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K ROBINS LIBRARYThe Language of Symbols
Resources
Archives
The Inspiration Behind K's Designs
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The Language of Symbols
"To the one whom the symbols speak of their nature and of their secret,each symbol is a living manuscript in itself. Symbolism is the best way of leaving ideas behind which will keep for ages after the teacher has passed. It is speaking without speaking; it is writing without writing. The symbol is said to be an ocean in a drop." Hazrat Inayat Khan
K Robins Designs is more than just a business. It is a meeting place. East meets West. Celtic Goddesses join with Chinese Bodhisattvas. Native American totems, Greek Mythology and ancient Mesopotamian symbols share space together.
K has spent years working with and studying the symbols that abound in nature, religion, and history. As an ongoing project, this page is dedicated to sharing K's journey in hopes that we can learn to cherish diversity while embracing the interconnectivenss of all people and nature. back to top
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Resources
Angeles
Arrien - Author of Signs of Life, she is the founder and president of the Angeles Arrien Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education and Research, and a Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences.(http://www.angelesarrien.com/)
Judy
Chicago - The Dinner Party - A book about the monumental
installation which has become an icon of this century symbolizing
the history of women's achievements and struggles through 39 china
painted plates and their elaborately embroidered runners (http://www.judychicago.com/)
Marija Gimbutas -
The Language of the Goddess - "First authoritative word
on the ancient goddess culture" The Boston Globe (http://www.gimbutas.org/)
Signs Out of Time
- A film about archaeologist Marija Gimbutas by Starhawk and
Donna Read (http://www.gimbutas.org/)
Patricia Monaghan -
The Book of Goddesses and Heroines- "Unique compendium of
mythological and legendary female figures of all races and eras" (http://www.patriciamonaghan.com/)
Mayumi
Oda - I Opened the Gate Laughing and Goddesses -
Colorful and playful goddesses in nature with roots in Japanese and
Buddhist mythology.
Starhawk -
Spiral Dance , The Fifth Sacred Thing and other books
that link an earth-based spirituality to action to change the world
(http://www.starhawk.org/)
Barbara Walker -
The Woman's Book of Myths and Secrets and Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects - Barbara's comprehensive work has been my constant companion since beginning this journey myself - K
Joseph Campbell Foundation
- For anyone interested in mythology and all its ramifications, Joseph Campbell's work contains vast quantities of information gathered in his passionate, lifelong study of mythology and spiritual awakening. (http://www.jcf.org/)
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The Inspiration Behind K's Designs |
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Asha's teahouse is located down a winding forest path behind her home and sits quietly by the creek. Here Asha Greer teaches and practices Japanese Tea Ceremony along with various other mystical and spiritual arts. |
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Many years ago, when I first began carving wood
in the form of Goddess figurines, I shyly gave
one of the first to Asha. I'm not sure what I was
expecting, nor can I remember exactly what she
said. All I know is that she appeared delighted and I felt warm, cozy, and happy
inside. I knew I had her
blessings and encouragment to continue with my work.
I have continued the tradition over the years of
giving Asha new designs to check out. One day
last year I asked her what she would like to see
me make. She said, "a heart and wings."
The heart and wings is the
symbol of Sufi Ruhaniat International. Sufism
is the mystical branch of Islam characterized by devotional singing and
dancing (Dances of Universal Peace) brought to this country by Hazrat Inayt Khan.
A few weeks later,
Asha was serving me tea in her teahouse. In my mind appeared an image
of a heart with wings. It was as if Asha had turned into a giant heart and
wings herself and was serving/offering me her own heart.
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I imagine that is the way Asha would dedicate it.
Find out more about Asha Greer at www.wildheartjournal.com or visit
www.lamafoundation.org to learn about the wonderful retreats offered by the Lama Foundation. Asha is humbly one of the founding members
of this remarkable retreat center in New Mexico that is a sustainable spiritual community as well as an educational center dedicated to all spiritual paths.
She spends her life painting, teaching and serving hearts around the world.
Asha is often at Lama but mostly, lucky for us, she spends her time at
home in the mountains of Virginia.
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It has been my delight and honor to design the Friendship Knot for my daughter Leila to give to her 10 bridesmaids.
Leila wanted something special to symbolize her
deep friendship with these women.  After some
study and drawing, I presented the possibility of
the Celtic friendship knot. The knot is ordinarily
long and tight. Leila automatically envisioned it
round and open. I loved that input and went to work.
Qualities of endearment kept me striving to
develop a human embrace within the knot.
Leila's wedding went on for a few days... we
were all around each other a lot. I am so
glad it did as it gave me a chance to feel how
special each of these women is to my daughter
and see their friendship in action. It was with great joy that
I saw them wearing their gift on her wedding day.
Leila met her Australian husband Pete in Kenya
while they were both doing missionary work.
They are passionately dedicated to taking care
of children. In their honor, K Robins Designs has become a proud donor to Save The Children.(http://www.savethechildren.org/)
I found the following information on a Girl Scout website and wanted to share it with others -
At first it might perhaps seem strange that the Friendship Knot,
also known as the Japanese Crown or Success Knot has
found its way, across thousands of miles, to us. In reality it
isn't really so strange at all, for friendship knows no barriers.
This knot is also aptly named for is it not so that one's
crowning success is friendship?
"I will always remember my best friend Leila when I wear this
special necklace. We may be living far apart but wearing this
friendship knot continually reminds me of our kinship and the
bonds of sisterhood we share." Melissa ( matron of honor) |
Sandra Pleasants became my yoga teacher about 21 years ago. She
has been a huge inspiration to me and I am so fortunate to have her as a dear
friend. Here in the foothills of rural Virginia, where 21 years ago, we were lucky
to even have a yoga teacher, Sandra amazed us with her form and grace as she
demonstrated asanas and brought us ancient teachings from The East.
One of my earliest designs and first asana design, the Warrior, was inspired by
Sandra. As I would watch her hold this pose with such ease, strength, and poise,
I longed to find that place in myself. So I carved the pose in wax with as much
grace and simplicity as I could muster up. It was one thing to carve it into wax -
another thing to step into the pose slowly over many years myself. Each time I
would make a new asana pendant, I would proudly present it to Sandra. It is
wonderful to see her wearing them.
Sandra is a Certified Junior Intermediate Iyengar Yoga Instructor. She has
traveled to India many times and studied with BKS Iyengar and his family.
Sandra also has traveled extensively throughout the world teaching in Italy,
Belarus and the USA. Her personal friends and teachers include Patricia
Walden, Betsey Downing, Gabriella Giubilaro and John Schumacher.
Sandra's choice to follow the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar and the Khrishnamacharya
lineage came after studying with Betsy Downing. Sandra has stayed true to
that lineage in a way most Westerners are not normally inclined. Yoga is
meditation for Sandra, as training the mind by doing poses with great attention
naturally brings one to a place of expansion and equanimity.
Sandra, an active member of the Iyengar Association of the Southeast, has
served as both treasurer and president and is presently their asana columnist.
These days she teaches yoga to Parkinson's and Diabetes patients at University of
Virginia Medical Center. She also co-directs, along with Jennifer Elliott, an Astanga teacher, an ongoing teacher training class in Richmond and has several classes in and around Charlottesville and Nelson County, Virginia. |
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Kathryn ( studio manager at KRD) and I visited Sandra in October. Kathryn says,
”I am amazed and awed by Sandra Pleasant’s devotion and dedication to the
path of Iyengar yoga. She has taken the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar and made
them accessible to the everyday person and has been an inspiration to all whose
lives she has touched. To witness the passion and tenacity in her teaching and
her grace in movement gives encouragement to those of us who are
entering our latter years.”
Her life experiences as mother of 5 and grandmother of 8, along with so many years of
yoga practice, gives Sandra knowledge on a cellular level, in her body, as well as in
her mind. She indeed has a unique ability to help aging students. Sandra says,
”The Iyengar method of encouraging the use of props prevents injuries and makes
yoga accessible to all ages and...my students are my greatest teachers!”
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Sandra and her husband Jack have spent 30 years or so, kindly building their home which reflects
their philosophy and spirituality. It consists of several buildings, including studio, gardens and paths
connecting them all. It is a pleasure to visit it nestled deep in mountain woods with sounds of nature
all around. Walking around her garden, a lifelong passion for her, one gets the sense of how her
garden feeds her soul as she lovingly talks of her many plants, statuary, birds and fish that abide there.
I think she may have over a hundred varieties of daffodils! Inside her home, her library of books takes
up prime space everywhere among art treasures, simple furniture and soothing colors.
I am a proud member of her Monday Night Class where all of us feel special as Sandra takes
such a personal interest in her students. Sandra has encouraged me in every aspect of my work
including inviting me over for private instruction to overcome neck and back problems that come from
bending over a jeweler's bench. Once, she somehow noticed I was in a severe artist's slump and took
me out to dinner to boost my spirits. It was amazing, I recovered shortly after that and did not have to
fly to the moon. Sandra is constantly studying and sharing her insights with us and, along with doing
asanas in class, we chant, practice pranayama or she reads to us. Sandra continues to inspire so
many daily as she simply walks her talk.
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 iHanuman is a very resourceful website co-created by one of Sandra’s students, Sara Pope. "It is the monkey bridge to the yoga community between students, teachers and the ancient wisdom of yoga."
Sandra is one of the contributing teachers on that site. You can read more about her and and contact her there. ( http://www.ihanuman.com/).
To find out more about Iyengar yoga, please visit (http://www.bksiyengar.com/).
As a result of the yoga sale on these pieces that was offered in 2008, K Robins Designs was able to donate $437 to the Bellur Trust Fund in honor of Sandra. The money will specifically go to help Geeta Iyengar build a high school for girls from Bellur and nearby villages. Currently, Bellur's high school age girls’ education is typical of those of other girls in other small villages in India. Girls generally discontinue their education after 7th grade because there is not a high school in the village or nearby, and girls’ parents are reluctant to allow their teenage daughters to walk or ride a bicycle to a distant village school. Geeta’s desire is to build a school for girls to provide quality academics and safe education for girls in Bellur. For more information, we encourage you to visit the website (http://www.iynaus.org/).
Photo credits to Jack Pleasants for 'Vrksasana' (8" bronze sculpture by K that he gave to Sandra years ago) and 'Sandra on the Beach'.
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The Raven Pendant was inspired by a dear friend, Raven (Helen ) Ruffner, who died in 2003 after a courageous 15 year battle with breast cancer. Raven began building a new log home a couple of years before she died. She asked me if I would make a sculpture that would look out over the James River from her home. Her request was for a life-size woman with her right arm over her left breast (that is the breast she was missing). That was the only instruction.
As Raven's illness progressed quickly, I began to create a pendant for her. This piece is meant to be a portrait of Raven, capturing some of her unique qualities. I put it around her neck a few days before she left us. She was in a semi-cognizant state, but we both shared tears of recognition and love.
She was an amazing woman who wanted to raft every river in the world. She was well on her way, rafting in New Zealand, Alaska and many other rivers throughout the United States. Raven studied Shamanic journeying with Sandra Ingerman. I had the honor of drumming sometimes with Raven as she led groups in shamanic journeying. One sunny winter day, even as she was ailing and using her staff to get along, she took a group of us for a walk along the stream behind her home. She took us to one of her favorite spots and plunged into the freezing, cold stream that flowed right out of the mountain. The rest of us got our clothes off but just stood in awe and could not jump in. Raven shared her journey bravely with us and dazzled us even on the day she left her body as many of us sat quietly by.
When I take the raven pendant to shows, always I am intrigued by the stories it evokes in others. Then I tell them Raven's story. - K |
Oshun Pendant
 Oshun, K's new pendant design, was conceived as a sister piece to Yemaya, Goddess of the Oceans. Oshun embodies the healing qualities of the sweet (fresh) waters of rivers, brooks and streams. Ever flowing, Oshun refreshes and rejuvenates those who honor her through expressions of beauty and love.
The River Oshun flows south through Yorubaland in Nigeria, spilling into the Lagos Lagoon. Oshun is also celebrated in Cuba, Brazil and many areas of the world where fresh waters are honored for their life-giving properties.
K's inspiration for the new Oshun Pendant came in response to a close friend's being diagnosed with breast cancer. The breast, being seen as both a primary source of nourishment and an area of focus for so many women's health concerns, inspired k into a deep contemplation resulting in this symbolic design.
Oshun is gentle, undulating spirit energy that bubbles and spills forth joyously, yet she holds the strength to heal the whole world.
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