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Blue Chalcedony is a periwinkle blue, cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz known for its soothing influence and ability to enhance joy. A Crystal Message about the Healing Properties of Blue Chalcedony: "I find peace in my environment, and more importantly, within myself." Common Healing Properties of Blue Chalcedony: Enhances group cooperation and communication Helps you speak up when it's difficult, but necessary for the highest good of all Aids in successful telepathy Facilitates the creation of a soothing environment Transforms "negative" energy into positive energy (energy that's for your highest good) Brings a sense of balance to the mind, body, and spirit Enhances generosity (of yourself or of others) Brings joy to any situation Increases self-confidence Enhances enthusiasm Stifles bad dreams and promotes restful sleep Cleanses emotional wounds Dispels energetic causes of dementia Regulates energetic circulation   Colors: Translucent, cornflower to sky blue Associated Chakras: 5th (Throat) Zodiac Signs: Aquarius, Pisces, Libra Elements: Air, Water Companion Flowers: Vinca Companion Essential Oil: Linden Blossom Companion Stone: Pink Fluorite Common Origins: Namibia Notes: If banded, then it's called Blue Lace Agate. Wanna’ Get Science-y? Click Here to get more information about this crystal!     Metaphysical Uses of Blue Chalcedony: Similar to Peach Moonstone, Blue Chalcedony has a very gentle energy. It is almost ethereal, enhancing the connection between yourself and those on the other side who have important messages to share with you.  A high energy stone, this crystal allows contact with only those spirits or ancestors who are working for your highest good and protects you from any negative entities. Blue Chalcedony has a sweet energy and enhances charm and likeability. It’s a great stone for those who need to work closely with others in a group, or those who need to assume leadership positions. Further, this crystal helps you keep a cool head in difficult situations or when working with opposing personalities. Blue Chalcedony is a stone of balance, which can counteract any scattered tendencies, as sometimes we want to have things both ways. Compromise and generosity, chalcedony’s gifts, encourage our better side. The stone fosters openness, agreeability, and personal charm. Its milky appearance suggests some of the properties historically associated with it. For example, Italian women traditionally wear chalcedony beads after childbirth for successful lactation. Chalcedony — especially the common blue kind — has a cool, soft quality soothes energetic causes of inflammation of the eyes, blood, and sexual organs.   /* More Information About Chalcedony: The name chalcedony (pronounced “kal-SEH-duh-nee”) is a blanket term for many varieties of cryptocrystalline (small-grained) Quartz.  Often when jewelers and gemologists talk about chalcedony, they mean the white-to-blue variety, but we’ve also seen lovely specimens (like Black Mystic Chalcedony). Chalcedony exists in almost every color. In fact, many forms of Quartz are technically also forms of chalcedony: jaspers, agates, onyx — even petrified wood! The reason for this is that when Earth’s geological activity breaks up her abundant supply of quartz, small crystals often morph into something new, picking up all kinds of minerals and other stuff in the process. The large crystalline pieces are varieties of Quartz, the banded varieties are Agates, the opaque varieties are Jaspers, and the translucent varieties without banding are Chalcedony (generally speaking).       Pin it!     Want to grow your knowledge & become a CONFIDENT Certified Crystal Healer? Find out more about my CCH and Advanced Crystal Practitioner Programs HERE!

Keeping yourself protected is an important part of health and wellness. Setting boundaries is an important part of this work - and crystals can help to energetically support you during this process.  This crystal layout for shielding your energy body can help to protect you from the energy of others or from outside energies in your environment.  When you work preventatively to stay protected, you keep yourself from being depleted and you’re better able to stay in balance and alignment. Remove Outside Energies from Your Aura: Start creating this crystal layout  for shielding by placing a vertical line of four Smoky Quartz crystals on either side of the body. There should be a total of eight stones placed in two separate lines.  These crystals help to energetically dissolve any outside energy or psychic debris that has accumulated in your field. By removing this energy, you’re bringing your own energy back into balance. This way, you’re better able to deal with new incoming energies as they emerge. Protect Yourself from Incoming Energy: Next, you should place a Tektite stone a few inches above your head. This will help to create a psychic shield around your physical body and your aura. Then, place a piece of Hematite between and just below your feet. This will help to keep you grounded and connected to the earth.  When you’re rooted into the earth, you can continuously pull in a stream of energy into your aura to keep your energy reserves full. This will stop you from getting depleted easily. In each of your hands, hold a piece of Labradorite (so two pieces total) to shield your physical and energetic bodies from picking up on outside energy. This is especially helpful for those who are highly sensitive or for those who have trouble setting boundaries. Simplify When You Don’t Have Time or Space for a Full Crystal Layout: If you’re in need of some quick support with shielding or boundary setting, try just holding a Labradorite stone in your hands (or one in each hand). Doing something small like this is much better than doing nothing at all because you're lacking in time or space. You may find it helpful to keep a piece of Labradorite with you for anytime the need may arise. You can also keep things convenient by wearing a Labradorite pendant or bracelet to use in a pinch!   Want to grow your knowledge & become a CONFIDENT Certified Crystal Healer? Find out more about my CCH and Advanced Crystal Practitioner Programs HERE! Enrollment opens soon...  

Azurite is a deep indigo blue, monoclinic mineral that's best known for its connection with intuition and psychic awareness. A Crystal Affirmation for Azurite:  "I accept and trust my inner guidance and embrace my intuition and psychic skills." Common Healing Properties of Azurite: Enhances a connection with the Earth Facilitates the growth of your nurturing qualities Enhances psychic vision and mystical experience Offers protection during astral travel Aids in acceptance of your natural intuitive gifts Promotes truth Encourages personal growth Enhances cosmic connection Useful for honing your psychic skills Helps you deepen meditative states Encourages you to find stillness in the present moment   Join me as I discuss the Properties, Lore, & Meaning of Azurite!     Healing Properties of Azurite: Associations & Correspondences Colors: Deep indigo blue Associated Chakras: 6th (Third Eye/Brow) Zodiac Signs: Pisces, Aquarius, Gemini Elements: Water, Earth Companion Flowers: Grape Hyacinth (Muscaria) Companion Essential Oil: Blue Lotus Companion Stone: Tangerine Calcite Common Origins: Morocco, Arizona, Greece, Namibia, France, Australia Notes: Also known as Chessylite, Chessy Copper, Lasur, Blue Malachite, or as Kuanos Wanna’ Get Science-y? Click Here to get more information about this crystal! More About Azurite: Azurite is a member of the monoclinic crystal system.  It is a deep, indigo blue and can be found in a range of formations including opaque, spherical nodules and gemmy, tabular crystal clusters. Along with Malachite, Azurite is a mineral commonly found near copper deposits, where it can take on an astonishing variety of formations. You may see it as a crystal, a stalactite, a bright blue stone with lighter patterning, a midnight blue mass, a prickly little nodule, or in hundreds of other forms. This deep indigo stone is connected to the Third Eye center and stimulates creative expression and the imagination. Work with this crystal when you need a little intuitive help understanding the thoughts or feelings of others. When you can put yourself in someone else’s shoes (or their head for that matter), it’s easier to hold compassion for them and work in cooperation. Azurite Lore: Because it is a soft stone with an intense color, ground-up azurite has long been used as a pigment. For example, priests in ancient Egypt would use it to paint the Eye of Horus on their foreheads. Its connection with the third eye center is very strong, and it’s often recommended as a crystal to use for intuitive development and connection with heaven. In fact, the people of ancient China called Azurite the "Stone of Heaven" because they believed it helped them find the Heavenly Gateway, the path between heaven and earth. It’s a good crystal to have near you when you’re meditating, or when you want to connect with your guides and angels. In more modern times, the Sleeping Prophet, Edgar Cayce, referred to this stone as Lapis Linguis in several of his readings and recommended it to promote intuitive development. One Way to Work with Azurite: This indigo crystal is well known for enhancing your intuition and stimulating your Inner Eye. Place a piece over your Brow to connect with the universe in a deeper way and call forth the messages it’s trying to share with you. The copper in this stone acts like a conduit for energy, channeling it straight to your pineal gland, your body’s receiver for cosmic wisdom. Hold Azurite in your hands to help you interpret the messages, words, or symbols that come through.   Azurite Safety: Be mindful of the fact that this ore contains a lot of copper. It may also give off harmful sulfur fumes when exposed to water, so please keep your pieces dry and handle them with care (be especially careful around dust given off by rough stones or ...

Learn about the Wheel of the Year and Ostara in my latest podcast! Tune in here… One way that I like to connect with the seasons and cycles of the earth is by tuning into The Wheel of the Year. This is a relatively new practice for me, but I'm finding the journey into exploring this way of being in flow with the seasons to be an enjoyable one! Read on to discover how you can connect more deeply with the earth's natural cycles in your spiritual practice...   The Wheel of the Year can help you tune into natural cycles (similar to the Lunar Phases - but on an annual scale rather than just monthly) and helps you internalize these outward changes in nature as reflections of the growth and evolution you experience in your own life. Living in harmony with the seasons and the ebb and flow of nature helps you to lead a more soulful life and to cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself on a soul level. The Wheel of the Year helps you recognize who you are and your role in the world around you. So what is the Wheel of the Year? Separated into 8 main holidays, the Wheel of the Year is a representation of seasonal cycles that focuses on the 4 Solar Holidays of the year (also known as the quarter days). This stems from the Anglo-Saxon cultural observations of the solstices and equinoxes, with the addition of the 4 Gaelic, agrarian, seasonal celebrations (the mid-points between the solar holidays known as the lunar cross-quarter days or fire festivals). Although some of the holidays observed in the Wheel of the Year are quite old, The Wheel of the Year as a whole is fairly modern (being developed in the late 1950s). Though I don't personally follow the tradition that created the contemporary Wheel of the Year, I do find it a helpful way to think about the passage of time and what's happening in the world at each time of year. I tend to identify more with the Gaelic Cross-Quarter Days, as they stem from my ancestral heritage, than I do with the Anglo-Saxon solstices and equinoxes, but I do find value in these quarter days because they more closely align with the seasons as I observe them where I live in Madison, Wisconsin. For example, though my ancestors in Ireland and Scotland celebrated Imbolc as the beginning of Spring, I don't quite feel things awakening until the time of Ostara, the Spring Equinox, here in the United States. For this reason, these seasonal markers are important for helping me feel connected to what's happening in nature all year long, while the cross-quarter days hold more spiritual significance for me in other ways. An Introduction to Ostara: Ostara, or the Spring Equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere, is the first of the quarter days, which marks the second of the spring holidays (the mid-point between Imbolc and Beltane). Ostara is traditionally celebrated on the day of the Vernal Equinox, determined by when the Sun is directly over the earth's equator (this date may range from March 19th through March 22nd each year depending on the Sun's position). Modern Ostara celebrations stem from the contemporary Wheel of the Year, where Ostara is associated with the Spring Equinox and is celebrated as a time of new beginnings and the re-emergence of life after the depth of winter. Set up your Ostara Altar with me! / Ostara Crystals: Green Aventurine Pink Opal Moonstone Bloodstone Lepidolite Citrine Morganite Heliodor Rhodonite Aquamarine Rose Quartz Golden Quartz Amethyst Eclipse Jasper Yellow Jasper   Ostara Signifies the Time for: Abundance Renewal Fertility Growth Balance Joy New beginnings & change Taking action Blessings Light Celebrating the return of all things green The coming of Spring Rebirth Why celebrate Ostara? Ostara welcomes in the Spring, the return of longer days, and the renewal of the land. At this time,

A Crystal Message about the Healing Properties of Rainforest Jasper: "I am gently grounded as I listen to the whispers of the earth and connect to the energy of my crystals."   Common Healing Properties of Rainforest Jasper: Promotes a connection with nature Enhances a “green thumb” and to expands your knowledge of the plant kingdom (especially of herbalism) Instills respect for all living things Connects you with Gaia (the Earth Mother) Stimulates creativity Enhances love and trust in a relationship   Colors: Mottled spots of clear, brown, gold, and orange on a base of olive green Associated Chakras: 1st (Root), 4th (Heart) Zodiac Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Elements: Earth Companion Flowers: Trillium Companion Essential Oil: Oregano Companion Stone: Orange Aventurine Common Origins: Australia Notes: Also known as Rainforest Rhyolite or as Rainforest Rhyolite Jasper. Wanna’ Get Science-y? Click Here to get more information about this crystal! More Information About Jasper: Jaspers are primarily quartz (silicon dioxide, or SO2) which has been broken down and reformed within the earth, often picking up traces of other minerals in the process. More complex jaspers may even include veins or small pieces of other minerals. Some jaspers are actually agates, rhyolites, or other types of stones. In general, jaspers are associated with grounding and connection to Mother Earth. The heavily patterned ones are often also associated with creativity and mental focus. Jasper comes in a huge variety of colors and patterns, many named for plants and animals. These names not only describe the stone's appearance, they add meaning to the stone's uses as well. Leopardskin jasper is particularly associated with animal communication -- which makes a lot of sense, as leopards themselves have long been seen as messengers. Dalmatian jasper's associations extend to its properties; it's fun, loyal, and cheers you up when you need a friend. As you might guess, elephant skin jasper ties in with memory and wisdom. Across many cultures and times, we've come to see and make use of many connections between plant, animal and mineral kingdoms, as well as connections with eternal realms. If this crystal shows up for you, it's a reminder to clear your space - you'll feel much better after you've removed any unwanted energies, people, or beliefs from your physical and mental space. It also reminds you to get in touch with the happiness of your inner child - to bask in the joy and light of the sun.   Pin it!   Want to grow your knowledge & become a CONFIDENT Certified Crystal Healer? Find out more about my CCH and Advanced Crystal Practitioner Programs HERE! Enrollment opens soon...

Crystal grids are an amazing and effective way to work with crystal energy. Plus, they’re absolutely stunning to look at! You can use grids to create positive energy flows, for protection and to enhance your manifestation practice. You can even create a crystal grid for wellness and health, which is what you’ll learn to create in today’s blog and podcast!   This grid recipe for wellness is from my book, Crystals for Energy Healing, and can be used to energetically support your health and wellness.   /* Creating Your Crystal Grid for Wellness Begin by gathering your supplies and making sure that all of your crystals have been cleansed.  Create an intention statement for your grid such as, “My physical body is healthy and well.”  Your intention may be general if you’d just like to focus on overall physical health. You may also get as specific as you like to your idea of wellness when crafting your intention statement. Your Crystal Grid for Wellness Supplies: One Emerald stone (or a green stone connected with wellness like Green Aventurine, Nephrite Jade, or Bloodstone). Four Ruby stones (or any combination of red stones connected with vitality like Carnelian, Red Jasper, or Red Aventurine). Four Red Pyrope Garnet stones (or any combination of grounding stones like Black Tourmaline, Smoky Quartz, or Petrified Wood). Eight Clear Quartz crystal points (or tumbled stones will do in a pinch). One small, square, piece of red paper or cloth (for vitality and energizing) - optional. One small, square, piece of green paper or cloth (for general wellness and healing) - optional. Build Your Crystal Grid for Wellness Place your red paper or cloth (if you’re using one) in the area where you will set up your grid.  Place your green cloth (if you’re using one) on top of the red cloth, but turn it so that only the four corners of the red cloth show beneath the green square. Set the Emerald crystal (or a green stone if you’re making a substitution) in the center of the grid. This represents physical healing and wellness. Be sure to state your intention, aloud or to yourself, when placing this stone. Doing this will anchor your intention into the grid.  Next, place the four Ruby crystals (for vitality), on top of the corners of the red cloth. Do this in a square shape, around your central stone.  Then, place the four Red Pyrope Garnet crystals in a square shape between the Ruby stones (one in each corner of the green cloth). This represents grounding and stability. Finally, place the eight clear Quartz crystal points, one between the Emerald stone and each of the eight red stones, with the points facing in toward the Emerald. These will act to amplify your intention. Activating Your Crystal Grid After all of your crystals have been placed, you’ll need to activate your crystal grid.  Activation is the process of connecting the energy of the stones within your grid and unifying them to work together toward a common purpose.  This process enhances the energy of the stones so that the energy of the grid becomes greater than the sum of its individual crystal parts. For step by step instructions on how to activate your grid, check out my article How to Create and Use a Crystal Grid Step-by-Step here.   Leave this grid in place for as long as you feel you need the healing energy, but be sure to update your intention statement as needed if your health situation changes.   Want to grow your knowledge & become a CONFIDENT Certified Crystal Healer? Find out more about my CCH and Advanced Crystal Practitioner Programs HERE! Enrollment opens soon...  

Keeping the energy body healthy and in balance is equally as important as maintaining your physical health.  A healthy diet, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep can go a long way toward good health. However, to round things out, you should consider incorporating crystal healing layouts for energetic support as well.   Performing a layout for yourself can be a bit challenging. I’m talking reaching far, struggling with flexibility, and having all your crystals roll away when you try to place the next ones. Don’t fret! You can still make even a complicated crystal layout work.  Did you know you can apply the principles of distance healing to a layout for yourself? You just need a representation of you -- this could be a photograph or your name written on a piece of paper. Plus, a “stand-in” for your body, like a distance healing board or a drawing of the human body. You can place your crystal layout for physical wellbeing on this stand-in and intend to send healing to yourself. Or, you can use this same method for sending healing distantly to friends, family, or clients. It's kind of like working with a crystal grid for healing, but a little different. If you want to learn everything you need to know about working with crystal energy, my Crystal Healing Certification program is opening for enrollment very soon! Find out more and join the program waitlist here. The following crystal layout for physical wellbeing helps to draw energy into the body and keeps your energy channels open, giving you an energy boost and helping to keep you from feeling depleted. Watch my quick video walkthrough now: Get Grounded: Begin by placing a black, brown, or red grounding crystal between and just below your feet. This is the area of your Earth Star Chakra, a minor chakra that helps maintain the grounding cord between your physical and energetic bodies.  Placing a stone like Black Tourmaline, Red Garnet, Smoky Quartz, Black Onyx, or Red Jasper in this location helps to keep you grounded and connected to your body while you’re within the crystal layout.  It also helps you readily absorb the energy from the other stones in the layout. This is because it opens up your energy channels, allowing the crystal energy to flow through you unimpeded. Next, place a grounding stone next to each hip on either side of your body.  Petrified Wood, Bronzite, Smoky Quartz, Dravite Tourmaline, or Septarian Nodule are perfect for this.  Place the stones just below your hip bones where your legs attach to the main part of your body.  These two crystals work to anchor your energy body during the session so that the energy flows easily integrated between the physical body and the aura. The upside-down triangle that’s created between the grounding crystal below your feet and the two stones near your hips helps to direct and expand grounding energy from the earth up into your body. Energetically Support Your Physical Body: To create a positive shift in your physical body and call in balance and wellbeing, place a dark green stone above each of your shoulders.  Stones like Malachite, Emerald, Green Aventurine, Buddstone, or Bloodstone all work well for this.  When connected with the stones near the hips, these crystals help to create a long, rectangular shape around the torso. This surrounds it in healing energy, which helps you anchor into yourself.  The deep green color of these stones is associated with healing. It will help to correct any energetic imbalances within your field. If you’re dealing with discomfort from stress, like headaches, upset stomach, muscle tension, and loss of appetite, you can energetically support yourself by placing a yellow stone over the stomach. Keep Yourself Clear: Finally, place a clear or white crystal, like Selenite, Scolecite, Clear Quartz, Howlite, or Clear Calcite, just above the head near the area of the Crown Chakra.  The purpose of the stone here is to cleanse any energetic debris f...

One way that I like to connect with the seasons and cycles of the earth is by tuning into The Wheel of the Year. As we approach Imbolc (here in the Northern Hemisphere), I’m reminded of all that the Wheel of the Year represents: the cycles of light and dark, and of the constant flow and unending cycle of all things from birth, growth, and death to rebirth.   The Wheel of the Year can help you tune into natural cycles (similar to the Lunar Phases - but on an annual scale rather than just monthly) and helps you internalize these outward changes in nature as reflections of the growth and evolution you experience in your own life. Living in harmony with the seasons and the ebb and flow of nature helps you to lead a more soulful life and to cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself on a soul level. The Wheel of the Year helps you recognize who you are and your role in the world around you. Learn more about the Wheel of the Year and Imbolc in my latest podcast! Tune in here…   So what is the Wheel of the Year? Separated into 8 main holidays, the Wheel of the Year is a representation of seasonal cycles that focuses on the 4 Solar Holidays of the year (also known as the quarter days). This stems from the Anglo-Saxon cultural observations of the solstices and equinoxes, with the addition of the 4 Gaelic, agrarian, seasonal celebrations (the mid-points between the solar holidays known as the lunar cross-quarter days or fire festivals). An Introduction to Imbolc: February 1st is Imbolc (here in the Northern Hemisphere), the first of the cross-quarter days, which marks the beginning of spring (the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox). It’s origins are connected to the lambing season, or calving period when animals would begin giving milk, and the beginning of spring sowing of the ancient Celts.  Though Imbolc is most widely celebrated on February 1st, it may also be celebrated on the true midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox (or on the evening of the Full Moon nearest this date - or on the evening of the Full Moon in Aquarius...though some dispute this and say it’s on the New Moon in Aquarius). You may also choose to adjust the date of your Imbolc celebration to coincide with your exact location, by celebrating when the first spring flowers (like Snowdrops, Crocuses, Daffodils, Dandelions, or Primroses) emerge and bloom. Set up your Imbolc Altar with me! Imbolc Crystals: Red Garnet Carnelian Black Onyx Bloodstone Pyrite Orange Calcite Golden Calcite Citrine Amethyst Azurite Ruby Golden Tiger’s Eye Red Jasper Malachite Peridot Turquoise White Moonstone   Imbolc Signifies the Time for: Renewal Fertility & Midwifery Coziness Love Purification & Cleansing Birth & Rebirth Transformation & Change Emergence Hope Growth Grief Initiation Gardening & Planting Seeds (Sprouting) Late Winter Anticipation Release of What No Longer Serves You Imagination & New Ideas Inklings of Spring Prosperity Spring Cleaning Protection Communication Planning & Preparation New Beginnings Awakening Creativity Warmth Return of the Light Why celebrate Imbolc? Imbolc celebrates the first inkling of Spring and welcomes in new growth and the return of warmth to the land after we’ve made our way through the darkest and coldest of the winter months. This is a celebration of hearth and home as we prepare ourselves and our spaces for the return of spring, making it the perfect time for very early garden chores and for spring cleaning your home and altar. Imbolc is a time to hold space for renewal, fertility, purification, rebirth, hope, growth, planning, and new beginnings.  Imbolc’s name comes from the Gaelic phrase “in the belly” referring to the abundance of pregnant ewes at this time of year, but is also said to mean “to wash”,

A Crystal Message about the Healing Properties of Selenite: "I am energy manifested in the physical realm. I embody peace and clarity in all I do." Common Healing Properties of Selenite: Used for purification Cleanses the chakras and the aura Enriches the dream state and helps you receive intuitive messages in your dreams Facilitates spiritual growth and ascension Enhances the connection between your conscious mind and your Higher Self Promotes a connection with your divine self or with the divine feminine Aids in the ascension process Helps you channel universal source energy for healing Promotes a good night's sleep Helps you overcome past life issues Encourages new friendships Promotes love and empathy Eases mental or emotional shock Clears the mind before meditation Enhances your ability to follow your spiritual path Brings white light into your energy body being Promotes peace and harmony Helps you connect with the energy of the Moon and with Moon Goddesses Clears out mental clutter and stagnant energy Enhances self-confidence Cleanses and charges other crystals Helps in decision making Use as a "runway" back to the physical realm after astral travel or dreamwork Helps you connect with other realms and dimensions more easily (especially the angelic realm) Clears spaces of energetic debris Can be added to a crystal grid for the protection of your home   /*   Colors: Clear to shiny, brilliant white Associated Chakras: 7th (Crown) Zodiac Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces Elements: Air, Water Companion Flowers: Snow in Summer Companion Essential Oil: Orchid Companion Stone: Black Tourmaline Common Origins: Morocco, Mexico Notes: A variety of Gypsum. While the name Selenite technically applies to clear crystals, "Satin Spar" Gypsum (which is white and striated) is also Selenite. Wanna’ Get Science-y? Click Here to get more information about this crystal!   More About Selenite: Selenite is a pearly-white form of gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate). It is named for the moon goddess Selene (the Greek goddess of the full moon), probably because its sheen resembles the light of a full moon. Both the full moon and selenite purify energy. Although colorless, the parallel striations that run the length of this crystal often give it a whitish appearance. Gypsum’s otherworldly tendencies continue today in the white sands of New Mexico, which are so bright they can be seen from space. A crystal ball made of selenite can represent the full moon (for rituals or magical workings), especially at times when the moon is in another phase or the night is cloudy. Since selenite has a reputation as a scrying stone and a record-keeper, this fits right in with this beautiful stone’s still-developing tradition of use. A natural insulator, it often warms up when held. Large, thin sheets of Selenite were once used for windowpanes and smaller sheets were used as eyeglass lenses.  The Cave of Crystals in Naica, Mexico, discovered in the year 2000, is filled with giant Selenite crystals, some of them hundreds of feet tall. It forms natural wands, but may also be easily carved or etched. Selenite can be damaged by water, so please don’t cleanse it in water or use it in an elixir. Small pieces may also come off in needle-like slivers, so handle it carefully. The chemical formula of Selenite is CaSO4 . 2H2O   One Way to Work with Selenite: When you work with Selenite for healing, it’s like having a direct connection to the universal source (divine or universal energy). This energy is incredibly cleansing and purifying. Rough, Selenite wands (sometimes called blades), are the most common form of Selenite. They're actually the Satin Spar form of Selenite Gypsum, and they can be used to remove negativity from the energy field.

Hello and welcome! Today, I am so excited and honored to be interviewing the amazing Kathryn Solie. Kathryn does a lot of amazing different work, but primarily she teaches some meditation classes and workshops on poisonous plants and plant medicines.    An Interview with Kathryn Solie: What poisonous plants can teach us about healing.   Interview transcript: Kathryn Solie: Thank you for having me here! Ashley: Oh, it is my pleasure and my honor. I have really been getting into this journey with plants and plant medicines and I actually signed up for your Poisonous Plant Medicine, Class 1 and Class 2. And I know that you are going to be starting a new round of that very soon. I was wondering if you could introduce yourself to everyone? Tell them a little bit about your story, and how you got started on this path, and what you are up to now? Kathryn: That is always an interesting question to ask because it is hard to know what exactly brought me here. There has been so many different things, but essentially, I work with plant medicine. If I am just talking to a regular person, I just say, I am an herbalist. Probably, not a lot of regular people are listening, so I can kind of go into a little bit more detail in the way that I work with them. I work a lot with plant consciousness, or what a lot of people call plant spirit medicine. It's really similar to the way that you work with crystals in that they have this energetic medicine. I have been really pulled towards poisonous plants. Or I kind of want to do air quotes as poisonous, because it is the dose that makes the poison. Everything is poisonous, even water can kill you if you have a big enough dose. Those plants have just really called me in the past few years. And their medicine is really needed on the planet at this time. They help bring us into the shadows and to our deeper psyches and to our unconscious into places where we are discouraged from exploring. Our current society only focuses on being happy. Be happy all the time. And it is great if we can be happy all the time, but there is also likely an undercurrent underneath that has all our life stories and moons and fears and that is always going to be there. That is normal and healthy and part of being human. I feel like the poisonous plants can help guide us through those spaces that might be normally kind of uncomfortable.    Ashley: I feel so grateful that you are bringing this up. In my personal journey with these medicines, this is exactly when they showed up in my life. When I really started to consciously dig into that shadow aspect. I found that I needed some support, and this was what came through. For me, this was what my body, my mind, my spirit all needed. To kind of do this work on multiple levels and find that energetic support and that medicine for this, really deep dive inner journey, personal healing, transformative, shadow aspect work. Was it something similar for you personally that drew you in? Or did this just evolve naturally in your exploration of herbalism? Kathryn: I think that it was always kind of just part of my makeup as a person, just even as a little kid I was always kind of, not, I would never use the word morbid, I feel like other people might use that word, but just kind of interested in the aspects of life that people try to keep hidden. Even for many years before I really fully stepped on the plant path, I was really on a path of meditation and non-duality and kind of eastern philosophy in eastern religion. I still am on that path, but a big part of that path for me was working with the archetypes of the wrathful deities. In Hinduism and Buddhism you get Kali, which is symbolic of transformation and of going into these difficult times. Or if you have worked with this astrology -- Saturn, Pluto -- that kind of energy. I feel like that kind of aspect of life has always felt natural and comfortable to me,

A Crystal Message about the Healing Properties of Carnelian: "I am motivated by divine purpose. I allow myself to tap into Universal creativity and feel it flow through me. If I remain focused, I will manifest my vision with ease."   Common Healing Properties of Carnelian: Helps you to feel grounded Enhances creativity & the flow of creative ideas Increases motivation Stimulates success in business and financial endeavors Assists you in overcoming negative thought patterns and self-limiting beliefs Enhances sexual energy Improves concentration Opens your heart chakra to divine guidance and love Instills a sense of peace and calming within the user Removes negative energy from items or from your environment Helps lessen pain associated with the back or with the sciatic nerve Speeds up recovery of broken bones Remedies sluggish digestion by enhancing the digestive fire Aids with emotional balance Helps heal the reproductive organs Increases blood circulation Regulates menstruation Assists with energetic cleansing & purifying   Colors: Orange, Burnt Orange, Mango Associated Chakras: Root (1st), Sacral (2nd), Heart (4th) Zodiac Signs: Aries, Leo Elements: Fire Companion Flowers: Torch Lily Companion Essential Oil: Ginger Companion Stone: Blue Quartz Common Origins: Sausalito, California; Sri Lanka; China Notes: When Carnelian is banded, it is often called “Carnelian Agate.” Wanna’ Get Science-y? Click Here to get information about the chemical composition, hardness, streak, etc. of this crystal from one of my favorite sites!   /*   More About Carnelian: Carnelian is chalcedony in which iron oxide gives an orange to red color. Carnelian helps you overcome negative thought patterns and approach your endeavors with new energy. Sard is like carnelian, except that the color tends more toward brown. Its banded form is called sardonyx.   One Way to Work with Carnelian:  Work with Carnelian during the time of the First Quarter Moon to keep yourself motivated and on track with your New Moon action plan. If you feel yourself starting to lose steam, take some time to soak up some good Carnelian vibes.=   Carnelian Lore:  The ancient Egyptians prized carnelian for reasons both practical and metaphysical and its golden-red color reminded them of the sun setting over the desert, symbolizing the immortality of the soul. Carnelian often accompanies turquoise, the fiery qualities of the one balancing the air and water associations of the other. Egyptians personified these qualities through the fierce lion goddess Sekhmet and the mild Hathor, who sometimes appears as a cow. Because of its color, carnelian was associated with the magical blood of the mother goddess, Isis. This is likely where Carnelian gets its reputation as a stone for reproductive health and to support childbirth. Since wax doesn’t stick to it, this form of chalcedony worked well for carving official seals. A scarab beetle of carnelian, with signature hieroglyphs on the bottom, might be an amulet for either the living or the dead. It could be set in a ring of clay, to be worn and used as a signature seal. Such a seal could also be placed over the heart of the deceased to be used in the afterlife. Carnelian for the Corn Moon:  This deep orange stone nourishes you by pulling energy into your energy field (called your aura). Just as we sustain the physical body by enjoying the results of a bountiful harvest, so too must we nourish the energy body. The Corn Moon is about enjoying the fruits of your labor due to the effort you’ve put in previously. Carnelian helps you do this in your own life by encouraging joyful activities related to the Sacral Chakra (like creativity, dancing or sex).

Hi everyone and welcome. Today, I have the pleasure of re-interviewing the amazing Dana Whitby about card reading. Dana has been on the podcast before so you can go back and check out that previous episode because she always has so much to share.      Thank you so much for being here with us today again! Dana: Thank you so much for having me, Ashley. Ashley: So for those of you who remember Dana, you probably recall that she is the host of the Soul Rising Podcast, which is one of my faves. It is so worth binge listening to, so if you are in quarantine and you need something to do, the Soul Rising Podcast is so so perfect. I was wondering if you could tell everybody a little bit about your journey? You have so many roles in your work as an empath and a Healer. Dana: Yes, thank you so much, Ashley. First of all, I am just so excited to be here. I love spending time with you Ashley. So, I began my podcast journey almost two years ago, and this really was born out of a spiritual awakening that I had a few years prior. I started going down this path of wanting to heal myself and searching out different healing modalities. I had become certified in regression and hypnosis as well as Reiki -- I am also just interested in any homeo-healing modality that comes my way. My podcast is really a way to share what I have learned and the different ways that we can find to heal, because they are absolutely endless. I want to share them with my listeners to help ignite a passion for someone along that path. It has always been born out of wanting to heal myself and that goes way back into my childhood. I have a degree in Psychology and a master's degree in counseling. So those are kind of my more mainstream modalities that started me on this path. Eventually though that really dovetailed into a spiritual awakening that opened up so much more. So now I offer intuitive one-on-one Oracle readings and custom meditations. These really help my listeners deepen their practice with getting in touch with themselves, what is going on for them right now, and how to take their healing to a deeper level. Ashley: I think this is really cool because you have kind of created this podcast from your own journey taking others along the ride with you. You are like, come along with me as I discover all these things about healing and about myself, and about how we fit into the world. And now you are doing some more one-on-one kind of heart-level connections with people. You're getting to go a little bit deeper into the individual journeys and stories of each person. I'm wondering, how did this really come about for you? What was the driving factor behind deciding to incorporate readings into the healing work that you do? Could you also share a little bit about how that journey has evolved? I know there are so many of you listening or reading who want to do this kind of work. Dana is so courageous to really get going with it and do it. So Dana, we would love to hear that story. Dana: Yes. It really began almost five years ago. I went to a medium and at that time I was open to spiritual topics, but I did not know much about them. I knew I wanted to go to someone who would not just connect me with my dead grandmother, I wanted guidance. Because I felt so lost in my life and she gave me this beautiful reading and basically said to me you are an intuitive and you are not using your abilities and I just was so floored. I had this feeling like, "Who, me?" I did not think I was anything special at that point in my life. That was really how I felt about myself. So that really pushed me to start looking into my own intuition and to think, "Okay, well, if really everyone has intuition, how does it show up for me? What are my abilities? What can I do?" and so the medium that I saw began teaching intuitive listening courses. I was among her very first cohort in her class to take her intuitive listening class,

The time of the full moon is the peak time to engage your intuition and use your psychic gifts, such as clairvoyance or clairaudience. Be on the lookout for any signs or symbols that present themselves in your life during this lunar phase.   Do you keep seeing a specific number? Have you come across an animal messenger? These may be signs from the universe. The energy of the full moon is incredibly powerful, so be gentle with yourself. Allow yourself to be fully immersed in this energy. Using the right crystals for the full moon can enhance the energetic power of this time.    The Full Moon carries the energy of: Achievement Completion Dreams Flow Intuition Manifestation Power Protection Wholeness    Go with the flow rather than fighting what is being revealed. Allow sensations of wholeness and completion to wash over you as your dreams are manifested into being. Although manifesting usually takes center stage during the time of the full moon, there’s another important aspect to its energy that shouldn’t be overlooked. The bright light of the full moon illuminates things that may otherwise be hidden to you. It calls your attention to potential roadblocks or challenges that, if left unchecked, can slow down your progress. This isn’t to say these things must come to pass, only that if you remain on the present path, they could be issues. Luckily, the full moon is also known for its protective qualities. A little ritual and some course corrections can head off your potential troubles.  Finally, the full moon is a powerful time for divination work. Because your intuition is heightened during this period, you’ll feel more connected to your divination practice and the results will show it. Need some crystals to support you through these energetic shifts? These are the 4 Best Crystals for the Full Moon... 1) AMETHYST: People have been using Amethyst to connect with intuition and psychic skills since the time of the ancient Romans. Incorporate Amethyst into your Full Moon divination practice for ease in deciphering the messages and information you receive. Alternatively, call upon Amethyst’s protective abilities and charge your crystal with Full Moon energy to create a powerful protection talisman.   2) LABRADORITE: Labradorite is a mystical stone that gets its brilliant flash from reflected light, similarly to how the full moon is illuminated by reflected light from the sun. The energy of Labradorite and the energy of the Full Moon are like kindred spirits. Work with them together to enhance any Full Moon rituals or activities. You can also use Labradorite during this moon phase to facilitate lucid dreaming and to promote insightful, intuitive dreams. Tuck a piece of Labradorite into your pillowcase or create a simple rectangular grid using four pieces around your bed to have an out-of-this-world dream experience. 3) RAINBOW MOONSTONE: Believe it or not, Rainbow Moonstone is a white variety of Labradorite. They’re the same stone, but where Labradorite has flashes of color on a dark, gray-colored crystal, Rainbow Moonstone has flashes of color on a light, white-colored stone. Rainbow Moonstone works similarly to Labradorite for dreamwork, but it also encourages you to stay in flow with the lunar cycle all year long. Some people tend to notice the moon only when it’s full, but they miss out on the true benefits of living in tune with the moon. Work with Rainbow Moonstone to cultivate a lasting lunar practice that will serve you all cycle long.  4) WHITE MOONSTONE: White Moonstone is a member of the Orthoclase Feldspar group of minerals, different from Rainbow Moonstone (which is actually a member of the Labradorite Feldspar group). With its soft, white shimmer, it’s no wonder it was named for its resemblance to the moon. This crystal mimics the energy of wholeness and completion embodied by the full moon. If you feel like something has been missing from yo...

A Crystal Message about the Healing Properties of Red Jasper: "I am fully in touch with my creative fire, my passion, and my purpose in life."     Common Healing Properties of Red Jasper: Promotes grounding Encourages justice Stimulates intuitive insight and provides perspective into your problems and challenges Helps you to remember your dreams Aids you in asserting your personal boundaries Brings peace and calming Encourages you to lend a helping hand (or to receive one from others) Promotes shamanic journeying and astral travel Enhances protection Cleanses the etheric body Banishes electromagnetic pollution Facilitates accurate pendulum dowsing sessions Assists energetically sluggish digestion and increases your digestive fire Enhances will power Stimulates courage Helps you to organize your environment Increases support during times of illness Stimulates cognition Encourages nurturing attitudes and behaviors Stabilizes your energy   Colors: Brick red to dark, blood red Associated Chakras: 1st (Root) Zodiac Signs: Aries, Capricorn Elements: Earth, Fire Companion Flowers: Crocosmia Companion Essential Oil: Cinnamon Bark Companion Stone: Blue Kyanite Common Origins: India, Africa Wanna’ Get Science-y? Click Here to get more information about this crystal!   Metaphysical Uses of Red Jasper: Red Jasper is a grounding stone, associated with the root chakra, and with strength used to promote the cause of justice.  Passionate Aries is ruled by Mars, and this stone amplifies Mars’ warrior spirit while at the same time keeping emotions under control.  But contrary to what this might imply, it’s also a stone of the Divine Feminine, associated with childbirth and courage in women.  For healing, Red Jasper is strongly associated with blood. Red Jasper is a stone of reverence and dignity and mimics the honor and respect that was shown to animals who were killed during the hunt. This stone has a primal energy and allows you to better understand the earth’s natural cycles and of the cycles of life and death.   Red Jasper Lore: Red Jasper is a form of quartz with traces of hematite, which gives it both its intense color and some interesting properties.  While healing and other metaphysical uses go back to ancient times, writers often used the word “jasper” to refer to any opaque stone, so it isn’t always easy to be sure what mineral they mean.  But generally, the brick-red form has been associated with strength and grounding.  The Egyptians, for example, considered it the “blood of Isis” (along with Carnelian), and believed a drop-shaped red jasper pendant would give the soul the courage needed to face Osiris for one’s judgment in the next world.     /* More About Jaspers: Jaspers are primarily quartz (silicon dioxide, or SO2) which has been broken down and reformed within the earth, often picking up traces of other minerals in the process. Red jasper, for example, contains traces of hematite. More complex jaspers may even include veins or small pieces of other minerals. Some jaspers are actually agates, rhyolites, or… well, whatever. For the sake of this list, we’re just going to go by what they’re commonly called. In general, jaspers are associated with grounding and connection to Mother Earth. The heavily patterned ones are often also associated with creativity and mental focus. Pin it!   Are you interested in becoming a Certified Crystal Healer? Find out more about the CCH and Advanced Crystal Practitioner Program HERE!

Today I'm thrilled and super excited to be interviewing the amazing Alena Hennessy. Alena has released one of the most beautiful books I have read in a long time, the healing guide to flower essences.     Ashley: So flower essences are only part of your journey. You really combine the beauty and I think soft, gentle energy that flower essences share with us along with some creative expression and art. I'm wondering if you can tell everyone a little bit about your journey and how you got here today? Alena: Sure. Well, I have been an artist and been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I was also a tomboy nature girl. I grew up in Florida and so I spent all the time outside in the parks and just riding bikes. So I fell in love with nature at an early age and just have always been drawn to painting botanicals and animals and other things. I was a commercial artist for a long time and doing well with that. Selling to galleries and catalogs and whatnot. I came to a point in my journey where I wanted my art and my purpose in life to have more meaning. To be more connected to the mystery. So I studied at the school here in Asheville about 12 years ago, and that is when I learned about herbalism and flower essences and energy healing. From here I became a far essence practitioner. Then a few years ago, my mom and I collaborated and made this Oracle deck called mysteries of love Oracle about animal totems and flower essences. And the publisher found me and was like, do you want to do another book? And I already had three books out on painting. At first, I felt too busy to do it, but then she approached me again in the spring. I was like, sure, I will do it. And so that is how this came about. Ashley: I love that. And we were just chatting before we started our interview and you actually did the amazing piece of artwork that is behind you right now. I love that you can kind of see a lot of those influences and elements coming through in your artwork. It is so expressive and it is really enjoyable. In regards to the artwork in the book, you said it was a collaborative effort with someone quite special. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Alena: Sure. So my mom has been a fine artist since she was in university. When she was raising three kids, she kind of put that to the side. Now, she's pretty much in retirement, so she has more time to draw and paint. She moved up to Asheville a few years ago and we collaborated on a few projects, first being the Oracle deck and then this book. My mom painted and I did everything else -- the writing, the design behind the subject matter. And some of those cute, whimsical illustrations. And she did the main, more classical painted illustrations of all the flowers. So it was another collaboration. Ashley: It's such a beautiful project and it is so exciting to see it come to life. So let us dive into your book a little bit, obviously, it is all about flower essences. This is something that I have been working with for just about a year now. And my background is actually in botany and horticulture, even though I am a crystal person now. So I love plants and flowers. The essence was something that really spoke to me. And I think they did the same for you with your journey into urbanism and flower essences and becoming a practitioner. Can you give a brief introduction and understanding of what flower essences are and why we might want to work with them? Disclosure: The link here is an affiliate link, meaning I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Yay! Alena: Sure. They are amazing. I find that deep healing happens in the subtle realms and the energetic realms and with our emotions and that is what flower essences are about. So they are very gentle. There are not any side-effects you might experience because it is on an energetic, emotional, spiritual level. So it is homoeopathic. Sort of.

Shadow work helps you gain an intimate understanding of your inner self. It’s the process of exploring the dark, interior realm of your subconscious mind to shine a light on the parts of yourself that are hidden within the Shadow Realm.   Uncovering these hidden aspects of yourself is often easier said than done. But by engaging your intuition, you can connect with your subconscious mind. Using this crystal elixir recipe for shadow work will bring important messages and wisdom to the surface. Once there, your conscious mind can be made aware of them. It’s in these messages that we find the gifts that our Shadow side holds.     One of my favorite methods of retrieving Shadow wisdom is scrying divination. Scrying is an ancient divinatory art that can be practiced with a number of mediums. From fire to crystal balls, to clouds, to water and more. In my Crystal Shadow Work Master Class, I teach my students how to uncover the hidden meaning of Shadow Work symbols. We do this through the art of crystallomancy (working with crystal balls - especially Obsidian Scrying balls). Today I’d like to share another method for revealing these important Shadow Realm messages... water basin scrying. This method of divination involves scrying, or focused gazing, into a shallow dish of water. For this very sacred practice, it’s important to engage your intuition AND your subconscious mind. This will bring hidden messages and wisdom forward where they can be consciously absorbed and integrated for healing and balance. To help connect you with your intuition, we won’t be scrying with ordinary water - we’ll be using a special energy-infused blend. To create your intuition-boosting scrying water, you’ll need: A clear, glass bowl About a cup of spring or distilled water (tap water will work in a pinch) Your favorite intuition crystal (I recommend Labradorite or Black Obsidian). Just be sure it’s safe to put into water and won’t react, rust, or dissolve. Why not try one of the 5 Best Crystals for Shadow Work? A Bay leaf (or another non-toxic, intuition-boosting herb of your choice) A marker or pen Something for cleansing (a bell, an herbal bundle, or even a Selenite wand)   Begin creating your Shadow Work scrying water by choosing a night to prepare it. Consider the energy of the Moon Phase on that evening and what magical qualities it will bring to your water. NOTE: I highly recommend creating this Scrying Water during the upcoming Full Blue Moon on Samhain (October 31st!). This is when the veil is the thinnest and when you can more freely walk between the worlds of Shadow and Light. In general, when it comes to Shadow Work: New Moon: A great time to commit (or re-commit) to your Shadow Work Practice Waxing Moon: A time when you’re drawing in what you seek from your Shadow Work Full Moon: A time for heightened intuition Waning Moon: A time for release and letting go of trauma or wounding that doesn’t serve you Dark Moon: A time deeply connected to the subconscious and to the Shadow Realm   On your chosen evening, place your glass bowl on a tabletop near a window where it can be charged by the energy of the moon. The bowl doesn’t have to be in direct moonlight for this to work. Just get it as near as possible to the window. You can even place the bowl outside if you’d like! Pour the distilled or spring water into the glass bowl. Work with your cleansing items to remove any unwanted energy from the water, crystal, and herb. If you’re working with a bell or singing bowl, chime it a few times over the items. If you’re working with an herbal cleansing bundle, get it nice and smoky and use the smoke to cleanse everything. Or if you’re working with a Selenite wand, wave the wand over each item and comb any unwanted energy away. Feel free to use any other cleansing method you feel drawn to, just so long as you’ve purified the water, crystal, and herbs before continuing ahead. Next,

We’re approaching Samhain - the time of year when the veil is the thinnest and when we move into the dark half of the year. This is a time for withdrawing inward.   This is not just about the ways that we withdraw from the world and start enjoying the warmth of the home as the weather turns colder (here in the northern hemisphere). It is also about how we start to reflect upon our own inner world. It is the time for getting comfortable with the darkness and following the flow of the earth’s natural cycles. It’s the time for Shadow Work.   Shadow work is a journey inward to reclaim the darkness and light within you. Shadow work helps you gain an intimate understanding of your inner self. It’s the conscious undertaking of exploring the dark, interior realm of your subconscious mind and the hidden feelings and wounds that reside there. In a modern, spiritual sense, Shadow Work is about uncovering and exploring the parts of yourself that are holding you back. These parts may be preventing you from living in authentic joy. They are created over time through social conditioning, personal fears, and trauma and wounds inflicted upon you by others (from your childhood to the present day). These shadow aspects of your personality are created when you have a traumatic emotional response to something that was deemed negative by others (and thus, seen as negative by the self). To cope, your subconscious mind locks this part of your psyche away in the “shadow.” Shadow work is the spiritual work of uncovering and reacquainting yourself with the parts of you that you’ve been made to feel are “unacceptable”. The discarded parts of yourself that you’ve locked up and hidden away because others (family, friends, society) have deemed them unsuitable or negative. It is the conscious reintegration of these aspects as part of your whole self. Your shadow self and your light self are two halves to one whole. Re-integrating and reuniting these dual aspects of yourself is important for balance and alignment. After all, both pieces are a part of you and contribute to the uniqueness of who you are. Thus, the Shadow is a necessary part of your being, it is part of your wholeness. It's Time to Walk the Path of Shadow and Illumination...Do You Feel the Call? Perhaps you’re brand new to this concept. Maybe you’re a little familiar but don’t quite understand it all yet, or maybe you’re even deeply immersed in this process as a part of your regular spiritual practice. Shadow work helps you get to know yourself better than ever before. No matter where you’re at on your path, healing crystals can be incredibly helpful for support during your Shadow Work Practice, (both the novice or the experienced shadow worker alike).     /* The following are the 5 Best Crystals for Shadow Work: Black Moonstone: Black Moonstone is connected to the energy of the dark goddesses (especially Hecate/Hekate, Baba Yaga, and Kali) that rule the Shadow Realm.  These goddesses are often feared because of their perceived negative connotations, but in fact, they represent transformation. Black Moonstone assists you during times of uncomfortable change as both an emotional and energetic support. It’s also a stone of feminine empowerment and is linked to the archetypes of the maiden, the mother, and the crone.  It is an excellent companion stone for times of rebirth or transformation, especially spiritual rebirths.  Black Moonstone reveals to you your identity as it’s seen by the divine.  It can facilitate a connection between your light side and your shadow side.  It is especially powerful for use during ritual or ceremony related to shadow work during the dark and new moon phases.  Black Moonstone is related to all forms of growth (physical, mental, and emotional).  It can keep you energetically protected during major life transitions so that you can emerge safe, supported, and whole on the other side of your journey.

Today I'm so excited to get to be speaking with the amazing ladies at Energy Muse, Heather Askinosie and Timmi Jandro. So ladies, thank you so much for being here with us today.       I've been really looking forward to talking to you both again. Our last conversation really got me thinking...One of the things that we touched on during that interview was clearing cords with crystal energy. So, I thought that would be a great thing to share with everyone today. Can you tell us a little bit about energetic cords? Timmi Jandro: So, sometimes people don't even realize that they have attached to someone energetically. Again, I could just use Heather and I as an example. We're around each other a lot. And so, let's say I come in and I'm having a terrible day. I might not mean to put that energy towards Heather, but because we're so close, she feels it. It's a good practice that we use often because you want to just be free of that energy and it's not like she's cutting me out of her life. She's cutting that energetic cord, sending light my way to replace that cut or that energy that's been cut. Then we move on and you feel a lot lighter because when you're a sensitive person and you're around people, you can pick up on energy so easily. And even when you're not so sensitive, it happens. Ashley: So, for someone who's new to this concept, they probably haven't heard this term before. So these are really just energetic attachments between people. Can we be corded to places or objects as well? Heather Askinosie: Yeah. I think, for me how I get my head around it, because I always have to get my head around it, is that when we get attached to something. Say it could be a crystal, and when you see this crystal and you're like, oh, I really want it, but it's maybe out of my price range or what not, but you can't stop thinking about it. So that could be more of an object. Or sometimes we can be attached to places we've traveled to and emotions and experiences that we had there. The reason it's important to cut the cords, even if it's a fantastic experience, is that we want to have all our energy fully invested in ourselves. I don't want to be leaking it, whether it's good, bad, or indifferent. And so, cutting the cords helps you really find out where you're leaking your energy. Where are your thoughts in the past? Where are your thoughts in the future? It can keep us from being in the now moment because we're not fully present. So, I look at it as an almost spiritual housecleaning. That way, we are empowered to be in the present moment. It gives us a tool to help us cut or disconnect. Ashley: Yeah, that's so true. And you touched on my next question a little bit there, which was... What really happens to our energy body when we have these cords or attachments? You mentioned this idea of an energy leak. Now, can you explain to everyone why that is a bad thing? Timmi Jandro: For me, you might feel physically drained. So it might be more of a physical thing. And if you look at it energetically, it might be that one of your chakras where the attachment has occurred may be blocked because that cord is there to another person. Heather Askinosie: So, this might be going a little bit deeper. I don't know if it's too much, but I'm just going to say it. What I'm researching now with crystals is how trauma is held in our body. Specifically, how we could use the energy of the earth to help us go back on a cellular level and re-pattern ourselves. Okay. So, hypothetically, you're in fifth grade and you're playing on the bars at school, and you fall off and somebody laughs at you. A lot of times we think, you know what, maybe that didn't have any kind of traumatic effect on us. But maybe it did. In some little respect, it made us not feel as confident. So maybe we didn't go on the bars as much. How does that one little event play out over time and how can we use cutting the cords on a deeper level?

Before we get into my 3 favorite crystals for the Virgo New Moon, I want to share a personal story with you about how I got started working with lunar energy and why it’s so important to me.         I know how important this work is based on my own experience. I want to share it with you so that you may find healing and comfort through working with the moon just as I have.     About four years ago, my life was interrupted dramatically when I needed to have a hysterectomy. It was only two weeks before my 29th birthday, and it wasn't entirely devastating for me because I had long before decided not to have children. Despite this, it hit me in quite an unexpected way. My personal choice not to bear children felt positive and somewhat empowering, but when that choice was completely taken away, part of me grieved for what I may have lost. Over the next few years, I struggled silently with grieving a part of myself that I hadn't realized was so important to me. Part of me felt incomplete. I felt a longing for a reconnection with the part of myself that had been lost. These feelings completely took me by surprise, but I knew I needed to do something to feel empowered again. So my journey into connecting to the DIVINE feminine began. This journey wasn’t about gender, it was about energy - the energy of the sacred feminine. I spent my days meditating, connecting with goddesses, and creating rituals for myself. Naturally, my love of crystals ensured they were a regular part of just about everything I was doing, but I started to develop a new passion: I became enamored with the moon. I fell in love with learning all I could about staying in rhythm with her natural cycles and flows. Perhaps the need for that connection arose from the absence of my own feminine cycle, or perhaps I was simply awakening to something larger taking place in our world. Whatever the reason, living in alignment with lunar energy became part of who I am. Tuning into the rhythm of the moon helped me heal. Perhaps the need for that connection arose from the absence of my own feminine cycle. Or perhaps I was simply awakening to something larger taking place in our world. Whatever the reason, living in alignment with lunar energy became part of who I am. I fell in love with learning all I could about staying in rhythm with her natural cycles and flows. I spent many, many hours journaling and sketching and doodling about the spiritual moon work I was doing. One evening while connecting with some amazing women in an online Goddess Circle, I shared a few of the ways I had been working with the moon in my own spiritual practice. It was then that I realized just how powerful this work was—and just how much I needed to share it with others as part of my own journey toward wholeness and completion. I realized in that moment of sharing that it was not just me who was feeling disconnected from the natural world, from the seasonal cycles, and from my own power and energy. Many others I spoke with were feeling the same way. We have become so far removed from nature that we have forgotten how to live in harmony with the world around us. One of the easiest ways to repair this connection is to live in alignment with the energy of the moon—to let her guide our actions so that we may become aware of our place in this universe again. As part of my work with lunar energy, I began learning about the distinct energies of each monthly full moon, the lunar phases, and how the moon's influence changes as it moves through different constellations in the Zodiac. The night sky can be more or less divided into twelve sections, one relating to each constellation of the Zodiac. As the moon travels around the earth, it passes through the sections of the different Zodiac constellations. This is referred to as “entering”, or being “in”, a particular Zodiac sign. Since the moon makes its rotation around the earth pretty quickly,

Shungite is an amazing stone for healing and purification, but it's controversial due to some of the claims made about its use. I was recently interviewed for an article at mindbodygreen about the properties and benefits of Shungite.               After our conversation, and since I receive so many requests for information about this popular stone, I felt inspired to share more with you about this non-crystalline mineraloid. Before we dive into the healing properties of this stone and how to work with it, it's important to note that not all Shungite is created equally. The name Shungite was first used in 1879 to describe the high-carbon (98%+) mineraloids found in Russia near Shunga (in the Lake Onega area of Karelia). This high-Carbon variety of Shungite is the stone linked to claims of water purification and anti-bacterial properties. However, there are many other Shungite-containing minerals with much lower proportions of carbon. These vary greatly with the Carbon content ranging from less than 10% up to about 80%. The lower the percentage of Carbon, the lower the amount of fullerenes. Thus, the less likely the Shungite will live up to its reputation for healing and purification.     /* A Crystal Message about the Healing Properties of Shungite: "I cleanse myself of unwanted energy, I set healthy boundaries, and I am protected and shielded from that which is not for my highest good." Common Healing Properties of Shungite: Facilitates astral travel Aids you in feeling connected to all beings and promotes feelings of universal oneness Create a protective energetic shield around your energy body Defends against EMFs or psychic attack Brings light to dark times in your life Helps to regulate the temperature of the body during energy work Energizes your body, mind, and spirit Transmutes negative energy into positive energy Soothes tired eyes Energetically supports the reduction of pain and inflammation in the body   Colors: dark gray to black with a luster ranging from chalky matte to highly glossy Associated Chakras: 3rd (Solar Plexus), 6th (Third Eye), 7th (Crown) Zodiac Signs: Scorpio, Capricorn Elements: Earth Companion Flowers: Silver Sage (Salvia argentea) Companion Essential Oil: Siberian Fir Companion Stone: Malachite Common Origins: Russia, India, DR Congo, Austria, Kazakhstan Notes: The high-Carbon variety of Shungite is known as Noble Shungite or as Elite Shungite. Wanna’ Get Science-y? Click Here to get more information about this crystal! More About Shungite: Shungite is a black, glassy mineral from the Karelia region of Russia. It is composed of about 98% carbon, formed from the remains of algae that lived two billion years ago. The high-Carbon variety of Shungite (98%+ carbon) is also known as Noble Shungite or as Elite Shungite. The exciting thing about this is that some of this carbon comes in the form of fullerenes (aka “Buckyballs” - albeit in trace amounts of just 0.0001 < 0.001%). These fullerenes are similar in shape to a soccer ball, which have shown promise as a cornucopia of potential health benefits. Fullerenes appear to have antimicrobial properties, and possibly target such health risks as free radicals. They’re also useful as a purifying agent, especially of water. These recent findings line up nicely with the traditions surrounding shungite... In the Russian village of Shunga for which the mineral is named, people have long used Shungite as a folk remedy for purification, especially of water. For this reason, Peter the Great set up Russia’s first spa in Karelia to make use of this super mineral. In fact, Peter the Great even used Shungite to supply soldiers in the Russian army with purified water. With the high-Carbon content in Karelian Shungite, this wouldn't have been much different than using a Carbon filt...