View allAll Photos Tagged Humility
Humility, simplicity, compassion, impermanence...
Do not ignore the compassion for all beings and do not ignore the impermanence. Whatever seems to be a priority in your life is actually quite temporary. It comes and goes.
We are born alone and naked. As our life unfolds, we go through every possible situation: need, have, lost, suffer, cry, try ... but then we die, and we die alone. It will not make any difference if we were rich or poor, known or unknown. Death is the great leveler.
Being awaked can be leveler in many senses.
Okay this is PROBABLY the last request -- but I do, with all humility and Buddhist prostration, ask for your vote for the Bloggies! I'm in the "Photography" section.
Thank you to my fans! Here are your favorite pics: the most Popular Pictures you dig from my stream. Thanks for the comments!
This shot looks great: Large on Black
I am headed to the Ukraine today. I'll be spending the weekend in Chernobyl taking pictures, which I have gotten special permission to enter the Exclusion Zone. There are several ghost towns around Chernobyl, like Pripyat, which was designed as a Soviet communist panacea, but now a radiated husk of a city. I will also be in Kharkov, on the Russian border, as well as Kiev. I hope to find some interesting shots for you!
The bronze statue of Agrippina Minor on the left is depicted pulling her veil over her head, a gesture of humility and religious devotion. She was the daughter of Germanicus, a war hero, the sister of emperor Caligula, the wife of her uncle, emperor Claudius, and the mother of emperor Nero. She was a major figure of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
On the right is the statue of Antonia Minor, mother of the emperor Claudius (AD 41-54), depicted unveiled but with her hands held, palms upwards, in a typical gesture of a religious offerant.
Both statues were discovered in Herculaneum's amphitheater on August 19-20, 1750.
Roman, ca. mid-1st century CE.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Campania Galleries (Agrippina inv. 5612, Antonia inv. 5599)
I was trying to set up for a photo in the beautiful Mazatlan Cathedral, being as reverent as possible, when this man came forward and placed himself on the stairs to the altar in humble prayer. A touching scene. I wondered about his story.
Agfa Box 44 from 1930s
expired Kodak Portra 160, pushed two stops
Inspired by the movie 'Wings of desire' and its remake 'City of angels', I wanted to do this project for a long time. I even started it some time ago as self-portraits wearing long, leather, black jacket:
www.flickr.com/photos/toguko/4741327405/
But this time, I thought I would do something different. I think the use of the traditional, red, Chinese dress was more for the visual reasons in the beginning. Then I started to think what I wanted to show in this project. And the word 'nostalgia' came to my mind in a natural way - the use of an old camera, expired films, dress from another era, showing longing for the past. But when I developed the films, I was disappointed with the results. I was hoping they would look like old photographs. The colours came out more vivid than when using normal kodak portra 160 (perhaps because mine was expired and pushed two stops when developed). I felt that this is not what I wanted and also that it is not really my style. I guess I had some expectations about the whole thing.
And then I thought that I did the best I could, given the tools I have at the moment (I had to sell all my equipment for personal reasons and only kept my grandfather's camera for sentimental reasons and was left with few boxes of kodak portra 160 that I didn't sell) and that the final results were actually not up to me. I felt that this was a great lesson of humility, letting go, diminishing my ego and expectations, trying to deal with my 'control freak' and perfectionist side. So my new idea for the name of this project is 'humility', for the reasons above but also because of the small figure in the vastness of the landscapes (universe) as I am trying to show how small and insignificant we all are.
There are more coming but I am curious what you think.
Agfa Box 44 from 1930s
expired Kodak Portra 160, pushed two stops
Inspired by the movie 'Wings of desire' and its remake 'City of angels', I wanted to do this project for a long time. I even started it some time ago as self-portraits wearing long, leather, black jacket:
www.flickr.com/photos/toguko/4741327405/
But this time, I thought I would do something different. I think the use of the traditional, red, Chinese dress was more for the visual reasons in the beginning. Then I started to think what I wanted to show in this project. And the word 'nostalgia' came to my mind in a natural way - the use of an old camera, expired films, dress from another era, showing longing for the past. But when I developed the films, I was disappointed with the results. I was hoping they would look like old photographs. The colours came out more vivid than when using normal kodak portra 160 (perhaps because mine was expired and pushed two stops when developed). I felt that this is not what I wanted and also that it is not really my style. I guess I had some expectations about the whole thing.
And then I thought that I did the best I could, given the tools I have at the moment (I had to sell all my equipment for personal reasons and only kept my grandfather's camera for sentimental reasons and was left with few boxes of kodak portra 160 that I didn't sell) and that the final results were actually not up to me. I felt that this was a great lesson of humility, letting go, diminishing my ego and expectations, trying to deal with my 'control freak' and perfectionist side. So my new idea for the name of this project is 'humility', for the reasons above but also because of the small figure in the vastness of the landscapes (universe) as I am trying to show how small and insignificant we all are.
The other thing I thought about is what does the model feel/experience. What is her perspective? I feel not many people think about that. So I asked her. She said that in the beginning, the posing didn't feel natural to her, she felt awkward standing there looking at all these landscapes in front of her. But in later shots, she started to relax, closed her eyes and meditated.
Changed the name of the project to 'h&n' (for humility&nostalgia but also here&now).
Sala di Donatello.
David, 1440-1450, Donatello.
Donatello created a totally unusual image of the slender young biblical pastor. David is an efebo teenager whose nakedness implies the humility and courage that overcomes arrogance and brute force. The impurity between the subject of biblical civic education and ancient mythology is also expressed by the extraordinary ribboned hat crowned with a laurel wreath reminiscent of the winged hat of Mercury.
You have to keep in mind that it was the first unsupported naked statue to be carved since the classical era. His most famous work.
***
There are no indications of contemporary responses to the David. However, the fact that the statue was placed in the town hall of Florence in the 1490s indicates that it was not viewed as controversial. In the early 16th century, the Herald of the Signoria mentioned the sculpture in a way that suggested there was something unsettling about it: "The David in the courtyard is not a perfect figure because its right leg is tasteless." By mid-century Vasari was describing the statue as so naturalistic that it must have been made from life. However, among 20th- and 21st-century art historians there has been considerable controversy about how to interpret it.
Goliath's beard curls around David's sandaled foot, as if the young hero is running his toes through his dead opponent's hair. Goliath is wearing a winged helmet. David's right foot stands firmly on the short right wing, while the left wing, considerably longer, works its way up his right leg to his groin.
The figure has been interpreted in a variety of ways. One has been to suggest that Donatello was homosexual and that he was expressing that sexual attitude through this statue. A second is to suggest that the work refers to homosocial values in Florentine society without expressing Donatello's personal tendencies. However, during the Renaissance sodomy was illegal, and over 14,000 men had been tried in Florence for this crime. So this homosexual implication would have been dangerous. A third interpretation is that David represents Donatello's effort to create a unique version of the male nude, to exercise artistic licence rather than copy the classical models that had thus far been the sources for the depiction of the male nude in Renaissance art.
On Explore! December 6, 2007! #352
Thank you very much to all of you my dear Flickr friends for your so kind comments!
Last News:
I'd an apparition near my Wild River... an interview by an angel...!!! :)))
angiereal.blogspot.com/2007/11/interview-with-my-flickr-f...
Wonder of innocence!
A short guide of accomplishment that you will find nowhere else on the practice of spiritual I Ching in your life! For the I Ching… all acts of your life outside… are spiritual… that your thoughts are realistic or not!
1. The experience of the I Ching is acquired in daily practice with regularity… by living to the full!
2. No need to question him or force anything as advocated in all tutorials… you pick and translate the responses into action depending on how your heart fill with… no risk of mistakes interpretation !
3. Regularly, to deal with certain situations in your life, you need to step back… to study the effects of a project on your environment! The I Ching will help you to determine if this is the right time to act or not to act!
4. The regular practical experience will teach you to when you step back to analyse! Once you understand that this way is according to the universe that your previous situation… you would discovered that the Invisible just waiting to protect you from the outside world in all areas of your life!
5. The I Ching is the best only in situations under your control! For example… you should make travel by road or air at a given moment you choose… it will tell you if there is a danger or not at this precise moment! Another example… you receive a message that you do not understand… such as hexagram # 57, communication, changing in hexagram # 3, difficulty… watch what will happen in the minutes that followed… it could be a phone whose subject is the difficulty! You should know that the I Ching captures all the intentions of the others about you! Fascinating… right? :)))
If you want to take this way of life with a light heart … your inner Guide is ready since the beginning of the humanity … to help and protect you!
Finally as an example… here is a small code meanings for each of the hexagrams that I use regularly:
# 1 Inner Guide, Heaven, Creation, Soon, Tomorrow # 2 Me, Ego, Earth, Responsiveness, Overture # 3 Difficulty # 4 Apprenticeship, Study, Children # 5 Waiting # 6 Conflict # 7 Politics, Governments # 8 Union, Friendship, Solidarity # 9 Vision # 10 Action, March # 11 Peace, Serenity, Harmony, Agreement with my inner Guide # 12 Stagnation, Denial, No agreement with my inner Guide # 13 Community, Mails # 14 Wealth # 15 Humility # 16 Enthusiasm, Music # 17 Continuation # 18 Housework, Order # 19 In the short term, Approach # 20 Future vision, Planning # 21 Investments Market Exchange # 22 Beauty , Design # 23 Loss # 24 Return # 25 Innocence, Nature # 26 Great opportunity # 27 Physical and spiritual food # 28 Renunciation # 29 Running water, My Wild River, Money, Danger # 30 Light, Clarity, Sun # 31 Influence, Application # 32 Time, Eternity # 33 Removing # 34 Stop # 35 Great progress # 36 Darkness, Black, Evening, Night, Evil # 37 Family, House, Home # 38 Opposition # 39 Obstacle # 40 Liberation, Freedom # 41 Decrease # 42 Growth # 43 Fees, Expenses, Resolution # 44 Meeting # 45 Gathering, TV # 46 Writing, Effort # 47 Tiredness, Disease, Sleeping, Exhaustion # 48 Bank, Cooperation # 49 Revolution, Change # 50 News, Novelty, I Ching # 51 Awakening, Thunder # 52 Meditation, Immobilization, Mountain, Reflexion # 53 Gradual progress # 54 My soulmate, Marriage, Women # 55 Abundance, Art, Fullness # 56 Travel, Car # 57 Communication, Wind # 58 Inner joy, Joy # 59 Media # 60 Limitation # 61 Truth, Trust # 62 Transition # 63 The end, Agenda # 64 Not finished
Some of the hexagrams are related to a person as # 54 for my soul mate… many of you are identified by one of the hexagrams! :)))
Very happy and interesting comment of JucaFii... I add comment too!!! :)))
Merveille de l’innocence!
Un petit guide d’accomplissement que vous ne trouverez nulle part ailleurs sur la pratique du Yi King spirituel dans votre quotidien! Pour le Yi King… tous actes de votre vie extérieure… sont spirituels… que vos pensées soient réalistes ou non!
1. L’expérience du Yi King s’acquiert dans la pratique quotidienne régulière… en y mordant à pleines dents!
2. Pas besoin de l’interroger ou de forcer quoi que ce soit comme le préconise toutes les guides d’utilisation… vous tirez et traduisez les réponses obtenues en actes selon ce que votre cœur perçoit… ainsi pas de risques d’erreurs grossières d’interprétation!
3. Régulièrement, face à certaines situations de votre vie, vous avez besoin de prendre du recul… d’étudier les effets d’un projet sur votre environnement! Le Yi King vous aidera à déterminer si c’est le bon moment pour agir ou ne pas agir!
4. L’expérience pratique régulière vous enseignera à quel moment vous retirer pour digérer vos expériences! Lorsque vous aurez compris que le chemin parcouru est plus en accord avec l’univers que votre situation antérieure… vous aurez découvert que l’Invisible ne demande qu’à vous protéger du monde extérieur dans toutes les situations de votre vie!
5. Le Yi King n’excelle que dans les situations sous votre contrôle! Par exemple… vous devez prendre la route ou l’avion à un moment déterminé… vous craignez l’avion… il vous indiquera s’il y a danger ou non à ce moment précis! Un autre exemple… vous recevez un message que vous ne comprenez pas… comme par exemple l’hexagramme #57, la communication, se transformant en hexagramme #3, la difficulté… surveillez bien ce qui va se passer dans les minutes qui vont suivre… il se peut que ce soit un téléphone dont le sujet est cette difficulté! Il faut savoir que le Yi King capte toutes les intentions des autres vous concernant! Fascinant n’est-ce pas?
Si vous souhaitez prendre la route de la vie le cœur léger… votre Guide intérieur n’attend que cela… sa mission… vous aider et vous protéger!
En terminant à titre d’exemple voici un petit code de significations pour chacun des hexagrammes que j’utilise régulièrement:
#1 Guide intérieur, Ciel, Création, Bientôt, Demain #2 Moi, Égo, Terre, Réceptivité, Ouverture #3 Difficulté #4 Apprentissage, Étude, Enfants #5 Attente #6 Conflit #7 Politique, Gouvernements #8 Union, Amitié, Solidarité #9 Vision #10 Action, Marche #11 Paix, Sérénité, Harmonie, Accord avec le Guide #12 Stagnation, Négation, Refus, Pas d’accord du Guide #13 Communauté, Courriels, Courriers #14 Richesse, Avoir, Biens #15 Humilité #16 Enthousiasme, Musique #17 Continuation, La suite, Poursuivre #18 Ménage, Mise en ordre #19 À court terme, Approche #20 Vision future, Plan #21 Placement, Marché, Bourse #22 Beauté, Design #23 Perte #24 Le retour, Revenir #25 Innocence, Nature #26 Grande occasion #27 Nourriture physique et spirituelle #28 Renoncement #29 Eau courante, Ma rivière sauvage, Argent, Danger #30 Lumière, Clarté, Soleil #31 Influence, Demande #32 Temps, Durée, Éternité #33 Retrait #34 Halte #35 Gros progrès #36 Obscurité, Noir, Soir, Nuit, Mal #37 Famille, Maison #38 Opposition #39 Obstacle #40 Libération, Liberté #41 Diminution #42 Croissance #43 Frais, Dépenses, Résolution #44 Rencontre #45 Rassemblement, Réunion, TV #46 Rédaction, Effort #47 Fatigue, Maladie, Dormir, Épuisement #48 Banque #49 Révolution, Changement, Agenda #50 Nouveauté, Yi King #51 Éveil, Tonnerre #52 Méditation, Immobilisation, Montagne, Réflexion #53 Progrès graduel #54 Mon âme sœur, Épouser, Femme #55 Abondance, Art, Plénitude #56 Voyage, Automobile #57 Communication, Internet #58 Joie, Cinéma #59 Diffusion, Média, Perte de biens #60 Limitation #61 L’essence intérieur, Vérité, Confiance #62 Transition, Économie #63 La fin, l’ordre #64 Pas terminé
Certains de ces hexagrammes sont en rapport avec une personne comme le #54 pour mon âme sœur… plusieurs d’entre vous sont identifiés par un de ces hexagrammes!!! :)))
Un commentaire très intéressant de JucaFii... j'ai émis un commentaire aussi!!! :)))
Requiem… Mozart!!!
Signature: jCIDd0DSqJLPSnZamPRyE5zUJ3VuXBFQrovtCrL5XQw2fE6a3cIBvCKTwQxJblVXZuytjzhXSOhCvyrHV5bakEM8FhZ4Mw4P4njoThU+akkUCj8Akpolm0NX43PS7AHX93jU2vKmusypemRi1ZnjzJPI9D1ZTYxw7Jb04svOLRaGYc9/vliYa09x32EoFoBb/qQYqBsa6mOBAR2QEQC0jBFzZaLC/46m9lYijXCALmwpWiu0N2lxynYIfbdM5ejGdVezsrd1RmM2q1+h5e4tUQ==
Where are you going? Wait! Don’t you see how beautiful I am?! WHAT? That the true beauty is hidden inside? …
Don’t go away - PLEASE - stay here for a while with me.
I … I will learn a humility …
*******************************************
My author crochet brooch:-)
Please, respect copyright - thank you:-)
"Will Tahu find the humility and patience to earn deeper knowledge of fire and learn that not everything can be taken by force?"
Fourth creature of the series to make the G2 creatures into large and powerful elemental masters. Ikir came to completion in one day after I began tinkering with his head design. It's a good feeling when a moc comes together straightforwardly.
As usual, I recycled the head, but gave the creature different eyes from the rest. Boat studs made for great bird eyes in this case.
With Ikir, I thought that Tahu's challenge is basically the fact that he can't reach the flying bird. Assuming Tahu is fairly hot tempered, his trial is to learn that he can't simply force and take everything he wants. Instead, with Ikir, he must learn to earn, wait, give and compromise until he finds the connection he needs with Ikir.
I am humbled by your kind acceptance.
I have been under the shadows.
But because of your generosities I am bathed in light.
My colours are lit and I am proud to share them with you.
With all of you...
:)
Humility often levels the playing field of life. I must say my playing field now looks somewhat more level then it did before I began this venture. I wish for a better day and that these girls may one day soon return home to their countries as normal people who have simply been abroad working at normal careers. I know this not to be true but its the way I wish to see this story end.
Domino
Copyright 2012 Christina Saint Marche Limited
IMG_1668. Bhaktapur, Nepal.
# Third place winner in Heart Awards group in their contest City & Architecture ( July 2nd, 2012 )
With humility, this photo make me think of a painting that could have been made by Jacob van Ruisdael. A Dutch painter from the 17th century.
"Will Tahu find the humility and patience to earn deeper knowledge of fire and learn that not everything can be taken by force?"
Fourth creature of the series to make the G2 creatures into large and powerful elemental masters. Ikir came to completion in one day after I began tinkering with his head design. It's a good feeling when a moc comes together straightforwardly.
As usual, I recycled the head, but gave the creature different eyes from the rest. Boat studs made for great bird eyes in this case.
With Ikir, I thought that Tahu's challenge is basically the fact that he can't reach the flying bird. Assuming Tahu is fairly hot tempered, his trial is to learn that he can't simply force and take everything he wants. Instead, with Ikir, he must learn to earn, wait, give and compromise until he finds the connection he needs with Ikir.
"Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude and hearing the good Dhamma, this is the best good luck".
(Buddha - Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)
This is a view of the city of Gwalior located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, it was shot from the Small Sas Bahu temple built in red sandstone during the 10th century and dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
According to local tradition, Gwalior owes its name to a sage of former times.
Suraj Sen, a prince of the Kachhwaha clan of the eighth century, is said to have lost his way in the jungle.
On a secluded hill he met an old man, the sage Gwalipa, whose influence almost took him by surprise.
Upon asking the sage for some drinking water he was led to a pond; the waters not only quenched his thirst but cured him of leprosy.
Out of gratefulness, the prince wished to offer the sage something in return, and the sage asked him to build a wall on the hill in order to protect the other sages from wild animals which often disturbed their yagnas (or pujas).
Suraj Sen later built a palace inside the fort, which had been named "Gwalior" after the sage who had given him the gift of a new life; the city which grew around the fort took the same name.
The city became, over the centuries, the cradle of great dynasties and with each, the city gained new dimensions from the warrior-kings, poets, musicians and saints who contributed to making it a capital renowned throughout the country.
Join the photographer at www.facebook.com/laurent.goldstein.photography
© All photographs are copyrighted and all rights reserved.
Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).
The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.
One of the most powerful beings in the 616 universe, Thor has proven to be a champion of justice and defender of the weak since his modern appearance on Earth in 1962.
Thor's father Odin decided his son needed to be taught humility and consequently incarnated Thor (without memories of tke Asgardian pantheon) on Earth as a mortal, partially disabled human medical student, Donald Blake.
After becoming a doctor, Blake witnesses the arrival of an alien scouting party while he is on vacation in Norway. Blake flees from the aliens into a cave. After discovering Thor's hammer Mjolnir (disguised as a walking stick) and striking it against a rock, he transforms into the thunder god. Later, Blake is revealed to have always been Thor, Odin's enchantment having caused him to forget his history as The Thunder God and believe himself mortal.
Defeating the aliens, Thor shares a double life with his alter ego: treating the ill in a private practice with nurse – and eventual love – Jane Foster, and defending humanity from evil.
Thor's presence on Earth almost immediately attracts the attention of his adoptive brother and enemy Loki. Loki is responsible for the emergence of three of Thor's principal foes: the Absorbing Man; the Destroyer, and the Wrecker.
On one occasion, Loki's tactics were accidentally beneficial – although successful in using an illusion of the Hulk to draw Thor into battle, it results in the formation of the superhero team the Avengers, of which Thor and Hulk, alongside Ant-Man, the Wasp and Iron Man, would be founding members.
Thor's other early foes include Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man; the Radioactive Man; the Lava Man; the Cobra; Mister Hyde; the Enchantress and the Executioner, and the Grey Gargoyle.
Falling in love with Jane Foster, Thor disobeys his father and refuses to return to Asgard, an act for which he is punished on several occasions.
Thor's natural affinity for Earth is eventually revealed to be due to the fact that he was the son of the Elder Goddess Gaea.
Although Thor initially regards himself as a "superhero" like his teammates in the Avengers, Loki's machinations draw Thor into increasingly epic adventures, such as teaming with his father Odin and Asgardian ally Balder against the fire demon Surtur and Skagg the Storm Giant, and defeating an increasingly powerful Absorbing Man and proving his innocence in the "Trial of the Gods". This necessitates an extended leave of absence from the Avengers.
Thor encounters the Greek God Hercules, who becomes a loyal and trustworthy friend. Thor saves Hercules from fellow Olympian Pluto; stops the advance of Ego the Living Planet; rescues Jane Foster from the High Evolutionary and defeats his flawed creation, the Man-Beast.
Odin finally relents and allows Thor to love Jane Foster, on the proviso she pass a trial. Foster panics and Thor intervenes. After Foster fails the test, Odin returns her to Earth, where she is given another chance at love, while a heartbroken Thor is introduced to the Asgardian warrior Sif.
Thor battles the Asgardian troll Ulik for the first time when Ulik attempts to steal Mjolnir. The thunder god returns to Asgard to prevent Mangog from drawing the Odinsword and ending the universe, Thor learns the origin of Galactus and rescues Sif after she is kidnapped by Him.
Thor battles Surtur once again when the fire demon attempts to storm Asgard; encounters the Stranger and his pawn the Abomination; and overpowers an outmatched Doctor Doom.
Thor prevents another attempt by Mangog — disguised as Odin — from drawing the Odinsword; is saved by the intervention of ally Volstagg when the "Odin Force" became a semi-sentient destructive force; and is rescued from death when Odin engineers a false Ragnarök and has reporter Red Norvell die in his place battling the Midgard Serpent.
Thor met the Eternals in a lengthy event. Thor also encounters the "Eye of Odin" (sacrificed by Odin to drink from the Well of Mimir) which claimed another Asgard and version of Thor once existed.
Thor first donned his battle armor in April 1987. Thor eventually confronts the threat of the Celestial Fourth Host, and after an extended series of encounters learns of the apparent true origin of Asgard and Odin's plans to defend Earth from the alien judges.
Despite the attempt by Odin to stop the Celestials by occupying the Destroyer armor (now 2,000 feet tall as holding the life essence of every Asgardian) and wielding the Odinsword (and aided by the Uni-Mind, an entity composed of the Eternals) and Thor himself, the aliens depart when presented with an offering by Gaea on behalf of the "Skymothers" (e.g. Frigga and Hera) of twelve perfect humans. Thor also learns Gaea was his birth mother.
After restoring the Asgardian gods with a gathering of energies donated by Skyfathers from other pantheons, Thor has a series of adventures on Earth, including encountering two Heralds of Galactus in swift succession; stopping Mephisto from taking human souls; clearing his name when framed by Asgardian god of war Tyr; aiding Drax the Destroyer; with ally Iron Man defeating the Bi-Beast and the Man-Beast; engaging the former king of Nastrond Fafnir transformed by Odin into a dragon in combat when freed by Loki, and battling Dracula.
Thor learns of the existence of the "God Eater", a creature summoned when the death gods of several pantheons temporarily merge their realms. Thor thwarts the creature – revealed to be in humanoid guise Atum, the son of Gaea, and therefore Thor's half-brother – and ensures the cosmic balance is restored.
While exploring an approaching space vessel at the request of Nick Fury, Thor encounters Beta Ray Bill, who after a brief battle, proved himself worthy of lifting Thor's hammer Mjolnir. After initial misunderstandings, Bill forms an alliance with the Asgardian gods, and is empowered by Odin to aid Thor and his allies in a war with an approaching army of demons, which is revealed to be led by fire demon Surtur, now wielding "Twilight", the gigantic "Sword of Doom".
After a series of extended battles – including a battle to the death with Fafnir and thwarting the Dark Elf Malekith — the gods are finally triumphant, although during combat Odin and Surtur disappear through a rift and are presumed dead.
Thor remains in Asgard to deal with the vacuum left by Odin's apparent death, and drives off Hela; meets Tiwaz, his great-grandfather; forces Loki to cure him from the effects of a love potion; with allies enters Hela's realm and rescues lost mortal souls.
Returning to Earth, Thor and Beta Ray Bill defeat the transformed Dark Elf Kurse, although Loki uses the power of Surtur's discarded sword to change Thor into a frog. After an adventure in Central Park, Thor manages to partially restore himself and then forces Loki to reverse the spell.
While rescuing X-Factor member the Angel from torture by the mercenary team the Marauders, Thor is cursed by Hela, who makes his bones as brittle as glass and unable to heal if damaged; and renders him truly immortal and unable to die no matter how severe his injuries.
Thor is injured again during a battle with the Absorbing Man engineered by Loki, and is ultimately saved by Loki during a battle with the Dark Elves.
Eventually forced to wear armor to protect his broken body, Thor and Loki defeat a group of Ice Giants, who seek revenge by trying to locate the Midgard Serpent, hoping it would kill the thunder god.
The Giants instead find the dragon Fin Fang Foom, who is revealed to be the Midgard Serpent in disguise. Time slows as the pair – mortal enemies due to prophecy that stated they would kill each other during Ragnarök — battle to the death. Thor kills the Serpent, although his body is completely pulverized.
Loki restores the Destroyer, who kills the Ice Giants and finds Thor's now liquid form. The Destroyer attempts to disintegrate the thunder god but can not do so due to Hela's curse. Thor assumes mental control of the Destroyer, and forces Hela on pain of death to restore his true form. The thunder god then breaks Loki's arm as punishment for his actions.
Thor meets and battles Leir, the Celtic god of lightning. After another encounter with the Celestials on an alien world; Thor finds Odin — a captive of Seth — and uses the Odinpower to fend off a returning Surtur; and defeats Annihilus while Asgard is in the Negative Zone. Thor battles X-Men foe the Juggernaut and meets the New Warriors.
After Thor kills Loki in single combat, Heimdall – standing in for Odin temporarily as ruler of Asgard – banishes Thor from Asgard; he is replaced by the mortal Eric Masterson, who became the hero Thunderstrike.
When Odin awakes, Thor is forgiven and returned. During a battle Thor is driven into a "warrior's madness" by a Valkyrie. After overpowering everyone who attempts to stop his rampage, Thor is brought by the Eternal and Thanos before Odin, who cures his son of the madness.
Thor, together with the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and other heroes, is trapped in an alternate universe after defeating the villain Onslaught.
The heroes live alternate lives for a year in what is revealed to be an artificial creation until returning to their own universe.
Thor and several members of the Avengers battle the Destroyer. Thor is saved by an enigmatic being called Marnot, who binds the life-force of a mortal called Jake Olson to the thunder god.
Thor enters into a war with the Dark Gods with Marnot revealed to be Hescamer, one of Odin's ravens; and battles the returning Enchanters Three.
Powers and Abilities
Like all Asgardians, Thor is incredibly long-lived and relies upon periodic consumption of the Golden Apples of Idunn to sustain his extended lifespan, which to date has lasted many millennia.
Being the son of Odin and the elder goddess Gaea, Thor is physically the strongest of the Asgardians.
Thor is capable of incredible feats of strength, such as lifting the almost Earth-sized Midgard Serpent, supporting a weight equivalent to that of 20 planets, destroying Surtur's solar system-sized dimensional portal (by combining his power with that of Beta Ray Bill), and allegedly overpowering infinite gravity.
If pressed in battle, Thor is capable of entering into a state known as the "Warrior's Madness" ("berserkergang" in Norwegian and Danish alike), which will temporarily increase his strength and stamina tenfold, although in this state he attacks friend and foe alike.
Thor is extremely durable to physical injuries. He has even survived energy blasts from Celestials.
Thor possesses keen senses that allow him to track objects traveling faster than light and hear cries from the other side of the planet.
His stamina allowed him to battle the entire Frost Giant army for nine months without any sustenance or rest; Thor has shown the ability to regenerate wounded portions of his body, including entire limbs or organs, with the aid of magical forces such as Mjolnir.
Thor has superhuman speed, agility, and reflexes, enabling him to deflect bullets with his hammer, and to swing or throw it at many times the speed of light.
In early stories, Thor demonstrated vortex breath, which produces powerful winds.
Like all Asgardians, he has immunity to all Earthly diseases and is resistant to magic. Exceptionally powerful magic can overwhelm Odin's enchantment that transforms him between Asgardian and mortal forms.
As the Norse god of thunder, Thor can summon the elements of the storm (lightning, rain, wind, snow) and uses Mjolnir as a tool to focus this ability, although the hammer cannot command artificial weather, only natural.
He can cause these weather effects over the world and destroy entire buildings; by whirling his hammer he can lift entire buildings with the wind.
Thor can also create small tornadoes by quickly whipping his cape in circles. As the son of the Earth goddess Gaea, Thor has shown control over the Earth.
Thor is a superb hand-to-hand combatant, and is skilled in armed combat, excelling in the use of the war hammer, sword, axe and mace. Thor possesses two items which assist him in combat: the enchanted Belt of Strength, and his signature weapon, the mystical hammer Mjolnir.
The first item doubles Thor's strength and endurance whereas the second is used to control his weather abilities; flight; energy projection and absorption (sufficient to drain the galaxy-destroying Null Bomb, and use its energy to reignite a dying star); dimensional travel; matter manipulation, the Thermo-blast, the Anti-Force (which counteracts another force), and the God Blast, that taps into Thor's life force and has even forced Galactus to flee.
Using Mjolnir by throwing it in the desired direction and then holding on to the handle's leather loop, Thor can fly at supersonic speeds within Earth's atmosphere and much faster than light in outer space.
He can also use the hammer to create a barrier by letting it spin in a circle, and even managed to contain an explosion powerful enough to destroy 1/5th of the Universe, although at the cost of his own life.
He can throw an object out of Earth's atmosphere by using his strength, and throw his hammer to Asgard from which it will return.
When Thor has to transport companions and/or objects to a destination by himself, he has a chariot drawn by two huge mystical goats called Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder that can fly nearly anywhere he desires almost as easily as with Mjolnir.
Mjolnir also has the following powers:
It can create huge vortices. It can emit antimatter particles. It can project mystical blasts of energy, control electromagnetism, and perform molecular manipulation.
It can also absorb energy;
It drained the Asgardian powers of the Wrecking Crew into the Wrecker. It drained the energies of the villain the Presence. It negated the force field of the Juggernaut. The hammer also accidentally endowed the hero Union Jack with the ability to generate electricity, and it can remove any harmful radiation or toxins from a host.
There are also several rarely used abilities of Mjolnir: Tracking a person. Locating mystical items. Detecting illusions. Projecting images, as Thor has shown a glimpse of Asgard to his fellow Avenger Iron Man.
As a former religious relic, Mjolnir is also lethal to the undead, causing creatures such as vampires to burst into flame and crumble to dust.
When in possession of the "Odinforce" that usually empowers his father, Thor has proven capable of killing Galactus when the latter is very well fed and far beyond his normal power level.
⚡ Happy 🎯 Heroclix 💫 Friday! 👽
_____________________________
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Secret Identity: Dr. Donald Blake
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: Journey into Mystery 83 (August 1962)
Created by: Stan Lee & Larry Lieber (Writers)
Jack Kirby (Artist)
© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott
What an amazing story! The story of love. Humility. Sacrifice. The story of Jesus. That silent night in Bethlehem so long ago still resonates in our hearts today.
"Love came down to rescue me.
Love came down to set me free.
I am yours.
Lord, I'm forever yours..." - Brian Johnson.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Technical information Canon EOS 6D, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 5, Photoshop CC, and Alien Skin Exposure 5
Personal Website | Facebook Fan Page | 500px Gallery | Order Fine Art prints | iStock | Getty Collection
________________________________________________
If you see the face of anger,
looking behind
and you'll see the face of ego.
Bring anger and ego
under your feet, make them a ladder
and climb higher.
There is no more peace until you
have become their master.
Let the anger go, they may taste sweet
but it kills.
Will not their victim
you need humility to climb to freedom.
Rumi
________________________________________________
Zen is the mystical path of Buddhism. As such it has a close affinity with
the mystical paths of all other religions [philosphy], and thus it is no surprise
to find the poetry of Rumi, a Sufi poet, here on these Zen pages.
All mystical traditions address the heart of the universe and all we need know,
devoid of the surface trappings of the outward rituals of specific religions {philosophy].
Rumi says it all so perfectly, so beautifully!
Source: Rumi
For those who prefer color. Also the last two images in my "ready" folder. I plan on adding more to the ready album today.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav was celebrated from 15 December 2022 to 15 January 2023.
On 13 January 2023, Mahant Swami Maharaj expressed with great thoughtfulness and tenderness: “I wish to place the dust from the Pramukh Swami Maharaj centenary celebration grounds on my head, so please collect the dust and bring it to me.”
Thereafter, an incident unfolded revealing his humility and devotion which can be witnessed in this video - An Unthinkable Tribute ❤
Can one be passionate about the just, the
ideal, the sublime, and the holy, and yet commit
to no labor in its cause? I don't think so.
∆ Mary Oliver
“Attention Is the Beginning of Devotion” Mary Oliver
"Will Tahu find the humility and patience to earn deeper knowledge of fire and learn that not everything can be taken by force?"
Fourth creature of the series to make the G2 creatures into large and powerful elemental masters. Ikir came to completion in one day after I began tinkering with his head design. It's a good feeling when a moc comes together straightforwardly.
As usual, I recycled the head, but gave the creature different eyes from the rest. Boat studs made for great bird eyes in this case.
With Ikir, I thought that Tahu's challenge is basically the fact that he can't reach the flying bird. Assuming Tahu is fairly hot tempered, his trial is to learn that he can't simply force and take everything he wants. Instead, with Ikir, he must learn to earn, wait, give and compromise until he finds the connection he needs with Ikir.
One year, two perspectives. This image is part of a 365(+1) project, my friend Tilo and I are working on. If you want to see more, check out our website zweisichtig.de.