Sofia Ruggeri was working internationally as a fashion designer when she felt called to swap textiles for gemstones. After completing studies with the Ashati Institute, she launched the fair trade, conscious jewellery label, Veluna Gems.
Today Sofia works as an energetic healer through her label, where she designs collections and bespoke one-off pieces according to what she intuitively feels the wearer needs at that time.
Over the past two years, I’ve been recovering from a physical injury and working to improve all my relationships by healing my attachment style. I invited Sofia to design a piece for me, and the outcome was a stunning pair of pearl earrings set in silver. Here Sofia explains her creative and intuitive processes, and the energetics of my beautiful pearls.
Why do you love working with gemstones?
Gemstones all have special energies and one of my favourite parts of the design process is researching and tuning into the crystals to share their healing properties.
Do you have a favourite gemstone of your own?
My favourite stones are rubies and garnets – not only because of their stunning colour, but because they both hold passionate and motivating properties.
Tell us about your creative process
I usually start the process with the latest stones that I am drawn to. It fascinates me how the stones that I am drawn to in my design process align with exactly what I am working through in my life. I then choose a simple setting and chain to compliment the stones, keeping the stone the highlight of the piece.
Your most recent collection, Gems of a Golden Age, what is that inspired by?
I created Gems of a Golden Age during lockdown. The design process was an escape to a magical time, the Golden age of Atlantis, which is a continent believed to have been ruled by the Toltecs about 1 million years ago, and a period regarded in Theosophy as the most spiritual on earth.
The collection harnesses the powerful energy of Atlantis at a time that I personally believe we are all collectively working through a transformative healing process.
Fresh water pearls – a symbol of purity, wisdom, wealth and integrity – take centre stage. The collection also features tanzanite, green tourmaline and rose quartz, which bring the wearer into alignment to follow and trust their heart without compromise. The stones are set in sterling silver and curated into delicate necklaces, hoops and rings.
Chakra pendants, handcrafted in sterling silver with the option of gold vermeil, are also a hallmark of this collection, each with their own unique symbols and matching stones to unblock and balance a particular chakra system.
You offer personalised pieces that you custom design based on what you feel intuitively guided to create for the wearer – what can people expect in the design session with you?
I will interview the wearer about what they would like to achieve or what they are going through personally or professionally, then during this process a stone will be intuitively known to me and I will then create intuitively using that stone or stones. And by ‘intuitive’, I mean I feel it on a very deep level, I ‘know’ it.
Tell me about my earrings – what were you guided to use and why?
After talking with you, I felt guided to make you some pearls as they are known for their calming and tranquil properties that balance body and soul. Pearls enhance self love and connect you to your inner goddess and feminine energy. Offering wisdom and spiritual guidance, they assist you to discover your true self and purpose in life. Gifted as tokens of love and affection, pearls provide protection, as well as attract good luck and wealth.
How can we more intuitively choose our own gemstones?
Trust what you are drawn to. I believe that each stone has a different connection with each soul and should be chosen by attraction, for this is what you need at the time.
