Old Celtic folklore credits Ogma, the Irish god of eloquence, with devising the form of writing known as Ogham — not entirely for selfless reasons. Legend says that Ogma wanted to give the people of Ireland who heard him speak a way to record and share the splendor of his words. Ogham was used almost exclusively for the Old Irish language, in contrast to the Latin alphabet, which was used for religious Christian texts.

This Ogham Writing necklace showcases the letters of “Slainte,” the Irish word for Health, read top to bottom. This silver-plated pendant makes a beautiful talisman that will connect you to old Irish traditions and mythology, perhaps even calling forth good health from the old gods in times of need.

The handmade pendant is over 1.5 Inches Long and comes on a 36-inch adjustable string with a Labradorite. The Labradorite stone symbolizes the connection with North America and Ireland and gives it the perfect finish. This Necklace represents a unique period in the establishment of a distinct Irish identity through writing that can be worn by anyone, symbolizing old and new heritage alike.

WHY LABRADORITE?

We’ve chosen Labradorite for its physical and mystical connotations. Labradorite comes from Labrador in Canada, where over a period of ten years in the 18th century more than 100 ships carrying Irish immigrants landed. To this day, the province maintains close connections to Ireland and carries on numerous Irish traditions. We use Labradorite as a symbol of the bridge between Ireland and North America.

As a mineral, Labradorite is comprised of countless aggregate layers that reflect light in richly iridescent hues of blue, green, red, and gold in a play of color known as labradorescence. In much the same way as Irish lore attributed spiritual origins to the mountains and stones of Ireland, Inuit lore holds that Labradorite is the frozen fire of the Aurora Borealis fallen to earth.

Spiritually, Labradorite is thought to be among the most protective and powerful stones in the mineral kingdom. Its iridescence makes it a stone of transformation that stimulates the imagination and is said to have a calming effect. Labradorite relieves anxiety and stress and strengthens faith in oneself, intuition, and trust in the universe. These qualities make it the ideal gemstone to accent the SAOL Jewelry collection.