June 7, 2002
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HighDesertLola likes snowflake obsidian and Exmortis went for
a piece of rutilated quartz in the other rock picture I posted two days ago. One thing those two stones have in common is that both are considered “shaman stones” because they represent the union of opposites. The stark white-on-black contrast of snowflake and the threads of red-gold rutile within the clarity of the quartz symbolize (and, for some people, facilitate) the shaman’s journey between realities.
I know I claimed that sugilite is my favorite, but that’s only one type of favor. That stone smooths out the jangles for me and brings my consciousness back to a place of harmony.
Another favorite of mine, a rock I find it hard to let go of once I have a piece of it around, is rutilated quartz, and especially rutilated smoky quartz. That’s what the obelisk in center foreground above is made of, as well as the big faceted crystal to its right and the smaller point to the left. I hoard these things, maybe because they are so energetic and I will go for anything that relieves my chronic fatigue. Besides that, they are simply beautiful, and as Lola said about the snowflake obsidian, knowing how they form is a big part of the attraction.
In the case of rutilated quartz, those threadlike acicular crystals of titanium dioxide (rutile) form in cavities in the earth, and then silicon dioxide (quartz) crystallizes around and among them. Fancy that! Imagine breaking into one of those chambers and finding clusters of quartz points enwebbed in nets of golden hair so fine that a breath can break and scatter them. The thought takes my breath away. Really a rock-head, aren’t I?
And now for something completely different: yesterday, ShyeWolf posted a transcript of her chat with a real nimnul and it reminded me of someone I met online soon after we got internet access.
He asked me if I have a gun. We had been exchanging emails a couple of times a week for a few months, after running into each other at Yahoo. I’ll call him Yahoo for short, but his real name is Dane Bramage.
We had some things in common, most notably initiation in Kriya yoga and connections to Leadville, CO. Just enough in common to prolong the correspondence enough to reveal a lot of differences. In about his third email, and again periodically over the course of these exchanges, he professed his intent to marry me. I told him the first time that it wouldn’t happen and over time I repeated, “no”, backed up by several good reasons.
Most people don’t know what it’s like to have a brain that’s lacking some of its higher functions. Even with professional training and experience it is hard to sort the psychological aberrations from the effects of organic damage. I had some compassion for this guy with his challenges and setbacks, but those very same unfortunate quirks, tics and fetishes that aroused my sympathy were causing him to creep me out.
The final straw came for me after I included him with half a dozen other recipients of a little email blurb about a haircut. He unloaded all over me. Apparently his religion considers the cutting of hair to be an abomination. Not one to dump even a casual friend without a farewell, I politely asked him where the hell he thought he got off trying to dictate to me on personal hygiene and grooming. I said I didn’t see any reason to continue our correspondence. Good bye.
Then he wrote back and said he thought he would pay me a visit. I didn’t answer. I blocked his address so I wouldn’t keep seeing his name and those bizarre, vaguely ominous subject lines in the inbox, but when I was ready to deal with the nonsense and crap I’d go through the trash folder and see what he had to say before dumping it all. Psycho-neuro-pathology isn’t just part of my professional turf, it’s sort of a hobby of mine.
But enough is enough, so when he asked if I own a gun, I decided to answer him. Thinking, “I have nothing to hide,” and knowing that the pure unvarnished truth would serve me best in this situation, I let him have it with both barrels, so to speak.
I said that from where I sat at the keyboard, the kid’s Marlin .22 cal. semi-auto rifle and my pump-action Remington 12 gauge were within reach, and an absent friend’s Mossberg was just a further step away. I mentioned the derringer the old fart keeps on his night stand, the .45 cal. Ruger Blackhawk under the edge of his bed, and the Charter Arms .22 target pistol on the shelf in his closet. I told him about the other two Rugers: the scoped thirty ought six that hangs over the PlayStation, and the stainless steel Security Six .357 mag. with a 4″ barrel under the edge of my mattress.
Just for fun, I added that hanging from the same shelf where my AR-7 survival rifle rests, is the kid’s collection of edged weapons. That son of mine sifts choice specimens from the old fart’s stock of knives and swords the same way I do with the rocks. With our family discount the collections have, over time, grown kinda impressive. I brag a bit sometimes. So, shoot me. Anyhow, I thought that would get rid of the yahoo for good, but the very next day there was one more email, asking me why all the armaments, what I’m afraid of.
Anyone interested in the answer to that?
Comments (10)
Sure!! I’m game! Right now I’d like some of those guns and edged weapons to deal with my tribe here. If their dad doesn’t show up soon to take them, their little lives are in very unstable hands today……..aCK!!!!!
Not being a weapon-hound myself but knowing enough to know you have a few pretty dangerous weapons there (and some change), I’d say you live in the wilds somewhere and don’t take kindly to uninvited a) critters, b) strangers, c) stalkers and d) organically brain-damaged fetishists.
I used to keep five weapons in my house and cool access anyone of them in pitch blackness. Used to practice rolling out of bed and gabbing my assualt rifle with its banana clip for a firefight, again in the unlit night. So I guess were both strange.
I consider where I am now fairly rural. Nonetheless, I own no firearms. However, when I was living in the “wilderness”, I had access to several firearms. 30-30, 30.06, 9mm Luger (authentic German semi-auto from WWII that poppa got off a dead German), .22, 12 gauge, 10 gauge, 16 gauge…
Where I lived in Colo (couple of hours away from Leadville, as a matter of fact), these were par for the course. You owned and used the guns because it was necessary.
It’s not about fear. It almost goes back to survival of the fittest…
Do tell! (I’ll have to catch the answer Monday night when I get back, but I’m sticking a post-it to the monitor now to be sure and check your site for it!)
Aaah… you are such a fine audience, the way you snap up those little lures I dangle. I’ve always enjoyed telling my stories, and you people make it even more fun than ever. I think the next installment will be worth the wait.
OMGOODNESS. I really don’t mean to smirk at this, but it just continues to amaze me when I hear such stories. I do, however, have a sudden and increased admiration for you. I believe I probably would have been less cultured about the whole matter, but that’s a personal issue I am working daily to improve on.
>>Most people don’t know what it’s like to have a brain that’s lacking some of its higher functions. <<
Oh, no my dear. It only seems that way because of how well yours works—I promise. In my experience, the people who don’t know the above are way too numerous to make us proud as a species.
LOL!
{{{SuSu}}}
Please be careful. Internet stalkers have a way of showing up very unannounced. I know this from experience. No, I didn’t give him my addy or anything else, but still, he found me. Not really that hard to do on the net if you know what and where to look for, ya know?
Glad you are protected. I hope you never have to use any of said protection.
With that being said, I must say, I LOVE your way with words!
I’m sorry I haven’t been around lately. I will do better. Promise!
And for this blog, I must give you kudos…
WOW! Hello Susu, I just stumbled onto your site from reading a comment you made on Owllykat’s site. I was really impressed with your answer, and wanted more information on the Gnostic and Apostolic Christians.
I love your writing style, what you write about, YOUR ROCKS!!!!, etc.!
I am a total rock nut, and although I knew there were some people who wanted them for their “vibrations” or something, I’ve never had the pleasure of knowing one, or hearing the reasons.
I would rather have a good rock than a diamond for a gift. (Forgetting for a moment that they’re kind of related.)
My mother left me her collection of Quartz Crystals, Obsidian, and Amethyst. I’d love some others, but live in a rural area of Georgia away from any cities where there is likely to be a rock show. LOL
I’m subscribing to your site so I can learn. Thanks for the wisdom and your special spirit.
Well, of course I would like to hear your answer to him. Interesting for sure. There is something else I am curious about though. Do you find the same comfort from trees? I am only just learning about their power and am fascinated. The pine with it’s ability to bring centeredness is a favorite. -Kristy