New pendants and beads

At long last, there are a vast amount of new pendants and beads added to the main site this afternoon. There are some very special pieces, just a few of which are shown above ... for full details of all the new items listed please click here.

Don't forget, there are only a few days left to enter the draw to win a set of corresponding ogham staves! Please see here for full details.

Finally, enjoy the Solstice however you choose to celebrate it!
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Competition draw!

Competition draw! 

Every item purchased between now and 20th June will get you one entry into the Spirit of Old draw to win a set of Native woods corresponding ogham staves! For full details please go to the main offers page ..

Good luck!

Flowing springs and Celtic Triskels ...

New items have been uploaded to the main website recently, including the Avalonian Triskel pendant above. The pendant is crafted from midford sandstone found naturally upon Glastonbury Tor and is carved with a Vesica Pisces on one side and a Celtic triskel on the other.

Above: Avalonian sandstone spiral pendant A beautifully simple and timeless pendant carved with a spiral, an ancient symbol of life and lifeforce.

Below: Avalonian sandstone Tree of Life pendant


Above: Rowan and slate athame

Below: Oak and slate athame Two simple athames where the the natural beauty of the materials really shines out. The slate is a deep, rich grey colour with hints of purple in the light.

Above: The reverse of the Oak and slate triskel athame showing the plain side of the blade and the shaping of the handle.

Below: The detail of the Triskel decoration on the slate blade
Below: The detail on the blade of the Rowan and slate Tree of Life athame

Above and below: Two Petite Avalonian sandstone and Rowan athames. These are such wonderful pieces, so unusual! The sandstone occurs naturally on Glastonbury Tor and the blades are shaped from small pieces it and then coupled with Rowan wood handles. The pictures above and below show the variation that can be found between different trees - both handles are Rowan, but one is cream-coloured with no obvious markings and the other shows off plenty of warm colour changes.

These athames are two of my own favourite items on the website, full of wonderful energies. Each of them will make a wonderful working tool.
We had a wonderful trip out yesterday to gather materials for sets of the corresponding ogham staves and stopped off on the way home at a little village called Cheriton. Near the village is a spring which is the source of the River Itchen and it was in full flow which was lovely to see. It feels like it's been a very long, drawn out winter this year but springtime is here at last!

Thor's Hammers, staffs and runes in boxes!

New offer

10% off all pendants and wands

Offer excludes postage and packing costs

Offer ends 31st March 2010

Above and below: Hazel Nine Worlds staff
This staff has been crafted from Hazel wood. It is deeply carved with the Norse Rune of the Nine Worlds and also has each of the Elder Futhark runes inscribed. The bark is left intact and polished to a deep shine to bring out the beautiful warm brown colour of the wood. It's naturally a perfect, comfortable shape and weight for walking with and would make a good, magickal travelling companion. To order, please visit the main staffs page at Spirit of Old.

Length: Maximum posting length 1.4m (may need to be shortened slightly)

Item no: S048

Price: £50

Postage and packing: Within UK - £12.50

Above: Hazel Nine Worlds staff

Below: Twisted Birch Safe Travel Staff
Below: Twisted Birch Safe Travel Staff

This staff has been crafted from naturally twisted Birch wood. It is deeply carved with three bindrunes: two different ones for protection and one for safe travel. The bark is left intact and polished to a deep shine to bring out the beautiful red colour so characteristic of Birch wood. To order, please visit the main staffs page at Spirit of Old.

Length: Maximum posting length 1.4m (may need to be shortened slightly)

Item no: S047

Price: £60

Postage and packing: Within UK - £12.50

Above: Mistletoe Rune Set with Birch bark box

This beautiful rune set contains the full 24 Elder Futhark runes and is crafted from warm-coloured, naturally windfallen Mistletoe wood which grew upon an oak - a partnership considered sacred by Druids.

The runes are stored within a traditional Birch bark box. Birch bark has been used by many cultures throughout time to make containers. This box has been crafted with all-natural ingredients including handmade nettle cordage and pine resin glue, both created using methods dating from pre-history. The base and lid are crafted from Apple wood. To order or view more photographs please go to the main runes page at Spirit of Old.

A perfect gift idea for someone special in your life - or even just to treat yourself ;)

Rune Size: 0.75 inch/ 1 cm (approx. - varies slightly)

Box size: 4.5 inches/ 11.5 cm high

2 inches/ 5.25 cm diameter (approx.)

Item no: D083

Price: £100

Below: Bog Oak Rune Set with Birch bark box

This unusual rune set contains the full 24 Elder Futhark runes and is crafted from deepest black bog oak dating from around 200BC.

The runes are stored within a traditional Birch bark box. Birch bark has been used by many cultures throughout time to make containers. This box has been crafted with all-natural ingredients including handmade nettle cordage and pine resin glue, both created using methods dating from pre-history. The base and lid are crafted from Apple wood. To order or view more photographs please go to the main runes page at Spirit of Old.

A perfect gift idea for someone special in your life - or even just to treat yourself ;)

Rune Size: 0.75 inch x 1 inch/ 2 x 2.75 cm (approx. - varies slightly)

Box size: 4.25 inches/ 11 cm high

3 inches/ 8 cm wide (approx.)

1.5 inches/ 4 cm wide (approx.)

Item no: D082

Price: £80

Above: Avalonian bog oak Goddess bead

This beautiful bead is crafted from Avalonian bog oak and is carved with a Goddess. It can be purchased on a piece of thonging as a necklace or, for an additional £5, woven into a wristband from black cord thonging for a chunky wristband or deep brown flax for a thinner one (while stocks of flax last). To order, or for more photographs, please go to the main Avalonian Wares page at Spirit of Old.

Bead size: 4 cm/1.5 inches long (approx.)

Item no: PE733

Price: £40 as a necklace or

£45 as a wristband

Above and all below: The new range of Thor's Hammer Mjölnir Pendants

Thor's hammer, also known by its Norse name of Mjölnir or Mjöllnir, features in Norse mythology as one of the most fearsome weapons, capable of levelling mountains.

The Prose Edda (an Icelandic saga full of Norse mythology and written at the end of the Viking age) gives a summary of Mjölnir's special qualities in that, with Mjölnir, Thor:

... would be able to strike as firmly as he wanted, whatever his aim, and the hammer would never fail, and if he threw it at something, it would never miss and never fly so far from his hand that it would not find its way back, and when he wanted, it would be so small that it could be carried inside his tunic.

Today, Thor's hammer is often used as a symbol of protection.

Prices for these particular pendants range from £40 - £70. For more information or to order please go to the main Thor's Hammer page at Spirit of Old.

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.

Hares, skulls and plenty of snow!

For the last couple of weeks, Britain has been deep in wintertime with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. The perfect excuse for sledging and hot chocolate! It's also been a great time for curling up in the warm and crafting ... Hare bone and wood ... perfect!

Please find the pics below - the Hare bone beads can be found here, the Rowan wand can be found here and the Mistletoe wand can be found here. Thanks for looking!