To wear or not to wear the ring...

So why write an entire blog about a ring? Not even a particularly beautiful ring either? Well let’s get a little background first and then it should become clearer. I’ve never been overly superstitious although in Italian culture superstitions run rampant! I think it’s a bit of superstition and a little about beliefs. I’ve always had my doubts, but there was an “event” when I was a teen that happened and ever since then there is a part of me that finds it hard sometimes not to believe. When I was a kid and a bit into my teens I had warts...yes warts, all over my fingers, they were such a source of embarrassment and I think also part of my part of my shyness as a kid. My mother, god bless her knew this and of course wanted to see me happy, so she sought out treatment. I went through so many extremely painful treatments and doctors to get rid of them. I tried everything! Some went away but majority just got smaller and then came back. Was I cursed?  We were beginning to think so. In true Italian fashion my grandmother said she had the cure! Heck, why not try one more thing! Her treatment… not a doctor or a home remedy but rather just a superstition or belief! Here is what I remember of it. You take an apple and prick it as many times as you have warts, then you bury the apple (I want to say under a tree but that part is foggy?) you are not to visit that spot for 5 years and as the apple decays, your warts will disappear. I’m sure there is probably a chant or prayer you say but again very foggy! It sounds so crazy but it worked! After she did that, my warts slowly disappeared and never returned.  To some this may sound like a bunch of crap but for me it was my saving grace to further childhood embarrassment.

There are so many stories or beliefs like this in every culture. I’ve always been fascinated and to some point actually still believe in some of them. Where does the ring come from? My mom met with a guru from India who she made contact through a good friend of hers. He told her all kinds of predictions and “feelings” on herself but also her girls. It was very interesting and not hokey at all according to mom. He made no claims to predict the future or anything like that. The one of many things he said about me that really stuck out was that I had been through a few hard times in my life and that things were going to change for me but to aid in that I needed a yellow sapphire that I was to wear on my index finger of my right hand and the setting of the ring needed to be as such so that the gem made contact with my skin.  He also was specific to say that I needed to put it on, on a Thursday at sunset and not to take it off. So he got me the appropriate gem in shape, size and colour and so off I went to an Indian jewellery store where they knew exactly what I was talking about and made sure to reiterate what the guru had said. So on Thursday night at sunset I put the ring on and have no removed it since.  Here is what is said about yellow sapphire in Indian astrology:

"Connected with solar plexes. Controls liver, fat of the body, Good for financial success, sound bank balance, professional success, increase intelligence, make one free from unwanted / unpleasant thoughts. Removes depression. Helps recover from throat troubles. Those who are in the artistic, educational, financial, endowment field or in religious / philosophical areas should wear Yellow Sapphire as their lucky gem."

Sooooo have things been different? Is the ring working?  Can I take it off? I am exactly at that crossroad myself.  I have so many other pieces of beautiful jewellery that I would rather wear but yet I continue to wear this. In my heart I believe what is meant to happen will happen to me. However the insecure teenager in me screams, don’t take it off!!!  Since putting the ring on my finger, I have had both good and bad happen to me.  I would say definitely the good far out weighs the bad! I truly want to believe that I deserve the happiness that is coming to me and that if I take the ring off that things will change and even through the not so good times that I can turn to my wonderful support system and know I can get through anything. So if I believe that then the question becomes… to wear or not to wear the ring?