Nectar of the Heart

Last night as I was sleeping,

I dreamt — marvelous error! –

that I had a beehive

here inside my heart.

And the golden bees

were making white combs

and sweet honey

from my old failures.”

~ From “Last Night As I Was Sleeping,” by Antonio Machado

The bee has since ancient times been a symbol

of the goddess, the divine feminine, the Great Mother,

a symbol of Wisdom, and even the church.

In ancient times, the bees were regarded as sacred

and they were seen as travellers between the natural

world and the underworld.

Through a process of alchemy, bees

create honey, in ancient times,

regarded as the nectar of the gods.

The term milk and honey were used to describe

abundance and eden-like qualities to our lives.

The bees’ survival depends upon a queen and their unquestioning obedience 
and loyalty to her, which reminds 
us of our dependence on Our Lady, Queen of the Heart 

The beehive is a symbol for the heart :
the sacred inner temple where transformation
takes place and from which forgiveness and
compassion flows.

I Am the Immaculate Conception

I am the Immaculate Conception
was her words to Bernadette

She was a poor shepherdess,

Bernadette,

growing up at the foothills of the Pyrenees,

on the banks of the Gave du Pau.

Tending the very poor family's

small flock of sheep

When the most miraculous vision 

appeared to her.

A vision of Light

with roses on Her feet.

From this numinous event

flowed forth a stream of healing water,

a holy place was born,

Bernadette's life was transformed

into one of passion,

commitment and a vocation to the highest Love

Bernadette's message : God is everywhere!

A place where the fire was lit long ago

and the fire of your Soul

and Its unconditional love

is kept alive

And such is the miracle within our own hearts

as She brings forth the waters of regeneration,

healing and wholeness,

teaching you that Love is everywhere

A wearable altar to

Our Lady of Lourdes

L'immaculee Conception

Hand soldered lead-free silver

patina'd by hand

Vintage prayer card set between glass

creating a miniature shadowbox filled with

seed pearls and small freshwater pearls 

as well as a tiny vintage Lourdes connector

Vintage buttons from a street market in Paris

a tiny crown

a vintage Lourdes medal with prayer on the back

an image of Our Lady of Lourdes set in resin

in a sterling silver cup

beaded chain that contain mother of pearl buttons,

rondelle,

aurora borealis

a tiny sterling silver Agnus Dei heart locket

and two different kinds of linked antiqued chain

The back of the pendant contains the basilica

of Lourdes from the same vintage holy card

Stacked mother of pearl buttons,

swarovski crystals

rondelles

silver toned roses

aurora borealis

freshwater pearls

Sterling Silver element with artist's name engraved on it

You can read here how my sacred altars

are prepared with holy relics and oils

with love,

Hettienne

A sacred altar Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame de Paris

Our Lady of Paris

A Sacred Altar

Each tiny disk contains the image of

Notre Dame and on the back

the rose window in the Notre Dame Cathedral

a tiny vintage Miraculous Medal

rondelle, real pearls, freshwater pearls
and smoky aurora borealis beads

an elegant chain with tiny dangle at end

at the closure of necklace

a holy card set in an aged

brass filligree frame

with a tiny brass cross underneath

Pieces of a magnificent rosary brought back

from Notre Dame de Paris.  I brought this rosary

back from my previous pilgrimage to France and only now

have had the time to use it in a wearable altar.

The pieces are solid brass and the detail magnificent.

with love,

Hettienne