How to Tell If You’re Immortal: Part One

Humans have been lusting after immortality since time began, and some have gotten closer than you think. Here’s a few of the more interesting myths and histories about people questing after eternal life. You too may be one of them.

You know you’re immortal if:

1) You Ate the Magic Peach.
The Chinese divinity Yu Huang (the Jade Emperor) and his mother called Xi Wangmu (Queen Mother of the West) were said to have a peach tree whose fruit granted eternal life. The catch? This tree only bore fruit every 6,000 years.

2) You Live in Soviet Russia, Where Old Age Dies Of You.
In southern Russia there are a group of people living in the Caucasus Mountains known as the Abkhasia. Lifespans of 150 have been reported. One man, Shirali Muslimov, was said to be 168 years old when he died. The Soviets made him an honorary postage stamp.

3) You Put Your Corpse Through the Ringer.
Not all immortality is earthly. The Ancient Eygptians believed that the god Osiris was their way to eternal life…in a more heavenly sense. How did it work? By mimicking his degrading buriel over the corse of 70 days and then standing before him in the Hall of Judgement. Thanks but no thanks. I like my brain where it is, not being sucked out of my nose.

4) You Drink the Kool-Aid. I Mean the Mineral Water.
Good health into your 100’s? Sounds good and is typical for citizens of the Vilcabamba Valley in southern Ecuador. Many of the inhabitants of the Vilcabamba Valley, in the southern region of Ecuador, are reported to reach 100 and beyond in good health. Some people attribute this longevity to the natural mineral water. The claims of the Vilcabamba to have reached ages of 120 and beyond are probably exaggerated.

5) You’ve Been Oppressing Florida Natives.
Nearly everyone has heard of the Fountain of Youth. Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon is most often credited as the fountain’s number one fan. In the early 16th Century Ponce de Leon traveled to a section of the North American continent he would later name Florida, supposedly in search of the mysterious waters that could restore a person’s youth. His search couldn’t have yielded much though, as Ponce de Leon died from a poison arrow in 1521. Next time stick to searching for spices.

FCC Disclosure: JBNI is the producer of this blog and 33+ Naturaceuticals with curious effects on your longevity…

Online Sources:

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Peach

http://www.myeport.com/published/t/uc/tucsonC/collection/18/3/upload.doc

http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Tree:of:Life.htm

http://www.touregypt.net/Osiriscu.htm

http://longevity.about.com/od/longevity101/tp/legends.htm