About Us
The story behind Argentee’s name is twofold. It’s as much on the nose as the deeper significance of it. If your curiosity is piqued, read on.
On the periodic table the chemical symbol for silver is ‘Ag’, which comes from the latin word, ‘argentum’. This, in turn, comes from the sanksrit word ‘argunas’, which means ‘shining’. Silver has 47 protons in its nucleus. This number defines the element’s identity and placement on the periodic table. Our name and logo ties directly into this… but why silver?
Silver is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal. It is very ductile (it can be pulled into a wire) and malleable (it can be hammered into flat sheets). Silver is the best electric and thermal conductor of all the elements and has the lowest contact resistance. It is the standard used to measure against, with copper following close behind at 97% conductivity. Silver is also the most reflective metal, and is even good for your health… interesting, but why silver?
We, as people, are often described as silver being purified, there’s even reference of a silver cord representing human life, a link between the physical and the spiritual. This got me thinking… why Silver? What are the parallels, and what can we learn from this element?
Like silver, we strive to be to be reformed without losing toughness, to be pliable but not brittle. Did you know that silver is SAID TO BE harder than gold?
We are, through various chapters in life, hammered and pressed into shape without breaking or cracking.
Having worked with silver, I’ve learnt that pressure cracks are prevented by regularly annealing the metal. You heat it up! Every trial you face enables you to grow and flow into the true image you were destined to be. The true beauty of the process is this – if you do fail, when you crack and become brittle, you can choose to remelt and start again. It’s a new beginning and a lesson learned, it’s not failure.
Just like silver reflects 95% of the visible light spectrum, we are reflectors of light. Like the moon, in its glorious beauty, merely reflect the rays of the sun, so are we – not the source of light – but made to stand in witness and reflect the glory.
Silver, and light, can kill some bacteria. Bacteria cannot develop a resistance to silver as with antibiotics. We are called to care for each other and to bring healing. Silver is stable in oxygen and water, but it tarnishes in the air because of a reaction with sulphur compounds. It forms a black sulphide layer. Care enough to gently and lovingly, polish those around you back to a lustrous shine.
Conductivity, thermal and electrical, suggests different forms of communication. We were created for spiritual as well as physical connection. Have you ever experienced the relaxing and healing power of a hug, or ‘felt’ the energy of the room? How is it that we can call out in prayer and know we are heard? That conductive silver cord, when untarnished and maintained, allows for all forms of communication.
As the number 47 defines silver’s character and placement, it was in my 47th year that this new chapter in my life started, a recalibrated identity and placement in my journey. The realization that we only have one life to live, an individual journey intersected by many people and experiences, became a new found truth to me. It is something we all know, but do we realize its significance? It is your journey, no one else can live it for you. We have a responsibility to show up for it!
I’m sure there is much more to discover in these parallels so feel free to send your ‘philosophical’ comments and thoughts through the ‘contact us’ page. I’d love to hear from you.
Linda
