Trolleite is a rare stone. Originally found only in Sweden, more recent discoveries have been made in Australia, Rwanda, Brazil and the USA.
I first came across it last year, but it was so very expensive that I didn’t buy any. I was offered some beautiful pieces a couple of weeks ago – still quite expensive, but less so, and very beautiful so I decided to buy a few pieces.
As we approach Valentine’s Day, it gives me the perfect excuse to share some pink crystals with you. Whether or not you celebrate Valentine’s Day in a romantic way, my view is that any reason to focus on love has got to be good. Maybe try being your own Valentine and focus on being loving to yourself. Maybe take time to tell all those people who matter to you that you love them. Maybe make the Earth your love for the day – take a conscious walk with love and appreciation – sing a song of love and gratitude to the land or to the water.
Pink can be gentle or feisty, just like the girls it is often associated with! Pink is a combination of white and red, and the red gives it energy and sometimes passion, so don’t ever write off pink as overly tame or wishy washy.
Between many damp, grey days we have utterly blissful days. 🌞💛🌱💛🌞
These beautiful, bright days lift my energy and inspire the Spring Cleaning bug.
Last Monday - another glorious day - I had my carpets cleaned (by my wonderful son Jake, who uses a safe, non-toxic process)
https://www.upholsterycarpetclean.co.uk/
While my furniture was moved around, I decided to have a bit of a reorganise - and that started the spring cleaning process.
I love decluttering! I love sorting and emptying drawers and moving pictures and crystals around. I love the space that's created - and when the physical space is clean and clear, it's time to cleanse the energy space.
In the latter part of January, people often begin to feel a bit down. There are occasional clear mornings and sunny afternoons, and emerging flower bulbs bring the promise of spring, but mostly it’s pretty cold, dark and damp and many find it hard to keep spirits bright. Some years ago I came across a crystal that was new to me, and it’s become my favourite ally for this time of year.
I’ve been loving my winter retreat and, with the new moon, have just begun to peek out a little - but there’s no hurry.
After the Winter Solstice I stepped away from the outer world and into the warm, quiet, restfulness of my hearth. The webshop was closed and I took a break from communicating ‘outwards’.
I had no desire to emerge until the new moon a few days ago - and that emergence is still very slow. Close to home, my focus has been on warm food and firewood, on hot water bottles and early nights, on reading and listening to stories, on family and close friends, and on sunny days I’ve been enjoying looking at the bare trees and the beautiful patterns their branches and twigs make against the clear skies. On dark, windy, wet days I’ve stayed in my nightie all day, with woolly socks and warm cardigans and crocheted blankets - dreaming the things that will emerge as the wheel turns.
It has been suggested that now might be the perfect time to write about crystals to relieve stress and anxiety - so here goes!
I’m going to start with fear. Fear has a very important purpose - that of self-preservation. The feeling of fear warns us of impending danger and is crucial to our survival. When faced with danger your body responds - your heart rate and breathing increase, you experience a surge of adrenaline and the experience of fear as you run, attack or freeze. With time, physiological and emotional responses can return to normal.
As we move towards the end of October it’s clear that the active time of year has truly passed. Seeds and projects were sown, tended as they grew, then gathered in. Since the harvest we’ve had time to evaluate outcomes, rejoice and express gratitude for successes and hold the intent to sow dreamseeds of new and better ways for future times.
The end of October brings Samhain or hallowe’en. Samhain (pronounced Sowen) is one of the ancient festivals that honour and celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year. In the old ways, it is the beginning of the year - a time to move into the darkness, where we rest and dream the next phase in the cycle before bringing it to birth in spring.
It’s a magical time when the veils between the worlds are thin and we honour our ancestors, including those who have passed over in last year. Darkness holds the power of the ancient Grandmother Void - the Womb of Creation - the absolute zero that holds all potentials within. Between Samhain and Winter Solstice, as the seeds lie deep in the soil, we move into the dark time where we can rest, release and reflect on what has gone before and dream the ideas that will become manifest as the wheel turns.
Obsidian is natural volcanic glass. Black Obsidian has a very powerful energy which has a natural affinity with the Navel, Base and Earth Star Chakras. It connects us to Mother Earth and to the Fire at her core. It is deep, passionate, sensual and intense.
Obsidian takes us deep inside, to hidden places, and reveals that which needs to be released and that which needs to be owned and integrated. The deep, dark, velvet blackness can be a fearful place, if the Shadow has not been addressed; alternatively it can be a healing place of peace, rest and recuperation.
Obsidian is a wonderful shamanic tool, and Obsidian Mirrors have been used for millennia. We’ve recently received a delivery of three types of beautiful mirrors which we are absolutely delighted with.
I have heard people describe Obsidian as a masculine energy, but for me it is a wonderful tool for connecting to the Cosmic Void/Great Womb of Creation that is simultaneously absolute zero or no-thingness and all potentials. In much ‘new age’ teaching, the focus is often on the light and darkness is very misunderstood, but we were all conceived and nurtured in the dark of the womb and pure darkness is a place of sacred feminine power.
Obsidian is often described as grounding and protecting; and it is very useful in these ways when doing spiritual work and/or working shamanically.
You can buy Obsidian here.
Labradorite is a feldspar that, at first, appears to be grey and non-descript. However, as it is turned, it displays flashes of the most beautiful colours – peacock blue, green, pink, gold. This gives it a magical quality, which provides a clue its nature.
Labradorite connects us directly to Source – to the Great Mystery that is at the heart of Creation. This Mystery remains beyond understanding – however much we try to understand it, explain it, contain it, quantify it.
It shows us, if we are willing and able to look, that although we are embodied on Earth, we are of the Stars and of God. How we choose to express the Divine in our lifetime here on Earth is entirely up to us.
When meditating with Labradorite, I am first aware of my Earth Star Chakra, my rootedness here on Mother Earth. Next I soar upwards, higher and higher, until I come to a place that is beyond my knowing – and still my consciousness soars upwards. Then I become aware of my heart at the centre of my Being, and understand that being in my heart, I link Heaven and Earth.
Some sources suggest that Labradorite can be used for specific physical problems, but I do not understand that Labradorite is to be used in this way.
Labradorite teaches about the mystery and magic of Creation – the mystery of creation, and the magic of how we manifest that on the physical level. If you want to celebrate that magic, work with Labradorite. If you have lost your way and feel disconnected from the magic of Life, work with Labradorite.
Hold a piece while meditating; put a piece under your pillow and ask for dreams that will guide you; wear it to celebrate Life on Mother Earth, or, if you feel lost, to help you to remember that you are a child of God, presently having a physical experience on our beautiful Mother Earth.
Labradorite awakens psychic perception and opening us to greater understanding and wisdom. It connects the Heart with Goddess/God.
You can buy Labradorite here
Lapis Lazuli is a rock comprised of the minerals lazurite (deep, rich blue) calcite (white) and pyrite (gold flecks). It is renowned as a ‘spiritual stone’, with a long association with wisdom and truth, and is considered by many to be useful for psychic protection.
Lapis has a strong affinity with the brow chakra/third eye. It is calming to the everyday mind and can help to bring a sense of clear perspective. There are many qualities of physical healing attributed to Lapis Lazuli, but to me, the main gift and power of lapis Lazuli is to take us deep within to access our own wisdom and truth. In my experience, it is one of the main stones to access past life memories.
I do, however, often use it for blocked sinuses. Three pieces on brow and cheeks can work wonders!
You can buy Lapis Lazuli here.
Moon/Girasol Quartz has a truly beautiful opalescent quality. It is not Clear Quartz, nor Milky Quartz, nor White or Snow Quartz. It looks like a white version of the best quality gemmy Rose Quartz, and like Rose Quartz sometimes shows asterism/the star effect.
This Quartz has also been called Moon Quartz, Moon Opal, Pearl Quartz, and Blue Opal Quartz. (To be clear - it is not an Opal.)
Moon Quartz is both gentle and powerful, with a subtle, quiet strength. It is very feminine and connects with Moon energy and cycles of creativity. It aids intuition and deep knowing and is a great dreaming stone.
I’ve chosen Moon Quartz for Samhain for the mysterious, dreamy quality.
You can buy Moon Quartz here.
In my experience, Black Tourmaline is the most effective crystal for protection. It is powerfully grounding and centering, and can help us to deal with the impact of external influences.
On a physical level, it aligns the spine and skeleton. Emotionally and mentally it helps us to stay centred in the midst of chaos. It brings us fully into our physical bodies, aligning spirit fully with the physical, so that we can be responsible for how we deal with external influences, rather than blaming others.
Black Tourmaline can also help to ground your own negative emotions and thoughtforms, so it is ideal to use if you are angry, anxious, or feeling low due to internal criticism.
If you find Black Tourmaline a bit too heavy, Tourmalinated Quartz - Quartz with crystals of Tourmaline within - is lighter and easier to assimilate for some. It is very centering but less grounding.
You can buy Tourmaline here.
The days are definitely shorter. Thankfully the chickens are now going to bed at a more respectable time. The trees are still very green for the time of year, but the Horse Chestnuts and Virginia Creeper are wearing their stunning orange and red dresses. I’ve never seen so many acorns! Our ceremony circle is beneath Oaks and the ground is crunchy with them. It’s like walking on marbles and the squirrels shout at me when I go up there.
As we begin to light fires in our hearths and snuggle up, I thought I’d share some warming, nurturing crystals with you.
Carnelian is a variety of quartz, sometimes called Orange Agate, which ranges from pale peachy orange to deep brown-orange.
Paler Carnelian is gentler; the really bright orange is uplifting and joyful; the darker, richer orange/brown is deep and earthy.
Carnelian carries the combined energies of Earth and Fire, and is warming and energising. It is active and helps to get things done. It enhances creativity on all levels, and has a particular affinity with the sacral chakra.
It can help us to connect with ancestral wisdom held deep within Mother Earth. It supports women to be strong, creative, confident, and in touch with their true feminine power, and helps men to know and understand the deep ancient wisdom of the Divine Feminine within themselves, the women around them, and the Earth.
You can purchase Carnelian here (on Friday evening) and here (any time)
Flower Agate, also known as Cherry Blossom and Sakura/Sekura Stone, is a relatively new discovery from Madagascar. It isn’t truly an agate but a pinkish/apricot translucent chalcedony with more opaque white ‘flowers’.
This stone is truly beautiful, often with deeper pink, gold or even greenish areas, and some tiny ‘caves’ with druzy quartz. I love it!
It has a beautiful soft, feminine energy and is calming, reassuring and very nurturing. It teaches us of the strength of gentleness and is a powerful healer of stuck emotion and trauma. Flower Agate can help dissolve old beliefs that limit us, so that we can remember the truth of who we are. With love and compassion for ourselves, we can find courage to allow and enable that to grow. In this way we can stand in our own unique power and shine our gifts into the world.
You can purchase Flower Agate here (on Friday evening) and here (any time)
Petrified wood is wood that has become stone. Ancient wood became buried beneath volcanic ash or sediment, and was preserved because no oxygen was available to break down or decompose the wood. Mineral rich water gradually deposited the minerals in the organic cells, and eventually replaced them, keeping the original shape and structure of the tree.
Energetically it is gently grounding. It holds the energy frequency of the original blueprint of evolution, and reminds us that, as humans, we are an intrinsic part of the beauty and harmony of nature and can always choose to return to the pattern of perfection. It is perfect for connecting with our close, and distant, ancestors.
You can buy Petrified Wood here (on Friday) and here (anytime)
Polychrome Jasper comes from Madagascar. It is a relatively recent find. It was discovered when searching for Orbicular or Ocean Jasper. Both are very decorative, and are used in this way.
Like all Jaspers, Polychrome is stable, grounding and long-acting. It helps us to connect with Mother Earth at a deep level – not the soil and plants close to the surface, but the deep rooted rocky depths. As well as embodying the Earth element, Polychrome also has Fire and it brings energy, vitality and a passion for creativity.
It has a lovely texture and feels much smoother than most Jaspers/Agates. It is very silky and sensuous to hold and stroke.
It is a good gift for those who ‘don’t do crystals’ because it is visually very attractive and interesting.
You can buy Polychrome Jasper here (on Friday) and here (any time)
The name Aragonite is derived from The Aragon River in Spain, which is where the first crystals were found. This type are brown clusters which are sometimes called Aragonite Sputniks or Flowers of Iron (Iron creating the colour).
Aragonite, like the better-known calcite, is a calcium carbonate mineral but it’s crystals have a different structure. It comes in a variety of colours, including white, pink, yellow, orange, red and brown.
It has a lovely, soft energy that is gently grounding and centring, and a perfect ally for being in the present moment. They help us to release turbulent emotion and to stay calm and settled when people or situations around us are challenging or chaotic, so that we neither react from emotion, nor lose ourselves in a different story.
As well as Aragonite ‘Sputniks’, it can be found in masses with cream and brown stripes. This is very centering and nurturing.
Aragonite is also the mineral that creates Pearl, Abalone and Mother of Pearl.
You can purchase Aragonite here (on Friday evening) and here (any time)
Marcus and I had planned to take a week away from home - a holiday week with no agenda.
While buying crystals, I came across a rather special Quartz, and after some deliberation - because it was rather expensive - I decided that I needed to buy it. Although it is very beautiful, it didn’t feel that it was a personal acquisition. It sat in my kitchen for a day or so until Joanna said that she wondered if it was something to do with the sacred work with the planets and earth grids - the piece of work that Marcus had started to write about. He said it was about grounding the energies of the Jupiter - Saturn conjunction at the winter solstice.
The crystal sat in my kitchen until one day it shouted at me, “Well are you just going to leave me here then?” It was much happier outside.
Marcus realised that during the week we were planning to be away, Saturn was going to turn direct on the 29th September and Pluto on the 4th October, and that it would be good if we could take the crystal to the Michael-Mary line crossing at Avebury to introduce the crystal to the work. In some ways, this was a dedication, but I hesitate to use the term crystal dedication since it implies a human choice for the crystal. This crystal already knew its purpose. It was up to us to realise and support it.
We didn’t have much time to make a plan and, since we were not planning to shoot grouse, we were limited to a gathering of 6 people. So we decided to call our dear friend Sheila and go ahead with the three of us - and anyone else who happened to be there.
On the way up the M5 there was a terrible accident and we sat in a traffic jam for 5 hours. During this time, Sue had a look at the book Marcus had brought along - The Spine of Albion by Gary Biltcliffe and Caroline Hoare. In it she read about the statue of Belinus in Bristol, so we decided to go in search.
It was such a beautiful day that we decided to sit in the sun and drink coffee at one of the many cafes. We chose one that didn’t have a loo, and we were directed to one in a market nearby. I got a bit lost, but in doing so came across a stall with a glass case with Mexican Day of the Dead skulls. I’ve often wished that I’d brought home some of these from Mexico, so I bought two. As the man wrapped them, I had a feeling that they might be part of the ceremony.
We drove to Avebury and met Sheila with her beautiful drum and set up at the crossing point of the Michael-Mary currents between the two big stones in the south quadrant. I placed the crystal and Seren took up a guard position. As I placed the skulls, Marcus said that they were to bring in the energy of the Plumed Serpent that passes through Mexico. This is the male counterpart to the Rainbow Serpent that we know as the Michael-Mary line as it passes through England. You can read a bit about the Rainbow and Plumed Serpents here.
We focussed on our brow centres (Jupiter) and root centres (Saturn) along with the tip of the crystal and the base as it sat on the Earth. I played the Koshi Chimes of the 4 elements, Marcus played the Horse Drum, Sheila played her beautiful mother drum and Seren guarded the ceremony.
It was beautiful and amazingly powerful - much more than any of us had expected. We had thought it would be a gentle preparation!
As far as we are aware at present, the next ceremony will be for the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in November. We’ll keep you posted.
Last night I lit the woodburner and this morning I put the heating on. For a week or so, the scent of Autumn has drifted in on the breeze. Mornings have been Autumn and a woolly cardigan. By eleven it’s been time for a change of attire to a cotton cardigan. Some days have been gloriously sunny and bare arms have held onto the last gifts of summer, until 4 when the woolly cardigan has been needed again. We’ve still managed most lunches outside, and as many suppers as possible - admittedly some with a bit of English determination - it isn’t actually raining! I no longer have to wait for the chickens to go to bed before I do. They are now settled on their perches by a respectable 8pm.
With the energy drawing into Earth, different crystals call - those that are gently grounding; those that are warming and nurturing - and over the next period of time I’m going to share some crystals that are calling me right now.
This week I’ve been drawn to Aragonite. I’ve written about it before this year, but now it really comes into its own. I have two types of Aragonite in stock in the webshop.
Banded Aragonite has stripes of brown and cream. It has a lovely, soft energy that is gently grounding and centring, and a perfect ally for being in the present moment. It helps us to release turbulent emotion and to stay calm and settled when people or situations around us are challenging or chaotic, so that we neither react from emotion, nor lose ourselves in a different story.
Aragonite, like the better-known calcite, is a calcium carbonate mineral but it’s crystals have a different structure. It comes in a variety of colours, including white, pink, yellow, orange, red and brown.
The name is derived from The Aragon River in Spain, which is where the first crystals were found. This type are brown clusters which are sometimes called Aragonite ‘Sputniks’ or Flowers of Iron (Iron creating the colour).
These clusters orange/brown crystals form many interesting shapes. They are named for the Russian satellite Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite launched in 1957.
Aragonite Sputniks share the gently grounding and centering qualities of banded Aragonite but they are also warming, opening and energising. Hold if you feel chilly, especially where circulation is poor and hands and feet get really cold. Work with Aragonite if you feel disconnected and forget that you are at one with your community and Mother Earth. Feel your Earth Star - the chakra beneath your feet - relax and allow your heart, mind and spirit to soften and open .
These amazing Chalcedony nodules were completely new to me a couple of weeks ago. I’d never seen them before. Apparently they are a relatively new discovery from Morocco. I bought them in a bag labelled Mochi Marbles. They aren’t! They are the same shape but are Quartz, not iron oxide concretions.
They are available here
I’ve just been doing a bit of research and have now seen them called Black Chalcedony, Botroidal Chocolate Chalcedony, Chalcedony Womb Stones, Truffle Chalcedony.
I like these stones. They feel very ‘light’ for a dark stone and I feel them at the crown as well as the root and earth star chakras. They have a very gentle grounding quality and are also very calming, comforting and nurturing. They help us to feel settled in our bodies and environment. At the same time they open the crown to receive spiritual/heaven energy and help it to ground.
I’ve read that they are good for fertility, but I don’t know them well enough yet to know if this is true.
I’m interested to see whether they start to be sold in pairs and described as male and female, as happened with Mochi/Moqui Marbles or Shaman Stones.
There’s a definite scent of Autumn in the mornings and it’s time for a new school and college year. One crystal that is really helpful for focus, concentration and study is Fluorite.
Fluorite occurs in many colours including purple, lavender, green, blue, gold/yellow, pink, white, brown and black. Some Fluorite shows beautiful bands of colour and is called Rainbow Fluorite.
My Focus Aura Spray contains five different Fluorite Crystal Essences.
All my sprays are made from my own recipe, carefully and meticulously developed over many years. I use excellent quality essential oils (organic and/or wildcrafted wherever possible) with my own crystal essences that have been created at my home over the past 25 years in the sacred ceremony circle beneath old oak trees. Every single bottle is made by me personally. An afternoon of Aura Spray making is a truly alchemical experience with every bottle being created with love and pure intent in small batches.
I usually work around the Full Moon or with significant astrological events. The bottles then sit for a while, often beneath my copper pyramid or in a crystal grid, until they are ready. Each batch is quite unique
Use Focus Aura Spray to clear your mind and energy field. It helps to clear fuzziness and confusion; to dispel ‘brain fog’ and overwhelm; to aid focus and concentration: to bring order and structure to thoughts.
Fluorite is expansive, creating space between thoughts, beliefs, opinions, attitudes, energies of all kinds. It then clears, transforms and transmutes anything that is ‘negative’ and brings structure and order to what remains.
In this way it calms and settles the mind and is good for meditation, spiritual growth and increased psychic awareness. It cleanses the aura and gives protection by clearing negative thought patterns and transmuting all negative energies. It can bring a little distance in times when emotions overwhelm us, so that we can see both what needs to be done and what needs to be healed. It is also excellent for concentration and focus, and is an excellent gift for students.
Lie with a Fluorite octahedron on the forehead to clear excessive mental energy from study or when emotions are high and thoughts go round and round, making situations worse. Alternatively, place three octahedra round the head (one above; two on either side by the temples) or place three octahedra, one on the brow, one between heart and throat, one below the navel. With these placements it can be useful to have a grounding stone such as Black Tourmaline or Hematite beneath the feet or Smoky Quartz or Smoky Fluorite in the hands.
In the environment, Fluorite can be used to help with electromagnetic disturbance from computers, microwaves, and other devices. I have a large cluster by my wifi router. I borrowed it for the Focus Aura Spray photograph above! You can also place a cluster by your computer screen to help with this and at the same time help with focus and concentration.
Fluorite occurs in many colours; all fluorites share the properties already described, but each colour emphasises certain characteristics.
Smoky fluorite is particularly good for the cleansing and protective aspects, and, apart from the very rare black variety, is the most grounding of the flourites.
Golden/Yellow fluorite is inspiring and creative, opening our minds to greater possibilities that are aligned with spirit.
Green fluorite is cleansing and healing to emotions and mind, and brings these two aspects into harmony within us.
Blue Fluorite is calm, peaceful and serene. It is good for ordered thinking and prioritising goals.
Purple Fluorite is good for purification of the mind, enhancing spiritual connection and meditation.
It is an excellent transformer of energy and can transmute negative thoughts and attitudes within, as well as external negative energy in our environment.
Lavender Fluorite is peaceful and calming, and connects us with divine inspiration and bliss.
White/Clear Fluorite is clearing and cleansing for the aura and aligns us with our spiritual purpose.
Rainbow Fluorite combines all colours and is clearing, cleansing and harmonising on all levels of being, bringing order where there is chaos. Try placing a stone on each of the chakras.
Flower Fluorite is a gentle purple, lavender and cream/white stone. It is soothing and gently supportive, and good in times of stress.
Fluorite is quite soft and if you carry it in a purse, pouch or pocket with Quartz, or other harder crystals, the surface will scratch easily so take care to keep your pieces shiny and beautiful.
In recent weeks I’ve mainly focussed on grounding stones to help keep us grounded and centred in unusual, and for some very testing, times. I’ve written and spoken about Black Tourmaline, Black Obsidian, Hematite, Bloodstone and Smoky Quartz. I added Aquamarine to help release fear and to go with the flow.
I also wrote about Shungite.
Much to my amazement, I’ve also done some Facebook Live sessions on these crystals too!
There will be another Live Event tomorrow, Sunday 31st May, when I will discuss these three crystals.
Two of the crystals today also have grounding qualities - Banded Aragonite and Rhodonite. I’ve been drawn to Citrine a lot lately and decided to include it because we certainly need brightness, positivity, optimism, joy, courage and confidence at this time.
Citrine is a member of the quartz family. It forms single crystals and clusters, and is also found in massive form. Unlike Clear Quartz and Smoky Quartz, which often have long parallel sides, Citrine crystals tends to be more stubby.
Natural Citrine is rare and is a pale lemony colour. Most of the Citrine we will experience is Amethyst or Smoky Quartz that has been heat treated. Often people say that only Natural Citrine can be used in healing. If this were the case, then few people would ever encounter Citrine, and it is certainly my experience that many people have benefitted from the yellow crystals that came out of Mother Earth a different colour.
The energy of Citrine is that of sunshine! For me it is not the hot sun of midday, nor of hot climates. I experience the Spirit of Citrine to be similar to that of the morning sun. It is bright and warm and filled with the all the hope of a new day. When attuning to Citrine I often hear the words of the beautiful celebratory song by Eleanor Farjeon:
Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation. Praise every morning.
God's re-creation of the new day!
Citrine brings optimism and a fresh brightness to stale situations, clearing away stagnant energy on all levels, and making way for the new. Work with Citrine when you feel emotionally exhausted, or when you are mentally stuck and need a new vision or viewpoint, or when there is stagnation in the body and the cells or organs need a clear out and some new fresh energy. Use for sluggish digestion, to get things moving. Use when it is time for a detox – physically, mentally or emotionally. Citrine is an excellent crystal ally for seasonal affective disorder, as it brings sunshine energy in deepest winter.
Citrine can be of great help in raising confidence and self esteem, clearing away doubts that may have been implanted by insensitive people, and reminding us of our unique gifts and of who we really.
On a spiritual level, Citrine can help us to remember and reconnect with the pure essence that is Divine and to bring it into our everyday lives – becoming the vehicle for ‘God’s Creation’ as we manifest our physical reality. For this reason, Citrine has become known as a stone for prosperity, and it is often recommended that a piece be carried in the purse, or placed in the till in businesses. But Citrine will not do all the work itself – we need to carry out the physical part of the manifestation.
Citrine brings warmth, but not heat. Citrine brings energy that we can work with, but it is not pushy. I understand the energy of Citrine to be that of offering a potential that we can work with if we choose. If you are about to bring a new project to manifestation, Citrine energy can be of real assistance, perhaps combined with Green Aventurine and Gold Topaz at the seeding stage and Tiger’s Eye when strength and stamina is needed.
If you are recovering from physical illness, emotional or mental exhaustion, Citrine can help when the time is right to begin to come out into a new phase. Welcome it’s brightness into your life, and ask for help to move forward.
You can wear Citrine and jewellery, or carry a piece with you, in purse or pocket. Meditate with Citrine and ask for inspiration. Create a Citrine Net and lie within it, to detoxify and replace old, tired energy with bright dancing light! Place a piece on the stomach to move sluggish digestion. Place a piece on the heart to clear away sadness and replace with light, hope and optimism.
This Aragonite has stripes of brown and cream. It has a lovely, soft energy that is gently grounding and centring, and a perfect ally for being in the present moment. They help us to release turbulent emotion and to stay calm and settled when people or situations around us are challenging or chaotic, so that we neither react from emotion, nor lose ourselves in a different story.
Aragonite, like the better-known calcite, is a calcium carbonate mineral but it’s crystals have a different structure. It comes in a variety of colours, including white, pink, yellow, orange, red and brown.
The name is derived from The Aragon River in Spain, which is where the first crystals were found. This type are brown clusters which are sometimes called Aragonite Sputniks or Flowers of Iron (Iron creating the colour).
Aragonite is also the mineral that creates Pearl, Abalone and Mother of Pearl.
Rhodonite is a pretty opaque pink stone that often has grey or black manganese markings.
It is strong and calm, bringing the energy of love into day to day living. It brings stability, practical support, reduces stress and helps to raise self esteem and confidence. It can help you to work towards attaining your needs whilst remaining loving and open. It can support you to bring your gifts forward in service to your community and assist you to live your Soul’s purpose.
Since Mother’s Day I’ve hardly been beyond my gate. I don’t go out often anyway, so I’m used to that. I have missed seeing family, but apart from that my life has been completely blissful. Since lockdown, we’ve had the most amazing weather, and nature is thriving. Traffic is much reduced and the road by my house has never been so busy with walkers, runners and cylists.
I’m very aware that the nature of life in my little bubble is not shared by all and many have been tested in these times. I’m also aware that outside my bubble, something is happening in our sacred land that both sad and shocking. It is hard to imagine how we could have got to this - a situation in which decisions are made about our beautiful country and her citizens by con men, and that we have collectively allowed, or even chosen, this situation.
Never in my lifetime has greed and corruption been so apparent. Never have the people been treated with such utter contempt by those who are meant to be in service. Never have decisions been made to let the elderly die, en masse. The other side of my personal bliss is utter grief and horror at what we have become as a nation. Those currently in power have claimed ‘national pride’ as their own - a national pride of arrogance, entitlement and assumed superiority. The acts of so many ‘ordinary people’ shame them - the everyday heroes going about their daily work to keep us safe, well and fed; the many volunteers in communities; all who willingly accept and endure personal privations for the greater good of all.
These wonderful qualities must eventually trump the greed and selfishness of the few. This situation must change us. What we value, how we organise, what we choose to believe and accept, what we allow or condone must change or inevitable future earth changes will destroy us all.
One of the many wonderful things that is emerging from the current situation is to see how many people are growing food, fixing and mending, cooking nutritious meals from scratch and re-evaluating what matters in life. I’ve seen that the media are now urging us to get back to shopping as quickly as possible. I was happy when the garden centres opened, because buying seed online proved to be very disappointing, but I truly hope that we choose never get ‘back to normal’ and instead seed a new way forward with much less unnecessary consumption and waste.
There’s lots of food growing here! Marcus has been building new vegetable beds, clearing overgrown areas and creating a chicken city; Sue planted lots of seeds; we bought 4 new chickens then lost two of the old ones to Mr Fox (hence the chicken city); the bees all died and we were devastated but it appears that a swarm has now moved in.
I was so happy to hear how much the crystals have been helping you all, and it’s been lovely responding to your requests for crystals. There’s quite a lot now available in the webshop. Please do have a look!
You can always email if you want something that isn’t there and I’ll help if I can.
Not only have I been working on a webshop, I’ve been writing these blogposts and have even ventured into the world of Facebook Live. Never, ever would I have thought that these things would happen! Who knows what’s next!
We now have surplus seedlings so the little stall is back outside the gate. For those of you who are near, now that some travel for exercise is safe, you can also collect your crystal orders here.
Next blog and Facebook live on Sue Weaver’s Crystal Barn Online
Citrine, Rhodonite and Banded Aragonite
Shungite has become incredibly popular recently and I have had so many people asking me about it that I decided to write about it.
Shungite is a black, carbon mineral from Karelia that is found in very ancient metamorphic rocks. It is generally considered to have its origins in very ancient sea organisms, similar to those that become oil or coal, but there is also theory that Shungite is part of a giant meteorite.
In rocks with a higher carbon content, it looks very much like shiny black coal; in that with a lower content, it is more grey. Rocks with the highest content appear silvery grey, and are called Noble Shungite or Elite Shungiite. In the crystal world, you can buy different grades of Shungite, and the shiny Noble Shungite costs a lot more than the duller variety. I have both! You can click on any of the text highlighted in pink to take you to the shop
The standard grade, unpolished has a beautiful, velvety texture, and I love the appearance but it can be rather messy. It’s fine by your wifi and I have a sphere that I love. However, as you can see in the photograph below, where I am sorting a new delivery of Shungite, it wouldn’t be so great to wear.
So what is special about Shungite?
As well as carbon, some Shungite contains tiny amounts of fullerenes - a rare and unusual hollow molecule consisting of many carbon atoms, that is considered to be responsible for many of the healing qualities.
Fullerenes are a class of closed, hollow carbon compounds that comprise of the third form of pure carbon ever discovered. The discovery of fullerenes in the mid-1980s was made by Richard Smalley and Robert Curl of Rice University and Harold Kroto of the University of Sussex. In 1996, Smalley, Curl, and Kroto were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery. The most remarkable of the fullerenes is the 60-carbon alkene buckminsterfullerene, also known as buckyballs. These natural fullerenes have the ability to reduce the concentration of free radicals like no other antioxidant and their action is stronger and longer lasting.
The buckyball was labelled "molecule of the year," in 1991 by Science Magazine where it was described as "the discovery most likely to shape the course of scientific research in the years ahead“.
The earliest evidence that buckyballs occur in nature was discovered by Arizona State University researchers Semeon Tsipursky and Peter Buseck, who found that a sample of rare, carbon-rich rock called shungite, estimated to have been formed between 600 million and 4 billion years ago, contained both C60 and C70 fullerenes, (buckminsterfullerene’s)
Since then, these fascinating molecules have also been identified in meteorites, impact craters, and materials struck by lightning, leading some to believe that shungite may actually originate from out of space.
The hollow structure of the geodesic molecules makes it possible to trap impure atoms inside them like a molecular cage, thereby stabilising impurities and purifying electromagnetic frequencies. This unique capability has captured the attention of the medical community. Researchers believe that eventually buckyballs may be used to deliver medicines to specific tissues and cells, such as those that have been attacked by bacteria, protecting the rest of the body from the toxic effects of potent pharmaceuticals. This would basically mean that the buckminsterfullerene’s could localise disease and stop it from spreading to other cells!
This information is currently being used to develop and improve Medical Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents and image enhancers by using the concept of the carbon cage of the fullerene to shield patients from the radioactive materials inside.
The implications of this discovery are tremendous for modern-day society where we are surrounded by toxic electromagnetic frequencies being emitted from mobile phones, computers, microwaves, wi-fi hot spots and television screens. Shungite has the potential to neutralise and shield us from harmful radiation without interfering with the signal being received by the equipment.
To bring this unique property into your life you can wear a pendant or bracelet; stick a piece on your mobile phone; place by your wifi router, computer, etc.
I have spheres that bring in the energy of Wholeness as well as ‘Shungiteness’; cubes that bring a very stable energy that fits well with ‘Shungiteness’; pyramids that are little powerhouses.
Please click on the images to go to the shop.
Lovely Shungite pendants in a variety of shapes. These are slim and light and, if you don’t want to wear as visible jewellery, they fit easily beneath your clothing. Please click on the images to take you to the shop.
You can also stick a Phone Protector on the back of your mobile phone. Marcus chose the Flower of Life design.
As well as the Flower of Life design, we have lovely Shungite phone protectors in plain and a variety of other engraved patterns. Please click on the images to take you to item in the shop.
And finally, Shungite keyrings. Suitable even for those who aren’t crystal lovers 😉
Please click on the images to take you to item in the shop.
For at least 300 years, water flowing over Shungite has been considered to have healing properties. There is a story from the 18th century that tells how Russian Tsar Peter the Great supplied each of his soldiers with a piece of Shungite to put in their water bottles. I don’t know whether they had water bottles in those days, or if they were drinking waterthat had run over Shungite rocks. Anyway, it was said that this contributed to the defeat of the Swedish army during the Battle of Poltova (1709) when dystentery broke out and the Swedes, lacking Shungite, were defeated by the Russians who had water purified and cleansed by Shungite.
More recently, it was observed that the water that came from the Shungite rock appeared to have healing properties and people who drank the water seemed to make rapid recovery from illness. Russian scientists have shown that shungite water purification eradicates heavy metals, chlorine, fluoride and pesticides that can be present in modern-day drinking water.
This has led to the increasingly popular practice of putting Shungite in water as a purifier. I’ve been using Shungite in my water jug for quite some time now. It definitely affects the taste. It seems sweeter and smoother.
Elite or Noble Shungite - perfect for your water bottle or jug
People have asked me how much Shungite do they need for water purification. I’m sure that if you google it, you’ll find some ‘rules’. I don’t have any rules, but am happy to share my opinion here. I only have experience of Tamar Valley water, which is soft water, and I think a £5 or £6 piece is adequate for a standard water 500ml bottle, with 3 pieces for a water jug. If you live in a hard water area, I suggest you experiment. The other question is - how long do I leave the Shungite in the water? This is what I do. In the morning I empty any undrunk water, rinse the Shungite and the jug and refill for the day. Afternoon glasses will have more time with the Shungite than morning glasses, though if I drink it all (or share with others) I simply refill throughout the day.
Apart from the energetic qualities mentioned above, Shungite is grounding without any heaviness. In that way, it is similar to Jet. It feels very stable but light, and I find that it brings a lovely, gentle but definite sense of wellbeing.
Interestingly, it appears to be self-maintaining. Although it is working with ‘negative’ energies, it doesn’t appear to need cleansing - transforming rather than absorbing energy. This is my experience up to today, and of course it might change at any time, so please don’t say, ‘Sue says Shungite doesn’t need cleansing'.
Use your own experience, intuition and discernment and let me know what you find.
Crystal Blessings xxx
Last week I wrote about the importance of grounding and described three crystals that have strong grounding qualities - Black Tourmaline, Hematite and Obsidian. I’m continuing with the theme of grounding with two of today’s crystals - Bloodstone and Smoky Quartz. Neither of these are ‘heavy’ crystals but, to me, they still come into the category of ‘grounding stones’.
At the beginning of the 'lockdown’ several people said that it could be good for online businesses. I wasn’t sure what was right action so I retreated and did nothing. My first thought was for the posties and delivery people, and so I decided to wait until I had a clearer sense. Over the next two weeks I had lots of communications from people asking if I could choose crystals for them, and many saying how much they had been helped by their crystals in these strange times. That tipped the balance for me. Knowing that, in my small way, I could do some good meant that adding items to the delivery load had a purpose.
So, I decided to start writing more about crystals and also sharing in other ways - hence the first Facebook Live!
Here I’m going to share some thoughts on grounding and three ‘grounding crystals’ - Black Tourmaline, Obsidian and Hematite.
I can’t believe it is over six months since my last blog post. How time flies and how much happens that we never imagined!
Towards the end of last year, Marcus became certain that we needed to work with three Jupiter/Pluto conjunctions during 2020. You can read more about this here. We’d planned to hold a workshop on Saturday 4th April to prepare for ceremony on Sunday 5th. Now all has changed and are adapting and learning how to do the work that needs doing in a different way.
My task was to enable the crystal grid to manifest and, as usual, this happened in it’s own time. The beginning came with the last new moon. Although it was a spring new moon - so holding the energy of new beginnings to the power of 2 - it felt much more than that. I had a strong feeling of something very big, very powerful and transformative happening. It was the very beginning of our time of retreat and so our usual New Moon Women’s Circle would not be meeting, but I still felt the need to respond to the energy by ‘creating’ the grid below.
This very beautiful egg was insistent on being at the centre. It is lovely gemmy Rose Quartz with a mystery inclusion and I found it hiding away when on a shopping trip some years ago. It has lived in my home but never been ‘out’ or in any grids. I think the inclusion is Pyrite, but I’m not absolutely sure. The egg shape holds the energy of both new beginnings and huge potentials within. So here we have Rose Quartz, a very loving, nurturing energy, holding Pyrite within. People often say that Pyrite is grounding but this isn’t my experience at all. To me, Pyrite is the spark of life - active, creative, initiating.
Surrounding that is Moldavite. Now I’ve only chosen to engage fully, truly, deeply with Moldavite twice in my life, and both times have precipitated huge change - not necessarily the change I might have anticipated or wanted. I hesitated but it was insistent, so I released hesitation and moved into trust.
Next came the 36 Preseli Bluestones that hold the outer boundary - surrounding, grounding, protecting and connecting with the Ancestors of this land. After this was a pause and I left it for a while.
Later came lovely slices of Petrified Wood for ancient Earth Wisdom and Ancient Ancestors, then Emerald for abundance and joy. Between these ‘rows’ were three Moonstones - white, peach and silver/black - the triple goddess. When ‘creating’ crystal grids, I do not choose the stones for their ‘properties. The stones that need to be part of the Crystal Being that is manifesting make themselves known to me. When it is done I can think of what energies they hold and contribute to the whole.
Gently holding, within the Preseli Bluestones, were the soothing energies of 6 raw, unpolished Moon/Girasol Quartz and 6 raw, unpolished Manganocalcites.
The beautiful Chevron Amethyst skull, Layla, that travelled with us last year asked to be close by. She was joined by Liliana, the Rose Quartz skull who joined us in January, and small Preseli Bluestone and Sarsen Stone skulls and dragons.
I stretched beyond my comfort zone and experimented with a very small online New Moon Women’s Circle. I was completely amazed at the power! We could really feel one another and the energy of the crystal grid. Building on this success, and because of the limits to social contact we are currently experiencing, we decided to meet at first and last quarters as well as New Moon and Full Moon - for individual, personal support as well as holding the Divine Feminine to balance the Whole.
Between New Moon and first quarter Marcus was reminding me that we needed the crystal grid for the Jupiter/Pluto conjunction. Absolutely nothing was speaking to me and I had the strong feeling that it wouldn’t be possible until I had ceased holding the focus as we moved towards the First Quarter. When I went to ‘create’ the grid for our First Quarter meeting on Wednesday, it required no changes at all. The egg feels very so potent and powerful at this time and I’ve encouraged all the sisters to hold the image/energy of a sacred egg and feed it with love as we move from the old ways/world into the new.
On Thursday I sat in the crystal barn and asked what was needed. The Rose Quartz egg, Moldavites and Preseli Bluestones were to stay, so I removed all the other crystals and waited while looking at the astrology chart of the Jupiter/Pluto conjunction. (Marcus’ Blog)
Some years ago we created Planetary Crystal Packs with four crystals for each planet. How this came about is another story that Marcus has written about in the current book. We’re hoping that this time of isolation enables its completion. Each of the four crystals holds an aspect of the planetary energy. We needed some of these crystals in this grid, but didn’t want to approach it from a mind place.
The first crystals to come in were these lovely polished Labradorite ovals. They are beautiful quality with fabulous colour. Sure enough, they were one of the four Jupiter crystals. So then I started to think about Pluto and placed Black Obsidian tumblestones, but they felt wrong. I thought of other possibilities but nothing else felt right, so I looked in the Earth cabinet and found that I had exactly 6 of these lovely Black Obsidian eggs. Placing them felt just perfect and very powerful. It was time for a rest for me and time to let the grid settle.
Next came in Kyanite - beautiful blue blades of pure connection but also clearing blockages, cutting through and away any dross. Kyanite is in the Pallas Athene pack.
In came the tiny Citrine skulls that have been present in many grids in recent times. You can see them in earlier blog posts. Citrine was in two Planet Crystal packs - Sun and Pallas Athene.
Next came Peridot, Golden Labradorite and Dream (Green) Quartz. Peridot is in the Ceres pack; Golden Labradorite is in the Chiron pack and also helps us to connect with the Spirit of the Sun; Green Quartz is in the Venus packs and Chlorite included Garden Quartz is inthe Ceres Packs. Also, since this retreat time is a perfect opportunity for us to spend time on focussing our dreaming of a new Earth, Dream Quartz is just perfect. It was time for another settling time.
After a break I called Marcus in to look at and feel the grid. He loved it, which is always nice 🙂
With Marcus sitting in the crystal barn with me, the rest came quickly and I forgot to take photographs as it grew.
First came the beautiful Green Petrified Wood, to be placed close to the outer Preseli Bluestone ‘container’. These hold the ancient wisdom of Gaia. Next were some tiny Red Garnets that had been calling to me earleir. These brought the energy of Mars to sit between the Petrified Wood. Between the Dream Quartz and the Garnets came in Rose Quartz hearts for Venus, Earth, Ceres and Juno. I had 6 beautiful clear bright Ametrines that had been calling strongly. These aren’t in any of the packs but were insistent on being present.
Marcus asked about Saturn and in came 8 beautiful Mookites. You can see these Mookites in an earlier blog 25 September 2019. We also added more Golden Labradorite to create a beautiful circle with those already placed and the Peridots.
It felt so beautiful, and we thought it was complete. I started to tidy away, but as I was putting the Moonstones from the earlier grids away, I realised that there was no Moon energy in the grid, yet the moon was very obvious to me (not an astrologer!) in the chart.
Moonstone did not feel right at all. Instead I placed Selenite and the whole grid changed. It was beautiful before, but the addition of the Selenites brought in a cool, light energy. Below is the completed grid with candles lit.
We are focussing on this now in preparation for ceremony tomorrow. Please join us if you feel called to do so.
Here is the link 💚🌍💚
Well, dear Ones, it’s time for the next installment in the creation of a crystal grid to hold the energy for our sacred journey next week. (Scroll down for part 1.)
Last week inspiration came and the work was started. The crystal grid spent the weekend gathering energy in the Crystal Barn while we went off, with the crystal stall, to the Healing Light Festival.
I’ll tell you a little about waiting for inspiration for crystal grids. Even when we have been holding an intention for months, sometimes it doesn’t come until the last minute. This can be quite testing, but I have learned to trust. In the past, there have been times when Marcus has kept reminding me that time is getting short. I often get inspiration in the shower and once it was the very morning of the event. The thing is, until I know what’s needed, I don’t know! I once said that we had two choices - wait until I know or make something up. He doesn’t ask any more. This time it has been very slow and easy, with the whole energy building for months. You can read about the coming of the Horse Drum and beater in earlier blogs.
A short recap - the Crystal Grid has a large Chrysoprase flame in the centre. It is surrounded by Citrine skulls and Golden Labradorite for the Sun; Fluorite octahedra for Mercury; Rose Quartz hearts and Emerald for Venus; Jade hearts for Earth and Preseli Bluestone for our land/bit of Earth; Garnets for Mars.
Moon energy needed to be woven in with Earth, and yesterday I chose Moonstones in white, peach and silver grey. You can see them between the Jade hearts and Preseli Bluestone tumblestones.
After a few hours it was time to add the Asteroids - Ceres, Vesta, Pallas Athene and Juno. For these, the following stepped forward: Peridot for Ceres, Pink Petalite for Vesta, Herkimer Diamonds for Pallas Athene and Iolite for Juno.
It was then time for a rest to allow the energies to settle before adding Jupiter and Saturn.
For Jupiter I added Amethyst crystals and Sodalite tumblestones. The crystals, with points facing outwards, help to create the expansive energy of Jupiter. As they were placed, the grid certainly felt huge!
And finally, for this crystal grid and this Sacred Journey, Mookite was added for Saturn.
The grid will remain in the Crystal Barn until Friday morning, with the Horse Drum and beater. I had planned to make a beautiful bag for the drum, but he doesn’t want anything elaborate or at all ’frilly’ so I’ve ordered a very basic black drum bag.
On Friday, all will be carefully wrapped and taken to Pewsey where we will be based for a week. When there is time, we’ll post some information on our Heaven & Earth Community Facebook page so you can follow us, and join us in spirit if you are called to do so.
https://www.heavenandearthcommunity.co.uk/sacred-journeys
https://www.facebook.com/heavenandearthcommunity/
