The Ceremony and Art of Sacred Adornment
By Berena Wise
I am often asked, “What can I do to feel my personal power”? That inner power which lets you walk through the day feeling special and beautiful on the inside, feeling you are walking your sacred path and shining your spiritual light forward.
I suggest beginning your day with a ceremony to honor yourself. Have you ever considered the act of adorning yourself as a sacred act? A ceremony, or ritual? Something to be done with intention to cultivate beauty that radiates outward from within all day… When you consciously choose to honor and adorn yourself with jewelry, clothes, or even scents that make you feel beautiful and special, you glow. You radiate from within and that radiance is contagious and you share it with everyone you meet.
We have been adorning ourselves since the beginning of time. From ceremonies to special occasions, so why not make every day just as special with the act of sacred adornment…
Begin by being very picky when purchasing your jewelry. Does the stone have a specific property that aligns with your needs at this moment? Was it made by an artist, or a friend, who put care, love and intention into the piece? Does it come from a special place, perhaps a sacred place?
When you buy something from an artist you’re helping to support a specific person and their family. When the things you choose to adorn your body come from someone and not machine made, there are intentions and care woven into the piece. This love is a higher vibration and adds to your vibration and the energy you put out into the universe.
The act of adorning yourself can become sacred when you yourself place intentions while putting it on. It can become a ritual to add into your daily life; a time to honor all the beauty that you are. Remind yourself how awesome and powerful you are. You deserve this honor. When you take the time to infuse the ceremony of adorning yourself with positive thoughts you become a loving, compassionate, living breathing prayer in human form.
Celebrate your inner experience with outer beauty. Wear jewelry, clothes and essence that make you sing and dance…even if it is only on the inside.
A stone that makes me feel love, power and protected, is Lapis Lazuli. On days that I feel I need a little extra protection and empowerment, this is the stone I go for. This mystical blue stone has been the symbol for royalty, gods and goddesses, honor, wisdom and truth since the beginning of our history.
Those who know me know that I love all things Egyptian. Lapis was one of the favorite stones of the Pharaohs, Gods and Goddesses.
The sarcophagus of King Tutankhamen was richly inlaid with Lapis, as were other burial ornaments of Egyptian kings and queens. King Tutankhamen’s mask was adorned with Lapis. Figurines of Lapis scarabs symbolized Pharaoh’s power. The stone was widely used in pendants, protective amulets, and other jewelry, and ground into powder for dyes, eye shadow and medicinal elixirs. Queen Cleopatra wore eye makeup made from Lapis. The garments of priests and royalty were dyed with powdered Lapis. Egyptian judges carried a Lapis stone with an inscription “TRUE”, which may be where its association with truth originates. The Romans used this stone as an aphrodisiac. Ancient Hebrews used Lapis to adorn their ceremonial robes. Buddhists recommend Lapis as a stone to bring inner peace and freedom from negative thought, and many malas are made from Lapis Lazuli.
If you are drawn to Lapis, Use it in your ceremony of self-empowerment. Adorn yourself with this shield of power and protection. Explore the beautiful world of power stones, and essences, and celebrate yourself every morning. Be the Gods and Goddesses you truly are.
Wishing you Namaste, Berena