The soul is symphonic
Once, there was an angel, adorned with bedazzling jewels. His name was Lucifer, and he was the brightest of celestial beings. But when he was cast into hell, his precious stones - bright yellow citrines, glowing amethysts, sparkling sapphires etc. - rained down upon the earth.
According to Hildegard von Bingen, thanks to their heavenly origin, from now on these gems had magical healing powers. Besides dedicating a song to them - 'O splendidissima gemma!' (Oh, most splendid gem!) - she described the stones' healing properties in detail in 'Physica', her classic work on health and healing. The dark red garnet, for example, was praised for its heart-strengthening effect while Hildegard called the emerald the embodiment of her concept of 'viriditas' ('greening power'): nature's power to renew and refresh the human spirit. "Precious stones are born from fire and water. They contain many powers and are effective for many needs," the mystic mineralogist explained.
And let's not forget their bewitching beauty! Whether you believe in their healing energy or not, it's easy to imagine Hildegard and her sisters shining brightly with their heavenly gems while a particular wayward angel is casting jealous looks from the fires of hell.
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Building bridges
From the Erasmus Bridge and the Mercedes-Benz Museum to Qatar’s metro network; Ben van Berkel’s iconic landmarks bring people together in rapturous beauty, again and again. I talked with the Dutch architect and educator about sensuality, ‘healthy’ buildings and the remarkable parallels between our designs.
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More than a feeling
Don’t ignore your emotions; they are much more powerful than you can imagine. By linking the magical world of emotions with hard science, Dutch scientist Pierre Capel, professor emeritus in experimental immunology, shows us the consequences of our feelings and the power of our minds. The message: we can do much more than we think. “Meditate. It’s the single best thing you can do for your health.”
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Marlies Says
Keto curious?
The fact that I feel bikini-confident all year round is, of course, a nice bonus. But for me, the biggest payoff of following the keto diet is the way it optimizes my health and gives me tons of energy.
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Marlies Says
Super (skin) food
‘If you can’t eat it, why put it on your skin?’. I pretty much live by this beauty adage. After all, with your skin being one of your body’s largest organs, anything – and I mean anything! – you put onto your skin will end up in your bloodstream.
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