Author: Kathy Lewis

Life-changing books are rare. Everyone has favorites, but the high bar required to call one a game changer is a whole different level. Gifts of the Gemstone Guardians: The Mission, Purpose, Effects, and Therapeutic Applications of Gemstone in Their Spherical Form, is one of them. Its title is indicative of its scope.

This is the seminal text that revolutionized the use of gemstones in their rounded form for therapeutic use. If there were earlier texts, I am not aware of them. As one Guardian explains to the authors, “Gemstones are the strongest, most concentrated containers of the healing force, or life force, on this planet.” In my experience, this is true. I have spent many years in the healing arts, exploring different modalities and methods of healing. Working with gemstone spheres is by far the most effective method I have found.

Another Guardian shares,”Only recently has human consciousness risen to the point where people are ready to accept the powers that gemstones unleash when they are not confined to their crystalline form, but are fashioned into spheres.”

Introduction to the Guardians

Written in 1989, by Ginny and Michael Katz, it contains specific information on the properties and proper use of 30 different gemstones. It details their inner-world experiences and conversations with the Guardians of each gemstone. As the Guardian of Amethyst explains, “We are the caretakers of the gemstones. It is the time-honored duty of each Guardian to fulfill the purpose of a particular gemstone and to maintain its effects. Recently all of the guardians have been given another responsibility: to start working directly with humans to teach them the correct ways to use gemstones.” And that is exactly what this book delivers.

He continues, “The Guardians will not only speak of their own gemstones, but will share the information needed to understand how all gemstones work” For those who have pored over rock and crystal guides/encyclopedias and come away feeling confused and as though everything ran together, this offers welcome clarity.

Not only does it provide never before revealed information about the gems – their characteristics and capacities for healing, but it takes the reader on a journey of exploration and expansion into the nature of ourselves, healing, the Earth, as well as the historical use of gems in bygone eras.

The reader is urged to read the book in the order it is presented. Each chapter builds upon information from the last, providing continuity. It begins with quartz, the most abundant crystal here on Earth. It covers 6 of the 7 color ray bearing gems. It goes on to detail numerous earthstones, and ends with the 3 oceanstones.

Enduring Inspiration

Despite having numerous other sources of reliable gemstone information at this point, I continuously refer back to this one. There is something compelling about the way the Guardians personify their mission and purpose that continually draws me back. Like any good reference text, layers of depth reveal themselves with subsequent study.

I first read this book right before I took my first class at the Gemstone Therapy Institute. Taught by none other than Ginny Katz, now known as Isabelle Morton.( How lucky am I?) I was transfixed, realizing the knowledge and learning I had hungered for all my life was now available.

Indeed, this book was cited as a key influence by every certified practitioner of spherical gemstone therapy that I have spoken with. Several said reading this book motivated them to seek out the training. This is a very select group of people. At last count there were 19 of us. (It is a rigorous training process that few complete.) This gives you an idea of how powerful these discourses are.

Present day Revelance

As part of this review, I reached out to Isabelle to ask her current thoughts on the book. After all, it’s been 35 years since it was first published. I wondered where she stood with it. Her response was reassuring, “The book is as relevant today as it was in the 1980’s when it was written. This is not surprising because gemstones are timeless. Properly cared for, they will continue to offer their healing benefits for hundreds of years.”

She goes on to provide a concise description of the energetic distinctions between using natural and spherical stones. “Healing gemstone spheres represent an evolution away from the raw crystal, which reminds me of a binary system with one inflow and one outflow, to the gemstone sphere which represents a quantum system with infinite directions and possibilities. By radiating their energies throughout our. body and aura, gemstone spheres get to know who we are and how to fill our needs.”

“The gems are indeed gifts of the earth and help us find balance despite the increase in harmful energies that bombard us daily. Because we are also becoming more sensitive to energies of all kinds, wearing healing gemstones has become more important than ever for our wellness and well-being. I hope that the book can be a candid introduction to the amazing world of healing gemstone spheres.”

Foundational Value

There have been subsequent re-releases of the book. My copy is an original with a very 80’s illustration of what looks like Gandalf on the cover. I find it endearing. It reminds me of the enthusiasm and wonder I felt when I first began to be aware that crystals were more than pretty rocks. This cherished and dog-eared lexicon is full of underlinings and handwritten notations in the margins, evidence of its continuing relevance in my life, even as I progress through higher levels of study.

Prospective readers should be aware that this book is not an exhaustive study of all healing gems and earthstones. It focuses on a core group of 30 gems with healing properties of primary significance for today’s humans.These are central to my “gemstone pharmacy.”

Even if you don’t end up devoting your life to the study and practice of working with gemstones like I have, the knowledge and understanding contained in this book are incredibly valuable. It allows the layperson to understand the value and function of crystals and gemstones in daily life. How to use them in a more effective and informed way, and therefore live a life of greater empowerment. It also deepens our understanding and appreciation of the Earth as a conscious being. In today’s world this is a very good thing.

If you’d like to know more about what Isabelle has been up to in the last 35 years, she has been diligently developing gemstone tools and curriculums of gemstone therapy. She is the founder of the Gemstone Therapy Institute and also creator of Gemformulas, a source of therapeutic quality gemstones. All of which can be accessed at www.gemstonetherapyinstitute.org.

If you’d like to find out more about my work or book a session, you can contact me at Kathy@elementalchemyhealing.com, or at 425.786.7482 – voice call or text.

Many years ago, and I mean way back at the beginning of my healing journey, I was suffering from constant low grade agitation, difficulty focusing, and insomnia. At one point, I went to see an energy healer and was told that I was “very ungrounded”. The practitioner didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t feel comfortable asking further questions. Apparently she assumed I knew what she was talking about. I did not. It took me a long while to fully understand what it was, why it was important, and how to get “grounded”.

Simply put, being grounded is the state of being fully present in your body, which then connects you to the earth – energetically speaking.

Being well grounded has many benefits. It supports improved mood, stress reduction, and a general sense of well-being. It allows you to feel settled and able to focus. Sleep is often easier and deeper. It can also help create space from distressing feelings such as anxiety and depression.

Modern life takes us into our heads and outside our bodies on a regular basis. Getting lost in our devices – going down the rabbit hole of scrolling social media or texting is a prime example of how we literally leave our bodies while performing daily tasks. And we’ve all had the experience of pulling into the driveway and wondering, how did I manage to get here with no recollection of the drive?

Being ungrounded isn’t just unsettling. It can actually be dangerous when you don’t have enough presence to respond when the unexpected happens and you need to think and act quickly.

When I’m in a session it’s very easy for me to tell when someone isn’t in their body because all the gemstones attempt to place above their head. Meaning that a person’s energetic self is out doing other things besides being present for their therapy!

When that happens, I stop what I’m doing and invite that person to set aside the other things they’re focusing on – like their grocery list, the discussion they’re not looking forward to, etc…and return to their body. They usually seem surprised that I knew they were preoccupied with other things.

So how can you get grounded when you don’t have a therapist here to guide and support you? It’s easy – energy follows attention – by bringing your awareness back to your body. It’s as simple as wiggling your toes with focus. That’s right. Bringing your attention to the present and focus on feeling your body. The sensation of the soles of your feet meeting the floor, noticing how the chair you’re sitting on supports your body, the movement of your breath as it flows in and out of your nose and mouth.

You can also use visual cues. Look around the room, and place your attention on the objects around you. Pay conscious attention to the tiniest of details – where they are located, their shape, and/or color. You get the idea.

Smells can be very grounding. The aroma of coffee or something delicious wafting in our direction will bring us immediately out of reverie. Even more jolting is an unpleasant odor. Remember the last time the smell of something burning snapped you into full attention? All of these serve to ground you into your physical body.

You can take it a step further, and ground into the earth. This is a wonderful way to add stability and strength to your presence. The process is largely the same. Intend your energy to move down your body and into the ground beneath you. Again, with your attention. You can use imagery to make it easier to follow. I like to imagine an anchor dropping from my tailbone down into the earth. I encourage it to keep going until it finds somewhere to settle. But if that gets too esoteric for you, just stick with the anchor and know that it will find its point of contact without any further assistance.

People have asked me how our bodies can ground when we’re laying down? Or what if you’re in a building, many floors up? It works the same way. The earth is vast – the distance of a few feet, or a lot of feet, has no effect on our ability to connect with her.

So the next time you’re feeling unsettled or need to be present and focused, trying these grounding techniques and see if they help. With practice, you’ll find yourself more and more where you truly belong, in your body.

We’ve all been there – an unexplained pain, an unwelcome diagnosis, or just your garden variety sports injury. They come in various shapes and packages, but whatever the situation is, we want relief from our physical dysfunction and disease. We consult our doctor, chiropractor, naturopath, and/or different therapists seeking healing. Including a gemstone therapy practitioner in your team of providers can be an important and effective part of your recovery plan. Here’s why.

We are energetic beings. Yes, we have flesh and blood bodies, but they make up only 1/5 of our total being. The remaining 4/5 is energetic. This is sometimes called the aura or light body. It is comprised of our mental, emotional, memory, and intuitive bodies. They all affect the physical body, and they have their own substance and structure.

We know these are real because we interact and experience them every day. They are integral to our world. But we don’t often think about where are they located. How are they connected to our physical bodies? Can we touch them? How do we know how they affect us physically? As a therapist who is specifically trained to do this, I assure you they are real and yes, you can touch and feel them.

Along with our subtle energy bodies, we also have an energetic templates for our ideal self. These are known as our blueprints. Every person has their very own set of blueprints, unique to the individual. They’re a core part of our being and we cannot damage them, they are incorruptible. They’re like the hard copy of the of computer program you keep in a safe place, in case your computer is compromised and you need it to reload it.

Blueprints

This is how the body knows how to heal itself after being injured or ill. It’s how our minds and emotions know how to come to equilibrium. Why you have certain dreams and aspirations that inspire you on you life path. It’s your blueprints that distinguish you from all the billions of other homo sapiens on the planet. If there’s an issue, that’s where you go to know how to repair and heal the situation. We rely on and are in constant communication with the information found in our blueprints. They help us heal and guide us in our forward movement through life.

Sometimes though, we get separated or disconnected from our blueprints. There are many different factors that contribute to this disconnection – excessive stress, relationship conflicts, life events, injury, poor choices, etc. The bottom line is that when we get separated, we are unable to access the information our body needs to heal. It may not happen throughout our bodies, it may only be a portion. That shoulder that never properly recovered from an accident, the irritable bowel that kicks up whenever we get emotionally triggered. The specifics are individual, but it happens to everyone at some point.

When this happens, we frequently end up in the all too common situation of partial or incomplete recovery. We may heal to some degree, but then are easily reinjured. Or perhaps we don’t heal at all. When the body loses its map, it doesn’t know how to navigate back to full vibrant health. No matter how good the treatment is or how much we work at it, if we have lost the connection to our blueprints, some level of dysfunction remains.

Gemstone Therapy

Sound gloomy? It doesn’t have to be, there is help. The type of gemstone therapy that I practice has the ability to remedy this situation and get us back on the path towards full healing. Specifically, medicinal quality gemstones, applied in certain ways, have the ability to recognize where we have lost touch with and then reconnect us to our blueprints. When we have access to this vital aspect of our energetic selves, other therapies and treatments, can be effective and we can truly heal!

Not only do these gemstones reconnect us, which is quite amazing, but they are powerful partners in the continued process of healing. Gemstones support rebalancing, clearing of old spent energies, replenishment of vital new ones, and harmonization of various energies throughout our being. There is a wide

array of healing gemstones available that support the totality of our being – every physical body system and tissue, every level of our light body.

If you are interested in finding out more about how gemstone therapy can support you on your healing journey, I would love to connect. I offer free consultations to determine if this work is a good fit for your situation. I look forward to supporting you as you move toward greater health and wellbeing.

In health,

Kathy

Despite his best efforts “Paul” was unable to truly move forward from the emotional issues that had plagued him for years: He was unfulfilled with his work, had undergone a painful divorce, and felt that he just couldn’t let go.

He had also hit a wall with his therapy: no matter what he did he seemed to be stuck in place. Paul’s therapist referred him to me, feeling that some energy support would help him push past this particular block.

Skeptical, but intrigued

Paul was intrigued by gemstone therapy – and also a little skeptical. How could these little stones make a meaningful difference in his life? Still, he trusted his therapist and decided to give it a try.

When we first met, it was very clear that he had a great deal of awareness about the issues he was facing. Including his therapy, Paul had devoted significant time and effort to understanding why he was where he was.

Understanding doesn’t equal healing though. It doesn’t automatically mean you can let things go. So while Paul knew what his challenges were, and really wanted to get through them, he didn’t know how. Fortunately, this is where gemstone therapy really shines.

Letting go of old baggage

I felt Paul was carrying around mountains of baggage, and I knew that gemstones would help empower him to clear out this old stuff – lifting a weight and clearing a path for progress.

During our initial session, we talked for quite awhile. I wanted to be sure he could understand how the gems worked, and also let him know that his higher self was in charge, not me. I am merely the practitioner: while I support a person’s process, I don’t decide what it is that needs to be done or how it gets done. Each client’s body and energy provide guidance on what to do. With that clarified, he was quite enthusiastic to have his session.

Trust is vital with all of my clients, but this particular situation really made it clear: If Paul had not placed his full trust in me, and in the therapy, the gem energy likely would not have penetrated deep enough into his system to effect the changes he was seeking. No amount of skill can compensate for lack of rapport and trust. It’s a sacred thing.

Moving past the mind

Once Paul felt comfortable and informed, he was able to relax and let the work proceed. Most of his life was spent focused on his mental space, but there’s much more to human existence than the mind! He called his very first session “life-changing,” and reported feeling light and free in a way he couldn’t fully explain.

It took several sessions for all of the change to be integrated, and now Paul is in “maintenance mode”- he comes back for sessions whenever he feels needs a little extra energetic support. He continues to work with his therapist, and I’m happy to report that he has a new job and is starting a new romantic relationship.

Do you need help getting unstuck?

Even if you understand your challenges, it can be hard to move past them emotionally. Gemstone therapy can help! Call (425) 786-7482 to set up a free consultation and get your life moving forward again.

Intention setting. Is there anything left to say? In my 20 plus years in the healing arts I have been hearing about intentions in general, non-specific ways for most of it. Until I began studying gemstone therapy, the concept felt abstract and not really connected to the nuts and bolts of real life. So much so that I usually tuned out when anyone would talk about setting intentions. It was another pollyanna way to generate more positivity that didn’t feel like it had real substance. I wanted something practical and concrete to address the issues in my life.

All of that changed when I started working with the gems. It was then that I learned what intention really is, and how incredibly powerful and fundamental it is in supporting our healing.

We are vast, complex energetic creations – multidimensional, multifaceted, multilayered conglomerates of light and sound. When we focus our awareness with intention, on a specific aspect of ourselves or our situation, the energies related to that aspect come forward, and those that are not involved recede. This allows us to focus our efforts and create change with specificity. It’s that simple.

When I began to work with this principle in gemstone sessions, I noticed how the energies followed intention. By changing only the intention, the entire focus and flow of a session would shift in an instant! I began applying this concept more broadly – I became much more conscious of where and how I was showing up in other areas of my life. From the microcosm of a single session, to the macrocosm of life, the concept and the mechanism is the same.

But back to gemstone therapy…

The clarity of your intention when you receive a gemstone therapy session, either in person or at a distance, is one of the biggest factors in supporting an effective outcome. How do you set clear and effective intentions?

Things to consider:

1. It’s the purity of the energetic that counts

Grammar and sentence structure are not the critical pieces. If you’re having trouble distilling it down using words, try letting go. Allow your intention to well up from within you, filling your field with the vibration of your focus. Words are not always necessary.

2. Leave out the background story

It only muddies the energies.

3. Intentions are for you only

We only have power over ourselves. You cannot set intentions for someone else, nor can you change other people.

4. Set your intention with the goal in mind

Trust that your higher self will handle the details of getting there. As much as we try to know and understand all the permutations and intricacies of our situation, there are things beyond our comprehension and capacity to know.

I have seen one word, soulful intentions support deep change. I have also seen detailed, reductionist, intentions struggle to connect to the core essence, remaining in the shallow end of the vibrational field. Neither is right or wrong. The work will still be supportive and meet a person where they’re at. Not everyone is ready for big change. Sometimes little bites around the edges are what’s needed before the big stuff can happen. But spending a little extra time in preparation can make the difference between a transformative session and one that is so-so.

Intentions work

Whether we realize it or not, intention works.

There is a single intention that still stands out for me. It was a woman who was very aware of herself, very confident and accomplished. She was also dealing with a very difficult life issue. I can still remember her words exactly, “To get out of my own way.”

That session resulted in a complete realignment of her field. She left with a beautific smile on her face, completely at peace. That taught me more about intention than all the how-to articles I have ever read.

Intention is the North Star of a gemstone therapy session. The beacon by which the body and all of its intelligence centers navigate while in that space. By spending a little time and effort getting focused and clear about it, you can ensure that you will be getting the very most from yours.

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” I recall this phrase from my Navy days, way back in the day. It was an exuberant expression of youth that had way too much ambition to waste time on “unnecessary” things like sleep. We knew we couldn’t get away without sleep for too long, but we did our best to extend our waking hours as long as possible. When we had exhausted ourselves beyond our limits, we would sleep long and hard, nothing could rouse us as our bodies took control to repair and recover themselves. That was a very long time ago. Today I covet sleep, marveling at the way I used to be able to sleep anytime, anywhere. Now I am grateful for every night of restful sleep, knowing how precious they are. I know I am not alone.

More and more people, especially the ones who have tried the minimal sleep route, have realized that good sleep is the necessary foundation to achieve all other things. Sleep is core. There is no substitute, shortcut, or hack that can provide the restorative, rejuvenating, life enhancing benefits of a good night’s rest.

Because it is so basic to our wellbeing, research and data on the subject is extensive. Go to the doctor, tell them you are having difficulty sleeping and they will immediately hand you a sheet of paper with all the different things you should be doing to improve your “sleep hygiene”. If this doesn’t work, an individual sleep study may be recommended. They are extremely useful for identifying and ruling out different sleep disorders. Or the doc might write you a prescription for a sleep aid. This is helpful in the short term or when travel has got your schedule skewed. But what happens when that prescription runs out and your doctor balks at giving you more? Or no identifiable sleep disorder can be detected? Let along treated. Wouldn’t it be great if you could figure out how to get good natural sleep? And why is it sometimes so elusive?

Sleep – An Energetic Perspective

When we slumber, we connect with our blueprints. What are blueprints? They are our personal template of our ideal self. Everyone has their own, they came with you at birth. They guide us toward the fulfillment of our life purpose and keep us in touch with the highest and healthiest expression of our Selves. When we sleep our physical and energetic bodies are able to access and download this information to be implemented and used during our waking hours. Without this connection we are lacking in that most basic guidance. Disconnection from our blueprints is a significant cause of disease and dysfunction. And one more reason to make sure we get those all important zzz’s.

As we slip into sleep, our awareness shifts from our physical bodies to our auras. There is an energetic “bridge” between the two that must be crossed in order to achieve sleep. Sometimes there are blockages or damage to this bridge that make this crossing difficult.

Another major function of sleep is to let go of old, spent and excess energies, and refill with fresh, new, invigorating ones. This requires a body and energy system system that flows well and is relatively free of blockages. When we shed the old, refill with the new, we can awaken bright and shiny in the morning!

The Sleep Cycle

A little bit more about the nature of sleep. All of life is cyclical. All of our processes follow the basic five element cycle – Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. Rinse, repeat. If any of these elements are deficient or out of balance within the sleep cycle, it can be disruptive to your ability to get the rest you need.

A brief synopsis of the sleep cycle: it starts when you first drift off, nestled warm and cozy in bed. The transition from wakefulness to sleep is achieved. Peak activity is next, the active dreaming REM sleep. Moving into the third stage, where nightly healing occurs. Energies are reorganized, rejuvenated, and restored. Memories are edited and consolidated. Our feelings and thoughts are evaluated and synthesized. That accomplished, we drop into true deep sleep. Finally, the deepest sleep, the pause between cycles where we gather ourselves to begin again.

In general, the sleep cycle averages about four hours in length. If we’re lucky we get two of them per night. Everyone’s needs are different, some need more, some less.

When all goes well, we spring from the sheets in the morning – refreshed, invigorated, and ready to take on our day. When our nightly respite is troubled, choppy, and fraught, we grumpily drag ourselves from the bed, exhausted and despairing about how we will make it through the day, while chugging a giant mug of java.

So what can you do to support healthy satisfying sleep if conventional methods aren’t helping and the doctor’s remedies aren’t working? (Other than guzzle quarts of caffeine or drug ourselves into oblivion.)

I’ll bet you guessed I’m going to say – gemstone therapy.

You’re right!

Gems for Sleep

Working with gemstones is a very focused and effective way to resolve the energetic imbalances that keep you from a healthy sleep cycle. Each person’s reason for not sleeping is specific to the individual. Gemstone therapy is always about you – no formulaic methods or rigid treatments. It meets you where you’re at and responds accordingly.

There are some specific gems used to address the issues associated with difficult sleep. The “Foundation Five”, balances the five element cycle. They consist of onyx and ruby, dark green aventurine and tsavorite, rhodonite and pink tourmaline, agate and citrine, and mother of pearl and blue chalcedony. Whiteflash moonstone with emerald is used to repair the “bridge” between the physical and auric fields.

Sometimes we need help dialing down the intensity of the mental and emotional energies that keep the mind racing and the heart churning once its lights out. Ever notice how a dark quiet bedroom invites thoughts of the day to become louder and more insistent? Blue and pink chalcedony with their symbiotic partners calm and soften these thoughts and emotions, allowing us to drift off to sleep and stay there. Amethyst helps regulate the nervous system, whether it’s overexcited or depleted.

These are just a few examples of stones that may be involved. I have an entire gemstone pharmacy ready and able to provide support, whatever the need may be. Each person brings their own unique set of issues into a session. By setting the specific intention to support sleep, the energies that need to be supported come forward and then we do the work together. Every session is orchestrated to provide just the right therapy a person needs at that particular time. I couldn’t do the same session twice if I wanted to.

If this has been your battle, don’t wait for the next time you find yourself cursing the clock as you watch the wee hours of the morning drag by. Make an appointment, or we can set up a free consultation to discuss your particular issue.

Sweet dreams!

A couple of years ago, I walked into a popular metaphysical store and was struck by the rows and rows of polished tumbled and raw stones. They were gorgeously arranged in enticing displays – baskets full of small rocks and crystals with signs on each describing the qualities of each one and how they would affect the person who carried them. People were entranced by these displays and pored over the descriptions while they eagerly looked for just the right one for them. This is not an unusual scenario. There are loose stones tumbled and raw, available in many stores, usually attractively displayed and positioned close to the register. Stores do it because we want our stones, our talismans of power and influence.

I was one of the most eager. I have several bowls around my home brimming with nugget sized crystals and rocks. Once I started seriously studying gemstone therapy, I realized that most of my pretties probably did not have all of the characteristics that were being attributed to them. My encyclopedia of crystal and gem descriptions that I had dog eared and bookmarked over the years, suddenly seemed much less of an authority. I realized their descriptions bore only a passing resemblance, if that, to the qualities and effects I had experienced while working with the higher quality, therapeutic versions of these same stones. Some descriptions were incredibly general and overly inclusive, while others seemed extremely specific, yet so wide-ranging that I couldn’t figure out what it was saying.

So what is the truth about pocket rocks? Are they worth the investment people make in them? Will they bring me my true love by charging them on the windowsill in the light of the full moon and wearing them close to my heart? Is it likely my bank account will fatten up if I carry a different one in my purse? If so, sign me up!

However, my training and experience has led me to understand what actually makes a stone or gem influential and therapeutically effective. Let’s break it down. Shape and quality are the two major considerations.

To begin with, the shape of the crystal or stone is critical. Gemstones interact with the human energy field therapeutically when it is spherically shaped and with a drill hole – in other words, a bead. In this shape they radiate their energy evenly in all directions. This flow of energy allows a relationship to form between human, (or pet), and the stone. Energy and information is passed back and forth.

When they are in their raw or faceted shape they emit their energy in a single direction. No relationship exists between the two. So raw crystals are effective for filling spaces with their energy. They are wonderful for use in our homes, offices, and other areas where we benefit from a clear and energized atmosphere.

Also, single crystalline points transmit along the length of their structure, providing a focused laser like stream of energy. Other shapes also emit outwardly. However, the fields are irregular and uneven due to the shape of the stone itself.

A word of caution, the focused use of single point crystals can have consequences. This energy flows at you, it does not work with you. I have received many “crystal healings” that resulted in pain and dysfunction until my body could correct itself. At the time, I thought it was my fault, that I was overly sensitive or somehow deficient, that I couldn’t receive the benefits that were being offered to me. Not so. I was being radiated with energy that was aimed at me. There was no mechanism to moderate how I was being affected. I was quite relieved when I realized the truth of the situation.

Quality is the other major consideration. There are many different aspects to evaluating the quality of a stone – color, clarity and purity, cut, and carat weight (for precious gems). I am not a gemologist and cannot tell specific differences by looking at them. But my body’s intelligence is very discerning and rejects stones that are not of a sufficient quality to be supportive and nourishing. Further, poor quality stones can put the body out of balance by introducing energy that is disruptive and incoherent.

All of this being said, there is great satisfaction in feeling the cool smooth weight of a stone in your hand. The beauty of the colors as the light hits it just right, makes my heart happy. They are the same crystalline structure as their more powerful relatives and contain the same properties, just in much smaller amounts. I recall my gem teacher once saying, and I am paraphrasing, “Even a pocket rock can take you a certain distance on your healing journey.”

Indeed, this is where many of us begin our gem journeys. I have a whole display of small, beautiful crystals and stones lined up on the window sill of my study. I love how the light shines on and through them. I’ve spent many an hour contemplating their colors, textures, and origins. They remind us of and connect us to the wondrous mysteries and treasures of our precious Earth.

If you are interested in working with the gemstones in a therapeutic way, because they truly are amazing in their capacity to support our healing and transformation, contact a certified gemstone therapy practitioner. I happen to know a very good one.