This is a yab yum pendant sold by Tantrika International, an NGO dedicated to promoting tantric yoga.  As Alt Religion's symbol guide explains,

A yab-yum icon is a meditational tool, one of many seemingly contradictory images of sex or death used to achieve the insight that leads to spiritual liberation.

There are several types of yab-yum, each depicting a tantric deity (compassion) in sexual union with his consort. (wisdom), each with its own layers of additional symbolism.

Like the Hindu Shatkona or the Taoist yin-yang, the image represents dual forces in union, which united, create a transcendent unity.

In the U.S., tantric yoga is primarily seen as a means of enhancing the sexual experience, but in reality tantra is more complex.  As Dr. Judy Kuriansky explains in her illuminating guide to tantric sex, heightened sexual pleasure is but one possible effect of tantric meditation.  It can serve equally well to create a sense of inner peace and interpersonal connection.  

Why do so many people find tantric meditation helpful?  At base, tantra serves to foster rhythmic synchronization, a pattern integral to personal identity in all its forms.    

Posted by jat at 03:59 PM | Permalink

WOW! Check out my new crucifix!, originally uploaded by Ajax the Pirate.

Holiday time is rather busy this year for your Heavenly Host, and since my burden is heavy my posting will be light. Today: a fun ad from China. The original poster's comments below:

The inexplicable affection the Chinese have for Christianity goes well beyond any spiritual thirst. It seems to come along as part and parcel of their wanting to Westernize.
Many of my students (although fewer than 10% are Christian) are in the habit of crossing themselves before exams and such. Most Chinese seem to celebrate Christmas in some way (unfortunately). Crucifixes are very popular, too.
One acquaintance recently said she's started going to the local church, ostensibly because she thinks it would be cool. It's very chic, it seems, to be a Christian. They seem to think that Catholics aren't Christian and that Jews are. It's all very confusing.

Posted by jat at 09:52 PM | Permalink

Believe Necklace, originally uploaded by kimmzy.

This hand-crafted holiday jewelry exhorts us to "Believe." Believe in what, you ask? The answer's not clear from the jewelry itself, but on the designer's website I found this item's picture next to a Santa Claus necklace.

As readers of The God Delusion are no doubt well aware, Richard Dawkins has used the holiday season as an occasion to equate belief in God with belief in Santa Claus. If you haven't read his book, I can think of no better place to start than with this McSweeney's parody, "Professor Richard Dawkins Speaks at Fair Hills Kindergarten Regarding Santa Claus."

Posted by jat at 11:27 PM | Permalink

Dream_Angel, originally uploaded by Insomniac_Goddess.

Virtually since the emergence of human self-awareness, spiritual adornment has played a central role in defining who we are. The story associated with this angelic pendant is but one of countless examples. Excerpts below; click the pic for the all of it.

Dream_Angel

Today in our Directing/Acting class, I had to bring in what's called a "Hot Object" - something that carries some emotional value or weight for us. . . .

I brought in this Dream Angel. Inkycat and I became friends while I was in the midst of a horrid post-divorce depression. She knew I suffered from nightmares and bizarre dreams that would knock me on my ass for days afterward. One day, Inky and I were shopping in a local jewelry store, and I spotted this Angel, which is the guardian of sleep, dreams, nightly healing. I didn't have enough money to buy it, so I put it on layaway.

And then promptly forgot about it. A month or 2 later, I came to work and found a small jewelry box on my desk. When I opened it, I found this Dream Angel. Inky had remembered it and bought it for me.

When I got to this part of the story today, I broke into tears. This had been one of the few times, if not the only time, someone had done something like this for me, remembering what I had forgotten, and giving it selflessly, knowing I needed to feel safe and secure. I don't think even my (ex-) husband had done something like this.

. . . Today was the first day I'd taken the necklace off in 4 years - and that was just to be able to hold it as I talked about it. It felt weird without it around my neck. Like my gravitational center had shifted.

Posted by jat at 08:27 PM | Permalink

Merry Christmas!, originally uploaded by P.S.Zollo.

I don't know what you call a person lit up with holiday LEDs, but "housebling" is new UK slang for houses festooned with extravagant Christmas displays.

And not everyone there thinks housebling is a good idea. Click here for a fun yet fact-filled critical look at "The Hidden Costs of Christmas Bling."

No, No Noel bonus: There are other costs of Christmas displays both large and small, with the greatest harm occasioned by assaults on good taste. Thanks to a timely reminder from Techspace, I've just made my annual pilgrimage to the Cavalcade of Bad Nativities. Go, all ye faithful!

Posted by jat at 12:29 AM | Permalink

OK, so now the world knows that the title of Harry Potter Book Seven is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  But there is so much we don't know.  How is Harry going to overcome the powerful magic of Lord Voldemort?  How are children going to resist the lure of Harry Potter's unbiblical warlock-ery so as to avoid being tricked into becoming Satan worshippers?  And what are you going to wear to the seventh book's release party?

The answer to all these questions might well be the necklace below:  an All Hallows Eve "warding pendant," which enables its wearer to resist magic. 

All-Hallows-Breaking-Loose Bonus Pendant:  More inclined to embrace the magic than resist it?  Then you might also want to check out this nifty Hallows pendant:

Posted by jat at 11:17 PM | Permalink

This is a set of clips from Jesus Camp. The first two minutes: Rachel's bowling ministry. Then: Rachel's career plan, followed by her mimetic judgment of the world and the church.

Posted by jat at 04:39 PM | Permalink

When I did my graduate work in religion, we studied Aquinas, Luther, Niebuhr, Barth, but this . . . *this* is religious history. Animation & comics writer Mark Evanier relates a behind the scenes story of how CBS censored a 1982 Christmas special featuring Yogi Bear and other Hanna Barbera characters because one of them dared to acknowledge Chanukkah.

Below is a video of the scene, apparently preserved forever in censored form on the master tape. The original line spoken by Snagglepuss in his trademark style was "Merry Christmas! Seasons Greetings! Happy Chanukah even!" CBS censors were adamant that the word Chanukah was verboten, so out it went. As Evanier, who wrote the scene, concludes, "I thought my people were supposed to run Hollywood but I guess I was wrong."

Posted by jat at 12:59 PM | Permalink

"The resurrection is not beyond the cross. It is in the cross.", originally uploaded by jimforest.

Click the pic for an explanation of the wheat around the cross.

Posted by jat at 01:26 AM | Permalink

Favorite Orange, originally uploaded by shookiemookie.

True confession: I've never had a Jagermeister in my life. Don't recall ever looking at a bottle. Which is why when I was looking standing around an NYC liquor store tonight the label immediately caught my eye: it's adorned with the symbol of St. Hubert of Liege, the patron saint of hunters.

This probably comes as no surprise to all you more experienced drinkers, but what can I say--I was an abstemious Baptist throughout my college years, which means the only shots I knocked back were plastic communion cups half-filled with Welch's. Still, just in case a night of shooters left you unable to focus on the label, the good folks at Wikipedia have provided a translation of the old German poem reproduced on every bottle:

This is the hunter's badge of honor,
that he protect and nourish his game,
hunt sportingly, as is proper,
and honor the Creator in creation.

In German, of course, Jagermeister means "master hunter." Though personally I'd stay clear of any hunter with a half-empty Jager by his side.

Posted by jat at 09:14 PM | Permalink

Legong trance, Ubud, Bali 2006, originally uploaded by Quarrion (David).

End of the year busy-ness has many of us running around in a mobile trance, so what better time to feature the adornment from Balinese trance dances? If the preceding link to a tourist guide isn't enough info for ya, you can always count on an academic analysis of Lagong liminality to put you to sleep.

Nonprofit commerce bonus: Novica/National Geographic sells carved Lagong masks here.

Posted by jat at 09:17 AM | Permalink

'Tis the season for giving of all sorts, and OE Fine Jewellery has taken the opportunity to explain spiritual symbols through its own designs.  Holidays, it seems, are everyone's teachable moment.  Hat tip:  Alt Religions, which has its own helpful study of the link between Christmas and Saturnalia.

Posted by jat at 01:17 PM | Permalink

Here's "Mistletoe Medallions," a new Christmas hip hop parody:

Posted by jat at 07:51 PM | Permalink

Bone Bottle, originally uploaded by ggypsy.

The original picture has annotations. For a brief glimpse into why the designer chose to follow a "law of fives," click here.

Posted by jat at 10:00 PM | Permalink

Bling Bling Christ, originally uploaded by Flanegan.

This is a relatively generic silver crucifix shot with inspirational message. What struck me about it was actually the description, which I reproduce from Flickr in its entirety:

"Boring.. Nothing to do at home..
so i snap this with my bling2...
hahaha
bling bling"

OK . . .

Posted by jat at 09:51 PM | Permalink

The Bible says "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me," but why should the Romans be the only ones who get to hoist Jesus on a tree?  This is a Jesus Christmas tree topper from Christian Dollar--and don't look for it anywhere else, because it's patented!  

There's more, um, cheeky commentary on this item over at Ship of Fools.

Posted by jat at 08:46 AM | Permalink

Chanukkah Owls!, originally uploaded by tamron.

"Nothing says happy Chanukkah quite like these adorable owl earrings!"

Posted by jat at 03:34 PM | Permalink

Holding On To Faith, originally uploaded by drp.

This is a ring in the image of the sacred heart aflame, crafted in support of the survivors of the Sri Lankan earthquake.

Posted by jat at 02:43 PM | Permalink

Howard Finster's Paradise Garden Cadillac Artcar, originally uploaded by Paul McRae.

And here's a car inspired by Howard Finster's Paradise Garden, perhaps most familiar from the Talking Heads' Little Creatures album cover.

Posted by jat at 10:36 AM | Permalink

The Jesusmobile, side, originally uploaded by Joshband.

This reminds of the work of Howard Finster.

Posted by jat at 10:33 AM | Permalink

Gingerbread yogi from bakedideas.com. 

Posted by jat at 01:57 AM | Permalink

Giant Rosary, originally uploaded by march4lifeorg.

A while back, the all-knowing Jennifer Emick sent me this marvelous story about a man who created a thousand-pound rosary out of bowling balls. Now I see giant rosaries everywhere. Above: a giant rosary used in a right-to-life march.

Posted by jat at 09:20 PM | Permalink

Golden flames, originally uploaded by Dey.

"Every morning thousands of devotees light candles at Swayambhunath, or the "monkey temple" in Katmandu, Nepal."

Meanwhile, back in New York, I'm still caught up in office work, so here are some shiny things for now.

Posted by jat at 02:37 PM | Permalink

giant rosary being carried away by baloons, originally uploaded by avlop1.

Early week meetings have the B of G tied up in not so virtual knots, so posting will continue to be light today. Cool stuff lies ahead though, so fear not!

Until then, here's a little symbolic gesture to represent the heavenly lifting of your cares--until, you know, the balloons pop and the supersize rosary launched by this church comes crashing down on your head.

Posted by jat at 08:45 AM | Permalink

#2362, originally uploaded by olivelife.

Posted by jat at 04:10 PM | Permalink

#2361, originally uploaded by olivelife.

Posted by jat at 04:07 PM | Permalink

Above:  a Virgin Mary temporary tattoo from Stickergiant.com.  For those Catholics who are tentatively hardcore.

My favorite part about this item, however, is the image right below it on its original Sticker Giant page:

And what else is there to say about the next sticker?  Ummmmmmmmm . . . .

Posted by jat at 10:02 AM | Permalink

Cindy Schwag, originally uploaded by The Man in Blue.

Note the creative integration of the tao in the Utopia OS penguin.

Designer Cindy Li describes her vision for the image as follows: the "idea came from thinking about the different OS companies could get along and how it would be great if they all got along." Larger photo of the penguin grapic here.

Posted by jat at 10:31 PM | Permalink

And for another kind of Persian pride, check out this creative new meditation on the tension between freedom and security. 

Posted by jat at 05:02 PM | Permalink

Posted by jat at 02:02 PM | Permalink

Dalhousie ad campaign, originally uploaded by trexfiles23.

A religion professor with tattoos? How can that be?

That, anyway, is what Dalhousie University apparently expects you to think when you see this photo from its latest ad campaign. Professor Chris Helland not only has tattoos, but he writes on a number of topics of interest to the B of G.

Whether the rest of the university lives up to the hype is of course an open question--most universities say they love innovation until someone actually innovates.

For a place where you can expect the unexpected on a more regular basis, check out the site where I originally found this image: Marisa DiMattia's needled.com. For an intriguing look at the tattoo community and the pursuit of higher meaning in life, Marisa's Suicide Girls interview with her artistic husband is a good place to start.

Posted by jat at 12:38 AM | Permalink

jesus, originally uploaded by rod murrow.

Posted by jat at 10:49 PM | Permalink

CROSS, originally uploaded by LOJSN.

The soon-to-be released Leonardo DiCaprio film "Blood Diamond" has been generating a lot of attention in the press and blogosphere. Some folks are even using the occasion to call for a boycott on diamonds on themselves--but not all ethically minded diamondisti feel the same way.

Click here for an article relating advice from Christian Vision, which fears that a boycott could hurt local African economies that depend on legitimate business, not conflict diamonds.

Click here for a press release & sales info on Amnesty Internation's conflict-diamond-free Blood Diamond movie tie-in bracelet.

And here's a story from Cindy Adams' 12/5 column in New York Post that Leonardo di Caprio may come to regret:

"LEONARDO DiCaprio. In a restaurant. A respectful but unknown fan speaks to him passionately about her needy charity. He listens patiently. Doesn't have one of his minions shoo her away. He then says, "I'll be there for it." She calls to tell me, adding: "Everyone writes about bar-hopping bimbos. How about mentioning someone who's kind and gracious and caring." So I did."

That settles it. Resolved: The Wilson Center will dine out in Tribeca until we find Leonardo di Caprio. It's our fiduciary duty!!

Posted by jat at 12:23 PM | Permalink

balitiger, originally uploaded by Miss B..

Almost called this post "Labradorite Retriever," because it's an apt description of the designer of this necklace. Click the pic for lengthy description of the healing properties of Labradorite and other stones in the piece. Buy it & you'll have a spiritual awakening, discover your destiny, lose weight, become smart . . .

and, um, stop procrastinating.

Anyway time for me to prep for class now . . .

Posted by jat at 06:13 PM | Permalink

3eedkuM eMbaraK :), originally uploaded by KaRaK-a-HoLiC.

"Yemeni brides have long commemorated their life changes by ornamenting their skin with patterns of dye, an art called nagsh."

That's the opening to this newspaper article from Yemen, but it's not just human interest filler. It's a lengthy and informative report on how new fashions are threatening the future of this traditional art form. Check it out for much, much more.

Posted by jat at 12:23 AM | Permalink

Grand Bazaar, originally uploaded by St Stev.

A depiction of the interplay of fashion commerce with Islamic art & architecture in Instanbul's Covered Bazaar.

Posted by jat at 12:24 PM | Permalink

Cheerful Death Ensemble, originally uploaded by gracebatmonkey.

Posted by jat at 12:00 PM | Permalink

odissi dancer, originally uploaded by Santosh Korthiwada.

Click the pic for a concise write-up of the history of classical Indian dance--its religious connections, its historical decline & its contemporary revival. Note particularly the popular conflation of dance, art and prostitution, a cross-cultural trope to which we shall return.

Posted by jat at 07:43 PM | Permalink

Syncronicity, originally uploaded by tangent.

The story behind this Flickr photo is wonderful:

"When I met Vern, I was taking a break from cycling through Blanchard Park. We were both enjoying the afternoon outdoors. I was reading Marshal Mcluhan's 'The Medium is the Massage' and he asked me about what the book was trying to say. While giving him a quick synopsis I noticed his tattoo, one strikingly similar to a centerspread image in Mcluhan's prophetic book."

Posted by jat at 04:08 PM | Permalink