| Coin Ceremony |
|
The coin dedicated to this vessel's mast step is a Chinese silver
dollar minted in 1933-1934. We ask a variance from the spirits
of safe passage in positioning this coin with the reverse side
up as it bares the image of a Chinese junk. This image is a
significant connection to the past. For fourteen years this
vessel's captain was the master of a Chinese junk with the
name "Cathay", the ancient name for China. Over those years
Cathay often tugged at her mooring …... perhaps longing to
be free upon the ocean swells. In another era she may have
convinced her master, but alas a more suitable vessel was
eventually chosen and only memories of Cathay will accompany
her former master on the open seas. This coin is further rooted
in the past as it was a gift to this vessel's captain from a life-
long childhood friend. This silver coin is being permanently
mounted during the Winter Solstice of 1996. As the days grow
longer and the future unfolds, may we remember that past is
the fulfillment of future and future but the premonition of
past. May the voyagers of this vessel enjoy fair winds and
warm memories.
|
| Christening |
| (January 17, 1997) |
|
This vessel will be christened "Shepherd Moon". To some, this name may engender the pastoral peacefulness of quiet harbors. To others, it may signify spiritual guidance through troubled waters. Still others may sense the mysticism of native cultures. Over time, it is certain that all of these meanings will be felt by the voyagers of this vessel. The actual origin of the name, Shepherd Moon, comes from space. In 1980 Voyager I discovered that larger bodies orbit Saturn within its ring plane and gravitationally confine the finer ring particles, limiting their natural tendency to disperse outward into space or spiral inward to the planet. These pairs of confining bodies were called shepherd moons. It is hoped that this singular vessel will influence its voyagers in a manner that will discourage them from spiraling inward to be lost in the mundane regimens of society. This vessel's master is fascinated by the universe and was once a candidate to travel in space. To maintain this cosmic connection Shepherd Moon will carry a bit of lunar regolith encased in quartz. This moon dust was substantially contaminated by the terrestrial environment and is considered unsuitable for analysis. A total lunar eclipse in conjunction with Saturn occurred during the construction of this vessel. May the silent wings of Shepherd Moon guide her voyages between the depths of the ocean seas and the vastness of the heavens.
|
|
