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My Greenstone Pendant is made from New Zealand Jade. It was hand carved by a Maori sculptor who works out of Waiheke Island.

It's a simple piece. But I love it very much. Maori tradition is that you should never buy your own Pounamu (greenstone) rather it should be a gift. This was given to me by a person very very special at the time. Though we have parted ways I still wear it. I've had it blessed and ceremonially washed to clear the connections from the past.

Pounamu is treasured and handed down from generation to generation. It has connotations of healing and protection. Each stone has characteristics in it's flecks, patterns, transparency and colour. Mine is quite uniform in its depth of green and is slightly flecked if you look really carefully. It is named Kawakawa after a tree whose leaves are similar in colour and often used for healing teas or poultices.

It is seed shaped, though not completely cylindrical. The carver has lightly flattened the front and back surfaces so they sit against the skin and it hardly ever rolls.

I work in the public service with clients from all ethnicities, races tongues and economic groups. Many has been the occasion that I have felt this symbol of New Zealand has been a calm influence in times of possible dissonance.

This is my HNT this week. If you want to know more about the idea of HNT and its guidelines click the first link below. If you'd like to view this week's posts, follow the second link to Os's main post today on his blog Views from the Back Row, scroll to the bottom and click into his comments section (it's the bit that says Be Next and then a number) Enjoy travelling through the ensuing list of posted links with the accompanying "I'm Ups" Just remember a lot of these images are not safe for work! And if you'd like to join me follow along!