January 15, 2026
“Harmony is the source of manifestation, the cause of its existence, and the medium between God and man.” Hazrat Inayat Khan Throughout history and across civilizations, harmony has been an eternal companion to humanity. No age or culture has existed without its presence. It has taken form as a goddess – Harmonia, Concordia – or [...]January 15, 2026
Today, graffiti is an integral part of life in big cities. It is regarded as vandalism by some, while others think of it as a form of street art, a visual expression. Famous graffiti such as the works of Banksy that go viral quickly and can attract many viewers and visitors, often have deeper meanings, [...]January 15, 2026
Both the National Gallery in London and the Louvre in Paris have shown major exhibitions this year on 13th century art with its sense of the hieratic or ‘sacred’ dimension in art. With two major European institutions choosing this focus, what might it have to say about our current times and aspirations? 13th century Europe [...]January 15, 2026
The origins of the Etruscans – along with their sacred knowledge, language, and traditions – remain, in part, veiled in mystery. Even in antiquity, people wondered where this enigmatic civilization came from. Herodotus, for example, claimed that during a time of severe famine, the people of ancient Lydia migrated to the fertile lands of the [...]December 30, 2025
In the heart of Central Asia where fertile valleys meet ancient arteries of the Silk Road, lies Samarkand, an enchanting city steeped in legend, adorned with splendid architecture, storied past, vibrant bazaars and serene moments of contemplation beneath a starlit sky. Among its many historical chapters, one shines with particular brilliance – a luminous revival [...]December 30, 2025
Everyone is probably familiar with the image of the glittering court of Elizabeth I, the ‘Virgin Queen’ surrounded by glamorous courtiers like Sir Walter Raleigh (founder of Virginia in America, who brought back the potato and tobacco to England) and Sir Francis Drake, whom the Spanish call ‘El Drake, the Pirate’. One of the most [...]December 30, 2025
I have always believed that it is healthy to question everything every now and then and to check whether the beliefs we have adopted during our journey through life are still valid. In some way, we could call this a mini-crisis of meaning because it can be quite painful, even destructive to current arrangements, and [...]December 30, 2025
In March 2025, the EU advised all its 450 million citizens to prepare for potential crises like war, cyberattacks, a major disease outbreak and natural disasters. Brussels issued detailed guidelines for survival kits, including food, water, first aid items and torches to last 72 hours and some countries, like France and Germany, were distributing materials [...]December 30, 2025
Giordano Bruno (1548–1600) was an Italian philosopher, mathematician and mystic whose radical ideas about the universe, God and human potential placed him at odds with the intellectual and religious authorities of his time – the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. A Dominican friar turned itinerant scholar, Bruno is remembered today as a visionary who challenged the dogmas [...]December 30, 2025
Growing up in a city and living in one of the busiest cities in the world does not always allow us to connect with Nature in a way that we feel deeply and consciously part of it. And perhaps we don’t even notice it as we rush from place to place, become accustomed to the [...]