Beads and baubles

On the left side of my watch dangles an orange-and-white marbled charm, one of the lampwork beads Matt left in Memphis. I set the bead in sterling silver and spent a month debating where to hang it. It's preeeetty, and it reminds me of my torch ... and Matt ... and that Matt's far away with my torch! ::grins::

Last night, when I posted pictures of my anklets, it reminded me of a ritual called the Blessing Way. It's a rather frequent occurrence for the Navajo. Centered around life changes, it's typically performed for expectant mothers, sons leaving during wartime, those moving into a new home, etc.

There are actually a number of rituals associated with the Blessing Way, but my favorite is the bead ritual, in which each person brings to the ceremony a bead or talisman that is special to them or speaks to them in some way. The idea is that the person being blessed walks away with a necklace symbolizing the love and strength of those who care for them. The photo at left is an actual Blessing Way necklace I saw online.

The jewelry I wear symbolizes a lot to me — special people, places, phases of my life. I have a "ruby in the rough" (ruby and zoisite) ring from a little traditional Voodoo shop in New Orleans; a Peruvian blue opal bracelet Paul brought me from Chicago; an Italian charm bracelet with links representing places I've been; and, of course, my wedding ring.

Now I can the "Dude, Where's My Torch?!" charm to the list of those representing a particular moment in time.

Unfortunately, I'm not experiencing a big life change, other than the stress of having my husband go through the doctoral process. I'm not moving, not going to war, and definitely not pregnant. But the idea of all of my friends getting together and creating Blessing Way necklaces for each other really strikes my fancy. Just seems like something that would lift my spirits when things get rough.

I guess I can't solicit my own necklace, huh? Maybe I'll just mail all of you a bead and hope you send me something in return. :)