Search Results

The energy we experience during the Aries season has the awe and wonder of childhood - a new journey filled with excitement, courage and creativity. It’s time to reflect on new beginnings! Did you know that each sign of the zodiac is connected with a different part of the body and psyche and, depending on our sun, moon and rising signs, knowledge of this, and of how the times of the year affect each of our constitutions, can guide us to postures, techniques and living styles that support us to be more in tune with the world in and around us. So, as the Sun enters into the sign of Aries, - where it will stay until the 19th of April - there are certain practises and foods that are highlighted. The zodiac sign that initiates the astrological year, at the Spring Equinox is Aries. Aries embodies the philosophical identity of pure being. The aphorism for Aries, is “I am, therefore I am” and points to the spiritual truth of ‘I am That I am’ ‘Tat Tvam Asi’: ‘Thou Art That’. The spirit of the soul manifests most intensely in the sign of Aries, as the first born of the year, like the buds that desperately burst out into the spring sunshine. Aries is the pioneer, the first spark of individuality. As such, Aries embraces many archetypes of strength such as the Warrior and the Hero. The element is fire, the part of the body is the head, eyes, adrenals. Aries instigates action, and as such Arians are often initiators of projects. They have the ideas that spark everyone else into doing something useful and Arians are also very good at hands on practical activism, often getting involved because they love anything that plunges them into he present moment with intensity and purpose. So, at this time of year, the spirit of Aries ignites a spark within each of us, urging us to access our inner assertiveness and courage. In terms of chakras that correspond to the Aries energy, we have the Fire Centre at Manipura, the third Eye at Ajna and the the Crown Chakra of awakening. The energies that are highlighted through this, empower us to believe in our self and find our own unique purpose, our ‘Svadharma’. It’s time to invest in our life path as well as our self care, and learn to listen to our own unique calling that beckons us on our journey towards the infinite. Birthstones The main birthstone for Aries is Diamond, symbolising clarity and inner strength. However in case you dont have any diamonds around, you can try: Aquamarine for enhancing communication, Amethyst to encourage calmness and intuition, Red Jasper for courage, self-love and confidence and emotional balance, Carnelian for passion, creativity, vibrancy and healing for the lower chakras. Foods Things that are known to be good for Arians are also good for all of us at this time of year - red foods and foods high in Iron (ruled by Mars). Try incorporating more of the following this month: Tomatoes, cherries, blood orange, spring onions, garlic and chives, spinach, black olives, ginger, cayenne, cinnamon and red chilli. The foods help not just because of their colour, but because of what they do. So for example, tomatoes are packed with lycopene that helps repair damaged brain cells, support sexual health and potassium that helps us feel calm, one of nature’s anti-depressants. (Eating a tomato every day reduces your risk of suffering the blues by 52 per cent, according to a recent study.) Qualities When Aries is balanced, we give birth to leadership from the heart, driven by the good of the self as well as the good of the whole. Too little Aries energy can lead to apathy, depression and a lack of drive. Too much of that Martian energy can lead to impatience, frustration and an inability to stop. The key lesson is to learn how to stoke the inner fire without burning out. Depending on your planetary aspects are aspected in Aries, depends whether the flow of energy this month will be on the creative or the frustrated side. But either way, there are simple things you can do to bring more balance and energy into your life in the Aries month! Maybe you are an Aries sign, maybe you have some Aries in your chart, maybe you haven’t the foggiest, and that’s fine. These are metaphors that we can all use and focus on at this time of the year when the Aries sun is shining, to help us ignite own inner spiritual warrior! ‘Aries is a fire that detoxes us’ Whether or not Aries is a dominant force in your astrological chart, you can explore the themes of rebirth, leadership, courage, and assertiveness in a way that resonates with your own unique experience. Yoga for Aries Practice The following yoga flow for Aries is playful but also filled with strength-building poses and challenging core work to align you with the fiery qualities of Aries. It’s intended to help you tap into your inner fire, embody assertiveness and confidence and take you on a metaphorical journey into self-discovery and personal empowerment. As you embark on an exploration of Aries, embrace the warrior within and integrate its wisdom in a way that feels authentic to you. Virasana (Hero Pose) Find a kneeling position and then slowly sit back in between your heels and rest on the mat or a block in Hero Pose. (If you feel pain in your knees, move on to the next pose.) Keep your knees in line with your hips. Interlace your fingers at your chest to form vajrapadama mudra, also known as thunderbolt mudra. Place your hands on your chest, thumbs pointing up. This hand gesture symbolises vitality and aligns you with Aries’ qualities of courage and leadership. Feel the subtle power of this mudra, focusing on its ability to evoke confidence and assertiveness. Breathe here while you allow yourself to take a moment of stillness while feeling grounded. Dynamic Camel Pose From sitting between your heels, inhale as you come to kneeling and lift both arms overhead in a version of Camel Pose. Engage the glutes as you lift your chest and take a subtle backbend. Then exhale as you sweep your arms back with your palms facing down, lowering your hips toward your heels and bringing your chest toward the mat. Keep the back of your neck long. Repeat 5 or 6 times, synchronising your movement with your breath and feeling its strength-building aspects. Plank Pose Come onto your hands and knees, tuck your toes, and lift your knees to come into Plank Pose. Make any adjustments you need as you engage your core and reach through your heels. Imagine your inner fire stoked by Aries’ courage, which connects you to your solar plexus and manipura chakra. Feel resilience and determination as you hold Plank. This pose embodies a peaceful warrior spirit. Fallen Triangle From Plank, draw your right knee toward your left elbow. Straighten your right leg out to the left side and lower your right foot beyond the edge of the mat. Roll onto the inner edge of your left foot, reaching your left arm toward the ceiling. Lift your hips, creating a powerful line from your fingertips to your toes in Fallen Triangle. Downward-Facing Dog From Fallen Triangle, inhale as you bring your right leg up and back into Three-Legged Dog with your right leg extended straight behind you. Exhale as you lower your right foot to the mat. Lift your hips up and back in Downward-Facing Dog. Take a long breath here, inhaling through your nose and releasing a big exhalation through your mouth. Scorpion Dog From Down Dog, lift your right leg straight behind you and bend your right knee and try to stack your hips as you let your right foot dangle behind you in Scorpion Dog, which falls somewhere in between Down Dog and Wild Thing. Continue to breathe deeply, maintaining your strength and presence. Plank Crunch From Scorpion Dog, exhale and draw your right knee forward toward your nose, rounding your back and bringing your shoulders over your wrists. Inhale as you straighten your right leg back into Three-Legged Dog. Repeat this sequence, emphasizing the core engagement. As you practice yoga for Aries, connect with the assertiveness and determination associated with the fire sign. Visualize yourself as a capable and confident warrior. Low Lunge From Three-Legged Dog, step your right foot forward. Drop your back knee in Low Lunge and reach your arms alongside your ears. Bring your forefingers together, interlace your other fingers, and cross your right thumb over your left. Draw your lower belly in and engage your core. Reach your fingers toward the ceiling as if you’re channeling energy from the earth. Release back to Downward-Facing Dog. You can take a vinyasa if you’d like before repeating this flow over on the second side, beginning with Scorpion Dog. Child’s Pose From Down Dog, ease into Child’s Pose by lowering your knees to the mat, bringing your big toes together, and taking your knees apart. Sink your hips back toward your heels and walk your hands forward as you bring your forehead to the mat, a block, or a folded blanket. This restful pose allows you to absorb the effects of the practice, reflecting on how the energy moves through you. Take a moment to integrate the teachings and wisdom of Aries. Seated Twist Transition to a seated position with your legs extended straight in front of you. Bend your right knee and step your right foot to the outside of your left thigh. Hug your right knee toward your chest with your left arm. Inhale and sit tall as you exhale and rotate your chest toward the right, placing your right fingertips behind you, in the seated twist known as Half Lord of the Fishes. Breathe here. Release and switch sides. Seated Meditation Come to a comfortable seated position. Draw on vajrapadama mudra once again, if you like, by interlacing your fingers and placing them against your chest with your thumbs pointing up. Breathe here as you contemplate the influence of practicing yoga for Aries and cultivating its confident spirit. If you want a video follow on for this, there’s a great video here to follow, which takes 15 minutes, suited to our current need for a quick fix, also more common during Aries Season! Ailments With the purging energy of spring, Aries tends to bring more frequent headaches, eye strain, and exhaustion. Maybe even insomnia and burn-out over tiredness. If you’re an Aries or feeling these things during this Aries season, try rabbit pose, dolphin pose, or if you are a more experienced yogi, try an inversion like  headstand. You can also try gently massaging the forehead and scalp with peppermint  oil. If you want to fire up your ardent Aries energy this month to supercharge, why not try a hot yoga class. With 60-90 minutes of flowing poses, balances, juicy stretches and relaxation, but a hot twist: the studio heated up to 37°C, you’ll be getting super sweaty (bring a towel to class). With Aries courage, passion and determined nature, you can definitely handle the heat. Combining the rebirthing theme of Easter and the fire of the emerging Aries Sun, what better time is there to focus on the Ashtanga Primary Sequence, Yoga Chikitsa, especially at this full moon period this week! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this sequence contains all of the Aries energy you might need to make the most of the prevailing spring energies this month. And on days that you dont have so much time, you know, from the above, some quick fixes that can help!

As we always do every year, we all wish for a better year to come and approach the dawning of a new year with renewed optimism and hope and the desire for our loved ones and circle of friends to be blessed with health, happiness and love, but I also know that one of our greatest desires of all.. is for this planet that we all inhabit to be peaceful. But how do we find and feel an inner peace when all around us is in turmoil and devastation, it often feels like an impossible task no matter how enlightened you feel that you are. We cannot ignore it, it effects all of us, we feel it in our hearts. We cannot physically impact a difference, but if you understand the power of energy and prayer then you will understand that we as an Earth family have access to something far more powerful every time we join together and anchor in the light of peace. Our hearts hold a soothing balm that we can apply to the points of pain, no matter how far away they are, because quantum physic’s have shown us that distance and time is of no consequence, as mysterious and illogical as it would seem. We Reiki practitioners know the strength and effectiveness of absent healing, this is no different. All our teachings bring us back to love and compassion. Have any of you read the letter that Albert Einstein allegedly wrote to his daughter Lieserl. regarding the "universal force" of love. It's a beautiful read, offering a universal message that speaks to the essence of the human condition and our incessant yearning to believe in love's conquering force. People have tried to debunk this letter as is often the case when something beautiful and positive is circulated. And to be perfectly honest, I don’t care who wrote it! It spoke to my heart and soul.. It’s posted for you below.. But before I close, I just want to say an enormous thank you to everyone for keeping small business’s like mine alive. Without your loyal custom we could not survive. Thank you! I wish you all a year of peace and love!♥️ Dana x A Letter From Albert Einstein To His Daughter In the late 1980s, Lieserl, the daughter of the famous genius, donated 1,400 letters, written by Einstein, to the Hebrew University, with orders not to publish their contents until two decades after his death. This is one of them, for Lieserl Einstein. "When I proposed the theory of relativity, very few understood me, and what I will reveal now to transmit to mankind will also collide with the misunderstanding and prejudice in the world. I ask you to guard the letters as long as necessary, years, decades, until society is advanced enough to accept what I will explain below. There is an extremely powerful force that, so far, science has not found a formal explanation to. It is a force that includes and governs all others, and is even behind any phenomenon operating in the universe and has not yet been identified by us. This universal force is LOVE. When scientists looked for a unified theory of the universe they forgot the most powerful unseen force. Love is Light, that enlightens those who give and receive it. Love is gravity, because it makes some people feel attracted to others. Love is power, because it multiplies the best we have, and allows humanity not to be extinguished in their blind selfishness. Love unfolds and reveals. For love we live and die. Love is God and God is Love. This force explains everything and gives meaning to life. This is the variable that we have ignored for too long, maybe because we are afraid of love because it is the only energy in the universe that man has not learned to drive at will. To give visibility to love, I made a simple substitution in my most famous equation. If instead of E = mc2, we accept that the energy to heal the world can be obtained through love multiplied by the speed of light squared, we arrive at the conclusion that love is the most powerful force there is, because it has no limits. After the failure of humanity in the use and control of the other forces of the universe that have turned against us, it is urgent that we nourish ourselves with another kind of energy... If we want our species to survive, if we are to find meaning in life, if we want to save the world and every sentient being that inhabits it, love is the one and only answer. Perhaps we are not yet ready to make a bomb of love, a device powerful enough to entirely destroy the hate, selfishness and greed that devastate the planet. However, each individual carries within them a small but powerful generator of love whose energy is waiting to be released. When we learn to give and receive this universal energy, dear Lieserl, we will have affirmed that love conquers all, is able to transcend everything and anything, because love is the quintessence of life. I deeply regret not having been able to express what is in my heart, which has quietly beaten for you all my life. Maybe it's too late to apologize, but as time is relative, I need to tell you that I love you and thanks to you I have reached the ultimate answer!" Your father, Albert Einstein

As we plan for the Winter Solstice that happens on the 21st December and will be honoured at sunrise on the 22nd December at Stonehenge, what blessings can we take, especially when all the world around us descends into chaos? We can all take comfort from the fact that astronomical winter begins tomorrow, and the days start to get longer again. What does the word Solstice Mean? The term “solstice” comes from the Latin words sol (Sun) and sistere (to stand still) because, during the solstice, the angle between the Sun’s rays and the plane of the Earth’s equator (called declination) appears to stand still. This translates as the sun appearing at its lowest in the sky. At midday it seems to stay the same for several days before and after this day. The Sun’s gradual decrease in the sky reverses upon the winter solstice, marking what many cultures believe to be a “rebirth” of the Sun as the hours of daylight become longer. As you will have seen in our previous post about the summer solstice that celebrates the longest day, this is the shortest. But let's not forget our friends in the Southern Hemisphere who are celebrating the opposite way around. Early man kept track of the days by observing the Sun as it “moved” across the sky and cast shadows during the day and at different times of the year. In fact, historians believe Stonehenge in England was erected to keep track of the Sun’s yearly progress. Solstice Folklore The solstice is a time honoured tradition in many cultures and it recognises the significance of the sun on our lives. Consider how important this marking was in times before clocks and weather apps. Here are how some other cultures celebrate: Alban Arthan is Welsh for light of winter and is a winter festival. It is a Druidic festival recognising the time of death and rebirth when nature's powers are renewed. It honours the birth of the new sun on the 22nd December, giving new live to the spirit and souls of the dead. The Feast of Juul is a Scandanavian festival where fires are lit to recognise the heat, light and life giving properties of the returning sun. The name comes from burning a Yule log that was never allowed to burn out and was kept as kindling for next year. Other cultures allow the yule log to burn completely and use the ashes as fertilizer to nourish the crops in the new year. Donghzhi is a Chinese festival that allows everyone to get together to celebrate the past good year. Dumplings are the main food eaten. Saturnalia is the ancient Roman Festival that starts on December 17th and runs for seven days. It is held to honour the god of Saturnas and during this time grudges and quarrels were forgiven and wars were postponed. Stay safe and warm this winter solstice, maybe have a look and see if you cast a shadow at midday to see what the new year brings. The solstice is also a powerful time for a tarot reading to review your goals for the coming year. So why not book a tarot reading with us to bring in your 2024 goals with increased clarity.

The word Reiki (loosely defined) means free passage of universal life (force) energy. Reiki originated from the words ‘raku-kei’, which is the art and science of spiritual self-improvement. Reiki came originally from ancient Tibet thousands of years ago. What is now called Reiki, was re-discovered in the 1870’s by Dr. Mikao Usui. As the story goes, Dr Usui, the president of a small Christian University in Japan, was asked by his students “how did Christ heal?” This question lead Dr. Usui to resign from his university position and begin a ten year search for the answer. His quest lead him to many parts of the world to study in many different languages and finally to original Sanskrit Buddhist sutras where he found ancient symbols that he believed to be the formula to healing. At this point Dr. Usui felt that he had the keys to healing, but did not know how to awaken his healing power. He decided to go to a mountain for 21 days, to seek the power to heal. On the final day he saw a beam of light rushing towards him. The light struck him in the middle of his forehead and at that moment he saw the Reiki symbols and felt them enter his mind and memory. Dr. Usui spent the rest of his life sharing Reiki. Before his death, Dr. Usui passed the keys over to his closest friend, Dr. Chijiro Hayashi, who ran a Reiki clinic in the early 1900’s in Japan Reiki as brought to Hawaii by Mrs. Hawayo Takata, who was born on the island of Hawaii in 1900 and lived on the islands until 1970. In her mid thirties, Mrs. Takata became widowed and very ill and travelled to Japan to seek treatment. While she was guided to Dr. Hayashi’s clinic and healed with reiki. She then studied Reiki for a year in Japan and later was made a Reiki Master (one who can fine tune or empower others with Reiki energy). Mrs Takata spent the rest of her life sharing Reiki and in 1970 moved to California and began to train other Masters. How does Reiki work? When you are attuned to Reiki energy, your channels are opened to universal life energy. Reiki atonements are much like tuning into a desired radio station. the atonements you receive tune you into Reiki energy so that you can channel in for yourself or others at any time, for the rest of your life. All of us have universal energy, essential for health and life and all of us have some amount of healing energy coming from our hands. During the Reiki attunement process, the Reiki symbols are used to permanently restructure aspects of your energy bodies. Allow you access to a reservoir of Reiki energy set up by Reiki masters of the past. Increase the flow of life force energy through your energy body for the benefit of yourself and others. Access a consciousness factor that connects to the symbols. Implants the symbols for the rest of your life. Reiki energy and the bodies you treat have an intelligence of their own. You cannot will Reiki energy to go to a certain place or treat a certain ailment. It is best to trust in the innate intelligence of the energy and the receiver and merely act as a channel, staying neutral and out of the way. Reiki is a beautiful healing practise that works for oneself, other people, animals, plants, even food and water can have the benefit of Reiki healing using hands techniques or absently. Reiki opens you up to your True Nature… The beauty of reiki is that it doesn’t matter what your background is or how old you are, Reiki will enrich you, your workplace, your family and all your interactions. Remember, reiki is not just for people who want to become healers – it’s for everyone. I believe that reiki comes into our life at exactly the right moment when you need it and when you are ready to receive the teachings. I have seen many students say ‘I wish I had found it earlier’ but when I ask them ‘would you have been open to it or would it have resonated with you back then?’ Most laugh and reply ‘probably not’. Reiki (or the desire to learn reiki) always lands on our door at the right moment. We can trust that you and reiki found each other at exactly the right moment. So if you are reading this – maybe this is that moment! Once you learn reiki you have the ability to ‘lay your hands’ on yourself whenever you feel out of balance. Self reiki is one of the most important activities you can do that will help you to support yourself. It gives you the opportunity to listen to your heart, inner dialogue and hear that still quiet voice within. Like any area of life (personal or professional), it is only through practice and experience that one goes deeper into their relationship with reiki and where the wisdom of reiki unfolds within us. If you happen to live near Destiny Rising, our Reiki Master, teaches regularly at the shop. They are day courses held on a Saturday. Our next Reiki 1 group is now available to book. Reiki 1 teaching and attunements Saturday November 18th. 10.30am until approx 4.00 - 5pm £150 Call 01923 852522 for further details and booking. Reiki 1. £150 Reiki 2 £250 Masters practitioner £350 Master practitioner/teacher £450

Say bye bye to negative energy… With so much negative energy in the world at the moment, how can you remove this from your day to day life and enter the day feeling positive. At Destiny Rising we are big believers in smudging and as we enter the darker months of the year, a good way to start is by removing all the negative energy from your home. The ritual of burning herbs has been around for centuries and is common to many cultures all over the world. Smudging is the common name given to the sacred smoke bowl blessing, a powerful cleansing technique from the Native American tradition where burning herbs calls on the spirits of plants to drive away negative energies and put you back into a state of balance. It is the psychic equivalent of bathing yourself in water to cleanse or washing your hands before eating. From the rich scent of frankincense in the churches, the heady incense of Asia and the middle eastern Bazaars, the raw energy of bush burning in many native cultures, the ancient Celtic druids who used sage and oak moss besides, to the indigenous peoples of the Amazon whose Palo Santo (sacred wood) burning ceremonies are still in practise to this day; one thing is for sure, there’s a common theme that links them all… purification and cleansing! Many people think that when we burn incense it's just making our homes smell nice, well yes, but it's so much more than that and smudging with sacred sage which is the most well known of the herbs for cleansing is where I shall begin to explain; so how does smudging work? The answer lies in the sub-atomic world of subtle or spiritual energy. Our bodies and homes are not just constructed out of purely physical matter, they also vibrate with subtle invisible energy. Cleansing our bodies or space with sacred smoke can clear away all the emotional and psychic rubbish that we or a space may have gathered over years and possibly hundreds of years. You can use it for space clearing your home where there has been illness, arguments, sadness or just to keep the energies uplifted or vibrant. in fact a few centuries ago, even we in the west would have energetically cleared our homes ready for new occupants and done the same when we moved into a new home. It can be used to keep therapy rooms clear of negative energy left unknowingly by clients. Or used to cleanse a space in readiness for a ceremony. Busy spaces can accumulate lots of energy that can become stagnant and unwelcoming, which brings me to mention that my shop ‘Destiny Rising’ is smudged every morning to clear the hustle bustle energy from the day before and welcome in a clear fresh energy for the new day to begin. Smudging is truly wonderful. If you are not familiar with it, why not give it a try! Lots of our customers have become converts to it since we have explained it and showed them how it's done. Often people will come rushing into the shop and say “please smudge me, I’ve had a lousy day!” We of course always have a sage bundle to hand. I love it for its simplicity and its effectiveness, I’ve witnessed how different a person can feel after clearing their Aura with the smoke of the sage, they feel lighter and often feel calmer. Homes and spaces feel clear and energetically fresher after being cleansed, which makes sense in that burning sage also releases negative ions, which research has linked to a more positive mood. I see it as a beautiful and effective esoteric practise that seems to be being adapted to fit into life in the 21st century. It can be kept extremely simple or as ceremonial as you like, but whichever way a weekly smudging will keep you, your home or healing room nicely clear and balanced. We don’t just save it for special occasions or ceremonies, this fast pace frenetic world needs all the help it can get! Objects can also be smudged, tools for majickal purposes, therapy couches, computers, phones and one of the best ways to cleanse crystals is to wash them in some filtered or mineral water or a stream if you’re lucky enough to have one close by and then run them through the smoke of a smudge stick, before charging them up in the glow of the full moon or sunshine. Its not surprising that the Latin for sage is ‘Salvia’ which originates from the word ‘to heal’ and apart from cleansing, purifying and removing old static energy, sage is known for its ability to bring about clarity, wisdom and spiritual awareness. Its no coincidence then that we refer to wise folk as ‘sagely’ I really love it when I can explain to people that something is not airy-fairy or new age waffle and this is one of them! Native American tradition dates back millennia as does loads of traditional cultures, from the Maoris to the Balinese, the Chinese to the Zulus, all have age old blessing and cleansing traditions. Even here in the west as I have mentioned had them, although mostly long forgotten! The incense that even now wafts through the churches began life wafting from a pagan alter, the bells that ring out on a Sunday morning were intended to cleanse the parish through sound and invite the community from everyday space into worship, just as the shamans drum beckons us on sacred journeys into other worlds… Smudging yourself So, let's get on with the practise of smudging. I’m going to keep it simple to get started. I’m going to talk about using a sage stick, bundle or wand as they are often referred to, as opposed to lighting sage leaves in a bowl. Sage sticks are bundles of dried sage leaves, often white sage is used for purification although there are many others which I will mention later. I always like to start a house or space cleansing by clearing myself first. What you will need is your smudge bundle, a t-light and a largish feather if you feel you would like to use one to waft the smoke, but its not essential if you don’t have one, or you could even use a little fan that you have made. Sit quietly before you start and fix your thoughts gently on your intension, which is to clear you and your space of all old unwanted lingering energy and purify yourself and the space that you occupy. (note: be careful if you suffer from respiratory problems or asthma, please experiment cautiously). Light your t-light and use that to light the tip of the smudge bundle, (the fat end) do not untie the string that holds it together. Now let it burn for a few minutes until it starts to smoulder, you may need to fan the flames for a while to get the smudge really smoking. Then extinguish the flame by fanning out the flame, so that the bundle is now just smoking. I like to start my ritual by wafting the smoke towards my heart, asking the sacred sage to help me to release any grief that I am holding and calling in unconditional love. Then take the smudge (always using little clockwise circular motions) over your head into the crown chakra, down in front of your face, down the top of one arm, around your hand and back up under your arm, then the same with the other arm. Run the smoke down the front of your body, down both legs, under both feet and then back up the back of your body. As you smudge visualise yourself being surrounded by gentle loving energy. Imagine the smoke taking away with it any negativity and being taken away into the earth or out of the window into the air where it will be transmuted or dissolved. This may sound simple but its very powerful, don’t underestimate this practise. Put your smudge bundle on a abalone shell or in a saucer is fine until you are ready to use it again for your space clearing. If you have finished with the smudge bundle, always take it outside and stub it out on some sand or soil, make sure it is extinguished, I always wrap it in some tin foil and keep it for next time. Smudging your home or space. Sometimes when life feels stuck or things aren’t going to plan, you may find that a space clearing session will do the trick, old energy of whatever has been going on in your home, or even before you inhabited your home can effect what’s going on now, old stagnant energy is sticky and the content of it is still vibrating at some level that can have an effect on you and your family. Sometimes I will sprinkle sea salt around the skirting boards of a house before I start to cleanse because of its ability to soak up the old static energy that I am removing, if you decide to do this sprinkle it always walking clockwise, we want to go forward in time, not backwards! I will then Hoover it up after I have finished smudging and make sure the Hoover is emptied and the bag removed from the house immediately, as I don’t want this old energy lingering in the house any longer. If you would like to get really thorough, you can clap, drum or ring a bell around the walls, to help to break down the energy, ready for smudging. (again always walking clockwise) I like to keep the windows open to allow the smoke to escape taking with it whatever is leaving. Light your smudge bundle once again as above. Then using little clockwise motions up and down the walls, wafting the smoke with either your feather, fan or just allow the smoke to billow around the walls, walk clockwise slowly and pay special attention to the corners of rooms. You can call upon the spirit of the sage once again to drive away all negativity from this space. When I do this I feel a sense of taking my space back ready to fill it with my energy and my good intentions for all who live there including pets, they are very sensitive to energy. We all love a good spring clean don’t we? Well think of this as just as important… energetic cleaning! Your home becomes a fresh clear space and you will really feel the difference. Smudge every room in your house, clear doorways and windows, waft smoke into cupboards and wardrobes, but obviously be careful that pieces of lit sage do not drop off into these spaces, you might like to use a little bowl underneath your smudge bundle for this. When you have done the whole house or space, safely extinguish your smudge bundle. You can then walk into each room and touch the walls asking whatever higher energy that you believe in, be it angels, guardians, deity’s, higher power to be present in this space and fill and bless it with love, happiness, protection, peace, health and harmony. This is my way of doing it, but you can adapt it to fit your ways. There is a space blessing that I like to use by bringing in the four elements of earth, air, fire and water, but I will save that for another blog soon. We get asked about space clearing all the time at my shop, so what I have explained here has been repeated many times, so I thought this would be a great topic to put out there for everyone. Of course there are many ways of doing this, this is the way I like to do it. After you have completed your space cleansing, it's quite nice to balance the male/yang energy of the sage with a little female/yin energy by burning some sweetgrass, lavender or vanilla to attract in positivity, balance and peacefulness, I always think of the scent of Vanilla as representing the sweetness of life. As I have mentioned there are many other herbs and combinations that can be used for clearing:- Desert sage (also known as sagebrush) :- transforms energy and brings change and healing. Cedar :- deeply purifying, good to clear negative emotions, great to clear a new home before moving in, revives a tired mind, body and spirit. The medicine of protection. Cedar trees are very wise, old and powerful. Juniper:- used to purify and create a safe and sacred space. Copal :- tree sap from Mexico, considered the blood of trees. Given up to please the Gods by the native peoples of Mexico. It is offered to honour the enormous gift given to us by all the tree people of our planet. Lavender :- restores balance and creates a peaceful atmosphere, attracts loving energy and spirits. Sweetgrass :- said to be the breath of the earth mother, bringing the blessing of mother earths love, burnt to remind us of the essence of the feminine and that the earth provides us with everything we need. Also known as holy grass and vanilla grass for its sweet vanilla like scent. Before I end this particular blog I would like to add something interesting and intriguing that I noticed many years ago when I was working in the property industry, that in those days I didn’t understand, but it was something that came up over and over again! Over many years of selling property I noticed that certain houses seemed to have an effect over its occupants, sometimes gradually and sometimes quite swiftly. I don’t wish to impart this to cause alarm, because as much as some of the stories had negative outcomes, many were of a positive nature. The point is that I witnessed changes to people and their circumstances by way of where they lived. I started to recognise certain addresses whereby I knew that that particular house would be coming back on the market yet again, probably due to divorce, since the pattern kept on repeating itself. I used to think it of it as coincidence, but after many years I realised that this was not the case. There was a property whereby the man of the house would be become quite poorly. I have many of these stories, but I don’t want to recite them all. On a positive note, one extremely lucky address comes to mind whereby the occupants, in fact three in a row, became multi millionaires in not too short a time. Big brand names that we all know and love! Or the house that people in disharmony moved into to find things improving dramatically. Since my endeavours into the realms of metaphysics and quantum energy I understand a few things but certainly wouldn’t claim to have discovered the mysteries of life and the universe, but what I have discovered is that spaces where people have lived seem to be powerful generators for change, there seems to be a direct correlation between your environment and your situations, health, successes and luck in life. Behind every front door is a story of people's lives that may to some extent play out in yours. But of course we have to ask ourselves why have I been drawn to this house? and it's not just for the large garden or the sink being the right height! It's a matter of your vibration and the vibration of the property. Matter, substance and consciousness vibrating together, a huge subject for another time… However, what I would like to get across is the importance of clearing your home, yourself and the spaces that you work in. I am forever explaining to newly qualified therapists that are setting up therapy rooms in their homes or working in clinics to keep their spaces energetically cleared. A lesson that I have had to learn myself over many years. Don’t we all know on some level how we feel when we walk into a space, weather it be a house, a place of worship, a theatre, a museum, or somewhere where atrocities have taken place? we don’t always know perhaps with what senses we are feeling it, but we feel it! That’s the energy that is lingering and speaking to us on a vibrational level. So, let's make your space a happy one to live in and fill it with good vibes! Smudge sticks are available from our shop in Radlett, Hertfordshire, or you may have a local new age shop that stocks them or a favourite online supplier of esoteric products. Wherever they are from… Get Smudging! In Joy! love and blessings Dana x

Following the Autumn Equinox on the 23rd September, is now a good time for psychic reflection. Increasingly people choose to review the year in September as a time of new beginnings, with the start of the school year and the end of summer. So how can you review your life choices and look and the changes and improvements you wish to make in your life? Tarot and psychic readings can be really powerful tools here to review your life goals. Or maybe you know that something needs to change, but you just aren't sure what it is. Our team of diverse and experienced telephone psychic readers are waiting at the end of the phone for your call. You might have specific questions prepared, or you might be looking for spiritual guidance. Apart from the days and nights being the same length, how else can you recognise the Autumn Equinox? Consider Your Resolutions Reflect and review the year to date and what your goals are for the next 12 months. Write down your achievements and your desires for the future. Is it love, career or family? All specialisms of our fantastic psychic readers as well as more. Celebrate the Pumpkin The origin of pumpkins on your doorstep come from the pagan tradition of Autumnal Equinox altars. Not from pesky children begging for sweets! Placing a pumpkin or squash or maybe a wreath on your doorstep allows you to embrace the changing season and welcome the winter. Don't wait until Halloween, plus they make a lovely display. Embrace the spirit of change. Listen to Yourself Love and tune into yourself, what is your inner voice telling you? Maybe you need to slow down abit more, or really appreciate the time that you can spend outdoors in the fading sunshine. Consider a clear out, in the past this would allow you space for your winter provisions. The Autumn equinox is celebrated in many different ways around the world, from druids meeting at Stonehenge to a Chinese harvest festival However you chose to honour the Autumn Equinox, don't let it pass you by. Consider your past and your future and what your needs are. Make it a time for you. Our psychic readers are waiting for you to guide you forwards.

As one of our most popular blogs on the site, we wanted to update and re-share with you. In a time of such upheaval in the world, making your home your haven, has never been more important. House blessings are as old as the hills, an ancient tradition used all over the world to invite positive energy into your home. In Buddhism, a ceremony known as Khan Ban Mai is performed when a new house is built to protect the house and all that dwell there, the house blessing ceremony is traditionally performed by a group of nine monks, who must be invited to the house early on the morning of the ceremony. The ritual they perform consists of sacred lustral water and wax candles. As the wax melts and drops into the water, it is believed to wash away evil and sorrow. The monks also chant prayers to protect the house and its inhabitants. An Islamic blessing. Muslim people conduct a house blessing mainly by reading prayers. There is usually no official ceremony that needs to be performed, but certain prayers and traditions are recommended. A Hindu house blessing varies greatly according to different regions. However, across all regions the house blessing is performed on the morning that the new owners move in. A Hindu priest performs the ceremony. On the day (in some regions) the homeowners supply a tray of gifts, such as mango leaves, raw washed rice, ghee, coins, fruit, flowers and spices. This gift tray is called Dakshina. During the ceremony the house owners will sit in their best clothes in front of the fireplace and recite mantras. The priest will usually recite a prosperity prayer to the Hindu gods, asking for prosperity and serenity to be bestowed upon the house and all who reside there. There are many Jewish traditions when moving into a new house. Jewish families are required to fix a mezuzah to each doorway of the home, inside the mezuzah there are Hebrew phrases from the Torah (Bible) As the mezuzah is installed a prayer is recited. It is also believed that a Tuesday is the best day for moving into a new home and that bread and salt should be the first items to enter the house. Sometimes a Chanukat Habayit, or housewarming party is held, where friends and family gather and words from the Torah are spoken. The blessing of a Christian household is an old tradition found in Protestant, orthodox and Roman catholic churches amongst others. The blessing may be performed by an ordained priest or pastor. Normally the priest will walk from room to room sprinkling each with holy water and may recite some passages from the holy Gospel. The Native American house blessing is very much associated with the use of sacred smoke dried plants, the calling of spirits and chant. Very much as I have described in my previous smudging blog, but of course you could research this further and include the further use of the four directions etc. One of the greatest things I feel about practising the old pagan ways or Wiccan is that it empowers its practitioners to bestow blessings upon others, themselves and their surroundings. Just as a priest or minister will say a prayer on behalf of another in order to bring about a sense of well-being and peace. Witches and pagans can do much the same. They are practised at tapping into divine energy and directing its positive influence to the home, family or friends. When clearing and blessing a space they will make use of many things, Sage, Herbs, incense, water, drums, bells or singing bowls. A broom for sweeping negative energy away, empowered candles and salt. A ritual and the words of a blessing upon the home and those that live there will take place, often in every room as well as the outside spaces to usher in peace, harmony, health and prosperity, love and protection, sometimes a God, Goddess or divine spirit will be called upon to invoke that particular energy to the space. My house blessing I suppose you could say that I have adapted different traditions to achieve what feels right for me and you can too, there is no wrong way or right way, it’s all about the intention. It’s definitely what allows you to feel satisfied that you have created an energetically positive space for you, your family and pets to dwell in, a space that embodies your love and greatest intention for all that is happy, healthy, and good. I like to think that the heart of my home resonates with my heart. I think that I have already mentioned this on my smudging blog, but just to remind you… The first part of blessing any place be it the home, office, therapy room, or even your garage, is to physically clean it. Anybody who knows even a little about feng shui will tell you that clutter and mess are very disruptive to the flow of energy in your home. In addition to blocking the flow of positive energy in your environment, clutter actually adds negativity to your space. So after you have de-cluttered cleansed and smudged your space, you will need :- A small tray or plate. A white votive candle or Tealight (fire element) A little bowl or egg cup of salt or earth (earth element) An incense stick, frankincense is good but anything will do (air element) A little bowl or egg cup of water (water element) A few flowers or petals in the water to encompass the spirit of nature. Now you can choose to do this on your own, or you can gather the family together and ask them to choose a poem or a passage each, that they would like to recite that carries a positive or loving message, or you could invite like-minded friends over to have a housewarming ceremony. This could be performed for a new home, or to change the energy where you are already living, to refresh the energy, to lift the vibration because there has been divorce, illness, sadness, feeling blocked or just lacking spiritual lustre . This is what I mean about working with this in your own way. I always make a house blessing in the spring, along with a good spring clean, why not get your home energetically clean too! You could play some gentle music in the background or work in silence. Once you have assembled the elements of earth, air, fire and water on your tray and anything else you would like to add to the tray that might be meaningful to you, you’re ready to begin. I would always say my blessing prayer as I light the white candle, but of course write your own if you wish to or adapt mine, you may well have an Angel, God, Goddess, Deity, or another energy that you wish to invoke, it could be more than one or two, it’s entirely up to you. Some people also like to call in there ancestors. The reason that I like to symbolise the four elements on my tray is that the universe was formed by the four elements, for each contain their own unique properties, which works simultaneously to create one United universe. The Earth, stable and reliable, constantly working and moving. Air is constantly in motion, even though you can’t see it. Fire, provides heat and light but it cannot exist on its own. Water, constantly flowing, cleansing and moving the energy around it. So bringing these elements into the home I feel are symbolic of connecting with the natural world and all that is. There are many house blessing prayers, this is the one that feels right for me, but as I said earlier research others, or write one that resonates for you. As I light the candle I say… “I call upon the Divine spirit, celestial realms and my ancestors. Please be present here as the guardians of this home. In lighting this candle I summon love, health, happiness, harmony, peace, positivity, success and abundance. I ask that this space be a sacred home for us, our children, and our pets. May those that visit our home feel the love and peace that reside here. I ask that this home be shielded from any negative energy entering this space. Thank you for bringing your divine light, energy and love into our hearts and our home in it’s entirety. I release this prayer to the universe with love, faith and gratitude AND SO IT IS! ” I then walk into every room with my tray, blessing every room with a few more words that feel appropriate. I often touch the walls when I do this to really add my energy and love to my home. I am effectively imbuing the bricks and mortar with my energy and intentions. You will feel an enormous difference in your home if you keep it cleansed by smudging it regularly and blessing it. When people come to my home, I often receive lovely comments about how peaceful, comfortable and restful it feels. And the same is true of my shop. Crystal Salt Lamps and crystals (see my blog on Salt Lamps) will also help to keep your home free from emf’s (electro magnetic field or force) Likewise using an essential oil diffuser is a great way to create a natural relaxing atmosphere with many health benefits depending on what oils you choose. I hope that you will enjoy the ritual of blessing your home, please make sure that you do the cleansing and smudging ritual beforehand, as the two go hand in hand. I am sure that you and your family and not forgetting your pets, will benefit greatly and you will experience how powerful these practises can be and the positive affects that can be brought about. You will be taking control of your space, instead of whatever old energy is hanging around in it from years gone by. Charging it with your love, attention and intension can work wonders! In Joy! Dana x If you are sharing this blog, please be mindful to share the message in its entirety 2023 Dana Morgan/Destiny Rising. All right reserved

May is upon us with its promise of warmer days and our beloved earth is making ready to bloom! A most powerful full moon is also with us today offering up its flow of guidance and wisdom. Receive this transmission by sitting in peace and stillness. Open your heart to the divine and listen… Hear the communication that will be offered to you this day, remain present and feel the presence of this beautiful full moon vibration. Be open to receive the blessings and clarity and direction for your spiritual growth for the year ahead. Let us offer up our intentions for love and goodness to flow from our hearts to every soul on our planet and seep deeply into the soil where our Mother Earth resides and collectively, let us visualise a world where harmony, peace, truth and wisdom restore the balance that we so dearly desire and need. With Love Dana ♥️

Beautiful Aura Quartz crystals are prized for their ability to expand your consciousness and bring about healing to your physical, as well as spiritual body with their extraordinarily high vibrations. Aura Crystals are created through a technique which electrostatically bonds precious metals and minerals to the surface of real quartz crystal creating a magical iridescent coloured layer. Clear Quartz is already an extremely powerful crystal, known as the master healer and an energy amplifier, it absorbs, stores, releases and regulates energies. Quartz is the good all rounder for any condition, as it stimulates your immune and energy systems to bring them into balance. Enhanced further by precious metals, Aura Quartz has additional healing attributions depending on which precious mineral is used. Clear Quartz, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Quartz Geodes or other types of crystals are placed into a vacuum chamber and heated to over 800°C at which point a vapour of precious metal(s) is added, which then coats the crystal and its atoms bond to the surface. There is a risk involved in this process as crystals with fracture lines within the structure do not always survive. The coloured iridescent metallic sheen of the crystal and its new properties are defined by the precious metal that is used in the vapour. The most common precious metals that coat the Crystals to increase their energies and glow with colour are Silver, Gold, Titanium, platinum, Iron, Magnesium, and Nickel. Each precious metal is then amplified by the quartz crystal that it is bonded to, creating these high vibrational combinations. It’s Magick! Lavender Aura Quartz. Quartz + silver + magnesium + Platinum This combination of magical colours is so joyous to look at. It’s often created on a base of clear quartz or amethyst. It is said to bring about a feeling of wholeness, happiness and joy and enhances meditation and a state of Zen. When used at your Third Eye or Crown Chakras it brings about feelings of spiritual wholeness. Giving you a sense of child-like wonder, it is also said that Lavender Aura Quartz connects you with the spirits of Nature and beings of the Faery Realm. AQUA AURA QUARTZ Quartz + Gold This is a beautiful vivid blue crystal. This crystal holds the key to many forms of empowerment and communication with the self and others. It helps us to feel confident to communicate and speak openly and honestly, so be careful! It allows the Higher Self to come forward. Aqua aura quartz is the icon of the new era of spiritual knowledge. With this stone in your energy fields you may find that you are evolving spiritually, and you may find that you crave more personal time and space to just be with yourself in silence. Aqua Aura Quartz releases negative energies from your auric field, relieving you from stress and in turn bringing inner peace. It’s a crystal that steers your mind, body and spirit back on track if you have strayed from the ideal blueprint of your potential. It reactivates a sluggish immune system and shields you from all kinds of harmful rays, pollution and negative people and situations. Aqua aura enables you to flow with life and to find your own unique path to fulfilment. It stops you merely responding to life and puts you in control of your destiny. It encourages you to take responsibility, to maximise what you can give, and changes the emphasis from measuring success by material wealth to seeking a more ecological and spiritually focused lifestyle. ​ Aqua aura quartz is a powerful tool in clearing communication barriers and allowing healing to occur. It guides you to speak with optimism and authenticity. It’s a powerful stimulator of the throat chakra. When your throat chakra is under-active you lack the ability to communicate clearly. You may find others cannot understand you or misinterpret what you are saying. People may find you unreliable and inconsistent. Telling the truth and even being honest with yourself may be a challenge and the unclear hesitant messages that you give out may have caused you trouble in the past. You may find that dealing with people on a day to day basis is frustrating and feel misunderstood as an individual, leading to a tendency to keep to yourself more and more over time. Wear aqua aura quartz near your throat each day to stimulate the throat chakra. When you are not able to express yourself freely, it can start to manifest physically in your body. A sore throat, laryngitis, tonsillitis, teeth or jaw problems, earache, hearing problems, sinus infections, thyroid problems and sore neck or shoulders may all suggest that you are facing a communication barrier somewhere in your life. ​ ​Once your throat chakra has balanced, aqua aura quartz can help you manifest your desires. This stone adds power to your words bringing them into action and physical manifestation. It will break down closed doors, expand opportunities and attract like minded people. If you live in a household that has severe communication issues, this stone can open the pathways again. Aqua aura quartz also strengthens higher forms of communication. It is good for inspired writing and aiding telepathy. Champagne Aura Quartz + Gold+ Iron Champagne Aura is pale smoky gold in colour and a powerful purifier, removing blockages and allowing inner energy vibrations to become soothed and calm. It also stops negative thinking and repels unwanted energy. Connecting and balancing the chakras from the Sacral Chakra to the Crown Chakra. It helps to activate and connect the Sacral Chakra through to the Crown Chakra. In doing this, Champagne Aura can help to ground higher spiritual ideas into physical reality. Meditating with Champagne Aura can help when working on an issues that rival between the spirit, mind, heart, and instincts, by resolving the conflict that often occurs. Using Champagne Quartz can reconcile all these different perspectives so that the whole solution is achieved. Carry Champagne Aura Quartz when called to fulfil altruistic purposes. Tangerine Aura Gold + Iron Oxide also known as “Sun Aura” is a delicious orange crystal to awaken and free your spirit. It is used to unlock the Third Eye Chakra and stimulate Chi. A healing crystal to use following shock or trauma. The vibration of Tangerine Aura Quartz heals and opens a blocked or unawakened Third Eye Chakra and is extremely supportive for spiritual growth. It's an excellent crystal to use after shock or trauma. It can be used for soul retrieval, integration and past life healing. It is said to provide healing after psychic attack. It can take you beyond a limited belief system to a more positive energy. It facilitates visualisation and provides profound insight by connecting to a higher spiritual force. It also helps clear & focus thoughts to bring a creative solution to problems, grounds spiritual vision and manifests it in your everyday life. Its vibration helps you to be more responsive and uplifts your spirit. It facilitates the ability to face life's challenges with composure & cheerfulness. It can help you to feel more at home in any environment. Promotes a higher sense of self-worth & is beneficial if you are trying to overcome self-esteem issues. Removes blocks to creativity and sexuality. A disperser of dark moods, depression and brings emotional balance to allow your inner beauty to shine through. It's another good crystal that helps attract success and good fortune. An activator that harmonises your Sacrel Chakra and unites and cleanses your three lower Root, Sacral and Solar Plexus Chakras. It’s a good stabilising link between your physical & subtle bodies. Revitalises and recharges cell function and said to help with the assimilation of iron in blood. Angel Aura Quartz + Silver + Platinum This crystal holds an extremely high vibration that can be felt to the touch. It’s a lovely one when we are feeling emotionally stressed, it’s a carrier of joy, happiness and uplifting vibes. It radiates a shield of protection to the aura that provides inner peace and mental clarity. It helps you bring your dreams into reality by pushing you to take action. This heavenly crystal holds a spectrum of gentle rainbow colours connecting us to other realms and universal insights. It’s all about inner peace and enabling you to listen to your intuition. Another highly vibrational combination of quartz and silver and platinum that helps us feel a sense of deep connection to the divinity of our souls. Angel Aura is such a beautiful peaceful stone that brings such positive energy to get us through times of turbulence and those days when we feel overloaded and can’t find a clear head. And a great stone to meditate with. Tanzine Aura Quartz + Indium + Nobium Its deep blue colour also seems to deepen your senses, giving you enhanced abilities to perceive the world around you and giving you subtlety in delicate communications. It clarifies your intuition giving you the confidence to follow your instincts.

There’s a lot of talk about fake crystals at the moment. There seems to be a new practise doing the rounds instigated by popular media platforms like tiktok, youtube and Instagram etc. Where people are instructed to smash crystals with a hammer or try and burn them. And after your findings are false, go and name and shame shops and suppliers. Lovely! It wouldn’t be so alarming if these individuals knew what they are talking about. They have recently found an interest in crystals and now they are evidently experts! So, I want to explain a bit more about real and fake crystals and what to look out for. Yes, these days because of the high demand for crystals there are sadly lots of fake ones on the market. It would seem that most of them are manufactured in China and sometimes not so obvious to spot to the untrained eye. But there are very common things to watch out for. A lot of these crystals end up being sold online, an easy way to pass them off, as you are only coming into contact with them for the first time once you receive them. So firstly, always make sure that you are buying from an established reputable shop or supplier. If crystals are priced ridiculously low this should ring alarm bells, good grade crystals are not cheap, these could be glass. A lot can be seen by looking at a crystal, if it’s colour is overly bright or there is a darker coloured residue collected in any cracks this is not usual for natural crystal, it may well be dyed, but in some cases that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a crystal underneath the dye, it’s just not perhaps what it is labelled to be. We do sell coloured agate slices, small coloured geod’s, bookends and t-light holders, which are pretty much standard stock in most crystal shops. Some people and children like them, as the colours pick out the formations in the stones. Personally they are not my favourites, however they are still offering their healing energies, but are often for aesthetic purposes rather than used for crystal healing and this colouring is quite obvious as they are often a vivid pink, purple, green and blue. Blue howlite is a dyed crystal, white howlite is it’s natural form. also known as Turqurenite. This is one that is often found being passed off as Turquoise, (We do sell turqurenite, the kids like it, but it’s not parading as turquoise in the shop. Real Turquoise is quite expensive, so anything that seems to be too good to be true re the price, probably is! Most cheap jewellery that looks like turquoise is often plastic painted to mimic turquoise, but it’s usually quite obvious. If it’s dyed howlite it can be trickier. The thing is that if you are paying a lot for something that is meant to be turquoise then even I might take a little acetone and give it a rub somewhere unnoticeable to see if any colour is removed. Blue goldstone is man made, it contains flecks of of copper which is a great conductor and does non the less hold some healing properties. Glass Opalite is an artificial crystal designed to mimic the appearance of the October birthstone, natural opal, which is forged organically out of volcanic ash. While Opalite is usually composed of a mixture of glass and metal and sometimes other elements. There is a natural Opalite which shares the same basic chemical properties of Opal. It is made of tiny spheres of silicon dioxide, which stack onto one another in a pyramid shape. Natural Opalite is often referred to as “common Opal” to prevent it from being confused for glass Opalite. This man-made stone’s aesthetic appeal may go without saying and whats more, glass opalite is far more affordable and easier to track down than organic opal, which is only found in nature and is therefore quite expensive. In 1974, chemist Pierre Gilson identified the clear spherical atomic structure of organic opal, enabling manufacturers to replicate it more accurately in a laboratory setting, thus mimicking the same helpful energetic properties. Opalite is the trade name for this man-made opalescent glass. It is also known as Argenon, Sea Opal and Opal Moonstone. It displays a beautiful, sky blue milky iridescence that symbolises clear thinking and new beginnings. Now it would also be easy for certain other crystals that have been treated in one way or another to be labelled as a fake! When I say fake crystals, I mean coloured glass or resin or plastic concoctions. There are many real crystals that have been treated with heat or dipped to amplify or enhance their energy. This is what I call modern day alchemy. Anything with ‘Aura’ after the name has been through a particular process. The crystal is left with an undeniably beautiful iridescence that comes in many luscious shades. Aura coatings are fine metallic coatings which have been vapour deposited onto the crystal at a high temperature in a vacuum chamber by electrostatic charge. Some of the metallics used in this process are gold, silver, platinum and titanium. Many crystals can be enhanced in this way, but often it is bonded to natural quartz, amethyst and lately rose quartz. The crystal is now emitting a whole new set of energies by amplifying the energy of the metal coatings. These ‘Aura’ crystals are now holding an even higher vibration and doing a wonderful job. They should be cleansed gently and not subjected to any harsh treatment or chemicals. (For a list of Aura quartz and their energies, please go to my separate Blog) The Mohs Scale. The Mohs hardness scale was developed by a German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1812. The scale consists of 10 readily available minerals of particular hardness varying from soft minerals all the way up to the hard minerals such as diamonds. the scale is used to compare the scratch resistance of a mineral against common materials such as glass, in order to measure the hardness. There are many other tools available but the Mohs scale has been used world wide for its simplicity. However it is not always a true and perfect reflection. Even if a crystal score is high on the Mohs scale this does not mean that the crystal won’t break, even a diamond which scores 10 on the Mohs scale and even though a diamond is the hardest gemstone on Earth, if it is hit at a certain angle it can fracture and break. The stone relies on its internal structure, some crystal formed Gemstones are weaker due to inclusions within the stone, again if a stone is knocked at a particular angle it can be chipped or fractured. So even a crystal high on the Mohs scale still depends on its internal structure. Other things to consider are elements such as Light, heat and chemicals which can change the colour or even break them. Citrine and amethyst are both sensitive to light and if exposed for long periods of time can lose their colour and become dull, which is why we don’t put them in our shop window. Temperature is also something to consider, sudden temperature changes can cause thermal shock, causing fractures and cracks. So stop trying to burn crystals, it’s horrible! If you want to see if it’s resin or plastic knock it gently against your teeth, you will feel the difference, or hold it up to the light to look for unnatural bubbles, this is possibly glass. Also the plastic resins weigh less than crystal, they are pretty obvious. This from one of my suppliers of many years:- If you make a fire on a flint beach, the flint (which is the same chemical formula as quartz) will certainly crack and shatter. There are several ways to test real quartz, in particular…. If you hold it in a flame it may shatter, but what it won’t do if it’s real is melt or distort. It will actually scratch glass because it is harder. It will not contain any small bubbles, which fake quartz (i.e. glass) often will. What about Citrine.. Citrine is quite a bit more pricey in its natural state and less readily available, especially as demands have increased. The majority of citrine on the market is heat-treated, it starts off as amethyst and is then heated in a kiln to high temperatures until it changes colour. Why do this… Amethyst is very common and affordable, so to supply the market with the demands of citrine, a lot of it is heat-treated by temperatures that cause the molecular structure and the quartz crystal lattice to change into citrine in the same way that would be done by nature. If you were to put absolute natural citrine next to a particularly (and I mean a particularly obvious one) obvious bright orange heated one there would usually be quite a difference. Often the heated variety has a white base or white areas, which natural Citrine doesn’t display. But sometimes it can indeed be difficult to tell as the copy cat manufactures advance their techniques to fool the general public. Natural citrine produces pale and light yellow shades or depending on where it’s from it could be darker yellow verging on brown shades it could even resemble smokey quartz. Not all citrine is produced from only amethyst, smoky quartz can also be heated. We carry both heated and natural in the shop, but we make this clear. For those using citrine for healing practices, whether they are heated by mother Earth or heated up another way the energy spectrum of natural citrine and heat-treated amethyst bears only slight variants. The most touted theory is that it can be differentiated by sight alone, which is not always accurate these days. Those within the scholarly gemmology community argue about the validity of on-sight identification. If those who are experts and immersed fully in the gem community have arguments about validating real citrine by sight alone, what makes you think social media crystal Newbie’s (desperate for clicks!) trying to get noticed, are going to be able to tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt what is real or not? There are simply loads of controversies, half-truths, and sensationalism when it comes to the debate about real citrine verses fake heat-treated amethyst. We've all seen the sensationalised images on social media, promising to call out the fake citrine and alluding to the fact that the crystal community has duped you. While that makes for great click’s and subscriptions from unsuspecting crystal enthusiasts, looking for information, it's not that black and white! When you get past the online bull-sh*t and you dig into the subject from a geological standpoint, you’ll see that there are people long-vetted in the community who have difficulty telling the difference between real and fake citrine. The bottom line for crystal healers and those using citrine for crystal healing practices is.. whether heated by Mother Earth or heated in the mines, the energy spectrum of natural citrine and heat-treated amethyst bears only slight variance. They both start life as quartz and share similar properties at a molecular level. Your real citrine, even if heat-treated, will still provide the full range of crystal healing properties attributed to citrine. Rest assured, nothing changes whether Mother Earth heats it or not, and you don't need to worry yourself or become anxious that you've been tricked. Why isn't it labeled then ‘heat treated’? Unless you have an unbroken chain of provenance from the time your specimen was mined until it came to be in your hand, there isn't any way for you to tell whether your citrine gemstone wasn't heated somewhere along the way. That is the long and short of the it, and that is what is so polarising about the topic. Social media posts and gem sites may proclaim they have the beginning and end of all evidence. But at the centre of the story is where you find the truth. How can you tell if real citrine was created by the warmth of Mother Earth, or if someone treated it after it was mined? This lack of evidence from the mine to the vendor selling your citrine is why most hesitate to claim their citrine is natural or heat-treated undeniably. Citrine itself, even when natural, can be heat-treated! Citrine, amethyst, and smoky quartz are gems that can be heat-treated and sold as "Real Citrine." There are so many theories from people who can debate the topic of these crystals from a scientific standpoint and they are still arguing the validity to this day! Lol For instance, there is the proposed method of using polarised light to test the dichroic properties of the stones. If you put polarising light to smoky quartz or natural citrine gemstones, it shouldn't change its hue, but heat-treated amethyst would. While it might aid in identifying, you can find reputable sources that refute this method. Some may say that depending on where it was sourced will depend on whether or not that method works. It sounds like a dichotomy doesn’t it! I say.. Just Find the Stone That Speaks to You If you love the stones, if they speak to you, then love them for the gorgeous, beautiful creations that they are. So, when it comes to real citrine verses fake citrine, it isn't fraud when it's a genuine gemstone. Whether it's citrine heated by the Earth, citrine heated to improve its colour saturation, amethyst heated by the Earth, amethyst heated by the miners, or heated smoky quartz, if it speaks to you and you love it and feel its vibration then welcome it home. No matter how your citrine came to be citrine, it works the same for crystal healing if it's a genuine gemstone, not resin, plastic, or glass. As most of you know I have been running my shop for 25 years, way prior to crystals being popular and previously I sold crystals in markets. In all of those years I have used the same handful of crystal suppliers who have also been in business for 25 years or more, in fact one of them has been supplying crystals for over 30 years. These companies are absolutely committed to supplying genuine crystals directly from sources that they have had long standing relationships with. Their philosophy is the same as mine.. sell good graded crystals from a reliable source with integrity. One such company supplies the British museum and many other such establishments Therefore I know without any doubt that my crystals are not only genuine, but are afforded the respect of the people that are handling them. Mostly every thing in my shop has a back story that helps someone somewhere. Fair trade products, companies that are none profit making, lots that donate a percentage of their profits to very worthy causes all over the globe, plant trees, keep their manufacturing footprint low or zero. So I hope that you will buy from us with the knowledge that you are purchasing your crystals, tools and treasures from a reliable source. And that there will be no need to smash crystals with a hammer or burn them…. Thank you for reading and I hope that this information has been helpful. Love and blessings Dana x

This week we have the dual amplified energies of the spring equinox (Ostara) which was yesterday the 20th and the new moon in Aries today the 21st. So, there is so much for us to celebrate! And so much transformation available right now if we can take our own bull by the horns so to speak. We are all guilty at times of just plodding along, bemoaning all that doesn’t work for us. This is exact right time to change all of this. We all have an internal antenna that is giving us important messages, if we listen. Stop for 20 minutes out of your busy day sit in the silence away from the chaotic din and listen to what it is telling you. This is the time to take advantage of the energies of the equinox and new moon energies. Everyone talks about planting new seeds in the garden as spring is officially here, but let’s plant new seeds within ourselves. Let’s declutter our thoughts, cleanse the past that we continually drag along with us and really embrace our authentic higher selves, the parts of us that can offer the truth about what we truly desire and come into alignment with that that will make us happy and find new ways to power up our intentions instead of just talking about them! We have been through so many crazy struggles this past few years. Some of us have questioned the truth and felt deceIved. This is a time to take action to step into our own power and work towards what we really want to achieve, personally and within our communities and indeed the world. Sadly, sometimes our authentic selves become lost underneath the pressures of what is constantly being projected at us. This is the time to break free of illusion, we are all children of the universe, and it is our birthright to be amazing! To manifest the best life for ourselves by our own choices. We have chosen this life here on earth to not simply be a sheep, but to grow, evolve and expand our souls as we learn and bloom into the magnificent beings that we were meant to be. So let us make the most of this time to ask for signs and then watch out for them. We always have the ability to transform if you seriously choose to. Ask your higher self, your angels, your guides and loved ones in spirit to shine a light for you to follow and then get busy making the changes that you desire by practising your skills and gifts effectively. The fiery RAM is here to help you remove blockages and old outmoded habits and beliefs that no longer serve you. Out with the old and in with the new magical energies that are at your disposal. Give yourself a big loving hug and connect with Mother Earth with your bare feet, cleanse and re-energise your crystals, feed your earthly body nourishment, fuel your mind every night with some positive meditations and get the old programmes that have defined you OUT of your subconscious, because if you don’t know this, this is where you hold every piece of information and belief about yourself that may well be very misleading and has governed your life thus far and been nothing but a hindrance to your future you. Clear the clutter from your home but more importantly from your mind. Treat yourself to some vibrant spring flowers for your home to remind yourself that we are all part of the turning seasons of life and that spring brings the promise of renewal to nature and ourselves. If you choose to make the best use of this incredible energy it will indeed make all the magical difference! I’m sending you all a beautiful light ball full of l♥️VE Dana x

Wherever you are in your journey for love we at Destiny Rising are here for you. With the impending arrival of Valentine's or the growing Galentine's or Single's Day, there is a place for everyone. We've all been there on Valentine's Day when we don't have a special someone to spend the day with. So, if this is you, you might want to ask the tarot cards what they have in store for you, to find the love of your life? Tarot is an amazing tool for understanding the love in your life, every aspect of love and relationships can be reflected by the tarot cards. Whether you are looking for love, in a steady relationship, or things aren't going well. Plus, don't forget the relationship aspect of Galentine's and how you work on your friendships. In these increasingly difficult times, we all know how important our friends are. When you are thinking about a tarot reading with one of our phone tarot readers, it's always good to have a think about what you would like to get from your tarot reading. Here's some ideas from our tarot readers of things you could be thinking about for a love and relationships reading. What do you need from your life right now, what is your focus? What are you putting out into the universe, is this positive or negative? Could you be doing things to brighten others' lives? Are there things that you could stop doing, that could be sending negative signals? How do you delight and surprise people? Relationships are so much about positive energy, so by putting lots of love and delight out there, you can welcome it back into your heart. If you are already in a relationship and are looking to review it, we suggest having a think about what you are both contributing to the relationship and also what you might both be holding back from it. Don't be looking for it to be even as relationships change over time, so please bear that in mind, it's not a competition! Relationship goals are important, so that you are both looking forward. Maybe a tarot reading could be a good opportunity to check that your goals are in a similar direction and you're not pulling in opposite poles? The overall outcome of your relationship is an important thing to consider, do you want to stay close to family, travel the world or more to the coast, hopefully you agree with each other. In lockdown, friendships have never been more important. However, you may have found yourself feeling more overwhelmed. In alot of our readings we have heard from our clients that they have struggled to connect with some friends and are not sure why. Maybe you would like to review your friendships with a tarot reading? Has the lockdown affected a key friendship, or have your paths just changed and it's time to move on? Remember the phrase 'friends are for a season, a reason or a lifetime'. How would you categorise your friendships and which would you like to celebrate this Galentine's Day? A phone tarot reading could give you the clarity you are looking for. Whatever your relationship status is this February, celebrate it with a tarot reading from Destiny Rising.