Spirituality is integral to Black-owned fine jewelry brand High Light Rituals’ ethos , but it is also integral to founder Donnie Soddu’s being. Starting a brand was never about purveying a specific product, but rather, promoting a mindset. When she reconnected with her spirituality, she unlocked many doors within her own consciousness. It was almost like High Light Rituals found her. Following that calling, she went on to start the brand as a means of connecting others to their inner selves. Jewelry is so much more than an embellishment; for her, it is a way to dig deeper into the self and investigate our own values, beliefs, and habits. Blessing each of her ethically sourced symbolic talismans with good energy, the founder brings others along on this perpetual journey of self-discovery.

PhotoBook connected with the founder to dive into the intention behind High Light Rituals, honoring our past and present selves, and the intricacies of her craft.

Can you dive more into what the meaning behind “metaphysical brand” signifies when it comes to High Light Rituals?
When we describe High Light Rituals as a metaphysical brand, we mean it’s a company that goes beyond selling products or a particular aesthetic. It’s transcendental and ethereal in nature, embodying our philosophy of personal empowerment and our delicate connection to the unseen. Every talisman we create is imbued with intention, supportive energy, and a touch of the mystical.

Tell me about your past in wellness and your connection to spirituality that led you to start this brand.
Spirituality is innate and integral to being human, but many of us (myself included) lose our connection to it because of the world we live in. I grew up with prayer, church, and knowing that connecting with the Spirit was sacred and important. My family was spiritual and always embraced holistic wellness. As a girl, I collected crystals, relished time in the woods, and deeply believed in a greater power. I became an adult, and somewhere along the way, I lost touch with my wild and connected self--my spiritual self.

I started sowing the seeds of High Light around 2019 during a moment of inner upheaval and regeneration. I felt completely misaligned with many of my pursuits, my energy was chaotic, and I was stuck in a toxic cycle of negative self-talk. At the same time, I also felt an overwhelming pull to be in nature, I saw synchronicities everywhere, and I felt drawn to connect with myself on a deeper level. I started working on it as a personal project and it soon became my sanctuary. It was as if I was compelled to build it. Through High Light, I reconnected with my crystals, trained with healers, and redefined what spirituality meant to me. I started to reclaim my power and feel an enduring sense of peace. I also gave birth to a daughter that year. Bringing feminine energy into the world can help you achieve wondrous things.

Funny enough, I didn’t intend to create a jewelry brand from the start. I set out to find the best method of lifting people up, which also felt authentic and aligned with my spirit. Jewelry was the perfect vehicle to create pieces infused with high vibrational energy that could act as conduits for inner healing and transformation. It took me another three years to design the right pieces, forge partnerships with makers who truly valued the craft, and build relationships with suppliers who were dedicated to responsibly sourcing materials with the right energetic profiles. From end to end, every aspect of our process is extremely high touch, but when your work involves something as precious as Spirit, there’s really no other way.

How do you continually honor your ancestors through the pieces you create?
My ancestors, particularly my fourth great-grandmother, play a pivotal role in the brand. My grandmother showed me the path to bring High Light Rituals into the world and remains an integral part of the creative process. As an enslaved person, she sought refuge from despair in nature, collecting stones, shells, and pieces of natural beauty for divination. Like her mother, she served her community through herbalism and ritual magic and encountered an enormous amount of darkness through her practice. My work is my way of carrying the torch, bringing light to my maternal lineage while continuing our tradition of community care.

I meditate often with my grandmother and other guides. I draw much of my design inspiration from these sessions, distilling the symbols, intentions, colors, and materials I perceive into concepts for specific pieces. In this way, every piece I make is a tribute to my ancestors, but more importantly, each one is a recommitment to my intention to make healing jewelry and not mere adornments.

What is your approach to designing new jewelry? How do you select the materials and crystals to use for each?
My design process is somewhat unconventional. I would describe it as a harmonious blend of intuition, intention, and divine suggestion. To summarize, rather than taking a traditional approach to develop assortments with a certain number of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc., I focus on a healing intention or the energy I feel called to amplify in the world. Our pieces are spiritual tools themselves. They’re like little petitions to the universe for what we want to attract or hold space for. The materials are carefully selected based on their unique properties and, at times, I weave in other symbols based on the specific intentions of the piece. My guides often contribute ideas as well, making the design process a deeply collaborative and magical experience.

Can you dive into how healing power plays a role in your design process? How do you instill each piece with “good” energy?
The healing power of crystals, minerals, and other earthly treasures is central to my design philosophy. I believe these elements possess natural vibrational energies that can interact with our own energy fields to promote emotional, spiritual, and sometimes even physical well-being. I unite materials and symbols in powerful combinations to resonate with the wearer's intention and bring beauty and goodness to their lives. Even gold has a purpose. It’s our main material because it’s one of the most auspicious, abundance-attracting materials one can wear.

When I prepare a piece for a client, I perform a blessing ritual that is deeply healing for me. After receiving a piece from our makers, I cleanse it in a ceremony, imbue it with healing energy, and reaffirm my intention that the piece will always be in service to the wearer’s highest good. I close the ceremony with a special prayer to seal the energy until the wearer adds their own prayers and intentions to the piece.

How do you hope your jewelry makes people feel when they wear it?
My hope for those who wear High Light is that they experience a profound sense of empowerment and connection to their inner selves. Each piece is an invitation to tap into one's magic, harness the power of intention, and navigate this life's journey with confidence and clarity.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from connecting to a deeper, more spiritual part of yourself through immersing yourself in this craft?
The most valuable lesson in building High Light Rituals is that we all have power and a purpose. As a Black woman living in the world today, recognizing and reclaiming my own divinity has been one of the most profound experiences of my life. This journey has deepened my understanding of my place in the universe and has demonstrated the impact I can have on the world around me. High Light Rituals exists to help people access the same source of inner power that I draw on to feel more confident and at peace. My goal is to help others reconnect with Spirit and empower them to call upon their guides and inner knowing for support, after all, it is their birthright.

Instagram: @highlightrituals
Website: highlightrituals.com

Article by Kayla Curtis-Evans, Contributing Sustainable Editor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Designer, PhotoBook Magazine
*All images provided by High Light Rituals.

High Light Rituals Creates Jewelry for the Soul