The pigments for this collection have been gathered and developed over four years and extracted from leaves, nuts, berries, fruits, bark, heartwood, twigs and roots. These were gathered on the ground from trees that were wind/snow damaged, or in the case of the Yew, this tree was the victim of a landslide (over Samhain incidently!). I feel its important to clearly state this so that you are aware that no damage was caused in creating these pigments, and in working with what was sustainably and respectfully gathered, the trees are ritually honored and carry on their work in a new form, as ceremonial colleagues.

Rather than begin by focusing on the adornment of the rattles, I want to bring attention to the medicines within - what is being carried beneath the surface, in the depths, out of sight, carried within the bellies of each of these ritual rattles. There is an incredible selection of medicines within each one. These insights reveal details of an important aspect of the birthing process of these potent ritual tools - the gathering of medicines. No aspect of anything I create is without intention, everything is steeped in meaning. Those of you that are into details, have knowledge of ritual elements, and wild native medicines will certainly appreciate this selection of medicines included and the intentions with them.

Each rattlehead lovingly holds within, the following local native medicines:
- Myrtle leaves gathered in West Cork, Ireland
- Angelica root gathered at a place we call 'Angel Falls', not far from our home in the Alps. We call it Angel Falls as the waterfall has Angelica growing all around it.
- Hawthorn berries gathered by my father near a stone circle behind his house in West Cork, Ireland.
- Juniper berries gathered on the mountain behind our nest here in the Alps.
- Rosehips (rosa rugosa and rosa canina) gathered from the mountains around our home here in the Alps.
- Herbs from the '9 Herb Charm', gathered from the mountains around our home here in the Alps.
- Sea salt that I made, extracted from Bantry Bay sea water (Ireland)
- Malachite and Azurite hand gathered along the riverbed of a stream high up in the mountains near our home here in the Alps.
- Wildflower seeds gathered from the mountains around our home here in the Alps.
- Dried pieces of crab apple, gathered from West Cork, Ireland.

The rattle head is lovingly crafted from upcycled raw reindeer hide. Reindeer medicine being one of my most revered to work with of all northerly medicines (earth element), for it speaks (with me) of the magical and mystical realms, ancestral connection, and guides me like Polaris on my soul path. Reindeer is also one of three beloved animal colleagues (aka 'spirit animals') that have accompanied me since birth. Each rattle head is botanically dyed with pigments extracted from the tree it relates with. These rattles are completely natural, unique, and far more beautiful in person. The rattle heads were sewn together with cordage I made from nettle fibers. The rattle heads are finished with a conditioning layer of my beautifully fragrant 13 Moon Wild Rose ritual anointing oil. For those who feel drawn, the 13 Moon Wild Rose ritual anointing oil is also available to purchase in our store.

The area between the handle and rattle head is accentuated with the naturally shed skin of a golden boa - a balanced combination of fire and earth element medicine, or depending on your perspective and personal practice, this can also be experienced as the masculine and feminine aspects of the fire element. I love to include this for its potent symbolism of transformation, transmutation and quite literally, letting go of our own old skin (aka old patterns, conditioning, traumas, fears etc). In molting these old behaviours and limitations we move into a space that nourishes growth and potential. This may seem like a small detail visually on the rattle itself, but its medicine is huge and speaks volumes of the overall energy and intention of these rattles as ritual tools - that of learn, let go, and grow.

These rattle handles are naturally shed deer antlers, gathered from the land by a friend of mine in England. Preparing the antlers for these rattles was very labor intensive so I'll write a little on that here. Firstly, I consciously choose to work with these antlers as not alone is deer earth element/north on the Celtic medicine wheel, but the antlers are bone (another earth element/north reference), and visually resemble the roots of trees. Each antler was cleansed, then washed and cleaned several times. Once dry, I hand sanded any rough, damaged or sharp areas. They were cleaned again, and once dry, I applied several layers of tannin rich acorn extract. Apart from bringing Oak into this aspect of the rattle handle, it offered a beautiful shade, a rich finish for the handles, and also ensured that the areas I had sanded would blend in again completely. This extract was created by leaching the tannins from the acorns over low heat on the stove for a week. More time was given to preparing the antlers as handles than I could have ever imagined, I see this as being an extra large dose of prayer and extended cermeony! :-D

A hand gathered garnet has been mounted on the handle. I gathered these garnets from a glacial stream a few valleys away, and knew immediately that they were meant for these ritual tools. Again, without getting too perscriptive, garnets relate with the lower chakras (root chakra and below), their geometry (rhombic dodecahedron) is believed to be the geometry of the 'inner earth crystal', and is the geometry of Spirit in the platonic solids. Red and black Garnet has an extremely high iron content making a wonderful crystal to work with where blood issues are present (for instance, if one is anemic, loses alot of blood while menstruating, someone who is post surgery, someone who has issues assimilating iron into the blood, etc). This blood connection gives a very literal nod to bloodline work that one may be doing (ancestral healing/timeline healing, karmic clearance, inherited trauma on an energetic, molecular and/or psychological level). It is a crystal of deep grounding that promotes release and our ability to receive nourishment both literally and energetically from the planet. Black is the therapeutic colour for the earth and earth element, and north on the Celtic medicine wheel. it is also the colour that represents the earth star chakra. Red relates with the root chakra, and by including these garnets here, which connects the personal with transpersonal lower chakras, these crystals create the energetic infrastructure conducive to connection and deep healing where the lower personal chakras and immediate lower transpersonal chakras are concerned.

Those who are familiar with my ritual rattles already know that I purposfully ensure the holes in the seams of the rattleheads leave enough space for the wildflower seeds and any other small medicines to be shared into the space you are using the rattle in - in practical terms this means that while using your rattle outside as a personal healing colleague, the very use of the rattle and the motion of shaking it means you disperse the wildflower seeds into your surroundings. My hope here is that the seeds take root and grow, so that the pollinators can be gifted food and contribute to the recovery of the ecosystem. As such, as much as the rattles I make are personal healing tools, they also support the land. As within, so throughout, in every way. Always.

Each of these rattles is ritually anointed with a special balm made with wild rose, mugwort and yarrow, which not alone blesses each rattle, but also conditions the raw hide and leaves a beautifully fragrant finish. Each comes with a botanically printed art label, created with fallen leaves from the trees in the Celtic Tree Calender. Each label contains the name of the tree in Irish, English, Latin and its Ogham letters. The label is attached to the rattle hand with hand spun sheeps wool, gathered from the hedgerows of West Cork (Ireland), and botanically dyed with acorns, the fruit of the Oak. To finish, each is decorated with a sprig of Cedar from our garden which can be used as a fumigation offering to bless your rattle on arrival, to connect you with your rattle, or an offering for your local Celtic Tree friend.

These rattles most certainly are a divine union of masculine and feminine polarities which in itself, promotes and enhances the state of high heart harmony. These ritual tools contain all five elements of BEing and all seven directions, gifting you a complete and dynamic experience.
 

These ceremonial rattles will make absolutely gorgeous gifts to Self and/or loved ones. Just like each of us, each rattle is wildly unique. They are one of a kind, sustainably made, petrochemical free, green ritual tools (Niamh even makes her own bone glue). They are crafted exclusively with hand gathered and upcycled elements. These rattles are available on a first come first served basis only.

To call yours home to you, please select your preferred rattle from the dropdown menu before proceeding to checkout.