I love Hearts!



Passionate Heart Glass Tile Pendant-by ZinJan Art

I create many heart pendants. It makes me happy to think that when people wear them… they are spreading a bit of loving energy out into the world…an offering that is always needed.



Teal Amour Heart-by ZinJan Art

Many of the heart designs I have created have writing in the background…which is a ‘love letter to the universe’ I composed using an old fashioned calligraphy pen and India ink. On some of the pendant designs this letter is stretched…on others it is compacted…as a variant design element.



Red Plaid Love Heart-by ZinJan Art

I love researching the history of symbols…how they have come to look as they do and mean what they do…and thought I would share a bit of the ‘hearts’ story with you today.

 

Red & Black Lace Heart-by ZinJan Art
The modern heart shape as we know it has been in existence as a symbol of romance and love since at least the 15th century. There are a number of possible explanations as to why the romantic heart is shaped the way it is…and a very plausible one is that it is a replica of a seed, from a now extinct plant from North Africa called, ‘silphium’.



Ancient Coin From Cyrene 15th Century

These seeds were a major export product from the city of Cyrene… which would have been located in the country we now call Libya…and was so valued that it was replicated on a coin. The seeds were used as a seasoning as well as a contraceptive…the latter use probably the reason it was associated with love and romance.



Saint Valentine

So why do we share hearts on Valentine’s Day…you may ask? The story goes that St. Valentine-a Roman Priest-while awaiting his execution sent an affectionate note to the daughter of his jailer and it became known as the first Valentine!

Lots of love to all of you all this Valentine Day!



Mother's Heart Glass Tile Pendant-by ZinJan Art



FYI: My heart pendants are available in my zinjan art shop on etsy…and the images only, are available as digital collage sheets in our twowinkies shop. Both shops are located on the left of this blog page. Remember you must click on the word zinjanart or twowinkies in the display boxes to get to the shops!

Or come see me in person at the Shabbat Market February 3^rd to pick up a sweet heart pendant for Valentine’s Day (details in the right hand margin).