Brecciated Jasper

Are you feeling fenced in? You may need to work with some brecciated jasper! This is the name given to red jasper that has flecks of other rock and crystal. Because of this is the perfect gemstone to use to gain a sense of wholeness an to break down your boundaries to achieving this .

So if you feel that anything is holding you back from being what you want to be and should be, now is the time to surround yourself with some brecciated jasper tumblestones!

Crystal Energy Generators

If you are looking for a super charged crystal, then look no further than a crystal generator! These slightly space age looking wands or tools are six faceted crystals, often clear quartz or amethyst. It comes to a point at one end so that it collects and strengthens the energies in this place. These are wonderful aids to meditation or working alongside other crystals. However, you must cleanse and re-energies your other crystals after working with them as this is a very powerful force!


I have been working with this amethyst crystal energy generator lately as I have wanted to be very focused on something I am doing at work. The irony of the situation that I found myself in was that I was busy and so lacking in time to work with my crystals but tired and in need of the extra help! So my generator has come along to save the day.

I have been using it to accompany some affirmations that I have been working on and this is magnifying the effect of them and helping me to target exactly what I need to do. I’ll let you know if I get a promotion!

Blue Chalcedony

As I get older I have more and more of a problem with my memory! Not unusual I know but annoying never the less. It may not surprise you to find I have a crystal to help me with this, the lovely blue chalcedony. I don’t like to overuse this gemstone, and I could be tempted to keep it with me every day the way I am always forgetting things. But for anything important, this is the crystal I keep by me to help bring clarity and focus.

Crystals and Spells

I have been getting a little more into spells lately. A bit of a leap from working with crystals you may think! But not as far a leap as you may imagine as actually crystals are very often used by Wiccans and witches in their spell casting. So this lured me in and I’ve been giving it a go! I’ve only been doing a few basic spells to try and boost some of the energies and it’s not actually the first time I’ve done it, as can be seen in my post here.

But I am going to try and do some more with some spell candles as this fits with my beliefs on colours bringing different energies to you. Combined with my crystals I’m certainly going to be brightening the place up :)

There are some free spells that can be found here, if you want to look into this more.

Healing Friends

I had an interesting experience the other day that I’d like to share with you. There’s been a lot of illness around me lately and I’ve seemingly been fighting off coughs and colds for months now. So in other words, I’ve been a bit run down!

I had a friend round the other day and I was feeling a bit ropey but trying not to give in. Now my friend is one of those people that has an endless energy, a warm and friendly manner and people seem to be just drawn to her like she was a real log fire on a rainy cold day! I love the fact that she just seems to emanate this energy and doesn’t have to try, but I must admit on this day I was kind of struggling to do her visit justice.

She was talking away as I flopped down on the sofa and as she chatted, she reached out for a piece of amethyst and just caressed it absentmindedly. Almost immediately I started to perk up! It wasn’t a burst of energy or anything like that, more of a sense of calm and release washing over me. I was certainly more up for a natter.

I wanted to share this with you as I was interested in effect that someone with such loving and warm energies can have, a natural healing ability. Because someone else has handled my amethyst I should now cleanse the energies and neutralise them. In fact, I have left the piece she touched by my bed!

Chrysolla and compassion

When you’re feeling a little low yourself it can sometimes be hard to find the compassion and understanding that you should for others. It’s not that you don’t care of course, but just that you feel pressured or stressed and maybe not up to offering them your best help.

This is where chrysolla will come to your rescue. By calming you and helping you centre you will feel all the better equipped to provide gentle encouragement or support without feeling vulnerable to absorbing too much of the energies of the other person. For this reason I always find chrysolla to be a little like meditation! So use this crystal to sooth yourself before visiting someone or even leave it nearby to you as you talk.

Crystals and Colour Therapy

Another way in which you can use crystals is with colour therapy. It cannot fail to lift your spirits as the colours in the stones are so vibrant and pretty that they are simply a delight to have around. Here are some of the therapeutic effects of the colours and examples of the gemstones you can choose to work with.

Red for Energy and Vibrancy
Red carnelian, red jasper, red aventurine, red quartz

Yellow for Confidence
Yellow aventurine, some citrine, yellow jasper

Purple for Serenity
Amethyst

Orange for Wisdom
Some citrine, some tiger’s eye

Blue to Calm the Spirit
Blue banded agate, blue lace agate, lapis lazuli, sodalite, turquoise

White for Purity and Cleansing
Snow quartz

Green for Balancing Emotions
Tree agate, malachite, chrysocolla, green aventurine

Chris xx

How and Why Do Crystals Work?

How do crystals work, why do they work and how do I make them work for me?

The first point that needs to be made is that no one truly knows the answer to this question and it can at times be a controversial but exciting debate! The second point is that I am no scientist, which should come as no surprise to you.

But a quick summary of the scientific side is that it is to do with energies and vibrations. All objects and solid matter are said to be constantly vibrating at an atomic level and this includes both crystals and us!

We are obviously more complex beings than gemstones and this is why our vibrations and energies will get out of whack from time to time. Anything from illness to stress can put a strain on ours systems. By placing the crystals around us, we are absorbing their vibrations and rectify ours, put it all back into back into place.

In order to get crystals to work for you there are a few methods that you may want to try. Firstly, just by having them around you! This is simple but still affective. The vibrations will be further away from you but will be there all the same. So if you are short on time or just need a constant dose, then just place them around your home in the

To keep crystals close to you is also a very calming and therapeutic method. This can be done with jewellery and also by placing stones in your bag or around your desk at work.

I also wrote previously about using chakra points. This will help you to hone in on the areas that are causing you the most trouble and work directly with them.

Mostly, I feel that crystals work by you being open to them. By letting in the energies and forming what you could even describe as a bond with them, you will benefit all the more.

Chris x

Hallloween Crystals!

Ok, I know that you may not associate the calming, therapeutic qualities of crystals with this time of year but seeing as I incorporate them into most of my life, I don’t let a tiny fact like Halloween being about spirits and Pagans stop me! I like to set out a lovely display and always get black and orange candles for the occasion. But just for the “hell” of it, I also set out a pretty arrangement of citrine (mine are a lovely deep orange) and bloodstone (speaks for itself I’m sure!).

So have I chosen this combo for its particular energy vibe? Do you I get a special Halloween, spooky emanation from them? I’m only a little ashamed to say - no! I just love the colours and it makes me feel festive :)

Your Loose Gemstones

Loose gemstones or tumblestones, as opposed to larger pieces or carved crystals, are my favourite type! This is down to their flexibility and ease of use and you may have noticed that I feature them in a lot of my suggestions. I thought I would put together a piece on how to use loose gemstones, combine them and get the most out them in general J

1) Loose gemstones are portable and this is one of the best aspects of them to me! I carry different types around with me depending on what I am up against during the day or what energies I feel I am lacking. Crystals work just as well in your car on the way to work as they do at home. You can even carry them around in your bag if you need a little ‘moral support’!

2) When it comes to alternative treatments and methods, I find that people don’t tend to ask as many questions about what you‘re doing when it‘s crystals! This is because they look so pretty and decorative that it seems natural that you’d want them around you anyway. So if you want to keep your using the loose gemstones to yourself, you can do so. You can place a selection of loose gemstones on your desk at work and nobody need know you are working on energising your environment or ridding yourself of negativity.

3) Loose gemstones can be mixed in order to make use of similar or compatible energies. Experiment to see what works, what feels right. If you do not like the affect or something feels odd just cleanse and reenergise the stone and you will be able to start again without any harm done.

4) Crystal jewellery is the perfect way to get a constant stream of energy into your life. A difficult work meeting? Wear a pendant to give you confidence and strength. Going through relationship problems? Treat yourself to a power bracelet to heal your emotions, giving you the strength to fight to make things better.

5) Meditation using loose gemstones is very effective. You can place the stone on a chakra in order to clear blocked energies, or simply place them around you as you lie on the floor or bed. This acts as both a protective field and also your relaxed state will make it all the easier for you to absorb the powers of the crystals.

Take care,

Chris xx

Another Article! This one on healing crystals and chakras

Hi there,

Another article that I thought you may possibly be interested in. In it I briefly outline the uses of healing crystals and give some suggestions on what gemstones should be used in conjunction with which chakras.

Chris xx

The Importance of Cleansing Your Crystals

Seeing as a few of the methods of using crystals that I’ve discussed on here have involved getting rid of negativity, I thought it important to give you some guidance on how to cleanse your crystals of this energy.

Actually, it is good to make sure you do this when your crystals are new as you will not be aware of what they have been around and have absorbed. But certainly, if you have worked with a crystal around a tense situation, you may be feeling better now but the crystal won’t! So here are some tips on how to purify and re-energise them.

1) Smudging with sage and lavender. This is a very simple method and works by simply carrying away the negative energies but in a safe manner. Try not to do too many in one go though.

2) Sea salt. Salt is a wonderful cleanser and can be used in 2 ways for your crystals. Firstly, if you know your crystals are resistant to water, you can dissolve the sea salt in water and place your stones in it overnight. Make sure you rinse them thoroughly in the morning and do NOT keep the water. Pour those bad vibes down the sink immediately! You can also use dry salt - same method as above but the crystal is placed directly in a bowl of salt without the water (therefore you’ll need more salt). Again, check out whether or not your crystal is hardy enough to cope with contact with water or salt first as you will otherwise cause them serious damage.

3) To re-energise your crystals after, place them in the window to pick up some daylight. It is much better to get sunlight onto them but this is not always possible of course.

4) Another great way to charge your gemstones up again is to have them with you! Place them around you for 20 minutes to half an hour, or place them in your hand for 10 minutes. I find this sufficient for getting a buzz back from them :)

After following the above, you’ll have your little helpers back. Hope you found this useful.

Chris xx

Just to let you know that I was recently asked to put together a small article on the gemstone meanings of some of the more popular crystals - needless to say I went for some of my favourites too! Hope you enjoy xx

Amazonite and Communication

There will always be situations or subjects that we find very difficult to cope with. It may be that you find it all gets a bit emotional or that words don’t come easy to you. These are the times when you could do with a little boost, a bit of friendly support to get you through.

This is when I turn to amazonite to super charge me! I carry it with me if I know I’m going to have to confront one of these situations and it soothes me enough to be able to face my fears and open up communication enough to get me through. You’ll soon find that by becoming unblocked and being able to speak freely, what you fear becomes all the more manageable.

Chris xx

Yellow Aventurine and Relationship Woes

We have previously looked at green aventurine (for tricky decisions) but now is the turn of yellow aventurine. This is a lovely, balancing crystal that can be extremely useful in cases where power struggles are going on around you. It can help to sooth the nerves and to help both you and the other person involved see each other’s point of view.

So an extension of this is that yellow aventurine can really help with relationship disagreements. Through no fault of our own, we can often find ourselves at a loss to understand our partners and are exasperated by the fact that they seem to speak a different language! This can lead to tit for tat arguments and even though you may not recognise it as such, it may turn into a power struggle as you grow determined to make yourself understood.

So this is where our friend yellow aventurine can come in handy. The only difficult part can be managing to work with it in a way that benefits and incorporates both of you but where there’s a will there’s a way!

Of course the simplest method is to place some tumble stones in the bedroom or even living room - anywhere where you will both be spending time together. But you can get creative! Try tempting your partner into a candlelit bath and placing the crystals around you both. You’ll both feel the healing powers of the aventurine and make your surroundings inviting and romantic. The yellow aventurine won’t mind this a bit!

Chinese Fluorite Crystals and Spiritual Holidays

At this time of year you will most likely be thinking about your holidays but are possibly still way too far off going! In fact it seems like the time is never going to come and you end up getting more and more overwhelmed by the stresses and strains of all you have to do.

So what can you do to give yourself a spiritual break to keep you going in the meantime? Here’s where I bring in Chinese fluorite. In fact just looking at this stunning crystal is like going on holiday in your mind! It has 2 of the main, powerful colours of psychic energies - purple and green.

I don’t do anything special with my Chinese flourite crystals; I just give them prominence in a room where I am relaxing and trying to take my mind off things. In fact, I like to make myself a cup of tea and spend some time just looking over the beautiful colours they possess.

So what can they do for you?

Chinese fluorite is great at drawing away negative and toxic energies from you (in fact some people keep it by their computers while they work). But if you are finding it hard to dump the detrimental effects of a day’s work or are just plain feeling gloomy, this crystal will siphon it all off leaving you feeling refreshed and back to your old self. By the time you finally get to your holidays, you never know, you may even have the energy to pack!

Take care,

Chris

Moonstones and Pendulums

The next gemstone that I’d like to introduce you to is the moonstone, a shimmering and dazzling crystal that matches the mystical object that it’s named after. Moonstone is fantastic for balance, going with the ebbs and tides of life. Even though there’s movement, by the end you will find yourself centred at just where you should be. Moonstone is perfect for getting you through times of turmoil or confusion, and even when you’ve just got a touch of PMS!

But my favourite moonstone crystals item is my moonstone pendulum. If you’ve never used a pendulum before, you will be amazed at how easy it is to use it so it is a great way of divining for the beginner. (For details on how to use a pendulum take a look at this site -the only thing I would add to the info here is that it I usually ask the pendulum the answer for yes and no TODAY, as it can sometimes vary. Why, I don’t know!)

My moonstone pendulum is not the only one that I have. I have different stones for different purposes: rose quartz for love question for example. But I like to use the moonstone pendulum for times of imbalance in my life such as stressful or confusing times when I don’t seem to be getting a straight answer from anyone! I use it when one aspect of my life is taking over others and also if I feel a little taken for granted. It seems to bring me comfort as well answers during these times. I hope it does the same for you. :)

Chris x

The Blushing Pink Stone of Love - Rose Quartz

Now that spring is here and life is coming back to the environment around us, it is not uncommon for thoughts to turn to romance ;)

Whether you are single and looking for someone special, or with a partner and just want to put a bit of magic back into things, you can turn to rose quartz to help you out.

Rose quartz isn’t called the love stone for nothing. Its colour lends itself to the gentle and delicate nature of love but it also has a passionate feel to it to. It is a very vibrant and lively stone to work with so use this strength wisely.

To use rose quartz for love, you can try a little bit of spell work. Don’t be put off or worried by this, it is perfectly simple and harmless. However, please do not try to use this for negative purposes or to bend the will of another person.

So, what do you need to do? Firstly, you need to work on a flat surface and choose somewhere nice and quiet where you won’t get disturbed. Place your piece of rose quartz in front of you and light a pink candle. Hold the candle in your hand and visualise the feelings and emotions that you wish to experience from love. Let the joy and flush of love come to you - experience them as if they were first hand. Place the candle in a holder in front of you and then place the rose quartz in your hand. Meditate for about 20 minutes, all the while focusing your mind on the happiness you wish to draw to you. Do this over 3 nights to increase the energy flow.

Hope this works for you and let me know if we hear the sound of wedding bells!!
Chris x

Carnelian and Motivation

February is a strange time of year. Summer seems way off in the distance and the chaos/excitement of Christmas is long behind us. It is very often at this time of year that we get a niggling feeling that we’re not doing all we can with our life - that we’re in a bit of a rut.

You need some carnelian! Whether your inaction is down to fears of failure or just the fact that it’s cold outside, carnelian is just the galvanising force you need. It introduces life and energy into your aura and making those all important first steps will suddenly seem all the easier. Carnelian is often called the stone of the here and now and will stop you putting things off.

Carnelian is excellent to wear as a piece of jewellery to get you motivated. That way its influence will be on you all day! After all, you’ve been putting things off for weeks and months so you may need carnelian’s help over quite a few weeks too.

However, as with almost all crystals you can also just move a piece or some carnelian tumblestones into a more prominent place as and when you need them and you will find that you effortlessly absorb the energies as you relax. And at this time of year, what could sound more appealing?!

Citrine for the Blues

Citrine gets its name from its beautiful, lively range of colours - from orange to lemon, even through to a brownish red. A member of the quartz family, it is a very tough crystal, able to take the knocks and bumps that all too often happens with our everyday crystals!

Known as the ‘cuddle stone‘, citrine is renowned for chasing away sadness. This is all thanks to its strong nature. A bit like a determined, matriarchal force taking you under its wing and making you feel good about yourself again. Picture Ma Larkin and you can’t go too wrong! Citrine also will not hold on to negativity so even if you slip into a low mood again, it will not keep these emotions near to you.

As this is the cuddle stone, I like to keep this close to my chest and keep it in a breast pocket for the day. In fact I’ll choose a jacket just for this purpose! If you have 3 or 4 pieces of citrine in your possession though, try a trick that I found out purely by accident.

Sit yourself down for the evening, maybe get yourself a good book and a glass of wine. But before you do, place the pieces of citrine around you so that you are surrounded. By being right in the heart of the citrine, you will absorb the loving vibes and energy and by the end of the evening, will have chased those blues away.

Bloodstone and Taking On The World

Bloodstone

Bloodstone - not the most appealing name I always think. It conjures up something quite dark and icky! However, think again and you’ll find associations of a powerful force will come to you, as powerful as a representation of lifeblood should be.

Bloodstone is said to encourage justice. And in a world that is so often unfair (and even more often feels it!), this is a gemstone that we can do with from time to time.

Before I talk of how you can use this crystal, I think it helps to know that it is also known as heliotrope, which can be translated from Greek to mean ‘sun’ and ‘turning’. It was believed that when bloodstone was immersed in water, it changed the sun to red. In essence, bloodstone is very influential indeed!

So bloodstone is perfect for those times when you could use a little help in your corner. How can you absorb this energy? Firstly, it is important to recognise that it should not be used for a negative outcome. Even if you are certain that you are the aggrieved party in whatever situation you would like to change, you must always try to get a positive return for all. Remember, bloodstone is about justice, so it isn’t necessarily personal to you.

But, never-the-less, you are looking for a boost. And bloodstone, for this purpose, is very easy to use indeed. When I need a little help in my corner, I like to keep my piece of bloodstone with me whenever I am trying to solve the issue. Need to do some research ? Keep a bloodstone tumblestone nearby. Need to confront someone and get them to see your point of view? Take yourself off to somewhere quiet and think over what you need to say holding on to your crystal.

You get the picture. Be aware of the bloodstone’s presence, and consciously allow in its grounded and objective energies. When you become more accomplished at using crystals, it won’t be long before you are able to feel its vitality resonating within you. It will give you the strength to face your adversary or even be the one that everyone looks to for the necessary diplomacy.

Chris xx

Amethyst and drunkenness!

Amethyst

Amethyst - the perfect protective talisman. It is one of the most popular of the quartz family crystals and its beautiful, lilac colour is soothing, calm and reminiscent of psychic energies. And for those born in the month of February, this is your stone - and how well you’ve done! I’m quite jealous actually!

So, what can we practically use amethyst for? The good news is amethyst can be practically used for anything!!

Firstly, there’s where it gets its name from - the Greek amethustos meaning "not drunken". It has been used to help with drunkenness and ward off its effects, even to the point of drinking out of amethyst goblets. It was also used for another kind of spirits, although this time of the evil kind, and was said to offer protection from them.

But even if you do not believe that you’re being plagued by evil spirits (and I sincerely hope you’re not!) bear in mind that it is equally relevant to the negative thoughts in your own head. Amethyst can be a great comfort and dissipater.

These negative thoughts are bad for you, not only because they cause you distress, but because they more often than not lead onto more negative thoughts. Before you know it, the problem will spiral downwards and the problem will worsen. Not what you need.

So, this is how I use amethyst during these difficult times. Try to leave yourself at least 15 minutes as you will not be able to see the benefits in a shorter time than this.

I like to take a piece of amethyst (I use a rough piece but you can equally use a tumblestone if you have one) and place it right between my eyebrows. I then close my eyes and relax and try not to think of anything so that I am free to experience any shift in energies within me.

This is always marvellous if I have been feeling churned up and, even if I hadn’t noticed it, if my breathing has quickened with the stress. Within 5 minutes I usually can feel a lightening feeling come upon me and a positive attitude will follow. By the end of the 15 minutes (or half an hour if I can manage it) I will find that solutions or suggestions will start to enter my mind and take the place of the negativity.

If you are going through a particularly bad time, try to fit this in at least once a day if you can and you will soon find that, while amethyst can’t solve all your problems (sadly!), you will be better able to think things through rationally and face up to them in a calmer manner.