Saturday, January 22, 2011

Playing with Stones, Crystals and other Gems




Last weekend, I was strolling through the mall, without kids, and on the way to do my grocery shopping. I happened to stumble across two tables laden with beautiful stones & crystals of all shapes and varieties. After talking with the man who was presenting the stones, I told him I was going to choose something, but that I had to settle down ... I was looking with my magpie eyes and not with my heart. He knowingly withdrew his energy from me, sat down and allowed me to choose, without interfering. I am very attracted to raw stones, and I also like to wear them as pendants, so that cut down the list considerably. I was attracted to a bright turquoise stone, that I'd never seen before and a dark blue stone that only could have been Lapis Lazuli. The other stone turned out to be Amazonite. ( I will post pictures a little later).




I have been wearing the Amazonite for several days in a row now, and it is singularly the most calming stone I have ever met. On a normal day, I am relatively calm, but with two young children, my balance gets upset more than once every day. It takes a lot for me to stay level-headed, happy and at peace. But with this piece of Amazonite around my neck, I feel more calm, more relaxed and more at ease than I have in many years. I am so grateful. In "The Crystal Bible", Amazonite is described as follows: "This is an extremely soothing stone. It calms the brain and nervous system and aligns the physical body with the etheric body, maintaining optimum health. It balances the masculine and feminine energies and many aspects of the personality. It is a stone that helps you to see both sides of a problem or different points of view. At an emotional level, Amazonite soothes emotional trauma, alleviating worry and fear. It dispels negative energy and aggravation." The book does reveal more about the stone, but this will give you a rough idea ...








Stones, crystals, rocks and all other forms of minerals truly have so much to offer us. It is my belief that stones hold more than just scientific information ~ There is a wealth of spiritual information that is coming straight out of the earth upon which we tread. Stones hold the memories of our planet. It is up to you and I to ask the right questions. Here is a simple meditation you can do with your stones in order to cleanse them of negative energies and to prepare them for use:




Get into a comfortable position. Some people like to sit cross-legged with a straight back. Others may have an easier time lying down on the floor. If you choose to lie down, don't get so comfortable that you feel sleepy! Have your stone nearby, but don't hold it yet. Get yourself settled, body & mind, breathe in and out through the nose. When you feel that you have slipped into a quieter space, pick up your stone. Continue to breathe in and out, focusing at the point between your eyes on the exhale. Feel your breathing start to coincide with the pulse of the stone.




Now visualize white light surrounding the stone, penetrating it, cleansing it of all energies. When you are finished the stone's energy should feel somewhat neutral. Before you charge your crystal, it is wise to ask the stone to reveal itself to you. You may ask "what do you have to offer" or "what can I learn from you"? Wait quietly for the answer, and be prepared that it may sound like your own voice ~ because of this, it can be easy to miss the answer! Now you may charge your stone. Charging a stone is basically like programming the stone with your wishes. For me, with the Amazonite, I asked for a calming quiet energy, and to be notified when I am getting anxious. You can say "I charge this stone with _______ energy. Please guide me with your energy, and notify me when I stray from my truth".






Other ways to cleanse a stone include bathing it in the light of a full moon, passing it through the smoke of burning incense or a smudge, or washing it with cool water (check to see if it's safe for your particular stone - some stones will disintegrate when in contact with water). Enjoy!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Perspective

It has been a long time since I wrote an honest post about myself ... or at least it feels like it. During that time, I am certain that I have strayed further away from myself than perhaps ever before. But not without reason, of course. Being slightly outside of myself allowed me to check out my life objectively, and I am back to life with some new things to add.

For the first time since my eldest child was born, I have stopped wondering what I am going to do with my time once both children are in school. I feel that all the projects I've been a part of in the last few years have planted many seeds in many places. ~ Mom to Mom Support Group ~ Woman & Spirit Workshops ~ Baking By Design ~ So many opportunities yet to be presented that I can hardly wait to find out what they are. It is amazing. And the stress and the worry about having time on my hands has vanished. In all honesty, I can't wait to have some time on my hands. Time to devote to myself, to meditation, to running, to yoga, and eventually to some sort of paying work. At this point in time, I find myself wondering if I need to commit to anything at all? Who knows, maybe I will bake a few cakes one month, and do reflexology or energy work the next month. Maybe I will own a business, or maybe I will work for a corporation. Whatever happens, my number one priority will be to my children ~ being home for them when they get home from school. Having that time to connect with them before the rush of dinner and homework. There is the possibility that they would rather play with their friends, or watch television ... but I know I will get my time in with them.

For today, I am enjoying their littleness. They are great people with big personalities and contagious laughs, and they have so much they want to share with us. All my kids seem to want from me lately is my Time. And thankfully, that is something I can give to them wholeheartedly.