More on Knife Superstitions (not exactly...)

[Agent Starling]

What's on my mind is not knife superstitions, exactly, but I don't know what else to call it...
...anywho, there was a thread somewhere that mentioned something about certain objects, including knives, having "kami" or a sort of spirit or energy about them, if I understand this concept correctly, which can be positive or negative...I'd be very interested to know how many have experienced this with knives or other things. I don't know about my knives, but if there is such a thing as kami then my first guitar has it. It is an el cheapo Yamaha acoustic I bought for $250. I've tried to convince myself to get rid of it many times, since I now have another acoustic and don't really need two, but there's always been something about it...everyone who has played it has really liked the tone and is surprised when i tell them what it cost...but I've had that thing for 15 years now and since it won't let me sell it, I guess it stays. :o :D

any thoughts?

Starling

[Dr. Snubnose]

Kami: Ahhhhh...Spirits within Objects....The kami traditionally possessed two souls, one gentle (nigi-mitama) and the other aggressive (ara-mitama). The Romans had something similiar referred to as Numina...Within living things the Chinese Call it Chi....All my knives have Kami...I believe it is the energy of the maker (not the company but the individual who puts their time and energy into the object)....Like a painter leaves part of themselves in every painting.....Doc :D

[zenheretic]

I had a trusty Jo (a red oak 4 foot staff) that I've had for years and years. I let some little kids use it to put the beat down on a helpless pinata'. My Jo shattered hitting paper mache'. I'm convinced it did it to spite me for letting their grubby little hands soil it.

[Agent Starling]

I wonder if kami can also be due to whoever has used a knife, guitar, etc...I always felt that in the case of my Yamaha it partly had to do with some of the people who had played my instrument. Perhaps also the intent and fervor with which I took up the instrument, I was way obsessed with the guitar... :D

Zen, I was curious...do you think that your shattering knife had to do with the aggressive energy Doc refers to?

Starling

[Hannibal Lecter]

My Dear Starling,

I wonder if kami can also be due to whoever has used a knife, guitar, etc...I always felt that in the case of my Yamaha it partly had to do with some of the people who had played my instrument. Perhaps also the intent and fervor with which I took up the instrument, I was way obsessed with the guitar... :D

I can't speak for knives, but guitars certainly retain some of the personality and characteristics of their previous owners. It might have more to do with the use/abuse they suffer, the conditions under which they are stored and played, but certain identical models will sound completely different after a few years in different hands.

My basses have always behaved so, anyways. After 20+ years in my hands they just don't respond well when others attempt to play them. :D

--------
Hannibal

[dete]

the movie The Red Violin comes to mind. great movie.

I wouldn't say Kami, but I feel a special aliveness from some of my knives.
:)

[cobrajoe]

Hrm... I've never heard that word for it, but I have found that some cars do seem to have a soul (or maybe it's all in my mind).

The life it's lived, the owners it's had, the style and options it came with all give a vehicle it's personality, and sometimes it feels deeper than that.

My 77 cougar definately has a personality. It's nothing special, almost completely stock with only a 302 under the hood of a 3 ton car. When I'm behind the wheel, I cannot force myself to drive it fast, and I'm halfway a speed demon when it comes to cars.

[Jordan]

If anything I have has a spirit... it would be my balisong. And not a pleasant spirit at that. Not only does it tend to bite everybody who attempts to spin it, but it usually clips me afterwards to remind me how much it hates strangers. :p

[Agent Starling]

Hrm... I've never heard that word for it, but I have found that some cars do seem to have a soul (or maybe it's all in my mind).

The life it's lived, the owners it's had, the style and options it came with all give a vehicle it's personality, and sometimes it feels deeper than that.

My 77 cougar definately has a personality.

Nice set of wheels, cobrajoe...yeah, let's add cars to the list...I had an old car I drove while in college, a Plymouth Sebring 318 V8 engine (I love V8s!!!), it may not have looked like anything that great, but it was special to moi :D

OK...then there's houses, too...won't even get into that one :eek: :p

and then what about old structures...if you've ever been to the Acropolis, you'll know what I mean...of the many times I have been, the one time I chose to go alone was quite different... :D

Starling

[cobrajoe]

Nice set of wheels, cobrajoe...yeah, let's add cars to the list...I had an old car I drove while in college, a Plymouth Sebring 318 V8 engine (I love V8s!!!), it may not have looked like anything that great, but it was special to moi :D

OK...then there's houses, too...won't even get into that one :eek: :p

and then what about old structures...if you've ever been to the Acropolis, you'll know what I mean...of the many times I have been, the one time I chose to go alone was quite different... :D

Starling

Have I ever told you that you are awesome :D

There is only one car that I've owned that had less than a V8, and it was an 84 mustang with a large V6 (so it was still somewhat close).

That cougar is my fun car, while my current everyday driver is a 96 Crown Vic Police Interceptor which I dubbed the "Outlaw". It's not quite as cool as the Coug, but it gets (slightly) better gas mileage and is somewhat easier to drive around the city. It dosen't have the same personality that the Coug has, but I'm working on that

[Ray.Hood]

Hey guys and gals, ray here. Back to Iraq we go. Chad, Doc Lecter, will post newq picws when I can. Superstitions? Kukhris should be blooded before sheathing, learned that from my bud Nick, retired Marine Gunney. Worked with the Gurkhas in Baghdad. Ray

[smcfalls13]

Either my knives are soulless, or I'm too obtuse to detect them. Only one of my knives has any sort of personality. My old Buck Nighthawk has been with me through a lot of stuff, and just holding it can be relaxing.

[Th232]

Either my knives are soulless, or I'm too obtuse to detect them. Only one of my knives has any sort of personality. My old Buck Nighthawk has been with me through a lot of stuff, and just holding it can be relaxing.

What about this one (second paragraph)?

[Zwaplat]

Yes, I do think they can have some character. Any item can, as long as it's not too "normal".
With instruments, it's mostly because they reside most of the time in the same humidity/temperature, which seasons the materials used. Metal instruments rarely have that, but I can definately tell my clarinet has grown on me and me alone.
I also play on a bassclarinet which I borrow from music school, and it just isn't ever good enough for me. It's a great instrument, but it never sounds like I want it to sound. It might improve once it's had a good checkup and parts swapped, but it'll never stick to me as well as my own instrument. Which is a bit of a shame.

[smcfalls13]

What about this one (second paragraph)?

Oh yeah, forgot about that evil knife. Yeah, that one had a soul, a malevolent one. :eek: