Every morning, I carefully adorn my hands with five small gold and brass rings, a quiet ritual that feels both routine and sacred. Each ring means something to me, tiny symbols of values, moments that I want to remember, wishes for myself and my life.
A small squiggly ring on my thumb, a reminder to embrace my creativity every day, a snake devouring its own tail — an ouroboros — a symbol of rebirth that I bought for myself after coming out as bisexual; a funky abstract ring holding two stones in opposition, a reminder to find balance; my wedding rings, a celebration of my love and dedication for my partner.
I spray perfume, and out of habit, touch my necklace with two little charms that I wear like talismans: The goddess Lilith on a small coin that my husband bought me for our wedding, a symbol of feminine independence, autonomy, and defiance; and a charm that says “carpe diem” on one side and has a hyphen on the other, a reminder that we have one life to live so we must live it in alignment with who we are.
Looking around my home, what one might perceive to be tchotchkes, I see as powerful symbols. A tiny pair of Delft pottery Dutch shoes on my bookshelf is an heirloom from my great-grandmother, a reminder of her and our shared love of collecting. My sister shared with me the Feng Shui tradition of placing a money frog and turtle in your home — or three of each, for good measure, she said — so what might simply look to an outsider like simply tiny brass frogs by my front door and random turtles by my back door, actually have a deeper meaning of inviting in abundance and wealth.
“Looking around my home, what one might perceive to be tchotchkes, I see as powerful symbols.”
There is, of course, a long history of using keepsakes as sacred objects and powerful symbols in our lives. We see this in traditions and cultures all over the world, from the Rosary in Catholicism to Irish Claddagh rings to the wide range of ceremonial items and sacred objects from indigenous cultures.
What would it look like if we brought meaning and purpose back into the objects in our lives? In a time when overconsumption and fast fashion are at an all-time high, treating objects as disposable and transient, how can we bring intentionality and sacredness into our lives by shifting our focus toward objects that hold meaning?
Start with the keepsakes you have
We can begin by thinking about objects that already mean something to us. Do you have an heirloom you cherish? A gift from a loved one? A souvenir from a special trip or time in your life? Try naming the feeling, the symbol, the meaning that these keepsakes hold for you. How often do you take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate them?
“How often do you take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate them?”
Can you integrate them more into your daily life? Perhaps you wear the beautiful ring your grandmother gave you instead of leaving it in your jewelry box. Or maybe you pull out the fancy dinnerware heirlooms to use for dinner once a week. By using the objects and integrating them into our lives, we are reminded of the deeper meaning they hold for us, allowing their specialness to infuse into our daily lives.
Find objects to symbolize your intention
Perhaps you want to invite a new mantra, protection, or intention into your life. Finding an object to exist as a symbol of that intention is a powerful way to manifest it into our lives and act as a reminder. You could pull from existing symbols, for example:
- Moon: Divine feminine, intuition
- Snail: Slowness, taking your time
- Bee: Hard work and intention
- Compass: Conscience, guidance, trust in oneself
- Frog: Good fortune, wealth
Or you could create your own meaning around an object, as I did with each of my rings. The playful nature of my squiggly ring reminds me of my creativity and to not take things too seriously, and every time I look at it, I feel its soft reminder.
If you’re unsure of where to begin, I love using jewelry as a starting point. Charm necklaces, for example, are a way to wear our intentions across our hearts. We can display them proudly for others to see or tuck them safely under our shirt to keep them close — either way, with jewelry, the power of our intentions and protection is always with us.
Once you determine the symbol of your keepsake, whatever it is, place it to your heart, and name it out loud:
“This ____ is a symbol of ____.”
Example: “This necklace is a symbol of my independence, agency, and divine feminine.”
Using keepsakes as powerful symbols
After finding and naming the objects we want to use as symbols, we can integrate them into our lives to notice and appreciate them.
Wear a specific piece of jewelry when you want to feel its reminder. Do you have a big presentation? Wear a necklace that brings you strength and confidence. Are you setting a boundary? Could a pair of earrings remind you of your worth?
“Do you have a big presentation? Wear a necklace that brings you strength and confidence.”
Maybe you create an altar filled with multiple objects that inspire your creativity near your desk. My desktop is filled with crystals, tiny gifts from friends, and notes that make me feel loved, inspired, and present.
You could also place a meaningful keepsake somewhere you look daily, like your kitchen, bathroom, or bedside table. Perhaps making your coffee every morning while looking at little relics from your favorite travels could motivate you to power through the day ahead.
Feel the ritual of interacting with these objects, use their meaning as mantras, and let them be little guides for your life. You might be surprised how you view the items you bring into your home differently once you start to look at them as holding power. And you get to decide what they are, what they mean, and how they can add to your life.
Brianna Schubert is a writer and editor based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade, an editorial assistant at Motley Bloom, and a freelance writer. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Since 2023, Brianna has combined her expertise and investigative skills to deliver thoughtful reviews of sustainable products and home goods, helping readers make informed, eco-conscious choices. Brianna is also the writer behind The Mood Board, a Substack newsletter for creativity and inspiration. When she’s not writing, you can find her cooking up a new recipe, reading and recommending books, cuddling with her cat, or yapping with her friends at a café. Say hi on Instagram!
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