Category Archives: Crystals

10 of The Most Breathtakingly Beautiful Stones From Around The World

Our lovely little planet is filled with beauty- the majestic trees, powerful mountains, mesmerizing oceans, and lush valleys. There is something beautiful to be found all around us, at any given moment. Including within the earth itself. Stones, gemstones, rocks, minerals- they all contain something interesting or useful, but a few of them have a different quality; they are stunningly beautiful.

The following 10 stones are said to be the most beautiful in the world. What do you think?

1. Contra Luz Opal

This Contra Luz Opal has shades of jasper formed inside, creating a “nebula” of incredible beauty.

2. Bismuth

The metaloid bismuth, displays a rainbow of colours resembling futuristic coral from another dimension.

3. The Empress of Uruguay Amethyst

This is the world’s largest amethyst geode. Discovered in Uruguay, it now resides in the Crystal Caves museum in Australia.

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Daily Divination 4/21/16 ~ Fire & Ice

No doubts on this one, this is the ultimate meeting of two very powerful, very opposing runes. Before we dive in, let’s consider the day that we are talking about. Yesterday we celebrated cannabis day and tomorrow we move on to Earth Day, and with a full moon to top it off. Mars is officially in retrograde and soon 4 other planets will join. This is a powerful time with powerful forces at work. Be weary, be sharp, and be well. Taking care of yourself during these uncertain times is paramount.

rune42116 doneFirst we draw Kenaz, the rune of the torch. The beacon light, or torch light, is what leads the way in time of darkness and uncertainty. We travel with a torch to light our next few steps ahead, illuminating who and what is immediately around you. Kenaz suggests the burning flame of creativity, vision, and inspiration that is necessary for new growth. The fire of life fuels you, giving you a reason to get up in the morning and meet the day with fervor, skill, and passion.

Compare this fire energy with Isa, the Ice rune, representing stillness and the slowing of movement. Isa calls on us to draw inward during these times and seek clarity through patience. This rune will often come to us when it is time to slow down and take care of ourselves, perhaps after a long period of hard work or excessive fun. In either case, the rejuvenation that accompanies periods of rest is what prepares us for what’s ahead. This gives us the chance to review our intentions and how they compare to our habits. Hopefully, we use this energy to elevate ourselves to live the lives we truly want, and truly deserve.

Together, we see Ice acting on Fire. This time of year, spring in full swing, spirits and kinship high, we see time speeding up and plans coming into fruition. We see connections being made, paths becoming fulfilled. The time is ripe to make great strides ahead in your mission. Whether you achieve this or not will depend on your ability to adapt to the circumstances and maintain your composure in the midst of a whirlwind of opposing forces. You will see emotions run high and you will see relationships strained, especially when they rest upon half truths.

Keep in mind that this time is powerful. We are all powerful beings full of light and intention, and we are all ready to bloom. Keep your head up and be strong, positive changes are coming to you. If you are feeling rushed, overwhelmed, or like you might need a minute to catch up, this is your day. Where we see delay we also see preparation. Consider all of the activity around you to be of benefit to you. Consider it to be the breath of fresh air that you need to forge ahead. Breathe it in and be well on your journey.

Alistair & Forest

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Zen Garden – Genesis of Peace & Serenity

Have you ever seen a zen or Japanese rock garden? Did it bring you a sense of peace and serenity? The Japanese rock garden or “dry landscape” garden, often called a zen garden, generates a miniature stylized landscape by means of carefully composed arrangements of stones, water elements, moss, pruned trees along with bushes, and makes use of stones or even sand which can be raked in order to symbolize ripples in water. A zen garden is usually fairly tiny, enclosed by a wall, and is also commonly meant to be looked at whilst seated from a single point of view outside of the garden, such as the porch of the hojo, the residence of the chief monk from the temple or monastery. Classical zen gardens were made at temples of Zen Buddhism in Kyoto, Japan throughout the Muromachi Period. They were designed to imitate the meaningful substance connected with mother nature, not its true physical appearance, and to serve as an aid to meditation about the true meaning of life.

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Rock gardens existed around Japan at least since the Heian Period (784-1185). These early gardens were detailed inside the very first manual of Japanese gardens,  written at the conclusion of the 1200’s. They were largely copied from the Chinese gardens of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), where groups of rocks symbolized Mount Penglai, the legendary mountain-island home of the Eight Immortals in Chinese mythology, known in Japanese as Horai. The manual described precisely how rocks need to be placed. In one verse, was written: “In a place where there is neither a lake or a stream, one can put in place what is called a kare-sansui, or dry landscape…” This kind of garden featured either rocks placed upright like mountains, or laid out in a miniature landscape of hills and ravines, with few plants. He described several other styles of rock garden, which usually included a stream or pond, including the great river style, the mountain river style, and the marsh style. The ocean style featured rocks that appeared to have been eroded by waves, surrounded by a bank of white sand, like a beach. White sand and gravel had long been a feature of Japanese gardens. In the Shinto religion, it was used to symbolize purity, and was used around shrines, temples, and palaces. In zen gardens, it represents water, or, like the white space in Japanese paintings, emptiness and distance. They are places of meditation.

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A zen garden is without a doubt a sanctuary that can be placed in nearly any living space. Some zen gardens are massive creations that can consist of massive areas, while many are tiny desktop gardens that use up no more room than your notebook. It’s not difficult to create a constantly changing work of art that is visually pleasing with clean, flowing lines and carefully placed objects. Best of all, a small zen garden is incredibly inexpensive to create! It will also show your unique style of rocks and sand patterns. The selection and placement of rocks is the most important part of making a Japanese rock garden. Different types of rocks are used for creating different symbolic things like mountains, rivers or seashores.The act of raking the gravel into a pattern recalling waves or rippling water, known as samon has an aesthetic function. Zen priests practice this raking also to help their concentration.These gardens are conceived and created from the meditative inspiration of the gardener, and contemplating one is a doorway to meditation for the viewer. While no rule exists against including plants and water features, many gardens omit them entirely and construct the garden from rocks and gravel to evoke emptiness through abstraction.

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You don’t have to do a lot to keep your rock garden looking good. Sand and stones don’t degenerate or need food or water – so there is nothing you have to do there. Of course, you will have to care for whatever plants or trees are in your rock garden, but usually just a little water and plant food will suffice. Keep your rock garden free of debris and you’re good to go! This world can be busy and frantic – an individual should have just a little serenity. A Zen rock garden could be just the thing you need to help you relax and re-enter the world full of energy and vigor!

 

Cleanse And Heal Yourself And Your Environment Using Simple Smudging Rituals.

For thousands of years, Native Americans have burned sacred plants in a bowl or on a stick to drive away negative energies and restore balance. You can use this same wisdom in today’s modern world to heal and restore balance to your life. When you light a smudge stick you’re connecting with a spiritual tradition that originates from the depths of time.

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The herbs most often used in smudge sticks are sage and sweetgrass. The spirit of sage has the power to drive out negative energies, spirits, and influences. The powerful spirit of sweetgrass is used to attract positive energy and to aid healing after all the negativity has been banished by sage. Cedar can also be used for this same task. A small ceramic or stone bowl or a large shell to place your smudge stick is useful as well as a large feather to waft the smudge. Smudging summons the spirits of sacred plants, asking them to drive away negativity and put you back into a state of balance. It is the psychic equivalent of washing your hands before eating and is used as an essential preliminary to almost all native North American ceremonies.

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For self clearing or clearing someone else, light the end of your smudge stick until the tip starts to smolder. Call on the spirits of the smudge to cleanse and protect you, saying; “sacred sage, drive away all negativity from my heart; take away everything unworthy and impure.” Waft the smoke toward your heart holding the smudge stick away from you and use the feather to waft the smoke towards you. Take the smudge smoke over your head, down your arms, and down the front of your body. Imagine the smoke lifting away all the negative thoughts, emotions, and energies that have become attached to you. Use exactly the same technique to smudge someone else.

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Smudging not only cleanses people; you can also clear a room or area of any old or stagnant energy. All rooms need cleansing, just as much as they need physical cleaning. If your life feels stuck or things just aren’t going according to plan, you may just find that simple space clearing may solve the problem. Walk around the room wafting smoke into each corner. Call on the spirit of sage to drive away negativity from the room. Then ask the spirit of Sweetgrass to bring harmony and balance to the room. You can also face and call on the four directions if you wish. Remember, you should also smudge anything you will be using for your blessing, such as crystals, candles, flowers, or stones. Other reasons for smudging can be sick room cleansing, cleansing following an argument, protecting your home when you’re leaving for vacation, and even celebrating a birth or honoring a passing.  Studies have also revealed that smudging can kill bacteria and prevent them from returning for quite some time.
No matter how you use these techniques smudging will assure you that you have the tool you need to keep your space and your life clear of of unwanted negative energy.

Inspired by Jane Alexander