March 31st, 2013

I was reading a book today about the Japanese Tea Ceremony, called (somewhat obviously) The Book of Tea. To illustrate a point, the author, Okakura Tenshin, related a traditional Japanese parable. I so enjoyed it that I thought I'd share it here:

The Taming of the Harp

Once in the hoary ages in the Ravine of Lungmen stood a Kiri tree, a veritable king of the forest. It reared its head to talk to the stars; its roots struck deep into the earth, mingling their bronzed coils with those of the silver dragon that slept beneath. And it came to pass that a mighty wizard made from this tree a wondrous harp, whose stubborn spirit should be tamed but by the greatest of musicians. For long the instrument was treasured by the Emperor of China, but all in vain were the efforts of those who in turn tried to draw melody from the strings. In response to their utmost strivings there came from the harp but harsh notes of disdain, ill-according with the songs they fain would sing. The harp refused to recognize a master.
At last came Peiwoh, the prince of harpists. With tender hand he caressed the harp as one might seek to soothe an unruly horse, and softly touched the chords. He sang of nature and the seasons, of high mountains and flowing waters, and all the memories of the tree awoke! Once more the sweet breath of spring played amidst its branches. The young cataracts, as they danced down the ravine, laughed to the budding flowers. Anon were heard the dreamy voices of summer with its myriad insects, the gentle pattering of rain, the wail of the cuckoo. Hark! a tiger roars - the valley answers again. It is autumn; in the desert night, sharp like a sword gleams the moon upon the frosted grass. Now winter reigns, and through the snow-filled air swirl flocks of swans and rattling hailstones beat upon the boughs with fierce delight. 
Then Peiwoh changed the key and sang of love. The forest swayed like an ardent swan deep lost in thought. On high, like a haughty maiden, swept a cloud bright and fair; but passing, trailed long shadows on the ground, black like despair. Again the mode was changed; Peiwoh sang of war, of clashing steel and trampling steeds. And in the harp rose the tempest of Lungmen, the dragon rode the lightning, the thundering avalanche crashed through the hills. In ecstacy the Celestial monarch asked Peiwoh wherein lay the secret of his victory. 
"Sire," he replied, "others have failed because they sang but of themselves. I left the harp to choose its theme, and knew not truly whether the harp had been Peiwoh or Peiwoh were the harp."

I liked the story for a couple of reasons: the evocative language and beautiful description of nature, and that moral that those who do best are those who are humble. I also thought (did anyone else do the same?) that the description of the tree in that first paragraph could be easily employed as the basis for a grounding and centering meditation. Maybe that's just the nerd Pagan in me. ;D

March 30th, 2013

It's been a nice, quiet day - nowhere to go, no company, not much to do. I'm enjoying it while it lasts, because the next two weeks are going to be nuts. My mom is decorating for Easter, and we're going to dye eggs this afternoon. I don't mind, since it's basically a belated Ostara celebration. I don't think mom would be too happy if I drew pentacles on the eggs, though.

I'd love to make some eggs like this one day!

These were found on DeviantART - credit goes to here.

March 28th, 2013

Wow, I'm starting to get really excited! After months of intense rehearsal, construction, and yet more rehearsal, my high school's spring musical, Les Miserables, is coming together! Even though I'm on spring break I've been at the school every day practicing; today, we had our first full makeup and costume run through, and we open next week Thursday. I'd been going to use the little shell bottle that I got at the Fairy Fest to bring some blessed water to school and thus dedicate our auditorium properly, but apparently a little hole has opened up in the shell's bottom, causing it to leak. I'll fix it this weekend, but my dedication will have to wait until Monday.
In other news, the weather here has finally turned warm, and for the first time this year I have the windows open in my room. It feels so good to air the space out that it's almost an entire room cleansing on its own. We also have some flowers growing, here and at the high school: crocuses, daffodils, and tulips are all pushing up in the garden. What signs of the changing seasons have you noticed?

March 23rd, 2013

I feel like I ought to get a medal for being so busy all the time! Wednesday was my birthday (I'm 17 now - I'm so old!), I had rehearsal for the musical and work on Thursday, I had rehearsal until almost 10:00 last night, and I had rehearsal from 8:00 to 3:00 today. I love Les Miserables, and I love all my cast-mates, so I enjoy all that time I put into it, but now that I don't have practice for the rest of the day or tomorrow, I hardly know what to do with myself. I hadn't even had a chance to think about performing an Ostara ritual, let alone actually getting around to doing one, so I think that's going to be on tonight's schedule. I also have some laundry to do, I need to clean my room... It's never ending.

If I have a chance, I'm going to knit a pouch that I can carry my new Moonstone, and maybe my Sodalite, in for our performance nights. Both are great choices for actors to stimulate creativity and the Throat Chakra. Also, perhaps on Monday, I want to officially consecrate the auditorium and our set to Dionysus, Greek god of theatre. I'll likely just do something basic - a bit of salt water sprinkled around with a simple invocation, and maybe a little food offering if I can come up with some grapes or other appropriate victuals. It's getting to the point where I'm simultaneously excited and nervous. I'm even having dreams about it. All I can say is that I hope everyone loves the show!

March 17th, 2013

I can never decide whether to say "Happy St. Patrick's Day" or not. While I have no problem celebrating Irish culture - I am distantly Irish, after all - I have something of an issue with a holiday that is blatantly anti-Pagan. Do I hear exclamations of shock and surprise? Most people are unaware of the actual history of March 17th and why it's celebrated. The story goes that a Christian monk visited the Green Isle to drive out the snakes, and thus there are no longer legless reptiles there. The story, however, is metaphorical - the snake imagery is indicative of Paganism. Though Patrick didn't persecute Pagans the way some Englishmen did, he did such a good job converting them that Ireland quickly became almost exclusively Catholic. While it is true that snakes are hard to find in Ireland, as a fellow Pagan put it, "this may well be due to the fact that it's an island, and so snakes aren't exactly migrating there in packs".
Many Pagans thus choose to wear a snake pin or similar on St. Patty's Day, but I personally like green, and I like clovers, so I'll wear my shamrock socks and tee-shirt. Celebrating the secular aspects of the holiday are fine with me (my mom always makes dinner out of solely green food), but I'm not about to go sit through a Catholic church service, either.
Snakes could potentially figure in seasonal altar décor, or in decorations around the house. The image is just as appropriate for Ostara as it is for the 17th, especially as snakes lay eggs and have long been considered fertility symbols in many cultures.

Totoro Part Two

I realized today that I never posted the pictures of the Totoro I crocheted. I'm sure you've all been waiting with bated breath, so here he is...

 

Totoro from the front.

 

And from the side.

He's so cute! And I have him sitting on my nightstand with my dream sachet where he can be my own little guardian nature spirit.

March 16th, 2013

At long last, I'm getting around to posting this! 

Moonstone

 

 
Physical Characteristics: Moonstone can come in a variety of shades, from almost clear to a beautiful light blue. Looking closely, one might see pink, green, and apricot hues.

In Nature: This stone is composed of many thin layers of feldspar fused together; these refract light, giving the stone its characteristic rainbow-like appearance.

Chemical Composition: (NaK)AlSi3O8

Mohs Scale Hardness: 6 (middle)

Can be Found: Australia, Mexico, Madagascar, Burma, Norway, Poland, India, Sri Lanka, and the United States

Healing Properties*: Use Moonstone to assist with female bodily dysfunction and childbirth, or to relieve the lymphatic system, stomach, pancreas, and pituitary gland. It could also be employed to reduce swelling and excess body fluids.

Magickal Properties: Moonstone carries the vibration of Goddess energy, and is thus reflective and calming. It strengthens psychic and intuitive perception and brings the user into balance with Spirit. The stone is said to grant wishes, and aids in dieting, gardening, and meditation. Moonstone soothes stress, anxiety, and women's hormones; it further helps prevent one from being overcome emotionally. The stone assists those of either gender in becoming more comfortable with their feminine side. Water signs find Moonstone ideal, as do gardeners, dancers, and artists. To cure insomnia, pair Moonstone with Amethyst. In magick, Moonstone makes an excellent substitute for Pearl. It draws love and is gently protective of its bearer, especially while travelling and/or while on the water, while also providing wealth and prophetic abilities. Matched with Garnet, the stone reveals the truth behind illusions and will unmask enemies. Moonstone opens the gateway to the subconscious, especially at the full moon. Finally, employ the stone to strengthen one's connection with a patronus or spirit guide.

Chakra Association: Because of its range of properties, Moonstone works with several: the Second, or Sacral, the Fourth, or Heart, and the Sixth, or Third Eye, chakras.

Element: Water

Energy: Receptive

Planetary Association: Moon (I know it's not a planet, but it's considered one in astrology)

*Magickal healing should never take the place of seeing a doctor and following any recommended prescriptions, actions, or other advice. Magick works best in tandem with physical efforts, anyway, so don't skimp on those check-ups!

Blue Lace Agate

Blue Lace Agate

 

Physical Characteristics: Blue Lace Agate is a periwinkle blue stone characterized by banding in pale grey and white. As this coloration resembles a cloudy sky, this Agate has been nicknamed the "Stone of Ecology".

In Nature: A form of chalcedony, Blue Lace Agate forms when siliceous matter crystallizes inside cracks in lava rock or granite.

Chemical Composition: SiO2

Mohs Scale Hardness: 6.5 - 7 (middle-high)

Can be Found: Namibia, South Africa, Germany

Healing Properties*: This Agate may be used to lessen pain from arthritis, bone and/or growing pains, headaches, and digestive disorders. For centuries, the stone has been used to quench thirst and cure fevers.

Magickal Properties: Blue Lace Agate assists in flight - use it for astral travel or even to get a discount on those airplane tickets you need. It increases grace and agility, and helps one reach higher spiritual planes. The stone has a strong calming effect, reducing anger and uneasiness, while the blue color stimulates the Throat Chakra, improving communication and even helping one overcome speech impediments. Persian magicians used this stone to divert storms, perhaps making the above connection between the stone and the sky. One might also use it to discern truth, prevent insomnia, and increase analytical abilities. Furthermore, the stone has a long history of protecting children, especially from falling. This is a Pisces stone (that's me!), and as such, I would infer that Blue Lace Agate could be used to stimulate creativity, the ability to visualize, and positive dreams.

Chakra Association: The Fifth - or Throat - Chakra

Element: Water

Energy: Receptive

Planetary Association: Mercury

*Magickal healing should never take the place of seeing a doctor and following any recommended prescriptions, actions, or other advice. Magick works best in tandem with physical efforts, anyway, so don't skimp on those check-ups!

March 8th, 2013

The trip to the zoo was a lot of fun! We had a packet we had to fill out, but I was smart and did most of it on the bus so I got to actually enjoy the animals. It's great that our current zoos are doing so much to protect our planet's wildlife - they've developed the SSP (Species Survival Plan) program to help breed and conserve endangered species - Brookfield Zoo alone houses 45 kinds of these especially threatened animals.

This little guy is an Egyptian Tortoise - I can't remember if he's technically SSP or not, but they are really endangered. My brother actually got to pet him when he was here last month for a special "wild encounter".

And here's a dolphin, because dolphins make me happy.

While there, I couldn't resist the urge to purchase a piece of Moonstone and a piece of Blue Lace Agate - I'd been wanting some of each for a long time, and they were only $1.95 a piece! If you're new to my blog, then here's an explanation of my process - I sit and research my stones, write information down in my notebook, and then share that information on here with all of you. I hope my compilations of data are useful to you, or are at least somewhat interesting!

March 6th, 2013

Winter Storm Saturn hit us yesterday, snowing about 9", and closing school. I nearly had a heart attack when my mom woke me up at 5:00 yesterday morning, but it was nice to get to sleep in. After finishing my homework, I spent something like 10 hours crocheting a little Totoro plushie (see the picture) - he's really cute! Totoro is a nature spirit from Miyazaki's animated film, My Neighbor Totoro; he's pretty fantastic. I'll have to put up pictures later though, as I ran out of time to take one this morning. In other news, my AP Environmental Science class is going to the zoo tomorrow, which should be a lot of fun. What exciting things have you done recently to celebrate nature?

Garnet

Garnet

 

Physical Characteristics: Garnet can be found in a variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink, and colorless.

In Nature: Colorless Garnet is the most common, and is used in industry as an abrasive. Blue Garnet is the rarest. Some varieties change color when moving from sunlight to incandescent light.

Chemical Composition: X3Y2(SiO4)3, where X represents a divalent cation (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, etc.) and Y represents a trivalent cation (Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, etc.).

Mohs Scale Hardness: 6.5 - 7.5 (middle - middle-high)

Can be Found: United States, Madagascar, Russia, Tanzania, Kenya, Turkey

Healing Properties*: Garnet has been employed as a talisman against death and injury, while drawing victory, peace, and tranquillity. Garnet staunches blood flow from injuries, and cleansing with Garnet vibrations is beneficial to both the thyroid and spleen.

Magickal Properties: Garnet is a stone of love and passion, boosting sensuality, sexuality, and intimacy. It increases one's personal level of energy, bringing positive thoughts, and builds both self-esteem and career success. The stone warns of impending disaster by paling in color, similar to rubies. Given as a gift, Garnet enhances loyalty and affection. A stolen Garnet will plague its thief with bad luck until it is returned to its proper owner. Placing the stone under one's pillow at night drives off nightmares, and wearing it as jewelry helps the bearer generate popularity among his or her peers. Also, the stone may be used in meditations on past lives, as it enhances truth and clarity. Not only does the Garnet ward off negativity, it actively returns it to its sender. For example, use a Garnet to repeal the negativity from malicious lies or gossip.

Chakra Association: The First, or Root Chakra, although Garnet may also be associated with other chakras according to its color.

Element: Fire

Energy: Projective

Planetary Association: Mars

*Magickal healing should never take the place of seeing a doctor and following any recommended prescriptions, actions, or other advice. Magick works best in tandem with physical efforts, anyway, so don't skimp on those check-ups!

March 2nd, 2013

I can't believe how quickly time has gone by the past few weeks. It seems like we just had Valentine's Day - now it's early March! My Grandma and Uncle spent the last few days at our house. I was gone a lot of the time at school, but Thursday night we were able to go out to eat at a nice restaurant, and yesterday we went to the Field Museum in Chicago. One of my favorite exhibits is their dinosaur exhibition. This is only one of the pictures I took, with my brother standing in it for scale, but I found the size of this fish skeleton simply hilarious. I mean, come on, it's gigantic!

Also while here, my Grandma and Uncle had a really belated Christmas with us - from my Uncle, I got a cool book of Japanese folktales, and while I got several things from my Grandma, my favorite was probably a piece of grey stone in which dozens of tiny red-black garnets are embedded. She and I share a love of stones, and I thought it was the coolest thing! Now, of course, I'm obligated to research and write about garnets.