Saturday, August 21, 2010

What Is An Anvil and What Is It Used For?

Most of modern civilization's early steel products were born on the top of an anvil. There are many detailed writings, books, publications, and online videos detailing what an anvil is and what a quality anvil should look like. To cover the entire history would take volumes, but we will discuss the primary uses and how to find a high quality anvil.

What are the Different Types of Anvils

It is without question, the anvil has many unique forms applicable to the intended use for a particular anvil. Blacksmith anvils differ from Farrier anvils, and both differ from jewelers anvils. American anvils differ from European anvils, but they all perform the same basic task as a work station to form metal. Most anvils have a flat surface on top(face), and one or both ends have a rounded cone, the supporting bottom is called the base. The flat surface is used primarily for flattening the metal, and the rounded end is used to form a variety of shapes including horse shoes.

How Are Anvils Made

At one time the Europeans held claim to the best anvils in the world. Today, America is clearly the leader in the production of the highest quality anvils - being made of ductile steel which is then poured into molds. In times past, they were forged with hammers, and typically came in two pieces. These two pieces were called the top horn and face (flat surface), and the base. Upon completing the two sections, they were then forged together to form the complete assembly. Technology today allows us to measure the purity of the ductile steel so that the chemical composition is consistent throughout. Combined with the advances in heat treating, a through-hardened anvil, poured of ductile steel, is the highest quality you can buy.

One of the largest United States anvil manufacturers, JHM Anvils, still pours all of its anvils in a foundry in Texas. Every pour is measured for accuracy, and then they are sent to be machined. Upon completion of machining the base and top face, they are sent to a premier heat treat facility in Peoria, Illinois, to be through-hardened. They then return to the plant where they are ground, finished and painted. These are considered the highest quality anvils in the world for the farrier industry. Most of the anvils produced by JHM are focused on the farrier, otherwise known as a horseshoer.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

3 Love Lessons From Your Animals

Have you ever experienced being loved unconditionally?

Without reserve or embarrassment, from someone who doesn't care about your weight, whether you have makeup on, if you're having a bad hair day, or have issues, woundings or baggage? They don't worry about whether you had a bad day at the office, had a argument with someone, or are hurting?

In our society, as we grow up, we received many subtle and not so subtle messages about being bad, how we get the wrong answer sometimes, and we suffer many painful and embarrassing experiences all of which make us feel we're unworthy of being loved. In self defense, we learn to hide our hearts so we can fit in and conform so we can try to feel loved.

This is a very hurtful pattern that often continues throughout our lives. Until we learn to face our demons and can make new decisions about our worth, value and ability to be loved. It can be hard to find a safe, non threatening place to really feel love and let that in to help heal our hearts.

Fortunately for animal lovers, our animals are here to teach us about how it feels to be loved unconditionally. They demonstrate day after day what it means to care about someone without fear of rejection, to be in relationship with others without judgment, how it really feels to be embraced and loved with a whole heart, and offer the experience of being welcomed exactly as we are.

Who better to teach us about unconditional love than a puppy, kitten, or horse?

I was recently speaking with an environmental engineer, a scientist and researcher dedicated to helping corporations reduce and eliminate their toxic emissions so they leave a smaller footprint on the planet. This handsome, grey haired gentleman was used to being logical, scientific, and didn't show or share his emotions easily.

But he started telling me about his dog, how she greeted him with exuberant joy every time he came home. He commented that his wife and children had never welcomed him like she did. And he had tears in his eyes as he reconnected with how it felt to be greeted with such love, acceptance, and a wide open joyful heart after a hard day at work. It lifted his cares and troubles, and helped him feel whole again.

Our wonderful animal teachers and companions are in many ways our best friends, our partners, and are the ones who know us better than anyone else. They often choose to spend their lives with us helping us heal, loving us when we're sick or sad... Helping us in every way they can, they share our life experiences, and continually demonstrate what unconditional love really means.

Animals contribute to each of us and our planet in so many ways. The wild ones keep the circle of life strong, each one contributing in their way to everyone else. The native people knew that in order to stay healthy personally, and within their community, they must stay connected with the animals, treating them with respect and honor, listening and learning from them on many levels.

1. Take a little time out each and every day to listen to and respect your animal teachers. Pay attention to what they are telling you.

2. If they are 'out of balance', acting out in harmful or destructive ways, then notice where in your own life you may be out of balance or are in congruent within yourself.

3. If they are offering their unique viewpoints, sharing love or joy or simply being themselves, then flow with them with gratitude and honesty. Open your heart and let their love and light shine into all the dark corners of your soul and spirit, body and mind.

This is the gift that our animals give us every day if we let them, if we take time to connect with our hearts, feel our gratitude and appreciation that they are in our lives.

We rediscover our connection with the planet and our own Divine nature when we reconnect with other beings - and doing that makes us better humans.