Last week I talked about the overarching information I learned when I started digging into the world of Wiccans. In Charmed Against All Odds (Book 5 of Secrets of Roseville), an enchanted charm bracelet takes center stage, but I’ve also included a specific ring that identifies the members of the Order of Witchery Lore. Before I settled on what it is made of and the design, I needed to know more about Wiccan jewelry and the magic associated with it. So I kept poking around at the Wicca Spirituality website until I found what I was looking for: The Magick of Wiccan Jewelry.
Keep in mind that my focus is on how I can accurately portray the use of jewelry and its mystical powers in my story. I’m not trying to give every detail of the beliefs and uses of jewelry within the Wiccan realm. Feel free to poke around on the Wicca Spirituality site if you’re curious! For now, I’m going to break down my research into Wicca jewelry into three parts relevant to my story needs: which finger to wear the ring on; what color of stone; and which precious metal(s) lend meaning to the symbol of the ring in my story.
To determine which finger, I needed to understand the Power Centers, or energy centers on the body. Depending on where the jewelry is worn, different powers are activated. What a fascinating concept to me. Rather similar to the idea of pressure points and acupuncture in some vague more mystical way.
For the featured charm bracelet in my story, the power center isn’t so much an energy as a reminder “that all your actions can be offered to the Divine.” So I don’t have to worry about activating any specific energy as Roxie and Leo are assembling the bracelet with the hidden charms, and indeed Roxie’s mother tells her to “Wear the bracelet, my dear daughter, as a daily reminder of what makes you both strong, but also what makes you better together.”
The OWL members’ ring, however, is another matter. From the Wicca Spirituality site, I learned that the third finger is the heart finger (thus why relationship rings are typically worn on the third finger) and rings worn there are “especially powerful.” The index finger is also powerful as the creation finger. Judgement and restraint center on the middle finger. But aha! Communication—Roxie’s strongest power and the Order’s mission—comes from the pinky finger. Decision made: the ring will be worn on the right pinky finger.
At that point in my processing of this information, a chill swept over my shoulders as I realized that I missed wearing a certain ring on my own right pinky. I’d stopped because I’d put on some weight and it didn’t fit well, but I suddenly needed to wear it again. So I went to my jewelry box and put it on. In the picture, I’m wearing it alongside the blue and white sapphire ring I bought after I graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with an MA in English. So I’m wearing on my heart finger my love of literature and writing.
You may wonder why wearing the simple silver band would hold such meaning for me. It’s my beloved mother-in-law’s wedding band that I inherited after she died in 2009. When I wear her ring, I feel her presence close to me. I hope for her sharp wit, her insights, her determination, to strengthen my own. Knowing that wearing it on my pinky also energizes my communication power makes me want to wear it even more! Perhaps that’s why it feels so right on my little finger. Mom Bolte was an avid reader and read/critiqued my fledgling novels, encouraging me to continue writing.
Is it possible that pairing both my graduation ring and the silver band energizes my writing and storytelling powers? I like to think so…
Speaking of reminders… Remember that Charmed Against All Odds is part of the Common Elements Romance Project, a group of books being released between October 2019 and January 2020. Over 100 authors have all agreed to include the same 5 elements in each romance, encompassing all subgenres of romance, too! The 5 elements are: a tall stack of books; a man named Max; a haunted or reported to be haunted house; a lightning storm; and a lost set of keys. These elements were super easy to fit into Book 5 of the Secrets of Roseville series!
The Common Elements Romance Project will kick off with a week-long Facebook launch party September 23-27, 2019. There will be prizes and games and interacting with the authors each day of that week. Hop over to find out more and be sure to sign up for updates! And I’ve ordered a special charm bracelet to give away during my genre day—Thursday, 9/26—that has the first two charms Roxie and Leo find. The adjustable gold bracelet will have the open book and Friends charms, so whoever wins it will always have a “book friends” charm bracelet from me. And as a bonus, for everyone who pre-orders Charmed Against All Odds, I’ll give a free ebook copy of Book 1, Undying Love! Simply share a picture or screenshot of your order and I’ll send you a link where you can download your gift as a thank you for ordering Roxie and Leo’s story!
I’m so excited to have two releases coming soon! October 1 The Haunting of Fury Falls Inn will kick off my new supernatural historical fiction series Fury Falls Inn. Then Charmed Against All Odds will release on Veterans Day, November 11, 2019. I’ll have book signings in both October and November, so check out my Appearances page on my website for details. I hope to see you there to support the independent book stores as a thank you for hosting my book birthday celebrations!
Next week I’ll share how I chose the color of the stone and the shape of it for the OWL members’ rings. The symbolism behind the symbol… Until then, I hope you have a great week and lose yourself in a great book!
Thanks for reading!
P.S. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for my newsletter, which I send out most every month, including news like new covers, new releases, and upcoming appearances where I love to meet my readers, along with recipes and writing progress. Thanks and happy reading!
Visit www.bettybolte.com for more on my books and upcoming events.
Charmed Against All Odds releases November 11 and is available for pre-order now!
Loving her brings out the magic in him…
Wedding bells are ringing, but not for Roxie Golden. If she can survive another round of wedding plans, then her life can return to normal. She’s perfectly happy running the bookstore and weaving helpful magical spells. Then one stormy day, her ex-fiancé strolls back into her life with a gift neither of them wants.
Leo King wants to flee the small town for the big city. Forget about the shame he brought upon himself when he abused his magical powers. First, to satisfy his warlock father’s final wish, he must deliver the mysterious box to Roxie’s bookstore.
But when Roxie opens the box, revealing an enchanted bracelet and a quest spell, their plans and their lives are changed forever. Trapped in a reluctant partnership with the woman he once loved, he risks everything—including his heart—for a second chance.
Betty Bolte's Musings 
4 thoughts on “Choosing which finger to wear a special ring #amwriting #reading #PNR #supernatural #fiction #books #paranormal #wicca #jewelry #magick #magic #witchcraft #research”