Article: The Timeless Magic of the Skull: Transformation, Memory, and Light
The Timeless Magic of the Skull: Transformation, Memory, and Light
By Delphine Leymarie — Ritual Series, All Hallows Edition
RITUAL SERIES
Welcome to the Ritual Series: a space where I share intentional practices to connect with the symbols I sculpt, helping you weave meaning, magic, and mindfulness into your everyday.
When the Veil Thins
I have always been drawn to skulls. I collect them, tiny carved ones, found ones, gifted ones. They remind me that beneath it all, we are the all same.
As the veil between worlds thins this time of year, I feel that truth more clearly. Halloween, Samhain, All Souls, La Toussaint, Dia de Los Muertos. Whatever name you give it, the season invites a pause. We honor those who came before us, and we remember that endings and beginnings live side by side.
It is not darkness that draws me to the skull, but light. Impermanence does not diminish life. It makes each moment more precious.
The Skull as Talisman
In my work the skull is not about fear. It is about transformation. It speaks of resilience and renewal. It invites us to live fully, love deeply, and release what no longer serves the path.
When I carve a skull, I think about the alchemy of making it and bringing it to life: shaping wax, melting gold, turning thought into matter, birthing a wearable symbol of transformation.
I cast each one in solid recycled gold, then set it with gems chosen for their energy: emeralds for heart wisdom and courage steeped in love, blue sapphires and turquoise to help you find your voice and speak your truth, or diamonds for clarity of mind and a reminder to shine your light as only you can.
Each piece carries intention. Each one is a modern memento mori. In the traditional sense, it reminds us of our own mortality and to be more present in our daily lives. But I would also like my skulls to encourage us not to dwell on endings, and to honor the cycle that defines us. Worn close, the skull becomes a companion through change, a protective charm, a powerful reminder that transformation begins within.
Ritual for Remembrance and Transformation
Use this practice when the veil feels thin, or any time you want to feel held by memory and guided by light.
You will need
- Your skull talisman
- Dried herbs, incense or resin: the intension is to purify the air with smoke. I often burn dried herbs from my mom's south of France garden, such as sage or lavender. This time of year I favor frankincense oil for purification and clear connection. I anoint my candles as part of the ritual.
- A candle to honor light itself, the energy that connects all things. Choose its color based on your intention:
- White for clarity and being present
- Black for protection and grounding during transformation
- Gold for life force, and shining your light bright
- Or use all 3 like I do!
- Optional crystals:
- Black tourmaline for protection and ancestral grounding
- Clear quartz to amplify intention
- Emerald to connect to heart wisdom and the energy of renewal
- Your small bell for sound clearing
Begin
- Find a quiet corner. Sit comfortably. Place your candle and crystals before you.
- Ring the bell to signify the start of your meditative ritual.
- Light the candle you chose (or all 3). Let the flame remind you of the light you carry.
- Burn a little frankincense to purify the air and awaken your senses. Watch the smoke rise like a bridge between seen and unseen, and let its resinous scent transport you.
- Hold your skull talisman in your palm, or wear your skull ring. Close your eyes. Breathe slowly for nine cycles. Inhale the strength of your ancestors. Exhale what no longer serves you.
- Ring your bell once to clear the space. Imagine a warm glow expanding from your heart, surrounding you and those you love.
- Place the talisman near your heart and speak softly:
“I honor what was.
I celebrate what is.
I welcome what is to come.” - Sit in stillness until the candle is fully burned. Notice any memories, images, or sensations. Thank them, and let them rest.
- Close the ritual by grounding: touch the floor, take one full breath in and out, then discard the burnt candle wax with care. Bury it in soil if you can.
May your talisman absorb the energy of this moment, becoming a vessel for your light and a guardian of your memories.
In My Hands and Yours
I hand-carved each of these skulls, then cast them in solid recycled gold and adorn them with gems that protect and empower. They are part of my own practice of remembrance, a small act of gratitude for the beauty and fragility of life, and for the craft that lets me shape meaning into metal.
The skull, to me, is a mirror of life’s evolution, a reminder that transformation is not loss but becoming.
Each talisman I carve carries that truth: to live fully, to honor what was, and to keep the memory of those we love alive as we forge our own path.
The skull’s message is simple.
Live while you can.
Love while you may.
Carry your light forward.
Most skulls are ready to ship and waiting to become part of your story.
