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According to the Seneca creation story the unseen world is known as the “world in the sky”. The sky world is home to the tree of life; its roots grounded deep into the soil of the earth. The tree emitted light during the day and darkness during the night.

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The world is controlled by a chief and his people consist of celestial beings. Life there was perfect. There was no death and no want for food. It is in this world that good and evil was created according to the Seneca. The unseen underworld so to speak is created when two brothers pulled the tree of life from its roots, causing it to fall inward to the world below.

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One brother’s wife looked over the edge and was impregnated by a wind. The brother proceeded to push her over and she became the mother of the underworld. Once there she gave birth to her daughter. She told her daughter she would marry and bear two sons.

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One of those sons, the evil on, murdered her. Her remains seeped into the earth and became what the Seneca called, and the Mayans and Inca, the “Three Sisters”, or “Triad of Three Sisters”. The sons then had the capability to create life, good and evil. Like many religions, this unseen world of the Seneca is a place where spirits are in repose and where people, plants, animals, rivers and lakes are created.

 

Also check out:

The Unseen World: Anthropological Exercise

Anthropology Study: Do You Believe In The Unseen World?

The Catalan city of Barcelona quite rightly dominates the agenda for any visitor to this north-eastern corner of Spain. After all, Barcelona is a city fashioned by city-lovers, home to some the world's most treasured architectural gems. A traveler to Catalonia could quite easily fill half-a-dozen vacations, just within its gilded districts. But that would be a shame. Barcelona is a city defined as much by its wider setting, nestled between sea and mountain, as it is by its world-renowned cityscape.

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So if you want to get a proper feel for the Catalan spirit, it would be well worth stepping outside of the crowded capital – and setting your compass to wander beyond, and around, Barcelona. So let's head out south-west first, along the coast and its warm Mediterranean sea breezes. Of course, the sea is a strong allure within Barcelona too. But for all the attention focused on the exquisite urban beaches of Barceloneta and Sant Sebastià, it is when you escape the claustrophobic clutches of town – and roam along the Costa Dorado – that you get a true feel for the Catalan coast.

Here the beaches are long, open and a rich shimmering gold – Costa Dorada means quite literally Golden Coast. The combination of sun, sea and sand has led to parts of the coast becoming crowded with tourists. But just a little inland, you will find winding roads that string together a dozen ancient fishing villages, often gathered around hilltop castles. Pirates and corsairs were a threat for the locals for many centuries, so the need for a fortified retreat was on many-a-villager's mind.

Year of the dragon

Bernard Gagnon

And just 50 miles from Barcelona is the archaeological wonder of Tarragona, home to spectacular Roman aqueducts and amphitheaters. These have earned the town the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and top to-do list for any visitor. But if you're in Tarragona in September, a completely human architectural wonder can be seen too – the world-famous Castille human tower competitions take place here, as part of a 10-day festival.

Swinging back north-east along the interior roads, you'll quickly find gleaming white-and-gray hills of the Garraf and Olèrdola Parks, which form a contrasting backdrop to the gold-and-blue coast. Cool gorges compete with sun-swashed plateaus, dotted with caves and chasms, in land of outstanding natural beauty. And a little further north lies one of the most dramatic visages in Catalonia – the razor sharp pink ridges of Montserrat.

Quite inspirational on approach, as they tower out of the surrounding plains, these peaks slice 3,000 feet up into the air. Their drama has been both a poetic and religious inspiration through time – the Catalan poet Jacint Verdaguer saw them as being cut by angels with a golden saw. And nestled within Montserrat's pinnacles is the centuries-old Benedictine monastery, lying directly beneath frowning sheer cliffs of pink rock.

Curling back east through the pine-clad hills of Parque Natural de Sant Llorenç, and the bustling towns just north of Barcelona, you eventually break through to Catalonia's other coast, the Costa Brava. The atmosphere here is very different to that of the Costa Dorada. The hills spill right down to the sea here, creating an endless series of cliff-tops, bays and hidden coves. Again, some parts of the coast here have suffered from a rush to develop tourist facilities, so some beaches are crowded-out both with people and hotels.

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But there is also plenty to pick from, for those looking for an authentic slice of Catalan culture. A good example is Cadaques, found close up to the French border. Once a sleepy fishing village, Cadaques became something of an artistic honey-spot in the last century, drawing in artists such a Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. That's not surprising given the beauty of the setting, with its checkered white-and-red streets enfolded by verdant hills, and mirrored by the azure sea.

And this part of Catalonia is also home to the vineyards that produce the sparkling delights of cava, the Spanish champagne. The Penedès region is one of the oldest vine-growing parts of Spain, with Sant Sadurní d'Anoia as the acknowledge capital of cava. As the celebratory drink of choice is Spain, a glass of cava may well be in order for the intrepid traveler -- having explored the scene in which Barcelona plays center-stage.

This guest post is contributed by Wozniacki, a fitness instructor who owns a website offering fitness tips & workout plans at BuildMuscle.org

Can you remember when you first sat upon a two wheel bike? Your dad or mom would give you a light push and you’d sail down the road in style in front of all your neighbors. You’re bike would have those adorable tassels on the handle bars or a loud horn to push every time you passed by a friend. Bikes back then were pristine. They were built to last, yet many stores these days offer a cheap rendition of an old classic and they never last. Well, if you’re like me, I like a product that had withstood competition and remains one of the most trusted brands offering those balance bikes we love.

KETTLER pedal cars have been around since 1961 and they remain some of those most innovative and well built children’s bikes in the world.  One aspect of these bikes you must remember is that they are pedal powered. What this means is that you child no longer has the luxury of a power operated, often terribly made, power car or bike, but can use his or her legs to peddle to a healthy lifestyle. We take this granted when it comes to kids. Instead of purchasing another video game or movie, why not promote active play.

The highly publicized area of Petra has more significance than its modern-day use as a beautiful tourist location that many refer to as the rock-built “rose red” city. Although famously portrayed in such movies as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Arabian Nights, and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, the red city has deep roots in Biblical archaeology. Even so, it continues to be of high interest to many, including world travelers, Biblical Archaeologists and historians.

The city is known for its beautiful rock cut architecture that dates back to the BCE late century. As a semi-fortress, it was attractive to kings because it was easier to control and protect than other nearby geographic locations. The Edomites, Nabataeans and the Romans found it to be of significant economical and archaeological advantage, because of its close 80-kilometer proximity to the Dead Sea and narrow entrance.

Read the Full Story: Petra and the Bible @ Ancient Digger Archaeology