The Sacred Symbols of Selkie Royalty
In the depths of Irish coastal folklore, jewelry holds profound significance for the selkie people – those mystical beings who can transform between seal and human form. Unlike ordinary adornments, selkie jewelry serves as both symbol of identity and bridge between two worlds, carrying the weight of ancient magic and royal heritage.
Máiréad’s Ascension Jewelry: The Silver Chain with Pearls
At the heart of *Máiréad, The Selkie Queen lies a piece of jewelry that embodies centuries of selkie tradition, the royal ascension necklace. When Máiréad first opened the silver box left by her guardian Maeve, she discovered:
“It was a long silver chain with pearls strung on it. As a girl it was much too big for her. But as a seal it would fit around her neck and body perfectly. She looked down at the links and could imagine how it would feel to wear it.”
This isn’t just jewelry, it’s proof of her birthright. The silver chain with its carefully placed pearls represents the dual nature of selkie existence, designed to transform with its wearer between human and seal form.
The Power of Selkie Pearls
In some of the old traditional Irish folklore, pearls were thought to contain the tears of selkies who longed for their lost loved ones. These weren’t just tears of sorrow, but of deep connection. Each pearl was thought to be a bridge of sorts, connecting the land and sea worlds. Máiréad’s pearls represent the test she must pass to prove herself to be her mother’s daughter and therefore, worthy of the crown.
The Commissioned Selkie Queen’s Crown
Beyond the pages of the story, the magic of selkie jewelry comes alive through a commissioned piece of one of a kind artwork. Etsy is a treasure trove of artists willing to bring a writers imagination to life. I found an artist, Ellys, whose shop, Frida’s Flower Crowns, was the birthplace of the Selkie Queen’s crown. This artistic interpretation captures the essence of underwater royalty with:
– Slices of open spiral shells that echo the ocean’s eternal dance
– Sea glass that holds the memory of countless tides
– Semi-precious stones reflecting the depths of selkie wisdom
– Delicate metal stars on chains, like captured starlight on water
– Ovals of iridescent shell and crystals that shimmer with otherworldly beauty
Jewelry as Heritage and Identity
What makes selkie jewelry unique in this story Irish myth is its role as both protection and proof of identity. Traditional selkie tales often focus on stolen seal skins, but Máiréad’s story introduces jewelry as an equally powerful symbol of selkie heritage. The ascension jewelry serves as:
– “Royal Proof”: Only the rightful heir can possess and wear the true ascension jewelry
– Magical Protection: The silver and pearls carry unknown protective enchantments passed down through generations
– Connection to Ancestry: Each piece links the wearer to their selkie lineage and the underwater kingdom
The Deeper Meaning
In Irish coastal communities of the mid-to-late 1800s, when belief in magical creatures was woven into daily life, jewelry often carried deeper significance than mere decoration. They were ties to the past, shared from family member to family member as a way to share a genealogical continuity. My family has several pieces of jewelry that belonged to the matriarchs of our family. We hold them dear.
Máiréad’s silver chain with pearls embodies the duality of her world, or worlds as the case may be, perfectly. Too large for her human form yet perfectly fitted for her seal shape, symbolizing how she must grow into her true nature and learn to integrate the two in order to claim her throne.
The jewelry in Máiréad, The Selkie Queen reminds us that the most powerful magic often lies in the quiet weight of heritage carried close to the heart…or in this case, around the neck of a young woman discovering she’s meant to be the Selkie Queen.
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Máiréad, The Selkie Queen - Irish Mythology YA Fantasy Novel 