Carol Chapman | Carol Chapman

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Hi, I thought you’d like to see a picture of me:

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Smithsonian Mag: Tattoos in Ancient Egypt

If you’re interested in ancient Egypt, you’ll find this excerpt from the Smithsonian Magazine’s Blog on the origin of tattoos intriguing and also full of information:

Tattoo Art in Egypt
It was believed for a long period of time that tattoo art originated in Ancient Egypt where many figurines, tomb scenes and mummified bodies were found with tattoo art on them. It should be noted where as one might think tattoos was a way for male self expression, tattoo art in ancient Egypt was only found on women. For a short time researchers thought that the act of tattooing an Egyptian women meant that she was a prostitute or a dancer, usually being of no importance.

However as more research was done on this evidence it was discovered that only a certain class of women wore tattoo art and these women did not belong to the lower classes, but the more important upper classes in Egyptian society. It is now believed that the tattoo art of ancient Egyptian women were located almost exclusively over the breasts, upper thigh and stomach. The designs used were generally a net like pattern of dots across the skin. It is now believed that the ancient Egyptian women used the tattoo as a form of protection rather than self expressive decoration and it was meant to keep the mother and children in the womb safe during the pregnancy and childbirth.

The Smithsonian Magazine Blog

I wonder if the many young people who feel compelled to adorn their bodies with tattoo art have had a reincarnation experience in ancient Egypt.

Carol Chapman

More from Mahatma Gandhi

“I shall not bear ill toward anyone.

I shall not submit to injustice from anyone.”

Carol Chapman —

Another Great Mahatma Gandhi Quote

“I shall conquer untruth by truth.

And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering.”

Carol Chapman —

Mahatma Gandhi Resolutions

I like these resolutions from Mahatma Gadhi:

I shall not fear anyone on earth.

I shall fear only God.

Carol Chapman —

Downloading Photography from Montreal Area

These have been a couple of busy days. I have been downloading the photography I took during my travel to Montreal and Burlington, Vermont, from my media card onto my computer.

I feel happy to see the lovely photography and am relieved that there are many that will be good for next year’s Edgar Cayce Calendar, the Divine in Nature: with Inspirational Quotes from Edgar Cayce.

Carol Chapman —

Montreal Area Waterfall Photography

I’m home now–got in last night after midnight. First thing: Take a look at the photos I took.

Many are lovely. A couple are grand. That’s all I need.

I especially like the waterfall photographs taken at Rowdan, a town northeast of Montreal in the Laurentian Highlands. It’s one of those waterfalls that you can’t begin to show it’s power in a photograph. Maybe in a video.

Still, I feel happy because I have some good pictures.

Carol Chapman —

“Just for a Laugh” Parade Spectacle

Leaving Montreal today. Sad.

However, a huge send off. Happened to be staying at a motel along the route of the “Just for a Laugh” send-off parade. We couldn’t get to our hotel after sending the day driving to the Laurentian mountains to take photos of waterfalls.

The parade started at 9 PM. We couldn’t get on the street with the car until past midnight. But, we did get to walk to see the spectacle . . . and also happened to have a spot at the media area which meant that we saw the most elaborate presentations–for the television camera and I got to see how the huge overhead camera is manipulated–fun.

It was grand! Floating woman-shaped balloon kisses the mascot, this little green guy with devil horns. A huge statue of a man manipulated by puppeteers so it appears the man is walking down the street, just like in a horror movie when the faceless white creature slowly and with determination approaches you.

My favorites with the people dressed in white on stilts wielding large swatches of white fabric so it looked like they were butterflies fluttering their wings or angels. Magnifique!

Montreal Fireworks

Each summer, Montreal fireworks appear for an international fireworks competition. I thought a photograph of a gorgeous pyrotechnic display against the Montreal skyline might make a delightful photograph for next year’s Edgar Cayce Calendar.

Visit to the Carmelite Monastery in Montreal

I couldn’t find directions to the site of the Montreal apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary from 1998 to 2006. However, as described in previous posts, I had discovered the visionary was a Carmelite nun and that there was only one Carmelite monastery in Montreal.

By telephoning the monastery, I learned that mass is conducted every day at 8:00 AM except on Sunday when it’s at 10:00 AM.

And that’s where I went this morning. As the web site says, the monastery is situated in an industrialized part of Montreal. It is at 351 Ave. du Carmel. I also learned that it is not far from the Rosemount Metro Station.

Stone walls surround the monastery. A lovely stone church surrounded, by beautiful, serene grounds holds the small sanctuary which only contains 14 small pews–seven on each side of a central aisle.

Because I did not know that the cloistered nuns would be out of view to the left of the altar, I did not think to sit at the front, right of the pews so I could get a glimpse of them. Perhaps, one of the nuns is the one who saw the apparitions and heard Mary’s messages.

Although I could not understand the French service, I enjoyed basking in the atmosphere even though the man sitting beside me suffered with a bad case of morning breath and occasionally burped or coughed. I reminded myself that if this was the extent of my suffering I had to be a very fortunate person.

Every once in a while, a pitch pipe would sound and the invisible nuns on the left would softly sing, a capella, a short hymn. The people in the pews would join them.

I feel happy that I had the privilege of being in the vicinity of the visionary who had personally experienced Mary (probably) and that I sat in the place that Mary had visited. I say “probably” because I did not talk to anyone to receive verification but have merely made assumptions.

OK, I admit it, I felt lacking in courage even though I prayed for strength. I did take photographs of the church from the outside though. I loved being in a church that honors a woman and a mother.

There was one nun in the sanctuary with us. She wore the brown scapular of the Carmelite order. This is a garment made out of brown cloth. It was originally given to St. Simon Stock of the Order of Mount Carmel by Mary in apparition form in 1251 in England. The scapular is the symbol of the Carmelites. Lay people can also wear a version of it. Mary said that whoever was wearing the scapular upon their death would be saved from purgatory.

There’s more information on the history of the Scapular and the Rosary, Mary’s prayer and beads at this link:

http://www.prayrosary.com/rosaryscapular/history.php3