The Dude Coin

This small bronze coin may appear only to be the size of a dime, but contained here in holds magical powers. It is said (by those who speak of such things) the bearer of such a coin has half a clue as to what is going on in the world around them. To verify this one only needs to turn the face of the Dude around to discover the incantation inscribed “Good for half a KLU”.

Originally suggest by the Klu Fairy, this coin holds the potent Powers of Clueness, something highly coveted by those in the know, or the “Clued”. Many of us that have reached an age where the younger folks look to us as if we are completely out of touch with reality, unable to check email, perhaps understand the “lingo” the Kids are speaking these days. Personally when I tell a person “Thou are Groovy”, I get the look as if they are telling me “You haven’t a clue…”

Yes, I have been blessed (a number of times) by the Klu by Four of the sacred Klu Fairy, (and still have bruises) but to keep her long lasting wisdom, this small talisman carried with the rest of my coins has given me the “pass” I need so dearly with these younger whipper-snappers.

I would recommend the Dude Coin to any parent who has teenagers or works with folks who are “missing something” but don’t know what it is carries such a coin are protect from the accusation that they are indeed clueless.

Note the coin itself: see the face, the slack jaw, the look of be-fuddlement in the eyes? (some have suggested it a self portrait; but just to be clear I do have a mustache…) the Dude is indeed: Clueless. Well never fear, the keeping of this coin (see back) is worth half a clue; you never need feel out of touch nor not in the know. Demonstrate to your friends that you have half a clue: whip it out and show ‘em!

It also comes in a three pack (even five-pack): in this manor you can consult the I-Ch’ing with the clue coins, thus starting with a clue and a half even before you start. You can offer the “extras” to your friends to share the wealth of wisdom. Yea, verily, the Klue Coin has so many uses and applications that one can never asses them all – with out a coin that is…

To aide the Hapless Wonders of the World, I am now providing a clue coin with every purchase over $50 with Amulets by Merlin with one of these important, necessary, versatile and often used talismans for the clueless.

May the Klu Fairy be merciful and leave relatively painless knots of wisdom on your brain pan! May the Dude Himself smile down upon you and give you peace.

Acrobat on a Chain Amulet

Last October I visited friends in Las Vegas. I stayed at the home of Dina Emerson who is the singer in Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere, one of the more incredible shows I have ever seen. If you have never seen this in person (or any of the Cirque shows) you should take the time to do so. Their tours are now opening in major cities around the world. I got a chance to see Mystere and watched some of the most incredible performances I have ever seen. In the performance I watched a striking young man wrap his wrists in “ribbons” and flew over us as if he was born to flight.

I was amazed at the sight. To remind myself of the performance I have created this one as one-of-a-kind piece: Acrobat on a Chain. This is one and a half inches tall with the figure permanently attached to an 18” chain.

If you are interested in something like this or any kind of custom jewelry, you need only ask.

The Balanced Star Amulet

In an effort to create Balance in the physical world, I have created The Balanced Star Amulet:

Two woven stars interlocked: the six point star: a composite symbol of the elements: triangles with point up and down illustrating the alchemic glyphs of Fire Water Air and Earth; and the five point star of the Adam Kadmon: the first Man (hermaphrodite) or “Father Time”; Humanity in its primal, perhaps perfected state of existence.

Together these two images represent the balance of forces: Male (active) and Female (passive). This is not to say that “all men are active and all women are passive”, not at all. In the material world, we all contain these kinds of energies, qualities and potential. The terms are considered “classic” in the sense of how our cultures have perceived the world and provided descriptions of what has been observed.

Within the glyph, I have provided the blending of the two in hope to develop a “more realistic” manifestation of what is actually there.

In another sense it is the material world (six point star with all of its elements) and the five point star (what we deicide to do with it, the ability of proactive choice (the five point star). The amulet may be a reminder of how we affect the world, the power of intent, the purpose of our actions and their result. A reminder that our “purpose” in the world is what we decide it is rather than what is dictated by outside forces.

The symbol is intended to transcend the preconceived illusions of separate religious, sociological and philosophical differences and blend awareness of things into a single symbol. The symbols are woven together: just as the earth is a weaving together of awareness, perspective and ability.

The Balanced Star Amulet is intended to anyone to wear, everyone who wishes to embrace divergence of ideas and capability and bring balance to a troubled world.

The Ankh of Peace

As I was growing up, my brother created paintings incorporating symbols he found interesting. One of my favorite was a combination of the peace sign, the Maltese cross and the ankh. He worked in vivid black light poster paint (it was the sixties, after all…) and it hung on our wall for years. I recall looking at it as I drifted off to sleep. In spite of the brilliant colors, I found the image soothing and offered a sense of comfort.

Years later I created an amulet that represented the image and dubbed it the Craig, naming it after him. Recently I came across the old charm and decided to add a small change: the lower emanation extends lower than the classic Maltese cross, symbolizing an emanation of blessings to both the person who wears the amulet and to all one surrounds oneself with.

The Ankh of Peace, for me a logo of the sixties; but for the world it is a new image: a culmination of many lands, many cultures all focused on life, vitality, stability and peace.

The Drummer Amulet

I know you have seen this guy at your drum circles, I have! He is the guy that walks into the circle, straps on his drum and changes the sound from a basic pulse to music that sends the dancers flying. Other drummers crowd around him as he plays that Djembe like it as a full orchestra. Dancers prance before him as if filling themselves with his rhythm – yet he seems unconscious of the fact he is drawing so much attention, caught in a wave of music himself. I saw him too…

In my attempt to capture the moment in a tiny piece of jewelry I created this three dimensional sculpture of the Drummer is only three quarters of an inch tall. I tucked a lock of hair behind his head to create a bail so you can wear him or hang him on your drum. His hands are in the midst of playing a roll as his palms stroke the goatskin drum head, invoking the sound of the drum circle.

This amulet is the first of many tiny drum circle drummers, dancers and guardians, each of the same scale, all three dimensional sculptures, all may be worn as amulets or charms on a drum marking a particularly good drum circle or as a dedication to music itself.

Gye Nyame Set

Gye Nyame is a symbol meaning “I am afraid of none but God,” or: “Nyame biribi wo sor” suggests that good things come from above. Literal translation: This great panorama of creation dates back to time immemorial; no one lives who saw its beginning and no one will live to see its end, “Except God” (Gye Nyame). This unique and beautiful symbol is omnipresent in Ghana. It is the most popular in decoration: a reflection on the deeply religious character of the Ghanaian people; the symbol of the Omnipotence and Omnipresence of God.

In the development of the Gye Nyame Set, I made the earrings “flat” to frame the face with a flash or two; the main pendant holds the curves to accentuate the flow of the Gye Nyame Amulet; a deeply carved three dimensional amulet (both sides) with a bail through the top point allowing a chain or cord to pass through.

Wearing these amulets connect one to a tradition that is well over 5000 years old from the continent of humanities’ cradle.

The Tarot Garden in Metaplace

I have created a video illustrating the Tarot Garden: a virtual world in Metaplace: a social hub of various VR worlds where people create games, demonstrations, exhibits and other Virtual experiences. The Tarot Garden is a series of environments featuring the Tarot Casters. Each of the Tarot pieces has its own point of interest, description, associated tone and short video demonstrating it’s location on the Tree of Life.

The video is embedded in my website for your review. It demonstrates the functions of the Garden including animation, environmental sounds and videos teaching aspects of the Tarot.

Metaplace is free to join and browse the various worlds created by its users. After a brief introduction to the VR platform, you may see the Tarot Garden and experience its sights and sounds. Experience the first Tarot Virtual Reality at Metaplace!

Being a class project

When Allyn was attending collage, he received an assignment to create an educational video. Allyn has been helping me in my shop off and on since he was 11 years old, so he knows the process quite well. One evening he burst into my home with a borrowed Video camera and told me of his assignment.

Within minutes I found myself the subject of a class project, first sketching a design (Toasting the Moon) and then under the glare of a lens and I carved the piece. We were letting the investment set up when we noticed it was 3am.

The following day Allyn was at it again, this time balancing precariously in the rafters of my studio as I melted the silver and cast. Laughing the entire time we finished up weeks ahead of his deadline and he was pleased with his grade!

I came across his footage and decided to clean it up a bit. A little lute music, new titles and a logo, a short tutorial for your pleasure. To view it, please visit my: “How to order custom jewelry and sculpture” page. It clarifies the lost wax process and perhaps a peek at the rhythm of this art.

The Phoenix Amulet

This is one of my first pieces. Originally designed to be the front portion of a circlet, this design highlights the Double Headed Phoenix: a creature that rises from the ashes of the previous incarnation; a two headed manifestation; much like Janus the God that sees into the past: learning from the lessons of experience; looking into the future. The God of the gates and passages; of beginnings both abstract and concrete.

These ideas are combined into a single piece to produce a hybrid of ideas: renewal, vision, knowledge from experience and the ability to begin again with vitality and the promise of success.

The Phoenix amulet is 2 ½” across and is available as a brooch or necklace. The brooch has a long pin between the win tips for a secure fastening while the necklace harnesses the flame chain: completing the motif of fire and renewal.

The somewhat massive piece is for those that are working on the steps required in starting a new life, beginning a new project or career or simply taking a new look to life and the possibilities it holds.

Peaceful Mushroom Amulet

Years ago (back in the 1980s) I lived in Southern California. Being an avid listener to KPFK’s “Something’s Happening” one of the regulars was Terrance McKenna: and Ethno-Botanist who spoke long and glowingly about his trips into the Amazon and his research of various ideas that involved 2012, the I Ch’ing, Mushrooms, DNA, the Mayans and a host of other ideas. In the course of listening to these late night broadcasts I created and amulet the closely resembles mushrooms growing into a peace sign.

In the early Nineties Terrace visited the Bodi Tree in Los Angeles: a very large alternative bookstore. My Buddy Russ and our Ladies visited the store to pay our respects, however due to other issues the connection wasn’t made.

Late in the Nineties I attended Starwood where Terrance offered lectures. I was honored with a visit to my booth that the Man Himself. After examining my work I presented him with a copy of the Peaceful Mushroom Amulet as a “thank you” for the hundreds of hours of lectures I was able to listen to the KPFK.

“My God!” he exclaimed. “The usual response I get from folks is: ‘I taped them from the radio and gave them to all my friends!’” then he laughed.

Although I never saw him again (he passed away some years after that) the thing that struck me about him was his laugh: infectious, kind and full hearted. When I make the amulet, I can almost hear his guffaw.