Parallel Universe

What is parallel Universe ?


A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality.

The term "parallel universe" is more general, without any connotations implying a relationship, or lack of relationship, with our own universe. A universe where the very laws of nature are different – for example, one in which there are no relativistic limitations and the speed of light can be exceeded – would in general count as a parallel universe but not an alternative reality. The correct quantum mechanical definition of parallel universes is "universes that are separated from each other by a single quantum event."



Parallel Universe Theory And Science

A physicist by the name of Alan Guth came up with a parallel universes theory based on many observations. References to his theory are called inflationary universe or inflationary theory of cosmology. Professor Guth is currently the Victor F. Weisskopf Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Many of Professor Guth’s peers believe that his theory is correct. He believes that when the universe began, instead of a gravitational pull to keep things together, there was a reverse type of gravitation working and instead repelled everything from it, which he coined a “false vacuum.”

As scientists have proven our world is constantly expanding, this theory seems plausible.Another part to Professor Guth’s theory allows that at the time of the big bang, the “false vacuum” began to decay, creating amazing amounts of particles. These particles are the same as those which began our universe. According to his theory, the universe is much larger than anyone had predicted. If this theory is true, these extra particles started as the decay became bubbles, much like the bubble he believes began our universe. The more the “false vacuum” decayed the more bubbles it created. If this astounding theory is true, it would prove the existence of many universes, all of which would appear to have the same properties and abide by the same law of physics. Because this theory can’t fully be proven, there is speculation as to what these other universes hold.

There are two main ideas as to what these different universes may contain. The first is that these universes are the same in matter and physical laws as our universe. The exception being that due the varying degree with which they were created, it allowed for these other worlds to have every possible combination of particles available. In other words, these worlds would operate by the same principles but would have every possible number of combinations there are. For example, the oceans would be where our continents are and vice versa, on and on. The second idea is that the other worlds would potentially be different in that they may not operate in the same way as ours does. A three dimensional world may not be what the norm is.

While both of these ideas are plausible, the first allows for the belief in parallel universes, the idea that any given person can exist at the same time in more than one place. If, as humans, we were able to tap into the power of traveling to these other universes, we would be able to ‘meet’ our other selves. While this is a truly powerful thing to think about, one can imagine the possibilities it holds. If your own individual beings could meet and each one had different experiences, think of the intelligence and knowledge you could pass from one to another. Each one would have different experiences and different outcomes. In one world you could be a doctor, in another world a politician, in another world a drug addict. The options would be virtually limitless.

Hyperspace

Perhaps the most common use of the concept of a parallel universe in science fiction is the concept of hyperspace. Used in science fiction, the concept of “hyperspace” often refers to a parallel universe that can be used as a faster-than-light shortcut for interstellar travel. Rationales for this form of hyperspace vary from work to work, but the two common elements are:
at least some (if not all) locations in the hyperspace universe map to locations in our universe, providing the "entry" and "exit" points for travellers.the travel time between two points in the hyperspace universe is much shorter than the time to travel to the analogous points in our universe. This can be because of a different speed of light, different speed at which time passes, or the analogous points in the hyperspace universe are just much closer to each other.
Sometimes "hyperspace" is used to refer to the concept of additional coordinate axes. In this model, the universe is thought to be "crumpled" in some higher spatial dimension and that traveling in this higher spatial dimension, a ship can move vast distances in the common spatial dimensions. An analogy is to crumple a newspaper into a ball and stick a needle straight through, the needle will make widely spaced holes in the two-dimensional surface of the paper. While this idea invokes a "new dimension", it is not an example of a parallel universe. It is a more scientifically plausible use of hyperspace.
While use of hyperspace is common, it is mostly used as a plot device and thus of secondary importance. While a parallel universe may be invoked by the concept, the nature of the universe is not often explored. So, while stories involving hyperspace might be the most common use of the parallel universe concept in fiction, it is not the most common source of fiction about parallel universes.

Do Parallel Universe Really exist ?


The strange discovery by quantum physicists at the University of California Santa Barbara means that an object you can see in front of you may exist simultaneously in a parallel universe -- a multi-state condition that has scientists theorizing that traveling through time may be much more than just the plaything of science fiction writers.

And it's all because of a tiny bit of metal -- a "paddle" about the width of a human hair, an item that is incredibly small but still something you can see with the naked eye.
UC Santa Barbara's Andrew Cleland cooled that paddle in a refrigerator, dimmed the lights and, under a special bell jar, sucked out all the air to eliminate vibrations. He then plucked it like a tuning fork and noted that it moved and stood still at the same time.
That sounds contradictory, and it's nearly impossible to understand if your last name isn't Einstein. But it actually happened. It's a freaky fact that's at the heart of quantum mechanics.



How Is That Possible? 


To even try to understand it, you have to think really, really small. Smaller than an atom. Electrons, which circle the nucleus of an atom, are swirling around in multiple states at the same time -- they're hard to pin down. It's only when we measure the position of an electron that we force it to have a specific location. Cleland's breakthrough lies in taking that hard-to-grasp yet true fact about the atomic particle and applying it to something visible with the naked eye.

What does it all mean?

Let's say you're in Oklahoma visiting your aunt. But in another universe, where your atomic particles just can't keep up, you're actually at home watching "The Simpsons." That may sound far-fetched, but it's based
on real science.
"When you observe something in one state, one theory is it split the universe into two parts," Cleland told FoxNews.com, trying to explain how there can be multiple universes and we can see only one of them.
The multi-verse theory says the entire universe "freezes" during observation, and we see only one reality. You see a soccer ball flying through the air, but maybe in a second universe the ball has dropped already. Or you were looking the other way. Or they don't even play soccer over there.
Sean Carroll, a physicist at the California Institute of Technology and a popular author, accepts the scientific basis for the multi-verse -- even if it cannot be proven.
"Unless you can imagine some super-advanced alien civilization that has figured this out, we aren't affected by the possible existence of other universes," Carroll said. But he does think "someone could devise a machine that lets one universe communicate with another."

It all comes down to how we understand time.
Carroll suggests that we don't exactly feel time -- we perceive its passing. For example, time moves fast on a  
rollercoaster and very slowly during a dull college lecture. It races when you're late for work . . . but the last few minutes before quitting time seem like hours.




Travel To Parallel Universes With These Tips!

Step One: Create a Routine

Get out of your normal daily routine and try something different for a change. This will enable you to see the world in a different light, which will make it easier on you to break subconscious habits as well. You can start out making slow changes: dress differently, fix your hair differently, wear shoes you wouldn’t normally wear, listen to music you wouldn’t normally listen to, etc. Eventually, you will find it easier and easier to break your bad habits, or those over which you feel have no control.



Step Two: Meditate

Start meditating. Meditation is powerful process and when done at the Alpha Level for just 5 minutes a daily, can help tremendously with positive programming.

Step Three: Indulge Your Senses

Smell triggers the ability to connect with other dimensions while meditating. Some scents that may help increase intuition and awareness includes cedar, myrrh, rosemary, and musk to name a few.

Step Four: Subliminal Messages

Hypnosis and subliminal messages can work. You can send little “reminders” to your subconscious mind without worrying about your conscious mind resisting or arguing. Since the conscious mind is always trying to argue, affirmations aren’t as effective as they should be. Affirmations can be powerful, but subliminal messages are even more so. In order for them to be effective, however, you need to listen to hypnosis CDs every single day.Once you truly believe that you can do anything, see anything, be anything, and have anything, you will be able to attract anything into your life!

You are also whatever you can imagine, now; in a parallel universe.





Travelling to Parallel Universes in Dreams

Scientists are slowly finding that we travel in our dreams into parallel universes or oceans of multiverses where different things are happening with us – what and who we know and our environments.

In dreams we migrate to the multiverse and go on an incredible journey.As the world turns, billions of people and perhaps also animals make these interdimensional journeys. These journeys produce traces, be they electrical or of some substance we cannot physically measure. All combined, the traces our journeys make as we pass through billions of parallel universes create a form, a collective shape, giving the multiverse existence.

The similarities in brainwave patterns between waking life and sleep imply that on certain levels the brain may be functioning in similar ways, the most notable similarity being that we are conscious in both states.

In both states we are receiving sensory input, though in the case of dreams, the origin of this input and the organs involved in its reception remain cloaked. We are compelled to dream so that we can be part of this other much greater world which spans and in some way bonds all parallel universes.

Researchers have shown that in early childhood – even in the womb – infants have a very high proportion of REM sleep.Perhaps our consciousness originates from this other existence. That may explain why consciousness is the most elusive and ethereal of forms. An understanding of the chemical and electrical processes occurring in the brain does not add up to an understanding of the nature of consciousness.

Dream research will produce more data to hypothesize about, but it will never give us an insight into the astounding multiverse of which our dreams form a part.




Counter-Earth


The concept of Counter-Earth is typically similar to that of parallel universes but is actually a distinct idea. A counter-earth is a planet that shares Earth's orbit but is on the opposite side of the Sun and therefore cannot be seen from Earth. There would be no necessity that such a planet would be like Earth in any way though typically in fiction, it is usually nearly identical to Earth. Since counter-earth is always within our own universe (and our own solar system), travel to it can be accomplished with ordinary space travel.

Pandora's Box

At one time the only mortals on the earth were men. Prometheus had made them, Athene had breathed life into them. The chief god Zeus did not like them.

One day Prometheus was trying to solve a quarrel that was raging between the gods and the men. At a festival the men were going to sacrifice a bull for the first time. They asked him which parts of the bull should be offered to the gods and which should be eaten by men. Prometheus decided to play a trick on Zeus. He killed the bull, skinned it and butchered it. He split it into two portions, in one he put the best, lean meat. In the second he put bones followed by a thick layer of fat. Prometheus offered both to Zeus to take his choice. Zeus looked at both portions, one looked good but was rather on the small side, the other was much larger and covered in a layer of fat which Zeus felt must cover the best, tastiest portion of meat. He chose that one. When Zeus realised that he had been tricked he was furious. He took fire away from man so that they could never cook their meat or feel warm again.

Prometheus reacted immediately flying to the Isle of Lemnos where he knew the smith Hephaestus had fire. He carried a burning torch back to man. Zeus was enraged. He swore vengeance and started making an evil plan.

Zeus, set Hephaestos the task of creating a clay woman with a human voice. Hephaestos worked and worked and created a masterpiece. Athene, goddess of wisdom and Zeus' daughter liked the clay figure and she breathed life into it. She taught the woman how to weave and clothed her. Aphrodite the goddess of love made her beautiful. The god Hermes taught her to charm and deceive.

Zeus was pleased with what he saw, but he had made her as a trap. He named the woman Pandora and sent her as a gift to Epimetheus. Epimetheus had been warned by his brother Prometheus that he should never accept gifts from Zeus because there would always be a catch. Epimetheus ignored his brother's warning, fell in love with Pandora and married her. Zeus, pleased that his trap was working gave Pandora a wedding gift of a beautiful box. There was one condition however...that was that she never opened the box.

For a while they were very happy. Pandora often wondered what was in the box but she was never left alone so she never opened it. Gradually over a while she began to wonder more and more what was in the box. She could not understand why someone would send her a box if she could not see what was in it. It got very important to find out what was hidden there.

Finally she could stand it no longer. One day when everyone was out she crept up to the box, took the huge key, fitted it carefully into the lock and turned it. She lifted the lid to peep in but before she realised it the room was filled with terrible things: disease, despair, malice, greed, old age, death, hatred, violence, cruelty and war. She slammed the lid down and turned the key again...keeping only the spirit of hope inside.

To this day sometimes when things are really bad the only thing we have left is hope. Even then some people will say hope deceives us.






ANOTHER VERSION OF THE STORY


PANDORA AND THE GREAT BOX

Long, long ago, when this old world was in its infancy, there was a child named Epimetheus
who never had either father or mother. In order that he might not be lonely, another child,
fatherless and motherless like himself, was sent from a far country to be his playfellow. Her name was Pandora.

The first thing that Pandora saw when she entered the cottage where Epimetheus dwelt was a great box. And almost the first question which she put to him, after crossing the threshold, was
this:

"Epimetheus, what have you in that box?"

"My dear little Pandora," answered Epimetheus, "that is a secret, and you must be kind
enough not to ask any questions about it. The box was left here to be kept safely, and I do not myself know what it contains."

"But who gave it to you?" asked Pandora." And where' did it come from?"

"That is a secret, too," replied Epimetheus.

"How provoking!" exclaimed Pandora, pouting her lip. "I wish the great ugly box were out of the way!"

"0 come, don't think of it any more,!' cried Epimetheus. "Let us run out of doors, and play
with the other children."

It is thousands of years since Epimetheus and Pandora were alive. Then, everybody was a
child. Children needed no fathers and mothers to take care of them; because there was no danger or trouble of any kind, and there were no clothes to be mended, and there were always plenty of things to eat and to drink.

Whenever a child wanted his dinner, he found it growing on a tree; and if he looked at the tree in the morning, he could see the blossom of that night's supper; or at eventide he saw the tender bud of tomorrow's breakfast. It was a very pleasant life indeed. No labor to be done, no lessons to be studied; nothing but sports and dances and sweet voices of children talking or singing.

What was most wonderful of all, the children never quarreled among themselves; neither had they any crying fits; nor, since time first began, had a single one of them ever gone into a corner and sulked. Oh, what a good time was that to be alive in! The truth is, those ugly little winged monsters called Troubles, which are now almost as numerous as mosquitoes, had never yet been seen on the earth. Perhaps the very greatest uneasiness which a child had ever felt was Pandora's vexation at not being able to discover the secret of the mysterious box.

"Whence can the box have come?" Pandora continually kept saying to herself and to
Epimetheus. "And what on earth can be inside of it?"

"Always talking about this box!" said Epimetheus at last, for he had grown tired of the
subject. "I wish, dear Pandora, you would try to talk of something else. Come, let us go and
gather some ripe figs, and eat them under the trees for our supper. And I know a vine that has the sweetest and juiciest grapes you ever tasted."

"Always talking about grapes and figs !" cried Pandora, pettishly.

"Well, then," said Epimetheus, who was a very good-tempered child, "let us run out and have a merry time with our playmates.

I am tired of merry times, and don't care if I never have any more!" answered pettish little
Pandora. "And, besides, I never do have any. This ugly box! I am so taken up with thinking about it all the time. I insist upon your telling me what is inside of it."

"As I have already said fifty times over, I do not know!" replied Epimetheus, getting a little vexed himself. "How, then, can I tell you what is inside?"

"You might open it," said Pandora, "and then we could see for ourselves."
"Pandora, what are you thinking of?" exclaimed Epimetheus.

His face showed so much horror at the idea of looking into a box which had been given to
him on his promise never to open it, that Pandora thought it best not to suggest it any more. Still, she could not help thinking and talking about the box.

"At least," said she, "you can tell me how it came here." "It was left at the door," replied
Epimetheus, "just before you came, by a person who looked very smiling and who could hardly keep from laughing as he put it down. He was dressed in an odd kind of cloak, and had on a cap that seemed to be made partly of feathers, so that it looked almost as if it had wings."

"What sort of staff had he?" asked Pandora.
"Oh, the most curious staff you ever saw!" cried Epimetheus" It was like two serpents
twisting around a stick and was carved so naturally that I at first thought the serpents were
alive."

"I know him," said Pandora thoughtfully. "Nobody else. has such a staff. It was Quicksilver, and he brought me here as well as the box. No doubt he intended it for me; and most probably it contains pretty dresses for me to wear, or something very nice for us both to eat!"

"Perhaps so,' answered Epimetheus, turning away. "But until Quicksilver comes back and
tells us so, we have neither of us any right to lift the lid of the box."
"What a dull boy he is!" muttered Pandora, as Epimetheus left the cottage.

THE KNOT OF GOLDEN CORD

For the first time since her arrival, Epimetheus had gone out without asking Pandora to
accompany him. He went to gather figs and grapes for himself, or to seek whatever amusement he could find with other children. He was tired to death of hearing about the box, and heartily wished that Quicksilver had left it at some other child's door where Pandora would never have set eyes on it.

How she did babble about this one thing! The box, the box, and nothing but the box! It was
really hard that poor Epimetheus should have a box in his ears from morning till night; especially as the little people of the earth in those happy days knew not how to deal with troubles. Thus a small-trouble made as much disturbance then as a far bigger one would in our own time.

After Epimetheus was gone, Pandora stood gazing at the box. She had called it ugly over a
hundred times; but in spite of all that she had said against it, it was a very handsome article of furniture. It was made of a beautiful kind of wood with dark and rich veins spreading over its
surface, which was so highly polished that little Pandora could see herself in it. The edges and corners of the box were carved with most wonderful skill. Around the edges there were figures of graceful men and women, and the prettiest children ever seen. But here and there, Pandora once or twice thought that she saw a face not so lovely, or something or other which stole the beauty out of all the rest. Nevertheless, on looking more closely and touching the spot with her finger, she could discover nothing of the kind. Some face that was really beautiful had been made to look ugly by her catching a sideways glimpse at it.

The most beautiful face of all was carved in the center of the lid. There was nothing else
except the dark, smooth richness of the polished wood, and this one face in the center with a garland of flowers about its brow. Pandora had looked at this face a great many times and
imagined that the mouth could smile if it liked, or be grave when it chose, the same as any living mouth. The features, indeed, all wore a very lively and rather mischievous expression.
Had this mouth spoken, it would probably have said something like this:

"Do not be afraid, Pandora! What harm can there be in opening the box? Never mind that
poor, simple Epimetheus! You are wiser than he, and have ten times as much spirit. Open the box, and see if you do not find Something! very pretty !"

The box, I had almost forgotten to say, was fastened not by a lock but by a very fine knot of gold cord. There appeared to be no end to this knot, and no beginning. Never was a knot so
cunningly twisted with so many ins and outs. And yet, by the very difficulty that there was in it, Pandora was there tempted to examine the knot, and just see how it was made. Two or three times already she had stooped over the box and taken the knot between her thumb and forefinger, but without trying to undo it.

"I really believe," said she to herself, "that I begin to see how it was done. Nay, perhaps I
could tie it up again after undoing it. Even Epimetheus would not blame me for that. I need not open the box, and should not, of course, without that foolish boy's consent, even if the knot were untied."

It might have been better for Pandora if she had had a little work to do so as not to be so
constantly thinking of this one subject. But children led so easy a life before any Troubles came into the world that they had a great deal too much leisure. They could not be forever playing at hide-and-seek among the flower-shrubs, or at blind-man's buff with garlands over their eyes, or at whatever other games had been found out while Mother Earth was in her babyhood. When life is all sport, toil is the real play. There was nothing to do. A little sweeping and dusting about the cottage, I suppose, and the gathering of fresh flowers and arranging them in vases and poor little Pandora's day's work was over. And then, for the rest of the day, there was always the box!

After all, I am not quite sure that the fascinating box was not a blessing to Pandora in its way It supplied her with so many ideas to think of, and to talk about, whenever she had anybody who would listen to her! When she was in good humor, she could admire the bright polish of its sides and the rich border of beautiful faces that ran all around it. Or, if she happened to be ill-tempered, she could give it an angry push, or kick it with her naughty little foot. And many a kick did the mischievous box receive, you may be sure! But certain it is if it had not been for the box, little Pandora would not have known half so well how to spend her time as she now did.

GUESSING WHAT WAS IN THE BOX

For it was really an endless employment to guess what was inside. What could it be, indeed? Just imagine, my little hearers, how busy your wits would be if there were a great box in the
house, which you might suppose contained something new and pretty for your Christmas or New Year's gifts. Do you think that you should be less curious than Pandora? If you were left alone with the box, might you not feel a little tempted to lift the lid? But you would not do it. Oh, fie!

No, no! Only, if you thought there were toys in it, it would be so very hard to let slip an
opportunity of taking just one peep!

I know not whether Pandora expected any toys; for none had yet begun to be made, probably, in those days, when the world itself was one great plaything for the children that dwelt upon it.
But Pandora was certain that there was something very beautiful and valuable in the box, and therefore she felt just as anxious to take a peep as any little girl would have felt.
On this particular day, however, her curiosity grew so much greater than it usually was that at last she approached the box. She was more than half determined to open it, if she could. Ah,
naughty Pandora!

First, however, she tried to lift it. It was heavy; much too heavy for the slender strength of a child like Pandora. She raised one end of the box a few inches from the floor, and let it fall again with a loud thump. A moment afterwards she almost thought that she heard something stir inside the box.

She listened as closely as possible. There did seem to be a kind of stifled murmur within! Or was it merely the singing in Pandora's ears? Or could it be the beating of her heart? The child
could not be sure herself whether she had heard anything or not. But, at all events, her curiosity was stronger than ever.

Her eyes fell upon the, knot of gold cord !

"It must have been a clever person who tied this knot," . said Pandora to herself. "But I think I could untie 'it, nevertheless. I believe I will at least try to find the two ends of the cord."
So she took the golden knot in her fingers and looked into it as sharply as she could. Almost without quite knowing what she was about, she was soon busily trying to undo it. Meanwhile, the bright sunshine came through the open window; as did also the merry voices of the children, playing at a distance, and perhaps the voice of Epimetheus among them.
Pandora stopped to listen. What a beautiful day it was! Would it not be wiser if she were to
let the troublesome knot alone and think no more about the box, but run and join her little
playfellows and be happy?

All this time, however, her fingers were busy with the knot; and happening to glance at the
face on the lid of the enchanted box, she seemed to see it slyly grinning at her.

"That face looks very mischievous," thought Pandora. "I wonder whether it smiles because I am doing wrong! I have a great notion to run away!"

But just then, by the merest accident, she gave the knot a kind of twist the gold cord
untwined itself as if by magic, and left the box without a fastening.

"This is the strangest thing I ever knew!" said Pandora.. "What will Epimetheus say? And
how can I possibly tie it up again?"

She made one or two attempts to tie the knot, but soon found it quite beyond her skill. It had untied itself so suddenly that she could not in the least remember how the strings had been
doubled into one another; and when she tried to recollect the shape and appearance of the knot, it seemed to have gone entirely out of her mind. Nothing was to be done, therefore, but to let the box remain as it was until Epimetheus should come in.

"But," said Pandora, "when he finds the knot untied, he will know that I have done it. How
shall I make him believe that I have not looked into the box?"

And then the thought came into her naughty little heart, that since she would be suspected of having looked into the box, she might just as well do so at once. The enchanted face on the lid of the box looked at her bewitchingly, and she seemed to hear, more distinctly than before, the murmur of small voices within. She could not tell whether it was fancy or not; but there was quite a little tumult of whispers in her ear--or else it was her curiosity that whispered: "Let us out dear Pandora--pray let us out! We will be such nice, pretty playfellows for you! Only let us out.

"What can it be?" thought Pandora. "Is there something alive in the box? Well!--yes!--I will take just one peep! Only one peep, and then the lid shall be shut down as safely as ever! There cannot possibly be any harm in just one little peep !"'

HOW TROUBLES CAME INTO THE WORLD

But it is now time for us to see what Epimetheus was doing. This was the first time since his
playmate had come that he had tried to enjoy any pleasure in which she did not take part. But nothing went right, nor was he nearly so happy as on other days. He could not find a sweet grape or a ripe fig; or, if ripe at all, they were overripe, and so sweet as to be distasteful. There was no gladness in his heart; he grew so uneasy and discontented that the other children could not imagine what was the matter with him. Neither did he himself know what ailed him, any better than they did.

For at the time we are speaking of, it was everybody's nature and habit to be happy. The
world had not yet learned to be unhappy. Not a single soul or body, since these children were first sent to enjoy themselves on the beautiful earth, had ever been sick or out-of-sorts.
At length, discovering that somehow or other he put a stop to all the play, Epimetheus
thought it best to go back to Pandora. But, with a hope of giving her pleasure, he gathered some flowers and made them into a wreath which he meant to put upon her head. The flowers were very lovely --roses and lilies and orange-blossoms, and a great many more, which left a trail of fragrance behind as Epimetheus carried them along; and the wreath was put together with as much skill as could be expected of a boy.

And here I must mention that a great black cloud had been gathering in the sky for some time past, although it had not yet overspread the sun. But, just as Epimetheus reached the cottage-door this cloud began to cut off the sunshine, and thus to make a sudden darkness.

He entered softly; for he meant, if possible, to steal behind Pandora and fling a wreath of
flowers over her head before she knew that he was there. But, as it happened, there was no need of his treading so very lightly. He might have trod as heavily as he pleased, as heavily as a grown man--as heavily as an elephant--without Pandora's hearing his footsteps. She was too interested in what she was doing. At the very moment of his entering the cottage, the naughty child had put her hand to the lid, and was on the point of opening the mysterious box, when Epimetheus saw her.

But Epimetheus himself, although he said very little about it, had his own share of curiosity
to know what was inside. Seeing that Pandora intended to find out the secret, he determined that his playfellow should not be the only wise person in the cottage. And if there were anything pretty or valuable in the box, he meant to take half of it to himself.

As Pandora raised the lid, the cottage grew very dark; for the black cloud had now swept
quite over the sun and seemed to have buried it alive. There had, for a little while past, been a low growling and muttering which all at once broke into a heavy peal of thunder. But Pandora,
unmindful of all this, lifted the lid nearly upright and looked inside. It seemed as if a sudden
swarm of winged creatures brushed past her, taking flight out of the box,. while at the same
instant she heard Epimetheus calling as if in pain.

"Oh, I am stung!' he cried. I am stung! Naughty Pandora! why have you opened this wicked box?"

Pandora let fall the lid, and, starting up, looked about her to see what had happened to
Epimetheus. The thundercloud had so darkened the room that she could not very clearly see what was in it. But she heard a disagreeable buzzing, as if a great many huge flies, or giant mosquitoes, were darting about. And as her eyes grew more accustomed to the imperfect light, she saw a crowd of ugly little shapes, with bats wings, looking very spiteful and armed with terribly long stings in their tails. It was one of these that had stung Epimetheus. Nor was it a great while before Pandora herself began to scream in no less pain than her playfellow. An ugly little monster had settled on her forehead, and would have stung her if Epimetheus had not run and brushed it away.

Now, if you wish to know what these ugly things were which had made their escape out of
the box, I must tell you that they were the whole family of earthly Troubles. There were a great many kinds of Cares; there were more than a hundred fifty Sorrows; there were Diseases, in a vast number of miserable and painful shape; there were more kinds of Naughtiness than it would be of any use for us to talk about.

In short, everything that has since troubled our souls and bodies had been shut up in the
mysterious box and given to Epimetheus and Pandora to be kept safely, in order. that the happy children of the world might never be harmed by them. But by Pandora's lifting the lid of that miserable box, and by the fault of Epimetheus, too, in not preventing her, these Troubles have gained a foothold among us, and do not seem likely to be driven away in a hurry.
For it was impossible, as you will easily guess, that the two children should keep the ugly
swarm in their own little cottage. The first thing that they did was to fling open the doors and
windows in hope of getting rid of them: Sure enough, away flew the winged Troubles all abroad
to torment the small people, everywhere.

And what was very strange, all the flowers and dewy blossoms on earth, not one of which had before faded, now began to droop and shed their leaves, after a day or two. The children who
before seemed always young now day by day grew older and came to be men and women by-and-by.

WHAT HOPE DOES FOR US

Meanwhile the naughty Pandora and hardly less naughty Epimetheus remained in their
cottage. Both of them had been grievously stung, and were in a good deal of pain, which seemed the more unbearable to them because it was the very first pain that had ever been felt since the world began. Besides this, they were in very bad humor, both with themselves and with one another. Epimetheus sat down sullenly in a corner with his back toward Pandora, while Pandora flung herself upon the floor and rested her head on the fatal box. She was sobbing as if her heart would break.

Suddenly there was a gentle tap on the inside of the lid. "What can that be?" cried Pandora,
lifting her head.

But either Epimetheus had not heard the tap, or was too. much upset to notice it. At any rate, he made no answer. "You are very unkind," said Pandora, sobbing again, "not to speak to me!"
Again the tap! It sounded like the tiny knuckles of a fairy's hand, knocking playfully on the
inside of the box.

"Who are you?" asked Pandora. "Who are you, inside of this naughty box?"
A sweet little voice spoke from within: "Only lift the lid, and you shall see."

"No, no," answered Pandora, again beginning to sob, "I have had enough of lifting the lid!

You are inside of the box, naughty creature, and there you shall stay!"

"Ah," said the sweet little voice again, "you had much better let me out." I am not like those naughty creatures that have stings in their tails. Come, come, my pretty Pandora! I am sure you will let me out I"

And, indeed, there was a kind of cheerful witchery in the tone that made it almost impossible to refuse anything which this little voice asked. Pandora's .heart had grown lighter at every word that came from within the box. Epimetheus, too, though still in the corner, had turned half round and seemed to be in rather better spirits than before.

"My dear Epimetheus," cried Pandora, "have you heard this little voice?"
"Yes, to be sure I have," he answered. "And what of it?" "Shall I lift the lid again?" asked
Pandora.

"Just as you please," said Epimetheus. "You have done so much mischief already that perhaps you may as well do a little more. One other Trouble can make no very great. difference." "You might speak a little more kindly!" murmured Pandora, wiping her eyes.

"Ah, naughty boy!" cried the little voice within the box, in a laughing tone. "He knows he
wants to see me. Come, my dear Pandora, lift up the lid. I am in a great hurry to comfort you."

"Epimetheus," exclaimed Pandora, "no matter what happens, I will open the box!"

"And, as the lid seems very heavy," cried Epimetheus, running across the room, "I will help you!"

So the two children again lifted the lid. Out flew a sunny and smiling little person, and
hovered about the room, throwing a light wherever she went. She flew to Epimetheus and laid the lightest touch of her finger on the spot where the Trouble had stung him, and immediately the pain was gone. Then she kissed Pandora on the forehead, and her hurt was also cured.
After performing these good deeds, the bright stranger fluttered over the children's heads, and looked so sweetly at them that they both began to think it not so very much wrong to have opened the box, since otherwise their cheery guest must have been kept a prisoner among those naughty imps with stings in their tails.

"Pray, who are you, beautiful creature?" inquired Pandora. "I am to be called Hope!"
answered the sunshiny figure. "And because I am such a cheery little body, I was packed into the box to make up for that swarm of ugly Troubles which was to be let loose."

"Your wings are colored like the rainbow!" exclaimed Pandora. "How very beautiful !"

"And will you stay with us," asked Epimetheus, "for ever and ever?"

"As long as you need me," said hope, with her pleasant smile, "and that will be as long as you live in the world. I promise never to leave you. There may be times now and then when you will think that I have vanished. But again, and again, and again, when perhaps you least dream of my being with you, you shall see the glimmer of my wings on the ceiling of your cottage."

-NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

OMENS

Do you believe in omens ?
Well some people might and some people might not. But the fact is that centuries ago when science was in its initial stages, people used to believe in omens, and they had developed a language , and tried to understand the language of nature, to predict their futures. At that time, people used to talk about science in such a way that we are talking about omens now, there were people who used to believe in science, while some other people used to think there is no such thing as science, and there can't be a thing like a light bulb, or a flying plane. But the fact is, we don't believe in things until we see them by our naked eyes. Similarly in the ancient times, people used to believe in omens because it was a language they discovered, and things have happened in the way as it was predicted according to the omen.Now a days, we are so overwhelmed by scientific discoveries that we dont even try to look beyond science. But one will have to belief that in ancient times, when their was no science, people used to believe in omens (good or bad), Kings used to go on wars only after understanding the omens whether it was a good time for them to stand in the battlefield or not. And its not like that we dont have omens now, there are still several signs that the nature is trying to show us, but we are so busy in our lives now that we dont even try to care about them , we dont even believe in them, or we simply ignore them labelling as scientifical methods like, "oh its global warming", "oh its an  eartuquake" or such other things. But to understad the nature properly one should first learn to understand the language of the nature.

What an omen is?
An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change.Though the word "omen" is usually devoid of reference to the change's nature, hence being possibly either "good" or "bad," the term is more often used in a foreboding sense, as with the word "ominous". The origin of the word is unknown, although it may be connected with the Latin word audire, meaning "to hear."

In India, where the records of the early ages of civilization go back hundreds of years, omens are considered of great importance.
In Greece, the home of the greatest and highest culture and civilization, we find, too, omens regarded very seriously, while to-day there are vast numbers of persons of intellect, the world over, who place reliance upon omens.


SOME OMENS OF GOOD FORTUNE


When A Butterfly Flies Into Your House
This is commonly interpreted to mean that you are about to receive some important guests. If the butterfly has bright colours, it means the visitor will bring good news relating to your love life. If the butterfly is dark – almost black – the visitor is bringing you good news related to your career or business. Never chase a fluttering butterfly out of your house. They almost always bring good tidings. Do not try to catch it, as inadvertently killing a butterfly causes your good luck to change into bad luck.

When Bats Nest In Your Home
This is one of the most powerful indications that the family is about to become seriously wealthy. The Chinese regard bats as symbols of abundant wealth. The circular pattern of five bats is a very popular design feature found on furniture, paintings and ceramics. The Chinese believe that bats nest only in auspicious places – they have highly developed sensory parts that are able to “smell” out places with auspicious chi. The next time bats come and nest in the eaves of your home, rejoice because this heralds good fortune.

When Your Hands Tingle
It is a sure sign that money is either coming to you or leaving you! The general consensus is that when it is your left hand that tingles, money is coming to you – the 4-digit kind or winning a lottery. When it is the right hand, it means money is leaving you. The same interpretation is also placed on hands that suddenly start to itch. If your left palm starts to itch, mercilessly rejoice. It means you are about to come into a windfall!



When You See A Shooting Star
And immediately make a wish, whatever you wish for will manifest within the next thirty days. If you are sick, you will get well; if your luck has been bad, it will take a turn for the better; and if you have just had a quarrel, you will make up. If you have lost something, you will regain it. Seeing a shooting star can be quite a common occurrence, so always have a wish handy. Close your eyes and wish fervently!

When A Cat Comes Into Your House
It usually means some kind of bad luck. Usually black cats signify treachery and betrayal, so it is better to chase them away. White cats signify death, but some say that golden cats signify good luck hidden in bad luck. In the old days cats were often associated with witchcraft and bad omens.

If You Put On Your Clothes The Wrong Way Round
This is said to be a sign of extreme good fortune. It doesn’t count if you do this on purpose, but if for some reason you wear your clothes the wrong way round, it indicates that you will shortly receive some windfall or some very favourable news. This is a particularly good omen for those who have been suffering a spate of bad luck, as it suggests that your luck is about to change for the better.


When It Rains And The Sun Is Shining
The simultaneous appearance of the sun and the rain is a very good sign indeed. This is when it is most likely for you to see rainbows in the sky. Indeed when the sun is shining brightly and there is also a shower of rain, it means that everything you are working on will be successful. You will receive the support of some very important people. If a son or daughter is born on such a day, it is a wonderful sign of a great life. If you happen to be getting married on such a day, you will enjoy a very auspicious life together.

Dogs howling
A dog howling at night chills the blood , it indicates a portent of approaching death.

SOME OMENS OF BAD FORTUNE


Breaking a Mirror
Our ancestors began this superstition, because they thought the image in a mirror, contained our actual soul. Thus, a broken mirror, represented the soul being pulled from your body and being trapped in all the shattered pieces.The reason the bad luck lasted for seven years, was because the Romans believed that after seven years, the body was physically renewed and the soul could once again return whole.

Black Cats 
Black cats have long been believed to be a supernatural omen, since the witch hunts of the middle ages, when cats were thought to be connected to evil. Since then, it is considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path.
Ironically, a black cat walking towards you is considered lucky, while one walking away is said to be stealing your luck.

Crow
Crows entering the house and cawing often bring bad news. To hear a crow after dark is a sign of bad news to come or some illness in the house,. If crow sits upon your head it is a sign of death or deadly pains.

Salt
At one time salt was a rare commodity and thought to have magical powers. It was unfortunate to spill salt and said to foretell family disarray and death. To ward off bad luck, throw a pinch over your shoulder and all will be well.



Unlucky Number 13
The fear of the number 13 is still common today, and avoided in many different ways. Some buildings still do not have an official 13th floor and many people avoid driving or going anywhere on Friday the 13th.



SUPERSTITIONS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES


CHINA

• On the stroke of midnight, every door and window in the house has to be opened to allow the old year to go out is one of the Chinese superstition they adhere to.
• If you cry on New Year’s Day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.
• The number of steps in a staircase should be even-numbered.
• It is bad luck to have two room doors face each other.
• An improper funeral will bring ill fortune and disaster.
• Red is the color of blood or life and will bring happiness, wealth, fame, and good luck
• The luckiest number is eight because its Chinese word also means “prosper”
• The unluckiest number is four as it sounds like the Chinese word for death

GREECE

• Although some of the Greeks believe that it brings bad luck to kill a bat, but keeping a bat bone is considered to protect them from evil eye.
• Other Islanders believe quite the opposite. They think that bats are unholy creatures and should be avoided at all costs, and would never dream of carrying a piece of  one as a talisman.
• Every typical Greek house has a cactus growing near its door – they believe that it saves them from troubles.
• Any Greek knows that if he sneezes, somebody thinks about him.
• Bread is considered a gift from God.No bread is ever thrown away.
• Fish are believed to be wise and knowledgeable. But the Church also sees the fish as a revered symbol of silence. Fish don’t speak or make noise.
• It is thought that garlic not only wards off the evil eye but also keeps away evil spirits and demons.
• Never hand some one a knife. Set it down and let them pick it up, or else you will get into a fight with that person.
• Greeks believe that Money attracts money, so never leave your pockets, purses or wallets completely empty and never completely empty your bank account. Always leave at least a coin or two. It is also considered good luck that when you give a gift of a wallet or a purse, that you put a coin or two in it before giving it to the recipient.
• If you have an unwanted guest in your home and you want them to leave. All you have to do is sprinkle salt behind them. The powers of the salt will chase him out.
• It is also customary to sprinkle salt in a new home before you occupy it, as the salt will drive any evil out and away from you and your family.

INDIA

when you are going out -these are considered bad—

• some one asks you ‘where are you going?’
• some body sneeze odd no; of times
• a widow, a single Brahman or a man carrying oil or milk or a cat crossing your path.
• going below the ladder.
• hitting your head or feet on the thresh hold.

the following are considered to be good:

• eating curds with jaggery

Bad Superstitions

• milk over-flowing except on sankranthi day
• spilling of oil, turmeric, kumkum
• hair-cutting on Tuesdays or in evenings
• lizard falling on head

Smashing of coconut on a stone is considered good
One of the most common rituals in Hinduism is the breaking of a coconut before an activity of any magnitude is undertaken. Coconuts are broken when foundation stones of buildings are laid and are broken again when the building is being put to use.



JAPAN

• If you drive past a funeral, you must hide your thumb in a fist. This is because the Japanese word for thumb literally translates as “parent-finger” and hiding it is considered protection for your parent. If you don’t, your parent will die.
• There are several unlucky numbers in Japanese. Traditionally, 4 and 9 are unlucky. Four is sometimes pronounced shi, which is also the word for death.
• Nine is also sometimes pronounced ku, which can mean suffering.
• 13 is also occasionally thought of as unlucky, although this is imported from Western culture. Because of these unlucky numbers, sometimes levels or rooms with 4 or 9 in them don’t exist in hospitals or hotels, and particularly in the maternity section of a hospital, the room number 43 is avoided because it can literally mean “still birth.” Therefore, when giving gifts such as sets of plates, they are normally sets of three or five, never four.
• If you go to a funeral, you should throw spread salt over yourself before entering your home. This is believed to be cleansing.
• You should never sleep with your head in North position or you will have a short life
• Chopsticks should not be stuck upright into food, especially rice. Chopsticks are only stuck upright into rice in the bowl on the altar at a funeral.
• Cutting your fingernails or toenails at night is bad luck. If you do so, it is believed that you will not be with your parents at their deathbed.
• You should never write a person’s name in red ink.