Tiger’s Eye
OnTiger’s Eye is a (metamorphic) mix of rock, iron oxide deposits and red jasper, the latter giving the red layers that can be seen on closer inspection and the iron oxide giving it various hues of brown. Its formation gives it a…
Veganism marches on – but is in danger of being over processed
OnAsk any vegan why they have chosen not to consume animal products and you’ll invariably get a reply firstly, about animal welfare and secondly, our own health – and in the broadest terms, our health includes the health of the planet we…
Tao Te Ching – verse Thirty Two
OnThe Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tzu in the 6th Century BC (and possibly the 4th century BC), is an ancient Chinese text that forms the bedrock for Taoism. It appeals to a much wider audience than Taoists though because of…
Citrine
OnRanging from a pale yellow to a dark brown, citrine is a variation of quartz. Most Citrine available today has undergone heat treatment but there are some mines producing natural Citrine. Citrine that has undergone heat treatment has small lines within the…
The Emerald Tablet and the Tao Te Ching
OnThe Emerald Tablet is a short, cryptic piece of text that forms part of a collection of writings known as the Hermetica which are believed to be Egyptian – Greek in origin and written around 200AD. The author of the Emerald Tablet…
The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo – The hidden meaning
OnOne of Michelangelo’s most famous paintings in the Sistine Chapel is that of the Creation of Adam, depicting the moment God created humankind. It is one of a series of paintings on the ceiling that give life to the story in Genesis….
Jurors find Roundup contributed to 2nd man’s cancer
OnFor the second time in eight months, a jury has found that Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller contributed to cancer in a second man. Edwin Hardeman case was tried in federal court with thousands more lawsuits pending against Monsanto. Bayer, the global food and…
Slump in insect numbers threatens ‘collapse of nature’
OnA new study of insect numbers across the globe says that declining insect numbers are threatening a ‘collapse of nature’ unless something is done to address the issue. Over the next few decades, up to 40% of the world’s insect species could…
Ireland’s food security on a cliff edge
OnThis week, an Irish TD (member of parliament) claimed vegans had ‘never worked a day in their lives’. The bizarre and idiotic rant isn’t worth arguing against but it does raise some critical issues that Ireland needs to address before we get…
Do trees communicate with humans?
OnWalking through a forest is enough to evoke a sense of calm in most people. It’s a primitive feeling, one that has evolved over thousands of years and been handed down from gene pool to gene pool. That calmness, or de-stressing that…
