I had planned to go to a week-long conference this week in Santa Fe on Creativity and Madness. It is a conference I have had an interest in attending for several years. However, when it came right down to spending hundreds of dollars to sit in a conference room every day for a week rather than rest, relax and enjoy Santa Fe, well I guess I gave myself permission to change my mind. Instead, I chose to follow the Turquoise Trail.
What a delightful time my husband and I have had shopping, viewing museum exhibits, eating and walking all around Santa Fe with our eyes open for all things turquoise. I began to wonder where the word "Turquoise" originated and why is there all this turquoise in New Mexico.
According to the "all-knowing" Wikipedia, use of the turquoise stone in ceremonies is ancient. The actual word "Turquoise" dates to the 16th century and is derived from an Old French word for "Turkish" because the mineral is reported to have been first brougt to Europe from Turkey. The people of Turkey used the color to decorate many of their buildings especially by using turquoise ceramic glazed tiles.
One of the oldest turquoise mines in North America, the Cerrilos mine near Santa Fe, has been mined by Native Americans for almost 2000 years! According to Indians.org, "Legend has it that the Native American Indians danced and rejoiced when the rains came. Their tears of joy mixed with the rain and seeped into Mother Earth to become SkyStone Turquoise. Turquoise, the 'fallen sky stone' hidden in Mother Earth, has been valued by Native American cultures for its beauty and reputed spiritual and life-giving qualities for over 7000 years. Turquoise represents stone of sky, stone of water, stone of blessings, good fortune, protection, good health and long life. To the Native Americans, turquoise is life. There are turquoise stones medicine men keep in their sacred bundles because they possess powers of healing. Turquoise is know for its positive healing energy, an aid in mental functions, communications and expression and as a protector." Ancient Native American Indians such as the Anasazi believed Turquoise was powerful enough to scare away demons. This carries through today with the belief that doors or window frames painted with the color turquoise will protect those inside from demons.
My goodness. No wonder the color turquoise is so cherished and is used in so many ways in New Mexico.
We enjoyed looking for turquoise in the exhibits at the International Folk Art Museum. One of the exhibits included a variety of kites from Japan. The gift shop was also filled with unusual treasures.
Once we started seeing turquoise, we noticed it in some unusual places.
Of all things, after taking the dogs on our morning walk we returned to notice that there is turquoise on our front door! I hadn't even noticed that before. It began to dawn on me that we were seeing more and more turquoise because we were more aware of turquoise. It has been there all along.
This is a photograph of a bumper sticker we might not have seen if we weren't looking for turquoise. It reads, "God Bless the Whole World. No Exceptions."
If by looking for turquoise, I see more turquoise, I wonder what would happen if I begin to be more aware of other people's acts of kindness and courage and gratitude? I am sure these acts are already there. I would hope that by looking for them, I will see more of these acts of kindness and courage and gratitude. I will start looking for them and celebrate them with a deeper awareness and appreciation.
I am glad you could join me on this journey along the Turquoise Trail. I hope the color turquoise has a new and richer meaning for you. It certainly does for me.