Jewellery as Protection
It is not only for beauty that a woman chooses jewellery, especially jewellery that attracts the attention of those around her. Jewellery also serves as an attractor of the prying and unfavourable gazes of those around, and thereby also a deflector of negative energy away from the person herself. This wisdom turns out to be as old as the world itself, passed down from generation to generation. Each person is a particle of the world and arms themselves, creating a microcosm around themselves in the surrounding macrocosm.
This topic was prompted by a remark from a work colleague about my new necklace - a heart pendant with yellowish stones hung on a gilded longer chain, which sparkled pleasantly in artificial light. She asked me - does this piece of jewellery have any particular meaning? I replied that nothing special, just a new accessory that in my view looks good with a black dress. She remarked that it is not only for beauty that a woman chooses jewellery, especially jewellery that attracts the attention of those around her. Jewellery also serves as an attractor of the prying and unfavourable gazes of those around, and thereby also a deflector of negative energy away from the person herself.
My mother's teaching also came to mind - whatever may befall you, a woman must always have a gold ring or rings on her fingers and at least a modest but gold chain around her neck. At first I had not even delved into the meaning of this advice, for it is so - more experienced, wiser people give us advice, but we accept it only when we have experienced it on our own skin.
Images from the 2008/2009 autumn-winter jewellery collection - http://www.krasotologia.ru/post85861563/
This wisdom turns out to be as old as the world itself, passed down from generation to generation. Reading about and observing the adornment customs of ancient tribes, one can see how great a significance was attached to jewellery and signs (which deserve a separate story), engraved or inscribed in them. Some tribes even had a condition that certain pieces of jewellery, after initiation rituals, were put on hands or necks for life. Jewellery both as a token of belonging and as a protective object.
"Regarding the wreath and the entire set of jewellery, the Latgalian villaine with crosses and other signs, there is a belief that the world model is embodied in costume and adornment. Each person is a particle of the world and arms themselves, creating a microcosm around themselves in the surrounding macrocosm." - thus on the significance of the use of ancient jewellery at http://www.kalve.cesis.lv/lat/article03.html.
If one looks at the archaeological costumes at http://www.etnostils.lv/lv/galerija/terpi/arhiologterpi.php, one can observe a certain richness of jewellery in the clothing of our ancestors.
Latgalian woman's costume
11th–12th century reconstruction
But returning to modern times - whatever may be the case, it is not characteristic of Latvian women to adorn themselves conspicuously with heavy brooches, rings with large stones and the like, yet it is important to also be aware of this protective function of jewellery. In my view, the size or brightness of the jewellery is not what matters, rather its originality, refinement and harmony with the clothing worn. Of course, it is ideal if the jewellery is of a noble metal - gold or silver, with real crystals or stones. If previously I looked at costume jewellery with a certain caution and was reluctant to choose "inauthentic" pieces, now I have come to understand that any quality, well-matched piece of jewellery can add piquancy to one's appearance and... provide protection.
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