I started off my marriage to Joe with a traditional wedding band– a channel ring with diamonds, purchased at a fancy-schmancy jewelry store in Omaha. I don’t have it now (long story, this will be another blog post for another time). I needed a replacement. Joe is very “traditional” about some things (not so much about others), and he had it in his head that I would want/should have a traditional bridal set, complete with the diamonds that he loves so much. The issues for me were 1) that I’m not a conventional person; 2) diamonds are not my favorite stone, they’re actually way down on my list; 3) I cannot abide by the outrageous ridiculously high prices the fancy-schmancy jewelry stores charge.
I didn’t want to make a fast purchase just to have a ring. I wanted to find a ring that resonated with me, with Joe, and with our relationship. I wanted to find that ring, the one you see and you think: “That ring is My Ring!”
One day last week, we had to make a trip into Omaha on business, and of course we stopped at our favorite new-age shop: Next Millennium. (We were married in this shop, by the way, right at the front counter, by the owner, Charlie.) …So this story and it’s ending are so extremely well-suited.
This was an unusual day, for one thing, because we didn’t have to rush to be Somewhere Else, we were on our own time and our own schedule. This meant Time to Browse. I wish you could smell scents on the internet, the shop always smells beautiful and exotic with incense going; and the background music is always enchanting and relaxing. I have spent many happy hours with my nose pressed to the glass of the jewelry display cases, and I intended to add even more hours to this happy occupation.
A tray of rings caught my eye.
It was graciously removed from the display case and set before me on the counter. I looked at a couple rings that I had initially noticed first, and then I saw The Ring. It was one of those 1 second pauses that actually feel like several minutes. I slipped it on my finger, and I knew without a doubt– this was My Ring.
I chose this ring by instinct, on a whim, without knowing all of the properties, energies, and correspondences that go along with Labradorite. (Contrary to popular belief, I’m not a walking encyclopedia of new-age knowledge. I have to Look-Stuff-Up, just like everybody else.) And this is exactly what I did when I got home. I was amazed, absolutely amazed, without giving away every nuance of our private lives. The results of my search only served to strengthen my belief in the magick of stones and crystals and their ability to draw you to them when you need their energy and their magick, as well as when you are aligned with their energy and their magick.
Labradorite:
1) Numerologically, Labradorite is connected to the numbers 6 & 7
This blew me away. Joe & I were married on June 7th, 2013…6-7-13 (6+7=13)
Number 6: Planet– Venus; Element– Water; Letters– f, o, x; Energies– emotions, magnetism, gods/goddesses, cats
Number 7: Planet– Neptune; Element– Water; Letters– g, p, y; Energies– material aspects, travel, protection, discipline
2) Chakras: third eye & crown
Third Eye Chakra:
Location: between the eyebrows
Age of Resonance: 35-42
Shape: five-pointed star
Color: indigo
Musical note: A
Type of Music: classical
Element: the cosmos
Aspect of Intelligence: control and wisdom
Sensory Experience: mindful knowing/intuition
Essential Oils: camphor, sweet pea, heliotrope
Crystals: sapphire, tanzanite, lapis lazuli
Aspects of the Solar System: the Moon
Astrological Associations: Sagittarius, Pisces
Metal: silver
Mythological Animal: hawk
Plant: Almond blossom
Qualities: wisdom, discernment, imagination, intuition, knowledge
Life Issues: to focus your intelligence; to know who and what are for your highest good and greatest joy; to distill wisdom from your life experiences, both good and difficult; to choose life, health, joy and fulfillment in every aspect of your life
Physical activities: yoga, tai chi, qi gong, bates eye exercises
Spiritual Activities: thinking clearly about your life, reading or viewing uplifting and positive books or films, reflection, contemplation, meditation, and creative use of your imagination to visualize the life you say you want.
Positive Archetype: Wise Person or Elder
Negative Archetype: Intellectual
Angelic Presence: The Shekinah, better known as the feminine face of God
Positive: The Wise Person
This is a person who has cultivated wisdom. Wise people offer the best of their life experience to assist others along the path of life. They encourage spiritual pursuits ands physical adventures as well as guiding us in making optimally wholesome choices for ourselves. Wise people live by universal principles and trusts in a higher source to guide them through the peaks and valleys of life, and with good fortune they assist us in leading ours.
Negative: The Intellectual
This is a person who draws only on information from the limited resources of rational, analytic thinking without incorporating either the emotional or spiritual aspects of life. Intellectuals seldom have a holistic assessment of a situation. Their thinking tends to be dry, lifeless, and without energy. They are limited in their scope because they trust only conventional ideas. The are often judgmental and narrow in their outlook.
Crown Chakra:
Location: top of the skull
Age of Resonance: 42-49
Shape: round skullcap
Glandular Connection: pineal gland, which secretes melatonin and other hormones known to affect tranquility, sleep, and light sensitivity
Color: violet
Musical Note: B
Type of Music: Indian raga
Element: the Cosmos
Aspect of Intelligence: spiritual understanding
Sensory Experience: bliss
Essential Oils: violet, lavender, lotus, elemi
Crystals: amethyst, alexandrite
Aspect of the Solar System: the Universe
Astrological Association: Aquarius
Metal: platinum
Mythological Animal: eagle
Plant: lotus flower
Qualities: grace, beauty, serenity, oneness with all that is
Life Issues: selfless realization of your indelible connection with the greater whole of life; creation of a vital and resilient spiritual context for holding your life experiences
Physical Activity: non– stillness
Spiritual Activities: prayer, meditation, reflection
Positive Archetype: Guru
Negative Archetype: Egotist
Positive: The Guru
Gurus are people who realize who they are. They know that the divine force flows through them and they are identified with that as the substratum of their being, rather than the temporal parts of their life. They let life move through them and take them ever deeper into consciousness itself.
Negative: The Egotist
Egotists are people who think their efforts alone carry them through life. They believe that they are separate from a greater whole of existence and that their striving and effort controls the outcome of their life.
3) Astrological Connections: Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius
Again, I find the association amazing– Joe is Scorpio (which explains a lot, but that’s another blog post).
Leo…is self-expression seeking confidence, ease, and honor in the social world. The house where your Leo rules is where you will be challenged to “shine”; to apply the positive, creative qualities of your sun sign, and find a sense of inner peace.
Scorpio…is intense emotional power probing and penetrating into the unconscious; seeking the power of transformation at work in ordinary reality; seeking to accept all that is frightening or overwhelming. The house where your Scorpio rules is where you will be challenged to completely transform your life. You seek control in this part of your life and can be manipulative and secretive.
Sagittarius…is an expansion quest to discover truth and the interconnectedness of all things. The house where your Sagittarius rules is where you will be challenged to expand your experiences. You are philosophical about the affairs of this house, and generous with its gifts.
4) Physical Healing/Emotional & Spiritual Properties
General Healing Qualities: Good for mental sharpness, intellect, right/left brain activity, inspiration, intuition, and originality. Lets you see many possibilities at once, aids scientific analysis
Also…Good for digestion and the eyes; helps remove warts; beneficial during radionics treatment; aligns physical and etheric bodies; PMS; vitality; brain; stress reliever; regulates metabolism; colds; gout; rheumatism; hormones; blood pressure
Emotional/Spiritual Qualities: Allows magick to happen; stabilizes the aura and enhances the flow of energy between the aura and the chakras; helps with insecurity, anxiety, and stress
5) Other Qualities, Attributes, and Information about Labradorite
“…Labradorite is thought by some to symbolize the moon and the sun and has, in fact, been found to be a constituent of moon rock. Feldspar, and therefore Labradorite, assists one to progress from old ways, encouraging unconventional and exciting new methods to attain one’s goals. Labradorite can also assist one to handle changes, promoting strength and perseverance. It has been known as the Matriarch of the Subconscious Mind, facilitating the transformation of intuition into intellectual thought. It is said to be helpful in the treatment of disorders of the brain, to stimulate mental acuity, and to reduce anxiety and stress. It can assist in digestion, regulation and metabolism and has been used to clarify the eyes. Labradorite is Saturday’s gemstone.”
“…A stone of transformation, Labradorite prepares body and soul for the ascension process. This highly mystical and protective stone raises consciousness and deflects unwanted energies from the aura, preventing energy leakage. Holding esoteric knowledge, it takes you into another world or into other lives. This crystal helps banish fears and insecurities and the psychic debris from previous disappointments, strengthening trust in the universe. Labradorite removes other people’s projections, including thought forms hooked into the aura. With Labradorite, analysis and rationality are balanced with inner sight. Labradorite is a useful companion through change, imparting strength and perseverance.”
Regarding yellow Labradorite, which my ring contains: “…Yellow Labradorite accesses the highest levels of consciousness, assisting visualization, trance, clairvoyance, and channeling. It expands the mental body, attuning it to higher wisdom. This stone is useful for detaching from undue influence or manipulation by others, and especially for treating codependency or an enabler who is unable to let the person learn their own lessons in life or who unconsciously wants to prolong dependency.”
Joe & I, standing on a ledge behind a waterfall in The Lied Jungle @ Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha.
The Metal:
Silver
Energy: receptive (feminine)
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: love, psychism, dreams, protection, travel
(physical & astral), money
When worn, silver stimulates psychic awareness and personal abilities and is often worn during divination. You can wear silver to bed to enhance prophetic dreams and to aide in astral travel. It is a protective talisman worn by travelers, particularly to those traveling on or over water. Silver is connected to the energy of the Moon and the Goddess (feminine divinity), and can be worn to aide in a Wiccan ritual known as “Drawing Down the Moon”.
____________________
Resources for this blog post includes:
“The Book of Chakras” by Ambika Wauters
“The Crystal Healers” by Philip Permutt
“The Magic of Crystals & Gemstones”
published by TOPSTONES (Pty) LTD
Simon’s Town, South Africa
“The Encyclopedia of Crystals” by Judy Hall
“The Gray Witch’s Grimoire” by Amythyst Raine
The Websites:
The Witch’s Corner
The Signs of the Zodiac
Magickal Connections 