Some days I look at my tools and materials and sort through it and admire it. I can't even imagine what to do with it. Like a miser, I have it in a box and that alone comforts me. And then there are days, like a driven lunatic, I'm wrapping, bending, cutting, measuring, undoing, redoing- busy till my fingertips and wrists are sore. I'm learning to appreciate the highs and lows of creation.
The horseshoe design has got me busy, excited, energized, driven...I feel really good about it. I feel accomplished- like I actually did something. I'm worthwhile! I have a goofy smile on my face- so much enthusiasm about it that I put the dishes aside to write about it.
It's really a very simple design. I had tried it before but I couldn't get the lines, the loops, or the look of it right. I feel better about it now. I think I just needed to let the shape, the ideas, the symbolism of it all settle in...all the way in down into my dreams.
Now, in my hands, methodically and purposefully crafted, well, I'm ready to tell you all about my inspiration and all the "feels" I have about it. I love the clean lines. I love the symbols the shape invokes and I drew energy from them all to get to this finished piece.
Traditionally, horseshoes are associated with good luck symbols. To the horse racer, a winning bet may all come down to a well-made horseshoe. The horseshoe's purpose is to protect the hoof of the horse. Horses are still a symbol of wealth; it makes sense to protect your investments. The symbolism of the lucky horseshoe goes something like this: an upturned horseshoe captures luck, an upside down horseshoe, like an upside down cup, pours luck out. I feel like a million bucks with these earrings on and lucky and protected. Here's this dainty thing, elegant, simple and wow! Maybe there's something to the lucky horseshoe.
Ancient Celtic legends surrounding the crescent moon symbolism also comes to mind in creating this shape. The Crescent moon depending on the cycle- waxing, for example, is the creative stage of the moon. While the waning crescent moon, is the end stage, the pouring out, the cleaning or purging stage of unwanted and unneeded things, ideas, etc. And this design, incorporates the waxing and the waning crescent moons nicely. That's a lot of what the journey in creating this particular earring has been like. I tried different lengths, different loop sizes, different wire gauges and finally- stripping all the extras aside, I got this!
This particular shape reminds me of a drop of water caught in mid-air, as well. There's so much potential, so much promise of what can happen. It brings to mind the idea that like a properly watered seed, it will bear good fruit.
I'm excited and pleased to share this creation. I get a kick of all of these ideas when I work on this shape and it gives me energy. And when it's finished it's an instant high. I'm pleased with the look. I do genuinely love wearing them. Maybe it's just me, maybe this is what I need today to keep going. If it helps you, bonus!
I still get fascinated at the transformations possible with creative energy. I love what I'm doing.
I hope you feel as lucky, powerful, protected, magical, successful, creative, energized, grounded wearing this shape as well.
