Mr. Sarassin, sorry for derailing o but I've been doing some chakra meditating and each time I try it, I start seeing flashes of light like someone opened a window or put on the lights. I'm curious to know what this means, sorry if the question sounds stupid.

iamnlia:
Mr. Sarassin, sorry for derailing o but I've been doing some chakra meditating and each time I try it, I start seeing flashes of light like someone opened a window or put on the lights. I'm curious to know what this means, sorry if the question sounds stupid.

I also experience this when I try to do what I think is meditation.
I am usually scared out of my wits when it happens. How do you do your meditation?

Ranchhoddas:
I also experience this when I try to do what I think is meditation.
I am usually scared out of my wits when it happens. How do you do your meditation?

I started off with binaural beats but now I just lay down and cover my eyes with a cloth before I start.
I'm still not as good as I'd like though, my mind doesn't shut up.

iamnlia:
Mr. Sarassin, sorry for derailing o but I've been doing some chakra meditating and each time I try it, I start seeing flashes of light like someone opened a window or put on the lights. I'm curious to know what this means, sorry if the question sounds stupid.

it's nothing spectacular.
it is called tanmantric light.
it means u r actually concentrating on the meditation.
however if u duel on d light u see, u might not progress. u can progress when u use ur breathe to follow up. I have a pranayama breathing technique that can help u.

geezyk:
I've been a follower on this thread front the first page, but this is my first comment, I follow all threads made by Sarassin cos he's versed in what he does, can I get a numerical reading for myself..

to start with, for the most simple form of reading i will give u, i need to know the day u were born. not month and year, just the numerical day, e.g 1st 2nd or 20th

numericalsage:
to start with, for the most simple form of reading i will give u, i need to know the day u were born. not month and year, just the numerical day, e.g 1st 2nd or 20th

That would be the 21st

lekkie073:
it's nothing spectacular.
it is called tanmantric light.
it means u r actually concentrating on the meditation.
however if u duel on d light u see, u might not progress. u can progress when u use ur breathe to follow up. I have a pranayama breathing technique that can help u.

Please do tell

numericalsage:
to start with, for the most simple form of reading i will give u, i need to know the day u were born. not month and year, just the numerical day, e.g 1st 2nd or 20th

I need a reading too, please.
Mine would be 9th

lekkie073:

.......he was perplexed. but he understood the unspoken. we just went home straight. the rest is history

I can relate to your experiences

iamnlia:
Mr. Sarassin, sorry for derailing o but I've been doing some chakra meditating and each time I try it, I start seeing flashes of light like someone opened a window or put on the lights. I'm curious to know what this means, sorry if the question sounds stupid.

No worries, When you practise your meditation try to be in a seated pose with your spine straight. As lekkie073 said you are concentrating on the act of meditating hence the visuals, in other words you are trying too hard. Your focus should be on your breathing pattern. A simple one that is good for meditation is the 4-2-4, in-breath for 4 seconds, hold it for 2 seconds and then expel for 4 seconds and continue in that vein. Try to concentrate on the turn-over of your breath. Do not worry too much if your mind wanders just gently bring your attention back to your breathing.

Often times the meditative act takes place even whilst the mind wanders. It is in small increments, keep your practice short to begin with, no more than say 20 minutes. Most of all relax.

Sarassin:


No worries, When you practise your meditation try to be in a seated pose with your spine straight. As lekkie073 said you are concentrating on the act of meditating hence the visuals, in other words you are trying too hard. Your focus should be on your breathing pattern. A simple one that is good for meditation is the 4-2-4, in-breath for 4 seconds, hold it for 2 seconds and then expel for 4 seconds and continue in that vein. Try to concentrate on the turn-over of your breath. Do not worry too much if your mind wanders just gently bring your attention back to your breathing.

Often times the meditative act takes place even whilst the mind wanders. It is in small increments, keep your practice short to begin with, no more than say 20 minutes. Most of all relax.

in d case of pranayama, d breath pattern should be 4-16-8 or 3-12-6
anyone interested should try d 4-12-8 pattern. do it in 20 cycles continuously.
u will experience some itching sensation when u get towards the 12 to 15 cycles but just continue.

if after finishing it, u don't see sweat all over your body, u haven't done it right.

lekkie073:
...

I really liked your story. You should open up and share some more, you are really welcomed.

Sarassin:


No worries, When you practise your meditation try to be in a seated pose with your spine straight. As lekkie073 said you are concentrating on the act of meditating hence the visuals, in other words you are trying too hard. Your focus should be on your breathing pattern. A simple one that is good for meditation is the 4-2-4, in-breath for 4 seconds, hold it for 2 seconds and then expel for 4 seconds and continue in that vein. Try to concentrate on the turn-over of your breath. Do not worry too much if your mind wanders just gently bring your attention back to your breathing.

Often times the meditative act takes place even whilst the mind wanders. It is in small increments, keep your practice short to begin with, no more than say 20 minutes. Most of all relax.

You once talked about protecting oneself from malign influences when trying to meditate. Is that also necessary in this case?

Ranchhoddas:
You once talked about protecting oneself from malign influences when trying to meditate. Is that also necessary in this case?

Yes, I always advocate sanctifying meditation space. A short prayer for sanctification or better still the "banishing Ritual" will do.

Sarassin:


Yes, I always advocate sanctifying meditation space. A short prayer for sanctification or better still the "banishing Ritual" will do.

Alright.
Is it a specific prayer or just any one?

Who should be the recipient of the prayer?

Ranchhoddas:
Alright.
Is it a specific prayer or just any one?

Who should be the recipient of the prayer?

A prayer for protection to the Four Archangels Raphael, Michael, Gabriel and Uriel. Of course you can do the LBRP.

Returning once more to the theme of the thread I would like to take a closer look at some of the basic requisites or if you prefer, “skill sets” that is required of a magical practitioner of any path.

Any aspiring sorcerer or practitioner of whatever path must have certain items in his or her locker, items without which one is simply a dabbler of no consequence. I call them the “sorcerer’s armoury”.

Paramount in this armoury is the ability to meditate and to enter deep gnosis, if I had to give up every teaching I have ever learned and retain just one item it would be the ability to meditate. It is a fundamental skill that facilitates your entry into the astral world which mystics over the ages have assured us is in fact the ultimate reality. Your ability to meditate properly puts you in direct communication with the universe itself, your word truly becomes your command. We will return to the use of magic in the astral.

Next in order of importance in the armoury is the ability to visualise. Visualisation of images and sequences of events are a tough skill to learn, there are no shortcuts for the practitioner, for the occasional "trier" visual aids may be of assistance but for the practitioner or sorcerer there is only constant practice. However once the art has been mastered a practitioner can do and undo…literally.

I was taught the hard way without the use of modern visual memory aids very often we would sit in rows of two’s directly behind one another and the neophyte behind unknown to the one sitting in front would be asked to visualise a pin being stuck in the nape of the neck of the practitioner seated directly in front of him. You could only get up when the guy in front of you reacted in pain, this pain was somewhat similar to the pain inflicted by a soldier ant sinking its teeth into you, and we would in fact sit there for hours practising. I felt the pain many times and inflicted it also on numerous occasions, it’s a technique I find particularly useful especially in aeroplanes when flying, every now and then I get a guy sitting in front of me who inconsiderately fully reclines his chair all the way down usually whilst I am trying to eat, needless to say, he gets it in the neck, they soon realise that when they pull up their seats the stinging stops, once they think the coast is clear and recline the seat I sting them again, I have seen grown men cry at the pain! but I digress.

My point is, without the ability to visualise properly one simply cannot practise magic to any effect.

And then there is the “gaze”.

"he looked into the eyes of the girl, eyes as green as the sea..
but then….a tear fell, and he began to drown……" Caruso.

One of the most indispensable and insidious tools of the practitioner is the Gaze, I use the term insidious because it is such a subtle skill that often the victim will have no idea that he or she has been the subject of sorcerous manipulation, the use of the gaze sounds so far-fetched as to be improbable. However, rest assured that it is that believed improbability that the sorcerer uses against you, the victim.

The Gaze is the sorcerous art of doing through seeing and, without going into too much detail it is the development and enhancement of peripheral vision, and a manipulation of focus and unfocused gaze that grants the sorcerer the ability to throw his will into the Gaze and peer behind the veil. Its more celebrated use is in that of casting the “evil eye” wherein the recipient becomes the unlucky receiver of extended bad fortune, but there are far more uses for this skill

A good practitioner who has perfected the art of gazing will gain indirect influence over his victim for short periods of up to an hour.
It is the essential power of a sorcerer to be able to exert control over the mind of another, such a victim would then come to believe that he or she had been “enchanted” or “charmed”.

Sarassin:
Returning once more to the theme of the thread I would like to take a closer look at some of the basic requisites or if you prefer, “skill sets” that is required of a magical practitioner of any path.

Any aspiring sorcerer or practitioner of whatever path must have certain items in his or her locker, items without which one is simply a dabbler of no consequence. I call them the “sorcerer’s armoury”.

Paramount in this armoury is the ability to meditate and to enter deep gnosis, if I had to give up every teaching I have ever learned and retain just one item it would be the ability to meditate. It is a fundamental skill that facilitates your entry into the astral world which mystics over the ages have assured us is in fact the ultimate reality. Your ability to meditate properly puts you in direct communication with the universe itself, your word truly becomes your command. We will return to the use of magic in the astral.

Next in order of importance in the armoury is the ability to visualise. Visualisation of images and sequences of events are a tough skill to learn, there are no shortcuts for the practitioner, for the occasional "trier" visual aids may be of assistance but for the practitioner or sorcerer there is only constant practice. However once the art has been mastered a practitioner can do and undo…literally.

I was taught the hard way without the use of modern visual memory aids very often we would sit in rows of two’s directly behind one another and the neophyte behind unknown to the one sitting in front would be asked to visualise a pin being stuck in the nape of the neck of the practitioner seated directly in front of him. You could only get up when the guy in front of you reacted in pain, this pain was somewhat similar to the pain inflicted by a soldier ant sinking its teeth into you, and we would in fact sit there for hours practising. I felt the pain many times and inflicted it also on numerous occasions, it’s a technique I find particularly useful especially in aeroplanes when flying, every now and then I get a guy sitting in front of me who inconsiderately fully reclines his chair all the way down usually whilst I am trying to eat, needless to say, he gets it in the neck, they soon realise that when they pull up their seats the stinging stops, once they think the coast is clear and recline the seat I sting them again, I have seen grown men cry at the pain! but I digress.

My point is, without the ability to visualise properly one simply cannot practise magic to any effect.

And then there is the “gaze”.

recently I found out that I have been having obe for quite a long time since I was 16 or there about. ( because of my hard core christian foundation I always thought some evil forces were trying to get me).

until I started to find out what the purpose of what life is and who God really is ( I somehow stumble on your thread). I got more enlightened by your thread but I wasn't satisfy with your answers on "who is God ?", "is Jesus the son of God?" "and is the holy spirit the spirit of God?" ( although I have come to conclude that I will continue believing in Jesus and the holy spirit).

I recently read some articles on astra projection (since you never really explained it, I had to go through a lot of research on net). I have been on this research for long and I found out why it seems I was always choking and like my spirit is trying to leave me frequently in many nights. so I did some practice with the new level of my awareness. On two occasions now I no more feel the choking stuff and I have been able to see around my room. in fact I saw my right feet floating and my left am floating I imaging a ladder to help me separate myself but I was rather too excited that I ignored the ladder and decided to hold my floating leg with my floating hand just to be sure I was not dreaming(I use to be very afraid without the knowledge of AP).but before I could do anything else I got back to reality. the second time I couldn't imaging the ladder but I rolled to the one side of my bed but I immediately found myself right back to my former position again with my arm and leg floating. I was not afraid but I struggled to separate the rest of my body again but this time I couldn't move any part of my body it was like something very powerful was holding me to paralysis. I got angry and was angrily saying to whatever I felt was holding me down "you self leave me na" and after some struggle I became frustrated and a little bit scared and so I prayed in Jesus name trying to free myself from the paralysis but I woke in real life.

the reason I was having interest in AP was to get answers to lot of questions on my mind about spirituality and purpose of life and you said it is not necessary for one to hurt others when it comes to this form of spiritual practice ( infact you advised against it, thereby giving me more interest to venture into it).
how come you are now talking of sorcery, magic and pin hurting people ?

people like us who are eager to sacrifice for the truth deserve to be told the truth about things. which is the first reason I don't fully trust Christians who just come to tell me to believe everything they preach without concrete explanation on procedures and happenings.
I would like you to help me out with why I couldn't separate myself even though I sincerely wanted to and why you now associate sorcery, magic and pin hurting/ hurting people part with AP.
THANKS

Dcholeric:

recently I found out that I have been having obe for quite a long time since I was 16 or there about. ( because of my hard core christian foundation I always thought some evil forces were trying to get me)......

I am sorry that you found my explanation of God inadequate, I think it is a tall order asking for anyone to explain that to you what I did was give you my understanding. I do not quite remember exactly what I wrote to you but I am sure that somewhere in there I would have written that God is an experience. You have to experience the Divine for yourself. That said, I am happy that you continue to believe in Jesus and the Holy Spirit, it is important that you are comfortable with your beliefs.

Except in general terms, I try as much as I can to stay away from Astral Projection discussions because in my view most are ill-prepared and possibly lack the spiritual grounding to embark on such activities. Would you seek to cross a ten-lane highway blind-folded? No. What I will say however is that AP is not a form of spirituality, it is merely one of very many psychic phenomena like Psychometry, Telekinesis, or Telepathy, nothing more, nothing less, AP is not a Holy Grail, Cats and Dogs do it better than humans. You should learn first to center yourself, to meditate properly and encounter your greater self, because that is where the true spiritual journey begins not AP.

Finally, the premise of the thread is to examine the points of divergence between the pathworking of practitioners of the Left hand path, the Right hand path as well as the Middle path as well as the differences between their methods of operations and their commonalities. And yes it is true I do not advocate hurting anyone, I gave an example of being taught a visualisation technique by visualising a pin prick subjects who by the way were fellow practitioners also learning the same technique. The only way to validate the learning is to do it under controlled circumstances such as that.

It is true that I have used the same technique as described against somebody who I considered had been inconsiderate towards me, that of course was my decision and for that I can offer no apologies.

AP is just a technique and nothing more, it is independent of religious beliefs or lack thereof, if your ultimate aim is true spirituality then AP is the wrong place to start.

Sarassin:


I am sorry that you found my explanation of God inadequate, I think it is a tall order asking for anyone to explain that to you what I did was give you my understanding. I do not quite remember exactly what I wrote to you but I am sure that somewhere in there I would have written that God is an experience. You have to experience the Divine for yourself. That said, I am happy that you continue to believe in Jesus and the Holy Spirit, it is important that you are comfortable with your beliefs.

Except in general terms, I try as much as I can to stay away from Astral Projection discussions because in my view most are ill-prepared and possibly lack the spiritual grounding to embark on such activities. Would you seek to cross a ten-lane highway blind-folded? No. What I will say however is that AP is not a form of spirituality, it is merely one of very many psychic phenomena like Psychometry, Telekinesis, or Telepathy, nothing more, nothing less, AP is not a Holy Grail, Cats and Dogs do it better than humans. You should learn first to center yourself, to meditate properly and encounter your greater self, because that is where the true spiritual journey begins not AP.

Finally, the premise of the thread is to examine the points of divergence between the pathworking of practitioners of the Left hand path, the Right hand path as well as the Middle path as well as the differences between their methods of operations and their commonalities. And yes it is true I do not advocate hurting anyone, I gave an example of being taught a visualisation technique by visualising a pin prick subjects who by the way were fellow practitioners also learning the same technique. The only way to validate the learning is to do it under controlled circumstances such as that.

It is true that I have used the same technique as described against somebody who I considered had been inconsiderate towards me, that of course was my decision and for that I can offer no apologies.

AP is just a technique and nothing more, it is independent of religious beliefs or lack thereof, if your ultimate aim is true spirituality then AP is the wrong place to start.

I thought with AP I should be able to get questions on spirituality answered and therefore find the right way to spirituality.
if not, ...how does one locate the right path to spirituality?

Dcholeric:
Who or what is the define God?
I will appreciate if you give me a robust information on this.

Dcholeric:
recently I found out that I have been having obe for quite a long time since I was 16 or there about. ( because of my hard core christian foundation I always thought some evil forces were trying to get me)
until I started to find out what the purpose of life is and who God really is ( I somehow stumble on your thread).
I got more enlightened by your thread but I wasn't satisfy with your answers on "who is God ?",
"is Jesus the son of God?" "and is the holy spirit the spirit of God?"
( although I have come to conclude that I will continue believing in Jesus and the holy spirit)

If you spotted it, right there, is the deja vu moment

Dcholeric:
I recently read some articles on astra projection (since you never really explained it, I had to go through a lot of research on net). I have been on this research for long and I found out why it seems I was always choking and like my spirit is trying to leave me frequently in many nights. so I did some practice with the new level of my awareness. In two occasions now I no more feel the choking stuff and I have been able to see around my room. in fact I saw my right feet floating and my left am floating I imaging a ladder to help me separate myself but I was rather too exited that I ignore the ladder and decided to hold my floating leg with my floating hand just to be sure I was not dreaming(I use to be very afraid without the knowledge of AP).but before I could do anything else I got back to reality. the second time I couldn't imaging the ladder but I rolled to the one side of my bed but I immediately found myself right back to my former position again with my arm and leg floating.
I was not afraid but I struggled to separate the rest of my body again but this time I couldn't move any part of my body it was like something very powerful was holding me to paralysis. I got angry and was angrily saying to whatever I felt was holding me down "you self leave me na"
and after some struggle I became frustrated and a little bit scared and so I prayed in Jesus name trying to free myself from the paralysis but I woke in real life.

the reason I was having interest in AP was to get answers to lot of questions on my mind about spirituality and purpose of life and you said it is not necessary for one to hurt others when it comes to this form of spiritual practice
(infact you advised against it, thereby giving me more interest to venture into it).
how come you are now talking of sorcery, magic and pin hurting people?
people like us who are eager to sacrifice for the truth deserve to be told the truth about things

Sarassin:
I am sorry that you found my explanation of God inadequate, I think it is a tall order asking for anyone to explain that to you what I did was give you my understanding. I do not quite remember exactly what I wrote to you but I am sure that somewhere in there I would have written that God is an experience. You have to experience the Divine for yourself.
That said, I am happy that you continue to believe in Jesus and the Holy Spirit, it is important that you are comfortable with your beliefs.

Sarassin:
Coming from an Inclusivist that you are, I am not surprised by this remark One of them has to be the real McCoy Sarassin,
convincingly define God and god please,
Exhaustively and to the best of your understanding do this for me please

Sarassin:
I am happy to do so and indeed have done so in the past but I think we have deviated from the topic of the thread.

MuttleyLaff:
It's your point of view,
your perspective, your posturing (i.e. behave in a way that is intended to impress), I am interested in and not necessarily others
I wasn't intending to set up a Jankara mall or market place thread

As I've said, your definition of the nouns, God and god, is of the most interest to me

Religions are the least of my concern
Talking of religion, you know, as well as I do, what true and pure religion is anyway, so anyone believing in anything else (e.g. Christianity, Islam, Buddism, Hinduism, Penterascalism/Pentecostalism etcetera) parading itself otherwise are just kidding themselves

Sarassin:
In that case I would say simply;

In relation to mankind I see God as the Divine sentience, a universal presence, progenitor of ever-present change and unitary of opposites.
I see gods or more specifically, what I term fundamental deities as the various attributes or emanations of the Divine presence.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck,
make no mistake that it probably is a duck, because then, it could be a dragon doing a duck impersonation

Dcholeric:
which is the first reason I don't fully trust Christians who just come to tell me to believe everything they preach without concrete explanation on procedures and happenings.
I would like you to help me out with why I couldn't separate myself even though I sincerely wanted to and why you now associate sorcery, magic and pin hurting/ hurting people part with AP.
THANKS

There are many so-called doctrines people were raised with and forced to believe without concrete explanations, that are not truths at all and so need unlearning
To start with, people need to gain or acquire knowledge about themselves that they dont want to be called or addressed Christian
just as much like they wouldnt want to be called or addressed a nigger

Dcholeric:

I thought with AP I should be able to get questions on spirituality answered and therefore find the right way to spirituality.
if not, ...how does one locate the right path to spirituality?

the right to spirituality has more to do with ur own personal disposition.
like a sword in the hands of a man can be wielded to torment another man or to break the bondage of another man.
so spirituality is like a sword. how u intend to use it shows if u r on the right path or not.

Dcholeric, astral projection is not something u just perfect in a matter of some time. it goes more than that.
when I started to practice the act, I had virtually the same experience of slight out of body followed by a sudden back-into-d-body experience.
when u r astral projecting, what is it or where do u intend to go. limiting urself to within ur room won't give u the experience. be careful because its a higher plane.
if u wish to really advance in AP, try creating a castle somewhere deep in beyond the clouds. make it a sanctuary where u intend to project to for soul relaxation. so that should be ur destination. the more u can easily attune to getting to d sanctuary, the better u perfect the techniques involved in visiting other places within the astral realm.

iamnlia:

I need a reading too, please.
Mine would be 9th

u tend to be aggressive in most things u do. While u might have had difficult times growing up, in the end success comes by your grit, strong will and destination. In character, u r prone to be hasty in temper, impulsive and independent. U also have that knack to be ur own boss. U r also prone to edperienceany quarels and strife with ur relations and it may transfer into the family u marry. U r seen to strongle resent criticism because u have a good opinion of yourself. While u like to be in control within an organization, u may tend to stand aside and watch things go to pieces if u r not given the chance to be in control.

Please take care as u prone to accidents from fire and explosion.

Should I proceed?

numericalsage:
u tend to be aggressive in most things u do. While u might have had difficult times growing up, in the end success comes by your grit, strong will and destination. In character, u r prone to be hasty in temper, impulsive and independent. U also have that knack to be ur own boss. U r also prone to edperienceany quarels and strife with ur relations and it may transfer into the family u marry. U r seen to strongle resent criticism because u have a good opinion of yourself. While u like to be in control within an organization, u may tend to stand aside and watch things go to pieces if u r not given the chance to be in control.

Please take care as u prone to accidents from fire and explosion.

Should I proceed?

in numerology every word has to be broken down to a single digit. what formula do you use ? do you just add everything up ? like 124 will be 1 plus 2 plus 4 = 6

geezyk:
That would be the 21st

ur number stands in symbolism for the planet of Jupiter, which plays an important role in astrology and numerology. U r decidedly ambitious, aiming to rise to the top of the world. U have an excellent attitude to executing commands , love orderliness and very disciplined. Ppl dat share ur birth number seem to do well in positions of command and authority like the military. Being someone that is conscientious when on duty, u will excel in posts that require trust and responsibility.
Though u have the tendency to be dictatorial, u might make more enemies than friends. U r proud
And u don't like to be restrained.

Should I proceed?

Apogee14:
in numerology every word has to be broken down to a single digit. what formula do you use ? do you just add everything up ? like 124 will be 1 plus 2 plus 4 = 6

u have a bit of insight to numerology.
Dats cool.

But asking which formula is akin to asking ur host how he/she cooked the fantastic meal being served. If u r a good cook (numerologist as the case may be) u should know already how it is being done.


But still, I believe u have an insight. Weldone!

numericalsage:
u have a bit of insight to numerology.
Dats cool.

But asking which formula is akin to asking ur host how he/she cooked the fantastic meal being served. If u r a good cook (numerologist as the case may be) u should know already how it is being done.


But still, I believe u have an insight. Weldone!

Thanks. now there are many videos on youtube about how everything is cosmically controlled and numbers are part of the control. meaning every number assigned to you has a purpose. for example, your house number, your BVN number, your car plate number, your date of birth, your age, etc etc. Do you use all these numbers ?

Apogee14:
Thanks. now there are many videos on youtube about how everything is cosmically controlled and numbers are part of the control. meaning every number assigned to you has a purpose. for example, your house number, your BVN number, your car plate number, your date of birth, your age, etc etc. Do you use all these numbers ?

hmmmm, u have an abstract idea.

Apogee14:
Thanks. now there are many videos on youtube about how everything is cosmically controlled and numbers are part of the control. meaning every number assigned to you has a purpose. for example, your house number, your BVN number, your car plate number, your date of birth, your age, etc etc. Do you use all these numbers ?

every number has an influence in u.
Ur birth number, and ur name number can be used to determine ur fate on a particular numerical date. I don't need to know ur Bvn number because it is randomly generated. Some numbers stick with u while some do not. Eg ur birth date will always be d same bit ur house address might not always be the same.

lekkie073:
hmmmm, u have an abstract idea.

it is a numbers controlled matrix we live in and we are biological computers with many programmes in us that are controlled by numbers. we are controlled by numbers. numbers dictate all our actions and reactions. you conquer the numbers you conquer the world * wink *