The Om Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on December 24, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Multi Faith. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

In the mid Sixties, the word “Om” or Aum” written out in Sanskrit was placed in posters, album records, flags and scribbled in the corners of Yearbook albums across America and Europe. The influence of India and the far eastern portions of Asia spread throughout global pop culture. The Moody Blues even wrote a song “Aum” in the finale of “In search of the Lost Chord” of their Threshold series.

Om Amulet
The Om Amulet

Because the glyph seemed to be very simple, some tended to toss out the meaning as if it was candy. As our pop-culture moved on to other ideas and symbols, the Om stayed with many people, striking something very deep, and for good reason.

The Māndukya Upanishad is entirely devoted to the explanation of the syllable. The syllable contains three phonemes, a, u and m, symbolizing the Three Vedas or the Hindu Trimurti (sacred texts) or the three stages of life (birth, life and death).

The Sanskrit name for the syllable is praṇava, from a root nu “to shout, sound, praise”, or: pra-nu- “to make a humming or droning sound”. The syllable aum is first described as all-encompassing mystical entity. All over India and Nepal, ‘aum‘ can be seen virtually everywhere. Before creation began it was “Shunyākāsha”, the emptiness or the void; meaning “no sky”, is more than nothingness, because everything then existed in a state of potentiality. The vibration of “AUM” symbolizes the manifestation of God. The mantra “AUM” is the vibration of the Supreme. When taken letter by letter, A-U-M represents the divine energy (Shakti) united in its three elementary aspects: Bhrahma Shakti (creation), Vishnu Shakti (preservation) and Shiva Shakti (liberation, and/or destruction).

The Word “OM” has achieved many uses: from statues to manuscripts to Hexes (written designs focused to manifest intent) and amulets. I created my own version of the Om Amulet by encasing it within a circle, to represent the cycles of change beginning and ending at the same place, only to start again: eternity. This amulet is for those who wish to be reminded of and/or wish to harness the depth of this “simple” symbol.

To learn more about the Om Amulet, please visit my Om Web Page

The Silver Bullet Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on December 16, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Humor, Jewelry design. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

The Silver Bullet has an ever expanding lore: from the Lone Ranger to the “only thing that will bring down a ware-wolf”, the power of the Silver Bullet has been noted across the globe.

Silver Bullet

Silver itself is an interesting metal. It’s noted value is cherished in Judaic Law (Halakha). The lowest fiscal amount that a Jewish court, or Beth Din, can convene to adjudicate a case over is a shova pruta (value of a Babylonian pruta coin).

Silver has been long used in talismanic purposes: noted to be a “Lunar” metal, it tends to “hold” strong emotion thus able to hold and keep a “charge” easily. Many of the Lunar seals of Solomon are made of silver, and because of it’s properties, other talisman and amulet harness sterling silver as it’s main component.

The use of silver in a bullet bestows upon the purity of purpose: when the Lone Ranger fires his silver bullet, he is eliminating evil by the Pure Intent of Justice. In the Grim’s Fairy Tale: The Two Brothers they use a silver bullet to bring down an “Evil Witch” who was noted a “Bullet Proof” (please note: in my opinion should the Witch have been one of good intent, the bullet would have not harmed her, thus speaking to the purity of the weapon interacting with the impurity of the Witch’s Focus of Will. This is a good point to consider when focusing your own will!)

The Silver Bullet Amulet is for those who are focusing their intent in the elimination of evil in their lives: within and without. If you would like to learn more about the silver bullet, please visit the Silver Bullet Web page

Other Amulets may be seen at the
Amulets Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

The Goddess of Blessings

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on December 2, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, Multi Faith, Pagan Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

Upon occasion I find it an honor to work with talented people. Bandora is most certainly one of them. Rev. Dr. Jessica Bandora Fox (aka Bandora) is an ordained interfaith minister, Doctor of Metaphysics and Divinity Universal Usui Reiki Master among many other talents. Some time ago she requested I create a special piece of her own design: an image of The Goddess.

In her words:

“The design was created shortly after I founded the business of providing spiritual products and services to the New Age and Pagan community to represent the type of service that I provide. The Goddess symbolizes the spiritual/deity component, my totem animal is dragonfly and it represents me as a representative of spirituality. The spiral in the center represents the constant energy of creation and the crescent moon with the drops represents a shower of blessings.”

Goddess of Blessings
Goddess of Blessings

Her current dedications have pulled her away from perusing jewelry design, however we wanted this amulet be made available to those who are drawn to it.

I now am honored to present: The Goddess of Blessings.
She is 1 1/2” tall with a bail behind her head for your chain or cord.

To learn more about this amulet, please visit the Goddess of Blessings Page.

For more information about how to develop your own designs,
please visit my How to order Custom Page.

For more information about Bandora’s classes, readings, Reiki and Avesa Quantum Healing please visit her website.

Shee: The Light Bearer

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 30, 2010
Posted in: Celtic Jewelry, Celtic Lore, Druid Jewelry, Sculpture. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

It is said in the elder days of Celtic Lore there was a fairy who carried the light through the longest night of the year. When the last rays of light dissipates into Yule’s dusk, it is a fairy: a Shee who takes up the light and carries it until Dawn, seen flitting through the woods and meadow from dusk till dawn, just beyond reach. If one is full of despair and sees a flash of light bringing Hope, then it was one of the Shee: The Light Bearer. Never resting, always fleeting just beyond reach.

The Light Bearer

As with many of the old ways, the concept is made manifest through our own efforts. Lighting a candle that will last through out the night, or the lighting of the Yule Log for a fire to last until dawn: preserving the Light through the Dark Time of the year, thus we become Bearers of Light for each other, preserving the Truth, Honor and keeping a Home with Hospitality and Good Cheer.

In honor of this Noble Being, I have created a small statue of the Light Bearer. Wings in mid flight she holds a lantern before her thus projecting the Truth in her Path. This is a full, 3-Dimensional solid bronze sculpture (A heavy one!): 2 1/4″ by 7/8″ by 5/8″. Suspended from a bail between the wings intended to be hung as an ornament, harnessed as a ward against sadness, a bringer of Joy and Prosperity.

To learn more about the Light Bearer, please visit her special page.

The Astaroth Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 27, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Pagan Jewelry, Tarot, Wiccan Jewelry, Zodiac Amulets. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

The name Astaroth was ultimately derived from a Phoenician goddess Astarte 4000 years ago, similar to Babylon’s Ishtar, and the Sumerian Inanna. Astarte was connected with fertility, sexuality, and war. Her symbols were the lion, horse, sphinx, dove, and the planet Venus symbolized by a star within a circle. Ashtoreth is mentioned in the Torah as the principal goddess of the Sidonians representing the fertility of Nature. The Testament of Solomon mentions Asteraoth (Greek) as an angel, who is opposed to the demon of power.

The Astraroth Amulet

The name “Astaroth” as a male demon is first known from The Book of Abramelin, written in 1458, and quoted in grimoires to this day. Astaroth has also been associated with an arch-demon of the qliphoth (adverse forces) according to later Qabalistic texts.

It is interesting to note here the transformation(like most polytheistic beings, (in particular Goddesses) have been “transformed” into the direct opposite of the original conception. We see this often in human history, the accepted “good” being supplanted by the new politically correct version to conform with the new agenda. The original Goddess Astare of sexuality, fertility and conflict becomes a Male Demon who seduces by means of laziness, vanity, and rationalized philosophies.

By re-examining all of the world’s traditions we find the Monotheistic paths tend to exclude everything (save One) as Evil and we are to avoid them. Other traditions through out the world see races of beings everywhere; some helpful, some harmful but most are unconcerned with us entirely. In modern fiction we see a “reclaiming” of Demons as simply “other beings” rather than Satan’s Minions; a good example is the Golden Compass (Northern Lights) by Philip Pullman. In his tale he describes a world where many people have relationships with Demons as a very mundane arrangement.

The Lesser Key of Solomon or Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis is a 17th century grimoire (book of Shadows), one of the most popular books of demonology. It contains detailed descriptions of spirits and what is needed to invoke and oblige them to do the will of the conjurer. (An extremely un-friendly arrangement. One would think it better to have a relationship of mutual respect rather than making demands on a being much stronger than you!) Referred to in The Lesser Key of Solomon as a very powerful demon, Astaroth teaches mathematical sciences and handicrafts, can make you invisible and lead to hidden treasures, and answers every question formulated to him (choose your words carefully!).

Astrologers, Tarotists and other seekers of wisdom have since chosen a different path with this Being. He(She?) has become a conduit to deeper understanding of what is hidden. The texts of the Lesser Key of Solomon have been interpenetrated with a deeper understanding of the Mysteries. “Hidden Treasure” of the mind and spirit, and seeking the Philosopher’s Stone (the sanctity of one’s Inner Being). As long as one holds themselves in the best of intent, the exchange is positive for all concerned. As soon as one seeks selfishness, the result becomes corrupt.

In the creation of the Astaroth Amulet I have cut into a disk of silver His Seal and mounted a top bail and jump ring. The piece is only 3/4” and easily used as a charm or pendant. This is for those who are readers of the Tarot or other workers of the Oracle. Those who wear this amulet may be honed and well focused for deep insight.

If you wish to learn more about the Astraroth Amulet, please visit the web page featuring the pendant.

The Seals of Solomon Bracelet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 19, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Custom Jewelry, Pagan Jewelry. Tagged: , . 3 Comments

The Seals of Solomon are both famous in legend and myth,
yet extremely obscured concerning their meaning.
Typically we hear about them in the Arabian nights legend:
a seal of Solomon kept the Jinn inside.

The Seals of Solomon Bracelet

The Seals of Solomon Bracelet

Historically we discover the source of the Seals:
Solomon, the son of King David who established the city of Jerusalem
and Father of a great deal of esoteric writings and traditions.
Solomon is said to have been given both wisdom and knowledge
and ability to distinguish morally
between good and evil thorough a deeper understanding of the universe.
One of his legacies is what is known as The Greater Key of Solomon:
a series of images containing geometric patters
combined with Hebrew and other images.
Each seal is dedicated to a specific quality and described by the Planets
(Mars, Venus and so on) focusing those virtues.

Classically
each seal is to be made at a specific day and time through out the week
and made to enhance or “seed” those qualities desired.
Virtue, Honor protection, Seeking Hidden Talent and other qualities
are imbued by the various seals.
Every planet holds various qualities
and several seals are attributed to each planet.
The person who works with a seal has the opportunity
to focus the virtue they are concerned with by creating
(or commissioning) the seal they are interested in.

One of my most recent creations was to create Seven of the Solomon Seals
on a leather bracelet.
Each seal was made separately with a concho screw in the back.
The leather bracelet was punched to allow each seal to be mounted.
Because of the need to have the bracelet to “lay flat” against the wrist,
I carved the seals (in order) to curved and fit snugly around the wrist.

This was created to the specific qualifications of the person who ordered it,
all one of a kind work with no mold taken.
It currently is being worn by the Gentleman who commissioned it.

If you would like to have a custom piece made for you,
please visit my How to order custom page.

Gryphon Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 17, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Multi Faith. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Combining the two “Royal Beasts” of the animal Kingdom,
the Lion and the Eagle are merged into a fearsome creature: the Gryphon (griffon or griffin) .

Gryphon Amulet

Gryphon Amulet

The earliest images of griffins are the thirty five hundred year old frescoes
in the Throne Room of the Palace of Knossos.
It continued being a favored beast in Archaic and Classical Greek art.
The Gryphon appears about a thousand years after Bronze Age in Crete
around the fifth to fourth century BCE originating from the Persian Empire.
The Greeks adopted the Gryphon as sacred animals loyal to Apollo.
Some have suggested that the word “Gryphon” is cognate with Cherub.

As a creature identified in so many cultures,
Adrienne Mayor proposed the Gryphon was an ancient misconception
derived from the fossilized remains of the Protoceratops
found in gold mines in southeastern Kazakhstan.

With centuries of lore surrounding the Gryphon,
many attributes have been associated with the Mythic Beast.
A symbol of divine power and a guardian of the all things sacred,
they guard treasure and priceless possessions;
a protector from evil, secret slander and “witchcraft”
(a term used by many cultures referring to the kind of person who is able to “powerfully influence another’s will”;
a charismatic for example – not the modern day usage of Wicca nor the craft they harness).
A Gryphon’s claw was believed to have medicinal properties
and a feather could restore sight to the blind.
Goblets fashioned from Gryphon claws
(actually antelope horns)
and griffin eggs (usually ostrich eggs)
were highly prized in medieval European courts and possessed the qualities of the noble beast.
Many artisans are still replicating the look and feel of these Goblets to this day.

The Gryphon’s amalgamation of lion and eagle gains in courage and boldness.
In Heraldry it denotes strength,
military courage and leadership
and suggests one must combine intelligence and strength
– always a good decision.

In the creation of the Gryphon Amulet
I have softened the over all feel of the piece
to indicate it’s position between the “real world” and “that which is beyond the veil”.
The over all shape is bold,
yet the texture is softened,
nearly “out-of-focus” yet retaining the beak
(with a slight snarl) and wings of the eagle.
The claws are undistinguished between the talons of the bird and the paws of the lion,
thus illustrating the potential of both.
I have also included a portion of a Halo to represent it’s sacred position
of protector and defender of for whom is to wear it.
This is an Amulet of Protection,
Enhancement of Strength and Clarity.
This is for those who are in the field of battle whether the front line,
the front office or the fast lane.
It is to enhance nobility, perseverance and courage.
If you would like a Gryphon Amulet,
please visit my web page for more details.

Other Amulets may be seen at the
Amulets Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

Celtic Lovers Knot Ring

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 12, 2010
Posted in: Rings, Wedding Rings. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

A variation on a theme: the Lover’s Knot. For centuries, this has been used in rigging by sailors, the merging of two ropes extending the use of one by merging it with the other: a knot that makes the bond stronger. In the Traditional Lover’s Knot Ring, I developed the design as a promise ring, hand fasting or wedding ring. I have used the same knotwork pattern in the creation of the Handfasting Bracelet.

Some have decided they like the idea yet wanted something a little different, so I designed the knot to be more “Celtic”, using the traditional knot work approach illustrated in the book of Kells. The weaving “in and out” says the same thing: two become one, their strength is greater than the sum of it’s parts; a metaphor describing how a couple’s commitment may strengthen each others’ lives. This Celtic version of the Lover’s Knot is woven “in and out” providing a more dense look to the design. By following the strands that wrap around the band you can see that the “two (chords) are one”. This design has been used to symbolize the “wedding knot” for centuries and used in “handfasting”: a promise to be true “for a year and a day”.

Celtic Lover's Knot Ring

If you would like to have this ring made for you, don’t worry about sizes, each is made as they are ordered to allow for the right size and the possibility of inscriptions to be made on the inside of the band. Simply go to my web page featuring the Celtic Lover’s Knot Ring.

Peaceful Mushroom Ring

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 11, 2010
Posted in: Rings. Tagged: , , , , , , . 3 Comments

Back in the Eighties, I became acquainted with Terence McKenna and became intrigued with his lectures. He spoke about many things, including a “Time-wave-zero” project which predicted a major shift in human behavior in 2012:

    “…the story of the universe is that information, which I call novelty, is struggling to free itself from habit, which I call entropy… and that this process… is accelerating… It seems as if… the whole cosmos wants to change into information… All points want to become connected… The path of complexity to its goals is through connecting things together… You can imagine that there is an ultimate end-state of that process—it’s the moment when every point in the universe is connected to every other point in the universe.”
    — Terence McKenna 1998

McKenna derived his findings from a combination between the I Ching, the Mayan Calender and what he considered a balance between novelty and entropy in human activities. Terence even developed a computer program (innovative for the ’80s) that predicted a series of events projecting both backwards into the past and forward to the fateful day of December 21, 2012. One of his predictions was the fall of the Berlin Wall which came to pass just as his program projected.

In his other studies, he considered the Peruvian Shaman known as the Ayahuasqueros who practice Shamanism deep in the jungles of South America. Following in the footsteps of Charles Grob, M.D. (a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at UCLA’s School of Medicine directed in 1993 the Hoasca Project and popularized by the beat generation writers William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg in The Yage Letters) he went to the Shaman themselves, learning their ideas, traditions and use of Ayahuasca. Terrence surmised it’s use and capabilities with the psychoactive Psilocybin popularly used in the Sixties and Seventies by the counter culture of the time.

Peaceful Mushroom Ring

While listening to what seemed to be “endless” lectures post Midnight on KPFK in Los Angles, I decided to create a variation of the Peace Sign that both recollected the Sixties’ longing for an end of the War and a reaching out to another form of thinking, an exploration of Consciousness that tends to “break the rules” of society, yet hearkens back to a pre-historical attitude towards plants.

In a previous blog about my brief contact with Terrance, I related about how I had crystallized his ideas (or at least a few of them) into an amulet. Deciding I could expand on the idea, I developed a matching ring. Like the original amulet, this heavy ring is composed of mushrooms grown into the shape of a peace sign.

The Mushroom rendered in both the ring and amulet is the Amanita Muscaria, a variety of mushroom found in northern Europe and is often found in Christmas decorations in Germany. It is said that finding such a mushroom brings good luck. Farther speculation of ethnology-historians have suggested that the seeking of the “little man of red and white” may be attributed to later traditions concerning Kris Kringle: an elf found in the forest before Yule, who (when found) offer presents of illumination.

If you would like to have one, please visit my web page featuring the Peaceful Mushroom Ring. I make each ring as they are ordered to provide you with the ring size (no matter how unusual) you need.

The Moon Phase Chain

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 9, 2010
Posted in: Moon Jewelry, nature Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , . 3 Comments

The moon has been a powerful influence physically and mythic for centuries. The Lore of humanity across many cultures have attributed the Moon to many things. Watching the moon in it’s phases is something we have been doing for a very long time.

Moon Phase Chain

In Astrology, those born under different Lunar phases (Lunation) are said to have specific qualities:

Within the first quarter: (similar to Aries) they will probably prefer to take the initiative and will be ready to look for new interests in life, new people and new ideas.

In the second quarter: (similar to Leo) The person will be locked into their goals and have a strong need to create a legacy. They have a charisma drawing others to them, but instinctively use others rather than help them.

In the Third quarter or Full Moon: (like Libra) The person will need friendships, colleagues and relationships, and will relate well to others; easily able to achieve a balance between want and need. They will either be drawn to highly successful people or achieve success; both with the help of others.

In the third quarter (like Capricorn) they will often have clairvoyant insight and follow hunches rather than be logical; and will finish projects others start; reorganizing and sorting out problems left by others.

Many civilizations have relied on a lunar calender. In China, the ideas are broken down to seven and a half day patterns

First quarter (new): The first quarter symbolizes birth, renewal, sowing and awakening, and is associated with spring.

Second quarter (waxing): The second quarter symbolizes potency, maturity, full growth and development, and is associated with summer.

Third quarter (full): The third quarter symbolizes organization, harvest, collection and storage, and is associated with autumn.

Fourth quarter (waning): The fourth quarter symbolizes completion, conclusion, hibernation and rest, and is associated with winter.

Much is written on the subject and include nodes, mansions or nakshatras, lunation and so on. For those who love Luna in her many aspects, I have created the Moon Phase Chain. Each link is carved front and back with craters representing the lunar surface, each in a phase: full, waxing and waning, gibbous and crescent. I make a variety of sizes from earrings and bracelets to full necklaces and belly chains.

If you would like a Moon Phase chain made for you, please visit my website featuring the Moon Phase Chain as a bracelet or longer as necklaces.

 

More hand made chain by Merlin may be found here
Other jewelry from Amulets by Merlin may be found here