Be glad as children

"My friends, ask gladness from God. Be glad as children, as birds in the sky. And let man's sin not disturb you in your efforts, do not fear that it will dampen your endeavor and keep it from being fulfilled, do not say, 'Sin is strong, impiety is strong, the bad environment is strong, and we are lonely and powerless, the bad environment will dampen us and keep our good endeavor from being fulfilled.' Flee from such despondency, my children! There is only one salvation for you: take yourself up, and make yourself responsible for all the sins of men. For indeed it is so, my friend, and the moment you make yourself sincerely responsible for everything and everyone, you will see at once that it is really so, that it is you who are guilty on behalf of all and for all. Whereas by shifting your own laziness and powerlessness onto others, you will end by sharing in Satan's pride and murmuring against God." (Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, Book VI, Chapter 3)

For this necklace I was inspired by father Zosima the elder's teachings, from the Brothers Karamazov. And today it's also a very happy, glorious, sunny day... Perfect! Have a nice weekend everyone :)

Here is the place where I love you

When I first read the plot of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic, 2008) I couldn't help thinking about the Greek myth of Theseus, only to discover that the writer actually had Theseus, among other things, in mind. That, and discovering what her other influences might be, was the main reason why I wanted to read the book.

At some point in the story there is this 'Mountain Air', that Katniss sings to Rue while she's dying. It goes like this:

Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes
And when again they open, the sun will rise.
 
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
 
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, A moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.
 
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.

This last line was too strong for me to pass by. I just had to make something, something ethereal, warm and shiny, like the sun beams at sunrise, as I think this place has to be real, if only for all the innocent. I came up with these:

I will admit that had it not been for the film, I would not have heard of the book, since I am not a 'young adult'! But I really liked Sting singing 'Deep in the Meadow', as a bonus unlisted CD track:

Another Love

With pleasure Amoronia presents... my newest necklace in the Love Unconquerable In Battle series -in ancient Greek of course.



I loved how the olive green color of the quote from Sophocles, Antigone combines with the jade bead, and I am so happy about the crackled - antiqued look of the centerpiece.