Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The cake of St. Fanourios - Fanouropita (EN)
Since a lot of friends have tasted and liked this cake, here is a little bit of history of the cake along with its recipe, as I heard it from my grandmother:
Saint Fanourios (Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Phanourios) is the Saint that reveals, coming from the Greek verb "fanerono" which means "reveal". He is the protecting Saint of the city and island of Rhodos. According to the tradition, he helps the people who have lost an item to find it and also young, unmarried women to find love. During his life he was providing food to the poor people and he was often distributing to them a cake that contained nine pure and nutritional ingredients, all of them suitable for the Orthodox fasting. Since that time the cake is called Fanouropita, or the cake of Saint Fanourios.
When you you try to find something you can call for the help of the Saint and once you find it you can bake this cake to appreciate for his help. While eating the cake you need to say "God forgive the mother of Saint Fanourios", because his mother was a sinner. Also, to honor the tradition, you need to distribute some pieces of the cake to friends or neighbors.
Ingredients:
1 cup of olive oil
1 cup of orange juice
1 cup of sugar
1 espresso cup of cognac
1 teaspoon crushed cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon of baking soda
About 400g of self-rising flour or normal flour mixed with 1 teaspoon of baking powder
For better taste (optional): a handful of walnuts or raisins
Mix the olive oil, the orange juice and the sugar. In one espresso cup pour the cognac and mix inside the cup the cinnamon, the cloves, the nutmeg and the baking soda. After mixing, pour it to the other ingredients. Slowly add the flour while mixing the ingredients with a mixer. Put the cake in a round form, add the raisins and the walnuts on top and gently push them inside with a spoon. Bake for around 45 minutes in 180 degrees or until the top gets a dark brown color. Before removing it from the oven, make sure by using a knife that the cake is fully baked inside. If you are not sure, it is better to leave it more time in the oven, than less.
Please leave your comments to this post, if you liked the cake. The Saint is there to help you find lost things or persons, ask for his help, show your appreciation and share your story here!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Learn to Walk
Learn how to walk.
Learn it again.
Do it by forgetting what you already know.
Begin your walk at your favorite place.
Choose it by intuition.
Begin only after you come to a full stop.
Look around you.
Some paths are calling for you,
some leave you indifferent.
Follow your heart.
Be faithful to your feelings.
Examine.
A small unnoticeable path may lead you to a beautiful garden.
Make a wish.
Wait until it is fulfilled.
Never doubt that it will get fulfilled.
Cause then, it won't.
Walk slowly.
Whenever you need to stop, stop.
Whenever you walk too fast, also stop.
Then take a deep breath.
Look around you.
Then walk again.
Do not start if you don't remain first in silence.
Silence improves your ability to hear.
Avoid the noise and..
Walk slowly.
Watch the people.
Find and stare into the true faces.
They might stare back at you because you are true too.
But most probably they won't notice you.
Because they look into themselves.
And this is why they are true.
They are a few.
Ignore the lost souls.
They will look at you but soon,
they will look away.
Because they are only looking around.
They are many.
Walk slowly.
Go through the market.
Observe the goods.
Stop at the ones that draw your attention.
Try to find their value.
Buy them at par, knowing their par value.
When you like something try to acquire it.
Many times the cost of it is high.
But the higher cost of not paying for it,
is to think about it for the rest of your journey.
The worst thing you can do is to acquire something similar.
This similar will never be it,
and this will give you a reason to think about it as long as you hold this.
If you did so, discard this.
If you missed the opportunity to get it then think away.
As long as you think about it,
your walk will be miserable
you will try to walk fast
and you will oversee other very interesting goods.
Once not acquired it can only hurt you.
Trying to forget it will only keep your thought pegged to it.
Stop and take a deep breath.
Cry if you feel like.
Scream.
Walk slowly and look around.
Then you will forget it.
Never fear when walking.
Negative things can only happen to you
if you fear them or
if you feel miserable.
Once you spoil yourself with miserable thoughts stop.
Clean yourself, then continue.
Never walk dirty.
Walk clean, and..
Walk slowly.
Never think of what you have to do next.
It will only make you walk faster.
If you are under time pressure,
terminate your walk.
Even if you have not reached somewhere.
Know one thing:
There is no time.
Time is an invention of man.
It serves very well for people to communicate and meet.
But once you put time to guide your walk,
it destroys it.
Never estimate when you will reach your destination.
Your destination will be reached only after a series of events,
not after a certain time.
Constraining your destination with time can only make you not reach it.
Walk slowly.
Don't ever choose a similar goal.
This will never replace your destination.
If you haven't reached your destination then this could mean that
you walked fast and skipped the events.
If so, then you have to go back.
If not, then maybe your destination is not it.
You cannot know your true destination in advance.
You will only know it once you reach it.
Your destination is your destiny and you will reach it if you don't impede it.
Don't get frustrated, it will only delay your walk.
Always pay the cost and most important:
Don't acquire substitutes.
Walk slowly.
If your walk becomes unpleasant,
don't try to walk away from it.
You have to go through it.
Don't walk faster.
But look away.
There is something there in the background that looks pleasant.
Look to it and head there but always..
Walk slowly.
Don't be afraid to walk into paths that you don't know
or you are not supposed to trespass.
Unless you are told otherwise, you are supposed to.
But respect your obstacles.
If you are prohibited to enter a path, then this path is not for you.
And thus it does not lead you to your True Destination.
Even if it does, then this is not the only one.
Whatever is there for you is open and welcome.
Whatever is not for you is full of obstacles.
Do not follow it.
Then keep in silence.
And listen to the signals.
They are there to help you.
And continue to..
Walk slowly.
And if the time comes to rain,
let it rain.
Stop your walk, you can resume later.
Now try to protect yourself.
You can walk in the storm or in the sunshine.
Depending on how brave you are, it is your decision.
If you know your power, you know what to do.
Respect yourself and respect the power of God.
And when the rain stops, continue to..
Walk slowly.
Dream.
You only need to know what makes you happy.
And be patient for it.
And pay the cost of it.
And not accept substitutes.
And so, walking slowly, you will find that your dream is there,
waiting for you, and staring at you, waiting for you to acquire it.
In fact it was always there waiting for you.
You were just not noticing it or
you were not brave enough to ask for it.
Sometimes man is brave enough to go through the storm,
but not brave enough to go for their dream.
And they accept substitutes.
And they walk faster.
Never accept substitutes, and..
Walk slowly.
And when your walk reaches its end,
realize it and accept it.
Be grateful if you liked it, be thoughtful if not.
Sometimes you reach your destination, sometimes no.
In case you reach it, don't feel disappointed,
if it doesn't meet your expectations.
This destination led you to a wonderful walk
and this was its purpose.
In case you don't reach it, don't feel disappointed either.
Because with every walk you reach somewhere.
And this somewhere is indeed a destination.
A destination that has moved you forward.
Closer to your dream.
Closer to your True Destination.
Closer to your destiny.
And will lead you to the next walk.
Because every walk
is part of the walk of life.
----
天 使 (tian shi)
written in 2008 on a daytime walk on the marvelous streets of The Rocks, Sydney.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Για το ταξίδι της ψυχής (EL)
![]() |
| shén: soul;spirit;divine essence |
φίλε μου, μέρος κι ολόκληρο του εαυτού μου
θέλω να ξέρεις ότι,
παρότι μόνος σου θα είσαι οταν το κάνεις
άλλοι πολλοί ταξίδεψαν και δρόμο έχουν ανοίξει
μόνο μπροστά, ποτέ σου πίσω μη θωρείς
αλλιώς πρωτόγνωρες χαρές εκεί μπροστά θα χάνεις
σημάδια να αναζητάς, αυτά πιστά ακολούθα
όχι τη λογική, αυτή σοφή δεν είναι οσο το σύμπαν.
Απόλαυσε τη διαδρομή
γιατί ο στόχος ειναι θαμπός, αυτός όμως σε φέρνει στο ταξίδι
συνέχεια να κοιτάς ψηλά
γιατί έτσι μόνο θα φτάσεις να πετάξεις
κοίταξε να ετοιμαστείς καλά
η διαδρομή δεν ξέρεις για πόσο θα κρατήσει
διώξε το, άστο το παλιό
άδειον μονάχα θα σε γεμίσει το καινούριο.
Κι όταν οδεύεις να με σκέφτεσαι
σημάδια να αφήνεις
γιατί μονάχος μου θα το διαβώ κι εγώ
για ν' ανταμώσω το Θεό
εκεί που πας τώρα να μείνεις
--
Αφιερωμένο σε κάθε θάνατο
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Γενετικά τροποποιημένα τρόφιμα (EL)
Ο κόσμος βρίσκεται μπροστά στον κίνδυνο της εξάπλωσης των γενετικά τροποποιημένων τροφίμων:
- Τα σπαρτά αποκτούν αυξημένη ανάγκη για εντομοκτόνα.
- Τα εντομοκτόνα είναι δηλητηριώδη όχι μόνο για τα έντομα και τα ζιζάνια αλλά και για τον άνθρωπο.
- Η γενετική τροποιποίηση αποσκοπεί στην μείωση του κόστους και στην ανθεκτικότητα των σπαρτών στα εντομοκτόνα, θυσιάζοντας την τροφική αξία των φαγητών.
- Οι γενετικά τροποιποιημένοι σπόροι είναι πατενταρισμένοι και η τιμή τους ελέγχεται αποκλειστικά από την βιομηχανία παραγωγής τους.
- Και το πιο σημαντικό: Δεν υπάρχει δυνατότητα γυρισμού σε μη γενετικά τροποποιημένους σπόρους.
Genetically modified food (EN)
The world faces challenges by the uncontrolled spread of genetically modified seeds:
- The crops become dependent on pesticides
- Pesticides used are poisonous for the pests and weeds but for the human as well
- The genetic modification aims cost reduction and pesticide tolerance of the crops sacrificing nutrition
- The genetically modified seeds are patented, thus their price is controlled by the manufacturer.
- Most important: There is no way back to normal seeds.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Φόβος και εγρήγορση (EL)
Έχει ο φόβος χρησιμότητα; Προστατεύει ο φόβος; Μερικοί υποστηρίζουν πως ναι. Ο φόβος αποτρέπει τον κίνδυνο και όποιος αναλαμβάνει κινδύνους μπορεί να έχει δυσάρεστες συνέπειες.
Πόση αλήθεια περιέχει όμως αυτή η άποψη; Ας την εξετάσουμε πιο προσεκτικά.
Ο φόβος αποτρέπει. Αποτρέπει τον κίνδυνο αλλά και την ίδια την ζωή. Ο φόβος οδηγεί με εγγύηση στην μετριότητα. Όμως εγγυάται ο φόβος την ασφάλεια; Πολύ αμφίβολο.
Αντίθετα ο φόβος ακολουθεί τον νόμο της έλξης: «Ο μεγαλύτερος πόθος και ο μεγαλύτερος φόβος θα πραγματοποιηθούν». Ο λόγος είναι ότι τα έλκουμε.
Αναλαμβάνοντας κινδύνους αποδεχόμαστε την ζωή. Και η απάντηση στον κίνδυνο είναι η εγρήγορση.
Η αναρρίχηση των βουνών ενέχει κινδύνους. Αυτός που φοβάται δεν αναρριχάται βουνά. Αυτός που αποδέχεται την ζωή μελετά την διαδρομή, καταστρώνει ένα σχέδιο, προετοιμάζεται και ποτέ δεν ξεκινάει για το βουνό μόνος.
Η εμπιστοσύνη στους ανθρώπους ενέχει κινδύνους. Αυτός που φοβάται δεν εμπιστεύεται. Αυτός που αποδέχεται την ζωή ανοίγεται σταδιακά, αναπτύσσει την ικανότητα να αντιλαμβάνεται τα αισθήματα των άλλων και να εντοπίζει αυτούς που φθονούν.
Ο έρωτας ενέχει κινδύνους. Αυτός που φοβάται απέχει από τον έρωτα. Αυτός που αποδέχεται την ζωή γνωρίζει ότι ο έρωτας είναι το ισχυρότερο βίωμα και ερωτεύεται με τα μάτια ανοικτά.
Αποδέχομαι την ζωή σημαίνει αποδέχομαι τον κίνδυνο. Ρισκάροντας σε εγρήγορση μπορούμε μόνο είτε να κερδίσουμε είτε να μάθουμε. Αλλά ρισκάροντας απερίσκεπτα ανοίγουμε τον δρόμο για να πληγωθούμε.
Τώρα πάρε ένα ποτήρι, γέμισέ το με νερό και τοποθέτησέ το στο χείλος του τραπεζιού για μια ολόκληρη μέρα. Τοποθέτησέ το κατά τέτοιο τρόπο ώστε μέρος του ποτηριού να βρίσκεται στο κενό χωρίς αυτό όμως να χάνει την ισορροπία του. Ο φόβος προτρέπει να το βάλεις πίσω στο κέντρο του τραπεζιού. Αλλά σύμφωνα με τους νόμους της φυσικής, αν είσαι σε απόλυτη εγρήγορση κατά την διάρκεια της ημέρας, δεν υπάρχει τρόπος το ποτήρι να πέσει από μόνο του στο πάτωμα. Εφόσον είναι σε ισορροπία μπορεί να παραμείνει εκεί για πάντα.
Καταπολέμησε τον φόβο. Μάθε να είσαι σε εγρήγορση. Η εγρήγορση είναι η μόνο εγγύηση ότι θα μάθεις, θα προστατεύσεις τον εαυτό σου και θα υπερνικήσεις τον πιο σημαντικό εχθρό του ανθρώπου: Τον φόβο. Μην φοβάσαι τους ανθρώπους. Αλλά όντως σε εγρήγορση απόφυγε αυτούς που φοβούνται.
Fear and Mindfulness (EN)
Is fear useful? Is fear a protective power? Some would say yes. It is because of fear that we avoid taking risks and taking risks might have negative consequences.
Is this true? Let’s take a closer look.
Fear prevents. It prevents not only danger but life as well. Fear guarantees mediocrity. But is fear a guarantee of safety? Very doubtfully so.
Instead, fear follows the law of attraction: “Your greatest desire and your greatest fear will realize”. You will attract it.
Taking risks means accepting life. And the answer to risk is mindfulness.
Climbing a mountain poses risks. A person that fears does not climb mountains. A person that accepts life studies the path, makes a plan, gets prepared and never climbs a mountain alone.
Trust poses risks. A person that fears does not trust. A person that accepts life opens up gradually, develops abilities to understand the feelings of the others and distinguish the ones that envy.
Love poses risks. A person that fears develops abstinence from love. A person that accepts life understands that love is the greatest bliss in life and loves with the eyes wide open.
Accepting life means risking. Risking mindfully can have two consequences: You can either win or learn. But you can only hurt yourself if you risk carelessly.
Now take a glass, fill it up with water and place it on the edge of the dining table for an entire day. Place it so that a part of it stands on the air but it still balances on the table. Fear will tell you to place it back on the center of the table. But you know that if you are absolutely mindful, there is absolutely no way of the glass to fall on the floor. Once in equilibrium the glass can stay there forever.
Combat your fear. Develop mindfulness. Mindfulness is the only guarantee that you will learn, protect yourself and overpower the single most important enemy of the human: Fear. Don’t fear people. But being mindful, avoid those who do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)




