Alatyr - a symbol of universal harmony

Amulets and talismans at all times were in demand in all corners of the world. They were used both to protect themselves from all kinds of misfortunes, and to attract various benefits.
In Slavic culture, the most common are charms, built on the principle of geometric symmetry. The patterns formed from them can be found in the painting of household utensils, embroidery on everyday and holiday dresses, house carvings on wood.
Nowadays, Slavic guard symbolism has not lost its significance. Skillfully inscribed in the interior or clothes, it harmonizes the space, creates a special charm and comfort.
A small Slavic amulet with your own hands is easiest to make of wood. To do this, you need a minimal set of tools: a hacksaw, a square, a pencil, a pair of compasses, a knife, a burner, a thin drill and sandpaper. In our example, the protection symbol will be Alatyr - a symbol of universal harmony, the balance of male and female principles.
• First mark the workpiece. In our example, this is a lath made of alder, 4 mm thick and 28 mm wide.
1. Let's take the shape of a square as a basis: it is convenient to enter geometric elements into a square and it is easier to cut it out of a rectangular blank.
It is more convenient to work with a large workpiece, so you should not immediately cut it to the final size of the product.
2. We outline the axis: vertical, horizontal and two diagonals.
3. The compass designates the future decorative rim.
4. On the axes, we mark the points dividing the segment from the center to the rim approximately in half.
5. Draw lines through these points, as shown in the photo.
6. Use sandpaper to remove excess lines.
The internal lines in the resulting octagonal star - alatyr can be corrected if necessary.
• Using marked lines, the wood is cut with a knife to a depth of about 2 mm. First, cuts are made perpendicular to the surface, then at an angle to the separation of excess.
Care must be taken not to injure yourself or spoil the workpiece.
• After the main excess inside the figure is removed, you can crop the workpiece to the final size and carefully cut the background.
• Next, the background is worked out by the burner.
• A hole for the lace is made with a thin drill or a hot nail. A strong waxed thread can be used as a lace.
For greater durability and external effect, the finished product is coated with wax or wood oil.
So, spending about an hour on work, you can create a beautiful original gift, filled with special energy and deep meaning.