Tag Archives: nature

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.

 

Leaf Deadly or Not

I went to the park and while I was there, did a Reiki session on myself. I was lying on a beautiful moss covered rock surrounded by oak trees that overlooked the shaggy grass, blackberry bushes and small trees that cover the bottom half of the park. I began contemplating the plants surrounding me and an experience I had while waiting for food from the Miracle Center…

Standing with two other women beside the garden I breathe deeply as a waft of mint gently floats by. “Mmmm… smells so good.”

One of the women reaches down and touches the leaves of one of the small plants in the garden. “It’s mint, from here.”

Excitedly I look at the small plant with purple flowers on its top, similar to lavender. “It doesn’t look like a mint I’m familiar with; perhaps its spearmint?”

She shrugs, and points at a large bush behind the mint plants. “I think this is bay leaf.”

We both smelled the plant, and laughed because we could only smell mint now that we had rubbed our fingers along the mint leaves.

“I wonder if it is bay leaf. I don’t want to try it just in case its not.” She said.

Now as I lie on my rock in the park I contemplated that statement. A small bite of a leaf or a berry will not harm most healthy people. Yet I’ve also been told as a child not to try leaves or berries because some of them are deadly. Even now I often wonder what something is, and instinctively want to try the leaves or the fruit. I catch myself because of the fear that I might get sick.

Sure we might have a bit of a reaction, but it will not kill us. Herbs are known to help us, never to harm us unless we take them in a large amount. It is such a delight to try a mysterious plant that calls to me only to find when I taste it that I recognize it! My whole being lights up with joy!

Since when did a bite of a leaf become something that we avoid?

And if a small bite of a leaf or berry is indeed that powerful what are we doing trying to heal ourselves with pills? Those pills take a bit of the original plant and put it in an artificial form filled with other things that may or may not help us. Most of us don’t really know what is in that pill.

The whole part of the plant will help us in a natural form that compliments our bodies. It is not a foreign object that yes, our body can digest, but is it easy on our bodies?

Lying on the moss covered rock I looked around at the plants that have slowly become more and more my friends since moving out to the West Coast. My heart fills with love and gratitude for their healing energies and also their wisdom. It makes me sad to feel that their wisdom is being lost among the general populace.

Did you know that red roses can be used to stop bleeding? Their petals can be dried and ground into a powder that can be used on sore throats. They can also be used in a salve that will help heal rashes, sores and cuts. Pretty cool eh? They smell good too.

Everywhere I walk there are red roses blooming in Victoria. How many people will think of saving them for future use.

The Universe has given us a pharmacy right outside our doorstep. I’ve heard that saying before and its only in the past few months that I’ve really been able to experience it in action. I’ve begun to enjoy searching out the plants, identifying and naming them. Here in Victoria, when walking or biking I am able to point out the plants that I’ve learned and recite to myself what I’ve learned they can help with.

I feel proud and empowered when I experience a symptom of something and can walk out my door with nothing only to walk back in a few hours later with a herb that will relieve it. I’m not sure I will ever know all the herbs and their properties, but I would be happy with a working knowledge that remedies most common complaints.

For a time I was thinking to myself how amazing it would be if basic herbalism and gardening and other such skills were taught in the public school system. I stumbled into a program here in Victoria, called Lifecycles, which is doing just that. And I’m now a volunteer there! I’m super excited about it because I get to learn, and participate in teaching children about the planet. How cool is that?

There is still so much to learn and I am looking forward to my explorations. I am so grateful that Victoria has such a huge group of people that are involved in learning and teaching this medicine. The Ecovillage movement is rapidly growing here as more and more people are drawn to community living in balance with nature and organic foods.

Not only in Victoria is a movement of living closer to the Earth growing. In Russia in 2006 a law was passed giving a hectare of land to any willing family free of charge that can be passed down generationally. This was implemented in the hopes to reduce poverty and homelessness while providing more income for the families, from my understanding. It may have possibly been based on the plan from The Ringing Cedar Series.

I believe both of these movements will continue to grow as they feel to be a much needed step. They may not be perfect, but it is through taking a step that we get closer to something “perfect”.

My heart is happy to be witness to these positive steps of change that are occurring. YAY humanity!

I’m excited to continue delving into learning more about plants and how to preserve and grow food. I know the knowledge will come in handy someday… Perhaps when I’m living on my own plot of land on an Ecovillage or in a situation similar to Russia…? 🙂

Are there herbs that you regularly use? What for? Do you see the value of herbal medicine? What do you think of the law passed in Russia and Ecovillages?

Late New Moon Post!

Ah! Apologies for the late blog post this week! I would say that it won’t happen again, but it very well might.

You see, this week I’ve realized that I have a ton of projects on the go, none of which are close to completion. The pile keeps getting added to while I’m feeling the importance of writing for this blog, my own novel and content for the Willows Lavender newsletter (still awaiting its first edition).

I decided this week to re-prioritize everything that I’m doing. I’m feeling a pull to complete a few things that have been lagging for the past few months. So, the blog post is late because I started maybe five of them, but none of them have sufficient quality content that I would be happy to post due to the lack of contemplation.

Thus, I’ve decided to write a short blog post in honor of this past weekends New Moon!

I have come to love the passing of the New and Full moons because they signify a passage of time that is natural and inherent to our own bodies passage of time. Since being a child I’ve often wondered what it was like to live in a time where the only time keepers were the sun and the moon instead of the artificial time that we race around to now. Instinctively it feels that to me we would all be much more relaxed, and our bodies would function better.

Never did I guess that by simply acknowledging the passage of the Moons with ceremony that my body would adjust itself to the natural cycle of the moon.

I’ve recorded for the last four months that my period ends the day the New Moon begins. Last year at this time, my cycle was irregular and I could only guess when my flow would start. Now I know exactly when it will start. It has stayed regular throughout all of the changes and stress in my life over the past four months which is amazing to me.

Just before the New Moon I will feel quite tired, and things that need to end will be ended that week. My understanding of this is that in a new cycle energies that are no longer serving me don’t need to be in the new. It might screw up the manifestation power of the New Moon if old energies join new!

On the day of my ceremony for the New Moon I will write down all the new things I want to invite into my life, and look over the things that I’ve asked for the last New Moons. Gratitude hits me with each stroke of my pen that crosses off the things that have manifest for me, the wishes that have come true, the wishes that came true but weren’t quite right, and the knowledge that my wishes will come true.

Each night I find myself out and about I catch myself looking for the moon in the sky and breathing in the sweet and fresh air – its a moment to pause everything and give respect to the power that nature still holds over us even in the city. With each passing I find myself being more and more drawn to join the nature that surrounds me.

I think nature is growing on me… I was thinking of going camping soon…