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 Since ancient times, jewelry has been used as a tool to bring magic into everyday life. In addition to providing visual enhancement, magical jewelry helps us to heighten our focus, encourage healing, provide spiritual protection, and amplify magical energy. In the book Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds, Daniel Ogden states “Amulets were the most pervasive of magical tools in antiquity. At the simplest level, they were a protective or empowering magical bond.”1 Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi have been found painted with facsimiles of talismanic necklaces,2 and even the logical and empirically minded Pericles of ancient Greece was rumored to wear healing jewelry when he became sick with the plague.3 On the other side of Europe, the ancient Celts imbued their jewelry with widely recognized magical images such as the Tree of Life, the Sun Wheel, and the spiral4 — symbols still valued and employed by modern witches.
The power behind magical jewelry springs from three primary sources: the spell (infused into the piece by its creator), the symbolism (for example, the choice of colors or the use of sentimental items), and the innate properties of the materials used.
But the most potent power of magical jewelry lies in its ability to act as a tangible symbol, a magical sigil reminding the wearer of its magical goal. As the intent (both of the maker and the wearer) counts most, magical jewelry can be made out of most anything as long as the intent is there. Still, it is fun to draw inspiration from age-old traditions when creating your own personal spell. For that reason, start by doing a bit of research: grab your favorite magical encyclopedia and read through the tables of correspondence; check out all the elements of your potential creation, from the type of jewelry itself to the materials out of which you will construct it. What you are looking for isn’t just the one-and-only abracadabra material, but for what resonates with you (or, if you are creating a gift, with the intended recipient).
Five Steps to Making Great Magical Jewelry
You don’t need to be an experienced silversmith or a master beader in order to work magic with jewelry. The basics are simple just remember that your magic is only as strong as your intent makes it. That said, let’s get started!
1 Meditate on your goal. Consider your goals with as much specificity as possible. Brainstorm symbols and items you can use to represent your intentions. Write a list (or a poem, if you are so inclined) of what you want your magic to accomplish. Now connect-the-dots; you know what you want from your magic, look over your list of magical correspondences to choose color, material, and style of your components. Choose jewelry that suits your purpose; bracelets often symbolize protection, while matching rings form a bond (wedding rings are the most obvious example), and more visible jewelry like necklaces and earrings draw attention to the wearer and are perfect for love, beauty, and luck magic. Consider how you (or your intended recipient) will use the piece; a plate-sized pentacle necklace might draw luck — as well as unwanted attention if your job requires you to be in the public eye!
2 Gather your materials. Here’s your chance for magical treasure-gathering. For inspiration, there’s nothing like using your senses: pick up beads and roll them around in your fingers at a craft store or bazaar; examine the lustrous colors of rayon cords, consider the weight and heft of precious metals or the craftsmanship of a special shape of gemstone. Use both imagination and intuition.
Don’t limit yourself to new materials; consider sentimental or energy-infused items as well — a square of leather from your grandfather’s shoe or a bit of dirt from a lover’s footprint. In fact, consider any random item or charm that strikes your fancy. If you don’t know how to incorporate an item directly onto a threaded necklace or a bracelet, try sewing a small sack to include in your design. Tiny sacks can be embroidered with magical symbols or filled with candle wax or the ashes of burned letters (always a good way to send your spell into the winds). It’s fine to use magical components, but don’t buy “pre-blessed” materials; even if effective, the resulting spell won’t have your personal energy signature.
3 Prepare yourself. Make sure your energy is good before you begin. (See suggestions on creating a magical mindset and releasing negative energy in Tess Whitehurst’s column “The Craft” later in this issue.) Prepare your magical crafting space carefully; clean yourself and your space thoroughly, and be sure to turn off the cellphone and other interrupting devices before you begin. Light candles that enhance the energy of your spell (purple or green for healing, red/pink for love, and so forth). White candles are always a good way to stabilize positive energy. If possible, time your jewelry crafting to a meaningful celestial event or moon phase. Before you begin, write a short charm and memorize it (or write it down on a small piece of paper) to chant, sing, or say as you are making the object.
4 Create the spell. Begin by grounding and calling in whatever energy you wish, be it god/dess, or the intuition that flows from your inner divinity. Remember to stay focused on your goal while manifesting your creation. Chant, sing a happy song, do whatever it takes to keep your mental energy focused on your intention. Don’t worry if your piece turns into something different than your original vision. Be open and allow your spell to evolve. When it feels “right,” use your written spell to anchor your intention to the object. Then honor the energy or the divinities Who assisted you and open the circle.
5 Wear your jewelry or give it as a gift. If you are giving your jewelry as a magical gift, be as open as possible with your recipient about the magic you have woven; surreptitious magic has a way of backfiring! Keep your jewelry with you as much as possible; if you can’t wear it, keep it in your pocket or purse, and feel satisfied that your desires are being reinforced every time you or someone else notices your handiwork.
However you choose to weave your jewelry spell, just remember to always be open to the unexpected. You might gain unforeseen insights as your spell evolves. Magical jewelry can be full of surprises. Enjoy! ` THE SUNSISTERS.
Endnotes
1Daniel Ogden, Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook, Oxford University Press, 2002, p. 261.
2George Frederick Kunz, The Magic of Jewels and Charms, T.B. Lippincott Co., 1915, 316-317.
3Christopher A. Faraone and Dirk Obbink, Magika Hiera: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion, Oxford University Press, 1997, 107.
4http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsdruidry.htm
THE SUNSISTERS are (clock-wise from top left) Jere Carroll Murphy, Helena Yates, Seana Carroll, and Wendy C. Crouch. For twenty years, they have collaborated as intuitive witches, spiritual channels, and artists. Their first book, The Pyramid, was released in 2007. They are currently creating a sequel, January Peace and releasing Beads of Thought: Crafting Spells with Jewelry.For more information on their work, please visit www.sunsisters.com
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