The celestial Queen
More than merely little points in the sky – ‘petit points’ – Cleopatra used the stars to manipulate the present and anticipate the future. In tough times – plague, famine, war – the stars helped her lead her people and come out stronger than before. The fated sky was Cleopatra’s compass and guide. Astrology, based on the direct correlation between astronomical phenomena and experiences in the human world, was fundamental in the belief system of the Ancient Egyptians. Not surprisingly, growing up, Cleopatra was taught a combination of astrology and astronomy – there was no differentiation yet – and her royal entourage always included some well-respected astrologers. The ‘Celestial Queen’ is even believed to have commissioned the stunning starry ceiling of the Dendera Temple: one of the best-preserved ancient diagrams of the cosmos, featuring the Egyptian gods as signs of the zodiac.
“The myths of the world resemble each other as dialects of a single language,” Joseph Campbell said. And indeed, it feels like through these archetypes, Cleopatra is speaking to us across oceans of time and vast, starry skies. “I may have been a queen and a goddess,” she seems to say, “but really I was a lot like you: a human, marveling at the workings of the universe.”
- Share
MD Friends
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.
- Share
MD Friends
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.”
- Share
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.
- Share
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.
- Share
 food "Pinterest")
