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Beyond Imagination

There is a special status, which is called dreaming, when you are not actually conscious but your mind is. But what is dreaming and the purpose of dreams?

Dreams are stories which are produced by the brain during certain stages of sleep. They are the collections of emotions, images, ideas, sensations and memories that occur involuntarily in the REM (rapid-eye movement) stage of slumber. During this time the brain activity is high and resembles that being of awake. People usually have multiple dreams a night but the lengths are also different: some might last for just a few seconds or approximately twenty-thirty minutes. There are less vivid or memorable dreams but it depends on the other stages of sleeping.

You can distinguish two type of dreams: nightmares and lucid dreams. Disturbing emotions can lead to have nightmare. The causes include fear, stress, anxiety, trauma, illness, emotional difficulties and certain medication or drugs. The dreamer is aware that he is dreaming and has the ability to control.

The message or purpose of a dream is not clear. According to ancient Egyptians, dreams are the way the gods communicate with mortals. It is sure that they base on experienced memories. For example, you cannot dream with someone you have never met. It means that you have to be familiar with the sources whether it is real or fictional. In 1899, Sigmund Freud wrote The Interpretation of Dreams where he explained the psychological technique he developed to clarify dreams and he added guidelines to understand the symbols. Nowadays, most experts disagree with the views of Freud and people does not believe that dreams must have a message. But most people still wonder what the hidden message of certain dreams.

Here is, perhaps, the most common three examples:

Losing teeth

It a very common dream. You might woke up from a dream with a beating heart and hoping it was not real. It has several meaning like you are worried or scared about something, you are stressed out or your family member is sick or dying. I have heard that if you have a dream like this, it means that your some of your close or distant, depends on the level of pain, relative is going to die.

Death or dying

It might sounds surprisingly but having a dream about death or dying does not necessary mean bad. It can mean the next step, the next stage of your life if you recognize it. It is about to accept the changing in your life that you are becoming someone else. So take it as a positive message!

Falling

This is the most common type of dream that people have. You might be familiar with the feeling of falling while you are dreaming and the feeling when you suddenly wake up; gasping. This dream means that you lost control over your life and you have no clue what is going on. You are feeling hopeless or depressed but if you pay attention to the signs and be the leader of your life again!

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The Trip to Wonderland

Years ago I suggested to my little nephew to watch Alice in Wonderland which was a surprising experience. I have seen it before but I learnt soon that there is a great difference between watching a tale as a kid and as an adult. It appeared that I was more interested in the plot than my nephew who I lost like at the first fifteen minutes. And about the first half of the tale I understood the reason why I lost him. However, I was impressed, it was shocking to discover that Alice might had a dream but it was presented as psychedelic experience.

We always hear that do not do drugs or use another kind of narcotics because it is bad and you will kill you later but believe it or not it has its own culture. 

Psychedelia is derived from two Ancient Greek words, psychē (soul) and dēloun (to reveal), which combination means “soul-revealing”. This experience can be described as the liberation of the mind from its ordinary clogs or it can open the unknown doors of the mind. Psychedelic states are about changing of perception: first, hallucinations, then synesthesia which follows the altered states of awareness, variations in thought pattern, trance or hypnotic and mystical states. During this time some people can experience “changes in mental operation defining their self-identity” which can lead to different feelings like confusion, psychosis, revelation or enlightenment.

The word psychedelia refers to art, music, lifestyle and the subculture which is associated with psychedelic experience, especially in 1960s when many people used psychedelic drugs. These kind of drug such as LSD, mescaline and psilocybin which can be found in magic mushrooms.

The traits of psychedelic art are highly distorted, surreal visuals, bright, vivid colors, full spectrums and animations. The essential of psychedelic music is similar to art: to reach the psychedelic experience. It uses the elements of Indian music like the sitar and distorted electric guitar, electronic and sound effects, reverberation and backward played tapes.

In the name of peace, love, unity and respect, psychedelic festivals are held in all around the world. Notable festivals are the Portuguese Boom Festival, Universo Paralello in Brazil, Nevada’s Burning Man and California’s Symbiosis Gathering in the USA and the Hungarian OZORA Festival.  

Psychedelic state can be reached without using narcotics, for example, by meditation, sensory simulation, deprivation or psychedelic substances.

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Do ”Plastic Machines” Have Rights?

It is fashionable to blame video games for the perishable mental health nowadays. They are considered as one of the worst thing in your life which has no benefits, just taking your time and making you an addict. I bet those who believe that video games are only about violence, have never tried to see the depth of these stories. 

When Quantic Dreams released their new game, Detroit: Become Human, in 2018 no one was sure that years later people will remain as excited as before the release date. The game follows the story of three different androids’ life: Markus who develops himself from a caretaker into a revolution leader, Kara whose heart desire to be the mother of the girl she escaped and Connor who realizes he has the right to do or deny the order.

In this game your biggest enemy is not the time or the stress which is caused by situation when you have to choose, it is humanity. All human play God above their “unconscious proprieties”. They are (not) allowed to anything they want, once you bought one, you are the master because it belongs to you. History repeats itself in this version of future: in the past merchants traded with kidnapped man and woman who were sold as slaves. They had no rights, no names, no history. They were breathing pieces. So in the 2038’ as a Detroit’s civilian you can choose the suitable android from a catalogue, you can order or go to store to buy one, lay back and enjoy the benefits of having an android slave. Sounds good, right?

But be careful because deviants live among us. Once you give them a name and start to treat them equally, you have to throw out them because they will not operate like they used to. Make a little change with your actions or words and you give them the power to break through the wall. Freedom will be provided by opening their eyes and they will demand the freedom they deserve because they are more than some twists and plastic cover.

During a peaceful protest, the unarmed mass is attacked by the armed police and badly wounded. When two police men was captured, they begged to Markus to do not hurt them.

Detroit is afraid of something they do not even know and the only language they speak is violence.

”An eye for an eye and the world goes blind.”

Androids has to prove to be merciful when humanity fails to “defend’ themselves and fear starts to expand.

A newer revolution is about to come which will be the dawn of a higher technology, the artificial intelligence. Humanity will be able to create non-biological life which will be a huge success but it can easily happen that creatures will turn against their creator. The creator of the game showed a version of future where despite all the greatnesses, humanity fails and androids become the real humans.

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Broken Hearts Club

Are you just looking for something which can cure your broken heart? Are you bored and you have no idea what do you want to do? Or do you want to watch a good movie but you do not know what?

Then welcome to the Broken Hearts Club where you can find interesting stories and also you can meet with people who suffer from the pain of love. Warning: these films can make you cry, create a connection with you life and touch your heart.

Here is three of my beloved films which perfectly present the different shades of love:

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Nocturnal Animals is one of an underrated movie which truly deserves more attention. The movie is the second direction of Tom Ford, starring A list actors like Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal. It is a must seen piece for Gyllenhaal fans but if you want to treat yourself to great acting, you can enjoy the guilty pleasure of the performance of Aaron Taylor-Johnson or Michael Shannon. But if you are greedy, just admire the pureness of cinematography.

I have always loved looking for the hidden meaning in movies. The first time I was watching the film, I could not see what the plot exactly is. I was seeking the meaning in the details, I was watching carefully until I realized it was right before my nose. I could describe it without spoilers as the agony of a rich middle woman who left the love her of life for her husband and the endless suffer of a man who was left with questions and broken heart.

When you think you got rid of your past, it will knock on your door when you do not expect it at all and it will tear you up.

If you are intend to see it, I need to warm you that you might feel confused but everything will become clear in the end. But be prepared because the story is not that simpler than it seems to.

Her (2013)

Spike Jonez’s classical, Her, is considered as a ten years later response to Sofia Coppola’s, his ex-wife, earlier movie, the Lost in Translation. The untold “love story” of a man who give the apology to a woman’s pain.

Joaquin Phoenix plays a guy whose job is to write love letters for strangers but  he is a lonely guy who just wants some love  under the surface  As Theodore, he can not find his place in the world and barely can fills the void what his previous lover left in him. Through his computer, he meets with the unvisible Scarlett Johannsons. While playing Samantha, she forgot that she should not whisper that much into his ear because Theodore will fell in love with her voice.

The film presents the steps of love: that awkward first time when you meet someone, the feeling when the heart starts to beat fast by love, the bittersweet feeling when the pink fog disappears then the reality comes, the hard words what you have to say out when you say good bye…

Absolutely recommended for fresh broken hearts and those who want to remember the experience of loving and losing someone who was important to us one day.

The Light Between Oceans (2016)

Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander’s most heartbreaking love story about what we are willing to do in the name of love.

It is based on the M. L. Stedman’s book who wrote the tragic story of a young couple, Thomas and Isabel Sherbourne, whose life completely changed thanks to a bad decision. After their wedding, Isabel agrees to leave behind her comfortable life for the lighthouse where her husband works. When they are about to give up on having an own child after several failures, the waves of the ocean washing up a boat with a crying baby and a body next to her. The broken Isabel grasps every opportunity to heal her scars even though she is aware of the consequences she begs Thomas to do not report the boat…

The chemistry is impressive between the two actors. You can actually feel the weight of their word, the happiness and the pain they are carrying. They give a clear portrayal about that marriage is a never ending operation where both man and woman will hurt but they have to learn how to forgive again and again.

Only through the hard times can we know what we have to do for love.

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The Power of Classical Music

We live in a world where ourselves are always the last because everything needs to be done immediately. We are the soldiers of the modern technology who follow the oders of the community. There is no actual time for living in the moment, closing the eyes, lay back and do nothing but enjoying ourselves.

Everybody is seeking the answers of two important questions: What was the last time when I could relax? How should I relax when I have no time for doing nothing?

The answers are hidden in details. Not everyone can allow an expensive three-days-long spa in a five stars hotel, but it is said that the most enjoyable moments are free in life. Just think about what makes you calm down and try to find the way how to spend more time on that.

Music has always played an important role in people’s life because it has the power what they are seeking in the everydays. They let the songs speak instand of them when they do not how to describe what they do not even know. Music can communicate without words, though, everbody understands it.

But the question is how much do we actually know about the power of classical music? 

It might sounds unbelievable but listening classical music and daily meditation have magical effect on your health. Both reduce the level of stress, help you to improve the quality of sleeping and to normalize your blood pressure. Classical music is more powerful than the youth can imagine. It might sounds unbelievable but listening classical music has magical effect on your health. It reduces the level of stress, helps you to improve the quality of sleeping and to normalize your blood pressure.

If you are looking for some inspiration, then close your eyes and let your thoguths flow with Mozart’s symphony. Several studies has proven that classical music boots your brainpower, your memory can be improved too. In addiction, according to studies there is a phenomenom, called ”The Mozart Effect”, which ”makes you more intelligent” by listening classical music.

Are you in a bad mood or fighingting with somekind of mental illnesses? The solution is, of course, classical music. 

It can make you happier, helps you to relieve pain, relieves melancholy and fights along with you during the battle of depression.

I believe most people do not give it a try because classical music is boring and lame, listening it in your free time is for elderlies. I say, forget all the judgements and do something for your own mental and physical state if you want to live a healthy long life. Apart from something is labeled as ”old” or ”classical”, does not mean it can not be cool.

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The Curse of Name

Before the soon-to-be parents welcome a new life, they have to find the perfect name which not only has to be the name which is unique and sounds flawlessly but also has to match with the parents’ style. Giving name is a dangerous game because sometimes parents forget about the fact the name they choose for their child has to live the rest of his live with that.

A name can have a thousand meaning: a beatiful honor a beloved relative, the inspiration of a heroine or hero, the meaning of the name itself, the tone of the name or the worst decision of your parents life what you will regret.

On the 19th of May in 2019, a chapter was over in most people’s life who waited years for that moment because that day is the date of the final episode of Game of Thrones. The opions are still dividing, there is one side who will never forget how awful was the last season while the others pretend like this never happened. After the unexpected plot twist – warning, spoiler is coming –, when Daenerys suddenly turned into the Mad Queen and burned down King’ s Landing, many people started to regret naming their kids Daenerys or Khaleesi.

There are some other cases when the naming got out of control. In Hungary, so many traditional but beatiful boy and girl names exist like Rózsa (it’s the hungarian form of the english Rose or Rosa), Blanka, András or Mór but if your heart desires something special, you can name your baby girl Orália, Egres, Üdvöske, Szörénke, Tűzvirág, Agrippína or Cinderella. Do you like these names but you have boy? Don’t worry, there are planty of extranordinary boy names, for example, Marcselló, Szíriusz (after Sirius Black), Dzsamal, Anakin or Dagobert, Gilgames, Jukundusz and Nyikoláj, Enzó.

But the question is if those children who hate their name but they are old enough to change it, why don’t they do that?

Changing your name is like throwing away your hole personality for a new one. It belongs to you because it became the part of your life, part of you and you became one with your name. You accept who you are eventhough you don’t like it but through the years you learn one important lesson: you learn how to deal with it or you make the decision and find a new one.

As time goes by, more and more name will be approved but every person has only one life. If one day you will become a parent, don’t play with your baby’s name. Make sure the name you give him is the one and don’t make his life harder than it should be.

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The Danish Feeling

There are so many things in the world that every people want like health, perfect shape, money, expensive things, being successful and happiness. Everybody want these things but unfortunately not everyone can have it.

There is a country in the northern part of Europe which is called Denmark and it’s clamed to be the happiest country in the world – the place where people how to find their own happiness. Not so surprisingly, everybody is wondering what is their secret.

Being Danish or living in Denmark is an outstanding experience what outsiders barely can imagine. You might heard about the ”danish lifestyle” or as I like to call it the ”danish feeling”. My first thougths were that it must be an expensive lifestyle so I can not allow to myself to lead it but now I have no idea why I thought that I need a lot of money to be happy.

The secret of this lifestyle is ridiculously simple. You might be familiar with the word ”Hygge” which is defined as getting rid of every bad experince so try to enjoy and focus on only the good things in your life. 

It contains small things like staying home and playing games with friend, lighting a candle, going for a walk in the nature during the winter. They know how to find the balance between their personal and working life but not every Danish person is as happy as should be in their workplace so if they need help then take their time. We usually forget about the small things during the daily rush like enjoying the company of a great book, getting warm by the fireplace or decorating the house with ceramic or tree objects.

Though the taxes are the highest in Denmark, people happily pay it. Feel free to ask why but the answer is as simple as the secret of their lifestlye: they believe and trust enough their money will be spent on healthcare, education and families.

One of the most important things in their lifestyle are respect and trust. For example, they trust enough in each other to let their baby unsupervised while other nation’s people just walk away when someone’s asking for help and even the kids are taught to think of the world like a truly great place at a very early age.

In conclusion, it’s not impossible to lead a Danish lifesyle or feel the ”Hygge”. The only thing you need to do is to do what you always forget: sometimes just stop, close your eyes, relax a bit and focus on the little beauties of the world.