Amulets and Symbols in Jewelry Design

Whether you call them amulets, charms, fetishes, or talismans, virtually every culture had them.  I like to think of them as little works of art, but they are so much more than that.  They were worn on the body to bring luck, heal, enhance fertility, protect against injury (during travel, hunting, or from bites and stings) or ward off evil, depending on the wearers beliefs and intentions.  They came in many forms, made with different materials, and adorned with different symbols. The meaning and significance in the symbolism of a particular image changed from east to west, culture to culture, and even day to day.  Even if you do not believe in their magical powers, it is fun to know the intention of the artists who created them, and the power felt by the person who wore them before you, as many of the pieces are antiques.  Below is a list of amulets and symbols found in many of the pendants and beads in KatieO jewelry.

Shiva:

Shiva is a major Hindu God, and in Sanskrit the word Shiva is an adjective meaning "auspicious, kind, gracious. As a proper name it means "The Auspicious One".  In the Shiva tradition of Hinduism he is the Supreme God, the god of the eternal cycle creation.  He is depicted and worshiped in many forms.

One of the popular forms of Shiva, shows him seated in deep meditation.  He sits on a tiger skin, demonstrating that he has subdued greed and aggression.  He has strings of prayer beads around his neck along with Vasuki, the cobra.  He wears a simple loincloth, and holds a trident and a drum.  Shiva has three eyes, which represent the sun, the moon, and fire.

The depiction of Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of Dance, is another popular image.  His cosmic dance embodies the eternal movement of the universe, the full cycle of destruction and creation.  Through the rythym of his dance, the universe manifests in all its forms.  The circle of flames around Shivas whirling body is energy in its purest form.  The dwarf underfoot is ignorance and illusion.  The two sided drum in his hand symbolizes the union of male and female, its sound the source of creation.  The fire in his palm reveals his ability to destroy, and his hand put out in the geture of an elephant represents his strength.  His raised foot symbolizes liberation. Shiva is the whole cycle.  His dance marks the transition from one stage to another.  Destruction and death are not the end.  He is the great liberator who breaks down everything, releasing energy for new growth.

Photos:

Top Left:  Dance of Creation, from the Fringe Collection

Bottom Right:   Dance of Creation, from the Fringe Collection

                         Pendants from the KatieO Collection