How to Purchase Magickal and Metaphysical Jewelry

Metaphysical and magickal jewelry works best when it is a created with a specific purpose in mind and focused into the piece.  It also works best when it is also created for a specific person, but that doesn't mean that the person has to be known when piece is made - haven't you ever seen a stone, ring, or something else that you just know is meant to be yours?  Especially with hand-made items, this generally means that something about that piece is calling to you.  It could have to do with what the creator was thinking about when they made the item or some particular detail that was added to it that makes it stand out to you.  All hand-made items are made with someone in mind, with the thought that it will appeal to a particular person out there, even when their name isn't known to the artist creating the object.

Jewelry works best in magick and healing when it is made by hand because it has that much more energy and intent focused into it.  Items created by machines don't have a focused energy or intent - other than to be used generically and sold.to the masses.  They are rarely special and not very individual.  Most healers and witches are very particular about their magickal and healing tools since it is important that they work properly, which requires attention in their making.

Pre-Owned or New?

It usually isnt' a good idea to purchase pre-owed magickal or metaphysical jewelry, although there isn't any hard and fast rule about it.  To begin with, most pieces advertised as belonging to any witch or healer doesn't necessarily mean that they will work for you as they for their previous owner.  A cleansing in this case would be very, very important so that you don't have strong influences attached to the piece of jewelry.  Like houses and places that can be haunted or cursed, so can jewelry, and the last thing you want is negativity associated with a piece that you may not be able to get rid of or even having affecting your magick - especially if you don't know it is there in the first place.  Of course, on the other hand, you may be able to clear the piece of any problems or negative energies or even find that the energies attached to the jewelry are compatible to you and your needs, although it isn't very likely.  There is no way anyone can guarantee what a piece of jewelry has or has not been used for unless they are the original owner - just like you don't know exactly where your used car was, or went, or everything that happened to it before you bought it.

Lastly, there is always the question of authenticity.  Of course the item may be genuine, but then again it may not be.  Is there a proven provenance on the piece (actual proof of ownership history)?  You also then have the question of authenticity of the actual jewelry - is it really sterling silver or gold and is the gemstone real?  The seller may not even know the answers to any of these questions for sure, and may times an experienced jeweler could have difficulty answering these questions without specialized equipment.

Choosing Your Piece With A Purpose

When choosing jewelry for magical or ritual purposes, it is a good idea to find a professional pagan jeweler if possible.  They should not only know the modern pagan uses of the jewelry and gemstones but also be trained in gemology so they know what they are selling to you.  If they have been a student of the history of gemology, that is even better - much of this is based on the magical, mystical, and traditional healing uses of gemstones in a variety of cultures throughout the ages.  Unfortunately, there is a lot of contractitory and inaccurate information out there on the magical and metaphysical properties of gemstones - most of it from people that are very knowledgeable about magic but not trained in gemology or the historical uses of gemstones and based on their color.  Color is important, but it isn't the only factor in the use of gemstones.  Many specific stones have very specific uses, just like everything else (i.e. herbs, siguls, signs, symbols, etc). 

When selecting a piece of metaphysical or magickal jewelry, there are several other things to keep in mind.  First - what is the purpose of the piece?  Is it just something that calls to you?  In that case, the purpose might not be known yet, so it is wise to learn as much as you can about that piece so that you can figure out the purpose.  In that case, it would be best to email and get as much information as you can about the jewelry.  Ask pointed questions - what is it made of is an excellent start, but also what the uses of that particular stone are and compatible spells or healing purposes.  The stronger the jewelry calls to you, the more important it is to do your research.  There are many uses out there for each piece.  If the piece is made by hand, ask the creator what their inspirations and intents were when they made it.

Do you need the jewelry for a particular purpose you already have in mind?  A ring of power, something to attract good luck, focus power, attract love?  Do you need a pendant for protection or to aid in grounding?  Are you looking for something to help a client with arthritis?  If you are looking with a specific purpose in mind, it narrows your choices of gemstones, metals, and what type of jewelry (i.e. ring, bracelet, pendant, crown, torque, etc.)  If you are looking for a ring of power or a protective talisman or to strengthen love, different stones are appropriate for each purpose.

Another thing to consider when purchasing magickal and metaphysical jewelry, new or pre-owned, is the metal used in the setting.  Different metals have different magickal qualities and can affect the purpose, use, and performance of  the jewelry.  Unless the jewelry is gold gemstone, the metal also plays an important role in the magick, and this is something that most forget to consider.  At the very least, you need to know what effect the setting will have on various spells and uses.  When it comes to pre-owned jewelry, it can be difficult to determine what the setting is made out of and can't be done just by looking - just as with gemstones.  Of course, you may be lucky and find it is stamped, but then comes the issue of when it was stamped and whether or not the stamp is correct.  These issues are also faced when purchasing "normal" pre-owned and antique jewelry as well as with new jewelry.  It always pays to know your jeweler, their reputation, and their level of professionalism, experience, and knowledge.

Your jewelry also doesn't necessarily have to have a spell attached to it when you purchase it to be magickal.  You can use it in your own spells, rituals, and ceremonies to make it magickal or you can purchase ti spelled.  Remember it you do purchase it with a spell attached to it to cleanse it when you receive it before using it.  If possible, at least do part of the incantation, or repeat it, yourself to attune the spell to yourself.  If you decide to spell it completely yourself, do your research and make sure the spell is compatible with the gemstones and setting.  This will also make it work better for you, and you will be happier with the results.

The Truth About Vibrations and Cleansings

When I am vending at fairs or doing private consultations, I often have a person come in attracted to a specific piece, ask to see it, hold it to get the feel of it, and decide it doesn't feel right.  They assume the piece that attracted then wasn't the right one and they were mistaken in feeling the call.  Remember that when you first feel or hold a piece that you aren't feeling the actual stone or even the jewelry.  You are feeling the history of the piece and everyone that has ever come in contact with it - the miner, the cutters, the people processing the metal, the postal carriers that have delivered it all around the world, the gem dealer that sold it to the jeweler, the jeweler that made the piece, and any one else that has touched it since it was made.  Usually all these impressions are jumbled together andc ome across as a single impression.  This is true of any piece of jewelry that you go to purchase and shouldn't be used as a gauge of whether or not that piece is suitable for you or your needs.  It needs to be thoroughly cleansed and then handled by no one else for you to get a true reading.  Depending on how strong the impressions are more than one cleansing may be needed.  You can cleanse to the point that you can't feel all these impressions, but they are still imprinted on the jewelry's 'memory' and are a part of its history* - one reason that many practitioners of magick and healing guard their stones and working jewelry so carefully.  Of course, the more a piece or stone has been handled, the stronger the impressions and influence.  It might not seem that important, but cleansing your jewelry will go a long way to clearing up these impressions and will give you a much more accurate perception of the piece's feel!

When you purchase your jewelry, if you aren't sure of the types of cleansings that are appropriate or safe, ask the seller that sold it to you.  For instance, bone, wood, and horn should not cleansed (or cleaned!) with water.  Opals require that the water be close to room temperature.  If your seller knows jewelry, they should be able to tell you what is safe and what isn't safe for that particular piece.

The upside on all of this is that is pays to do your research and know your seller as well as what you are buying.  Remember that it is always okay to ask questions, and a seller that isn't willing to answer your answer questions and help you with your purchase isn't someone you should be buying from, especially on an important purchase that can affect your magick, spells, or even worse, people you are trying to help and heal.

*Note:  This is one of the reasons to be wary about buying pre-owned magickal jewelry.  If the impressions on a piece are very powerful and very negative, they might not be minimized enough with cleansing and can still adversely affect your spells, magick, health, and safety.  This might also not be noticeable at first since many negatives like to masquerade as being harmless or less of an influence than they really are and appear insignificant.  These effects can also be dormant before being expressed - sometimes for years or decades - and sometimes even wait for just the right person to become active again.  However, this is rare, and most of the time an old ring is just an old ring!

Bright Blessings!