Metaphysical Index::Lapis Lazuli

A couple of weeks ago I had a dream in which I was shown a beautiful blue stone…right before I woke up. That stone was Lapis lazuli. I had NEVER dreamed of a stone or crystal in my entire life. So needless to say, I opened my book on crystals to look it up – noticing that it suggested wearing the stone as a pair of earrings. I needed no more encouragement than that! After my morning routines and rituals I hopped on Etsy and found the perfect pair of sterling silver and lapis lazuli earrings – which I immediately ordered. (See above)

Since they were coming from India, it would take a couple of weeks before I received the earrings. So…we took another day trip to Boulder Creek to visit my new favorite metaphysical store, Air and Fire, where I picked-up a small piece of lapis lazuli to tide me over. (Also above)

The ancient Egyptians crushed lapis lazuli into a fine powder to use as eyeshadow; and rumor has it that Michelangelo used it (also in powder form) to color frescoes in the Sistine Chapel where the color blue was needed.

Lapis lazuli is a stone of protection, recognizing a psychic attack and neutralizing any harmful energies directed at you. Since it is the “Stone of Truth”, having it near you can assist in recognizing other people’s lies and deceptions. (Which can be very helpful these days.) When placed close to amethyst or clear quartz, it’s great at dispelling psychic “debris” (negative energies). All stones need to be cleansed from time to time, and since this particular one must be kept from water AND salt I’ll cleanse it the way I do my Tarot deck: pass it through copal or dragon’s blood smoke.

Charge lapis lazuli by holding in your dominant hand and sending your intention (such as to attract love or wealth) directly into the stone.

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Calling Down the Sun*

May 3rd is World Sun Day. (First designated as Sun Day by Jimmy Carter in 1978.) We all know The Sun is the center of our Universe, but in reality it is much, much more.

The Sun gives Life to all living things here on Earth. Without it nothing would survive. Not only does it keep our planet from becoming one big iceberg, it provides LIGHT – something plants and other organisms require in order to covert light energy into fuel for their metabolism (a process called photosynthesis). Not only does this “fuel” provide necessary nutrients to animals who consume plants, the nutritional benefits are also passed along to animals that eat the herbivores – including we humans.

After I brought Ramses home I found a small patch of ringworm on his chest. It was easily treated and caused no further problems for either of us, but in researching this fungus I discovered that sunlight kills it. Outbreaks of ringworm can be quite common in shelter cats – a consequence of stress and lack of sunlight. Being the highly intelligent creatures they are cats instinctively know that bathing in sunlight not only feels good, it’s good for them, too!

The Sun’s radiant energy is beneficial to people, as well. Such as:

1. Better Sleep Cycle. Studies show that getting out in the sun could connect your body to its natural circadian rhythm.
2. Increased Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a major component of building a strong immune system and spending at least 15-30 minutes in the sun a day can give you all the Vitamin D that you need.
3. Increased Mood. Groups that were more exposed to the sun had more energy, increased mood, and a more positive outlook on life.
4. Lower Blood Pressure. The sun helps release nitric oxide into the blood which aids in lowering blood pressure and increased heart health.
5. It just plain feels good!

When thinking of flowers one’s mind naturally turns to the Sunflower (Helianthus). Did you know that young sunflower heads track the sun’s movement? Before blooming, they tilt during the day to face the Sun in order to gain more sunlight for photosynthesis. This is thought to help attract pollinators, as many are more attracted to warm flowers.

Magickally, use the properties of the Sun to help lend energy to the following intents: Eenlightenment, generosity, spirituality, health, vitality, joy, positivity, creativity, and friendship. Metaphysically, its color is yellow and its stone is the sunstone, which is a stone of ABUNDANCE.

Sunstone creates an inner fire that vanquishes any unwanted power others hold over you.
It is a stone of self-love and confidence.

Goddesses associated with the Sun: Brigid (Celtic), Hathor (Egyptian), Medusa (Greek), Sekhmet (Egyptian), Sól/Sunna (Nordic), and Bast (Egyptian).

Tarot of Vampyres

Lord of the Fire of the World
Planetary Trump of the Sun; ruled by Leo
Father Archetype
Vitality, Joy, Creativity, Spirituality, Pride, Self-confidence, Personal power, Abundance

Resources:
Amazing Facts About the Sun
Daily Tarot::The Sun
Health Benefits of Being in the Sun
Helianthus
Midsummer Ritual: Calling Down the Sun
Sun Goddesses
4.20.2022: The Sun is Vibrating!
What on Earth is a Sunstone?
Wikipedia

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*A ritual celebrated on June 21st (Litha on the Wiccan Wheel of the Year).

Day Trip ~ Santa Cruz Mountains

Last Wednesday, I awoke to a mixture of marine layer and smoke from the Caldor and Dixie fires. The particulates in the air created an orangish tint to the sunlight that managed to peek through, and I could detect a faint smell of smoke. But that didn’t deter us from taking a day trip to Boulder Creek.

We stopped for lunch at a small taqueria in town. Vegetarian nachos and a Corona. Took a stroll to walk-off lunch and found ourselves in front of a cool little store calling itself “A Mystical Bazaar”: Air and Fire.

Now’s the time to start working on my personal grimoire:

The shop had a large selection of tarot decks and books. Saw this and had to get it:

Inside there are chapters on Cat Deities and the Feminie Mystique; Elemental Feline Folklore and Divination; Cat Magick, Candle Spells, and Astrology; The Feline Familiar, Charms and Spells for Your Cat; Cat Magick Journal, and Feline Power Animals.

Gemini
(May 21 to June 21)

The Gemini cat is curious, alert, very social, and really enjoys being spoken to; they demand attention! This cat is the perfect companion for the young at heart, and Gemini cats retain an air of kittenish behavior throughout their lives. (Uh-oh…) Gemini cats are full of activity and fun loving. They are constantly on the move and looking for the next adventure. Gemini cats are very vocal, with quite the repertoire of sounds. These cats love to scout out goodd hiding places and are active and smart. They do enjoy their quiet time and are likely to go and pick out a favored hidey-hole for a nice, long nap. That way, when they wake up, they are full of energy and can find lots to occupy themselves. (Or just plain annoy their Maman.) The Gemini cat is not overly demonstrative but shows its affection in subtler ways. A typical gesture of affection from a Gemini cat is having it rub against your legs, going back and forth, while you do your best not to trip. The Gemini cat loves to keep its human on their toes.

Ramses: May 22

I also grabbed a couple of crystals and a beautiful black leather pouch to stash ’em in. The citrine is a stone I wanted in my repertoire but the pink calcite was unknown to me. I was drawn to it. In their display of crystals it was the first one I reached for. I loved the feel of it and figured I would research its properties later. (Ha! My powers of intuition win again. The calcite was just what the Goddess ordered and I’m keeping it on my desk.)

Metaphysical Index

CITRINE
Chakra: solar plexus and crown
Strengthens self-esteem, increases psychic powers, deflects nightmares, promotes positive energy, enhances mental clarity and will power, good for protection.
Citrine is referred to as the “Merchant’s Stone” because it’s associated with success and prosperity.
Elixir for removing toxins from the body: Soak citrine in a glass of pure water. [source]
Citrine should never be soaked in salt water and it’s very sensitive to heat. Never place or store it where there’s excessive exposure to heat and light.

Crystals & Jewelry
Love and Light School

CALCITE
Chakra: sacral
Centering, grounding, purification/cleansing, peace, calms fears, removes negativity, linked to higher consciousness, enhances learning abilities.
Calcite clears negative energies from the environment, and protects against negative energies and physical/psychic attacks.
It’s called the stone of emotional intelligence because it creates a bridge between the emotions and the intellect.
Calcite is a spiritual stone, facilitating psychic abilities and deep spiritual awakening.
Amplifier: Calcite will intensify the vibration of any crystal nearby. It also enhances the frequencies of the human biofield – the field of energy and information that surrounds and interpenetrates the human body.
Calcite should never be cleansed with salt or anything harsh. To cleanse pass it through the smoke of burning sage or leave it to bathe overnight in the light of the Moon (perfect for charging your crystal with intentions).

Crystals & Jewelry
Charms of Light

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Metaphysical Index::Emotional Healing

Our emotional well-being is intricately and inextricably connected to our physical health. Eating healthy foods, being physically active, meditation or other methods of mindfulness, and cultivating positive thoughts all go a long way towards improving one’s spiritual health.

There are also a number of metaphysical elements you can use to assist in healing emotional wounds caused by trauma, illness, grief, negative energies, or just plain stress.

PINK
Associated with the astrological sign of Libra (The Scales), the color pink has been shown to have a pacifying affect on prison inmates. You don’t have to paint your walls pink to experience the calming effects of this color. (Although if that’s your thing GO FOR IT!) You can burn pink candles, fill vases full of pink flowers (like roses, branches of cherry blossoms, calla lilies, carnations, chrysanthemums, or dahlias), or set-out a bowl filled with pink-hued crystals and gemstones:  rose quartz, pink opal, star ruby, morganite.

INCENSE
Sandalwood, frankincense and myrrh (both resins), pine resin, copal (resin), hellebore, and rose are all good elements to burn. I love copal and regularly use it to cleanse my tarot deck before a reading but it does fill a room with smoke – so make sure you leave a window open (even slightly) when you burn incense, especially if you are burning resins.

OILS
Rose:  According to Vancouver EMDR Therapy, “Rose oil is the second most popular essential oil used to treat anxiety and depression.”

Lavender:  I add a few drops of lavender oil to my cleaning products (either homemade or non-scented plant-derived). I love the scent. Studies have shown that lavender oil can not only help you fall asleep but also improve your overall quality of rest. Apply to your feet, temples, and wrists before you go to bed.

Other good choices: bergamot, frankincense, ylang-ylang, and vetiver.

Oils can be applied directly to the skin (To avoid possible skin irritation, you may want to dilute first with a carrier oil.), added to bath water, or used in a diffuser. To receive optimal benefits you’ll want to purchase a high-quality, non-synthetic oil (such as Aura Cacia).

After a cleansing ritual, wash away any lingering negativity in a luxurious bath to which you’ve added a few drops of Rose or Frankincense oil.

TEA
I’m sure you’ve heard of the health benefits of chamomile tea (specifically as a sleep aid and to de-stress) BUT you may experience a reaction if you are allergic to plants in the daisy family, such as ragweed and chrysanthemums. Like me, if you’re one of these people I have an alternative: agrimony. Agrimony is a tall, perennial herb native to Europe and parts of North America and is distantly related to the Rose. It has a lemony scent. According to WedMD, “agrimony contains chemicals called tannins [which] may cause side effects such as stomach irritation, nausea, vomiting…” Both green and black teas also contain tannins, so if you have stomach issues with those you may experience the same with agrimony.

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Metaphysical Index::Copal

Copal is a name given to tree resin. The resins from the copal tree (Protium copal) were used as ceremonial incense by the cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and was discovered in the burial grounds of Mayan ruins. It is still used ceremonially by some indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America.

Copal resin from Hymenaea verrucosa is found in East Africa and is used in incense. By the 18th century, Europeans discovered it was a valuable ingredient in making good wood varnish.

Etymology
The word copal is derived from the Nahuati word copalli (“incense”).

Metaphysical Properties
Masculine
Sun
Fire

Purification, consecration, cleansing, to promote spirituality, inspiration, contact with astral planes, exorcism, hex-breaking, banishment, seeking “divine favors”.

• Use to purify crystals & stones, to consecrate ritual tools, during spellwork to ward-off negative energies, and to energetically clear spaces.
• Between readings, I cleanse my Tarot deck(s) in its smoke.
• As it’s linked with the crown chakra, burn copal during meditations. It is particularly effective in removing energy blockages and in relieving stress and melancholy.
• Burning copal with other herbs or resins adds power and focus to their metaphysical properties.
• When making a poppet, use a piece of copal to represent its heart.
• Fashion a piece of amber copal into a charm to wear as a protective amulet.

You can purchase high-quality Copal online from Psychic Eye Books.

Sources
Energy Muse
Herbal Riot
Wikipedia

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