June 21

Through My Eyes

Saturday June 21

(I thought we could read together from Sarangerel's book Chosen by the Spirits as I wanted to last week and the week before.)

" I call the mirror, or toli, the "Swiss Army knife of Buryat shamanism." It is the most versatile of the shaman's tools, serving a variety of purposes,and it is small enough to carry on one's person or keep in a purse or shoulder bag (most shamans carry a small purse or shoulder bag containing small tools and commonly used herbs). Mirrors range in size from as small as an inch across to as large as eight inches in diameter (the power of mirrors is not proportional to size; in fact the little ones tend to be the most highly prized). They are round and made of brass,silver,iron, or nephrite. They usually have a loop welded on the back for a string or ribbon to be passed through so the mirror can be worn around the shamans neck. The back side of the toli may be plain or decorated with animal figures.

Mirrors made in China that are adorned with characters representing the "four happinesses" are especially prized. As far as I know, new mirrors are not being made and all shaman mirrors are antiques. They are passed down from shaman to shaman. In Mongolia and Siberia, shaman mirrors that are thousands of years old have been found at archeological sites, and I have seen and held a shaman mirror that was made by the Huns almost two thousand years ago! In Siberian mythology, when the spirits called the first two shamans in a dream, they awakened to find a tree growing outside their house. It was the World Tree, and its leaves were shaman mirrors." I promise to add more tomorrow...

*(please click here to read of the day with me! )

* courtesy of Sarangerel in her book Chosen by the Spirits. pictures courtesy of A luminous Diamond (Bright)

Crystal Show productions.

( Tahshi deleh, gentle one! That's how they spell it in the Tibetan language book. It turns out the i in Tahshi is spelled like the first "e" sound in the example word they give "relieve". I've studied a little today and will study more. I've spent the day working with the computer and microphone in the studio and have a surprise for you! After all it's been three months since the coming of the Spring! If you click on our icon below you can hear a song using the words of "A Spinning Rhythm" poem that I wrote for you. The melody came to me as I read the poem,in a shamanic sort of way. I don't know how much rain we've had but it has to be a record by now. Anyway, we'll read from the Tibetans tomorrow! I thought you might like to read from this today.

And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow

my one gentle beautiful swift patient dream bright

long dark mane in sunlight

so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo! )

( please see my spinning for you!)


	Through My Eyes Saturday June 21 (I thought we could read together from Sarangerel's book Chosen by the Spirits as I wanted to last week and the week before.) " I call the mirror, or toli, the "Swiss Army knife of Buryat shamanism." It is the most versatile of the shaman's tools, serving a variety of purposes,and it is small enough to carry on one's person or keep in a purse or shoulder bag (most shamans carry a small purse or shoulder bag containing small tools and commonly used herbs). Mirrors range in size from as small as an inch across to as large as eight inches in diameter (the power of mirrors is not proportional to size; in fact the little ones tend to be the most highly prized). They are round and made of brass,silver,iron, or nephrite. They usually have a loop welded on the back for a string or ribbon to be passed through so the mirror can be worn around the shamans neck. The back side of the toli may be plain or decorated with animal figures. Mirrors made in China that are adorned with characters representing the "four happinesses" are especially prized. As far as I know, new mirrors are not being made and all shaman mirrors are antiques. They are passed down from shaman to shaman. In Mongolia and Siberia, shaman mirrors that are thousands of years old have been found at archeological sites, and I have seen and held a shaman mirror that was made by the Huns almost two thousand years ago! In Siberian mythology, when the spirits called the first two shamans in a dream, they awakened to find a tree growing outside their house. It was the World Tree, and its leaves were shaman mirrors." I promise to add more tomorrow... (please click here to read of the day with me! ) courtesy of Sarangerel in her book Chosen by the Spirits. pictures courtesy of A luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions. ( Tahshi deleh, gentle one! That's how they spell it in the Tibetan language book. It turns out the i in Tahshi is spelled like the first "e" sound in the example word they give "relieve". I've studied a little today and will study more. I've spent the day working with the computer and microphone in the studio and have a surprise for you! After all it's been three months since the coming of the Spring! If you click on our icon below you can hear a song using the words of "A Spinning Rhythm" poem that I wrote for you. The melody came to me as I read the poem,in a shamanic sort of way. I don't know how much rain we've had but it has to be a record by now. Anyway, we'll read from the Tibetans tomorrow! I thought you might like to read from this today. And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow my one gentle beautiful swift patient dream bright long dark mane in sunlight so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo! ) ( please see my spinning for you!)