Busy, busy ... and a special offer!

This week has been an incredibly busy one here at Spirit of Old with plenty of carving and crafting. Four new pendants were uploaded late last night with a 3-day special offer on them - £10 off until the end of Saturday. There's also free postage offered until the end of January so that's a saving of up to £16 if you get in quick!

Above and below are some photos of the birth of a beautiful Crow pendant carved from Rowan wood. First the basic shape is created, then the design is marked out and shaped until, finally, the detail can be added and a good coating of beeswax-based polish is applied.

Below: The finished Rowan Crow. A bird of the Shaman, the Crow has worldwide associations with birth, death, healing and resurrection.
Below: The detail on the Crow's back
Below: Overlapping feather detail. As you can see, this is a very special piece with alot of attention to detail and is beautifully finished. You can find full details on the main website. The price of this pendant is £65 but, as part of the 3-day offer it is offered at £55 until the end of Saturday 30th January.
Below: Celtic Raven Moon pendant crafted from deep black bog oak dating from around the Celtic period. You can find full details on the main website. The price of this pendant is £65 but, as part of the 3-day offer it is offered at £55 until the end of Saturday 30th January.
Below: This wonderful stylised Norse Raven bead crafted from warm brown Avalonian bog oak. The wood dates from around 6,000 years ago and is from Somerset, considered by many to be the site of the fabled Isle of Avalon. This rare and beautiful wood is a deep, warm chestnut in colour and feels full of positive energies. You can find full details on the main website. The price of this bead is £50 but, as part of the 3-day offer it is offered at £40 until the end of Saturday 30th January. If you'd like it to be woven into a wristband please add an additional £5 to the price.
Below: Hare bone stylised Celtic Hare bead. You can find full details on the main website. The price of this bead is £50 but, as part of the 3-day offer it is offered at £40 until the end of Saturday 30th January. If you'd like it to be woven into a wristband please add an additional £5 to the price.

The Hare was revered and held sacred by the Celts who associated them with moon deities and deities of the hunt. Killing or eating one was forbidden throughout the year, except at Beltaine when he ban was lifted and a ritual hunt and consumption was carried out.

The Anglo-Saxons also venerated the Hare and a ritual Hare hunt was a feature of the Spring festival of the goddess of Eostre, or Hretha. Folk survivals of these rituals still exist today.

Until the end of the 18th century on Easter Monday (originally Beltaine), a Hare hunt took place in the Dane Hills, near Leicester, England led by the mayor together with hunters and hounds. This hare was associated with Black Annis, a fearful hag said to live in a cave in the hills known as Black Annis's Bower, which she gouged out of the hillside with her own claws. Black Annis may actually be the Goddess Anu.

The Hare is strongly associated with the Moon in many different traditions and cultures including Buddhists, the Norse, Chinese, Europeans, Mexicans, Indians and Egyptians. It also has a strong association with the rising Sun, new life and fertility.

The above should give you a brief insight into the Hare and was taken from a highly recommended book called "Familiars - Animal Powers of Britain" and written by Anna Franklin.