Daily Merlin: Ancestral Home?

Transcript
Daily Merlin Insight
Servants of the Light tarot
NZ
Wednesday 7th November 2007
9:25pm - 10:25pm

I feel it necessary to consider the possible locality represented by 'the Eight Of Weapons' in recent transcripts. The need to RV the possible surroundings of MM feels important at this moment in time ... the majority of the Daily Merlin workings rely on inspiration and a 'magnetic pull' in order to formulate their focus ....

Tonight I have a 'theoretical location' in mind with regard to where MM is being held. Thus the insights and images relating to this location and any other surroundings will now be intuited ....

There is once more references to the 8 & 9 ... the EIGHT of Spheres, the NINE of Spheres, the NINE of Staves. I can therefore not dismiss the 8th month - 9th month insight.

With regard to the possible location of MM ... I intuit a particular location. With regard to the Nine of Staves it implies an 'ancestral home'. Close to a locality where MM may have once visited before ... familiar faces seem to be close by ... there is an element of familiarity to where she is being held. I am drawn to this scenario time and time again. Close by to water ... a lake more likely than the sea though the sea is in close proximity by car ... with the smell of salt on the air.

There is a sense of 'the least expected' place perhaps there are two sections to this locality - a public part and a residential part. MM I feel is permitted to wander through the grounds and the residential part but is not able to wander to the public part ... locked doors and security eyes which watch.

Those who own the property are well organised, influential with far reaching contacts. Perhaps a consortium of four families or businesses depicted by the four figures on the Prime of Spheres. It seems it was one of the four which instigated the abduction of MM. This ancestral home appears to make the ideal locality for MM to be held. There would be no questions asked if 'diplomatic' vehicles with darkened glass were to turn up at this locality with the occupants asking for a private and discreet way in and out to their quarters.

There is a sense of an airport or landing strip close by. A deer park ... woodland estate and its own golf course. A family lives within the residential quarters ... one of the families of the four ... or employees of the consortium. The consortium has connections to government, and medicine and also real estate ... and also secret societies and religious connections.

Other properties owned elsewhere and an easy means of transporting MM out and across to other locations within Europe at the drop of a hat.

A stately almost historic residence. Plenty of history and character ... polished wooden floors. Red carpets and red curtains. Drapes ... leaded glass.

These impressions have not be provided by the working. The insights from there point to something else ... the definitive pattern of the crystals ... from the Prime of Spheres ... the tigereye is the first stone. Intuition and foresight. Insights and intuitive decisions which led to the abduction of the child which the group appears to have known about since birth. MM is significant to them. Their links to the campaign and/or the family have been established. The link to government of relevance to this group. There is some mania to a cause with this group.

Next to the birth stone is the Green Amazonite .. Green/Emerald Green. The World image ... the appearance now of the situation before the world. The reports in the media ... then 'the invisible' trail as it all goes underground. Epitomised by the User of Spheres ... the juggler seen behind the girl in the foreground. I have come to associate this with when MM was made invisible and she was taken to places where she could not be detected. I sense her journey led to this ancestral home during the subterfuge and the confusion created by the media and the reported sightings in Malta and Belgium.

The Devil and the Four of Spheres, the two crystals which have fallen on these images .... all indicate the attention the media has been given. The diversion of the media contrived by permits one of more of the four within the Prime of Spheres. The need to distract ... hence the continuing saga in the newspapers. The Devil is the 'face your fears' with the appalling news stories commencing with early August onwards. I have the distinct feeling that there has been a delay or a dampener on the return of MM since then? The attention drawn from something significant by the overturning of 'Pandora's Box' and all its perils being unleashed .. with all the horrors and madness seen in the press within recent times.

NOw we wander 'the fine red line' .... the razor's edge which is 'the path of peril' with the news stories potentially going either way ... a tension builder and a distraction as the journey wanders back to where it should have been .... but was blown off course by the cyclone events in August/September/October .... things appear on a more even keel now.

Atop the working is the User of Staves .... the hand of the Unicorn being seen to attack the PJ ... attack their methods and their mishaps. Thus we have the spokesperson who was formerly linked with the Unicorn. The User of Staves appears to oppose the Prime of Spheres .... staves vs spheres ... wands vs coins ... the Prime of Spheres are money men above the law and those who 'are' the law. They who are the spin doctors behind the government. Thus possibly they are the hand which is behind the hand of the government. Are these 'money men' who are behind the taking of MM?

The 8 of Spheres represents the influence behind the hand of the unicorn and between the trail prior to it going invisible and it being permitted to be made visible again. Only the Prime of Spheres knows when ...

The pendulum swings like the sword of Damocles ... at the bottom of the world card is my own personal pendulum ... like a glass bottle is spins round and round on a table. 'Ten green bottles' .... nine ... eight .... seven ... all the way to one ... what then? Do we begin the song again ... or is it time for the glass bottle to stop spinning and will its bottleneck finally point towards the family crisis created by the situation? Apparently somewhere around the McCanns is 'one of their own' linked to the Prime of Spheres. Eyes which observe and know when the time is right to return MM ... when it seems something has been observed .... the Nine of Spheres is the approach of Xmas time ... epitomised by the lights on the tree ... the 9th month is between 3rd Jan and 3rd February .... balancing the 9 of Spheres on the other side of the Prime of Spheres is the Nine of Staves. Harmony between Spheres and Staves ... the pendulum balancing ... but what then?

I was made aware of a French connection. I sensed someone who is conversant in French ... used as an interpreter in the coming weeks.

Sigil Art

Sometime In The Future
SigilArt by Matthew James

Inspired by the Daily Merlin Insight from 6th November 2007. First impressions of the circular background patterns reminded me of the circular glazing patterns I'd remembered seeing on panes of obscure glazing in the UK. It appears to bring the perspective to one of those patterns on a pane of glass. Obscuring the scene beyond the window. It appears too the lower sigil pattern seems like the butt hinge of a door ... the door open slightly. More meditation is required to glean more ...

Courvosier Concerto

Performed live by Micheal Schenker



The guitar maestro himself. Extract taken from One Night At Budokan.

Moon In Libra

At this time - The Moon in the zodiac sign of Libra suggests there is a deep emotional need for harmony in all close relationships.

Those with this aspect in their birth charts are likely to have a courteous and socially-agreeable disposition which will attract many friends. The approval of others is important for emotional self-assurance.


Music, poetry and art will have a soothing and therapeutic effect upon their nature.

Hexagram of the Day

48 The Well
Throughout various cultures and political systems of the world, the well has served as a universal symbol for that which sustains life and provides a constant, inexhaustible source of nourishment for mankind. For the life-force, in other words.

Lir alias Llyr Llediarth

Lir (or Llyr) was God of the Sea, like his son, Manawydan (Manannan). He was represented in medieval Royal pedigrees as Llyr Marini (of the Sea), though completely misplaced in time. Whilst, mythologically, he was Llyr Llediarth (Half-Speech), possibly indicating a foreign origin. He was married to Lweriadd, daughter of Belenos, the Sun-God and his other children included Bran the Blessed and Branwen.

According to the Welsh, he was chief of the gods; but the Irish tell how, when the Tuatha De Danann were driven underground by the sons of Mil, Lir was rejected as chief in favour of Bof. As a measure of reconciliation, the latter offered him the choice of his daughters in marriage (perhaps Lweriadd had died). Lir chose Eve, by whom he had three children; and, when she died, he married her sister, Eva. Unfortunately, Eva became jealous of Lir’s offspring and she lured them to a lake where they were turned into swans! The children were thus forced to spend three hundred years each at three different locations until Christianity overran the land. When finally freed, they were so old that they died soon afterward.

No Solid Evidence Linking Gery & Kate

Daily Express; says: 'The parents of Madeleine McCann were given fresh hope last night after crucial DNA tests concluded there was no evidence to prove their daughter was dead. Scientists at Portugal’s top forensic laboratory have spent months analysing DNA evidence collected from the scene of the child’s disappearance.

But they have been unable to identify anything that indicates the three-year-old died on the night she went missing in May. Tests have also failed to produce any solid evidence linking Kate and Gerry to her disappearance.

It will be a huge boost to the couple and again spotlights the theory that Madeleine could have been abducted and may still be found alive and well.

But at the same time Portuguese police last night launched an extraordinary attack on the McCanns, blaming them for the public’s lack of help in finding Madeleine. A senior police source said people were no longer willing to cooperate because they were tired of having the issue “rammed down their throats”.

He said the Find Madeleine campaign had actually hampered the police investigation.

He added: “They’ve overdone it. People used to look at her picture and well up with tears and spent days walking around the countryside, hot, tired, aching but it didn’t matter because there was that tiny hope they’d find her and it’d have a happy ending. Now they see her picture and it gets no reaction. It’s time to stop. People are turning the other way.”

A senior Portuguese detective even suggested the publicity could have placed the child’s life in danger. Carlos Anjos, chairman of the Portuguese Union of Police Detectives, said: “We were against the release of Madeleine McCann’s photograph all over the world. We thought that the photos should not show the distinct mark in her right eye. If this was a kidnap, which is what we believed from the start, revealing such a distinct feature would put that person’s life in danger.”

Yesterday’s news about the DNA tests came from a source at the country’s main pathology laboratory in Lisbon. He told the Portuguese daily newspaper 24 Hours: “Nothing allows us to say the little girl died in that apartment as no sample was gathered which can point in that direction.” The tests will increase pressure on Paulo Rebelo, head of the investigation, to remove Kate and Gerry’s suspect status imposed on September 7 – four months after Madeleine went missing.

But it is unlikely any decision will be made before more detailed forensic tests at a laboratory in Birmingham are completed. A vast amount of potential evidence was sent to the city’s Forensic Science Service laboratory following a second round of searches of sites in and around Praia da Luz at the beginning of August.

Magick Journal III

The Hour Is Late
The hour is late and the incense has stopped burning. Just the embers just remain. The talisman 'From Within The Great Sea' is now linked to the journal. Formless ones congregate around me. They frustrate me. They remain silent even though I can deduce their shadows moving around me. Movement in the corner of my eye. Too many years of experiences for me to be fooled by hallucination or tricks of the light. I know they are there around me. My clairsentience is awake and I can feel their presences.

But they are merely observers. For a while longer. They will communicate when they choose to. I cannot force the issue. The membrane permits me to dense them but does not enable me to enter into communion for some reason until they choose.

Dream Recall
My sub-conscious will be reminded by way of repetitive confirmations to recall the dreams I have. There is almost always something significant upon waking. A landscape in which I interact which fades on the sound of the alarm in the morning. I am lazy for not recalling it like I was able to a decade or two before today. Then I would submit to journal as many as ten such landscapes and then interpret the situations over the next few days. This state of recovery will return to me ... also the state of more open mindedness ... once I can shift the stress of readjustment away. Once I can embark upon the new circumstances on the manifest plane when the new chapter opens truly in the months to come. Today is another day in the overlap ....

Concentration will return. Like clockwork it will all fall into place ... because after all I enter the sixth of the seven ages of man very shortly. It is that every 7 years ESP and psychic senses return at their fullest capacity. I only have little time left to wait for the next significant threshold

Samadhi

Samadhi is a Hindu and Buddhist term that describes a non-dualistic state of consciousness in which the consciousness of the experiencing subject becomes one with the experienced object,and in which the mind becomes still (one-pointed or concentrated) though the person remains conscious. Sahaj samadhi is the effortless and continual state of perfection of a satguru.It varies from technical terms used to describe the higher levels of concentrated meditation, or dhyana (alt. "jhana"), in Yogic schools, and is considered a precursor for enlightenment, or Nirvana, in Buddhism. It is the eighth and final limb of the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, and comprises the pinnacle of achievements in Samyama, the three-tiered practice of meditation including also dharana and dhyana.

Ritual And The Centre

The purpose of ritual is the uniting of the microcosm with the macrocosm. This can be related, in magical terms, to the invocation and consequent knowledge of and conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel. In mystical terms it is identical to the achievement of Samadhi.

The Holy Guardian Angel is a symbol representing the experience of identify with the the centre or 'I' which is part of the whole Self - the clearest part of it.

All ritual therefore aims to achieve this I or 'centre'. A ritual can only be said to be lawful when it is in line with the true development of the soul. An unlawful ritual is one which is performed for the purpose of gaining certain effects or powers just for the sake of the effect or the power itself and is not in line with the true will or purpose of the magician.

The Mystery of Shekinah

Shekinah means "presence of God" and relates to the feminine aspect of the Holy Trinity. It is the energy that sanctifies from within the dimension of matter or the Holy Spirit. Shekinah is the visible manifestation of the divine presence

Among the Hebrews one of the traditional names of God is the Shekinah, and, interestingly, it is a feminine gender noun. Many Hebrews saw her as the mother or feminine aspect of God.

The early scribes (later called rabbis) added Shekinah in biblical verses where the verb shakhan is used in relation to God. Shakhan literally means "to dwell" or "to live with", or even "to pitch one's tent."

The Shekinah means the God-Who-Dwells-Within, and developed primarily after the destruction of the Temple of Solomon in 587 BCE, especially as it proffered hope to a people lost in bitter exile. To console an Israel in Diaspora, the comforting, forgiving and loyal presence of the Shekinah emerged.

In the Talmud it says: "They were exiled to Babylon, the Shekinah with them. They were exiled to Egypt, the Shekinah with them." Other terms referring to the Shekinah are "the glory" and "radiance", and she was the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites through the Sinai wilderness. She is also closely related to the Sophia tradition in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) in Proverbs and other books. Sophia (a Greek feminine noun) is the Wisdom aspect of God

The Shekinah eventually became an interchangeable term with the Holy Spirit in both Judaism and Christianity. She is often pictured as a bird or dove. In Christianity the Holy Spirit is seen as the Advocate, Guide and Comforter, and we can clearly see the Judaic origins of this tradition

Call upon her for comfort, for advise, for blessing, and for guidance. She will only respond in love and radiant light.

Shekinah is also called Asherah, the 'Queen of Heaven', the consort of god and is equivalent to Nuit, Isis and her manifestations Asnat, Astarte, Ashtaroth, Ishtar and Esther. The 'Book Of Esther' in the old testament includes descriptions of the fertility rites and sacred marriages of Asherah, whilst the Song of Solomon was composed in her honour.

Daily Merlin : A Focus On After The Safe Return

Transcript
Daily Merlin Insight
Using Servants of the Light tarot
Tuesday 6th November 2007
NZ
10:30pm - 11:35pm

Following up on the numerous transcripts were collaborate the insight that MM will be returned safely to her parents after a predetermined time period, known only to her abductors and those who are behind the entire situation, I feel compelled to undertake a working which explores a moment in time after her safe return.

"Insights into surroundings around The Shining Star AFTER her safe return back to her parents."

In the now, just before commencing the ritual working, I have an overwhelming feeling of a group mind comprising of a number of like minds with the same focussed mind set literally willing me not to be able to undertake a working. I sense strongly one mind in particular, that of a woman of elderly years holding a cross ... she is perhaps late 60's or early 70's ... she is totally opposed to anything occult ... I am being overshadowed by someone on the higher planes ... impressing on me this woman resides in MM's home town ... this is a 'Sister Mary' she was given a birth name beginning with J; she is linked in someway to Ireland and a theologist who is closer to the mystery than I will acknowledge here.. I sense 'J' resides in a dwelling close by to Royal Liverpool Hospital. Her mind is strong and she is quite a determined lady. She is not scared ... or fearful ... just devoted to her cause ... I will absorb these distracting energies and use them however is deemed appropriate ....


Interestingly, the Empress significator chooses to remain out of the working. Out of the headlines ... attention away from her earthly counterpart as press conferences are undertaken by the Emperor and the spokesperson epitomised by the 3 of Spheres. 'Tell a little truth with many lies' is the sense here ... all is not revealed as the red curtain is only part away open. It seems at the feet of the Emperor is thrown the red carpet as he is invited to appear on a number of significant broadcasts ... in the 3 of Spheres this red carpet appears to make up the red curtain behind the announcer. there is a line of crosshairs in the background much like the negatives on a photographic negative ... these appearances are scrutinised and are not live on air. Perhaps a documentary explaining the how and the why. Interestingly in this moment in time it is what is appertaining to the Emperor that I pick up on here.

The top images are the NINE of Crescents; the TEN of Spheres and the Eight of Staves. These are that sequence again ... though not in order there is clearly rhe 8,9,10 of previous workings.

The Nine of Crescents and the Ten of Crescents indicates 'they live happily ever after' as a result of a series of clues that lead to a rather ambitious chain of events. the Nine of Crescents and the Ten of Spheres ... a number of substantial sightings ... the sense of this moment in time being at the other side of these events. Madeleine will be returned safe ... the Eight of Staves indicates no brutality or violence ... the ladder like structure like the steps to be taken to ensure her return. The crown atop the structure denotes the value which is placed on her head ... not a reward ... but that which her 'abductors' place on the situation and which ensured they took the risk.

At this point in time sensed in the working they are still at large. Anonymity will not remain forever however. Suspicions point towards a shadow group ... counsellors or tutors it seems. But why because I sense they have nothing to do with it at all.

The Ten of Spheres indicates some substantial 'haul' to be found. A stash of 'evidence' disregarded or the mountains of paperwork to be written as a result of some breakthrough which is not apparently related to the mystery. But know once the someone somewhere has cleaned the linen they wish to clean and a certain ring becomes unbroken ... then the law enforcement agencies will have in their possession damning evidence for those who hold MM ... pre planned procedures were then undertaken and an anonymous phonecall to the hot line leads to a rendezvous in a church of a faith ... and the safe return.

The Giver of Weapons and the High Priestess ... have the bulk of the crystal casting close by to them .... three green stones ... a piece of Turquoise ... two pink stones and a small piece of lace Agate .... suspicion appears to fall on individuals here .... the Turquoise suggests protection or influence on the persona of the High Priestess as she appears to have real influence after all.

The Spokesperson at the time appears to have some professional link with her. A fleeting knowing but nothing more ... The two red stones suggest two children who might have been acquainted with MM at this moment in time or in the past ... will Madeleine remember the times before her abduction? There appears some medical concern ... unfounded ... because Madeleine may well recognise these two children ... does she associate them with her time in 'captivity' or before? The rough green stone ... is a difficult time ... for one of the masculine side of the family ... not Gerry McCann because his significator is not linked to this insight. We appear to deal with elsewhere and a link with the situation depicted by the Giver of Weapons. Back to the times when Maddy had literally just been conceived. Back to a journey to Ireland it appears. To meetings with associates ... and discussions overheard. The lace agate falls on the Giver's mouth ... someone with many twines of influence past on the information they heard to someone who knew of the family and also with some 'unsavoury' characters. Someone somewhere within those shadows did not relish their toes being walked upon in the coming years ...

Thus the circle comes right around ... There are enquiries and hearings. There are links with government officials and rulings on surveillance ... there is some kind of covert investigation. .............. ................. (withheld) ............................

Madeleine's safety has been ensured because she is worth much more to the perpetrators alive than dead. The web of influence which runs from those around the centre of the campaign could not be harnessed in a favourable way if MM was not alive. Clearly, the sense again that the trojan horse can only work with MM being alive and returned alive.

All the direction and all the momentum stems from somewhere least expected. A row of rare Toby Jugs ... a silly insight it seems ... appears hang over a shelf in a residence where this influence emanates from. Somewhere close can keep the investigation one step or two away from the truth; can keep truth concealed and can ensure those behind this will not be discovered. Someone somewhere is spending a great deal of money for this effort by someone.


A lady of middle years ... 55 I am sense ... with light brown hair .... but which was a wig towards the end ... with cherry red lipstick it seems ... who was very ill towards the end ... too much chemotherapy which led to constant sickness ... painkillers in the end. She was a stalwart and an avid blue fan. Sat in a wheelchair at the ground in the end. Mentions Albert but I sense it means she lived close to the park. Taken to the park to sit in her wheelchair to watch the world and to smoke her 'fags' ... Marilyn is the name whispered in my ear ... her speech was affected by a tumour in her throat ... she whispers ... there is a old lady here too ... long white hair ... in track suit bottoms and also in a wheelchair ... with a purse in her hand and a stick in the other ... used to prod people to get them out of the way ... or prod if they ignored her .... she was senile in the end but did not realise. Shows me the centre of Liverpool .... this couple of ladies move in close from the 'other side' ... refering to the dedication and the efforts made with regard to research ... there is some kind of tumour or growth underneath the armpits here ... there was a difficulty in lifting someone's arms. This woman was a character ... and was sadly missed. I can here Donna being called and I had the sense of an Annie. A man wore black and the woman wore white (or it might have been the other way round) ... something significant with black and white ... everything in black and white ... I will let this image fade but the contact will be resumed in future workings.

McCanns & Friends "Jumpy & Nervous"

POLICE in the Madeleine McCann case told yesterday how suspicion fell instantly on the parents and their friends. Two members of the early response team confirmed the investigation was fatally flawed from the start because of “chaotic” conditions at the McCanns’ apartment.

They were speaking publicly for the first time and the Daily Express agreed to their request for anonymity.

Both uniformed officers, beat police in the Guarda Nacional Republicana, said they immediately noticed the strange reaction by the McCanns and their friends to the unfolding tragedy.

“Something wasn’t right,” said one of the men, Officer A. “They were upset, panicking, wide-eyed – all the usual responses. But there was something else. They were scared, and not the usual scared. They were jumpy and nervous. I don’t know, it wasn’t normal. None of it was normal and hasn’t been right the way through.”

It is the first time that police officers in the GNR who answered the emergency 112 call have spoken to a British journalist about events on the night of May 3.

Under Portugal’s strict secrecy of justice laws, and the code of conduct governing its police, the officers – who have 35 years’ experience between them – face serious consequences for speaking out. They were on routine patrol duty from their base at Lagos when they received the emergency call for back-up to the McCanns’ apartment at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz.

The partners arrived within an hour of Madeleine being discovered missing by her mother Kate at 10pm that night, after the couple and seven friends had dined at the holiday complex’s tapas restaurant.

Officer B said: “To arrive as back-up and find a circus walking in and out of a possible crime scene – well, it’s ridiculous. The family and friends had all been drinking. They weren’t falling over, but it was hard to deal with them. I watched my superiors talking to them. It’s always hard to get sense out of panicking people. That’s one of the first things – talk calm, slow them down, force them to calm down. They always think speed is the best thing. They’re frantic, but they can miss out vital information. When you’re scared and pumped full of adrenaline you react like a child, you assume everyone knows what you know.”

Officer B went on: “They were hard to get any sense out of. A good scare sobers anyone up. They weren’t that drunk. They knew what was going on and what they were saying.”

Both officers complained about the delay between Madeleine being found missing and the call to the police, which they said was 40 minutes later.

Commenting on the McCanns’ reaction, Officer B said: “They’re both doctors. They are not at home, they are scared and confused. They don’t know how the Portuguese police or justice work. Human nature is to obey and be as helpful as possible, even if they don’t understand how what they are being asked could help. They should have been tripping over each other to supply whatever they could.” (Daily Express)

A Look at Hermes Trismegistus

Hermes Trismegistus might also be explained in Euhemerist fashion as a man who was the son of the god, and in the Kabbalistic tradition that was inherited by the Renaissance, it could be imagined that such a personage had been contemporary with Moses, communicating to a line of adepts a parallel wisdom. A historian, however, would leave such speculation to the history of alchemy and the nineteenth-century history of occultism.

Both Thoth and Hermes were gods of writing and of magic in their respective cultures. Thus the Greek god of interpretive communication was combined with the Egyptian god of wisdom as a patron of astrology and alchemy. In addition, both gods were psychopomps, guiding souls to the afterlife.

The majority of Greeks, and later Romans, did not accept Hermes Trismegistus in the place of Hermes. The two gods remained distinct from one another.

The Hermetic literature added to the Egyptian concerns with conjuring spirits and animating statues that inform the oldest texts, Hellenistic writings of Greco-Babylonian astrology and the newly developed practice of alchemy. In a parallel tradition, Hermetic philosophy rationalized and systematized religious cult practices and offered the adept a method of personal ascension from the constraints of physical being, which has led to confusion of Hermeticism with Gnosticism, which was developing contemporaneously Dan Merkur, "Stages of Ascension in Hermetic Rebirth".

As a divine fountain of writing, Hermes Trismegistus was credited with tens of thousands of writings of high standing, reputed to be of immense antiquity. Plato's Timaeus and Critias state that in the temple of Neith at Sais, there were secret halls containing historical records which had been kept for 9,000 years. Clement of Alexandria was under the impression that the Egyptians had forty-two sacred writings by Hermes, encapsulating all the training of Egyptian priests. Siegfried Morenz has suggested (Egyptian Religion) "The reference to Thoth's authorship...is based on ancient tradition; the figure forty-two probably stems from the number of Egyptian nomes, and thus conveys the notion of completeness." The Neo-Platonic writers took up Clement's "forty-two essential texts".

The so-called "Hermetic literature", the Hermetica, is a category of papyri containing spells and induction procedures. In the dialogue called the Asclepius (after the Greek god of healing) the art of imprisoning the souls of demons or of angels in statues with the help of herbs, gems and odors, is described, such that the statue could speak and prophesy. In other papyri, there are other recipes for constructing such images and animating them, such as when images are to be fashioned hollow so as to enclose a magic name inscribed on gold leaf.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus known as Hermetica enjoyed great credit and were popular among alchemists. The "hermetic tradition" therefore refers to alchemy, magic, astrology and related subjects. The texts are usually distinguished in two categories the "philosophical" and "technical" hermetica. The former deals mainly with issues of philosophy, and the latter with magic, potions and alchemy. Among other things there are spells to magically protect objects, hence the origin of the term "Hermetically sealed".

The classical scholar Isaac Casaubon in De Rebus sacris et ecclesiaticis exercitiones XVI (1614) showed, by the character of the Greek, the texts that were traditionally written at the dawn of time, to be more recent: most of the "philosophical" Corpus Hermeticum can be dated to around AD 300. However, flaws in this identification were uncovered by the 17th century scholar Ralph Cudworth, who argued that Casaubon's allegation of forgery could only be applied to three of the seventeen treatises contained within the Corpus Hermeticum. Moreover, Cudworth noted Casaubon's failure to acknowledge the codification of these treatises as a late formulation of a pre-existing (possibly oral) tradition. According to Cudworth, the text must be viewed as a terminus ad quem and not a quo.

Modern occultists continue to suggest that some of these texts may be of Pharaonic origin, and that "the forty two essential texts" that contained the core work of his religious beliefs and his life philosophy remain hidden away in a secret library.

Kashmir

Led Zeppelin live



One of their classic songs in concert. I've always been 'into' Led Zeppelin ever since 1st year high school. I've my own personal favourites and enjoy listening to their songs. But, I've spent large parts of my life bored with them .... my interest has always been in fits and starts. I've to be in the right mood for Led Zeppelin. However, there are a number of songs which are an exception to this rule.

Broken Pinkie Delays Led Zep Comeback

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has told Sky News how sorry he is the band's comeback gig has been postponed because of a broken finger. The band's one-off reunion show in London is thought to have prompted 20 million people to try to get tickets - but it has been delayed by two weeks after Page fell over in the dark.

"The light was very dim and I tripped over something and I landed on various bits of my anatomy but of course the crucial part was left hand, little finger," the normally publicity-shy guitarist explained.

The show at the O2 Arena has now been moved to December 10.

"It's unfortunate about the postponement but what can you do? I feel really sorry for the all people involved in the show and the fans who may have been inconvenienced, but roll on the 10th," he added.

The show - the band's first proper gig in two decades - is a charity event in honour of the man who signed Led Zep in the US, Ahmet Ertegun. (Sky News)

Tarot Card of the Day: The Hermit

The challenge of what has traditionally been known as the Hermit card is to be able to recognize a teacher in a humble disguise. This font of mysterious knowledge will not make it easy for the student to acquire his wisdom, as it takes time and long contemplation to fathom what he knows. He often speaks wordlessly, or in ancient and barbaric tongues, communicating with the elements, animals and Nature herself.

While the hourglass was an identifying feature on the earliest Hermit cards, more modern ones have shifted the metaphor, showing more or less light released from his lantern. In either case, the Hermit card reminds us of the value of time away from the hubbub of civic life, to relax the ego in communion with Nature.

Represented by Virgo, the Hermit is a card of introspection, analysis and, well, virginity. This is not a time for socializing; the card indicates, instead, a desire for peace and solitude. Nor is it a time for action, discussion or decisions. It is a time to think, organize, ruminate, take stock. There may be feelings of frustration and discontent during this time of withdrawal. But such times lead to enlightenment, illumination, clarity.

In regards to people, the Hermit represents a wise, inspirational person, friend, teacher, therapist, someone the Querent usually sees alone, someone the rest of the Querent's friends and family may not know about. This a person who can shine a light on things that were previously mysterious and confusing. They will help the Querent find what it is they are seeking.

The Hermit is a card of connections and enlightenment. Combined with a desire to just "be alone," the Querent who gets this card is probably feeling impatient with people who disturb their peace or who can't see what they're seeing ("Are you blind?" might be their refrain, or, more typically, "You just don't get it, and I can't explain it to you."). In typical Virgo fashion, they're likely to be grumpy and anti-social. But for the Querent (if no one else!) this is a special time. Like an artist who hides for days then emerges to paint a masterpiece, this quiet time allows all the pieces to fall into place. So go ahead and encourage them to go on late night drives, long walks, hide in their room or go on retreat for a month. When they come back, they'll see everything in a brand new light. It'll be the best thing for them, and for everyone else in their lives.

After a long and busy lifetime, building, creating, loving, hating, fighting, compromising, failing, succeeding, the Fool feels a profound need to retreat. In a small, rustic home deep in the woods, he hides, reading, cleaning, organizing, resting or just thinking. But every night at dusk he head out, traveling across the bare, autumnal landscape. He carries only a staff and a lantern.

It is during these restless walks from dusk till dawn, peering at and examining whatever takes his fancy, that he sees and realizes things he's missed, about himself and the world. It is as if the secret corners in his head were being slowly illuminated, corners he never knew existed. In a way, he has become the Fool again; as in the beginning, he goes wherever inspiration leads him. But as the Fool, his staff rested on his shoulder, carrying unseen his pack. The Fool was like the pack, whatever it was he could be was wrapped up, unknown. The Hermit's staff leans out before him, not behind. And it carries a lantern, not a pack. The Hermit is like the lantern, illuminated from within by all he is.

Castle Combe, Wiltshire

Original Photograph by Matthew James

Reshep

Reshep was a god of Syrian origin whose worshipped in Egypt was established as early as the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom. Reverence of Reshep extended as far away as Spain. In Egypt, Reshep was considered a god of war and pestilence. As such, Reshep was associated with Montu, Egypt's native god of war.

Reshep was also a protector of royalty. A stela erected near the Great Sphinx at Giza by Pharoah Amenhotep II shows Reshep rejoicing at the then-Crown Prince's diligence in looking after his horses. However, Reshep's powers, especially against pestilence, extended beyond royal circles. Magical text included spells that call upon Reshep, and his wife Itum, to destroy the Akha demon which causes abdominal pains. He was also worshipped as a god who answers prayers.

Reshep was part of triad that included his wife, Qetesh, the Semetic goddess of love, and their child, Min.

Reshep was portrayed as a man who wears the White Crown, with a gazelle instead of the uraeus cobra at his brow. Long ribbons steamed from the back of Reshep's crown. In his right hand, Reshep carried a weapon, usually a spear, mace, axe or sickle. In his left hand, he held a shield, a was sceptre or the ankh. Reshep was frequently depicted with a Syrian-style beard.

Energetic Sweeping

In some of our lives, sweeping has become an activity performed without much thought. In many cases, sweeping is a lost art, replaced by the noisy, efficient vacuum cleaner. But in several cultures and religions, sweeping the front and back porch every morning is regarded as an important cleansing ritual that prepares the ground for new energy on every level—physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. It is often employed to sanctify a space and prepare it for a ceremony. This seemingly simple action has the power to clear away the old and make space for the new. It stirs up the energy in a place, clearing out the astral buildup that is the natural by-product of the presence of humans.

This kind of sweeping is not about cleaning the area of dust. In fact, the broom doesn’t have to actually touch the ground to be effective. You might want to consider having two different brooms, one you use for cleaning dust and dirt, and one you use for energy clearing. If you are so inspired, you could decorate your broom by carving its handle, painting it, decorating it with gemstones and ribbons, or any other creative adornment that appeals to you. You can also make your own broom out of tree branches and twigs, or choose a naturally appearing broom from nature, such as a pine bough.

Sweeping each morning prepares the ground for the new day at the same time as it deepens our awareness of the importance of letting go of the past to welcome the present. As we clear the energy of our space, we clear our own energy systems. In addition, we create a space that feels clean, clear, and open to all who enter. Be sure to think welcoming thoughts as you sweep, manifesting what you need for the day. Making sweeping part of our daily ritual tunes us into the continuing cycle of releasing the old and welcoming the new that is the hallmark of a healthy energy system.

Witness who saw 'Madeleine' in Morocco receives Mafia death threats

A woman who claims to have seen Madeleine McCann being bundled into a taxi in Morocco, says she has received anonymous Mafia death threats. Naoual Malhi, 24, says men claiming to work for the country's crime barons have warned her to keep her mouth shut about what she saw - and ditch plans to probe the sighting herself.

The mum-of-one, whose daughter Ines is Madeleine's age, has told how one growled: "Let this lie if you know what's good for you, your daughter and the rest of your family, otherwise you're a dead woman next time you're in Morocco."But brave Naoual is pressing ahead with plans to defy the threats and return to her homeland to look for the girl she saw.

She is also getting the calls - which come from withheld numbers - taped so she can hand them over to police helping in the hunt for the missing four-year-old.

Naoual, who lives near Marbella, Spain, said: "I'm not frightened by the mafia. It's obvious I'm on to something otherwise they wouldn't be calling. They've warned me I'm going to be killed next time I step on Moroccan soil unless I shut my mouth about Madeleine.But I know the girl I saw getting into that taxi was her and I'm not going to stop until I find her." (Daily Mail)

A Ritual: Daily Merlin Insights

The Daily Merlin insights are in the format of a ritual. They are a repetitive sequence of workings invoked by the magical faculties of the mind. A connection formed between the woken conscious mind and the hidden (occult) super consciousness by way of divination .... usually in the form of specific tarot decks.

The ritual is always undertaken in the same format. Meditation music, which the sub-conscious has come to associate with it being a signal for the connection to be made, is played to create the right vibration in the sacred space and also to aid the mind in adopting the right frame of mind to be sufficiently disciplined to undertake the working.

An image is more often than not chosen as the focus .... so by psychometric means the image will aid in providing the vibration on which to focus the working. This vibration is more often than not further reinforced with a written intention ... the theme of the working for that particular night.

The ritual then proceeds with the actual dialogue being received by the lower consciousness in the form of a written transcript. Whatever the source of the dialogue it is not important. During the time of the working, during the ritual, the mediation is accepted as being real and valid .... and it is the desired effect of the ritual to receive the dialogue ...

The tarot images will always be chosen in the same way ... a ritual within a ritual. The crystals cast onto the tarot to formulate the vibration and shape of the information received by the conscious mind from the super consciousness. The working is then photographed as a closing ceremony within the ritual. The digital image then processed .... and then added to the transcript copy published on A Light In The Darkness.

The entire procedure is a repetition each and every time. Basically ... a ritual is can be described as repetitive and the same thing over and over again. This repetition .. is what gives the working its power .... as the mind anticipates ... and prepares for the connection to be made.

Rituals

A ritual is a set of actions, often thought to have symbolic value, the performance of which is usually prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community.

A ritual may be performed at regular intervals, or on specific occasions, or at the discretion of individuals or communities. It may be performed by a single individual, by a group, or by the entire community; in arbitrary places, or in places especially reserved for it; either in public, in private, or before specific people. A ritual may be restricted to a certain subset of the community, and may enable or underscore the passage between religious or social states.

The purposes of rituals are varied; they include compliance with religious obligations or ideals, satisfaction of spiritual or emotional needs of the practitioners, strengthening of social bonds, demonstration of respect or submission, stating one's affiliation, obtaining social acceptance or approval for some event — or, sometimes, just for the pleasure of the ritual itself.

Rituals of various kinds are a feature of almost all known human societies, past or present. They include not only the various worship rites and sacraments of organized religions and cults, but also the rites of passage of certain societies, oaths of allegiance, coronations, and presidential inaugurations, marriages and funerals, school "rush" traditions and graduations, club meetings, sports events, Halloween parties and veteran parades, Christmas shopping, and more. Many activities that are ostensibly performed for concrete purposes, such as jury trials, execution of criminals, and scientific symposia, are loaded with purely symbolic actions prescribed by regulations or tradition, and thus partly ritualistic in nature. Even common actions like hand-shaking and saying hello are rituals.

In any case, an essential feature of a ritual is that the actions and their symbolism are not arbitrarily chosen by the performers, nor dictated by logic or necessity, but either are prescribed and imposed upon the performers by some external source or are inherited unconsciously from social traditions. (Wikipedia)

A Muse on Ritual

Ritual is a way to "create a perfect space" for the purpose in hand. Ritual is akin to a re-creation of initiation ; one must 'withdraw' into that 'special place' where one may "see clearly". And the notion of the "desert" is important too ; the structure of the ritual first creates the "desert" before filling it with the chosen ingredients.

And of course, the notion that "as above, so below" is paramount : it is within oneself that one creates the ritual, the rest is for greater focus ; ideally , one could perform a ritual entirely in the inner consciousness, with no exterior manifestation whatsoever.

With ritual there may seem to be a limited sense of immediate objectiveness … but in truth ritual will often create a long lasting sequence of repercussion. Knock on effects … each part subtle on its own … but added together into the sequence the effect of ritual is quite clear and beyond the realms of coincidence.

When you go into the desert, you'll come back changed, and right at the step of the door where the path starts ; never forget that.

Daily Merlin: Insights

Transcript
Daily Merlin Insight (Using Servants of the Light tarot)
Monday 5th November 2007
NZ: 10:15pm - 11:10pm

"Insights using an 'open channel' to provide clarity and possible insights with regard to the current wellbeing of the Shining Star"

Before wandering into the working proper, I noticed immediately the Eight of Weapons and the Nine of Crescents; the 8-9 sequence once more. Atop the working is the 8 of Weapons (the locality of the Flaming Sword) - that elusive hideaway which conceal the Shining Star. To the right of the his image is The Priest a.k.a The Hierophant ak.a The Wounded Healer. The elderly former doctor or medical man who suffers from an ailment now himself perhaps? On his head sits a granite fragment - might his illness appertain to something wrong with his head? The man seems to be late on in his years; has much worldly experience and certainly much in the way of qualifications and commendations in his former profession But why would this particular character continually link with the insights relating to Madeleine McCann? Coincidence? Or is it reality that an elderly gentleman is in close proximity to Madeleine?
The central image of the 5 of Spheres reversed ... the sorrow is reversed in some way ... beside the image is the reversed image of The Emperor ... and a sense of admonishment for this significance. Forgiveness by persons unknown with regard to what it was they felt towards The Emperor? The Nine of Crescents indicates a positiveness to the trail; to the search for the 8 of Weapons. Perhaps this is what reverses the 5 of Spheres .... related in some way to the reversal of the Magician and that secretive influence. Tides seem to be turning ...

There seems no reference to Madeleine's well being here. No reference accept that the sorrow which is central to it all has been reversed. There is a timeless quality to this working. Nothing negative and nothing of concern. The Nine of Crescents .... the insight linked to the combination appertains to that time when the wait is finally over, we may never learn of Madeleine's plight during her missing months ... the perpetrators will not wish that to be divulged. Madeleine it appears will not remember. She appears to be in some timeless state. Dare I say almost sedated without causing any undue alarm. At this moment in time I sense she appears to be sleeping quite a number of hours in order for her to avoid witnessing things which are un-necessary for her to observe. The Priest persona appears to be responsible for her well being. I sense strongly she is enduring it all extremely well. The pattern of the crystals appears to suggest a chemical formula or a DNA like structure. The first stone which has fallen on the Magician is my stone of Birth ... the birth of a child .. it relates thus to Madeleine's birth perhaps ... the next stone is a pink crystal and it relates to a single child. Madeleine's well being is important to those who are in possession of her ... this I sense pretty strong. The cyclic nature of the crystals may indicate some ways or means to enable her custodians to induce amnesia or a forgetting of the last six months. It seems there are plans and preparations here perhaps for Madeleine to be returned ... in the near future ... the concerns of those around her ... with regard to her remembering indicate their intentions ... no inclination to harm Maddy but plans to certainly return her.

The sense again of flash photography and a positive sighting of Maddy. There is plans afoot to create a further trail perhaps ... to where the perpetrators wish attention to be focussed. Initials may well be present within the pattern of the casting though I cannot glean their significance.

I sense Madeleine is weary, tired, sleepy. Drifting in and out of sleep. But I also sense too that in recent times she may have been kept up late to tire her out. Too much of a handful for elderly sitters. Maddy appears to have the full run of the house. Wooden floors and walls. Red Mahogany banisters and spindles. Shiny polished floors for stocking feet to slide along. A red setter dog barking in the background wishing to play. Worn rugs in the centre of rooms of polished floors. Old sense to these rooms ... old conference rooms. Within the grounds of an estate. Tall pines and oaks and cedars. Water and hills. A castle like structure indeed to this building ... an annex made to appear like a castle. There seems a golf course close by though it might be part of the estate. A road of the estate cuts through the course ...

Madeleine appears to have sensitive eyes to wafts of smoke. Streaming and red perhaps due to her sneezing. She rubs her nose due to a sniffle. I see her beside a all glass door overlooking a garden but is too tired to play. She coughs and smiles towards the dog. Underneath an ornate table it sits and she wished to play hide and seek.

Sarah seems not to be with her today. She seems only to have the old man and the dog for company. I hear a piercing laugh and a piercing scream ... she runs off down the corridor, up the stairs and into her room. She jumps onto a single bed ... and then picks up a book which has big pictures and big letters ... a book to teach her to read.

A man and a woman now returning ... in the hall. The man dressed almost in hunter's garb. Green body warmer and beige pants ... it seems a deerstalker hat? He is tall and quite well built. In his late 40's to 50's ... the woman stands with her back to him and is talking on a phone ....

Hardest Space Repairs

Houston had a problem. A solar wing on its space station was ripped, which meant astronauts had to launch one of the most difficult and dangerous spacewalking repairs ever attempted. (Sky News)

On The Turning Away

Live Performance by P i n k F l o y d



Taken from the 'Delicate Sound Of Thunder' album

Sigil Art

Path of The Flaming Sword
Original Sigil art by Matthew James

Inspired by the most recent Daily Merlin insight crystal casting ....again, the background pattern 'evolved' during the creation of the Sigil design.

Creating A Golem

In folklore, a golem or a dybbuk is a mindless automaton created by a magus for the sole purpose of working his will. A mindless automaton devoid of idiosyncrasies and personality is much safer in this sort of work because we've all heard the horror stories of these sort of beings gaining too much self-awareness, power and eventually turning on the magus, especially if you are feeding them blood. But be admonished that there are no guarantees that the creature will not develop a personality of its own.

The first thing required is the creation of a sigil that binds the golem. Any method of producing a sigil will work and it doesn't matter in this case if the sigil suggests the entity to the conscious mind.

The next step is to create some sort of physical object with which to contain the golem when it is not out doing work. This object will also serve as the physical receptacle of libations. One suggestion is to cut a small disc of wood about 25 - 50mm thickness then carve the sigil onto the disc. It doesn't need to be anything elaborate, or equally it can be as elaborate as imagination or the conscious mind decrees.

The next step is to decide what the golem is to "look" like, even though the creature will only exist on the astral. Produce a preliminary sketch to help facilitate visualisation the "incubation" period. The Golem will also need a name.

Next come up with some sort of ceremony for creating the thing within the disc or depiction of it. Any methods of producing gnosis can be used and once gnosis achieved, the being should be visualised inside the disc as intensely as possible. One suggestion is opening with the Qabalistic Cross or Star Sapphire ritual beforehand to emphasise the fact that we are microcosms of God (however you want to define him) and have the power to create life.

The exact means of energising the Golem has been deleted at this point ... it is not my intention to provide actual full working details of rituals and high magick methodology.

Repeat this procedure daily for however long you deem fit. Until you can feel that the being is becoming more and more real on the astral level. What is the initial feeding and preparation is termed the incubation period. Incubating it gives you more of a window and doesn't leave a lot of pressure to do everything exactly right on the first try. You will begin to feel what works best and what doesn't and I advise you to omit or amend my suggestions in any way to find a method that works better for you.

*IMPORTANT* If banishment is undertaken before any sort of magickal work, make sure to remove the disc or depiction from the room before banishing during the incubation period. Otherwise the baishment will banish the embryonic and germinating golem. After sending it out on a task, however, using a banishing ceremony can act as a fulcrum to propel it or give it a little push in case it wants to hang about.

After the incubation period, the golem can be sent out to undertake a out task for the magician. Something of this sort should be said at the period of evocation and you may want to point a ritual dagger or wand at the disc or depiction for emphasis:

"Hear me now_____________! I who fashioned you from the ether and shadowy astral substance charge you to rise from the disc bearing your essence and appellation. I who fashioned you on the subtler planes for the sole purpose of working my will upon this one, command you now to hear and fulfill this task. I who feed and fuel your very existence evoke and entice you to________________. Fulfilling this and all tasks I give you is your birth-right and justification for having been created. Obey now with full cooperation and faithfully serve your lord/lady who created you and will destroy you if you are disobedient."

The task should direct, as simply and as clearly stated as possible.

I'll omit the ways and the means of 'calling back' the golem, however it doesn't take much in the way of imagination to devise a "calling back" ceremony, in truth, once the task is done. Also, if the golem fails consistently, make good on the threat to destroy it by burning the disc or depiction and thoroughly banishing it. If the Golem is sent out on long tasks such as protection of another person be sure to call it back at least once a week to feed it.

Waikato River

Waikato River, Hamilton
Photograph by Matthew James

I just want Maddie back

With green and yellow ribbons in her hair and cuddle cat hanging limply from her hand, Kate began crying uncontrollably in the arms of a pal.

Kate, standing in the aisle of the church near her home in Rothley, Leics, then buried her head into her female friend’s shoulder whispering through her tears: “I just want her back, I just want her back.”

Behind her, on a board with the message “Pray for Madeleine”, were six photographs of her daughter.

Earlier in the service husband Gerry had tenderly stroked the nape of Kate’s neck.

An onlooker said: “Kate is supposed to be the ice maiden, who some have accused of faking tears in a TV interview. There was nothing fake about the tears here. Many found it unbearable to watch." (The Sun)

Softening And Expanding

In order to get what we want in life, we have to be willing to receive it when it appears, and in order to do that we have to be open. Often we go through life with defenses we developed early on in order to protect ourselves. These defenses act as barriers, walls we needed at one time to feel safe, but that now serve to shut out desired influences, like intimacy or love. So an essential part of being receptive to what we want is to soften these barriers enough to let those things in when they show up. For example, we may spend a lot of time alone as a way to protect ourselves from being hurt by other people, but we can see how this is now preventing us from meeting new friends.

Another obstacle to our receptivity can be our tendency to believe that we have to act aggressively in order to achieve our desired goal. This can cause us to become mono-focused and to fail to see, and be open to, opportunities on the periphery of our vision. So becoming receptive involves a softening of our defenses and a willingness to remain open to possibilities outside our immediate realm of vision. If we are looking for love or friendship, it means first looking within ourselves to see where we are shut down, and second, not getting too fixated on where we might find the love we want. In this way, we become more open as individuals and more expansive in terms of what we see as possible.

Often, the things and people we want to draw into our lives elude us because we are unconsciously blocking them out, either with our defenses, or with tunnel vision that causes us to not see them when they appear. When this is the case, we can take action by exploring and softening our barriers, and expanding our vision to encompass new possibilities. These actions are the essence of receptivity.

Symbolism of freemasons

Symbolism a language that can communicate either consciously or subconsciously that is all around it... being symbol illiterate is almost as bad as being illiterate, below I will post links that you can increase your symbol literacy and begin to understand what is all around us in everyday life.

The purpose of this video is by looking at this video and noticing the symbols you can bring to a conscious level what is already all around you and you can begin to notice placement of symbols and you begin to recognize and notice symbols an embolism you may begin to become aware of where you have seen them before an in many forms all around you.

The meaning of symbols speak for themselves.. Study symbolism and decide for yourself. See the below link for video pictures and explanations of symbols which are VERY fascinating:

A Passage to Bangkok

Live Performance by R u s h



A R u s h classic. Also a favourite track of mine from the 2112 album.

Out of Sequence

There appears to be a problem with the Blogger.com site tonight. A number of posts have been published out of sequence. The post 'The Vibratory Formula' should appear after the news item relating to the town in Morocco which is currently under scrutiny with regard to the locality of Madeleine McCann. Also tonight's Daily Merlin The Flaming Sword should be the last post on the blog prior to this one.

The Daily Merlin post and the Vibratory Formula post both have the wrong time of posting recorded on them

The remote Moroccan town that could hold the key to finding Madeleine

This is the remote and barren Moroccan town that could hold the key to the whereabouts of Madeleine McCann.

Beggars lie in the shade outside the run-down cafes and shops that line the dusty streets of Karia Ba Mohamed, which nestles in the mountains near the city of Fes.

Far from the tourist traps of the country's north coast, Karia is a working-class farming town where Western faces are rarely seen.

Yet this shabby enclave is now the focus of the hunt for four-year-old Madeleine. Detectives from the Metodo 3 investigating team - the Spanish private detective agency hired at great expense by the McCanns to trace their daughter - claim they were phoned by a schools inspector from Karia, who said he had potentially crucial information.

He told them he had seen Madeleine, and his story is said to be backed up by several others.

The trail to Karia began a month ago when Naoual Malhi, a Spanish woman of Moroccan origin, claimed she saw a child with a striking resemblance to Madeleine in the Moroccan coastal resort of Findeq. (Daily Mail)

Audio Illusion

This is a recording of Shepard’s ascending tones, also called Shepard’s Paradox. When you listen to the recording two or more times in quick succession, the pairs of chords sound as if they’re advancing up the scale with each successive play.

Is it real, or are your ears deceiving you?

Auditory illusions are illusions of hearing -- the sound equivalent of an optical illusion where your eyes deceive you. Depending on the illusion created, you may hear sounds that are not present in the recording, or other “impossible” sounds. These illusions highlight areas where your ear and brain differ from perfect audio receptors, for better or worse.

In Shepard’s Paradox, the starting pair of chords is in fact the same as the finishing pair, creating an auditory illusion that the pitch gets higher with each play. If you looped this sample seamlessly, it should be impossible to tell where the sample begins and where it ends.

Silbury Hill

Silbury Hill, Wiltshire, UK