Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’ve tasked myself with leading you on a meandering tour of the virtual garden of delights and curiosities and thoughts that make up my world – all through the lens of unusual, obscure, or simply charming-to-me words.
E is for..
eidolon: (noun) an image or representation of an idea; a representation of an ideal form; a wistful daydream; a phantom apparition
One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately is transparency. While there are a vast number of responses each of us has to this time of being sequestered, one of the ones I’m most interested in is the increase in transparency. That’s not often a typical response when someone is feeling vulnerable, and yet here we all are, looking to find our feet as things shift, and many folks are sharing more honestly than ever. In my mind this is a good thing.
An eidolon, in the sense of an image representing this idea of transparency, would be for me the plant Lunaria. The plant itself is rather modest looking – not one of a garden’s showstoppers for sure. But it’s the seedpods that are quite interesting as you can see from these photographs.
I love them because they look like little moons. This is particularly true just before they become quite as translucent as they appear in the photo above where they are clearly showing their seeds. Lunaria means moon-shaped or moon-like and the pods have a bit of a silvery sheen about them that seems very lunar to me. The plant is also commonly known as Money Plant (although to be sure there are many plants bearing this appellation) for the same reason – its silvery coin-like disks.
However I’ve been thinking lots lately about the Lunaria’s third common name – Honesty. This name seems to have been applied to the plant in the 16th century, and has everything to do with how transparent it is. You can see to the inner core.
I’m not entirely sure why but transparency feels much more important to me these days. Not just for myself – but for all of us. There almost seems an urgency about it – that there isn’t time for anything that doesn’t ring true for us. My guides are always urging releasing all the barriers that interfere with shining one’s unique divine energy signature purely and clearly; and now when I look at the bouquets of Lunaria I keep, I feel like I understand this in a very tangible way.
I also have another lovely representation of Lunaria – this lovely sterling bead by Anne Choi.
I’m a great fan of her work. She creates her beads using the lost wax process. She is often inspired by bits of poetry or quotes; thinks of art as a conversation; and has no formal art or jewelry training, and in that way I feel very much like a kindred spirit. Like her, I think of her beads as lovely little talismans, and over the years I’ve collected quite a few.
So what do you think? In which of its guises do you most relate to Lunaria – moon, money, honesty? Or maybe you’d like to claim an area of your life where you’d like a little more transparency. Are you shining as purely and brightly as you can? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Hari OM
yes we always called it ‘Honesty’… and that is my unwritten middle name! Some would say, to a fault. I am one of those who learned early that I cannot tell a lie… and I have lived life having to gird myself to deal with the fact that the majority of humanity is not so transparent and even intent on weaving a web for themselves and thus others… So I really appreciated your comment..“not entirely sure why but transparency feels much more important to me these days. Not just for myself – but for all of us. There almost seems an urgency about it – that there isn’t time for anything that doesn’t ring true for us”. YAM xx
I’m curious as to how things will shake out for us as a collective in the long-term, and I certainly hold hope for great collective evolution. In the meantime, I’m grateful for the sense so many of us are holding that “now is the time.”
I love your expression “unwritten middle name”, and I’m not at all surprised your consider yours Honesty. And now you’ve given me something else to ponder – what my might be.
I love Lunaria too! Although we call them “Judas coins” in Hungary. My grandmother had a lot of them in her garden, I loved picking the seed pods carefully apart… 😀
The Multicolored Diary
Oh yes – pieces of silver! I like thinking of a garden full of Lunaria, since I have a difficult time growing them. An abundance of them would feel extravagantly wonderful to me.
I relate more to it with honesty. I’ve always been an open person, but have hidden some of my struggles. Now that I’m isolated, I’m reaching out more to help me deal with my feelings of loneliness and apprehension.
This time of sequestering is teaching us all things about what we need I think. And while we’re all different, there’s so much overlapping and overlaying of what we all struggle with, I’m hard-pressed to believe a collective increase in compassion isn’t happening at some deep and fundamental level for everyone.
I have a little dried sprig of them on my kitchen windowsill right now, actually! I probably think of them as more lunar, although I certainly agree about the importance of being transparent and honest.
Black and White (Words and Pictures)
Oh how fun Anne that you have some! I’ve been imagining what I’d have in a lunar garden, and Lunaria would definitely make the cut.
This is a new plant for me Deborah.
I do love the seed pots and their delicate beauty. A few moths ago, I saw the most beautiful light shades made with similar looking seed pods. They were hanging from the ceiling of a vegetarian restaurant our friends run. I was told that the architect/designer used only natural materials to decorate. If I could, I would’ve brought those beautiful transparent orbs home with me.
The restaurant is called Wabi Sabi. No surprises there:)
As always, your posts are a place of calm for me.
Thank you.
Oh I love the name of the restaurant and the idea of those light shades! Sounds like a fabulous place, and how wonderful you’re friends with the folks who run it.
We called them money plants growing up so that’s what I think of them. They seem to sprout in unlikely places and return again and again. I like the lunar aspect and transparency aspect, both have their own magic.
I like the triple aspect of Lunaria as well. Like us all, they seem layered and nuanced and I always love that.
This plant is a bit of a miracle, isn’t it? Lunaria is such an evocative name – and I absolutely adore the bead!!
I am as transparent as water to those who know me, something that annoyed me no end when I was younger. Could never really get away with anything, grownups knew straightaway when I’d done something I shouldn’t have 🙂 now it doesn’t bother me, suits me fine really.
Honesty is not just the best policy, it is also the simplest and easiest in my view. Lying and pretence require some complicated mental jugglery and keeping track of the fabrications – which is way more work than I am prepared to do 🙂
There’s something utterly freeing in being as transparent as water, and I’m delighted that’s always been your experience. Although I can see how it might have had its challenges as a child. 🙂
I’ve seen this lovely plant before but never knew the name. It does remind me of the moon so lunaria does seem fitting.
I’m quite a private person, so transparency is something I struggle with sometimes. I don’t lie, but I often hold back my true thoughts and feelings around anyone other than my closest friends. I find it easier to be more open in writing so blogging definitely helps me to release some of my private thoughts in a way that feels “safer” than face-to-face interaction.
I totally understand what you’re saying Anstice, as I’m a very private person as well. We all need to honor what makes us feel safe, but I think we also need to find those places/persons that do that for us so we have a chance to truly show who we are without fear
I’m not familiar with Lunaria. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before. As for which definition I relate to, may I go with two, please. I like moon-related imagery and meanings, but I am also keen on honesty as a guiding principle in my life. Perhaps I need to combine these two concepts somehow, but at the moment I’m drawing a blank. If I am to be completely transparent with you. 😊
Making me smile Ms. Bean. And by giving me your two cents, you’ve got all the lunaria bases covered. Well done!