I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe, during this outbreak. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. 

In today’s blog post, I will be sharing a closer look at The Art Oblivion‘s upcoming release of their two new beads: TAO In Awe and TAO In Search.

These two sterling silver beads are releasing for pre-order on May 22nd, 2020 (today). They will officially release and ship out on June 1st, 2020.

The first 25 beads (of each style) that are pre-ordered will be sold at a special price of $66 USD. After that and onwards, both beads will be $98 USD.

To coincide with this blog post, I will also have a new YouTube video! You can watch it HERE or down below:

A special thank you to The Art Oblivion for sending me these 2 beads to review and style with! 

Let’s take a look…

TAO In Awe and TAO In Search are done in the barrel shape, like their first launch of beads (you can find my blog post about the launch beads HERE). I find this barrel shape very comfortable to wear. The larger barrel shape also creates a beautiful and unique bracelet design that really pops out! I also find them very easy to design with.

When I unboxed both, I was blown away by the details. Both beads are beautifully executed with spectacular imagery throughout the silver. I am excited to style both beads with a starry night/galaxy theme.

So far, I have worn my TAO beads on my OHM Twisted Bangle, but I did see my best friend, My Pretty Charmed Life style them on her OHM necklace and it looked beautiful!

For today’s blog, I styled them with the OHM X TAO Unveil glass bead.

The Stories Behind the Beads

In Awe

Over the course of our lifetime, we will face many trials and tribulations, many cycles, and seasons within our overall existence. 

At this moment in time, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are facing collective challenges AND creativity that is unifying us – and dividing us – in unprecedented ways. This clarity and conflict toggles minute by minute within ourselves. It can be disorienting. Does it feel impossible to know which way to go?

When a dancer is spinning quickly, they are taught to “spot” one point ahead by keeping it in focus, to avoid getting dizzy and spinning out of control. Let us “spot” on the microcosm of simple everyday miracles, let us  focus on knowing that every feeling is a season, let us keep in mind that every experience is an opportunity to deepen the intimacy and knowing of ourselves – and consequently others. 

“In Awe” is an invitation, reminder, and talisman to be right here, right now; to be with what is uncomfortable as much as with what brings us joy, so we may know ourselves better and develop increased resilience. When things get overwhelming, look up to the sky at the beauty and miracle of light and our ability to perceive it. Let us feel into our connection with the Universe, as all organic matter containing carbon was produced originally in stars. “We are stardust, we are golden” and we are never alone. 

We can combine “In Awe” with “In Search” to keep our feet on the ground while reaching for the stars. To quote Ruth Gordon in Harold and Maude “the earth is my body, my head is in the stars.”

– The Art Oblivion

In Search

Over the course of our lifetime, we face many trials and tribulations, many cycles, and seasons within our overall existence. 

At this moment in time, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are facing collective challenges AND creativity that is unifying us – and dividing us – in unprecedented ways. This clarity and conflict toggles minute by minute within ourselves. It can be disorienting. Does it feel impossible to know which way to go?

Within tragedy there is opportunity for deep insight not otherwise available to us. It takes deep insight to calibrate our inner compass in order that we may navigate our own way with personal integrity, especially when the way is through uncharted territory. No one can do this for us, and it is essential work if we wish to avoid getting lost in the chaos.

“In Search” is an invitation, reminder, and talisman to be right here, right now; to be with what is uncomfortable as much as with what brings us joy, so we may grow to know ourselves better and develop increased resilience. When things become overwhelming, it is time to breathe in deep, check in with our inner compass and then – only then – set our feet firmly on terra firma, discern our path, and move.

Let us access our connection with the Earth and its diverse topography. Let us absorb the lessons offered by the planet that sustains our existence and that we will go back to once we pass from this world. 

We can combine “In Awe” with “In Search” to keep our feet on the ground while reaching for the stars. To quote Ruth Gordon in Harold and Maude “the earth is my body, my head is in the stars.”

– The Art Oblivion

I love the amount of thought and imagery that goes into The Art Oblivion‘s bead designs. They tell a story with all the different details and they feel very special to wear.

I was trying to figure out if I had a top favourite, from the two…but after a few days of wearing and styling with them, I still love both of them equally. They pair perfectly together and not do they compliment each other visually, but their bead stories do too!

And that is it for today’s blog post! Stay tuned for my new Youtube video that will show an even more detailed look at these two new beads! I would love to know your thoughts on these beads. Do you have a favourite, from the two? And how would you style these beads?