Necklace History and Symbolism
Earring History and Symbolism
Bracelet History and Symbolism
Stone Meanings
Ring History and Symbolism
"The ring is a circle, and throughout history has
been symbolic of eternity, unity and the universe. In earlier times, the ring
was associated with the Sun and Moon and was an object of protection, a
magical guard that warded off negativity through its continuity. Rings are
still a traditional symbol of marriage because they are symbolic of eternity.
"All
rings were once magical or sacred. Even goddesses and gods wore rings;
Babylonian mythology is replete with stories of the rings of Shamash and
Marduk. Rings have also been linked to the zodiac, the yin/yang, and the
"magic circle" of magicians. Their magical history is complex and fascinating.
"In a
magical sense, wearing a ring "binds" you with power, with energy. The
materials of which the ring is constructed, plus your visualization, determine
the nature of this energy. The binding symbolism of the ring was so
omnipresent and accepted that rings were soon subjected to religious and
magical restrictions. Priests of various deities in ancient Greece and Rome
removed their rings prior to entering sacred space. Some were eternally
forbidden to wear them. During a trip to an oracle in ancient times, no flesh
was eaten, sex was avoided, and rings were not worn. Even today, some shamans
remove all knots and rings from their bodies prior to magical ritual.
"Because rings kept energies in the body, they were also thought to inhibit
the release of power. In any type of magical operation in which personal power
is sent toward the magical need, rings were taboo because of the belief that
they would lessen the effectiveness of the magic.
"In
spiritual rituals, in which we open ourselves to higher beings, rings were
thought to block this process due, once again, to their restricting quality.
"The
appearance or attractiveness of a ring, and certainly its material value, are
of little importance in magic. The ring's design, the metals and stones used,
are the only factors involved in selecting rings for magic."
"The finger on which a ring is worn has
magical significance. The index or "ring" finger was once thought to be
especially powerful. Herbal medicines were applied to the body with the ring
finger to strengthen the effectiveness of the cure. Thus, rings containing
stones that speed the body's healing are best worn on this finger.
"The
second or middle finger, which (upraised) is used as the ultimate gesture of
insult in the United States, has long been thought to be an unlucky finger on
which to wear rings.
"Once, rings were usually worn on the third finger, because it was thought to
contain a nerve that went directly to the heart. Betrothal rings are still
traditionally worn on this finger."
Excerpts from Scott Cunningham's book
"Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic", ISBN 0-87542-126-1.
Because of this information, we make our rings very simple so we can make them
affordable, concentrating on the stone characteristics.
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