The overwhelming majority of Greeks we have met are exceptionally hospitable, are in tune with nature, and are kind, generous and intelligent. What can you say about the country itself? Beaches as good as anywhere in the world, amazing history, architecture and culture. The laid back attitude of the people is infectious. The combination of people and places irresistible. And the weather…
When we went to the sacred world site of Delphi in October 2012, Anne channelled Diana, and it was revealed that I had been one of those who built it. We met a fabulous astrologer, Bella Kydonaki last year, who traced my roots back to the mythical figure of Chiron.
Despite the fact it has upset a few of our Greek friends, Diana has told Anne she was the Greek Goddess Artemis.
As I have said elsewhere, if you believe in past lives, we are all Greeks, all English, all Chinese. Indeed, as the human race is over 400,000 years old, chances are we are all every race on earth.
I don’t like big cities, but I love Athens. I also love [Thessa] Saloniki and Volos. Travel to Pelion in the Spring and you will find snow drifts. We have visited sixteen Greek islands, some several times. Find me a more visually stunning island than Santorini.
Find me a more improbable result in world football than the Greeks winning the European Cup in 2004.
The Elgin marbles belong in one place, Athens.
The driving is rubbish and far too fast. But almost all Greeks drive like that, so it doesn’t matter. Unlike here, a minority drive too aggressively, too slowly and very badly.
To me, the Greeks have the most beautiful, fascinating and endlessly interesting country on earth. But they rarely proclaim that. Most seem a little reluctant to acknowledge it. These days imported toxic American culture is chipping away at their sacred ways, as is deliberate EU forced mass immigration. American [and British] ‘pop’ and [God forgive] ‘rap’ is polluting their airwaves. Burgers, hot dogs or Briam? Rapeseed or Olive oil? Budweiser or Mythos? Imported crap or Greek fish, fruit and vegetables?
The Nazis nearly destroyed Greece. Little or no help was given to Greece to re-build. A military junta ran the country from 1967 to 1974. After WW2, in 1946, Greek fascists, former Nazi collaborators, with British support [sound familiar?], purged the communists. Tens of thousands were killed and tortured. Much of it on the barren island of Makronisos.
We hear from the rabid tabloids in the UK about lazy, feckless Greeks. I have never met one. Again, as I have said elsewhere, but I have never been in the Greek ‘parliament’ or met a senior ‘banker.’ The Greeks love to serve. Serving food or drink is considered an important job. How can it not be?
Global ruling elite enforced ‘austerity’ has all but killed their economy. Two-thirds of young people have no job. Suicides are running at record levels. But Greece is sat on massive mineral and oil wealth. Greek chauvinism is alive and kicking. Despite their history, gay people are unwelcome or at best grudgingly tolerated in large parts of Greece, except on Mykonos and in the larger cites. The far right is enjoying a renaissance.
The language is difficult, but so is English.
I love the Irish and Ireland too. Like Greece without the heat, or the blue seas, or the healthy diet, or the architecture. But what countryside, beaches, loughs, views and mountains and …rain
Wonderful towns that all look different with row after row of small, independent shops and cafes. Each has great ‘energies.’
And what I said about the Greeks, you can say about the Irish. I am staggered by the lack of anger towards the English ruling elites for hundreds of years of oppression. Go to Dunbrody if you visit Southern Ireland. That maybe the kind of circles we mix in when over there.
Every person who reads this will have their own favourite people, their own favourite country. Can’t say I’m particularly well-travelled. Apart from Greece, Ireland and the UK, I’ve been to the USA [Colorado], Russia [Zvenigorod and Moscow], Italy, France, Austria, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus [both parts].
And you know what? In every one of these places I have met fabulous people, and visited fabulous places. And not one of them was like their media portrayal, especially America and Russia. The underground/metro in Moscow is surely one of the wonders of the modern world.
Zvenigorod is where the Nazi advance was halted in WW2. It has a permanently burning flame in the town centre to commemorate the war dead. It has a very rare energy; I was there during the winter in the late 90's when it was -20 C. Statisticians tell us around 25 million people in the former Soviet Union died during the war, or about 13% of the population. My Russian friends told me the true figure was around 33%.
I have unverifiable Greek roots. I can’t be bothered with tracking my family tree that far back, and no-one has yet developed a web site for past lives. But the pull Greece has on me is as strong as it gets. Even if I can’t-in this incarnation-yet speak the language.
To quote Diana:
“The Greeks are very strong people and they will come through this [‘Austerity’], and they will come through this stronger and better and they will not be put on and walked on like they have been in the past.”
Artemis is wondering what is for tea…
Jack Stewart, June 2014.