‘The flower children and groupies are not often willing to do work that many business types and academics have done. I have found what I think of as independent thinkers (Which is main characteristic of a Hippie, I think.) in all social groups or walks of life. Michel Foucault and his students at Sorbonne or Pierre Trudeau and Jean-Paul Sartre and his beau are established thinkers of genre. This book and work required of any forum seeking change will try to explore why they are so unable to get a larger audience to actually take ethics they speak about and apply them in real world changes.

I will have to get past Hegelian Being-ness and other confused Neo-Platonic rhetoric to nuts and bolts of Gothic ideas and historical agendas again. I guess cultivation of positive emotions can assist in a therapeutic manner which will enable people. But wishful-thinking alone will not solve much of ethical issues borne through constant power-mongering or people needing to fight each other for more of that elusive and fictional One Pie. Let us strive to reduce any cherished illusions of our history if they do not stand test of common sense for good of all people. It may turn out to be an exploration of sublime inter-connectiveness and I hope I will be fair in seeing positives that Machiavelli and likes of Carlyle can offer real thinkers in present as well.’

"Long, long ago Wangkumara people decided to send a pelican (Muda) to explore Northern Territory, so he could return and tell them what was there. After a time, while still in Queensland, pelican felt ill and landed on top of a hill. While resting, pelican observed ground beneath him, amazed by its magnificent array of colours. Being curious he began to peck at coloured stones with his beak. Suddenly, a spark flew out and lit dry grass nearby. The flames rose and spread across long distances, approaching a group of Wangkumara who were camped near by. The people were able to cook their meat and fish for first time, grateful for this new gift brought by these precious stones"

Throughout history, early cultures credited opal with magical properties, believing it to possess healing properties of all gemstones, due to its multitude of colours.

The ancient Greeks believed opal gave wearer protection from disease and was a sought after gem for its gift of prophecy and foresight. Greek astrologers, mediums and soothsayers also used stone for divination. As well as its mystical significance and psychic vision properties, opal was also thought to aid in digestion, stomach disorder, and to cure all disease associated with eyes. It was believed that when a person was to suffer a minor illness, stone became dull and grey; it would turn a sickly yellow when an injury or accident was about to occur.

Superstitions associated with opal continued throughout Middle Ages, when opal was widely believed to be beneficial to eyesight, while others thought wearing opal would render wearer invisible to eye. It was for this reason thieves held opal in such high regard, using it as their symbol, due to this superstition. Blond haired women wore necklaces of opal to protect their hair from loosing its colour, while opal amulets were worn to attract happiness, love, good fortune and favour.

In 19th century, opal was considered unlucky in Europe, due to plot of a popular novel of time written by Sir Walter Scott, while in Asia it has always been considered to bring loyalty and hope to wearer.

this concludes part 1. In part 2, we discover where opal is mined around world. You will be surprised at some of locations.

I hope you have enjoyed reading part 1 and I look forwrd to your company again in part 2.

best wishes and have a great day

Stuart Bazga

Kulpunya Opals

I started Kulpunya Opals several years ago to provide the UK and Europe with a specialist supply of opals.