Tuesday, March 30, 2010

enRAPTuring rocks





















Out of the quiet,
answering the call.
rocks needed, wrapped.
so it began again, the bundling. which goes with which, who needs paper, or a little old bead?
the "call and response" works everytime. a message from a friend who once displayed and sold my pieces a decade ago in their aveda salon. happy to throw myself into the process, the weekend buzzed by, a window open, birds chirping, spring has come and the rocks are moving on. some sitting outdoors, some in, all put together in my little world and taken off to the shop yesterday to begin their new life, enRAPTuring others. carried away to a shelf, as a gift, a tiny voice from the earth.

at least i like to think that.

and i'd like to leave this with a poem:

LIKE A LITTLE STONE

Like a little stone, feel the shadow of the great earth;
let distance pierce you till you cling to trees.
That the world may be all the same,
close your eyes till everything is,
and the farthest sand can vote.

Making the world be big by hunting its opposite,
go out gleaning for lost lions
that are terrified by valleys of still lambs,
for hummingbirds that dream before each wingbeat,
for the mole that met the sun.

If time won't let a thing happen, hurry there,
to the little end of the cone that darkness bends.
Any place where you turn but might have gone on,
all possibilities need you there.
The centers of stones need your prayers.


david rome

27 comments:

  1. oh these are just stunning Neva! they all have their own vibe and personality, it is just remarkable... and thanks for the album, I really enjoyed it!

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  2. how you envision all of this is just fascinating ... I especially like the one with the turquoise and gold ... it's so good to have you back

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  3. These are beautiful, Neva. Delightfully spiritual.

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  4. Your wrapped rocks are lovely poetic wonders! I so enjoyed reading and seeing your post - tremendous poem, too. Thank you! ~Shayna

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  5. Absolutely stunning! I'm totally enRAPTured! Each one ....a meditation.

    Word verification ...hemmel .... the afrikaans word for heaven.

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  6. "the centers of stones need your prayers" says it all...beautiful and spiritual.

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  7. Your wrapped rocks are absolutely splendid, I love them all. Bravo!!

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  8. They are stunningly beautiful! :)Bea

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  9. Oh, Nancy—I love all these meaningful, arranged, bound, and adorned rocks! Each is so special and beautiful. This reminds me of painting on rocks to give as gifts when I was young. Yours are beyond what I did back then and more sophisticated. Best of luck finding them new homes!

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  10. their humble simplicity leaves me humble in their presence -- thank you, Neva, for sharing.

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  11. so beautiful and reflective and contemplative and giftlike .... I will be doing this when I have a quiet house again - a little crazy this week ;)

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  12. Peaceful and beautiful, thank you. Best to you.

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  13. I have always loved rocks...you enhance their beauty and spirit with your work.

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  14. you share so much in this post ..if the rocks could talk..you make it so!

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  15. Spectacular. No use in trying to pick a favorite as they are all beautiful, peaceful, creative, and unique! And so wonderful to see the photo of you creating these gems!

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  16. Love the wrapt rocks - especially the little families all tied together...

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  17. seth: photos 9 & 10 r 4 u: a nice chunk of RUST sandwiched in between the rocks.
    leslie: exactly, little families all bundled tightly.
    everyone: thanks...interesting to "set these free": special finds, the stones themselves, and then to alter/ALTAR them without hiding their uniqueness ...oh dear, just discovered a new name, when a wrapped RAPT stone becames an ALTAR piece!

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  18. hello. I have been away teaching a workshop and then very busy with some painting deadlines. What a feast and a delight- love love love your rapt rocks-- you have been very busy and they are all wonderful.. and your words and the poem are an added bonus.
    donna

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  19. Dear Neva, your stones are like jewels to me... so precious, so mysterious and simple at the same time... and you are beautiful, an artist at work. sending wishes for a wonderful weekend, roxanne

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  20. So beautiful Neva...Each stone rapt with love and careful listening to what each one needed...wonderful, wonderful

    ...a few years ago I facilitated a Rosh Hodesh (new moon) group for teenage girls...at the end of the year, as a closing ritual I brought in found rocks for the girls to paint...we created a circle with our beautiful stones and placed a lit candle in the center and sat around them joining hands, sharing silence. It was such a perfect way to end our school year of lovingkindness together....my intention was for the girls to take their rocks home and remembrances...instead they all insisted I take them...they wanted me to have a "piece" of each of them forever.

    I am still in touch with a few of those girls, they write to me on facebook and occasionally call me on the phone (they are all in college now)...and the stones are with me here at home, whispering joyful memories of this incredible group of young women into my heart.

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  21. Neva - Love having the photo of you creating in the middle of the rocks. I know that sense of you creating - brought back great memories. LOVELY rocks. Too bad I don't live close enough to wander in for a purchase. Lucky rocks to be found by you and moved into rock families. Wonderful word picture.

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  22. I am a real rock lover -- so many in my yard and house that I've told people that for the first couple years after I've died my husband will find them in pockets and drawers and under the seat in my car and on and on... so it's fun to see another "Rock-ette".

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  23. Your rock bundles give me such a feeling of contentment.

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  24. Your rock bundles give me such a feeling of contentment.

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  25. Oh Neva, somehow I missed this one and am so happy to find my way here today. I am enraptured by your wrappings. I love wrappings...and stones, and your writing about it. Glad to view you in process. Blessings to you.

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