#cintamani

[tanuki-kimono]

Rare pattern for this antique purple kimono, depicting dragons in the clouds among what looks like strings of pearls.

Hold by dragon's claws, those jewels are probably hôju (Cintamani/wish-fulfilling pearl). They also remind me of other pearls associated with dragons in Asia, like Ryûjin's mythical tide jewels.

[magicwingslisten]

Nicholas Roerich in his study at Kulu "Rex Fiat" is the centerpiece figure of the triptych behind him Stone meteorite "Gift of Orion" above

[panicinthestudio]

Nyoirin Kannon (Cintāmaṇicakra), 14th century

Kamakura period, Japan

Hanging scroll; ink and colors on silk H 87.5, W 46.2

Collection of the Nara National Museum

[drymountaintreasures]

Saffordite Bracelet https://www.etsy.com/listing/1402025898/saffordite-arizona-tektite-cintamani-raw

Saffordites are a natural glass stone found only in one place on Earth – the Chihuahuan Desert southeast of Safford, Arizona. Often referred to as Arizona Tektites, they are really members of the obsidian glass family of rocks. Saffordites appear very black, like a piece of coal. But when they are viewed with a light from behind they truly show off their inner beauty. Their surface is usually pitted with cup-shaped depressions similar to moon-like craters and they vary from clear and sparkling to translucent, banded, opaque, and even the occasional rare find of a white “sheba”.

Saffordites have earned a lot of nicknames and are often called, the holy grail stone, the wish-fulfilling stone, or Cintamani. Metaphysically Saffordites are said to be the most powerful gemstones yet discovered, even more powerful than Moldavites . They carry a low magnetic frequency and thus are excellent for grounding with both root and crown chakras with many benefits for physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

[nofatclips]

All I Know of Love, a film by Emma Ruth Rundle and Geert Braekers

[sweetnround]

A batch of commissions that I finished recently!

For/Of the following VTubers

🐲Kip Cintamani

Twitter

Twitch

🎃Rurika (fan mascot)

Twitter

Twitch

👻Amonti Ado

Twitter

Twitch

[lifewithaview]

Ophelia Lovibond,Jay Heyman and Michael Landes in Hooten & the Lady (2016) Cambodia

Ep7

Alex and Hooten attempt to track down the priceless Cintamani jewel in Cambodia, which can manifest whatever one wishes for, but they soon attract the attentions of a ruthless Vietnamese drug gang...

*When Hooten and Alex enter the cave they find a crevasse that has many varies snakes in it. While Cambodia has many types of snakes several of the snakes in the crevasse are common only to the Americas. Also the sound emitting from the crevasse is the distinctive sound of a rattlesnake which is also only found in the Americas.

[digitaldoeslmk]

The fifth is the Wish-fulfilling Jewel Monkey, who knows the path of heavenly bodies, discerns goodness from illusions, casts away Calamities, and satisfies all desires of thought.

harbinger of chaos is out, a Cintamani dropped on the eastern ocean to become a fifth mystical monkey is in.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Mystical Items & Objects

Examples in Mythology and Literature

Pandora's Box

The god Prometheus stole fire from heaven to give to the human race, which originally consisted only of men

To punish humanity, the other gods created the first woman, the beautiful Pandora

As a gift, Zeus gave her a box, which she was told never to open

However, as soon as he was out of sight she took off the lid, and out swarmed all the troubles of the world, never to be recaptured

Only Hope was left in the box, stuck under the lid

Anything that looks ordinary but may produce unpredictable harmful results can thus be called a Pandora's box

Hermes' Winged Sandals

Also called the Talaria of Mercury

Are winged sandals, a symbol of the Greek messenger god Hermes (Mercury)

They were said to be made by the god Hephaestus of imperishable gold and they flew the god as swift as any bird

Cintamani Stone

Also referred to as the Chintamani

A wish-fulfilling stone that features across both Hindu and Buddhist religions

The stone features as one of many Mani Jewel (i.e., several gems that are mentioned prominently in Buddhist literature) images that can be found in the scripture of Buddhism

In Hinduism, the stone is connected to the gods Ganesha and Vishnu

Usually, it is depicted as a jewel in Vishnu’s possession known as the Kaustubha

The Kaustubha acts as a sign of divine authority

Arcane Artifacts & Objects

Offer a gateway between time past and time present, bringing layers of ancient history and new-world intrigue to a narrative

Such items are typically represented in fiction as works of long-lost knowledge, primordial features or landmarks, and curious objects of mysterious origin

Often lying dormant until the pivotal moment of discovery, these items invite characters and readers alike into a dance with the unknown

Examples: Necronomicon, Genie's Bottle

Necronomicon

Also referred to as the Book of the Dead

It appears in stories by H.P. Lovecraft

A dark grimoire (i.e., a magician's manual for invoking demons and the spirits of the dead) of forbidden knowledge

Used to open gateways of unearthly powers and cosmic horrors

Genie's Bottle

The classic magical item from mythology, also featured in Aladdin

A vessel of wish fulfillment that often leads to dramatic and unexpected consequences

Doorways & Portals

Doorways in fiction serve as gateways between worlds, dimensions, or states of reality, providing characters with universe-hopping capabilities and genre-defying journeys

These portals, whether physical structures or fantastical mechanisms, open up limitless storytelling possibilities, allowing for sudden shifts in setting and introducing elements of surprise and surrealism

Examples:

C.S. Lewis' wardrobe in The Chronicles of Narnia serves as a secret portal to a fantasy world, bridging the mundane with the fantastical

The eponymous board game in Jumanji transports its players into a wild and perilous jungle adventure, wrenching them from the safety of their living room

Jewelry, Gems, and Garments

Along with other various accessories, these serve several narrative functions, from symbolizing power and status to bestowing unique abilities upon their wearers

These items can act as plot catalysts (i.e. MacGuffins), embody character traits, or hold deep cultural or magical significance within a story’s world

Example: The Amulet of Mara in Skyrim not only reduces the cost of Restoration spells but also unlocks marriage options for the player, integrating gameplay with the narrative

Legendary Objects of Power

Carry with them stories of grandeur and lore, passed down through generations and intertwined with the fates of those who wield them

These are the objects that make or break worlds, bestow immense strength, and are frequently considered among the most powerful items in fiction

Example: Though it's never actually been seen, the Kusanagi Sword from Japanese folklore is a fabled sword that represents valor, said to be endowed with divine powers

Machinery and Technologies

Stretch the boundaries of physics and logic to offer a glimpse into what could be possible in alternate or future universes

These innovations, whether grounded in current science or verging on the fantastical, propel narratives forward and deepen the complexity of the story’s world

Writers can leverage these technological wonders to enhance their storytelling, using them to explore themes of power, ethics, and the human relationship with technology

Example: The body shields in Dune generate a protective forcefield around the wearer—advanced technology that current militaries can only dream of

Mundane Everyday Items

Possess extraordinary storytelling potential to transform the unassuming into the unforgettable

Seemingly ordinary, these objects can surprise both characters and readers, unveiling hidden depths and abilities when least expected

These seemingly mundane objects could fall into unsuspecting hands and create chaos or catalyze a hero’s journey

Additionally, they might only reveal their true nature to those worthy or capable of wielding their power, which can set the stage for narratives that are centered around discovery and mastery

Example: Oscar Wilde’s Portrait of Dorian Grey presents art as a vessel for dark magic, encapsulating the protagonist’s sins while he remains untouched by time

Sources: 1 2 3 4 ⚜ Writing Notes & References

[the-uncharted-cookbook]

Cintamani Sap

Gin, orange liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup, ghee butter, and blue food coloring

Nathan Drake raced a madman and his entire army to the steps of Shambhala.

I couldn't believe it when I first heard the story. And who could blame me? Especially because Victor Sullivan was the first person I heard it from. But Chloe Frazer did corroborate it and eventually Nathan Drake himself showed up at my bar with a small jar full of blue resin to prove it. He said what he had was all that was left of the mythical Cintamani Stone. Don't tell Nate, but I may have "accidentally" spilled them across the bar and pocketed one of the small blue pebbles in the chaos. Lucky I did too. I had no idea at the time, but that little bit of resin eventually saved my life.

According to legend, the Cintamani Stone was a jewel that would give its wielder great power and grant their every wish, but in reality it wasn't a stone at all. It was actually a massive piece of amber from the Tree of Life, hidden at the center of the lost city of Shambhala. The tree possessed incredible medicinal properties, like aloe vera, arnica, calendula, willow bark, yarrow, and other healing plants but on a much greater scale. When you consume the sap from the Tree of Life, your natural healing rapidly accelerates and you gain boundless energy. It can even halt aging. But over time, too much of the sap changes you. It stains your skin blue and your teeth black, and it gets inside your mind. You become dependent on it, a Guardian dedicated to protecting Shambhala and the source of the sap at all costs.

The Cintamani Sap cocktail is my attempt to capture the energizing and refreshing nature of the Tree of Life. Gin was chosen as the base because the prominent juniper flavor provides a piney, resinous taste. Ghee butter adds texture and flavor and harkens to butter tea, a popular drink in the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The honey syrup, in addition to sweetening the cocktail, thickens it slightly for a more sap-like consistency and a drop of blue food coloring gives the perfect color to match the Cintamani Stone.

CINTAMANI SAP

Ingredients: 2 oz. gin 1 oz. dry curaçao (orange liqueur) 0.75 oz. lemon juice 0.75 oz. honey syrup 0.25 oz. ghee butter 1 drop blue food coloring Melt the ghee butter on a spoon over a flame or in a microwave. Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with pebble ice or crushed ice. Shake and strain through a fine mesh strainer onto fresh ice in a Mai Tai or double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a blue rock candy stick and an orange slice or peel.

I originally made the Cintamani Sap with a London Dry gin, specifically Bombay Sapphire, but it works wonderfully with a more citrus forward gin like Plymouth as well. Some of the ghee butter solidifies as you shake the drink so straining with a fine mesh strainer is important. The butter adds to the taste and texture of the drink, but there shouldn't be big butter flakes in it.

For the orange liqueur, I strongly recommend Pierre Ferrand's Dry Curaçao. As a replacement, Grand Marnier or other decent brandy based orange liqueurs would be fine. You could use blue curaçao which would also eliminate the need for the food coloring, but most commercially available blue curaçaos (and cheap orange liqueurs in general) are sickly sweet. If you use one, I would probably adjust the amount of honey syrup down to balance out the extra sweetness you'd get.

The recipe for honey syrup can be found here.

[tanuki-kimono]

Striking antique purple kimono with blazing hôju (wish-fulfilling jewel looking like flaming pearl, an ancient pattern representing the cintamani stone).

The mirror skirt pattern placement is a good example of ryôzuma 両褄 , which was all the rage for late Meiji-early 20th century formal kimono like this irotomesode.

[seekers-who-are-lovers]

Religious symbolisms on EP 12 in Christian and Buddhism/Hinduism perspectives

Isn’t it amusing that the final episode, EP12, fell on this year’s Lenten week? Rebirth and resurrection, the anastasis… those themes. Easter Sunday, the Christian Jesus alive again overcoming Death itself.

Isami Ao being reborn as Bravern’s latest persona, Burn Brave Big Bang, to defeat the all-powerful of all the Death Drives. Most of all, Lewis Smith coming back. His own resurrection, his own rebirth.

Burn Brave Big Bang is definitely Isami complete with his standard snarl

Verum Vita. What’s in a name? First off, it is a bastardised Latin that lacks an “e” at the end that means “the truth of life,” which sounds ironic as her lust for murder supersedes.

Upon introducing Verum Vita, a choir-like music could be heard chanting in Latin. (It was reminiscent of Carmina Burana’s “O, Fortuna” or “Dies Irae” by Guiseppe Verdi.) Then a pink lotus 🪷 appeared on her feet/bottom of her tower. A lotus has a significant meaning in different religions. In Christianity, flowers don’t often play an integral part in worship. Though, it represents purity and God’s creation of the universe. However, in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism, the lotus signifies purity of the heart, soul, and mind, and also, rebirth. It is an extraordinary exemplary as such that it remains pure and clean when coming out from the murky waters.

Usually, Hindu and Buddhism religious arts consist of deities either seated or floating on a lotus flower.

Verum Vita resembled the deity Kisshōten, the equivalent of Lakshmi in Japanese Buddhism. With a blossoming lotus under her feet, this goddess symbolises fertility, wealth, prosperity and beauty. The lotus under Verum Vita was not just any colour, but pink. In Buddhism, “the pink lotus flower is the supreme lotus and is considered to be the true lotus of Buddha.”

A few frames later, the lotus pedestal where she used to stand on transformed into marsh grass, which could be interpreted as the moment her fallen mask, her real intention, was revealed. Instead of holding a wish-fulfilling jewel called Cintamani, Verum Vita was holding a sword.

It is interesting the way this series subvert everything and use the religious imagery as the forces of evil subjugating the humankind.

Both Isami and Verum Vita both declared that they didn’t want to die. But there lies the difference between the two. When the first one wanted to save the world, the other strived to destroy it.

It feels like a mishmash of all beliefs fused into one huge spectacle to make this episode parts parody, parts fairy tale, and it is interesting to watch.

[panicinthestudio]

The Bodhisattva Nyoirin Kannon, 14th century

Ryōzen

Nanbokuchō period, Japan

Ink and light color on silk

The deity Nyoirin Kannon sits atop a boulder on a verdant mountainside, his eyes downcast in silent contemplation. Nyoirin Kannon is said to fulfill people’s every wish and is depicted here pondering how to save humanity. The spot his left hand touches gleams golden. In the sutras, which explain the teachings of Buddhist deities, it is written that Nyoirin Kannon touches the “shining mountain,” Mount Potalaka. This painting alludes to that detail by depicting him touching a gleaming golden rock. The artist is Ryōzen, who was active in the vicinity of Tōfuku-ji Zen Temple in Kyoto during the 14th century. The painting bears Ryōzen’s signature in its bottom-right corner. No details about Ryōzen are known, but it is rare for the name of the artist of a 14th-century work to survive, making this a valuable example. This is an ink wash painting. The artist portrays a space with depth through the use of different shades of ink. The use of gold causes Nyoirin Kannon to stand out against the black ink used for the majority of the painting. Details such as the deity’s diadem, accessories, the pattern on his robe, and the veins on the leaves of the lotus throne on which he sits are delicately portrayed using gold paint made from a gold-powder base. Similar uses of gold paint are often seen in traditional paintings of Buddhist deities. In this painting, the gold-painted sections appear especially vivid amid the varied shades of black ink.

Collection of the Tokyo National Museum

[foundfamilymylove]

Imagine the chaos if the people in the indignity test suddenly came into the LCF world-

Dodam calling Cale 'the terrible bastard' while everyone is confused

Raon is happy knowing that even in another world, his human will always save him, just like he promised

Maybe even them fighting for Cale's attention

Both CHs look at each other warily but bond over the confusion that is known as Cale Henituse. Also, CH promises to teach indignity test CH how to become stronger to protect his new-found family. Cale is scared at this, as always

Alver laughing with a refreshed smile, while the younger him wonders if he's gone crazy when he sees how much paperwork he has.

Tiny Alver being happy when he sees that the dark elves, and them too, have been accepted by people. It only reaffirms the fact that he didn't make the wrong choice.

Baby KRS who is wary at first and sticks to CH like glue, however soon opens up with the help of the children. I can imagine Alver going 'Aigoo, why can't I have such a cute dongsaeng?'

However it's ruined when they teach baby KRS how to scam with a bright smile to get money (a critical hit to Alver)

(If you want angst then they wonder why KRS is here when he's so young, however they see how skinny he is still, his footsteps too quiet to not have been learned, the way his eyes were always looking for escapes and he hated people getting too close. The way he dissociates sometimes, just staring blankly at the wall. It's... unnerving, to say the least, to watch a child go so blank and unmoving.

It's clear that something terrible had happened, but both CH, KRS and Cale (to Alver) hold their silence, so all they can do is treat him with care.)

Tiny KRS and the children bonding.

Raon being taught by Eruhaben and Rosalyn.

If they still had the cintamani, maybe they could also dote on baby KRS and how cute he was as a kid, asking 20yr KRS why couldn't he smile at them like that and how such a cute kid turned into such a grump- (tsundere-

Them helping each other out for the future, and sharing concepts/ideas from their worlds.

Vicross having to babysit but he doesn't mind

Ron noticing the similarities between KRS and Cale and deciding to pay more attention to the two of them

Anyways, wow. This got way longer than I expected-

[thevirginwitch]

Pearl Correspondences & Uses in Witchcraft

Friendly reminder that this post was available for early access over on my Patreon! Unlock early access to my future content (as well as exclusive access to my research notes, free tarot readings, digital goodies, access to my online library, and TONS more) by subscribing to my Patreon for as little as $2/month!

In ancient Chinese culture, pearls were used in artwork, folktales, and charms to represent wishes, fortunes, gratitude, and even the moon:

Marquis of Sui’s Pearl, a gemstone in a folktale dating back to the Warring States period (475-221 BCE), is given to a leader, Sui, from an injured snake that he nurses back to health, as a symbol of gratitude.

In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, The Chintamani (equivalent to the importance of The Philosopher’s Stone in alchemy) is known as a wish-fulfilling jewel that is sometimes depicted as a pearl.

In Chinese artwork, dragons may be seen holding or playing with a “flaming pearl” – in this context, some believe the pearl may be representative of “an object of great value that enhances the benign dragon who treasures it”, however it is more commonly (especially in Westerners) believed to be a cosmological symbol of the moon – in fact, there is an ancient belief that full moons are solid pearls, while new moons are hollow pearls.

In holistic circles, pearl powder is also known to help you with longevity, beauty, bone-health, among many other (non-FDA approved) benefits – and in Ayurvedic medicine, pearl is said to be an antidote for poison, and it was also used in love potions.

Knowing the traditional symbolism of pearls in Chinese and Eastern cultures, as well as its (supposed) medical benefits and Ayurvedic uses, we can create our own Correspondences for Utilizing Pearls in Witchcraft:

The Moon

The inner/subconscious-self

Wishes

Gratitude

Abundance

Love

Beauty

Longevity, good health

Pisces, cancer

Hidden knowledge

Uses for pearls (or pearl powder) in modern witchcraft:

Use pearl powder as highlighter in makeup for an easy glamor-spell

Mix with salt and other herbs associated with abundance to make “money-salt” for money spells

Add whole pearls or sprinkle pearl powder in your money bowl

Blow pearl powder onto your front door at the beginning of each month to bring abundance to your home

Write down a secret or something you want to get off your chest, and bury it with a pearl to keep it ‘hidden away’ from others

Make a wish with a pearl by leaving it out in a rainstorm, or dropping it into a natural body of water (pond, lake, etc).

Offerings to sea-related or beauty-realted deities

Fun pearl facts:

Genuine pearls (and pearl powder) doesn’t burn! Pearls may discolor, but they shouldn’t go up in flames.

Pearls are made as oysters try to protect themselves from irritants or parasites – they add layers and layers of this ‘pearl’ coating to intruders, and viola!

Pearls are the only gemstone that come from a living creature

Pearls come in many colors

Pearls are obtained from oyster farming – which is actually beneficial to the environment! Additionally, pearls can be harvested without killing oysters.

Be careful when shopping for pearls – many places do not sell genuine pearls and they may be fake. Use caution when looking to purchase!

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_of_Sui's_pearl

https://sci-hub.ru/https://doi.org/10.2307/1512907

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cintamani

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Treasures

[renegade-hierophant]

Sendai Tendou Byakue Daikannon (仙台天道白衣大観音), located in Sendai, Japan. It portrays the bodhisattva Byakue Kannon (白衣観音, "White-robed Kannon", a.k.a. The Goddess of Mercy) bearing the cintamani gem (如意宝珠, Nyoihōju) in her hand.

It is the tallest statue of a goddess in Japan and as of 2023 is the 8th tallest statue in the world at 100 metres (330 ft).