Tag: 7

Delima (batik)

Learning, Poetic

Fruit of heaven, love
No effort to pick-- It hangs
To reach you so low.

Another batik waiting in the pipeline to be disclosed is Batik Delima or Batik Delimo. I chose it because of the colour– white is always giving soothing effect to my ageing eyes.

Delima aka delimo means pomegranate in Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Melayu and Javanese.

When Ibu Tien and Mbak Izzah mentioned its name (Batik Delimo), my curiosity rose as Batik Delima that I knew didn’t look like that. The delimo I knew was a “sido” cluster (ceplok) batik with delima in the center of the cluster. But they insisted that this was known as Batik Delima in Jogja.

No argument with the batik makers please, Rike.

The next was a clarification of meaning which is always the interesting part. Mbak Izzah said “I give you what I know, you improve what I know based on your repertoire of meaning. As you wish.”

To me although that statement was uttered in a very soft speech, it was a blow on my face. Jogjakartan speak their truth through subtly cynical style. They will not tell you are wrong but they will tell that “you have your way which is not mine”. Almost like Japanese– Bloody hell! I’d better prepare as my retirement plan belongs to that city. ☺️

Mbak Izzah said Batik Delimo aka Delimo is about fertility.

I read some articles about pomegranate in different places and culture but I won’t include it here to avoid complication.

Pomegranate is used in one of Javanese traditional function named “tingkeban” which is a ceremony held on the 7th month of pregnancy when the fetus is considered mature enough to be called a human being. Pomegranate is one of the ingredients needed to make “rujak tingkeban” which consist of 7 kinds of fruit. Yes, Javanese is obsessed with number 7 (seven, pitu in Javanese, the short version of pitulungan that means help).

Pomegranate is added as a message that the fetus will grow strong until it is ready to be a newly born.

Those 7 kinds of fruit shall represent all taste of food: salty, sweet, sour, hot. These are to symbolise that the baby has started learning about the taste of life before her/his delivery to the world.

It is said that if the rujak tastes good, the baby will be a girl; if it tastes “not that good”, the baby will be a boy. Interesting fun (not verifiable) fact. Do I believe it? No, I believe in ultrasonography from the obgyn. 😁 I love though believing that this tradition is loaded with conprehensive stories of what happen around human being’s life. Fabulous!

it is very refreshing, i make this rujak every now and then — one big bowl for one week

Back to Batik Delimo….

There are three elements in this batik that deserve attention: the pomegranate, the pomegranate flowers and the birds (pigeons).

The pomegranate is about fertility itself.

The pomegranate flower is about potential of fertilify that are surrounding the fruit as if waiting to continue the cycle.

Birds (pigeons) is those dwellers of pomegranate tree. They are the ones guarding the fertility.

Does it make sense? I will ask Mbak Izzah when I meet her in Jogja. I know she will just smile sweetly, saying nothing. 😂

This time I don’t include number in my intrepretating the batik as I am afraid Mbak Izzah will condemn me too creative. 😁

I know though someone intreprets delima from its linguistic aspect. Delima is transcribed as DALIMA. Dal is the 8th Arabic script (د). Lima is 5 in Javanese and Bahasa Indonesia. 5 “د” (five dals) is connected to a suurah in the Quran that has 5 “د” in its composition which is Al-Ikhlash.

Suurah Al-Ikhlash is about singularity in which human being is surenderring to the single authority in life.

So if people are interested to connect this batik to suurah Al-Ikhlash, it is possible. Yet, the story will not be about the 7th month celebration of a fetus. It might be about a fetus that is ready to worship the One.

😁

I prefer Batik Delima is about fertility. More simple, more straightforward–

Thank you, Mbak Izzah! 💕

Batik Delimo aka Delima

pomegranate fruit, symbol of fertility

flowers of pomegranate, symbol of potential of fertility

pigeons of love, symbol of protectors of fertility

a pair of batik delima from Ibu Tien and her group – matur sembah nuwun, Ibu Tien, Simbah-Simbah and Budhe-Budhe

batik sogan never fails me, even its fragrance is a stress reliever to me

Numbers

Learning, Poetic
Through numbers I see
How happy human beings are
Zigzagging among their dreams,
Excusing to leave what is.

With numbers I hear
How flowing rivers are
Splashing over the rocks and debris,
Calming by the wind.

One number in this equation
Suddenly disappeared.
No. It faded away.
Ya. Getting confused.

Dear
Number,
Fade away.
Find your way.

——

I love numbers, not necessarily through Math but playing with them feels like swimming in an ocean of never-ending possibilities — yet my favourite ones are still 1, 7 and 9 with no logical reasons at all

there is no reason to love you

yet there are ones to not fight for that love

Love you…. Whoohoo!!! 😃😂💕😘

9 (ranting)

Learning, life, Poetic, This Person
Why 9? It’s just 9.
When counting 9, it brings 9.
9 is 9. Be 9.

—

Why 9?

Back to uni days I was very keen of learning numerology, slightly superstitious to certain level but it was very entertaining and encouraging. It doesn’t give me a lot of benefits in career but a little knowledge about numerology sometimes gives me unique perspective of problem solving; or hmmm at least good distraction. Based on numerology each number has meaning and energy. Different number, different meaning, different vibe, different luck.

Among all numbers my favourite is 1, 7, 9. Very personal. Yet I like to make it look reasonable and logical. 😊

bus 179 😎

What about those numbers?

1 – One is loyalty, dedication, unity, singularity. We are loyal when we “worship” one – the God, the love. Dedication is focusing on one – one company, one citizenship, one goal. Unity is multiple agreeing on one – unity in diversity. Singularity is uniqueness of one, no comparison – feel it when we’re alone, that’s who you are. My definition as individual being rules the game.

7 – Seven is pitu in Javanese, an abbreviation of pitulungan that means help, support. No one can live alone as social beings so helping and supporting each other is the only way to survive in society. Cultural definition rules the game.

9 – September the 9th month is my birth month. I was categorised to have a character of group 9 in one numerology class. Almost dead at 9. 9 is the only number that I adore because of its logical and scientific function. 9 is my lucky number! Both empirical and logical experiences rule the game.

Dear, my favourite numbers. When will my company stock price go up back to 179 again? That is the point of my favourite numbers ranting today!

Happy weekend!

one of special Math operations of 9
all the opposite sides of a dice add up to 7 – hey! I am not a gambler
1

7

Learning, life, Poetic, This Person, Those People
Numbers, Beloved,
Tell you what life has brought in.
Blissful happiness—

————————————————————

7 or pitu in Javanese is an abbreviation of pitulungan that means help, aid, assistance, support in any form in a situation when a Javanese feels helpless and hopeless.

In life I believe whatever enjoyed whether it’s a tiny achievement or accessibility have always been in 3 forms of pitulungan: from my ally, my enemy or from the invisible.

It’s my ally for sure. They will never let me down because when I lose, they will lose as much as or even worse than I do. We’ll work together to achieve our common goals. My family, my friends, my colleagues.

The enemy? Believe it or not, I’ve won a lot of battles with the help from enemy. Unfortunately they never realise that the harm they caused have been the best fuel for me to boost myself to achieve what they’ve never thought would happen with their bad influence and/or actions. My enemy think their strikes against me will ruin me. Oh never, my dear. You throw me bricks, I build a castle!

And the invisible is a never-ending support I’ve received since I was a baby. I was born difficult my mother said. I got sick when I was a girl. I grew in an environment where popularity was the most appreciated; if you were ordinary (although with high quality of quotients), you would not be appreciated. I grew up humble and naive and knew nothing about (dirty) competition. If I’m not protected by the invisible, I would have lost every battle against opportunists and deceivers.

I’m so lucky to be surrounded by 7, pitu-pitulungan, a number the Javanese sacredly celebrate. And the three layers of 7? Definitely mine!

Thanks, 7. You’re not the 7 sins or evil other people consider. You’re not the 7 of bad luck on crap tables.

You’re a 3-layer 7 sent by the Life to protect me forever.

May all beings be happy.

7 feathers