Thursday, August 11, 2011

The August Break 2011: Pic 11


The is one of the items going into my shop soon.
At least, that's what I always say! ;)


Actually, Nate came up with a solution:
He suggested I do not buy any more vintage until 
I can list the last items I bought.

He's such a sweetheart. Rather than get upset 
because I buy, ok, kinda a lot
all he asks is that I list what I've gotten. 
That's when I'm most excited about the item anyway,
so it works out well.


I don't know what it was about these wooden praying hands
that made me adore them so.

Event though I'm not a religous person per se,
I find these so beautiful.
Prayer is a natural inclination in all of us...
a way to hope and dream.
No matter what someone's religious background is or isn't,
our hearts turn to a higher power
in the same way.

By being open. Humble. Truthful. Hopeful.


I think these would be so cute to decorate 
a quirky, playful type of interior. 

For me, they have a  very happy/zen/buddhist 
sort of quality.



The following poem, by Mary Oliver,
remains one of my favorites. 
It says something to me
the way these hands posed in prayer do...if that makes any sense.
An incantatinon to live with magic, soul, and revelry.


Where Does the Temple Begin, Where Does It End?
There are things you can’t reach.  But
you can reach out to them, and all day long.

The wind, the bird flying away.  The idea of God.

And it can keep you as busy as anything else, and happier.
The snake slides away; the fish jumps, like a little lily,

out of the water and back in; the goldfinches sing
from the unreachable top of the tree.

I look; morning to night I am never done with looking.

Looking I mean not just standing around, but standing around
as though with your arms open.

And thinking: maybe something will come, some
shining coil of wind,
or a few leaves from any old tree – 
they are all in this too.

And now I will tell you the truth.
Everything in the world
comes.

At least, closer.

And, cordially.

Like the nibbling, tinsel-eyed fish; the unlooping snake.
Like goldfinches, little dolls of gold
fluttering around the corner of the sky

of God, the blue air.
~ Mary Oliver


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the praying hands and the thoughts on praying / the way you said it.

It made me feel connected to Spirit when I read the Mary Oliver poem:)

Happy Friday to you, M!

Marty said...

I'm so glad you enjoyed the poem, Laura. I hope you had a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Cameron said...

Not a bad compromise for the buying more stuff dilemma......get all the stuff listed...then go shopping again...heehee! You find the neatest stuff!

Did you ever find the razor? I'm still scratching my head on that one....hate it when you can't find something....aaarrrgh! Irritating!

Big hugs,
Cam