Crystal of the Week: Golden Healer

The Golden Healer is a powerful healing stone which will raise your vibration, enhance your crown chakra and open your aura to the healing power of the golden light of the universe.  The Golden Healer will break up and dispel blockages and imbalances in your energy.  Also called a Master Healer, this is a stone of very high vibrations.  Its calming, gentle energy will slowly buy steadily enhance your mediumship ability allowing for spirit communication in its highest form.

Meditating with a Golden Healer crystal helps you connect to your source.  Try placing a Golden Healer under your massage table to enhance the healing energy of your session.  It will increase the healing capacity of the healer and the ability of the receiver to open up to more golden healing energy.

This stone works primarily on the Crown Chakra, but it also enhances, balances and cleanses the Solar Plexus and Third Eye Chakras.

The Golden Healer is associated with forgiveness.

Six Ways Crystals Can Change Your Life

I love crystals and their ability to subtly but profoundly change our energy, health and aura.  We use crystals in computers and clocks but they can be very helpful in our personal lives.  There are six main areas in which crystals can change your life for the better. 

1) Health

Crystals are healing and can work to restore our cells and organs to their optimum functioning levels.  Red stones such as Jasper and Bloodstone can help with blood disorders.  Orange and yellow stones such as Citrine, Amber and Carnelian can help with stomach issues.  Green crystals such as Green Aventurine and Peridot are always healing and will work to help your cells grow in health. Light Blue stones like Blue Lace Agate and Blue Chalcedony heal throat issues.  Headaches are helped by Amethyst.   Unikite helps woman trying to get pregnant.  Blue Chalcedony helps new moms. All of these stones will link in and align with your energy especially when worn continually. 

2) Money

Crystals can help increase your abundance.  If you need to attract money to you, carry Green Aventurine and Citrine with you.  Placing a Pyrite in your wallet assures it has money in it.  If you have a hard time holding on to money, wearing Citrine will help you be more frugal.  If you own your own business, you should keep a Citrine in your cash register because it assures more money coming in than leaving.  Green Aventurine should be worn or carried for good luck.  A gem tree helps remind you that good luck and fortune are within your reach.

3) Romance

There are many crystals that can increase your romantic life.  In general, any pink stone will enhance your romantic energy. If you’re single, place two Rose quartz crystals by your bedside to assure that love will find you.  If you’re in a relationship, place an Amethyst cluster next to a Citrine cluster.  Cluster shaped crystals assure that we all get along.  The Citrine increases our confidence in the relationship, and the Amethyst makes us feel more agreeable and loving toward each other.  Wearing Watermelon Tourmaline helps you feel worthy of a great relationship.  Pink Calcite calms emotions in a heated relationship.  Rose Quartz or Garnet placed under the bed can help increase the romance and passion.

4) Career

If you’re feeling stuck in your career, place a large piece of Garnet on your desk to reignite your passion for your work.  Cluster crystals help groups to get along.  Clear Quartz crystal clusters help to energize a team.  If you’re working toward a project and getting blocked at each turn, buy a Bloodstone paperweight for your desk.  Bloodstone is known to remove obstacles that stand in the way of our success.  Serpentine can help you deal with changes such as a layoff, new job or promotion.  A Jade plant covered with green stones (for money) and red stones (for hard work and passion) will help draw more money, clients and positive work to you and your company.

5) Forgiveness

Many times an inability to forgive ourselves or others can impede our process in life.  Crystals can help to break down barriers to forgiveness such as anger, resentment and sadness.  Rhodonite with its lovely pink and black marbling helps us to embrace the sad or angry situation and release it with love.  Rhodocrosite with its bands of pink and white ribbons helps awaken our heart to surrender and letting go.  Smithsonite helps to heal a painful childhood. Malachite helps us release trauma.  Try working with these crystals by holding them in meditation.  Imagine the person you’re trying to forgive.  Picture handing them the crystal as a symbol of forgiveness and see it turning into a bird and flying away.

Protect Yourself From Energy Vampires

We’ve all met them – those people that just suck the life out of you.  Their problems are always dramatic, over-the-top and more important than yours.  They are needy, complaining, negative and gossipy.  They are Energy Vampires.  Some of you reading this are married to them, work for them and have to face them in your family, neighborhood and work gatherings.  But there is hope; there are ways to protect your energy from being drained by these people.  The following are five effective tools – garlic if you will – to help protect your energy and your sanity.

TIP 1: Cross Your Arms

This is an almost instinctual move many of us do when we’re around negative people.  When you cross your arms in a folded position over your chest, you’re protecting your solar plexus chakra – the seat of your personal power.  You can also cross your fingers.  This will help lock in your aura so their energy can’t effect yours.

TIP 2:  The Mirror Effect

If you know you’re going to be around a negative person, you can protect yourself in advance by visualizing mirrors surrounding you from head to toe.  This deflect’s the person’s negativity back to the source.  Let’s say you have to see your ex at a mediation hearing, and the divorce proceedings have not been amicable.  Before you get into the car, imagine a glittering disco ball in front of you.  See yourself walking inside this disco ball and the little squares of mirrors shining out all around you.  If you have to have your in-laws for a visit, and they’re often unkind to you, or your boss constantly puts you down, hang a disco ball ornament in place where you can see it often to remind yourself to walk into the disco ball.  It works!

TIP 3: Freeze them Out

This is an old metaphysical trick that is very effective.  Take a plastic water bottle and write down the name of the Energy Vampire or Vampires in your life.  Place this slip of paper in the water bottle and put the water bottle in the freezer. This will freeze their energy from effecting yours.

TIP 4: The Prickly Cactus

This tip works great for people going through messy divorces or who have annoying neighbors.  If anyone is bothering you in your home, buy a cactus plant and place it on the curb furthest away from your home – usually by the mailbox.  Write the name of the Energy Vampire on a piece of paper and place the paper underneath the cactus.  This will make sure their energy can’t intrude upon your home.  Don’t place a cactus in your home.  This can create volatile energy that you want to avoid.

TIP 5: Pink Cotton Candy

Pink has a nurturing, calming energy to it, so when you find yourself around an angry, negative person, close your eyes for a moment and imagine wrapping them in pink cotton candy.  Infuse their energy with the loving light of pink, and you’ll see their anger slowly but surely dissipating.

Of course, sometimes the best way to deal with an Energy Vampire is to walk away.  It’ important to love yourself enough that you know you don’t have to put up with their negativity.  At the heart of any Energy Vampire is fear, doubt and insecurity.  No one can change this person except the love that comes from true faith.  You can’t change an Energy Vampire.  Period.  Only their higher power can do that and only if they ask for help.  So know that sometimes the best protection from a negative person is to walk away. The more you walk your truth and live a spiritual life, the less attracted these people will be to you.  Hold your head high, live from a place of love, act with kindness always, and you will always be surrounded by a white light of love, protection and guidance.

Crystal of the Week -- OPAL

October’s birthstone, the beautiful Opal,  is surrounded by as many superstitions as the headlining holiday this month.  Just like Halloween, people used to believe the Opal was bad luck and spooky. Opal used to have a negative connotation because it was said to make the wearer invisible, and so it was known as the “thieves’ stone.” But in reality, Opal is a gentle stone of love, fidelity and loyalty. It helps overcome self-doubt and enhances psychic ability.  It helps create a better work environment. Physically, it’s said to assist the kidneys, stomach and digestion.  It’s said to relieve pain in childbirth.  Opal will help one fight depression while increasing one’s will to live.  It’s a delicate, soft stone that will chip and crack easily.  It’s a good stone for creative people – especially, writers and dancers.  White Opals are great for children helping them to open up and expres themselves.  Opals will absorb your emotions but it’s tricky to clean them.  Run them carefully under a bit of water or clean with virgin olive oil.  Opals are Silicon Dioxide with water trapped inside so the stone helps people who feel trapped or unable to express themselves.  Anything you’ve been suppressing or pushing down will come to the surface when Opal is worn so you can face it and embrace this part of yourself with love and acceptance. Opal will help you to express your true self. It will enhance any emotion you’re feeling, so don’t wear this stone when you’re feeling down or angry. 

The word “Opal” derives from the Sanskrit word “Upala” which means “valuable stone.”  Wearing Opal will help you to realize your own value, your own true worth. It will also help you learn how to increase your wealth and hold on to the new money you earn.

The ancient Romans prized Opal as a stone of prophecy.  There’s a story that when Mark Antony tried to buy an Opal from the senator Nonius so he could give it to Cleopatra, Nonius fled Rome and accepted a life of exile rather than part with his Opal.

It’s also a noted stone of mysticism.  Both Native Americans and Australian Aborigines have used Opals on their vision quests.

There are several varieties of Opal.

Fire Opal: Said to enhance one’s personal power.  Protects against danger.  Helps one to let go of the past and progress through difficult changes. 

Water Opal: Acts as a mood stabilizer.  Helps calm hormonal changes in adolescents and menopausal women. Reduces feelings of stress and anxiety.

Cherry Opal: Also helps alleviate menopausal symptoms.  Will reduce the pain of headaches from Type-A personalities who tend to get headaches when they can’t control a situation.

Black Opal: Very grounding.  Helps one to feel safe and calm. Known as a good luck stone. 

Pink Opal: Often referred to as the “stone of renewal,” it teaches self-love.  It helps the wearer to release old psychological patterns and open to new spiritual lessons. 

Forgiving From Afar

I've met a lot of clients this month struggling with negative people in their lives.  I've heard stories of families opposing marriages, suing family members, and committing all sorts of betrayals.  I think it's important to know how to forgive and walk away.  Some people won't change.  They stubbornly cling to their errant views and seem to get meaner as the years pass.  If you have someone like this in your life, please know that being a good and kind and spiritual person does not mean you have to take this behavior from the people in your life.  You can forgive them for being the way they are, and then you can walk away.  Keep your distance.  Protect yourself.

I've had to distance myself from some negative people in my life, and I've had friends say, "But I thought you were the one who was always preaching forgiveness."  Yes, I do believe in forgiveness, but I also believe in self-preservation.  Negative people are miserable inside, and they won't be happy until everyone around them is as miserable and empty inside as they are.  It's important to maintain your  own health.

I will never forget a reading I did years ago for a woman trying to connect with her sister.  The sister came through and said, "I'm here with mom."  I saw a woman in a straight jacket.  So I asked the client if her mom had suffered from a mental illness.  My client nodded and said, "Mom was in and out of mental institutions my whole childhood."  Then I saw the mother take off  her straight jacket.  She radiated love and light and joy.  I heard her say, "I incarnated this way to teach my daughters strength, resilience and independence."

So, yes, I think we have to forgive the negative people in our lives and realize that they are souls on a journey just as we are.  We are all here to teach and learn.  If you think about the negative people in your life, I think you'll agree that they've taught you a lot about who you are.

Still, we do have to live this life -- difficult as that may be at times.  And doing it with negative people around us trying to tear us down can make life feel unbearable.  So, please, do yourself a favor.  Forgive the negative people in your life and then walk away.  Create distance.  Affirm that you deserve more.  And finally, forgive yourself.  Everything starts there.

What Do People Do In Heaven?

When I'm doing readings and connecting with loved ones, often they'll show me snippets of what they do in heaven.  Here's a brief overview of what I've learned about the other side from these rare glimpses.

1) We create our own homes.  People can live together but many prefer to live alone.  We create the setting too.  I've seen homes overlooking the ocean, a lake, a small pond.  I've seen cottages surrounded in ivy and homes nestled in woods.

2) We hang around with like-minded people.  There are levels to the afterlife.  So if you have a lot of work still to do but are still a decent person, you will probably go to a middle level.  If you were a very good and compassionate person, you will go to a higher level.  Higher level souls can visit lower level souls but not vice versa.

3) We can have jobs if we want.  I've seen teachers still teaching in heaven.  Souls who die young still need to go to school.  I've seen doctors and nurses tending to traumatized souls.  Many young people who've come through that have passed from a drug overdose tell me that their job is to work with drug addicted youths here on Earth trying to get them to stop.  Suicides will work with depressed people here on Earth trying to get them help.  How can they help us you might be thinking?  There are a number of ways.  They can put thoughts into our head.  They can put thoughts into our family members' and friends' heads such as "Call John."  They can make "coincidences" appear.  Let's say, for example, that you're thinking about rehab, but you're scared.  They can help you bump into someone who just got back from a great rehab.

4) Many choose to remain what I call the Family Protector.  They will stay close to Earth and will protect us from things that aren't in our path.  I did a reading for someone recently who went through a traumatic divorce.  Her deceased mother said she couldn't prevent that because it was part of her daughter's path but that she did help her keep her job through a series of layoffs the company was going through.  I had an uncle come through once and show me how he helped everyone escape a fire.  The house fire had to happen but no one was supposed to get hurt.  He made sure it happened just as it was planned.

5) They travel.  I've had many reports of our deceased loved ones traveling.  I saw a client's son climbing a mountain in Italy.  I saw a woman finally touring the Holy Land.  They are now pure energy so they can travel as quickly as their thoughts can think of a destination.

6) They still worry about us.  I've had many reports -- especially from parents -- of worry for their loved ones here on Earth.  Their biggest worry?  It's that we are worrying too much.  They want us to relax, enjoy life and surrender to our lessons while enjoying the time we have. When we're in pain -- from financial stress, relationship woes or health worries -- they are with us sending us love and helping us when they can.  I just had a husband come through recently, and he said that he helped his wife get the best doctor by having two friends recommend him to her.  He couldn't prevent her diagnosis, but he could make sure she had the best care possible.

7) They are learning so much!  Now that they are souls again without the heavy weight of a body, they are learning how to manipulate, create and change energy.  Everything on the other side  is created with thought energy, and they have to learn how to do that.  They also get to meet with many great thinkers who no longer need to reincarnate and learn from them.  Some advanced souls are studying to be spirit guides.

8) They are balancing karma.  Many souls who die with regret such as those from suicide have lots of negative karma to balance out.  I remember years ago, a grandfather came through to tell his granddaughter (my client) that he was helping her get away from an abusive relationship.  My client hated this idea because it was her own grandfather who abused his wife and son (my client's dad).  "Why would he help with this?  And why would I even want his help?" When I explained to her that this was a way for him to redress the wrongs he'd committed against his family, she agreed to ask him for help.  Soon her tumultuous relationship ended and she was able to move on.

9) They are helping lower level souls.  It's rare, but I have come across a few very enlightened souls who take it upon themselves to visit souls in the lower levels of the afterlife and try to help them ask forgiveness and come to grips with some of the pain they caused when on Earth.  For more on this, check out a great book by Helen Greaves called Testimony of Light.

10) They are getting ready to come back.  Many souls take years and years to plan their return to Earth. They have to plan out everything so they can learn the lessons needed for their soul growth.  Sometimes, they have to wait for certain souls to reincarnate with them so they can balance past karma together.  Souls plan their return with the help of a team of guides and angels.

So, the next time you're thinking about your loved one in heaven, ask, "What are you doing up there anyway?"  See what pops into your head.  Who knows? You might see Grandma Irene dancing a jig in Ireland! But always, always remember to ask for their help.  God gives us all free will, so we have to ask for the help in order to receive it.