I’m in my late 30’s and I’m not exactly religious. I’m baptized Catholic, however, I haven’t been to church in about a year. That doesn’t mean that I’m not religious at all, it just means that I’m more of a spiritual type of person. I believe that I can pray anywhere, not necessarily in church. Growing up in such a multicultural city has exposed me to many other religions and I have become quite open-minded. As I’ve grown over the years, I’ve collected a fair amount of religious jewelry from a few different religions.
Even though I don’t go to church that often, I still love the traditional Catholic rosaries. My collection has grown over the years and includes a couple that were passed down to me from my grandmother and her mother. I love handmade rosaries with beautiful stones, especially this Handmade Amazonite and Sterling Silver Rosary Y-Neckace, “Blessed Mary”. I have several hanging over the corner of wall art throughout my home, and they seem to be timeless pieces of jewelry and art.
During my first marriage, I was married to a Muslim. We were young, and I had met him in my early 20’s. I look back now and can’t believe how much has happened since then. I have a small collection of Islamic jewelry, as well as hamsa style jewelry. The amulet known as the hamsa originated from the Hebrew word hamesh which means “five.” In Arabic, it is also the “five fingers of the hand.” For some, it’s considered a defense against the evil eye, a symbol of fertility and is believed to promote healthy pregnancies. It represents blessings, power, and strength. The symbol is recognized in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. In Islam, it’s known as the “hand of Fatima,” after the daughter of the prophet Mohammed, the hand of Mary, the hand of Mariam, and the hand of the Goddess. In the Jewish faith, it represents the hand of God or the hand of Miriam.
My second husband was a Hindu. Their beliefs are very different from those of Christianity. It’s a very beautiful and spiritual religion, and I feel very blessed to have experienced and learned what I did. One of the main Hindu symbols is the Ganesh, which is the story of the elephant-headed God. Also known as Ganesha, Ganapati, the lord of beginnings, the remover of obstacles, and the deity of good fortune. I own a couple of these pendants and still wear them once in a while.
Another Hindu symbol is the “Om.” It’s also recognized in the Buddhist culture, and the sacred word is associated with finding inner peace. It’s often the first and last sound that you hear when in a yoga class or meditating. Many people refer to it as the sound of the universe, the sound that unites us all. When we sound the word “Om”, we are attempting to align our mind, body, and spirit. So if you’re ever feeling stressed out, overworked, drained of energy, try chanting out “Om,” and the universe and air around you may brighten.
Even though I don’t go to church on a regular basis, I still pray before I sleep at night. As I’ve grown over the years I’ve become more spiritual, and I feel blessed to have learned what I have when it comes to different religions. I look forward to traveling the world someday and experiencing the true beauty of many cultures and beliefs. A prayer is a prayer regardless of its religion or language. Amen.
