beginnings and endings

TEMPLE OF JANUS

If you’ve been following my work for any amount of time, you probably already know how much I love mythology. You may know that I made a small line of “Janus” earrings, in the shape of an abstract door, the significance of which soon follows. But did you also know that January is named after the Roman god Janus? Given that it’s the first month of the calendar year, Janus, the god of beginnings and endings, gates and passages, doorways and transitions, feels wholly appropriate as we welcome in the new year. On Roman coins and statues, Janus is depicted as having opposing faces… one looking to the past and the other, the future. This all sounds curiously similar to our many new year traditions.

And as such, I hope you’re not currently torturing yourself with New Year’s resolutions… but, if that works for you, more power to you! After all these years, I’ve found that, for me, resolutions serve only to be shameful disappointments laden with guilt. It’s been a long time since I made a New Year’s resolution. Now, the new-ish “word of the year” fad does sound tempting & intriguing, but I have yet to be inspired by a suitable word. Have you tried having a "word of the year"?

November and December flew by in a blur and I suddenly find myself in the middle of January feeling like the proverbial deer in headlights. Christmas decorations are still up and I’m turning a blind eye to them as I struggle to get back into the swing of things. Apparently, the struggle is not all my own … if you follow astrology. For weeks we were in the midst of not one, but two, planetary retrogrades … Mercury Retrograde, which ends on Jan. 18th and Mars retrograde, which just ended on Jan. 12th. You may have been feeling inspired, yet progress felt slow or hindered. Apparently, that’s normal. I know I certainly felt that way!

But on my bench lies some very tempting inspiration… in the form of some gorgeous Labradorite cabochons. Labradorite is a dark grey/black stone possessing a captivating iridescent flash from within, ranging from blue to gold to green, and is attributed with mystical and protective properties. It awakens your intuitive powers and facilitates access to your psychic capabilities. This is a powerful stone that ignites the imagination through both its alluring aesthetics and its enchanting metaphysical energies. How could I not be overcome with inspiration for creating a setting worthy of such a seductive stone?

With Mars Retrograde no longer a viable excuse and Mercury on its way out, I suspect it’s about time I make myself comfy at my workbench and see what magic may come my way and turn mere thought into a handheld treasure.
So tell me, what’s capturing your imagination as you dream about the possibilities in this new year?