CategoriesCrystals Educational

Crystal Shapes & Their Meanings

Not only do crystals come in all different colours, will all different properties, but they also come in all different shapes! These shapes have different meanings too, and whilst they don’t change the energy the crystal emits, they do change the way you receive said energy. Here are some of the common crystal shapes and their meanings so next time you’re choosing a crystal, you know it’s going to pair well with your intention and enhance the energy!

Tumblestones
The most common way for a crystal to come in is in a tumblestone. These are just pieces of crystal that have gone through a tumble machine to create a small and smooth piece that is excellent to keep in your pocket or in a dish at home. They tend to be less expensive than other pieces, so they are great for beginners or those starting their crystal collection. Even for the crystal pros, tumblestones are a must have for keeping in your pocket so you can feel it’s energy whenever you need it.

Points, Towers, Pyramids & Obelisks
These pieces can go by different names but the main principle is that they have a flat base and a point at the tip. As the name suggests, these pieces help keep you sharp and on point. It helps you keep you focused, especially on a goal or intention, making it an excellent tool for manifestation work. The flat base works as an anchor for your intention, whilst the point helps direct your intention and radiate it out through the Universe!


Spheres
These crystal pieces are perfectly round and smooth – reminiscent of the world. This is why they are excellent tools at helping us feel connected to the Universal Energy all around us and reminding us that we are a part of something greater. As they are evenly round, it also helps emit energy equally to all sides helping us feel balanced. They are great for meditative work as they fit nicely in the palm of your hand.

Wands
These crystal pieces can vary quite a bit but the principle is the same. They may be double terminated and have a point at each end, or they may have one pointed end and one smooth end, or they could be smooth both ends! Wands allow energy to flow and be directed – the energy can travel up and down, in and out. This makes them excellent tools for healing! You can release any negative energy out whilst bringing healing energy in. You can use them to intuitively scan the body to locate any blockages, or to move any energy between the chakras.

Hearts
These crystals have been carved in the shape of a heart. As the name suggests, these pieces resonate with the heart and are excellent at opening your heart chakra to all kinds of love! The energy these pieces emit are more loving and softer, making it excellent if you need gentler healing. They help us feel at peace and in harmony, free of any emotional trauma or wounds. They can also be used to enhance the energy of your relationship corner and can facilitate loving energy between two partners!

CategoriesEducational Spirituality

The Spring Equinox

In ancient times, humans all across the world would celebrate the cycles of nature and the seasonal changes. Without advanced technology, such as telescopes and satellites, humans would use the stars and sun to identify these transitions. Even though we are in very different times now, we are all still connected and influenced by the movements of the Earth. By tuning into these shifts, we can harness the Earth’s energy to help us grow, progress and transform.

The Spring Equinox occurs when the Sun crosses the equator – this will be on March 20th this year. This means the Northern Hemisphere tilts more towards the sun, resulting in longer days and warmer temperatures. In earlier times, the Spring Equinox signified the beginning of the new year as it brought regeneration, growth and abundance. Below are our favourite rituals to do at this time as the energy is perfect for them!

Spring Clean:
You’ve no doubt heard the expression ‘Spring Clean’ before, but it’s more than just cleaning your home. The Spring Equinox celebrates new life and rebirth, so honour this time by clearing both yourself and your home so you feel ready to move forward. Look closely at your environment; is there anything that is no longer serving you? Donate old clothes that you don’t wear anymore or fix anything that’s broken. Notice any habits or thoughts that are cluttering your mind and work towards clearing these away. Let your intuition guide you: what do you truly need to release to move forward?


The Time for Creation:
Spring is closely associated with new life and fertility, and brings the arrival of blossom, budding plants and new-born animals. Harness this energy and set out to achieve the new life you dream of. Whilst the Autumn provides the opportunity to clarify your intentions, Spring is the time to act. How can you achieve your goals? Create an action plan that you can follow that will help you reach them. Plant some flower seeds in the garden, focusing on your intentions and goals. Nurture your seeds and let their growth remind you of your potential.

Appreciate the Outside World:
With Spring comes warmer weather and longer days. Even if the British weather brings us rain, there will be signs of Spring all around us. Spending time outside can enhance your wellbeing dramatically, especially after spending the Winter inside, and is known for reducing depression and boosting your mood. Go for walks, sit in the park, have a BBQ or simply let the breeze flow through a window and you will feel uplifted, motivated and full of love. When you are outside, really appreciate the moment by noticing everything around you. Use all of your senses. Can you smell the flowers? Can you hear the birds chirping in the trees? Can you see the baby geese along the pond? Can you feel the warmth of the sun on your face? Bring the outside in by creating an altar in your home with items you find along your walk – a flower, a leaf or a pebble – to remind you that, whatever happens, the Outside World remains constant and available to you.

CategoriesSpirituality Tips & Advice

Your Inner Guru

This is from The Soul Coach’s fortnightly blog. Check the blogs out for yourself here!

Five years ago, while we were visiting Goa, I was drawn to sit in Satsang with the Guru ‘Sam Darshi’. I thought I would just go once, but I ended up visiting a few times. Will, my husband would sit and read in the café nearby, and I would go off for Satsang and to chat with the Guru.

Satsang simply means ‘in company of others sharing the truth’. We sat in the open air, with a canopy over us, and there were 20 or 30 people in attendance. Sam, the Guru, was dressed in white and sat in a white chair with flowers to one side. We took our shoes off, sat on the floor and listened to music – beautiful music that had a beat and was very calming. Some songs were by Deva Premal, others were quite chanty and I loved them.

I was really uncomfortable during my first visit – my back ached, I fidgeted, I was judging the people around me and my mind was in overload.

What was going to happen? Am I going to be changed? Will I feel nirvana? What is nirvana? Will I feel a presence from the Guru?…

I felt quite anxious, yet excited – but by the end of the first session, I also felt quite underwhelmed; I didn’t get a huge feeling of love. The Guru looked at his watch and actually looked quite bored, which irritated me, and I was wondering what this was all about? (He rambled too, which I found boring and irritating.)

I went back and talked it through with Will, as I was disappointed with the whole experience, but at the same time, and rather strangely, I wanted to go again – something was drawing me back. The next day I went back and the same things happened. Will sat in the café and I went off to Satsang.

I was a little more comfortable this time, perhaps because I knew what was going to happen. A larger group of people had gathered and I felt more at ease. I enjoyed listening to the music, but my mind was still active and I was secretly amused that some people were kissing the Guru’s feet… This time he didn’t ramble. He told stories, laughed and chatted about Spirituality. At the end of this session we danced, which I loved even though I felt a little self-conscious, and I enjoyed watching the others let go and become one with the music. The next day I went back again and felt a deep sense of peace. I felt bliss, happiness, a connection to my stillness. I felt love, I couldn’t explain it but I liked feeling this way…

I went back a few more times, loving the opportunity to sit in a safe, sacred space, in good company and although I never actually spoke to anyone else, I listened, observed and soaked it all up. On my last visit, I asked a question to Sam. That question was: ‘How do I feel bliss like this 24/7? It’s easy to feel it here but when I go back to work, it will be hard’. He answered in six words ‘The mind is a powerful thing’. To be honest I was disappointed by his answer at first. It certainly wasn’t an earth-shattering revelation… Another time he told a story about how he ‘took a group of people on a trip and they stopped on the top of a cliff, where they were eating lunch, dancing and having lots of fun. Someone decided to jump off the cliff into the sea, and they all did it (including Sam) bar one person who flatly refused to jump. They were cajoling him, putting pressure on him to jump, and in the end, he did, but he broke his back as he landed on some rocks. Sam went on with the story of how the man got better over several months and how he didn’t grumble but accepted his fate. He didn’t judge anyone or blame anyone for what happened’. This was a ‘wow’ moment; the man took full responsibility for what had happened to him but, at the same time, I thought ‘if he had listened to himself in the first place, he could have avoided all that’.

During my time in Satsang, I learned a couple of things. Firstly, to be my own guru as only we know what’s right for us. At the Satsung, people were worshipping the Swami as if he was a God, and they were giving their power away to him. My belief is that you need to be your own Guru: listen, observe and reflect. Secondly, the Guru was right: the mind is very powerful. We are manifesting our reality every day, so we can tap into the Bliss, Stillness and Love 24/7 if we choose to.

Now, on reflection, when I first went to Satsang, I realise that not only was my mind on full alert, but my Soul was too and my Soul had recognised something at the Satsang that my mind hadn’t – there was an access to Stillness here and my Soul wanted to rest; it wanted my brain to give up and surrender. My Soul wanted to connect the outer parts of me to the deeper part within me; it wanted my mind and the physical part of me to feel what it was like to be connected to Source, Love, the great Unknown, God (whatever you are drawn to call it) and I’m so glad I listened. Every day I’m finding that the more I connect to my Stillness, the more peace I feel; the more I surrender to what’s happening in the moment, the more still I feel; the more still I’m feeling, the more I am connected to Source.

If you would like to join me in exploring your connection to Stillness and Source and to connect to the guru within you, I am running a workshop on Sunday, March 13th at the beautiful Hartsfield Manor in Betchworth. Click here for more details!