Who’s watching over me?

By Silver Blue

I have a corner in my den that I affectionately refer to as “Meditation Corner.” I say that because it has my tapestries that I purchased from the Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, a photo of me with the Geshe-la (lead Monk) and the translator, a photo of the completed Sand Mandala of Peace, and two dried roses that were on the altar while they were constructing the mandala.

I’ve also a quote from the Dalai Lama, a bronze bell, a silver plated incense stick cannister, and a copper and chrome thurible (which is what holds incense cones and loose burning incense to defuse it).

So, as you can tell, I take my meditation corner (and my meditations) seriously.

But, if I look up and to the left, I can see a special candle I burn (“Storm Watch” by Yankee Candle), a  candle holder that is much like a goblet (in cobalt), and a harlequin that I’ve referred to as “Mama Quinn” (a play on Harlequin) since she waltzed into my life 7 years ago.

Behind her are peacock feathers. Why peacock feathers?  I only consider positives, not negatives, ergo…

Peacock feathers represent pride, and by extension, nobility and glory. Peacocks are also known to eat poisonous plants with no ill effects, making their feathers a symbol of incorruptibility and immortality.

Buddhists associate peacock feathers with openness, since the birds display everything when they spread their tails. Buddhists also ascribe great meaning to the bird’s diet of poisonous plants–the ability to thrive in the face of suffering.

In ancient Greece, the peacock was the patron bird of the goddess Hera. According to myth, she placed “eyes” on its feathers, symbolizing all-seeing knowledge and the wisdom of the heavens.

Hindu mythology associates peacocks with the god Lakshmi. The feathers thus represent his qualities: kindness, patience and good fortune.

(Definitions courtesty of http://www.ehow.com/facts_4925293_peacock-feather-symbolize_.html  )

Silver Blue, who wonders if the world couldn’t be made a better place if we all would just take the time to be quiet, turn our thoughts inward, and listen instead of always jabbering…

Published by Silver Blue in Canon, Mama Quinn, Meditation, Meditation Corner, T3i