Archive for October, 2008
Posted by: Janet Schlarbaum
By Chris Ralph
Few people know that gold actually forms crystals in nature. While the beauty of natural gold is widely appreciated by both prospectors and mineral collectors, the pinnacle of beautiful natural gold specimens are the spectacular crystalline forms. As a result, these specimens of golden scales, plates, ribbons and crystals are normally saved and treasured. Unfortunately, the natural growth conditions that form most gold deposits only rarely create these very attractive specimens.
At most mines, native gold is more normally found in the form of irregular masses and blobs in quartz or sulfide veins, or as impregnations in the country rock adjacent to mineralized fissures. In fact in most modern mines the gold is in the form of very tiny particles, too small to easily see with the unaided eye. In placer gravels, the wear of the erosion process means gold normally is pounded into the outwardly rounded forms of scales, grains, slugs, and nuggets. While large alluvial nuggets are beautiful and valuable in their own right, the crystalline forms are still the ones most highly valued. In fact, the value of crystalline gold in an attractive matrix specimen can exceed the intrinsic metal value of the gold by a factor of 10 to 100 fold in some cases.
Although gold only rarely shows its attractive crystalline forms, where the geologic conditions are favorable, as in cavities or other locations where growth and expansion is not hindered by a lack of space, gold obeys the natural laws of its crystal growth and crystallizes in various isometric (cubic) forms. This partly explains the rarity of fine crystalline gold specimens. This is because open voids are uncommon in and of themselves. Normally, the walls of the cavity limit the lines of crystal growth, or growth is cut off by the concurrent growth of another mineral, such as calcite or quartz. Often any voids that do exist are later filled with quartz or other materials, including clays.
In addition, large single crystal growth requires stable conditions that support slow growth – at least growth slow enough to lead to the formation of a few large crystals rather than millions of tiny ones. Faster growth will support the development microscopic pieces or at least mossy and dendritic forms. Gold crystallizes in the isometric system, and usually forms crude octahedrons, but specimens showing dodecahedrons, cubes and trapezohedrons are also found. Crystals are rarely perfect, and are normally irregular, sometimes exhibiting unusual wiry, reticulated or dendritic shapes. Many forms also show some sort of distortion of the crystal, some with extreme distortion. Crystal twinning is common in gold.
Between the combined effects of all the different crystal forms, twinning and a range of possible crystal distortions, gold can found a very large variety of crystalline forms, all of which have their own attractive appearance. The number of potential combinations is so large that all the possible combinations are hard to fathom. Beautiful wire forms are found in a number of locations, with one of the most famous locations being Farncomb Hill in the Breckenridge District of Colorado (beautiful leaf and other forms are found there as well).
Many of the dendritic forms are also beautiful, and one of the most beautiful dendritic forms of gold are the herring bone style dendrites, with some of the finest examples of this being the “chevron” gold of northern Nevada. California produces some specimens of ribbons and sheet gold, some with attractive crystal patterns on their surface, and these are also highly sought after.
October 21 2008 | Janet Schlarbaum and Mark Schlarbaum and Schlarbaum Capital Management | Comments Off
Collected by: Janet Schlarbaum
By Bart Sharp
If we look at our primitive cultures, most or all of these people worshiped or revered the earth. They knew the earth gave to them gifts to help them in their daily lives. In return, they revered the earth as a precious commodity. From this gratitude a bond was formed and each flourished in it.
Today we are still stewards of the planet-although most of us do not know it or accept the job. Regardless, the earth is here for us and we for it. When we study the older pagan cultures we see that the rituals created an effect on the group that practiced them: they felt a communion with the earth. The chanting by Tibetan Monks, or beating of drums in rituals has a purpose of connecting us to the earth, as well as healing the earth. The vibration of the sounds changes us and the lands responds to our growth.
We have a symbiotic relationship with the earth. It is a life form that responds to its inhabitants. As we evolve the earth changes. As millions live out their days angry, sad, depressed, anxious, etc… those feeling and thought forms vibrate within to affect the environment.
Our essence is really energy and it is never just contained within the body. Whatever we are emoting the earth and everything else is absorbing. The more we clarify our core essence, the more clarity we have in ourselves. Through our inner exploration, we become an open vessel to give and receive more in our life. We are more conscious, and connect to everything more. When someone who is conscious brings their attention to the space of nature, it creates an expansion for everyone.
The Hopi Indian elders welcome the sun every morning. They believe the sun would not shine on the earth without this invitation. I perceive this ritual as an acknowledgment that the sun, the earth, and humans in communion creates something much bigger than the individual entities. Tibetans believe their chants create a vibration that goes out across the world to facilitate peace.
We are beginning to see that solving the world’s problems begins with us. People have changed tremendously in the last two thousand years. As we identify and resolve our own inner pains and conflicts, we can let go of our personal chains that bind us to a denser suppressed world. As we create and live in harmony with ourselves, we send out that attunement; and all benefit, including the earth. [----]
As we spend time in prayer, meditation, walking in the woods, or other centering activities, we develop what doctors call parasympathetic nervous system in our active life. Doctors say it is related to sleep but an awake parasympathetic energy expands consciousness. It is a place where creative and psychic abilities can be developed. Most people function in the sympathetic nervous system, which is related to all forms of action. Then, when they sleep the parasympathetic is activated. Functioning in the parasympathetic during waking hours brings more of a magical power within us. It is being in an awareness that is relaxed. Nature is functioning in an energy like the parasympathetic.
Being in harmony does not mean that you should avoid the emotions that you are experiencing. If you are angry, fearful or sad it is important to be present with it, process it, and come to resolution with your feelings. One of the main reasons people stay angry or depressed is that they are not getting in touch with their emotions in their present or their past. Those unresolved feelings are like energetic weights that prevent us from evolving to a lighter vibration.
When we can look at our limitations, do work that centers us and seek an intimate connection to the earth, we open to a possibility of a communion with the earth. We become a clear vessel to receive its messages and energies. We and the earth can be a conduit for the expanded energy that is sent out to every one. It is a process of inviting the connection to happen with our planet, receiving the energy of the planet, and then letting it come out of you. It is sending a more conscious human energy out. With the assistance of the planet, the energy is bigger than what we could do as individuals.
Something that has occurred in several cities in the world is that groups of people would meditate around a clock in neighborhoods that had high rates of crime. In all cases the neighborhood crime rates significantly improved. It is called the ‘Maharishi Effect’: if one percent of the population practiced Transcendental Meditation there would be measurable improvements for the entire population of the planet. I find this concept significantly valuable; it is proof that our intention influences everything around us.
One of the techniques that I practice is inviting the earth’s energy to come up into my pelvis and coccyx. I imagine a vast energy in the center of the earth and a stream of it coming up into my pelvis area. I focus on the energy flowing in while it fills my entire body. When I am full I send the energy out through my heart while at the same time maintaining the intensity inside myself. I will send this energy out to the entire city of Austin; everyplace that I can visualize within the area. Generally when I complete these sessions I am feeling more expanded, more grateful to the earth, the city of Austin and myself. As we evolve, the earth evolves.
October 20 2008 | Janet Schlarbaum and Mark Schlarbaum and Schlarbaum Capital Management | Comments Off
Article Collected by: Janet Schlarbaum
By Angela Holland
Don’t you just love this time of year? I do! That feeling inside of knowing something special and beautiful is just around the corner. It’s presence in the air is so strong that you almost feel as if you could reach your arms out to the sky and touch it with your fingertips. What is it that I am referring to you might ask? It’s Spring-time!
Just recently, in my quiet time, I have been watching an old UK sitcom from the Seventies, called ‘Butterflies. I have been thoroughly enjoying this exploration into the life of a bored house wife who, although, she loves her husband and two grown children very much, at the same time has an inner yearning for the excitement and spontaneity that she feels her life is lacking. And so the search begins within her soul to find the answers she is looking for.
I completely understand that wanting feeling and in a way winter being followed by its friend Spring describes the very essence of that inner yearning for more. For three months we feel the coolness that winter offers and as if the chill in the air is not already unpleasant enough, just as we begin to feel relieved and happy at the prospect that the end of winter is nearing, the sharp winds come from nowhere and cut you to the bone. All the while you are longing for something more than goose bumps and shivers and you hope that nature is bringing it your way sooner rather than later.
Then ever so suddenly you get out of bed one morning and you find that you do not have to rush to put your comforting dressing gown and ugg boots on. You look outside and you can see the sun shining; now I know the sun shines in winter too but for me the sun actually begins to take on a different aura at this time of year. It’s as if the sun’s rays are filled with a sense of calm and the gentle ever so slightly warm breeze that surrounds you is like a soft feather pillow caressing you. Can you feel it? Why not head outside and breathe it in while you can, because it only comes but once a year but would you not agree that it is more than worth the wait?!
I will leave you now with some words from the theme song to ‘Butterflies’ which was originally written and performed by Dolly Parton and then recorded by Clare Torry and a band conducted by the BBC’s well-known composer Ronnie Hazlehurst for the series.
Love is like a butterfly
The multicolored moods of love are like its satin wings
Love makes your heart feel strange inside
It flutters like soft wings in flight
Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing
Your laughter brings me sunshine
Everyday is spring time
And I am only happy when you are by my side
How precious is this love we share
How very precious, sweet and rare
Together we belong like daffodils and butterflies
October 14 2008 | Janet Schlarbaum and Mark Schlarbaum and Schlarbaum Capital Management | Comments Off
Posted by: Janet Schlarbaum
By Jyoti Vangani
It is strange but true! Yes, the leaves and trees breath like humans. They have small holes called stomata. Trees breathe in and out through these holes. They breath a little differently at night than they do during day. We live by breathing the oxygen in the air. This oxygen was made inside the trees and breathed out by them. If all trees were to dry up and die ,there would be no more oxygen and all living things would die.
During winter in the northern countries there are fewer hours of light each day than in spring or summer. It is colder, too. This means that the roots and leaves of certain kinds of trees take a rest. The trees do this by dropping their leaves until spring comes again. Even though its leaves have fallen, a tree dos not rest completely. It is busy making buds that will form new leaves and flowers in spring but there are some trees that can stand the cold better than others. Pine trees are among those that do not mind the cold and do not lose their leaves even in winter. When spring comes and their new leaves come out, the older leaves just drop off which are called evergreen trees.
Trees like the cherry and ginko, which lose their leaves in winter, are known as deciduous trees, while those like the pine, which retain their leaves even in the winter are known as evergreen tress. Tree activity slows down as winter approaches for two reasons: there are fewer hours of daylight and temperatures are lower. Just as frogs and snakes hibernate during the cold season, plants also take measures to reduce the amount of energy they consume.
Trees are like human beings. We should understand their importance and that is why we should plant more trees in our area.
October 09 2008 | Janet Schlarbaum and Mark Schlarbaum and Schlarbaum Capital Management | Comments Off