A personal favorite of mine (and many other witches and crystal workers) is LAPIS LAZULI, a beautiful blue mineral formed by the metamorphosis of chalk into marble. Lapis is composed of several minerals, including sodalite and lazurite, and contains inclusions of pyrite and white calcite, which produce the specks of gold on this stone's surface. One of the great things about lapis is, while sometimes expensive, it is very common and readily available in virtually any mineral or new age shop.
The name "Lapis Lazuli" is Persian in origin and roughly translates as "blue stone." Because several crystals were identified by the name "blue stone" by the ancients, it can sometimes be difficult to discern whether or not lapis is THE blue stone being discussed in ancient texts. However, what IS known for certain is that this was one of the earliest minerals to be used in jewelry, and the ancient Egyptians would grind up this crystal beauty and use the powder for medicinal and beauty purposes (to make eye shadow.) Highly prized by the Ancient Egyptians and associated with royalty, it was used to decorate the tombs of pharaohs to denote their superiority. Because of its traditional association with royalty, lapis is still prized as a stone that brings out your inner king or queen. An intense love of this stone was revived during the Renaissance, and it was a particular favorite of Catherine the Great, who had a room in her castle of lapis walls (so jealous!)
Energetically, this is a really important stone for the third eye and throat chakras. It is a wonderful stone for stimulating INTUITION and PSYCHIC ABILITIES, and can be used for past - life work, dream work, meditation, and clairvoyance. By opening the third eye, lapis enables one to receive messages from the divine, and also from spirit guides. It is also powerfully healing to the throat chakra in a number of ways. It helps one to speak the truth and be HONEST (the tendency to lie is a throat chakra issue) and also teaches the importance of LISTENING (the overwhelming desire to talk over others while they speak is indicative of an overactive throat chakra.) It also helps one to express their opinions. By simultaneously opening the third eye and throat, lapis brings total SELF - AWARENESS to those who do not really know themselves, and then allows for complete EXPRESSION OF THE TRUE SELF. This is also a wonderful stone for creativity (pair with carnelian, fire agate, crackled fire agate, or garnet for a boost of this creative energy.)
Suppressed anger builds up in the throat chakra. In addition to causing extreme emotional discomfort, this often allows physical issues of the neck, larynx, or vocal chords to manifest. Placing a lapis on the throat will heal these physical discomforts and alleviate their cause.
A major energetic cause of depression and physical disease is the disharmony of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies. A really good way to learn the root cause of any condition, physical or emotional, is to dowse with a pendulum. Lapis works really well to alleviate depression caused by such energetic disharmony, and any physical ailments that may have manifested because of it as well (this is for those who are already familiar with working with crystals; don't worry if this paragraph confuses you.)
In addition to opening the third eye and intuitive abilities this is a great crystal for STUDENTS and all seekers of knowledge. It helps with the LEARNING process, stimulating mental faculties and MEMORY, and induces creative thought.
Additionally, lapis is PROTECTIVE and will return any negative energy sent your away back to its source. This stone bonds and strengthens relationships, including romantic ones, so can be a useful crystal for love magic. It also helps to clear stress and anxiety, bringing CALM and serenity.
Lapis Lazuli is also beneficial in many PRACTICAL WAYS. Creating a grid in the home is ideal for a turbulent household where teenagers create drama, or anyone in the house is otherwise difficult to communicate with. Lapis should be carried to the workplace as a charm to help one become noticed by superiors and receive a PROMOTION. Also a talisman for performers, carry a lapis with you to an audition to help you stand out. Additionally, this is a wonderful crystal to use with CHILDREN, as its gentle energies help to soothe and calm hyperactivity.
Physically, lapis heals the throat and larynx, and balances the thyroid. This is a great crystal for balancing female hormones, regulating the menstrual cycle, alleviating side effects of menopause, and treating PMS. It is a healer of physical pain, especially headaches and migraines, and can be paired with amethyst for a boost of healing power. It supports the nervous and respiratory systems, and is used to treat hearing loss and purify the blood. It also boosts the immune system and helps with insomnia, so if amethyst does not work for you, try sleeping with a lapis under your pillow (everyone works differently with different crystals, no matter what the books tell you.) Also, lapis vibes especially well with Sun Sign SAGITTARIANS.
Lapis should NOT BE PLACED IN WATER; slight water exposure is okay, but too much will damage the calcite content of this stone, so I would simply avoid cleansing lapis in water altogether. Its energies are lunar, so I recommend leaving this crystal out on the night of a full moon for a good monthly cleansing.
So basically, this is your stone for everything third eye and throat chakra...and then some. Enjoy! :)
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Your Guide to Working with AMETHYST
Hey everyone, love and light! For my first blog post about crystals, it seems appropriate to talk about AMETHYST. This is always going to be the crystal that initially attracts those just beginning their work with minerals. Why? Well, it's probably a combination of several factors - first of all, with it's signature purple hue (the result of iron and aluminum impurities, and also some irradiation), amethyst is very pleasing to the eye. This is also an extremely common crystal, so its availability makes it appealing to those unfamiliar with some of the rarer crystal beauties. Additionally, the energy emitted by this stone is light and approachable, but also powerful and easily felt. So, with all this in mind, it is important to talk about this popular member of the quartz family, and why it not only captures the attention of those tentatively interested in the mineral kingdom, but easily remains a favorite of the New Age community.
Our love affair with amethyst started with the Ancients. Historically, it was believed to promote sobriety, so was a favorite of the Ancient Romans, who sipped from cups made of this beautiful stone in hopes of preventing drunkenness. Still today, amethyst is regarded as one of the very best crystals for those working to combat ADDICTIONS, particularly ALCHOLISM (though it makes a great addition to mojo bags for quitting smoking, drug addictions, etc.) This is also one of the stones that adorned the biblical breastplate of the high priest.
One of the most important crystals to leave in the bedroom, Amethyst should be left under the pillow to serve several functions. First of all, this is the best stone for combatting insomnia and bringing restful sleep. In addition, Amethyst prevents nightmares, making it a must - have in the bedrooms of children plagued by mental monsters. It brings sweet and INTUITIVE dreams that can offer you guidance in the everyday world. A gentle opener of the third eye chakra, this is a wonderful stone for slowly (but nevertheless, effectively) developing your intuition and latent psychic abilities. For those who practice tarot or other forms of divination, amethyst is wonderful to have on you during sessions to boost your natural intuition and psychic awareness. The best thing about this crystal is that its gentle and comforting - it won't blow open your third eye, like atacamite or apophyllite, for instance - and is "safe" for anyone to use. Additionally, this is a GREAT companion for meditation, helping you to detach yourself from the world of the mundane and enter a meditative state (which is no easy task.)
Amethyst makes a very powerful healer of pain, both physically and emotionally. It is a wonderful crystal to use to heal grief and sorrow (and should be paired with an apache tear for maximum potency). Physically, amethyst is one of the best stone for treating headaches, especially those which are rooted in stress or lack of sleep, and can be placed over any sight of physical pain to transmute it. In addition to working on the emotional body to alleviate grief and sorrow, amethyst also clears anger, anxiety, and fear.
Amethyst also has a highly PROTECTIVE function, blocking any negative energy sent your way (intentionally or not.) It is worth mentioning that like fluorite, amethyst needs to be cleansed regularly due to its ability to absorb a large amount of negativity energy quickly (I know there is some debate regarding the necessity of cleansing crystals, but even just running the amethyst under water for a few minutes will do the trick - it's so easy, so why not just do it?) Amethyst also makes an ideal crystal for cleansing a room, surrounding it with a shield of protection that is easily felt. It especially makes a wonderful addition to a room in which someone is trying to heal from an illness, clearing out any negative energy and setting up the perfect space in which to obtain optimum health (a large geode or cluster placed in a room and cleansed regularly will keep the vibes light and fresh, and neutralize anything negative that may waft in.)
Physically, amethyst supports the endocrine system, and is also said to cleanse the organs of elimination. It is used to heal the intestines and digestive tract, and when made into an elixir, is wonderful on the skin. It is also said to treat hearing disorders. It is one of the most effective crystal for clearing the pain of a HEADACHE.
As far as cleansing your amethyst, these little babes LOVE the moon! On the night of a full moon, leave them out to soak up some of that lunar energy - they will love it (and you!) Whatever you do, keep your amethyst OUT OF THE SUN. Not only do they not really appreciate it (they vibe much better with the moon) but the beautiful purple pigment will fade if exposed to too much sunlight. Stick to moonlight with amethyst!
Honestly, there is even still MORE I could have said about this lovely member of the quartz family. If you have any questions about working with this stone (or, of course, anything else crystal related) please feel free to comment below. Now, go start your crystal collection (if you have not already) and pick up one of these violet beauties.
Love & light!
Our love affair with amethyst started with the Ancients. Historically, it was believed to promote sobriety, so was a favorite of the Ancient Romans, who sipped from cups made of this beautiful stone in hopes of preventing drunkenness. Still today, amethyst is regarded as one of the very best crystals for those working to combat ADDICTIONS, particularly ALCHOLISM (though it makes a great addition to mojo bags for quitting smoking, drug addictions, etc.) This is also one of the stones that adorned the biblical breastplate of the high priest.
One of the most important crystals to leave in the bedroom, Amethyst should be left under the pillow to serve several functions. First of all, this is the best stone for combatting insomnia and bringing restful sleep. In addition, Amethyst prevents nightmares, making it a must - have in the bedrooms of children plagued by mental monsters. It brings sweet and INTUITIVE dreams that can offer you guidance in the everyday world. A gentle opener of the third eye chakra, this is a wonderful stone for slowly (but nevertheless, effectively) developing your intuition and latent psychic abilities. For those who practice tarot or other forms of divination, amethyst is wonderful to have on you during sessions to boost your natural intuition and psychic awareness. The best thing about this crystal is that its gentle and comforting - it won't blow open your third eye, like atacamite or apophyllite, for instance - and is "safe" for anyone to use. Additionally, this is a GREAT companion for meditation, helping you to detach yourself from the world of the mundane and enter a meditative state (which is no easy task.)
Amethyst makes a very powerful healer of pain, both physically and emotionally. It is a wonderful crystal to use to heal grief and sorrow (and should be paired with an apache tear for maximum potency). Physically, amethyst is one of the best stone for treating headaches, especially those which are rooted in stress or lack of sleep, and can be placed over any sight of physical pain to transmute it. In addition to working on the emotional body to alleviate grief and sorrow, amethyst also clears anger, anxiety, and fear.
Amethyst also has a highly PROTECTIVE function, blocking any negative energy sent your way (intentionally or not.) It is worth mentioning that like fluorite, amethyst needs to be cleansed regularly due to its ability to absorb a large amount of negativity energy quickly (I know there is some debate regarding the necessity of cleansing crystals, but even just running the amethyst under water for a few minutes will do the trick - it's so easy, so why not just do it?) Amethyst also makes an ideal crystal for cleansing a room, surrounding it with a shield of protection that is easily felt. It especially makes a wonderful addition to a room in which someone is trying to heal from an illness, clearing out any negative energy and setting up the perfect space in which to obtain optimum health (a large geode or cluster placed in a room and cleansed regularly will keep the vibes light and fresh, and neutralize anything negative that may waft in.)
Physically, amethyst supports the endocrine system, and is also said to cleanse the organs of elimination. It is used to heal the intestines and digestive tract, and when made into an elixir, is wonderful on the skin. It is also said to treat hearing disorders. It is one of the most effective crystal for clearing the pain of a HEADACHE.
As far as cleansing your amethyst, these little babes LOVE the moon! On the night of a full moon, leave them out to soak up some of that lunar energy - they will love it (and you!) Whatever you do, keep your amethyst OUT OF THE SUN. Not only do they not really appreciate it (they vibe much better with the moon) but the beautiful purple pigment will fade if exposed to too much sunlight. Stick to moonlight with amethyst!
Honestly, there is even still MORE I could have said about this lovely member of the quartz family. If you have any questions about working with this stone (or, of course, anything else crystal related) please feel free to comment below. Now, go start your crystal collection (if you have not already) and pick up one of these violet beauties.
Love & light!
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