Today I’m going to show you a finished product that didn’t turn out at all the way I’d hoped. I’m showcasing it even though it’s not up to my usual standards because I really want to share with you all that I’m learning something new and it’s far from perfect and I’m still proud that I made a thing, even when it turns out looking decidedly amateur!
I’m trying to learn a new craft, macrame. Technically I’ve done Macrame before, because friendship bracelets are basically a simple type of Macrame and I made a LOT of those style of bracelets when I was a summer camp counselor in my teens and 20s. But it’s been a while, and I’ve never attempted more complex and mature macrame patterns. But I really want to make myself a magical grounding bracelet, so I found a video tutorial that I followed very loosely, and gave it a try.
Wait, back up, a *magical* bracelet? Yeah, that’s what I said! Sometimes when I’m struggling, my other Pagan friends will ask me what I’ve done magically to address the issue. When I’m being being indecisive, they ask have I used any divination? When I’m feeling stuck, they ask have I sought my Goddess’s blessing, or done any spells to move things along? Somehow I almost never think to do any of those things on my own; I swear, sometimes I forget I’m a witch! One of my friends in particular has been known to gently chide me: “Ash! Throw some magic at it!”
Anyway, I’ve been struggling a lot recently with emotional regulation, being patient with the kids and staying grounded in the moment. I’ve been working on coping strategies with my therapist and they recommended using some visual or tactile cues that will remind me to use my coping strategies in the heat of the moment. One of their recommendations was a bracelet, and I immediately remembered the spiritual shielding bracelet one of my Pagan friends always wears, and I excitedly told my therapist “Oh! I can throw some magic at it!”. So that’s how I decided to try my hand at Macrame, creating a magically infused bracelet of calm and grounding for myself.
I know many of my readers aren’t Pagan and don’t really understand what I mean when I say I’m making a magic bracelet. And I know some of you are probably pretty incredulous. I promise, it’s really not as implausible as you may imagine, it’s not Harry Dresden with his shield bracelet blocking fireballs (though tbh, the basic magical principles are the same, just less flashy!). The idea is that when I meditate while wearing it, I can put some of that meditative energy into the bracelet. Then later, in the heat of the moment I’ll be able to pull on that stored up energy to help me better regulate my emotions. At the very least, it’s a wearable reminder of the intention that I’ve set for myself to be more patient and calm, so that when I feel that grounding slipping away I have a tactile focus for my coping strategies that can help me keep my temper in check.
Cool, right? That’s magic y’all.
So back to the crafting. It took two attempts. The first was a disaster, using a thin hemp twine, but I had much more success with waxed cotton cord in attempt #2. I bought some Hematite and Obsidian beads, both of which have calming and grounding properties, and I used an amethyst charm from my collection as a the centerpiece (amethyst is my birthstone, this particular charm is cut in the shape of a crescent moon, which is the moon phase I was born under, and it was a gift from my mom when I was a teenager. Did I mention that the more meaning something has the more powerful magic you can work with it?).
Even after my second attempt, I think the bracelet turned out pretty messy and not at all up to my usual standards! Macrame didn’t come as naturally to me as I expected; I clearly need more practice. But for now I can feel my Goddess reminding me that my perfectionism tends to just gets in my way. I will likely re-make this bracelet again someday but at least for now I’m going to accept the imperfections, wear the bracelet as it is, and appreciate what I managed to create while learning a fun new craft that I think I am going to really enjoy!
- Featured project: Magic bracelet of +1 calm
- Medium: macrame
- Pattern: video tutorial by Sainabaft:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s-d5Wcg0w0 - Materials: Waxed cotton jewelry cord, hematite and obsidian beads, amethyst cut pendant
- Started & Completed: May 2024
#Showcase #Doneisgood #Alwayslearning #Magic #Athena #Jewitch
The Owl Weaver 
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