Spring Renewal Crystals

Two of my favourite minerals in the mineral kingdom are Malachite, and Lepidolite.
Malachite was the first gemstone I acquired around the age of 8, and I still have it in my collection today. I am choosing to work with Malachite & Lepidolite as we transition into Spring, as they are both minerals that aid in transition, transformation & rebirth. They both help maintain emotional balance in times of change. Malachite & Lepidolite both assist in gardening & agriculture...helping to align the energy forces to grow in abundance, they also protect plants from disease. Perfect choices for Spring!


Lepidolite














Lepidolite ~ K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2 potassium lithium aluminum fluor-silicate mica group.
Hardness 2.5 - 3
Crystal System: monoclinic
Lepidolite crystallizes in cleavable masses, scaly aggregates, tabular hexagonal crystals. Occurs in granite pegmatites as either fine granular masses near the core of the pegmatite or as tabular crystals in cavaties. Often occurs with other lithium baring minerals such as Tourmaline, Spodumene (Kunzite, Hiddenite) as well as with Quartz.
Colour: mostly pink, purplish, lavender, somtimes greyish, white or colourless.
Common localities: Africa, Brazil, Greenland, U.S.

Metaphysical Properties:
Lepidolite aids in emotional healing and balance. Lepidolite dispels negative thoughts and emotions by removing disruptive emotional attachments. This mineral encourages one to see problems as opportunities to learn, and it eases one into change and through transitions. Lepidolite enhances physical grace, eases eloquent communication, and promotes compassionate communication, listening, and patient attention.
Meditating with Lepidolite can clear blocked energies from any chakra, or any place of blockage in the energy field. It is soothing to the heart and third eye providing acceptance of self and the perfection of each given moment. In gratitude. With love. While holding Lepidolite, the emotional body instantly relaxes and releases stress and worry.
Lepidolite encourages self -love, self-acceptance, and assists one in opening one's heart and being honest with themselves and others.

When placing Lepidolite on different areas of the body one can feel a slight resonance wherever there is a blockage of energy. Lepidolite can also be used to grid ones environment to establish a soothing atmosphere.

Lepidolite assists in digestion, relief of tension, any stress related symptoms, relieves cramped muscles, soothes nervous system, stabilizes blood flow, and calms the heart.
Use Lepidolite with Quartz to eliminate Candida.
Use Lepidolite as an elixir or gem essence on skin, to help soothe wrinkles.

The Lithium in Lepidolite helps to stabilize mood swings, and stop obsessive thoughts. Helps overcome insomnia, and reduces stress & depression. Lithium enhances the generation of negative-ions in the environment. ***

Malachite















Malachite ~ Cu2CO3(OH)2 basic copper carbonate
Colour/luster: emerald-green, grass-green, dark-green, adamantine, silk, dull
Hardness 3.5 - 4
Crystal System: monoclinic, rare and usually short or long prismatic; also radial, fibrous, botryoidal, stalactitic, incrusting
Malachite is a secondary copper mineral, that develops in azone of alteration in massive, lode and disseminated hydrothermal replacement deposits.
Common Localities:
Associated minerals are Azurite, Shattuckite, Chrysocolla, Turquoise.

Metaphysical Properties:
Malachite is one of the most important stones for protection from negative energies. Malachite activates one's intuition, allowing one to be aware of present dangers and hostile energy, and further protect one from taking on others' emotional baggage. Malachite can help one release negative experiences from their past, that they may or may not recall. This mineral emanates the healthiest energy pattern for the heart, and assists in achieving emotional balance. Malachite stimulates the solar plexus chakra and increases willpower, instilling confidence and self-responsibility. Malachite strengthens our ability to put our thoughts and ideas into action, in order to create and manifest one's dreams.
Malachite is a wonderful stone to use in times of change, transition, transformation, renewal, rebirth, a fresh start, new beginning etc..... Malachite promotes transformation and helps those stuck waiting for their reality to change. This gemstone allows one to break through obstacles and limitations. Malachite helps and assists one in accepting changing situations, and that which one can not control.
Malachite is physically and emotionally healing, drawing out impurities and attachments in ones energy field. Malachite is an excellent stomach tonic stone, easing stomach ailments and muscle cramps by holding the stone on the area of discomfort.
Like Lepidolite, Malachite can be used to find locations of energy blockages in one's energy field. Hold the Malachite stone while scanning the body, at locations of blockages one will feel a slight resonance, distinctive sensation in hand holding stone.
Malachite can amplify both positive and negative energy and easily absorbs negative energy and pollutants from the atmosphere and body of the wearer/carrier. It is wise to cleanse your Malachite stones before and after use by placing on or with clear Quartz crystals in the sunlight or moonlight.

Daily Horoscope

My horoscope for April 3rd that's tomorrow from http://horoscopes.jpastrology.co.uk/:

Aries:
Mercury, planet of communication and smart thinking, moves into your income sector today, just 2 days behind Venus, planet of desire and money. He's closed the gap considerably, making this the day when heart and mind once again move onto the same page, this time focused on your income and earnings potential. While Venus will leave in just 3 weeks time, Mercury is making this a long term cause, staying here for the next 2 months.

Quite fitting as I have been putting off depositing my pay in the bank, and "forgot" to do it today as well...will have to be tomorrow. I'm happy to focus on my earnings potential! And increase it!

I've been creating some beautiful jewelry pieces, building up a collection, and will be posting online for sale very soon. Here are just a few items to admire:

Crystal Cleansing Full Moon Ritual

The Full Moon of March, is a wonderful significant time of year. It's a time of new growth, buds are on the trees, earth worm castings appear, bringing the return of the robins, and it is an essential time to cleanse.
Every full moon I cleanse my crystals, stones, jewelry, and any other objects I feel need a cleanse.

Crystals are very efficient energy absorbers, and transmitters, and effectively cleanse and transmute negative energies. Without regular cleansing your crystals can become really saturated with external energy, and negative debris...even negative thought patterns.


There are many ways in which to cleanse your stones. Go with your instincts and listen to what the stone needs, and you will find the way(s) best for you. Different types and forms of stones are best cleansed using different methods. For example stones such as Selenite & Calcite are water soluble, and will wear if soaked in water. Some crystals may fade in sunlight, including Amethyst, Celestite, Kunzite, Rhodochrosite. Amber will become dry & brittle and will crack if left in sunlight over time.

Dedication:
I dedicate each stone before I use it any way: cleansing, meditating, wearing, healing...
I hold the stone in my hand and consciously willing it be used in light, in love, and for the highest good of all.





Here I will describe my cleansing ritual:

I usually cleanse my crystals on the evening of the full moon and like to have my altar by the window sill, as the light energy of the moon and sun will help activate, and recharge the crystals during cleansing. It is also lovely to be outside in nature for the cleansing ritual. I find there's a lot of traffic noise where I live so I prefer to do this in my sacred space I've created...and also because I am cleansing my home, and the crystals home in the same process. It's nice to take them to a creek, river, or lake and cleanse them in the water and let them charge in the sunlight.
Again, follow your intuition and listen to the stones and you will know exactly where and what to do!

Before and after working with crystals I like to ground my self by holding a smoky quartz point and then placing it at my feet and holding a kyanite or clear quartz point to align my chakras. I focus on my breath until I feel centred and calm. I then smudge my space, all corners, doorways, windows, everywhere...I am using sweetgrass tonight. I have a glass dish dedicated to cleansing stones and I fill it with water. Tap water, spring water, distilled water - or water you've collected from a creek, river, lake etc. Tonight I am using tap water, it's all I've got. I then bless and smudge the water. I will also be using a large amethyst cluster to cleanse and charge some crystals.

I pick up each crystal, hold it while I dedicate it to be used in light in love and for the hightest good of all and place them either in the water dish or on the amethyst.
Once I have finished with all the stones I like to smudge once more and ground myself with smokey quartz. I also drink a glass of water to ground.
I like to leave the stones cleansing for at least 24 hours, sometimes up until the new moon...whenever I feel they are ready to be used for healing. Full Moon Blessings!


Here are some other cleansing methods you can try:

- Place tumbled Carnelian in a bag of tumbled stones
-Soak crystals in salt water for 1-7 days (about 3tbsp salt per 1 cup water), and place in glass container in sunlight
-Cleanse crystals in a flowing creek, river, lake and charge in sun/moon.
- Surround crystal (or object, anything really) with visualized white or golden light, intending any negativity present to be transformed to positive light energy. It is important to maintain concentration & intention.
- Soak crystals in flowers to imbue the essence of the flowers
- Soak stones in brown rice for 24 hours, the rice balances the energy, removes negativity, while transforming it to positive. Once cleansed the rice is purified, energized so wonderful to eat!

* Some information from "Love is in the Earth", by Melody, and "The Crystal Bible", by Judy Hall. Both great reference books, two out of many that I've read that I turn to on a daily basis.

Imbolc

Imbolc marks the centre point of the dark half of the year. This pagan sabbath marks a time, from now until Spring Equinox, to prepare for renewal, growth & rebirth. Imbolc is a sabbat of purification. A great time to initiate new creative projects, begin learning something new, and form groups & committees. Spring is on its way and you can sense it in the air.

Yesterday evening I went for a bike ride. I could smell spring rain in the air, and although it wasn't raining, the air was so moist and the smell so encompassing, I felt like I was wet, like I'd been biking in the pouring rain! And it has been so warm...

In honouring Imbolc I focus my intention on what I will manifest in the coming spring. I find it helps to choose 1-3 clearly defined intentions, meditate on those intentions, write them down and read them aloud regularly.

On my altar I place a circle of 13 crystals, (clockwise), Amethyst, Azurite, Lepidolite, Staurolite, Kyanite, Amethyst, Smokey Quartz, Amethyst, Lithium Quartz, Kyanite, Amethyst, Danburite. In the centre I place a double-terminated, inverted sceptre, manifestation Quartz point. (It is called manifestation Quartz when there is a smaller crystal grown within the Quartz point.) Around the circle I place black Tourmaline crystals for grounding and Quartz points for charging, activating, and focusing the energy created within the circle for manifestation. Inside large Amethyst geode bed I've placed crystals for opening, and activating my heart chakra to consciously give & receive universal, unconditional love. These crystals are pink Tourmaline in Quartz, Hiddenite, Malachite, Prehnite, Lepidolite and Rose Quartz. Moonstone in honour of the Goddess. While meditating with these crystals I call upon the Goddess, and my higher self and focus my energies to attune with the energies of the crystals and circle formation. The crystals start to radiate light and seem larger in size than previously. I sense the circle is strongly charged and I set my intentions, saying them aloud. Afterward I ground myself by holding black Tourmaline and then drinking water.


Happy Imbolc

Cave of Endless Possibilities

Dedication

Breathe

Breathe deep the gathering Light,
Energy of love that dispels the night.
All that is, vibrates as one,
From tiniest atom to mightiest sun.

From ephemeral lace, to the galaxy's core
Power of love- no less, always more
Growing while flowing in the River of Life,
Harmonics converge and merge in the light.

Breathe deep - filled with the Love
of the All that's below and the All that's above.
All that is lives inside of you,
Ancient of age and forever brand new.

~ Richard Ray, Washington, USA