Amulets by Merlin's Blog

Reflections of the Art of Merlin

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Custom Masonic Dragon Money Clip

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on May 22, 2013
Posted in: Money Clips. Tagged: Custom Dragon Money Clip, custom masonic dragon money clip, masonic dragon money clip, masonic money clip, sterling silver dragon money clip, sterling silver masonic dragon money clip, sterling silver masonic money clip. Leave a Comment

I make several kinds of money clips,
a couple of clips in my line are of Dragons.
After seeing what I have made in the past,
a client requested a large version
with the Masonic “G” with the compass and square.

Custom Masonic Dragon Money Clip

Custom Masonic Dragon Money Clip

This custom one of a kind Dragon Money clip
is 4 inches long with 8 mm garnets for the eyes,
spring loaded to bite the bills. Solid sterling,
this heavy version holds the symbol centered in the snout,
just below the eyes.

If you would like to have a custom version of my money clip,
please visit my How to order custom page.
If you would like to see the various money clips of my line,
please visit Merlin’s Money Clip Page.

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One-of-a-kind Grape Vine Brooch

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on May 21, 2013
Posted in: Amulets. Tagged: food, grape vine, leaf and vine. Leave a Comment

The Grape vine has often been considered
one of the Gifts of the Gods.
The Fruit provides nourishment,
the fermented grape offers wine,
the leaves are more than edible –
those who have enjoyed dolmathakia
can attest to their flavor.
The vines themselves have been used in art,
fuel and in the creation of garlands
and other decoration.

One-of-a-kind Grape Vine Brooch

One-of-a-kind Grape Vine Brooch

The Grape Vine Brooch features the fruit,
leaf and vine
with a sturdy brooch back.
This pin is a one of many unique,
free-form piece I have made in the past.
Should you wish one like it,
please visit my How to order Custom Jewelry and Sculpture Page.

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The Second Seal of Jupiter Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on May 20, 2013
Posted in: Amulets, Multi Faith, Pentacles. Tagged: Pentacle of Jupiter, religion, Seal of Solomon, Second Seal Of Jupiter, Second Seal Of Jupiter amulet, Second Seal Of Jupiter talisman, Solomon seal, Sterling silver Pentacle of Jupiter, Sterling silver Solomonic Seal, theology. Leave a Comment

The Key of Solomon is a series of glyphs or designs (mandalas)
which date back to the 14th or 15th century Italian Renaissance.
There are no actual claims as to who constructed the text
and there are no references to the book by King Solomon himself.

The Second Seal of Jupiter Amulet

The Second Seal of Jupiter Amulet

Most historians consider
the Greater key of Solomon was created
between the 14th and the 17th century
with very strong influences from the High Medieval Period.
Primarily,
this is a series of various glyphs,
seals and signants
(more often referred to as “Pentacles”)
which correspond to the Planetary qualities
(remember this is Renaissance times,
so the moon and sun are included,
while the outer planets are not).
Each pentacle is attributed to a planet and holds an aspect,
yet not all of the qualities ascribed there to.
As in most medieval grimoires,
magical operations are performed
through the power of (the Christian or Hebrew) God,
to whom all the invocations are addressed.
Before any of these operations are performed,
the operator must confess his sins and purge himself of evil,
invoking protection.
It is interesting to note here,
the acknowledgment of celestial beings
other than Jesus.
The saints and angelic beings,
even the pentacles themselves
(although attributed to the “planets”)
and hold the names of the Old God(dess)s.
Over the years I have created many of these seals,
one of which I produce regularly in my line of Jewelry:
the Second Seal of Jupiter.

To quote directly from the manuscripts:

“The Second Pentacle of Jupiter. – This is proper for acquiring
glory, honors, dignities, riches, and all kinds of good, together with great tranquility
of mind; also to discover Treasures and chase away the Spirits who preside over them.
It should be written upon Virgin Parchment, with the pen of the swallow and the
blood of the screech-owl.
**Editor’s Note.– In the center of the Hexagram are the letters of the Name AHIH,
Eheieh; in the upper and lower angles of the same, those of the Name AB, the Father;
in the remaining angles those of the Name IHVH. I believe the letters outside the
Hexagram in the reentering angles to be intended for those of the first two words of
the Versicle, which is taken from Psalm cxii. 3:– “Wealth and Riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endureth for ever.”

This is for those who are “seeking Hidden Treasures”,
primarily the way I have interpreted this is the process of seeking hidden,
inner qualities of One’s Own Self.

In my re-creation
I carved the seal as a disk:
the circle is “cut” into the disk
and the lettering is embossed (raised) from the surface of the amulet.
I have included a jump ring from which to hang the piece.

To order you copy,
please visit my Second Seal of Jupiter Page.

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The Solar Cross Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on May 18, 2013
Posted in: Celtic Jewelry, Multi Faith, Pagan Jewelry. Tagged: ancient origins, Celtic cross jewelry, Celtic Jewelry, Celtic silver cross, Celtic talisman, chariot wheel, cross jewelry, Native American Lore, Odin's Cross, Odin's Cross amulet, Odin's Cross jewelry, Odin's Cross talisman, rune stone, Silver Odin's Cross, Snoldelev Stone, Solar Celtic cross, Solar Cross, Solar cross jewelry, solstices and equinoxes, wheel of the year. Leave a Comment

An equal Armed cross in a circle sometimes referred to a Odin’s Cross.

The Solar Cross Amulet

The Solar Cross Amulet

This shape has been cited
in the prehistoric religions
the bronze age of Europe’s Spoked Chariot Wheel
(originally, the wheel had four spokes)
seems to have reached Europe
in the mid second millennium BC
of the Sun Chariot.

The symbol also appears on the Snoldelev Stone in Denmark:
a ninth century Rune Stone.

In Native American lore,
the Solar Cross represents
the universe separated
into active and passive principles.
Similar to the descendants
of the old religions
of Europe’s Solar Traditions:
the wheel of the year
illustrates the movement of the seasons:
the solstices and equinoxes.
The time of year has great meaning
to the Old Ways:
when to plant,
when to harvest,
when to prepare for winter
and much more.

The Solar Cross Amulet is made of metal,
but the texture is that of stone,
referring to it’s ancient origins.
The cross is bold
and stands away from the disk:
slightly domed;
giving this piece
a very three dimensional feel

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The Classic Ankh

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on May 13, 2013
Posted in: Amulets. Tagged: Ankh amulet, Ankh jewelry, Sterling Silver Ankh, Sterling Silver ankh Amulet, Sterling Silver crux ansata, Sterling Silver handled cross. 1 comment

The Classic Ankh

In the words of Thomas Inman, published in 1869:

“It is by Egyptologists called the symbol of life.
It is also called the “handled cross”,
or crux ansata.
It represents the male triad and the female unit,
under a decent form.
There are few symbols more commonly met
with in Egyptian art.
In some remarkable sculptures,
where the sun’s rays are represented as terminating in hands,
the offerings which these bring are many a crux ansata,
emblematic of the truth that a fruitful union
is a gift from the deity.”

The Classic Ankh

The Classic Ankh Amulet

I have re-created the classic shape of the Ankh for my line of jewelry.
A classic rendering of an ancient Egyptian symbol
of the tenacity of life.
Very strong and solid.
Texture is smooth yet holds the feeling of a relic.
To get yours, please visit my Classic Ankh Page.

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The Scrying Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on May 10, 2013
Posted in: Amulets. Tagged: classic image, crystal ball amulet, crystal ball jewelry, Crystal ball pendant, hand holding a crystal ball amulet, opalescent glass, silver hand jewelry, sterling silver hand. Leave a Comment

To Scry is to gaze into a pool of water,
a crystal ball or jewel,
and see visions of spirits or divination.
This practice transcends culture:
practiced all over the world by many peoples.

The Scrying Amulet

The Scrying Amulet

A Sphere of opalescent glass gripped in a sterling silver hand.
The classic image of a crystal ball
set into the fingers of a tiny sculpted hand

The Scrying Amulet is designed to hang on a top bail
which sweeps around the wrist like a tiny serpent.
The glass is opalescent creating a multi-colored effect
swirling as it turns,
bouncing light through it’s spherical lens.

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Drum Circle Dynamics part 6

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on May 4, 2013
Posted in: Amulets, Drum Circles, Drum Jewelry. Tagged: Drum Circles, healthy Drum Circles, creativity, mental-health, culture. Leave a Comment

Change Your Mind

Over the past few decades I have attended drum circles in all kinds of situations.
In side, out side, fair weather and foul.
Full moon and the dark of it,
warm weather and cold – even in the rain.
Every time it has been different,
each time the very process of the Drum Circle itself
changes the environment and the people.
The Drum circle
(when done correctly)
alters one’s perspective,
mood and more down to the very quick of the soul.

The Drummer Amulet

The Drummer Amulet

I attended a Drum Circle in a hotel some years ago.
The place was packed and the should roared down the halls.
As I approached
(the place was just starting to pick up)
I heard a drummer exiting the room say:
“I just don’t feel it tonight”.
I had to stop and re-collect myself.
When approaching a Circle of this kind
I tend to go through a process where I re-focus
“who I am” to “what I need to be”.
Perhaps a good term would be to “psych myself up”,
but that doesn’t really cover it.
Basically I “change my mind”.

Those of us who have been doing this a while
tend to be what I call “energy workers”.
We have learned over the years
this kind of thing depends a great deal
on your mind set
and how you focus yourself
– even in the worst of times
we have to learn how to alter one’s state of thought,
banish ill will and focus on the sound,
the rhythms
and the intent of what you are doing.
The hardest thing to do is to change your own mind.
When working a circle of drummers
(each drummer is doing this – hopefully)
we are focusing the best intent,
the greatest will to make the circle “sing”.

The comment “I just don’t feel it tonight”
told me a lot about the person I was passing.
The drummer/dancer was expecting
the “real work” should be done for them:
expecting to be seduced by the circle
into making a good space for the drummers to drum
and dancers to dance.

Momentarily,
I paused to re-collect myself and took a breath.
The friend I was with seemed troubled:
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
I centered and grounded in a breath,
lifted my heart and smiled.
“Nothing” I reassured her.
“Nothing at all”.

I set aside my presumptions and preconceptions;
shed my grief and concern
and entered the room with a light heart
and focused on the rhythm.

It was chaotic: no down beat,
no clear rhythm:
it sounded like rain.
After I got settled,
I began by re-enforcing the down beat
(of what there was)
and started to mold myself into
a Focused Intent of Support
listened for a rhythm which a few were agreeing
with and added to that.
The circle began to strengthen.
I lead by following
and added my strength to theirs.
The Drum Circle smoothed out
and expanded into music.

The lessons I have learned in the drum circle
I have worked into daily living.
We are responsible for our own beat,
responsible for our own mood and temperament.
If you just don’t feel it:
change your mind.

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