Speaking of strange gifts, it’s time I run another little competition in celebration of spring, moving to the Overberg and nature’s abundant generosity.

One thing I’ve always loved is stones. And jewellery. Though not necessarily in that order. Whenever I go walking, in the mountains or beside the sea, I look out for a special rock or pebble I can collect that’ll hold the spirit of the magical space or moment in time I want to remember. I’ve long loved the lore of penguin courtship which echoes our own :: when a male ‘guin has found his forever mate, he searches tirelessly til he finds one perfect pebble to present as a symbol of his devotion. The animal equivalent of an engagement ring – the promise rock.

penguin partnership…

What is it about adornment? Why do we like to give (and receive) jewellery? I see it as a marker, like the rocks I collect along my ‘all who wander are not lost’ paths to remind me of what I’ve learnt. The way, culturally, we mark the transition from one state to another, like marriage, with ceremony. And jewellery. As a reminder. A keepsake. A talisman. The way a wedding band reminds you of the bond you’ve made to another – and signals to others that you’re committed, unavailable. Necklaces are breastplates in miniature, a beautiful badge identifying the tribe to which the wearer belongs. Think of it :: streams of bright 6-carat gold says

I’m a kugel from Bellville

Leather, cowries and feathers?

I’m a hippie from Scarborough (case in point)

You get the picture. Jewellery is a message, a universal language of beauty which translates across boundaries of culture and geography. Inherently honest – or purposely positing lies. Look closely to what someone has chosen to decorate themselves with, it advertises a facet of their essence. You can see it.

I developed a respect for crystals when, recently returned to Pietermaritzburg and still weak, I befriended a chiropractor (thanks to Ma Nguni’s predilection for alternate modalities) who took me on the Midlands Meander where I discovered Spiral Blue. I found myself drawn to a massive iridescent peacock-blue pendant, a chunk of labradorite which I later learned happens to aid pituitary healing/function. I wore the necklace until Vinsanity whittled it (for a pretty penny) into a sleek lightening bolt, portentously dropping to break a point before I moved.

Necessity being the lovely mother of invention, I dabbled in some simple necklace making. So to mark the latest move, my leap from the cliffs of safety and the start of a committed path to my dream of writing and creativity…

( enter ) at own risk

perfectly pendant…

To win this fluorite pendant, do any one of the following ::

* simply sign up to receive the latest post via email. Click the ‘sign me up’ button on the top right (above the search box) and type in your email address.

* like the Scar*let Nguni Facebook page (click here)

* share the competition details on your facebook page or via your blog (just copy a link into the comments section so I can see it)

* share the love and tweet to your peeps (make sure you ‘tag’ me @scarletnguni so I count your tweet)

For those who don’t do Facebook or Twitter, or who have already signed up: leave me a comment on this post or email me: scarlet.nguni@gmail.com with ‘competition’ in the subject line. The competition is open to all readers and closes midnight Stanford time on October 1st. I’ll announce the lucky winner on the 2nd. Good luck!

FYI Fluorite’s basic (metaphysical) properties :: promotes spiritual and psychic wholeness and development; truth; protection and peace. It protects both psychically and in the physical realm. Also assists with meditation; can help get remove mental blocks and similar mental issues (click here for more info).