I was approached at an event to design a custom necklace using a deer sternum.  Luckily, I had a deer skeleton weathering outside over winter.  The sternum was still articulated with cartilage and needed to be degreased and whitened.

The first step in my cleaning process was to separate each section and keep them in the correct order.   For degreasing, I used diluted Simple Green.   Each bucket held 1 section of the sternum so I could accurately piece it back together.

It took two months to degrease.  This time frame did not work with the client's needs, but I proceeded with the process to create a Chakra Sternum.

After degreasing, the next step was to whiten the bones.  They were soaked in peroxide for a few days.

Because I purchased white Epoxy sculpting clay to experiment, I wanted to try it with this piece. 

I learned that the clay did not hold the sections together, so I attached it with E6000.  But the epoxy clay did fill the gaps.  

Chakra Stones

Before cleaning, I took the sternum to Emelia Gallant, the Owner of Air & Fire, a Mystical Bazaar in Boulder Creek.  I wanted her help picking stones and crystals from her shop.

We spent two hours intentionally choosing and discussing stones to place on the bone for each Chakra.

On Saturday, August 17, I returned to Air & Fire and with the help of Susan Tremont, I learned about crystal grids and how to enhance the deer sternum with additional stones:  pink tourmaline, orange kyanite, rose quartz, tumbled aquamarine, aura quartz, and skeletal amethyst.

Photo: Susan Tremont with the crystals laid out on the bone.

Seven Chakras & the Chosen Stones

"Balance, Connectedness, and Healing"

Crown - Ethiopian Opal
Ethiopian opal is said to have the ability to open the crown chakra, which can lead to spiritual connection with the universe and wisdom. The white energy of Ethiopian opal is said to activate the crown chakra, allowing the wearer to interact with the divine and the infinite.

Third Eye - Blue Kyanite
Connecting to the third eye chakra, Blue Kyanite awakens your innate and natural gifts of intuitive insight. It stimulates psychic abilities, lucid dreaming and telepathy. It restores the flow of energy to all chakras.

Throat - Blue Aura Quartz
Soothing emotions and releasing stress, Aqua Aura Quartz enhances a calm environment and promotes a restful state of mediation. Purifying the throat chakra, it encourages you to voice your truth through heartfelt self-expression.

Heart - Rose Quart with rays of Green Tourmaline
Rose quartz is closely associated with the heart chakra, the energy center that governs love, compassion, and emotional well-being. By working with rose quartz, you can support the healing and activation of the heart chakra, allowing for a deeper connection to love and self-acceptance.

Green Tourmaline - Its spiritual vibrations harmonize with the energies of the Earth as it opens the Heart Chakra and stimulates a strong resonance with Divine Love. Green Tourmaline is a gateway stone to the devic realm and provides beneficial influence to all things that live and grow.

Solar Plexus - Citrine
The solar plexus chakra is linked to the ego, intellect, ambition, personal power, fear, and protection. Citrine is believed to help balance and align the solar plexus chakra which can support healing and spiritual growth.

Improves hope and motivation and dispels worries.  It is a powerful stimulant of the sacral chakra and can help balance energy.  

Root - Melanite Garnet
Melanite is highly vibrational, protective, empowering, stabilizing, strengthening, and supportive.  The Root Chakra connection contributes a strong grounding effect.

Finished Necklace

Crystal Grids

"Crystal Grids are an incredibly powerful and beautiful way to manifest your dreams, goals and intentions. They are also powerful healing tools. The power of a crystal grid comes from the combined energies of the crystals you use, how you lay them out and the intentions you set.

Basically, a crystal grid is a special arrangement of crystals and stones, used with intention, to manifest a desired result. Keep in mind that the universe likes to provide us with what we need, not just what we want. So it's best to focus on manifesting a need vs a want, if you would like it to come to fruition. Common intentions that people use for crystal grids are for well being, abundance, healing and protection." - An Introduction to Crystal Grids

Keeping the Bone Alive

Through the alignment and enhancement of the seven chakras, we bring the animal spirit into our conscious well being.  We give thanks for the ethical sourcing of the sternum bone, and we recognize the gift left behind.  By creating the chakra crystal grid on the bone, we are aware of its elemental properties for cleansing, balance, and wellness.  The sternum bone attaches to the rib cage and protects the heart.  We now wear a crystal heart outward-facing on the bone to magnify the love we have for ourselves and others.  Wire wrapped with copper, the intentions are magnified, and the power of the chakras makes us feel alive, protected, and blessed.

According to a blog article, Deer Symbolism: Spiritual Meaning of Deer

"The deer is a sensitive, highly intuitive spirit guide. It strikes a balance between confidence and success and gentleness and grace.  Deer may show up when you want to give and receive unconditional love or when you want to stop being so hard on yourself or others.  Ultimately, deer represent gentleness and heart intelligence. So deer may present themselves to you if you've been hurt and your heart needs tending." 

Photo taken in my front driveway, Santa Cruz Mountains.