smelling salts

Smelling salts were a likely companion for any 19th century lady prone to faints and swoons. Tightly bottled and tucked into pretty pouches, these vapours were kept close at hand and called upon as necessary to "arouse consciousness".

Known throughout history by many names, smelling salts generally refer to "any preparations of ammonium carbonate ((NH4)2CO3H2O) and perfume, sniffed as a restorative or stimulant." Upon making contact "the fumes irritate the mucus membranes of the nose, throat, and lungs, stimulating the body to breathe more quickly."

A delightful and grotesque cause and effect, acting on but unbeknown st to body or mind.

*Please note that "ammonia fumes are not very good for the body, and prolonged exposure should be avoided."

before I forget

From all those possibilities posted the other day, and a long talk with a friend the day after, here is the latest deal, or iteration of the deal:

curiosity cabinets
(cultivated??) gardens
spaces of worship/commune (temples, churches, etc)- the term "sacred spaces" doesn't feel right

either in general (freedom to go in any direction I want)
or through a specific site/example for each (if I am so compelled)
or through corresponding/parallel examples, ie, evolution through history? primitive to modern interpretations? ranges and changes in scale? (would involve more decisiveness, planning, focus... intent... things I've proven not so good at)

and if possible (if it still feels right to/makes sense to) use scent to tell the story, or set the tone, or as something to go back to... ? Not sure how it fits/what its role is... don't want to lose it though.

What I imagine is a matrix, however structured or amorphous, that will cover and somehow connect all the little things, all my little words, into a string that A) I like, and B) that will get me the fuck out of here. C) as soon as possible!

The idea is to go through the possibilities posting, try to figure out what I was thinking at the time, and see where it fits (or doesn't) into the matrix. I should give myself one day to see which hat fits the best for now. Or which hats are the best options for my price range.

either/or

caption reads:
Fig. 1. MALE NARWAL. or UNICORN. 15 Feet in Length.

!!!!!

(image from wikipedia)

possibilities

Okay, I've been terrible. But that doesn't mean I can't change, right?

Potential topics?/themes? for my own little wunderkammer:

scent/essence/perfume
smelling/sensing/wonderment/delight
perception
instinct
archives/museums

fireworks
perspective/views
fiction/lies/narrative
search for/chasing/passage
ether/alchemy

identity/classification
bodies
darkness
scale
uncertainty

style/aesthetics
dreams
fear
death/soul
time/cause/effect

observation
documentation
illustration
investigation
exploration

replication
reproduction
reflection
representation
reduction

depth/surface
nature/unity/balance
unicorns
nomadic
patterns

threshold/inside/outside
useful/useless
relics/tools
sites/boundaries
matter/material

novelty
beauty
desire
limits/periphery
control

science fiction/fantasy
romance
thriller/horror/murder mystery
poetry
tragic comedy

a woman after my own heart

http://www.sheilaheti.net/whygoout.html

I can't wait to read her books... well after I do all the other reading I should be doing.