“I was inspired by the rock exhibit at Moral Hall. It has been my favorite exhibit there since I was a kid, so I thought it would be fun to tie it into this project by using my own rocks. I decided to name this project “Modern Witchcraft” because I wanted to tie in both the idea of the metaphysical and astrological as well as modern medicine like the contents of the piece. I used pill bottles, thread, foam core, wire, rocks, dried flowers, and made paper labels for this project. I wanted the piece to have a kind of handmade and instable feeling overall to encapsulate the idea of mental instability. I also decided to hang the piece to show how out of reach mental health can be. As for the bottles and their contents, I used old pill bottles and rocks and flower petals to kind of create potions of a sort. As you can see below, I did a lot of research into the rocks and plants I used for this project in order to include their meanings in a metaphysical sense.

As was discussed in class, this piece can take on many different meanings depending on the viewer and how they look at it. My main goal behind it was to portray mental health and the idea of turning to various things in order to improve it. The world of medication and trying to find stability is very broad, so I wanted it to be able to be interpreted differently depending on the viewer and the own thoughts and feelings on the subject. I found in my research that a lot of these things take on similar meanings, and I found that in and of itself to be interesting, and that it kind of shows what people are seeking out in their lives, and what we prioritize.

Overall, I think my project was pretty successful. I am a bit bummed that the strings broke in class, but it wouldn’t be too hard to go back and fix, so maybe I will do that so I can display it at home.”

Pill bottle project

-       pill bottles:

o   25 total

-       Rocks

o   81 ish total

§  Tigers eye

·      Self-confidence and inner strength

·      Used to ward off curses

§  Rose quartz

·      Love and compassion

·      Self care/love

·       

§  Clear quartz

·      Amplifies energy

·      Purifying energy and aiding in manifestation

·      Enhances mental clarity

·      Can create more focus and clarity around a desire

§  Fluorite

·      Absorbs negative energy and makes it positive, good for spiritual and existential burnout

·      Gives clarity of mind

§  Amazonite:

·      Soothes anxiety and bring clarity

·      Talisman of truth and hope

§  Obsidian

·      Safety and grounding

§  Garnet

·      Historically regarded as being helpful with hemorrhages, inflammatory diseases, and the suppression of anger

·      Inner strength and fortitude

·      Raises confidence

·      Manifestation

§  Calcite

·      Amplifies and cleanses energy, clear and balance chakras

·      Absorb and transform negative energy

·      Calms the mind and enhances mental clarity

·      Connects emotions with intellect

·      Clear calcite is cleansing and revitalizing

·      Helpful in making changes, removing blocks and embarking on new beginnings

§  Jasper

·      Relaxation, contentment, compassion, nurturing, consolation, tranquility, healing, completion

§  Chryscolla

·      Encourages confidence, creativity, and brings joy and music

·      Enhances experience of sound

§  Quartzite

·      Stabilizes positive changes by anchoring them in the fabric of your physical and subtle bodies

·      Helps body establish balance

§  Milky quartz

·      Associated with innocence and tranquility

·      Helps perceive the world without preconceived ideas/ prejudice

·      Helps from being overwhelmed by strong emotions

§  Chalcedony and malachite

·      Chalcedony:

o   Linked to the moon

o   Considered calming

o   Helps control emotions and allows you to feel safe when it comes to self expression

o   Can provide sense of optimism

o   Anti-inflammatory properties

§  Drusy quartz

·      Balance, harmony, inner peace  stronger spirit

·      Used for anxiety and stress

·      Calming, harmonizing, and loving vibes

·      Stress relief

·      Protection against toxic people and energy

§  Lepidolite

·      Transition, awareness, emotional balance, meditation, prayer, goodness

§  Selenite

·      Ally in the shifting of stagnant and negative energies

·      Allows for a flow of energy

§  graphite

·      stimulates deep thought and helps with writing

§  banded agate

·      growth

·      balance

·      confidence

§  barite

·      gives courage to face fears and do what we need to do

§  petrified wood

·      good fortune

·      stability

·      security

·      strength

·      longevity

·      wisdom

§  siderite

·      positive energy

·      stimulates development of constructive thoughts and ideas

·      reinforces enthusiasm about careers

§  gypsum

·      cleansing

·      removal of blockages

·      strengthening and repair damage to energetic balance

·      helps with feeling stuck and stagnate

·      offers mental clarity to provide a foundation of focus and calm

-       Flowers

o   Yellow rose

§  Friendship

§  Happiness

§  Dying love

§  Self confidence, joy, vitality

o   Red rose

§  Love and romance (meaning) mourning

§  Love and healing spells

§  Draw good luck in matters of the heart

§  Beauty and glamour magic

o   Orchid

§  Meaning: thoughtfulness, refinement, fertility, beauty, charm, and love

§  Mianly used in love spells

§  Good for communication

§  Contacting the spirit realm

§  Letting loved ones know you are thinking of them

o   Pansy

§  Represents the thoughts of lovers

§  Said to possess telepathic magic

§  Love and remeberance

§  In witchcraft: help with focus and to find direction

§  Help strengthen and deepen love and attract new love

§  Used to call rain

o   Carnation

§  Meaning: fascination, distinction, and love

§  Brings courage

§  Put negative emotions into flower and out of self

§  Work well with healing spells, charms and pouches

§  Bring protection

o   Alstroemerias

§  Symbol of grace, purity, majesty, and honor

§  Receiving meant you were beloved

§  Can be used to express condolence in time of sorrow

§  Symbolizes strong and powerful bonds

§  Can strengthen spells (especially love spells)

§  Fortune, prosperity and wealth

Bottle contents

1.     Jasper and rose quarts

a.      Rose quarts for self love and jasper for healing

2.     Calcite

a.     Mental clarity

3.     Amazonite

a.     Anxiety

4.     Fluorite

a.     Clarity of mind

5.     Milky quartz

a.     Helps with being overwhelmed/ strong emotions

6.     Obsidian

a.     Safety and grounding

7.     Graphite

a.     Stimulates deep thoughts

8.     Gypsum

a.     Helps with feeling stuck, creates a foundation of focus and calm

9.     Tigers eye

a.     Self confidence and inner strength

10.  Rose quartz

a.     love

11.  Banded agate

a.     Growth, balance, confidence

12.  Selenite

a.     Allows for flow of energy

b.     Ally in shifting of stagnant and negative energy

13.  Barite

a.     Gives courage to face fears and get stuff done

14.  Rose petals (red)

a.     Love, passion

15.  Pansy

a.     Focus and find direction

16.  Orchid

a.     Communication

b.     refinement

17.  Alstroemerias

a.     Prosperity

b.     Grace

c.     condolence

18.  Yellow rose petals

a.     Happiness

b.     Friendship

c.     Self confidence

19.  Carnations

a.     Brings courage

b.     Expels negative emotions

c.     Healing

d.     Protection

20.  Quartz

a.     Establish balance

b.     Positive energy

21.  Chrysocolla

a.     Confidence

b.     creativity

22.  Petrified wood

a.     Stability

b.     Security

c.     Strength

d.     wisdom

23.  Siderite

a.     Stimulates development of constructive thoughts and ideas

24.  Crystal quartz

a.     Create more focus and clarity around a desire

25.  Lepidolite

a.     Awareness and emotional balance