Once upon a time Shirley Jackson wrote a strange book, The Haunting of Hill House teeming with a recognizable knowingness - perhaps you know the feeling - of belonging to a haunted house, of being a haunted house. Of being born to Endless Night.

Eleanor, the main character in the book, speaks to a child in the story who refuses to drink a cup of milk because it doesn’t have her stars at the bottom. While the girl’s mother tries to talk her into drinking the milk:

“Eleanor looked up, surprised; the little girl was sliding back in her chair, sullenly refusing her milk, while her father frowned and her brother giggled and her mother said calmly, 'She wants her cup of stars.'

Indeed yes, Eleanor thought; indeed, so do I; a cup of stars, of course.

'Her little cup,' the mother was explaining, smiling apologetically at the waitress, who was thunderstruck at the thought that the mill's good country milk was not rich enough for the little girl. 'It has stars in the bottom, and she always drinks her milk from it at home. She calls it her cup of stars because she can see the stars while she drinks her milk.' The waitress nodded, unconvinced, and the mother told the little girl, 'You'll have your milk from your cup of stars tonight when we get home. But just for now, just to be a very good little girl, will you take a little milk from this glass?'

Don't do it, Eleanor told the little girl; insist on your cup of stars; once they have trapped you into being like everyone else you will never see your cup of stars again; don't do it; and the little girl glanced at her, and smiled a little subtle, dimpling, wholly comprehending smile, and shook her head stubbornly at the glass. Brave girl, Eleanor thought; wise, brave girl.”

I was thinking of this passage when stringing this ‘thread of stars’ instead of drinking from a ‘cup of stars’ - I wanted to wear them. I wanted to hold them in my hands and also feel them in my blood simultaneously - the felt sense that they are within and also without - the strange marriage also, that the stars I’ve chose are Onyx, made in the deep earth - the duality of above and below, with the wearers body as a kind of intermediary - a wearing of both the Underworld as well as the cosmos.

Likewise, I was also thinking of Ariadne’s Labyrinthine thread - of finding one’s way out of a spiral, or finding the center with a thread of the universe - the thought of someone beloved on the other side holding one end, while you hold the start, the key, the way in.

This strand is composed of glittery, very dark, almost 'black' grey moonstones, and small hollow sterling silver 'Pearl' beads that have been hand oxidized and lightly polished. 

This strand measures approximately 34.5 inches long from end to end, including clasp.

This 'Opera Length' makes it perfect for wearing doubled up as well as at its full length. Designed to compliment other jewels in the Mourning/Ritual bead line it also layers beautifully with other BloodMilk necklaces. Its length and varying bead sizes makes it useful for meditation, mourning or ritual practices.

At its closure is our double sided Other Side clasp cast in sterling silver. At the 'heart' of the strand is our smaller, double sided Key to the Other Side. You can find information about the Key to the Other Side HERE . 

Grey Moonstone:

Grey moonstone shares many of the same metaphysical properties as the rest of the moonstone family. It is closely tied to the moon, with some cultures believing the stone is solidified moon rays, while others think of them as embodiments of the moon's tears. Acting as a kind of Psychic armor, it is thought to protect its wearer from not only dark nights, but dark times; it helps sooth grief, loss, and other emotional turbulence. 

Moonstone is also known for its powerful psychic abilities. Used to protect empaths & sensitives from absorbing other people's emotions, it is known to be used during meditation for connecting to ones inner selves. As a romantic stone, it is known to strengthen the bonds between lovers when given as gifts, especially during the full moon. 

As a natural stone, clarity and color varies; each bead has been hand selected for its quality.

 **IMPORTANT***:

This strand will ship within the next 4 weeks. 

*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.