Original:

They say that when the Moon, Mother of Witches, gave birth to the tribe of Witches, she looked into the water to see what the life of her first-born people would be. And there she saw sorrow, black sorrow; and there she saw joy, golden joy.

Then she wept a mother’s tears for her first-born people, for what may be and what must be. From her left eye fell tears of black sorrow; they fell to the ground and were jet. From her right eye fell tears of golden joy; they fell to the sea and were amber.

So the great ones among us wear necklaces of amber and jet to this day; and whoever carries upon him the black tears or the golden will always draw her eye to him, for from her eye they came.

And these with pearls are the Three Living Jewels, the white, the red, and the black. But pearls now, well, that’s another tale.

A tale for another night.

—Steven Posch

Inspired Expansion with Diana and Aradia:

In the earliest days, they say, when the Moon was newly born to her mystery, the Mother of Witches looked upon her children-to-be, knowing both joy and sorrow awaited them. It was then, in her soft radiance, that Diana, goddess of the hidden paths and wild woods, began to weave the first magic into the world, setting the stars alight as guardians of the night. She saw the dreams and shadows of her children within the waters, and her heart filled with the weight of what they must face.

Diana, seeing their fates, called upon her daughter, Aradia, to be the guide of this new tribe, to teach them how to wield power in the face of a world unkind, to show them how to find strength within darkness and reclaim joy from the shadows. She sent Aradia down from the heavens to walk among the witches, teaching them the arts of magic, the wisdom of herbs, and the craft of invoking the ancient powers, to hold them as a light against despair.

As Diana watched, her eyes misted over with two visions—of sorrow, black as an endless abyss, and joy, golden as morning’s first light. In her love for her children, Diana wept. From her left eye, a tear of sorrow fell to the earth, turning to jet upon the soil—dark as the mysteries of night, binding her witches to the depths of wisdom found through hardship. From her right eye, a tear of joy fell into the sea, becoming amber—golden as the light of hope, floating across the waves, a reminder of resilience.

And so the wise among her children wear these jewels to this day—amber to capture the warmth of Aradia’s teachings and jet to keep close the darkness of Diana’s own mysteries. Those who carry these jewels upon them draw her eye, for they are marked by her love and her sacrifice, a piece of the Goddess within each heart.

Yet Diana wept once more, a hidden tear that fell into the silent depths, becoming a pearl—the tear of pure understanding, beyond joy or sorrow, holding the truth of all things. This pearl is the white jewel, known only to those who seek her in stillness, who call upon Diana and Aradia in their time of need and learn that life’s essence is a mystery beyond measure.

Thus were born the Three Living Jewels: amber, jet, and pearl—the gold of Aradia’s hope, the black of Diana’s dark wisdom, and the white of the eternal truth. Worn together, they are the amulet of the witch, each stone a link to Diana’s heart, a promise that even in the darkest hour, the Mother of Witches will not forsake her own. But the tale of the pearl is one whispered on the wind, best saved for another night—when the Moon leans close, ready to share her secrets with those bold enough to seek them.