When one door shuts...

 Another one opens, right? 

It all depends. Some doors present a not so pleasant message.

   Among those doors are ones that have stairs leading to them. In some cases, lots of stairs. In my days of carrying a cane, this wasn't especially troublesome. I was one of the fortunate ones who could do stairs. The door itself generally wasn't too much of a problem, unless I was carrying something. Then I had no free hand to open the door once I arrived at my destination. But now that I have progressed to using walkers, rollators or a mobile scooter, the stairs are impossible. None of those devices handle stairs very well (I should know, I've tried). Wheels and stairs are just not a good combination.

   I'm very thankful for those buildings that have alternative entrances with ramps, but unfortunately, they are not always readily available. Some require special passkeys (nothing like sitting outside a locked door in the rain and trying to track down someone to open it) while others need an operator available to utilize the equipment installed. Often times, these entrances are hard to find due to lack of signage.

   Other places have accessible doors, but getting to those doors is sometimes a challenge. Individuals often don't recognize the need to keep accessible entry clear for those who require it. Accessible parking to accessible entries is often treated more as a convenience rather than a necessity. It literally is impossible for individuals with mobility equipment, to get said equipment in and out of their vehicles without the extra space. This renders otherwise accessible buildings completely inaccessible.

Then there is just poor design.

   This was the entry to the accessible bathrooms at a national park. (There was a sign out front the building guiding folks to this accessible restroom.) Not only did the pillar in the center of the entryway make navigating difficult for a wheelchair or mobility scooter, but the step provided a unique challenge. Kudos for painting the stair so it was noticeable, but seriously, shaving the cement to provide a ramp might have been a better solution.

   Not to mention the bathroom itself, with the narrow aisle between the stalls and sinks to get to the accessible bathroom stall at the far end with the door that didn't lock.

Getting to the door is the first step. Getting the door open is an altogether different challenge.

Image from Butterfly MX

   Fortunately, engineers have developed door openers for doors that do
not automatically open (like at the grocery store). They are relatively inexpensive and not to difficult to install. I was extremely grateful when my church installed one. It meant I no longer had to reach around/over my mobility device and attempt to wrangle the door open. Depending on the door, my efforts were not always successful.

   Now, if I could just convince facilities to put these on the bathroom doors... it seems that those are the heaviest doors ever installed as well as typically the most difficult spaces to maneuver into!

   Thankfully, builders and designers are becoming more conscious of accessibility needs and we are seeing improvements in newer buildings and changes in older ones. Nevertheless, I always recommend looking up venues before you go and checking out accessibility as well as calling before your planned visit to mitigate any difficulties you might encounter just entering the premises and eliminate any unexpected surprises.

   Which is exactly what I plan on doing for my next adventure!

All pictures are my own, unless otherwise specified in the captions.

Beginners Guide to Getting Stoned... I mean Stones! (Iron?)

Triple Moon Chalice

   Today's blog is a bit of a deviation from the usual as it doesn't involve stones at all (as you can probably tell from the chalice pictured). I know, it takes some stones to not write about stones in a crystal and gemstone blog, right?

Yes, that was the sound of my bosses groaning!

   Right now, there is little else they can do as I am at home convalescing. While I like to think I am hard as nails, two broke ribs say otherwise. Just speaking about nails and bones got me thinking about iron...

   Why Iron? Well, because Iron is a necessary chemical component for bone to repair and rebuild itself. Iron helps the body to make collagen to rebuild bone, something which I need right now. Which then got me thinking about products in the shops that contain iron, none of which are really used to repair broken bones, but I wondered, what else might Iron be good for?

Turns out... a lot!

      Cold Iron is regarded as repelling negative energy and there is a belief that ghosts or spirits cannot cross iron, so many old cemeteries were built with iron fences around them. Wrought iron around family burials and mausoleums may have been placed for the same purpose. Often, iron is used in rituals to anchor oneself to a property.

Coffin Nails

   Talking about cemeteries brings to mind - coffin nails! Many coffin nails are made of
wrought iron combining the natural properties of iron with rich traditions. The nail is most often associated in the Christian tradition with the crucifixion of Christ, symbolizing his passion, but it also represents the Cosmic Axis, or Axis Mundi, around which the heavens rotate. Tapped into the steps just before a main entrance to a house, coffin nails are believed to ward off mal-intent and prevent people from carrying bad magic into a home to leave there. Additionally, it is thought that scraping the rust and dirt from a nail until it is shiny and setting it in a place where the rising sun will shine on it will make it a protective talisman to be carried.

Railroad Spikes

   A much larger relation to the coffin nail is the railroad spike. Railroad spikes may seem
like an unlikely magical tool, but like coffin nails, they are often used in home protection. The basis of the magical properties in the spikes is in their function as anchors, the time they have spent fulfilling this mission, and the fact that they are made of iron. Once again we are reminded of strong mineral properties of building and holding things together, from bones to transportation, to protection.

 

Then there are horseshoes! 

Horseshoe

   When you think horseshoes, you think luck (something which I don't seem to have a lot of lately). The horseshoe symbol provides a combination of luck, protection, religion, and even magic. Many believe that not only will a horseshoe bring gool luck into their lives, but also to any special event or occasion, as well as ward off evil, misfortune, or bad luck.

Perhaps I should hang one over my doorway!

   Iron, classically known as the Metal of Mars, has been universally perceived as the symbol of human strength, obstinacy, fortitude, honor, courage, sharpness (of body and mind), tenacity, and confidence in power. It can be found in many products, from the ones listed above to candlestick holders and cauldrons. Although not a crystal or gemstone, iron is a mineral worth considering!

Chime Candle Holders

Triple Moon Cauldron

Looking to possess this mineral yourself? Visit us in person or online at https://justwitchys.com. Just Witchys carries a number of books to increase your understanding of this mineral as well as many other stones and crystals. They also carry a variety of products that contain iron to share with someone you love, pair with your favorite outfits, use in rituals, and adorn your home.

That's all now from the Shinyite School of stones!

Shinyite School of Stones is an unregistered trademark of Duckwrites.com. Used by permission to Just Witchys. 😁