Amulets by Merlin

All posts tagged Amulets by Merlin

A few years ago I created Jewelry for Isaac Bonewits.
He created renderings of several designs and sent them to me
to create for his special line of Jewelry.
One of them is the Awen.

The Awen Ring

The Awen Ring

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.”

A wreath of oak leaves,
three staves emanating from three Acorns.
The Awen itself is about ¾ of an inch
with oak leaves on each side trailing down the shank
(the portion of the ring which goes around the finger).
Each ring is made for the person who orders it,
sizes are not a problem

To get yours,
please visit my Awen Ring page
and be sure to include your ring size when ordering.

I have been asked to do this each year for well over a decade: to make a calendar featuring the imagery developed from the Tarot Amulets and Casters. In the original creation of these pieces, I had envisioned this as a break from the traditional “card” presenting a scene. The Amulets are focused into an almost Iconic form so it may be used in a very tangible “casting forth” if the pieces. “Roll the bones” as it were.

After some consideration, I decided to develop images from our work in MetaPlace. I have enhanced the images and added writings from my Tarot Archives and added images from my Zodiac pieces. Each month presents the corresponding Tarot Amulet, the Astrological association, and a meditation on the Tarot’s meaning in relation to the Hebrew letter. Additional assistance in the imagery was developed in MetaPlace by Allyn McElrath and Michael Woody.

Announcing the Second Wall Calender of Amulets by Merlin:

Start the Decade out right with Tarot Images for a new Aeon.

2011 Wall Calender of Amulets by Merlin

Classically the Bear is associated with Leadership, strength and healing. In much of Native American totems, the association of the bear is also one of of self sufficiency and stubbornness. Bears hibernate during winter, thus those associated with the Bear tend to be “slow” yet thoughtful during the winter. When the ice thaws in spring, the bear becomes very active, looking to the local environment to forage; so it is true with those who associate themselves with this totem: warm weather gets them up and moving: ponderously, yet ever moving forward.

Bear Amulet
Bear Amulet

Bear Medicine reminds us to follow our natural cycles. By going with the flow energies align more positively and successfully. Sometimes Bear Medicine appears in order to tell us to slow down for a season. A powerful symbol for the subconscious depths, the Bear sometimes suggests getting off the main path and seek your own in your own way and time.

In the Bear Amulet I have captured the image of a bear speaking, voicing his ideas and calling those around him to take notice of their situation. At times offering is a warning to those who wish to be aware of danger or of knowledge well earned through experience. Otherwise the bear is silent and ever careful: “when in doubt: don’t”.

The Bear Amulet is one and a quarter inch bas-relief sculpture: a shallow carving of the mouth giving the illusion of a deep carving, textured fur with a “hidden” back bail to hang on your chain or cord.

A few years ago I created Jewelry for Isaac Bonewits. He created renderings of several designs and sent them to me to create for his special line of Jewelry. One of them is the Spells for Democracy Amulet. Isaac was very concerned for our nation as he had often spent a great deal of time discussing, lecturing and writing about the subject. After I had created several pieces for him I suggested he continue with his designs; thus he turned to develop a design developed to focus intent to a good aim: righting the wrong of our society.

Spells for Democracy Amulet
Spells for Democracy Amulet

He wrote extensively about this subject, calling for the Pagan community to become more active, participating in the great debate for equality, justice and a better world.

In his words:

“I know very well that not all Neopagans apply their polytheology to their political views in the same ways that I do. To me it seem obvious that politicians dedicated to making the USA a fundamentalist theocracy, to encouraging the fundamentalists in Islam to see this century as one dedicated to an un-Holy War between the two lunacies, and, incidentally, giving a totally free reign to every multinational corporation willing to pay big bribes to politicians, isn’t going to give much attention to the needs or even basic human rights of minority belief systems, at home or abroad, including ours. The Neo-Con Imperialists and the Religious Reich have been telling us for over a decade what their plans are. It is way past time to pay attention and take action with the only form of power they can’t take away from us: magic. “

More about Isaac may be found here.

The amulet itself is a combination of symbols:
The pentacle is a classic symbol of Neo-Paganism. It is crossed with a Besom (broom) which symbolizes a great many things: here it is to represent the modern day Pagans and their efforts to create a better world. The Wampum (the staff with the disk) represents a symbol of the Iroquois: a composite of Native American tribes who formed a Democracy before the United States formed their own nation.

Through his travels Isaac presented these amulets with his books and other items; he even created a special portion of his website to feature the work. You may purchase these amulets through my site. Each piece purchased Isaac’s Household receives a royalty to both help recover from the debt of his passing and to extend his legacy promoting good will, democracy and clarity to the world.
To learn about Isaac Bonewits, his writings and more, you may visit his website.

To purchase the Spells for Democracy, please go Spells for Democracy Page.

The Oak Tree in Celtic lore is one representing the door way between to another place, a grove is a potential sanctuary between the worlds. Pentacles represent powers brought into balance and guided by the spirit. In the designing of the Oak Pentacle I used simple and direct representation of oak leaves and branches without a lot of other symbols. In this way I have kept the piece open and free of restraint. The personalization of the amulet comes with the selection of stone: set into a cluster of leaves. Selecting the kind of stone (color and type) lends one the ability to “claim” the design while maintaining the intent of the piece.

Oak Pentacle with Stone Amulet

Like with other pieces, I made the setting as a part of the design, not a typical die struck setting of prongs and bezel: leaves fold around the stone both securing it to the amulet and protecting the stone from possible damage of a direct hit. I developed them while working on opal settings, then expanded these protective enclosures to other designs.

Combining the focus of the protection of the stone and the Strength of the Gateway, the Oak Pentacle provides you with a tool of exploration of one’s self and the world. This amulet is for these unafraid of the journey of one’s life and the Truth that awaits.

To view the Oak Pentacle Amulet with Stone, please visit my website.

There comes a time when children pool their resources to offer a gift to their parent
as a way to say “thank you” for caring for them.
So it was with a collection of very grown up children of a Priestess.
I was asked to create the symbol of her faith with a few additions.
The birthstones of the children (and grandchildren)
were associated with the various points around the star
and in the center is the birthstone of their mother.

The Mother Pentacle

The Mother Pentacle
A Custom Amulet

Offered to her as a gift on Mother’s Day,
this pentacle represents the love,
caring and support their mother gave them through their lives.
Wiccans and Pagans have not been “accepted”
by the majority of people in our country
and to this day their choice of faith faces prejudice,
disdain and at times persecution.
The family’s decision to create a pentacle was quite telling:
in-spite of pressure from outside the family,
the children’s support of their Mother’s religion
demonstrates their own dedication of love and respect.
I was deeply honored to create
this piece of appreciation and love.

This Mother’s Pentacle Amulet
is a one of a kind piece and proudly worn by the Mother (and Grandmother) for whom it was designed.

If you wish something special made for your Mother or other Loved One,
please visit my How to order Custom Page

Drumming on the beach

The Drums of Tuatha” The Drums of Tuatha assists the facilitation of Workshops and drum circles for adults and children for the festival circuit of the East Coast as well as various charity organizations.

All of the individualizes in Tuatha de Kelti are talented in many fields: art, music, science and craftsmanship. Tuatha de Kelti w

Others Featured in the site are:
The Drums of Tuatha
Anna’s expertise in Video featured in the site gRAVITY pRODUCTIONS
Amber Shehan is noted for her work with Honeys at Pixie’s Pocket
Amber Wilson continues to entertain us with her group the Xagerations
Michael J Woody’s work in music and art is also featured in his site
John Duggan photography captured images in well composed images in Duggan Photography
For Paintings and drawings from a variety of subjects, Malak’s Art is also represented
The Pet Pal Gals offers local pet care for the Newport News area of Virginia
Interested in a LARP? Machiavellian Madness may be an entertaining diversion
The Tao Lodge is also featured in the line up.
And Amulets by Merlin holds a page containing videos and will soon hold the new version of the Tarot Garden based on the Tarot Casters I developed in 1992

Noted in Isaac Bonewits book “The Pagan Man” for the efforts of the men in our tribe, it must be noted that without the women who have worked diligently with their male counterparts, the tribe would simply not exist. Isaac’s book was focused on the contributions of men to the movement because they have been sorely overlooked in books and articles on the subject, however Tuatha de Kelti is not a “Men Only” organization. We have relied on the efforts, inspiration and judgment of each other for decades and will continue to do so. Some I have not seen for a very long time, but I hold each of them as brothers, sisters and children of my heart.

Last Fall, I developed a special collection of jewelry called the DNA Sequence: matching pendant, bracelet and earrings patterned off of the molecular theories of DNA construction of sugars and phosphate groups joined by ester bonds. Using the classic shape of the balls and rods, the earrings are 1 1/8” long resembling icicles tapering down from the ear.

DNA Earrings
DNA Earrings

Those who are “big fans” of the nucleotide know the image is a symbol of the basic building blocks of life itself, currently being mapped for the subtitles of genetic understanding. Although research is ongoing, the image means more to us than the object it represents: evolution both physical and spiritual; a way to reconstruct the past and a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Even the shape of the double helix is echoed in nature on a much larger scale though plants and other naturally formed shapes. You don’t have to be a geneticists to appreciate the earrings; they may be a metaphor for “the basics”, the tenacity of life, better living though knowledge, miracles through molecules and more.

These earrings are a part of the collection, originally designed for my friend Dina, but you may purchase your own pair by visiting the DNA Earrings Page.

Pentacles have often been used as talismans
representing elemental balance,
strength and wisdom.
Of the many versions I have created over the years,
one of my favorite is the Grape Vine Pentacle Amulet.
The classic symbol of the pentacle is pushed into an organic form:
grape vines.
The Grape was considered on of the “gifts of the Gods” in ancient times:
it has many properties of use:
the fruit, leaf and even the vine has it’s uses.
Fashioning the Pentacle as a twisted vine
also may be associated with the art of wicker:
twisting the natural vines into furniture and other useful items.
The term “Wicca” has also been associated with the concept “to bend”,
much like the grape vine.

The Grape Vine Pentacle Amulet

The Grape Vine Pentacle Amulet

In tribute to the multifaceted Grape and Pentacle,
I have combined these two images into a single piece:
the vine itself is twisted into the Pentacle,
grapes beneath the pentacle bear the fruit of knowledge and wisdom,
leaves cover and protect the shape from damaging weather
giving a feel of mystery:
their is always something else to learn.

The Grape Vine Pentacle Amulet
is for those who love life,
celebrate it in it’s many facets,
enjoy the fruit of a life well lived
and strive for a balance between themselves and others.

A Wheat Weave is a decorative are ornament
often seen on door posts, windows, shelves.
They many take the shape of Maidens
or knots of various shapes and sizes.
The Woven Spear is a specific form of the weave
comprised of two strands in a braid trailing down
from a top point
and is considered a symbol of fertility.
More commonly seen as stalks of wheat in a tight weave
that broadens at the base.
The Wheat Weave is often used as a house hold blessing.

Woven Spear Amulet

Woven Spear Amulet
An Amulet of Fertility

Fertility was a desired force
harnessed in the Old Religions
due to the high rate of disease and death
during childbirth
accidents
and the tragedy of war.
Fertility was important for producing babies,
crops and farm animals.

In modern times,
fertility may seem like an “unwanted” force of nature
to those who are conscious of their family size
and caution of unwanted birth;
however fertility may be focused on one’s income
and the bounty of harvest of other kinds.
For the artist,
writer or musician
fertility has a direct relationship
to the production of their craft.
A fertile mind
will yield the needed song or story,
inspire the perfect painting
or sculpture
or even an idea
to change one’s life for the better.

In the spirit of “making things happen”,
I have created the Woven Spear Amulet. Like the Wheat Weaving of old,
it is a braid of strands that from a pointed top,
then appears to be of three strands
resolving into two points at the bottom:
the weave is a continuous strand.
Like most Celtic Knot Work, the piece may be used in meditation:
by following the strand with the eye,
one sees how the complicated pattern is a single strand,
like life itself.

For those who like the amulet
one may also purchase a matching pair of earrings of the Woven Spear.

This is for those who are looking to increase their objectives
whether it is of tangible material or inspiration.