Handmade Catholic Rosary
The Interest In Spiritual Jewelry
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 survives today has a spiritual connotation. Whether the art was an idol or a symbol of the creator's faith, we see surviving pieces made of stone, iron, brass or gold. In addition to those pieces of art, there were pieces of jewelry made that reflected the wearer's religious beliefs.
Some of the jewelry was worn in order to ward off the evil spirits. Other pieces served the wearer as a reminder of his god or his religious duty. Pieces had significance to the wearer or they would not have been made.
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.
While many Protestant Christians do not wear crucifixes or rosaries, cross jewelry is very popular. In addition, the symbol of the fish, used by early Christians as a means of identification, is often worn by Protestants.
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.
Jewelry prices for spiritual pieces vary greatly. You will find that there are cheap plastic pieces sold as well as those pieces that are made from gold, silver and precious stones. The more expensive materials will make the piece more expensive. If you opt for a custom made piece, you should expect to pay the most for the jewelry.
Whenever planning the purchase of spiritual jewelry, start by setting a budget. By knowing what you want to and can spend can help you in your shopping decisions. Make sure that you are purchasing quality pieces when paying top dollars. Settings should be secure and clasps or other fasteners should be secure. Just as with any other jewelry, a lost stone can ruin a a piece. A defective clasp can result in a lost piece. If you have recently found your spirituality and are not sure about what piece you should purchase, consult with someone more experienced in your religion. They may be able to give you advice about a piece that will continue to have meaning for many years.
Exposition regarding unique pendants authored by Christopher Caramelli. Mr. Caramelli is the creator of jewelry featured at Spirit Journeys' SpiritWear. You can find out more about his metaphysical jewelry at Spirit Journeys site.
About the Author
Howie Holben has traveled throughout the world for more than 30 years. He owns and runs Spirit Journeys, a spiritual gay travel organization. Spirit Journeys has offered unique gay vacations with a difference since 1992. You can learn more at www.spiritjourneys.com.
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US $10.20
