Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – Fred Hose

October 29, 2007

A Gemstone Is Your Alter Ego

Fred Hose

Introduction
People are very much like precious stones and crystals, in ways that you may not see at first.
Give me a moment and I'll explain what I mean. Here in South Africa we have the huge Bushveld Igneous Complex. It's an area of about 200 miles in diameter which contains almost any ore as well as every precious or semi-precious known. It was formed by an incredible volcanic action many millions of years ago.

I must explain that I'm a so-called rock hound. When I go out on one my adventures, I take along with me in my backpack a small pick, a compass, a scratching needle and a rather worn out pocket book. I usually go to remote areas with rough terrains. Usually 4 x 4 territory.

Whenever I see an unusual vein or outcrop, I stop, kneel down and start digging. You really have to have some experience if you want to be sure of finding something worthwhile. Then when you do find it you may not recognize its value unless you wash it or, in some cases, lick it. The washing can often make a plain looking stone reveal stunning colours.

There are three types of gemstones.
Opaque where you can't see deeper than the surface.
Translucent where you see into the heart of the stone.
Transparent where you can see right through the stone with relative ease.

The Story
Strangely, people can have the same qualities as these gemstones. If you would think about it, I'm sure that you will be able to think of friends and colleagues who fall into one or other one of these categories.
I tend to associate with those of the translucent type. I do this and so do others who look for people who have some emotional depth. Core values.
With the opaque kind you don't always know where you are and with the transparent types you see right through them and don't find anything of substance.

Let me tell you about the holy grail of precious gemstones. There is an elusive variety of translucent gemstone that, once found, you should guard with your whole being. If you should have the good fortune to hold one in your hand, you will at first see deep down, in its centre, only simple milky clouds of some neutral hue.
Perhaps here or there you may see a spot of silver, gold, green or blue.

As you carefully hold the gem in your hand a little longer, a remarkable thing will probably happen. The milky clouds will come alive and begin to take on many shades of colours. You see this rare gem thrives on attention.

There's more. When you take your precious stone out into the country, you happen to hear village music and you begin to dance, you'll see the gem's real splendour. It will glow with a spectrum of vibrant hues and those milky clouds will swirl around in time to the music.

Now bear with me. The best is still to come. To best observe the stone's most radiant beauty, take it to a candle light dinner. Yes, I know that this sounds really weird and you will only really know the truth if you have tried it for yourself but, for the moment, stay with me. Sit down at a dinner table in an opulent setting, place the stone on the table cloth on the opposite side, where your partner would normally sit and then have the candles lit for you.

As the soft music begins to play, you will see the inner colours reflect the candle light. You'll begin to see the seductive colours of purple, burgundy and gold interplay. You'll see them pulsate, twirl and then beckon to you.
An evening with a precious stone? Just don't under-estimate it.

The most rewarding place to put the gem is in the left hand pocket of your shirt, near the rhythmic beating of your heart. There it will radiate a spiritual energy that will course through your whole body. Suddenly, the world will seem to you to be a happy colourful place where good fortune smiles on you wherever you go. Every decision, that you then make, will seem to be blessed.

Have you begun to identify with this rarest of precious stones? Well, of course you should. You are that gem ... waiting to be discovered.

Fred Hose

fredhose@mweb.co.za