Sassy and a Bit Twisted Gemlore

Also read about: Gem Properties -or- Gem Meanings

GEM LORE is the fascinating and sometimes mysterious story of gems woven into a culture's history and set in strong sense of tradition. Gems, stones, amulets and adornments often play a significant role and can reveal the soul of a place and its people. Here I share some of what I've learned from the peoples of distant lands.

AMULETS are often worn around the neck or as rings, especially in the form of jewelry. Virtually anything can become an amulet, depending on the different beliefs in different cultures. Some are designs or symbols on buildings, holy places and tombs. Semi-precious stones were particularly common as amulets, as were eyes; the best-known eye amulet being the ancient Egyptian Eye of Horus. Organic amulets, such as fruit, vegetables, berries, nuts and plants are also common in certain parts of the world, as in the use of garlic to ward off vampires. Various metals are also commonly ascribed amuletic powers against evil, for instance, iron is universally believed to guard against demons and witches.

EVIL EYE BELIEFS are practically universal: it exists on nearly every continent of the world. The belief's pervasiveness is evident by the number of different names used to describe it. Author Tobin Siebers offers a few:

In Greek, the evil eye is called baskania, from which the Latin words for the evil eye, fascinum and fascinatio, are said to derive. The Latin form recurs in the English word "fascination", which directly referred to the evil eye until the seventeenth century. In the Spanish speaking countries of South America, the evil eye is called mal de ojo, mal ojo, or simply ojo. In France, the term is mauvais oeil; in Haiti, mauvais jé, in Holland, booz blick; in Germany, böse Blick; in Poland, zte oko, in Corsica, innocchiatura; in Norway, skørtunge; in Ireland, droch-shuil; in Scotland, bad Ee, in Persian [...] aghashi; in Arabic, 'ayn; in Hebrew, ayin hara, in Tunisia, 'ayn harsha; in Armenian, achk, pasternak; in China, ok ngan; and in Turkey, nazar. In Italy, the evil eye possess many names. It is generally called malocchio, but in Tuscany and southern Italy it may be referred to as affascinamento or jettatura.

Apotropaic amulet for the evil eye (aesthetically speaking, of course) is the hand symbol common to Jewish and Muslim belief. "Mashallah" which is translated as an Arabic term meaning "may God preserve you from the evil eye". The symbol is known as the hamsa hand or hand of Fatima in Arabic/Muslim culture, the hamesh hand or hand of Miriam in Hebrew Jewish culture. I take a certain wry hope from the fact that the two cultures turn to the same source for protection from evil, as a trope of their many underlying similarities.

EVIL EYE A supposed power bestowed on a person whereby his/her glance brings sickness, bad luck, calamity or death. In witchcraft and black magic, it is said that certain individuals have the power to cast evil spells or to project evil thought forms simply by looking at another person. The idea of this evil power is practically universal, and there exists in virtually every language a comparable term the boser Blick in German, malocchio in Italian, mauvais veil in French; and from the Latin fascinum, which was originally associated with the idea of binding, is derived the English "fascinate", which was originally connected with such ideas as binding by means of diabolical powers or pact.

The fact of the evil eye has given rise to numerous protecting devices against it. These incorporate a wide range of magical signs and amulets, reflective surfaces, and, in particular, a number of obscene or phallic figures and amulets which are intended to ward off evil such as the corno, a curved horn, and the peculiar gesture involving a clenched hand with the thumb stuck through the middle and fourth fingers. Images of eyes are also used to avoid evil (see Eye of Horus), on the grounds of sympathetic magic, and many of the more ancient gems and symbols are designed with this in mind.

EYE OF HORUS The highly stylized eye of the falcon-headed solar and sky god Horus (the Latin version of Her), which is associated with regeneration, health, and prosperity. It was very common as an amulet in ancient Egypt. Horus, the son of Osiris and Isis was called 'Horus who rules with two eyes'. His right eye was white and represented the sun; his left eye was black and represented the moon. According to myth Horus lost his left eye to his evil brother, Seth, whom he fought to avenge Seth's murder of Osiris. Seth tore out the eye but lost the fight. The eye was reassembled by magic by Thoth, the god of writing, the moon, and magic. Horus presented his eye to Osiris, who experienced rebirth in the underworld.

As an amulet, the Eye of Horus has three versions: a left eye, a right eye, and two eyes. The eye is constructed in fractional parts, with 1/64 missing, a piece Thoth added by magic. The Egyptians used the eye as a funerary amulet for protection against evil and rebirth in the underworld, and decorated mummies, coffins, and tombs with it. The Book of the Dead instructs that funerary eye amulets be made out of lapis lazuli or a stone called mak. Some were gold-plated. Worn as jewelry fashioned of gold, silver, lapis, wood, porcelain, or carnelian, the eye served to ensure safety, preserve health, and live the wearer wisdom and prosperity.

SPIRIT LOCKS are old silver Chinese lock pendants which are difficult to buy at any reasonable price as the Chinese value them so highly. They are worn by men, women and children all of their lives as protection for both their bodies and their souls. They are said to help keep the wearer grounded and well focused, as spirits are believed to be of help working through the pendant. The spirit locks were used by the Hmong in their "soul calling" ceremonies to "lock" the soul of the wearer into his or her own body.

Each is designed for a specific person and somehow expresses their own personal meanings with large patterned areas and delicate swirls. The ones in my pieces are new however, and when feeling a little ill at ease, or lacking in direction or motivation, a spirit lock may help you feel aided and protected.

TALISMAN Specially prepared objects of stone, metal, wood, parchment and so on inscribed with magical signs, characters or drawings. Once endowed with magical properties, the object is believed to bring the owner good luck, success, health and virility. The power of a talisman can derive from nature, directly from God, or from a magical ritual, such as those described in the grimoires, textbooks of ceremonial magic.

TURKISH TALISMAN (Evil Eyes), is an object which you believe has magic powers to protect you or bring you luck. Turkish people believe that it absorbs bad energy coming from evil eyes. Usually, no one leaves Turkey without purchasing a blue and white evil eye charm. No place of business or home is without one. They come in many styles, from simple to ornate. Usually, they are made of glass but also can be made of plastic. Legend has it that it protects you from bad luck. "Bad luck" translates into evil or harm wished upon you from another. When a child is born, an evil eye is pinned to the garment on his or her right back shoulder for protection from other people's evil wishes.

TIBETAN TRADITION Jewelry has always been an important part of Tibetan daily dress. It is believed jewels put people in touch with deities, and protects them from the many hazards of life in their rugged and treacherous land. Himalayan jewelry is often oversized and heavy, with elaborate surface design and an exuberance of color. The value of jewelry was historically determined by the intensity of color and size of the components, rather than the value in gems or precious metals.

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