Today's prompt: Give yourself, your condition, or your health focus a mascot. WEGO represents the concept of a mascot as part of our "branding," to make ourselves more recognizable and visually appealing. That's all well and good; but to me, even more important in the concept of a mascot is the idea of something that transmutes the focuses of my writing into a symbol, that encapsulates my best self, that offers protection.
So, I have several candidates for a mascot, some of which you've seen already. I'd love your thoughts as to which one should be "the mascot"--please let me know!
Animal
My fluffy "security duster" is an obvious candidate for blog mascot. It's my favorite green, symbolizing growth, nature, renewal. Its tactile appeal takes me out of my head; also takes me out of the moment of emotional torment.
Turtle totem--a couple years ago, I had a vision in which I was "given" the turtle as a totem and protective animal. This worked all kinds of ways. At the time, I was undergoing chelation for heavy metal toxicity: the word "chelation" comes from the Greek word for "turtle." The Latin for turtle, testudo, is also the word for a military formation in which a unit of infantry close ranks and make a wall and roof with their shields. Thorough protection. And it was explained to me in the vision that, per the Aesop fable, I was constantly being "the hare," rushing rushing striving pushing, and needed to allow more "tortoise" into my modus operandi.
Phil had given me these bone turtles from China--I wore one around my neck for a while, but couldn't find an aesthetically pleasing way to use it as a pendant.
Vegetable
Continuing the green theme of my security duster, an aloe plant seems like a pretty obvious potential mascot.
Mineral
Two candidates for the "mineral" category also.
First, my "three-ring circus" ring.
This is a candidate for a mascot because of the three intertwined rings--different realities intersecting with one another, touching one another, circles completing themselves but impinging on others--all good reflections for me in terms of thinking about how my presence in the world affects other people, how my actions affect others, how different facets of my own complex self are mutually influencing.
The other "mineral" candidate--I mentioned in my Ten Essentials post how much I love collecting rocks, and my particular penchant for rocks with holes in them. One of the "holey' rocks Phil and Terry found for me on their hikes two weekends ago was smaller than any I've found yet--here it is with my pinkie for scale (and my pinkies are tiny!)--
Like the turtles above, I've wondered about making this into a pendant and wearing it, but don't have the talent to know how to make it look nicer than a rock on a string around my neck! I love how round this one is, how it looks almost like a face in repose. The juxtaposition of the solidity of rock with a space of "nothing" bored right through it is a call to meditation similar to the interlooped circles of my ring.
Words
Finally, since I'm a "words" person first and foremost, my initial reaction to this prompt was that I already had a mascot: it's the tagline at the top of this page! "The unapparent harmony is more powerful than the apparent one," Heraclitus' fragment 36. Not only does this explain the (possibly not catchy or sexy) name of my blog; it also offers an explanation for the quest for balance that inspires all of my conscious actions--and yes, I perpetrate all too many unconscious actions!
Is the hole in the rock through and through? Too bad we can't just jaunt over to one another's as I've got loads of jewelry making supplies.
ReplyDeleteI would have to vote for another and maybe it's because I came late to your party and this has just been an everpresent theme. The carrot.
It has a deep strong root (tasty and sweet too) and, much like a tree, it spreads to the sky lightly touching things around it. anyway, that was actually my first thought. But I do like the aloe for many of the same ideas.
Meredith, yes, it is through and through--I have several rocks like that, but this is the smallest, the only pendant candidate!
DeleteThe carrot! Of course! Why didn't I think of it? Orange is my next-favorite color after green, too (along with purple and brown). My only problem with the carrot is the potential phallic symbology, which isn't really spot on for me...
love
Ela
Words, I think, are the most ever-present, powerful and beautiful representation of who you are, Ela. It is about your intellect as I believe it drives your every move. It also informs and influences your emotional self. Words can represent all of the things in your life that are important to you; the way you care for others, your interest in foods, health, etc. It seems to me that it encompasses all so that's my vote.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that vote! Yes--words was my first thought, but I didn't know if they could be a legitimate mascot. They do guard me, though, just like the turtle (for which another friend voted via Facebook).
Deletelove
Ela
I agree about "words." Perfect.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I love your ring. Reminds me of my first engagement ring. Matthew wanted me to be able to help pick out the real one, so he initially proposed with a ring from a gumball machine. I still have it, and used to wear it on a chain around my neck.
As for the little rock with a hole in it, I do think simplicity can be gorgeous. You could mix a bit of shine with the Earthy rock. I think it would be beautiful by itself on a simple delicate silver or gold chain. When someone asks you about it, you can tell him or her that Phil found it for you. Wear it close to your heart <3
I love the story about your gumball ring! And thanks for your suggestion about the little rock--I'll see if I have/can find a chain that'll work with it. I'm more a gold than a silver person, in terms of my skin tone, and I think gold with the terracotta-colored stone might be lovely.
Deletelove
Ela