Culture & Society
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Although both terms are used loosely, it is common for Western philosophy to look towards Eastern traditions for inspiration. Whether these are rigid schools of philosophical thought or simply an individual's personal outlook on life, some key concepts can help us to make sense of our own existence....
For many people, particularly of a certain generation, Bruce Lee is kung fu. This is not only because he displayed its technique and represented its ethos on screen. He was a martial artist who melded physicality with philosophy in his short, but incredibly impactful life. Although kung fu is the martial...
Throughout history, a hegemonic definition of masculinity has been pervasive. The idea of maleness has traditionally been expressed in traits such as strength and the ability to protect, but also in emotional reticence and even violence. Such limited concepts and rigid definitions may be pervasive, but...
Are you someone who regularly questions the meaning of life? The search for some specific purpose for our existence is what separates us form the animals, but its unanswerable nature means a concrete answer is practically impossible. Every culture and society has come to certain conclusions which pervade...
The ancient Mesoamerican cultures were polytheists. This means they were societies that believed in different gods, similarly to Ancient Greeks, Romans and Norse. The sun played a particularly important role in Aztec mythology and was also involved in the celebration of rituals to please their gods. These...
Norse mythology, also considered Scandinavian mythology, stems from Norse paganism and Germanic mythology. As with Roman and Greek mythology, there is overlap with deities with similar origins being given different names depending on the context. While the influence of Greco-Roman mythology is perhaps...
The tiger's eye is a semi-precious stone composed of different minerals. It is noted for its shimmering brown and yellow appearance which makes it easy to identify. Although relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to diamonds and other precious stones, it is often used for decoration in jewelry....
Not all cultures hold as close to their traditions as Japan does. This is not to say they are not a modern nation. On the contrary, they are one of the most technologically advanced countries on the planet. But their respect for their predecessors is perhaps more visible than many other nations. This...
Hair lice are annoying parasites which infest the scalp of the human head. They are especially common among children. Their very mention can bring up memories of letters from the principal and, for some, a pre-emptive shorn head. Another important aspect is that the person with head lice rarely notices...
The world of our subconscious is very complex and we are not often allowed many avenues to understand it. This is problematic. If we don't understand our subconscious thoughts, there is a risk they will appear in negative ways during consciousness. This is why paying our attention to our dreams is so important....
Whether you are a regular yoga practitioner, you are likely to have heard the word namaste. You may not have even heard it in relation to yoga. It could have been told to you by someone you met or used by a friend in various situations. Although the word namaste has been used frequently in various relaxation...
Have you ever drawn a heart for someone? As kids we might draw them on our notebook or, some of us, may even drew them to dot our i's. As adults we still might use them in greeting cards, and they are omnipresent in advertising and design. If you have every seen a real heart, we can see that it is not exactly...
In the Christian religion, there are 7 capital vices which are to be avoided at all costs by believers of the faith. However, although associated with Roman Catholicism, it is something linked to various sects of Christianity. They are sometimes referred to as the seven deadly sins or seven cardinal sins....
It can surprise us just how difficult it can sometimes be to refuse someone else. Saying ‘no’ to a proposal or request can be an art in itself. Doing it effectively is related to our individual character and personality, but it is also something you can learn over time. Part of the problem is that it is...
Many indigenous American cultures firmly believed in the power of animals as guides and protectors. In fact, in their rituals they invoked them in order to acquire certain traits of the animal to help them in a particular task or for a certain problem (e.g. for battle). These were invoked regularly and...
The crocodile is an apex predator. They strike fear not only into the hearts of their animal prey, but any humans who find themselves in their habitat. Such fear is warranted. Growing up to 2 meters long and with a bite force of about 3,700 lbs per square inch, they are killing machines. Their razor sharp...
Mice are small rodents that are often mistaken for rats. The latter are animals often associated with dirt, grime and disease. However, it should be noted that mice are not the same as rats, although dreaming of both can have a similar meaning. In general, dreaming of mice has a negative connotation, associated...
Dreams are a process by which we internalize our conscious experiences. The vast majority of them we don't remember, but there are some which stick with us. Unfortunately, they are often the ones in which something shocking or scary occurs. This is the case when we dream of a dog biting us. While it is...
Rain is a natural phenomenon that is often used in movies or literature as a form of pathetic fallacy. This is because rain can be very evocative, often related to the grey clouds which cover the sky when it is raining. Similarly, when rain appears in our dreams, it can be related to how we are feeling. But...
The word incense comes from the Latin word incensum, literally meaning ‘to burn’. There are different forms of incense, but they are all designed to give off a particular aroma once lit. The type of incense we are talking about today at oneHOWTO are incense sticks, also known as joss sticks. Incense has been...
The interpretation of dreams is a subject as complex as it is exciting. No one can tell you exactly what their interpretation will be, but there are keys and codes we can use to help better understand what they might mean. Common themes and imagery are one of the most helpful ways to interpret our dreams....
Although there is a possibility of controlling our dreams through lucid dreaming, most of us will dream at the will of our subconscious. This subconscious can generate images in the strangest of ways and make correlations which can be difficult to understand. Often, they will invert expectations by conjuring...
Dream interpretation can help us understand our subconscious and understand what we're thinking or truly feeling on a deep level. However, sometimes our dreams can be difficult to interpret.
In this oneHOWTO article, we're going to explain what it means when you dream of horses. Continue reading to learn the...
Understanding dreams or figuring out exactly what a dream means is incredibly difficult. The brain is one of the most complex human organs. This complexity becomes even more multifaceted when we try to understand the happenings of our subconscious minds. In psychology, the subconscious is an area of...
Dreams connect our real worlds to our subconscious and unconscious worlds. Dreams are a way in which our minds expel information collected throughout the day by placing it into our brains. Dreams allow our experiences, thoughts and subconscious minds to release stress and collect information, transforming them...
When we become ill, we don't always consciously recognize the effects, even if we are changing on a cellular level. For viral infections, this is known as the incubation period[1]. This is the time when the infection begins, but there yet to be any symptoms. If an illness is impending, we might not know...
A nuclear weapon is a bomb/missile that creates an incredibly powerful explosion using a chain of nuclear reactions. A nuclear attack can cause enormous damage to both life and property. Its: blast, radiation and heat can lead to massive casualties. There are in fact two main types of nuclear weapons; fission...
Determining horoscopes is not an easy task. The way in which horoscopes are written and read is a combination of art and science, based on several thousand years of astrological studies. Originating from ancient Sumerians, horoscopes was taken up by the Greeks and Arabs. Innovations, to this day, are...
Whether you are in a relationship or looking for someone to mingle and have fun with, you can always refer to astrology when it comes to choosing a perfect partner. Knowing what zodiac signs go well together not only helps for romantic relationships, but can also aid in understanding relationships between:...
As videos become more prevalent online, so does the need to download them. Whether you are an amateur video editor or you frequently create video presentations, no one would ever want to get caught up in any copyright issues. Whenever you use a video to add to your blog or website, publish a video on...
Zodiac signs have been very popular for the fact they the give insight into people’s nature and personality. Some people even refer to their daily horoscope before planning their day. So, if you are in love with a Capricorn woman, you need to know how her personality and attitude could be This includes...
Buddhism is one of the most widespread religions across the globe. Its followers practice not only across the east and south Asia, but in other parts of the world as well. Despite its popularity as a religion, many people have misunderstandings of their core beliefs. They often think of monks in robes perhaps...
Catholics have priests, Jews have rabbis, Hindus have Pandits, but what are Muslim religious leaders called? Unlike most other religious, Muslim religion does not require any mediation of priests for prayers and worships, but that does not mean that there is no clergy in Islam. There are certain Islamic...
‘Blessed be’ is a Wiccan term that literally means ‘god bless you’, ‘good luck’ and ‘take care’. When you greet someone with ‘blessed be’, you wish them good things still to come. It is also a common phrase to say in place of ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye’. A common example would be ‘blessed be to your family’,...
Transcendentalism was a literary and philosophical movement begun in New England, USA during the 1820s. It started out as the ruminations of a very small group of activists, religious leaders and educators. Over time, more and more people were influenced by Transcendentalist beliefs and joined the movement...
Dreaming about luggage can have significant symbolism to our waking lives. More often than not, it aludes to the emotional baggage we have been carrying around. Luggage can represent any kind of burden you are metaphorically lugging around. This may have to do with your profession, relationship, behavior...
The devil is present in different religious texts and belief systems. For many he is not only evil, but the representation of all evil. He relates to darkness, ill thoughts, fear and danger. Since childhood, we may have a fear of the devil by religious parents or other influences on our young minds. When the...
From star signs to Biblical allegories, fish are very common symbols. As this extends from antiquity through to current popular culture, it stands to reasons they might swim into our dreamscapes every once in a while. Some ancient cultures see visions of fish as being signs of good fortune or even bringing...
A knife is a classic symbol of separation. Just as it is used to trim fat from a loin, it may symbolize cutting off certain things from your life. These could include jealousy, frustration, anger and even enemies. Dreaming about knives is often regarded as a very negative symbol, the physical trauma...
Interpreting dreams is not a straight forward process. Often symbols we associate with something in our waking life have different meanings in our dreamscape. One way or the other, they are the reflections of our inner thoughts, fears and emotions. If we dream of being in prison, then it is understandable...
Exams are not something in which most of us take pleasure. They can cause a great deal of anxiety or are, at the very least, taxing and time consuming. However, they are also important and afford us opportunities to progress and invest in our future. When they appear in our dreams, however, they may...
Vampires are creatures of the night known to survive by feasting on the blood of living beings. In popular culture, vampires are symbolic of danger, possession, wild sex and seduction. But dreaming about them can have different meanings in different contexts. Have you dreamt of becoming a vampire? Maybe...
William Wilberforce is one of those historical names you are likely to have come across, but may not necessarily know much about. It is a strong name (it has the word force in it) which represents a man of character who fought hard to make improvements according to his beliefs. These beliefs led him to be...
Folklore exists in all cultures, the tales of bygone eras being passed along until the boundary between truth and fiction is forever blurred. The tales are sometimes given written account, while others exist only in the stories passed down between generations. The term folklore was coined in England in...
African folklore is a rich part of its literature, much of it stemming from the oral tradition. This means there are stories which may have eventually been written down, but before this were kept alive by older generations telling the tales to the younger. One of the most common characters in African...
Learning about the History of the United States of America is an important part of one's education in order to learn how civilizations are built, learn about past mistakes and get a grasp of how much we have evolved. The triangular trade is known as a type of trade between three separate ports that serves...
Copyright is the legal right that the judiciary of a country creates to protect original works from theft. When you create something, you become its owner and possess exclusive rights for its distribution and use. Although copyright is valid for a limited period only, it is illegal to use the work of someone...
Dreams are reflections of our deepest subconscious. The experiences we live and the messages we receive from our mind should not be taken literally. In most cases, they can mean things very different from those that they refer to in real life. Within the dream world, dreams are evocations of our interior life....
In the culture of the Native Americans, animals played a very important role. They were not only beings with whom they lived, but they were also their guides and their protectors; in some way, their superior beings. They were so-called totems, animals of power or spiritual animals. It is said that you...
Whether it is in the form of a banjo playing puppet, crossing the road in an arcade game or even just stuck in your throat, frogs are everywhere. One unexpected place for a frog to appear might be your dream. There are many reasons frogs might apear in your dream and it doesn't matter if you are a man, woman...
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