Flamekeeping Jewelry & Other Fire-Free Alternatives.

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[Ali]

Hi, everyone! I noticed in a recent post to the Cill Schedule thread, someone brought up fire-free alternatives to use when living arrangements or mundane duties prevent the keeping of a literal flame for all or part of a shift. I was wondering if folks would be willing to share some of the things they do, maybe with pictures! (Is that allowed on this forum? Perhaps links instead?)

When I first asked to get involved with this Cill, one of the first things I did was create a pendant that I would be able to wear, since I knew that my job, as well as having a household full of children and pets, meant I wouldn't be able to keep a candle safely lit for a full twenty-four hours. Plus, I just felt that creative itch. So during my first "unofficial" shift, I spent several hours sculpting with polymer clay, and then baked the results in the oven and used metallic paint to touch them up afterwards. (I wish I had my camera right now, as I really want to post a picture/link to show off the result--for someone with nil experience in clay, I'm rather proud of myself! ) Then for Valentine's Day, my partner Jeff took me back to where we had our first date and let me pick out a piece of jewelry from the Irish Clothing & Accessories store next to the restaurant, so of course I chose a small gold Brigid's Cross pendant (which I now where a lot of the time, not just during Flamekeeping shifts).

I know other folks have mentioned hedgehog/groundhog stuffed animals to keep on their office desk, and MoonIvy posted a link to that adorable "Fire-Keeper" goddess charm! What do others do? For those who have tried different options over the years, what has worked best?

--Ali

[Aster Breo]

What do others do? For those who have tried different options over the years, what has worked best?

I really like the "virtual flame" thing, because I'm just not comfortable leaving a candle burning while we're all asleep or out of the house.  But, in addition to the TC Cill, I'm also a member of 2 Ord Brighideach Cills, so that's several shifts and I can't stay up all night for all of them.  And, since I light my lamp every night as part of my evening devotional, I wanted something that would distinguish shifts from regular days.

The first thing I did (at least, I *think* that was the first thing -- I don't really remember the sequence  )  was buy a pair of amber sun earrings.  Then I decided that I wanted to *make* something, so I made a pair of earrings, using fire opal, citrine, and blue labradorite to represent the colors of the flame.  For some reason, that didn't really work for me -- I think because I don't like to wear dangly earrings over night.

That happened at the same time that I had some disposable income, so I found myself a silversmith and designed a pendant to wear during shifts, based on the design of my TC avatar.  It's beautiful and I love it, but it's not practical to wear because the sun's rays are very sharp and they poke me.   So then we tried a double-sided pendant.  The moonstone on one side was a gift from a friend back in high school, and the ruby on the other side is a stone I mined myself during a family trip to Franklin, North Carolina.  Again, a beautiful piece, but it's very heavy.  Over time, the wire of the bail has started to pull apart from the pendant.  So it turned out not to be practical to wear to bed either.

(The same artist also made a very special pendulum for me, which can be worn as a pendant or bracelet.)

The next thing I tried was a ring.  The first silversmith had to stop doing jewelry because of a family problem.  So I found another one who I highly recommend.  He does custom pieces in addition to the many very cool pieces of symbolic jewelry in his catalog.  The design of the ring is a flame, which was drawn by my husband.  It's perfect.  So perfect that I decided I need to wear it all the time in honor of Brighid and as a symbol and reminder of my commitments to Her specifically as a Flame Keeper.

(That silversmith also did a couple of other pieces for me, including an amulet to help me heal physically and emotionally after I took a tumble down a flight of stairs and sustained a brain injury.  The front is a stylized Brighid's cross, and the back has a design that uses ogham characters and other things representing healing -- but I don't like to share that side.  I still wear this almost all the time.  I guess I'm still healing.  I also wear another Brighid's cross pendant that I had made by a different artist.  That one is not an amulet, but is intended as a constant link to Brighid, as well as a way to honor Her.)

After these attempts -- and a couple others that I don't have pics of -- I finally decided to go back to the pendant idea, but to approach it a bit differently.  It has three "charms" on it, all of which are specifically symbolic of Brighid.  The first is a blue rock that I received as what I believe was a direct response from Brighid to a question I had asked.  The second is the Firekeeper charm that Ali mentioned in her post.  And the third is a silver bell, which was created from the hollow handle of an antique table knife.  It rings so sweetly every time I move, which provides a constant reminder that it's my shift.

(I have one other pendant made by the artist who did the Firekeeper charm, K Robins.  It's a spiral sun.  My husband gave it to me the night before I had my hysterectomy, so it's very meaningful.  This artist has so many beautiful designs -- check her site out.  She also has a Brigit pendant, but for some reason, it doesn't really speak to me.  I do really like her Flame pendant, though.  It's on my very long wish list.  )

I know all this sounds like I'm completely fickle.     But all this happened over a period of years, so it's not as bad as it sounds.   

And I apologize for the less-than-stellar pictures.  A couple of them are out of focus.  But they're good enough to give you the idea.

[stephyjh]

Hi, everyone! I noticed in a recent post to the Cill Schedule thread, someone brought up fire-free alternatives to use when living arrangements or mundane duties prevent the keeping of a literal flame for all or part of a shift. I was wondering if folks would be willing to share some of the things they do, maybe with pictures! (Is that allowed on this forum? Perhaps links instead?)

I don't have it made yet, but since I live on an island, I've been collecting the brown sea glass to make into a wire-wrap bracelet. I'm thinking of possibly using copper wire, but I haven't decided yet.

[Star]

I was wondering if folks would be willing to share some of the things they do, maybe with pictures! (Is that allowed on this forum? Perhaps links instead?)

Posting pictures is fine.  If you've got a lot of them or if they're very large links would be preferred just because waiting on a lot of images to load, or waiting on a large file to load, can be annoying.  (As can having to scroll through a lot of pictures, or scroll around to see all of one big picture--especially if someone later in the thread quotes you and forgets to remove the images from the quote.)  Just be considerate about it and you'll be fine. 

[stephyjh]

Hi, everyone! I noticed in a recent post to the Cill Schedule thread, someone brought up fire-free alternatives to use when living arrangements or mundane duties prevent the keeping of a literal flame for all or part of a shift. I was wondering if folks would be willing to share some of the things they do, maybe with pictures! (Is that allowed on this forum? Perhaps links instead?)

I was shopping in the artsy, tourist-driven part of town and found these: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/stephyknits/001-2.jpg which, for some reason, just screamed "Brighid" at me, for their fiery color. The ring is heavy but comfortable enough that I think I could sleep with it on.

[Aster Breo]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/stephyknits/001-2.jpg

Beautiful. Are they amber?

[stephyjh]

Beautiful. Are they amber?

Yes, and I went back to the place where I bought the bracelet today and bought the matching earrings.

[darashand]

Hi, everyone!

Since I live in a low ceiling apt, I am not allowed to have incense or candles burning.  I'm particularly concerned about fire safety issues, so I ran out and bought three scented flameless candles (well, rather they found me).  I used to wear a tiny red beaded bracelet that sorta looked kabbalah-like or a slightly larger green bead bracelet.  I also consider my carnelian stone as a representation of fire, which rests on my shrine next to my moonstone and sunstone.  I'm not really sure why there is a moonstone on my shrine to help me represent fire...anyway...
 

[Aster Breo]

I'm not really sure why there is a moonstone on my shrine to help me represent fire...anyway...

Because moonlight is reflected sunlight? 

[darashand]

Because moonlight is reflected sunlight? 

Oh yes, lol.  Of course. 

[dragonfaerie]

Hi, everyone! I noticed in a recent post to the Cill Schedule thread, someone brought up fire-free alternatives to use when living arrangements or mundane duties prevent the keeping of a literal flame for all or part of a shift. I was wondering if folks would be willing to share some of the things they do, maybe with pictures! (Is that allowed on this forum? Perhaps links instead?)

I have a silver Brigit's cross pendant that my husband bought me that I like to wear when I'm on shift, if I can find it. I also have a flameless candle I use at work.

Honestly, I'm terrible at remembering to light a physical candle for my shifts. I really don't understand why Brigit doesn't make a big deal out of it with me.

I'm eternally on the lookout for a good piece of amber jewelry. I keep circling around this amber heart pendant (http://www.pyramidcollection.com//itemdy00.asp?T1=P12708&USRSRCH=%28amber%20and%20heart%29) because my coven is named Amber Heart but it's $50. Why I'm so uncomfortable with that price when I'm ready to spend $125 on a new iPod, I dunno.

Karen

[Ali]

Well, I still haven't gotten around to taking any pictures of the little flame pendant that I made to wear during my shifts, but my last shift on 19 April, happened to correspond with a spontaneous trip my partner and I made down to South Carolina to see the oldest oak tree on the continent in honor of Earth Day (that morning we sat and watched the sun rise over the ocean - breath-taking!).

For the journey, I used a small LED candle which I left flickering all night and day placed just below the dashboard in the car during our travel. When we reached the shore the following evening just around sunset, I took a few pictures of the candle on a gorgeous jetty jutting out into the Atlantic:



And here's a picture of the rising sun on Earth Day:

[Juni]

Those are beautiful, Ali! Thanks for sharing.

[Aster Breo]

Beautiful!

[Selegna]

Beautiful pictures, Ali!

My flamekeeping jewelry are these earrings:

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u111/IceAngie/Blog/Aritos02.jpg
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u111/IceAngie/Blog/Aritos.jpg

They were given to me by a friend just out of the blue, she saw them and thought about me, so she bought them for me.

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