Spiritual Jewelry

I am a jeweler by trade. I create "art jewelry" or jewelry that I design and make myself, so I am always on the lookout for other jewelry designers that create interesting art jewelry concepts or execute old art jewelry ideas in a new way.

In the last couple of years, I have noticed an increasing interest in what I would call jewelry with meaning or spiritual jewelry. Spiritual jewelry is jewelry that is infused with either spiritual blessings in the design or the components of the piece.

Many precious and semi-precious gemstones are said to have spiritual powers or resonances due to their natural construction. Some stones and minerals are also said to have healing powers. For instance, amethyst helps with headaches, blood disorders, and breathing. Amber has many properties, but most notably is said to assist with arthritis.

Some jewelry artists also bless the jewelry that they are making in their own non-Western belief systems or combine several belief systems when they are creating their work. One such artist that I recently discovered is Vanessa Leu. She has a jewelry line called Wishgiving: Timeless Blessing Jewelry. Vanessa Leu has an interesting background and she imbues her jewelry with her unique mix of Chinese philosophy and modern beauty.

From her website:

"Vanessa Leu is an unconventional jewelry artist, whose works inspired by her love for nature, people, art, literature, music, and an acute understanding of her heritage. Born in the Republic of China, Taiwan, she later immigrated to the United States. Her designs draw inspiration from contemporary art and literature, as well as a keen knowledge of the arts and philosophy of her heritage, including the works of philosophers such as Lao Tzu, and decades of Zen practice."

What I love about Vanessa Leu's jewelry is that she combines the beauty and the spiritual significance of the stones, with a simple yet stunning setting of precious metals, and a unique mixture of textures and shapes. This article will introduce you to Vanessa Leu's designs and you can go directly to her website Wishgiving: Timeless Blessing Jewelry to learn more about Vanessa Leu, and see more of her art jewelry.

One of my favorite things about Vanessa Leu's designs is the simple lines in each of her pieces.  The simplicity of each piece lends itself to a peaceful, tranquil feel about her work which adds to the spiritual feelings that each piece conveys.

This lapis lazuli necklace to the right can be worn by a man or woman, and is evocative as well as beautiful.  Lapis lazuli represents love, protection, power and healing which area all appropriate for both men and women to wear. Lapis lazuli is also related to the chakras, used in eastern thought.

Vanessa Leu uses mostly organic natural materials in her art jewelry.  This Keishi pearl necklace to the right combines the textures of organic pearls in one necklace. 

Pearls are the perfect gift for young women, and brides because pearls represent spiritual transformation, prosperity and success, and an aura of calm and beauty.

Although Vanessa Leu's designs are simple, they also are very visually interesting as you can see from these citrine and crystals silver dangle earrings pictured to the right.

In this pair of earrings, Vanessa Leu uses the gemstone citrine which has been called the "stone of the mind" for its abilities to increase self esteem, open the mind to new thought, promote clarity of thought.

I have only shown you a few of Vanessa Leu's designs in this article.  To see more of her work, or to learn more about her, the artist, follow the link in the introduction above directly to her website.