Wednesday 4 March 2009

Three Aetts pendant and Hare bone beads ...



These beautiful beads are carved from Hare bone. The Hare can be found in folklore and mythology throughout history and from tales around the world. With strong associations with Eostre, fertility and the moon, the Hare is an important symbol of Paganism and especially fitting for this time of year. You can find further information at this lovely site which ends with this poem by Walter de la Mare:

In the black furror of a field
I saw an old witch-hare this night;
And she cocked a lissome ear,
And she eyed the moon so bright,
And she nibbled of the green;
And I whispered "Whsst! witch-hare,"
Away like a ghostie o’er the fieldShe fled,
and left the moonlight there.

The unusual pendant pictured above is crafted from mistletoe which grew upon a local Oak tree and was blown down by strong winds. The pendant is carved with the Elder Futhark runes, divided into the traditional three aetts. Mistletoe has long been held sacred by the Druids but especially so when it has grown upon the Oak.

Information can be found at Wikipedia regarding Pliny the Elder, writing in the first century AD and describing a religious ceremony in Gaul in which white-clad druids climbed a sacred oak, cut down the mistletoe growing on it, sacrificed two white bulls and used the mistletoe to cure infertility:

The druids - that is what they call their magicians - hold nothing more sacred than the mistletoe and a tree on which it is growing, provided it is Valonia Oak.... Mistletoe is rare and when found it is gathered with great ceremony, and particularly on the sixth day of the moon....Hailing the moon in a native word that means ‘healing all things,’ they prepare a ritual sacrifice and banquet beneath a tree and bring up two white bulls, whose horns are bound for the first time on this occasion. A priest arrayed in white vestments climbs the tree and, with a golden sickle, cuts down the mistletoe, which is caught in a white cloak. Then finally they kill the victims, praying to a god to render his gift propitious to those on whom he has bestowed it. They believe that mistletoe given in drink will impart fertility to any animal that is barren and that it is an antidote to all poisons.

2 comments:

  1. I am amazed at the detail you were able to put onto such a small piece! Beautiful work! Bravo!~~

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