Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The Metaphysical Properties of Amethyst

Since I am writing a post on this spiritual and calming stone, I thought it would be fitting for me to grab a piece from my collection, lending its beautiful energy to me, as I blog on this most sacred of stones.  In fact Amethyst is a stone that has resonated with my for as long as I can remember, and as such, when I encounter a beautiful piece of this stone, at a reasonable price, I tend to pick it up. According to Scott Cunnigham you should never barter for your metaphysical tools.  I have always kept that in mind when I am on the hunt for spiritual items.

Amethyst is the first gem I obtained. And it is my most treasured piece of rock within my collection. I can't even remember how this piece found me, but it has brought me a multitude of healing, and I will treasure it until the day that I depart from this plane.  Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I bring you this write up on the history, lore, and metaphysical uses of this highly prized stone dating back into ancient times.

*  Amethyst is a form of quartz colored by different amounts of iron and aluminum

*  Amethyst is derived from the ancient Greek work meaning not drunk.  According to Greek myth:
Bacchus (the god of wine) was angry because of a slight against him and swore revenge. He announced that the first mortal to come cross his path would be eaten by tigers. Just at that moment along came the lovely maiden Amethyst, on her way to worship at the shrine of the goddess Diana. Diana saw what was happening and transformed Amethyst into stone to rescue her from a violent death. When Bacchus viewed the miracle, he repented and poured wine over the stone, staining it purple. This is the legendary creation of the gemstone amethyst.

Sync Connection~  The Goddess Diana recently showed up on my Tarot Blog in a daily card reading when she showed up in Major Arcana 14 (Art in the Thoth deck)

*  Ancient Greeks drank wine from cups of Amethyst in order to prevent intoxication

*  Catholics place this stone in the ring of the Bishop.  The Catholic Encyclopedia entry on Amethyst is as follows:

AMETHYST, Hebrew ahlmh; Septuagint amethystos, also Apocalypse 21:20, where it is the twelfth and last stone of the foundation of the New Jerusalem. It is the third stone in the third row of the rational, representing the tribe of Issachar (Exodus 28:19; 39:12); the Septuagint enumerates it among the riches of the King of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:13). The Greek name alludes to the popular belief that the amethyst was a preventive of intoxication; hence beakers were made of amethyst for carousals, and inveterate drinkers wore amulets made of it to counteract the action of wine. Abenesra and Kimchi explain the Hebrew ahlmh in an analogous manner, deriving it from hlm, to dream; hlm in its first meaning signifies "to be hard" (Fürst, Hebr. Handwörterbuch). We have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the translation since we find a general agreement among the various versions; Josephus (Ant. Jud., III, vii, 6) also has "amethyst"; the Targum of Onkelos and the Syriac Version have "calf's eye", indicating the colour. The amethyst is a brilliant transparent stone of a purple colour resembling that of diluted wine and varying in shade from the violet purple to rose. There are two kinds of amethysts: the oriental amethyst, a species of sapphire, is very hard (cf. Heb., hlm), and when colourless can hardly be distinguished from the diamond; the occidental amethyst is of the silex family, hence different in composition from the oriental stone. But the identity of names is accounted for by the identity of colour. The occidental amethyst is easily engraved. It is found of various sizes. Its shape is different from the round pebble to the hexagonal, pyramid-capped crystal.

*  In the Bible Amethyst is also one of the stones that makes up the breast plate of the high priest Aaron.  These same stones are referenced above as part of the foundation fro the New Jerusalem.

*  Amethyst has been used in royal crowns and sceptres

*  I have read that Amethyst is aiding to usher in the Age of Aquarius

Sync Connection~  The Age of Aquarius is referenced in my poem Le Soleil

*  The Egyptian Book of the Dead gives instructions for placing a heart shaped piece of Amethyst inside the body of the deceased

*  Chaldean Magi believed Amethyst protected against evil sorcery bringing success and good luck

Metaphysical Properties~ Amethyst
Adopted for Scott Cunningham's Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic

Energy: Receptive
Planets: Jupiter and Neptune
Element: Water
Deities:  Bacchus and Diana
Stone of Pisces, Virgo, Aquarius, and Capricorn

*  Amethyst under your pillow drives off insomnia and nightmares.  Ensuring a peaceful sleep and prophetic dreams

* A spiritual stone of piece and wisdom that opens the third eye and crown chakra

*  Great for all dream work (lucid dreams and astral projection)

*  Helps overcome addictions

*  Calms emotional storms

*  Lends courage to the wearer also reducing emotional stress

*  Powerful amulet for travellers

*  Keep with divinatory tools to heighten their inner energy

*  Rub on your head to relive headaches

*  Sharpens the conscious mind (quickens wit and enhances mental powers)

*  Keeps thoughts in line with life goals

*  Brings fairness in lawsuits and success in business

*  Guards against negative thoughts

*  Transmutational energies help to open gateways to intense transformational energies

*  Purifies blood and strengthens the immune system

*  Clears the Chakras

*  Prevents against theft

*  Used to attract love and happiness



Sunday, August 12, 2012

Feng Shui Tips~ Creativity



Three plants in your workspace enhances creativity.  Aloe is a great plant to serve as one of the three in that it brings in the energy of protection...guarding you, your project, and your ideas.

Dream, Love, Believe... ~JYN

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Clearing and Cleaning Crystals



This blog has really re-connected me with my tools for Feng Shui, my main one being crystals.  So, I intuitively knew that it was time to clean my crystals (a task best suited for when the moon is full), and for the past few days I have been cleaning and re-organizing my collection.

~Some Crystal Uses

*Based on the various metaphysical properties of crystals, place one under your pillow at night according to your needs

*Place protective crystals in the windows of your home

*Wear them on your body, as jewelry

*Meditate with your crystals

*Place them in bowls around your home

*Place them in your car for protection

*Place Citrine around electronic equipment to ensure smooth operation

*Place crystals on your desk to enhance focus, creativity, concentration, etc. (select crystals according to your needs)

*Carry crystals on you to receive the benefits of their energy

*Use a crystal as your Pendulum

*Look at and work with your crystals daily for their healing benefits and to enhance your life

*Place your crystals in a Crystal Grid
If you are a crystal owner then it is important to note that cleaning and re-energizing your crystals is essential.  Crystals are storehouses for energy (both positive and negative) and so they need to be cleaned and cleared regularly.  Whenever you purchase a new crystal, the first step is to clean and clear it of any previous energy.  Enabling it to then align to you as its new owner.  When cleansing use you intuition on what method will work best for the stone, and for how long you need to employ one of the following techniques.

~Crystal Cleansing Methods

*  Running a crystal under running tap water or in a clean body of water. 
*  Soaking the crystal in spring water and sea salt
 
Please note that not all crystals should be placed in water.  As a general rule most crystals ending in
-ite (i.e. angelite, kyanite) should not be soaked in water

*  After running a crystal under a water source, place it in the sun for several hours

*  Passing the crystal through a Sage Smudge (cleanse the object as if you are clearing a room)

*  Placing the crystal in sage leaves

*Placing the crystal in the light of the full moon

*Burying the crystal in dirt

~An important side-note, I will begin posting on the  metaphysical uses of the stones, starting with my absolute favorite, Amethyst (the first gemstone to find me!). Stay tuned... ~JYN

Until then happy cleansing and clearing!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Feng Shui for the Bedroom

With the launch of my new blog on all things home, I decided to revisit the archives at Nereids' Enchantments, and post my favorite blog posts on Feng Shui.  The first Feng Shui post from the Nereids' Enchantments archives is shared below...

Nereids' Enchantments Blog: Feng Shui for the Bedroom: My husband and I moved recently.  In our new home I made a few key changes to our sleeping habits that have been amazing! Mainly, the r...

Welcome to Home by JYN Star!



About a month ago I was struck with the inspiration to grow my blogging game by adding sister sites to my original blog Nereids' Enchantments (myth, symbolism, pop culture, fashion, and more...).  First, came Tarot by JYN Star, my blog on all things Tarot.  Then, Poetry by JYN Star was born (here I focus on my poetry, and art that inspires me).  Now, I am happy to be blogging on Home by JYN Star, which is probably going to be the final installment to my series of blogs....

Home by JYN Star  is all things home, with a focus on Feng Shui.  This blog coincides with the fact that I have started offering my services in organization and Feng Shui.  Feng Shui is all about the flow of energy.  Everything is energy! Therefore, it is important to maintain a happy and healthy home, which will bleed over into a happy and healthy lifestyle.  Feng Shui prepares a space, and then ensures that a healthy flow is maintained through object placement, use of crystals, and scent...all serving as triggers, ensuring that a healthy energy flow is maintained in any particular space or home.

If you are in the New York Metropolitan area, I am currently offering free Feng Shui consultations, so that I can asses your space, and offer you a quote for my services.  If you are interested in arranging a free Feng Shui consultation, please email me at JYNStarTarot@gmail.com or NereidsEnchantments@gmail.com so that we can arrange a meeting.  Also, keep coming back for updates on all things home including Feng Shui tips, Recipes, Pet Tips, Crystal Tips, Cleaning Tips and much more!

Dream, Love, Believe... ~JYN Star