How to Use Multiple Intelligences to Study for a Test

Are you one of those people who have a difficult time sitting down to study for a test? Perhaps you get distracted and lose focus easily, or maybe you are just not the type of person who likes learning new information from a book, a lecture, or a presentation. Maybe the reason you dislike studying the way youve been taught to study—sitting in a chair with an open book, reviewing your notes—is because your predominant intelligence has nothing to do with words. The theory of multiple intelligences may just be your best friend when you go to study for a test if traditional study methods arent quite suiting you.   The Theory of Multiple Intelligences The theory of multiple intelligences was developed by Dr. Howard Gardner in 1983. He was a professor of education at Harvard University, and believed that traditional intelligence, where a persons I.Q. or intelligence quotient, did not account for the many brilliant ways in which people are smart. Albert Einstein once said, â€Å"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.†Ã‚   Instead of a the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to intelligence, Dr. Gardner stated that he believed there were eight different intelligences that covered the scope of the brilliance possible in men, women, and children. He believed that people have different intellectual abilities and are more adept in some areas than others. In general, people are able to process information in different ways, using different methods for different things. Here are the eight multiple intelligences according to his theory: Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence:  Word Smart  This type of intelligence refers to a persons ability to analyze information and produce work that involves spoken and written language like speeches, books, and emails.  Logical-Mathematical Intelligence:  Number Reasoning Smart  This type of intelligence refers to a persons ability to  develop equations and proofs, make calculations, and solve abstract problems that may or may not be related to numbers.Visual-Spatial Intelligence: Picture Smart  This type of intelligence refers to a persons ability to understand maps and other types of graphical information like charts, tables, diagrams, and pictures.  Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence: Body Smart  This type of intelligence refers to a persons ability to  use his or her own body to solve problems, find solutions or create products.Musical Intelligence: Music Smart  This type of intelligence refers to a persons ability to  create and make meaning of different types of sound.Interpersonal Intelligence: People Smart  This type of intelligence refers to a persons ability to  recognize and understand other peoples moods, desires, motivations, and intentions.Intrapersonal Intelligence: Self Smart  This type of intelligence refers to a persons ability to  recognize and understand their own moods, desires, motivations, and intentions.Naturalistic  Intelligence: Nature Smart This type of intelligence refers to a persons ability to identify and distinguish among different types of plants, animals, and weather formations found in the natural world. lt is important to note that you do not have one specific type of intelligence. Everyone has all eight types of intelligences although some types may show up stronger than others. For example, some people approach numbers warily, while others relish the idea of solving complex mathematical problems. Or, one person may quickly and easily learn lyrics and musical notes, but does not excel visually or spatially. Our aptitudes at each of the multiple intelligences can vary widely, but they are all present in each of us. Its important not to label ourselves, or students, as one type of learner with one predominant intelligence because  everyone  can benefit from learning in various ways.   Using the Theory of Multiple Intelligences to Study   When you prepare to study, whether that be for a midterm, a final exam, a chapter test or a standardized test like the ACT, SAT, GRE or even the MCAT, its important to tap into your  many  different intelligences as you take out your notes, study guide or test prep book. Why? Using a variety of methods to take information from the page to your brain can help you remember the info better and longer. Here are a few ways to use several of your multiple intelligences to do just that Tap Into Your Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence With These Study Tricks Write a letter to another person, explaining the mathematical theory youve just learned.Read your notes aloud while studying for your science chapter test.Ask someone to quiz you after youve read through the study guide for your English literature quiz.Quiz via text: text a question to your study partner and read his or her response.Download a SAT app that quizzes you daily.  Record yourself reading your Spanish notes and then listen to your recording in the car on the way to school.   Tap Into Your Logical-Mathematical Intelligence With These Study Tricks Reorganize your notes from Calculus class using an outline method like the Cornell note-taking system.  Compare and contrast different ideas (North vs.South in the Civil War) with one another.  List information into particular categories as you read through your notes. For instance, if youre studying grammar, all parts of speech go in one category while all punctuation rules go in another.  Predict outcomes that could have happened based on the material youve learned. (What would have happened had Hitler never risen to power?)Figure out what was happening in a different part of the world at the same time as what youre studying. (What was happening in Europe during the rise of Genghis Khan?)Prove or disprove a theory based on information youve learned throughout the chapter or semester. Tap Into Your Visual-Spatial Intelligence With These  Study Tricks Break down information from the text into tables, charts, or graphs.Draw a small picture next to each item in a list you need to remember. This is helpful when you have to remember lists of names, because you can  draw a likeness next to each person.Use highlighters or special symbols related to similar ideas in the text. For instance, anything related to Plains Native Americans gets highlighted yellow, and anything related to Northeast Woodlands Native Americans gets highlighted blue, etc.Rewrite your notes using an app that allows you to add pictures.  Ask your teacher if you can take pictures of the science experiment as you go so you remember what happened.   Tap Into Your Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence With These  Study Tricks Act out a scene from a play or do the extra science experiment in the back of the chapter.Rewrite your  lecture notes with pencil instead of typing them out. The physical act of writing will help you remember more.As you study, do a physical activity. Shoot hoops while someone quizzes you. Or, jump rope.  Use manipulatives to solve math problems whenever possible.  Build or craft models of items you need to remember or visit physical spaces to cement the idea in your head. Youll remember the bones of the body much better if you touch each part of your body as you learn them, for instance.   Tap Into Your Musical Intelligence With These  Study Tricks Set a long list or chart to a favorite tune. For example, if you have to learn the periodic table of elements, try setting the names of the elements to The Wheels on the Bus or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.If you have particularly tough words to remember, try saying their names with different pitches and volumes.  Have a long list of poets to remember? Assign a noise (a clap, a wrinkled paper, a stomp) to each.  Play lyric-free music when you study so the lyrics dont compete for brain space.   Multiple Intelligences Vs. Learning Style The theory that you have many ways of being intelligent is different from Neil Flemings VAK theory of learning styles. Fleming states that there were three (or four, depending on which theory is used) dominant learning styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic. Check out this learning styles quiz to see which one of those learning styles you tend to use most!

The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Tennessee Valley...

The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Tennessee Valley Authority had positive impacts on work and the environment during the great depression. The bill proposing the Civilian Conservation Corps was voted on and passed on March 31, 1933 under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In addition, the Tennessee Valley Authority was formed May 18 of this same year to work on easing environmental strains in the Tennessee Valley. Roosevelt’s goal when he became president was to improve the economy and environment, and to help raise America from the depression. When he had been governor of New York he had created a public works program similar to the TVA on a smaller scale and it had been met with success. As a result he was encouraged to expand†¦show more content†¦Easy navigation and flood control encouraged trade along the river, which boosted the economy and led to an increase in jobs for traders, deckhands, etc. (US History TVA). In addition to providing increased trade o pportunities, large amounts of money that would have been spent on the flood damage that were saved by the construction of these dams. A few years into the program, stations were created in the area to monitor flooding. Reports from these stations, in addition to computer calculations, show that the total cost of the flood damage up until 2007 would have been $5.8 billion (TVA River Neighbors). The flooding would have destroyed not only people’s homes, but also their businesses and livelihoods., which would have led to further unemployment. The TVA was more successful in helping the environment because it greatly improved the condition of the land in the Tennessee Valley, which was thought to be irreparable. A major goal of Roosevelts going into his first presidential term was land preservation. â€Å"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people†(Roosevelt). The area of the Tennessee Valley was so badly damaged, the land was believed by some to be nearly beyond repair. As reported by the assistant secretary of agriculture at the time, Rexford Tugwell, the land conditions in the Tennessee Valley were â€Å"little better, if any, than that of the earlyShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Importance of the New Deal in the 1920s666 Words   |  3 Pagesand trade unionist. In the 1920s there was many issues that were in need of resolution. Issues that were pressing such as effected individuals from The Great Depression. The civilian conservation corps was established in order to provide jobs for men who were seeking work across the nation, the Civilian Conservation Corps provided jobs in national parks that were in need of improvements and road construction as well. In the same fashion, The Public Works Administration, generated an economic stimulationRead MoreThe Economic Disaster Of Overproduction And Underconsumption Created The Great Depression820 Words   |  4 Pagesoverproduction and underconsumption in the Great Depression in the 1920s. Emergency Banking Relief Act, Agricultural Adjustment Administration, National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), Civil Works Administration (CWA), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA ) are New Deal programs (Barnes Bowles, 2014). Emergency Banking Relief Act (1933) passed by Congress allowed the Treasury Department the power to control and inspect forRead MorePresident Franklin D. Roosevelt s New Deal1119 Words   |  5 Pages As of a result of the government programs created by the New Deal, restoring American morale was a success. The Tennessee Valley was hit very hard by the economic downturn. Since the soil was poor, far mers has poor crop yields. The main source of income for the region was crops. Perhaps one of the most ambitious programs that was a part of the New Deal, the Tennessee Valley Authority, or the TVA, helped fix these problems therefore restoring morale in a very important farming region of the countryRead MoreThe Great Depression By Franklin D. Roosevelt1653 Words   |  7 Pagessome of these were: the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Civil Works Administration (CWA), Federal Housing Administration (FHA), National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and the Social Security Act. During the time of the New Deal, preservation and eco-friendly programs were created, two key ones were: the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The Civilian Conservation Corps was created to combat unemploymentRead MoreThe New Deal Forever Changed The Federal Governments890 Words   |  4 Pageseradicate poverty and unemployment. Many referred to this as the three R s - Recovery, Relief and Reform. Key Initiatives: 1). Ended Prohibition through ratification of the 21st Amendment. 2). Tennessee Valley Authority Act signed into law. This allowed the government to build dams along the Tennessee River to control flooding and generate inexpensive hydroelectric power for the people of the region 3). Agricultural Adjustment Act - Farmers were paid to allow their crops to fallow which endedRead MoreRoosevelts New Deal1480 Words   |  6 Pagesabout the reduction in veterans’ benefits because a large majority of the American voters were World War One veterans. Programs to follow were directed at conservation of the environment and relief for farmers. To preserve the environment throughout America and to reduce the amount of unemployed in the cities, a Civilian Conservation Corps was created. The CCC’s purpose was â€Å"†¦to take possibly half a million young men out of the cities and put them in camps where they would plant trees, protectRead MoreFDR’s Alphabet Soup1364 Words   |  6 Pagesannounced over the airwaves another Fireside Chat discussing the details of programs now put into place for the country start the process of recovery. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) started on March 31, 1933. It was ran by the U.S. Army with more than 3 million young men and adults during it course working on building roads, trails, conservation damns, campgrounds, drainage swamps, renovations of historic buildings and instillation of telephone poles across the country. The CCC also provided employmentRead MoreThe Stock Mar ket Crash Of 19291273 Words   |  6 PagesThe first law is the Tennessee Valley Authority Act. FDR signed this act on May 18, 1933 in order to create the TVA as a Federal Corporation. This particular agency was tasked with facing important problems caused by flooding, erosion, steady emigration, and a deficient economy in the Tennessee Valley. Examples of such tasks include dealing with flooding, providing electricity to homes and businesses, and replanting the forests. The TVA also improved travel on the Tennessee River and helped developRead MoreEssay on Who was the most helpful during the Great Depression628 Words   |  3 Pagesbanking program, agricultural aid laws, and a new plan for industrial recovery. To meet the immediate crisis of starvation and the dire needs of the nation’s unemployed, FDR provided for direct cash relief for the poor, and established the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Public Works Administration. Thousands of men throughout the country began working to build bridges, roads, and sewage systems and to plant trees. His Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) guaranteed the bank savings of AmericanRead MoreHow President Roosevelt Become The Hero And The New Deal Saves The Economy1531 Words   |  7 PagesMississippi valley a bad drought occurred bringing the situations so bad that many could not pay taxes, other debt they may had and farmers weren t making profits for themselves. There were many attempts to stop the Great Depression, under the New Deal created by President Roosevelt and it was a group of people. The five attempts are the Social Security Act, ICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act), Tennessee Valley Authority, Work Progress Administration, and Civilian Conservation Corps. Starting

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 17 Free Essays

The sweet scent of a white chocolate mocha woke me from a heavy sleep the following morning. For a few moments, as I stirred to consciousness, it was like waking up any other day. Then, as I opened my eyes and shifted position, my body’s nerves came to life, reminding me what had happened yesterday. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Heat CHAPTER 17 or any similar topic only for you Order Now It wasn’t the horrible torturous pain I’d experienced before, but I had enough aches and soreness to dissuade me from too much movement. Still, I managed to more or less sit up when Dante entered my bedroom. He held the mocha in one hand and what looked like a bakery bag tucked under his arm. In the other hand, he carried an enormous vase of blue and white hydrangeas, interspersed with orchids. I never would have pictured those particular flowers going together, but the arrangement worked. â€Å"Did you rob a florist?† I asked. Dante gave me a withering look as he handed me the mocha. â€Å"Why are you assuming the worst again?† â€Å"Because orchids aren’t cheap,† I said. â€Å"They were out of crab grass, so I had to settle.† He gently placed the vase on my dresser and then freed the bakery bag. â€Å"And I beat up some kids for these.† After a long, delicious sip, I set the mocha on my bedside table and took the bag from him. Inside were chocolate croissants-my favorite kind of breakfast pastry. â€Å"All this because I got beat up?† I asked. He sat on the side of the bed. â€Å"I’m worried about you.† â€Å"I should get in fights with demons more often,† I teased, my last few words getting muffled as I bit into a croissant. Tiny flakes and crumbs fell onto my sheets, but I didn’t care. â€Å"Not funny, succubus,† he said. And to my surprise, I could see that he meant it. None of his usual sardonic humor showed on his face. There was no bitter twist to his lips. â€Å"That’s never happening again. And I’m going to make sure you get better, immortal healing or not.† â€Å"Never took you for a nursemaid.† â€Å"Be quiet,† he snapped. â€Å"And keep eating. Your body needs calories to heal.† Happy to oblige, I started to take another bite and then froze. â€Å"Do you think I might start putting on weight?† Calories were nothing I’d ever had to count before. I’d feared neither weight gain nor health effects from the things I ate. â€Å"I think that’s the least of your worries.† I supposed he was right. I kept eating-but with a little less enthusiasm. He still looked so serious and worried that I couldn’t shake my warm and fuzzy feelings. â€Å"Thank you for all of this. It’s really great.† He smiled at me, and his gray eyes were lovely in the morning light. â€Å"Not many people in this world I feel deserve my help. You’re in an exclusive club.† I started to make a comment about how the rest of the club members must be imaginary, but there had already been too much snark this morning. Nanette’s attack had seriously shaken Dante up. â€Å"Thank you,† I said again. A thought struck me. â€Å"I might have some other way for you to help. Will you grab my purse?† He retrieved it from the living room and handed it over. Reaching inside, I was relieved to see the photo that I’d swiped from Mary was still there. I studied it for a moment, willing the medallion to yield some sort of revelation. All I saw was a translucent brown disc and runes or symbols that could easily be mistaken for a child’s scribbles. With a sigh, I handed it to him. â€Å"Does this mean anything to you?† His brows knit thoughtfully as he looked it over. â€Å"No. Should it?† â€Å"I think it might be part of Jerome’s summoning. Remember when I asked you about an artist who carved quartz? This is what I turned up. Supposedly, the stone and marks are clues, but I don’t know what they are. I guess that’s where I need people like you or Erik.† He gazed at the picture for several more moments, and to my surprise, I saw anger building in his features. Abruptly, he stood up and tossed the picture on the floor. â€Å"Son of a bitch,† he growled. â€Å"What’s the matter?† I exclaimed. â€Å"This,† he said, gesturing at me and the fallen picture. â€Å"This is the matter. What good am I, succubus? I’m ten times more powerful than those people I sent you to go see. Aside from Lancaster, there’s probably no one else in this fucking town who knows as much about the arcane as I do. And what good is it?† He paced around my room and ran his hand angrily through his hair. â€Å"Nothing. That’s what it’s good for. I can’t seem to help you. I can’t do a goddamned thing. I couldn’t save you from that demoness. And I don’t know anything about this medallion thing.† I was stunned by his reaction. â€Å"Hey, whoa. It’s okay. Sit down. Don’t beat yourself up.† â€Å"It’s not okay.† He came to a halt. â€Å"I feel†¦powerless.† For someone who’d spent his life doing horrible things in the quest for power, I could recognize what a hard admission that was. â€Å"You’re not obligated to do anything here,† I said gently. â€Å"You help me more than you realize. But this isn’t your fight. This isn’t your responsibility.† † You’re my responsibility,† he said. â€Å"If I can’t look out for you, then why do you need me?† â€Å"I’m not with you for what you can do for me.† â€Å"Yeah? You’re with me for my winning personality?† The truth was, I still wasn’t sure at times why I was with him. I couldn’t help but recall his comments about me keeping him as a bed warmer, but true or not, now wasn’t the time to bring that up. Plus, he’d been sweet lately-something I’d never expected when I’d turned to him in my post-Seth rage. â€Å"Dante, I’m serious. Don’t worry about any of this. I’ll take care of it and talk to my friends.† I saw from the look on his face that that wasn’t quite what he’d wanted to hear. Knowing I had other people to go to seemed to make him feel more inadequate. â€Å"You shouldn’t be involved in this at all,† he said. â€Å"What, in finding Jerome? Of course I have to be.† â€Å"There are others, people who are more powerful. I don’t want you getting hurt again! Why can’t you just lie low and keep yourself safe?† he demanded. â€Å"Because it’s not what I do! And no one else is going to do it anyway. They’re just letting this go. Letting Jerome go.† â€Å"Why don’t you let it go?† he asked. â€Å"Would it be so bad to work under another demon? You’ve worked for others.† I turned and gazed out the window. The sky was blue, but something told me it was cold out. It was a quirk of Seattle weather. We often had warmer temperatures when it was cloudy out, colder ones when it was sunny. Dragging my eyes back to Dante, I said, â€Å"Yeah, I have. But this is different. This isn’t right-it shouldn’t have happened. I have to find Jerome.† â€Å"Yes. You do. It’s written all over you. Why do you have to make everything so difficult and create these problems?† â€Å"If you’re unhappy, no one’s making you stick around,† I said quietly. â€Å"Of course I’m sticking around. And if there’s nothing to be done for your impulsivity, I might as well help.† He snatched up the photo and glared at it. â€Å"Let me take this and ask some questions. I might not know what it is-yet-but there are resources I can tap.† There was a hard set to his face. He was a man with a mission, which I preferred to him being down on himself or ranting at me. I was about to send him off with my blessings, but something held me back. I couldn’t let the picture go. â€Å"I want to keep the photo,† I told him. He stared. â€Å"You don’t think I’ll bring it back?† â€Å"No, I’m not worried about that. But I did a lot to get it, and besides, I want to show it to some people too. We’ll make a copy of it. You can take that.† â€Å"Yeah? You got a copy machine in the bathroom?† â€Å"Can’t you just draw it or something?† â€Å"Succubus.† â€Å"Well, I don’t know! But if you want to do sleuthing, you’re going to have to find a workaround. Until I feel like traipsing around the city with you, I want the picture to stay with me.† He glowered, looking very much like his usual bitter self. Finally, realizing I wasn’t going to yield, he did a hasty trace of the medallion onto another sheet of paper. He added a few notes off to the side and did his best approximation of the symbols. He seemed miserable the entire time. â€Å"Sorry,† I said. â€Å"It’s fine,† he said. â€Å"You’re going now?† â€Å"If you think you’ll be okay.† I assured him I would be. My phone was nearby, and I had a feeling if he stayed, he’d just grow more and more upset about how he’d let me down and about how I was putting myself at risk for reasons he didn’t understand. At least this gave him a feeling of purpose. I promised to call if something happened and breathed a sigh of relief when he finally left. I stayed in bed for a while after that, consuming my calorie-laden breakfast and thinking about his extreme reaction. I hoped he’d find something out for me, and in the meantime, I needed to do some investigating of my own. First things first, though. I needed to shower. It turned out to be harder than I expected-but not impossible. I just had to move slowly when I walked to the bathroom, careful not to get too ambitious. Hugh’s bandages still covered my back, and it took a fair bit of dexterity to remove them. They were soaked with blood, but underneath, the cuts showed signs of Mei’s healing. They were still there, still uncomfortable, but had all scabbed over and were much smaller. I kept the water lukewarm as I showered and was careful when I toweled off to not break any of the scabs open. By the time I was sitting on my couch in the living room, I felt like I’d run a marathon. I’d never wanted shape-shifting so badly in my life. I wore loose clothes-drawstring pants and a T-shirt without a bra-but it had taken some effort to put them on. My hair I’d given up on completely, figuring combing it out would have to do. I didn’t have the patience to dry it and didn’t want to think about the frizziness I was inviting. Aubrey joined me on the couch as I rested from my morning labors and flipped through the channels. After cycling through twice, I gave up and left the TV on some sort of nature show about Siberian tigers. Aubrey watched it with wide eyes, but I wasn’t interested. â€Å"This is your equivalent of reality television,† I observed. â€Å"The talk shows don’t come on until later,† a voice suddenly said. â€Å"That’s when things get good.† I sighed. â€Å"Carter. What a pleasant surprise.† The angel strolled into my line of sight and sat down on the armchair opposite me. Aubrey immediately left me and hopped onto his lap. â€Å"Traitor,† I said. He grinned and scratched her head. â€Å"Word on the street is that you had a bad day yesterday.† â€Å"I’ve had worse,† I said. â€Å"Marginally. You should have seen me before Mei healed me.† â€Å"Bah, demons can’t heal. Not really. They lose the finesse it takes when they cross over.† â€Å"Hey, I’ll take what help I can get.† I brightened. â€Å"And speaking of help, I think I’ve got a picture of the seal-â€Å" â€Å"No.† â€Å"No what?† â€Å"I know what you’re going to ask, and the answer is no.† â€Å"You have no idea what I’m going to ask!† â€Å"You’re going to ask me to help identify the seal so you can figure out where Jerome is.† I stayed silent. Damn. He rolled his eyes. â€Å"And the answer is no.† â€Å"But you could make this so much easier,† I argued. â€Å"Dante’s out trying to figure out what the seal means. You could tell me right now.† â€Å"Georgina, I told you before. I can’t interfere.† â€Å"Then why are you here?† â€Å"To see how you’re feeling. Believe me, I wish I could interfere. I’d do a better healing job than Mei.† I fell silent, mind spinning. â€Å"Were you here yesterday?† â€Å"Doing what?† â€Å"Look, I won’t consider it interfering, but just tell me if it was you.† Carter didn’t look confused very often. If anything, he was usually the one messing with other people’s minds. I think under normal circumstances, when the immortal state of affairs in Seattle wasn’t in limbo, he would have faked it and hidden his confusion. Now, he just shook his head in exasperation. â€Å"What are you talking about?† â€Å"Someone was here after Nanette beat me up. A guy. He put me to bed and called Hugh.† â€Å"It wasn’t me.† â€Å"Technically, it wouldn’t even be interfering.† â€Å"Georgina,† he said sternly. â€Å"Listen. It wasn’t me.† I held his gaze and shivered at the intensity in his eyes. His were gray, but whereas Dante’s were like leaden clouds on a winter day, Carter’s were like gleaming silver. â€Å"It wasn’t you,† I said at last. He’d answered directly, with none of the half-truths and subterfuge angels normally employed. He’d answered directly, and angels couldn’t lie. â€Å"I suppose you didn’t blow up the stove either?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Who did, then? You said in Vancouver you’d try to protect me. I figured this was you.† â€Å"It’s possible the stove blew up because of a gas leak.† â€Å"Maybe,† I grumbled. He smiled, instantly transforming him to the mocking angel I usually knew. â€Å"Believe me, Daughter of Lilith, I wish I could take credit for these things. And if it comes down to it, and I have the means and ability, I will try to protect you. For now, I’ve still got to stay out of this.† â€Å"House calls aside.† â€Å"Just a visit between friends.† He winked and stood up. â€Å"I really do wish I could help more, but you’re going to have to find another way. Be careful, whatever you end up doing.† â€Å"You’re not warning me away from all this?† He arched an eyebrow. â€Å"Should I be?† â€Å"No,† I mused. â€Å"But everyone else is. They say it’s dangerous.† â€Å"It is dangerous. But these are dangerous times, and honestly? You’re the only one that I think has the means or desire to get us out of this mess. Good luck, Georgina. And don’t leave the house without checking your hair.† He vanished. â€Å"Fucking angels.† I realized then that I was starving for real food, not sugar-filled sweets. My kitchen was sparse as usual, so I decided to risk the world and go pick up something. I was tired and certainly incapable of running a marathon, but Mei’s healing really had gone a long way. I could manage the one block walk to a nearby take-out Chinese restaurant. I placed the order, and by the time I was out of my robe and out the door, the food was ready. I stopped at a convenience store as well to pick up some pop, and the whole endeavor only ended up taking about thirty minutes. From the look on Aubrey’s face, you would have thought I’d been gone a whole day, but then, she just wanted my orange chicken. I changed back to my robe and relaxed with the food, pondering how to spend my day. As I’d told Dante, I didn’t want to go traipsing about town, but I wanted some leads on the medallion. Erik was probably my best bet at this point, and I hoped he’d be able to ID my symbols from phone descriptions. Before I could do that, I heard a knock at my door. I expected it to be Hugh making a house call, but to my astonishment, it was Seth. â€Å"Hey,† I said, stepping aside so that he could come in. â€Å"Hey,† he returned. I stuffed my hands into the ratty robe’s pockets, wishing I hadn’t been so hasty to change back to casual mode. My hair was undoubtedly a lost cause, so there was no point stressing over that. â€Å"How’s it going?† â€Å"Okay.† He met my eyes frankly, something he hadn’t done in a while. It sent a tingle down my back. â€Å"I was just nearby and wanted to†¦well, that is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He sighed. â€Å"I just wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday†¦.† Yesterday. The kiss. Something that only a demon attack could have dwarfed. I shook my head, trying not to recall how I’d felt that kiss all the way to my toes. â€Å"You have nothing to apologize for. I think†¦I think I was as much to blame. Besides, it was nothing.† â€Å"Nothing?† he asked, looking both surprised and hurt. â€Å"I mean, not nothing ,† I amended hastily. â€Å"But we were both kind of worked up, and things got crazy, and well, like I said†¦nothing to apologize for.† â€Å"Okay†¦I’m glad you’re not upset. I don’t want there to be anything†¦well, anything bad between us.† I thought about all the fights and arguments. â€Å"Well, I’m not sure we’ve reached that state. I mean, come on, do you think things will ever be normal and friendly between us?† â€Å"Yes,† he said bluntly. â€Å"No matter what has or hasn’t happened romantically, I still feel like†¦like there’s something between us†¦like, a connection, I mean. I feel like we’re always destined to be important in each other’s lives.† You are my life , I thought and promptly looked away, as though he might have heard me. â€Å"Do you regret it?† I asked before I realized I had. â€Å"Regret?† â€Å"Ending things.† I looked back at him, fearing his answer, no matter what it was. â€Å"I regret†¦well, I don’t regret saving you from future hurt. I do regret the hurt I’ve caused you†¦if I’d known you’d react and spiral the way you have†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You can’t take that into consideration,† I said hastily. â€Å"That’s not your fault.† I was surprised to be saying that, but it was true. My bad behavior these last months had been my doing. â€Å"I can’t help it. I’ll always worry about you. Like I said, I feel like no matter what, we’re always going to be connected†¦like there’s something bigger than us at work. As it is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What?† â€Å"Never mind.† I stepped forward, never taking my eyes off him. â€Å"Tell me.† â€Å"As it is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He shrugged. â€Å"Life is easier not dating you. But sometimes†¦it feels incomplete. Like there’s a piece of me missing.† â€Å"And that’s easier?† â€Å"Think of it as winning the lottery and having people waiting on all your needs, but it’s at the cost of, I don’t know, getting your leg amputated.† â€Å"Wow. You should be a writer with that imagery.† He smiled. â€Å"Yeah, yeah. But you know what I mean.† Except, I was missing a part of my life and things were harder, not easier. â€Å"You at least have Maddie.† â€Å"You have Dante.† â€Å"Dante’s not Maddie, believe me.† â€Å"Fair enough. She’s great†¦I care about her†¦love her†¦I don’t know. It’s all just different.† Silence fell, but it was comfortable. â€Å"Good lord. I can’t believe we’re discussing this rationally.† â€Å"See? Not so hard to be friends.† I had my doubts about that. â€Å"I guess.† â€Å"Don’t worry. We’ll keep trying. Before long, we’ll be on a bowling league or something.† He spoke his words lightly, but there was a catch that belied the truth of his words. Being friends wasn’t easy for Seth either. He still cared about me and was suffering just as much as me with this separation. Seeing that made something in me soften. â€Å"Hey, it’s okay. We’ll make this work.† I reached out to hug him, and he automatically returned it. I felt warm and safe and right in his embrace-until he casually squeezed my back. I cried out, jerking away at the pain that shot through me. We sprang apart, and he looked at me in alarm. â€Å"What’s wrong? Are you okay?† â€Å"It’s†¦complicated.† My standard answer to uncomfortable questions. â€Å"Georgina!† â€Å"It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.† He strode toward me, reached a hand out, then pulled back. Intensity filled his face. â€Å"Are you hurt?† I tried to keep out of his reach. â€Å"Look, I got in a fight last night, and I’m sporting some, uh, residual effects. It’s mostly gone, though, so there’s nothing to worry about.† â€Å"You? Got in a fight? With who?† â€Å"Whom. And it was with Nanette. I told you, it’s nothing.† â€Å"Who’s Nanette?† â€Å"She’s†¦a demon.† He gave me a level look. â€Å"A demon. A full-fledged demon.† â€Å"Something like that.† â€Å"Let me see your back.† â€Å"Seth-â€Å" â€Å"Georgina! Let me see your back.† There was anger in his words, not at me, but at the thought of someone hurting me. It reminded me a little of Dante’s reaction, except that Dante always had a bit of anger in him. It was normal. To see it woken up in Seth†¦to see him so passionate and fierce†¦ Slowly, slowly, I turned around and undid the front of my robe, letting it slip halfway down my back. I heard Seth gasp at what he saw, and then a few moments later, he stepped forward and pushed my hair off my back so that he could get a better view. I shivered when his fingers touched my skin. â€Å"Georgina†¦this is horrible†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It was worse before.† I spoke flippantly, hoping to deflect his worry and realizing I’d only increased it now. â€Å"Worse?† I tugged the robe up and turned back around. â€Å"Mei healed it. I’m fine.† â€Å"Yeah, it seems that way.† â€Å"Look, it’s nothing you have to worry about.† â€Å"Not worry about?† His eyes were filled with incredulity. â€Å"Even when you’re†¦normal†¦a demon could still kill you, right?† â€Å"Yeah.† Seth put his hand to his forehead and sighed. â€Å"This is what it’s like, isn’t it?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"What you went through with me. Living with the fear that I could die. Having it tear you apart.† I didn’t answer right away. â€Å"You don’t have to worry about me. This’ll work out.† â€Å"Did this†¦did Nanette do this because of your investigating?† I nodded, then crooked him a wry smile. â€Å"Still like how brave I am?† He stepped closer to me and looked me up and down in a way that was so serious, my smile faded. â€Å"Even after this, you aren’t going to stop, are you? You’re going to keep pushing to find Jerome?† â€Å"Do you want me to stop?† This was almost like my earlier conversation with Dante, when he’d made it clear he thought I was a fool for continuing with my quest. Seth’s answer was a long time in coming. â€Å"I don’t want you to get hurt. But I understand you, and I know why you have to do this†¦and it’s still part of that strange, brave nature of yours that’s so†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He didn’t finish, but I saw the anguish in his eyes, the worry and heartache over something happening to me. It was mingled with something else, though. Pride. Affection. I put my arms around him again, wanting to comfort him now. â€Å"Hey, hey. It’s going to be okay. I’ll be okay.† His hands rested on my hips, careful of my back, but honestly, I barely noticed. My attention was on his lips, pressed against my cheek. â€Å"Georgina, Georgina,† he breathed against my skin. â€Å"You are†¦incredible.† And like in the car, I don’t know who exactly was to blame, but our lips met and were kissing again. Unlike before, we didn’t break apart out of shock. We kept kissing. And kissing. His lips were intoxicating and felt like they’d been designed especially for mine. Our bodies pressed against one another, though his embrace was still gentle. As the kiss continued, that same sensation came back to me: this was purely a kiss. Just an expression of love between two people with no dire side effects, no soul stealing. The longer it went on, the more amazed I was. By now, as a succubus, I would have begun to taste his energy and feel his thoughts. But not now. I was alone in my own head, savoring his body and not his soul. We pulled back slightly, and he moved his hands up to the side of my face, smoothing my hair away and touching my cheek. â€Å"Georgina. You are†¦beautiful.† We kissed again, and it was so sweet, so pure, that it didn’t seem possible. I hadn’t had a physical experience that could really be called sweet or pure since†¦well, since my mortal days. But this was. And by pure, I didn’t mean non-sexual†¦because my body was definitely awake and yearning for his. But, it was pure in the sense that there were no ulterior machinations here, just our feelings. My love for him was the turn-on, and as his hands ran down my arms and back to my hips, it was the knowledge that it was Seth that made it all so powerful. His hands carefully moved down to the robe’s tie and undid the knot. He broke the kiss and studied my face as he hesitantly, almost reverently, slipped the robe off me. It hit the floor, and I stepped away from it. Seth moved with me, running his fingers along my arms, leaning down to kiss my neck. I tilted my head back as my own hands began pushing up his T-shirt. When I had it half-way, he paused to push it up the rest of the way. Then his hands were on my waist once more, sliding down and feeling the curve of my hips. I had on plain cotton panties-sexily cut, at least-and his fingertips traced the edges down along my thighs, every touch soft yet quivering with pent-up energy. I don’t think I was being quite as gentle. I was hungry to touch him, eager as I ran my hands along his chest and the lean muscles of his stomach. I wanted to kiss it and taste it and lose myself in all things Seth. I began backing up toward my bedroom, and he followed, turning hesitant once we reached the bed and I started to sit. â€Å"You can’t†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he began. â€Å"I can lie down,† I said, doing exactly that. â€Å"I just can’t slam my back down or anything.† After watching me for a moment, making sure I spoke the truth, Seth took off his jeans and lay down next to me. I rolled slightly to my side, pressing back to him. We resumed kissing, doing no more than that, just letting our nearly bare bodies wrap around each other. Having all this skin touching between us was heady. Never, never had I imagined it could really happen. Our hands explored each other, feeling every line and curve we’d always been denied. Every gesture between us was exquisite. Every caress was a prayer. We regarded each other’s bodies with wonder and joy. When my hands slipped to the edges of his boxers, I found his own fingers were tugging at my panties. We hardly needed any communication, and once completely naked, I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him toward me and seeking the completion with him I’d so long dreamed of. To my surprise, he pulled from my arms and scooted down the bed. â€Å"What are you doing?† I asked. â€Å"This,† he said. He smoothly pushed my legs apart, and I felt him shower my inner thighs with light, delicate kisses. Up and up his warm mouth moved until he made contact with my clit. I gasped softly at the fire that coursed through me from that light flick of the tongue. It was so light†¦yet so powerful. I’d been so intoxicated with the simple fact that we could touch that I hadn’t been consciously aware of just how aroused I had grown. I ached and was wet and nearly melted at his touch. He lifted his mouth up slightly. â€Å"Do you know how long I’ve dreamed about this? To be able to touch you? To taste you?† I had little chance to ponder his rhetorical question because his lips returned to me, sucking and licking, somehow infinitely gentle and blazingly hot at the same time. I closed my eyes and lost myself in the pleasure of it, of Seth bringing me closer and closer to orgasm. As my muscles tightened and my cries grew more frequent, he intensified his movements, his tongue dancing and teasing harder and more rapidly. I wanted to hold off, to prolong this as I did his books, but I couldn’t help it. My climax hit me hard and fast, and I moaned long and low as I came. All the while, Seth kept his mouth down there, refusing to let up as my body arched and trembled from the sparks of ecstasy that flowed through me. When my body finally quieted, he lifted himself up again and returned to my side, showering my chest with more of those tiny kisses. I brought my face to his, trading in the little kisses for one big one. His mouth tasted like me, and I opened my lips farther and farther as our tongues stroked each other. I might have come already, but I still burned between my legs and still needed him. I pressed myself against him, wrapping my legs around him so that there was almost no space between our hips. â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said warningly. It was another sign of how well we knew each other that I realized he wasn’t worried about asking permission about what came next. He was worried about my back again. So, shifting over, I rolled him to his back and straddled him, looking down at him with a small smile. He gave me an answering one, amused by my ready solution. As we held gazes, I was again overwhelmed with the emotion of the experience, of how indescribable it was to finally touch someone I loved. I had been terrified at the thought of dying, but I realized then that I was only afraid of dying uselessly. For Seth, to save him, I would have gladly laid down my life. He was right. We were connected in something bigger than both of us. Empowered by that realization, I lowered my hips, joining us at last. I felt him enter me, felt him fill me up. We both paused then, neither breathing or moving, half-expecting something to happen or end this. Nothing did, and after that, I didn’t hesitate any further. I slowly moved my hips up and down, savoring the feel of him in me and underneath me as he glided in and out. My hands were on his chest and his were on my hips. Our eyes were on each other, never wavering, never breaking contact. How to describe sex with Seth? It’s difficult. It was unlike anything I’d had in my existence as a succubus. Somewhere, in the back of my head, it resonated with memories of my marriage, when my husband and I had still been happy. Every other instance after that had been lacking†¦until now. Each movement and touch with Seth was a dream, a wonder. The intensity of our lovemaking steadily increased. My need for him grew stronger and stronger, and I rode him with a ferocity that was still tender and full of the love that burned between us. I loved the feel of him, loved how I could thrust him into me, hard and deep. And yet†¦ â€Å"It’s not enough,† I murmured. â€Å"We’re still not close enough.† It might have been a foolish sentiment, considering we were as physically close as two people could be. But Seth understood. â€Å"I know,† he gasped. â€Å"I know. We’ll never be close enough.† Joy lit his face then, and when he came, his body arched up toward mine. I leaned down and increased my rhythm and hardness, wanting so badly to be even closer and have as much of him in me as I could. His mouth parted in a soft moan that mirrored my earlier one, and when he started to instinctively close his eyes, he quickly opened them again to stay locked with my gaze. There was no looking away between us, no avoiding what we felt. As I stared into his eyes and felt his body’s trembling fade, energy seemed to crackle between our souls in a way that had nothing to do with succubus soul-stealing. Carefully, I eased myself off him and lay down on my side again, draping my body over his. I was drowning in feeling and emotion. â€Å"Georgina,† he murmured, pulling me closer. â€Å"You are the world.† I’d heard that somewhere before, but I was too overwhelmed to parse it much. I was too lost in Seth. Instead, what I said was unoriginal but absolutely true: â€Å"I love you.† How to cite Succubus Heat CHAPTER 17, Essay examples

Music Has Lost Its Meaning free essay sample

Back in the day a performance qualified as someone walking on stage and bearing their soul. It was about the music, and it was about the talent. Now an artist qualifies as someone who Is so bizarre, so outgoing, so appealing they can sell anything. Lately the music industry has been lacking in real talent. Many artists are truly talented, that goes without saying. But this talent tends to be hidden because of the glamour and popularity of their appearance. The reason why certain artistes are so widely popular despite their lack of talent is because they appeal to the masses.Lady Gaga is someone who has entered the world of pop culture and has taken it by storm. Behind all the crazy makeup and fashion choices, Gaga has raw talent. She can actually sing. And her songs are Gaga original. But people dont see Gaga for her vocals; they see the overexposure. We will write a custom essay sample on Music Has Lost Its Meaning or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Justine Bibber has found a way to go from a small town boy to one of Americas heartthrobs. Bibber is so widely known and is selling out show after show because he appeals to the younger generation. It doesnt matter whether he can sing or not. If the masses find him attractive, he will find a way to stay famous.Its a popularity contest, and he is one of the winners. Now an artist is all about the hype. The music Is lost behind all the glitz and glam. No one notices what an artist Is trying to say when theyre distracted by fire and lights and the bizarre. It Is entertaining, no doubt about that. Its fun to see people suspended in midair doing flips, and its fun see people Jump through flaming hoops. But wheres the music? Where are the lyrics? Wheres the heart? The definition of a musical artist has evolved ND changed. Now it is not about the music, Just the appearance. It is not about the talent, Just the entertainment value. The music industry has lost most of its credibility and needs to find a way back to when It was about the feeling and the words, to when lyrics meant something and were not Just random ideas strung together nonsensically. That was when music was the greatest it has ever been. First, you should orient yourself with a marketing term known as positioning. That will help to understand how products ; styles get pigeonholed or stuck into a ay of being perceived by the general public.Fundamentally, rap is very lyric dense poetry in tight syncopation with a rhythm. Like spoken word that rhymes, with a percussion track. So, lyrics can be about ANY subject. However, due to raps typical lyric subject matter, based on the culture of those who started it, rap has position in society. Because of this position, Its difficult to create lyrical themes for rap that deal with other cultures or genres. Commercialism does manage to do this, however, this Is the point where we wonder if an artwork has lost its meaning.In other words, when McDonalds, Ford, Mountain Dew and Coors Light commercials include hot guitar solos or hot hip hop grooves with lyrics merely selling a product, its hard to maintain a special place in your soul for the genre. Its also hard for the like another burger commercial. This is why things cycle out and new things have to come in. The advertising agencies never start rotators. They pick up what the people have their attention on and try to piggyback their Junk food, clothing lines, cars, soft drinks whatever onto anything that will give their stuff the same attention.Then they will sell more. Any popular form of communication art, is subject to exploitation. Then, you have to move onward, if you are depending upon communication arts to help you get meaning from life. So, obviously this isnt simply about rap. Every genre is in the same boat. Artists have to out-create and stay ahead of the commercialism in order to stay sane and maintain meaning. The good news is that artists do keep creating. You Just have to keep up with who the real ones are. Check out the real music magazines (not the lifestyle ; fashion ones).Find out who the artists are listening to and who they like. Skip the critics, because they often represent the commercial side. Serious rap artists have to stay ahead in order to survive and keep the meaning in rap. If they sell out, rap Just becomes a product that people grow bored with. Because of this position, its difficult to create lyrical themes for rap that deal with other cultures or genres.

Akkamahadevi Essay Example

Akkamahadevi Essay Much more this remark is applicable to Karnataka, from which the different currents of philosophy have flowed and flooded the rest of India and the whole world. The great Sri Sankar of monistic fame had his principal Math of Sringeri in Karnataka and began his life’s mission there. Sri Madhvacarya, the campion of Dualisn and Devotion, was entirely the product of this holy soil. Sri Basaveswar was another saint belonging to this eminent group. He is called â€Å"Bhakti-Bhandhari†- the treasure devotion – in Kannada. It was he who infused fresh life into veera-shaivism and made it a living faith. His inspiring personality attracted thousands of disciples who spread his new Gospel throughout the length and breadth of Karnataka. In their attempt to interpret the new message of their master to the masses, the eminent disciples of Basava, successfully utilized His Vachanas- a new form of literature in Kannada. These Vachanas are pithy (brief) sayings, brilliant in their directness and simplicity occasionally rising to the sublime grandeur even of the Upanisadic literature. They have brought light and hope to the Kannada masses and made their lives worth – living in all possible ways. Akka Mahadevi is one of the inspired disciples of Basava’s band. 2. BRIEF LIFE SKETCH OF AKKA MAHADEVI Akka Mahadevi was a prominent figure and Kannada poet of the Veerashaiva Bhakti movement of the 12th century Karnataka. Her Vachanas, a form of didactic poetry are considered her greatest contribution to Kannada Bhakti literature. In all she wrote about 430 Vachanas (another source says 350) which is relatively fewer than that compared to other saints of her time. We will write a custom essay sample on Akkamahadevi specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Akkamahadevi specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Akkamahadevi specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The term Akka (elder Sister) which is an honorific (title) given to her by great Veerashaiva saints like Basavanna, Chenna Basavanna, Kinnari Bommayya, Siddharama, and Allamaprabhu. Akka Mahadevi was born in a town called ‘Udutadi’ in the centre of Karnataka in a Veera-saiva family. Her parents were the staunch followers of Trividhi philosophy of Guru, Linga and Jangama. She had an inborn devotion for God Siva. At age 10, she was initiated as a devotee of Shiva. She worshiped Shiva, whom she called Chenna Mallikarjuna, (Lord White as jasmine). Right from her childhood unlike other young girls she chose the Beautiful Lord, Pure white as the Jasmine, Chennamallikarjuna, as her playmate. Akka-Mahadevi was very beautiful. Her marvelous charm attracted the then ruling king- Kaushika who happened to be a Jain. Mahadevi agreed to marry Kaushika on three conditions. They are 1. She should be allowed according to her conveniences to practice the devotion of Lord Shiva, whom she calls Cenna Mallikarjuna. 2. She should be given freedom to listen and to meditate the life stories and teachings of ‘Siva Sharanas’ – saints of Lord shiva – and the practices of Saivism. . She should be allowed to practice the devotion of Trividhi philosophy –Guru, Linga, and Jangama. However, the male ego in Kaushika made him blind and he forced himself on her. Mahadevi outrightly renounced the marriage, with that she also renounced her parents, luxury, home and everything, considering them as impediments. She went bare to Kalyana where Allama was heading the Anubhavamantapa. Thus Mahadevi by renouncing the marriage with Kaushiaka emerged as the first protagonist of woman liberation. She discarded clothes and other worldly things as the last estiges of a sansarin and accepted the life of sanyasin. She left for Kalayana (a town in Bidar district of present Karnataka) which was known as God’s own city. Basaveshwara who is popularly known as Basavanna (elderly brother) has already launched a great social movement of casteless and classless society. Taking entry into his ‘Anubhavamantapa’ (the spiritual assembly) was not an easy task. Only those who are spiritually enlightened are allowed to come in, that too, after passing the kind of test held by the president of Anubhava Mantapa. Her renouncement of clothes and disregard for the body, or the acceptance of the life of nunnery was not an ordinary step in 12th century. Woman was not yet considered as equivalent to man. Her individual identity was under crisis. Even the great thinker and philosopher like Allamaprabhu questioned her unusual way of life. The picture of the discussion about this between Allama and Akka in the gate of Anubhava Mantapa? given by Chamarasa is not only an interesting literary piece but it is a candid and bold step in the history of whole womanhood. The discussion is as follows: Prabhu: Why have you come here in the prime of your youth? Our saints resent the sight of a young woman. If you can disclose the identity of your husband, you can join the fellowship of our saints, or else you can depart. A womans company is like poison. Tell us, who is your husband? Mahadevi: I was engrossed in penance for many years so that Siva might become my wedded lord! My own people wedded me to Siva by smearing my body with ashes and tying the marital bracelet to my wrist. All the world knows that the innumerable saints have been my parents. Therefore, O Prabhu, God is my lord; for me, there are no other husbands in this world. When Prabhu scolds her first for her nakedness Akka Mahadevi responds in this way: I have killed the cupid in myself and conquered this world. So I have no body. When I have no body, no sex where does exist the question of clothes? It is not the condition of the body that counts but, instead, a pure heart which wins the favor of God. I have covered my body with my hair so that the sight of my body may not be a cause of temptation for others. Prabhu questions whether Akka Mahadevi can be one with God when she still has human form and, worse, when it is a female body. She describes the superficiality of appearance, and of the leaders reluctance to accept her. Would the sandalwood cease its fragrance when its cut into pieces? Would a piece of gold, even when cut and heated, lose its luster? Would the sugar cane lose its sweetness when it is squeezed within a press and then heated? Prabhu pays her his ultimate compliment: Your body is female in appearance, but you mind is merged with God. In fact it was here onwards that she became Akka, an elderly sister. By her profound scholarship and burning fire of devotion she soon carved for herself an exalted position in the Anubhava Mantap, the unique Assembly of Saints there. Channa-Basava, the right hand man of Basava says, â€Å"Real greatness is only to be seen in Mahadeviakka, who has lost all sense of duality and has merged herself in the infinite. † 3. HER INTENSE LONG ING FOR THE LORD Even in her childhood, she used to worship Siva with great concentration. She took her early education under Shivagamacharya and started writing vachanas at the earliest age. Even at her early age of adolescences, Mahadevi’s devotion for Chenna Mallkarjuna was so deep and passionate that she did not play with the worldly toys like other children. On the other hand as she wrote in one of her Vachanas: â€Å"I wash away like the black soil in rain I slip and shifts like the sand, Anguished in dream I start awake, And burn like the fire in the forge, Comrades have I none in my woe O Cenna Mallikarjuna, do Thou grant me of Thy mercy A body that is not grappled by the groping hand, And the ecstasy that comes of union without uniting. † Akka’s whole life was a journey in search of her eternal lover, Cenna Mallikarjuna, whom she saw in her dream and followed in reality. During this course of divine frenzy the valleys and mountains were her friends, trees and animals were her companions, sun and the moon were the guiding spirits, whom she earnestly asked for the help in searching her beloved. Mahadevi, endowed with innate love and devotion for Lord Siva, had developed for the beginning a great aversion for worldly life. In one of her Vachanas she says, â€Å"O Lord! Without realizing Thee, I am dying in the meshes of my own self-willed desires, like a silk-worm perishing in the cocoon of silk spun out by it from its own body. Purge my mind, O God! of all evil desires and show me Thy Abode. † â€Å"This evil Samsara has been troubling me day and night. What shall I do my Lord? What shall I do to get rid of this constant harassment? I cannot bear this mental torment any longer. I throw myself entirely at Thy Mercy. Slay me or save me! Let Thy will be done. † Mahadevi had become thoroughly disgusted with the worldly life, and was constantly thinking of God and God alone. She asks, â€Å"Does a peacock ever play on the barren plain? and not on the mountains? Can a swan ever think of loving a dirty streamlet by abandoning a crystal lake? Will a cuckoo ever pour forth its flood of divine rapture anywhere except in a full-blossomed mango tree? Can a bee ever visit a flower without any fragrance? Can my mind be ever attracted by anything else but Thee, my Lord? † Mahadevi thus pines to have a glimpse at the lotus feet of the Lord. â€Å"Just as a caged parrot constantly remembers its brethren outside, so do I ever think of Thee. Call me ‘dear child’ and show me ‘Thy Beauty’†. I am pining for Thee, day and night, My Lord! The dart of Thy Love has been driven deep into my bosom and consequently I have forgotten hunger, thirst and sleep. † Maddened by such an intense Love for the Lord, she began to request everyone she met to show her the pathway to her Lord in this manner: â€Å"Bees, Cuckoos, Parrots, Moonligh t! I have one request for you. Have you seen my Lord? If so will you kindly show Him to me? † 4. HER CHALLENGE TO THE LORD: This extreme intensity of devotion had made her bold enough to throw such a challenge to the Lord: â€Å"Don’t harass me, my Lord, because I am helpless. But mind, I am not a woman to be easily terrified by any amount of pain Thou would inflict. I would live on dry leaves and sleep in the bed of arrows. Pure am I, my Lord! as I have consecrated my body and mind to Thee. † Moreover, she asks: â€Å"Will the sandal give up its fragrance even though it is cut to pieces and rubbed down? Will gold ever be darkened even when it is burnt in the fire? Will the sugarcane abandon its sweetness although it is cut to pieces, made to pass through the press and boiled in the fiery furnace? Don’t reveal my past sins to me my Lord. I will never desist from seeking Thy shelter even if Thou wouldest kill me. She says, â€Å"Thou mayest hear me or not my Lord! I cannot but sing Thy glory. Thou mayest love me or not, I cannot but worship Thee. Thou mayest grace me with Thy presence or not, I cannot but think of embracing Thee. Thou mayest look at me or not, I cannot help casting my loving glance at Thee and sing Thy praises in delight. I s hall worship Thee alone my Lord; and enjoy Divine delight by Thy worship. † 5. CONCEPT OF GOD ACCORDING TO AKKA MAHADEVI She calls her Lord as Chennamallikarjuna. In the book of Mahadevi’s path, as we turn the pages, we find that the image of Chennamallikarjuna changing. With time it merges into a higher and higher concept of the Divine. Only in her earlier years do we notice reference to Siva. Throughout He has remained her Antaryamin to whom she was wedded without a doubt. She says, â€Å"Like treasure hid in the ground, like flavour in the fruit, like gold in the rock and oil in the seed, the Absolute is hidden in the heart. † Further she says, â€Å"I am involved with the one who knows no death, nor decay nor form. He has no one place, nor any boundary, no modifications nor origins. He is Unrestricted to any clan, this casteless one is whom I love. For this reason I am for this man, this Chenna Mallikarjuna. She says, the approach to God must be through ardent love and devotion. She instinctively felt that man can never be fully and wholly fulfilled through self-discipline and knowledge, though self-discipline is arduous and knowledge superior. A more human approach to God lies through pure love and unselfish love which withdraws most of the obstacles that the ego interposes between the divine and the devotee. Akka was shining star in the Bhatki tradition. Her wedding to the Lord Shiva and her undivided heart of love and surrender to Him can be considered as the path of Bhakti Marga. She also considers that the path of action is very much necessary to have genuine devotion of the Lord. In this way she finds no conflict between these two paths rather it is the two sides of the same coin. Her vachans are the best expressed form of Janan Marga, where she tries to share her knowledge of the Lord. For Akka mahadevi to know the Lord and to worship him in mind and to share this knowledge with others in Vachans was a superior way of devotion. So Bhakti Jnana and Krma margas are not mutually exclusive for the Akka, but all three margas lead us to a true devotion to the Lord. 6. SPLENDID VISION OF THE LORD: Through His grace, she had soon the vision of the Lord. â€Å"I had a Vision† she breaks out in rapture, â€Å"I had a splendid vision of the Lord. He had shining golden hair, with a brilliant crown studded (filled) with jewels. A set of pearl-white teeth adorned his beautiful lips that were illumined the seven worlds. At this sight, the famine of my eyes has vanished altogether today. Now that I have seen my Lord Playing with His Primeval Shakti, by identifying Himself with her, I consider my life to have borne fruit. † This vision brought about drastic change in her entire outlook on life. The forest appeared to her to be full of Wish-trees; all the stones assumed to form touch-stones; every place was a place of pilgrimage; the whole world became full of heavenly ambrosia and every pebble she came across was a heavenly jewel. She saw the mountain very much dear to the Lord-Channa Mallikarjuna and entered the forest of Kadali-plantain trees . † In this way she went on having one spiritual experience after another and ultimately realized her identity with the Absolute. She says â€Å"Can the ghee mixed in milk remain separate from it? Who can differentiate heat from the brilliance of Sun? O Lord of Infinite Glory! My scales fell off my eyes as I realized my identity with Thee! † Again she says, â€Å"Whom shall I worship when my body has become Thine? Whom shall I remember when my mind has merged in Thee? Losing myself entirely in Thee, I have completely forgotten Thee with Thee. † 7. LAST DAYS OF HER LIFE Tradition says she left the world in her twenties, entering mahasamadhi (final divine union) with a flash of light. Her travels come to an end when she finds the Kadali vana in the vicinity of the Shrishaila temple. In Kadali vana, Mahadevi matures in nirguna upasana, ready for the final offering. She recognizes the Absolute in all of his creation. The kalpavriksha is all trees. The Sanjeevani is all bushes. All places are teerthas. Ambrosia is contained in all waters. All animals is the covetable golden deer. Every pebble glows as the chintamani gem. Here she also recognizes the paradox of His being in her body, as her very breath becomes His Fragrance. His form becomes hers. Her life force is no different from His very own. No knowledge to acquire, as she now knows Him. Who is there to think, of whom, as individuality ceases to be? This young, defiant and vibrant saint Akka Mahadevi attains Aikyastthala, the highest of the six states of Veerashaivism in the vicinity of the temple to Chennamallikaarjuna and Bhramaraambika. 8. THE CONCEPT OF TRIVEDHI PHILOSOPHY According to the Trivedhi Philosophy, all holiness consisted in due regard for three vital things–Guru, linga and Jangam (the guide; the image; and the fellow religionist). Guru: (personal spiritual master), Guru is the personal spiritual guide who has the knowledge of the path and knows how to guide one on it. A guru is the first cover/guard of soul against the attractions of Maya. He is a concept of awareness. He initiates a novice in the worship of Ista Linga, because he is a model in Ista Linga worship and is Jivanmuktha. He performs three functions: He initiates a person into the faith, trains him and guides him to move towards Aikyasthala (merger with Shiva) A Guru was forbidden to eat flesh, to chew betel or to touch liquor: and he wore a Kempa kavi vastra Linga: (Siva) Linga plays a very key role in the union of Jiva with Siva. Shiva should be worshipped through Ista Linga, which is a symbol of Shiva. The communion between God and a devotee is through Ista Linga. Ista Linga is a small black ball made up of certain prescribed materials kept in a silver casket put around the neck with the help of a thread called shivadara (thread of Lord Shiva). Ista Linga is Shiva Himself. It is universal form of God in a miniature and is the greatest light of the inner most heart which is brought out and shaped into a form by the guru. It is the visible symbol of the invisible energy existing in all beings. The guru places the Ista Linga on ‘Thanu’ (body) ‘Prana’ (life) and ‘Bhava’ (feelings). The linga placed on the thanu is Ista Linga, the linga placed on Prana is Pranalinga, and the linga placed on the Bhava is called Bhavalinga. The practice of wearing Siva linga constantly on their bodies as a mark of devotion and surrender to Lord Siva. Jangama: (an enlightened spiritual guru) Jangama is the realized soul or the perfect one who has already been through the path and knows how to lead one there. A jangama is a liberated man and moves about from place to place to preach the Lingayat Philosophy. He is a moving spirit of the Lord and is personified in the services of the Lord. He leads a simple life, is a man of detachment and is without shelter of his own. He is inseparable from Linga. Guru, Linga and Jangama are treated on equal footing and are rendered with equal respect and reverence. One needs to surrender to them and seek their help in intensifying ones devotion to Siva to obtain his grace and achieve the final union. 9. AKKA THE SOURCE OF WOMEN EMANCIPATION She is a prominent figure in the field of female emancipation. Probably, she may be the first feminist in India as she has been in a constant battle against the established institutions and rituals prevalent in India, in the 12th century. During such time of strife and political uncertainty she launched a movement that made her an inspiration for woman empowerment and enlightenment. The time was marked as height of foolishness of varnashrama dharma which only supported the three upper castes of Hindu society in India and suppressed the shudras and women. It was in the 12the century such a feminist voice, heard from a country like India, where the patriarchal system is at its best. A time when females are forbidden at the school entrance, Akka Mahadevi could take part in many gatherings of learned men at the Anubhavamandapa in Kadal Sangama, to debate philosophy. Though she lived and died young the lines she uttered and the divine life she led keep her as an inseparable part of Indian history in general and the movement of woman’s emancipation in particular. She proves that woman is not the puppet in the hands of male dominant society. On the other hand she is as free as the objects of the world around. She was never contended with the restricted role of a girl at home. Limitations placed on women in the pursuit of education and spirituality was unacceptable for her. She proved herself that a woman has every right and has all the means to pursue a life of an ascetic. Her entire woman’s life with many traumatic experiences is a testimony to the Power of Indelible Courage and Faith. Her renouncement of clothes and disregard for the body, or the acceptance of the life of nunnery was not an ordinary step in 12th century. Woman was not yet considered as equivalent to man. Her individual identity was under crisis. Even the great thinker and philosopher like Allamaprabhu questioned her unusual way of life. Akka becomes a distinctive phenomenon in the human history not merely by her style of dressing or unusual way of arguing. Her distinct pathway through the world, which took her to the climax point of rationalism, establishes her as an ever-shining star of boldness. Her denial of the riches and comforts of the palace and the amputations of the domestic bonds reminds one of Buddha. Her ideal of social and gender equality, propagated in the 12th century had become the creed of higher education in and out of Karnataka. Along with Basaveshwara, she was also one of the socialist reformers who spoke out against the caste system. Among her 315 vachanas, considered as sacred scriptures by the Kannadigas, one proclaims this message: â€Å"Unrestricted to any clan, this caste less one is whom I love for this reason, I’m for this man. † Akka Mahadevi is even remembered and revered all over Karnataka as a seer-poet and a social reformer. You can see a number of educational and charitable institutions all through the State, named after Akka. Akka Seva Samajas, the charitable institutions in the State, pursue the same goal Akka Mhadevi has propagated – uplifting the status of the girl children. They work for the destitute girls and down trodden women in their three branches at Kumara Park, Rajaji Nagar, Rajarajeswary Nagar along with the first one established at Bangalore. The proceedings of the Samajas are inspired by the life and teachings of Akka Mahadevi who burned up as a flash of light in the caves of Sreeshailam. 10. AKKA MAHADEVI A MYSTIC SAINT Akka Madhavi is no doubt a great Bhakti saints of the 12th century, she experienced a call within, that no other pre-occupation distract her, in her path to the Lord Shiva. Unlike other girls, the very desire for a family and married life, and other worldly pleasure and comfort she considers these nothing compared to her devotion to the Lord Shiva. Her poems or Vachnas are the spontaneous overflow of her love for the Lord. Her cloths, beauty and ornaments were the love and devotion to the Lord. This intense devotion and renunciation of worldly affairs made her a great mystic of the time. She had an experience of the Lord in the heart, this basic experience led her to experience Lord in everything: in the beautiful nature, mountains valleys and everywhere. She finds her home in the nature and everything in it was her companion. In union with the nature and all the being she searched for the Lord and she experienced Him together with all beings. This shows that in totality she experienced and worshipped the Lord in the Universe. This is the another aspect of her mysticism. There is a massage for all, who search the Lord with the sincere heart that God can be experience in our simple and ordinary life situations and surroundings. There is no need of going to high mountains like Himalayas to search for the Lord; he is here within us and in the nature. Akka madhavi experienced this truth from her child hood itself, and she could experience more intensively and more clearly in her later stages of life. She expresses the unity between her and the Absolute in the following Vachana: I do not say it is the Linga. I do not say it oneness with the Linga. I do not say it is the Merging, I do not say it is the Parting I do not say it has Happened. I do not say it is to Be. I do not say it is I. I do not say it is You. The mysticism of the Akka is in par with the existing theological understanding of the experience of the Lord. There is no conflict with the tradition and philosophical thinking of the time. Man’s search for the Lord in the cosmos with the nature and created beings is very much acceptable to the mystics of all times. The out flow of the heart’s desire and her love she expresses in her poems and Vachana is a real treasure and guide to seek the Lord, for the many generation to come. Akka mahadevi is somewhat negative about the concept of body. The bodily beauty was a liability for her in her short life. She calls this body as the site of dirt, lust, greed and rage. This may be because of her experience with Kaushika and in Anubhava Mantapa. According to her the body and its temptations are the primary causes which come on the way in ones union with the Lord. In this way in her thought we can see the clear cut distinction between body as something bad which belongs to the world and soul in something sacred which helps one to live a holy life. 11. CONCLUSION Mystics have a double aspect in their life. They are often perceived as rebel in a cultural social ethos. They refuse to walk or to follow the manmade laws and tradition. They have a fine intellect and sharp perception of divine reality. They guide people in the new path towards the absolute. They are courageous, creative and enthusiastic in walking the new unknown path with full trust and confidence. This unusual way of life and their very courage novelty and creativity make them to be rejected in the society, but later they are hailed and accepted in the society. Akka Mahadevi was one among such saints who was intoxicated by Shiva Shakti. Because of her ascetic way of life she became true Shakti and all other powers of tradition and culture she rejected. This way led to her to the spiritual heights making her a mystic. Thus we can see that akka mahadevi had two aspects i. e. initial rejection as rebel and later acceptance as mystic saint. Nobody knows exactly for how many years Akka Mahadevi lived. According to one popular belief she lived only twenty-five years. Within this small span of life the achievement she did, the area she had covered from Udatadi to Srisail and the great spiritual personalities she met is something amazing. No other Indian social activist achieves the parallel position with Akka in this regard. It is sure that physically she lived a very short life but spiritually she did surpass the common level. The historians are of the opinion that Akka only in a true sense represents the whole vachana movement, which is in swing till the time present. The vachanas she wrote is a gem of divine thought. These few Vachanas of Mahadevi gives us the insights into the unique psychology of God –intoxication of this blessed saint. Even linguistically they achieve an everlasting place. Each phase of her life was a step towards the emancipation of not only of womanhood but also of the mankind. She was sure footed in her radical combat with the age-old norms of the society. She lived for the life enlightened and the life divine. Akka is a guiding spirit behind all the women activists, irrespective of the age and space. One should be thankful to the womankind, which has given â€Å"the Sappho of Greece, the Theresa of Christianity, the Lalleshwari of Kashmir, the Rubia of Arabia, the ‘Andal’ of Tamilnadu, the Meera of Rajasthan. † No doubt all they are incomparable individuals in their life and achievement. BIBLIOGRAPHY Deshpande, M. S. â€Å"Akka Mahadevi: St. Mira of Karnataka. † Pathway to God: A Journal of Spiritual Life 10, 1 (November 1975), 21-26. Hampana, Kamala. Akka Mahadevi. Bangalore: Sapna Book House, 2002. http://www. ambahouse. org/akkamahadevi. html http://www. ourkarnataka. com/religion/akka_mathapati. htm http://www. scrollindia. com/women-zone/akka-mahadevi-kannada-seer-poet. Patil, S. H. Community Dominance and Political Modernization. Delhi: A Mittal Publication, 2002 Shastry, G. V. Akka Mahadeviya Vachanagalu. Gadag: Paru Prakashan, 1999. Umadevi, S. Akka Mahadeviyavara Vachanagalu. Hubli: Lalit Prakashana, 200.

Funny Quotations About Boys

Funny Quotations About Boys Boys grow into men, but at some level, boys remain boys. They never shed their fetishes- be it games, gizmos, or girls. Read these funny quotes about boys and you will find a striking parallel with the boys and men you know. Bart SimpsonInside every hardened criminal beats the heart of a ten-year-old boy. Joseph HellerWhen I grow up I want to be a little boy. James Matthew BarrieWhat is genius? It is the power to be a boy again at will. Napoleon BonaparteNo one knows how it is that with one glance a boy can break through into a girls heart. PlatoOf all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable. James ThurberBoys are beyond the range of anybodys sure understanding, at least when they are between the ages of 18 months and 90 years. Mark TwainThere comes a time in every rightly constructed boys life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure. Bertrand RussellBoys and young men acquire readily the moral sentiments of their social milieu, whatever these sentiments may be. Eric BerneThe moment a little boy is concerned with which is a jay and which is a sparrow, he can no longer see the birds or hear them sing. Mark TwainGeorge Washington, as a boy, was ignorant of the commonest accomplishments of youth. He could not even lie. Robert FrostA mother takes twenty years to make a man of her boy, and another woman makes a fool of him in twenty minutes. Ralph Waldo EmersonGive a boy address and accomplishments and you give him the mastery of palaces and fortunes where he goes. Charles DickensA boys story is the best that is ever told. Mickey RooneyI was a thirteen-year-old boy for thirty years. Elvis PresleyWhen I was a boy, I always saw myself as a hero in comic books and in movies. I grew up believing this dream.

Advertising questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Advertising questions - Essay Example His other roles include finding an understanding of audience’s requirements and organizing meetings with the creative director. The art director works hand in hand with the copywriter (Mahon, 2010). This is because, a copywriter produces the words which accompany visual pictures developed by the art director. Work functions include; collaborating with copywriter to produce the best form of advertisements, providing briefs to other members in the creative team and editing the final piece. The position of an art director requires leadership skills. This is the ability to bring team members together for attaining set objectives. Also, he or she must be open-minded. This involves accepting other people’s ideas to develop quality advertisements. Similarly, art directors should be creative  ; ability to come up with and implement new ideas. Learning advertising improves my understanding of requirements in this sector, helping to create mutual existence in the organization. Moreover, the idea of advertising in my internship enabled learning of various organizational requirements for marketing function to operate as required. Expressing my ideas with the resume was quite a challenge for a variety of reasons. For one, required qualifications for internship did not match the content in the CV. Moreover, the recruitment agency advised that a CV should, in details, express direct contributions to organization’s success. The working process at Newad is efficient. Duties and responsibilities are well defined with no overlapping of duties. I would consider beginning my career in this organization as an art director. I have always had the passion to develop and innovating visual materials used in media advertising. Moreover, art directors in this company appear to love their job, and this is a