A Song For The Earth: “The Time Has Come”

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Spirals of Light

This past Earth Day I offered a special “Healing Crystals Dancing Dolphin Retreat” to celebrate Earth Day, off the coast of Key West, FL with my friend Capt. Victoria of Dancing Dolphin Spirit Charters.

Earth Healing Mandala Crystals

Earth Healing Mandala Crystals

Six women joined us in ceremony for Earth Healing. Together we created a Crystal Mandala energy grid in the sand of a uninhabited mangrove island using Earth healing crystals & gemstones. We offered prayers and blessings to the Earth and all its people.

One of the woman on our retreat, Gail Lima shared an Earth Day song she co-wrote along with her husband Franco Richmond and Faith Ainbinder Lang. Because Earth Day is really everyday, this is a song that can be sung for the Earth all year long.

The song was written for the Earth Summit in 1992 held in Brazil. Gail & Franco created musical bells made out of recycled aluminum, called Wow Earth Bells to accompany the song. These hand held bells make a wow, wow, wow sound when struck with a mallet. The children of Brazil sang the song and played the bells for the closing ceremony of the Earth Summit.

Gail shared the song and the bells with us on the island for the closing of our Earth Day ceremony on the beach. For more information about the song and Wow Bells email Gail

Gail playing the Earth Wow Bell

Gail playing the Earth Wow Bell

Lima at gaillima@hotmail.com

“THE TIME HAS COME”
THE TIME HAS COME
To love our Earth
She is our home
She gave us birth
THE TIME HAS COME
To clean the seas
To clear the air
To save the trees
If we listen to our hearts
We can make another start
Then we can find the hope
And find the strength
To dream again, to dream…
If we see the world as whole
And we share a common goal
Maybe it’s not too late
To heal the wounds

And celebrate!
THE TIME IS HERE

2013 Earth Day Celebration

2013 Earth Day Celebration

THE TIME IS HERE
To have no fear
THE TIME IS NOW
We’re learning how
Before there’s none for anyone
THE TIME HAS COME
To be as one…
Listen to the bells
THE TIME HAS COME…

Music & words by Franko Richmond ,Faith Ainbinder Lang & Gail Lima c1989

 

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Clear Quartz Crystals: The all purpose Crystal

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Spirals of Light

crystal-1Have you ever wondered which gemstone or crystal is right for you? It doesn’t matter if you are new to stones or have been collecting crystals for many years. This question always comes up. How do I know which stone to use in this particular situation?  Let this question be a start to the discovery of the amazing and versatile world of  Clear Quartz Crystals.

What makes a clear Quartz so special?  Because it is clear, it contains all the colors of the rainbow. Quartz Crystals contain within them the full spectrum of light. They can be used like any other stone. There are so many beautiful, colorful gemstones with their vibrant colors,  unusual structures , unique forms and inherit energy properties that we often forget to reach for the Quartz Crystal.
This clear stone can energetically act like any of the color stones. The clear quartz is your all in one stone, “the all purpose crystal”.

Quartz is among the most abundant minerals on the planet. Quartz Crystals are six-sided forms of Quartz.(hexagonal or trigonal) Quartz Crystals are found in many areas around the world. Crystals are found on every continent on Earth.  Most often they are found in mountainous regions in veins between hard rock.
There are many different forms of crystals. This is where it can get really exciting. No two crystals are ever alike. They may appear the same at first glance, but when looked at deeper  the differences are revealed. If you inspect a Quartz Crystal you’ll see its unique characteristics.  You’ll discover  that different forms have different names, like Double Terminated, which means the crystal has terminations (points) on both ends.

Double Terminated Crystal

Double Terminated Crystal

This is a very useful form of Quartz Crystal. A double terminated crystal can send and receive energy at the same time. This type of crystal allows energy to flow in both directions. A very useful crystal for sending energy to someone who is far away to keep the connection strong. Its often used in absentee Reiki.

There are many  forms of  Quartz Crystals with names like, Laser Wand, Generator, Tabular, Record Keeper, Scepter Quartz, Fadden. Each form has its own unique characteristic and usefulness.

blog crystal-1

Single Terminated Crystal

Clear Quartz can be used as a tool to focus energy. Crystals focus and connect energy.  They have the ability to amplify, receive and conduct energy. This is why Quartz crystals are used in technology.   Quartz Crystals are found in watches, computers, microphones, microscopes and space technology.  Quartz Crystals hold piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity is a form of electricity created when crystals are held under pressure. Crystals can transform energy. This is one of the reason Crystals are wonderful and powerful healing tools. Crystals respond to the electricity flowing through our bodies. The vibration of the crystal can help to harmonize and balance energy. The Crystal has the ability to channel, attune and stabilize energy. Quartz can be used to amplify both body energy and thoughts.

Clear Quartz Crystals, are the most common and versatile tools in the mineral kingdom. Have fun exploring these treasures from Mother Earth. If you could choose just one stone to take with you, choose the Quartz Crystal -The Powerhouse of  Stones

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Buying the Perfect Incense – A Guide

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Spirals of Light

I’m so pleased to welcome my first guest blogger Rita Rova who wrote this informative article on how to buy the perfect incense. I too love to use incense. I often burn incense when creating and designing my gemstone jewelry.

Incense may be a sort of look into the past, but it is one of the most enjoyed things of today. The right incense can help you relax after a long day, recharge you for the day ahead, send you off into a blissful sleep, get you in the mood for romance, and so on. But there are so many varieties out there. You are literally just a few clicks away from hundreds, if not thousands of different scents and aromas, which is certainly great, but also makes choosing quite difficult. Is there a way to narrow down the options?

I love adding crystals & gemstones to my incense burner. This incenses burner can burn cone or stick incense.

I love adding crystals & gemstones to my incense burner. This incenses burner can burn cone or stick incense.

Before you choose a fragrance, you will first have to choose the shape of the incense. There are three classical shapes and as they all require their own set of equipment, you might want to stick to one after you’ve chosen it. So you have stick, cone and resin. A stick incense is the long thin stick of incense you place in an incense holder (a bowl filled with sand can work too). A cone is almost shaped as a candle and you will need to place it in a small dish (anything that will hold the ash as the cone burns can play that part). Resin incense is a bit trickier as it requires both a censor and charcoal. Moreover, you cannot leave burning resin unsupervised. The great thing about resin is that you can take a couple of different varieties, mix them together and create an entirely new fragrance.

Once you’ve chosen the shape of the incense comes the hard part – the fragrance. Specific advice about each fragrance would require a book to be written, but here are some general rules of thumb:

Choose natural incense only. Purchase the incense that is named after a type of wood, flower, etc. Anything that is called ‘7 wonders’, for example, is probably entirely synthetic and will not only smell bad, but will quite possibly give you a headache.

The best incense comes from Japan, Tibet, Nepal and India. Research your retailer well and check where they are getting their stocks from. If you manage to find a place to buy incense from one of these countries, you will probably enjoy the result.

Although you might choose some of the other available options, here are some of the most widespread incense fragrances. They will be perfect for you if you are just entering the world of incense.

Sandalwood is a very popular ingredient in many perfumes. It combines the age-old aroma of wood with the bright scent of something new and fresh. As a type of incense, it can be quite versatile – it can get you ready for the day ahead in the morning and help you relax when you get home in the evening. In Eastern cultures, sandalwood is known as the divine essence and plays a leading role in medicine.

Frankincense is a very popular type of relaxing incense. It not only sooths your mind, but can have quite the effect on your body as well. Many aroma therapists use frankincense oil to massage the body and the incense to aid in the relief of various aches and pains.

Patchouli is another name you might know from the perfume industry. Its scent is pungent, mossy, powerful and a bit fruity. It is most often an ingredient in men’s fragrances exactly because of the power in its aroma. If you purchase patchouli incense, you will feel happy, energetic and vibrant immediately after you start burning it.

Last but not least – rose incense. As the rose is a flower which is most commonly associated with matters of the heart, it is no wonder that purchasing rose incense would be the perfect choice if you are planning a romantic evening. The rose will alleviate your stress and allow you to focus on the more important things.
Use this guide as a basis, but also be brave and experiment. Personal preference accounts for a big part of your choice, and you may find that you react very differently to the average person when you start trying out different fragrances.

Rita Rova uses incense daily as a way to relax and unwind. She specializes in health and beauty advice and writes health and beauty articles for the Love My Vouchers Lifestyle blog.

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Where To Buy Crystals In The Florida Keys

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Spirals of Light

During the winter months from November through April I live in The Florida Keys, on the island of Big Pine Key. I have my very own showroom here, I call it The Crystal Cottage.

The Crystal Cottage

The Crystal Cottage

The “Cottage” is a space where I can lay out my ever changing collection of Crystals, Gemstones, Minerals, Healing Gemstone Jewelry and other tools for personal growth.

The crystals and stones love to be out in the open air, where they receive plenty of light from the many windows in The Crystal Cottage. When I’m not in Florida the stones are boxed up and travel with me to Metaphysical Expos, Gem shows  and Art & Craft shows.  It is  a real treat to leave them out, carefully arranged on the tables and shelves where they can be admired, loved and purchased by those who come through The Crystal Cottage.

Recently I received an email from someone wanting to know where my location was. I asked her how she found out about me, since she lived about 60 miles north on Key Largo.  She replied that she had done a Google Search, typing in “where to buy crystals in the Florida Keys”.  I just love the power of Google! The Google search engine brought us together.  She drove down to meet me, purchased some crystals and even had a Crystal Reading.

After her visit, I got to thinking, there really is no other place to purchase Quality crystals and gemstone in the Keys.  There may be a few places sprinkled up and down the island chain where you can find some stones, but there’s no longer a store devoted just to stones.

Back in 1992 I opened a business with my partner Badger called The Crystal Loft, also on Big Pine Key. We started this retail store after a trip to Arkansas to mine Quartz Crystals.  We both fell in love with the experience of digging our own crystals, and opened the shop soon after returning from a summer road trip which included a visit to Sedona AZ. The Crystal Loft became a place for workshops, classes, drumming circles and meeting place for like minded people.

After 11 successful years we sold The Crystal Loft. I began traveling, offering Crystal classes and readings at different venues around the country.  I still visit the major buying shows where I hand select each crystal and stone in my collection. ( see my post on buying at The Denver Gem Show).

The many crystals inside The Crystal Cottage

The Crystal Cottage is more than just a place to buy Crystals and Stones in The Florida Keys.
My vision for The Crystal Cottage is to be a source for our local community for high vibrational crystals, gemstones, healing jewelry and tools for personal and spiritual development. BUT it is more than that. The Crystal Cottage is a place to gather for classes, workshops, movies, healing energy sessions, sound healing.

Solstice Celebration at The Crystal Cottage

Solstice Celebration at The Crystal Cottage

It is a place to come together to empower and inspire each other.

Next time you are in The Florida Keys make an appointment to come spend some time,
be in the healing vibration of the crystals & stones.
Join our community on Facebook.

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Take A Bath With Crystals And Gemstones

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Spirals of Light
Soothing Larimar

Soothing Larimar

Have you ever taken a bath with a crystal or gemstone?

It might sound strange at first to think about putting stones in your bath tub,  this is just one more way of receiving the healing benefits that gemstones can offer us.

What do you look forward to after a long stressful day at work? Coming home and taking a long, hot bath, right? We all know that soaking in a tub after a hard day helps to melt away the stress, so adding soothing, calming stones like Lepidolite, Larimar, or Kunzite to your bath water will help calm and relax you after the day from “hell”.

Here is my favorite recipe for a relaxing bath:

Calming Lepidolite

Calming Lepidolite

  • Place a piece of Lepidolite into the tub allowing the water to run over it as the tub fills. If you have more than one piece you can add them too. Just be sure you don’t lose them down the drain when you let the water out. You can put your stones into a mesh cloth bag if you prefer and let this bag hang down into the water.
  • Add pure Lavender essential oil, about 10 drops
  • Add 1 Cup sea salt
  • Light a candle and dim the lights
  • Soak 15-20 minutes

    Petalite for restful sleep

    Petalite for restful sleep

If you are having trouble sleeping, prepare for yourself a nice hot bath, add Petalite to the bath water. Petalite is the perfect choice to assist you when you need to rest or need help falling asleep.

 

Tired muscles? Maybe you over did it in the gym. Put some Epsom salts in your bath and add the stone Orange Carnelian to help ease those sore muscles. Carnelian is a great energy revitalize. You’ll make it to the party after all!

Looking for a romantic bath with your partner or lover? Try putting some Rose Quartz in and around your bath tub. Light a candle, add some soothing romantic music and let the loving energy of Rose Quartz work its magic!

Baths are a wonderful way to detoxify your body. Chose any of the black stones, like Black Tourmaline, Obsidian, Black Onyx to help pull out harmful toxins from your body.

There are many stones that like to go into a warm bath, but caution is necessary, as not all stone do well in hot water for long periods of time. The general rule is avoid soft stones like Selenite, Malachite, Turquoise, Amber, Pearl. These stones are best placed around the tub, rather than in it.

Selenite Egg

Selenite Egg

For these and other gemstones please see my Crystal & Gemstone Gallery.

Get creative with your baths and invite some of your favorite gemstones in with you and receive their healing energy.

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Shungite A Medicine For The 21st Century?

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Spirals of Light

How can a  stone  be called “a medicine of the 21st century”  Well, I wondered that myself.

Shungite

Shungite from Russia

I’d been hearing about a new stone coming out of Russia for a few months before my last buying trip. So of course it was on my shopping list.  A google search brought me to web sites declaring its miraculous healing abilities.  How could they be making these blatant claims I wondered?

Russian scientist have investigated this rock Shungite for several decades and report that it restores health and vitality. It is said to relieve headaches, backaches, arthritis, relieve pain, normalize sleep, stabilize blood pressure, clear respiratory tract, and increase energy.

Upon further investigation I found out that Shungite is a Precambrian rock of metamorphosed coal. It is made up of 98% carbon. Shungite is found in only one area of Russia, Karelia. Scientists estimate that the age of Shungite is about two million years. Looking at it, Shungite resembles coal.  Carbon of which this stone is composed of, is the basis of life on the Earth.

But here is where is gets truly interesting. Shungite is the only rock in the world that contains fullerenes. So what is a fullerene you might ask and why is this so special? Fullerene is a newly discovered form of carbon in the form of spherical ions. This discovery was so important that in 1996 a Nobel Prize was awarded to a Chemist, Richard E. Smalley, for the discovery of fullerenes.

Shungite receives its healing power from the fullerenes which are globular hollow molecules consisting of dozens of carbon atoms. It is thought that when fullerenes get in or near our body they behave as a powerful, long-acting antioxidant as a means to fight free radicals. WOW!

Now I’m no expert in science and I have to leave the details of this scientific study up to you, but this whole concept of fullerenes really intrigued me.

On the first day of my buying trip I went looking for this magical, mystery stone.
It wasn’t hard to find. In fact one of the first rooms I went into had the stone for sale.
I wasn’t feeling good this morning, not having slept well the night before, I felt groggy, irritable and rather spacey. Not the best way to begin a Gem buying show. As I sat on the floor and held the stone I began to feel calm and rested. I immediately noticed that I was quickly coming back to myself. I was coming back to my own inner sense of well being. It was as if the stone was realigning my cells at a deep molecular level to bring me back to my full sense of vitality.

The friend I was with placed a piece of Shungite on her shoulder, which had been hurting her for several days. She too felt better soon after holding the stone. The pain in her shoulder let up and she was able to move easily through the next several days of gem buying. It wasn’t hard to believe there was a powerful healing quality to this stone from my own personal experience.

Here are just some of the claims made about Shungite

  •  a natural antioxidant that can increase human immunity with regards to many serious illnesses and suppress the development of many allergic diseases
  • absorbent, purifying air and water from many organic and inorganic compounds and from excess of free radicals
  •  has the ability to absorb substances from the environment;
  • anti-inflammatory
  • radio shield properties.

Shungite has been used by the military for EMF protection. It is excellent for high frequency emissions and is used in protective EMF paints and patented designs for aircraft.

I continue to work with this stone, both in healing sessions and designing Healing Jewelry

Shungite Bracelet

Shungite Bracelet

with the beads I purchased. I find it to be a wonderful balancing stone. It is the  perfect stone to use to absorb negativity both in the environment and emotionally.  Place a piece of Shungite near microwave ovens, TV sets, and mobile phones. I keep one near my computer to help shield me from  harmful electromagnetic rays given off from the computer.

I’d love to hear about your connection to this stone. Please share your experiences with me. Together we can learn and understand more about this unique stone from Russia.

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How To Charge Your Drinking Water Using A Quartz Crystal

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Spirals of Light

john of God-2-lgDuring the next full moon, try this simple full moon ritual using a quartz crystal to charge and energize your drinking water.

 

Place a clear quartz crystal into a glass or bowl. Fill the container with pure fresh water. You can use any size glass or bowl depending on how much drinking water you would like to make. It’s best to use a glass or ceramic container. Do not use metal or plastic for your container. Any size quartz crystal will do. It is best to use a natural crystal point if you have one.

 

Place the glass container with the crystal in it where it will receive the light of the full moon. Let it sit out all night. If you can’t put the container outdoors, just place it by a window where it will receive the glow of the moon.

 

Drink this water first thing in the morning. You may wish to give it to your pets to drink. You can also water your plants with this energetically charged water.

 

To further enhance your experience, program your crystal before you place it in the water with the intention to bring you health and well being. It’s very easy to program a crystal. Take a few moments to quite and center yourself. Take 3 long deep breaths and connect to your body. Now, visualize yourself healthy, vibrant, filled with energy. Allow yourself to bask in this place of well being for a moment. Set this wonderful feeling as your intention for programming the crystal and the water, so that when you drink this purified, programmed water, you will receive the energy of this intention. The light of the full moon with empower this intention.

Enjoy your moon tonic!

Namaste,

Debra

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The Colors Of The Heart

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Spirals of Light

The colors Pink and Green are most often associated with Love and the Heart Chakra. When I designed my line of Gemstone Chakra Bracelets, I chose the stones Green Aventurine and Pink Rose Quartz to create a Heart opening and balancing chakra bracelet.

stones of the heart

 

The color Pink emits a soft loving quality to heal the heart of emotional hurts and wounds. Pink Rose Quartz offers us a soft gentle vibration and speaks to us about Love. Love on all level’s. Love for one’s self, one’s life partner, children, friends, community, the Earth and the Divine.

 

The color green symbolizes health and healing, harmony with nature and abundance. Think for a moment how good you feel when surrounded by the deep green of the forest. Being out in nature has a way of connecting us to our heart chakra, assisting us in feeling open hearted and at one with everyone and everything. This feeling of well being is the vibration of Green Aventurine making it a perfect choice for these Heart balancing chakra bracelets.

 

The Heart Chakra is located at the center of the chest. This center is associated with the emotion of love. Self love as well as the love we feel for others. It is the place of sharing, compassion, forgiveness and acceptance.

 

An open heart chakra is expressed by warm, kind and loving actions towards all beings. It’s from the Heart Chakra that we can see the good in others. We experience our oneness with others from our Heart Chakra.

 

Many people close off their Heart Chakra due to past hurts and wounds of the heart. Healing the heart we find that love is by its very nature unlimited, unconditional and free.

Heart Chakra Bracelet with Rose Quartz & Aventurine

 

Wearing chakra bracelets combining the energies of gemstones and color therapy is a simple and effective way to balance the Chakra energy system.

 

From my open heart to yours,

Namaste,

Debra

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