The Daily Portal – Jon Mitchell, Cosmos Journalist
Ripples of meaning around us
Even though it seemed a little New Age-y for the Silicon Valley set (yeah, right), I started wearing an interesting blue medallion around that I found because it reminded me of the portal. It's a series of nested squares arranged concentrically around a little square portal in the middle. I wear it to the office, to interviews, to press events, constantly. I get asked about it all the time, which is exactly what I want, and I've worked out a totally non-Burning Man explanation:
"Imagine you and I are at the center of this thing," I say. "There are all these ripples of meaning around us, centered around us, and we're picking them up and sending more out. I think conversations are made more special by noticing this. I try to treat every encounter with another person with this focus and sensitivity. So this necklace is a reminder to do that."
And even if they have no idea what I'm talking about, that explanation just feels heavy, so these people are already sensitized to our shared place in the cosmos even if they don't realize it. I don't say the word "portal" at all, usually, but that's what I call that heightened environment.