06/23/2026
Every once in a while, something finds you exactly when you need it.
That was this finger mala.
Created by the incredibly talented Michelle at Root & Ritual Root and Ritual Heart Medicine spoke to me before I ever held it in my hand. I ordered it almost immediately because something about its message felt deeply familiar.
"I offer my heart the same love I freely give to others."
If I'm honest, that's something I've spent a long time learning.
Like so many of us, it's often been easier to offer compassion, encouragement, and grace to everyone around me than it has been to offer those same things to myself.
When I opened the little pouch, the first thing I noticed was the beauty of the gemstones. Rhodochrosite has always been one of my favorites, and seeing it paired with pink rabbit hair rutile and a rose quartz star felt like they had been chosen with such care and intention.
Then I slipped it onto my finger, and I felt something I hadn't expected.
Comfort.
Not only from the beautiful energy of the stones themselves, but from knowing this piece had been created with such heartfelt intention. Michelle's artistry goes far beyond beautiful craftsmanship. You can feel the care she pours into every knot, every gemstone, every decision.
This won't be something I wear absentmindedly.
It will be something I reach for intentionally.
Especially during moments of overwhelm or self-doubt, when I need the gentle reminder that I am just as worthy of love and compassion as the people I so freely give it to.
One of my favorite things about being a maker is getting to admire the work of other makers. We spend so much of our lives creating for others, and every once in a while another artist creates exactly what we didn't know our own heart needed.
Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your gift with the world and for creating something that already feels like part of my journey. 💗
If you've never explored Michelle's work, I hope you'll spend a little time with it. And whether it's from Michelle, from me, or from another artisan whose work speaks to you, I hope you'll continue choosing handmade.
Because the things we choose to surround ourselves with matter.