Friday March 29 2013
It's rather ironic that a person who's deathly afraid of lightning can't hear thunder. When I can hear thunder, it's already too late and I am much too close to the lightning. (And I can't always depend on my riding partners… they know I'm afraid of lightning, so they don't always mention it when they hear thunder, thinking they might be doing me a favor.)
With the absence of one sense, however, I have learned to use my senses of sight and intuition to recognize thunderstorms by interpreting the aspirations of clouds: by the color, the size, the shape, the intent.
Even the slightest inkling of a section of a poofy cloud of a possible thunderstorm, and my neck hairs are alert and ready to stand on end, and the cloud is guilty before proven innocent. I can now sniff out and spot a thunderstorm and its direction of travel two states away.
Knowing I like to read, and knowing I'm afraid of lightning, my aunt Carolyn sent me a lovely book, The Anthropology of Turquoise, and pointed out a part mentioning that traditionally the Navajo wore a turquoise bead in their hair to protect them from lightning.
Well.
Seeing that I have been caught out totally exposed in half a dozen terrifying (to me) lightning storms, and seeing that I still can't seem to avoid encountering lightning storms here in Owyhee on horseback, I contacted my friend PJ, who just happened to have some real turquoise beads, and she sent a handful to me and Jose.
I tied a tiny turquoise bead onto Jose's bridle, so that we never go on a ride without it.
But after riding Mac yesterday with 2 very suspicious-looking dark rain clouds near the end of our ride (but no turquoise bead on Mac's bridle), and after riding Jose today into another almost-suspicious rain shower cloud (with a forecast of 20% chance of scattered thundershowers), I got to thinking.
I wondered if a bead tied to the bridle would even work, or does it have to be tied to hair? If it does work tied to Jose's bridle, will the turquoise bead protect us both? Does the bead have to be in my hair? Does Jose have to wear one in his hair too? Or does it even work for white people anyway? (Or at least white people interested in and respectful of the Navajo culture?)
Further investigation says a turquoise bead was fastened to a lock of hair to safeguard against snakebite (which would also be handy here… I was almost bitten by a baby rattlesnake in Brown's Creek Canyon last fall, and I encountered a record 10 or so rattlesnakes last year).
It's already that time of the year with the unpredictable spring weather - wind, rain showers, heat, freezing temperatures, spitting snow, and thunderstorms.
I think to be on the safe side, I'll just dig out those other turquoise beads and add two more to my daily riding gear - one for my hair, one for Jose's hair. Between those 2 turquoise beads and the one permanently attached to his bridle, we might stay safe. Can't hurt, and it might help!
I'm very respectful of lightening. The closest I've been to it was when it crackled along a power line when I was underneath. You can bet I quickly went inside. I hope the beads keep it away. I think we have some turquoise beads around, maybe I'll start putting one in my hair this summer when I'm out riding.
ReplyDeletecan't hurt!!!
DeleteI deeply appreciate your respect/fear of lightning. Hiking with friends, I am first to bail from a ridge at the first sign of towering clouds let alone the rumble of thunder. Didn't know about turquoise beads as a charm against lightning. Not too surprised the charm does double-duty for rattlers, though--some of our northern plains tribes associated rattler strikes with lightning. Your observation sent me off on a little search--interesting to learn:
ReplyDelete"The snake and lightning or lightning arrow are considered by the native Southwesterner to be a single element as they are the same visual form. The snake does not symbolize "defiance" except possibly in New England, nor is its meaning "wisdom." Lightning is used by Anglo-Europeans indoctrinated in Greek mythology to denote swiftness, but among the Pueblo Indians snakes and lightning are equated with and symbolize rain, hence, fertility."
- Wingspread Collectors Guide to the Albuquerque Metro Area.
ooh that's very interesting. it makes sense when you think about it. thanks for sharing that!
Deletewith the kind of crazy storms we've been having in recent year, I may have to find some of those beads.
ReplyDeleteLooks pretty, could help, can't hurt! We don't get the lightning storms like you do very often. Though last year I was crewing Tevis, waiting for my rider to cross No Hands bridge, in the rain and lightning. Not fun.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they have a talisman against poison oak, we have too much of that here!
or maybe a Tevis guardian angel - Karen C gave me one of those before I rode. maybe she helped with the poison oak too!
DeleteI didn't know that about turquoises. Maybe I'll do something similair. I always enjoy reading your blog and looking at your beautiful photos. Thank you! -Maria
ReplyDeletethank you Maria!
DeleteI've been hit by lightening. I was completely unharmed, but it left its mark just the same. I love thunderstorms too, but being exposed when lightening is striking scares the you know what out of me. I practically pee my pants in the process of running for shelter.
ReplyDeleteOMG I don't think I need to know you got struck! or, maybe I do, to show me one can survive. eeeek!!!!!
Deleteneed more turquoise!
You know my husband is Navajo. He always puts a turquoise bead in his hair when it gets cloudy. I never knew why till now. (He has never recommended that I do it though. Hmm. If something happens to me, tell the cops it's his fault! Thanks!)
ReplyDeleteNot a big fan of lightening either. Never been caught out in a storm though so that's good. I have lots of turquoise jewelry wonder if just wearing earring or a necklace would have the same protective qualities. I may just drape myself in it when out riding.
ReplyDeleteI say, it can't hurt, and as Irish Horse said, it's pretty too!
ReplyDelete"Native Americans believed the stone brought protection to a rider upon a horse, and great protection in general."
ReplyDeleteI would suggest you braid a turquoise rock or bead into Jose's mane, near his head, one in his tail and another one in your hair. Using rocks and gemstones as protection is strengthened by contact with the energies of both the horse and rider. Attaching it to Jose and yourself, rather than attaching it to equipment, will help make the protection stronger.
All that is needed is belief. I have been a life-long user of rocks for their metaphysical properties and energies. I am also a life-long walker of the Red Road. It is an inclusive community, not an exclusive one.
thank you for this Karen! I'm going to have the beads ready for both of us for this weekend's first endurance ride of the year - especially since there's a 40% chance of showers!!
DeleteLove this! You need to make some turquoise beads for us to purchase????
ReplyDelete