Cempaka Culture and Tourism: Kings, sultans, royal families mark Islamic New Year in style

"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it), Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse), Illuminati (Started in Greece, with Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa, to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.) - (Text version)

“… The Shift in Human Nature

You're starting to see integrity change. Awareness recalibrates integrity, and the Human Being who would sit there and take advantage of another Human Being in an old energy would never do it in a new energy. The reason? It will become intuitive, so this is a shift in Human Nature as well, for in the past you have assumed that people take advantage of people first and integrity comes later. That's just ordinary Human nature.

In the past, Human nature expressed within governments worked like this: If you were stronger than the other one, you simply conquered them. If you were strong, it was an invitation to conquer. If you were weak, it was an invitation to be conquered. No one even thought about it. It was the way of things. The bigger you could have your armies, the better they would do when you sent them out to conquer. That's not how you think today. Did you notice?

Any country that thinks this way today will not survive, for humanity has discovered that the world goes far better by putting things together instead of tearing them apart. The new energy puts the weak and strong together in ways that make sense and that have integrity. Take a look at what happened to some of the businesses in this great land (USA). Up to 30 years ago, when you started realizing some of them didn't have integrity, you eliminated them. What happened to the tobacco companies when you realized they were knowingly addicting your children? Today, they still sell their products to less-aware countries, but that will also change.

What did you do a few years ago when you realized that your bankers were actually selling you homes that they knew you couldn't pay for later? They were walking away, smiling greedily, not thinking about the heartbreak that was to follow when a life's dream would be lost. Dear American, you are in a recession. However, this is like when you prune a tree and cut back the branches. When the tree grows back, you've got control and the branches will grow bigger and stronger than they were before, without the greed factor. Then, if you don't like the way it grows back, you'll prune it again! I tell you this because awareness is now in control of big money. It's right before your eyes, what you're doing. But fear often rules. …”

Friday, January 11, 2008

Kings, sultans, royal families mark Islamic New Year in style

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A combination of the thick scents of sandalwood, jasmine and incense filled the air of Sasono Utomo at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah on late Wednesday, an inkling of the unusual ceremony that was about to take place.

Chants of dzikir (prayer) were heard amid the subtle sound of a gamelan orchestra while guests entered.

Seated around the room were men in royal gowns with loyal aides on their sides and women in traditional garb and glittering jewelry, an extraordinary backdrop to the packed hall.

The kings, queens, sultans and royal families from 104 kingdoms across the archipelago sat together, bowed their heads, and prayed for the country's prosperity.

"It's the first time 104 kingdoms and sultanates could make it to the gathering to mark Islamic New Year's Eve," KRT Soebagyo Marto Bodropuro from Surakarta Palace said.

"Last year we had this at Surakarta without so much publicity. We meditated and said prayers for this country while outside the palace, the people enjoyed a royal parade," he said.

A predominantly Muslim country, Indonesians have a trove of traditions to mark the day.

Islamic New Year (Muharram) is also the New Year in the Javanese calendar, or 1 Suro. People living in Central Java and Yogyakarta mark the day with various rituals, including praying at the Royal Palace's mosques, cleansing charms such as sacred daggers and spears, or taking a silent evening stroll.

Wednesday's ceremony at Taman Mini however, saw a combination of rituals, ranging from a performance by Surakarta's royal dancers, a parade of tumpeng (coned-shaped rice dishes) and royal weaponry, and midnight prayers.

Soebagyo said the tumpeng parade, just like the prayers, was a must because it symbolized people's submission to God.

"Our ancestors communicated with their creator through symbols. Modern-day people think this kind of ceremony is unworthy so they have let go of its legacy."

Chairman of Indonesia Royal Palace Forum King of Badung Ida Tjokorda Ngurah Jambe Pemecutan said, "People from overseas often see Indonesia from one side. We have so much unexplored cultural heritage. We sit together to make the world see how colorful we are, yet we share the same concern; better lives for our leaders and our people."

"The recent spree of natural disasters is the result of our collective wrongdoings. This very moment is the right time to look back and make promises not to repeat what we have done," he said.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, the Cultural and Tourism Ministry's director general of cultural values, art and film, Mukhlis Paeni stressed the importance of reviving traditional cultural events, not only as part of the newly launched Indonesia Visit Year 2008 program to lure tourists but also to safeguard the country's cultural heritage.

"These kings and sultanates are guardians of our roots. We must encourage them to take active roles otherwise we will see more of our heritage claimed by other countries," he said.