𝐑࿕𝐰 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤 𝐑࿕𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦

“Most of us move through life assuming that we are at the behest of chance, that life occurs to us, and that we have very little influence, if any, on how our experience unfolds. This is especially so in regards to the body, the parasympathetic nervous system, and our state of health or dis-ease, not to mention apparently irrepressible, unruly, extreme experiences like birth. But none of this is true. The sense of helplessness is a deception. Our thoughts, beliefs, and the most minute choices about where and how we direct our energy bears monumental influence even over what has come to be seemingly dismissed as the vagaries of our physiological system.” -Portal, Yolande Norris-Clark

Nastasya Chudakova

Glass, Amber, bone 🐆

I want to share one of the recent pieces I'm proud to have finished, from pattern conception to the beadwork... A Sonnenrad Caplet ⚡ Preciosa Ornela Czech glass beads with vintage Austrian crystal around the base. Available for purchase. . The Schwarze Sonne, a modern adaptation of a Sonnenrad or “Sun Wheel,” has been shrouded in mystery for decades. It's composed of twelve Sig runes ᛋ radiating from a central point. It is most notable for its appearance at Wewelsburg Castle in Germany, a known ᛋᛋ landmark. Being claimed by such a force, it's been wrongly labeled a mark of evil. No one knows exactly why it was adopted as a symbol however or what the Schwarze Sonne truly represents. There have been other documented appearances of solar crosses in a style reminiscent of the Schwarze Sonne, including examples from the Merovingian period within the Frankish dynasty, which may point to deeper historical roots. . What I find most fascinating is not who used this symbol, but why — and how its meaning may be grounded in historical archetypes. It has been interpreted as a symbol of initiation, moral continuity, transmutation, and divine origin, carrying the symbolism of the number twelve — all of which may help explain why certain groups are drawn to its perceived power. . The number twelve appears repeatedly throughout history in many contexts: the twelve zodiac signs, the twelve solar months, the twelve Olympian gods, the twelve apostles of Christ, the twelve knights of Arthur’s Round Table, the twelve hero's that circle and honored Beowulf after his death, and the division of time into two twelve-hour segments. The list goes on. Twelve is also highly divisible, representing harmonious integration — many parts forming one unified body. The dodecahedron in Platonic philosophy, associated with the cosmos, also comes to mind. . It is often seen as representing completion — the cycle coming full circle — and organized totality. The number twelve, with its connotation of divine wholeness, has also symbolized authority and sacred governance: a stable framework that preserves natural law and offers a focal point for moral continuity across generations. Many sacred artworks depict holy figures, such as the Virgin Mary, crowned with twelve stars, light radiating outward — reinforcing this association with divine luminosity. This brings me to the Sonnenrad as a symbol of divine light within us — enduring through darkness and serving as a reminder of the striving toward enlightenment. Many have quoted Julius Evola's Revolt Against the Modern World and his Traditionalist philosophy to express similar themes. His emphasis on sacred Indo-European solar and warrior archetypes, the divine right of kingship, the idea of modernity as spiritual decline, and the cyclical view of history — including the concept of the Kali Yuga — all align symbolically with interpretations of the Sonnenrad as a marker of initiation and transcendence. It should be noted, however, that it was not simply "claimed" by later Traditionalists; rather, the symbol was adapted and reinterpreted within those circles. Coming back to the number twelve, we break the number down further, as twelve can be understood as the union of three divine principles and four earthly elements — spirit expressed as matter, or heaven's law manifested on earth. Rant aside, I'm fascinated with the hidden symbolism and as always, it is a craft made in reverence ᛟ