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.

Crystal Quartz:

Crystal Quartz has been used to symbolize clarity, purity, and the mind, and has been worn for thousands of years for its strong magical and healing powers. The fact that light could penetrate this solid material gave it its supernatural powers.  The crystal symbolized the notion of passing or looking beyond the material world, and was the emblem and tool of many shamans. 

In Buddhism the crystal is the insight of the pure mind, and in Tibet it symbolizes the Buddha mind.  In China it represents the essence of the dragon, or life force.  To the aboriginals of Australia, it symbolized the Great spirit, and when worn was thought to promote health.

Photos:

Top Left:  Five Layer - Crystal Quartz Earring, from the Calligraphy Earring Collection

Bottom Right:  Crystal Silver Cross Necklace, from the Cross Necklace Collection

                           Five Layer - Crystal Quartz Earring, from the Calligraphy Earring Collection