Crystal Wisdom + Signs of Spring

Today was a good day. A near perfect Spring day, in fact. The bees and birds are alive and well. All around these parts, the Earth is showing beautiful signs of renewal and awakening. Yay warmth!

daffodils showing their beauty

our pretty fig tree is blooming! 

tiny magician in our backyard

The boys and I ventured to our local metaphysical shop to find some new crystals for our collections. It's always overwhelming in a kind of mystical way when entering the crystal room. Hundreds of beautiful crystals and rocks from all over the world surround you, emitting their ancient energies all around the place. I usually spend a bit of time feeling through and exploring until I'm drawn to certain crystals, but this time I was on a mission. Spirit Quartz. Legend says that Spirit Quartz brings qualities of positive energy to all realms. Excellent for shielding the aura as well as mental and physical protection.


Here's a bit more info on Spirit Quartz and other healing crystals...should you fancy this sort of thing!



Spirit Quartz-

Also known as Faerie Quartz, Cactus Quartz, Pineapple Quartz and Porcupine. These magickal pieces are found exclusively in Southern Africa. Spirit Quartz opens, activates, balances and harmonises the crown chakra, allowing one to connect fully with divine wisdoms. As the crown chakra is energetically charged, one’s clairvoyant, clairaudient, clairsentient and claircognisant states are also heightened. This guidance is often received with such clarity, that one’s fear is non-existent, as one chooses to live to the full potential of their soul purpose with strength, clarity, peace and grace. 

Spirit Quartz

• assists meditation
• balances chakras
• heals family/community problems
• helps community healing
• aids astral projection
• enhances dream work
• shamanic journeying
• auric shielding
• helps overcome grief
• activates and cleanses other stones
• rebirth (perfect for the season)
• natural attraction to faerie realm
• connects you to spirit and higher self
• freedom from fear
• channels otherworldly and divine inspiration
• connects and re-connects you with unconditional love

Citrine-

Also known as Merchant Stone or Sun Stone, legends say this crystal never needs cleansing. Citrine is highly energizing and nurtures creativity.  It also encourages generosity and sharing good fortune. Citrine brings intelligence, health, happiness, curiosity, confidence, and healing wisdom.

Citrine

• balances yin/yang
• stimulates intuition
• positively influences education and interpersonal relationships
• supports the endocrine system
• encourages proper metabolism
• helps release anger and negative feelings
• activates solar plexus, sacral and crown chakras
• adds optimism and zest to life
• attracts prosperity 
• aids in detoxifying blood
• relieves menstrual and menopausal symptoms :)

Sodalite-

Sodalite stimulates thinking and truthful in emotions. It's a fantastic stone for clearing electromagnetic smog. When placed by a computer or other electronic, it's useful in blocking their emanations. 

Sodalite

• encourages creativity
• helps verbalize thoughts
• eliminates confusion
• activates logic
• provides direction of purpose
• encourages self-esteem
• provides access to sacred universal law
• associated with third eye chakra and throat chakra
• provides protection
• unites logical with spiritual

Placing crystals around your home, car, and even in your pocket or bag, is a great way to cleanse and shield the energies around you. Cleanse your stones by placing them in sunlight or moonlight for a few hours. This will energize and clear them. You can also place your stones in running water, preferably a natural source, or bury the stones in earth for a few hours to ground and cleanse their energy. Smudge sticks such as sage and sweetgrass are also great for cleansing your special stones. Cleanse your crystals when they start to look cloudy or dull...or if they start to feel less vibrant...and see them come back to life! 

http://www.lightandlovereiki.com

http://www.shimmerlings.com

Grape Hyacinth Flower Water

My Mama says, "You know it's Spring when you see the Wild Grape Hyacinths in the yard."


It's definitely getting warmer where we are and these little lovelies have popped up all over our yard.

Muscari flowers...better known as Grape Hyacinths in the South. 

I don't remember seeing them as much last year, possibly due to how frequently we cut our grass. Or maybe my eyes just weren't as open to them.

Before the first mow of the season, I gathered nearly all of the Wild Grape Hyacinths from the front yard. They smell absolutely amazing. I separated them by stem length (to fit in various containers) and then chose the healthiest buds for making flower water. Now, the smell of purple floral heaven is floating through the house!

I stored the flower water in a majestic decanter that belonged to my Grandmother. Floral waters are infused with flower essence to be used for body misting, pouring into a bath, mixing with lotions and shampoos and aromatherapy.

Creating this particular flower water was easy as pie. The recipe is wonderful as a light body mist, combining the sweet essence of grape hyacinth and essential oil of clary sage. Since this method only has a shelf life of about a week, I plan to use up the rest in a nice warm bath for a healing aromatherapy session.

This is what you'll need:

• about one cup of fresh flower buds, free of stems and leaves
• two cups of spring water
• funnel
• coffee filter
• vessel to store flower water
• 3 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)

How to create flower water:

1. begin by gathering your pretty flowers! collecting floral buds is a very delicate part of the harvest process. an ideal time to harvest is during the middle of a dry day. search through the flowers for the healthiest, brightest buds, free from decay or damage, and collect them until you have about one cups worth.

About one cup of grape hyacinth flower buds.

2.  gently place the flower buds into a small sauce pot and cover with two cups of water.

Flower buds in a pot with spring water.

3. bring flowers and water to a boil then reduce heat and simmer on low for about 5-8 minutes. add essential oil (optional), give a quick, gentle stir, and remove from heat. allow to cool

4. put coffee filter into funnel and place both in a tall glass cup (as below) or whatever glass container you have available

5. pour the cooled contents from the pot into the funnel and allow to drain until all water has been filtered. this will produce about 1 1/4 cups of sweet smelling floral water.

About 1 1/4 cups floral water

I am so grateful to have inherited my Grandma's china cabinet. It's full of beautiful pieces that she worked very hard to collect. She was rather proud of her collection and could have left it to anyone...but she left it to me. Makes me feel super special.

Wishing all of you a happy season that brings positive growth and renewal.

Cheers! :)