Y stands for Yogi,

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, (Yogi means great Seer) was a great Seer and travelled the world teaching Transendental meditation.

 'Transendental meditation'.....has been described as both religious and non-religious and mainly rooted in Hinduism. The meditation practice involves the use of a Mantra (especially in Buddhism and Hinduism). It is a word or sound that is believed to have a special spiritual power.

 A personal Mantra is sometimes repeated as an aid to meditation or prayer. 

   Association with the Beatles.

 The Beatles went to study with him in Bangor North Wales, before travelling to Rishikesh in India (1968) to devote themselves fully to his instructions.

 Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen left after ten days, Paul and his girlfriend Jane Asher left after five weeks and John and Cynthia Lennon, George Harrison and Patti Boyd, left sixteen days later . During their stay they were led to believe that the Marahishi Yogi had made unwanted advances to the actress Mia Farrow it is widely believed that instigated their return home, In 1968 the Beatles renounced their association with him.

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Years later George Harrison accepted that nothing improper had taken place with the actress and gave a benefit concert for him and his Natural Law Party;

 He later apologised for the way the Mararishi Yogi had been treated by saying "We were very young in believing the alleged attack had taken place but it was total 'bull shit'!

 Cynthia Lennon later wrote that she hated leaving on a note of mistrust when the Mararishi Yogi had been so kind to the Beatles.

 Later the Mararishi was asked if he had forgiven the Beatles he answered, "I could never be upset with angels.

Some of the Beatles music inspired by Indian strengths are illustrated in ,

'Across the Universe' which has Indian influence and especially John Lennon chanting "Jai  Guru Deva".

 Then there was 'Within You Witout You' another mystical sounding piece.

 My particular, favourite song  written by George Harrison was 'My sweet Lord' this had hints of Indian chants where George expressed his love for Indian gods.... 'Hare Krishna Guru Brahma.'

RIP. George Harrison. 

I firmly believe that the spiritual guidance of Marahisi Yogi upon George inspired him to write the famous songs  mentioned in the above paragraph.

Wishing you all a peaceful and happy New Year.

My sincere thanks to the ever YOUTHFUL Denise who cleverly devised Abcw and to the Administrator Roger who has read his way through many a fine YARN, along with his deputy leslie who is frequently YRAPT  with interest at the wonderful tales of yore.

 Finally thanks to the team of helpers who YARELY  visit YOUR  sites too!

Best wishes for 2017,

Di,

Abcw team. 

 

Xanadu

Kubla Khan  by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure -drome decree;

 Where Alph the sacred river ran

 Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea.

 So twice five miles of  fertile ground 

With walls and towers were girded round; 

 And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,

 Where blossomed many an incense- bearing tree

 And here were forests ancient as the hills,

 Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

 But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted

 Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!

 A savage place! as holy and enchanted

 As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted

 By woman wailing for her demon - lover! And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething.

 As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,

 A mighty fountain was momently was forced:

 Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst

 Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,

 Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail: 

And mid these dancing dancing rocks at once and ever

 It flung up momently the sacred river 

Five miles meandering with a mazy motion

 Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,

 Then reached the caverns measureless to man, 

And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:

 And 'mid this Kubla heard from far,

Ancestral voices prophesying war,

  The shadow of the dome of pleasure

 floated midway on the waves;

 Where was heard the mingled measure

 From the fountain and the caves.

It was the miracle of rare device

  A sunny pleasure-dome within caves of ice!

 A damsel with a dulcimer

 In a vision once I saw;

 It was an Abyssinian maid

 And on her dulcimer she played,

 Singing of Mount Abora,

 Could I revive within me

  Her symphony and song,

 To such a deep delight 'twould win me,

 That with music loud and long,

 I would build that dome in the air,

 That sunny dome! Those caves of ice!

 And all who heard should see them there,

 And all should cry, Beware! Beware!

His flashing eyes, his floating hair!

 Weave a circle round him thrice,

  And close your eyes with holy dread

 For he on honey-dew hath fed,

 And drunk the milk of Paradise.

And so I will say goodbye and wish you all the Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas one and all.....My thanks to all the team that keep ABCW running particularly Denise Roger Leslie and all Santa's little helpers....

Best wishes,

Di.

ABCW team.

V for

Visions of Christmas of Times Gone By. When I think of Christmas my thoughts invariably venture back to my childhood in the 1950's.  

One of my Visions of Christmas takes me back to one Christmas Eve when my brother and I trudged through the snow to sing Christmas carols in ou local church choir. I can always remember the magical atmosphere that enveloped us as we merrily sang 'Ding Dong Merrily on High' and other favourites.

On this particular Christmas when the carol service had finished our dad was waiting at the church door to escort us home because it was snowing heavily, We arrived home to a welcoming  mug of  hot chocolate and delicious warm mince pies, which our elder sister Norma made. (Sadly Norma died at the end of December 2015).

 Then, it was off to bed to sleep and perhaps, dream of the gifts we hoped Father Christmas would bring us.

Visions of Christmas Day brings my brother, me and big sis Norma, sitting in front of a roaring log fire opening our presents, whilst our dear Mama and Aunt May busied themselves in the kitchen preparing the dinner.

Delicious Roast Turkey with all the trimmings for dinner served at 1pm prompt! (That's if Mama and Aunt May hadn't demolished the sherry bottle, there was a lot of laughter emanating from the kitchen)..

 I can Visualize this particular day quite clearly because we both received roller skates and of course couldn't try them out because of the heavy snow, perhaps we should have asked for ice skates!

Vision of my brother and I skating on our roller skates. We had to wait a while before we used them as it was a long snowy winter and indoor roller rinks didn't arrive in our town until the 60's.

I hope you enjoyed my childhood 'VISIONS' !

Thanks to Denise who initially had the VISION to create ABCW and to Roger our Valourous administrator together with Leslie his well Versed assistant.

Finally many thanks to the team of helpers who

pay weekly Visits to abcw memes.