Journeys: the new collection

I love the word journey. It conjures up visions of long trips to magical places. Winding roads beneath endless skies. Seascapes and primal forests, stately museums, urban cafés. The romance of Paris, the magic of Tuscany, Florence with its light filled plazas, the lagoons of Venice, sultry Morocco, Egypt with it’s winding Nile. Nepal with it’s beautiful Buddhas, ancient India. The world is here, waiting for us to explore it.

And so my inspiration for the new collection came from these thoughts, and I hope you will see in these necklaces and earrings—colors, textures, and shapes reminiscent of far flung lands and the spirit and magic of the “journey”.

I believe that no matter how far we’re going, somewhere along the road, we find our dreams.

Edited: May 25th, 2010

Journeys — new collection coming soon

winding roads, castles in the mist,

endless skies and seven seas,

streetlights glow on dreamy streets . . .

many paths call to us . . .

Edited: May 20th, 2010

Pearls Again!

“I must go seek some dew-drops here,

And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.”  Wm. Shakespeare

As you may know, lately, I’ve been mad for pearls—take a peek at Mystique des Perles and Morgane La Fay, to mention two of the newest necklaces.

In the meantime, have you ever wondered about the difference between cultured pearls and freshwater pearls?

Well . . . they all come from mollusks, however, freshwater pearls (which actually are “cultured” as well) come in many more colors, including white, peach, plum and purple—all of which can be found in the same mollusk.    They also come in more shapes, including baroque, coin, peanut, coin and near round; and more sizes.  Where they may not be as “perfect”, they are much more affordable, and give the same lovely, magical glimmer .  Check out the collections for the many other Dominion of Light Jewels necklaces and earrings made with freshwater pearls!

Edited: May 10th, 2010

Happy Mother’s Day!

To everyone who takes care of others, who nurtures and keeps watch over those they love—be it children, animals or anyone else they  ”mother”, may they have a lovely, joyful and peaceful day .

Edited: May 9th, 2010

Mommy Goddess Part 4: Green Tara

The Buddhist Goddess Green Tara was born from  the lake of compassionate tears shed by Buddha Avalokiteshvara.

The meaning of the name “Tara” is savioress, and from the very moment of her cosmic birth, she vowed to remove the suffering of all sentient beings and to lead them to enlightenment.  She is known as Mother of the Buddhas, and can be prayed to by all those who seek help, solace, comfort and solutions to their problems.  Her face is peaceful and smiling, she sits on a lotus blossom, carries an uptala flower in her right hand, and is adorned with precious gems.

Her mantra is very beautiful, and just listening to it can soothe the soul.

Edited: May 8th, 2010

Mommy Goddess Part 3: Mother Mary

Who is to say that Mother Mary is more comforting to those who believe in her today than Isis was to the millions who prayed to her for comfort centuries ago, or any of the other Mother Goddesses were (or continue to be) to their worshippers through the ages.  But whatever your beliefs, whom ever you pray to when you need a little solace, there’s no denying that the Beatles had the right idea:

Let it Be —

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me,

speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,

speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be —

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,

there will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,

there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, …..

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,

shine until tomorrow, let it be.

I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,

speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, …..

And yes, in Orthodox images, she wears adornments—jewels on her veil, at her collar, and around her wrists—

Hail Mary, full of grace . . . in asking for her blessings, perhaps we take on some of her gentleness—

Edited: May 7th, 2010

Mommy Goddess Part 2: Isis, Cybele, Cerridwen

Isis—her name conjures the waxing Nile, pyramids, hot sands and fertile gardens.  ”I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever me unveiled,” she told her worshippers.  From somewhere around 2000 BC she appeared as Great Mother over her domains of Nature and Magic.  She protected slaves, sinners, artisans, the downtrodden, as well as listening to the prayers of the wealthy, maidens, aristocrats and rulers.  She was also protector of the dead and of children.  Her religion spread into the Greco-Roman world and endured into the early centuries AD.  And yes, like mortal women, she appeared to love adornment and is usually pictured with a collar and crown of gold, sometimes set with semi-precious stones.

The Goddess Cybele embodied the fertile earth and was known by the ancient Greeks as Mountain Mother. She was worshipped from as far back as 6000 BC into the second century BC.  Here she is sculpted in clay and wearing a lovely crown, earrings and necklace.  In her hands is most likely a moon disc.

Cerridwen is an ancient Welsh mother/nature  Goddess who tends the cauldron of wisdom, knowledge and divine  inspiration.  She bore two children: a beautiful daughter of light, and an ugly son of shadow.  Later she gave birth to the great bard Talieson which also made her the Mother of Poetry.  And yes, she is richly adorned!

Edited: May 6th, 2010

Happy Mother’s Day: Mommy Goddess Part 1 — Very Ancient Mommies

From long before recorded history, (as far back as 24,000 years ago, and do I daresay before the advent of the Father God), humans worshipped Mother Goddesses—primordial figures symbolizing not only the eternal creativity of women but of our earth herself.   Many of these Goddesses were represented as small sculptures carved from stone and have been found all over the planet, in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Below are 3 statues of Mother Goddesses from paleolithic times.  Their huge bellies and voluptuous breasts were symbolic of fertility and the mysteries of creation.

As you can see, none of them are wearing adornments of any kind.   It will take thousands more years before depictions of the Goddess include jewelry.

This one is my favorite — she looks like a bee goddess too—

Edited: May 4th, 2010