Many people use silver as jewelry, wearing it as a chain, necklace, or bracelet. A nice silver necklace looks gorgeous on a woman on a date or at an event. But did you know that silver is considered a very protective element? Let me provide an explanation for why this is the case.
What is Silver?
I believe that silver is well-known, but for those who might not know, silver is a very shiny element or metal commonly used as jewelry. You can go to a jewelry store and buy a necklace, chain, bracelet, ring, or medal made of silver.
What Does Silver Mean in Garifuna Culture?
People have different tastes; some choose gold, whereas others favor silver. Let me tell you why, in Garifuna culture, a person may choose silver.
In Garifuna culture, silver is worn as a symbol of protection—but protection from what? Shielding against harmful forces in the spiritual realm. It is believed that by wearing silver, a person could be protected against evil spirits, obeah, or voodoo, or simply from being harmed by others. Very interesting, don’t you think? Yes, it is believed that evil is everywhere, and to keep it at bay, Garinagu simply wear jewelry made of silver.
This does not mean that every person within the culture wears silver; it is left up to individual choice based on whether it is needed as protection or not. Even within the culture, people still wear it for jewelry purposes without any other reason.
How Did This Come About?
I have no direct answer as to who first discovered silver to be used as protection against dark forces in the spiritual realm, but I know it has been used and taught from generation to generation as one of the easiest protections without many rituals. I first heard about wearing silver as protection from my grandmother when I was still a child.
Spiritual healers who create protections for others to wear against dark forces normally use a silver ring or chain as a guard. However, the difference is that this guard created by a spiritual healer must go through a ritual process to boost its effectiveness. This is like an advanced blessing and preparation of, let’s say, a silver ring as a guard for you. Only you can wear this guard, and you must never take it off.
Nevertheless, simply picking up a silver chain or ring at the jewelry store can still serve a purpose of protection, though not as effective as one prepared through a ritual. But the good news is, if you want to take it off, you can, and you can simply replace it with a new one anytime you prefer.
Why is Silver a Preferred Choice?
It is believed that everything in nature is connected and serves a purpose, just as there are plants used medicinally. Similarly, there are elements that can be important to humans, such as silver. It is believed that the chemical composition of silver makes it a preferred choice for protection, and it has proven to be effective for many within the culture who have worn it.
My Experience with Silver
I believe that silver indeed serves as protection. I have had relatives and friends who wore a silver guard to recover from a sickness said to be caused by evil. I myself carry my guard to be protected against dark forces. Evil is everywhere, and I believe that protecting yourself with silver is one way of avoiding it.
When you visit the hospital, doctors won't be able to determine why you are sick even after many tests, and you will only get sicker and sicker, eventually leading to death without any medical practitioner being able to explain the cause. Here in Belize, people would say someone obeah you. I don’t want to know what that feels like, and since I strongly believe in these things, I choose to wear my protection.
Silver Belief Outside My Culture
When I talk to people outside my culture who wear silver, I usually ask if they have any significant reason for choosing silver. Typically, they respond by saying they just have a preference for it. Then I share what silver means to me as an individual and as Garinagu. Interestingly, in Belize, there are people outside the Garifuna culture, like the Maya, who share similar beliefs about silver serving as protection against evil forces.
I once found it surprising that some people from Garifuna backgrounds could not tell you anything about the spiritual realm or protection because they have distanced themselves from the spiritual part of the culture or were not taught by their parents or grandparents. But now, when I meet someone from the same cultural background who cannot relate to the deep spiritual aspects, I am no longer surprised. I understand that they just grew up distanced from it.
So you see, silver is still seen as just normal jewelry or metal by most people in my country. Cultural beliefs are not taken as seriously as they once were. You can walk among 500 people with your silver chain or ring, and nobody would notice that you are wearing it as protection; they would only see it as a piece of jewelry. This shows that beliefs are still somewhat hidden, and people today live life as normally as possible without thinking much outside the box or connecting with the spiritual realm.
But who knows, they might secretly know about its benefits or be unaware while still reaping them. For instance, a friend from a different culture who doesn't share my beliefs might wear silver and seem very fortunate and protected. The silver could still be acting as protection, even without their knowledge.
A takeaway from this is that you can now look at silver and understand that it means something important in someone else's culture, now that you know how it can be used by other cultures.
