It is probable that prehistoric humans thought of decorating the body long before they thought of making use of anything that could suggest clothing. Before precious metals were discovered, people who lived along the seashore decorated themselves with a great variety of shells, fishbones, fish teeth, and colored pebbles. People who lived inland used as ornamental materials from the animals they hunted for food: reindeer antlers, mammoth tusks, and all kinds of animal bones.
Civilization replaced a nomadic lifestyle, and humans settled along the banks of large rivers and seas. Here, they discovered some of the Earth's most precious resources, including gold and precious stones. Some of the earliest evidence of jewelry boasts from the Sumerian Queen Pu-abi’s tomb at Ur in Sumer (now called Tall al-Muqayyar), dating from the 3rd millennium BCE. In the crypt, the upper part of the queen’s body was covered with a sort of robe made of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian, agate, and chalcedony beads.
Crystals and stones such as these can accelerate and amplify energy patterns which unite their natural power with the strength of your intentions to aid you in emotional, spiritual, and physical healing. Your body can easily match the vibration of a crystal piece of jewelry, so choose wisely!
The use of metals in jewelry have a spiritual connection as well. Gold is recognized since primitive times to symbolize wealth and luck as well as strengthen confidence. Gold opens crown chakra (the seat of divine consciousness) and is also known to protect its wearer. Silver is mainly united with the moon and divine feminine energy. It is believed to raise intuition and speed physical healing.
The growing use of metals gave rise to amulets, magical totems thought to bring prosperity and protection against evil spirits. Using troves of gold from the Nubian desert, the Egyptians created jewelry with highly-evolved religious symbolism and spiritualism that carried them from life to death. The sign of the Ankh represents Eternal Life. Egyptian Gods were often portrayed carrying it by its loop, or holding one in each hand with arms folded across the chest. Wearing the charm was believed to grant health, physical endurance, and long life.
Throughout history, metals and precious stones were used to symbolize power, social status, religious affiliation, heirloom ties, and spiritual connections. A great way to grasp the heart of a culture is to study its jewelry trends. Apart from simply beautifying its wearer, jewelry holds a much deeper meaning. These purposes differ for everyone, but can undoubtedly enrich our lives daily.With so much importance placed on jewelry in our world, I was forced to look into my own practice and rediscover my WHY.
A large part of my eclectic spiritualism utilizes Eastern philosophy and practices. In Crystal Reiki, I study the chakras and ways to promote balance within them using crystals. The various types of jewelry that we wear are connected to specific parts of the body. Divine consciousness or chaitanya is activated around the body where the jewelry is worn, and purifies and awakens the chakra associated with that part of the body. For example, wearing a Rose Quartz pendant at the level of the heart chakra can support its balance and free flow of energy.
Another advantage of wearing jewelry includes receiving the benefit of acupressure therapy. The jewelry naturally presses acupressure points in the body that are linked to the alleviation of physical, psychological, and spiritual distress. This results in the removal of black (stuck) energy in the body and enables chaitanya to flow freely.
As I grow in my spiritual journey, I find that I rely less on jewelry to maintain balance and flow especially at home. Although, while I am out in the world at work, in crowds, etc. I will layer my jewels on THICK to protect my personal energy field and maintain my desired vibration.
What is your favorite piece of jewelry? How does it make you feel?
Adorn yourselves, Divine Ones!
With gratitude,
Maureen