Gem Jewelry…

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarGood Witches Homestead

Gemstones are a great way to help me relax, gain focus, and ground myself. No better surprise than to find the gemstone you slipped into your pocket as a little good luck charm when your eyes were barely open at six AM, giving you that afternoon boost you need!

Gemstones are special because they each hold specific unique powers that can aid you with your own, likewise specific needs. Sometimes you might be drawn to the beauty of their color, or weight for no particular reason; that’s awesome too! The connection may come later as you spend time familiarizing yourself with your new gems!

When I wear gem jewelry I feel a sense of comfort and protection, a magnetic beauty and confidence. Most of all I love the feeling of first slipping my bracelets onto my wrists and letting the cool tranquility of their weight ground and calm me.

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Incense

Luck

5 Magical Binding Plants

Cultivate Deep Respect for Mother Earth

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarGood Witches Homestead

The Wolf Moon also brings another interesting astrological movement— Uranus moves into Taurus. This pairing can mean a few things, but most expert astrologers conjecture that it means we will experience some extreme weather events in 2018 that will likely be sudden and unexpected. On a more energetic level, Uranus in Taurus also brings our connection to nature into awareness. Taurus has to do with agriculture, food distribution, and finances, so look for lots of innovation and growth in this space. On a more personal level, we may also experience a distorting of technology and ourselves. How have cell phones and addictive apps impacted human connection, mental health, and physical health? While you may already feel the effects of this in your life, this theme will be explored more in 2018. With it hopefully comes to a renaissance of getting dirty in nature and understanding how plants can heal the…

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First New Moon of Winter

Sacred Tree Profile: White Pine’s Medicine, Magic, Mythology, and Meanings

Dana's avatarThe Druid's Garden

White Pine Towering in a Conifer Forest at Parker Dam State Park, PA White Pine Towering in a Conifer Forest at Parker Dam State Park, PA

In the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) legend, there was a terrible conflict between five different nations of people. This conflict was rooted in cycles of pain, revenge, and chaos. A messenger of peace sent from the Great Spirit, the “Peacemaker,” sought to unite the five warring tribes. After convincing them to unite, they came together to make peace, but they still carried their weapons. The Peacemaker uprooted a White Pine tree and had them throw all of their weapons into the hole. He then replanted the tree, and the underground waters carried away the weapons. On the tree, the needles grew in clusters of five, to represent the five nations who came to find peace. The roots of the tree spread out in four directions, to the north, south, east and west; the roots are called the roots…

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Holly Wood

A Bardic Storytelling Ritual for Empowerment

Dana's avatarThe Druid's Garden

Everyone has a story to tell, and some stories are worth their weight in gold. How we retell past events, through the bardic art of storytelling, can help shape our present understanding.  Thinking about stories as acts of empowerment in this way is particularly important in an age where so many of us feel disempowered. One of the things I’ve noticed a lot lately is that people, of all ages, are really down, feeling defeated, and feeling burned out. They feel like they don’t have a lot of agency or power. And so, using ritual and spiritual practices to help us find our power, and better understand it, is an extremely useful practice.  Storytelling is a form of magic, in this case, through a bardic storytelling ritual, to help empower us and bring us hope.  So today’s post, in line with my larger series on the bardic arts, will…

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Back To School Buddies ~ HealingCrystals.com

Gemstone jicaraYikes! It’s almost ‘that time of year’ again – back to school. But never fear – the superhero crystals are here to help both parents and kids get back in the swing of it. Each new school year can bring with it new routines, new challenges, and new things to learn and enjoy. Crystals and their energy can be helpful allies for this transitional time of year.

Kids can take their crystals to school with them in the form of tumbled stones kept in a pouch in their backpacks or perhaps or as a pendant, so the crystals can do their work without becoming a distraction or an issue while at school.  Crystal key chains can be a functional way to take the energy to school. They can be clipped to backpacks or pencil cases. Older students with lockers might hang the key chains in their locker to be a touchstone between classes.

Here are some school challenges and crystals that can help:

Separation Anxiety:  Rose Quartz can be soothing for separation anxiety (this applies to both Mom and little one!) and helping keep that “I’m loved” feeling throughout the day.

DisorganizationFluorite can assist with clearing out clutter and finding routines that encourage organization. Fluorite is also a wonderful aid for concentration during class.

Shyness:  Blue Lace AgateLapis Lazuli and Amazonite can be helpful for finding their voice and sharing their thoughts in and out of class.

Making Friends:  Green Aventurine has a loving, calming, nurturing, yet happy energy that allows us to appreciate ourselves and others (who wouldn’t want a friend like that?).

Grounding/Protection:  Hematite (for teens, not younger children) and Red Jasper (all ages) can help ground and center children and adults, making them less vulnerable to energy attacks and bullies.

Autism:  SugiliteChrysocolla, and Lapis Lazuli  have been found helpful for those with autism.  Black Tourmaline can also help ground and protect children with autism who may be overly energy-sensitive in a crowded school setting.

ADD/ADHD:  Many people have found Moonstone helpful for students (and adults!) who struggle with this.  Selenite and Sodalite may also offer a calming presence.

Energy-Sensitive Children:  For those who are overwhelmed by all the constantly fluctuating energies of the school environment, Black Tourmaline, Black Obsidian, and Garnet can help ground and protect them, allowing them to concentrate more comfortably on their schoolwork.

Here are some crystal suggestions for those going off to college, perhaps for the first time:

Charoite helps to relieve the loneliness and homesick feelings.

Rose Quartz can remind the student of the unconditional love at home and a piece next to the bed can create a calming, loving atmosphere in their dorm room.

Black Tourmaline, for releasing negative feelings, paired with Lepidolite for its calming, relaxing energy, will remind you that everything will be alright and relieve stress and anxiety.

Selenite under the pillow can help provide a more restful night’s sleep.

Iolite encourages you to take responsibility for yourself, helping you to become less dependent on your parents.

Green Fluorite and Malachite can for help being more focused and observant in class and for processing and comprehending challenging subjects. Definitely a must-have stone for any grad student too.

Emerald promotes new friendships and healthy relationships. Wearing a piece of this crystal as a pendant is a great way to keep it with you.

Fluorite and Moss Agate are useful for strengthening the immune system and fighting off bacteria and viruses that can get you sick.

-References: “Back to School with Crystals” By Debbie Elaine, and “Pack Your Crystals When You Head Off to College!” By Stephanie Arnold