Amulets by Merlin's Blog

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

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.