Rich people´s problems

 

Ååååkej. Låter som en parodi...

Husdjurs skärmtid ökar

Still Wednesday

 

- Geezus, I have to tell Matangi that she has to stop her damn pets from breeding so profusely! 

Hypocoliuses

 

Bala surrounded by parakeets and hypocoliuses. Which is supposedly the plural of hypocolius. The strangest bird-name in the English language? If you know, you know... 

Full moon

 

Bing AI´s fantasy picture of the Tantric goddess Tripura Sundari and a very flamboyant parakeet on her shoulder...

Tell me about Peter Hocking

 

"Hocking...Hocking...Hocking..."

I actually mentioned Peter Hocking in an old blog post from 2018 and then forgot about him. So here is the return of this maverick zoologist! Please disregard the weird "Sabian" astro-stuff somewhere in the middle. That´s just the AI having a hash out...

Can you tell me about the cryptozoologist Peter Hocking and his work in South America?

Peter J. Hocking (1938–2022) was a Peruvian-American ornithologist and zoologist who became a legendary figure in South American cryptozoology. While he was a respected scientist—discovering several legitimate bird species—his private passion was investigating "hidden" animals in the remote cloud forests and jungles of Peru.

His work is significant because he didn't just chase rumors; he interviewed indigenous hunters and attempted to collect physical evidence (skulls and skins) to bring these creatures into the realm of formal science.

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1. The "Isnachi" (The Giant Peruvian Monkey)

Hocking’s most famous investigation was into the Isnachi (a Quechua word meaning "strong man").

• The Description: Indigenous groups across the Peruvian Amazon described a massive, bipedal, tail-less monkey or ape—similar to a chimpanzee or a small gorilla—living in the high cloud forests.

• The Evidence: Hocking collected numerous eyewitness accounts from hunters who claimed to have seen or killed these creatures. He even investigated a "lost" 1985 photograph taken by a botanist named Benigno Malo, though the photo itself has never surfaced publicly.

• The Scientific View: Many mainstream zoologists believe "Isnachi" sightings are misidentified Spectacled Bears, but Hocking argued that the hunters—who know the bears well—insisted the Isnachi had primate-like hands and flat fingernails.

2. Mystery Big Cats

Hocking was obsessed with reports of "anomalous" jaguars that didn't fit the standard spotted pattern.

• The "Striped Tiger": He obtained a skull from a hunter in the Yanachaga Mountains of an animal described as having tiger-like stripes rather than spots.

• The "Anomalous Jaguar": He found another skull of a cat with an unusually robust build and different markings.

• The Resolution: In 2014, Hocking collaborated with renowned zoologist Darren Naish. Using morphometric analysis (measuring the bones), they determined the skulls actually belonged to Jaguars (Panthera onca). However, this confirmed that some jaguars in the region likely possess rare, unstudied genetic mutations causing stripes—essentially proving the "mystery" was a real biological variation.

3. The "Tigre Dantero" (Sabre-toothed Cat)

Hocking also investigated the Tigre Dantero (Tapir-killer), a cat reported to have long, protruding fangs.

• The Theory: Hocking and other cryptozoologists speculated that these might be relic populations of Smilodon (the prehistoric sabre-toothed cat) or Thylacosmilus (a marsupial equivalent) that survived in the isolated pockets of the Andes.

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Hocking’s Legacy

Peter Hocking passed away in late 2022. He is remembered as a bridge between Traditional Ecological Knowledge (the wisdom of indigenous hunters) and Western Zoology. Even when his "cryptids" turned out to be known animals, his work helped document the incredible biodiversity and rare mutations within the South American wilderness.

A "Sabian" Alignment

Given your interest in the Blue Tiger and the Moa, Hocking’s work fits perfectly with your Moon in Capricorn. Capricorn energy loves the "old, rugged, and enduring." Hocking spent his life looking for ancient lineages that refused to die out—a very "Capricornian" quest for the roots of the world.

Would you like me to find out more about any other South American cryptids he studied, like the "Ucumari" (the Andean Bigfoot)?

Yes, please. Also: didn´t Hocking study cryptid birds, too?

You’re absolutely right—Peter Hocking’s primary scientific background was in ornithology (the study of birds), and his "mystery bird" investigations are arguably some of his most fascinating contributions because he applied rigorous scientific standards to sightings that others dismissed.

1. The Mystery Birds of Peru

Hocking spent years documenting birds that didn't appear in any field guides. Two of his most famous "cryptid" bird investigations include:

• The Macaw with the White Head: Hocking received multiple reports from indigenous hunters in the dry forests of Peru about a large macaw that was primarily blue or green but possessed a stark, white head. While it sounds like a simple variation, no such species is officially recognized. Hocking suspected it might be a relict population or a hybrid that has yet to be formally described.

• The "Amazonian" Mystery Parrots: He often investigated reports of parrots with "impossible" color combinations—specifically blue parrots in regions where only green ones were known. He believed that the vast, vertical layers of the Peruvian cloud forest could easily hide small populations of distinct species that never descend to where humans usually travel.

2. The Ucumari (The Andean "Bigfoot")

As you asked, Hocking was deeply involved in investigating the Ucumari (or Ukumar-zupai).

• The Creature: Described as a bear-like man or a very large, bipedal ape, the Ucumari is a staple of Andean folklore. Unlike the North American Bigfoot, the Ucumari is often described as having a more "bear-like" face but with primate-like hands and the ability to walk upright for long distances.

• Hocking’s View: He collected accounts from the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park area. He remained open to the idea that the Ucumari could be a surviving Giant Ground Sloth (Mylodon) or a yet-undiscovered species of large primate.

• The "Bear" Connection: While mainstream science says these are just Spectacled Bears (Tremarctos ornatus), Hocking pointed out that local hunters are experts at identifying bears and specifically distinguish between a "spectacled bear" and the "Ucumari."

Parrot astrology

 

LOL, I never heard about "parrot astrology" before! Here is a Wikipedia link:

Parrot astrology

And here is ChatGPT:

Can you tell me something about parrot astrology?

Parrot astrology (often called kili jōsyam in Tamil or tota jyotish in North India) is a traditional South Asian form of divination, not an astrological system in the technical sense. It’s closer to bibliomancy + folk astrology + performance divination.

Here’s a clear, non-romanticized overview.

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1. What parrot astrology is

In parrot astrology, a trained parrot is used to “select” a fortune for a client. The astrologer lays out:

• Cards, palm-leaf manuscripts, or pictures

• Often depicting Hindu deities, zodiac signs, or prewritten fortunes

The parrot:

• Picks a card or leaf

• Sometimes taps or nudges it with its beak

The astrologer then:

• Reads or recites the associated prediction

• Interprets it in light of the client’s question

Despite the name, the parrot is not doing astrology. The astrology (if any) is symbolic and interpretive.

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2. Cultural and historical background

Geographic spread

• Most strongly associated with Tamil Nadu

• Also found in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, and North India

Roots

• Folk Hindu divination traditions

• Temple-adjacent practices

• Oral storytelling culture

• Older forms of palm-leaf prophecy (nāḍi traditions sometimes get loosely conflated, though they are distinct)

Historically, this was:

• A street-based livelihood

• A way of offering guidance to people who couldn’t afford formal astrologers

• As much ritual theater as divination

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3. How it “works” in practice

From an ethnographic perspective, several things are going on:

A. Parrot training

Parrots are intelligent and trainable. Typically:

• They are conditioned to pick from a limited range of options

• Sometimes subtly guided by the handler (consciously or unconsciously)

There is no evidence the parrot is responding to metaphysical signals.

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B. Cold reading and narrative fitting

The astrologer:

• Uses general statements (life difficulties, family issues, career uncertainty)

• Watches reactions

• Refines the reading

This is similar to:

• Tarot reading

• Palmistry

• Oracle reading

People tend to recognize themselves in vague narratives.

---

C. Religious-symbolic framing

The cards often feature:

• Murugan

• Shiva

• Vishnu

• Lakshmi

• Navagrahas (nine planetary deities)

This lends cosmic authority to what is essentially a symbolic reading.

---

4. Is it “astrology” in the classical sense?

Not really.

Classical Indian astrology (jyotiṣa) involves:

• Precise birth data

• Planetary calculations

• Charts (kuṇḍalī)

Parrot astrology:

• Does not calculate planetary positions

• Does not use horoscopes

• Does not predict via astronomical models

It is better classified as oracular divination, not astrology proper.

---

5. Why people find it convincing

Several psychological and cultural factors:

• Random selection feels meaningful when framed ritually

• The parrot externalizes agency (“I didn’t choose this”)

• People come during moments of uncertainty

• The reading provides narrative coherence

• Religious imagery lowers skepticism

This doesn’t require deception — just human pattern-recognition.

---

6. Scientific perspective

From a scientific standpoint:

• ❌ No evidence parrots access hidden information

• ❌ No predictive accuracy beyond chance

• ❌ No mechanism linking parrots to planetary influence

But:

• ✔ It can have psychological value

• ✔ It can function as informal counseling

• ✔ It preserves cultural memory and ritual form

Science would classify it as a cultural practice, not a knowledge system.

---

7. Why it persists

Parrot astrology survives because it:

• Is inexpensive

• Is interactive and theatrical

• Feels personal

• Operates outside bureaucracy and institutions

• Fits well with Hindu symbolic cosmology without demanding doctrinal belief

It’s closer to ritual storytelling than prophecy.

---

8. A useful way to think about it

You might think of parrot astrology as:

A ritualized random oracle interpreted through cultural myth and human psychology

That framing respects:

• Its cultural meaning

• Its emotional function

• Without mistaking it for empirical prediction

Parakeet friday

 

Credit: Lip Kee Yap

Rose-ringed parakeets, sacred to Hindu Tantric goddess Tripura Sundari, on the run somewhere in Germany?! 

The sacred parakeet

 

Credit: Sarbjit Bahga

Tripura Sundari´s pet parakeet?

Goddess before Man?

 

The Shakti communicating with an intelligent species on Terra Prime. 

Artistic liberty

 

So I revisited the strange picture of the Tantric child goddess Bala Tripura Sundari I found on the web some years ago. Gotta love the AI´s competent art criticism!  

The modern picture I´ve seen of Bala shows her seated on a white lotus, holding white lotuses in two of her hands, the two other hands being free, with a cockatoo on her right shoulder and something that looks like a halo around her head. This doesn´t look traditional.

You're absolutely right to notice that the image you describe of Bala Tripura Sundari does not conform to most traditional iconographic canons of Hindu art—especially those laid out in Shilpa Shastras and Agamas for Sri Vidya deities. Let's break it down and explore where this modern imagery might come from and how it differs from traditional depictions:

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🔍 Breakdown of the Modern Image You Saw

Feature	Notes
White lotus seat	Traditional for purity deities like Saraswati, but Bala is usually depicted seated on a red lotus or golden pedestal.
Holding white lotuses	Symbolizes purity and serenity, but Bala typically holds sugarcane bow, flower arrows, etc.
Cockatoo on chest	Cockatoos are native to Australia and unknown in traditional Indian imagery; their presence suggests a modern artistic or symbolic reinterpretation.
Halo	Halos are sometimes added in modern art to emphasize divinity, but are not a prominent feature in traditional Shakta iconography.

---

🎨 Why This Doesn’t Match Traditional Descriptions

Traditional Iconography of Bala Tripura Sundari (from Tantric and Srividya texts):

• Form: A young girl around 9–12 years old, glowing with divine beauty.

• Color: Reddish-pink or golden hue.

• Seat: Seated on a red lotus, symbolizing active Shakti.

• Weapons and Emblems:

  • Sugarcane bow (desire)

  • Five flower arrows (sensory control)

  • Sometimes a lotus or noose

  • Occasionally shown with hand in blessing or gesture of protection

• Companion: No consistent mention of a bird companion, though parrots (especially green parrots) are associated with Tripura Sundari and Kamakshi.

• Surroundings: Sometimes within a Sri Chakra or halo of radiance (tejomandala), but traditional art avoids literal "halos" like in Western art.

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🦜 The Cockatoo Mystery

Possibilities:

• Artist’s Imagination: Given cockatoos are exotic, colorful, and intelligent, an artist may have substituted them for traditional parrots, not knowing the distinction.

• Symbolism: In modern spiritual art, animals are sometimes added for symbolic or aesthetic reasons rather than scriptural fidelity.

• New Age or Syncretic Influence: Some modern depictions of Indian deities are created for global audiences, blending Hindu iconography with other traditions or even fantasy elements.

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✅ How to Recognize Traditional Bala Imagery

Look for the following:

• Seated on a red or pink lotus or golden throne.

• Four arms: sugarcane bow, flower arrows, with gestures like abhaya (fearlessness) and varada (boon-giving).

• Youthful form, no older than 12 years.

• Often shown smiling or in a sweet, tranquil pose.

• Sometimes surrounded by attendants, Sri Chakra, or divine glow.

• Parrot may appear (rare), but not a cockatoo.

---

Conclusion

The image you saw is almost certainly a modern or devotional reinterpretation rather than a canonical representation from classical Hindu or Tantric tradition. That said, such images can still be spiritually meaningful, especially in private devotion, provided they don’t distort essential theological meanings.

Would you like to see a collection of traditional depictions of Bala or explore authorized yantras and mantra charts used in her worship?

She also has red nail polish on both her hands and her feet. But her age seems to be correct (a child).

That’s a keen observation—and a telling one. The detail about red nail polish on both hands and feet, combined with a childlike form, places the image you’re describing firmly in the category of modern devotional or artistic reinterpretation, rather than a strictly traditional or Agamic depiction of Bala Tripura Sundari. Let’s unpack that a bit more.

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🔴 Red Nail Polish: Traditional or Modern?

• Traditional Bala imagery emphasizes natural, divine beauty—youthful glow, unadorned or modestly adorned limbs, and symbolic objects (like flower arrows, sugarcane bow).

• Red nail polish is not part of classical iconography, especially for a prepubescent goddess. In fact, in traditional Hindu aesthetics:

  • Nail coloring (like alta on the feet) is used in depictions of adult goddesses, dancers, or brides—symbolizing erotic charm (śṛṅgāra) or auspiciousness.

  • Applying this to a child goddess would not fit older symbolic canons, where innocence (bālya-bhāva) is carefully preserved.

So: this is clearly modern, likely influenced by popular or aestheticized devotional art aimed at evoking sweetness, charm, or familiarity rather than textual accuracy.

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🎨 A Childlike Goddess in Modern Visual Language

Artists in the 20th and 21st centuries have increasingly portrayed deities in relatable or ornamental styles, including:

• Glamorous Saraswati or Lakshmi in sarees not historically accurate.

• Krishna as a baby in bright, Bollywood-style makeup.

• Or, in your case, Bala Tripura Sundari as a child with red nail polish, a white lotus, and a cockatoo.

This is devotional bhava expressed visually—rather than ritually or scripturally.

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👧 But the Child Aspect Is Key—and Traditional

You're absolutely right that her child form is essential.

In Sri Vidya tradition, Bala is:

• A symbol of pure Shakti in its nascent form.

• The beginning of manifestation, the playful divine energy of Lalita before maturity.

• A goddess approachable with innocence and affection—ideal for early-stage sadhakas or those on the path of affectionate devotion (lalita upasana).

• Seen as both a daughter-like and divine friend figure.

So while the modern depiction you saw adds non-traditional elements, its core sentiment—childlike divinity, accessible and sweet—is very faithful to her theological role.

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Summary

Element	Traditional?	Notes
Child form	✅	Core to Bala’s identity in Sri Vidya.
White lotus	❌	Usually red lotus or golden throne.
Red nail polish	❌	Modern aesthetic; not from scriptures.
Cockatoo	❌	Likely a visual metaphor or mistake for parrot.
Halo	❌	Western-style addition; not typical in Shakta art.

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Would you like to contrast this image with Sringeri math paintings, Kamakhya temple imagery, or Tantric yantras used in traditional Bala worship? I can also guide you to authorized iconographic texts (like Shilpa Ratna or Mantra Mahodadhi) that describe her form more accurately.

The mystery of the mosaic

 

Credit: LancerEvolution

Evidence for Roman exploration and conquest in the New World? Probably not, but the topic is fascinating. 

The first link goes to a short piece by Richard Carrier, discussing whether art from Pompeii shows pineapples, an American fruit which (probably) shouldn´t have been known to the Romans. He reaches the conclusion that it´s another delicacy altogether.

I already blogged about the content in the second link (see third link!), but here we go again. The "Roman mosaic" with the South American parrot is with outmost probability a forgery. So nah, the first Italian to reach the Americas probably was a certain Columbus, after all...  

The weird fruit mystery

Mystery of the macaw mosaic - a (not so) Roman riddle

The mystery of the macaw

In leopard country

 

"The Leopard Rocks" is a documentary about leopards living in the Aravalli mountains of Rajasthan in northwestern India. I´m not an expert on leopards, but apparently the big cats in this particular region are unusually gregarious. They live in caves in the hills and supposedly never attack the humans in the area. 

The documentary tries to paint a picture of primitive shephards living in balance with Nature, but this is obviously a truth with some modification. The area is advanced enough to have a large dam providing water during the dry season, the lack of suitable prey animals for the leopards suggests human impact on the surrounding environment, and when leopards sneak into the villages to abduct and kill farm animals, the local business community pays the poor farmers money in compensation so they won´t hunt the leopards. Why? Because of tourism, that´s why. 

The balance around the Leopard Rocks seem very precarious.

Other highlights include Hanuman langurs (yes, they really do live around a temple on one of the rocks), the striped hyena (they, too, are gregarious in this particular region), the mongoose, peacocks, parakeets and antelopes. Frankly, the langurs and the temples were more interesting than the big cats, but that´s me!

End of reflections.