Symbolism and Esoteric Jewelry.

What a subject. Esoteric means hidden. Our ranges are very symbolic. I like jewelry to have meaning. Pretty baubles are nice but lack depth and meaning. People today are looking for substance in their lives. Remember how your mom had a story about her grannies diamond ring... well that is the meaning - emotion and history we attach to our possesions. What beter possesion than a piece of jewllery that you can carry with you.

Like the Runes, which have meanings attached, all jewellery has some kind of story. From the emotion of love through to bad memories like a broken engagement. The number of woman who come to me and say - "melt this ring down - I hate it" is amazing. At one stage they wore the ring or pendant and enjoyed it - even if they did not like the design. Why? - because it was given to them and that had meaning. Of couse I get the people who got gifts from people they did not like - a persistent suitor, and they never wore the piece. Still this item of jewellery has a story attached - it has a symbolic meaning.

I can list all the universal symbols of our past cultures - Yin and Yang, Om symbols, Christian crosses and other religious crosses, unicorns, fairies, 8 pointed stars, Nyami Nyami and so on. I can also list many modern symbols which we wear - known as brands - Nike, Coke, Harley Davidson, Louis Verton, amongst others. These carry meaning and emotion. They show the world what we consider important.

Symbolic jewelry is no different - but it has one important fact. Usually people buy it to remind themselves of their beliefs and culture as well as to show others what they believe in. School badges and flags serve the same purpose. You see it - or hear it and it brings up feeling. Esoteric symbols serve this purpose.

What I like about African symbols and ancient European Symbols and Eastern Symbols is that they can be used to help in our personal lives. If you need to get somewhere in your spiritual life a symbol can help tremendously. Wearing a symbol allows you to continuously be reminded of your goal - what do they say - where your mind is, that is where you are. If you are wearing a Crucifix - then you mind is on Christ and his suffering for mankind. If you are wearing an African Power Mask then power is what you need or seek.

Symbols in jewellery given as gifts also play an important role in our society. An engagement ring is a gift which carries huge symbolic value.... and brings with it a commitment from one person to another. A gift of a rune pendant - say Gefu, means that the giver thinks you need partnership and trust or that that is your grace. Of course if I buy a pentacle it means that that is what I am seeking. Like the runes, every time I look or feel the silver symbol my mind will go there - and if one thing is in your mind - another thing cannot be there.

Star signs are another very popular symbol. I personally think that they are trite and over commercialised. Too much faith is put into what other people say and predict. The goal posts change continuously as daily horoscopes are churned out by modern "seers" and witch doctors. The advertising companies are the modern form soot sayers - putting their spin and ideas continuously in front of us - battering us with repetitive adverts and so doing, brainwash us into believing a lot of nonsense.

Universal symbols and truths are tied up with the motifs and icons we wear. Looking through man kinds cultures and beliefs we find a common thread. They all share certain elements and belief structures. These I would term as "universal beliefs" We share them regardless of our background, tribe, colour or upbringing. It is almost as if we are born knowing things - which of course is a subject all on it's own. The knowledge is inside us - we just need to "see it" or recognise it. Symbols help with this - our ancient minds are powerful and carry knowledge that we think we can only dream of.

Sport is rich with symbolism and meaning - churning emotions and feelings. Take South African Rugby. How’s the springbok symbol to get a nation worked up. World cup Soccer with Fifa as it's godhead is a prime example of how symbols and emotion allow us to be controlled manipulated. If I though the Catholic Church was controlling and greedy, rich with it's religious dogma, and symbols, Fifa Football takes the cake. It dictates to governments and populations like a god. Sport is a religion, complete with its symbolism, faithful followers, dogma and rituals.

As time has passed so has power - from one group to another. Religions and faiths such as Wiccans have been seemingly replaced by Christianity and politics. I say seemingly replaced for a reason... I think they have been supplanted - taken over and used against mankind to control the masses. Christianity is just another form of cult belief, which did not even bother to write it's own story. It merely used stories and symbols from previous cults and made them it's own.

I have nothing against God or the belief in God. I am against the use of God for personal and political gain - which is what most religions and cults are. The use of symbols plays a huge part in this - and the powers that be know this. The symbols on their own are not good or bad, the people or followers are not generally bad people (perhaps confused). The powerful meanings that are attach to the symbolism are not bad either - it is the people who manipulate these emotion attached to the symbols that are in question.

Which brings me back to my reason for this article, namely the esoteric meanings of symbols. Why were the meanings hidden? I reckon because they did not want all and sundry to know what they believed and who they followed. There could be many reasons for this. Persecution because of beliefs is probably a good one. Another is the hidden or secret societies like the free masons - who by all accounts have plenty to hide. Symbols in the form of badges and motifs all other masons to know but the general public not to know.

Obvious symbols like a free mason ring would be worn by those initiated who have no knowledge of the hidden more sinister side of freemasonry. Good people sucked into stuff they do not know about - thinking they are working on the side of good - thereby hiding (esoteric) the real purpose of a secret society.

Symbols have a large place in the development of human kind. We will continue to attach meaning and create new symbols to suit our beliefs - or be given symbols by others to control our beliefs. They will come and go as people seek meaning and try to make sense of a sometimes confusing and ruthless world.

Wayne Skews

2010