By: Hettie Basil Lighttower

Have you recovered from last week’s nonsense of crickets for lunch? I hope so. I also hope that you will keep in mind to be on the lookout if it is something you do not wish to participate in. Insects are fascinating in the fact that they have antennae. Those appendages are amazing and quite useful for picking up molecules in the air. Bugs are able to know where to find food, water, dangerous chemicals in the air and even a mate just through the molecules it comes in contact with.
Antennae help insects of all kinds to know when to scurry to shelter when a huge change in barometric pressure is happening, thus they can avoid a downpour and eminent demise. They can pick up movement through vibrations and frequency with their antennae. These apparatuses have proven to be very significant.
Close to what antennae are, are whiskers of mammals! Whiskers are not just for looks! They collect information about the environment on a regular basis for the owner of them. They are sensors if you will. And we might playfully say a man has whiskers. But that is not as far fetched as you may think. The hairs that grow on a face do provide protection or cover in many ways such as the elements of harsh weather, injuries and of course hair detects movement, like wind or something touching it.
Expanding a bit, let’s consider the hairs on our head. They too are like antennae. Throughout history hair has been recognized in many capacities. Biblically it has been a sign of strength. Remember Samson? He lost his strength after his hair was cut.
The American Indians claim that if they survived being scalped, they lost their ability to track and connect to nature. They were no longer able to function in their natural world nearly as well as they had before the travesty. So, tracking and connecting to nature are not physical aspects of being. Those are attributes closely associated with non-physical parts of us as an added sense. Dare I say our spirituality or spiritual self which would be things unseen but only felt. Our sixth sense? Or perhaps a seventh sense? The sixth sense is already put in a category of understanding things unseen. I am not sure what category our senses from our hair might fall into, but evidently it does facilitate expansion of senses.
Currently some research is being done to discover how hair and spirituality might be connected because these ancient relational stories of hair. Wealth, health and status have been measured by hair for centuries. It is thought that hair and the length of hair contributes to qualitative abilities to connect to God; that hair is a conduit of prayer and connection spiritually.
In addition, it is a physical attribute most certainly. It has even been considered a symbol of status over the centuries in many cultures. It signifies health or youth if you have a full head of hair, especially if it is a color of youthfulness. Hair symbolizes attractiveness and vitality. There’s something else hair does for us beyond all of these things mentioned.
When we take time to care for our hair including washing, the brushing, the styling and inspecting or observing in front of a mirror, this allows us to self-reflect! When we stand in front of the mirror moving this sliver over or stretching this piece up a bit, fluffing it, pushing it around with our fingers, we are there looking at ourself. Exploring ourself, deciding what to do with ourself. We are taking time for self-reflection and self love. Hair slows us down in our busy lives to take out time for ourselves.
Our hair is an extension of who we are. It gives a reflection of the state of mind we may be in. If you meet someone at the store and their hair perhaps needs to be washed, or combed or fixed, it is an indication that they may be going through a hard time. It may signify they need help or an uplifting moment to keep them going. Our hair receives signals but also gives signals. A person’s hair tells a lot about the person.
It has been a significant indicator of whether a person is personable or rigid. Is the hair straight? They like order and schedules and controlled environment. Is the hair curly? They are more easy going, spontaneous, more of an artist or creator or sorts. What if the hair is colored? Colors give different messages within themselves. But someone who changes the color of their hair frequently may have more of an unsettled personality, or who is exploratory or searching for their path in life.
It’s amazing to think about all the things hair is, does, represents and means. It certainly is something to ponder and to be more aware of especially if we come across a friend having a “bad hair day”. It may signify more than a bad day for the hair. They may need a hug, a helping hand or simply just a compliment.
Send in your notions and comments to [email protected]. And remember, kindness is contagious~*