3 Most Precious Things In The World

What are the most precious things in the world? How to identify what’s priceless?

Priceless is something that is given for free, but when lost it cannot be claimed back or bought. Time, health, and trust are given for free to each one of us. When lost no money can buy it.

Time

Time is given for free. “I have no time” sounds too often. The more I hear it the more it sounds weirder to me. We are all given 24 hours a day, ain’t we? The trick is allocating right amount of time to the right thing.

• “Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.” - Harvey MacKay

Health

Most of us are born physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. If it is not the case there is no reason to make it worse. Preserve it and grow. Invest in your physical, mental, and emotional health.

• “To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” - Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta

Trust

Trust is hard to earn. Really hard. You earn trust by being there and offering value. Not just value, but the one that meets the challenge.

• Win the Heart, the Mind Follows
• Grow Quality - Not Quantity
• “Trust no one unless you have eaten much salt with him.” - Cicero

Precious Jewelry

In creating jewellery, gemstones, coins, or other precious items are often used, and they are typically set into precious metals. Alloys of nearly every metal known have been encountered in jewellery -- bronze, for example, was common in Roman times. Modern jewellery usually includes gold, white gold, platinum, palladium, or silver.

Other commonly used materials include glass, such as fused-glass or enamel; wood, often carved or turned; shells and other natural animal substances such as bone and ivory; natural clay; polymer clay; and even plastics. However, any inclusion of lead or lead solder will cause an English Assay office (the building which gives English jewellery its 'stamp of approval, the Hallmark) to destroy the piece.

Beads are frequently used in jewellery. These may be made of glass, gemstones, metal, wood, shells, clay and polymer clay. Beaded jewellery commonly encompasses necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and belts. Beads may be large or small, the smallest type of beads used are known as seed beads, these are the beads used for the "woven" style of beaded jewellery.

Diamonds

Diamonds, long considered the most prized of gemstones, were first mined in India.[citation needed] Pliny may have mentioned them, although there is some debate as to the exact nature of the stone he referred to as Adamas;[5] Currently, Africa, Australia, and Canada rank among the primary sources.

Tibetan ornaments: Ethnic charm unleashe

Tibetan ornaments seem naturally imbued with a mystical flavor. The main materials may include turquoise, yak bones, red and yellow corals, Tibetan silver and other natural elements. Features come together in a simple, unconstrained motif, and the brilliant colors and bold, wild designs instill high fashion. With little need for complicated craftsmanship, a wild, trendy bracelet or necklace can come into being simply by joining several natural stones, corals, and a yak-hide string.

There are a variety of Tibetan ornaments, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, and the crafting techniques include enchasing, inlaying, and wire drawing. In a broader sense, Tibetan ornaments also include living and religious articles, such as snuff bottles, whose hollowed-out designs demonstrate the craftsmen's skills; prayer wheels, which can be found throughout Tibet; barrels to hold rice for offering before Buddha images; sea-snail-shaped ritual horns; and splendid-colored Thangka paintings. All these have become popular.

Vajra

Vajra (Devanagari: वज्र) is a Sanskrit word meaning both thunderbolt and diamond. It is a short metal weapon that has the nature of a diamond (it can cut any substance but not be cut itself) and the nature of the thunderbolt (irresistible force). The vajra has come to represent firmness of spirit and spiritual power. It is a ritual tool or spiritual implement which is symbolically used by Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. Because of its symbolic importance, the vajra spread along with Indian religion and culture to other parts of Asia. It was used as both a weapon and a symbol in India, Tibet, Bhutan, Siam, Cambodia, Myanmar, China, Korea and Japan.

Dzi

Dzi stones are made from agate, and may have decorated symbols composed of circles, ovals, square, waves (zig zags), stripes, lines, diamonds, circles, squares, waves, and stripes and various other natural archetypal symbolic patterns. Colors will mainly range from browns to blacks with the pattern usually being in ivory white. Dzi beads can appear in different colours, shapes and sizes. The number of eyes on the stone usually signify different meanings. "Eyes" refers to the circular dot designs, and depending on their number and arrangement, represent different things. Sometimes the natural patterns (usually "layered" swirls) of the agate can be seen underneath or behind the decorated symbols and designs, and sometimes not. Some dzi beads sport what are referred to as "blood spots" which can be seen as red dots in the white areas, which are indicative of cinnabar content. This is highly desirable, but more rare. Another desirable effect is something called "Nāga skin" or "dragon skin," which refers to the cracking patterns on the surface of the bead, which simulates scales. The word "waxy" is often used to describe dzi bead surface, which is the smoothing which occurs over a long period of time (presumably from wear), giving the bead a waxy appearance. Some dzi beads are simply polished agate and sport only the agate's natural patterning as decoration.

There are beads referred to as "chung dzi" or simply "chung beads" which are often highly polished agate designs, can be any variety of colors, may include hand carved designs, or they look very similar to a dzi bead but because of their depictions (for example, the shape of Quan Yin) are not true dzi. Chung dzis include such designs as yin-yang symbols, dragons, and other "newer" designs that were not around during the time true dzi beads were supposedly created. Chung dzi are believed to embody similar properties as dzi but should not be confused with true dzi beads (they often cost much less than true dzi).

Dzi Beads Bracelets

dZI (pronounced Zee) is a Tibetan word to describe a patterned agate bead of mainly cylindrical or tabular shape called "Heaven's Bead" in Chinese. Such beads were etched black-and-white or brown-and-white, with symbols comprised of circles, ovals, square, waves stripes, lines and various other symbolic patterns. To the Tibetans, each of these symbols represents a specific meaning. They are precious possession to the Tibetan, with so many fascinating stories of its mystical power attributed to it.

Buddhas and Deities

In Mahayana Buddhism, the universe is populated with celestial buddhas, bodhisattvas, and deities that assist and inspire the Buddhist practitioner. Among the most popular are Kuan Yin, the Medicine Buddha, the Laughing Buddha and the Green and White Taras. These and other fascinating figures are explored in this section.

Old Chinese Jewellery

Dorje,Vajra

Definition: The 'dorje' or 'vajra' is a diamond (but can also be translated as thunderbolt). It symbolizes what are seen to be essential qualities of Buddhism. Just as the diamond is hard, so the Buddha's teachings are indestructible. The power of the thunderbolt is similar to the power of the Buddha's message that has the power to cut through ignorance and lead all beings to enlightenment.

Beautiful Tibetan handmade jewelry boxes with ancient symbol.

Eyebrows

bottom of the chin. Vertically, the face can be divided into quinti-sections or "Five Eyes"- the distance between two eyes shall be the length of one eye, and the vertical distance between the outer canthus and the external opening of the ear shall be also the length of one eye. In addition, sweet dimples in the cheeks, or Jiuwo, literally a pit of wines in Chinese, are definitely a plus for female charm.

We have a wide range of Tibetan jewellery that include Tibetan gaus and other sacred pendants.

A gau is a unique type of amulet in which Tibetans keep small sacred items. Often these will be pieces of blessed medicine; thread or fabric blessed by a revered lama; sacred texts or mantras, pills made by high lamas (black hat pills, made only by the Karmapa, carry a very strong and powerful blessing); small pictures of deities and other precious items. It is traditional to ask a Lama to bless and fill your gau with sacred items. This is then said to have great power to protect the wearer from all manner of obstacles.





All the gaus in our collection are made by hand in Nepal by Tibetan and Nepalese artisans.

Amulets

Precious Things

creativity overflows

in this beautiful corner of the world

traditional & organic sculptural forms.
willow, birch, heather, bog myrtle

and other locally grown woods

Pussy-willow bowl

Precious Gems

Gem-stone or a precious stone is a highly attractive piece of mineral. But certain organic compounds are also considered as gem stones.

E.g.: Amber

After cutting and polishing gem stones are used in jewelry.

Gemstones fall into different categories because of the composition.

E.g.: Diamonds-Made of carbon

Rubies-Aluminum oxide

Many gems are crystals and classified using a crystal system

E.g.: cubic, trogon, monoclinic

Classification of gem stones

Gems are classified classified into different groups, species and varieties.

E.g.: ruby is the red variety of species corundum

Other colours of corundum - sapphire

Value of the gems

Value of a gem depends on the refractive index, dispersion, specific gravity, hardness, cleavage, fracture and luster. Value of a certain gem changes from the country to country. Coloured gem stones are prized specially for its great beauty and aesthetics.

Processing

Most of the gems are cut and polished before they fit into a particular purpose. Some gems are treated to increase their beauty and some of the non-gem stones are converted to gems by treating.

Methods of gem treating are,

Heating

Irradiation

Waxing/Oiling

Fracture filling

Some gems are synthesized artificially

E.g.: Cubic zirconia

Synthetic corundums

Precious Things

in the kitchen, the last of our christmas candles

give a warm & homely glow

in the bedroom, fragile egyptian perfume bottles

sparkle in frosty early morning sun

in the bathroom, minature mirrored mosaics
cast myriad patterns dancing over the walls
in the living room, twinkling stars
catch flickering flames from the cosy fire

Precious Things

i love our scottish sunlight
the way it filters in through my windows
sometimes i creep after it as it moves from room to room

to sit in its golden warmth, curled up with a book

i love my rings, each holds delicious memories

all threaded onto the tiny wooden ring tree

my green eyed girl gave to me one day to make me smile.

the bottom two rings belonged to my sweet grandma, Mary Day

from whom i learnt my love of fairies, wild flowers, folksong . . .

i love old keys & collect them, imagine the stories they coud tell

Dad has discovered some beauties for me over the years

he found this tiny one at the art gallery

hidden & forgotten lying there between the floorboards

i love round things,

they have a habit of creeping into our wee house

such varied textures, patterns, colours

so tactile, and pleasing to my eye

i love bells, deep resonating ones,

Precious Things

i do . . . just three months ago

Precious thoughts

precious thoughts .....

my eternity has just begun. . . . .

hug that feeling close to your heart.....

know yourself and hold your head up high.....

such little things.....

we all have choices ........

Loveliest girl

. . for almost a decade Miina Savolainen,
finnish photographer, art and social educator photographed 10 girls from Hyvönen Children's Home.

the outcome was this photo book/project

"The Loveliest Girl In The World" The basis of the project was “empowerment”

"to give girls a different perspective of themselves,

to bring to the surface their true persona,

or perhaps a persona they wished they could be"

it is a touching story about becoming visible & accepting yourself

"everyone of us is entitled to feel precious and loved"

"The fairytale quality of the photographs reveals

a truth often obscured by the rough and tumble of daily life

the person each young girl feels she really is inside.

It allows the girls to regard themselves as strong and undamaged people.

These photographs are deeply authentic,

revealing the universal desire to be seen as good and valuable."

* * *

"Accepting one's own portrait

is a metaphor for accepting

one’s own personality"

Time for Reflection

a stretch of days just me, myself, i

nothing but my own thoughts for company

with time . . .

time to paint on and on undisturbed

time to read for great long lazy stretches

time to eat when i wanted to eat

time to sleep (guilt free) for 14 hours solidly!

waking up to do it all over again

thank you Mr O for giving me

those wonderfully peaceful few days

how precious that was x

i wonder what precious "me" time others get ??