Pagan Necklace: Earth, Air, Water, Fire

cool idea, too bad I have a 4.9, I will have to make my own

sorry :)

guess I'll make my own too

Sounds neat..but lots of strict requirements. Great idea though!

The reason why the swap is so strict is because I want all the people who join my swap to feel secure that they won't be skimped out on. I know I put a lot of time an energy into every swap I join and expect the same out of others.

BTW The examples I gave (eg. "Symbols"- the number of beads etc., are just examples of what you could do to fill the symbolic requirement, not what you have to do. Same goes for the colors I gave. This is a themed necklace, so yea it SHOULD reflect it's element.

If you guys have any suggestions for making this a better swap, please say it! (Though I'm not budging on the 5.0)

I also am thinking about changing the "metal" Goddess requirement to also have the option of using clay (normal clay (that requires a kiln) and/or precious metal clay instead), to make it easier if you can't find a metal piece to reflect the Goddess. What do you think?

I think it's odd to have a Pagan necklace swap and insist that it's rosary style. I was gonna join till I saw all the strict requirements. Sorta limits creativity.

No offense, but I really don't think the requirements are that super strict! All I am saying is that the necklace should come together in a point, have a pendant, and colors should match the element...not very difficult...

broche: if other people are telling you the requirements are strict, then they are. strictness is up to personal interpretation. one would assume if you created the swap requirements, you wouldn't think that they are strict!

sadly, i won't be joining this swap either. perhaps a similar one may come up at some point. shrug

There is a cool book (sadly out of print) called A Circle of Stones, by Erynn Rowan Laurie

It's "journeys and Meditations for modern Celts" and has the instructions for making and using a pagan circle of stones--a set of circular "prayer" beads, like a necklace, which is used for the same purpose as the Catholic rosary--a prayer (meditation) aid and focus point. Ancient religions have used them far longer than the Catholics.

In the book she says, " Stone, bone, wood, or glass beads are preferable...and metal beads or medallions should be silver, brass or bronze. According to Celtic mythology, iron and presumably its alloys, interferes with Magic..."

I made one once with blue and white stone beads for Sky (air), Seaglass for the Sea(water), terra cotta colored stones for earth, and Carnelians for Fire. In between the elements are also 4 "Treasures" which are gifts form the gods, and at the beginning a "Gate of Divine Mysteries" then Fire, then the Double Spiral Gate, aside it are two beads representing Bile and Danu.

It's much more complicated and interesting than this small bit I have quoted here, and if anyone wants more info, PM me.

twobluecrows: Thank the Goddess you know what I am trying to do!! I was going for the prayer beads (themed elementally.)

EVERYONE: Please, PLEASE tell me which part of this swap is too strict so I can adjust! You guys just telling me "oh, it's to strict" is not helping me FIX the problem!!!!

For me personally, it may be a little tough for me to find a metal Goddess as the swap is requiring. A craft store that I go to has some but they are VERY small (less than half an inch) in size, maybe making it so the Goddess could be of another material(s), may help a bit. I know even ordering one online may be a bit tough to get it here in time for the swap as the X-Mas shipping season seems to delay shipments a bit. That would be my personal suggestion, I dont know if that is what everyone else is thinking as well, but hopefully that gives you a little bit of input.

I will keep watching the swap and see if I con come up with a way to join

Thank you SignsFromAbove for your input. I really appreciate it! I have just adjusted the pendant requirements, you now can choose from metal, clay (no polymer clay) or goddess shaped stone for the Goddess pendant.

Places where you can find a Goddess pendant: 1. Walmart- I found a very cool sea Goddess pendant 2. Your local New Age or Pagan store- the one near me ALWAYS has goddess pendants made from pewter ranging to silver.

I am going to add some pictures on my blog of exceptable pendants. Here is my site:

http://eire-pagans.blogspot.com/

I'd also suggest being able to make the medallions out of something accessible for lots of us, a wood carving is fairly simple and there are lots and lots of sources on the web to learn how to do it. Paper mache is also good, you can make the mache out of natural things, and even out of paper you write special "spells" or wishes on before shredding it into the mache. Also woodburning on a slice of wood, or carving into a piece of bone or seashell and rubbing ink in to emphasize the carving (scrimshaw). There are lots of elegant and crafty ways to make a meaningful item.

http://eire-pagans.blogspot.com/

Hey, I just found a site where you can buy a PDF of A Circle of Stones! It's been out of print for years, and is well worth the $10!

http://www.seanet.com/~inisglas/publications.html

(and no, I don't get anything for posting this--just good news!

Hi, I'm interested in your swap. I have two different goddesses in pendants, one in bone, and one sterling silver. I'm a newbie, and I want to know what 5.0 means.

BesomRider: 5.0 means you have a "perfect" swap-bot rating! :)

BesomRider: Both bone and silver goddesses are acceptable!! :) 5.0 like adda said is a "perfect" score, meaning that you have not received any 1's or 3's as a swap rating.

Sorry, I don't have a 5.0 rating but I also won't skimp on a partner and I also put a lot of time and energy into my swaps.

THANK YOU slewis234 for signing up!! :D I was starting to think no one would!

ah poo, I was going to join until I saw it had to be a specific style...dont like my creativity limited to one style...maybe next time if there is an elemental theme not restricted to a rosary/prayer bead style

sorry, maybe next time :)

@broche would you mind if I borrowed your idea and hosted a swap for a prayer / meditation necklace with the four elements but with more loose requirements such as allowing any symbol for the main charm (I'd like mine with a druidic symbol for instance)? I'll totally give you credit for the idea!

druideye, sure go for it! (I'll probably ending up joining your swap too if you do this! :D I appreciate you asking! Oh, when you get the swap up let me know!

Awesome, thank you! I'll post the link here once I get it up.

Here is the swap - Elemental Prayer Beads - thanks again @broche

I couldn't find a goddess figure anywhere I looked, I checked a couple craft stores and Wal mart, so I ordered it off artbeads.com -it arrived today but it's kinda small so I hope my partner is ok with it! I guess if they don't like the size they can always take it off and put a bigger one on!