Creative Moments - Shield of the Ascending

A couple of weeks ago, I received word that I had won some gemstones from the mother lode at Magpie Gemstones. The owner there, Szarka Carter, offers a lucky blogging buddy of her website a chance to receive some gemstones, and all she asks for in return is a review of the stones or that the recipient create something with the gemstones and then blog about it.  Overachiever that I am, I decided to do both!

As I shared in my blog on Saturday, I had received the the stones and was thrilled to find out that she had sent me a strand of amethyst nuggets along with a most beautiful and unusual amethyst druzy slab pendant.  Amethyst is one of my favorite stones to work with for many reasons.  First and foremost, I guess, is because it's purple - and purple is my favorite color.  No surprise there, since purple has long been associated with spirituality, learning and growth, ascension, and imagination.

Amethyst, in addition to being predominantly purple, has played a long and interesting role in mythology, legend, and folklore. Its origin is said to date back to the time of the gods and goddesses in Greco-Roman mythology, formed when the tears of Bacchus, god of the grape harvest and intoxication, fell upon a pure white quartz protective shield that the goddess Diana placed around a young woman who was about to be sacrificed.  It was used by the ancient Egyptians as well as medieval warriors as a stone of protection, and it is considered a master healing stone, often worn as jewelry by healers, who draw upon its power to focus healing energy. I personally keep an amethyst point on my nightstand to keep my sleeping area clear of negative energy and to be used during my meditations to help me connect with the infinite consciousness by opening the crown chakra and to help me tap into a deep spiritual understanding of whatever subject I am seeking clarity on.

I wanted to create a piece of jewelry that showed the amethyst off aesthetically, but also showed its strength and protective energy.  While playing around with the stones and pendant, reconfiguring them this way and that, I suddenly remembered that I had some some small amethyst donuts that I had been holding on to, waiting for just the right design to use them in.  I realized this was the design I had been waiting for.  I added some silver accents and created a bib necklace as you can see below, that represents a shield of guidance and protection for the ascending spirits journeying from the realm of the physical to their ethereal bodies during the Age of Aquarius.

Whatever you may choose to attribute to these amethyst stones, one thing is for sure... Mother Nature is a magnificent artist and gives us some pretty amazing gifts from her own private collection to make our world a beautiful place.

Working with these stones was a pleasure.  I tend to shy away from buying gemstones without actually seeing and holding them in my hands first, but I know that Szarka sells quality beads at Magpie Gemstones.  I'd highly recommend that if you love beads, take some time to visit her website, be sure to sign up for her newsletter (she has some amazing sales on supplies and her own jewelry designs are fabulous!) and stop by her new Etsy shop Magpie Gemstones too!

So, what do you think?  Did I do good with my amethyst goodies?  If you're interested in purchasing the necklace, please feel free to contact me here, or look for it in my Etsy shop MysticWynd, within the next couple of days!

Blessings,