On a dark and stormy night in 1488 a young woman lay in a dark cave on the banks of the River Nidd in Knaresborough in North Yorkshire struggling to give birth to her illegitimate daughter. As the rain lashed down and the lightning crackled across the sky, Agnes Sontheil laboured through the night until […]
John Dee (13 July 1527 – 1608 or 1609) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occult philosopher, imperialis and adviser to Queen Elizabeth I. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination and Hermetic philosophy.Dee straddled the worlds of science and magic just as they were becoming distinguishable. One of the most
Luca Gaurico (in Latin, Lucas Gauricus) (March 12, 1475 – March 6, 1558 in Rome) was an Italian astrologer, astronomer, and mathematician. He was born to a poor family in the Kingdom of Naples, and studied judicial astrology, a subject he defended in his Oratio de Inventoribus et Astrologiae Laudibus (1508). Judicial astrology concerned the
Michel de Nostredame (depending on the source, 14 or 21 December 1503 – 2 July 1566), usually Latinised as Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties, the first edition of which appeared in 1555.
Baba Vanga (31 January 1911 – 11 August 1996), born Vangelia Pandeva Dimitrova, known after her marriage as Vangelia Gushterova, was a blind Bulgarian mystic, clairvoyant, and herbalist who spent most of her life in the Rupite area in the Kozhuh mountains, Bulgaria. Millions of people around the world were convinced that she possessed paranormal
Never Give in, Never, Never, NeverHarrow School, October 29, 1941 Background information to the speechThis famous inspiring speech by Sir Winston Churchill was delivered at his old school – Harrow – on 29th October 1941. During the visit Churchill listened to the traditional school songs and discovered that an additional verse had been added to
The Pleasure of Books1933 The habit of reading is one of the greatest resources of mankind; and we enjoy reading books that belong to us much more than if they are borrowed. A borrowed book is like a guest in the house; it must be treated with punctiliousness, with a certain considerate formality. You must
War with IraqMarch 20th 2003 On Tuesday night I gave the order for British forces to take part in military action in Iraq.Tonight, British servicemen and women are engaged from air, land and sea. Their mission: to remove Saddam Hussein from power, and disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.I know this course of
Work and its SecretLos Angeles, January 1900 Means are as important as ends in all that we do. Our failures are often due to our ends being beyond our means. If we paid careful attention to means, the results would flow automatically. Means and ends are related to each other as cause and effect.The Gita
Calls For MartyrdomBroadcast by Iraqi Satellite Channel TV,4 April 2003 In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. “And fight them on until there is no more tumult.” [Koranic verse]O great people, O men of our valiant armed forces, O Iraqi young men, O Mujaheedin, who carry the honour and trust of the weapons
Death of Martin Luther KingApril 4th 1968 I have bad news for you, for all of our fellow citizens, and people who love peace all over the world, and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and killed tonight.Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice for his fellow human beings,
The HolocaustMarch 23rd 2000 – At Israel’s Holocaust Memorial The words of the ancient Psalm, rise from our hearts: “I have become like a broken vessel. I hear the whispering of many – terror on every side – as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in
Give me Liberty or give me DeathMarch 23, 1775 No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought
I am prepared to DieApril 20, 1964 I am the First Accused.I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and practised as an attorney in Johannesburg for a number of years in partnership with Oliver Tambo. I am a convicted prisoner serving five years for leaving the country without a permit and for inciting people to
Tryst with DestinyAugust 14, 1947 ILong years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes,