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Gemstones

The Mysteries of the Universe

     Since the Stone Age gemstones, also known as crystals have been a powerful influence. Throughout time, all civilizations have studied their mysteries. They hold within them the storehouses of evolution and reveal universal truths.  They are the very catalyst for electricity, flight, astrological pursuits and highly advanced systems in the ancient Atlantean age.  In the Bible, gemstones are referenced hundreds of times. Each gemstone is unique unto itself communicating a vibration or energy to its beholder.  They also transmit and provide healing; support, and return vital energy back to the earth.  In fact, the crystal or gemstone holds the earth’s DNA.

     Gemstones have long been acknowledged as a method of creating greater well-being and a remarkable means of increasing one’s life force or chi. Gemstones are noted to enhance one’s personal life path, augment clarity, enlarge one’s perception, boost personal creativity, and promote compassion.  These descriptions are but a few of a gemstone’s properties.  Through studying their abilities, please note that a gemstone is a naturally occurring crystalline form of a mineral and were created as the earth was formed.

     A crystal or gemstone takes on an outward appearance of its inner qualities.  The crystal and semiprecious stones each emits electromagnetic waves and have healing properties.  In Feng Shui, each aspect of one’s home is relevant to one’s life path and the quality of your experiences and also hold healing properties.  For example, the Career or Journey is located in the front middle section of your home.  If you have a cluttered entrance with overgrown or dead flowers around it, you will have stale chi and less than excellent career advancement opportunities.  However, if the entrance has curb appeal, is clear and you place an onyx close to the doorway, you are inviting in greater prospects for advancement and fulfillment.  The onyx promotes vitality, stamina, and is symbolic of connecting with the Whole of Life.  It is a stone that furtively stimulates wise decision-making enabling one to become self-confident.  The perfect stone for this area is either the obsidian or onyx.  The obsidian provides a shield or protection against all negativity within an environment.  There are several types of obsidians such as the Apache Tear which is heralded as a great comfort during times of grief.  Without going too deep, this area of your home is governed by water and this is where we mourn. Black Obsidian is powerful in helping one's creativity.  Brown Obsidian induces independent thoughts, and Grey regards cooperation in all levels of living; Blue increases one's knowledge, Gold connects one with the all-knowing and Green Obsidian enhances the heart chakra.       

     Standing in your doorway and looking into your home, please note the Self-Cultivation and Knowledge area.  It is located to the far left of the entrance quadrant of your home.  The Lapis Lazuli is an excellent stone to place in this section as it stimulates enlightenment and dissolves emotional repression.  The Family/Roots section is found in the left hand middle section of your environment and is enhanced by the Emerald known as the healing stone. The Emerald promotes positive action assisting one in accessing universal laws of order and to bring forth greater awareness. 

     The Pure Abundance region is found in the upper left hand side of your home and is aligned with the wealth stone-the amethyst.  This is a beautiful stone that sheds its light, stability, and contentment.  It also inspires new ideas.  The Fame and Recognition area is situated at the very back of your home, in the very middle. This is associated with fire and passion-the Sunstone is perfect to enhance this energy.  It is the stone of alchemy transforming the darkness into the Light.

     In the far hand part of your home, dwells the loving energy of Intimate Relationship.  The Rose Quartz has long been associated with the purity, blissful, and the deep commitment of unconditional love.  Its greatest lesson is how to love yourself for in turn; you are then able to fully love another.  The middle right hand side of your home is called Creativity and Children.  The children may be your very own offspring’s or projects that you are pregnant with and are birthing. Joy, joy, joy…the joie de vivre. The King of Crystals of the Diamond inspires creativity, ingenuity, and clarity. 

     In the far right hand front part of your home, please find the Helpful People and Travel aspects.  Symbolic of being a helpful person and being supported by a series of folks who in turn, help you, this mystical area is said to hold the heart of humanity.  It is the celebration of life’s mentors-the pioneers who have boldly created a better way to live by listening to and then by honoring, the call to create peace and love on earth.  Angelite represents kindness at its very best. It provides divine protection, raises the conscious awareness, and promotes balance.

     The center of one’s home is called the Tai Chi/Unity…the place where all of the above life aspects are balanced.  This hub is only as healthy and peaceful as the sections around it.  Jasper is a sacred stone of harmony.  It provides a strong internal center and solid place to reside. It is known as the ultimate nurturer as it balances the yin/yang energies.One of the more precious Jaspers is called the Rose-Eye because it protects one's physical and mental environment. It aides in the process of manifesting your dreams into reality.  Picture Jasper literally looks as if it were painted upon and each picture holds its own mystery or message from the past.  It enhances creative imagery and future time travel. It is a stone for the small business person because its energy inspires abundance. Its earthy scenes connects the owner to the understanding of yesterday with an appreciation for today.  And lastly, the Wonderstone Jasper enlarges the imagination and helps one to walk the path of faith and to believe in the real goodness of life itself.  It helps to disolve depression and for the benefit of pure, peaceful, mental clarity.             

     For more information, please go to www.homewhisperer.net and discover how the mystery of your birthstone supports your everyday life.  Wearing or placing crystals/gemstones and/or semiprecious stones in one’s environment creates peace, balance and harmony. Truly, these are the intended state of one’s being.  Be open and allow Feng Shui and the remarkable gemstones to personally reveal the universe’s sacred, multifaceted mysteries. 

The Code of the West

“The Old West is not a certain place in a certain time;

It is a state of mind.  It is whatever you want it to be.”  Tom Mix

Having grown up in Texas, it was not a given that I would identify with the Wild West however it was my father’s immense Zane Grey book collection that romantically pulled me into this genre.  My dad’s workshop/library held a timeless fascination. Inside that oh-so-magical place, when in the 1950’s rotary phones were considered high-tech; this was the place where I was transported back in time.  Aside my dad’s WWII footlocker, in his over-stuffed chair with the spicy fragrance of cedar, just as millions of readers before and after me, read Zane Grey’s compelling old west adventures.  Glued to every page, I could easily imagine his colorful characters that were eventually dwarfed by his magnificent landscapes.  In complete awe and in retrospect, I know now that Mr. Grey sent me my first Arizona calling card.  In fact, in 1974, my husband and I moved our young family to Tempe, AZ. Then in 1985, when we relocated to the beautiful White Mountains, I fondly recall thinking, “At long last, I am home.”  To this day, the highly integrus character of Zane Grey's heroes continues to speak to me and is embedded within. 

Zane Grey’s novels inspired the early ideas of western life as he defined the frontier’s myth and folklore.  His tales depicted a source of sublime imagery with stories that came richly alive. He brilliantly asked his characters to interact with nature’s beauty and they delightfully complied.  He captured the unique and sacred spirit that freely abounds in the west. It is true that his novels also set the format for cowboy movies when in 1916; he sold the film rights for “Riders of the Purple Sage.”  As the decades rolled on, nearly fifty of his novels were converted into over one hundred films. The strong, silent and highly moral cowboy bound by the unwritten code of the west, exquisitely acted by either Tom Mix, Randolph Scott or Gary Cooper forever forged strength and overcoming into our hearts and minds.  From his books and on the silver screen, he shaped how the world perceived the Old West. You MUST read The Rainbow’s Trail, The Code of the West; oh the list goes on and on…gives yourself the gift of Zane Grey.

As I wax nostalgia, there were additional western stories adapted to the then-new field of television and certainly they helped to popularize this new media. Shows such as the Tales of Wells Fargo, Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, Maverick, Zane Grey Theatre by Dick Powell, The Lone Ranger and then in the early sixties, a colorized Bonanza were weekly standards in our home!  Lest we overlook the 4^th longest running TV western called Rawhide and for some trivia, did you know that Clint Eastwood wore the same boots in Rawhide( 1959-1965) as he did in Unforgiven(1991)? Speaking of the big screen and also of the fifties, films like Davy Crockett, The Blazing Sun, Broken Arrow, Gunfight at the OK Corral, Good Day for A Hanging were only a few of the stand-outs. I would be remiss if I did not include the toe-tapping musicals Oklahoma and Annie Get Your Gun.  With a maiden name of Oakley, yes like Annie Oakley, but no relation, I was not a sharp-shooter or even a cowgirl but I could sing all their songs. 

Saturday mornings found me faithfully watching Roy Rogers and Gene Autry tame the west.  Plus I actually met Hopalong Cassidy at the Clover Lake Dairy where he autographed my lunchbox! Yes, that is cheesy but oh so much fun.  However tracing back to the prime reasons I fell in love with the Western Way of Life was inspired not only by Zane Grey’s stories, but the core values of the western way of life.  I identified with being self-reliant which is a strong western characteristic, the ability to overcome life challenges, to pioneer something worthwhile, and the aptitude to make a difference.  These unwritten rules of the Wild West were quite refined and this creed mirrors the Salt of the Earth Principles and will increase one’s quality of life in today’s world.  In fact, Living Well in 2010 can be based on the code of the west.  Per Zane Grey, it is as follows: 

Live Each Day with Courage
Take Pride in Your Work 
Always Finish What you Start  
Do What has to Done
Be Tough but Fair
When You Make a Promise Keep It
Talk less & Say More
 Remember that Some Things Are Not For Sale
Know Where to Draw The Line
 If Needed, Help A Neighbor Get Back On His Feet
 Endure Hardships without Complaining ~Don’t Make Excuses
 Be Cheerful  ~Be Strong  ~Be Accountable
 Be Generous with your Life & With Your Resources
Live By the Golden Rule.”

                                                                                 Indeed, it is an honor to live in the West. 
             The Code of the West's rich heritage affords everyone to live admirably thereby furthering its values around the world.

By Sharyn Jordan Hathcock ~ Author, The Home Whisperer & Wellness Advocate. 

Homeward Bound

By Sharyn Jordan Hathcock

Environmental Healer, Feng Shui Scholar, and Author

“Dwell in the Possibilities.”  Emily Dickenson

      Since our homes are a metaphor for our lives, they mirror back to us who we are, where we have been and the person we are growing into.  In many cases, my clients have forgotten to leave room for this essential process and it is reflected back to them via their home.  They have tightly designed corners that tidily trap them into being less than whom they are or can be.  The deep contentment from  a simple life where distractions do not find their way in is easily created.  A home couches dreams into unfoldment and is clearly beyond just a physical space. An abode is where time and experience feed the soul and give wings to one's spirit.  A residence offers up plentiful opportunities to thrive. This sanctuary reveals joy reflected from the back-side of sorrow. A harmonious home makes way for an abundantly wonderful life. A heavenly haven is the ideal place where the cosmic breath of chi blows in the winds of fortune. It is the gathering place where family and friends create new memories.  Home is where we sink deep into solidity and stability finding a well earned place of tranquil serenity. A home affords us quite contemplation allowing inner peace and her depth to balance life's challenges. A dwelling is the place to nestle, rest, be comforted, and restored; where our creative juices flow.  A home houses our comfy reading chair where we suspend our reality by visiting other times and spaces. Surrounding yourself with beauty in your home enables you to grow with ease and grace.  Transformation comes through benevolence, being open-hearted, illuminated, faithful, and flexible. New and positive attitudes are opened up thus developing the “true you” you love to be. Relax within the heart(h) of your home and discover balance within and without.  So please, Dwell in the Possibilities!

Living Well in 2010

 Salt of the Earth Principles ~ Part 1

By Sharyn Jordan Hathcock  ~ Author, Symbolist, Environmental Healer

“Ye are the salt of the earth.”  Matthew 5:13

     The question is, “What does being the Salt of the Earth actually mean and how can this philosophy support you in living well?”  First of all, think of the people in your life whose very presence brings out the very best in you.  When considering these folks, what is the catalyst that triggers you to experience your better self?  What is this intangible essence that draws forth deeper insights and more profound inspiration into your life?  It has been my experience that he/she who embodies this gift, intuitively lives from Salt of the Earth Principles.  These rousing people show up in many forms such as volunteers, leaders, mentors, teachers, serial entrepreneurs, professors, artists and realtors.  They include retailers, doctors, healers, managers, administrators, students, consultants, and the list goes on ad infinitum which is Latin meaning endless.  These individuals are a diverse community however each have learned to speak the universal language of service and possesses the ability to make a difference.  It matters not how someone chooses to express themselves professionally, it only matters that they do so meaningfully.  This is the intangible essence that shifts mediocrity into excellence and fully explains how to live by the Salt of the Earth Principles. 

     In days of old, salt was considered a precious commodity used for bartering.  The word salary finds its Latin root in the word ‘salarium’ and is the source of our modern day word for salary.  This word is also a Latin link to ‘sal’ which means salt which evolved into ‘sal-dar’ translated, it means ‘to give a wage or a salary.’  History teaches that ‘sal-dar’ also renders the word soldier.  In Roman times, sal-dars or soldiers not only guarded Rome’s treasured salt roads, they were also paid in salt.  Bringing these interesting facts into the present time, the adage, “being worth your salt” is connected to one’s salary via the value or service you give.  Therefore, a person living by the Salt of the Earth Principles is a person of great integrity who garners respect.  This person naturally inspires greatness in other people and when this happens, the entire community is better served. 

     This esteem is earned, defined and refined by being service-oriented.  In fact, the word serve is derived from the Latin word ‘serv’ and includes many traits of a person worth their salt.  And finally, we come to the word ‘sal’ the Latin root that forms ‘sal-via’ which means Sage. Indeed, a Sage will always prove their worth as they endlessly live Salt of the Earth Principles.  A few of the Sage’s traits, as inspired from the word Serve, are as follows:  1. Ob*Serve:  The Sage innately observes a need and then quietly and/or selflessly fills it.  Discerning a more productive path to tread and although it may not be the most popular route, a Sage has the courage to pursue it.  A Sage perceives what is high and good from within.  They are not given to oversee others as the strength of their inner correctness is enough to lead by example.  By attaining an inner stability, great things can come forth.  2. Re*Serve:  There is an adage ‘to salt away’ which means to store, stockpile or keep.  This is the Sage’s inner independence as he/she searches for answers from within.  This wisdom is then accumulated and as a result, they never give way to fear.  The Sage lives a life of brave integrity where this reliability draws forth the higher nature of his/her fellow humankind.  3.  Con*Serve:  The Sage participates in safeguarding his/her faith against worry.   Living by the Salt of the Earth Principles, the Sage walks in the knowledge of the heart by keeping an open mind.  He/she never contributes bitter judgment against a person.  For the Sage KNOWS not to categorize people as hopeless, helpless, and ungrateful or anything negative.  He/she KNOWs people can transform and can then live into their greater selves.  Since miracles can and do happen, the Sage believes all things are possible.  4.  Pre*Serve:  The Sage upholds humility and acts to unify.  He/she KNOWS the arrogance of ego and doesn’t act from this limited place.  The Sage’s keen interest lies in creating a collaborative community where people seek and emphasize what makes them the same above what makes them different. The Sage celebrates commonality and thus, forever respects multiplicity.  5.  De*Serve:  The Sage’s merits have earned him/her great honors but above these he/she is worthy of being an inspiration for generations to come.  For their wisdom is not found in being divisive, critical hateful, gossipy or in discord but it is expressed by the cohesiveness of the greater good.  The Sage can be recognized by how he/she makes you feel.  Embracing an organic approach to all differences immediately broadens your sense of community.  A person who lives by the Salt of the Earth Principles possesses unswerving stability so when you are in the company of their greatness, you are indeed inspired to be your greater self.  For within each of us, there are unlimited sources of wisdom and permanence.  These deeply resonating energies allow you to be worth your salt. 

     Each day, you co-create your life by way of your choices and these choices are selected according to your belief system.  In turn, the quality of your life reflects your beliefs.  If your life experience is not in alignment with the desires of your heart, it is time for you to get really clear about how you can speak the inclusive Salt of the Earth’s Principles’ language.  This affords you to live into your Sage-self and in doing so; you will not only live well in 2010, but to quote Buzz Light-year, “To infinity and beyond!”   

     Sharyn Jordan Hathcock is the author of The Home Whisperer and Dreaming True books.  Her newest book, The Song of the Starr Children will be released in May of 2010.  To enroll in Sharyn's  free, self-paced  e-Course, 333 Discovering Your Greater Self...Why? Because your Dreams Need You, go to fengshuisimplified.com.  Sharyn is the designer of Harmony8's line of elegant silk energy product, the Way of Wind and Water Energy Cards, and the inventor of the Inner Home Game (due out 11/11/2010).  She is dedicated to making life abundant by creating a home/workspace where balance and joy reside. She is a Western School of Feng Shui honor graduate and an esteemed Red-Ribbon professional from the International Feng Shui Guild, an Arizona resident since 1974, White Mountain resident since 1985 and a Feng Shui consultant since 1994.

April's Amazing Abundance begins with its brilliant birthstone~the exquisite diamond which denotes   and is known as the gemstone of innocence, love, excellence, power and beauty.   In times of antiquity, it was given to insure love and harmony. This birthed the tradition of presenting a diamond in an engagement and/or a wedding ring. The diamond emphasizes fidelity and trust in one’s relationship. Wearing a diamond honors the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” as it stimulates honesty and unison within and without. It encourages the ability to follow through on your highest moral code, strengthens your courage, inspires trust and helps you manifest abundance.

April Fool’s Day is synonymous with the word innocence as it symbolizes the sweet, gentle and playful energy that lives within each of us. It presents adventure, unexpected changes such as a new field interest, embarking on a fresh new idea or simply developing a broader scope of awareness. It is the free spirit, the completely trusting part of us that carries very little baggage. On the other hand, the Fool can also symbolize little preparation and impulsive behavior. When you balance discernment with blind faith, reason with doubt, wisdom with uncertainty, believing with skepticism, you certainly create and live in harmony and balance.

Enjoy April's Amazing Abundance and shine like the diamond that you are.  April's Amazing Abundance begins with having a childlike innocence.  Be playful, be radiant...BE YOU!