Of New Things and Guitar Strings

A boring, blurry photo of a guitar-string bangle bracelet

Some time ago, I made a couple of bracelets from used guitar strings given to me by my brother. 

A better photo: Gold-tone guitar-string earrings

More recently, I saw some very nice looped earrings made from the same material, so I did my best to recreate them from memory. 

Yesterday I was going to make another pair, but the string I had chosen was too thick, so I decided to see if I could turn it into a necklace... and I did. I chose wooden beads, big brown bibakao seeds (from countries down in the Caribbean) and a large bead made from fossilized dyed sponge coral. I wrapped the guitar string around itself to create wrapped loops at each end and attached a clasp.

This necklace was easier to make than I thought!

As it happened, this piece turned out to be rather unisex, which is twice as nice. 

Plus, I really like the idea of:

1. re-using something...
2. re-using something that belonged to a person I care about...
3. re-using something that vibrated with sound, making music for others to enjoy...

Will I make more things?

I have lots of strings!

A Hawk Flew Past My Window...

... the Hawk is called messenger, protector and visionary. Keen vision is one of its greatest gifts: Hawks see things others miss.

The Hawk comes to you indicating that you are now awakening to your soul purpose, your reason for being here. It can teach you how to fly high while keeping yourself connected to the ground.

Its message for you is to be open to hope and new ideas, to extend the vision of your life.

The Hawk is an animal of flight. It soars through the air looking down, and sees everything. It has a larger perspective of what is going on down below. With its keen eyesight, it looks down as it soars through the air looking for its prey. It can see the smallest of creatures below.

It was large, grey and flew to the top of a neighbor's back-yard tree

 
The Hawk is known as a messenger, similar to the planet Mercury, for the Hawk soars close to the Grandfather Sun, as does the planet. (Another source says the hawk is likened to the Roman messenger god Mercury, based on the Greek god, Hermes.) When you listen to the power of the Grandfather Sun or Wise Spirit that lives within, you are protected from all types of harm.

The Hawk teaches you to be observant and take a close look at your surroundings. It soars with the power to overcome difficult situations. It soars in circles over the life of the earth, asking you to circle over your life and view it from a higher perspective.

If Hawk has soared into your life, you require a higher perspective. You need to see the details of what is going on and look at the bigger picture.

Source:  http://divinesparks.blogspot.com/2008/04/hawk-symbolism.html 

Ode to the Sea

I see the Sea,
Big as can be;
Bluer than sky,
As far as the eye 
can see.

Scrying the water -
Mother and 
Daughter -
Riding the waves,
Trying to save the Sea.

Loving each other - 
Daughter and Mother,
Mother and Son -
Beyond the Sun, we can see...





...there is no end to the Sea.




Words & Photos: TJBuckleyGoogins

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.