When all the world is ice, it’s our job to build the fire.
That is, in effect, the situation we face in these dark winter days, and I mean that both literally and metaphorically. When our whole world is a barren, snow-covered wasteland, it won’t warm itself — nor us, either. We have to find a way to do it, in harmony with the elements or in spite of them.
We are not alone; that’s the first thing to remember. There is always guidance, from the spirits, from the ancestors, from our own collective memory and experience. Our task, though, is to find the right balance. Too little tinder, and the snow and ice and cold will overwhelm its tiny flame, leaving us in the chill dark. Too much, and we risk burning the whole world down.
In fact, we stand at that particular and uncomfortable threshold right now, as the earth heats beneath us, the winds gather force and the oceans rise. Our collective history is also rife with examples of our failure to respect the power of the elements, vulnerable to exposure, incineration, drowning, and the thousand and one other results of careless and arrogant interactions with nature.
All of which, of course, simply underscores the need for guidance, to seek the wisdom of the earth itself.
Today’s featured work, one of the very few pieces remaining from Wings’s one-man show, captures this dynamic: fire and ice, mediated by the wisdom of the spirits. From its description in the Bracelets Gallery here on the site:
Fire and Ice Cuff Bracelet
In the interstices inhabited by the elemental powers, Spirit catalyzes fire and ice, bringing them to life in our world, their full strength and power yet held back: a reminder that if we are careful, we may use their gifts rather than be consumed by them. Here, Spirit’s Eye traces the length of the band of this heavy-gauge cuff, accented on all sides by traditional symbols. At the center, two fiery garnet cabochons flank three larger oval stones: snowflake obsidian, representations of ice born naturally of the union of earth and heat and flame. Companion piece to the Fire and Ice solitaire ring in the Rings Gallery [ring now sold].
Sterling silver; snowflake obsidian; garnet
$725 + shipping, handling, and insurance
This is one of Wings’s more substantial works, although oddly enough, it is not nearly as heavy as it appears. despite its solidity, it rides the wrist lightly, like the snowflakes on the volcanic stones that accent it — and like the voice of the spirits, whispering words of wisdom in our ear. It’s just weighty enough to remind us to be aware, to avail ourselves of the guidance available to us, and to use it to seek a life of balance and harmony.
~ Aji
All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owners.
