Ever Hold A Crystal Skull? Kinda Heavy...

So many things to blog about, so little time... well, that's how it is for me, someone who can't manage their time very well at all!

Looking through some earlier posts, I see a couple that ended in a "to be continued" mode... and I still haven't posted the lovely photos from just last fall, when my husband and I went to The Bronx Zoo with a friend of ours.

But those topics will have to wait; for today, I'll blog about my recent foray into the Realm of the Crystal Skulls.

Opheleah, a lovely tourmalinated & rutilated clear quartz crystal skull from Brazil

Meet Opheleah, who began life simply as a large piece of clear quartz in Brazil before being carved into the shape of a human skull in 2009. In addition to the quartz, Opheleah also features areas of black tourmaline and threads of the mineral rutile; an opalized section of quartz is also present.  

(Quartz (silicon dioxide) is perhaps the most prevalent mineral found in the world and its uses are many: glass, electronics, jewelry, meditation and energy healing for spiritual purposes. In ancient times, it was believed that clear quartz was permanently frozen ice - see link below.) 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz

Teressena Bakens is the guardian of this particular crystal skull. She, along with her husband, Martien Bakens, were the presenters of this event I attended with my adventurous friend, Sue.   

The dark area is black tourmaline; threads of rutile are also evident throughout.

"Martien and Teressena have facilitated experiential workshops on Tarot and on Sacred Union in the United States and in Holland. For the past eight years they have led group journeys to the sacred lands of the Olmec and Maya in the Yucatan, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas and Guatemala. Their home in Hot Springs, Arkansas is also the sacred space for Sweat Lodges, Goddess Gatherings, Full Moon circles and the Dream circle."

Source:   http://peacevalleycreations.com

(Incidentally, Arkansas is where some of the clearest and brightest quartz crystal specimens come from.)

The Bakens are also linked to several other web sites (Beacons of Love, Sacred Visionary Art and The Fifth Tarot) and have a Facebook presence.

This crystal skull makes "no bones" about being recently carved, unlike the famous Mitchell-Hedges artifact; it's the artistry and the piezoelectric energies of quartz that make it worthy of our respect.

http://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/mitchell_hedges/

According to the Bakens' handout: "Crystal skulls are conduits of energy, light and consciousness, offering healing, wisdom and love. Teressena is the guardian of Opheleah, a clear crystal quartz skull that embodies the Fifth World ray of unity consciousness." Teressena has been the crystal skull's "arms and legs" for about two years now, since someone brought it to her at a trade show. 

It was an interesting evening with two intriguing, articulate presenters and an audience of gentle, like-minded people.

Thank You, Well-wishers

An art shot of Hoppy

So many people have been so kind to me this week with their comments and condolences after the passing of Hoppy, much as they were when my other cat, Nancy, died last April. 

 

Another art shot of Hoppy

Nancy on vacation in Florida

Up she goes!

I humbly thank you all.
 

Relaxing with Hoppy

The After-Life Dream

Last night (or I should say, this morning) I dreamed I was at work, writing up a ticket for a customer (a man and his young son, as I recall - there was also a woman nearby) - there were some items that had been crossed out, so I had to do some recalculating - there was a problem with the lights, so it was sort of dark and it was taking me a very long time to finish my task - for some reason, Hoppy was up on the counter where I was working and I picked him up and put him on the floor - then, I asked the customers, "You saw the cat, right? The cat that was just up here on the counter?" - the woman said yes, she'd seen him and I said, "It's very strange because he died yesterday."

Hoppy - the silly old cat is gone but not forgotten

So even though he's gone, he's still with me - his memory lives on - he sits beside the rainbow bridge with all the others, waiting patiently for the others who will follow...

Another Sad Farewell

This morning, January 13th, our 13-year-old cat died quite suddenly. I think it might have been a heart attack because he fell over and writhed a bit. A minute or two later and he was gone. 

We adopted him from the local animal shelter six years ago, not realizing that he had some odd behavioral issues, but we couldn't bear the thought of "returning" him, so he stayed and we had a few good years together.  

The hole is dug, tomorrow he'll go into it.

When I am dead, my dearest,
 
Sing no sad songs for me;
 
Plant thou no roses at my head,
 
Nor shady cypress tree;
 
Be the green grass above me
 
With showers and dewdrops wet;
 
And if thou wilt, remember,
 
And if thou wilt, forget.
 
~ Christina Rossetti, Song
 

Rest in peace, dear sweet Hoppy.

 

Native American Wisdom for 2013

Long Island Sound - photo: tjbg 2011

May the sun
bring you new energy by day.
May the moon
softly restore you by night.
May the rain
wash away your worries.
May the breeze
blow new strength into your being.
May you walk gently through the world
and know its beauty all the days of your life.

Apache blessing

Long Island Sound - photo: tjbg 2013

The beauty of the trees, the softness of the air,
the fragrance of the grass, they speak to me.
The summit of the mountain, the thunder of the sky,
the rhythm of the sea, speaks to me.
The faintness of the stars, the freshness of the morning,
the dewdrop on the flower, speaks to me.
The strength of the fire, the taste of the salmon,
the trail of the sun, and the life that never goes away,
they speak to me.
And my heart soars.

Chief Dan George

Long Island Sound - photo: tjbg 2013

 Humankind must be a steward of the Earth;
Caretakers for all that dwells upon it;
To be of one heart with all things.

Human beings must learn to share the
tears of every living thing,
To feel in our hearts the pain
of the wounded animal,
each crushed blade of grass;

Mother Earth is our flesh;
the rocks, our bones;
The rivers are the blood of our veins.

We are all children of _____.

 Traditions are open to anyone
who wants to learn.

Huichol Holy Man

 

Long Island Sound unseen - photo: tjbg 2012

Signs Of Life

One set of rabbit prints

Yesterday there were only one set of tracks in the back yard - today there are many more - rabbit, bird and what must be either cat or raccoon...

Rabbit, bird, raccoon or cat - and me!

One of my favorite family stories is what happened to my parents before I was born: They were living near Spokane, Washington and decided to go hiking in the mountains. They had been walking for a couple of hours when they met a man who asked, "Have you seen any bears?" When my parents replied no, they hadn't, the man said, "Well, one's been following you for quite a while." They returned safely without ever seeing the bear, but were a bit shaken knowing they were being followed by one!

A young black bear looking for acorns in Florida

As I've mentioned before, my brother has to keep an eye out for bears traveling through the yard down in Florida - he snapped this shot a couple of months ago of a young bear in the driveway, eating fallen acorns. These days, the squirrels are chowing down on the little brown nuts (the meat is a bright orange), but there are plenty for all creatures who can tolerate the bitter taste.

I've presented Rabbit lore before, so here is something about Raccoon, a distant relative of Bear:

Raccoon Medicine:

Raccoon represents creativity, dexterity, and adaptability; thievery, curiosity, and protection; shape-shifting and discovering secrets. Raccoon is a problem solver. He has an innate curiosity about how things work and will encourage you to discover new ideas and methods of achieving your goals. Intelligence is one of his strong points; combined with adaptability and a playful nature he becomes quite an interesting teacher. Raccoon can show you how to live in the Now to take full advantage of the spirit worlds. His sense of family and hunting will serve you well in providing for your own needs. Raccoon is a healer and uses the qualities of water to increase sensitivity, cleanse, purify, and soothe.

http://spiritlodge.yuku.com

Homage To Another New Year

I had such good intentions of posting something before the old year was out, but I just never found the time - so I am starting the new year with a brief salutation to honor 2012's passing and the beginning of 2013...

Since I have never taken much stock in the old Southern tradition of cooking black-eyed peas (with greens and hog jowls...) to encourage good fortune in the coming year, I decided to make a pot of Streit's Variety Vegetable soup with green and yellow peas, barley, mushrooms, onions, carrots, canola oil, natural flavor and turmeric. The box said: "No MSG Added... No Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Added... No Hydrogenated Vegetable Shortening... Contains No Meat Or Dairy Products..."

...pretty innocuous, and very easy to boot: After only 45 minutes I was enjoying a hot, tasty and (mostly) nutritious meal.

A new tradition is born

There was also a container of old, dried uncooked beans that had been violated some time ago by little moths, which forced me to banish them to the back porch until I got around to tossing them outside for the critters to eat (which I never did), and so I picked out seven perfectly edible black-eyed "field" peas and threw them into the pot as well, for good luck (Yes, those old habits do die hard, even at the stroke of midnight).

Happy New Year, Planet Earth, with love

So I wish you, one and all, a happy, healthy New Year, as I share some sentiments from wiser folk:


Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.  
~Author Unknown

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.  
~Bill Vaughan

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.  
~Author Unknown


Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.  
~Michael Josephson

We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.  
~Edith Lovejoy Pierce