IMPORTANT: This jewel is limited and we do not know if they'll be available again in the future. We recommend Express Shipping with signature required upon delivery to make sure it arrives safely into your hands.

Please note: This necklace will be created with an 18" bar link chain. If you desire a different chain length you must reach out to us immediately after placing your order.

"...throw roses into the abyss and say: 'here is my thanks to the monster who didn't succeed in swallowing me alive.' " - Friedrich Nietzsche 

Inspired by the above quote, which has meant a lot to me since nearly the beginning of BloodMilk, this protective talisman was created with twin dagger blades made from a life cast honey locust thorn, collected by hand at the start of 2020. Protective in all aspects, this sharp beauty carries with it the tension of beauty and danger via the Rose. A pear shaped garnet dangles from where the blades of the sword meet.

The ancient Rose, wild and prolific ( 150+ species ! ) has been utilized for many purposes throughout human history: Medicinally its petals, leaves, roots and fruit ( rose hips ) have all been used to heal via salves and teas; most commonly & still in frequent use today most commonly in rose water. In religious traditions it has been offered to deities it's associated with such as Venus, Ishtar, Isis, Guadalupe/Mary, Hekate, Dionysus and Bacchus among others. Perhaps best known for its sentimental traditions, such as given as gifts between romantic partners or friends, as well as for sending off the dead. Its more dangerous aspect, via its sharp thorns, has been used for hexing/cursing as well as for protective apotropaic magic.

I kept Alice battling the Jabberwocky in mind often : once vanquished ~ throw your rose metaphorically into the abyss of its grave and live to fight / be inspired by the beauty of another day, knowing that while there still may be a thicket of thorns to be battled tomorrow, you may be protected by them as well. 

*Details* :

-  42 mm from top to bottom

-  46 mm wide

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

- Set with one 7 x 10 mm pear cut Garnet

Garnet:

Garnet is seemingly named for a few things, the most interesting and well known being that of the Pomegranate, named for either its glowing red color or its relational look to the seeds within when polished. This has tied it to the myth of the Goddess Persephone in some of its lore, who is as inseparable to the Pomegranate and its fateful seeds as Eve is to the apple of Eden. This association, admittedly, is what first drew me to Garnet, but its long and storied history, spanning many cultures and parts of the world is as fascinating as just about any other gemstone of my acquaintance. I also fell for its uncanny beauty, which  like a glowing ember one can wear on the skin, appears alive like fire does. 

As an ancient gemstone, the Egyptians knew of its power and beauty, which seems to be the seal of magical authenticity on the stone as it was found not only amongst grave goods but also within the settings of talismans wrapped in the layers of mummies to protect the body on its journey to the afterlife. I imagine it being present with its wearer before the weighing of the heart, as it’s a stone closely aligned with the heart ( akin in this way, to Rose Quartz. ) 

Created under extreme pressure and temperatures in the darkness of the subterranean realms, Garnet persists and thrives under these difficult circumstances - suggesting strength and personal resiliency. It’s also, like the Phoenix, associated with fire and its transformative properties, rising from extremely high temperatures. It’s considered to be a stone of creativity, as it’s ‘blood’ colored and associated with fire and the heart, ( as mentioned above) suggesting a quickening of the blood, a call to creative action, passion.

This passion also extends to both romantic and platonic relationships, the stone was given to strengthen bonds between friends and lovers due to its association with the Persephone myth in a strange nod to how Pomegranate seeds kept Persephone bond to the Underworld for part of the year/ being returned to the Upper realms for Spring/Summer, ( this also made it a traveler’s stone) as well as for its color being similar to heart’s blood. 

Another interesting bit : in the Medieval Ages it was considered to ward off Melancholy and also, interestingly, to be the material that Dragon’s eyes were made of. 

All in all, Garnet is a wildly magical and highly potent stone, beautiful, ancient and intense; a personal raging fire to keep close- to remind you that you belong to the land of the living. To quicken the blood when feeling otherwise.

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.                   

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