I, for, one feel a weird tension between being most comfortable at night { the quiet, the moon, the coziness of being in bed with a book, how much more creative & alive I feel out of the sun }  but also, I struggle with the shorter daylight. It’s a strange contradiction ~ to love both the sunlight and the darkness. Maybe you feel this way too.

This seasonal change for me is also a magical time, a liminal time, a time for the dead~ we honor our ancestors & commune with the land as it begins to recede, leaves are falling with the cooling rain but the wild Datura across the street is still thriving. I started wearing a jacket on the exact day of the 15th anniversary of my father’s death, cocooning myself in my favorite velvet coat while also feeling cocooning in a dull grief. I light candles to light their way, the way of my loved ones, my creative path. My pile of books grows. I think more about being quiet. The texture of my dreams changes, I feel more visitors. Everything has the sensation of being just a little bit darker and I have to press through this to October and it’s offerings. 

Personally, this is one of the harder times of the year for me, the griefs I’ve collected in the sea of my heart sharpen~ and I have to focus on the practices that keep me afloat. For me, one of them is and has been for the last 15 years, grounding myself with jewelry. Created to be a comfort to the season change and the shortening daylight ~ this strand is an homage to the night and all her mysteries. Varying patterns and bead sizes make for a tactile and grounding experience when holding it in your hands and running it through your fingers when feeling anxious, lonely, or grieving. Waken it for companionship and protection or use in ritual during this time of descent. 

This strand is composed of onyx and spinel. It measures 50 in length.  

At its closure is the larger version of our Pomegranate Clasp cast in sterling silver. A sister to our Dollhouse Pomegranate pendant, this clasp is delicate in size & tactile in nature making it easily held between the tips of your fingers and rubbed for comfort in times of grief, anxiety, dissociation, as well as during moments of joy and wonder. 

Pomegranates are a sacred symbol to me as they are sacred to Persephone, Goddess of the Underworld. Similar to how Eve was doomed the moment she bit from the apple, Persephone’s fate was sealed the moment she ate from the pomegranate, a few seeds bound her to the land of the dead and she became part of it, she belonged to it. This idea is used throughout other tales and narratives, eating the food of chthonic or otherworldly places binds you to them. A symbol of belonging. 

Onyx:

Onyx is best known for being a natural stone that acts as a kind of 'psychic armor' against the negativity of others. It is also used to sooth grief and heartbreak. It's a wonderful grounding stone and stone of self mastery, enabling its wearers to have mental and spiritual focus.

Spinel:

Spinel is a potent stone for healing and protection: working to help clear intense emotions such as anger and rage, it imbues its wearer with a sense of calm. It is also used to heal the physical body and has powerful metaphysical qualities, helping its wearer to feel strong, assisting with perseverance, especially when dealing with issues from the past that have become difficult to overcome. Much like Onyx, it also helps repel negativity from others.

Every bead is hand selected for its beauty. 

 **IMPORTANT***:

This strand is handmade to order, just for you, with care and focus. Please allow approximately 6 weeks for creation before shipping.          

*Length note: Because individual bead measurements vary slightly, total strand lengths are approximate within a few millimeters in either direction. Please reach out via email if you have any questions about this. 

Please visit the Policy Page to make an educated and informed purchase HERE.

Please email any questions to bloodmilkjewels@gmail.com for a timely and kind response.