 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.
 Dragon:
Having the characteristics of all four elements, earth, air, fire, and water, the dragon symbolizes the unity of opposing forces. These forces include light and dark, sun and moon, masculine and feminine, life and death. As the reptilian embodiment of primordial power, the dragon is associated with fertility, the rising sun and immortality. In the East and pre Christian Europe the dragon was considered a beneficial and protective symbol, and thought to bring good luck. The red dragon is the emblem of Wales. In Christianity, the dragon like the snake was a symbol of evil, and represented destructiveness and inner chaos. In China the dragon is a symbol of masculine energy and fertility. They are thought to guard the East and represent the sunrise and spring and rain. They are also symbols of supernatural power and can bestow the wearer with happiness, gifts of spiritual knowledge, and immortality. In Japan they are symbols of rain and have the power of thunder. In Chinese Astrology people born in the year of the Dragon are considered to be strong willed, fiery, lucky, intelligent, and self reliant.
Photos: Top Left: Buffalo Dragon, from the Treasure Chest Collection Bottom Right: Buffalo Dragon, from the Treasure Chest Collection Pendants from the KatieO Collection.
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