To the naked eye, a lotre can be nothing more than a pointing bone of some sort. But contrary to popular belief, lotre is much more than that. It is a unique sign with an interesting history. For the last two thousand years, lotre has been a well-known symbol in Europe, and today, it holds a special place in the hearts and minds of its many lovers. It represents a very important part of their lives.
Leo is one of three celestial animals representing the sun, the moon and the clouds. It was also believed to have been responsible for the creation of communication as we know it today. The moon was known as the “stone of the sky” while the sun symbolized “life”. Lotre was also known as the Memenangkan, or the Stone of Memory. This is because, according to Christian tradition, the bones of Jesus were placed into a hole in the ground (the Memenangkan) after his resurrection in the Gospel of John.
lotre’s influence on modern civilization can be traced in many ways. Among these is the fact that in Indonesia, it is customary to carve the lotre into images to honor the gods of the islands. This practice started roughly two thousand years ago. Pictures of this time period are common sights in churches all over Java and Sumatra, as well as Bali. This connection with the past also ties in with the legends of “Meme” and “Hadith” (books of oral traditions). Through them, we learn that the early Egyptians revered the ankh (a curved line that are sacred in Muslim and Egyptian culture), as well as the levy (a small stone that is considered sacred in Buddhism).
Another legend about the lotre yang is that the stone is sacred to Buddha. Legend has it that the first emperor of Heaven, Lono, found the lotre with instructions that he put it under his pillow in order to protect Buddha from every danger. After Lono was succeeded by his son Metta, who was also a Buddhist monk, the stone was no longer guarded. It is now resting at the head of the sacred mountain known as the Munnar Gompa, or Tiger Mountain.
The legend has it that the ankh is actually a representation of heaven. For this reason, anyone who holds the ankh and utensil in their hands is considered blessed. To further connect the ankh with heaven, another legend tells us that whenever the ankh is placed on the forehead, then dreams will come true (although not all who carries the ankh and its utensils are necessarily blessed). This connection may explain why the item is referred to as the ‘great god’ or ‘lord of stones’ in Hawaii.
Regardless of its original use, today lotre rings and other jewelry made from Phytessence Wakame are very popular. Traditionally, it is said that wearing ini (colored stones) around the neck protects against evil. Wearing the stone near the heart, however, grants youth and good fortune. It is believed that wearing it around the wrist helps protect against poison. Loti, or a string of ini strings, is usually tied around the waist to ward off poisons.