So help me Shiva!

It's been 40 days since the greatest oil catastrophe of our time occured, and I have yet to see the direct effects of this disaster on the intricate daily rituals of my life. Forty days, and forty nights...  Big things take time.

I had been considering taking a vacation on the Gulf Coast this Summer-- will the beaches still be swimmable? Though I am well aware of the dangers of excessive exposure to UV rays and the depletion of the ozone layer, I still do not regularly wear a hat or sunscreen in Summer.
Why does everything feel so threatening lately? Why do we have so little time to pause and so much time to work and shop? Why do our kids have so much homework and computer time, and so little time to dream and wonder about the mysteries of life and death? --Is there such a thing as personal, or homeland security?...
How did we get to this point in modern civilization, where everything can and will become a commodity for the taking?!

I recently found myself aimlessly browsing in a bookstore of a spiritual organization and yoga school,  I both respect and frequent. Nestled on a tray atop the registration desk, I spotted a number of egg shaped stones which caught my eye. The label on the tray read: Shiva Lingams  Large & Small.  A Lingam is literally translatable as a male reproductive organ, i.e. a penis.  In this case, said lingam refers to an abstract representation of Lord Shiva, a powerful hindu deity who is identified as a dancer/ destroyer god-- one who is capable of destroying in order to create-- He is the embodiment of a beautiful creation myth based on the verifyable rhythm of the natural world-- the creation of order out of chaos-- the synchronicity of death and birth. These representations, some carved, some found in their natural form, are common throughout India. They are items of worship. They are usually, but not always, made out of stone and can be found  in a variety of sizes. Anything of a vaguely phallic shape, can be readily identified as a Shiva lingam. They are considered holy, are appreciated, revered.  Offerings of flowers, fruits, precious oils and powders, are brought and left at their base. These particular stone lingams, I came across in NYC, come, I am told, from the Narda River, in India. One has to wonder how it is that they got here. Were they taken out of the river precisely for export?  Were they carved out of the stones in the river with the intention of introducing this beautiful tradition to western yoga students in NYC?  I should not feel so skeptical. Isn't intention what really counts? --But sometimes, it's the little things....  Sacred ritual and true spiritual devotion cannot be bought or sold.  It must come from a different place that bears no label.  Are we so desperate for worship? --for tradition? --for love? At the time of my last visit to the center, the lingams were sold out. I was reassured, however, that they will be restocked as soon as a new shipment arrives. At that time, these will again become available for your pleasure at $14.95 for a 1 inch lingham, $50.95 for a 4 inch lingam. -- I guess size, really does matter.