Some personal history
Here is some personal history I would like to share.
First of all - why would I call this site "The Jeweled Phoenix"? For one thing, I've been fascinated by the legends and myths of the sacred and mythical bird known as the Phoenix for most of my life. It is in some ways the ultimate example and legend of birth and rebirth, whether one is talking about the phenomenon of reincarnation or one is talking about birth and rebirth from moment to moment. Throughout my life experience, as I've gained knowledge and understanding, I've come to feel that all of these things are of equal importance.
As for the "jeweled" part - well, that is an interesting part of my history, as well.
I've been fascinated by gemstones and jewelry or jewelry-making for a long time. My grandmother carried a fascination for various kinds of gemstones and jewelry. I remember that she had all kinds of precious stones like rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds, as well as other stones like opal, turquoise, garnet, etc. A cousin took metal-working classes and for a time made jewelry. I still have a sterling silver ring with a malachite cabochon that she made. I went through a several tumultuous phases in my life, and experienced a number of upheavals in my late teens. I came out of this, interestingly enough, with an even greater interest in gemstones and jewelry, among other things. For a time I seriously entertained the notion of going to a college with courses in gemology and jewelry design. I wanted to this as badly as I've wanted to do anything in my life, but the funds were not there. I had to settle for a scholarship - and a major - with which I was not satisfied.
Time went by, and I continued to experience upheavals throughout the next few years. At one point I was forced to withdraw from school for a while due to health reasons, and in so doing I had the chance to rediscover some old interests I lacked time for, as well as find several new avenues in my life interests. My spirituality had a chance to deepen at this time, and when I went back to school I knew that I didn't really belong to the field in which I was majoring - computer science. I and computers went together sometimes about like oil and water!
I withdrew from school again - this time for good - and went to work for a while. And then yet again several strange, disturbing and at times wondrous events came into my life again. I found part of my calling in life by becoming a Reiki Master, and then experienced many lows following that, including a point in my life where I very nearly left this world.
Even after I recovered to some extent in health, I felt very wounded and let down in spirit. It was at this time that the image of a phoenix appeared to me in a vision...I was quite skeptical and even sardonic because it seemed as though all I had tried to do had amounted only to ashes, and to rise from the ashes in glorious splendor seemed like a folly and an impossible dream/vision at that time...
Several years went by, and several more upheavals occurred. There were times when I felt I almost had something in my grasp - then it would slide away or crumble, leaving me angry and tired and frustrated. I felt called to get in touch with some people and to participate in some things at a time when I felt the least like it. That was the time, I suppose, that I needed it the worst, but didn't realize it as such! I was fearful and intrigued alike in some of these situations, and then elated and inspired. It was at this juncture I was inspired to the point of re-kindling my old love for gemology and jewelry design. After two decades of waiting, I was finally on my way to designing jewelry and also finding ways to set off gemstones, which I've dubbed "rainbows in Earth's bosom".
It has been a long, frustrating yet rewarding journey which continues as I write this. I hope that you will join me on this journey and find something to inspire you to "rise like a phoenix" and do something wondrous and splendid in your own life - and in so doing inspire others as well!
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