Catalogue

Is grounding what you are looking for? If you are having a difficult time remaining fully aware and in the present moment, this might be the intention you need. Grounding is sought after when you are feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or just a bit off. Being grounded is not being in touch with nature. Being grounded is being fully connected to the current moment in physical reality.

What can crystals do to help? You might be surprised to see just how far a little bit of belief can get you. Often what we need most when we seek grounding is the will to remain present and aware. That really is all that is required; the will to bring all of your consciousness to the present. Crystals can help facilitate that connection.

For more information on the crystals used in each piece, please visit the crystal information page.

#211

copper, tiger’s eye & lapis lazuli on a 17.25-inch cord.

$85.00

Petrified wood wrapped with sterling silver on a complimentary silver plated chain. $65.00

#223

copper & carnelian on a 22.5-inch cord

$80.00

#202

copper, dravite (brown tourmaline) & quartz on an 18-inch cord.

$60.00

#231

copper & jasper on a 22-inch cord.

$50.00

#214

copper & tiger’s eye on a 19-inch cord

$50.00

#226

copper, black tourmaline & shattuckite on a 21.5-inch cord.

$90.00

#219

copper, almandine garnet on a copper chain. Measures 20.25-inches long *adjustable.

$80.00

#205

jasper, chrysocolla & copper on a 20.25-inch cord

$60.00

#101

Sterling silver & black kyanite on a 19 inch leather cord with sterling findings

$150.00

#122

Sterling silver, shell, basalt, carnelian, gold sheen obsidian, gray moonstone, black tourmaline & amethyst. 7.75-inches

$60.00

#117

Sterling silver, hematite, basalt, garnet, silver sheen obsidian & amethyst. 7.5-inches.

$80.00

#251

Copper & red jasper. 7.25-inch bangle

$50.00

#243

Basalt, hematite, tiger’s eye, larvikite & sandalwood stainless steel wrap bracelet with amethyst and sterling silver. 14-inches

$60.00

#108

sterling silver & dravite (brown tourmaline), size 6

$60.00

Purchase Request

LARVIKITE

Crystal Information

An igneous rock known as monzonite that is comprised of ternary feldspars, barkevikite, titanium-bearing augite, lepidomelane, and sometimes olivine, nepheline, or quartz; larvikite is a decorative rock that displays the much sought-after schiller effect known as labradorescence. That was a whole lot of words that don’t really tell us the energy of this “crystal”. Only, if we want to understand something, sometimes it helps to know the “ingredients”.

If we were to try a cookie and it was good, we might say “What’s in this?” Most of the time we aren’t actually planning to bake a batch for ourselves, so why ask? Somehow knowing the ingredients helps us to better understand what we have eaten. Even if we don’t know what those ingredients are, defining them creates a puzzle that we can further examine if we so choose. For example, many of you may not be familiar with the term barkevikite, but odds are you might have encountered labradorescence.

As you read that first descriptive sentence you could have acknowledged the words, even though they did not mean much to you. Then when you got to labradorescence you might have noticed a similarity to labradorite and made a familiar connection. This is a fair description of how this stone works with energy. It helps to categorize and define the “ingredients”. Even if we aren’t sure what the ingredients are or what they mean, it helps us to acknowledge the parts of ourselves and situations that make up the whole. While compartmentalizing all of the influences and history of something can be confusing or even overwhelming, this stone also highlights the area in which to begin our understanding. By providing a connection to both spirit and the physical present, larvikite is an excellent stone for self-discovery, healing, and personal growth.

Some applications for this crystal are:

~ Aids meditation efforts

~ Promotes grounding and stability

~ Strengthens connection to spirit and self

~ Facilitates emotional healing

~ Promotes dream recall

~ Aids divination efforts

~ Facilitates an understanding of past events

~ Highlights and promotes acceptance of multiple viewpoints

~ Promotes feelings of inspiration & motivation

~ Facilitates shadow work

~ Helps breakthrough roadblocks and self-imposed obstacles

~ Facilitates forgiveness

~ Promotes confidence

~ Strengthens faith

~ Facilitates astral travel and lucid dreaming

~ Promotes acceptance of change & aids transformation

~ Helps combat effects of anxiety

CLAIREMPATHY

Thoughts From The Void

(Clear emotion)

This is a topic that is debated and held very close to many “sensitive” people. My thoughts on the “empath” are not always the most popular. Please feel free to agree, disagree, or just don’t read this if this is a topic you are overly sensitive about.

In my personal opinion, clairempathy is very similar to clairsentience. Empathy is likely to be present with sentience, but sentience is not always present with empathy. Clairempathy stems from the heart chakra and is more emotional and mental than clairsentience is, it is also more confusing. Clairsentience is often more physical and comes with more clarity and the ability to discern the message or meaning behind what you are feeling; where clairempathy can be overwhelming and for lack of a better explanation, emotional. It can become difficult to tell what emotions are yours, and what feelings belong to the world around you.

Empathy is something we all have on some level. Everyone can feel other people’s feelings. What we do with them is what varies. This is where we find that separation between “The Empath” and everyone else. Narcissist and empath alike use this sense we are talking about here. Even the people who don’t fall into either “category” can and do use this sense. Most of us do it without realizing. Clairempathy allows us to feel exactly what it is like to walk in another person’s shoes. To feel a situation as though it is our own experience. This can be a wonderful tool in helping others navigate life’s challenges, but it can also seem like a heavy burden without proper management. Feeling the world around you with such intensity, and often without the intention to do so, can lead to the manifestation of physical ailments. The entire experience can become so emotionally taxing that the world’s lack of balance becomes your instability. On the flip side, clairempathy can also be used to manipulate. What we do with the information we gather is up to the individual. How we get the information though is through a sense we all have! Many disagree with me, but I have yet to find anyone who pokes a hole in this logic. Just because someone doesn’t allow emotion to control them, doesn’t mean they don’t recognize the emotion.

Knowing yourself and your energy is key.

Developing excellent grounding, shielding, and cord cutting practices is imperative for those with this clair-sense. Working on knowing your own energy is very beneficial. Strengthening your “self-worth” is also a huge help! Without these basic practices, there simply is no managing the sense of clairempathy. However, once these simple basics are mastered, clairempathy is a blessing to those who choose to use it to help themselves and their loved ones. The simple notion that someone understands exactly how you feel is the greatest comfort you can lend to someone who is experiencing one of life’s challenges.

If you struggle with discerning your emotions and energy from the world around you and have been working on the above-mentioned tips, I also suggest carrying crystals that strengthen your natural shielding. Satin spar is number one for this because it helps cleanse away residual funk, strengthen your aura, and promotes your ability to discern yourself from others. Once you can tell what is yours, you are then free to release all that does NOT belong to you.

Something to remember is that it is a choice when to help and if helping hurts you, it’s not the time to help.

So simply ground all that excess emotional baggage and cleanse more often until you are comfortable utilizing your clairempathy. It really is that simple. Yes, some moments can be trickier than others; but it is your job to maintain your energy so when it feels chaotic, recognize it and take the time to care for yourself and ground, shield, and cleanse. Once you have balance, clairempathy is not such a daunting curse any longer.

How can we strengthen this clair?

Until you know how to identify your energy, you might not get too far in this department. Learning to feel your own energy, identify it, ground it, reinforce it, cut cords, and self-healing are first on the to-do list here. Once you have become very comfortable with these practices you will already be noticing a huge improvement in how you feel. We don’t typically strive to just survive though. Clairempathy is one of the most useful clair-senses for everyday applications. Being able to understand the “why” people behave a certain way, can help to facilitate a more harmonious existence. Some crystals and exercises can help this clair tremendously! You can find my thoughts on the crystals here and general management of clairempathy here.

Identification of energy is the first and most important step in working with this sense. Emotions and their root cause are a very complicated area, and it is never going to be easy to navigate the troubles that come along with this topic. If we remember that we are not a victim and we are in control, we tend to have a much easier time embracing and utilizing the senses we have to work with. A great place to start is actually allowing yourself to feel the emotions you encounter. Give them a name and understand them. When you feel something extreme go deeper don’t stop at “I feel jealous”. Explore the why behind the emotion. Feel the energy of why you feel a certain way. Look for the energy to counter it. What needs to happen to bring balance back to this particular energy.

The extreme emotions can often be sorted out this way. When we identify it in ourselves, we also will quickly identify it in others. When we know why someone acts out of anger, or jealousy, or self-doubt, we tend to have more compassion for them. We also have a much easier time not allowing their storm to influence our energy. We understand better that they are working through something, and it has nothing to do with us.

The energy of the world does not have to control us

Taking the time to really explore your own feelings is a great way to help yourself learn to use your clairempathy. We can also do this from memory. We can match the energy of a particular moment in time. If we think of something that brought us great joy, we can explore the emotion. Find what energy it brought to us that influenced us in such a memorable way. This can be beneficial if we wish to help influence the world around us or even our own self. When we are feeling down, we can match that frequency of when we were feeling more positive. This can help provide the emotional endurance needed to address whatever issues we may encounter. Emotional endurance is something that is required if we want to not feel like a victim and stand in our full “power.

Clairempathy is not a curse, it is not a special gift given to a chosen few, it is a sense we all carry on some level. A sense that can be cultivated into a useful tool for our normal lives. Finding the strength to not become every emotion we encounter is the tricky part. Belief in our own strength and power is the place to start. Knowing that everyone can manage this clair-sense will be the key to success when working with clairempathy.

MULADHARA

Thoughts From The Void

Root Chakra

Often people ask what crystal to use for particular applications. My opinion on this is that suggestions are amazing, but nothing beats your own belly. If you feel a crystal is the right one, it is likely the right one – even if you don’t know why. With that said, I feel you can use pretty much any crystal to balance any chakra. They all attract or repel something, and sometimes our issues are not “standard”. Blanket lists are not going to work because our issues are not one size fits all. I do have some favorites that I feel resonate well with most disfluency issues. The crystals I chose for the first chakra, are selected for their ability to provide stability, strength, and support.

Think of our energy system like a tower of blocks. If you put a triangle block on the bottom, you can’t very well build a stable tower. The base is crucial! So, stability is the name of the game for me when it comes to the root chakra.

The Sanskrit name for this chakra is Muladhara which translates to “Root of existence”, and it is associated with Earth.

The following is an excerpt from my book, Crystals Book One Finding Your Way, which is available on Amazon.

Common name: Root or Base Chakra

Color: Red

Keywords: Grounding, Security, Survival

An imbalance in this chakra means you experience the world through a filter of fear and insecurity. The effects of which can manifest in a multitude of different ways. If you find you are always in survival mode, you may want to take a closer look at this chakra. Below are a few indicators to help you determine the functionality of your first chakra.

Suggestive signs of excessive energy: obesity, overeating, greedy, materialistic, egoistic, boredom, lethargy, insensitivity, pessimistic attitude, selfishness, indifference, fear of change, hoarding, stubbornness, addiction to security

Suggestive signs of energy deficiency: excessive worry, phobias, fearful/panic, confusion, suspicious, uneasiness, underweight, hopelessness, poor boundaries, withdrawn, disinterested, absent-minded, chronic disorganization, disconnection from body, sense of not belonging, anxious, restless, can’t settle

The following is a list of crystals that can help balance the energy in the Root Chakra. I have listed a few keywords associated with each. My personal favorites for this chakra are:

Carnelian, Garnet, Red Jasper and Hematoid Quartz

That being said, you should experiment and find your own favorites!

Crystals that resonate well with Muladhara

Aegirine -“Stone of Integrity” Courage, Confidence, Stability, Protection, Ground

Almandine Garnet -“Stone of Tangible Truth”, Protection, Strength, Security

Alunite (Angel Wing) – Grounding, Stabilizing, Creativity

Anyolite (Ruby Zoisite) – Intuition, comfort, protection, grounding

Apache Tears – Protection from grief, psychic attack or other negativity

Aragonite- “The Conservationist’s Stone” clears negative emotions, anxiety and blocked ley lines, grounding

Black Amethyst – Auric protection and psychic development, grounding

Black Andradite Garnet – protection, confidence empowerment, grounding

Black Diopside – Balances the aura and aids connect with the elemental beings

Black Jade – Transforms negative emotions and protects from negative energies/ intentions, strengthens the aura, grounding

Black Merlinite – Luck, magic, duality of the soul

Black Shamanite (Black Calcite) – Purification, protection, spiritual development, grounding

Black Spinel – Empowerment, protection, grounding

Bloodstone (Heliotrope) – Strength, passion and courage, grounding

Brochantite – Connects to higher realms & stimulates Intuition

Brecciated Jasper – Strength, vitality and mental clarity, grounding

Cacoxenite Amethyst – “Stone of Ascension” spiritual awareness, healing, clarity, grounding

Carnelian – Strength, courage, passion, grounding

Chrysanthemum Stone – Good fortune and positive synchronicities, grounding

Crocoite – Energizes, stimulates creativity, passion

Cuprite – Will power, strength, security, grounding

Dravite (Brown Tourmaline) – Courage, acceptance, protection, self-healing

Ethiopian Opal – Strength, purification, balance, grounding

Fire Agate – Stabilizing, strength, self confidence

Flint – “Stone of Divine Inspiration & Manifestation”, grounding, lighting the spark, manifestation

Pyrope Garnet – Protection, creativity, charisma, grounding

Goethite – Grief, emotional and past life healing, grounding

Hematite – Balance, protection, transmutes negative energy, grounding

Hematite in Quartz – Balance, confidence, will power, protection, grounding

Hypersthene – Boost psychic abilities, magic

Ilvaite – Aids patience, perseverance, creativity, grounding

Jasper – Comfort, stability, balance, grounding

Jet – Magic, elementals, protection, grounding

Kyanite, Black- Balance, cleansing, protection, grounding

Larvikite – Cleansing, protection, psychic abilities, grounding

Mt Hay Thunderegg (Star Agate) – “Amulet Stone” harmony, stamina, protection, grounding

Luxurianite – Confidence, healing, stress relief, grounding

Nebula Stone – ‘The Birthstone of the Cosmos,’ protection, cleansing, psychic development

Nuummite – “Sorcerer’s Stone” Personal magic, luck, protection, strengthens the aura, grounding

Obsidian – Protection, self-discovery, addresses old traumas, grounding

Peacock Ore – Happiness, understanding, healing

Petrified Wood – Past life, ancestral healing, patience, grounding

Poppy Jasper – Protection, positivity, grounding, balance

PuddingStone – Balance, healing, grounding

Pyrolusite – Clarity, hidden truth, transformation

Que Sera – Calm, balance, psychic development, aura strengthening

Red Aventurine – Manifestation, confidence, energizes, stamina

Red Calcite – Detox, energizes, grounding, protection, provides zest for life

Red Spinel – positivity, protection, grounding

Red Tantalite – Protection, good decision making, grounding

Red Tourmaline (Rubellite) emotional healing, grounding, protection, balance

Rhodolite Garnet – Inspiration, emotional healing, grounding

Rhodonite – Love, acceptance, forgiveness, grounding

Ruby – Passion, protection, prosperity, grounding

Ruby Kyanite – Balance, protection, transmutes negative energy, grounding

Rutile – Strengthens energy flow, strengthens aura, clarity

Rutilated Quartz – Promotes spiritual growth, strengthens and cleanses the aura

Septarian – Confidence, tolerance, grounding

Shiva Lingam – Increases pranic energy, grounding

Shungite – Healing, grounding, protection, aura strengthening

Sillimanite (Fibrolite) – Stimulates feelings of euphoria, clairaudience, aligns chakras

Smokey Quartz – Protects, grounds, heals

Snakeskin Jasper – Dream recall, shamanic journey, grounding, protection

Snowflake Obsidian – Balance, protection, healing, grounding

Specularite (Specular hematite) – Dissolves negativity, grounding, assists mental function

Spessartite Garnet (Spessartine) -Creativity, inner growth, grounding

Staurolite (Fairy Cross Stones) – Grounding, communication with fairies, healing, dream clarity

Suleiman – Absorbs negativity, aids channeling, grounds

Tiger Iron – Grounding, physical vitality, stamina, courage

Tiger’s Eye – Balance, strength of will, vitality, protection, grounding

Tourmaline Black – Protection, grounding, cleansing, purification

Tourmalinated Quartz – Healing, harmony, protection, grounding

Turritella Agate – Past life, ancestral healing, patience, grounding

Unakite – Compassion, balance, grounding

Vanadinite -Creativity, mental stimulation, personal power

Witches Finger Quartz – Healing, protection, overcoming fears, grounding

Wulfenite – Past life healing, transformation, grounding

GROUNDING

Thoughts From The Void

I have to lead with some honesty here, I’m a bit of a jerk about this topic. I am not this way to offend anyone, but offending people just happens to be one of those unpleasant side effects of having opinions. Considering we are talking about a topic that falls within the category of “spiritual” things, this and all other perspectives, will be opinion and not fact. We cannot prove these things with science, we are talking about feeling stuff here and feelings are subjective and personal. Please keep that in mind and if my words don’t resonate with you then please; either share your words with me and we can find common ground, or it can just be okay that my experience is different than yours.

So, with all that said, I feel that having a strong grounding practice is immensely beneficial for ALL people – regardless of their level of spirituality. A mindful centering and grounding practice can help facilitate emotional stability, as well as improve focus and overall well-being. It is also a key player in energetic protection.

Before we can ground, we must call all of our energy back to us and center ourselves in our current reality. That means to get totally in the moment we are living in. Not worrying about what we will make for dinner, or that a-hole that cut us off on our way home, but rather all focus where we are right that very moment in time. If you are unfamiliar with how to center your energy, please see my post about it here, or feel free to do your own reading on the topic to find what works for you. It is a step that just can’t be skipped if we want to achieve a grounded state of being.

What does it mean to be grounded?

To me, it feels like stability. It feels like strength, clarity, and calm. It is when we bring all of our energy in close to the Earth’s energetic field and we exchange or circulate our excess or unwanted energy and bring in fresh calm energy from the Earth. This is a big part of transmuting energy. We can take the energy we do not want and release it. We trade it in for a vibration that better suits the “frequency” we want to align with.

Many will say you must be physically connected with the Earth or take a long magical walk through nature. Something along those lines was what I was always told. Get in touch with nature and its energy, and this may work for some people. Some people may need to be inspired in order to let go of the physical world enough to feel the energetic world that always surrounds us. However, some people can feel the energy around us all the time, and sometimes they feel it in excess. For these people taking your energy and letting it wander off into a whimsical journey is actually detrimental to the ultimate goal of grounding. It counteracts the centering we need to do in order to exchange and connect energy with the Earth.

We do not need to physically touch the Earth to ground.

Can it be helpful to connect on a physical level? Yes, but it is by no means necessary. We are talking about exchanging energy and energy can just go where it’s directed. Energy can be exchanged without ever touching the ground. Most of the time when I see people talk about their grounding practice, I end up squinting a lot. Not because I am judging them but mostly because it just sounds like some kind of fairy tale pretend play. It doesn’t make sense to me. It just doesn’t sound like serious business, and grounding is serious business!

Yes, it’s beautiful and it is an amazing thing to be able to take part in, but we aren’t connecting to or communicating with spirit, this isn’t divination. This is an act of self-healing. When we take medicine, we don’t flit around throwing glitter about as we take it. We just handle our business. Grounding is something that deserves respect because it is the foundation of everything else you do in your spiritual practice and has an influence on your actual physical state.

How do we ground?

Well, this (like all things spiritual) is very personal and varies for everyone. I have used several techniques but the most popular one people seem to talk about is the:

VISUALIZATION OF ROOTS

This is when you imagine roots growing down from your feet deep into the center of the Earth. As you do this, you begin to feel anchored to the Earth. When your roots are secure, you then imagine all the energy you no longer want vacates your body through these roots. Then boom you are grounded.

This version feels a bit incomplete for me. It also takes what seems like a lifetime! I don’t personally prefer this method. I mention it only because people do enjoy it so I feel everyone should at least give it a try. What I do now evolved from the visualizing of roots. What I do now works for me but might not work for everyone. The main point is that there is no wrong way! If it feels right to you, and you feel stable, strong, and have clarity after your grounding practice, then it has worked and that is your method.

MY METHOD

I do this and centering as a one-two combo followed by shielding. I start with centering, and I feel my energy shrink as close as it can to my body. Once my aura feels like it is the size of my physical body, I feel my energy shrink more; almost as though the energy me begins to squat down close to the Earth. Sometimes I do this sort of slow and others it is quick – this is when I really mean business. An example would be during a psychic attack, when there is energy intermingling with mine, that I do not own- I don’t keep it around.

I take all of the energy that isn’t a vibrational match for where I want to be, and I circulate it out of my hands and feet. I see it go down into the Earth with the intention of transmuting it, like a filter. I then pull energy back up through my feet that matches the frequency I want to resonate with. This really is as simple as knowing it is happening. The fresh energy works its way up through my field, expanding and reinforcing it. Then I go right into my shielding practice.

My version can be a bit “extra” for some people, but I am a bit extra, so I am quite fond of how my technique works for me. I feel it does more than just push away negative. We can’t just push it away and remove negativity forever. We should be able to see why and where we carry vibrations we may not enjoy. As I pull the energy back up it circulates through my energetic system, clearing blockages, and moving the energy around. I find this is something that is very helpful for our own energetic healing and maintenance.

Don’t be afraid to embrace your own way of grounding!

I hope you can find something useful here to help enhance your own grounding practice. If nothing else, trust that there is no wrong way to get grounded!

CENTERING

Thoughts From The Void

Many of us are familiar with grounding and might even be aware that it is something we can all benefit from. If you aren’t, it might be a topic worth looking into. The thing is the important step of calling our energy back and becoming centered in the present is overlooked when grounding is discussed. We tend to skip right to connecting with the Earth’s energy. The old “Take a walk in nature” etc., etc. type of tutorials and suggestions as to how to go about grounding always seem to bypass the imperative first step to becoming grounded.

Centering is an invaluable part of the grounding process and takes a great deal of mindfulness to master. Centering is the act of calling all of our energy back to us, becoming aware of it all and being totally present in our current reality. Without this step, it is not really possible to achieve a stable and grounded state of being.

While I believe all spiritual practices should be tailored to the individual’s needs. There is a basic idea to how centering works. How I like to do it can be modified by whomever chooses in a way that feels right to them. I will share my techniques and please feel free to make them your own and apply it to your personal practice.

TECHNIQUE FOR WHEN WE FEEL CALM

The first technique I will share is for those times when you already feel in control. Maybe you are feeling a bit funky, or even a little bit overwhelmed. I am talking about those times when a simple deep breath can help calm your being. In times like this I do the following:

1. I take a deep breath and feel the air go in. I notice how the air feels in my lungs, and then I breathe out slow and controlled. The goal is to breathe out for longer than you breathe in.

2. I notice my heart. Is it pounding or calm? If it’s pounding, I breathe again and focus on slowing my heart rate, really focusing on how I am in control of my heartbeat.

3. The next thing I do is focus on the area in the center of my forehead. I think about what I feel like, and I know that I want all of my energy to come back to that exact spot. Like one of those retractable dog leashes, this is like pushing that button and reeling in the line. This action is calling my energy back to me. Depending on how scattered I am, this can be quick or can take a couple moments.

4. I take notice of my body and feel my energy field tighten and shrink back to my physical body. I want all of my energy condensed and close. If you aren’t comfortable yet with visualizing or feeling your energy, simply imagine that your energy is coming back and in time, you will feel what feels right to you.

Centering is so important. Our mind wanders more than we realize sometimes; subconscious desires mixed with to-do lists, accompanied by minor irritants we may have encountered all own some of our energy. If we want balance, we must be aware of all of our energy. If we are aware of it, we can control it. From this state of knowing where my energy is, I then proceed to grounding and shielding.

TECHNIQUE FOR WHEN WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL

Now sometimes we are not calm. This is a huge reason why practicing centering and grounding when we don’t need it is so beneficial. If it is second nature, it is much easier to help ourselves when we encounter those moments that are overwhelming. For the times we are out of control, manic, or in the midst of an anxiety attack or other extreme emotional state; it is helpful to apply a different technique. For those moments when control eludes me, I apply the following technique.

The 5,4,3,2,1 TECHNIQUE

Here we are going to employ our physical senses and gain control of them. It helps to have a starting place, somewhere to build a foundation of stability. When we are unable to easily gain control of our energy, it is often much easier to begin with our physical senses. So, I like to name:

-5 things I can see as I look at them slowly taking a deep breath with each item I see.

-4 things I can touch as I touch them, slowing and deepening my breathing further with each thing I count.

-3 things I can smell, really focusing on the smells.

-2 things I can hear.

-1 things I can taste -typically a glass of water, because all that deep breathing makes my mouth all sorts of dry.

From here I am in control and then can do the first technique. This is a bit of a process, but it has saved me during legitimate anxiety attacks the same as it has helped in times of extreme anger or psychic attack.

Finding your way to exhibit control over your own energy field will prove to be a skill that leads to personal growth, emotional stability and all-around wellbeing.

SANDALWOOD

Crystal Information

A group of woods that come from the genus Santalum, these woods differ from others in that they retain their aroma for decades. The name is either derived from the Sanskrit word “Chandanam” which means “to burn” or the Latin “Candere” which means “shining, glowing”. Either way, this wood has always been used to burn as incense. The scent of this wood is said to create a bridge between heaven and earth. Believed by many cultures to facilitate and strengthen the bond we have with the divine.

The energy of this wood works in similar fashion. While the beads alone do hold aroma, the frequency at which they vibrate allows one to attune to the frequency needed to connect to the divine. The thing about connecting to divine energy is that it also helps one connect to the true self. Much like returning home to a loved one helps one feel at peace; sandalwood helps reconnect to the self that has always been there. Providing a comfort and stability that can’t be shaken, it facilitates that “I know you” feeling we get when we have been out in a sea of strangers. A friendly face always brings the feeling of safety, security and reinforcement, of the self. Our conscious self may have forgotten spirit, but spirit will never forget us. Our inner self recognizes the frequency of the “divine” and this helps us to have that great feeling of comfort. It reminds us of all that we are and all we are connected to.

Some applications for sandalwood are:

-Helps restore emotional balance

-Strengthens connection to spirit

-Calms the mind

-Promotes a meditative state

-Inspires one to be still

-Promotes relaxation

-Promotes self identity

-Raises vibrations

-Connects one to the true self

-Combats aggression or anger

-Facilitates grounding and centering

-Promotes the feelings of love and acceptance

-Inspires faith and hope

-Promotes confidence and self worth

-Helps release fear and anxiety

-Promotes harmonious energy flow within the system

-Promotes a general peaceful feeling

-Inspires trust

HEMATITE

Crystal Information

Known for being one of the most abundant minerals on Earth, the iron ore known as hematite forms with appearances that vary widely. Identification of this mineral by the naked eye can be a little bit tricky because it can be found with lusters of metallic to earthy, in colors ranging from red to silver, and forms like micaceous, crystalline, botryoidal, massive, oolitic, fibrous, and more. One thing that many believe is an indicator of hematite is magnetism, however, hematite does not gravitate to magnets. Some specimens have a high amount of magnetite in them and this can cause the piece to be magnetic, but typically magnetism is not an identifier of hematite. The best way to identify this mineral is the streak test. Hematite will always give off a reddish streak when tested.

Now that we can identify it, where can we find the understanding of how hematite works with energy? We can find it in all of the things mentioned above. Iron has long been associated with protection of many forms. We use it to defend and shield ourselves from danger just the same as we use it for shelter. Being one of the most abundant minerals on the planet, when we look for where it can be found we see it is all around us. This recognition anchors one to the very thing they seek. By connecting to the energy of hematite, we connect to all the energies of hematite and because it is found in such vast quantities within the crust of the planet the energy we connect to is the Earth’s energy. This is where we find the centering, grounding, and stabilizing powers that hide within this stone.

There is one more quality hematite typically lends and that is found in both its appearance and identification. Regardless of the outward appearance, the true color of hematite is red. Red is the color of the root chakra and as such is associated with safety, stability, and our knowing that we are enough just as we are – we have a right to occupy our space. Whether or not we flourish, grow, and have harmony is all dependent on the foundation we build upon. That foundation is not in outward appearances but what is found within. Hematite embodies the idea that whatever it is we are faced with, we have the power to stand and face it.

A few applications for this mineral are:

-Facilitates centering and grounding

-Aids all meditation efforts

-Amplifies manifesting efforts

-Aids all healing efforts

-Stabilizes and harmonies the energetic system

-Helps promote understanding and acceptance

-Promotes healing of traumas

-Helps address and understand karmic lessons

-Helps one embrace their true self

-Promotes confidence and self-acceptance

-Helps release fear and anxiety

HELIOTROPE

Crystal Information

AKA BLOODSTONE

A cryptocrystalline mixture of quartz that forms in jasper (opaque), chalcedony (translucent), or a mixture of them both; this mineral aggregate gets its tiny red inclusions from trace amounts of hematite or iron oxide. This mineral has been utilized in magical and practical applications since ancient times. Through its uses, it has gained a few nicknames that might help us better understand how heliotrope works with energy.

The first pertains to its mineral name and it comes from the Ancient Greek helios (sun) and trepien (to turn), we get the name sun turner. The nickname to coincide with this was The Sun Stone. This was due to how the mineral reflected light. Later in history, humans would use an instrument with the same name to reflect light across large distances to survey the land. This particular bit of information is confusing for me as I don’t find this stone to be overly reflective in its natural state. There is, however, merit to the concept in a less physical way. One thing this crystal does well is it brings our awareness completely to the present reality. It shines a light on the truth and points out the things we might prefer to ignore. It allows us to measure our options with accuracy and not remain blinded by emotion. With the supportive nature of the host crystal and the centering energy of the inclusions, it helps one to see what is real and that even the most difficult truths can be accepted.

The next name this stone has acquired can be off-putting to some. This name came later in its history and the story goes, the red coloring came from the wounds of Christ. The nickname Christ’s Stone came about after this story was introduced. Many believe this stone is one of “noble sacrifice”. Some say it holds the energy to support those who give of themselves for the good of others. Personally, I feel this is bad practice. I feel our responsibility is to ourselves, and not martyrdom. We can help more people when we ourselves are strong and balanced. I also have a hard time with the name because it creates a bit of separation. Those who don’t embrace Christ might feel as though this stone is “owned” by a certain faith. This is simply not the case. When addressing this particular bit of the stone’s lore, we must look objectively at the story.

If we take personal belief out of the equation, we end up with a story about a man who accepted difficult truths with grace. The part of his story that is associated with bloodstone is his death. Every account of the crucifixion and the moments prior to it shows a man who saw all potential paths. He chose the path that he felt was unavoidable and the ultimate truth. The path that would cause the least harm to others as well as the least amount of suffering for himself. Odds are, if he had somehow tried to avoid his fate in those moments, he would have simply prolonged the suffering. There would have been more struggle and drama before his capture and then the same ending would have been met, likely bringing more people with him. Any other path chosen could have potentially negated the work he had been doing, thusly doing more harm in the long run.

This is where I see the connection to this nickname and the previously mentioned. Seeing the truth of a situation, accepting it is the truth, and then taking one’s own power to make the choice that best suits all people; is where this stone holds its strength. The energy of compassion, faith, support, grace, and strength all align with this nickname and the stone it has become associated with. When we look at this sometimes polarizing name; it is good to see the story and not the faith that goes with it, if it is not one we embrace.

This leads us to the last nickname and that is the Resurrection Stone. This word has strong associations with Christ, and many magical stories; but what does it mean? The dictionary defines resurrection as “the revitalization or revival of something”. This is something heliotrope holds great strength in. It has such strong nurturing and grounding properties to it, but also connects the heart and the root chakras. As this connection is made; we also reinvigorate our emotional endurance. As the energy within the heart chakra strengthens, so too do the chakras below it. The connection between our emotions, our true self, our creative abilities, and our physical existence all align; and when this happens, we feel as though we are at our strongest self. We feel capable of taking on any task that comes our way. We feel as though our spirit has been resurrected.

When we look at all of the names given to this stone, we see it holds energy that aligns one with truth; the grace, compassion, faith, and the strength needed to accept it; as well as the “presentness” required to proceed forward with whatever action we must take. On a less objective note, this is my personal favorite for grounding and centering rituals!

Some applications for this crystal are:

-Provides centering and grounding energy

-Stabilizes and strengthens the auric field

-Facilitates energetic protection

-Facilitates healing efforts

-Brings clarity to mediation and divination efforts

-Brings awareness to the truth

-Helps one accept difficult or painful truths

-Facilitates healing of traumas

-Revitalizes the energetic field

-Strengthens courage

-Promotes emotional endurance

-Strengthens the connection between the heart and root chakras

-Helps reveal when there is danger or peril

-Assists detoxification efforts

-Promotes growth and recognition of “karmic” lessons

-Strengthens the connection to the elemental world

-Supportive stone for those who feel alone as it strengthens our connection to the divine and universal energy, lending the feeling that we are never alone

GOETHITE

Crystal Information

A polymorph member of the diaspore mineral group that often forms by way of “needle iron”, goethite is also the main component of “bog iron”. There are a couple of phrases in that sentence that may not be common household names so let’s get acquainted with them.

What is a polymorph? This is a mineral that can exist in more than one form or crystalline structure. For a more well-known reference, think of the difference between diamond and graphite; they are both made entirely out of carbon yet, they are two very different materials. How those carbon molecules are stacked together, is where their differences come from. Given enough time, and the right conditions, the carbon in the graphite can change and become a diamond.

Goethite forms when iron oxidizes and changes from ferrous to ferric. It can occur in many forms such as concretions (compact spherical or irregular shaped), stalactites, oolites (egg-shaped), reniform (kidney-shaped), and botryoidal (looks similar to a cluster of bubbles) and is often found as a pseudomorph, (when one mineral replaces an existing mineral but retains the form of the original mineral).

How about bog iron, what is that? This is a renewable noninvasive way to harvest iron and this process was used by ancient cultures to smelt and make tools out of iron without mining. Tiny nodules of iron ore would be found by swamps, bogs, and other natural sources of water. Once a generation they would be able to harvest from a particular location and gather enough bog iron to create the tools they needed. The main mineral found in bog iron is goethite.

The easiest way to understand the energy of goethite is to look at the physical aspects of it. It is ever-changing and evolving. It is made of iron which is a highly protective and grounding material. This allows for the notion that we can change and it is safe to do so. Iron strengthens our connection to the earth and facilitates the strong flow of energy through the lower chakras. It allows us to tap into our own power while keeping us very present in the moment. Goethite works well to ground high-frequency energy allowing for a stronger connection to spirit, promoting increased clarity and access to one’s inner guidance. It radiates a feeling of comfort and security that allows one to feel calm even at times of emotional distress.

Goethite facilities the acknowledgment and release of all that no longer serves us, be it from this life or a past life, and promotes acceptance and forgiveness and the willingness to change so that one can move past their traumas and find their way to happiness. Just as the needle-like iron can penetrate through the tough exterior of other minerals, the energy of goethite can infiltrate even the hardest of walls and defenses we may put up, to facilitate change and growth. And just as the bog iron provides a renewable source of material without changing the existing landscape; this mineral helps lend the strength we need to grow and transition without altering our true self.

A few applications for this crystal are:

-Aids grief management

-Helps balance strong or unstable emotions

-Helps release past life trauma

-Facilitates the release of all that no longer serves you

-Promotes creative problem solving

-Assists healing after emotional trauma

-Promotes self-love, forgiveness, and compassion

-Provides strong grounding energy

-Amplifies Clairaudience

-Facilitates communication with spirit

-Facilitates all healing efforts

-Resonates best with the base and the earth star but also works well with the throat and brow chakras

-Strengthens the connection to earth energy

-Provides a feeling of safety so one can cope with intense emotions

-Promotes the release of guilt, shame, or resentment

-Allows one to see a new perspective

-Facilitates personal growth

-Enhances creativity

-Helps to overcome writer’s block

-Helps access past life memories

-Enhances courage

-Helps implement new ideas

-Facilitates transitions

-Promotes the will to change