 First, a little background history about crystals; yes, I know, yawwnnnn- a history lesson. But I think it’s nice to get an understanding on the past importance historically speaking to be able to appreciate why people value crystals so much. Here goes: Precious and Semi-precious stones have been in use since the beginning of recorded history and probably longer. Many people, then (and now), believe there to be an inherent energy or frequency particular to each type of stone. These stones often ascribed wealth and status and were coveted- similarly to current times. Throughout history, cultures have used crystals in ceremonies such as burials, weddings, and sacred contact with deities. Egypt was known for utilizing lapis lazuli, China used jade, and Aztec and Toltic cultures considered emeralds sacred. I personally am a little obsessed with crystals. I’ve never been a jewelry kind of girl, preferring experiences over things. But I find it hard to pass by a crystal shop without going in to browse. The crystals I have are usually towers, flames, balls, or rough-cut stones. I put them on my windowsills, desk, shelves, fireplace mantel, etc. I also put some in my car. Now if you’ve read any of my other posts you know that I consider myself skeptically optimistic (or is it an optimistic skeptic?) so I will say that although I love my little stone buddies, I don’t know that I believe them to have magical superpowers. (Ok but how cool would that be?) For instance- my rose quartz is not going to instantly make my husband super romantic and loving because I held it in my hand and asked for it. (It was worth a shot though…..) To me, it’s more of using them as a focus. So, to use the rose quartz example again- I can wear a rose quartz bracelet, and when I look at it, I can take that opportunity to focus my thoughts on being more loving, on bringing more love into my life by addressing my blocks and insecurities. I also place certain crystals in my truck and my backpack when I travel. I love me a good hematite stone for protection. Did it stop the tornado from touching down in front of my airplane in Chicago this summer while we sat on the tarmac like the most alluring of trailer parks? No. Did I come out unharmed with a wild story to tell and some new friends? Yes. Again, probably not magic, but certainly a comfort and helps me remember to do everything I can to stay safe. Here is a list of crystals mentioned in the book, Awakened Power: Emma’s Story, along with some information about each one:  Amethyst: Dark purple form of quartz, one of the most popular crystals, it’s found in Africa, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Mexico, and the US. My personal favorite- I’m drawn to the beautiful hues and shades and love all the assorted sizes and shapes! These crystals are rumored to help improve mental stress/anxiety as well as ward off negative energy. Often associated with the third eye chakra and helping connect us to a higher level of spiritual knowledge.  Labradorite: Named for an area in Canada where they were first found, although they are mined in many countries now. There are many different hues, however they all have some blue shading throughout. Thought to enhance intuition and protect from negative influences. I wear a pendant of labradorite often, and in fact consider it a talisman of sorts. Whether it’s real or not, when I wear it, I feel more confident and centered.  Hematite: A stone of protection, this black mineral is found in many countries. I place this stone near doorways and windows as a way of warding off any negative energies from entering my house.  Black Tourmaline: In general, black stones are thought to offer protection of all sorts and that is certainly true of black tourmaline. This stone was used as far back as Ancient Rome and is believed to offer assistance with balance and protection, dissolving any negative energies that may be present. It is popular for meditation to clear the mind as well as provide grounding energy.  Blue Aquamarine: The color blue is often associated with tranquility. Aquamarine can help bring peace and protection to the wearer. It is used to soothe intense emotions- which is one of the reasons Patrick was encouraged to wear it in Emma’s presence! Some crystals I use in my own (real!) life:  Selenite: I discovered a fun fact while researching selenite. It is named after the Greek Goddess of the moon Selene because of its moon-like glow. I use this crystal as a natural cleanser of energy. It is associated with the Crown Chakra and can be used in meditation as a cleanser of any negative energies or thoughts. Selenite doesn’t need to be charged and is self-cleansing of any energies making it the best crystal for any on the spot or day to day energy clearing. For example, I use it every day to clear my Oracle decks before I pull any cards.  Clear Quartz: This is probably the crystal that comes to most peoples’ minds when they hear the word ‘crystal.’ It is clear (I know- you’re shocked!) like a diamond. It is often used to help with focus and clarity and is great for people who have a specific intention or goal in mind. One way to use clear quartz is as a touchstone if you have trouble with distraction. For instance, if, you struggle to stay focused on writing (like I do sometimes!) you can keep a crystal tower or pocket stone next to your computer to use as a visual and physical aid in reminding you to stay on track. You can also program your intention into the stone- simply hold it in your hand and state out loud your intention “I intend to stay focused on writing my book and completing a great story to share with the world. I disallow any distractions into my space. For my highest good and the highest good of all.” Ok, you might feel kind of hokey doing it, but no one has to see, and I won’t tell…  Rose Quartz: Rose quartz is a beautiful, opaque pink stone associated with the Heart Chakra. As you can imagine, its healing properties are associated with opening your heart, forgiveness, compassion, reducing anxiety, and unconditional love. It is recommended to wear this stone as a pendant over your heart to enhance its energies. How I use it is as a visual reminder- I have a bracelet I wear when I’ve argued with someone to help remind me when I look at it that I need to come at the problem from a heart-centered way. Sometimes it’s helpful and sometimes I’m too caught up in the feels, but it certainly doesn’t hurt and has often helped!  Smoky Quartz: Something really cool I learned when I was researching this stone was that it is clear quartz that has been exposed to underground radiation and turned brown. Because of this it is thought that this stone neutralizes other types of electromagnetic stress. How cool! The way that it’s often used is to help ground you in the present moment, bring a feeling of calm, and reduce feelings of fear and jealousy.  Fluorite: Fluorite comes in many different colors, and while the healing properties of all fluorite is similar, the colors add certain elements of healing. They glow when exposed to UV rays and are a very common mineral. When I got my first piece, I was searching for a stone that could help bring calm and relaxation into my life. Fluorite helps bring balance to the mind and emotions, allowing for clearer thinking. Some advice I read while researching was to put a piece of fluorite in each hand during meditation to help bring balance to your energy field. As always- take what resonates and leave anything that doesn’t, keep seeking your internal truth and compass, and help others along their path when you can!
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 I started Awakened Power: Emma’s Story with a dramatic NDE. The idea for Emma coming into her power through a near death experience came from my own experience with an NDE in 2000, when I gave birth to my youngest daughter. I started hemorrhaging after I delivered her, and at some point, my soul left my body. I remember looking down at all the people frantically running around, and at my husband holding our brand-new baby, a look of terror on his face.
All I felt was absolute peace and love. I kept trying to tell them to relax, everything was okay, that I was fine, but no one reacted. A warm, peaceful, sense of love I’ve never experienced before or since washed over me. While an incredible experience, it was a lot less dramatic, and sadly not as impactful as our intrepid hero in the book! NDE’s often illicit a sense of absolute love that is hard or impossible to replicate here on Earth. Another commonality with most, if not all, NDE’s I've researched (and there were hundreds!), are a general message of enlightenment that improves the person’s overall approach and belief in the goodness of life. This can happen immediately and strengthen over time, or for some of us folks we might not remember a whole lot about the lessons we learned during the NDE until later in our lives. My theory is perhaps we can’t always incorporate those lessons immediately; maybe life circumstances are overwhelming us at the time, or perhaps we need more emotional maturity before we can truly understand them. In the book, Emma gains a connection to ghosts, spirits, and enhanced intuition. In a much more subtle way, most NDE experiencers report they undergo an enhanced connection to the people in their lives, animals, and nature, and have more love and acceptance overall. It all sounds pretty good (except the dying part!) but I invite you to do your own research, be your own skeptic, and decide for yourself. My guess is if you're reading this blog post, you already are a little more open to these concepts. Below you’ll find some videos, books, and websites linked to experiencers, as well as researchers who have devoted their life work to studying and understanding NDE’s in a more scientific way. Because of the nuance and inability for absolute proof, NDE’s remain unsubstantiated by most of the medical and scientific community. I can say even with having had my own NDE I remained skeptical for a long time. After reading many books and research, I’ve concluded the experiences during an NDE are glimpses of what’s on the other side, as well as whomever (angels, guides, God, the Great Spirit?), allowing us to glimpse some Universal connection and wisdom to take back and share with others for the enlightenment of all. I look forward to hearing from you all- thoughts, opinions, experiences, etc! As always- take what resonates and leave anything that doesn’t, keep seeking your internal truth and compass, and help others along their path when you can! The Light; We Are The Light And The Echo Of The Universe - Near Death Experiences (youtube.com) Coming Home - YouTube The Other Side | Channel Trailer (youtube.com) The videos above document some individual experiences and lessons taken from the NDE experience. There are many videos on Youtube sharing NDE’s. My theory has always been to take what resonates and leave what doesn’t. Some NDE videos I watched left me enlightened and hopeful, and others just put me off- either the speaker was hard to listen to or the messages came across sort of misconstrued or misinterpreted, or sometimes downright self-serving. I encourage you if you’re interested to poke around and make up your own mind about Near Death Experiences and the afterlife! Speaker and New York Times Best Selling Author | United States | Anita Moorjani Anita’s experience is pretty well documented and incredible. She went from being on life support and family informed she had hours to live to complete health in a miraculous amount of time. She continues to receive more from her experience and the messages and knowledge she obtained. Most likely this is due to the NDE opening up a channel of connection allowing Anita to continue to tap into the messages humanity needs most to hear. NDERF Home Page Website for those who have experienced NDE’s or who are interested in learning more. A wealth of information and support, as well as extensive research into NDE’s. Bruce Greyson / Author of After, and Expert in Near-Death Experiences Mr. Greyson is a very well-known doctor who has devoted his life to researching NDE’s. Probably the top researcher in the world. His books are both scientific and anecdotal, providing a full picture as well as posing the questions we’re all thinking (and by we I mean those of us who are cautiously hopeful yet skeptical!) regarding NDE’s. |