IMPORTANT: This jewel is limited 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 for a custom quote on the additional length. 

A fine cut onyx oval gemstone is cradled in a nest of thorns, forming a unique skeleton key. These thorns were respectfully hand harvested from a lone Hawthorn tree on the edge of the Mima mounds in Washington. Please note that as these thorns are life cast, they are slightly sharp and should be worn and handled with care. 

Belonging to the rose family ( Roseaceae ), the ancient Hawthorn tree, sister to the Blackthorn, has been utilized as a protective hedge for thousands of years, and has been steeped in folklore for just as long. Also known as the Whitethorn, the May tree and The Fairy tree, lone Hawthorns, not planted as hedges, were considered to be the sacred homes of the Fey and were fiercely protected as portals to the Otherworld. 

Used as hedges due to its thorny branches, it was often planted with Blackthorn to create dense thickets to create land and livestock boundaries. These thorny entanglements would subsequently create protection for wildlife as well, harboring birds and other animals while fencing in livestock. Their thorns, while not inherently poisonous, are sharp enough to penetrate the skin and carry a bacteria that can cause sepsis and death. 

Named the May Tree for its early Spring blossoming, ( though due to changes in weather this may shift from year to year ), the blooms have an unusual scent of rotting meat and were prohibited from being brought into the homes due to bad luck. However, it was considered apotropaic to decorate the outside of homes and barns with garlands of the flowers to ward against negative energies. Interestingly, the blooms were associated with love and fertility and brides wore them in their hair. 

Once the flowers dropped, the haws or fruits would begin to appear. These shiny red berries provided nutrients that supported the heart and are still used in modern tea blends you can purchase at the grocery store today. In folk magic, the berries would also be used as beads for love and protection talismans.

Known also as the 'Wishing Tree', people would tie 'wish-rags' gently to the branches of the Hawthorn in search of knowledge or wishes. Hawthorn, unlike Blackthorn is a deeply healing tree, otherworldly, intense, but gentler than its darker sister.

The proximity to pain while wearing Hawthorn suggests being mindful to the emotional realms of it: our ability to stay present and persevere during intense times as well as the hope for healing psychic wounds by piercing them, allowing them to drain and heal.

*Details* :

- 51 mm from top to bottom

- 29 mm wide

- Solid Sterling Silver  

- Both pendant and chain are hand oxidized to achieve our favorite shade of stormy gray and then highlighted to reveal the bright luminous silver beneath

- Set with one 13 x 18 mm oval onyx stone

- Shown on Miguel at 20"

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 is a wonderful grounding stone and a stone of self mastery, enabling its wearers to have mental and spiritual focus.

This jewel is hand cut and therefore may have small signs of the carver's hands along the edges. It has not been fabricated by a machine rather it hand cut and therefore might not be uniformly perfect. The photographs accurately portray the quality of the stone and the cut. 

***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 info@bloodmilkjewels.com