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.
R is for…
rupestrine: (adj) living or growing on or among rocks
While clearly the true definition of this word does not refer to me, I have no trouble declaring that I live among rocks.
What did we ever do without Google and/or the other search engines? Oh sure there was the library. Don’t get me wrong – I love libraries and wouldn’t give them up for a second. But pre-computer researching in a library was a fairly linear process. You had to know what you’re looking for and the incidental amusing finds were serendipitous chance. But Google – now that’s a different story. Of course you are likely to find what you’re looking for. But more delightful to me is finding things I’m not looking for.
Today I was curious about the origins of Rock-Paper-Scissors. Bet you didn’t know the first reference to the game was in the Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). Nor that Christie’s auction house won the right to sell off a 20 million dollar collection of art based on winning a rock-paper-scissors competition with Sotheby’s.
I also discovered there is a Collect Rocks Day – September 16 to be exact. Who makes these things up? I have no idea, but I do like rocks so I’m happy to celebrate it.
My partner apparently is even more on top of these things than I am. Or at least ready to celebrate ahead of time. He gifted me with a small collection of rocks that had a high potential of being geodes. With some effort we managed to open several of them. And so now I have two beautiful opened geodes.
Our house is filled with stones. I’ve been a collector since I was a child. It’s safe to say I have an ongoing love affair with my stone friends. I have Rose Quartz in every room, I adore holey stones, and heart-shaped stones seem to find their way to me. I love garden pebbles and gemstones and everything in between. And it’s true I call them friends. I know stones to be vibrational beings with lots of wisdom to share with us, and so I invite them in like honored guests. I don’t think of them as tools, or things to be “programmed” or needing “clearing.” They aren’t here to do my bidding, anymore than I’m here to do anyone else’s bidding. But they are wise teachers and kind friends.
I’m always curious about what stones people are attracted to and if they collect a particular type. I love this line from a poem by Nancy Willard entitled Choosing a Stone:
“. . . This woman saves stones on the verge of extinction. Thin as a cat’s ear, they shine like coins rubbed faceless for luck, for safe crossing.”
Isn’t that lovely? You can read the entire poem here.
So tell me are you a stone collector? Love a particular kind? Make decisions using rock-paper-scissors? Find something curious on a recent Googling tour? Do tell, you know I love to hear.
Did you stumble across the new version of Rock Paper Scissors? Hmm…? It is Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock! Not kidding, it’s a thing among techie/science-y kids.
Seriously hilarious Ally – thank you for pointing this out to us. Clearly I’m going to have to undertake some training to master this. 🙂
A very dear family friend used to collect heart-shaped stones – I always think of him when I find one.
I have a long, crumbly, piece of shale with an ammonite in it, picked up from the beach at Charmouth.
It’s kind of lovely isn’t it when a class of objects can remind of someone? I always think of it as a kind of bonus the object gifts us with.
Ammonites are really cool – how lovely you found one! I found my favorite holey stone on a beach in California during a most magical trip.
Hari OM
I used crystal therapy when in practice, so have quite a few! Indeed, I photographed most, recently, with a view to doing a series on the bloggy… just needs time and energy to get them sorted into cohesive posts now!!! YAM xx
Oh how great Yamini – I’ll be looking forward to those posts when you get around to them. I’ve been thinking about doing my next Instagram abecedarium on various stones I live with.
I love pretty stones and have some in my altar in the studio. My daughter used to collect them too. I’ll have to tell her about Collect Rocks Day. Beautiful pictures too.
I always love when stones make their way into our lives. I like to keep some on my altars as well.
I love those geodes! They are like beautiful and other worldly caves. I don’t collect rocks although I have a piece of the Berlin Wall, and of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. I love rabbit trails on the internet, although they can be a real time suck. With so little to do these days though, meandering around cyberspace is fun to do.
You sent me down a rabbit hole Margaret – I didn’t know what the Alaskan Way Viaduct was. How interesting you have two physical pieces of historical structures.
I’m not a stone collector, but a sand collector 😉 Less volume than rocks, but the same weight I’m afraid 😉
R is for Rayures
How fascinating – you’re my first sand-collecting acquaintance! 🙂
I like the stones in your pictures. I collect them also and they are here and there in the house and outside. Years ago some friends of my then-husband and I was moving to another house and asked us if we wanted the rocks in his yard. They took some effort to gather and then they stayed put for 25 years. When I moved in 2011 they came with me again. Rocks are like family. They are alive but their timelines are way different than ours.
Indeed – I think of them as wise elders we can learn a great deal from. How lovely the stones were able to make the move with you.
I collect rocks too! I love patterns. I especially like picking up pebbles on the beach…
The Multicolored Diary
So many beautiful things to inhale here today:
From Rock-paper-scissors history to Nancy Willard’s poem. Thank you.
I collect rocks too but its the pattern on them that attracts me. An older cousin of my husband used to collect pebbles as souvenirs from places she visited. I liked the idea and started doing the same.
We mark the date and place on them and they sit around the house on shelves, in jars, near planters etc. It’s fun dusting when picking a pebble can teleport you to those fond travel memories.
What a lovely practice Arti. A literal touchstone to a place you’ve visited!
I like patterned rocks as well. I became fascinated with them when an artist friend introduced me to some “creations” she did by aligning certain stones, and making ever-more complex patterns. It was magical.
Rocks have a special place in my garden — an entire area where every rock, pebble and stone I find is tossed and allowed to find its own place among the succulents. Leaving it all alone is the only way I’ve found it all to grow harmoniously 🙂
An A-Z of Faerie: Red Caps
LOL – that sounds perfect!