Crystals for Halloween

By Tara Mideaker

Many holidays celebrated today are products of Celtic/Pagan traditions. Perhaps none are as interesting as Halloween. While other customs of the Pagan culture have been adopted and adapted by various religions, Halloween is unique in that it is celebrated worldwide as a non-denominational holiday. So why does Halloween stand apart as such a popular and universal holiday? Samhain, the traditional Pagan holiday, is the most sacred day of the year to Pagans. It is a time of endings and beginnings that is naturally tied to the Earth’s cycle when the dark and cold of winter approaches and nature “dies”, only to be reborn in the spring. It is a celebration of the life/death cycle and, more specifically, a time to remember and honor those ancestors who have passed into spirit. This connection to the earth, to the cycle of life, and to the past is something that we all share despite any religious or cultural differences we may have. Perhaps it is these roots that lie deep within each of us that encourage us to unite on Halloween Eve. Halloween Eve is a night when the world comes together to recognize the dark while celebrating the light that constantly surrounds us, so carve your Jack-o-lanterns, choose your costume and gather around the bonfire for a very Happy Halloween! Here are some crystals to carry along with you to make the most of this special night.

Agate and Jasper

The many varieties of these crystals embody the energy of Halloween. Jasper has a grounding/earthy quality that can help you feel connected to the earth and its endless cycles. Red Jasper draws the nurturing energy of the Earth to you while Brown Striped Jasper encourages vitality. Jasper can help you to reach for the sky while still keeping you grounded. All members of the Jasper family offer immense comfort and protection which can sustain you during the colder days ahead. Agates are immensely creative crystals that can help you to deal with any situation in the most positive manner possible. These crystals provide stability and balance when everything seems too jumbled and confused. Many Agates have a banded quality that promotes perspective and focus when clarity is needed. Botswana Agate is a wonderful tool for bringing fun and joy into any situation. White Agate makes an excellent meditative tool for the darker months ahead. If you celebrate Samhain, Fire Agate will connect you to the past, while Moss Agate will welcome in the New Year.

Calcite and Quartz

Calcite is a powerful cleanser that is perfect for ridding yourself of old habits and situations. Now is the time to “bury” those things that no longer serve to be transformed over the coming months into something more positive. Orange Calcite will encourage happy transitions and Blue Calcite will offer comfort and reduce any fears. Quartz is a powerful crystal that will amplify positive energy and reduce negative thoughts, while relieving any mental, spiritual or physical pain you may be experiencing. Remembrances of the past can be difficult and any Quartz crystal will make it better. Ametrinebrings balance to the elements of light and dark that are prominent during Halloween and is a valuable addition to a Samhain altar or table.

Obsidian and Carnelian

Obsidian and Carnelian are the two crystals that are most essential to your Halloween and/or Samhain celebrations, and not just because they are Black and Orange (although that does enhance their energy!). Obsidian connects you to the deepest layers of Earth where true change can occur. At the same time, it offers solace and protection and reminds you that everything has a season. Obsidian can help you find meaning when you are feeling lost. Mahogany Obsidian enhances the nighttime energy and Snowflake Obsidian calms any sadness you may be feeling. Samhain rituals are enhanced by Black Obsidian. Carnelian allows you to let go of the past and focus on the here and now. It will boost your personal power, your energy, and your creativity as it harnesses the energy of the Earth and the Sun. Carnelian is an excellent companion as you head towards a new cycle. Its protective qualities were used to accompany those who had passed on from this life in Ancient Egypt, making it a true welcome guest for a Samhain Dumb Supper.

Other crystals that will enhance your festivities include Petrified Wood, Cuprite, Opal, and Sunstone. Find the crystal that speaks to you and let it accompany you on your journeys this Halloween. Most importantly have fun…be safe…and maybe you’ll get some rocks in your Trick or Treat bag!

Happy Halloween!

Honoring the Ancestors of Land, Tradition, and Blood

The Druid's Garden

As the world (where I am at, at least!) gets bathed in frost, as the plants wither and die, as the trees bathe themselves in color and then drop their leaves, as the cold wind blows and as the darkness sets in, we in the druid tradition–and in any other traditions–turn to think about the ancestors. In this post, we’ll explore the global traditions surrounding honoring the dead that tie to August-October and honoring the dead to see similarities, we’ll discuss three types of ancestors the druid tradition recognizes, and then we’ll explore ways to honor the ancestors.

Food for the Ancestors!

Global Ancestral Traditions

When you start digging into ancestor traditions around the world, some striking similarities seem to emerge.

The Mexican Day of the Dead, which is a blending of European traditions and Aztec honoring of the dead, goes from Oct 31 – Nov 2. As part of…

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How to Open, Clear, and Balance the Chakras with Crystals

Good Witches Homestead

If you want to be healthy, happy, and spiritually connected, it all starts with your chakras and bio-energetic system. Your chakras are power points or gateways into the human energy system. They receive energy from the environment, which is circulated through the entire energy system via the meridians. The seven major chakras are located in a centerline at the core of your body. Each one has physical, emotional, and mental correspondences, and they each resonate with a specific color frequency.

If you are experiencing an imbalance or challenge in some area of your life, it might indicate that one or more of your chakras could use a tune-up. Chakras can become blocked due to unprocessed emotional energy, unhealthy mental patterns, toxins, negative energy, stress, past life and genetic line patterns, and other causes. An energy blockage in a chakra creates a deficiency in energy, which can eventually lead to dis-ease…

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Super Seven Healing Quartz Stone

Good Witches Homestead

“Super seven” stone, also referred to as “Sacred seven” or “Melody stone”, is a quartz stone that contains seven materials; goethite, cacoxenite, rutile, lepidocrocite, amethyst, clear quartz and smoky quartz. Super seven stone is not much to look at; in fact, it looks like a dirty quartz gem with some purple amethyst zoning. However, those who believe in the power of crystal healing claim that the combination of the seven materials is extremely beneficial. Let’s learn a little more about the parts that make up this special stone.

Goethite is a brown-black or yellow-brown mineral that occurs mainly as fibrous crystals. It is made up of oxyhydroxide iron. Though it can be made into gemstones, it is rarely seen. Goethite is said by crystal healers to be a stone of communication, both physical and spiritual. Cacoxenite is a yellow, orange, green or brownish hydrous iron phosphate mineral that grows in fibrous bundles. Therefore, it is not suitable as a gemstone material…

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Keys to a Magical Mind

Lightning Goddess Perunika’s Daughter – Lepa Mara

Lepa Mara Slavic Goddess of Spring

Herbal Astrology

October Birthstones: Opal and Tourmaline

Good Witches Homestead

OPAL SYMBOLISM AND MEANING

Arabic legend attests that opals fell from the sky during lightning storms, while Australian aborigines thought the creator visited the earth in a rainbow and imparted opals as a colorful gift.

Nearly 100 B.C., a Roman scholar by the name of Pliny compared opal gemstones to volcanoes and colorful artwork, realizing that opals have the ability to reflect the hues of any gem. Because of these colorful reflective qualities, during the Middle Ages, it was thought that opals harnessed immense power and luck.

Throughout time, opals have been regarded as a gem full of good luck and fortune, especially for those with October birth months.

OPAL COLOR

Opals have a primary color of either white or black, and many people find both appealing. The opal’s most defining quality is its kaleidoscope character that radiates all the colors of the rainbow. Microscopic silica, a crucial component to…

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First Full Moon of Autumn

Cleansing Your Aura with Crystals

by Kat Michaels

Cleansing-Auras-with-Crystals

Have you ever tried cleansing your aura after a rough day? An aura cleanse is a great way to remove harmful energy using crystals.

For an aura cleanse, start with your favorite cleansed piece of selenite, black obsidian, clear quartz, smoky quartz, or labradorite. It’s best to use a carved massage wand or a natural wand with a single or double termination, but any shape will work.

After choosing your stone, trace it through your aura about 4-6 inches away from your body, using your intuition to guide you. If you’re using a carved massage wand or a natural wand with a single termination, make sure that the blunt end is facing toward your body and that the termination is facing outward. That will ensure that the energy you remove will exit the wand through the termination instead of getting stuck in your auric field. Trace the front and back of yourself as well as your sides, under your arms, and between your legs, as energy can get stuck in any area of your aura. Energy is particularly likely to be stuck in areas where you have pain or have previously been injured, so pay extra attention to those spots.

Once you’re done cleansing your aura, make sure to cleanse your stone well again so that the harmful energy doesn’t affect the stone’s healing properties. To keep your aura in tip-top shape, try to do this three to four times a week.

If you liked this article, visit Kat Michael’s website.