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Archive for January, 2010

Garnet- Birthstone for January

January 17th, 2010
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Vibrant, rich, red. Those words describe January’s birthstone: Red Garnet. Garnets are found in many colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless. The rarest of these is the blue Garnet. The  Red Garnet is the most common and known as the birthstone for January as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. Garnets were used ever since the Bronze Age.  They were used in Ancient Egypt. They were also found in ancient Greece and Roman civilizations. Even today, Garnets are still a popular and much loved gemstone.
 
Garnets are known as a feminine energy stone.  Over my 20 plus years of selling stones, I have witnessed over and over the strong appeal Garnet holds for women.  Some women just seemed drawn to its feminine energies and find it difficult to wear any other stone but Garnet!
Garnet stimulates the Root Chakra and the Heart Chakra, making it a useful stone to bring your heartfelt desires into the world. Garnet is known as a manifestation stone because of this quality.
Garnet assists us in maintaining a sense of calm and grounded connection to the present moment. Who doesn’t need some assistance with staying calm and grounded these days?  Garnet is a useful stone for meditation as it does help us to stay present and in the moment.
Garnet is a stone that often represents physical love and the relationship between loving partners. (Think Valentine’s day) Garnet is an excellent stone to attract or invigorate a love relationship. Are you looking to attract a lover?  Keep some Garnet by your bed. Garnet is also used as a fertility stone and to increase sexual desires. Fertility here can also mean to help birth or create an idea into form.
Garnet is a stone which helps you to feel supportive and in balance. Garnet’s message is to trust in the infinite abundance of the universe
 
Garnet asks us: What are you wanting to bring into the world?
Garnet doesn’t have to be your birthstone to be enjoyed.  If you feel an attraction to this beautiful stone, enjoy its many qualities.
One of my favorite Garnet necklaces is this Spiral Garnet Goddess.  To me it sums up the true nature of this gemstone.  

Garnet Goddess

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Using OM Jewelry To Renew A Spiritual Practice

January 7th, 2010
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OM pendant on Turquoise beads

 
As 2010 begins, it’s time to re-commit to our spiritual practices. For me that is Yoga and Meditation. I find it very helpful to use the OM symbol to remind me that I am renewing my connection to “the practice”
The ancient symbol OM holds an important significance for me and helps me acknowledge my practice. By wearing OM jewelry and OM pendants, I am reminded to stay in the present moment.  I remember to connect to my breath.  Wearing OM jewelry allows me to stop and reflect throughout the day. As I see the OM pendant around my neck, I pause, take in a deep breath and connect to the NOW. I use my OM necklaces as tools to support my inner spiritual practice. 
 
I enjoy making jewelry with the sacred OM symbol, combining OM pendants with healing gemstones that also assist to inspire a Yoga or Meditation practice.  I am always on the look out for unique and unusual OM pendants to add to my Yoga jewelry line. Creating these Yoga inspired jewelry pieces can be very meditative. My bead studio is a calming space, surrounded by natural objects, crystals, minerals, plants, flowers and many, many gemstone beads.  Putting together OM pendants with gemstone beads is a pleasurable part of my daily work.

OM Pendant on Amethyst & Quartz

OM is a universal, sacred symbol and the most sacred syllable in Hinduism. It is considered to be the primal sound. According to tradition, ancient sages were able to hear the subtle vibrations produced by everything in the universe, and they identified OM as the most elemental sound of creation. In a quiet environment, you can hear the vibration of OM in the crashing of ocean waves, in the stillness of a forest, or in the rush of wind. For more information on the significance of the symbol OM you can go to this article.
OM is used by meditators as a mantra to assist in reaching higher states of awareness. Many mantras and prayers begin and end with the sound OM. Rest in the universal sound of OM.

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