Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’m sharing my thoughts and reflections on a lexicon (vocabulary specific to a certain subject) of unusual, obscure, or simply charming-to-me words. Ludic is defined as “playful, in an aimless way” and that’s my plan for approaching this challenge – keeping my feet on the joy trail and meandering wherever the daily word takes me.
L is for…
lapidarian – of, like or pertaining to stones; inscribed on stones
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.
Here are a couple of stones I affectionately call scribe stones.
The one on the left is primarily Quartz in Feldspar, and has squiggles in it in spots that very much resemble writing. Little secret messages. The stone on the right is widely known as Chinese Writing Rock as sometimes the inclusions look very similar to Chinese script characters. It is a form of Basalt Porphyry with feldspar inclusions.
Last week one of the daily poems sent out by poets.org was Arthur Sze’s Rock Paper Scissors. You can find the poem here if you’d like to read it, but these couple of lines have been rolling around in my mind quite a bit these past days:
I suppose I’ve been thinking primarily in terms of our collective dance with the Covid virus, but I also think it’s a good metaphor for the spiraling cyclical nature of all things.
A couple of years ago I became fascinated by the Rock Paper Scissors game. It was when it was reported that Christie’s auction house won the right to sel off a 20 million dollar collection of art based on winning a rock-paper-scissors competition with Sotherby’s. Somehow I found that absolutely delightful, and I imagined how different the world would be like if we could settle differences in such a civilized and playful way. I was surprised to find the first reference to the game was in the Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD).
Because I am one who enjoys touchstones, who enjoys physical representations of what is beautiful for me, I love using bowls as blessing containers. Sometimes I’m inspired to write some of the blessings I’m most grateful for on little slips of paper, fold them and stick them in a bowl on my altar. When I see them it makes me smile. When I walk by they move a bit in the breeze and I think of it as activating a thank you that reaches out into the ethers. Sometimes I burn incense and waft it through the slips for the same purpose. Sometimes I simply breathe on them. It’s all the same. It’s all done in gratitude. It’s all done in joy.
The above is a photo of a paper bowl I made years ago that I like to use as a blessing bowl. By now it feels so full of joy energy it literally vibrates. I love this shot of it sitting on one of the staircase posts in my house. I often use these posts as little mini altars and love walking by them countless times during the day as I walk up and down the stairs.
So you can see I’m a lover of stones in all their varied forms. What about you? Are you a collector? Have a particular type you especially like? Ever play Rock Paper Scissors to make decisions? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
OMG that’s a staircase in your house? Love it. I like lapidarian too. Cool word to say. My daughter used to collect all kinds of rocks as well. We still have some of them.
LOL – I love the staircase as well. The house is 100 years old and definitely on the quirky side. And keeping your daughter’s rocks… I guess that makes you a collector as well. 🙂
A walk through your house would take hours to learn about each item’s story! I am a huge stone collector also, but try to limit it when I can, and take photos instead…
Beth
https://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/
A kindred stone lover – how fun! Photos are an excellent idea.
A lovely post. What is it about stones? My folks used to bring them home from every trip — lining them up next to their front walk. I do the same, but tend toward smaller ones — pebbles, really — that I can place in my house plants’ pots atop the dirt. Then, when I water them, I fondly remember past travels. https://deborah-weber.com/blog/
What a wonderful practice Molly!
I’ve only played rock, paper, scissors to make a decision when it didn’t matter to me which way it went. I do like stones and rocks although I have a minimal collection of them and mostly useful and decorative ones, like the ones I use as bookends.
I think there’s wisdom in limiting your risk if you’re choosing to decide to use rock paper scissors as your decider.
I love the paper bowl blessing altar you’ve created. So pretty and like a beacon that beams out and draws in. I’ve always had an attraction to stones and rocks also. They are here and there in the house as well. I like to have one sitting on another when possible. I think they like to group together.
My “L” Tull song of the day is here:
http://tao-talk.com/2021/04/14/a2z-2021-jethro-tull-songs-day-12-life-is-a-long-song-from-a-1971-ep-and-1972-compilation-album/
It’s lovely and interesting to see who likes to gather, isn’t it?
My oldest daughter has been collecting stones since she was young. She loves them. I use to find boxes of stones all over the house. She hasn’t lost her attachment to stones as she has aged either. She still has her collections.
Your paper blessing bowl is beautiful. The staircase post location is perfect. You get to enjoy it every day.
Finding your daughter’s boxes makes me smile. It’s good to have things we treasure.
Lapidarian sounds like a lapis lazuli medallion to me:)
I may have mentioned this before but I’ll say it again. I collect stones/pebbles/ pieces of terracotta etc. as keepsakes/souvenirs from places we’ve visited. Then use a sharpie to mark the date and place. Like your bowls and notes of gratitude, these stones remind me of the wonderful times whenever I happen to dust them or change their place in the house.
Your paper blessing bowl looks gorgeous– I can almost feel its energy!
Your practice is lovely Arti.
Another thing we have in common! 🙂 I love shiny rocks. I frequent mineral shows (whenever they are allowed to happen…). I like picking up pebbles by the river or the sea, and putting them in jars. I am endlessly entertained by jaspers and agates. 🙂
The Multicolored Diary
How wonderful! And the jaspers and agates come from very large families, so there are many to love.
I collect a few things, but am trying to hone the collections to maybe 5 items in each. I want to minimize the clutter but keep the meaningful. You’re the second blogger who has mentioned a blessings bowl which is a new idea for me. Sounds like a good way to keep the positive vibrations going.
That’s a wonderful way to curate Ally.
Stones are so fascinating, and I remember a rock in our garden when I was a kid that looked like a butt. We have a large stone at my sister’s house with the old brand they used at my grandfather’s ranch back in the day. And I too find heart-shaped rocks, but hold them only temporarily, then inadvertently release them back to the universe for another soul to stumble upon. (Hopefully not literally.)
What great stone memories Eli – and I LOVE that you hold and release the hearts. That’s so perfect!
Stairs and stones are beautiful 😉 I like stones, but I love sand. I’m a big sand collector 😉
Quilting Patchwork & Appliqué
Oh that’s really cool. How do you keep it? I’m imagining layered in test tubes or clear glass jars.
yes love stone pebbles rocks and appreciate their wisdom. I try not to collect these days out of another sense come to me of respecting the right of all to be in their place.
But in years past heart shape stones have been a favourite , journey stones where a line of quartz circles the stone … infinite varieties and stories they tell.
I particularly enjoy sitting or lying on tors dreaming with them.
your paper blessing bowl is beautiful and situated perfectly with the spiral flowing into and out from it..
I honour your deep connection Deborah to gratitude and blessings.
Your love, respect, and connection to the stones (and with all parts of the land and Earth) is beautiful Sandra, and a powerful inspiration. Journeying and dreaming with the stones is an interspecies gift of friendship I wish everyone understood and participated in. Our species has so very much to learn.
My little two-year-old is constantly running to me with excitement exclaiming, “A rock!” I try to share her enthusiasm each time she does this. I hope she never forgets her love of small beauties.
How precious! I hope she never forgets either, and kudos to you for nurturing her wonder.