Copper Wire and Malachite Tree of Life Pendant Necklace - Learn About Healing Properties

I was inspired to make some fun things using wire recently and I would like to share them with you.
I found directions on another blog how to make a tree of life pendant necklace. I actually made this in November or December and so I was not able to find the original blog with directions of how to make it today, but there are plenty of great tutorials if you do a simple search. I am finding all kinds of great inspiration trying to find it again though!

I happened to have all the materials I needed on hand including two different widths of copper wire (18 gauge for the loop and 24 gauge for the trunk and branches), malachite stone chips that I got once when I was visiting Santa Fe, NM, and even a copper chain all ready to go already. The hardest part was trying to get the wire to look like branches, and trying to decide which chips to put where and how much space I needed on the wire to finish it off. It came out pretty good for a first try. I plan to make an amethyst one next for my cousin in Bali.

One of my favorite things about making jewelry is making it meaningful for the person that will be wearing it if it is a gift. This time I made it for myself and I have been wearing it almost every day since and I get lots of compliments on it. Everyone loves a tree of life!

I love finding out the healing properties of the stones and metals that I use and I have a few books that are my go to for this. I use them for the information I am sharing with you below. One of these books has magic in the title and they all have instructions for meditations and other rituals you can do with the stones and metals. I am not endorsing magic itself. I prefer to call it healing instead of magic. Calling it magic implies that there is an unknown quality and sounds a bit hokey to me. Healing is what I know it does, whether its from a feeling someone gets when they put it on, the simple joy of receiving a gift, or the intention I put into it as an artist and also as an energy healer. I appreciate the historical context that I learn about these materials and I love that each gem has different energies and healing qualities and they are all used in so many different ways. There is no way I can remember it all but blogging this is really helping me with that! If you have any doubt about these healing energies, try holding a stone in your hand and closing your eyes and just see how it feels. Then try it with another different kind of stone. Let me know how it goes!

Malachite actually contains about 60 percent copper. According to my The Essential Crystal Handbook, malachite has long been used a magical protection against the evil eye because of its striking concentric eye patterns. And all this time i thought it looked like beautiful topographical maps!

Malachite is associated with growth and abundance. Its healing functions are that it "relieves pain and aids recovery after exhaustion, locates and corrects emotional imbalances, promotes the development of new ideas, encourages and strengthens in difficult circumstances, and absorbs environmental pollutants."

Malachite also has receptive energy, is associated with the planet Venus, the herb mallow (as in marshmallow), and its powers include power, protection, love, peace, and business success. Who doesn't want those healing qualities on a daily basis? According to Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Gem and Metal Magic, a piece of malachite is worn to detect impending danger. According to legends this stone, as well as many other, will break into pieces to warn its wearer of forthcoming peril. How cool. It is used to lend extra energy during ceremonies or meditation. If worn, held, or placed on an altar it can increase your ability to send power toward your goal. It has protective energy, especially with children. Beads and pendants are worn to guard against negativity and physical dangers which makes it a great traveler's guardian stone, and is said to be particularly powerful in preventing falls. A malachite necklace that touches your skin near your heart expands your ability to love and thus draws love to you. Its deep green color is soothing and gazing at it or holding it in your receptive hand relaxes the nervous system and calms stormy emotions. It promotes tranquility and ensures sleep if worn to bed, and if held, dispels depression.

"Small pieces placed in each corner of a business building or a small piece in the cash register draws customers. Worn during business or trade shows, it increases your ability to obtain good deals and sales. It is the salesperson's stone."

According to "The Illustrated Directory of Healing Crystals", malachite is associated with strong love goddesses who can be benign or vengeful such as Our Lady of Mountains in Central Russia (who is a form of Venus who might protect miners if appeased). The Viking goddess of love and beauty Freyja was another patroness who could be cruel to cast-off lovers.

Its zodiac sign is Scorpio (me!). "Malachite is a cleansing and protective crystal for the industrialized world. It cleanses the auric field and aids the heart, stomach, liver, and lungs. It eases migraines, kick-starts the immune system and makes body and mind feel refreshed each new day."

Copper has actually long been linked with the divine, according to my Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Gem and Metal Magic. It has receptive energy, is associated with Venus, the element water, and during ancient Mesopotamian times was attributed to the Queen of Heaven and the goddesses associated with the planet Venus including Ishtar, Astarte, and perhaps even Inanna who is the Sumerian predecessor to these goddesses of Venus. It has been sacred to the sun in Babylon as well as the early inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest in the US.

Its a well known conductor of electricity. Wands can be made of copper wire to direct energy using quartz crystals. The metal is worn for this same purpose in ritual. Copper's ability to balance the body's polarity, or the flow of the projective and receptive energies, is one of the many ways it has been used to stimulate healing. According to shamans and healers alike, blockages in this energy pattern lead to imbalances and thus disease. In Mexico a copper penny is placed on the navel before a trip to prevent motion sickness. It is worn for relief from rheumatism, arthritis, and any other painful condition such as fibromyalgia I would guess.
According to this book it is loosely fastened around legs and arms to relieve cramps. I may have to try that.
It should be worn on the left side of the body for right-handed people and on the right side for left-handers. It is a lucky metal and can be used in combination with any luck-bringing gemstones. As a metal of Venus it is worn to attract love. Its associated herb is mimosa and anciently seeds of this plant (Acacia dealbata) were set into copper rings and worn for protection, especially during confrontations, against ills and negativity. No wonder I am so into this stuff right now! Finally it is used to draw money. Older pennies that are made of copper especially those made it leap years have long been placed in the kitchen to attract money to the household.

I would love to find out more perspectives about copper from ancient Asian civilizations and any other ancient or new traditions out there, so please share if you know any more about it. Thanks!