Aura Wind Chimes and Meditation

Make it Interesting

noreply@blogger.com (Zena Juran) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:00:00 +0000

I can imagine that unless you are in the market to purchase wind chimes from the internet, eBay® or Second Life®, a short video of wind chimes could be quite boring.

There is an exclusive channel on Vimeo, the video sharing site, called “Make it Interesting”. The idea behind the videos posted on this channel is to take a rather boring subject (as far as cinematography is concerned) and try to make it interesting.

I found this short clip with a set of wind chimes as the subject that Matt Taylor posted to Vimeo.

no wind from Matt Taylor on Vimeo.

Matt adds a bit of creativity to his 55 second video by including an intriguing narration in hopes of capturing the audience’s attention while panning around a set of ordinary wind chimes.

I watched the video a couple of time just to form a clear mental image of the wind chimes as a whole. Short of being interested in the design of the chimes, the clip itself displayed some nice video effects.

In creating 3D virtual wind chimes for Second Life®, I try to make them as interesting as possible. Unique designs, original textures, individual chiming notes, and excellent sound quality are the standards on which I base my wind chimes but I also add a few little extras, like textured particle effects, crystal-clear water sounds, and ambient bird sounds.

I have just started collecting the software tools I need to create machinima video in Second Life®. I would like to film a few short videos showcasing my wind chimes to add to the images I have modeled in Photoshop.

Viewing the video of Matt’s wind chimes has given me a few ideas to work on.

Zena :-)

Feng Shui Wind Chimes

noreply@blogger.com (Zena Juran) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 20:09:00 +0000

Surfing the internet for wind chimes, you may encounter sites promoting wind chimes as “Feng Shui “ wind chimes. This marketing gimmick usually includes some kind of quip from a pseudo-American feng shui “Master” or “Expert”. If you read enough of the articles associated with these advertisements, you’ll realize that none of these 15 minute Hall-of-Famer “Experts” agree on anything about wind chimes except that that are pleasant to have hanging around!

Wind chimes are acoustically and aesthetically pleasing in and by themselves wherever one decides to place them. From the rich and vibrant tones of huge stainless-steel tubular wind chimes to the soft, high pitched tinkles of glass Japanese furin bells… all that matters is how they make each individual feel inside. And that is the essence feng shui!

There is no ancient Chinese secret in creating wind chimes to categorize them as “feng shui”. They do not need to be made specifically out of metal, wood, or any other material as some followers of the existing feng shui cult in America suggest. And they do not need to be positioned with a luo-pan or bagua map to guide the mysterious “Qi” to your inner being!

I read one article recently that suggested placing a set of wind chimes in your toilet to “press down” the bad luck of that toilet. How superstitious does one have to be to follow this kind of obnoxious advice? Have a glass of Metamucil™ during the day and a glass of cranberry juice in the evening and you will always have good luck at the toilet… lol.

The art in creating a nice set of wind chimes that will provide a harmonious and relaxing experience does include incorporating at least 6 different chimes made of any type of material and be tuned to a pleasant pentatonic major or minor musical scale. The musical scale is 5 separate tones with the lowest and highest tones set an octave apart.

One of the scales I like to use in creating my wind chimes is the pentatonic minor scale which I label as “Earth Song”. An example set of notes in the key of C for this scale would be: C-D-E-G-A-C. Here is a complete listing of the 5 keys I like to use for the pentatonic minor scale:

Key of C: C-D-E-G-A-C
Key of D: D-E-Gb-A-B-D
Key of E: E-Gb-Ab-B-Db-E
Key of F: F-G-A-C-D-F
Key of G: G-A-B-D-E-G

There are many other pentatonic scales that can be used and are just as pleasant to listen to. It all depends on what makes you feel good.

I personally have 2 sets of wind chimes placed on the front porch of my house. A set hanging from an old mulberry tree out in the backyard. 3 sets of tiny wind chimes dangling above the kitchen sink that catch the warm breezes flowing in through the window from the backyard. And finally a set hanging right in the door frame as I enter in to my home office here where I am now sitting. You can place your wind chimes wherever you want to hear them or wherever they can catch a breeze. Even using a household fan to put in motion a set of wind chimes is perfectly acceptable and will not create any bad luck for you!

Transposing a millennium-old practice of architectural design, such as feng shui, from a country that has been shrouded in communistic secrecy for too many decades into the mainstream capitalism of America and you have the makings of a pseudo-scientific cult. A cult that is desperately trying to veil themselves in mystique and culture.

There is no mystique to wind chimes. They quietly hook onto the internal dialogue that we each carry on with ourselves every day and nudges it aside so that we may relax and have a more peaceful, less stressful day.

Zena :-)

Blog Introduction

noreply@blogger.com (Zena Juran) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:41:00 +0000

HIyas Everyone,

My name is Zena Juran and I own and operate a small business named Aura Wind Chimes & Meditation in the virtual world of Second Life®. I create and sell 3D virtual wind chimes and meditation merchandise to be used exclusively within the virtual world.

This blog is an extension of my interests in wind chimes and meditation in both the real and virtual worlds.

Anything even remotely related to wind chimes and meditation will eventually find it’s way to a post here on the main page.

Comments are open to all registered guests so please do register.

The forums section hosts a much needed Home & Garden section along with many other categories.

Please feel free to Contact Me about anything related to this blog at anytime.

I hope you enjoy your visit here and have a wonderful day!

Zena :-)