S N A K E // S Y M B O L I S M

S N A K E // S Y M B O L I S M

Whether you like or dislike snakes; their texture, the way they move, their speed or their dangerous nature in some species, we cannot deny that these beautiful creatures have a dominant power and represent a deep spiritual symbolism. 

I will begin by discussing the meaning given to snakes and the general symbolism they represent. 

The miraculous ability that snakes possess when they shed their skin almost leaving their whole self behind before living in their new, perfect skin, represents to many change, rebirth and transformation since ancient times. As the snake sheds its skin, it invites you to give up your old perceptions of things. Since it also wants your spirituality to grow, the snake will watch over your journey towards better aspirations. Expect the snake to warn you when you’re moving too fast and to steer you in the right direction when you’re lost.  The snake also sheds it skin to rid itself of all the bacteria and filth it has accumulated over time. Some believe that we also can rid ourselves of our past and move onto a new beginning. You have the power to shed your grief, sadness, guilt and fear to bring you a fresh new start. In a sense, you can be reborn. 

The way that a snake moves, slithering on its stomach also suggests it’s link to Earth and life itself.  As a spirit animal, the snake slithers into your life to change your priorities as it wants you to give up the past and focus on the present. The snakes long body stretching out symbolises the umbilical cord that joins all of us, and all creatures with our great goddess, Mother Nature. 

Some Gods, Goddesses and deity’s have snakes near them, often on their bodies or in the case of Mother Nature, the snakes entwine themselves around her sacred staff. This is known as the Casuceus staff.

In Hinduism, ‘Naga’ are half human, half Serpent deities who reside in the netherworld called Patala. As in Hinduism, the Buddhist Nāga generally has the form of a great cobra, usually with a single head but sometimes with many. Some of the Nāgas are capable of using magic powers to transform themselves into a human. Legend says that once upon a time, a Nāga, in human form, attempted to become a monk; and when telling it that such ordination was impossible, the Buddha told it how to ensure that it would be reborn a human, and so able to become a monk.

Another well-known symbol is the ouroboros. This symbol depicts a snake eating its own tail which represents eternity and the continual renewal of life. When the serpent is coiled upon itself, it is the sacred spiral symbolizing growth and spiritual healing. The ouroboros is said to inspire the endless knot. Also referred to as the Chinese snake knot, it is said to be a representation of good luck.

I will next discuss how Some believe that the snake represents the dualism of good and evil. This plays a huge part in Christianity but also in other religions that use the snake as their totem. Other than Eve’s serpent, the Bible also mentioned snakes in other stories, like the story with Aaron’s display of miracles. When the sorcerers’ staffs became snakes as well, Aaron’s rod devoured all of them, which according to some sources corresponds to death and affliction. The people who see the dualism of good and evil that snakes represent, have the tendency of both the ends of the spectrum also. For this reason, snake people should be wary of their decisions as it can always go both ways. An unplanned journey could be disastrous but could also be highly enjoyable. As long as you are very cautious and plan your ideas and journeys well, you will be out of harm’s way. The people who worship the snake as a clear sign of good and every also adapt to their situations quickly. They strive for new things and are born with the ability to rid themselves of negative thoughts, negative emotions and sin.

In another area of human civilisation regarding snake symbolism, the Anishinaabe tribes created medicine bags made from snake skin. It was believed that the snake’s venom could cure diseases, so the snake then became the symbol of good health and healing. In some Indian tribes, they associate the snake with the lightning phallus symbol while other tribes associate it with fertility. This further supports the snake’s duality of symbolism, but in this instance: phallic symbolism vs. fertility. The snake in these beliefs, clearly represents that balance of life that is so crucial to us all. 

Following on from snakes regarding their fertility and phallic symbolism, the Celts consider them forerunners of female power. However, since they have a phallic shape and are great hunters, they are also associated to having male attributes. This is said to lead to a mix of powers and again present a clear balance of coupling and partnership. This union results to an offspring that are not necessarily babies, but potentially a new energy in which the triple Celtic symbols originates. The Celtic “horned-god” Cernunnos holds a snake and this is said to indicate that he is the ruler of creation, fertility and cosmic balance. As a creature of mystical origins, the Celts view the snake as gatekeepers of the other side.

The serpent is the most revered creature in Mayan symbolism. Its ability to swallow its prey whole is considered magic and a representation of metamorphosis. What we see as feeding, the Mayans saw as a transformation. Moreover, the snake’s mouth is seen as a symbol of the gaping void which connects the snake to the mystical.

Next we will discuss snakes appearing in our dreams which is extremely symbolic and powerful to the dreamer. Since the snake can open chakras, it represents Kundalini energy; some believe that the snake is the energy coiled at your spine. The coiled serpent, which according to Kundalini yoga is where creativity and emotions are seated. Thus, snake dreams speak of your deepest desires and motivations.

The snake visits your dream when it is signalling you to shed your current habits, grief and emotions and it is inviting you to seek self-improvement and transformation. If your dream is of a headless snake, then it is warning you that you are unaware of danger that is near. If the snake in your dream is eating its own tail or is devouring himself, much like the Ouroboros, it is reminding you that there is life after death, hope after failure. This bring a positive message that is encouraging you to not give up.

In real life, some people believe that if you encounter the snake, it is telling you to wake up and see the world around you. It wants you to be conscious of your soul and its desires. It is reminding you of your connection to the universe and wants you to do something about it.

Snakes are one of my favorite animals. I wouldn’t want one too close to me as I do have a slight phobia of them, but I feel that part of this is because I have a huge respect for their power and mystic symbolism. The snake represents everything that I believe in including the strength of the feminine, the ability to shed skin and start a new beginning and the balance of life and death. This is why the snake is part of my logo and a huge influence to Bardo Jewellery.

L O S T // W A X // C A S T I N G

L O S T // W A X // C A S T I N G

The Lost Wax casting technique in jewellery making is a process that starts with a pattern that is carved or designed into wax, or a current piece of jewellery has a rubber mold made which can then be used to create a replica. The waxes are then attached to a wax tree by their sprus (small rod of wax) and melted away once plaster had been filled around it to be replaced with molten metal. This method is called lost wax casting because the wax is always “lost” during the process of making jewellery ⚒

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Here’s the break down of how it works; 

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1. A huge amount of jewellery that is designed & created by hand starts off as a wax pattern. Jewellers & manufacturers will take the wax pattern and use plaster to create an “invested” mold.

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2. Once the mold is created, jewellers or casting companies will put the mold into an oven until the plaster hardens.

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3. In the oven, all of the wax will melt away and out of hollow cavity inside of the mold of waxes. (The cavity for the mold is created when setting up the wax pieces.)

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4. With a wax-free mold, casters will then pour molten gold, silver or bronze into the hallow cavity that is in the mold with a vacuum machine or a centrifugal casting machine.

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5. After a few minutes, the makers will place the mold carefully into a bucket of cold water and the mold will then dissipate. They will then be able to reach in and pull out the tree of metal that is the exact replica as the initial wax pattern. Or in the case of a bigger wax tree lots and lots of replicas of initial wax patterns!

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6. These are then cut off the metal tree of replicas and finished & polished to then be sold or have stones set in their settings - most jewellers do this process themselves. 

W E // C O P E

W E // C O P E - a poem I wrote

An evil twin peering and sneering over your shoulder.

“You really think this is all over now you’re getting older?”

You’ve learnt how to heal yourself so believe you have found the way out,

But remember, they’re there, to drip feed you all the different shades of doubt.

Strengthening your mind, you can battle day by day,

Don’t let that bastard ruin your mood, fill you with fear and get in your way.

You’re stronger than your twin it’s just finding a way to cope,

When we stick together, support one another we’re all filled with strength and hope.

Let’s talk about what’s up and the twin that’s crippling our mind,

Because the one thing that they can’t beat is the love we share through being kind.

C X

W I C C A

W I C C A

Wicca is a new contemporary Pagan Earth centered religion and is typically duo theistic where people believe in a god or goddess. These are traditionally viewed as the Moon Goddess and the Horned God. Not all Wiccans would consider themselves as Pagan and in the same way many pagans would not identify themselves as Wiccans.

Wiccans honour the life sustaining and life-giving powers of nature through ritual worship and living life focused on the Earths balance. I would not identify myself as Wiccan, Pagan or from any Religious or non-religious tradition, but I am always interested in and inspired by exploring other people’s beliefs and ways of life.

Wicca is seen as a very dynamic and ever evolving tradition and Wiccans have different views on certain elements of their religion, but they have the same basic principles - to honour the Earth and their Goddess & God.

The Goddess & God are believed to be responsible for all creation including the cycles of life & death on Earth. They hold many ritual celebrations during their ‘Wheel of the Year’ as they mark the natural cycles of plating, growth, harvesting and dying. In this view, Wiccans see Death as a vital part of life and ongoing creation.

Its Wiccans view of Death that interests me the most. The most widely accepted concepts of an afterlife held by Wiccans is that of reincarnation. Reincarnation is a view accepted by many other religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism and is the idea that we will eventually be born again in a new life. Wiccans also tend to view nature as cyclical; from the scientific elements of electrons revolving around its nucleus and the changing seasons to the planets revolving around the Sun within our Solar System. Regarding this, the idea of Reincarnation is common-sense. To believe in one singular life would be such a small drop in the whole of eternity and it would not be in keeping with their view that everything works in a cyclic sense.

Some Wiccans view life and Death slightly different to other Wiccans, for example some see our journey through life as spiritually progressive and they can believe that we have the choice to choose what life we move on to. Others believe that our next life would be fully dependent on our Karma from our previous life (much alike the Buddhist view) and some Wiccans also believe that wherever we move on to in our next life, it is completely out of our control; It is completely random, and our fate is beyond our understanding.

The symbols used within my collection ‘Wicca’ were inspired by this contemporary religion but also echo Traditional Witchcraft and Pagan beliefs.

M E M E N T O // M O R I

M E M E N T O // M O R I

There is only one thing in life that is a certainty, regardless of your background, the way you were bought up, your ethics, your religion, your wealth; you will die someday.

 Memento Mori is a theory that I learnt about over 10 years ago. It has stuck with me ever since I started trying to understand its practice and living by its meaning. It has taken me time to grasp and I am still learning more about myself every day and how I feel about life and death. It’s a huge subject, right? So, I feel that as imperfect, flawed humans, we can struggle with the concept!

 Memento Mori is a Latin theory that bases itself upon our reflection on mortality and It can be translated into English as, ‘Remember you Die.’

 The whole point of this theory is not to put fear or grief into people and I certainly don’t see it as a pessimistic view, but it can help us to understand the inevitability of our Death and how we can live in a way that gives us clarity, inspiration and the motivation to continue.

 This practice has been understood and appreciated throughout history; from Philosophy and Art, to architecture and Literature; it has been taught and lived by through a variety of methods and has given people more meaning and purpose to their lives. We are here on Earth for such a small amount of time – why not make use of the time we have here; learn from others and from ourselves and most importantly to not fear the reality of the struggles of life and the certainty of our death. As Socrates says in Plato’s, ‘Phaedo’;

 “The one aim of those who practice philosophy in the proper manner is to practice for dying and death.”

 Certain Buddhist values have also been central to my understanding of Death. The concept of ‘Bardo’ (which my Company name materialised from) is something I will write about in a later Blog Post, but for me, has a huge connection with the Phrase, Memento Mori.

 Mindfulness is a crucial teaching within Buddhism. The Mindfulness of Death is a reflection on the inevitability of death and that life is impermanent. Everything is impermanent, marked by birth, aging, death, joy, sorrow, pain, grief and despair. Everything is in the process of becoming and dying.

 ‘Maranasati’ is the Meditative practice that means ‘Death Awareness’. This practice can help us to acknowledge the transitory nature of our life and can help us to decide if we are living our life how we want to live it and if we are making the best use of our time here. As Buddha put it,

“Of all the footprints, that of the elephant is supreme. Similarly, of all mindfulness meditation, that on death is supreme.”

 Even if you do not practice meditation, (I hadn’t for years and definitely don’t meditate often enough!) I feel it is important for us to grasp the acknowledgement of our death as this gives us urgency in life to do good; to be patient with not only others but also ourselves, to be empathetic and to not take life too seriously! By doing Good, we are using our time here as wisely as possible and making life more manageable for all. Buddha said,

 ‘Make haste in doing good’.

The fact that we’re mortal absolutely does not affect the way in which we behave and how we go about making decisions. But it could. Death Awareness enables us to be present, allows us to focus on what is important, gives us perspective and can make us feel liberated. By appreciating the value of the phrase, ‘Memento Mori’, we can enjoy life even more so and remember that it’s ok to not be as perfect and wonderful as we want to be. We are humans which means we are (sorry) pretty insignificant, we are here for such a short amount of time and our death is inevitable! So, enjoy the present, live in the moment and do the best you can with the time you have.

The Memento Mori Collection is available to shop by clicking the link below