IMPORTANT: These earrings are limited and we do not know if they will be available again in the future. We recommend Express Shipping with signature required upon delivery to make sure it arrives safely into your hands. 

A pair of elongated Onyx tears are held by a pair of our Petite Datura Moths, inspired by the jewelry of the elaborate Victorian Mourning rituals and customs of the era. Made popular after the death of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert in 1861 ( their marriage became a popular love story throughout England despite it being an arranged one ), these customs would persist in culture for some time and its mark still resonates today. 

Large, faceted onyx beads in the shape of tears catch the light, representing how grief has a terrible way of sneaking up on us. It can feel as if its been dulled, a bit of sea glass floating around in the ocean of our hearts, but still glass, capable of cutting, capable of being sharp when we aren't expecting it. For me, I often dream about my beloved dead. Sometimes I cry in my dreams, during other dreams, they feel more like visits, messages, and I'm happy for any kind of connection. It's been said that moths appear as little messengers from the other side; here, this moth clasp is my hope for comfort, a stand in for someone or something you may have loved that isn't here anymore. 

Datura Moths:

Datura stramonium ( with a species of 9-14 ), also known as Jimson weed, Thorn apple and Devil’s Trumpet, is a flowering plant that originated in the Americas and spread across the seas. Much like other members of the solanaceae family, it is highly toxic in high doses. This includes all parts of it, from its gorgeous trumpet like flowers, to its toothy leaves, its roots and its infamous inky black seeds which are incased in spiky seed pods. In smaller doses, it has been used in the past as healing salves for inflammation and pain while also being utilized in folk magic to induce visionary and hallucinogenic states. Among tribes with shamanic practices, Datura was considered sacred and can be found in cave paintings and on pre-historic ceramics, suggesting its use during these times. 

One of the attributes of this plant that drew me to it aside from its beauty and folklore, is its ability to grow alongside the edges of places, even here in the city. Its seeds disperse when its pods dry and crack open and I’ve witnessed it grow from cracks in the sidewalk, through holes in chain link fences, abundantly in between buildings and in other abandoned empty spaces in the city where such beauty seems out of place. It is seemingly weed like in nature and yet in other places, it is planted with care as an ornamental despite its poisonous properties. 

I’ve been amazed at the thick roots of one bush that grew wild in an abandoned space between two buildings before it was cut down, its seeds freckling the earth as if to say, you haven’t truly destroyed me. Its hardiness in the face of a gritty landscape and Phoenix like regenerative qualities endears me to it as much as its beauty and magical properties. 

Moon colored, Datura unfurl and open at night and is therefore pollinated by moths, Sphinx moths in particular who hover around its blooms like hummingbirds, sipping from them with their long tongues. I witnessed this for the first time last summer, while visiting one plant with a friend from out of town near where I live in a fairly industrial part of the city. We watched the moth drink from flower to flower in wonder in the hot summer night air until it moved on. It felt both strange and wonderful to witness and I don’t know why it surprised me to see; if there are flowers thriving in the city, surely there could be Sphinx moths ?

This fortuitous moment inspired the jewel on offer here : a hybrid creature, a moth that is a Datura, a Datura that is a moth. Its sinuous body is meant to evoke the rippling petals of the Datura flower in bloom while also retaining the gesture and features of a moth, albeit one born from dreams rather than natural history. 

Moths have long been a creature I’ve used in the library of my personal symbology within BloodMilk. As a symbol of transformation: beginning their lives as caterpillars, they gorge themselves before outgrowing their exoskeletons. They will sometimes shed their skins ( like a snake ! ) up to five times with their final time forming its chrysalis or pupa. ( Find our Sphinx Chrysalis jewel here ). This is the fascinating / magical part for me: their caterpillar bodies will begin to disintegrate into a kind of jelly yet its believed they retain some of their memories as their new body moth body forms in the velvety dark protection of its cocoon. Once its ready to emerge, it begins to break free and its struggle to release itself also helps pump fluid and energy into its wings. Moth signifies, a period of patience, surrender and profound transformation or awakening through introspection. Just like Datura, Moth is linked to the Unseen world and many feel that moths are messengers from the spirit world, bringing signs from their beloved dead to them.

This listing is for one pair of sterling silver Night Grief earrings, featuring onyx faceted tears that dangle and sway with the body. 

* Details * : 

- Just over 2.5 inches from top of earring hooks to bottom of tears 

- 23 mm in wide  

- Hand oxidized to achieve our shade of gloomy grey and highlighted to reveal the bright luminous silver beneath. Earring hooks are all solid sterling silver

- One faceted, onyx tear and one faceted bead hang vertically from each Datura Moth

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 soothe grief and heartbreak. It's a wonderful grounding stone and stone of self mastery, enabling its wearers to have mental and spiritual focus.

Every bead is hand selected for its beauty. 

***IMPORTANT***

This jewel is handmade to order, just for you, with care and focus. Please allow approximately 6-8 weeks for creation before shipping.                   

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

If you have further questions, we are always here to serve you in a kind and timely manner: via bloodmilkjewels@gmail.com