Thor, the hammer-wielding God of Thunder in the Norse tradition is known for driving his chariot across the sky. As sparks of lighting erupt from its wheels, the chariot is pulled by two magical goats named Tanngnjöste and Tanngrisnir.

These mighty beasts were more than trusted sumpters; they were also a never-ending source of nourishment for Thor and his companions. These goats allowed themselves to be slain by Thor each night. They were cooked and then consumed by Thor and his dinner guests.

After the meal, Thor would gather the bones of the goats and lay them gently inside their skins. He would then bless them with his hammer, the Mjölhir and they would return to life. The one rule was that the bones of the goats must remain intact during the meal, as a bone that was broken to retrieve the marrow would never heal upon resurrection.

There are stories told of how Loki tricked the son of farmer into cracking one of the goat’s leg bones, forever laming one of the animals, but that isn’t what I was thinking about when I constructed this piece.

I was thinking about the trust that had to be embedded in the hearts and minds of these animals every time they allowed their necks to be slit by the one entrusted to their care.

I also thought about the gratitude that Thor must have felt at willing sacrifice his goats gave each night as they sustained and nourished the god and his guests.

Would I have the courage to be a willing sacrifice every evening and have the trust my remains would be honored and protected until my resurrection?

In honor of these selfless creatures , I have created this necklace.

I have taken the vertebra of a goat, and leaving the bone completely intact, I have made it the centerpiece. Adorned with tiffany soldering and a large piece of red jasper, this vertebra hangs 14 inches from a silver toggle clasp. It is strung on hand-knotted cording with dragon’s blood jasper, red jasper, labradorite, tiger’s eye and olive wood.

Dragon’s blood jasper is a stone of courage. It helps us form strong boundaries, allowing us to ‘walk our talk’.

Red jasper removes us from toxic situations by building a wall between us and those who would want to hurt us. It is a nurturing stone that urges us to be who we really are.

Labradorite helps us make transitions by shifting our perspective and building our self-confidence. It dispels negativity and protects us like a spiritual shield.

Tiger’s eye is a stone that allows us to harness profound inner strength. It gives us valuable insight as it encourages us to follow our hearts with grace. It also attracts abundance and wealth to the wearer.

Olive wood is seen as a symbol of the strong bond between friends. It is associated with renewal, rebirth, hope and new beginnings. It also stands for forgiveness and understanding.

This piece is a beautiful reminder of selflessness.

Available at https://jezebelpride.etsy.com/listing/4502323373