Symbols and Cues

One of them approaches me and holds a small crystal leaf out over my arm. It flashes blue against the white of my skin. Another man comes and does the same, and then another. Masters. That is the word which is used for these men in their humble robes. I am uneasy. They are there for me. I am important to the mass of people standing around me, and yet, unimportant at the same time. The crystal leaves, flashing blue, show that they have my best interest at heart. 

One of them, a gruff man with gray fur around the collar of his robe…his leaf does not flash blue. It is a cascade of orange and yellow and green and pink. I glance in his eyes and his gaze is disparaging, he continues on without waiting for me to nod. It is dangerous to ignore what has happened, but I do. I suddenly feel that the others are impatient, that I would only be holding things up, and that I might somehow displease them. I know that crystals sometimes show those colors against a white which is too pale. The leaves should not do this. They are enchanted to flash blue regardless of my skin. I know this, but I rub my arm self-consciously… and maintain my silence. 
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The take-away from the dream was immediately obvious to me on waking, because I have a crystal leaf with those exact properties. It is one of the most powerful talisman’s I own—a relic of my childhood—and that blue flash is a symbol in the language that only They can speak to me.

It is a well-timed dream because it comes right before I move on to Chapter 3 of Trance-portation and prepare to imprint cues on myself to help me slip in and out of trance only when I desire to. The crystal leaf is not one of them. In fact, it is not even a symbol that I will need for this trancework, but I sense that it will be important for what I think will come after. In the mean-time, I am vested in the task of deciding what cues to incorporate into my practice.

Music is obvious. I have used the route of dedicated music before and it seems the most natural for someone like me who can perfectly replay instrumental songs in her mind on demand (there is also the timing aspect of that…something loop-able would be good). And of course—Talismanarist*  that I am— I am also considering a talisman to put on when doing trancework, perhaps one which contains some vehicle for storing a scent paired to the same purpose. I am thinking one of the oils I own would be good. There is another scent which I used when doing spellwork as a teen, but I have only found it in candles and I don’t want to be limited to flame.

And for reasons I don’t fully understand, a part of me wants to use a blindfold--and my Ba is fluttering and loudly insisting it should be embroidered…

I will have to think on that.

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*Yes, I made up that title…we need a word for people who make Talismans which is not as grandiose as “Alchemist” or “Artificer” but not as mundane as “Artisan” or “Artist”. Also something not starting with “A”.