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About the Shop • About Me • About Amulets and Astrological Talismans • Guidance for Choosing Talismans and Amulets • About Copper Electroplating • About Lost Wax Casting • Jewelry Care • Shop Policies • Shipping • Refund + Return Policy
About the Shop
Sword + Scythe is the art of Vanessa Irena. She creates handmade magical amulets, astrological talismans, and spirit-led adornments under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. By dedicating her art to their virtues, she seeks to transmute difficulty and challenges into beauty and strength, an eternal dance that she finds deeply rewarding.
About Me
I am a multidisciplinary artist, musician, and writer. I was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, and currently live in upstate NY in the Catskill Mountains. I received my BFA with a concentration in painting from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and have been creating art and music since I was 4 years old.
I produce experimental devotional music as ek-stasis (formerly as knifesex) and released my first solo EP, Deipna, in January 2017 and my first full-length album, dedicated to the goddess Babalon, in November 2017. I released my first published work, Saint Raphael The Archangel, a chapbook I co-authored with Alexander Cummins, in July 2018 through Hadean Press. I also released a collaborative musical piece with Alexander Cummins, a ritual invocation to Mars, in December 2018. I released the chapbook Ecstasy: A Devotional Guide to the Female Mystics in July 2022 through Hadean Press. In 2023, I started metalsmithing, and Sword + Scythe was born. In 2024, I formed the musical project House13 with my partner, and we produced the original score for the film The Woods. In May of 2024 I released the EP to hydra, dedicated to the constellation.
My artistic and magical praxis weaves together numerous threads of astrological and talismanic magic, magical herbalism, mysticism, and the study and crafting of magical objects and jewelry with a focus on artistry as well as historical, folkloric, and practical applications. I have studied astrology with Christopher Warnock, Judith Hill, and Bernadette Brady, among many others, and am indebted to their scholarship. I am also an initiated priest of Oshosi in the Lucumi Orisha tradition apprenticed to elders within the afro-diasporic community. You can see more of my work at vanessairena.com.
About Amulets and Astrological Talismans
Numerous definitions of amulets and talismans exist, and these terms have been used in different ways throughout history. More recently, they have been used as catch-all terms to describe any magical object employed for a specific purpose or even simply an object one ascribes personal significance to. I wish to be clear on how I personally use these terms in my practice and offerings. To quote Claude Lecouteux in his excellent work The High Magic of Talismans and Amulets:
The amulet is an object possessing natural virtues….The talisman is a manufactured object that has been invested with magic powers, thanks to a ritual compelling astral influences to condense within it.
The amulets and astrological talismans created by Sword + Scythe are handcrafted through copper electroplating and lost wax casting. In the case of amulets, objects and materia selected for their occult virtue form the base of each piece. For talismans, the process is the same; however, the objects that form all or part of the final piece have been enspirited through the use of ritual and astrological timing via full chart elections. All talismanic elections and materia are personally selected by me with guidance from the Picatrix, the works of Agrippa and Ficino, the technical Hermetica, and my own experience, divination, and spirit work.
It is not necessary to consecrate your amulet or talisman upon receiving it as this process is part of its creation, though you may wish to ritualize your introduction to the piece in order to form a deeper connection with it. How you choose to do this is deeply personal and there is no incorrect way, as long as the pieces are treated with respect. I prefer to not make ritual suggestions for this reason lest they be considered prescriptive, and rather defer to the inner guidance of the practitioner. It is especially important to keep in mind that because a talisman has been enspirited, it is a living object whose agency and personhood should be recognized.
Guidance for Choosing Talismans and Amulets
When deciding if a talisman or amulet is the right choice for you, I always advise people to perform their own divination and due diligence, and to trust their own intuition. I do not offer divination for others in this capacity but am always happy to discuss recommendations or answer questions privately via email. Magic is incredibly personal, therefore I don’t believe in making standardized recommendations or broad generalizations about who should or should not work with certain spirits or virtues. I ultimately defer to the agency of the practitioner to determine what they wish to engage with for themselves. I provide as much information as possible about how the pieces are created and their intended use so that people can make their own informed decisions.
About Copper Electroplating
Copper electroplating is a technique that utilizes chemistry and electricity to encase an object in pure copper. This process creates a permanent natural amulet that preserves the original object inside, thereby retaining its virtue. Each piece is personally and individually crafted from materials I have grown, foraged, and ethically sourced when possible, making each one of a kind. Because natural materials form the base of each piece around which the copper is “grown,” it will include natural variations. Additionally, the electroplating process often creates unique organic textures, uneven formations, and asymmetry, which I believe add to the unique beauty of each piece. Over time, your copper piece will naturally oxidize, adding to its story.
About Lost Wax Casting
Lost wax casting is an ancient technique with examples dating back to approximately 4500 BC in which objects sculpted in wax are then cast into pure solid metal. A mold is built around the sacrificial wax model which is then destroyed by heat, creating a cavity which then allows molten metal to flow in. All of the lost wax pieces in the shop are hand-sculpted using jewelers wax and natural objects.
Jewelry Care
It is recommended to remove your item before sleeping, bathing, cleaning, or exercising. You may find this guide to caring for copper jewelry helpful, along with this general guide to caring for jewelry.
Shop Policies
Please note that I am a small one-person operation and not a corporation. I thank you for respecting these policies out of consideration for my time and work.
Legally I must state than any item sold by Sword + Scythe is sold as a curio only and effectiveness is not guaranteed.
Sword + Scythe is not responsible for how its products are used.
The information on this website is shared for its folkloric, historical, and magical value. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Sword + Scythe reserves the right to refund any customer and refuse patronage at our discretion.
Shipping
All items are shipped via USPS Priority Mail domestic or USPS First Class Package International.
US shipping is free. International shipping is $25 flat rate.
Ready-to-ship pieces will be mailed within 1 week. For made-to-order pieces, the turnaround time is 6-8 weeks.
Sword + Scythe is not responsible for packages once they are in transit. If your package is lost or damaged by the post office, or held up at customs, I will try my best to assist you but unfortunately there is very little I can do in these situations.
The customer is responsible for paying any additional taxes and duties associated with importing goods from the US. As I cannot predict these additional costs, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with your country’s policies. Some countries may hold your order for pickup. Should you choose not to retrieve your package from customs within their designated timeframe and the package is returned, you will be required to cover the cost of additional shipping.
Refund + Return Policy
All sales are final. Due to the nature of the products sold there are no refunds, cancellations, or returns after a purchase has been made.