The third angel blew his trumpet,
and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch,
and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
The name of the star is Wormwood.
A third of the waters became wormwood,
and many died from the water,
because it was made bitter. – Rev 8:10–11
The Wormwood Star originates from the Book of Revelation, where it is described as a celestial object that falls from the heavens, poisoning the waters of the Earth. The star has been interpreted in multiple ways, including as a symbol of divine judgment, an omen of catastrophe, and an astronomical phenomenon such as a comet or asteroid. In biblical tradition, wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a bitter plant often associated with suffering and divine punishment (Proverbs 5:4, Lamentations 3:15). The star’s role in Revelation suggests a catastrophic event linked to divine retribution. Many scholars have interpreted this passage metaphorically, seeing the Wormwood Star as representing spiritual decay, political upheaval, or environmental disaster. The artist Marjorie Cameron, who has been a great inspiration for me, gave the name Wormwood Star to her and Jack Parson’s magical child, linking the star to the idea of cosmic transformation rather than destruction. I created this piece both as a tribute to her, and also to be a symbol of strength in our current apocalypse. Apocalypse is always happening, and we must always meet destruction with creation.
The pendant was hand sculpted in jewelers wax and cast in solid sterling silver into which a peridot stone was set. I chose peridot for it’s green color reminiscent of absinthe, the bitter liquor created from wormwood and also because of its association with meteorites. It is approximately 1″ tall and comes on a black satin cord or 20″ oxidized sterling silver chain. 7 were made.