Barbados Bracelet (#030)

...while azure skies reflect your sea of love...

Sacred geometry is incorporated into this piece with cubes of Azurite embedded with Malachite & circles of Abalone rainbows. 

• Abalone.
• Azurite.
• Malachite.
• Rhodonite.
• Turquoise.
• Sterling Silver clasp.
• One-of-a-kind.
• Designed & handmade in California.
• Inspired by the beaches of an Atlantic island in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, home to indigenous species of the banyan tree.

Abalone Shells  Used for trading in many indigenous cultures, evidence shows how black, red, & green Abalone shells were a focal point of trade in the ancient American southwest. Abalone shells are associated with strengthening love within relationships & fostering interpersonal harmony, releasing negative feelings & easing stressful situations. Abalone is also linked with Cancer, Scorpio, & Pisces zodiac signs, which are connected to emotions, intuition, & the subconscious mind.

Azurite A soft, deep blue copper mineral that often grows together with Malachite, Azurite has been used as a pigment or dye since Ancient times, often used in art, to paint towns, & to make glass. The Ancient Chinese called Azurite the "Stone of Heaven," & applied it in blue & green landscape paintings from the 7th to the 17th centuries. The Ancient Egyptians used Azurite as a pigment dye for textiles, associating the color with royalty. The Ancient Greeks used Azurite on the Acropolis in Athens. The deep blue color has led some to believe that Azurite possesses Atlantean energies connected to Plato's fictional island of Atlantis. During the European Renaissance, Azurite was employed in tempura, fresco, & oil paintings, particularly to depict blue skies, a connection to earthly forces. There is even evidence that Azurite was used as far back as Ancient Mesopotamia where it was ground in a mortar & pestle to fuse with glass. Azurite is associated with Aquarius, Sagittarius, Capricorn, & Taurus zodiac signs. Believed by some to support the Third Eye & Throat Chakras, Azurite is also linked to spiritual awakening & creating a sense of groundedness. 

Malachite  A type of copper ore, Malachite was used in ancient Egypt & Rome for pigments in paint & makeup. Supposedly Cleopatra used Malachite in her eye makeup, & it is also connected to the 4th & 5th Chakras, or Heart & Throat Chakras, where it is believed to nurture energetic balance. Malachite is known as the "stone of transformation," because it is said to reveal & heal emotional pain by absorbing the pain into itself, which could make it especially helpful in bringing harmony during times of change & providing insight needed for personal growth. Malachite is linked with the zodiac sign of Capricorn.

Rhodonite  The name Rhodonite comes from the Greek word 'rhodon' meaning 'rose' because of its color. Rhodonite is believed to encourage love & cooperation, so naturally it is connected to the 4th Chakra, or Heart Chakra. The clearing of emotional wounds & scars is associated with the healing power of Rhodonite.

Turquoise  Ancient Egyptian tombs have provided the earliest evidence of Turquoise gemstones used in jewelry, dating back to 3000 BCE. King Tutankhamun’s iconic burial mask is an example of the Egyptians' extravagant love for the gem. The oldest Turquoise mines are located on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. One in particular is situated near an ancient temple dedicated to Hathor, the Greek goddess of love & joy who was worshiped as a protector in the desert & as the patron saint of mining. Perhaps this is why the Egyptians named Turquoise "mefkat," which means “joy” & “delight.” Ancient Aztecs valued Turquoise for its perceived power of protection & used it to decorate ceremonial masks, knives, & shields. Also believing that Turquoise was a source of protection, Persians adorned their necks, turbans, daggers, & horses’ bridles with it. The Persians named Turquoise "pirouzeh," which means “victory.” Later on, when Turkish traders introduced this “Persian blue” stone to Europe via the Silk Road in the 13th century, this influenced the gemstone’s western name. The word “turquoise” comes from the French phrase "pierre tourques," which means “Turkish stone.” Meanwhile, pre-Columbian Native Americans mined the Turquoise stone throughout areas that are now the southwestern United States. Native American Shamans used it in sacred ceremonies to communicate with the spirit of the sky. Apache Native Americans thought that attaching turquoise to bows improved accuracy. Turquoise is linked to the 5th Chakra, or Throat Chakra, & is said to help improve communication & public speaking. Turquoise is the birthstone of December & is associated with the zodiac sign of Sagittarius.