Gratitude
When we live our lives with gratitude, we develop an appreciation for the things we have. This gratitude allows us to focus on the positive in our lives, which creates an energy by which more positivity comes to us. Sometimes, circumstances make it difficult to feel grateful. In those times, you can still cultivate gratitude by focusing on small things for which to be grateful, even if it’s something as simple as, “I’m grateful I had clean water to drink today.”
I am grateful to the Source for all the good in my life.
MEDITATION
Every day, spend at least 10 minutes meditating on all the things for which you are grateful. Close your eyes and speak the mantra. Then, for each thing, say, “I am grateful for [name the thing].”
REMEDY #1: ANGELITE
Angelite is a crystal that fosters gratitude. If you need to cultivate gratitude, carry a piece of this serene blue stone in your pocket.
REMEDY #2: CLEAR QUARTZ PRAYER BEADS
Clear quartz serves as an amplifier. It also opens up communication to a higher source. When you wish to amplify your gratitude and send it out into the universe, use a beaded clear quartz necklace or bracelet as a form of prayer beads. As you finger each bead, list one thing for which you are grateful, beginning and ending with the mantra.
Grief
Grief is an inevitable part of the human experience. It is part of the duality in which we exist. Without grief, we wouldn’t be able to recognize or appreciate joy. But that knowledge doesn’t make grief any easier. When you experience a tragic or sad event, it is necessary to allow yourself to grieve. It’s equally important that you don’t get so caught up in the grief that you can’t emerge on the other side to enjoy life once again.
I turn to the Divine for comfort during my time of grief.
MEDITATION
Sit quietly with your eyes closed, breathing normally. Speak the mantra. Allow yourself to feel your emotions as they arise. Do not block them, but allow them to fully form. Once the emotion has lessened, visualize a white light coming down from above and enveloping you in a warm, healing white glow. Continue your meditation for at least 10 minutes.
REMEDY #1: OBSIDIAN
Grief is a very powerful emotion. One stone that can absorb some of your grief is black obsidian. During times of extreme grief, carry black obsidian in your pants pocket, taking care to cleanse and recharge it daily.
REMEDY #2: SMOKY QUARTZ
Smoky quartz will turn negative energy into positive energy. Sit quietly, holding the smoky quartz in your receiving (nondominant) hand as you repeat the mantra. Allow the grief to flow naturally. Continue until the grief lessens. Repeat this as often as you need to during your time of grieving.
TIP: Many people believe there is a time limit on grieving. There isn’t. It’s important to honor how you feel and allow yourself to fully experience the grief, no matter how painful it is. These tools won’t stop the grief, but they can help keep you from getting so stuck in the grief that you descend into depression.
Grounding
Grounding keeps us connected to the Earth, which is our source of support and strength. Daily grounding can help keep you focused and centered. Ground whenever you feel out of sorts, if you’re dizzy or confused, or if you’re just not feeling quite right. It is also important to ground after meditation, prayer, or other spiritual or cerebral activities.
I honor the jewel within the lotus bloom. (Om mani padme hum.)
MEDITATION
Om mani padme hum (pronounced ohm mah-nee pahd-may hum) is a Sanskrit mantra often used for grounding and centering. The lotus represents spiritual birth or development, while the jewel represents humans’ divinity living within spirituality. This is the perfect mantra to use with a simple mantra meditation. Sit comfortably holding any of the grounding stones listed in this section in either hand. Breathe normally and repeat the mantra softly out loud or to yourself for at least 10 minutes, or longer if needed.
REMEDY #1: LODESTONE GROUNDING VISUALIZATION
Sit in a comfortable position on the floor where you are unlikely to be disturbed. Clasp a lodestone gently between your hands, which are placed in your lap. Close your eyes. Visualize yourself dropping roots from your core and extending into the Earth, wrapping themselves around the Earth’s core. Continue your meditation for at least 10 minutes.
REMEDY #2: BLACK TOURMALINE
Hold black tourmaline in your receiving (nondominant) hand. Remove your shoes and step outside onto the grass in bare feet. Close your eyes for about 10 minutes and feel your connection to the Earth below you.
REMEDY #3: OBSIDIAN
For help staying grounded, carry a piece of obsidian in your pocket.
Hope
Hope is necessary to keep humans moving forward. In the absence of hope, we lose the motivation to take action or improve our circumstances. Complete loss of hope can lead to despair or despondency. Sometimes it may feel difficult to keep hope alive. Fostering hope, even in dark times, can help pull you through.
My hope that good things will happen in my life, today and every day, is alive.
MEDITATION
List five things you’d like to manifest in your life. Now, write those five things in the form of affirmations, using positive statements as if you already have them. For example, “I am grateful that I have earned my master’s degree.” Now, look at yourself in the mirror, making eye contact, and repeat each affirmation five times.
REMEDY #1: CLEAR QUARTZ
Hold a piece of clear quartz in your receiving (nondominant) hand as you complete the meditation. The quartz will amplify your affirmations and help connect you with the Source.
REMEDY #2: SELENITE
Selenite is a high-vibration crystal that can help connect you with hope. Place a piece of selenite on your beside table. As you drift off to sleep, repeat the mantra. When you wake up in the morning, repeat the mantra again 10 times.
REMEDY #3: AMAZONITE
Known as the hope stone, amazonite can help you focus on hopefulness instead of despair. I use amazonite as a worry stone, holding it in my hand and rubbing its smooth surface with my thumb. Carry a piece in your pocket, and rub it whenever you feel you need an infusion of hope.
Indecisiveness
Life would be so much easier if we were decisive every moment of every day. Some decisions may seem more difficult than others to make, however. When I make my decisions, I tend to be very intuition-based (as opposed to logic-based, much to my very logical husband’s consternation). This typically serves me quite well. Still, even with the power of intuition guiding me, sometimes I get stuck and have difficulty making a choice. When you have difficult decisions to make and you can’t tell what your gut wants you to do, try these remedies.
I am in tune with what I need, and I trust my intuition to guide me to the right choices.
MEDITATION
Sit or lie comfortably with your eyes closed. Focus your attention on your third eye chakra as you consider the decision you need to make. Pay attention to any images or information you receive. Do this for at least 10 minutes or until you have reached a comfortable decision.
REMEDY #1: AMETHYST
As you perform the meditation, hold an amethyst, which is a highly intuitive gemstone, in your receiving (nondominant) hand, paying close attention to any perceptions that arise.
REMEDY #2: AMETRINE
Ametrine works well because it combines amethyst and citrine. Amethyst will help you with your intuitive problem solving, while citrine will help you determine what you want, as it is a solar plexus chakra stone tied to self-identity. When you have a big decision to make, carry a piece of ametrine in your pocket.
TIP: If you don’t have ametrine, don’t worry. You can also carry a piece of natural citrine and a piece of amethyst together in your pocket for the same effect.
Insecurity
Insecurity may be an issue with the solar plexus chakra, which is associated with self-confidence. I
t may also stem from the root chakra, where we develop our feelings of safety and security. Feeling insecure may undermine you, because it causes negative thought patterns that disrupt any affirmative work you are trying to do. Finding a way to lessen or release insecurity is a necessary step in following your path.
I believe in my ability to accomplish anything I set out to do.
MEDITATION
Sit comfortably with both hands placed gently over your solar plexus chakra. Close your eyes and breathe normally. Visualize your solar plexus chakra filling with a golden yellow light. As you do, repeat the mantra. Continue for at least 10 minutes, or perform this visualization for a minute or two whenever you are feeling insecure.
REMEDY #1: YELLOW TIGERS EYE
This is a solar plexus chakra stone of confidence. Hold a piece of yellow tigers eye over your solar plexus chakra as you perform the meditation. You can also wear yellow tigers eye as a pendant or carry a stone in your pocket whenever you are feeling insecure.
REMEDY #2: CARNELIAN ROOT CHAKRA WORK
If your insecurity is related to safety, security, or family issues, this meditation can help strengthen the root chakra, where you develop your sense of safety and security. Lie on your back with a carnelian on your root chakra. Close your eyes and visualize red swirling light in the area of the chakra. Repeat the mantra “I am grateful to be safe and secure,” for at least 10 minutes.
REMEDY #3: BLACK TOURMALINE
If you feel psychically unsafe, use black tourmaline to protect you, carrying it in your pocket or wearing it as a pendant around your neck. The tourmaline absorbs any negative psychic energy around you, protecting you. Be sure to cleanse the tourmaline after every use.
Insomnia/
Sleeplessness
Many factors can contribute to the sleep disorder insomnia, such as stress, physical pain, inconsistent sleep patterns, and environmental issues, such as being too warm or too cold. If you’re like most people, you need a decent night of sleep (between seven and nine hours) to function well. Along with adjusting any factors that may keep you from sleeping well, such as ambient light or uncomfortable room temperature, try these remedies to help you get a full night of sleep.
I release the stress of my day and drift off into deep, refreshing sleep.
MEDITATION
At bedtime, use progressive relaxation and mindfulness to clear your mind of stressful thoughts and promote relaxation and restfulness in your body. Lie on your back with your eyes closed. Breathe deeply but naturally. Starting with your feet, with each exhalation, imagine all of the tension draining out of that body part, leaving it completely relaxed. Work your way from your feet all the way to your head, one body part at a time. If thoughts arise as you do this, notice them but then watch them drift away. Do not get stuck in any single thought or thought pattern. Acknowledge the thought and let it go. After you reach your head, rest peacefully until you drift off to sleep.
REMEDY #1: AMETHYST
Amethyst is a powerful crystal, which many people use for insomnia. Start with a newly cleansed and charged piece of amethyst. About an hour before going to bed, stop using any backlit screens, such as tablets, computers, or smartphones. Turn on soft, relaxing music and begin your bedtime routine. Engage in a quiet activity such as reading for about 20 minutes. Next, run a warm bath and add Epsom salts. Soak for 10 minutes and then dry yourself off. Now, sit quietly in a very dimly lit room, holding your charged amethyst in your receiving (nondominant) hand. Breathe deeply. With each exhalation, repeat the word “relax” to yourself. Continue for 10 minutes. Now, crawl into bed and place the amethyst under your pillow. If you’re still having trouble sleeping, complete the progressive relaxation technique described in the meditation.
REMEDY #2: MOONSTONE
Moonstone is another crystal that aids relaxation and facilitates deep sleep. Place a piece of moonstone on your bedside table to help you get some shut-eye.
Inspiration
Sometimes you just need a little inspiration. While many people think of inspiration in terms of creative pursuits, it can really apply to any aspect of your life. For example, you may need inspiration to solve a problem in a relationship, or you may require some help to determine the next step you are taking in your life. Whatever type of inspiration you need, it comes to you from two places—your higher self and the Source—making it an issue of the third eye and crown chakras.
I give thanks to the Source for daily inspiration to walk my life’s path.
MEDITATION
Sit quietly and comfortably with your eyes closed, breathing normally. Visualize light flowing into your crown chakra from the universe. As you visualize, repeat the mantra several times. Do this for at least 10 minutes.
REMEDY #1: AMETHYST
Amethyst is the perfect crystal for inspiration. It stimulates both the third eye and crown chakras, so it is wonderful for awakening insight and providing inspiration. If you are trying to find inspiration for a certain issue, sleep on it. Hold an amethyst crystal in your hand and perform the meditation before you go to bed. Now, place the amethyst crystal under your pillow. As you drift off to sleep, repeat the mantra, “I give thanks to the Source for providing me with inspiration about [fill in the blank].” Keep a notebook next to your bed, and write down any inspiration or ideas you have upon waking.
REMEDY #2: SUPER SEVEN
If you work in a field that requires creative problem-solving, keep a piece of super seven at your desk. When you need a boost of inspiration, sit quietly with the crystal in your receiving (nondominant) hand while breathing deeply for one minute.
TIP: Dreams can serve as a powerful source of inspiration. Ask for inspiration for any issue you are facing before you go to sleep, and then diligently record your dreams upon waking. Look for patterns or symbols in the dreams that inspire you to take action.
Intuition
Intuition comes from your third eye chakra, which is the center of insight. All humans are intuitive, but many of us have stopped listening to our intuition, relying solely on logic to make decisions. When we ignore our intuition, it tends to grow less active. In my experience, when I struggle between making a logical choice and an intuitive choice, I discover that the intuitive choice is the one that truly helps me get where I want and need to go.
I listen to and trust my intuition as my source of guidance.
MEDITATION
Sit or lie comfortably with your eyes closed. Focus all your attention on your third eye chakra, paying attention to any images, thoughts, sounds, or symbols that appear. Do this for at least 10 minutes. Write down your impressions after your meditation.
REMEDY #1: CELESTITE THIRD EYE CHAKRA WORK
Lie on your back comfortably with a piece of celestite placed directly on your third eye chakra. Close your eyes and repeat the mantra 10 times. Now, ask a question about something for which you are seeking inspiration. Pay close attention to the images, thoughts, sounds, or symbols that arise.
REMEDY #2: AMETHYST
When you feel you really need intuitive help, carry a newly cleansed and charged piece of amethyst in your pocket. Several times throughout the day, hold the amethyst in your receiving (nondominant) hand, paying close attention to anything that arises.
TIP: Many people think intuitive thought has to take a specific form, such as images or voices. However, different people receive intuition in different ways. For some, it may be a sudden knowing or an idea that appears fully formed. For others, intuition arises via symbolic or nonsymbolic images they see with their mind’s eye. Other people may have physical sensations in their body, hear a voice talking to them, have a dream, or have an unusually persistent thought. All of these are valid forms of intuition, so it’s important to pay close attention to how you receive and process information.
Irritability
It would be wonderful if we could all go through life in a state of happiness and bliss, but most of us don’t. It’s perfectly natural to get a little irri
table from time to time. Many factors in life can contribute to irritability, such as stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, dietary issues, or even atmospheric conditions. Crystals can help even out your mood, allowing you to be more even-keeled as you seek out the root of why you’re feeling so irritable.
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