Arming yourself with beauty...

Dressed for Paleopaphos
March, 2016

Last night I met with one of the rehearsal workshop gynecas (Gk: women) to go over the pronunciation of Goddess names that comprise the 33. 

She was wearing the hematite garland, 33 hematite rounds + one Supreme Allied Commander bead, in this case a Czech glass pearl of no small redoubt.  It looked amazing on her, vibrating darkly against her skin.   I didn't photograph it, as it seemed like something that needed to remain in eyeball (as opposed to photogogic) range. 

I first began wearing the 33-bead garland in Cyprus two years ago, and it has always levitated to my upper arm.  In Jeannie's case it was comfortably halfway between her wrist and elbow, looking perfectly at home there. 

One of the reasons I chose to keep it high on the arm is to offset the Catholic and Orthodox ascetic practice of 'supplice,' which is a self-mortification armlet or garter made of barbed wire - worn as an invisible (but painful) reminder of the body's sinful nature.   

While I can see how a flare of physical pain can raise dopamine levels and impact visionary access, in those traditions the supplice is a daily scourge.  This repudiation of the sweet fact of our physicality is --in my notsohumble view-- a lamentable aberration. 

The 33-Names garland, in contrast, is an object of enjoyment as well as soft inner focus.  It celebrates the graceful way that stone and flesh combine as jewelry and memory, while bringing joy to both the wearer and the fortunate beholder.