Amulets and Symbols in Jewelry Design

Whether you call them amulets, charms, fetishes, or talismans, virtually every culture had them.  I like to think of them as little works of art, but they are so much more than that.  They were worn on the body to bring luck, heal, enhance fertility, protect against injury (during travel, hunting, or from bites and stings) or ward off evil, depending on the wearers beliefs and intentions.  They came in many forms, made with different materials, and adorned with different symbols. The meaning and significance in the symbolism of a particular image changed from east to west, culture to culture, and even day to day.  Even if you do not believe in their magical powers, it is fun to know the intention of the artists who created them, and the power felt by the person who wore them before you, as many of the pieces are antiques.  Below is a list of amulets and symbols found in many of the pendants and beads in KatieO jewelry.

Conch Shell:

The conch shares the symbolism of the spiral, which represents the masculine and feminine energies as well as the energies of the sun and moon.  Energy was once thought to flow in spiral form and mimic the movement of the heavens. The conch symbolizes the energy in nature. 

In mythology the conch is the emblem of Neptune.  In India, the conch symbolizes the sacred sound Om and the breath of Vishna that fills the universe.  In Buddhism, the conch is one of the eight auspiciuos symbols and represents the fame of Buddha's teaching which spreads in all directions.  To the Tibetans it is a symbol of power and authority and was worn as a talisman to ward off evil.  In Mayan cultures it symbolized the waters.  In some Native American tribes it represented rain.

Photos:

Top Left:  Pendants from KatieO collection

Bottom Right:  Turquoise Monkey, from the Treasure Chest Collection

                           Pendants from KatieO collection