Water and Fire

A little while ago I was introduced to an interesting book called Soul Signs by Rosemary Altea.  Some of you might be groaning or rolling your eyes at this point..(smiling..)..I promise this post won't be about finding your ultimate soulmate or a rant about some metaphysical path we should all follow.  

Putting aside any religious views or beliefs, spirituality is something that I've always had a tremendous interest in, something my mother has always had a great deal of respect for and has taught me and my brother to do the same.  And if none of this appeals to you in the least..well, it's a good read anyway and should you find yourself sitting in an airport with a delayed flight, you should definitely pick it up and take a glance.  

I think you'll find yourself quite engrossed.

I've mentioned in the past that my mother is perhaps the most spiritual personal I know..and to this day this still holds very true.  Keep in mind that when I say spiritual, I'm not talking specifically about religion.  Because those two things are completely different in my eyes.  

Now, before I walk straight into a (often) very heated and touchy subject, I'm going to put on the brakes and take a detour.  

Spirituality to me is about the belief in the human spirit and how we connect to the energies around us. Everything living in this world gives off energy - science has proven as much - and it's rather naive and arrogant to think even for a moment that we're not affected by this energy, isn't it?  

So when I make reference to certain qualities a stone possesses in some of my silver creations, I'm essentially talking about the energy that surrounds and flows from the specific rock..sort of like aromatherapy for the soul. Some scents like lavender are well known therapies for promoting relaxation while citrus based aromas are used to invigorate.  Similarly, certain gemstones / minerals have well known qualities that have been utilized for generations to aid in ailments of the soul.  In this book, we are introduced to the organic make up of our spirit and how it relates to the 4 main elements of nature: earth, air, water and fire.  

Whether you take the ideas presented in this book to heart or see it as nothing but an amusing read..the choice is yours to make.  

I've created a ring that aesthetically represents two of the four elements - two powerful and complimentary elements..water and fire.  

Metaphysically, the prehnite represents unconditional love and is said to enhance spiritual growth.  The garnet is a stone of devotion and courage.  

Whether you're drawn to the aesthetic or metaphysical qualities of this ring, you certainly can't go wrong.

May this ring bring you courage in your spiritual growth.

xo Blue Gnome

Divine Light

A rare treat yesterday that I was out and about without Leo in tow..the perks of visiting my parents, always willing and eager babysitters!  So after a luxurious couple of hours of running errands by myself, I decided to visit my favorite spot where the view of the mountains and lake are breathtaking.  

It's a local secret that as beautiful as this city is during the bustling summer months, as the tourists leave and summer businesses pack up for yet another year 

there is another kind beauty that emerges.  

The beaches that played host to sunburnt families, tired moms and screaming kids during the long, balmy days now have a chance to 

slow down and breathe the crisp, mountain air once more.  

The water turns dark and unfriendly, a stark contrast against the brilliant white snow caps along the mountain tops 

where the occasional breaks of sunlight through the low lying clouds 

casts a streak of light 

so divine 

that it would make even a non-believer 

almost believe..

On days like these, I wonder why I ever left here.  

Where do you go to find yourself when you're feeling a little lost?

Where do you go to listen to yourself when the world seems to drown your voice?

xo Blue Gnome

The Weeping Willow

Last night I dreamt of the ocean.

  

Standing high above on the edge of a cliff, I remember feeling with certainty that if I leaned into the wind and opened my arms out ever so wide, my feet would gently lift off of the ground and I would be soaring high above the crashing waves below.  

I felt exhilarated, weightless and free. 

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, the cool wind in my hair and fingertips..and as I closed my eyes and leaned a little bit further, I felt the ground disappear from under my feet.  I was soaring high with the clouds, then dipping down towards the water, skimming the surface and traveling so fast that I could feel the spray of sea water and hear the whistle of the wind in my ears.

I dream of the ocean often.  

I'm not sure why or what it all means but I remember getting a reading for fun, years ago from a gentle old woman.  She said that my soul was lingering by the sea, that there was a huge weeping willow on a cliffside that marked the spot.  I've spent many years secretly looking for that willow tree down by the sea..

I went down to my studio the first chance I got today,working quickly and quietly.  My mind was busy thinking about my dream, I could still feel the coolness of the wind, the lightness in my soul.  

It was no surprise that I reached for an aquamarine with its colour of the ocean and of the skies.  

Like the ocean, it gives and takes away..all a natural part of the circle of life as it is ever changing, 

never static.

Maybe it's the change in the wind I've felt the last few days.  

It's been blustery around here.  

Mother Nature's way of moving along the old and bringing in the new.

Have you felt the wind lately?  What did it have to say to you?

xo Blue Gnome