My phurbas

Last weekend, I acquired a new phurba. As I noted on my previous blog entry, it was one of the largest I’ve ever seen. While I would have liked to have gone out for another walk today, gas prices are simply too high so i decided to stay home and do a bit a Spring cleaning (that’s almost as much fun as doing taxes). As I was straightening things up, I came across my other phurbas – two that I acquired from classes I’ve taken on sacred sound healing (a very strange but wonderful set of two week-long classes I took a couple of years ago), as well as a couple of others I’ve acquired since then and was rather amazed at the tremendous sizes differences between them.

My Phurbas

The photo on the left (click on it to see a larger image) shows my current collection and are as follows (from left to right), my latest and obviously huge phurba, one I acquired elsewhere (I can remember where I bought it), a very old and beautiful wood phurba which my teacher claimed was a very “powerful” one, another one I acquired during my studies, and a very small one which I also don’t remember where it came from. I would also like to mention that the wood phurba has a coin sewn into one of the pieces of cloth that is tied to it – this considered to be very sacred and increases the phurba’s value as a powerful shamanic tool. All in all, it’s a rather interesting set. In writing this entry, I also came across a rather interesting article on phurba’s and their use; that article may be found here. While I won’t reprint that article here, a sidebar gives a very good description of what phurbas are used for; specifically as a:

  • “weapon for subduing and exorcising spirits and demons.
  • meditative tool to pin down the distractions of greed, desire, and envy.
  • means to banish, neutralize, or transform negativity.
  • ritual object to symbolically slay enemies and remove obstacles.
  • therapeutic process for healing physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual dis-ease.
  • vehicle for pinning down the ego, one of the main obstacles to enlightenment.”

Obviously, Tibetan shamans place a great deal of importance on phurbas.

I’ve just finished reading the above mentioned article and also took a look at the rest of the site where it is located: as it turns out, it’s a fascinating site with lots of other interesting articles and photographs. Perhaps I’ll comment more on it later.

My phurba is bigger than your phurba!

My new phurbaI was in the mood yesterday to go outside and walk so I thought I’d go down to Mission San Juan Capistrano. As a result, I took a stroll around the local neighborhood: the area contains several interesting shops, antique stores, and restaurants, in addition to the old “Los Rios Historic District.” As it was a beautiful day, I popped in and out of several stores and also took in some of the old adobes – something that, believe it or not, I’ve never done before. I’m glad I did. In addition to the nice ocean breeze, it was a great day to just walk around. On my way back to my car, I decided to look in one of the antique shops, located just a few stores away from the mission. For the most part, the store was filled with all of the regular wares – old dishes, costume jewelry, etc, etc. Hidden near the back of the rather large store, I found a couple of very interesting booths – one contained very large Asian items (including a beautiful set of Chinese temple bells [offered at $4,000] – which, obviously, I can’t afford) and another booth that contained a display case with some unusual items. One of those items happened to be a very large phurba (which they had marked as a “Tibetan Scepter” [actually, that’s not a bad description]). As the proud owner of a couple of other phurbas (they’re really used as a shamanistic tool of protection and to perform many other religious functions by Tibetan monks), I was very impressed by the size of the one displayed. In fact, I can’t recall if I’ve ever seen a larger one! So, I decided to purchase it.

BTW, in case you’re wondering why I’m interested in such items, it’s due to the courses I’ve taken on sacred sound healing – a topic I first became interested a few years ago when I bought my first (of many) Himalayan singing bowls. As part of those courses, we were instructed in the use of phurbas (which are considered to be very, very powerful tools in the skilled hands of master shamans). Sadly, the instructor for those classes just passed away, very prematurely, due to cancer – she was a wonderful woman and I know that she is greatly missed by those who took her courses (she once told me that I was one of her favorite students). Needless to say, seeing this monster phurba, reminded me of her and I thought I’d add it to my rather small collection of sacred Tibetan objects. Based upon my own, limited knowledge of such items, I think I got a real “steal” – the phurba weighs in at nearly two and a half pounds and is seventeen inches long. As can be seen in the attached photo, it’s a real beauty.

The Queen Mary, ghosts, feint, and orbs

Yesterday was quite an adventure. I wanted to do something with my boy that was different so I thought it might be fun to go to the Queen Mary and take a couple of their tours. When we arrived, it was already mid-afternoon and, surprisingly, most of their events end at 6 PM (which is quite early, as far as I’m concerned, for a Saturday). After looking at the limited possibilities remaining and considering the amount of time we had available, I decided to take him on the “Ghosts and Legends” tour which is, essentially a glorified “haunted house” type of experience: black lights, dark corridors, etc. After purchasing our tickets, we made our way to the line and waited for the next tour.

As it was a nice afternoon, we looked at the ship, the Russian submarine that’s moored next to the Queen Mary (we didn’t have time for that tour), and chatted. So far, nothing uneventful. It wasn’t until we were led into the first part of the tour that the fun began: it was a dark room that vaguely reminded us of the “Haunted Mansion” at Disneyland. The tour begins with a video that examines the allegedly haunted portions of the ship. As we were watching the video, my boy leaned against me and suddenly informed me that he was feeling ill. Fortunately, I had my arm around him because he suddenly collapsed (e.g., fainted) like a bowl of jello. Had I not been holding him, he might have hit something. Needless to say, we immediately exited the tour and went back outside: he was very clammy, said he was nauseous and said his vision was blurred (he said things seemed to turn purple and green). He was also sweating. Naturally, I was extremely concerned as my boy never gets ill (other than the times when he seems to enjoy barfing all over my car when he gets carsick). After he seemed a bit better, I took him back to the concierge, where we bought our (expensive) tickets and asked for information to take him to the nearest hospital. I also asked for my money back because we obviously did not get to take the tour. Disgustingly, they refused stating that “tickets are non-refundable” and they also wouldn’t give us a rain-check to come back later. (Talk about CHEAP!) After security wheeled him down to the lower level in a wheelchair and I got the car (with directions in hand to the nearest hospital: ironically, the same hospital where I was born nearly @#$@ years ago 🙂 ), I paid another TWELVE BUCKS for the honor of parking (what a rip off) and rushed him to be checked.

When we arrived at the Emergency Room, he was rushed in and immediately checked. They took his blood pressure several times, oxygen saturation levels, an EKG, and other tests. The most disturbing thing is that I tried to call my ex but cell phones wouldn’t work inside the hospital. The only other way to conract her was to call collect on the hospital’s phone but she refused to accept a call from me. I was (and still am) so disgusted with her that I sent her a text message, after my boy was released, and informed her that our boy was in the hospital. She NEVER called back and, even now, a full day and a half later, she still hasn’t called. Thank God, they found nothing wrong with my boy and he was released. Needless to say, his mother doesn’t know this and, obviously, she could care less. Wonder if she’ll ever call?

Why my boy fainted is still a mystery. The doctor and hospital staff said that this is a fairly common occurrence, often without any identifiable cause. As my boy seemed fine and no longer complained of feeling ill, the crisis was over. Not wanting to end our day with a hospital visit, we went to one of our regular hang-out places, the Irvine Spectrum, got a bite to eat, and the saw a movie (Nim’s Island). Overall, it was a great movie.

After we finally arrived home, I decided to look up reviews of the Queen Mary tour (as I was not happy with how much I paid – for nothing) and came across some rather fun (but poorly written) web sites on “haunted places” in Southern California. Interestingly, they claim that things they refer to as “orbs” (spots that appear on pictures) are “evidence” of ghosts. I couldn’t help but laugh as I’ve taken pictures that also contained “orbs” although I’ve read were these are really caused by problems with digital cameras. So, in honor of our failed ghost hunting day, I thought I’d post some pictures from a couple of “haunted places” we’ve visited in which “orbs” were present. Gosh, isn’t this scary? 🙂

The “orbs” I photographed appeared in pictures I took when my boy and I visited Arizona last year (we went to Tucson and took tours of several caves, a mine, and also drove through Tombstone (hmmm…). Based upon what I’ve read about “ghost hunters,” I must be an extremely gifted orb finder! The photograph I’ve taken with the most orbs so far, was taken inside of the Queen Mine, Bisbee, Arizona on January 3, 2007: here it is:

Queen Mine Org

Notice all of the spots (orbs)?! Each one is allegedly a ghost! Scary! 🙂 Apparently, we managed to find a spot where the ghouls were having a party! I also captured photos of other orbs in the Queen Mine, including one of their wall flowers. That photo was taken in the tunnel (visitors are travel about 1/4 of a mile into the mine on altered mine cars). Notice the orb to the right of the boy (the kid with the Satanic red eyes [hmmm, wonder what caused that?]):

A Queen Mine Orb

If you look closely past the orb, you will see two glowing eyes further down the mine shaft! Apparently, this ghost is lost. I found more orbs coming up a mine elevator; here they are:

Queen Mine Elevator Orbs

After leaving the mine (we had a great time) we had to drive through Tombstone, AZ to get back to the hotel. As it was the only place to get a bite to eat, we stopped and took a few more pictures. We also just happened to arrive at dusk – as the ghosts were just coming out for the night. It’s not surprising that I captured more orbs with my paranormal camera! Here are a few orbs we found while looking down a deserted street.

Tombstone Orbs 1

Considering the bloody history of this wild west town, it’s not surprising that I found an entire flock of orbs outside of the brothel! Do you think they’re waiting to get in? Here they are:

Tombstone Brothel Orbs

As is clearly evident from the above photos, my camera does a great job of catching orbs in action! After realizing what a great ghost hunter I am, I bought a few books today on haunted places in Southern California. I’m going to have to take my gear and see what else I can capture with my camera (BTW, my camera is currently giving up the ghost [pun intended], I may have to get a new one before I take more photos).

A mantra. . .

This post speaks for itself:

Jeremiah 29:11   

  • “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (New International Version [NIV])
  • “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”  (New American Standard Bible [NASB])
  • “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (New Living Translation [NLT])
  • “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (King James Version [KJV])
  • “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (New King James Version)
  • “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.” (New American Bible)
  • “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.” (New Jerusalem Bible [NJB])

Utter devastation

So much for dreams – the one I’ve been praying about just went poof. Nada. Zilch. I wanted my dream to be realized so badly and, once again, it just went up in flames. God, why can’t something good happen for a change? It is very, very difficult to remain motivated especially since every time I blink, all potentially good things disappear into the utter devoid of life’s nothingness. Yes, I’m being cynical. Yes, I’m being pessimistic. I just want for something good to happen – just once. Something that would help eliminate the meaninglessness of a life gone awry. I’m not going to belabor the matter now – I’m just devastated to learn, once again, that another dream is now gone. I don’t know where else to turn and this last one seemed so hopeful. I was so CLOSE to having it realized. Please God, PLEASE send a bit of guidance.