From ancient Greece comes the reverence for one path to Divinity, it is the path of Ecstasy, joy, frolic and fun. The God of this path is Dionysus, and his vehicle to seek this ecstatic state was that of the fruit of the vine, wine. Not particularly interested in moderation, this path may lead towards a hangover, but if properly administered, a divine state of faux-bliss is reached, as close as us mortals are allowed to reach on this path. Dionysus ascended to Olympus with the great gods when Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth, retired. His dedication of the art of the vintner.

     The story of Grapes reveal that a relationship is like fine wine, for as your relationship gets closer it's like brandy, which becomes better with age. This ring is one for celebration, congratulation, and success. What better way to celebrate than the symbol of the merriment of the Gods?

     These bands are composed of intertwining ivy and forget-me-nots, both of which have symbolic meaning going back to ancient times. Ivy, in Greek mythology was associated with the Dionysian cult of wine and worldly pleasures, unrestrained joy give or take a few hangovers. The Romans used a draft of ivy leaves boiled in wine as a "hair of the dog" remedy for hangover. Later, Ivy's tenacious ability to hang in there made it a fitting symbol for a strong relationship in medieval symbolism.

     The flowers of the Forget-me-not symbolize true love and remembrance. They have a long history in Pharmacopeia, the petals, stems and leaves being used to treat illness and injury for millennia. Truly, a flower not to be forgotten.

     Gurus and Spiritual teachers are often depicted residing on a mountain peak. A mountain peak is as close as man can get to the heavens with his clothes on. Geologically, mountains are an expression of the Earth's dynamic orogenic up thrusting. A volcano is in full eruption, symbolizing passion and energy. Deep seated and enduring, yet dynamic and hot, yours is a living and vital relationship meant to go places. Mountain peaks represent strength, endurance, and the pinnacle of human expectations and endeavors.

     Along with all of the symbolism of the very grounded and enduring Mountains, this design has a lively white water river to symbolize the aspect of water, flowing with change, and of the journey of love. The Mountain Rivers Band has a river coming from a cleft in the mountain range, the river winds around the band to pass next to the mountains. The Sun in the waves symbolizes optimism, hope and the qualities of radiant light, a force that illuminates all it touches.

     Diamonds may be forever, but the romantic significance of the Rose goes back much further than the popular gemstone. Roses have been attributed to goddess like Isis and Aphrodite, showing their link with passion and love goes back millennia. The Rose is a symbol of passion, love, affection and beauty.

     The Victorians added meaning to the colors of the rose. This can be represented by the stone chosen within the setting. Red is for passion, Yellow is for friendship and Purple is for enchantment. The thorns pointing down towards the earth symbolize protection against the earthly temptations, advocating fidelity.

     Two Mighty Oaks being firmly planted, grounded in their strength and majesty are gently embracing, and becoming united at the furthermost reaches of their branches where they merge and become one.

     The Oak is an ancient symbol of strength, longevity, and wisdom. The ancient Celts deified the Oak, and worshipped in its shade and groves. Oaks live for many generations and were held as a key to obtaining the favor of departed relatives, their wisdom and almost mythological strength.

     Whether worshipped as a god or simply as symbolic of our ancestors, the Oak and its propensity to live for many generations gives a timeless, deeply rooted and very grounded feeling. In this design the two oaks reach out for each other, merging together, and representing that of two ancestral trees coming together in celebration of new love.

     These bands are individually sculpted out of wax sheet which is hand formed and painstakingly detailed, then cast to bring forth the rippled look of water flowing in a stream. Others see a similarity to the bark of an Oak Tree.

     The stream flows carelessly and effortlessly following its course in a light and free manner. Obstacles are treated as opportunities for growth and advancement, and dealt with not by resistance but by flowing around, embracing the change they afford.    

     These bands are created so that they are wider and of a higher dome than my other rings, yet are hollowed out to a degree so that they aren't solid, the inside mimics the outer surface, with a rippled surface hidden beneath the surface. The overall effect is one of a rich and full-bodied band with an interesting textured surface.

     Where would we, humans, be without wheat!?! We domesticated this plant thousands of years ago and it has come to sustain and revive us time and time again. It is baked in our bread, brewed in our beer, and feeds our livestock! It is so integral to the human experience we have idolized its plant cycle in a variety of ways. It is the symbol of the seasons, the spring, summer and the fall. It represents the harvest cycle, the planting the sowing and the reaping pattern we all have in some way in all of our lives.

     When you see wheat in your dreams, it is said to bring success and money, and it also stands for the wonder of charity. This beautiful design represents the reaping of plans and ideas and even love. Celebrate the harvest, you deserve it!

     Porpoises may represent mankind's evolution towards a utopian peaceful coexistence with the earth and each other. Despite our being cursed with opposable thumbs (the source of much techno- mischief that has led to the soiling our ecological bed), we may eventually achieve the high state of joy exemplified by these happy go lucky, sexually uninhibited and playful creatures.

     An artist friend of Da’oud’s lived alone on a desert tropical isle for many years and came to a sort of mental melding with dolphins,. The relationship enriched his art and understanding of our link to these intelligent creatures. He said our interest in dolphins is a response to a psychic plea from their collective mind to pay attention to the damage done to their environment.

     Playful, intelligent, mischievous, and gregarious with not much to worry about except our meddling in their lives, these creatures may indeed be trying to communicate with us.

     The thistle was the flower that saved Scotland. Legend says that in the 13th century a Norse king tried to invade Scotland. The arrived at night and tried to take the coastal town of Lagos by stealth, which required the troops to advance barefoot. Of course, the first soldier who put his bare foot down on this prickly plant, which grows all over the country, cried out. This woke all of the Scottish soldiers stationed in the village, leading to the Scottish winning victory over the invading Vikings.

    This design truly represents the national flower, the stems growing along the sides of the bands with the spines of the flowering bud creating the prongs to hold in the gemstone. Celebrate the tenacity of both the Scots and their thistle with this wonderful band. 

     The Lotus is a sacred flower among many cultures, ancient and modern. It lives in the water, and from the water it seems to be reborn. The Hindu Goddesses Lakshmi and Sarasvati are depicted riding them, a source of truly divine beauty! The layered petals are said to represent the expanding soul, and Buddhist have high regard for the plant as well.

     The Ancient Egyptians also revered this plant, though today we know the Egyptians actually revered the water lily, mistaking it for the same type of plants. But both flowers symbolize the beauty of birth, rebirth and how we all come from water.

     In a modern sense, the Lotus is a wonderfully unique plant in that it has thermoregulation, meaning it can create heat, might like us, warm-blooded mammals! A truly magical flower. 

     The cycle of water on our planet includes the path of the river. Water flows, swirling and melodiously, to the ocean. Water can teach us the great lesson of flowing with change. The river is a journey; it flows in the path of least resistance. Obstacles are gently moved around, dealt with in the least stressful manner. A relationship that embraces change is one that is empowered to change with all it encounters, thus having access to the deeper power of love that underlies what could be considered chaos.

     Water teaches us the way to deal with obstacles, having fun surfing this great power and not concerned with resistance to its flow. Yet the river's commitment to gravity is relentless. Rapids happen, they can be terrifying or fun, or perhaps both. The River doesn't care. Flow with it, baby.