How to Wear Your Jizo

Recently, I took time to read my blogs.  I was surprised to read pages and pages of my words.  Seriously.

Yet I could not find any mention by me about how to use your Jizo pendant to get centered, as if there is any one way to relate to a Bodhisattva.  Still, my Jizo is designed in three sizes, Tiny (1/2″),  Middle Way (3/4″)  and Noble (1″).  He has weight to him.  He is rounded.  His touch is meant to be soothing.  I am a little high-maintenance in the anxiety department, so I usually wear two at a time.  One silver, one gold.

Here is what one of my Jizo people  just wrote to me: “Valerie, I wanted to let you know how much I love my Jizo necklace. I have gotten some very nice comments about it, but it has also been mistaken for a lady bug and a snowman. I was able to let them know what Jizo is and why he is special to me. My son lives and works in Korea and recently went on vacation in Japan. He tried to keep an eye out for Jizo while he was there. When I wear my little Jizo I like to think he watches out for my son who is very far away from me.  Thanks for my piece of inner peace, Geri”

Gaining a sense of security is one reason we wear Jizo.  Others have written that they wear Jizo with the birthstone of a loved one to keep that person close.  Still others wear a Jizo to help them grieve the loss of a Mizuko (water baby) by miscarriage. I use mine to soothe when the stress level rises.  Jizo reminds me that there is ground under my feet even when I do not feel it.  I often find myself rubbing his belly between my fingers as I remind myself to pause, especially when I don’t want to.

In the palm of his new person

Husbands buy them for their wives; mothers buy them for their daughters. Once a Jizo was purchased for a 6-year-old with her first ruby, her birthstone.  It was a gallery sale and I got to go through the process with her.  It was precious.  But she was so sad that the Jizo was only for special occasions, I gave her a tiny Chibi for every day.  She glowed all the way out of the gallery.  And she is still glowing in my heart.