Dragonfly Medicine - A Gift for Someone Special

Sneak Peek!

"Dragonfly medicine is of the dreamtime and the illusionary facade we accept as physical reality." 

~ Jamie Sams and David Carson, Medicine Cards

I had the good fortune to be introduced to a very special woman, Catherine Malone, who embodies Dragonfly medicine and whose profession is to help others learn about themselves. She is a phenomenal woman.

Her courage and independent spirit are impressive, and I wanted to make a gift for her to celebrate these qualities, so her Dragonfly necklace came about.

Spirited necklace for a spirited woman!

She likes reds and pinks, the colors of life and vitality, so I searched for a dragonfly image that incorporated these colors. I found several by the same artist, and chose for Catherine one that includes two dragonflies. One dragonfly represents Catherine in flight, gently leading the way, and the other represents the people that she guides. On the background of this image are some words, beautifully handwritten and personal. These words represent the communication that happens between Catherine and her clients - communication that opens up new worlds for them.

Catherine's dragonfly pendant with its braided seed bead necklace

I chose the colors of Catherine's necklace carefully, to complement the image, and as placeholders and reminders of archetypal concepts she knows all about. Black for the void, where all of creativity begins, white for spirit, which is the foundation of all, green for nature and communication, and of course, red for life and vitality. 

Lively fringe made of Czech dagger beads and iridescent glass leaf beads

The image is protected by a glass domed cabochon, around which I sewed the border of seed beads ranging from 11/0 to 15/0 in size. The bail that attaches the pendant to its necklace is stitched in a modified brick pattern. And the necklace itself is braided of patterned seed bead strings tipped with sterling cones and lobster fastener.

When I make these fringed pendants I like to give the owner the option of wearing them either on the braided seed bead necklace or a simpler, shorter black leather necklace to accommodate different moods. They can also wear the seed bead necklace by itself, without the pendant for simpler times.

Circles of friendship 

The story of how this necklace came about is very dear to me. I was working on my lessons in the WonderLit^TM course I took, and the exercises led me to examine the tool in the fairy tale I was studying that was foundational to the turnaround of the main character as he battled with a fearsome dragon. This tool happened to be a magical scarf with which he wiped his eyes, thereby restoring his sight, which represented enlightenment.

Images from The Dragon Slayer,
retold by Barbara Ker Wilson and illustrated by Jaqueline Athram,
Cassel & Company Ltd. 1959

In conversation with Michelle, the course author and facilitator, I learned about her friend Catherine, who is a multitalented artist. Along with meditational facilitation, one of her many talents is weaving magical scarves on her gorgeous loom.

Catherine's magical loom

What special surprises might be discovered in one of Catherine's scarves?

Michelle said to me "Of course you must have one, let me contact Catherine and see if she's able to weave one for you. It'll be my gift." 

Well, that was exciting! I am honored to have something so special, woven in the fresh air, under spring sunshine, by such an artist who surely is very busy, and much sought after for all of her skills. Thank you Michelle! Thank you Catherine! Wow.

So as I explored the background of this wonderful woman that Michelle told me about, via her web site, I thought to myself, she must have a gift from me, and that is how her necklace came about.

Well of course Michelle gets one too, and that is another story.

These gifts I make are done in the spirit of the Giveaway, which is a lovely Native American concept that was foundational (and still is) to their culture. 

Isn't the circle of life just wonderful? Here's to caring spirits everywhere!

Namaste,

Jen