The Virgo Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on February 10, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Zodiac Amulets. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 4 Comments

Virgo is a
Mutable (adaptability, service-providing and expansion)
Earth (socially acceptable,
very polite, prudent, and aroused by sensory stimulation).
Standing between Summer and Fall;
neither truly fixed nor truly movable,
it partakes of both in the same way as Gemini and Pisces.

The Virgo Amulet

The Virgo Amulet

Virgo’s qualities may be well described
as “I Analyze”
for it observes what is there and considers its worth.
They are good in creating and keeping order in all of its many manifestations,
yet because of their natural attraction
to “everything in its place” will argue about their lack of it.
(Pardon the mess) More often than not,
they hide what they feel for fear of committing to a relationship,
careful about expressing their feelings.
The friends they do make are solid relationships that will last a lifetime.

Virgo takes pride in being realists,
yet may slow down a project by their demand for precision.
Practical with their hands,
good technicians with inventive talents,
Virgos are thorough, hard working,
conscientiousness perfectionists; and are easily discouraged.

Because of their ability to see every angle of a many-sided question,
and drive for a practical result they are frustrated
with philosophical concepts because they “seem” unrealistic and long-winded.

The Virgo Amulet’s frame is a deep cut circle featuring the classic symbol in the center,

framed in the texture of soil; like the earth holding the potential of bounty.

This amulet is for both the Virgo sun and moon signs:
The Sun signs are those of the Zodiac houses
under which you are born:
August 23 – September 23,
or if you are more concerned with your moon sign,
the house the moon occupied while you were born.
It may also be used as an amulet should you wish
to emphasize the qualities of Virgo in your life,
actions, position in your community or home;
perfect for those who are storekeepers,
writers, gardeners, merchants and traders.

The Leo Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on February 9, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Zodiac Amulets. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

The Leo Amulet represents the qualities
of Fixed (stabilization, determination, depth and persistence)
Fire (enthusiasm, courage and action).
Leo tends to be single minded when performing a task,
but like the feline that is associated with the Astrological House,
Leo can be distracted by the pretty sparkle of objects and ideas,
sidetracked by a call of rescue for those in distress,
often leaving their own problems suspended and unresolved.

Leo amulet

Leo Amulet

A phrase that expresses the House of Leo
is “I Will”
because of the baseline objective is to manifest their intent.
By instinct they seem to dominate everything around them,
and those who are friends and family recognize their “unspoken” prerogative.
One of the planets associated with Leo is Uranus
which governs societies,
clubs and any group dedicated to humanitarian or progressive ideals.
Also associated with Saturn:
the principles of limitation, restrictions, boundaries,
practicality and reality, crystallizing and structures;
and governs ambition, career, authority and hierarchy,
and conforming social structures.
These qualities in Leo can produce some of the most effective results for good and ill.

The Leo Amulet is sculpted in flame,
frozen and “fixed” into the shape of the classic glyph of Leo.
The frame carries the texture
into the surrounding field and background of the amulet.

This amulet is for both the Leo sun and moon signs:
The Sun signs are those of the Zodiac houses under which you are born:
July 23 – August 23,
or if you are more concerned with your moon sign,
the house the moon occupied while you were born.
It may also be used as an amulet
should you wish to emphasize the qualities of Leo in your life,
actions, position in your community or home;
perfect for those who are leaders, paramedics,
doctors, counselors and heroes of all kinds.

The Sigil Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on February 7, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Druid Jewelry, Pagan Jewelry, Wiccan Jewelry. Tagged: , , , . 1 Comment

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 Sigil Amulet.

The Sigil Amulet

The Sigil Amulet

In his words:

“The Druid Sigil is most often rendered as a circle with two vertical lines passing through it (see left). Frequently this is drawn, painted, embroidered, etc. as a wreath of leaves with two staves (or spears for the warrior types) passing through…

“Where did the Druid Sigil come from? Nobody knows for sure. It first became associated with Druidism in modern times by the founder of the Reformed Druids of North America, David Fisher, in 1963 c.e.. He claimed that it was a symbol of Druidism in general and the Earth Mother in particular…

“Regardless of its historical origins, I think that it is a quintessentially female symbol and is thus psychologically powerful….

“While the Reformed Druids of North America and their immediate offshoots have kept the Druid Sigil as their primary organizational symbol, and many members of Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF) use it as well, other Neopagan and Mesopagan Druid groups have altered it or ignored it completely.”
(Be sure to visit his website for more in-depth descriptions and histories)

The Design itself is a wreath of oak leaves
with two staves as Isaac had rendered it for me.
The bail from which to hang the amulet
is configured to preserve the illusion of the staves:
appears more complicated than a normal bail,
but just as effective to hold the chain or cord.
On the reverse side of the “signature”: “Bonewits” and that of the artist: “Merlin” or
Kirk McLaren of Amulets by Merlin.

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 Widdow receives a royalty
extending his legacy
to promote good will and clarity to the world.
To learn about Isaac Bonewits, his writings and more,
you may visit his website.

To learn more about the Sigil Amulet,
please Visit the Sigil Page.

The Cancer Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on February 6, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Pagan Jewelry, Wiccan Jewelry, Zodiac Amulets. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

The Cancer Amulet represents the Cardinal Mode of Water.
The Cardinal Mode refers to first phase of the element: activation.
Cardinal mode Houses are often energizers of ideas, people and events.
They are the activists of the world.
Cancer being of the element of water tends to work on an unconscious level,
often unbeknown to them selves they set people or events into motion
by tapping directly into the emotional unconscious both of them selves and others.
Their primary response is “I Feel”,
which is in turn translated into physical and intellectual action.

The Cancer Amulet

Like the crab that it is associated with,
Cancer Folk tends to keep to them selves,
presenting a hard exterior,
on the surface “feeling nothing” yet deep beneath there is a soft heart
which is easily damaged.
They glorify in privacy and keep their impressions close,
almost incubating their projects and planed responses.
The inner-most portion of the symbol is protected
both by the frame and the “shell” of the symbol.
Like the hermit Crab who dons a pretty shell when the mood strikes him,
the Cancer symbol of the classic “Crab” is surrounded
by the textures of water “under pressure” ready to break loose when appropriate.

The Cancer Amulet is for both the Cancer sun and moon signs:
The Sun signs are those of the Zodiac houses under which you are born:
June 21 – July 23,
or if you are more concerned with your moon sign,
the house the moon occupied while you were born.
It may also be used as an amulet should you wish
to emphasize the qualities of Cancer in your life,
actions, position in your community or home;
perfect for those who are solitaries,
leaders, creators of all kinds and secret geniuses.

The Gemini Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on February 5, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Pagan Jewelry, Zodiac Amulets. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

The Gemini Amulet is one of “Mutable Air”,
thus the piece is textured to produce a sense of breezes flowing
in two directions at once,
ever changing directions depending on what it surrounds.

The Gemini Amulet

The Gemini Amulet

With the ability of self reflection,
The Twins
provides two sides to every issue and puzzling through the paradox.
The seeming conflict may drive another House crazy
with the two streams of information colliding at every turn,
but the element of air gives it the flexibility
to see oneself and appreciate the conflicts,
thus providing a space where paradox my be held together
without conflict to gain wisdom and understanding.

Without a firm hand to balance these opposite views,
Gemini can become confused,
undecided and lost within them selves.
This sign of the twins,
nether positive nor negative yet the potential of both.
Mutable air combined with Mercury brings strong communication,
versatile, witty, logical inquisitive, spontaneous.

The amulet itself holds the qualities of Gemini:
the textures of air moving in opposite directions
with the possibility that it might change directions at any time.
The Gemini symbol of two staves set beside each other
provides the duality of view, and perspective.

This amulet is for both the Gemini sun and moon signs:
The Sun signs are those of the Zodiac houses under which you are born:
May 21 – June 21,
or if you are more concerned with your moon sign,
the house the moon occupied while you were born.
It may also be used as an amulet
should you wish to emphasize the qualities of Gemini in your life,
actions, position in your community or home;
perfect for those who are seekers of knowledge,
blue collar philosophers, writers, poets, actors, musicians and consultants.

The Taurus Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on February 4, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Pagan Jewelry, Wiccan Jewelry, Zodiac Amulets. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

The House of Taurus is a solid,
Fixed state of Earth.
Following the ground breaking House of Aries,
Taurus allows the dust to settle
and watches how the pieces fall,
glad that there is no longer any movement.
In fact,
like the associated creature of the Bull,
Taurus settles down to enjoy
the surrounding landscapes
and is glad of it.

The Taurus Amulet

The Taurus Amulet

Taurus is often quite charming,
loves beauty in all of its forms
and when in its settled state
very affectionate and kind.
Like the Earth beneath your feet,
Taurus is reliable in a pinch;
you need not check you feet when Taurus is at you back.
When turned to,
their solutions to problems are more often quite practical.

Taurus is often entranced with objects of all kinds
and enjoys collecting them whether they are functional or not:
simply the idea of collecting them
and arranging them for display
is a favorite pastime in their more leisure moments:
a favorite practice of Taurus
is to take the doors off the kitchen cabinets
to view the array of dishes and plates;
hence : “I Have” is their bi-line.

The Taurus Amulet is simple and bold:
The frame is cut deeply around the traditional symbol
to indicate the depth of the Taurian being;
they extend far beyond the surface.
The texture is reminiscent of the strata of sedimentary rock.

This amulet is for both the Taurus sun and moon signs:
The Sun signs are those of the Zodiac houses
under which you are born: April 20 – May 21,
or if you are more concerned with your moon sign:
the house the moon occupied while you were born.

It may also be used as an amulet
should you wish to emphasize the qualities of Taurus in your life,
actions, position in your community or home.
It is perfect for those who are accountants,
shipping and receiving clerks,
bankers, collectors of all kinds,
home makers, secretaries and guardians.

To get your Taurus Amulet
Please visit my Taurus Amulet page

The Aries Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on February 3, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Multi Faith, Pagan Jewelry, Zodiac Amulets. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

The Element of Aries is Primal Fire:
transformation and transmutation.
Aries is considered both the first House
and the first Fire of Spring.
Aries shatters the cold bonds of Winter,
cracks the ice
and allows the first seeds that
to crack open and begin it’s shoots.
Aries is the Ram:
single minded and capable of knocking down barriers
standing in the way
(even if there is a door right next to the passage).

The Aries Amulet

The Aries Amulet

This Sign of the Zodiac establishes the first realization:
“I AM”;
a perception every human has
once aware of their surroundings
and there are other people in the world.
It is with this perspective
the Aries Nature may incite actions,
blaze trails
and conceive notations
others will in turn build on,
extrapolate and complete.
Unfortunately this can also be a bane
Aries struggles with completion of projects.
They make poor followers by nature;
rather
they are trail blazers and path creators.
If they should find themselves as leaders,
it is often confusing to them,
not quite understanding
why someone would not find their own way through life.

The Aries Amulet is composed of the tongues of flame, both the symbol and frame. The amulet looks heavier than it is because of the deeply cut three dimensional frame.

This amulet is for both the Aries
sun and moon signs:
The Sun signs are those of the Zodiac houses
under which you are born:
March 20/21 – April 20,
or if you are more concerned with your moon sign,
the house the moon occupied while you were born.
It may also be used as an amulet
should you wish to emphasize the qualities of Aries in your life,
actions, position in your community or home;
perfect for those who are solitaries,
leaders, creators of all kinds,
Hermits and brain stormers.

To get yours:
Please visit my Aries Amulet Page

The Pisces Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on February 2, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, Multi Faith, Zodiac Amulets. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

The Pisces Amulet
is from my Astrology collection.
Pisces is Mutable Water associated with consciousness,
in it’s mutable from always in flux – even when standing still.
By its nature (like the fish)
it rides the current of thought and emotion
finding currents and eddies to explore.
Pisces is very intuitive
they understand emotion and can grasp another person’s struggle
without losing themselves (Hopefully!).

The Pisces Amulet

The Pisces Amulet

“I Believe”.
Knowledge of the current of consciousness
provides a conviction based on gut instinct
rather than calculation.
With this kind of foundation
they can stand in the perpetual Mutation of Being
without loosing their nature.

The amulet’s design produces the effect of “Water within Water”
both holding true to the design
yet creating more flow than is already there.
Like the others in the series,
the frame is deep cut to produce a three dimensional effect to the amulet,
presenting the eye with the idea:
there is more to it than first apparent.

This amulet is for both the Pisces Sun and Moon signs:
The Sun signs are those of the Zodiac houses under which you are born:
February 18/19 – 20/21,
or if you are more concerned with your moon sign,
the house the moon occupied while you were born.
It may also be used as an amulet
should you wish to emphasize the qualities
of Pisces in your life, actions, position in your community or home;
perfect for those who are true believers, religious leaders,
artists, creators of all kinds, Lovers, Lawyers and performers.

The Aquarius Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on January 31, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, Multi Faith, Zodiac Amulets. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

The Aquarius Amulet is from my Zodiac Collection,
considered a sign of “Air”,
thus I have carved the piece with a brushed texture
to offer the feel of an element that can lightly brush the cheek
like a passing breeze,
or tear the roof off a house,
all with near invisible force.

The Aquarius Amulet

The Aquarius Amulet

The sense of consciousness
expressed in the Aquarius amulet is:
“I Know“.
This is the impression they hold of themselves,
not necessarily pertinent or correct,
yet they conceive that they know
or at least seek to find out.
They derive satisfaction when proven right;
yet find it difficult to comprehend when they are not.

The Aquarians are outgoing,
self expressive with positive polarity combining
with the communicative nature of Air.
Aquarians are generous with knowledge preferring
to express themselves through large groups of people
and enjoy being the center of attention.

Aquarius is a “fixed” sign
resulting in a stubborn nature
and given to preconceived yet progressive ideas.
They are original, inventive, intellectual, friendly independent,
idealistic, revolutionary and at times unconventional.

This piece reflects the flow if ideas
replicated in the texture of the over all sculpture.
The surrounding disk holds depth
allowing the Aquarian design to stand out.

This amulet is for both the Aquarian sun and moon signs:
The Sun signs are those of the Zodiac houses
under which you are born:
January 20 – February 18/19,
or if you are more concerned with your moon sign,
the house the moon occupied while you were born.
It may also be used as an amulet
should you wish to emphasize the qualities of Aquarius in your life,
actions, position in your community or home;
perfect for those who are seekers of knowledge,
performers, teachers and scientists.

The Cat Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on January 30, 2010
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, Multi Faith, Pagan Jewelry, Wiccan Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , . 1 Comment

In our more ancient cultures, the Cat has been considered one of the sacred animals. The earliest evidence of cats as deities may be found in Egypt as early as 3100 BC one may fine a crystal cup decorated with an image of the lion-headed goddess Mafdet. The goddess Bast was originally depicted as a lion, but as her image “softened” over time she became more strongly associated with the smaller cat.

The Cat Amulet
The Cat Amulet

In the middle ages in Europe, because of the history of the “Pagan” lore and in fear of the Old Religions, cats were considered evil and were destroyed by the thousands, only to encourage a rat population which spread the plague and in turn killed much of the population.

Now recognized as both a great pet and a wonderful deterrent to infestation of less desirable vermin, the Cat has returned to proper favor among us.

In celebration to the Cat’s place in our lives, I have created the beloved animal as The Cat Amulet. This piece is two sided, adorned with jewelry of her own: earring, necklace and bracelets for her tail. Her eye is rendered as them all seeing eye of Ra. She is only an inch tall and very light weight, yet stout for all her detail.

This amulet is designed for cat lovers everywhere who wish to carry with them a touch of their sleek beauty.