The dish is made of mango wood. It is round, 10 cm across and 2.5 cm high, with a glossy lacquered inside. Tiny gold dots run around its dark blue rim, and the white centre shows a ram's head drawn in gold lines. The ram's horns curl into big spirals, and thin rays fan out behind its head like the rays of the sun. In the middle of the head is a small hole for an incense stick. A ring of constellations completes the design. The grain is different on every piece, but the ram drawing is the same. Made in India; the package contains one dish.
The first sign of the astrological year
The Sun enters Aries at the spring equinox, which makes it the first sign of the zodiac. Its people are born roughly between 21 March and 19 April. It is a fire sign, linked by astrology to Mars.
Aries people are said to be brave and quick to take the lead. They are the first to speak up, and they don't like to wait.
One stick, one ring
Push the incense stick into the hole and it stands upright, with the ash falling into the dish. Stay in the room while it burns, set the dish on a heat-proof surface and air the room afterwards. Incense is not included.
If you would rather use it for jewellery, keep it on the hall chest of drawers and drop your ring and earrings into it when you get home. In the morning you will find them in one place.
For a March or April birthday
If someone in the family has a spring birthday, check whether they are an Aries. They will see their own sign on this dish, and you can give it together with a box of incense. If there is a Taurus in the family too, the same dish comes with their sign.