Dragon's blood, now doesn't that conjure up some interesting images? And Mongolian bells? Are those the sort that the monks ring in meditation or what?
Dragon's blood is a resin, called a tear, that appears when the bark of a species of coton tree is cut. It is deep red in colour and is full of compounds that the Amazon peoples have used since time to heal many conditions. It is also a powerful tool in the cleansing of the spirit. At one time it was very precious and difficult to obtain, therefor guarded. Those who had some were careful to expose the fact to strangers, just in case the stranger realized the value of the resin. It is also used in incense and although it does not have much of a scent, it is attractive to have burning.
Now, what does that have to do with Mongolian bells? The bells were hung around the camel's necks traditionally, and were to announce the approach of the caravan. They were also to alert anyone in the desert to the presence of a caravan, because for days on end ,the caravan could travel without seeing anyone at all. There is some thought that the bells had a spiritual purpose, though that is not widely accepted. Not much is known about the Mongolian caravans really.
Dragon's blood is no longer a terribly expensive commodity, with the advent of world travel and trade. The coton tree that it comes from is rather remarkable, with a slim trunk and then an umbrella of intertwined branches with a canopy of leaves on the top. There are more than one variety of the coton tree and the resin can be collected from any of them. I bought some from an online source to use in soap actually, but have since discovered it does not dye the soap for long because it interacts with the lye and becomes neutral, losing the rich, deep red colour. So, I will burn it for incense instead.
The Mongolian bells are for the goats! Since I do not have a caravan of camels, the goats will have to wear them. The sound of the bells is soft, not at all harsh and it acts as a slight deterrent to predators, plus helps me find them when they are in the bush. They have not gone in the bush for a month or longer now and I am not quite sure why. Possibly it is because they have eaten all the leaves they like and are stuck with the grass now. The bells will be a pleasant sound. I have three different sizes, so even the little goats will get to wear one. I bought three big ones for the cows too, though I have no idea how I am going to get them on the cows. It is not like I can say, "Here cow" and they come running and stand still. I can pet Kylie and maybe Barclay, but Shona is still not going to let me come that close. But I have a bell for her.
So, the enticing title is not so exciting after all. I had you going for a bit though, didn't I?
Dragon's blood is a resin, called a tear, that appears when the bark of a species of coton tree is cut. It is deep red in colour and is full of compounds that the Amazon peoples have used since time to heal many conditions. It is also a powerful tool in the cleansing of the spirit. At one time it was very precious and difficult to obtain, therefor guarded. Those who had some were careful to expose the fact to strangers, just in case the stranger realized the value of the resin. It is also used in incense and although it does not have much of a scent, it is attractive to have burning.
Now, what does that have to do with Mongolian bells? The bells were hung around the camel's necks traditionally, and were to announce the approach of the caravan. They were also to alert anyone in the desert to the presence of a caravan, because for days on end ,the caravan could travel without seeing anyone at all. There is some thought that the bells had a spiritual purpose, though that is not widely accepted. Not much is known about the Mongolian caravans really.
Dragon's blood is no longer a terribly expensive commodity, with the advent of world travel and trade. The coton tree that it comes from is rather remarkable, with a slim trunk and then an umbrella of intertwined branches with a canopy of leaves on the top. There are more than one variety of the coton tree and the resin can be collected from any of them. I bought some from an online source to use in soap actually, but have since discovered it does not dye the soap for long because it interacts with the lye and becomes neutral, losing the rich, deep red colour. So, I will burn it for incense instead.
The Mongolian bells are for the goats! Since I do not have a caravan of camels, the goats will have to wear them. The sound of the bells is soft, not at all harsh and it acts as a slight deterrent to predators, plus helps me find them when they are in the bush. They have not gone in the bush for a month or longer now and I am not quite sure why. Possibly it is because they have eaten all the leaves they like and are stuck with the grass now. The bells will be a pleasant sound. I have three different sizes, so even the little goats will get to wear one. I bought three big ones for the cows too, though I have no idea how I am going to get them on the cows. It is not like I can say, "Here cow" and they come running and stand still. I can pet Kylie and maybe Barclay, but Shona is still not going to let me come that close. But I have a bell for her.
So, the enticing title is not so exciting after all. I had you going for a bit though, didn't I?
This is the resin that was going to go into the soap. It is with alcohol and oil to dissolve it. That deep red colour doesn't come through much.
Dragon's blood resin
The bells
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