. He formed alliance with a powerful Kereyid tribe. Meanwhile, he was also gaining followers and men who became his close friends and part of his clan.

His ambition was to unite the Mongol clans, instead of fighting with each other. He adapted something new by rewarding positions of power to men based on their ability rather than family ties.

In 1189, he was named the leader of the Mongols, and five years later, with another tribe, they attacked Tatars and won. Temujin returned rich with loot.

He was set on expending his territory, but when he was betrayed by one clan, after beheading the leaders, he let the others join his clan, instead of making them prisoners or slaves. This was a new strategy which made him popular.

With time, he was coming up with new ways to make life on the steppe more bearable, but not everyone liked those rules. Some left, more came.

He also had his brutal strategies. After conquering Tatars, he was left with a large number of people. He wanted to make sure that the Tatars wouldn’t revolt against him, so he executed most of males, only the youngest one that could be molded into a new tribe were spared.

At forty-three, he became the ruler of the steppe. In 1206, he was officially proclaimed as the leader of the steppe and given a new name Chinggis Khan, but he is commonly known as Genghis Khan.

Under the Great Mongol Nation, he imposed a new set of rules – the Great Law of Genghis Khan. The Great Law helped to maintain peace and order. Different tribes were allowed to keep their customs and laws as long as they followed the Great Law: stealing and kidnapping was forbidden, mail service by horse was established, freedom of religion was guaranteed.

Afterwards, his new goal was North China where the riches were: gold, silver, pearls, silk, satin, and metal.

In May 1211, 65,000 Mongol soldiers set for China. They used many methods to attack city after city until Golden Khan fled the capital city.

In the spring of 1215, the Mongols returned home with so much treasures that buildings had to be constructed to store everything.

After years of uniting tribes of the steppe, now he wanted to expand trade with Muslim empire of Khwarizm. Its people were skilled at working with steel, farming cotton fields, weaving beautiful textiles, and glassmaking. Sultan considered Mongols as uncivilized, so he agreed but secretly was preparing for war.

In 1219, Genghis Khan sent a caravan of 450 merchants to Otrar, but they were executed. It angered Genghis Khan and he set to Khwarizm with 100,000 soldiers.

By the end of 1220, all the cities of Khwarizm had fallen to the Mongol armies.

In 1226, on his way to China to put down a rebellion, he fell down from a horse and developed a high fever. Six months later, he died at camp in his tent.

Following next fifteen years, his sons and grandsons continued to expand the Mongol Empire. At its height, it covered almost one-quarter of the Earth’s land.

Until today, Mongolians see him as a great leader. Perspective of opinion always depends from where “you’re sitting.” Five people could read the same book, and you could end up with five viewpoints what the book was about.

Genghis Khan had a strong desire to unite the fighting clans of the steppe, which was a good concept. He came up with some good ideas to keep people happy and not revolt. He built roads, bridges, and tens of thousands of school, established mailing system by horse, manufacturing and trade flourished. The world’s great religions were invited to debate before the Mongol court. That would have made him one of the greatest leaders without expansion of lands. He could have stopped there. But his ego made him want to expand his territory with that he also enforced brutal tactics which tarnished his name as a great leader. Genghis Khan and his heirs terrorized and murdered millions of innocent people. He is a classic example of someone who was driven by a good cause, but with his success his ego got in the way and drove him.

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2014

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Do UNITE people, be it in a small circle or larger community, but never let your ego lead you.

 

That’s what happens with today’s leaders. They don’t unite people. They divide instead, because that’s how they can control people. If people were united, then there would be no need for politicians.

 

 

 

Traits:

·         When his father died, his own clan rejected his family. Life on the steppe was pretty harsh. He had to learn how to fend for himself pretty quickly.

·         He was smart about forming alliances with tribes to keep his clan protected.

·         His ambition was to unite the Mongol clans instead of fighting which each other, which he achieved and came up with the Great Law to keep peace.

·         He is credited with many good constructive things, but his ego tarnished his name as he set on expansion of lands and brutal treatment of conquered people.

 

 

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

We all have the same traits, for example ego or anger, but the question is what is the percentage of the traits that defies you. There are different ways or tools to discover what you need to work on.

 You Are Enough by Panache Desai

In this book, the author explores an ancient experience of Samadhi which is the sacred remembrance of your Essential Self – to be one with God. It is knowing who you are, fully and authentically, but we keep searching for it externally, instead of turning inward.

There is purpose to the chaos around us, it is to awaken yourself to become conscious of who you truly are. It is happening on a global scale – a collective awakening.

Once you understand and cultivate this concept, the external factor won’t affect you. When you have a solid foundation, it gives you inner peace in rocky situations. It doesn’t mean that you will be immune to pain and suffering. It means you won’t get lost in your pain.

In order to achieve harmony, old beliefs and emotional wounds need to be stirred up, brought to the surface. So the blocked energy can flow again. Everything is energy, including us and the whole universe. Understanding how the universe works is the key.

For example, judgement or hate or fear represent low vibration. Love is high vibration, and we need to start with self-love, cultivating awareness, acceptance, and compassion for yourself. Often, we’re the harshest critics of ourselves. Thus, self-love is the important first step.

Samadhi is a fundamental realignment of energy that rouses the frequency in which you reside.

We were programmed to achieve and acquire, but once goal is achieved the vessel feels empty. That is classic example of your separation from your Essential Self. Often, we chase illusion, separating ourselves from authenticity and oneness.

Often, the precursor to spiritual awakening is some crisis, something that cuts through the illusion of the ego.

Without realizing, from childhood we start conditioning ourselves in order to be for example loved, approved, accepted, feel safe, or perfect.

With each condition, we lose our natural flow of love, peace, curiosity, discovery, and fulfillment.

Maybe you develop sarcasm or build a shell or become a rebel or a perfectionist. Every condition disconnects you from your authenticity and your Devine Essence.

Conditioning creates a façade you live behind, masking your Essential Self.

You can take a step back and watch your thoughts, become an observer of your own behavior and don’t judge.

Whatever denser energies (bitterness, anger, frustration) are dormant (buried inside you) in your vibrational system, you will attract situations (criticism, betrayal, delay) to bring those dormant energies to the surface and release them.

When you face an internal discomfort be aware of it without judgement or resistance, don’t react, it will eventually disappear. But if you push away feelings, it will only continue to repeat until you accept it and observe it without judgement. Acceptance and compassion lead to freedom.

Acceptance allows energy to flow. Resistance locks energy. Your triggers are your chance to wake up and become more consciously aware. By surrendering you are letting go of the resistance.

This spiritual leader leads a free meditation (registration on his website) Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 9:20 eastern time – meditation in this case is not silence, he explains many concepts which humanity struggles with, and he further explains what he teaches in this book. It’s a daily reminder how to stay on the positive path, not give in to the negative energies around us, and in the process transforming ourselves. If you can’t join it live, then he posts this on his YouTube channel.

This book has a very fresh approach how we program ourselves throughout our lives and how we suppress our emotions. This process is about recognizing our patterns and releasing our emotions as it all comes down to just that. It’s been already proven by many that our suppressed emotions cause illnesses. Once we resolve our traumas the illnesses go away.

Who Was Marie Antoinette? by Dana Meachen Rau

 Who was Marie Antoinette? – A fashionable queen who was convicted of treason.

Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna (1755-1793) was born in Vienna to Emperor Francis and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. As a child, she often found her way with the tutors who were not firm. She played on the palace grounds rather than taking her lessons.

When she was nine, the arrangement for her marriage began. To strengthen the ties between Austria and France, a marriage was arranged between Antonia and the French dauphin.

Antonia was prepared for the role of French Queen. It was all about how to move gracefully and look stunningly, nothing how to act responsibly.

The French tutor, Abbe de Vermond, observed that Antonia knew very little. So he made her study religion, French literature, French history, and the French language but nothing truly practical.

On April 21, 1770, Antonia, now called by her French name Marie Antoinette left Vienna for Strasbourg where she was welcomed by French people.

On May 16, 1770, the wedding took place at Versailles palace.

After her wedding, she woke up to a strict schedule. Now, she had to learn resilience and follow the rules. It was a French custom to be “on display,” meaning other people including commoners could come into the palace and view what you were doing. Marie Antoinette didn’t like it.

She was surrounded by many people, but not having close and meaningful connections made her feel very lonely. People were critical and harsh toward her, corrected and nagged her every chance they had.

Her husband, Louis Auguste, wasn’t making it better for her. They were opposite in characters. She was fun and carefree. He was shy, often sad and serious.

After three years in France, in June 1773, she was presented to the people of Paris. She was welcomed very warmly which made her happy and hopeful. The people of Paris were as hopeful as her for a change. They wanted a brighter future. They were oppressed with taxes for a long time and wanted a change.

On June 11, 1775, Louis Auguste became Louis XVI. He was twenty and she was nineteen when they became king and queen.

They both were unfit to rule, but they had no choice.

Marie Antoinette was tired of the French rules and listening to her overpowering mother who tried to control her even from a distance. Marie Antoinette wanted to be herself. She enjoyed fashion. Thus, she set the fashion trends which many followed. She hosted masked balls every Monday. She made up her own rules and offended many important noble families. She was opposite of her mother who built a strong Empire.

Marie Antoinette, in a way, was revolting to strict rules. She wanted a complete freedom but you can’t do it at an expense of masses of people.

People started to dislike her, both noble and commoners.

Her mother sent Antoinette’s brother, Emperor Joseph, to talk sense to her but she didn’t want to listen.

However, on December 20, 1778 she gave birth to a baby girl who was named Maria Therese. The motherhood influenced her in a positive way. She became more private and dressing more simply at her pretended village of Petit Trianon. She didn’t want to connect herself with politics as it wasn’t her position. It was her husband’s responsibility.

As Marie Antoinette was away from the palace most of the time, people in real villages around France suffered and starved. Because of that rumors and gossip spread.

Then, she gave birth to two boys. Even though, she was absorbed with motherhood, it seemed that her early years as a queen tarnished her reputation forever.

French commoners were unhappy with royalty putting burdening taxes on them before she became queen. During her husband’s reign things only accelerated.

The damage was done beyond any repair. Everything was blamed on her.

One bad thing after another, including terrible weather in 1788 resulting in poor harvest put pressure on the King to do something for the common people, which he tried, but it wasn’t enough and commoners were determined to end the monarchy.

Marie Antoinette was accused of crimes she didn’t commit and was sentenced to death by guillotine like previously her husband.

This biography exemplifies a person who was put in a position she was unfit to hold. It brings to mind Kabbalistic teachings of a vessel receiving what a vessel hasn’t earned (receiving bread of shame). She didn’t know how to hold what she received, thus, leading to some form of correction, which she certainly didn’t know how to handle.  

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2015

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Take time to understand someone who pushes your buttons. As that person shows you what is hidden inside you. Something you need to release and heal. Otherwise, it wouldn’t bother you in the first place.

Or if you recognize a pattern of something in your life, for example, something you want - keeps slipping away from you, pause and ask yourself - Why is it in my movie? What is it teaching you about yourself? – David Ghiyam, Kabbalist

 

 

 

A quote that is often attached to Marie Antoinette - “Let them eat cake!” - is not true.

 

 

Traits:

·         From childhood, she seemed to be opposite of her mother, she didn’t like discipline, and her tutors let her have her ways.

·         When she was prepared for the role of French Queen, it was all about how to move gracefully and look stunningly, nothing how to act responsibly.

·         There were certain rules at French court which she had to follow and disliked them. This didn’t lead her to learning resilience. This rather led her to building her resistance as she never received the needed support. It was all about criticism.

·         She didn’t receive any support from her husband as they clashed in personalities.

·         Even when the French people welcomed her warmly and she became hopeful, it didn’t help. She didn’t have the tools to build the right relationship with commoners who were already restless when she appeared in France.

·         She revolted at her mother, who tried to control her from a distance, and against the French rules by creating her own rules but that didn’t sit well with royalty.

·         Her extravagant expenses made commoners angry who started blaming her for everything, not matter if that was true or not. If you repeat a lie a few times, it becomes your truth.

 

 

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

There are different ways or tools leading to self-discovery. You have to find the one that resonates with you. It could be one of the ancient wisdoms or astrology or mediumship or something else. It doesn’t matter what it is as all roads lead to the same destination Oneness, understanding yourself as each of us is a unique expression of the same divine essence. The point is to seek your truth, ask questions, don’t rely on societal norms as that often mask the authentic you.  

 Always Connected by Suzanne Giesemann

Through her personal journey, the author relates how she went from being non-believer to creating her work by allowing natural flow of energy through her. Her story represents many others. A lot of times, it begins with losing someone and then searching for understanding and meaning in it. Thus, this book focuses on mediumship as many people find healing through this practice, and how to make those first steps.

You begin with meditation and setting intention which is important part. Then follow the steps:
B) a few deep breaths
L) lifting vibration by for ex. thinking what you’re grateful for or what makes you happy
E) imagine how your energy field expends
S) shift – trust you’re aligned to higher consciousness
M) merge – invite a nonphysical being to blend their energy field with yours
E) experience – be still, set all expectations aside

You can ask for specific signs to validate the message which you think you’re receiving.

The author relates the technique through many experiences which might be helpful in grasping the technical part which is very small part of this book.

The second half of the book is the dialogue received within her. She used the method explained in part one to receive answers to the topic she picked – forgiveness.

The author details how to trust your insights and higher guidance which are always available. She provides her channeling which gives further guidance how to trust what your own connection to spirit.