Amulets and Assemblage: Talismans for Healing with Gemma Budden

Finding joy in anticipation, of excitement of the unknown. The combined joy and sadness of memories of loved ones and treasured moments. Making work in a meditative state, relying on the interaction with the material to inform aesthetic decisions. Gemma sent us each a box containing 100 items. We opened them all together, but separately, during the session on zoom. We played with the contents, seemingly in a state of meditation, uncovering each item like we were performing an archaeological dig. We played, assembled, and made scenarios out of the treasure. 

Amuletum, Ex-votos, Amulets, Scapulars, Tamata, Talismans, and Milagros can be gifted, found, assembled or bought to seek bodily or spiritual wellness. They are often carried about a person, or placed on an altar or site of worship or significance. Our process became autotelic, whereby the act of making becomes intrinsically rewarding, without concern of an external reward or output. 

Beautiful images made by the Throes of Grief cohort during the session.