Being open to alternate options

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[Jenett]

I've got a bit of magical working I intend to do tonight, and it occured to me that some outside ideas might be handy.

I mentioned that a good friend is in rehab after having had hip replacement surgery. She's in her late 40s, the injury that's finally being treated happened when she was *five*. So, one of the issues she's having is that the rehab folks forget that for her entire adult life, there have been things she just couldn't do with that leg, and she figured out work-arounds.

I asked her today if she'd be interested in my putting together something that can sit in her rehab room that will essentially remind people to thing more broadly about possible solutions to the various things she's working on (getting out of bed by herself, some parts of dressing, walking, etc.)

Basically, encouraging everyone involved (including her!) to think outside the box and not get caught in 'Oh, this solution usually works'. Stuff that helps break through previous stagnant practice and removes blockages is also helpful. (This is all stuff we've already discussed with the relevant therapists, etc. The goal here is to encourage creative solutions that work, not force anything in a particular path. Basically, encourage those sparks of insight and problem-solving to happen in the best ways possible.)

I want to do the charging work tonight, so she can have it tomorrow. I also don't want to run all over creation picking things up, since I've been spending a lot of time and energy helping her out, and my stamina needs to go to that. Fortunately, I've been witchy more than long enough to accumulate all sorts of odds and ends that might be helpful.

My question for all of you:
- Any thoughts on the design of this object - visual aspects, etc.
- Any specific experiences with herbs or other materials that you've found particularly helpful in this kind of work. (I can't guarantee I have them handy, but it never hurts to ask, and I can always add things.)

My inclination is to create (or adapt) a small container (bowl or open-topped box) with ribbons/string/etc. flowing from the inside out beyond the edges (representing thinking beyond the limits of the container, as it were), and to have herbs/stones/etc. inside the container that encourage the removal of blocks. I can also see the potential for cord magic where a knot is untied each day once it's set - but that seems to be likely to have a more restrictive time frame than we'd really like.

I have on hand:
- A relatively wide selection of herbs on hand (I've got at least 50 different varieties of things in the house: also Cunningham's and a couple of other herbal references for magical work) Note that these will be magical use only: she's on enough meds that internal use is something to be very carefully coordinated with a trained herbalist, which I'm not.
 
- A variety of magical oils and perfumes.  (Anything scented needs to be limited and able to be closed, since the rehab facility tries to avoid strong scents - but a drop or two on a piece of fabric in a box, for example, might work)

- Polymer clay suitable for making small objects with (in a variety of colors, but I don't remember what all I have right now.)

- Miscellaneous ribbon, embroidery floss, etc.

- A few stones, but not many.

[Matrinka]

My question for all of you: [/b]
- Any thoughts on the design of this object - visual aspects, etc.
- Any specific experiences with herbs or other materials that you've found particularly helpful in this kind of work. (I can't guarantee I have them handy, but it never hurts to ask, and I can always add things.)

My inclination is to create (or adapt) a small container (bowl or open-topped box) with ribbons/string/etc. flowing from the inside out beyond the edges (representing thinking beyond the limits of the container, as it were), and to have herbs/stones/etc. inside the container that encourage the removal of blocks. I can also see the potential for cord magic where a knot is untied each day once it's set - but that seems to be likely to have a more restrictive time frame than we'd really like.

I have on hand:
- A relatively wide selection of herbs on hand (I've got at least 50 different varieties of things in the house: also Cunningham's and a couple of other herbal references for magical work) Note that these will be magical use only: she's on enough meds that internal use is something to be very carefully coordinated with a trained herbalist, which I'm not.
 
- A variety of magical oils and perfumes.  (Anything scented needs to be limited and able to be closed, since the rehab facility tries to avoid strong scents - but a drop or two on a piece of fabric in a box, for example, might work)

- Polymer clay suitable for making small objects with (in a variety of colors, but I don't remember what all I have right now.)

- Miscellaneous ribbon, embroidery floss, etc.

- A few stones, but not many.

First thought was Ganesh, remover of obstacles. 

I love the open box with ribbons idea- very graphic depiction of what you're doing.  Lavender- color and scent.  Something unexpected- a Jack in the Box?  All-heal and boneset.  Chrysophase or aventurine.  A roaring mouse.

Quick free flow there.  Maybe useful, maybe not.

[RandallS]

Something unexpected- a Jack in the Box? 

A "Charlie in the Box" -- A Jack in the Box with something unexpected that pops out instead of the expected jack.

[Aisling]

A few stones, but not many.

Coming in to this late, but lapis lazuli comes to mind.  It tends to stimulate creative thinking and broadens the perspective to see things in new ways.  I've had good luck with it when it comes to projects that require outside the box thinking.

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