When some people go looking for jewelry, it is not a nice silver pendant or a pair of diamond studs they are after. Jewelry can help us display our personalities but also our spirituality. Just as some people wear the jewels of deceased relatives to feel closer to that other world, fans of occult jewelry wear a range of symbols to express their interest in death, afterlife, mysticism and the spiritual realm. Occult jewelry is not all about heavy pentagram pendants, large skulls and black magic. There are many different designs and themes– some grotesque, some powerful and some subtle.
Pentagrams and crosses.
The first place to start is with the simple shapes of the cross and the pentagram. When you start with a basic, meaningful shape like this, it can be accentuated and stylised in any way to create lots of interesting designs to suit all sorts of wearers. The shape of a cross and pentagram can be just that in a white metal pendant or stud. It could also be an elaborate broach with enamels, crystals and other elements to really highlight the darker significance. Of course the pentagram is not dissimilar from another symbol that can be found on this sort of dark occult jewelry – the pentacle. While one is associated with black magic, the other is an important tarot symbol and help users read their fortunes.
Ouija and tarot.
Occult jewelry is often worn as a sign of spirituality that does not associate with traditional religion; the chance to wear a symbol of the connection between the world of the living and the world of the dead. The tarot imagery is the more subtle of the two. The images and symbols of the cards can be worn on beautiful enamel pendant and the hidden meanings can be lost on those that admire it. Ouija jewelry, on the other hand, is a little more blatant and even a little unnerving for other people. Some people choose the shape of the Ouija planchette to wear around their necks as a token of their art, like a musician wearing a plectrum on a chain, but there are more extreme broaches with full replicas of boards.
Gothic imagery.
For many, symbols of the occult simply mean a more Gothic influence and this is where the possibilities for jewelry design really open up. The most common is probably the skull – the ultimate symbol of human passing and decay and a shape that lends itself to all sorts of items. Subtle items can be found with skull ear studs and beaded necklaces, but then there can be more elaborate pendants and rings. Skulls don't have to be human of course, as horned ram's and goat skulls have clear occult links too, and there is other Gothic animal imagery too, like the crows that follow the dead on their journey and Edgar Allan Poe's own raven.
Gnostic symbols.
To be honest, most people would not recognise a gnostic symbol if they were faced with it, although some of the imagery would make many observers immediately question the meaning behind them. The Gnostic cross is simple and could easily be confused for the Celtic ones mentioned below, but images of Abraxas and Hagia Sophia are a little more disturbing. Gnostic symbols often show an unending symbol like the tree of life and the serpentine Ouroboros ring. The former leads to some beautiful broaches and necklaces while the latter is well-suited to bracelets and hooped earrings.
Imagery from ancient cultures.
Many ancient cultures have imagery linked to death and eternity that live on through their descendants and folk lore. This is certainly true of the Celts, Norse and those with Gaelic heritage. With Celtic imagery, we also come full circle in our introduction to occult jewelry because the Celtic cross is such an iconic image across the Celtic nations. These crosses adorn the graves of countless loved ones and simple pendants of twisted silver, or even authentic Cornish tin and pewter, can have lasting significance with the wearer.
From the ancient cultures and ancient orders of the world to the more modern imagery from popular culture and literature, there are clear themes to his dark, occult jewelry. The unending Celtic knots and Oroboros rings have he same link to rebirth and afterlife as much of the Gothic and spiritual elements available. It may be creepy and showy to some people but to wearers, this sort of jewelry provides a meaningful connection to the worlds of the living and dead and they are more than just statement pieces.
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