IMPORTANT: This jewel is limited based on the small number of stones we were able to source and we are unsure if they'll be available again in the future. We recommend Express Shipping with signature required upon delivery to best ensure it arrives safely in your hands. 

PLEASE NOTE : This necklace will be created with an 18" bar link chain. If you desire a different chain length, it's important that you email us immediately after placing your order. 

The kerykeion or caduceus ( not to be confused with the rod of Asclepius which features a single snake & would have been more fitting as a symbol of medicine ) is a herald / staff  that was given to Hermes/Mercury by Apollo as a trade for his turtle Lyre. Golden & powerful, it has the ability to both awaken and drowse humans, transform & heal, assist in negotiations & commerce, & turn things into gold ( thus  Hermes’ symbolic association with Alchemy ). 

The twin snakes of the staff represented opposites in harmony, such as the poison and the drug, life and death, the masculine and feminine archetypes within the binary, chaos and order and so on. In art, such as statues, tiled mosaics and paintings they are depicted as writhing & alive rather than appearing as fixed parts of the staff. Here, his staff has been reimagined with life cast snake rib bones braided together & holding a solar disc in honor of Apollo, a dark Sun or eclipsed Sun, in the form of a polished hematite cabochon. 

Designed with writers in mind, as Hermes / Mercury is a deity was know for his aspect of communication & language as well as his links to memory & learning/knowledge which gesture towards writing even though he is not specifically a God of it. As a traveler & as someone in a long distance relationship, I also appreciate his attribute as a protector of travelers. 

He is also one of the psychopomps~ guiding souls to the Underworld, marking him as a chthonic deity. Despite this, I always viewed him as being as part of the sky as a child, always flitting about with his winged feet, a humanoid hummingbird. Betwixt & both. 

Known best for being the messenger between Gods & humans, I’ve always loved Hermes most for his mercurial ways & have always hoped for his help in guiding my pen.

*Details* :

-  64 mm from top to bottom

-  17 mm wide

-  Set with one 12 mm round Hematite cabochon 

- Solid sterling silver: oxidized to achieve a stormy gray. Hand polished to reveal the luminous silver tones beneath.   

***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