Sage & Smudge Sale!

Got some negative energy hanging around the home or office? energy seems low and a bit blah? how about getting rid of some negative influences? Yep! time to get out the faithful old Sage stick, light it up and get to cleansing!  If you looking for a new stick or something a bit different we might have just the one for you, we have listed a couple for you here but also have others on our site. You may also like our Lavender Fields stick, Mountain Journey or Ceremonial Sweetgrass too...

• 5 Directions is a wonderful blend of the most potent smudging herbs and resins.White Sage (Salvia Apiana) from the coastal mountains of California, Desert sage (Artemesia Tridentata) covers much of the high desert and plains areas of the Western States of America. In Native American tradition cedar is used to carry prayers to the creator. It is used to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. Lavender is renowned for its calming energy, helping to rebalance tired and distorted emotions, and Copal resin from the regions of southern Mexico.
• Cedar bundles from Oregon.  Cedar is often used in the sweat lodge ceremony. A few pinches are thrown on the red-hot rocks, immediately sparking into a yellow glow and releasing their aroma. The smoke of burning cedar is said to attract the good spirits and eliminate negative energies. In Native American tradition cedar is used to carry prayers to the creator. It is used to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. It also seems that the cedar tree has connections with power and the sun through many varying traditions such as Sumerian legend, Cabalistic lore and Eqyptian mythology. It is often associated with breaking the misuse of power or powerful forces that may be having a negative influence. 
• Use Coupon Code SAGE30 at checkout to receive 30% OFF - this offer is good until midnight Sunday 8th!

Aromatherapy, using the power of  fragrance to enhance your life:

Essential oils as well as scented candles stimulate desire to change and grow. Try incorporating new scents through incense sticks, candles or oils for the New Year.  Black pepper and ginger can help you feel invigorated or the scent of benzoin and lemon promote creativity or the ever popular lavender for relaxation. 

Activate your mind by using magical aromatherapy during your bath time by having scented water while burning a scented candle. There are hundreds of ways and scents to bring around well-being or mind body and spirit.  Try picking a scent a month, learn about the plant and the healing benefits it can bring into your life, designate a "sacred" area for your essential oils and other items such as incense sticks and powders, sage bundles and other oils and powders as well as crystals and stones, you will find yourself returning frequently for your items to assist you with daily needs.  Here are a few ideas to get you going with the following aroma mixes and ideas..

Clary Sage blended with Lavender eases depression and anxiety.

Peppermint aroma cools feelings of anger or emotional outbursts.

Rose oil stimulates production of dopamine the "happy hormone" instilling the feeling of well-being.

Drops of lavender oil in water in a burner for relaxation (one of my favorites).

Use sage bundles to clear out old energy from the home.

Choose specific colored ritual candles for use in meditation.

Try unique blends of herbs, resins, oil and aromatic woods already blended and infused with prayers and mantras for you with our Ramakrishnanand's collection .

If you have any of your own special mixes let us know, we would love to hear the blends you use!

Wishing you all the best for 2012! ~ Kathryn

December's Sponsored Dog

Each month we are sponsoring an animal at the local Humane Society, this month was Oakley, the Humane Society informed us that Oakley has found a good home!  Every donation helps, large or small, if your in the local area think about donating to the local Humane Society, if money is tight, how about your time or left over supplies you have in the house? Buy an item on sale every now and again until you have accumulated a few pieces then head over the shelter with your items.  They are constantly in need of bleach, towels, paper towels, kitty litter, you name it.  Blessings ~ Kat

Rainforest Rhyolite

Rainforest Rhyolite is also known as Rainforest Jasper, it is a pretty stone which quite often contain areas of glassy fragments, this is caused by rapid cooling making it quite unique looking.  If you are looking for a new meditation stone you may want to consider a piece of this.  Rhyolite facilities a deep state of meditation and is believed to access karmic wisdom.  A wonderful balancing stone which makes it popular to use with issues of self-esteem and aiding in emotional strength, it is connected with the Heart Chakra and is believed to assist in healing old deep emotional wounds and helping to lay down burdens.  Use Rainforest Rhyolite when working to activate contact with loved ones who have passed over a powerful stone to access karmic wisdom, strengthening the soul, body and mind. 


Use a power boulder in meditation or carry tumbled stones in ones pocket or gem pouch throughout the day if a smaller sized stone is needed. 


Connected to the Heart Chakra and also Third Eye and connected to the zodiac sign of Sagittarius.  

A Wee Bit O Salt Magic

Salt has so very long been a sacred substance, it has been used in religions throughout the ages and even used as currency in ancient Rome.  Here are some magical uses which most of these are listed in Scott Cunningham's book "Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic" a wonderful read!

• A popular and effective use is to place your crystals in a bowl of salt, leave for a few days and then your crystals have been purified.
• While showering, place a small amount of rock salt and a half-handful of hyssop in a wash cloth to scrub your body clean.
• For protection of home, sprinkle empowered salt in the corners of each room, while doing so visualize the salt sterilizing and burning away any and all negativity.
• Take your salt and pour a circle around you on the floor, once done visualize the salt's energy's spreading down into the earth and up above you to form a protective sphere of brilliant white light. Within this circle is a perfect environment to perform protective or defensive magic.

Magic is transformation.

Transformation is magic.

All magic is change; all change is magic.

August Giveaway!

AUGUST GIVEAWAY ITEM!
A new month and a new giveaway item with all orders $40 or more!  Receive a  Mini Gemstone Tree with each order, these are perfect little crystals to sit on ones desk or in a window sill to catch the light! They each have a solid gemstone bottom with little gemstone chips for leaves.
We are offering them at our main website and also on our Etsy site for all you Etsy lovers out there! 

AUGUST GIVEAWAY ON OUR SISTER SITE BUDDHA BLISS!
You loved them, we loved them, so we brought them back as our giveaway item for August.  Every order $40 or more will receive one Happy Wealth Buddha, they stand approx 2 inches tall and are full of positive energy!  Visit our sister site Buddha Bliss for energy and well-being jewelry. 


The Buddha laughing symbolizes happiness and prosperity
*Buddha with a money bag and a gold ingot represents wealth and good fortune.
* The Standing Happy Buddha brings riches and happiness.
* Buddha sitting on a large gold nugget with a smaller nugget in his hand ready for giving to others. This position of the Laughing Buddha is symbolic of good luck.
* Buddha sitting with his fan hat on his head represents enjoyment and good fortune.
* Buddha holding a gold ingot with his hands upright signifies abundant riches and good luck.
* Buddha with a fan in one hand and wu lou (bottle gourd) in the other hand brings blessings and good health. The fan wards off misfortune while the wu lou protects from illness.
* Buddha carrying a bag of gold on his shoulder symbolizes prosperity.
* Buddha carrying a bag of blessings on his right shoulder and a fan in his left hand protects you and keeps you safe during long journeys.
* Buddha with a travel stick in his hand protects you from harm during journeys.

Tourmaline

I can’t believe I had this stone in stock and did not have it listed on our site!?  It’s sitting right next to the Black Onyx and Obsidian, I have no clue how I missed it, anyway I thought it deserved to be the crystal of the hour to kick off our new weekly blog posts in the “Stones” section.

Tourmaline also known as schorl in my opinion is probably one of the best protective and grounding stones out there, we really shouldn't leave home without it.  Tourmaline has been used for over 2,000 years and is still used today in personal crystal use, by healers, and group meditation sessions. 

Use Tourmaline whenever you feel your energies are scattered or you feel confused, tourmaline will help you bring your awareness back into the present moment.  Have you ever felt overwhelmed with negative influences? if you have, and most if not all of us have at some point are experiencing our energy field being imposed upon or overridden, not a nice experience. Black Tourmaline will help deflect that negativity, lets "bounce" that icky stuff right back away from us.  

Emotional & Spiritual: removes blockages, fear, negativity, breaks down worrying.  great for assisting in balancing the yin/yang, aura, and all psychic abilities.

Crystal Ideas: If you have a dream catcher, attach a few pieces to it enhance the powers, this makes a wonderful gift too!

A Protective Amulet: Amulets have been used for hundreds if not thousands of years, you can create your own personal amulet with just a piece of tourmaline.  A popular time is at full moon using the positive energy of this phase.  Pass your tourmaline through incense and candle flame, then sprinkling with water and salt say the following. " May air blow away false words, fire burn away the dross, water bring tides of love and earth hold me strong."  Focus for a few minutes on the words you have spoken visualizing the charged crystal.  It is now ready to carry with you.

Celtic Moon Month: Ash Moon

The Ash Moon falls between Feb 18th at Mar 17th.   In ancient Europe the time of the Ash Moon was when the ice began to melt, people would start venturing out of their homes after spending the long dark winters in doors. The Ash rules the 3rd month of the Celtic calendar, a month full of bad weather of rains and storms. Due to this the Ash was connected to the element of water and was often referred to as the "Weather Tree".



Associations of the Ash Tree:

Nion: In Celtic belief to the ash is linked to the runic letter Nion.
Crown: The ash tree is a "royal" tree as it's wood was often used in the construction of thrones due to it's very strong and flexible wood.
Ritual Fire: In Celtic legend the ash is associated with rainstorms and lightning as was used in ceremonies to create both rain and fire.
Pisces: the Celtic ash month occurs on the days of Pisces the zodiac sign connected with water, further aligning it with the watery ash.

• Ash Moon Walking Meditation: Use the time of the Ash Moon to venture outside both mentally and physically, start planning a summer holiday or start walking outside now the weather is becoming milder.  Practice the following technique to assist your mind in releasing stress.  Using a white sage smudge stick.  **Light the stick and take time to relax and breathe deeply. **Begin to direct the smoke around the body, focusing and taking time to cleanse the aura saying "Spirit I walk this journey and invite you to join me, may each step be sacred and filled with light".  **You can even continue to cleanse your space around you after you have finished.  **Take a walk outdoors paying special attention to nature around you, relax and look for messages around you, clarity and inspiration often come to us while walking in nature.

Happy Ash Moon!

Celebrating February

We are celebrating the month of February by giving a free Rose Quartz Crystal Heart and Pouch with every order over $50!   A perfect addition for your love gift on Valentines Day!

The heart is the universal symbol of love and devotion, making it the perfect gift as a symbol of our love. Crystal Hearts are wonderful to look at and great to hold for meditation. Placing a Heart on your bedside table, desk or adding to your collection will remind you daily to practice love in everything you do.

 

Rose Quartz is believed to be the most important crystal for the heart and Heart Chakra. This beautiful crystal is the stone of unconditional love and peace. Rose Quartz opens up the Heart Chakra on all levels, bringing a deep sense of inner healing and love. Rose Quartz draws off negative energy while restoring trust and harmony. Place a piece of Rose Quartz in the relationship corner of the room (farthest right hand corner from the entry door) to attract love. Or place a Rose Quartz crystal heart or angel on your bedside table. 

 

 

Celebrating Imbolc ~ A Brigid's Cross

The Blessing of Brigid

I am under the shielding

Of good Brighid each day;

I am under the shielding

Of good Brighid each night.

I am under the keeping

Of the keeper of the flame,

Each early and late,

Every dark, every light.

Brighid is my comrade-woman,

Brighid is my maker of song,

Brighid is my helping-woman,

My choicest of woman, my guide.

(from the Blessings of Brighid, as translated from the Gaelic in the Carmina Gadelica.)

At Imbolc is was traditional to make a Brigid's Cross, a way of welcoming the goddess into the home. Traditionally these where either hung over doors or windows for the year.  Then, when the next Imbolc came around last year's cross was burned and replaced with a new one.  You can make your own Brigid's Cross or purchase one, we have listed a couple of options - the pretty photograph shown above  is of a durum wheat cross that I found at Vermorlian's Magick Shoppe, just click on the link to visit their shop. I was so very pleased when my Brigid's Cross arrived just a couple of days ago from Vermorlian's - we have hung it over our main front door as you can see above.
 
If you prefer to make your own this season we have found this great clip on You Tube, very easy to follow!

Elder Moon

In the Celtic Moon months, the time between November 25th and December 23rd are the time of the Elder Moon.  The 13th Lunar month of the Celtic calender.  The Elder tree marks the time of endings and beginnings.

Review the year: 

• Try writing down what you have learned from the previous moons of the year, acknowledge your lessons.
• Do you have difficult relationships still? try writing a letter to the soul of the person you are struggling with, doing this clears the way for change and helps you sort through unresolved areas, once the letter is written burn it.

Unfulfilled areas in your life can point to stuck energy, try a Quartz crystal meditation directing positive thoughts and energy  to these areas such as job, bills, housing etc. Being aware of your situation and positively moving in the right direction produces new opportunities that may have previously been blocked.

Tree of Life and Death in Ancient Times:

• Since ancient times the Elder Tree has been a symbol of regeneration due to it's ability to heal itself once damaged.  It was used in British longbarrows which was an ancient style of grave at burial sites.
• It's white flowers (life) and black berries (death) have connected this tree to the Mother Goddess who governs both life and death.
• It is believed that if you plant an Elder tree near a home it has protective powers and will ward off intruders.
• It was also believed to have healing powers in that by placing a spell bag of elderberries under neath a bed pillow it would cure insomnia. 

Book Review - Walking Through Illusion by Betsy Otter Thompson

I was recently contacted by Betsy Otter Thompson to review her new release Walking Through Illusion.   I was very happy to do so.  I hold a deep respect and interest for different religions and spiritual paths, seeing beauty each one can hold, after reading the first chapter I knew I was in for a treat.   Walking Through Illusion takes you on a journey through a series of short stories about biblical people who knew Jesus or knew of him.  You do not need to be a follower of Jesus to feel the powerful messages come alive from the pages of this book.  Thompsons style of writing keeps you engaged through every page.  The book is an interview with Jesus and as you read through the chapters you are seeing the world through his eyes and how it might have been. A totally new angle which takes you to a  new level of thinking.  Each chapter is broken down into a set of questions asked to Jesus by Thompson, the replies are the Jesus energy from within her heart which she expresses into words.  An example of the book:  Chapter 19 is on Hatred, a series of questions and answers to Jesus by Thompson are followed by a worksheet section where you are asked questions, for example.. If you knew this person's path had once been yours, could you forgive yourself?"  You are then led onto questions to ponder along with a personal insight from the author.  The quote at the end of Chapter 19 reads.."No one uses you in your lifetime, You use your lifetime to enlighten self".   A wonderful and engaging read with a fresh perspective, filled with universal love.
You can learn more about Betsy and find more books published at www.betsythompson.com

Crystal Blessings,
Kathryn

October Giveaway!

Our October giveaway has been posted on the main page of our Crystal Website at Green Earth Stones! This month we are giving away a beautiful Rose Quartz Crystal Wand!  For a chance to win you only need to be signed up to receive our monthly newsletter, every month after you are automatically entered to win a crystal or item to promote well-being!  Visit our main crystal website for a chance to win.  Visit the photo section of our Facebook page to see what others have been winning!

Rose Quartz is believed to be the most important crystal for the heart and Heart Chakra. This beautiful crystal is the stone of unconditional love and peace. Rose Quartz opens up the Heart Chakra on all levels, bringing a deep sense of inner healing and love. Rose Quartz draws off negative energy while restoring trust and harmony.

Weekly Giveaways

We are in our 3rd week of giveaways and what a wonderful group of Facebook friends we have.  The affirmations, good works and kind words have been so uplifting to read.  Our 3rd week giveaway winner will be picked this Sunday (Oct 10th) and then we go into our final weeks giveaway!   If you would like a chance to win a crystal piece or item to promote well-being just head over to our Facebook page and post your comment under the most recent good luck giveaway question, it's that easy!  GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

 Frank Williams was our Week 1 winner who choose the Petrified Wood Sphere.

Petrified Wood Sphere

Heather Royston was our Week 2 winner who choose the Selenite and Fluorite Wand. 

Crystal Mandala Time

It's a lazy Sunday in the Brown household, the weather outside is a sunny 92 degrees, I am sure Fall IS on it's way?!  Our daughters are reading and coloring and our sons are enjoying the company of  their best friend visiting for the day, making this a perfect day for a crystal mandala.

I headed outside with my chosen stones, a wonderful mixture of Moss and Tree Agates, Petrified Wood, Jasper, Unakite and Serpentine, I took a relaxing breath and began to arrange my stones for my mandala.  It came to a screeching halt, I guess I was not meant to be using the Agates that I love so much.  It is amazing how in our busy lives we "grab and go" but when you are working with the stones you can always rely on your inner guide to pull you aside to rethink.  So, I packed up my beautiful stones and headed back inside to then return outside with the gentle stones of Rose Quartz, Baby Blue Calcite, Citrine and the softer Apricot Agates and boy did things begin to flow....

Crystal Mandalas are wonderful for calming the mind and for self healing, deep contemplation comes to mind and things truly begin to shift. My thoughts gravitated to my spirit guides and how I have not been tuning in like I should have been, I thought of peace and the blessings I have in my life.  I thought of oceans, of trees and of birds and the words "slow down you are missing too much" came to mind.  The energy of the stones where giving and healing for the higher good as they always are and I enjoyed a sacred time outside in mother nature refocusing.

If you haven't already I would recommend creating your own mandala, the act of sitting quietly and working with the stones is an act of meditation and relaxation and working with the life-energy of the crystals in this way is truly blissful.  This is the mandala I created this afternoon - with love and blessings....

 

Good Luck Giveaways!

Visit our facebook page for a chance to win an item a week until the week of Oct 10th!  All you need to do is post a comment to our post and you are in for a chance to win! how easy is that! good luck to all!!  These are a couple of the pieces we are giving away, we have more listed on Facebook!

Equinox Peace Spell ~ Celtic Moon Month: Vine Moon

In the Celtic calendar the Vine Moon falls between September 2nd and September 30th  and is the 10th month of the calendar.  It represents the Autumn Equinox when night and day are of equal length helping you to realign your energies to prepare for the dark half of the year.   This is definitely a time to reflect on the previous months and accomplishments, yet to also be aware on what has yet to be done before the years end.  Ideally focus on anything left undone in your life, does anything needs resolving? any unpaid bills or broken relationships?

Try an Equinox peace spell to bring peace to a troubled relationship.  Saying an affirmation aloud and using the color white for peace will allow your energy to flow towards reconciliation.

Collect a white candle and pen and paper.  1. While holding the candle say, "I dedicate this candle to peace". 2. Write a list of the grievances that caused the problems that you are having trouble seeing beyond.  3. While lighting the candle focus on sending positive energy and love towards the person(s) in mind.  4. Take your list and burn it in the flame saying, "For the sake of peace, I now let it go"  5. Each night for the next few nights relight your candle and focus on peace and love. 

 

Slow Down with De-Stress Crystals

Allowing Time to Slow Down - De-Stress Crystals

At times we can go about our days or weeks without even realizing we are overwhelmed.  We rise for a new day emotionally and physically drained, our energy levels are totally depleted, our breathing is short and shallow.  Time to re-focus, time to reach for the crystals!  When you find yourself in this state, make time for yourself, apply pressure to your brakes and stop...

Using any of the below listed crystals, sit quietly with crystal in hand, choose a nice sized piece that fit's comfortably into the palm of your hand.  Begin to relax, you may visualize the gentle rain outside, work on time slowing down, allowing yourself to become more calm and centered, focus on your breathing, smooth breaths in, smooth breaths out.  Visualize the rain subsiding being replaced by the gentle soft sunlight and a beautiful rainbow appearing above you in the sky. Bring yourself back to focus once you have reached readiness.  Continue this daily, try to add this into your daily routine, just a few minutes will de-stress, re-focus, calm, re-energise you, you are worth it.  Crystals to use for de-stress bloodstone,amazonite, aragonite, celestite, chrysocolla, fluorite, green moss agate, hematite, herkimer diamond, howlite, petrified wood, quartz, rhodochrosite, rose quartz.

Don't be a Bed Head

Making time to meditate can for some of us be quite a task to slot into our busy schedules.  It should be something we do daily, like brushing our teeth or taking a shower.  Here is a simple tip to start your day out right and hopefully get your into a habit of daily meditation that you can add onto.

Don't be a Bed Head!  Before you even try to get out of bed try this. Upon awakening, lie still for around five minutes, just looking and focusing on the ceiling above you.  Visualize your day ahead being calm and joy filled.  Concentrate on your breathing, soaking in the quiet and just being still.  By the time you raise and shine you will be in a more relaxed state than the normal jumping out of bed after thumping the alarm clock!  Spend the next few days using this meditation time and reflect back on how your day went.  Try using your bedside crystal also, holding it while doing the meditation.

Worry Stones

Worry Stones are smooth, highly polished gemstones, round to oval in shape with a thumb indention. Worry Stones known as Palm Stones originated in Ancient Greece and are still used today to lessen ones stress and worry and when rubbed bring about a sense of calmness.   Most cultures and religions have something similar to worry stones, Mala Beads are used in Buddhism, Rosary Beads in Catholicism and Native Americans keep stones in sacred bundles.  Carrying a Worry Stone in ones pocket is a wonderful way to relieve stress and pair that with your favorite type of crystal allows you to tune into the energy of the specific stone.