Magatama Amulet-Jade

I've managed to get my hands on a limited number of these, so I'm working with them feverishly.

Magatama are extremely sacred amulets/talismans in Shinto and Preshinto Japanese belief. Though the meaning of the shape is not documented or clear, it's generally thought to portray a representation of the energy of a soul, human or otherwise.

Magatama were once naturally occuring in a specific river in Japan but that source has long since been exhausted, and they are now carved from many different kinds of precious and semiprecious stone. Most commonly they're made of different kinds of Jades.

They are sometimes thought to be the repository of Kami.

This one is actually Jade (the only one I was able to get my hands on). The flower is aventurine. Other materials include sterling silver fittings and hemp cord. It was commissioned by a very good friend.

I'm making others of these and selling them while the supplies hold out. I can't predict how long that would be as these are ungodly difficult to find in the States, and indeed outside of Japan and other Asian countries.