Nearly every religion has spiritual jewelry. Whether your are Buddhist, Native American, Christian or New Age, you will find spiritual symbols which are worn for adornment. These pieces may be designed for wear by either women or men. Jewelry related to ones spirituality is almost as old as history itself.
Much of the early artwork that has survived and is studied today has a spiritual connotation. Some of the art was an idol that was worshiped and other pieces were mere symbols of the owner’s faith. In addition to these larger pieces of art, craftsmen made smaller pieces that were worn as adornment symbolizing the wearer’s belief.
Some of the pieces were designed to be worn to keep away the evil spirits while others were simple reminders of the faith or of their god. Pieces had to have significance to the wearer or they would not have been made. As man progressed in his spirituality and skills the jewelry that he made also changed to reflect new beliefs and new talents.
There are examples seen in Catholicism today. Rosaries, crosses and crucifixes as well as metals depicting the patron saints are often worn. Rosaries are very important to Catholics as they are used in daily prayers. Many of the metals of the saints are also worn by non Catholics.
Most Protestants do not wear crucifixes or rosaries, but do wear items decorated with a cross. Additionally, jewelry in the symbol of a fish and other items are popular among this group or religious persons.
New Age jewelry often has very ancient roots. Amulets which have been copied from pieces that were created thousands of years ago are often worn. These pieces often are very expensive, but pieces using inexpensive metals and fake stones are also popular.
Among Native Americans the metaphysical jewelry often signifies a rite of passage. Other pieces may be healing stones, while still others are for ceremonial use only. There are stiff penalties for attempting to sell Native American jewelry that is not made by Native Americans.
The cost of such religious jewelry may vary greatly, regardless of the faith of the person. Jewelry made from inexpensive alloys and simulated stones or simply enameled may be very inexpensive. If the settings are made of gold and precious stones are used in the jewelry, then the purchaser can expect to pay more for the piece. Custom made pieces will be found to be even more expensive.
If you are planning to purchase spiritual jewelry, you should begin by setting a budget. Know what you can and want to spend before you begin shopping. As with any other jewelry, you will want to look for quality workmanship. Make sure that settings are secure and that clasps and fasteners are secure. Like other good jewelry, you do not want a piece to be ruined by a lost stone or lost because of a faulty clasp. If you are new to your spirituality and unsure about what piece of jewelry to purchase, speak with someone who is more experienced in the practice of your religion. They may be able to direct you to a piece that will grow in meaning to you over time.
Column with information on energy jewelry offered by Christopher Caramelli. Mr. Caramelli makes his unusual jewelry for Spirit Journeys’ SpiritWear. There is more info on metaphysical jewelry at Spirit Journeys website.
