Obsidian Hulu with Heart Sutra

The Hu Lu, carved in obsidian and etched with the Heart Sutra.

The Hu Lu takes its shape from the calabash gourd, long used in Chinese practice to draw off unsettled energy and hold it away from a room. Cut here from black obsidian, a volcanic glass known for grounding and facing things squarely, and inscribed with Om Mani Padme Hum, the mantra of compassion, it joins two traditions in one object.

It suits a quiet shelf, a desk, or a bedside, a small steadying presence rather than a loud one.