Tag Archives: grounding

Five Crystal Must-Haves (For Beginners)

Many people ask me what kind of crystal they should get for their crystal collection when they are first starting out. It always surprises me and I’m never sure what to say because where I operate from now is that each mineral is so individualized to give a generic list seems almost impossible.

The more I thought about it though, the more that I realized that I do have minerals in my collection that I view as a must-have in order for a personal crystal collection to be complete. Many of them are just so versatile that to be without would be foolish, in my opinion!

Here’s the list for those of you new to the crystal realms!

Citrine-0051. Citrine ~ works with the solar plexus

This is one of the minerals I probably use the most. Its one of the few minerals that all humans agree doesn’t need cleansing or clearing ever, and it will cleanse/clear your other minerals. It has a focus on abundance, clarity and harnessing your inner power as it works with the solar plexus. It cleanses and purifies the spaces that its in as well. I’ve kept a small piece of citrine in my wallet for years to help clear the energy in my life around finances.

I have a piece on my alter that I regularly use to clear my crystals. The particular piece I use was gifted to me to be used in clearing of spaces ceremony, and it has attended every single house clearing I have done since. It is invaluable to me, travelling in bags with other minerals clearing them as we move to our next destination. In meditations it has brought healing and clearing to my solar plexus.

This mineral isn’t the fastest working mineral. Effects can be amplified with herkimer or quartz, or by placing it in a grid. Otherwise this mineral works slow and steady. Its persistent and determined with a steady pace, and will raise your frequency to be the same.

I recently decided I was going to work more with citrine on an abundance level. In the Liquid Oracle Crystal book (that comes with the cards) there is an exercise I’ve just prepared for: Take one orange candle and place it above the citrine card (in a candle holder). In between place a piece of paper with what you desire written on it. Burn the candle and meditate on what you want for 7 minutes each day for 21 days. What you want will either have manifested or you will know why not.

I’ll let you know how it goes when I try it!

amethyst02a2. Amethyst ~ works with the third eye

A multi-dimensional purple stone that clears spaces. Amethyst is one of the great transmutation stones and has been found in several different variations over the last fifty years or so. Any of the variations from auralite to super seven are great and powerful. Amethyst is a great mineral to have around because of its transmutation properties: it clears spaces, and helps keep everything at a rather high frequency.

It also works with the third eye, the intuitive center. Meditation with a piece of amethyst at your third eye will activate and open the chakra, if it isn’t already. Meditating simply holding the mineral in your hands and visualizing your energy filtering through the amethyst is an effective meditation of changing, healing, shifting your auric field. If your third eye is overactive meditating with amethyst will bring it into balance.

I have clusters, tumbled, and raw pieces of amethyst and its variations that litter my room and crystal collection. They are invaluable to me, and I usually rotate between the different ones which travel with me.

rosequartz3. Rose Quartz ~ works with the heart

This one is a must have, especially for our Western Culture. This is a mineral that helps us to learn to love ourselves. When meditating with this mineral one can feel the pure love it emanates. It heals us by allowing us to receive love from ourselves and from others. It softly and gently leads us to a place where we can take care of ourselves first, and understanding that it’s okay to be selfish sometimes if that means you are taking care of yourself.

I worked with a big rose quartz ball for two years that was gifted to me. This past summer I gifted it to a wonderful woman. Rosie and I slept together almost every night during the period we were working with each other. I began a practice of asking myself when making decisions: Is this an act of self-love?

I learned to be okay releasing that which wasn’t serving me, which was challenging at times due to my own neurosis. I learned to recognize and be okay with the neurosis that I carry, seeing that it isn’t me. And the neurosis when expressed by others aren’t them either. It became easier to see the soul of others and myself. It became easier to not identify with my feelings.

And during that two years I really got to know myself well. And accept most of me.

Rose quartz is such a gentle, loving presence that subtly works on your energetic fields you will hardly feel it. If you do it will feel like you’ve fallen into a soft love cloud.

selenitetumbled4. Selenite ~ works with the aura & all chakras

This is a soft white mineral who’s energy is equally as soft. It is a self clearing mineral as well, and I’ve worked with it in various forms, but mostly wands. This is an epic aura cleanser, and balancer of the energies in your chakras. It is the mineral to grab for healing work if you are unsure which one to use because its so versatile.

I’ve used this mineral to extract and reduce pain, to clear the aura, to clear the chakras, in dream work, to open up my intuition and to faciliate communication with my guides. I keep a selenite wand beside my bed always to clear the dream space to allow me to have good dreams, similar to a dream catcher.

5. A grounding mineral ~ works with the root/sacral depending on mineral

I couldn’t decide what to make the fifth mineral. There are so many amazing ones, so I tried to imagine that I had a back of these four minerals, what would make it feel complete? A mineral for grounding! But which one? That depends on the person’s frequencies!

This last mineral I would say would need to be one of the following: Hematite, Black Obsidian, Black Tourmaline or Carnelian. All of these minerals can be used for grounding from a different frequency and a different way. It’s up to you to use the one that is most effective for you.

Some minerals I find too heavy for me and get headaches, slow and a lack of clarity. Other minerals don’t seem to affect me, while some minerals are just perfect for me, like carnelian.

So if I were to give you or sell you a bag of minerals as a starter set to the mineral kingdom that’s what I would put in the bag, with whichever grounding crystal you would prefer. This gives you ample minerals to explore and get you used to their energies and the way they work without overwhelming you. The minerals are powerful and versatile but gentle, so its a beautiful introduction to the mineral kingdom in my opinion.

Lazulite – The Prince of Stones

Lazulite is an amazing and beautiful blue stone without the glamour of Lapis Lazuli. It has more of a matte look to it. This little known and desired stone by the general populace is truly powerful.

We call this stone the Prince of Stones because it relates so well to how it works. Masculine in feeling it is a tad rebellious  This stone has a mind of its own in a positive way. If you are unclear in anything – boundaries, ideas, thoughts, beliefs, like any rebellious teenager he will test those so that you can become clear, as clear as ice on all of these.

It is with a feeling of royalty one carries this stone. Lazulite helps all people step more into their personal power. Part of stepping into personal power is being very clear on what you want and what you don’t want, and then being able to express that in a very clear way. The Prince of Stones does this beautifully in its work with the throat chakra. By helping heaven and earth come together for you in your world he grounds your voice with precision and consciousness. He tests and stretches your boundaries and all that you stand for, helping you to release and see the dis-service you do for yourself by keeping anything false around or in your life.

Lazulite has the ability to help release all the false shells giving rise to the true self – that is essentially what the metaphor of Lazurus’s death and coming back to life is about. His false selves have died and his true self comes forth.

Lazulite is a stone that has not been overly sought after for much of humanity’s time on Earth. Its value is not seen by all even though it is a strong stone. It can be slow working, but as sensitivities increase it will ‘work faster’. Its a calm, grounding, and often chaotic at first. All lazulite wants to do is help you love your true self. Often working with it will draw more stones to be used in conjunction with lazulite.

This stone has many friends and will often help the user make new and needed friends. it is a stone that easily creates connections with others on all levels and helps bring understanding to social norms and how to interact with others.

Lazulite is a special stone of love, connections, grounding, clarity, the True Self, the throat chakra. It reminds us of how truly beautiful we are. The Prince of Stones can be tough, yet so soft, just like the Prince many women dream of.

Do you have a gemstone or mineral inside your collection that you love and are curious about it? Do you wonder how best to work with it? Or what its purpose is for you? I do gemstone readings in person and by distance! Click here to find out more.

Serafina Christine is a creative free spirited cyclist and mystic who has committed to learning how to best Follow Her Bliss. She is the creator of Willows Lavender, where she specializes in readings and gemstone therapy, including gemstone elixirs.

Calcite – Lover of the Two Hearts

Optical Calcite

Calcite is a beautiful and lovely stone that has always worked with both of the human hearts. What we mean by this is that each one of you has a soul heart and a human heart. The human heart we speak of is both your physical and emotional heart for these two are so entwined with each other it is difficult to make a change in one and not the other. The soul heart we speak of consists of all the inner knowing, the intuition, the inner feelings of a purpose and mission, the drive to fulfil that purpose. That all comes from the souls heart and it is the souls heart that sees the big picture while the human heart that can get tied down, boxed in if you will.

Calcite loves both of these hearts seeing them as two sides of the same coin. He helps influence people’s thinking to a more neutral and open way reducing judgements on value or good or bad. He helps people to see the even rhythm of the world, the big picture, the steady beat that always pulses no matter what happens around us and that it is in our connection to this earth’s heartbeat that keeps us steady, grounded, centered.

Calcite brings together the human and souls hearts and helps them align with each other so there is no separation between their desires, wants and needs. This causes a great increase in awareness once the alignment happens. Before that calcite will help release all the things not serving the hears in a slow grounded way. To instil this process into your energetic being calcite must be worn for two weeks daily as much as possible, or the elixir drunk/used daily for one month.

Calcite is a wonderful stone for helping your being come into one.

Keywords: Calcite, heart, the big picture, grounding, heartbeat, Earth, alignment, soul, purpose, mission, love.

Chakra: Clear calcite resonates with all the chakras, while all the coloured pieces resonate with the matching coloured chakra.

There are several varieties of calcite based on color including two clear varieties – one clear calcite and the other is optical calcite. Optical calcite is an interesting variety that is commonly used in magic tricks, and it is said that it creates a dual image when looking at something through the stone because it releases two rays of light. (cool eh?)

Calcite and Aragonite can sometimes be confused for each other since they can look very similar. They actually have different chemical structures though.

Metaphysical

Clear and white calcite are the most common varieties and are found all over the world. Calcite is said to provide clarity and help one to know when another is hiding something.

Calcite expands, increases, amplifies energy which makes it an excellent stone for doing any type of healing work, while reducing fear and stress. It is an excellent stone for clearing any stored energies in the body or energy system that no longer serve a helpful purpose and can clear all levels.

This stone will increase learning, creativity and imagination as well as prosperity. It helps increase intuition, and wisdom.

Calcite is a grounded and centered stone and imparts these qualities to the user or wearer.

While it is a strong healing stone it is gentle, and is said to be “The Stone of the Mind” as it tends to help release old patterns and belief system, and help during mental changes or life transitions.

Physical

Calcite is noted for helping to increase physical strength, back pain, detoxifying, emotional and mental conditions.

It can purify the energies of spaces as well as bodies, and to promote a peaceful atmosphere wherever it sits.

Important: Calcite does dissolve in water; I recommend another way to clear the stone. It is a soft stone that can easily chip or break.

Random

Experiments with Calcite have been done to use the stone for a cloak of invisibility!

Key Sources

http://www.thatcrystalsite.com/guide/properties-glossary.php?init=c

http://www.crystalsandjewelry.com/metaphysical_healing/stoneinfo/calcite.html

 

Do you have a gemstone or mineral inside your collection that you love and are curious about it? Do you wonder how best to work with it? Or what its purpose is for you? I do gemstone readings in person and by distance! Click here to find out more.

 

Serafina Christine is a creative free spirited cyclist and mystic who has committed to learning how to best Follow Her Bliss. She is the creator of Willows Lavender, where she specializes in readings and gemstone therapy, including gemstone elixirs.

Lapis Lazuli – Mother of Earth Magick, Father of Luck

Its like a whole ‘nother world!

Magic is the birthplace of this stone that seems to provide all who carry it luck that otherwise would not have been. This stone is one of transformation and with its beauty it does indeed seem like magic. In truth this stone is able to help the wearer perceive that which was once hidden and transmute easily and effortlessly the inner thoughts that were once blocking ones desired success.

This stone carries with it the energy of the dragon because of the transmutation magic qualities and ethereal connection to other realms. It provides grounding while remaining open to users who choose to visit these realms. It always ensure they will come back from their journey so as long as the user desires it.

Flecks of silver-gold line this deep blue stone reminding us of the night sky magic of old that still comes alive today in each place far from man kinds daily touch. In those deep quiet recesses of the planet you will find that Lapis Lazuli will teach you the ancient arts of past while providing firm grounding in the present world. The stone guides you to bring it to any nature spot that will not be disturbed so it can being its work with you.

Keywords: Masculine, Mother Earth, Teacher, Magick, Dragon, Blue, Luck, Transmutation, Nature, Grounding, Other Realms, Travel

With the Gods

Lapis Lazuli has strong ties to both royalty and the Gods and Goddesses of various societies. Often it was though tin the past that members of Royalty were directly connected to the numerous Gods and Goddess and Lazuli was thought to help facilitate that connection. It was worn by many of the rich and ruling classes, and has been found in many royal tombs including Tutankhamun’s.

It was a pricey stone that was highly sought after, but that didn’t stop a Sumerian Queen from dressing in a robe of Lapis Lazuli and Gold. Can you imagine? How heavy was it do you think? In Sumeria, it was thought that Lapis contained the spirits of deities.

Ishtar travelled to the underworld wearing Lapis Lazuli, and the moon-god Sin, a powerful bull had a Lapis Lazuli beard. It was believed whomever carried the gem worked with the power of Sin.

King Solomon was given a Lapis Lazuli ring by an angel to control demons.

Egyptians highly regarded Lapis, saying it was the stone of Gods for two reasons: it reminded them of the heavens, but it also improved eyesight, when worn as an Eye of Horus amulet, or powdered around the eyes. In “The Book of the Dead” it is stated that Lapis cut in the shape of an eye, and set in gold is a powerful amulet.

Healing Properties

In the ancient world Lapis Lazuli was popular with alchemists. It could be used to cure sore throats. Albertus Magnus saw it as a cure for melancholy and quartern fever”. The ground powder could be mixed with milk and used to relieve ulcers and boils as a compress.

In the Middle Ages Lapis Lazuli was said to keep the skeleton in a healthy condition and keep the spirit free from fear and jealous for the dead, and for the living it would keep the body healthy and soul free from error, envy and fear.

In the 17th century it was used to prevent miscarriages, epilepsy and dementia. 

Metaphysically it has often been believed that Lapis Lazuli can guide one to enlightenment and is an excellent purifier. It can aid in the opening of the third eye, and will give the user success, Divine favor, and ancient wisdom.

The Romans used Lapis Lazuli as an aphrodisiac, while in Ur, kings would sharpen their swords on it believing they would become invulnerable on the battlefield.  

In The World and In Art

Lapis Lazuli often comes from Afghanistan, from some of the oldest continually worked set of mines in the world. Those same mines were supplying this stone to the pharaohs, and are several thousand years old.

Lapis was used for jewellery, amulets and talismans by the Greeks and Romans.

Ground up Lapis Lazuli was mixed with oil to produce ultramarine, which is used in the blues of the Renaissance paintings. It was very expensive, but beautiful, and this pigment has been made synthetically since 1828.

Astrological Signs: Sagittarius, Aquarius

Chakras: Brow and Crown

Key Sources:

http://www.bernardine.com/gemstones/lapis.htm 

http://www.controverscial.com/Lapis%20Lazuli.htm

http://www.thaigem.com/gemopedia/lapis-lazuli.asp

http://articles.directorygold.com/Article/The-Lore-of-Lapis-Lazuli,-December-s-Birthstone/192548

 

Do you have a gemstone or mineral inside your collection that you love and are curious about it? Do you wonder how best to work with it? Or what its purpose is for you? I do gemstone readings in person and by distance! Click here to find out more.

 

Serafina Christine is a creative free spirited cyclist and mystic who has committed to learning how to best Follow Her Bliss. She is the creator of Willows Lavender, where she specializes in readings and gemstone therapy, including gemstone elixirs.

 

Self-Acceptance

The world is a wonderful harmonious place. It is full of sunshine, rainbows, and faeries. There are little Unicorns traipsing along the rainbows if you look close enough, and the fey regularly come out to happily play. The trees reach up into the sky unremittingly, the birds chirp joyously, and the plants all around us innocently grow. Humans help each other whenever possible and listen empathetically when appropriate. Time doesn’t matter  so there is no rush to accomplish anything because it is all completed right on Universal time. Laughter and joy permeate in the air around us. Kindness and generosity are regular occurrences. There is naught a harmful intention in the air for all is cared for and wonderful to bear.

This is what my brain naturally thinks of the world before I leave my bed. Then I get up. Reality is very far from the perfect fairy tale world that I like to think I live in.

I have been told over and over and over again certain things: The way I think is wrong. I am naive. The world doesn’t work that way. People aren’t kind and generous. I can’t trust people. Helping people is not worth the time nor expense – they are all trying to get something from you. Happiness is not possible unless you have lots of money. And yet money doesn’t buy you happiness.

Most of my life I’ve thought that I am weird. I view the world differently and that, I’m told, is a “bad” thing. I’ve allowed all of the thoughts listed above, and my beliefs about myself that are based on other peoples thoughts to stop my natural tendencies, personality, and who I am from being shown. By doing that I allowed my power to be taken away.

Now that I am in the process of taking back my power and stepping into it there is much to learn and many thought patterns that will gradually be reformed. One thing that I have noticed is that  when I am centred into my heart and grounded the outside worlds opinions don’t matter nearly as much, and I am able to confidently spread my joy and heart openly.

When I was in grade one or two I had my first jarring experience of not being accepted. My parents had enrolled me in a Christian private school that was rather extreme in a lot of their views and actions unknown to my parents at the time. What my parents were concerned about was the high quality of education provided by the school, which it definitely provided.

In class we had been asked if our parents were Christians. I didn’t raise my hand because my parents weren’t “Christians” by the schools definition of the word. The next day during the first recess I was approached by a group of girls. The leader of the group asked me “Is it true that your parents aren’t Christians?”

I, excruciatingly shy, nodded, surprised to be surrounded by so many people. The leader then informed me: “My mommy says I can’t play with you because your parents aren’t Christians.” The other girls nodded, and all of them walked away. I distinctly remember the feeling of shock, disappointment and confusion.

Reflecting on this memory illustrates to me that non-acceptance is taught or learned. It is a belief or thought pattern that until otherwise expressed most children would not think other than total acceptance of what is, whether that be a person, idea, animal, etc.

At first I thought self-acceptance was a value made up of a collection of beliefs, but now I’ve decided that self-acceptance is the sum of deeply ingrained beliefs. If a person lacks self-acceptance this shows with various statements that tell what the person thinks of themselves or believes  about themselves. The same goes if a person has self-acceptance.

The beliefs that dictate if we will or can accept ourselves for who we are define what we think of ourselves. All of these beliefs and self-acceptance rest energetically within the solar plexus chakra. Therefore, self-acceptance is directly tied to and effects  self-esteem, body image, stepping into one’s power and self-confidence.

Hug yourself! Your beautiful too!

Some of the beliefs that may contribute to not accepting ourselves are:

“I can’t do that because its too hard”

“I am too stupid”

“I am too fat”

Versus

“I am capable of working hard to achieve what I want.”

“I am intelligent. It is okay to make mistakes.”

“I am beautiful the way I am.”

The last couple of weeks I struggled with my own issues of self-acceptance. There were many people who came into my life who were mirrors for aspects of myself that I don’t really care to think about or look at. In fact, sometimes I refuse to look at those aspects. When the aspects of myself are mirrored and I find myself reacting strongly to the person mirroring the aspect I know that I am not accepting something of me.

One woman last week stood out in particular. When I saw this woman, I saw me. When I saw her victim state I saw mine. And this was repulsive to me. She was a reminder of a part of me, of who I had been at one point in my life, and I really did not like it. This was a part of myself that I found hard to look at never mind love. It was much easier to ignore that part of me and pretend that it had never happened.

And so I question: Is a person whole only when they accept all parts of themselves?

A person is whole when they are able to accept the fact that they are going to cry, be angry, be upset, have bad days, have bad hair, and that they have a “shadow side”. Sometimes we are going to think “bad” things, we are going to make judgments on ourselves or others, do things that we are going to regret. And all of that is okay. It is all part of our human experience and all part of our own personal journeys.