Kyanite brings to mind the deep tranquility of a hidden lake. One of the things I love about Kyanite is its gentleness; it comes in like a soft breeze that blows away anger, frustration, confusion and stress.

When touching, holding, wearing, caressing Kyanite I can literally feel my entire system align, chakras and all subtle bodies instantly move into coherence soothing body, mind and spirit. If you hold a piece of Kyanite, you’ll know exactly why I said caressing, it invites your caress and it’s truly hard to resist and even harder to stop. Once you begin to touch Kyanite its properties are released and you just won’t want to stop that wonderful feeling of peace and openness that overtakes you.

I’m talking now about blue Kyanite, the black and green versions have quite different properties, but all are incredible stones with energies that go into the core of your being. Blue is the most widespread version and what most of us think of when we think of it. I did say widespread rather than common because there is nothing common about Kyanite.

Kyanite is one of the only stones that aligns all the chakras and subtle bodies without direction or work of any kind. If you spend a little time meditating with it, you can open all your chakras. It also is remarkable in that it doesn’t absorb negative energies and has no need of cleansing or cleaning.

Are there areas in your experience or disharmonious people whom you would like to bring harmony to? Then by all means wear Kyanite. It becomes a bridge of light bringing disparate energies, blocks in your aura, or even emotional blocks between people into a more cohesive pattern. Things begin to smooth out and patterns which were previously hidden are more clearly seen.

If you are involved in negotiations, then Kyanite will work with you to bring all into coherence where you begin to find a common frequency allowing both parties to begin to see unity and shared aims where before there was only discord bringing with it mutual understanding and cooperation.

This ability to bring patterns into cohesion also works on your inner being helping you to incorporate all your many aspects, talents and gifts into a dynamic whole that feeds and nurtures you. New possibilities open before you, as you begin to see your own unique mosaic and how you can use it to reach and go beyond goals in completely new and sometimes surprising ways.

Unlike many stones that open your third eye and psychic ability, Kyanite is not a “floaty” stone. You are not flying energetically without connection to earth but rather Kyanite is assisting you in grounding your energies in a way that is quietly energizing, allowing you to go easily and consciously to higher spiritual realms. Wearing Kyanite calms your mind assisting the experience of a deep restful, meditative experience also facilitating communication with guides and the opening your psychic powers.

Kyanite is also a protective stone and an excellent tool for empaths and other highly sensitive people or healers to use, protecting and increasing your empathic and psychic abilities and allowing for more clarity in perception.

Because of its ability to align all your chakras and subtle bodies immediately Kyanite would be a good stone to use to start any healing, meditation, work day, negotiation or even when going to bed. Oh heck, why would you not just want to have a piece with you all the time? When you're not wearing a Bodacious Kyanite necklace or earrings then put a piece in your pocket and you're sure to remain more peaceful throughout the day. Ahhhhh

It’s International Women’s Day – March 8^th , every day should be women's day. There are many themes around the world: general celebration and respect for women, ending violence against women, equality in the workplace, political equality, or an occasion for men to express their love for women, much like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, the United Nationals supports strong political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide.

I looked for images for this day and was actually rather appalled at all the syrupy, depictions of women with shoes, lipstick, and showing surprise at fancy wrapped packages. Even this one, just wasn't at all what I was looking for.  I don’t know about you, but those images of women make me cringe just a little inside. Yes, while we may like those trappings of womanhood, deep down we are so much more than that. The one above seems much more a photo of an empowered woman...maybe a little outraged even. I don't know the circumstances of that photo, but it made me smile.

It’s up to us to choose how we want the world to view us. If you want to be seen as a pretty fluff object that’s fine, but I encourage you to find what really drives you deep down and empower yourself to express more of that in the world. In the process we are all enriched. Many of us are out there on the front lines calling attention to the struggles and degradation of women in so many areas, but that’s not for everyone.

What does it mean to you to be an empowered woman?

I strongly believe that the most powerful thing we can do is to empower ourselves to be who we are meant to be and to take that same message to other women and girls. As each of us stands in our power, it gives others the “permission” to do the same. I say permission because sometimes until you have seen that it’s possible you not only don’t believe it, but you don’t think you can do it. When you see other empowered women in some ways it unlocks a powerful force within you that says, “If she can do/be that, then I can too.”

I recently worked with Andrea Hylen and 21 other women to publish an anthology of our stories - Inspired Voices; True Stories by Visionary Women. This anthology is the third in a series that includes Fearless Voices and Awakened Voices - order your books today. There are many more books to come including Voices of Love, Voices of Peace, Voices of Freedom, Voices of Leadership. Andrea has established Heal My Voice in order to help women find their voices and speak their truth. There is a lot of healing in the process and a lot of support and encouragement that goes out in waves to touch the lives of so many. Are you one of the voices being called to speak out now?

I recently did an online radio show with Andrea. I talked about my vision of Re-membrance, bringing back the parts of ourselves that have been lost thru the eons. I work with this in a couple of ways, empowering women with the energy of gemstone jewelry that awakens powerful energies within them to be expressed in their lives and the world. The other way is through my-soon-to-be-published novel HerStory, MyStory, OurStory – a tale that follows one woman through many different lifetimes rekindling memories that may spark soul memories and bring Re-membrance.

What can you do today that empowers you? Read. Meditate. Dance. Laugh. Live Outside the Box. Write. Teach…….

Live your bodacious life and others around you will be inspired as well.

Stories connect us with each other and the depth of who we are. I’ve known since I was ten that I was meant to be a writer. Life took over and that ambition went on the backburner for a very long time. Then I did finally write a novel (actually two) but other circumstances came along and once again that effort went into the background of my life.

Last year I was at the annual fundraiser for Heal My Voice. This was also the launch of the first collaborative book effort, Fearless Voices; True Stories of Courageous Women. I was talking to Andrea Hylen, the founder, about her upcoming projects. When Andrea mentioned the focus was on visionary women I had tears in my eyes and Knew I needed to be part of it.

It was an awesome experience, so much wisdom, love and vision in this group of deeply visionary women. We spent a lot of time supporting each other, digging deep to find "the story" we had that wanted to be shared. There were a lot of tears and laughter along the way...and loads of love. So beautiful to be part of a project like this that was more than about just the story, it was the community, the field, we created in the process. We read our stories, edited back and forth and then finally it's a book!

Although I was clear that I must be part of this book, but it wasn’t until the end of January during a Sanctuary with Tantra Maat that I really understood why.  During a morning meditation Tantra talked about our need to Re-Member ourselves – bringing back the parts of ourselves that have been lost along the way. My work both with crystals and gemstones and my writing is all about Re-membering, helping you to remember who you have been, are and will be. All the bits and pieces of what I do came together in that one word, Re-memering. The Heal My Voice projects are all a process of Re-membering, each of us in our own way.

I initially started writing my novel after I had a vision of the entire history of earth from creation to current time. My story here and my upcoming novel is entitled "HerStory, MyStory, OurStory" - watch for notification, it's soon to be published as a novel. My book is clearly about re-membering our lost stories. Some of our stories were simply lost, others were buried, distorted or destroyed and it’s time for us to bring them back and empower ourselves more fully through acknowledging the depths of our stories, our lives, our experiences.

I did an interview on Blog Talk Radio - Remembering HerStory, MyStory, YourStory with Andrea Hylen where I talk about the project, my book and also about the importance of knowing our stories. I also lead you thru a process of reconnecting with an essential part of you who knows the next step, and the next as you move forward on your journey. If you struggle to understand your purpose or are trying to see the whole picture, please listen and see if maybe you'll get a new perspective.

Here's a song that beautifully portrays what it's all about "Read All About It" by Emeli Sande

More about the book from Andrea Hylen:

It takes courage and commitment to awaken to a new vision. The twenty-two women authors in this book entered the Heal My Voice community book circle space with enthusiasm and openness and a willingness to be vulnerable.. They took a leap of faith that a story would emerge to open the door to new discoveries, healing, wisdom and personal power.

This was an experience of conscious community where each of us had the opportunity to see, really see each other and experience being truly seen. In the writing process, our individual lives changed and our relationships and families benefited.

Order on Amazon.com

Order other books in the Heal My Voice Series

Andrea Hylen of Heal My Voice has a mission to “Empower women and girls to heal grief, loss and trauma and reclaim their inner authority, so they can discover and use their leadership skills in their homes, communities and the world, by developing collaborative projects that encourage leadership, community building and the reclaiming of each women’s voice.

Are you called to join one of the upcoming books collaborations?

Read more about how you can become part of the Heal My Voice experience. Upcoming projects - Voices of Peace. Voices of Love. Voices of Feminine Leadership.

This was a great experience and if you are called to participate in the future, you will never regret it. In the meantime, order the books, read our stories and let them inspire, heal and nurture you. Our stories, are your stories too. AnnaMariah

Reviews of book

Review by Mary K. Redington

We learn in community. Deepen connections. Experience authenticity and intimacy. Collaborate. Inspire each other with our voices and our visions. The authors share their stories as the next step in reclaiming power with a new vision; sharing inspiration so that you, too, can move past obstacles and find the strength to step into your greatness. These women ARE the Visionaries of Today! “We all encounter road blocks along our journey~ ‘I’m not ready; I don’t have (something); I am not enough’~ these women challenged themselves past these hurdles. Their inspiration was just too strong to hold them back! Their stories are raw and real and remind us all to be our true selves. They are doing it and their voices inspire us to do the same.

~ Mary K. Redington, Founder and Executive Director of Dramatic Adventure Theatre, www.dramaticadventure.com

Review by Michael LaBellarte

“Inspiration is an energy, which we accept through the conscious corridor of choice. The stories in this book celebrate the sharing of one's self; an ideal for knowledge, empowerment, thought, love, and support. As we awaken through the reading of these stories I say Thank You to all of you who are witnessing the amazing women who are on a transformational journey of healing shared through their Voices. We remember that we are all uniquely blessed with the gift to share and inspire. We nurture this as oxygen for our soul.

We value, respect and champion all that inspires us. Understanding the power within us for change through the conscious collective of Inspired Voices!”

~Michael LaBellarte, Storyteller, Communicator and Awakened Man www.labellarte.net

Fifty has changed – We are now fabulous over fifty.

When I was young, I swear the women who were over 50 were ancient. Not just that they were old in years, but they seemed to have settled into a small, little life made up of keeping house and taking care of their grandchildren, ready to sit out on the porch and rock. Was it just because the young seem to view the older generation as old? I don’t think so; I think the older generation viewed themselves as old in those days.

There weren’t a lot of roll models back in the 50s, 60s and 70s of women who were over 50 and fabulous. It seemed that any actress over 50 was relegated to the role of grandmother, spinster or crone. There didn’t seem to be a concept that you it was possible to be dynamic, lively and gasp, even sexy after 50…many people even believed life ended at 40. Can you imagine how crazy that is?! I was at a women’s luncheon recently when a 20 something introduced her business and said that they catered to the elderly population…you know women over 50! I looked around my table at the dynamic, beautiful women I was sitting with, ranging in ages from 55 to 76 and we all just laughed. I heard the oldest whisper. “Dang when did I become elderly, I must have missed that memo.”

What has changed? Our attitudes. We have determined that we aren’t ready to retire and sit home in our rocking chairs. Instead we are starting new careers, writing novels, traveling, texting, blogging, Facebooking, even Pinning. We aren’t trying to look like we are 30, we comfortable with who we are and are simply striving to look like women who have and are having a good life, enjoying ourselves and being active, with loads to do and look forward to. I do still sometimes meet a women who is 50, 55 even 45 who seems old…actually elderly and when they start to talk; I instantly see that they think old.

Many FOFs, Fabulous Over Fifty women have a new lease on life and are stepping into their life purpose in a whole new way. We’re finally at a point where we are comfortable with who we are, aren’t as concerned about what others think and know we have a lot to offer. We owe it to ourselves and the world to be fabulous and, of course, bodacious.

Bold Bodacious Jewelry is all about supporting women energetically to be their most empowered, fabulous selves. I’ve felt the shift when a woman puts on a necklace that truly opens her energy up so she really feels that sense of self and all she can be clear down to her toes…her eyes light up, her spine straightens and I just know she is going to do amazing things and inspire others.

In celebration and support of Women who are Fabulous Over Fifty, I am going to be showing at The Fabulous at Any Age Beauty Bash in Washington DC.

After eight weeks of woeful Washington winter, come gather with the most beautiful people in town and get yourself ready for a splendid spring. It's a one-day beauty bonanza and chance to connect with and be inspired by women who are Fabulous Over Fifty.

February 23rd, 2013  11am to 7 pm

National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, DC

Ticket $35, call 917-846-9359 or purchase online

$35 ticket includes:
One-on-ones with leading plastic surgeons, pop-up boutiques, mini manis, beautiful blowouts, expert bra fittings, makeup makeovers, fashion show and more.

I love synchronicity - weeks before being invited to show at this event I created a new jewelry line entited Fun Fabulous. It's bold, it's funky, it's a little glam, it's colorful and it's got great energy...and it's priced at only $127 per set (necklace and earrings)

Let me help you find the right piece to bring out your fabulousness.

Live outside the box. Sing, dance, love, laugh, be fully you wearing Bold Bodacious Jewelry.

The photo above is the fabulous, bodacious Diana Paguaga

February and Valentine’s Day bring thoughts of love and romance.

I initially thought maybe I’d post something with a heart on it…but really, that’s a bit over the top even for me sometimes.

I got to thinking about love and what’s important about it. Romantic love is all flowers, poetry and often just a bit of angst. But that is fleeting and isn’t what really sustains us throughout our life.

The most important love we can have is love and compassion for ourselves. If we cannot accept and love ourselves then we can’t truly be truly open and loving with anyone else. We know both our vices and our virtues. Unfortunately in our culture we’ve often been taught to focus on what’s wrong with us rather than what’s right. We can’t seem to look in a mirror without seeing every flaw, completely missing all that is beautiful. It’s this same critical eye and thought process that continually brings us down and when we can’t accept and love ourselves, we judge everything and everyone else around us as well.

Rhodocrosite is a lovely pink/peach stone that helps your heart heal and allow in some compassion and love for yourself. Rhodocrosite is an interesting stone – its colors range through various shades of pink and peach, mottled with tans, even bits of browns and blacks and the best of the stones have a beautiful translucent quality. Really when you think about it, it’s kind of like the human soul/personality. Parts of us shine and are translucent while other parts are slightly flawed with dark bits here and there (our vices and failings), but when you look at the whole it can be quite beautiful because of its variety.

Wear Rhodocrosite and learn to appreciate and accept all parts of yourself. Rhodocrosite will also help blast away negative patters and emotional clutter helping you to build healthier patterns as you resolve inner conflicts. This beautiful stone will also help bring to life gifts that you may have left behind due to wounds or trauma from your childhood. As you open to your courageous heart, your joy and playfulness return, bringing you back into balance with your inner child.

Wearing Rhodocrosite is like giving yourself a giant hug…and then expanding that love into the world.

The necklace shown here – Fun Fabulous Focused Love, really speaks to the playfulness and joy. Give yourself a gift of love. When you truly love yourself – everything else in your life begins to improve and get richer.

Silence erupts like a cacophony of sound. You ask, how can that be? Silence is silence, isn't it?

Stop and listen again, is it really silence. Not for me. When I am in silence I hear so much more than I do with my physical ears. The voices of people, the noise of traffic, the hum of electronics, motors, lawn mowers, garbage trucks, dog yaps all seem to fade away and what I hear is the cacophony of my own inner voice/voices all so happy that I’ve taken some time to be in stillness so that I can finally hear them clearly. I even hear my body saying, “At last, she’s here. She’s listening. How can I get her to understand what’s important for me/us/her?”

Voices bubble up, collide and recede.

I stop, I listen and allow the one that I long to hear to come forth. This is the voice of my soul, the wise voice that knows who I am, why I am, and what I am to do. The voices of my “shoulds” fall away. The voice I still hear that sounds like my mother criticizing, helping, sharing “for my own good” recedes, quiets and finally is silent. The voice of my boss, the voices of the news telling me all that I should be afraid of or angry about, the commercials urging me always to buy more and more so that I will be safe, beautiful, desirable, stylish and smart goes into the hush. I hear only that small quiet voice whispering, “All is well. Love is. I am.” I’m laughing now, I/she/we are singing Neil Diamonds’ song “I Am I Said” and the words touch me deeply.

I can relate to the feeling of being lost between two shores, two worlds, and not being at home in either. I’ve never found that place in the world that is totally “home”, that place where my being is totally at peace. But when I sit in this silence, I do find that “home”. This is where I am loved, empowered, expressive, wise with all the memories of who I am, have been and will be. I find inspiration, solace, depth and a knowing that all is as it should be.

If I look into the face of desperation, fear and pain I see the illusion that they are and they cannot live side by side with the beauty, love and truth that is the silence. Yes I say “is the silence” rather than “is in the silence”. Silence has a texture, a beingness that is more than the nothing that some fear. I don’t disappear in the silence, I appear and become more…I become who I truly am, not the I that I have created that walks in the everyday world, the I that sometimes plays small, is fearful, is confused, doubtful, cries, despair, angers, struggles and forgets what it true. I step back into all the beauty and magic that I truly am.

The silence changes, becomes more rich and deep as I allow it into my life on a regular basis. I become more rich, deep and loving as I allow the silence, the truth of myself, into my awareness.

Love is in the silence.

Life is in the silence.

Joy beyond measure is in the silence.

Magic is in the silence.

Inspiration is in the silence.

Beauty is in the silence.

Peace is in the silence.

Home is in the silence.

God is in the silence.

I am in the silence.

I am all that.

I am the silence.

_________________________________

In our world today we are bombarded with sound, and keep creating new and more inventive ways to fill our lives with constant noise.

I recently had an opportunity to spend five glorious days in Sanctuary with Tantra Maat - not silent all the time - but silent enough of the time to bring its wonder into my being. I turned off the cell phone, computer, even email and Facebook all those distractions and allowed myself to experience what I was present to in the silence. I highly recommend a practice of silence from time to time. In years past I used to give myself one day a month of silence, no phone, no TV, no computer. After this beautiful experience, I think I may just do that again.

Does your soul yearn for silence as well?

Kick start the process with Tantra at one of her Sanctuaries...the next one is in May, 2013.

Also, check out Harmony Haven's Facebook page for other upcoming events.

These dancing dolphins bring a sense of joy, abundance and hope into your life. When I received these beautiful carved chrysophrase pendants I finally realized why they had entranced me so when I found them online. The message of dolphin and the energy of this gemstone are in absolute harmony; joy, health abundance and the infinite love of the Universe. It is simply impossible to experience these pendants and not be moved at the magnificence of life and connection to source and all that is.

NOTE: SORRY THE ABOVE ITEMS ARE SOLD - Email me if you'd like something similar.

You don’t see chrysophrase much, as it is fairly rare and often extremely pricey. Although is often chrysophrase is a brighter spring green color, but there’s something about the depth of color in these pendants that I find appealing. It’s as if it pulls you down into the depths of yourself, expanding your heart and allowing deep healing as you swim through the emotional waters of your life. You will find that what was previously hidden becomes clear with insight into who you are and what is yours to do; remember your birthright of joy, health, love and abundance. As you allow the energy of the stone to work with you, your shadow self will be illuminated with love allowing your heart and soul to expand into the beauty which creation knows you to be.

I will admit to having been initially stumped as to what stone to put with these pendants. I had some ideas that seemed so perfect in my mind, but when I brought them out the color and the energies clashed making me shudder in horror. As I looked at the hundreds of strands of stones hanging by my workbench, my eye finally spotted several strands of Grossular Garnet, the color was perfect and when I put them together I could practically feel the dolphins begin to dance and chatter to each other.

Grossular Green garnet is one of the most potent manifestation stones available as it helps you to ground abundant manifestation. If you can conceive of an idea clearly in your mind, this stone will help you bring it to life in reality as you experience the confidence and motivation to make things happen.

Wearing or holding grossular garnet will facilitate healing all prior limitations affecting both health and wealth as you perceive true abundance in your life and celebrate it with joy as you change old patterns of scarcity into new ones of loving abundance. It may also help you learn more about yourself and your purpose on Earth.

You may not be able to swim with the dolphins every day…but you can do the next best thing when you wear these gems together to bring forth all the best of dolphin energy. While the stones don’t have to be carved into dolphins it does seem to doubly enhance the magic.

Chaos? What Chaos? What you talking about?

If you have to ask that, then you’ve been sleeping somewhere in a cave for awhile or have reached a state of enlightenment way above the rest of us. Almost everyone I talk to is experiencing chaos in their lives or watching the lives of those around them spin off into a dozen directions. If it’s just the lives around you, you’re probably lucky, but the consensus from most people I’ve been talking to is that most of us are feeling extremely challenged, overwhelmed and having a very difficult time keeping focused.

There is one combination of stones that is especially good for combating the feelings of chaotic overwhelm and that is smoky quartz and onyx. This is a good example of the whole far surpassing the sum of the parts.

Smoky quartz is grounding, removes negativity, helps with manifestation of dreams and inspirations and enhances organization (and that's just for a start).

Black onyx brings increased inner strength, focused attention, willpower, discipline and wise decision making. But the magic really happens when they are brought together. They merge into an energy that is much more powerful than either stone together.

I’ve intuitively and visually loved this combination but was surprised recently when a customer put one of the necklaces on and asked me to tune into what it was doing for her. My answer surprised even me when I truly stopped to look at what I could see. The power of onyx and smoky together brings clarity to your vision. Once the vision is clear they help your energy connect with what looks almost like tendrils to the things, events, people, energies that you need to bring that vision to manifestation.

Since that time I’ve sold quite a few necklaces and beaded chains in smoky/onyx and a few people have reported almost magical synchronicities happening in their lives where the resources or people they needed just appeared almost as if by magic. Yes, they were looking for ideas or solutions, but they felt that the gemstones helped them to be focused enough to be in the space to recognize the opportunities when they came.

If you are an HSP (highly sensitive person) or empath, this is a good combination to wear as well, especially in combination with a Shield. Negative energy is deflected and absorbed and a sense of calm and happiness can come in its place.

Smoky quartz also absorbs electromagnetic smog and pollution. This is a great stone to wear if you are extremely sensitive to EMF radiation or are going through a period where you are spending extra long hours in front of a computer or on your cell phone. If you need to have x-rays, radiation therapy, MRI, or are going through airport scanners wear smoky. (You may not be able to wear it during, but put on immediately after it can help absorb the radiation.)

If you are desirous of stepping out of the feeling of spinning through chaos, try a little smoky and onyx and see what happens. Please let me know what happens for you.

AnnaMariah@boldbodaciousjewelry.com I’ll be looking for your email.

Check out more focusing stone combinations
For the ultimate focusing power I highly recommend a BioElectric Shield

This is what it's all about - living life in full color. I absolutely love this little girl, she is the epitome of who I want to be when I grow up.

Recently I hired Pamela Potter of In Your Voice to help me write a more interesting bio. Most of us have a hard time writing a bio, it's so hard to be objective or imaginative or to get to the core of what is is we really do. The process of working with her got me to really thinking about what my core purpose is. Why do I make gemstone jewelry?

Sure, it's great to wear. Sometimes it's simply - bodacious. But that's not why I make it. I make jewelry to empower the wearer to live life the bodacious way. The bodacious way is all about coloring outside the lines, being gutsy enough to do something because You Want to do it, not because you should, or someone else wants it.

We all need to allow ourselves to sing, dance, love and even fail in the process. Bodacious is different for everyone, but it is always about empowerment and confidence.

And for women, empowerment and confidence are often supported by looking and feeling our best. Wearing jewelry that not only looks good, but energetically supports you on a deep level of your being, definitely helps you be more fully you, no more being a wallflower.

What does living the bodacious way mean to you? Which lines do you want to step outside of? If you need a little more inspiration, give me a call or shoot me an email and let's talk. I'm full of ideas....oh yeah, and just maybe you'll want to start the process off with a necklace designed to help.

Live Life Outside the Box and have a Bodacious Life!

PS. Have that bodacious life Now, not tomorrow, not next year. Do something bodacious right now!

NOTE: I saw this photo on Facebook and no one knew where it came from. If you do know, please let me know so I can give proper credit.

I'm sure you're familiar with the traditional birthstone charts, but somehow often that doesn't feel quite right to me. Instead I'd rather do matching the stones to the zodiac signs, which seems to make more sense to me when we're delving into matters of spirit. As often seems to be the case, my take on things is a bit different, and hopefully that's one of the reasons you are reading what I write....assuming, of course, that you do read it.

This morning when I sat down to write what I clearly saw was carnelian and combinations of carnelian and citrine. When I tune into the energy of Leo, what I see is orange and vibrancy, self-confidence and a certain clarity about self and role in the world. Strangely, when I looked up the gemstones for Leo, I came up with onyx, amber, citrine, garnet, Peridot, quartz, ruby and danburite. The ruling planet of Leo is the Sun, the color is orange, the metal is gold, and the flowers are sunflower and marigold. Where oh where did they come up with some of those stones? But I'm not here to debate what others believe, I'm here to let you in on my unique take on things.

Carnelian speaks to me of sunsets, passion, boldness, confidence, creativity and, most importantly, zest for living that is unsurpassed in other gemstones. Carnelian, like Leo, makes things happen. Not content to sit on the sidelines and wish, carnelian will support your dreams with the full vibrancy and power of your first three chakras. It's this energy that catapults you forward from just day dreaming to creating a reality that is juicy and aligned with your soul. When they say "God helps those who help themselves", they may just have been thinking of Leo when this phrase was first spoken.

Even if you aren't a Leo, wearing carnelian will allow you to experience its zest and vitality, moving past your fears and into a dynamically vibrant life. Carnelian connects your dreams with your physical body through the root chakra, moves upward into your sexual/creative chakra, finally moving powerfully into your sense of will and self-determination in a manner that informs the universe that what you want is important and the entire universe begins aligning its force to support your manifestation.

If you are ever frozen by fear, afraid of taking action or of doing the wrong thing, carnelian will help you tap into your self-confidence and knowing and take the right action.

Citrine and carnelian together are especially helpful in gaining clarity and insight into your desires, going deep into what thrills your soul, often going beyond what you've allowed yourself to consider as possible. Citrine also helps to connect you to your joy, the happiness that is yours when you feel that everything good is coming your way. You'll feel aligned with the sun and the source of all abundance.

As I tap into the energy of the next few months, (written August 2012) summer bridging into fall, I feel a sense of movement and that there is a shift in the universe and that it's absolutely critical to take your dreams off the shelf, dust them off and allow them to begin to manifest and inform the world who you are and what is yours to do and be. Does this have anything to do with the Mayan calendar and 2012? I don't know for sure, but I do know that there is great support on many levels for you, if you are ready to take the next step and fully embody who you are and what is yours to do here and now.

I am listening now to Jewel's song, Life Uncommon, "Voices ring out clear with sounds of freedom...no longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be free from. We shall lead a life uncommon."

Allow carnelian and citrine to shine their bright light on your soul and be ready for a life that is uncommon, the vibrant life you are meant to live.

September brings with it a feeling of new beginnings. I think it’s ingrained in our American psyche that “Back to School” is in many ways the start of a new year. If your birthday is this month, it probably feels even more like a new year beginning. Start your new year off with a stone that will support you in connecting more fully with the fullness of who you are.
Lapis or Lapis Lazuli with its intense royal blue and flecks of gold brings to mind thoughts of richness, royalty, Cleopatra, and the night sky.

Lapis feels deep and a little mysterious. This makes sense when you consider that it helps you connect to your own deepest wisdom in a way that you can fully access and bring the full strength of who you are into the world.

Wearing lapis will help you step into the truth of who you are, who you have been, and who you are to be. You can access sacred knowledge with this “stone of total awareness" which helps you to expand your awareness and intellectual capacity, allowing for conscious attunement to the intuitive and psychic aspects of your nature.

One of the most dramatic demonstrations of the power of lapis came a few months ago. "Sherry" is a woman who always seems very grounded, aware and in her power. I knew the lapis would resonate with her, but I wasn't prepared for the dramatic effect it had when she put it on.

Instantly there was a shift and I felt as if I were looking at an ancient high priestess who simply exuded wisdom and love. Her eyes were brighter, her spine was straighter, there was a regality about her that was undeniable. I had the strangest desire to bow, or at least pay homage to the wise woman before me.

When she walked into the room of our weekend conference in her "Cleo" necklace, a couple of people actually gasped. For the rest of the weekend I heard comments about what a change it had made, about how focused and empowered she seemed. The great thing about a shift like this is that it isn't changing who you are, or imposing something different on you, it is strengthening and deepening the “You” that can fully access and utilize higher forms of awareness and understanding.

Open your third eye and your throat chakra with this stone and you'll find that you not only have access to ancient wisdom, but you can communicate it with surety and elegance.

Wear lapis and step into who you are meant to be and share the gift of “You” with the world.

Moonstone and its ever changing play of light conjure up images of the shimmering moon. That shimmering quality is called "adularescence" and speaks of shifting feelings and emotions and a sense of magic of the deepest kind, the Divine Feminine. (That shimmering quality also makes it really difficult to photograph)

One of the greatest strengths of the Divine Feminine is the ability to allow and encompass emotions, not as something to be shoved down, but as something to be embraced and allowed to flow. With that flow, you shift into the truth of who you are, more in touch with your purpose and destiny with constant gentle guidance along the way. Your emotions and your heart can guide you well in your life if you listen to their wisdom.

In our fast paced world it's easy to get caught up in the rush and fall out of synch with your dreamy feminine side. When that happens, you begin to give your mind more credence in helping to guide you and get off track with your life. I heard some of you say in horror, "What? No, my mind will always be true and to be my guiding light. It's emotions that aren't to be trusted". I disagree. Our emotions are connected to our heart, the depth of who we are, not only here in this world, but eternally, connected to the wisdom of all our lives and futures. Our emotions are a way for our higher self, soul, or guidance to speak to us.

Moonstone takes you deep into your unconscious, the place where all possibilities exist, the source of your deepest, most primal and ancient of powers. Some fear going into this place or inner wisdom and perhaps rightly so, it's possible to get immersed in this element, forgetting or discounting the "real world". Balance is needed, don't discount your mind, but allow it to work in conjunction with your divine feminine. Moonstone can help you with that, guiding you as a beacon towards what you need to know and what is yours to do. Use the light of the moonstone to guide you, inspire and enchant you.

Many women and men fear delving too deeply into their feelings and emotions. If you are afraid to acknowledge or experience your own personal, internal feelings, then try working with or wearing moonstone. The energy of moonstone allows you to accept and understand deep, sometimes confusing emotions, in a way that accesses the wisdom of the emotion, and consequently soothes the feeling or fear of being overwhelmed by emotions.

Are you struggling with finding the right timing - feeling like it's hard to know when to act or wait? Connect to the tides and rhythms of your life. This stone teaches you to identify current stage of your creation and act appropriately for proper nurturance. Stress and anxiety lessen as you allow your feminine energy to bring balance and harmony to your world.

Are you feeling that the lessons of life or the suffering around you are hardening you, making you less receptive to love and intuition? Moonstone will bring softness, but softness is NOT weakness. In softness you allow. You allow love in. You allow your intuition to flow. You allow your discernment and creativity to surface.

Wearing this magical stone, you move and live in a state of grace that allows those around you to relax in your presence, reducing strife and the "head-butting" that can occur when you move too strongly into your masculine side.Any dominant male attributes will be balanced with some feminine qualities. Moonstone helps you achieve a balance between your heart and mind, yet maintaining a sense of nurturing, and sensitivity to what it means to be human.

One weakness of moonstone is that it's a fairly soft stone, with a harness of 6 on the Mohs scale. They should be handled with care, just like emotions, they are sensitive. Over time, if your stone dulls, you can take it to a jeweler to have its original shimmer restored.

Moonstone comes in a wide variety of color (and price). The more intense the color, and the more transparent, the more highly valued (costly) the stone is. Traditionally moonstone is almost transparent with a bluish shimmer. One of my personal favorites is the rainbow moonstone as all those colors bring forth a wider variety of experience and healing, it's almost like wearing a variety of stones, but with a more focused, accessible energy.

Recently new varieties of moonstone have begun to be found in green, brown, orange, black, red, grey and champagne. I've even found a few that are purplish. It's the play of light and ever changing quality that makes this stone so distinctive and, even a little sensual. The basic qualities of moonstone are present in all the varieties of moonstone, yet each also brings additional elements depending on the colors: green – heart, brown – grounding the feminine into the Earth plane, orange – creativity, red – sensuality and passion, champagne – peace, black and grey – mystery and depth. The black and grey versions speak of ancient ritual and "bring down the moon" a practice of bringing the energy of the moon into your body and honoring the goddess.

When choosing a moonstone, pay attention to how you feel when you hold it (or behold it if looking online) if you feel your heart expand or a sudden smile on your face, this just may be your stone. When you wear it, take a moment to connect with its gentle power and honor the divine feminine, goddess within, relaxing into the flow allowing yourself to be gently guided throughout your day.

To see more moonstone jewelry by AnnaMariah 

Do You Feel Fragmented or at Odds with Yourself when You Must Choose?

If this looks like the signposts in your life, there may be help.

How do you experience that small voice within?

Some people really do hear a voice, but too often it's that critical voice that tell you everything you've done wrong, or how you are lacking in the world. If that's the voice you hear, it's the wrong voice. Oftentimes this is the voice of our mother, father, teachers, nuns, priests, rabbis and other people who had influence in our early lives. The more you listen to the Other voice, that small voice within, the quieter the critical voice becomes.

The small voice within is your soul speaking to you (also known as your higher self, your intuition, even your guides). This voice will always always be supportive and helpful. It may not always tell you what you want to hear. It can tell you when you're on the wrong path, or that something needs to change. It can warn you against doing things that are not in your best interests. But it never never criticizes, just supports you in going in a different direction.

I was struck by the fact that this is often referred to as "the still small voice within". If it's a voice that's supposed to be speaking up and supporting you shouldn't it be active and not still? What happens when it's so still or so quiet that you can't hear it?

Many people tell me they don't hear a voice. Well that's possible because there are so many ways for it to communicate with you. Actually truly hearing a voice is less common than some of the other ways: a sense of knowing, a gut feeling, a sudden inspiration, a nudge, and so many ways all individual to you.

Unfortunately that voice probably won't be as clear as listening to your stereo, but you can find a way to make it clearer and stronger.

Another reason for not hearing the voice is all the thoughts bouncing around in your head when you are stressed or anxious and the more they bound the more the stress and anxiety increases. Your mind can keep you going around in circles, bringing up more and more questions, objections, worries, issues and oh my it can get crazy in there.

So how do you quiet the critical voice, calm the stress and anxiety and tune-into the wisdom that is there just waiting for you?

I have developed a technique over the years that really works for me. It uses the innate knowledge of your deeper self, your soul knows the answers and is just dying to share them with you.

Try it yourself. I will tell you right now, the more you do it, the more you trust it, the stronger and easier it becomes.

Find a quiet place where you can take a few minutes to allow yourself to experience this process. (Yes, it works even when you don't have that quiet place, but for starters it's easier in a calm quiet place.)

Do a before assessment of 3 areas.

Your body: How does your body feel? Are you relaxed or tense? Do you have pain anywhere? Are you tired or energized?

Write down some specifics. Writing will help you get clear on your experience, especially when you are learning the technique.

Your emotions: What emotion are you feeling? Are you Calm? Happy? Sad? Angry? Anxious?

Your mind: Count to ten, and pay attention to the “pace of your mind”. How fast are you counting? Is there a rhythm? Or anything else that’s notable?

• Write down a couple of options or choices that you have to make.
• Take a few deep breaths to clear your mind.
• Visualize yourself going through with option #1 or ask a question.
  • Questions should be general, such as “Would doing……benefit me?”  or “Is going to (doing) …… in my highest interest or for my highest good?”
• Take 3 more deep breaths and let the question go.
• Go through the 3 steps above, body, emotions, and pace of mind. Write them down as you go.
  • How does your body feel? How has it changed from the “before” picture? Are you tired where you had been energized or vice versa? Do you have a new pain in your body? Or did a previous pain leave?
  • How are you feeling emotionally? What, if anything, feels different than before?
  • Count to ten again. Is there a shift in the speed or cadence of your counting?
• Take a few more deep breaths.
• Visualize each or the other choices you wrote down, each time taking a few deep breaths between choices.
• Look back at your notes. What choices made you feel energized, light, happy, calm, or certain? Was there one in which suddenly your mind was really slow, or kind of spacey, or speedy, or….?

Most of the time you will notice a definite change or responses in each visualization. The choice that has the most positive effect in all areas is Your Still Small Voice responding through your body, emotions and mind.

Here’s an example from my life. I was planning on moving to Boston. I’d gone to Boston, gone on several job interviews, checked out apartment prices, talked to friends, even got an astro-cartography report that was highly positive. However, when I was in Boston, it felt difficult, and heavy. But gosh how could that be, my astro-cartography was fabulous, I had good friends there and so much else pointed in that direction.

I was back home in Montana and I got a phone call from the one company that I was most interested in working with. However, the offer he made was ridiculous, about $10-15K less than a livable wage in Boston. My answer was a definite “NO”.

I put on some music and sat down to meditate, just letting my mind wander. Suddenly a vision of California popped into my head. My entire body was tingling; I had so much energy flowing through me. The heavy feeling I’d felt thinking about Boston was Gone. I couldn’t quit smiling. This made NO SENSE at all; I didn’t want to move to California. I didn’t know a single person there. It was even more expensive than Boston. They have earthquakes. Don’t get me wrong I love California as a place to visit, but never ever considered living there.

My response was so clear, so immediate and so strong; I started checking out jobs online. I applied for a number of jobs, lined up some interviews, quit my job, packed everything in a U-Haul and moved. Yep, I moved Before I even had an interview. I had a job within 10 days of getting there, and even had a free apartment for up to 3 months. Did it all work out perfectly? Nope. That first job only lasted 6 months, but shortly after it ended, my dream job showed up and I spent five happy years working with some amazing people. And I met my husband there 4 years later.

Another note about this technique and the way I find the universe works. You won’t see the whole picture or all the steps that are needed down the road. What you will see, is what’s yours to do Now. The following steps and guidance will follow as needed. So relax and follow your guidance. It’s an interesting and exciting journey.

You can use this technique to tune into almost anything, a move, a new relationship, a trip, a job, an event you’re thinking of attending, which gemstone is right for you today…and so much more. The more you practice the easier it is and the more you will trust yourself and the feedback you are getting. I am sure that you will find this to be an extremely helpful technique for quieting your anxious mind. The more you do it, the more you trust, the more immediate and clear the answers become.

Use this to move to a more empowered phase in your life, one in which you are open to all your own wisdom and easily guided to your next step, and your next step, each piece unfolding into the next.

Happy Bodacious journeys.

AnnaMariah

If you'd like some gemstones to help you in your process check out Onyx, Smoky Quartz, and Lapis.

There are few stones as romantic and prized as emeralds. They have been sought after, fought and even killed for. Its checkered, sometimes violent past, seems at odds to this beautiful, deep green stone that works to heal and open the heart.

Emeralds have been highly treasured since ancient times. Theosophus, the ancient Greek philosopher, believed that emerald are good for the eyes, and impart visual clarity. Shakespeare wrote, “the deep green emeralds, in whose fresh regard weak sights their sickly radiance do amend.” Personally, I connect more with Emerald’s radiance and how it assists the human and spiritual heart of the wearer.

One thing I really love about writing these articles is that they make me go deeper into what I know and sense about the stones. I could look up a lot of info in the many books I have, but so could you. I don’t want to give you a bunch of regurgitated details that you could find anywhere. The reason Takara asked me to write these articles is that she knows that I have a deep connection to the stones and that combined with my skills as an empathy this gives me a unique perspective into the life and purposes of each stone.

When sit down to write, I ask the stone what is special about it, and then I listen for the reply. Last night I was with a couple of friends who are amazing healers and was telling them about the beautiful emeralds I purchased at the gem show recently. They wanted to know what was special about emeralds.  I paused and “tuned in” to the stones I had just purchased. Emeralds, as all green stones, are heart stones, working to help open and heal the heart chakra. Emeralds, though, have an earthier quality, that actually tends to pull in and ground that loving energy in a way that makes it more accessible for both the physical and emotional the bodies. This loving green stone, can help relieve both the physical and emotional heart of old hurts and wounds, allowing it to open to more love and abundance on all levels of being.

Once your heart is freed of the heaviness that tends to settle in from a life of small and large hurts, you can begin to move through your life with more courage both to love and allow yourself to be loved as well. As you move into your life with a new sense of grace, you have more compassion for yourself and those you come in contact with.

Have you been afraid of showing vulnerability? Wearing emeralds will assist you in letting go of this fear and help to remove any underlying trauma that may have come from previous wounds. As your heart heals, your entire spirit can be more open to all the possibilities that the universe has to offer you. You may find yourself feeling grounded, and yet lovingly expanded, almost needing to reach out and streeeettttccchhhh to let it all in. Stretch as needed and feel the love, inspiration and grace of the universe and the people in your life.  Breathe deeply and allow in the healing vibrations of emerald and know you are loved, and you are love. Everything is possible when you are in this space of grace.

Although, technically, the gemstone for May is Emeralds, I don't want to forget to include emerald quartz. Emerald Quartz comes in a close second as far as depth of color, and if cut well, can certainly shine beautifully. When working with stones, a great deal of its properties come from the color rather than the mineral composition. Happily this is definitely true when working with emeralds and emerald quartz. Emerald quartz carries much the same heart healing energy as true emeralds. I find, however, that the big difference is that in my perception it doesn’t seem to be as good at grounding the energy into your body. That said, it’s a beautiful alternative to emeralds.

Shown here is an Emerald and gold-filled “beaded chain”. This design is flexible, allowing many options. Wear just the beaded chain for a very simple, elegant necklace. Wear it with the gold-filled enhancer and emerald focal piece and feel how the emerald focal piece enhances the energy of the necklace. Finally you can wear it with a BioElectric Shield, the Shield shown here is the 14k Gold TriGem Shield (with emerald, diamond and sapphire). If you are interested in this or any of the EMF protection, energy balancing BioShields I would be happy to help you. I have worn a Shield since 1994, and the tri-gem since 2008.

To the left is Joyous Potential, with emerald, labradorite, agate and pewter. Access the void, the place of all potential and creation and bring forth your soul’s desires for the good of all. Your heart will soar with joy and love as you ground these higher energies into manifestation
 

To veiw/or purchase either of these necklaces go to All About Love

I am honored to be able to share some of my love of stones with you.

AnnaMariah

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