Archive 2025: Reviews, book presentations and essays

Archive 2025: Read this reviews, book presentations and essays

The mysterious story of the Cottingley Fairies

You may have heard of the story of the Cottingley Fairies, which took place in 1917. Two cousins told of fairies they had met and played with by a brook. No one believed their story, but a man lent them his camera. That got the ball rolling, and it started an avalanche.

Suesskind of Trimberg, the Jewish troubadour

Suesskind of Trimberg was a Jewish poet. He wrote and recited poems for the nobility and wealthy people of his time, who lived in the second half of the thirteenth century. Twelve verses by this special poet can be found in the famous Codex Manesse.

Body language: A key to non-verbal communication

Body language is an essential part of human communication. It encompasses all non-verbal signals expressed through gestures, facial expressions and body movement. Each of these categories plays a crucial role in the way we transmit and receive information. And a handshake is worth more than many words.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: The Little Prince & the Great Prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry did not go down in history for his career as a pilot, but for his literary works. His true great love was probably flying, a passion he developed as a child after going on a flight. This passion came with many enforced breaks.

Drinks in Europe: A culinary journey through the centuries

Before tea and coffee became popular in Europe, the range of beverages people prepared was amazingly diverse and went far beyond water, milk and alcohol. Find out more about Europe's drinking culture and the history of the drinks that define our traditions.

Review of 'The Hunger Angel'. A novel by Herta Müller

In her novel 'The Hunger Angel' the author Herta Müller masterfully describes the small impressions of everyday life that repeatedly flash up like lightning and illuminate something with pinpoint accuracy. The story is a genuine reading experience in a language that can really show what is meant.

The Rider-Waite Tarot card 0 'The Fool' and its meaning

The Rider-Waite Tarot is one of the most beautiful and popular decks. This edition's images are particularly clear and concise, yet still very appealing. Read on to find out how to use card 0 of the Major Arcana, 'The Fool'.

A meadow beauty with staying power: Bellis perennis

Common daisies are among the first and last flowers of the year. From March to November, they are there every day, but you may not really notice them. If they suddenly disappeared, you would probably miss them very much.

In memory of Hal Foster: The creator of Prince Valiant

Fantasy stories have always been very popular. Hal Foster, the creator of the unforgettable character Prince Valiant, brought him to life. His work stood out due to its realistic illustrations. These were presented as evocative images.

Nell Gwyn, the Drury Lane girl

The actress Nell Gwyn came from Drury Lane, which was outside London, surrounded by fields and meadows. But the street was a kind of red-light district, with one brothel after another. Nell was very popular with the public because she came from a very humble background.

The Four Elements and their Importance in Spiritual Life

The study of the four elements has occupied a very important place in esotericism, and in today's world many people are increasingly turning to this way of thinking, seeing and understanding the world. Read our series on Fire, Water, Air and Earth. Meditation exercises are included.

Book Recommendation: "Unrelenting" – A World War II Story

The World War II spy story "Unrelenting: Love and Resistance in Pre-War Germany", by Author Marion Kummerow, is based on a true incident. Berlin, Germany 1932: In a time of political unrest and strife, one man finds the courage to fight back. Read an excerpt from Marion Kummerows book.

In memory of the writer Pearl S. Buck

'The Time is Noon' is the title of a book by the American writer Pearl Sydenstricker Buck, born in West Virginia June 1892. It is a fitting title for a Nobel Prize winner who spent part of her life in Imperial China. As the daughter of a missionary, it was not unusual for her to live in a foreign country.

Memories of a globetrotter (Short story)

Many people complain about parcel delivery drivers. But what does a parcel box really think about its life? I've learnt a lot from colleagues who have been around the world a few times. I even managed to get my dream job.

My Grandpa is a pretty cool guy (Short story)

I like going to see my Grandpa, even though my parents think he fills my head with stupid ideas. I'm not sure what they mean because I think the stories my Grandpa tells are really cool. It's not that I believe everything he tells me, but I think most of it is true.

Elias and the Guardian of Thoughts (Fantasy short story)

Elias was a loner who often sat by the river, watching the surface of the water as if it were a portal to other dimensions. One evening, as the sky turned a dazzling orange-red, Elias noticed a strange apparition on the other side of the narrow river.

Legends of the Wild West: Martha Jane Cannary

Martha Jane Cannary, better known as 'Calamity Jane', was one of the most interesting female figures of the 19th century, a non-conformist and not exactly a paragon of virtue for polite society. Seen in the context of her time, she becomes even more unusual.

Using Tarot cards as a guide and aid for decision-making

The Rider-Waite Tarot is an excellent decision-making tool that can also be used for analysis, dream interpretation, counselling and meditation. It is also an oracle and much more besides. These mysterious cards have been known and appreciated since the Middle Ages, and this remains true to this day.

The short and intense life of Jeanne Hébuterne

This young woman with strikingly beautiful eyes has never left my mind. Her portraits, created by an obsessed artist, are extremely impressive. The painter who portrayed her so vividly was the famous Amedeo Modigliani.

My friend Thomas (A fantasy story)

This is a fantasy story about a young woman, loneliness and the illusion of a strong bond: Even as a little girl, she liked to give names to things. Not just her dolls, stuffed animals and teddy bears. As soon as she liked something, she thought it was alive.

Women in History: Elizabeth Charlotte Duchess of Orléans

Elizabeth Charlotte Duchess of Orléans (Liselotte von der Pfalz) was a German princess at the court of the Sun King. Liselotte had some rather unusual tastes: she liked to spend time in the fresh air, loved books and used her sharp mind. She left behind a legacy of 5,000 letters.

Goodbye to toxic media! Why we left some social networks

Read here why we deleted our social media channels X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. These big platforms were originally designed to connect people and create community. But they are increasingly dominated by games of influence and power. Social media is dead. Long live social media!

Imagine an evening with Lieutenant Commander Data

Imagine spending an evening with Lieutenant Commander Data of the USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Data is completely honest, you can be honest too. Do you want his phone number? Sure, have you got a pen and paper?

A man writes about his emotional world

Dr Martin Kreuels coaches men who have lost a loved one. He is the author of '17 years we. My wife is gone' and 'A clown in a children's hospice'. To deal with grief well, we must consider all the aspects of the bereaved. Find out more about Martin, his experiences and his books.

The young girl Arite: In the Dragon's Tower (Fantasy story)

'Is there no one to help me?' These words formed a prayer in the girl's mind. Arite did not dare to make a sound. She didn't want to risk anything, as she wanted to spend the last hours of her life fully conscious. Arite had sat in this chamber since sunrise, not tied, but bound.

Review of 'The Secret Garden', by Frances H. Burnett

'The Secret Garden': The popular book by the British author Frances Hodgson Burnett is about the growth of plants. In this book, life regains its place, even though it has been suppressed. The book, which has been made into several films, is a children's classic. Magic is everywhere.

Master Till and the local press (Short story)

My job means I go to a lot of events, and as a former reporter for a local newspaper almost everything was important enough to cover. It was at one of these big company parties that I first noticed him.

Is mankind ready to become cooperative?

Humans are social creatures. It starts at the most basic level of reproduction. We cannot and will not survive without our fellow humans if we are to preserve our species. But what happens if I put myself first? Read the full article.

The history and ritual of the coffee grounds reading

Coffee grounds reading has a long tradition and is practised in many cultures as a method of divination and fortune telling. What is known about coffee grounds reading, how did it come about and are there other traditional methods of reading the future from drinks?

Jan and the Magic Puppet Theatre (Fantasy short story)

Jan took a short break to rest and his eyes fell on a poster pinned to the shabby wall of a house. It was at eye level and showed a colourful puppet theatre. 'Magic Puppet Theatre'... The boy struggled to spell it out, as reading wasn't one of his strong points.

Hugin and Munin: The Ravens of Odin (Short story)

Hugin and Munin are quiet now, as if they want to take a nap on the man's shoulders. Odins thoughts drift away, far into the past. His time should have ended long ago, but then a new age dawned. There were machines that could spread words and thoughts.

Ginger: The all-rounder from the Far East

Ginger is a staple of Asian cuisine and herbal medicine, and slowly but surely this amazing root is gaining a following in Europe. Ginger can have a beneficial effect on the entire digestive system, stimulating the production of both gastric juices and saliva.

Bees have a great sense of humour (Short story)

A humorous story about the encounter between bees and humans: It was a beautiful summer's day and most of the creatures were probably outside. The buzzing around the roses was really loud today, and there were hardly any seats left on the benches in the park.

Book review: Clive S. Lewis and 'That Hideous Strength'

Lewis's most impressive work is his 'Space Trilogy', a fantasy story with science fiction elements. He weaves Celtic mythology into the present day to tell an epic tale of the struggle between good and evil. The third and final volume of the trilogy, 'That Hideous Strength', is set on Earth and is a real showdown.

The Potential Dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant progress in recent years. It is increasingly being used in different areas of life, but how great is the risk of humanity being wiped out by AI? Does artificial intelligence have a mind, and can it start a global war?

Aleister Crowley: Great magician or exotic outsider?

One of the most colourful characters of the 20th century was the self-declared magician Aleister Crowley. What made him so special has to be seen in the context of his time. In an age of bourgeois morality, his excesses were scandalous, and the aura of evil was inevitable.

The burden of the world: Emotional stress in uncertain times

The demands of life and the constant barrage of negative information can leave us feeling powerless and isolated. This feeling of being overwhelmed is not just an individual experience, but a collective phenomenon that is becoming increasingly visible in our society.

Questions about the truth of the present and the past

What about the truth of other people? What about their view? When I ask my child if it broke the glass, it shakes its head violently and says no, no, no. Is that a lie? Or is it just not wanting to deal with it because it is an unpleasant thought?

From plantation to table: The adventure of the banana

The banana is not only one of the world's most popular fruits, it is also a remarkably diverse plant with a rich history. From its discovery to its success in Europe, the banana has a long history that is deeply intertwined with the cultures of many countries. Discover the world of the banana.

Prenatal anxiety: Generations in the shadow of crisis

The other day I met Francesco, whom I know from my student days in Zurich. It had been a while since we had seen each other, so I wanted to know how he was doing. I have prenatal stress disorder, he replied. And he described his feelings as post-traumatic apocalyptic phase.

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