A Conversation with Cindy Shicotte
Cindy has had a passion for stones and inspirational jewelry since her childhood. Her early fascination became a lifelong passion, enriching her life, meditation practice, and relationships at RIM. She infuses intention into each piece and shares her creations with joy and love.
Voices: Thank you for speaking with us today. We want to learn more about the beautiful, dharma-inspired jewelry you've created for RIM community members for over a decade. We’re interested in your creation process.
Let's start with what inspires you to create jewelry that reflects and supports dharma practice if it indeed does.
Cindy: As a child, I was drawn to stones. Every summer, we would spend three weeks in July camping in the Black Hills, Yellowstone, or the Grand Tetons. I liked to find different colored stones and collect them. My parents would stop for me at every rock shop along the highway. Nothing pleased me more than a little bag of stones I could carry in my pocket.
I spent weeks in the summer in Wisconsin with my maternal grandmother. She would take me to John Muir County Park, where we'd look for arrowheads and other stones. My grandmother lived in Montello, a place known for the hardest granite in the world. She would have big canning jars filled with beautiful stones and water so that you could see their colors.
Shortly after moving to Wisconsin, and while attending yoga classes, I had an opportunity to hear people speak about crystals. I took a few classes to learn about the types of crystals and how they were tied to the chakras. It was a very new-age environment, but I learned about the chakras in the body and how different crystals resonate with the energies in the body. It was a natural transition for me then to take this knowledge and passion of stone energies and start making jewelry so that I might wear the stones and benefit from their energy.
One day, while passing a bead shop, I noticed a sign in the window that said, "Come on in and make a free pair of earrings."
Inside the store, I saw large displays of gemstones and other beads. I thought, "Oh my goodness, this is like a candy store for me." I knew I could make necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry from the stones I'd been collecting. I had been collecting stones and was very in tune with the body, the chakras, and the gemstones that supported wellbeing.
I started making jewelry and doing home shows to discuss which stones are suitable for opening chakras. People ordered jewelry with specific stones that could benefit them, a family member, or a friend. I would then create pieces that would hopefully be healing or beneficial to them, which, in turn, felt nourishing for me.
When I became more involved in meditation at RIM, I discovered that stones could support my practice by helping with concentration. Holding specific stones in my hands helped me to feel grounded and open-hearted. People at RIM admired my jewelry, and I described how the stones or meditation messages helped me. People began to ask me to make jewelry for them.
Voices: When and why did you start your affiliation with RIM?
Cindy: My brother and sister-in-law, who live in Michigan, have been practicing Buddhists for many, many years. When they visited us, they looked for a place to meditate. My brother emailed and asked if I knew I had a meditation center two minutes from my house. I did not—RIM is the best-kept secret. I called and spoke with Jesse Foy, and it sounded like an interesting place, so I signed up for informational emails.
One day, when our then-teenage son was in the hospital with serious medical issues, I was scrolling through my phone and saw an email from Rooted In Mindfulness about an upcoming Foundations of Mindfulness course. I needed this class so badly, so I signed up! I just knew that RIM was meant for me.
Voices: Well, we’re certainly glad you found RIM!
Cindy: Thank you. It's been wonderful to be part of this Sangha, for sure.
Voices: Let's talk about your jewelry and how it relates to your practice. When creating your jewelry, do Buddhist practices influence you? What thoughts go through your mind when you create Dharma jewelry for people?
Cindy: Meditation is part of the jewelry-making process. To create jewelry for a struggling family member or friend, I first look to the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. First, I think of the body. Does this person need heart-opening, calm, peace, or a sense of safety? What stones would be helpful for grounding or opening? I select stones or pieces, put them in a crystal rose-quartz singing bowl, sit with them, and then visualize the design.
I notice feeling tones and my thoughts, and I think about my intention for a piece of jewelry. My body naturally becomes super calm and concentrated when working with the stones.
I make "Breathe" bracelets and incorporate symbols like a Lotus in other pieces. I’ve also made Mala bracelets and necklaces to help people practice mantras or concentrate on their breath. I want whatever I make to represent and spread compassion, generosity, and love.
I also like to connect the stones with the jewelry to make them appealing to wear. I want to create pieces that make people happy, too. I hope those who wear my jewelry feel the love that went into making it.
Voices: We all have jewelry that is a remembrance; when we put it on, we take a deep breath and relax. Do you talk to people about that at all?
Cindy: People at RIM are already very in tune with breathwork, but at jewelry shows, like the Dare to Be Aware event, I would display my jewelry in ways related to the chakras. I had a set of seven chakra stones for kids and talked about energy and how helpful each stone could be.
I selected particular pieces of Dharma jewelry to offer to the RIM community. The leather bracelets with a metal stamped Breathe, Namaste, and Love were especially enjoyed by RIM friends.
Voices: Cindy, what have you heard from people you've made jewelry for? What stands out in your mind?
Cindy: People have told me that they wear the jewelry often, that it's their favorite piece, and that they want me to make jewelry they can give to others. Hearing how well those people received it and knowing it was apiece made especially for them, made me feel really good. The personalization makes the recipient enjoy it a little bit more.
Voices: We recall your enthusiasm when you started making Dharma jewelry for the Sangha. We remember people's faces being excited to talk to you about what they needed when placing an order. You made "breathe" bracelets for many of us; we were and still are proud to wear them. How did the exchange feel for you regarding your connection to this community?
Cindy: Nurturing the Sangha in this way felt endearing. Their responses were so positive, and they asked, "Can I get more of those to share with others?" It made me so happy to be part of a group that found value in my Dharma jewelry. RIM has always been a wonderful, welcoming sangha.
Voices: Can you tell us a little bit about Mala beads?
Cindy: The 108 Mala beads help with concentration as you meditate; you might have a mantra as you touch each bead. You might say breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out. As you move through each bead, you may say ease, calm — I'm breathing in calm. So by the time you get around the 108 beads, you have had a 20-minute sit, and that's very good. People have been using beads for prayer and contemplation for thousands of years.
Voices: Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Cindy: Thank you for asking me to share about my jewelry-making. When I was very active in making jewelry for the community, I benefitted by keeping the people in my thoughts as I chose the gemstones and designed a piece for them—love and generosity on both sides. This opportunity to talk about my jewelry-making has motivated me to get going again.
Voices: You might expect a few other inquiries once people read this edition of Voices. Thank you, Cindy, for sharing your story.