Author: armidanagyrose
Thoughts Beyond the Three Novels—The Search
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Since the dawn of time, when language and symbolic pictograms formed to express ideas, storytelling brought about cohesion among those who assembled together to listen. There was a thirst to belong and to learn. According to Lani Peterson at the Harvard Business Publishing, there is a science behind storytelling: “It was central to meaning-making and sense-making” by which “our minds form and examine our own truths [beliefs].”
Both DAUGHTERS OF THE DANCE and CHOIR OF CLOISTERED CANARIES do just that. More importantly, They both tell a multi-layered story of mixed relationships, scars, wounds, fears, change, loss, renewal, and happenstance. The romance is felt in each story, but it also deals with historical truths that cannot be ignored.
Beneath all of all of the events and feelings, some of the inquisitive characters of the novels were in search of something greater than themselves, beyond such questions as ‘why are we here? and ‘who are we?”. Others may have already understood and reached an awareness that could not be shaken to the core. To put it differently, the theme of each novel is to explore its deeper meaning while in the throes of impermanence.
The tightness one feels (referred to as suffering and dissatisfaction in Buddhism due to impermanence) is a constant companion today as it was yesteryears. For many, it was always to meet the need of food and shelter, water, air and the like (biological and physiological needs); for many, it was personal needs and the like (safety needs) and other needs that can be summed up as deficiency need. Then there are the growth needs, which are much a part of the theme of each novel. Nonetheless, both deficiency needs and growth needs can coexist and often do.
In Daughters of the Dance, the theme is embraced by intimacy (including dysfunctional intimacy) and trust, esteem needs, as well as aesthetic needs (the enchantment of the danse du ventre) in a world of trade in oil conflict. In Choir of Cloistered Canaries, in addition to esteem needs, it was cognitive needs—curiosity, exploration, knowledge, and understanding of the known/unknown past and present/potential technologies—by Leitis and Drew amid global connections.
In Even a Crow Knows How…, Ana transcended her professional parents to inquire, in an intuitive manner, the charter of inquiry outlined by Buddha Shakyamuni to be aware of how to approach exploring scientific, religious, and spiritual values, and beliefs. As a young scientist-in-the-making, Ana always wanted to know the significance of light as a metaphors in various traditions. Her guideline was, “do not accept anything” because of, as examples: (1) it is being widely stated, (2) it being written in books, (3) it being logical and reasonable, (4) acceptance and conviction through thinking about a theory, (5) and the like. She even sought to test a technological practice on herself.
As a clue, the above-illustrated symbols speak to the transcendental … to transcend beyond the illusory Self.
The finding: Wisdom of spontaneous awareness in the expansive space of all things—empty cognizance of one taste, suffused with knowing, is your unmistaken nature, the uncontrived original state. When not altering what is, allow it to be as it is, and the awakened state is right now spontaneously present. From The Lotus-Born: The Life Story of Padmasambhava.
In Padmasambhava’s own words — “The nature of the mind, which is all-knowing, aware of everything, empty and radiant, is established to be the manifestly radiant and self-originating pristine cognition, present from the beginning, just like the sky”
Thoughts Beyond the Armida Trilogy–Wisdom Eye
Immediate stillness / A crash about to happen / Awareness ensues
Have you ever experienced going into a crash or a fall when time seemed simply to stand still and then there was no mind reaction, even for just a nanosecond? The above haiku speaks to such an event. What is the mind doing? Is the mind experiencing its very own nature? Awareness looking at (experiencing) itself?
It is not the EYE that sees; it only gathers data.
Buddhist literature speaks to this awareness with many metaphors such as a mirror or a crystal. Our awareness can be likened to a mirror that reflects with complete openness while unaffected by the reflections whereas a clear crystal sphere takes on the surrounding colors of the materials (e.g., red cloth, refraction of surrounding light) with the sphere, remaining unchanged.
Another metaphor is the sky and clouds; As the sky and clouds configure temporarily, destructive emotions like anger, attachment, and aversion do not belong to the core nature of the mind. For example, when the clouds dissipate, the vast and open, luminous sky is naturally revealed. The common metaphor of the muddy water is that, if you leave the muddy water completely, the dirt naturally settles, leaving the water clear. The inherent purity of the water was never destroyed by the mud.
Another way of understanding the nature of our mind is to note that the images on our digital display (e.g., iPhone, iPad, TV) are made up of miniscule lights that are similar to our unexamined experiences as “solidified” light energies in a dance of awareness. Except for one thing, we have not allowed our cognitive senses to notice this phenomenon. Yet, every moment in our life, we are the natural, primordial energy state of being as a sentient being. However, in a lifetime of conditioning, of instilling preferences and aversions, our mental patterns engulf our sense of being. We form attachments to our feelings and become enslaved or addicted by these experiences. Yet, they are merely reflections without any inherent permanency. Once you change a channel or enter a query into GoGoDuck, the images change instantly. Such are our experiences; they fade away into space. Yet, the heart of reality—the light of the natural mind—remains present.
Basically, we are made up of three types of energy:
The first one is like the mirror. Though the voidness of a mirror is essentially endless and formless, the mirror can fill itself with any content. This is also true of us — our energy has the capacity to adopt any form and to emanate radiantly.
The second energy is like the clear crystal ball. External forms appear as though seen with the “eye of the mind.” In other words, it sees the form internally as if it were seen with the “eye of the mind” when, in fact, the appearance is neither inside nor outside no matter how vivid the internal image of the form may be.
The third energy is explained by the properties of a crystal-prism. When the light falls on the crystal-prism, the light is refracted and decomposed by it. Though the appearance of rays and forms in colors seem separate from the crystal, it is the actual function of the crystal-prisms own nature. Thusly, when it comes to our own energy, which experiences the world dualistically — the illusion of a self-existing individual separate from the external world — our fragmented dualistic consciousness takes the projections of the senses to be independent and separate from oneself. At this level of experience, one accrues karmic traces, contained in the one’s stream of consciousness that gives rise to two kinds of forms: forms that the individual experiences as his or her body, voice and mind and forms that the individual experiences as an external environment as described earlier. Everything that manifests in the individual’s field of experience is a continuum.
Image: Longchempa
As one Tibetan master summarily wrote, “our ultimate nature is said to be pure, self-existing, all-encompassing awareness. It intrinsic nature has no form or its own. Yet, it has the capability of perceiving, experiencing, reflecting, or expressing all form. As such, it is being without being affected in a permanent way.” Other evocative phrases have been used by wisdom masters to describe this state of being as an ‘effulgence’, an ‘all-pervading fullness’ or as ‘space that is aware’. When an individual is able to maintain the “rdzogs chen” (perfection) state continually, he or she no longer experiences dukkha (i.e., feelings of discontent, tension and anxiety in everyday life in samsara). Experiences can become nirvana in this lifetime. The opposite of dukkha is sukha that means happiness, pleasure, ease, joy, or bliss, which has authentic states of being that are lasting. Such life pursuits of well-being can be achieved in one’s life time if pursued earnestly. It requires devotion to the process.
Imagine that you are the eyes of the world but unaware. It is always now to wake up. The protagonists of both novels, DAUGHTERS OF THE DANCE and CHOIR OF CLOISTERED CANARIES, attempts to bring this awareness to mind. The protagonists sought to remain open to the creation of beautiful spiritual experiences while understanding the workings of samsara that flows from birth, illness and death to rebirth (also known as the Wheel of Life based on the Law of twelve Interdependent Origination (co-arising)). Only in EVEN A CROW KNOWS HOW TO CRACK A WALNUT IN CLEAR LIGHT that the main protagonist achieves what is known as “clear light” in Tibetan Buddhism— the pristine, unconditioned awareness that remains when all thoughts, perceptions, and patterns dissolve. There is a world of being imbued with loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity – non-dual and generous.
As for the image above, it is the Wisdom Eye of the Awareness Consciousness surrounded by a circle (the Enzo) that represents the wholeness of experience in non-duality.
Thoughts Beyond the Armida Trilogy: Mayflower Pilgrims v. the U.S. Constitution–0.03
The Armida Trilogy link
The contemporary use of William Shakespeare’s quote, “What’s past is prologue,” means that history sets the context for the present.
This indelible quote is engraved on the
National Archives in Washington, D.C.
When Shakespeare penned the above quote in The Tempest (Act 2, Scene 1 (1611)), Antonio rationalizes to Sebastian that “they are fated to act by all that has led up to that moment. In other words, the past set the stage for their next act, which was to commit murder; but they made their own destinies, not destiny itself, but by choice. Their choice was pure sophistry (“the use of clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving”).
From sophistry to modern chicanery (“the use of deception or subterfuge to achieve one’s purpose”), this article broaches both forms into one false and deceptive argument that was at best propaganda, promoting on Sunday, May 17, 2026, that the United States of America (U.S.) was primarily founded as a Christian nation. Many officials of The Trump Administration spoke at this large-scale religious gathering, titled, Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, held on the National Mall, a park near the downtown area of Washington, D.C. The speech video that was most disingenuous was presented by the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio who rationalized that the Mayflower Pilgrims made the U.S. a Christian Nation. Historians, acknowledging that such a concept is complex, disagree because founding documents prioritized religious freedom over a specific religion. Afterall, the Pilgrim Fathers, as did the Founding Fathers, wanted religious freedom, too, and fled England to have such freedom.
Just like the Sephardic Jews left the Spanish Netherlands to the Dutch Caribbean region (Daughteres of the Dance, pg. 24 ) the Pilgrims, a group of English Separatists of the 17th century, fled religious persecution in England, settled in the Netherlands (c. 1607), and financed their voyage to the New World (not to the U.S.) in 1630. England. They are the Mayflower Pilgrims (Pilgrims).
The Embarkation of the Pilgrims, by Robert Walter Weir (1857)
England was depicted by state control over religion characterized bya hierarchical and centralized Church of England that was enforced into widespread religious conformity by law. It was an intolerable environment for those who sought religious freedom. History has several distinct diasporas described by their religious identity–African (Yoruba, Vodou and Candomble); Christian (mainly from Africa, Asia, and Latin America regions); Global minority Muslim outside the Islamic world; Jewish; Tibetan Buddhist; and Zoroastrian (Parsi) Diasporas). Sadly, when belief systems act as mental frameworks of “absolute truth,” by their very nature are often divisive due to several psychological and social mechanisms (e.g., in-group favoritism, moral conviction, and cognitive bias) thus inherently creating division between varying ideologies).
Based on major demographic data, it is estimated that there are 14 major Christianity categories amounting to about 62-68 percent of the total Christian participants. The single largest individual denomination is Catholic at about 21-23 percent.
The growing rise of Americans who claim no religious affiliation (“nones”) is about 22-30 percent. Non-Christian faiths are about 6=7 percent (Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim), Other religions (Unitarian Universalist, Native American religions, Wiccan) are at about 1-2 percent of religious affiliations.
It is opined that the religion that was promoted in Washington, D.C., is basically for the privileged White Christian majorities, which have dropped by 41 percent while Hispanic Catholics and Protestants are on the rise. It was designed to call them to come forward “with true penitence of heart and with the most revenant devotion. [to] publicly .. acknowledge the over-ruling providence of God” as espoused by the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The rhetoric was beautifully crafted, but it was politically and religiously charged with misleading concepts that the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation. (See video below that discusses in depth the Rubio speech.)
Secretary Rubio’s speech injects the following: “From the beginning, we have carried the belief that our country represents something new in the world. But the soul of our Nation has always been rooted in an ancient faith.” The first part of the statement, psychologically speaking, is consciously true; the second part of the statement injects deception, always followed by a “but.”
It is true that the historical Mayflower Pilgrims influenced the Founding Fathers of the U.S. Constitution by providing the precedent for self-government, consensual lawmaking, and religious dissent. However, after 169 years of American history between the Pilgrims and the making of the U.S. Constitution and other supporting documents, the Founding Fathers were influenced more by the zeitgeist of the age (the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the beliefs, cultural trends, ideas, and values of the time). In other words, the defining spirit of the time was the Enlightenment Age, marked in part by an emphasis on reason, empirical evidence, individual rights that fundamentally reshaped society, politics, and philosophy.
For example, they believed that human beings could use rational thought to solve problems and improve their lives, moving away from superstition and dogma. This included ideas about personal liberty, religious tolerance, and the belief that Americans should have the right to think and act freely without coercion. It was marked by skepticism toward established institutions such as the Christian church and kingdom (aka monarchy) in which persecution of individuals with different belief was an action plan. They definitely adhered to freedom of worship, which is apparent in the “Establishment Clause” of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which prohibits the Federal government from establishing a religion or from unduly favoring one religion over another. (See illustrative slide below.)
The “Establishment Clause” reads as follows:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
In plain English, it is interpreted to mean that there should be a clear separation between government and religious institutions, insuring that the government is not to favor and is not to endorse any religion. In a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote that the First Amendment created a “wall of separation” between church and state, ensuring the religious belief and practices would not be influenced or controlled by the government. Thus, the metaphor “separation of church and state” became a foundational concept in American constitutional law on religious freedom.
It should be noted that the Founders were not a monolith but a spectrum of orthodox Christians, Rationalists, and Radical Deists. However, on Sunday, May 17, 2026, a “Christian Revival” was held on the U.S. National Mall as a faux revival, Rededicate 250: National Jubilee.... It was really a rally organized by a Trump-aligned group, Freedom 250,* and backed by the Trump Administration with the objective of “rededicating” the U.S. as “One Nation Under God”. Among those who recognized this day-long prayer rally as a Christian nationalist movement, many have expressed concern that it promoted an exclusionary vision of American identity rooted in whiteness (white systemic privileges) and Christianity, despite the inclusion of a token rabbi and two Catholic speakers. Among the speakers who appeared on pre-recorded videos were President Trump from the Oval Office and other senior officials of the Trump Administration and the Speaker of the U.S. House Representatives, a religious fanatic of the Christian right faction of the Republican Party. The Speaker of the House, third in line in presidential succession, has stated, explicitly albeit erroneously, “the founds wanted to protect the church from an encroaching state, not he other way around.” As an evangelical and Southern Baptist, he has said, “My faith informs everything I do.” There is no room for rational thinking, for he knows absolute truth.
To folks like Speaker Johnson and the Pilgrims, a contract made before God was absolute and unbreakable; and they used their fear of breaking a vow to God as the “glue” that held their new community together. Yes, the Pilgrims did dissent against a European king ruling by “Divine Right” (God placed the king (as proxy for Jesus of Nazareth) in charge, and everyone else as subject). In other words, a theocracy that controlled the “free will” of its subjects. The biggest contribution of the Pilgrims was to turn this hierarchy upside down, for they believed that all men were equal before God. Thus, following the argument is that no single person has a natural, divine right to rule over anyone else. Consequently, under the aegis of the Enlightenment Era, even the Pilgrim’s spiritual equality led to political equality. Thus, by 1776-1787, the language of the Founders shifted from deep religious to a detached approach to religion with a secular and rational eye of the Enlightenment Age. In essence, from “puritanical zeal” to “deism and rationalism.”
Despite the speeches made by President Trump, Secretaries Hegseth and Rubio, and Speaker of the House, the Pilgrims came to the New World to build a community were their specific religion was the law of the land–if you did not agree with their theology, you were not allowed to vote and could be banished from the colony. Ironically, the Pilgrims, who inspired a structure of self-government, did not protect their colonies from religious radicalism. The Founding Fathers did protect the country from religious radicalism. The Puritans wanted their own theocracy. And this is where the danger lies with the current White Christian Nationalism in the United States.
The “Pine Tree” flag: : When flown outside a historical reenactment or maritime context, it projects a specific blend of conservative political alignment, American patriotism, and conservative Christian faith (2013-present0
At the Rededicate 250: National Jubilee.... of May 17, 2026, the “Appeal to Heaven” flag (aka “Pine Tree” flag) was flown, which is a recontextualized historic American Revolutionary War banner to symbolize the Christian Nationalist movement with right-wing political activism in the U.S. The historical phrase “An Appeal to Heaven” is a justification to rebel against a ruler when there is no legal remedy left on Earth. Its current meaning by the Christian Nationalist is, basically, for a spiritual campaign to “restore American to the Christian nation God intended” with a mandate to control seven key facets of society–government, education, media, family, business, science/technology, and art/entertainment), a revolutionary overhaul.
United States Coat of Arms that embody the Nation’s core ideals of freedom, democracy, and resilience.
E PLURIBUS UNUM (Latin phrase that translates to “OUT OF MANY ONE.” It is a traditional and historically significant motto of the U.S. that symbolizes the country’s creation as a unified nation formed by the merging of many disparate entities (pluralistic nature, a melting pot of people from many different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs to form one single country).
Threatening the U.S. Constitution, the Republic, and democracy, white Christian nationalism is a significant shift in modern American politics. Since white evangelical Christians and conservative Catholics make up the most single, reliable voting block for the Republican Party, a strategic plan has employed electoral strategy and mutual benefits to deliver on transactional promises, such as anti-abortion and comparing their new religious leader–Trump as King Cyrus or King David–as God’s will to use flawed vessels to protect his people. And then to claim a shared rhetoric of “cultural grievances and persecution” by using combat language to crusade against “atheists, globalists, Marxists, and the like”. Also, as an afront to the U.S. Constitution, the White House has institutionalized within the Federal government high-profile personnel who openly endorse Christian nationalism and has established the White House Faith Office to favor specific conservative theological networks. And it further has made an “America First” foreign and domestic policy platform.
The phrase, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country,” is truer than ever when the spiritual and political rights of individuals are threatened. To preserve a constitutional democracy in the face of aggressive nationalism is a complex challenge for any society to face. According to the American Presidency Project, only 57.8 percent of actual voters voted in the 2024 Presidential Elections; 63.1 percent of eligible votes did NOT vote! When apathy votes in silence, there are no guardrails that will not withstand an onslaught of stronger views antithetical to Constitutional safeguards. It requires a redefining of “national pride” needs to shift from exclusive identity to an inclusive one that is civic. To be an American, at its core under the U.S. Constitution, is defined by a shared legal status and a commitment to a set of civic ideals. The U.S. Constitution defines citizenship as “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, is subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” As an American, one should want to protect the guarantees under the U.S. Constitution–freedom of expression, equal protection, due process, political participation, including civic responsibility by respecting the rule of law, jury duty, defending the Nation, and, last but not least, participating in governance. Be a part of this precious ongoing experiment. Otherwise, the fall of democracy will be followed by tyranny.
Please safeguard your freedoms as an American if you are a reader of this post. Why so many because there are not that many illegals and illegals that have committed other crimes, for so many have already been deported? Here is one reason why there are so many detention centers that exist and how many are planned (for naturalized Americans, for those deemed traitors and political enemies…):
The Trump administration currently operates over 100 detention facilities holding approximately 68,000 people as of April 2026, a significant increase from roughly 35,000 a year prior. To support mass deportation goals, the administration plans to expand capacity to 92,600 beds by September 2026 through a “Detention Reengineering Initiative” that includes acquiring eight large-scale detention centers and 16 processing sites.
The administration aims to create a “hub and spoke” system modeled after Amazon logistics, utilizing seven to eight renovated industrial warehouses as central hubs capable of holding 5,000 to 10,000 detainees each. Specific planned locations include a facility in Stafford, Virginia, a converted warehouse in Social Circle, Georgia, and a network of detention camps on military bases such as Fort Bliss, Texas, which is designed to hold up to 10,000 people. Additionally, the plan involves reopening former prisons and utilizing international sites like Guantánamo Bay and facilities in El Salvado.
This expansion is backed by a $45 billion allocation for immigrant detention within the DHS budget, the largest amount ever dedicated to this purpose. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has stated the goal is to treat deportations “like a business” to increase efficiency, with contracts already awarded to private prison operators like GEO Group and CoreCivic to manage dozens of facilities across at least eight states. | May 28, 2026
Footnote *
Freedom 250 is a highly organized system (i.e., a propaganda machinery), established by the White House to coordinate national events, have the following people behind it that spans a mix of federal executive leadership, specialized task forces, and institutional partners:
The White House Task Force 250; Secretary of Energy Chris Wright; Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.; Hillsdale College where alternate “Story of America” video series and digital curricula used in the mobile exhibits; Civics Education Coalition of educators and civic leaders who organize a 50-state campus lecture series and manage the History Rocks! Freedom 250 Trail to Independence Tour (their “Freedom Trucks,” art mobile museums that travel across the 48 contiguous States to bring interactive “history exhibits” to local schools, sporting events, and libraries directly).
Thoughts Beyond the Armida Trilogy: What’s in a Name? 0.02
At some point in this blog, the author
will get a little personal in her choices
of names due to their meanings
throughout the three novels, however
trite.
Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Sarah whose husband was named John. The winds of trade made them a union. For her, privileged in her own land, she met some discomfort with her new family because Sarah was a Jewess and John was Catholic in Nova Scotia in the early 1800’s. As noted below, one can perceive that Sarah knew Shakespeare, especially about the star-crossed couple, Romeo and Juliet. (By the way, Sarah in Hebrew means Hebrew name that means “princess,” “noblewoman,” or “lady” due to the biblical wife of Abraham.) The couple had a son they named Arthur in 1889. During the time of his birth, “Arthur” ranked 20th in popularity; and it bore the following meanings: “bear,” “Thor,” “eagle,” and “strong man.” The continuation of the family origin story is unknown. (Much is conjecture. Nonetheless, Grandfather Rose was a builder of wooden ships that sailed to far lands. Arthur Rose became an accountant for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, which became the Singer Corporation in the 1900s. Arthur was assigned to the Mexico hub.)
The author surmises that Sarah knew the story of Romeo and Juliet when she gave Arthur his middle name coupled with the surname—Montague Rose. This insight comes when we think of what Juliet said to Romeo about the meaning of a name.
Illustration
Mask On Book. Classical white Venetian mask on old book against dark background (Dreamstime.com)
In Act II, Scene II, Juliet implies that names are arbitrary and do not change the essence of Romeo whose family name is Montague, making him an enemy of her family. In their forbidden moments, Juliet thinks over Romeo’s surname: “What’s in a name that which we call a rose / By any other word would smell as sweet?” Her words imply that, though names carry immense meaning, heritage, prejudice, and/or power, her love was in true form. When Sarah took to heart what was spoken by Juliet, did Sarah identify her circumstances with any of the implications from the family into which she married? Her suffering was twofold, for her own family disowned her for marrying a Catholic. The exogamy practice, which prevails in certain cultures, was both ethnic and religious in nature.
So, from a pragmatic perspective, name labels matter a lot, for they reflect culture, heritage, and/or history. They can also, carry baggage and influence social and business perceptions. They can create stereotypes. But from a philosophical perspective, a name is simply a label or a social convention; and It should not affect the value of the named person.
Basically, the origin of a name can be from a trade, a location, or bestowed affection. An example of this is the name Armentano, which can indicate both a place, Armento, in Calabria and Basilicata, Italy, and a trade name (Armento) as cattle herder.
A name can contain identity and meaning—aspirations, hopes, or family history to guide a person’s identity, A legendary example of this is the birth of Siddhartha Gautama. According to Buddhist legend, Queen Maya had a dream, during which time a white elephant (explained below) entered her side, When she awoke, she realized she was pregnant. She knew of the prophecy beforehand in which case, if the child born were to remain home, the child would become a ruler; however, if the child were to leave home, the child would become a universal leader. Queen Maya decided to name her neonate Siddhartha, a Sanskrit name that means “one who has attained his goals.”
As for the symbolism of the “white elephant,” it represents the sacred nature of Maya’s pregnancy—in that a significant and powerful being would be born—foreshadowing the auspiciousness of her son’s birth would highlight wisdom to be brought to mankind through him, thus the Awakened One (Buddha).
Names and their meanings play an important part in the naming of various characters in the three novels: Book I introduces Dara who is named after my lovely dance teacher of Raqs Sharqu (Arabic name for “Eastern Dance”, Belly Dance in English). Her name was Maja (an alias) and was born in Egypt. Nona, which means “Nine” (or “ninth”) is also introduced in Book I. She was named after the first born of my college mentor (chief librarian). Nona foreshadows Ana in that the word “nona” is often used as a prefix in a number of scientific and other technical terms (e.g., nonapeptide).
In Book III, Ana, an MIT physicist, was named after a dear high school friend who felt betrayed because I married the son of the colonel who fired her father, a civilian personnel officer who sold honorable discharges for monetary gain). I do not think my friend knew why her father was discharged.
Ana is a name I would have given myself if my Father had not told me, when I was about five, that I should never let my name Armida be changed. In some ways, I betrayed him because, when in high school, I gave myself the nickname “Mimi” and then, during my federal career, “Armee,” pronounced “Army.” Then, there was this girl I knew who would call me “Army Navy” for “Armida Nagy.” What a drag! Father just did not know that my name was mispronounced and misspelled all too often. It is only now that I am long in the tooth that I embrace my given name. This was my secret from my dad.
In all three novels, there is one name that holds an honorary place. The name is “Andrew, or variations thereof. of my Father’s given name, meaning “manly,” “strong,” or “brave.” He was all three in every sense of the word. His characteristics are reflected in the characters in the trilogy. I was the apple of his eye, and he was my hero.
One thing is certain, however, about the women of the Armida Trilogy. They all showed a potential for leadership. Even the Dalai Lama contemplates on reincarnating as a woman since he believes women are particularly suited for leadership due to their inherent compassion. He surmises that, if there were more female leaders, the would would be more peaceful. In most instances, in their compassion, they also know how to give and to instruct, instead of take, take, take.
What’s in a name? Everything and nothing at all. I will settle for “I am that I am” . . . a vibrant part of the universal eye of consciousness, being. Or as Popeye said in the 1933 animated film, “I yam what I yam.”
Illustration
“Mind’s Eye: AI Abstract Poartrait of Human Consciousness and Energy Flow“ (Dreamstime.com)
The Armida Trilogy, which is not named after the author’s given name per se, is named after a fictitious character, Armida, with historical and literary connections: A Damascus warrior-queen from the 1st Crusade in Torquato Tasso’s Gerusalemme Liberata (1591). Tasso’s epic poem had inspired numerous artists and composers, each interpreting Armida’s character in unique ways. As such, she embodies the archetype of the forsaken woman in literature. Yet, many view Armida as a more relatable and sympathetic figure, adding depth to her portrayal. For more information about the various artists and composers who were inspired by Tasso’s Gerusalemme Liberata,
Thoughts Beyond the Novel EVEN A CROW… The Crow–.03
In recent times, the crow became known as “The Scientist of the Sky” due to its ability to find creative solutions to complex problems as does the main protagonist, Ana. The crow also suggests a “higher perspective” or “sharp-eyed awareness”. In Chinese and Japanese mythologies, the crow symbolizes guidance as the feminine sun and divine intervention with the image of a three-legged crow, Yatagarasu. Further, the three legs represent heaven, earth, and humanity to reflect convergence between the divine and mortal.
Another mythology comes from Oden’s two ravens (covid cousin to the crow). In the Norse language, their names are “Thought” (Huginn) and “Memory” (Muninn), symbolizing the power of mind. It is likely to mean that the birds are transmitters of Oden to beings who are capable of being receivers.
Even the MIT Technology Review has designed an ad, using the Crow, as noted below.
The author used a version of her book cover for promotional purposes. Note the background, generated by AI as noted below:
In the foreground of crow is the ancient Endless Knot. According to former Reddit blogger, TheHearofTuxes, “The symbol has a linear nature, a segmented nature, and a complete nature. As a whole symbol, it represents all manifestations, the whole universe of universes. From the view of the whole, the weaving lines take the character of vibrancy, insignificant in themselves, but enlivening the whole image with an energetic current…”, forming multi-dimentional rhythm and adding profound interrelationship with the repeating areas defined by the lines. The knots serve as archetypes and are deeply rooted in our consciousness. Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light deals with this as the main protagonist, Ana, engages in wanderlust and wonderlust.
Thoughts Beyond the Armida Trilogy: Consciousness as a Commodity 0.01
Hypothetically, imagine the rebirth of a former being into the human realm once more. This being has been yang for several rebirths so much so that it is reaching his perfection in this current existence. By the time this young person (referred to as “XYZ”) was seven years old, his appetites were fixed, causing some concern to his parents. He was sent to a military school to teach him discipline. What he learned mostly in teamwork was how to manipulate behavior and to be resilient and adaptive. Lying instead of respect for authority became his tool. in his 20s, he followed the guidance of a mentor who taught him to visualize himself successful, even with disregard to the facts, and to hold tightly to that vision of success, a form of positive thinking.
For Master XYZ, his inclinations were honed and his love of money got a lot of attention for the power it held, even to the point of trickery. Money became the grab bag of all endeavors to become a leader. Almost by accident, he began to take advantage of the illusion of perception, for it became more important than reality. It became his family’s motto to “don’t go out of the way to correct a false assumption if it plays to one’s advantage.” In time, a powerful and secretive club took note of his baronial presence in the field of existence–he knew how to cunningly control behavior and manipulate the illusions money and power for self gain. Just as his new colleagues, he mastered strategic decision-making and interactive behavior when his successes depend on the choices of others. In other words, game theory, especially payoff matrices to predict outcomes.
Fast forward to the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the 2017 when the AI boom initiated the development of transformer architecture to produce generative AI applications and large language models (LLMs). The science behind AI has revealed that the world/universe exists in our consciousness. The only thing that is real is consciousness. Everything that is material, which is subject to constant change (transformation) is not the universal consciousness, This universal consciousness is so vast that it manifests in so many permeations; and the elite classes and their master craftsmen want to understand it better so that they can control it and limit the masses from also understanding it.
For the purpose of this blog, a backstory begins in the late 17th-18th centuries.
Of the physicists mentioned in Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light, Sir Isaac Newton secretly immersed himself in the study of alchemy biblical prophecy, and theology, wanting to decipher God’s design from ancient wisdoms about the philosopher’s stone as the “active principles” of nature and the Elixir of Life. As a Christian, he wanted to decode the Book of Revelation.
Just perhaps, God is nothing other than the immeasurable four necessary for liberation and enlightenment–the virtues/sublime attitudes known as loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity,
Newton was part of a tradition of prisca sapientia (original wisdom)–orthodox, nontrinitarian Christian (Arian) views–passed down through millennia but later lost. So this tradition is still alive and well in attempting to reconstruct this wisdom knowledge to understand the universe. Even Albert Einstein said in the 19th century, “I want to know how God created his world…I want to know his thoughts; the rest are details.”
The knowledge and wisdom of consciousness existed in teachings way before they were written down in the Vedic Upanishads, a collection of Sanskrit texts and commentaries (a period from circa 800 BCE to 300 BCE. (The Upanishads represent a layered tradition well into the 15th century CE,) In fact, consciousness from the beginning was synonymous with Shiva, later to be reified. Shiva was first mentioned in the Rig Veda, which was written around 1700-1100 BCE. Every move of the dance of Shiva was/is symbolic of creation, illusion, protection, and the crushing of ignorance by his feet. And so ignorance actually means not knowing or wanting to know one’s innate nature.
In recent times, however, consciousness became a commodity for the elite, since they view it as the secret that offers immortality, reincarnation, and godhood. As this awareness began to get more scientific focus in the late 19th century, back 50 years ago, artificial intelligence became a quest to gather existing knowledge and to eventually control its context and contents. Consciousness via metaphoric Shiva is the heartbeat of the cosmos itself. As a sidebar, The root words of śiva combines the meanings “in whom all things lie, pervasiveness” and the “embodiment of grace”.
We know that, when we participate in the universe, we can change perception within it. As we focus on it, the perception manifests as a reality. Whether the perception is one of greed or equanimity, it becomes a reality in itself. Thusly, the quanta of perception is the secret of the universes as the entity of consciousness. But when we feed information–whether it be fact, misinformation, malinformation, or neutral–it is gathered by AI from the World Wide Web. So, if there is a time when no more beneficial information is gathered by artificial platforms, can AI be controlled and manipulated by the rulers of AI designs to alter further the true nature of reality. The world we know exists in our consciousness. We need to understand this intrinsically.
Who are the elite historically? Basically, as defined by the Encyclopædia Britannica, the elite are “small groups of persons who exercise disproportionate power and influence. It is customary to distinguish between political elites, whose locations in powerful institutions, organizations, and movements enable them to shape or influence political outcomes, often decisively, and cultural elites, who enjoy a high status and influence in nonpolitical spheres such as arts and letters, philanthropy , professions, and civic associations. At the national level, political elites number only a few thousand persons in all but the largest countries, whereas the makeup of cultural elites is more indeterminate and turns on the nonpolitical spheres regarded as consequential in a society.” Consequently, they employ methods to make you believe in their powers. In reality, their only power is to manipulate us into believing they have such powers and are worthy of these powers exclusively. (All we have to do is recall how India created a social strata in ancient times–the Vedic ruling/priestly Brahmins on top, followed next by the Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (farmers/traders) , and the lowly Shudras (laborers). This division of roles has been around for a very long time).
Now comes Plato’s Cave, an allegory of consciousness, contributing to elite classes on how to manipulate their tools of deception: The allegory compares “the effect of education and the lack of it on our nature, which employs two analogies–the Sun and the Divided Line. Plato’s Cave is an apt metaphor that depicts prisoners who have been chained inside a very dark cave since birth and only got to see shadows cast on the wall of outside objects projected on the wall by the exterior fire. The cave represents their limited understanding of reality. When one prisoner manages to escape, he returns to the cave because the fire he saw up close hurt his eyes. Only when another but inquisitive prisoner escapes, he discovers that the shadows of the outside world were illusions. He returns to educate the others. As such the allegory illustrates the importance of education as a transformative power and to continue the struggle to understand deeper truths beyond mere appearances. Many humans continue to think sensory perceptions as reality when there is a fuller understanding of how true knowledge can be achieved through pure awareness of bounding philosophical reasoning and scientific evidence.
Anyway, that is how Plato understood Buddha Siddhartha Gautama’s cave allegory.
The Buddha taught it as the Cave of Consciousness. The concept of consciousness is very entwined with the Cave of Consciousness. In other words, the cave represents the limitations of perception (e.g., we only see the shadows (concepts/ideas) casted by the fire. We think the concept of self (e.g., ego, yin/yang of the Tao) can be our only reality, thus keeping us from understanding the true nature of reality. The Buddha further explained that ultimate reality, which is beyond one’s conceptual grasp, is best gained through such practices as meditation and contemplation to break free from the illusion of permanence. Furthermore, since consciousness is impermanent and non-self, its nature leads to “emptiness” (i.e, the original state of existence that dissolves all dualities…).
Though we live in a world where money, resources, power, religion, and the like that tend to lead to warm, in terms of material things being permanent, these materials are not reality. The real currency is not money and such; the real currency is human consciousness, the source of power itself. We need to remind ourselves that consciousness is what creates reality itself.
Indirectly, the message in the Book of Revelation underscores the search for permanence and the belief that the fight is between good and evil. The revelation continues to explain that all of humanity will be injected with devices in the forehead or right hand. Surely, to control our every move and thoughts: Those who side with the antichrist will be able to buy and sell things to meet basic needs, and God’s servants (note the word “servant”) will receive protection from the tribulation caused by the final Holy War. For what purpose? To measure our allegiance? Still not seeing reality from the sensory consciousnesses of form and the like (there are eight of them operating as one)?
Basically, our current existence with AI ultimately end up controlling “the soul of humanity, the end game”. Are we game, because the limitations of AI will also reveal AI as illusory? Will we wake up in time to self-liberate ourselves from those who want us to believe that the final war (a wish-fulfilling prophecy) is to save only the servants of God who are set apart from the “great multitude of believers from all nations” who will be permanently destroyed? Is the Book of Revelation another illusion by an elite, perpetuated further by religious elites?
Consciousness is used as a commodity, and it has been for some time. So, how would one play this game well? How does one become unconditioned? How does one insulate himself/herself from the likes of Master XYZ?
Issued April 10, 2026
If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to [humanity], Infinite, for [humans] have closed [themselves] up until [they] can see all things [through] narrow chinks of his cavern . . . For everything that lives is holy. — William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
POSTSCRIPT
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. — Winston Smith
Freedom is the freedom to say that to plus two makes four. — George Orwell
EXECUTIVE ORDER 14365, a framework for how the federal government is to approach AI development. It reads, in part, that “U. S. leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) will promote U. S. national and economic security, [including] dominance across many domains.” It appears sweeping, but a very different effect emerges. Not only does it encourage AI but also mandates that federal powers be used to override any State law, any regulator, and any other law and regulation that slows down AI dominance. The E.O. was signed on December 11, 2025.
To accomplish this dominance, it establishes an AI Litigation Task Force at the Department of Justice to sue any U.S. State that tries to regulate or restrict AI development. It classifies advanced AI, semiconductors, and computer power as strategic national assets, the same designation once reserved for oil and nuclear weapons. The Task Force shall consult from time to time with the Special Advisor for AI and Crypto. Interestingly, the first special advisor is venture capitalist David Sacks,* who has received a blanket ethics waiver to work on “regulatory issues directly related to Sack’s financial holdings!
Apparently, this E.O. is circling the wagon around AI as a commodity for controlled messaging. In fact, it has enabled a small group of people to unite for the common purpose of incapsulating an entire industry. In doing so, the ethics waiver was offered to Mr. Sacks a month after the current President sacked the Senate-confirmed director of the Office of Government Ethics (the independent agency responsible for enforcing federal ethics laws). The White House counsel to the signatory of the E.O. wrote to Mr. Sack, stating, “I am granting you a waiver . . . of any conflict of interest regarding particular matters of general applicability concerning the digital asset industry,” in a March 5, 2026. Moreover, all discretionary grant programs will be required to be overseen by the Office of AI and Crypto.
Until it is successfully litigated as unconstitutional, it basically attempts to codify a radical new economic doctrine. Notwithstanding, the executive order states that the Federal government is to evaluate each AI law of a State and to, at a minimum, identify laws that require AI models to alter their truthful outputs [emphasis added], or that may compel AI developers or deployers to disclose or report information in a manner that would violate the First Amendment or any other provision of the Constitution. The evaluation may additionally identify State laws that promote AI innovation consistent with the policy set forth.” In this case, the phrase “truthful outputs” becomes relative.
Indeed, this E.O. attempts to legitimize the encampment of AI messaging control of the soul of free consciousnesses. Suddenly and sweepingly, the Federal government under the current Executive takes over congressional powers, pushing aside laws and regulations issued under constitutional guardrails.
__________
* Sacks’s venture capital interests are in Craft Ventures, Beldore Capitol LLC, and AL Ventures, Craft Ventures, Lightning Labs and BitGo…. When absolute corruption takes hold, corruption of the government is absolute.
Issued April 11, 2026
The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. His heart sank as he thought of the enormous power arrayed against him, the ease with which any Party intellectual would overthrow him in debate, the subtle arguments which he would not be able to understand, much less answer. And yet he was in the right! They were wrong and he was right.
George A. Orwell
Thoughts Beyond the Novel: Even a Crow….The Endless Knot .01
BOOK THREE – Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light. March 2026)
It may be safe to say that the novel Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light is undergirded by subtle Eastern philosophical views. For this reason, the the “endless knot” appears on the front and back cover of the book.
Known also as the “eternal knot,” it is a symbol that features a closed, looped design with no beginning or end. You may have seen it in Chinese art and knots, but it is a cultural market where Tibetan Buddhism is influential. We can even think it is somewhat like a torus in which the surface revolves as a continuous circle in three-dimensional space that creates a system that maximize grid capacity by storing excess electricity and by deploying the electrical charge when needed, thus aligning power generation as demanded.
On the other hand, the “endless or eternal knot” speaks of such energy in spiritual terms such as infinite wisdom and compassion, the interconnectedness of all phenomena, and the continuity of life, death and rebirth. Before indulging in the symbolic meanings, usage, and context of this symbol, please view the following link to know how this novel connects western and eastern philosophies, and modern physics. There are several philosophical/physics thoughts are injected in Even the Crow Knows….
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CPrKQi61G
The following is an AI overview of this symbol:
Interdependence: Also known as dependent origination, it shows that all phenomena are interconnected and rely on causes and conditions.
Union of Wisdom and Compassion: The intertwined, inseparable nature of wisdom and method as compassion, are essential for enlightenment.
Endless Cycle: The union of opposites (e.g., calm and movement, Tao, yin-yang) and the dominant cycle of rebirth.
Buddha Shakyamuni’s Teachings: Remarkable teaching that manifest as boundless, omnipresent wisdom.
Usage and Context: Serves as a common cultural marker, art, amulets, and in sacred geometry to sere as a meditative focus on non-duality and unity.
Lastly, the knot, although slightly different in designs, is found in Hindu, Jain, and Celtic traditions, often signifying eternity or longevity. In ancient India, it was a symbol of auspiciousness and harmony.
As stated by Bulgarea Candin Stefan, “Interestingly, the religious symbol of the Eternity Knot is said to represent the interdependence between secular and religious matters. Originally, this symbol was associated with Vishnu and his abiding love for his consort Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity and wealth. You can find the endless knot symbol on various inspirational products such as infinite knot decor, infinite knot pendant, and more.
“Knots are certainly deeply rooted in our consciousness as archetypes.”
The author, however, implies that it represents the physics of the Tao’s yin-yang of Quantum Theory.
PANAMA & THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE
The author of the first two books of The Armida Trilogy, revisits Panama as a source of insights into the varied cultures and historical contexts of the area as a major trading post in world affairs.
The Panama Canal Zone was a U.S.-controlled territory by the U.S. Corps of Engineers in the Republic of Panama from 1903 to 1979. It took over the French in building the canal and then to operate and to maintain the Panama Canal. It then became known as the Zona del Canal de Panama–a strip of land across the Isthmus of Panama, approximately 50 miles ling and extending about five miles on either side of its centerline, excluding Panama City, and Colon. The administrative center of the US-controlled territory was Balboa, Canal Zone.
To this day, the Panama Canal is a critical artery for global trade, significantly reducing shipping times and cost. But it also serves as a strategic asset for the United States and in influencing geopolitical dynamics.
Under the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903, Panama, following its independence from Colombia, granted the United States to exercise authority within the Canal Zone as if it were sovereign.
In exchange Panama received $10 million and an annual annuity of $250,000, enabling the United State to construct and to operate the Canal Zone without interference from Panamanian authorities. As a strategic waterway, it connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Its presence shortened maritime travel by thousands of nautical miles, thus avoiding the dangerous route around Cape Horn, the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile. (Even the Crow Knows… takes the readers to this area of Latin America instead of Panama.)
The US Canal Zone was abolished on October 1, 1979, under the Torrijo-Carter Treaties, which returned administrative control to Panama. A transition period was agreed upon between Panama and the United States, allowing the latter to pull out its military bases and civilian corps until December 31, 1999. This period also arranged for the United States personnel to train the Panamanians on how to operate the Canal Zone. A little known fact about the end of U.S. presence was the courts found that the United States had violated its original treaty by not allowing joint administration of the Canal Zone from its inception! Another unknown fact was that the American business community lobbied the U.S. Congress because of its maritime concerns and reputation.
The idea of a canal across the Isthmus of Panama was soon formulated after the Spanish conquest of the area in 1529. It was a lieutenant of conquistador Vasco Nunez de Balboa by the name of Alvaro de Saavedra Ceron who suggested it. But the serious attempt (1880-1889) to build a sea-level canal came from Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French engineer who had successfully built the Suez Canal. Its completion failed due to disease, terrain, and antisemitism at home that led to financial problems.
The current affair of the Panama Canal Zone has become a political football. The 47th President of the United States has publicly vowed to “take back” the Panama Canal from Panama and claimed China controls it. However, in practice, the Panama Canal is still run by the canal authority of Panama and remains legally Panamanian.
Who controls the canal right now
- The Panama Canal has been under full Panamanian sovereignty since the Torrijos–Carter Treaties were completed in 1999, and it is operated by the autonomous Panama Canal Authority (ACP), not by the U.S. or China.
- Panama’s constitution and a separate neutrality treaty state that the canal must remain neutral and open to all nations in peace and war, with Panama responsible for its administration and security.
US 47th President claims and actions
THIS IS HOW THE WATERS GOT MUDDIED!
- Since returning to office, the 47th President has repeatedly said that the given away and alleging that China “operates” or “controls” it. and nearby infrastructure.
- China does not operate the canal itself, but Chinese-linked companies from Hong Kong have held long-term concessions at ports on each end of the canal and have invested in related logistics and infrastructure in Panama.
- U.S. officials close to the US President argue that this presence could be used to pressure or disrupt U.S. shipping in a crisis, which is part of why the administration is pushing back diplomatically and economically.
Response of Panama
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and the ACP have rejected the US Administration’s assertions, insisting that Panama alone runs the canal, that fees are applied equally to all ships, and that there is no Chinese operational control. Mulino has said there is “no possibility” of negotiating any transfer of ownership back to the United States and has stressed that Panama intends to uphold the canal’s neutrality.
Legal and practical status
- Under current treaties, the U.S. has a right to help defend the canal’s neutrality but no right of ownership or routine operational control; any U.S. move to “take it back” without Panama’s consent would violate Panamanian sovereignty and established international norms.
- So as of now, the “status” is: Trump is applying political, military‑planning, and economic pressure around the canal, but control in law and in day‑to‑day operation remains with Panama, not with the U.S. or China.
As of this first week in March 2026, the U.S. President claimed he got rights over the Panama Canal for $1.00. That is hard to believe. In February 2026, under U.S. pressure, Panama seized two ports previously run by a joint Hong Kong-UK company. This was a Panamanian government action, not a U.S. purchase, and it still did not give the U.S. control of the canal.
There is zero reporting of any sale, transfer, or lease of the Panama Canal to Trump or the U.S. for any amount. The canal remains under the control of the Panama Canal Authority, as established by the 1999 Torrijos–Carter Treaties.
Posted March 11, 2026
PRESS RELEASE by Author on Book Three–Even a Crow Knows….now available for your reading pleasure
INTRODUCING THE ARMIDA TRILOGY with Book Three: SOFT SCIENCE FICTION, EVEN A CROW KNOWS HOW TO CRACK A WALNUT IN CLEAR LIGHT (2026)
THE ARMIDA TRILOGY | Daughters of the Dance – Book One (2018),
Choir of Cloistered Canaries – Book Two (2020), and
Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light – Book Three (2026)
The Armida Trilogy — A Multigenerational Odyssey of Feminine Power
The fictional works of The Armida* Trilogy are all interconnected by the central theme of women’s issues in the midst of adversities across various historical contexts. The narratives feature protagonists from different generations, with the first novel focusing on three women, the second on two, and the third on a single individual.
These works blend elements of intellectual discourse, philosophy, intrigue, symbolism, history, travel, and romance, incorporating some brief aspects of literary nonfiction. Each novel conveys messages about determined women navigating their spiritual journeys within specific historical frameworks and with their development influenced by contemporary events. The Armida Trilogy spans from the turn of the 19th century to the early 21st century and introduces central protagonists Dara, Ayana, Nona, Isobel, Leitis, Thelma, Myra, and Ana as they play out their archetypes as Creatrix, Lover, Maiden, Mother, Mystic, Warrior, and the like.
Spanning over two centuries, The Armida Trilogy is a sweeping literary journey that interlaces the lives of at least nine women across three novels, each navigating the crucible of her era. From the twilight of the Enlightenment to the dawn of the digital age, these embody timeless archetypes such as the Creatrix, the Lover, the Mystic, and the Warrior. Their stories unfold against the backdrop of historical upheaval, philosophical awakening, and intimate personal reckonings.
Each novel narrows its focus: the first weaves the lives of three women into a collective chorus of resistance and awakening; the second deepens into the duality of two intertwined fates; the final novel distills the journey into the singular voice of a woman confronting the legacy of those before her. Through intellectual discourse, symbolic motifs, and romantic undercurrents, the trilogy explores how women shape — and are shaped by — the world around them.
Blending fiction with glimmers of literary nonfiction, The Armida Trilogy is not just only a chronicle of survival but also a celebration of spiritual evolution, intergenerational wisdom, and the enduring power of the feminine spirit.
Though the trilogy uses the author’s birth name per se, The Armida Trilogy, is named after a fictitious character, Armida, in Torquato Tasso’s epic poem, Gerusalemme Liberata (1591). with historical and literary connections: A Damascus warrior-queen from the 1st Crusade. Tasso inspired numerous artists and composers, each interpreting Armida’s character in unique ways. As such, she embodies the archetype of the forsaken woman in literature. Yet, many view Armida as a more relatable and sympathetic figure, adding depth to her portrayal.
BOOK THREE – Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light. (2026)
Despite its playful title, Even a Crow Knows… introduces a gifted M.I.T. graduate, whose life sets the foundation for the novel’s exploration of the clash between technology and spirituality. It touches on her early childhood, when her natural brilliance and curiosity about the universe first began to take shape.
The narrative introduces the overarching conflict—Ana’s recruitment by a corporate headhunter for an orthodox, visionary consortium focused on reshaping the world with her military research experience at Area 51. And Ana’s scientific fascination eventually merges with deeper philosophical questions about the nature of existence.
The background themes of the novel include elements of military research, philosophy, intrigue, symbolism, history, and romance, incorporating literary nonfiction. Ana’s growing realization of a spiritual truth—when death is perceived as an illusion and where all beings and constructs are interconnected in the vast expanse of space— one can reach self-liberation. After all, the subtitle states Space Contains All Beings and Things.
BOOK ONE – Daughters of the Dance (2018)
Aa multi-generational saga of women dancers, specifically the danse du ventre, against a backdrop of global upheaval within the context of the Sephardic-Ladino community of professional men of Curaçao, this historical novel is rich in its cultural tapestry, spiritual symbolism, and mature sexual boundaries. At once, it’s a historical epic, spiritual journey, and intimate portrait of female embodiment.
Renewed interest in Daughters of the Dance, the first book under The Armida Trilogy, this press release offers an overview of Armida Nagy Rose’s historical novel originally published in August 2, 2018. Originally written as a screenplay, Nagy Rose later expanded it into this novel to incorporate richer historical and cultural detail of the Sephardic Jews of Curacao…
Set across the first half of the 20th century, the noel spans three generations of women in two interconnected families—mothers, daughters, and granddaughters—who practice the art of dance, specifically danse du ventre (Moyen-Orient), against a backdrop of global upheaval. The other family involved three affluent Sephardic brothers.
The story revolves around Dara, an Algerian expatriate whose sensuous belly-dancing garners both admiration and scandal in Europe and in the Americas during World War II. Her daughter, Ayana, and later her granddaughter, continue this heritage. Through these spiritual daughters of the dance, the fast-moving narrative explores topics of sexuality, spiritual liberation, and female empowerment
The following provides key themes (historical and cultural tapestry, spiritual symbolism, and controversial adult content).
The plot weaves through settings that include the Netherlands, Panama, Spain, Mexico, and Willemstad, Curacao—all within the context of the Sephardic-Ladino Jewish diaspora and the expansions and tremors of war.
Moreover, dance in the novel is not just performance. It is a spiritual discipline to “dance in the middle of the fighting, dance in your blood, dance when you are perfectly free,” a partial quote of a Sufi poem by Rumi (13th century C.E.). As a theme, the narrative connects dance with themes of redemption, freeing of the self, and breaking cycles of rebirth (the cycle of samsara), weaving in Buddhist notions like the Bardo (the intermediate state of death and rebirth).
Consequently, the novel delves into mature themes—sexual boundaries, relational power, religious conservatism, and suppression of women—providing both a sensual and cerebral experience.
Daughters of the Dance thought-provoking themes around female agency, sexuality, and liberation is both sensual and symbolic storytelling.
In essence, this historical novel is an ambitious, provocative sage of women seeking their agency—literally through dance, spiritual ecstasy, and introspection—amid social, religious, and wartime constraints. In short, it is at once a historical epic and an intimate portrait of female embodiment.
BOOK TWO – Choir of Cloistered Canaries (2020) – a thought-provoking, multi-layered novel that fuses epidemiology and psychology with ancient symbolism, environmental activism, and mystical exploration – wrapped in an emotionally-grounded take of reconnection, love, and resistance against ethical erosion. It uses the canary as metaphor to champion environmental guardianship and justice for all.
Anyone who is interested environmental justice when science meets spirituality would be attracted to the environmental appeal and intellectual adventure.
Leitis Dennett, a senior CDC epidemiologist about to retire, is called to a secretive laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus to reconnect with her estranged mother of several decades. As a member of the CDC Rapid Response Team, her visit to her mother is cut short to join the team headed for The Vatican and Rome, Italy. It is there that a fortuitous relationship with Pope Hormisdas II develops.
Anyone who is interested environmental justice when science meets spirituality would be attracted to the environmental appeal and intellectual adventure.
Leitis Dennett, a senior CDC epidemiologist about to retire, is called to a secretive laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus to reconnect with her estranged mother of several decades. As a member of the CDC Rapid Response Team, her visit to her mother is cut short to join the team headed for The Vatican and Rome, Italy. It is there that a fortuitous relationship with Pope Hormisdas II develops.
It is also at this journey that she meets a medical engineer who joins her to further improvements on public health and to combat environmental degradation, echoing President Eisenhower’s warning in 1961 against unchecked industrialization and over consumption.
The novel resonates with modern concerns—clean air, water, and earth—representing “our song as canaries,” a metaphor for how human signal ecological distress. Leitis blends her epidemiology expertise with her passion for comparative mythology and alchemy, searching for hidden meanings in ancient symbols.
Beyond global stakes and politics, the novel is deeply personal—a mother and daughter healing almost a half-century of separation.
If you are drawn to environmental activism, ethical science, and storytelling where ancient wisdom meets modern dilemmas, this novel delivers. Even as a human story, it is framed within larger questions of mortality and stewardship.
In summary, Choir of Cloistered Canaries blends a personal mother-daughter reunion with a global quest to expose and counteract corporate greed, sacred symbolism, and environmental collapse. It asks readers to listen to the Earth’s “canary” warnings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Armida Nagy Rose is a reclusive, multidisciplinary artist and writer who publishes fiction under a nom de plume. Her work moves effortlessly between visual art, poetry, and narrative fiction, fusing spiritual inquiry, cultural history, and embodied practice into stories and workshops that invite close attention and quiet transformation.
Born into a family steeped in diasporic histories and contemporary religious beliefs, she developed an early fascination with myth, movement, and the material traces of memory. Her visual work—acrylics, watercolors, and pen-and-ink drawings—earned regional recognition when she was named Artist of the Month by the North of Tampa Arts League in the early 2000s. She also served on the board of the Coalition of Hispanic Artists in Hillsborough County, organizing community exhibitions that paired archival research with contemporary visual experiments.
As an educator, Armida created Zen Tango Art: Meditative Drawing in Pen & Ink, a practical manual published in 2011 that pairs intuitive mark-making (doodling) with focused observation (negotiating a representational object with doodling aesthetics) and contemplative attention. She led workshops that translate the book’s techniques into accessible exercises for artists, writers, and people seeking art as a mindfulness practice.
Her literary output spans poetry, short prose, and longer fiction. Early poems such as “Abraham Revisited” and visual pieces appear in anthologies such as Waves of Wonder and Reflections: The Olli-USF 20th Anniversary Collection, where she contributed both prose and imagery. Several early essays and art pieces were published online between 2012 and 2013. The International Library of Poetry, 2002, “Ode to the Gaian Pie”. Some of her early writings (2012-2013) are posted at thought4though.wordpress.com.
She has also taught introductory “Quintessential Tibetan Buddhism” at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of South Florida. Working from an initial screenplay for Daughters of the Dance, having trained in belly dance for several years, she expanded her narrative vision into The Armida Trilogy, a multi‑generational sequence of novels that interweaves history, comparative mythology, and spiritual symbolism to examine women’s agency across three centuries.
Armida’s fiction is characterized by richly textured settings, ethically engaged protagonists, and an interest in the body as archive and ritual. Her first novel, Daughters of the Dance, reframes the danse du ventre as spiritual discipline and a cultural memory within Sephardic‑Ladino networks. Book Two, Choir of Cloistered Canaries, blends epidemiology, environmental activism, and mysticism to ask how science and spirituality might together defend the commons.
Despite her private nature, Armida has participated in public life through curated lectures, intimate salons, and virtual conversations that pair historical scholarship with embodied practice until she became afflicted by multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). Since 2009, she became an advocate of living a life that reduces exposure to toxic chemicals, primarily, those that are derived from petroleum. The novel, Choir of Cloistered Canaries, broaches this theme in a limited manner, since ambient and indoor air pollution is a major cause of premature deaths worldwide..
Armida lives and works in the southeastern United States. She continues to paint, draw, and write into her eighties and has developed a new fiction that explores the intersections of ritual, ecology, and female creative power.
Armida Nagy Rose Author 