http://tspwiki.com/index.php?title=1542
Here are some one liners...
The Christian Mystic Saint John of the Cross is Born -- As if Jewish mysticism wasn't weird enough. Now we get into Christian mysticism which is a survival subject, believe it or not.
China vs. Portugal: The Ningbo Massacre -- China can't mess around. The Mongols have invaded and now the Portuguese are messing with them. The Emperor declares that all Portuguese on Chinese lands must die. The Spanish count as Portuguese.
Lording Over the Irish -- King Henry the 8th is declared the King of Ireland. This will have serious consequences down the line.
The Christian Mystic Saint John of the Cross is Born
John de Yepes is born this year to a poor weaver family in Spain. His father will die early in life forcing John into difficult jobs to support the family. John will be educated by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and eventually join with Sister Teresa of Avila to form the Discalced (shoeless) Carmelites. Sister Teresa is a mystic and she recognizes one of her own kind. He will be called John of the Cross, and be sainted in 1726. Sister Teresa will be sainted in 1622. [1] [2] [3] [4]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
For those who felt uncomfortable with a discussion of Jewish mysticism, now you can feel even more uncomfortable with Christian mysticism. I once asked a Catholic priest about Saint John of the Cross. He gave me the fish-eye and replied, "He's crazy." I laughed. What Saint John would do is to empty himself to create a void where God is drawn into. Since I study Kabbalah, this sounds quite familiar as a meditative technique. One creates a pregnant void. I have practiced this technique but there are warnings about doing it alone. If you are good enough to make this happen you are good enough to get lost in it. Best practice is to study meditation as a group. And please, please, please check in with your local clergy. It is easy to mislead yourself when delving into mysticism of any kind. Why is this a survival topic? Pain management without drugs is one reason. Deep meditation like this can reduce pain to manageable levels but it takes practice.
For those who felt uncomfortable with a discussion of Jewish mysticism, now you can feel even more uncomfortable with Christian mysticism. I once asked a Catholic priest about Saint John of the Cross. He gave me the fish-eye and replied, "He's crazy." I laughed. What Saint John would do is to empty himself to create a void where God is drawn into. Since I study Kabbalah, this sounds quite familiar as a meditative technique. One creates a pregnant void. I have practiced this technique but there are warnings about doing it alone. If you are good enough to make this happen you are good enough to get lost in it. Best practice is to study meditation as a group. And please, please, please check in with your local clergy. It is easy to mislead yourself when delving into mysticism of any kind. Why is this a survival topic? Pain management without drugs is one reason. Deep meditation like this can reduce pain to manageable levels but it takes practice.
China vs. Portugal: The Ningbo Massacre
Official relations with Japanese entities took place at the designated port of Ningbo and after some negotiations (read as bribes) the Portuguese were allowed to land there too. The word "Ningbo" means "serene wave" but it has become anything but serene as the Portuguese set up a colony. This was not in the agreement and the Portuguese are setting fire to the villages and pillaging. With a serious Mongol invasion already in progress, the Ming Dynasty doesn't need another headache. Chinese soldiers march into Ningbo and wipe out the Portuguese. All Portuguese, everywhere in China, are sentenced to death. The Spanish are considered "Portuguese" since all those barbarians look alike. The "red-haired" barbarians (the Dutch) are distinguishable from the Portuguese though. [5] [6] [7]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
No fooling around. No misunderstanding. The Portuguese were trying to take over China by intimidation and force. It was ugly. One Portuguese commander said, "A Chinese junk man knew more about courtesy and humanity than a European knight." The Chinese were already a little paranoid about foreigners. In the end they will want foreign goods and gold enough to continue trading, but they are not going to be pushed around. The Portuguese will find other people to push around in the Indies.
No fooling around. No misunderstanding. The Portuguese were trying to take over China by intimidation and force. It was ugly. One Portuguese commander said, "A Chinese junk man knew more about courtesy and humanity than a European knight." The Chinese were already a little paranoid about foreigners. In the end they will want foreign goods and gold enough to continue trading, but they are not going to be pushed around. The Portuguese will find other people to push around in the Indies.
Lording Over the Irish
To this point the English have been designated as lords of Ireland who manage the lands on behalf of the Pope. Since the Reformation, the Pope has called into question all monarchs who have abandoned the Catholic Church. Naturally, this has caused some question as to how Ireland will be ruled. Through an act of the Parliament of Ireland, King Henry the 8th of England has been named the King of Ireland. That title will be passed on to his son Edward but when Mary succeeds to the throne, the stuff will really hit the fan. Mary is a devout Catholic. [8]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
Mary the 1st of England will succeed to the thrones of Ireland and England in 1553 by collecting an army, marching into London and beheading the previous Queen of England who had ruled all of 9 days. That is not why she will be called "Bloody Mary" though. She will get her reputation by burning 285 Protestants at the stake. Her reign will be a very long 5 years. [9]
Mary the 1st of England will succeed to the thrones of Ireland and England in 1553 by collecting an army, marching into London and beheading the previous Queen of England who had ruled all of 9 days. That is not why she will be called "Bloody Mary" though. She will get her reputation by burning 285 Protestants at the stake. Her reign will be a very long 5 years. [9]
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