Is karma a bitch?

Karma is a term that has already become a permanent feature in the dictionary of most people. This philosophy of life, which originated in the Far East, can make everyday life easier. What does this word mean and does it really exist? 

Karma - in literal translation it is "work" or "action". In Buddhism and Hinduism, it is a cause - understood in the sense of the law of cause and effect. Karmic law is a set of rules that guide karma. One of the most interesting karmic laws is the Responsibility Law. It says that a person's whole life is exclusively his or her own work, and the responsibility for the way it is shaped lies solely with him or her. This in a way obliges people to be good, because thanks to these deeds their lives will be happy, peaceful and full of joy.

According to the karmic philosophy every human being continually interacts with other people. Whether these are good or bad deeds depends on what a given person receives in return. Karma is very important, especially in the context of life in society and charity. Expecting benefits in return for doing good is not compatible with karma and will not bring anything positive in return. It is also important to believe deeply in the sense of charity. 

A person's karma is otherwise an account of the good and bad deeds he or she has done throughout his or her life. A person's karma can be positive or negative, which has a direct effect on him/her. That is why it is so important how we act in our everyday life. Every deed counts. AND... it is not only taught by the philosophy of karma.

Update

The current situation definitely affects me in a strange way - not only I have nothing to write about on the blog, but I'm also starting to feel more and more frequent nostalgia. After numerous posts describing things that I am interested in personally, I found that it is time to show what my head is really busy lately.

First of all, I started to think more and more about holidays. Probably because I am really tired of the amount of homework and exams. But I also feel an incredible need for freedom. Sure, I can get out! But I can't go as far away from it as I want. This year I was planning to visit my friends in the Netherlands and fly to Greece for two weeks, but all plans failed. I'm starting to dream of a good old holiday with my familie by the sea when we ate waffles for lunch and dinner and swam at sunset. We always came home tanned, smelling of salty sea water and covered with henna tattoos. What a time...

Then I have to admit, I've aged a few years during those few months. Like in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.  I started to cook a lot and bake, the smallest mess started to bother me and I clean up pedantically. I started to browse the plant shops and plan the jungle in my apartment. I still love Bridget Jones movies and once a month I watch one of the parts or read a book - that will never change.

I keep coming back to my childhood with thoughts - nostalgia haunts me. I see this period as the happiest and freest period of my life. I'm looking for ball shaped chewing gum in stores. They used to be sold for pieces, but now I can't go anywhere. Hubba bubbas aren't available either. I listen to once beloved bands and vocalists - Backstreet Boys or Avril Lavigne. I'm probably driving my roommate crazy with this, although she definitely sings the choir in I want it that way.

I try to get out of the house often - after all, I can see my friends not only on facetime. I hope this brings me back to normal.

Pearls and the superstitions

Pearls for a gift - superstitions say that such a gift will bring suffering to the recipient and cause conflict between the recipient and the person who gave it. Although it might seem that beautiful earrings for a partner as an anniversary gift from her beloved are a brilliant idea, superstitions dissuade from such an idea.

Polish folk beliefs also describe pearls quite negatively. Old Polish superstitions say that they are the tears of an angel, so a person wearing pearl jewellery will repeatedly sink in tears and it is the fault of the person who gave them to him. This means that a gift from a beloved person can be the cause of many worries and annoyances. 

Another genesis of such superstitions about pearls is how they arise. Pearls are formed in mussels and are a reaction to a foreign body found inside the shell. The point is that they are formed as a result of the pain that the mussels feel. Despite this, many people do not give up on this solution, putting the beauty and elegance of the pearls above superstition - after all, it is not known whether they are true.

In the world, pearls symbolize happiness and wealth. For example, in China, pearls accompany people in situations such as an important exam. It is believed that thanks to pearls the results will be positive, and the further future of a young person will be free of any difficulties and worries. This is because pearls can help in making a difficult decision.

The superstition of pearls also applies to marriage. Pearl jewellery seems to be a perfect addition to a wedding dress - after all, it is an elegant, perfectly looking stone, perfectly matching the white dress. However, pearls at the wedding are said to bring great failure and quarrels to the newlyweds. We often hear that the pearls that the bride will wear on the day of the wedding can be the cause of a later divorce of the spouses, or even child's illness.

However, let's remember that superstitions must be treated at least with a wink of the eye, so if you prefer to rely on natural resources, don't worry that a wave of misery will suddenly fall on you!

What to consider when choosing a job?

We are getting closer and closer to the end of our studies and finally there comes a moment when we all have to think about what we want to do with the rest of our lives. Of course, we're not going to sit idly by. We will soon join the search for opportunities on the labour market. However, first we have to think about what profession to choose and what to follow when choosing the ideal one for us.

In the present times, the situation on the labour market will be particularly difficult. However, you should not give up and consider all your options. I suggest you start by writing down a list where you will write down all your skills (hard and soft), strengths and weaknesses, describe your temperament and interests. The combination of these four criteria makes up the professional profile.

In fact, there are few clearly defined professions today. When children wonder what profession to choose, they will answer: "policeman", "fireman", "doctor", "hairdresser" and so on. Think about what your answer sounded like when you were a kid. Maybe you still want to follow that career path? It is never too late to start another study or additional course!

The next question you should answer is what subjects you have always liked at school? Foreign languages? Or maybe science subjects such as mathematics or physics? Subjects at school are for many people the first reliable system of assessing skills. You can see at a glance what subjects a student feels comfortable with and what subjects they prefer to run away from.  If you have managed to develop more of a skill, even if not related to your field of study, you can see how you can work with it.

Generally speaking, specialists are increasingly appreciated on the labour market today, including the niche ones. The most important thing is to focus on developing one's competencies and to move on to the next business level, gaining the status of a specialist.

Dreams during quarantine

Yesterday, I woke up scared, having a restless breath and it wasn't the first time that this has happened to me. I've been locked up for almost two months now & I've had terrible dreams many times. It hasn't happened to me since I was a child, because I implemented the technique of reproducing the positive moments from the whole day just before falling asleep. However, the frequency of nightmares worried me so much that I decided to investigate the subject.

That's how I came across an interview published in USA Today. Ian Wallace, the psychologist who specializes in dreams, has returned to the consequences of confinement. One of the most observed phenomena is the memory of dreams. Indeed, people who normally never remember their dreams in the morning have very clear memories of their dreams at the moment. For Ian Wallace, this can be explained by the new rhythm of daily life in confinement. This new routine provides the brain with time and space to record new information, which is normally evacuated automatically upon awakening.

Another fact observed by the psychologist and witnessed by many people (who confirmed it on social networks) is the intensity of dreams. This is completely normal, and it is due to the heightened emotions during the Coronavirus pandemic. Dreams express the concerns of reality. No wonder then that during the period of intense stress we are experiencing due to the Coronavirus epidemic, dreams are darker than usual. Nightmares are the fear of the unknown.

It seems there's nothing we can do about it right now. The only way to manage it is to look ahead with optimism.

Changes in nature - update

After just the first week of quarantine, nature has come to life. The water in the Venetian canals is so clean that fish and swans have returned to it. Dolphins have appeared in the port of Sardinia! Similar phenomena can also be observed in other parts of the world.

Even a coronavirus pandemic can have its good sides. The best proof is what is happening in Italy - Venice to be precise. Paradoxically, the city is now breathing wholeheartedly. The air has clearly improved, the water in Italy is also much cleaner. In the Venetian canals, where the water - so far brown-green - has become so clear that you can easily see the fish in it. Swans also returned to the Venetian canals, making the city even more beautiful.

Apparently, the people of Venice even noticed dolphins floating in the water! Is that true? They say it's fake news, but it's certain that marine mammals have arrived in the port of Calgiari, where they have not been seen before. 

All we had to do was change our lifestyles a little bit to make nature come alive. Because it's not just in Italy. All over the world, animals are beginning to appear in deserted cities, recovering their former habitats. This shows that you don't have to do much to restore balance in nature, reduce pollution and save our planet. It's a shame we didn't understand it until now...

London Fashion Week

The fashion industry is probably one of the most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Most clothing stores are closed, sales (if possible) have moved to the Internet, and there are no industry events. And this also applies to fashion weeks, which will soon return to the fashionistas' calendar. The best example is the London Fashion Week, which this year will not take place in the current formula but... will move to the internet. That means that you will be able to take part in it too!

According to the British Fashion Council, the event is expecting major changes. The men's fashion shows planned for June have already been cancelled and it has now been announced that no shows will be held for 12 months. The collections, which were to be presented on the catwalk during this time, will be presented online. For this purpose, a special digital platform will be created, which is scheduled to premiere on 12 June 2020. This will enable the London Fashion Week to be attended not only by representatives of the industry but also by individuals. 

London Fashion Week will no longer be divided into men's and women's collections - the platform will be unisex. This is also a sign of the times - more and more designers have recently had combined shows, presenting both men's and women's profiles in their collections.

In times of uncertain future, one thing is certain - the fashion world is changing.

The end of the plastic era?

For the sake of the environment, Lego is giving up plastic!

Did you know that there are 7 sets of Lego bricks sold every second in the world? So it's easy to imagine the scale of environmental pollution associated with their production - after all, they are always made of plastic. Every year hundreds of millions of tons of plastic are used for this purpose! This is about to change. Lego has announced that it is giving up plastic! By 2030, Lego blocks will be made from a more ecological substitute - recycled sugar cane! The first such bricks have already appeared on the market.

For the time being, sugar cane has been used to make trees, bushes, Christmas trees, palm and flower leaves and all other plant imitation blocks (about 2% of all blocks). The most ecological set of Lego is the "Tree House", which contains 185 such elements. 

Have you noticed differences in the appearance of the bricks? Well, there is no such thing! Sugar cane blocks not only look the same as plastic ones, but are also as durable - so you can play with them for years! This ultimately convinced Lego to make all the blocks from environmentally friendly material.

Lego also encourages us not to throw away the blocks but (if our children have already grown out of them) to give them to others. Ttaht's why the company launched the "RePlay" initiative. All with our planet in mind.

Tasseomancy - part 1

For years, fortune-telling has been very popular - tasseomancy allows boding from tea grounds or from coffee or wine deposits. This method was spread in Europe a very long time ago - still in the 17th century. It was then that Dutch merchants introduced Chinese tea to the European market, which was widely traded. In total there are over 4000 different types of tea including Earl Grey, black tea, green tea, Rosemary, nettle, calamine, the list goes on. Tasseomancy has become particularly popular in the Netherlands and also in the Great Britain.

The positive attributes of tea leaf reading tea leaves is that most people possess the equipment required, simply a teacup, loose tea or a tea bag. Tea leaf reading the tea leaves involves tea leaf reading the variety of shapes that you find in and around the teacup.   Everyone wants to know their future and tea leaf readings mean this is generally accessible. There is a focus on reading the future and this is uncomplicated and a great way to predict up and coming events. 

How do you do that? First of all, make the tea. You have to use a light cup to make the grounds clearly visible.
After brewing, you should drink the brew, but not all of it. Let's leave a sip at the bottom to stir the grounds. While drinking, concentrate on the wish or question. We shouldn't drink the brew too quickly - it's best to do it in small sips, thinking about the specific thing we want to learn from the future. Take a cup in your left hand and roll it 3 times, turning it counterclockwise. Then quickly tilt the cup and turn it upside down on the saucer. The rest of the infusion flows out and the grounds themselves are arranged in a specific, predictive shape. 

Be your own friend

We women are great at nurturing relationships. We love to go out with our friends for coffee and share our personal successes as well as falls with them. Often we are much lighter on our souls when we can complain to our friend in a difficult situation. So let's be such a friend to yourself too. A friend who helps, supports, always has a warm word for us and a box of tissues.

Be your best friend. Do you get any reward for criticizing yourself and blaming yourself? Does telling yourself all these negative things and depreciating yourself bring something pleasant to you? I suppose not. Unless you like to feel angry, sad, frustrated, nervous or broken.  Don't let that happen. Be your ally, not an executioner.

We - women - are always comparing ourselves to others and doing literally everything to upset ourselves. That ends now. Be a strong woman and support yourself in achieving your goals.

The way you think about yourself and how you relate to yourself has a great impact on your self-esteem and confidence. Always treat yourself with respect. Praise yourself for your success. Congratulate yourself on a job well done. Thank yourself for what you have and who you are. Talk about yourself well, then people will see a good and valuable person in you too. A friend supports, helps, raises your spirits, cheers, holds your hand. Be such a friend to yourself.

Cats in the Egyptian culture

I have always liked history - it was one of my favourite subjects in the educational cycle. I was especially interested in antiquity in Egypt, Greece and Rome. However, it seems that the history itself wouldn't seem interesting enough to you, so I decided to tell you today about a phenomenon occurring in Egypt at that time. Namely, about the cats' cult.

In the times of ancient Egypt, there were the only non-two types of cats. One is wild cats (Felis chaus) and the other is domestic cats (Felis silvestris libyca). However, the Egyptians did not distinguish between the species of cats and they were all equally called in the male form "miu" or in the female form "miit". Maybe that's why we say cats meow today...

On the paintings in private tombs you can see cats sitting under or next to the host's chair, or accompanying their master during a hunt in papyrus bushes. Symbolic and religious image of the cat was also used in jewelry, especially in necklaces. It's because of them that we can assume when the cats were domesticated - around 2000 B.C.

These animals were taken very seriously in Egyptian culture - the sculptures and paintings usually depicted cats in a sitting position, with a proudly stretched, slender neck decorated with beautiful corals with their heads raised. The images of cats were gilded and decorated with the most expensive stones. They were treated with due respect, and were even allowed to eat with their homemakers at the common table. They were identified with the characteristics of rulers, i.e. strength, pride, power, bravery and dignity.

The death of a cat meant mourning for all the people in the household. On her sign the Egyptians shaved their eyebrows. It was necessary to bury them with dignity and celebrate mourning. The dead cat's body was wrapped in a canvas and taken to the temple where the priests embalmed it to ensure eternity. The mummified bodies were buried in the temple catacombs, to which the cat "delicacies": mice, rats and milk.

How to spend your free time creatively?

Spring is the time of the year when I try to slow down the pace and at least for a while take a break from the daily routine and monotony. Depending on how much free time I have managed to get, what mood I am in and what the weather outside, my ways to relax and recharge my batteries are different. Most of them can be arranged for free or with a small amount of money.

1. Board games

I am lucky that my childhood didn't consist of playing computer games and looking at a computer screen, tablet or smartphone for hours. In my time, you used to play cards and board games and spend afternoons and evenings like this. Every child knew what 'war', 'Chinese' or 'checkers' were. Nowadays board games go through a second youth. Their range is so wide that everyone will find something for themselves.

2. Adult coloring books

I'd like to write to you about something I discovered relatively recently. Adult coloring books are now a hit in the United States. As it turns out, it is one of the ways of dealing with stress. Looking at Empik I was shocked to see a whole shelf filled with these coloring books. I didn't think that a drawing book and a pack of crayons could help to reduce stress, relax and switch off. And yet! Additionally, it is very addictive and you can really calm down and relax.

3. Shared cooking

When I have more time than usual, I like to "take it out" in the kitchen. Cooking is my passion, that's why it's on this list. In my free time I can afford to prepare dishes that I simply don't have time for during the week. Besides, preparing delicious dishes for my loved ones makes me very happy.

The piramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are an unbelievable feat of engineering and it has long been assumed that the purpose of their creation was much more important than the fact that they were supposed to be only tombs of pharaohs. Recently a group of physicists discovered that the Great Pyramid can concentrate electromagnetic energy.

The pyramids of Giza are one of the seven wonders of the world. The complex consists of three pyramids. The largest is the tombstone of Pharaoh Cheops, whose pyramid is 147 meters high. Cheops decided to erect a pyramid as a tombstone. 100,000 people worked on the construction for almost 20 years. For centuries, the prevailing opinion was that they were ruthlessly exploited slaves, many of whom lost their lives at work. This belief is contrasted with the thesis that the construction of the pyramid was rather a kind of public work. It provided a livelihood for thousands of farmers. The pyramid of Chefren, 10 meters lower by 10 meters, is adorned with a well-known monument of the Sphinx, a lion with the head of a pharaoh (believed to be his face).

While the Egyptian pyramids are surrounded by many myths and legends, we have little scientifically reliable information about their physical properties. That is why a team of scientists from ITMO University and Laser Zentrum Hannover have taken an interest in how the Great Pyramid will interact with resonant length electromagnetic waves. Calculations have shown that in the resonance state the pyramid can concentrate electromagnetic energy in the inner chambers of the pyramid, and also under its base.

Researchers, including Graham Hancock, Robert Bauval, and Christopher Dunn, suggested that the ancient Egyptians or earlier lost civilization were far more advanced than mankind had long assumed. Dunn believes that the Giza pyramids were built as a tool to draw energy from the Earth's ionosphere.

Anger at work - ways of mastering it

I had a very nervous situation at work today. The client came with a bad attitude and spilled all her bitterness for the faulty jewelry on me. She didn't want to listen to my explanations and the rules of taking returns. However, I remained calm, which resulted in the end of threats to talk to my boss repeated by my client.

When the client left the shop, a colleague asked how it was possible that I was so calm. She would have shown annoyance a long time ago. Here are my ways.

1. Focus all your energy on your facial expressions. Don't let one grimace slip through it. The face is to be a perfectly clean mask. Believe me, in stressful situations it takes so much concentration that you forget about the unpleasant atmosphere around you.

2. Calm yourself down. Keep telling yourself that nothing happened. Add a compliment that will lift your spirits. For example, I am competent enough to get out of this situation.

3. If you can, leave the room for a moment. go out for a short walk to calm down and think about it. Take a few deep breaths, gather your thoughts and go back to your room to finish the conversation. Better to leave the room than make enemies. In anger, you can say a few words too many, and then regret it.

The Valentine's Day - 3 best way to spend it

Valentine's Day is getting closer and closer, so you should think about how to spend it. Dinner by candlelight in a restaurant, cinema or walk are some of the most standard and boring ideas for celebrating the day of love with the other half. If you want to surprise your partner with something original, use one of my proposals. Thanks to them Valentine's Day will remain in your memory for a long time.

1. Recreation of first date

If you want to be creative, surprise your other half with the recreation of your first date! I'm sure she'll be pleasantly surprised and appreciate your creativity. If your first meeting took place in a cafe or restaurant, go there again. Surely you remember what you chose from the menu of that special day. Order the same dishes and behave like that. Remember what made you sparkle. The memory of the first date will bring you even closer and give you a lot of fun.

2. Valentine's Day ball

Do you love to dance with each other till dawn? If you can't imagine spending this special day at home, go to the Valentine's Day ball. It is organized in many restaurants and hotels. It is for couples who feel like a duck to water on the dance floor. Valentine's Day is celebrated during the carnival, so you should have even more fun. If I haven't encouraged you so far, think about popular hits served by DJs or played live, delicious menu full of sophisticated dishes and joyful atmosphere. This event will make the day of lovers stay in your memory for a long time

3. For sportpeople

Do you love physical activity? If you are passionate about winter sports, go to the mountains. This is for couples who love adrenaline. Skiing or snowboarding will surely give you an unforgettable experience. It's a great alternative to standard ideas for Valentine's Day with the other half. If you prefer to go out in a bigger circle, plan your Valentine's Day trip to the mountains with your friends. You will catch up with your friends and you will certainly not be bored.

Me time

Undoubtedly, time for ourselves is an important issue in every person's life, but we almost always sacrifise our time to the people around us, or we devote it to different kinds of situations or circumstances which usually only increase the feeling of tiredness and anxiety.

Taking time for yourself doesn't mean you have to take the day off every time you feel overwhelmed by stress.  Anda it doesn't mean that just going for a walk is enough to solve this problem and eliminate the feeling of mental discomfort that accumulates in your head overnight.

Each of us is going through a period in life when everything annoys us, when we are even unable to get in a good mood and nothing seems interesting to us. So find time for yourself, treat it as an investment in your own health. The above mentioned time for yourself should really give you an opportunity to rest. Don't let anyone bother you. Turn off the computer, hang up the phone, don't watch TV unnecessarily. Focus just on yourself. Some people meditate, others practice yoga. Choose an activity that will fully help you to relax.

Time for yourself is exactly what you need to be able to take care of your own needs in peace.

Nutella

Awareness of healthy eating is increasing dramatically. More and more people are planning full meals, reading labels and searching the Internet for the properties of purchased products. However, I'm still surprised that the first thing after typing "if nut" in the Polish google browser is "if the nutella is healthy". Is that a serious question?

Nutella's television commercial ensures that it is 'an exceptionally tasty cream made from a combination of roasted nuts, skimmed milk and a bit of cocoa'. True, at least partially, but anyone who has even licked a sandwich with this sweet, sticky slurry or looked at its composition on the label knows that in the reality it's not that simple...

But some still can't read...

Mrs. Athena Hohenberg says she was shocked to learn that Nutella is as unhealthy as the other sweets. She filed a lawsuit against the producer Nutella, Ferrero USA. She argued that the TV commercial falsely promoted Nutella as an ingredient of a healthy breakfast without saying that two tablespoons of cream were 200 calories, 11 grams of fat and 21 grams of sugar.

Shocked mom won $3.05 million in court. I still don't know how it happened. The company also had to change the Nutella label, some slogans and advertising spots and its website.

That "bitch"

Just a few years ago the term "bitch" was offensive to us. Today, this is what is said about tough and influential women or young and brazen. 

I'm sure there's at least one person in your company you'd call that term. And not with that positive connotation in mind. She always comes to the party and says: "Then who do we hate today?". It's nice to be somebody she likes. But if you find yourself among her enemies, then... ...you're lost in the circle. Or maybe you have this "bitch" at work who will always boast about her success out loud and make a lot of noise about her tasks to get noticed. You probably know subconsciously that she'll soon be your boss.

Although not all of us want to be a bitch, I'm sure you'll admit it often pays off. You have to take care of your own interests offensively. And yet many of us were brought up to be very polite girls. From childhood we were required to obey, humility, patience and diligence. However, it is this set of features that most often prevents us from achieving our dream goal.

 The Bitches show that women can do what they want. Going to the point with their main interest in mind. And don't look at those who turns their noses at their behavior. The bitch is also a demanding girl, sharp, brilliant and awe-inspiring.

But being a bitch can be risky. It's very easy to cross the line of ordinary human decency. So keep that attitude on special occasions.

Old friends

Feelings are one of the most unstable things in human life. They can change from day to day without any clear reason. But it is said that true friendship will always remain. Even if the paths of life of these people will go in completely different directions.

We haven't talked to each other for quite a long time, and yet I always felt that this is the person I can turn to with a problem. So suddenly. All of a sudden. And she'll help me. The feeling of some kind of understanding of souls has not disappeared. Of course, my honor would never allow me to make that move.

Not so long ago I got a message from her. I answered. Our conversation began, which lasted a few days. A lot of unspeakable words were hanging in the air because there was a polite way of being. However, the barriers quickly disappeared because we once had a great deal of intimacy. Friendship.

Then I understood that a particle of every human being I met in life remains with us. Maybe the word "meet" is not good in this context. Fathomed. 

Let's appreciate all friendships that never really have an end.

End of the decade

On December 31, the next period of history will end. During this time, everything changed.

The greatest music stars such as Aretha Franklin and Roxette have left this world. At the same time, we were blessed with more musical talents, such as Jorja Smith, Ella Mai and H.E.R.

Much more animal species are on the verge of disappearance. An example is vaquita or Gulf of California porpoise.

We abandoned the solarium for good, from which we were leaving looking like greaves and destroying our skin. Plucking eyebrows went into oblivion as well.

People finally began to educate themselves in the field of ecology, and politicians are slowly countering global warming.

As for myself, I learned patience and peace of mind. I started to attend yoga classes regularly to calm down and relax. I stopped analyzing everything, but I didn't stop thinking. I met the most wonderful people I could have dreamed of and I manage to maintain friendship with them. I began to understand my parents and eliminated the intergenerational barrier.

There are still a lot of things that I need to work on and I hope to be able to meet my next goals in the coming years. We, as humanity, also have something to focus on. And of course, I'm talking about a campaign of empathy, tolerance and mutual understanding.

I hope that the next years will bring more good and light to our lives.