Photography (2 Viewers)

^Divine seems to fit

Alain said:

Way home after 2 grey days

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Is that a church on the left?

Looks like a large one!

That looks really different in color Pucksterguy!

Some folks go all out for Halloween. The house is below road grade, so the dragon is not as tall as you might think but still is plenty big. The eyes have red lights, and there is something that looks like a flame that flutters in the mouth. Also, the wings move. The crystal ball is a nice touch. I'm not a huge fan of inflatables, but this one is really cool. I thought Henda might like it.

Linda said:

Some folks go all out for Halloween. The house is below road grade, so the dragon is not as tall as you might think but still is plenty big. The eyes have red lights, and there is something that looks like a flame that flutters in the mouth. Also, the wings move. The crystal ball is a nice touch. I'm not a huge fan of inflatables, but this one is really cool. I thought Henda might like it.

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The western dragon-makers for this Halloween piece have borrowed the idea of the Precious Pearl from the Chinese celestial dragon history. The Chinese dragon lineage goes back at least 10,000 years, and is very linked with all their spiritual and mystical understanding about the real nature of Earth and of spiritual evolution.

Here is a brief explanation from a renowned book written in 1928 by Ernest Ingersoll, "Dragons and Dragon Lore":-

(Chapter 10) THE DRAGON'S PRECIOUS PEARL

A MOST curious, interesting, and at the same time obscure feature of this whole baffling subject is that of the so-called Pearl which accompanies the dragon in pictures and legends from the earliest times, and is common to the religious traditions of the whole East--India, China and Japan. Necklaces of pearls are a regular part of the regalia of naga-queens in their submarine palaces; and we read often in the old Vedic books of a magical ‘jewel of good luck,' which was in custody of the naga-maidens but was lost by them through terror of their monstrous enemy, the bird garuda. There are traces of it in early Taoism, but it is best preserved in Buddhism as the jewel in the lotus, the mani of the mystic, ecstatic, formula Om mani padme hum--the "Jewel that grants all desires," the 'divine pearl' of the Buddhists throughout the Orient. Koreans commonly believe that the yellow (chief) dragon carries on his forehead (as also in Japan) a pear-shaped pearl having supernatural properties and healing power. In China alone, however, is this mystical accessory of the dragon made a significant part of pictures and decorative designs. Some say that originally every proper dragon carried a pearl under his chin; others that it was a special mark of imperial rank. A sixth-century writer asserts that such pearls are "spit out of dragons like snake-pearls out of snakes," and have enormous value.

This extraordinary gem is represented as a spherical object, or ‘ball,’ half as big, or quite as large, as the head of the dragon with which it is associated, for it is never depicted quite by itself. The gem is white or bluish with a reddish or golden halo, and usually has an antler-shaped 'flame' rising from its surface. Almost invariably there hangs downward from the centre of the sphere a dark-coloured, comma-like appendage, frequently branched, wavering below the periphery. A biologist might easily at first glance conclude that the whole affair represented the entry of a spermatozoon into an ovum; and the Chinese commonly interpret the ball with its comma-mark as a symbol of yang and yin, male and female elements, combined in the earth--which seems pretty close to the biologist's view. Such is the Dragon-Pearl.

In purely decorative work, where the figure of a dragon is writhing in clouds or adapting its lithe body under an artist's hand to the shape or purpose of a piece of porcelain, a bronze article, or a silken garment, the pearl may be drawn close to the dragon, or wherever convenient. When, however, it is desirable to express the significance of this sacred adjunct of dragonhood, it is treated with strict attention to reverence and tradition. Then are pictured celestial dragons ascending and descending through the upper air, tearing a path, perhaps, through swirling mists and shadows, "in pursuit of effulgent jewels or orbs that appear to be whirling in space, and that were supposed to be of magic efficiency, granting every wish." ...

Alain, these photos seem to show where natural forest cover has taken over a previously man-made structure. Is that right?

Hailstones Melt said:

This extraordinary gem is represented as a spherical object, or ‘ball,’ half as big, or quite as large, as the head of the dragon with which it is associated, for it is never depicted quite by itself. The gem is white or bluish with a reddish or golden halo, and usually has an antler-shaped 'flame' rising from its surface. Almost invariably there hangs downward from the centre of the sphere a dark-coloured, comma-like appendage, frequently branched, wavering below the periphery. A biologist might easily at first glance conclude that the whole affair represented the entry of a spermatozoon into an ovum; and the Chinese commonly interpret the ball with its comma-mark as a symbol of yang and yin, male and female elements, combined in the earth--which seems pretty close to the biologist's view. Such is the Dragon-Pearl.

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This description seems very reminiscent of the "Electric Universe" depiction of the 'dragons' of fire depicted in ancient cultures around the world. It is posited that long ago the planets were in an entirely different configuration with respect to one another and that the initial configuration was initially stable (during a 'golden age') but then started to change. You can watch the video that describes how perhaps, sometime in humanity's long distant past the stable configuration started to change and the resulting chaos was so great that only archetypical figures and lore remain after the chaos and destruction that resulted from the planetary reconfiguration. During the chaotic period of reconfiguration the theory is that it is the planets and their resulting electromagnetic displays were were fiery, scary and often beautiful as the positions of the planets in space changed.

One of these archetypes of the chaotic period is the dragon with its fiery breath and (electromagnetic and visible from earth) tendrils or hairs. The pearl would be the planet (posited to be Venus) whose electromagnetic forces of attraction to the other planets caused various visible displays, such as comma-like appendages, that, at times branched, and over time changed position.
Whether this resonates with you or not, I certainly do find it interesting to consider how universal some of these ancient archetypes are!

Lila said:

This description seems very reminiscent of the "Electric Universe" depiction of the 'dragons' of fire depicted in ancient cultures around the world. It is posited that long ago the planets were in an entirely different configuration with respect to one another and that the initial configuration was initially stable (during a 'golden age') but then started to change. You can watch the video that describes how perhaps, sometime in humanity's long distant past the stable configuration started to change and the resulting chaos was so great that only archetypical figures and lore remain after the chaos and destruction that resulted from the planetary reconfiguration. During the chaotic period of reconfiguration the theory is that it is the planets and their resulting electromagnetic displays were were fiery, scary and often beautiful as the positions of the planets in space changed.

One of these archetypes of the chaotic period is the dragon with its fiery breath and (electromagnetic and visible from earth) tendrils or hairs. The pearl would be the planet (posited to be Venus) whose electromagnetic forces of attraction to the other planets caused various visible displays, such as comma-like appendages, that, at times branched, and over time changed position.
Whether this resonates with you or not, I certainly do find it interesting to consider how universal some of these ancient archetypes are!

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Gives me something deep to think about.

Here's photo I took of a potato and kumura rösti with mixed salads and a house made chutney I ordered for lunch yesterday while out with family — it was very tasty! After landing back in NZ a few days ago, I'm now living in the 'Red Zone' area of Christchurch. There's still a lot of construction and rebuilding occurring because of the 6.3 earthquake that struck here back in February 2011, which caused severe damage, killed 185 people and injured several thousand.

Pucksterguy said:

That was my daughters first earthquake. It freaked me out more then her lol Sorry I just checked it was the last one a couple of years ago. A piddly 5.1 or something.

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There was a very big one not too long ago, north of Christchurch but not close enough to be that bad. A 7.8 on the 13th of November last year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Kaikoura_earthquake. She must have felt that one as well!

Kaikoura really stood out for me on my travels around NZ as a beautiful place. The destruction from the earthquake there last year was so sad - like a scar marring a beautiful face. Laron, I'm not surprised you're in Christchurch for the time being - I have a street near here called Lyttleton and I think of the earthquake zone and Christchurch in connection with that. You're a walking energy anchor point on two legs!

Hailstones Melt said:

The destruction from the earthquake there last year was so sad - like a scar marring a beautiful face.

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Yeah, after the 7.8 struck late last year, Kaikoura really changed. I had a friend that was very close to the location that one struck and his whole house was destroyed. The Kaikoura costal route was a favorite of mine.

I didn't actually pick this spot where I am, so it's interesting I ended up here in the end.

I was just out being shown around the city as I hadn't seen the place since the 2011 quake until now. It's six years on, roughly, and there is still a lot of work to be done. Lot's of new buildings are up though.

I love the colors in that one Henda!

Henda said:

Here is one I took few days ago during a distance healing from the forest. I love the leaves around the tree trunk and how they add a colorful energy to it
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That tree looks like it has an eye on it toward the top