Celtic Jewelry

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

The Solar Cross Earrings

The Solar Cross Earrings

This shape has been cited in the prehistoric religions of the bronze age of Europe.
Connected with 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
in the context of the Sun Chariot.

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

In Native American terms,
the symbol represents the universe separated in it’s active and passive principles.
Similar to the descendants of the old religions of Europe 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 so on.

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

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

The Knotted Cat Amulet

The Knotted Cat Amulet

Three cats tied together in a knot.
Sounds dangerous, doesn’t it?
Two cats tied together would make quite a racket! In this case we are talking about a kind of knot work used in Celtic art: Zoomorphic Knots are found through out the book of Kells – a style of art popular in Irish and Scot works of art. It is found carved in stone, hammered into cauldrons and other metallurgy.

Knotted Cat Amulet

This amulet was designed for a friend of mine who gave me permission to include it in my line of jewelry. Here three cats cooperate (imagine!!) together to create a trinity of feline curiosity. Spiraling in from the outer disk, this piece is a weighty piece for the cat lover in your life.

To get your amulet, please visit my Knotted Cat Amulet Page

A complete circle of Maple Leaves made into a ring.
The Maple (In Celtic Lore) is a tree attributed to attraction
or a “drawing” in a very positive way.

In Celtic Arbostrology, much like Astrology,
yet based in Druid Tree Lore, the most common description is:

The Maple Tree

(Independent personality) – no ordinary person,

full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved,

good memory, learns easily, self-confident, hungers for new experiences,

sometimes nervous, has many complexities, complicated love life,

    ambitious, proud, wants to impress.

April 11 – 20
October 14 – 23

By focusing on the best qualities of the Maple
one may harness the symbolism of the Tree in One’s life.
In it’s best aspect the Maple is a tree of Health and Longevity;
drawing helpful and positive spirits and energy.
Wearing the Maple leaf Ring will help One to focus on positive goals,
helping others to succeed and providing a nourishing environment for all concerned.

The Maple Leaf Ring

The Maple Leaf Ring

Solid, detailed and durable, each ring is made to order,
unusual rings sizes are no problem.
I provide the option for an inscription in the inside.
Price is provided is for sterling silver, gold prices upon request.
To order, please visit my Maple Leaf Ring page.

In an earlier article, I described the Heptagram Amulet with it’s history and current perspective. One of the more recent adopters of this symbol is the Faery Tradition of Wicca. In honor of this recent branch of the Neo Earth Religions, I have created a smaller, more “stylized piece” called The Faery Star Amulet.

The Faery Star Amulet

The Faery Star Amulet is based on Faeids called Faeidism (or Faeidry) which consists of the rites, rituals, practices, and wisdom of those who live a path in life seek to be in touch with the Faery realm. Faeids commonly wear the Faery Star or Elven Star (seven points) as their symbol. This is a seven-pointed Heptagram Amulet believed to be given to humanity by the Fae representing the connection to the world of Faerie so that they may recognize each other.

This piece is 11/16” (or 18mm +/-) with a tighter weave in the center than the Heptagram Amulet, giving it a more organic feel, perhaps the kind of star a Faery would make, light weight and partially domed, a deep carving, framed in a circle and including a bail with jump ring.

To get your copy of the The Faery Star Amulet, please visit my Faery Star Amulet Page

We see “sevens” everywhere in nature and thus we reflect the way we describe our world.
There are the seven colors of the rainbow,
and the seven notes of the musical scale.
Western science recognizes seven chief glands in the human body,
called the endocrine glands;
while Eastern yoga systems speak of the seven Chakras
(as I described in the Strength Card of the Tarot).

The Heptagram  Amulet

The Heptagram Amulet
Star of the Fae

The Heptagram Amulet

In western Music
the most common scale is of seven tones
made up of two tetra chords.
This seven tone has a subtle influence on everyone in their daily lives.
For those of us who are always running music their their minds,
we have begun to think in music,
whether a favorite tune or improvising on a theme,
we weave through these seven notes expressing our heart ache,
joy or love of another.

In alchemy,
a seven-sided star can refer to the seven planets
known to ancient alchemists.
Modern discussions of alchemy are generally split
into an examination of its esoteric practical applications,
and its esoteric aspects.
Historians of the physical sciences
have examined the subject in terms of proto-chemistry,
medicine, and charlatanism.
Unfortunately this perspective does not take into account it’s origins of purpose.
The best known goal of the Alchemist
was the transmutation of common metals into gold
and the creation of the philosopher’s Stone
(the inner base components of a person’s being is transmuted through stress and time
~ into a perfected Being).
Modern chemistry was developed
because of the pursuit of knowledge in the material world
where as Alchemy is
(in short)
the pursuit of being a better person.
As with most studies like Astrology,
Tarot and others,
we have developed modern sciences of Astronomy,
physiology, chemistry (and so on)
because experiments opened previous
undiscovered aspects of the physical world.
In doing so
we now have a better understanding of our selves
and the universe we live in.
The result of the studies in metaphysics:
we now have a better language to describe aspects
which required colorful metaphor in ancient times.
Still,
we rely heavily on the old words
to describe which is still hard to fathom.

For example:
we describe the term Consciousness as Mercurial,
because of the way the metal mercury appears:
reflective of everything around it
and pours into any vessel
taking the shape of the vessel
without changing its basic attributes.
Mercury has such a power relation to the way we think
we even have a special day attributed to it:
Wednesday.

We have the seven-day week:
each day is ruled by one of the planets:
The Sun rules Sunday,
the Moon Monday,
Mars Tuesday,
Mercury Wednesday,
Jupiter Thursday,
Venus Friday,
and Saturn Saturday.
Their influences may be recalled
from the days of ancient Chaldea and Babylon.

According to Medieval astrology
there are seven Ancient and Sacred planets:
Saturn,
Jupiter,
Mars,
Sun,
Venus,
Mercury,
and the Moon or Luna.

      (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto not being visible were omitted,
      the Sun and Moon are not planets yet were considered as such for many years,
      thus the influence on our culture
      concerning their representation of primary forces.
      Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were added in modern astrology
    as higher frequencies of already acknowledged influences).

One of the more recent groups
which has adapted the The Heptagram
is Faery or Fairy Wicca:
an umbrella term that refers to any tradition of modern Wicca
that places an emphasis on the Fey,
their lore,
and their relation to the natural world.
When speaking of “Faery Wicca”
some refer to a tradition of Wicca recently founded
by author Kisma Stepanich.
Some claim it recovers the traditions of the Tuatha De Danaan,

      (disputed by those familiar with ancient Celtic polytheism and mythology.

Stepanich’s Faery Wicca

      draws liberally on some degree of Irish mythology,
      from the author’s interpretation of Celtic history,
    legend, imagination, and a variety of non-Celtic sources)

Though Faery Wicca may draw inspiration from some of the customs practiced
among the ancient and modern Celts,
it shares more with other modern Wiccan and Neo-Wiccan traditions
than with the “Fairy Faith” as it is known in traditional Gaelic cultures.

In 2000,
A Pagan organizer started a magical path or religion
based on Faeids called Faeidism (or Faeidry)
which consists of the rites, rituals, practices, and wisdom
of those who live a path in life seek to be in touch with the Faery realm.
Faeids commonly wear the Faery Star or Elven Star
(The Heptagram) as their symbol.
This is a seven-pointed star is believed to be given to humanity
by the Fae representing the connection to the world of Faerie
so they may recognize each other.

One of the great artists who helped establish the Blue Star tradition

(similar to Faerie Tradition)
is Kenny Klein:
co founder of Rose and Antler coven of Blue Star,
author of The Flowering Rod,
and his music expresses but a fragment
of this rich and diverse sub-culture.
His 1995 – High Grows the Barley – Blackthorn Records; highly recommended!

Over the years other Traditions have adopted the concept and symbol.
Despite the inevitable disagreements and friction that will develop
in a large, diverse, and widely-spread group,
a remarkable sense of community and closeness continues between members of the Tradition,
to the point where annual convocations are often referred to as “Family Gatherings”.
Diversity is embraced,
differences are cherished
and expression of many kinds are encouraged.

The Heptagram is found in paintings,
drawings, sculpture, Vae Vaes, pentacles
(in the classic sense of a mandala)
and (yes) mandalas;
crossing cultures, generations, arts and sciences.
The Heptagram means many things to many people.
In celebration of the the seven point star,
I have created a new amulet in my collection:
The Heptagram Amulet.
This is a simple, deep carving of a 7/8 inch (23mm) disk
with a woven seven point star in filigree.
A top bail with a jump ring offers a sleek comfortable wearing of the amulet.
To order your copy,
please visit the The Heptagram Amulet page.

A gift I made for my Granddaughter:
The Clasp of Wisdom.

This year My grandchildren were to receive hand made cloaks
created by their Mother for Christmas.
I was honored by the task
of augmenting their gifts by creating clasps,
I found myself in a scene from a faerie tale…

In Tolken’s book of the Lord of the rings,
there is a scene where Fordo and his crew were given gifts
as they continued from Lothlorien.
The Hobbits received clasps for their cloaks
each made of a particular symbol sacred to the Elves.

I thought for a long time
as to what would be appropriate for the little ones.
With the two boys
(who are currently being trained as “super Heroes”)
the Thunder Clasps seemed appropriate.
However with my Grand daughter it took a bit of considering.
With two brothers and a Father,
she would be continually surround with with very strong male influences.
With her mother as a counter weight to both opinion and demand,
the Wisdom of Women will be dearly borne,
like a path of fire to find her own voice.

Clasp of Wisdom

Clasp of Wisdom

It is within the tradition of my bloodline,
Scots use knot work as a way to develop pasterns of meditation and expression,
so I began with that:
each knot pattern holding the significance of thought,
woven about to provide the intricacies of knowledge.
At the point where the clasps meet,
are two profiles of “Wise Men” facing each other;
both in the process of speech;
thus the Knot work pattern is
of a classic Zoomorphic Style of Celtic Knot work.
Each of the panels are complete knots to themselves,
yet by hooking her cloak together
she will be unifying the wisdom of others:
developing a new perspective.
It is “she herself”
that may bring opposing views,
bringing a better understanding and Peace.
The knots behind the heads of the Wise Men
reveal their thoughts:
reflections of their own perspectives.

Truth is a quarky thing:
most of the time we tend to rely on our own perspective
to to handle the world’s challenges.
When one is able to understand the perspectives of others
we may begin to understand the Truth of a thing:
a single eye shows only a single view,
however two eyes provide the ability to see in three dimensions.
The symbolism of this clasp
is to provide a helpful hint
in discovering Reality Itself:
by listening to others,
conflicting views and seek a balance.
More often than not,
the two perspectives will reveal an object
in the way of our view.

In selecting two bearded Men for a little girl
I was attempting to represent what she is dealing with now:
two brothers and how to learn with them.
She will also grow up in a world
where Men will be a major influence on her,
by learning how to cope early in life
she will also develop skills which may
bring a better understanding between the Sexes
in her generation
and in the centuries that follow:
it is she “herself”
that provides the balance between all people
true Wisdom.
This clasp was developed as a one-of-a-kind piece
for a unique little girl.
This was conceived,
designed and created for my Granddaughter
as a Christmas Present
If you are interested in custom work,
please visit my How to order Custom Page.

One of my special lines of jewelry are the Designs of Isaac Bonewits. He created renderings of several designs and sent them to me to develop into pendants: The Sigil, The piece: Spells for Democracy, Dagda’s club, Dagda’s Shield and the Awen.

Awens in Silver

The Awen was one of his favorites: his description says it all.

In his words:

    “The sign of “the Three Rays” is used by members of the United Ancient Order of Druids, the Ancient Order of Druids, the Order of Bards Ovates & Druids, and many other followers of Druidry. It can be seen as symbolizing Sky Father Energy in balance with the Earth Mother energy of the Druid Sigil, as well as any of a thousand other sets of three ideas.”

Awens in Bronze

The design itself is a wreath of oak leaves, three staves emanating from three Acorns. The bail from which to hang the amulet is also an oak leaf curled to hold the chain or cord. On the reverse side my “signature”: “Merlin” (Kirk McLaren of Amulets by Merlin).

After creating the original Awen I have received several requests for a larger version of the piece: same wreath of leaves, acorns and staves: but larger. I offer this (an the other pieces) in both Silver and Bronze.

When Isaac was still with us he traveled with the amulets and his books and other items; he even created a special portion of his website to feature the work. Since his passing into the Summerland I have continued to produce his line for him. For each piece purchased Isaac’s Widow receives a royalty to help through difficult times and encourage in efforts to promote good will and clarity to the world. To learn more about Isaac Bonewits you may visit his website.

To learn more about Isacc’s Awen, please visit my web-page featuring Isaac’s Amulets.

The Leaf Knot Cloak Clasp is designed with a frame of leaf and knot work to look like an arbor. This two sided designer clasp adds distinction, classically Celtic with a fresh look.

This clasp is perfect for jackets and cloaks: it is to be stitched on each side of your garment using three loops on the back of each panel for stability. A hook and eye is provided so the two portions of the clasp may be clasped together. The Leaf Knot Cloak Clasp is strong, capable of holding heavy cloth; perfect for wool or other bulky cloaks.

Leaf Knot cloak clasp

If you would like to learn more or purchase yours, please visit the Leaf Knot Cloak Clasp page.

I have made various Penannulars over the years, some very traditional, some designed with Celtic knot work on it, others comprised with the knots themselves; but this one-of-a-kind Lute Penannular is the most unusual. Solid sterling with a ring behind the pin head so it may travel around the frame, the ends resolve in Lute Bodies: the frame itself is a fret board. The head of the pin is comprised of the tuning pegs. My intention was to provide a Bard (a person dedicated to music and communicating News and stories through Music) with an unusual clasp which is both traditional and stretches the idea in new ways.

Lute Penannular

Penannulars have been used by the Celts for centuries: typically to fasten their Kilts, scarves and other materials together. Although typically used by Women in formal attire, Men have utilized them as well. In modern times you typically see these “Celtic Cloaking Devices” when at the Renaissance Faire or in movies, Penannulars have been used by the Celts for centuries, now making a “come back” and appearing on jackets, scarves, cloaks and coats.

This Penannular functions like one of the originals, it’s use illustrated in a short video I created (see the Knotted Penannular page to watch it!). Unlike the old version, I have pushed the limit of design into humor: one can almost see how the strings would “bend” around the fret board and result in a duel Lute, presenting two sides of a story, adding a new depth in story and song.

If you would like to have a special piece made for you, please visit my How to Order Custom Page and you are always welcome to email me!