Do you remember the story of Xi, a Bushman of the Kalahari Desert? In other words, have you watched the movie The Gods Must be Crazy? 0f you’ve then you will also remember the fascinating scenes from Botswana. If not, you will be able to imagine by the help of our article and videos about Botswana soon. First of all, you must know that we are talking about adventure. In other words, there are too many places of wildlife habitat to see in Botswana.

Although Botswana is far from sea and has no coasts, tourism plays important role in its economy thanks to a number of national parks and game reserves with their abundant wildlife and wetlands. Botswana is dominated by the Kalahari Desert and The Okavango Delta which is the world’s largest inland delta. Such an interesting geographical location makes Botswana a place where to experience wild life directly. Especially the months between April and November are the best time to visit because large number of animals migrate towards the waterways of the Okavango Delta.

Botswana is famous for its wild life and areas like The Chobe National Park, Moremi National Park in the Okavango Delta and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is another best place to see there. The Makgadikgadi Pan is the largest salt flat complex in the world. Here is an extensive network of salt pans and ephemeral lakes.

Gaborone, which was chosen as the capital of Botswana due to its strategic location, presents visitors craft shops. The Main Mall, St. Claire Lion Park and Khala Hill are nice places to visit. St. Claire Lion Park as it is understood by its name, contains attractive lions inside. Moreover, here you can do variety of outdoor activities because of its location set in open woodland. There is a resident troop of baboons living on Kgale and black eagles and leopards that can be observed, if you climb to Kgale Hill. Gaborone Game Reserve is popular with bird watches. Furthermore, there you can see zebras, ostriches, wildebeests, impalas, elands etc. Gaborone houses the National Museum and Art Gallery in which a collection of traditional crafts and paintings by local and regional artists can be seen.

Protection of cape vultures in Manyelanong Game Reserve makes this place very essential. The vultures can usually be seen flying about the area and, when in season, the young birds are sitting on the rocks.

Mashatu Game Reserve is the largest private reserve in Southern Africa and for sure among the best places to be visited in Botswana. It has the largest elephant population on private land in the world. Gchwihaba (Drotsky’s) Caves with its legend of treasure is one of the wildest tourst destinations. The Nhabe Museum outlines the natural history and culture of the Okavango region. Maun is called as the tourism capital of Botswana and a kind of gateway to the Okavango.

Botswana is completely an adventurous place for travelers. It serves you wild life with its reality. Be sure that you have your armed guy with you and enjoy being together with creatures that you have known by books till that time. We have talked about some places but there are more places to be seen and more adventure to experience in Botswana.

When I read the Preface to a wonderful little book called Being Home by Gunilla Norris, I realized that my love of doing repetitive housekeeping tasks, like washing the dishes or putting away the same things in the same places every day, wasn’t me just being a hopeless anal-compulsive as I might have believed (and my family might teasingly argue is the case).

Putting away is how I get centered. It connects me to a still place within myself. Folding laundry, or sweeping the floor, rounding up the living room before I go to bed, or hanging the wash up to dry on a warm and sunny day (and smelling its freshness when I take it down), is how I slow down and quiet the mind. I am soothed and nourished by the ordinary-by what Norris calls “the extraordinary beauty of dailiness.” As she puts it:

“In my own life I have found no better way to value and savor the sacredness of daily living, to rely on repetition, that humdrum rhythm, which heals and steadies. Increasingly it is for me a matter of being willing ‘to be in place,’ to enter into deeper communion with the objects and actions of the day and to allow them to commune with me. It is a way to know and be known…to surrender my isolation by participating in the experience as it happens.” (pp. xi and xiii).

No matter what the task-whether it be fluffing up the pillows, gathering dirty cups and dishes, turning out the lights before heading to bed-when I bring a quality of mindfulness to a simple chore, I notice that I always feel happier…calmer, lighter, freer. I also notice that my home responds to all of this somehow, through me.

As a longtime professional space clearer, I’ve become intimately, and acutely, aware of the interconnectedness between humans and their homes; how the spaces we occupy respond to our attentiveness (or lack of it) and how they, in turn reflect us, affect us, support us (or oppress us). If you really stop and think about it, our homes are not just these big empty boxes that we fill with our collections of stuff, our life experiences, and our unique personalities. Considering the way most western cultures treat and objectify their dwellings and their things, it’s quite evident that most people have no idea how alive our living spaces really are.

It’s our second skin. Homes and workplaces are extensions of us. Through doorways and hallways, they circulate energy (chi)-or don’t, depending on how cluttered, congested, and gummed up they are. Like people, they get stressed out, out of balance, even sick. They breathe by expanding and contracting. They are affected by the land they sit on, the weather, the neighboring properties, and yes, even the residue of memories left behind by previous occupants. Homes thrive when they’re nourished and well tended. Like people, they respond well to love.

I often tell my clients that at the very core of this practice, space-clearing is ” loving up” a place: restoring balance by paying attention, acknowledging, and “holding a space” for the home or workplace with compassionate detachment. Watch a mother hold her disconsolate child without conditions, or an agenda, or a need to fix or “do” anything, and you get the idea. The child walks away feeling all better because his mom simply held a space for him. Likewise, a simple act of witnessing and honoring that comes from mindful tending does wonders to shift the energy in a space.

You can practice this yourself by simply doing something in your home that makes you feel good. The good energy will ripple out, and circulate into all areas of your home and life. If you like to cook, for example, prepare something that you love, with smells that you know will waft and linger. If you like to dance or listen to music, crank up the music and boogie at least once a day… maybe even while you’re cooking, or washing the dishes.

Clap, rattle, bell, or sing out loud to get the energy moving. Sweep the front steps. Clear a drawer, or just move a pile from one spot on the desk to another. Change the sheets, take a hot salt and soda bath or shower, snuggle into your clean bed while breathing out an audible “ahhhhh.” Re frame a negative thought with a positive alternative (e.g. “I’m late again” would be “I’m here, I made it!”)

Laugh…out loud.

And if you can’t feel good or laugh for some reason, simply allow that, without trying to fix or change it.

If you tune in and listen, you may just notice that your house is humming too.

His complete name is Ruddy Lilian Thuram-Ulien. He was born on 1 January 1972 in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. Thuram is an ex-professional soccer player of French and his playing position is as defender (Right back / Centre back). He is the most capped player in the France national side history. At the European Championship, most appearances also have been recorded by Thuram with 16.

Lilian Thuram has some experiences with a number of senior clubs of football. His career started with AS Monaco in 1991. Thuram afterward moved to Parma F.C. in 1996-2001 and next to Juventus in 2001-2006 for value of transfer £25 million, and finally in 2006-2008 to Barcelona club. The greater part of his Italian experience was together with Juventus. He gained 4 Italian Scudetti (two were subsequently withdrawn.) In 2008 Lilian Thuram got retirement from professional soccer because of an uncommon heart defect that miserably happened and took the life of his brother.

Subsequent to becoming world champion in 1998, he was an essential component of France’s victory at Euro 2000, which caused the squad being placed by FIFA as favorite from 2001-2002. In addition Thuram participated in the 2002 and 2006 World Cup, as well as Euro 1996, 2004, and 2008.

Lilian Thuram had some honors and award as long as his career as professional soccer player, some of them as an individual honors are include FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 1998, Légion d’honneur: 1998, FIFA 100: 2004, and FIFPro World XI: 2006. And his role with some clubs his achievements are AS Monaco FC (Coupe de France: 1991), Parma F.C. (Coppa Italia: 1999, Supercoppa Italiana: 1999, UEFA Cup: 1999), Juventus F.C. (Serie A: 2001-02 2002-03, Supercoppa Italiana: 2002, 2003), and FC Barcelona (Spanish Super Cup: 2006).

The Shaolin Temple’s 72 Secret Fighting Exercises or ‘Kungs’ involve dramatic training extremes which, if persisted with, deliver astonishing results. Practising the Iron Kneecaps Exercise transforms the knees into formidable weapons capable of defeating the strongest opponent. Details of training methods and the three key stages involved follow.

Introduction

‘Kungs’ involve mostly either Soft ‘Yin Rou Energy’ Training, (mainly Internal) or Hard ‘Yang Gang Power’ Training (mainly External) although a few involve both. The Iron Kneecaps Exercise aka Tie Xi Gong is of the Yang Gang External Power Training variety.

Technical Analysis

Training the Kneecaps this way allows them to be used like (and alongside) the elbows for striking, particularly useful in close and middle-range fighting. Developing the kneecaps’ combat use makes an extra weapon available for such purposes.

The impact of a sudden Knee-attack can be dramatic, ‘Like a tiger shattering a flock of sheep!’ During combat the knees can be used as a surprise or secret weapon to ‘turn the tables’ on and defeat an opponent.

Method

Stage 1

Sit cross-legged, with the bottom of each fist, strike the knee-caps 72 times, simultaneously. Next, with palms flat upon the knee-caps, massage them from the outside inwards 36 times in circular fashion. Repeat the exercise, this time massaging 36 times from the inside outwards, similarly. This drill (which helps reshape the patella to fit and protect the knee-joint more effectively) should be repeated 9x, twice daily, morning and evening. After approximately 1 year Students should be ready for the next stage.

Stage 2

Now, two wooden mallets replace the fists and the exercise is repeated similarly, both striking and massaging. Again, Students should be ready for the third and final stage after 1 year.

Stage 3

This final training-stage, which is of a similar duration, uses two metal hammers but otherwise follows the same pattern as the first two. By this period’s close the knee-caps should be ‘as strong as iron’ and enough to defeat the strongest opponent, whether used offensively or in defence.

Overall

Varieties of Knee Attacks

Parrying Knee: stops opponents moving forwards, blocks kicks, sets the user up for a counter-attack;

Darting Knee Strike: quick, close-range upward and forward strikes to the centreline;

Goring Knee Strike: opportunist advancing strike to central or lower torso;

Curving Knee Strike: the knee moves upwards and sideways off the back foot to strike the head or upper body;

Upward Knee Strike: a quickly lifted knee-attack to the vital parts when opponents close carelessly;

Side Knee Strike: a counter-attacking knee technique, used after a side-step or other evasion;

Flying Knee Strike: single, double or combination jumping strikes, particularly useful against a tiring opponent;

In Stages 2 and 3 of the above training regime, it is advisable to rub the knee-caps thoroughly with Chinese medicinal wine/Dit-Da-Jeow, after practice to avoid internal injury.

In 5 Animals Terms knee technique (elbow too) Is Leopard: treacherous, deceptive, vicious with high power-to-weight characteristics (force and energy concentrates at the sharp-pointed kneecap)!

West Ham’s capture of Argentinean duo Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez in August stunned the footballing world. The Hammers had pulled of a massive coup to land two of the games most prized assets, but their arrival came under a cloud of mystery.

Corinthians had a partnership deal with Media Sports Investment (MSI) who invested in the club and it is alleged that the company actually owned the rights to all of the clubs players (due to Corinthians being unable to afford the contracts). The partnership between Corinthians and MSI is thought to have gone sour and MSI are believed to haved wanted to ship-out their most prized assets in order to protect their investments.

Both players arrived from Brazilian club Corinthians within 48 hours after being sounded out about a move to West Ham and arrived for undisclosed fees. Speculation mounted as to who actually paid the transfer fees (if any were paid at all) and to who actually owned the contracts.

It is believed that even though the players are registered with West Ham, MSI still own the players contracts and are only using the London club as a shop window to maximise their investment. Before West Ham were offered the players, reports suggested that MSI approached Manchester United and Chelsea with a similar deal, both clubs are believed to have rejected their offer as they were not keen on the idea of not owning the players outright.

English newspaper The Guardian reported that should any club offer £35m for either player West Ham would be forced to sell them, but it is unclear who would pocket the transfer fee.

Since their arrival at Upton Park both players have failed to make any impact on the Premiership and have admitted that they have not fully adapted to life in England. Neither player is a first team regular in the Hammers starting XI and their arrival has coincided in the clubs slump in form. This is linked to reports that there is a rift in the dressing room and this has clearly had an impact on results as West Ham are flirting with relegation.

Newspapper reports suggest that both players will be sold in the January transfer and a host of top European clubs are thought to be showing interest. It is believed that Mascherano was set to join Juventus during the summer but their relegation to Serie B cut-short any potential transfer. The Turin club are still interested in the holding midfielder and are considering sounding out a potential move in the winter transfer window. Barcelona have also been heavily linked with Tevez as they currently have an injury crisis upfront. Carlos Tevez has insisted that he does not want to leave West Ham and has denied rumours of a rift within the Upton Park dressing room and has stated that he is determined to forge a career with The Hammers.

With mystery over who actually owns the players and their contracts, it will be out of Mascherano’s and Tevez’s hands where they end up in the near future.

Do you know that Oriental figurines are not a new invention at all? Yes, you probably do if you have ever considered the subject. However, most people are not familiar with the fact that the ancient works of the past have laid a firm foundation for the Asian art we enjoy today. So classical art remains a part of our lives right now, even if we don’t always recognize it. Our eyes are frequently captivated by the incredible findings which have been dug up at Lintong near Xi’an, the capital city of modern day Shaanxi province in China. It is common knowledge that there is a grand mausoleum with its thousands of guardian terracotta warriors and horses. These very unique figures stand forever as a testimony to the fascinating legacy of the first emperor, Qin Shihuang. These findings have remarkably reshaped our understanding of the origins of the pre-imperial state of Qin. They have also helped us comprehend the rise of Qing culture as well as the political/military reforms which signify Qin history. Its position of prominence during the first millennium BCE served as a foundation for a mighty empire. For this reason, its art has also had a profound and long lasting effect upon much of East Asia… and even beyond!

To study the past is to better understand ourselves and human nature itself. Our connection with the people who lived in the past is actually more intimate than we might wish to believe. After all, humans have always had the same concerns in one form or another. To know the gold and jade figurines of the Qin dynasty is a rewarding tour of delight for this same reason. The first gold figures of the Qin known to the modern collector are a number of thin gold sheets in stylized animal and other numerous geometric shapes. It is thought they are from the ancient tombs of the Dukes of Qin at a cemetery in Mount Dabuzi, Li county, Gansu province. These gold leafs were used to embellish coffins of the dead. Their superior sophistication strongly suggests that the Qin’s love of gold probably began at an early date, perhaps much earlier than previously thought. The overwhelming quantity and quality of gold objects is a powerful testimonial to the high standard of technical skill achieved during the Qin era.

Of course, gold was not just used for human ornaments. It was also used for luxury items like reins for horses, chariot decorations, and even belt buckles. One find included a belt buckle in the shape of seven coiled serpents. Another style of buckle was formed like a stylized mandarin duck with its head facing back with the long break serving as the belt hook. The selection of the mandarin duck as a motif could arise from the traditional idea that it is a bird of great wonder and beauty. Later the duck even became a symbol of conjugal fidelity in China. A different (and perhaps somewhat funny) representation discovered is that of a tiger. The tiger is animated by its startled look, glaring eyes, prominent teeth, and big ears. The symbol of the tiger is certainly not a new one, as this piece of evidence establishes. In Asia the tiger is considered to be a very alluring, though dangerous, creature.

The Qin dynasty also inherited a rich legacy of jade carvings. These came from the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties. Qin jade itself demonstrates a uniqueness which is quite distinct. These are in the form of art pieces which come in the shapes of rectangular plaques and circular pendants. The use of gold and silver as well as jade for luxuries became more common with time. New ideas and technologies for fashioning them gradually emerged too. However, early developments and innovations were crucial foundations for the maturity which occurred during Qin Shihuang’s era. All of this is reflected in the discoveries from the excavated tomb complex previously mentioned.

It is the thesis of this writer that the contemporary figurines and art work of Asia all owe a debt to the art of the past. The classic has never been eradicated by the modern when it comes to art. Nearly all Asian regions have been deeply influenced at some time or another by the culture which belongs to China. This is why the study of China’s art gives any serious Asian collector an indisputable grasp on the market for Oriental collectibles, art, and decor. To know the meaning and relevance of any Asian decor strategy, it is almost impossible to fail to understand something about the history and culture of the Middle Kingdom. The classic is still an intimate part of the contemporary!

I am sure you have heard about the latest addition to Affiliate Marketing guides to arrive on the scene, Affiliate Project X. If you have not I suspect you will soon.

Now I am not a Super Affiliate, no where near it, yet. With skepticism I decided to give Affiliate Project X a look, here is my honest review:

Part 1: the Basics (but let’s be brief)

The first chapter starts by making readers aware that Affiliate Project X is not an “exhaustive welcome to affiliate marketing manual…A large part of the manual is focused on actual methods needed to make money”. Chapter 1 of Affiliate Project X primarily introduces and covers the basics of Affiliate Marketing. So if you do not yet know how to get a domain name or web hosting it’s not covered here. The basics of Affiliate marketing and affiliate networks as well as the importance of product selection are covered. These are covered well for those that may be new to Affiliate Marketing. It’s a good beginning but nothing really earth shaking. Kind of what I was expecting, nothing much really. The reader of Affiliate Project X is assumed to have at least the most basic of knowledge of Internet marketing.

Chapter 2 Affiliate Project X Methods

In chapter 2 of Affiliate Project X I found six money making affiliate marketing methods covered in startling detail. Each one with it’s own unique twist. With names like The Leech, The Affiliate Diary, The Workhorse Method, Thief in the Night, Copy the best 2, and The Opportunist. The in-depth way Affiliate Project X is written sets it a part from any previous e-books on affiliate marketing I have read. With the techniques revealed in this chapter and the step by step way in which each method is presented. The author Chris states they are “written to be copied”. Templates and live money making examples are also used to serve as examples.

Chapter 3 Affiliate Project X Advanced Methods

Chapter 3 of Affiliate Project X covers some advanced areas that many affiliate marketers overlook. Some of these techniques and methods the experienced affiliate marketer may already use others are totally unique to Affiliate Project X. Covered are Link cloaking, Tracking affiliate sales, Adding 30% to our sales, Backend Promotions, and Underrated promotion methods covered.

Affiliate Project X revealed some new Affiliate Marketing methods and techniques that the so called Super Affiliates use. It appears the author of Affiliate Project X wrote this for affiliate marketers of all experience levels, from beginner to advanced.

Affiliate Project X is a guide that I that is informative in learning the techniques and methods of the Super Affiliates. I found Affiliate Project X is truly a revealing sometimes ruthless guide on Affiliate Marketing. Whether I use all of these methods and techniques or not, Affiliate Project X is an eye-opener to recognizing what the competition is doing and how.

Have you ever imagined how wonderful it would be to have all your wishes fulfilled? We all know that it is almost impossible for all our fantasies and wishes to come true. Well, it is too good to be true. However, this does not mean that some of our fantasies cannot come true and fantasy cricket can surely be one of them. Fantasy cricket as the term itself implies is something that cricket fans often fantasize about. Fantasy cricket is nothing but a simple means through which fans can indulge in selecting their dream team and see them in action on the field.

No one can claim to be a serious cricket fan and at the same time say that they have never been dissatisfied with the team selection of their favorite cricket team. It is inevitable that at some time or the other, we will feel that team selection has not been proper. Perhaps a certain player should have been included, while the other player should not have been included. We can sit and complain about whatever we want, but the only source through which we can select a team and be in-charge of it is fantasy cricket.

Fantasy cricket is one of the fantasies that we can indulge in and realize without making any big efforts. In fact, taking part in a game of fantasy cricket and playing it is very easy. The game is played online and you will have to sign in to a particular online site that provides fans with the chance to play fantasy cricket. You will be provided a budget of certain points and is required to create a team of 11 within that allotted budget. Numerous sites give different budget points to fans for selecting their own XI.

So, suppose you have been allotted a budget point of 120. This means that the total points of your team members cannot exceed 120 for playing fantasy cricket. All players are given certain points based on their present form and past records. So players like Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Sachin Tendulkar will have higher points than their contemporaries. So this means that you cannot have those players in your team who have the highest points, because in that case you will exceed your total point. The idea is to make the perfect mix and match to select the best players for your dream XI to successfully play fantasy cricket.

In your team, you can have 5 batsmen, 4 bowlers, 1 all-rounder and 1 wicket keeper. Remember that you will have to choose someone as captain from the 11 members. After your team has been selected, you can win the game of fantasy cricket based on the performance of the players on the field. Imagine, how wonderful it would be if you can play fantasy cricket. You will be in-charge of the entire team and decide who gets to do what on the field. Make sure that while selecting your team for fantasy cricket, you are influenced strictly by their levels of performance and nothing else.

After some terrific cricket and some horrific related incidents during the first three months of 2018 it’s time now for a commercial break. Well, not exactly though for millions of avid fans! They have been patiently waiting for this most commercially viable form of cricket since the last season. Come April-May for over a decade now, and nobody can stop these fans for going gaga over this movie-styled entertainers of the sport.

Right, we are talking about the 11th Season of the Indian Premiere League-2018 T20 Cricket tournament starting from 7th April till the end of next month. Many fans would be excited this time for the return of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) with the former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni back as captain of CSK and Ajinkya Rahane replacing the tainted Steve Smith as captain of RR while New Zealand captain Kane Williamson replaced the tainted David Warner as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), earlier Shikhar Dhawan was tipped for the post. Pune Rising Supergiants and Gujarat Lions that played for last two years after the two-year suspension of CSK and RR over a cricketing scandal could not qualify this time.

The buying of selling of internationally famed cricketers, euphemistically called auction, saw most of the regular players retained adding some exciting new ones. England cricketer Ben Stokes became the costliest overseas player while Indian pacer Jaydev Unadkat the costliest domestic one-both these players are bought by RR. Some known faces remained unsold including Lasith Malinga, Martin Guptil, Hashim Amla, Ishant Sharma and many others. Destroyer Chris Gayle somehow found a place in Kings XI Punjab in the third and last round of auction. Old warhorse Yuvraj Singh also found a place in this team which is being led this time by a new captain Ravichandran Ashwin. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) discarded Gautam Gambhir who is being lapped up by Delhi Daredevils (DD) as captain. The sensation of the T20 Tri-Series Final against Bangladesh in Colombo on 18th March, 2018, Dinesh Karthik whose 8-ball 29 won India the Nidahas Trophy, becomes the captain of KKR which would definitely cheer a lot of Kolkata fans. India captain Virat Kohli continues to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) while Rohit Sharma is also retained as captain of Mumbai Indians (MI). The inaugural match between MI and CSK will be played in Mumbai on 7th April and Kolkata will see its first match on 8th April between KKR and RCB. The other venues will be Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mohali assigned as hometowns to the different teams.

This commercial break in terms of the IPL-2018 can be viewed as a much-needed relief after the scandalous developments in international cricket recently. While the India Vs South Africa cricket series in South Africa was a high point in competitive spirited cricket the Test duel between the hosts and Australia cricket reached the lowest.

Although India under Virat Kohli lost the 3-Test series against South Africa 2-1 during January, 2018 the cricket was highly competitive with constant ups and downs. India nearly won the series with some superlative bowling performances, and many Indian fans believed that with some more batting application India would have seen the final result in its favour. South Africa won the closely fought first and second Tests while India won the final Test convincingly. And then, the Indians were unstoppable annihilating South Africa both in the one-day and the T20 series. Australia played the Test Series against South Africa during March, 2018 winning the first one and losing the second one. The series was looking up at that point of time despite the ugly off-field confrontation of David Warner with South African keeper Quinton de Kock during the first Test in Durban.

The ball-tampering incident happened on March 24, 2018 on the third day of the third Test being played in Cape Town involving Cameron Bancroft, and then skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner-both being in the know as well as in the leadership. The deliberate and cold-blooded tactic shocked the whole world, both cricketing and non-cricketing, with absolute words of condemnation coming from one and all irrespective of the highest or the lowest positions of authority. Cricket Australia was swift in its action, and the implicated players accepted the punishment with lots of public tears, but with no appealing intentions. As per the latest information Cricket Australia wants to put all the lids on this most scandalous happening which is possible because as mentioned the players are not going to appeal against the punishment handed out. Of course, a lot of questions involving this shameful episode would remain unanswered forever.

Meanwhile Afghanistan cricket team qualified for the ICC World Cup-2019 against all odds and beating Ireland in its final outing. The other qualifier is the West Indies, surprisingly.

As cross-stitch has become an increasingly popular form of craftwork in China, so Chinese culture has played a role of influence of cross-stitch, particularly in the patterns used for cross-stitch around the world. Chinese characters have become a trendy cross-stitch subject, with auspicious Chinese symbols used as cross-stitch patterns.

The types of Chinese characters popular in cross-stitch kits are generally auspicious symbols that represent good luck, fortune, peace, love, happiness and well-being. Since most Chinese people will hang these types of cross-stitch pictures in their homes, it is important that the symbols portrayed on the cross-stitches be auspicious in nature.

Popular Chinese cross-stitch symbols include:

Good fortune/luck – Fu – This most auspicious of symbols represents good luck, good fortune and general blessings. Often posted upside down for Chinese New Year, when inverted, the character “Fu” looks like “came”.

Love – Ai – This Chinese symbol for ‘love’ can refer to both romantic love and friendship love, and is a wonderful symbol to offer someone as a wish for love in their life.

Harmony – He – This character is an extremely auspicious symbol, for in Chinese culture, having harmonious relations with those around you is one of the most important things in life.

Double Happiness – Shuang Xi – This ancient character is often associated with weddings, and placed on wedding beds, invitations and in the homes of newlyweds. Cross-stitch patterns featuring a Double Happiness symbol would make wonderful wedding gifts, particularly if red thread colors are used.

Prosperity – Lu – This character is often used in fengshui decorating because it is said to bring wealth and riches.

Longevity – Shou – This Chinese character can mean “life”, “age” or even “birthday” and represents longevity and health. This would be an appropriate cross-stitch symbol to give someone to wish them a long life.

Cross-stitch pictures with auspicious Chinese symbols make wonderful gifts, especially housewarming presents or offerings to newlyweds to help adorn their home with lucky and fortunate sayings.