Voce Valentino Blog

Another book I heartily recommend, “Egyptian Cosmology” summarizes the lore of ancient Egyptians in a clear, concise, cogent, and comprehensive manner. Here is a quote, what the author has to say about healing, from the perspective of that time and civilization: “Egyptian medicine understood man as a whole, in tune with the cosmos. The body is an immensely complex vibratory system. Everything is in a constant dynamic state of movements which are intimately connected to the rhythms, harmonies, and pulsations of the universe. Accumulating evidence proves the existence of cycles in the incidence of disease, and in their intensities, which are indicative of cosmic resonance. When ‘out of tune,’ the body was seen as unhealthy or diseased. To heal a person is to bring that person back into tune, by the deliberate summoning-up of the specific harmonic phenomena pertinent to the case.

It is known that musical vibrations induce organic and inorganic substances into patterns and forms, such as plants responding to sound. We also know of the ability of infra-sound waves to shake buildings or destroy organs, and how ultra-sound waves are used in micro-surgery as a knife-less scalpel. It follows logically, that specific human organs and glands can respond to specific sounds. Incantation and chanting are scientifically controlled sound waves, with similar powers to the cases mentioned above.

By pronouncing certain words or names of powers, in the proper manner and tone of voice, the ancient Egyptian priest or doctor could heal the sick, cast out the contrary/incompatible energies which caused the pain and suffering. The power of sound vibrations was important in performing Egyptian chants, spells and calling a person’s name. Everything has a ‘real’ name, a name which enshrines the essence of the thing, which is the thing. To know and pronounce the real name of a god, man, or animal, is to exercise power over it.” ~ Moustafa Gadalla  (“Egyptian Cosmology: The Absolute Harmony” ~ 1997)

Am incredibly bullish on this book, and here is my review, which was previously posted on Amazon and Blurb.com.

Rudolph Valentino The Silent Idol is an outstanding effort. Donna Hill has succeeded well beyond anyone’s expectations, on all levels. Her prose is very much to the point yet abundant in details, many of which could be described as revelatory. And, she tells the tale in an especially engaging manner, drawing the reader in. Not only that, I really like the fact that she divides Valentino’s lifetime into episodes, making the richness of it all easier to digest.

But the crux of the matter is in the photos, Mr. Valentino himself. In choosing which ones to use, I believe Hill made particularly wise choices. Although some are familiar and have been seen before elsewhere, the great majority are fresh, having been sourced from her own extensive collection, the vaults of other silent film buffs, various libraries and Valentino family archives. Simply put, they are all in some way spectacular, conveying, without words, the many facets of his personality, i.e. who Valentino really was. Bravo! This book is a must-have, an elegant and comprehensive look at the life of one of Hollywood’s greatest legends.

“So enamored of marriage was I that I tried it twice! What was I seeking by declaring my allegiance, first to Jean and later to Natacha? I was attempting to formalize one of my strongest desires, to have a true companion, one with whom I could share all aspects of my being. Such was my motivation. All of you have your own, equally as valid.

Marrying creates intention as well as a commitment for the individuals in question to stay in tune with each other, in other words, to keep pace with each other’s lives. Indeed, marriage is like dancing the paso doble (two-step) with gloves on, a little formal but quite enjoyable nonetheless. Both require good timing and lots of give and take. It’s a rare couple, however, that actually needs to have their relationship formalized, especially if both individuals have already committed themselves to each other of their own accord. They may, of course, choose to marry anyway ~ for a variety of reasons.

As a construct, marriage requires a lot of patience and due diligence. Tact, too, plays an important role. Enter into marriage prudently, with eyes wide open. After all, it is a rather strict institution, especially if taken at face value.

Here are a few more thoughts on union. For some, marriage may be seen as a way to cement ‘what is’ or a means to prevent a relationship from ending. Neither are particularly good reasons to marry. In the first instance, feelings can neither be captured nor frozen in time. In the second, separation rather than a coming together is what is most likely to occur.

On the other hand, marriage is a fine state of affairs for those who need to proclaim their intentions to the world, to underscore their commitment by publicly declaring their vows. Do get married if you are so inclined, especially if you and your partner are sure that you both want to experience that particular brand of societal binding.  However, know that the sanctity of marriage exists primarily in our minds rather than on paper, and is supported by all actions conceived of and carried out in love.

Getting married ought to be a conscious move, a joint decision made freely by both parties. It may or may not involve a ceremony, however. Yes, Friends, marriage can also take place in a de facto way for those who will never see fit to do the paperwork or call a preacher. There is no surprise here. I simply want to reiterate that love trumps all. If love IS between two people then marriage also IS ~ whether or not the papers saying so have ever been signed on the dotted line.

Married or not, we must all be willing to make accommodations. There is room for all manner of variables in this world. Those who are excessively rigid in their thinking usually just end up being intractable!” ~ Rudolph Valentino