Once every year and a half, Venus displays a curious phenomenon where it appears to move backwards across the sky. Although retrograde motion is an optical illusion, its effects have been noted by astrologers, mystics, and others since ancient eras. Currently, we are...
Summer always feels like the perfect season to explore art, expression, and creativity. Whether you're on break from school (or entertaining young ones who are), or just looking for an opportunity to bring more joy into your life, finding a way to unlock your creative...
It's no secret that I have an affinity for the rocks and minerals of Great Britain. My best friend Ashley Leavy and I planned an entire retreat around our mutual love for the unique geology and sacred landscapes of the British Isles. Last month I wrote a little about...
Perennially popular, amethyst once cost more than gold and diamonds, and it remained valuable until large deposits were uncovered in South America. Amethyst is classified as a semiprecious gemstone, and it is the best known birthstone for the month of February. This...
Arguably the most iconic part of most New Year's celebrations, fireworks have lit the night sky for centuries. A mixture of flammable fuel and other mineral substances elicits loud bangs and bright colors once ignited. What kinds of minerals are found in fireworks,...
Perhaps one of the very first uses of sacred stones and talismanic gems was to provide safety and protection under the auspices of the mineral kingdom. By flipping through the pages of a book of gemstone lore--ancient or modern--you’ll find many a stone with...
The mineral kingdom has held a perennial allure over humankind. Metals and ores, gemstones and building materials, crystals and rocks alike have fascinated us since the dawn of time. Nowadays, the spiritual properties of crystals have reached an all-time high in...
Talking about energy is challenging, because we just don’t have the language to convey every nuanced or numinous experience. I don’t doubt that we’ve all had trouble expressing the profound sensation of being deep in meditation or the transmission of energy from a new...
Back in the year 2000, a special configuration of quartz was discovered for the first time, or so the community of crystal healers will tell you. These unusual crystals were exceptionally clear on the interior with matte-textured surfaces. The crystals were generally...