Tuesday, June 24, 2014

How much is that doggie in the window? Or, tell me about Dalmation Jasper

One of the new stones that came to the shop in the last shipment is Dalmatian Jasper. Dalmatian Jasper, which is not truly jasper, is also known as Dalmatian Stone. Dalmatian Jasper is a mix of quartz & feldspar (true jasper is a form of chalcedony), with the spots being Black or Brown Tourmaline. So what does this cute little puppy do? Well, lets find out, shall we?

As part of your journey in life, you may come across many loving and wonderful people, unfortunately, you will most likely come across some not so fantastic individuals and they may have done you wrong in one way or another.  Dalmatian Jasper can ease the feeling of needing revenge on these less that stellar folks and it can also help you break down the protective barriers you have oh so lovingly placed around yourself.  As you may or may not realize, these barriers that once protected you can also keep you from your full potential, therefore its best to work on removing them.  This stones vibration helps with trust issues which is why the barriers usually stay up as long as they do.

Do you  remember what it was like when you were a child and got to play with puppies? Well if you never had that experience, imagine for a moment if you will, what a happy, playful feeling it must have been.  Dalmation Stone can bring back that childlike joy and playfulness back to your life (which can also make taking down barriers easier too...just sayin')  Bringing those playful energies back to your life also means being in a better mood, therefore I would say this is a nice stone to have when you are feeling like a sourpuss.

This stone also lets you recognize that which no longer serves you, or what you have outgrown, and allow you to let it go, such as guilt, old thought patterns and the way you look at the world. When you let go of those thoughts and patterns it will be easier to have fun, and find faith in yourself and others once again, especially with those that are close to your heart, much like the loyalty of...wait for it...a dog. Ohhh, dalmations...they are...yes, I get it now (wink)

So I had mentioned that the spots are Black or Brown Tourmaline. The energy of Black Tourmaline is spiritually grounding and aids in psychic protection. Brown Tourmaline, also known as Dravide, is also grounding by clearing and opening the Earth Chakra. It helps with community spirit and allows you to feel comfortable in a group setting. Sorta like belonging to a pack...of dogs perhaps, hmmm.

Well, I could go on and on about this stone, but I think I might save that for another day. Have you had an experience with it that I either mentioned or is different from what I've written about? Please feel free to share your experiences in the comment section below or post your story to my shop facebook page. Do you have any Dalmatian Jasper in your collection? If not, you can easily pick one up from my shop.  Not local to me? Send me a message and we can arrange to have it shipped to you.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Mercury, you spin me right round baby

Mercury Retrograde is still upon us and will be until very early July (1st or 2nd).  Some people tend to not be so fond of MR and for good reason.

photo borrowed from bluelightlady.com

If you read my post from 2013 about Mercury Retrograde you will get an understanding of why many folks would rather hide in a cave and wait it out.  But like I said in that post, it doesn't have to be that bad and this time around, at least for me, it hasn't been. Aside from a few computer glitches here and there and noticing on occasion when I am talking to someone the conversation coming from my end feels a bit awkward, its actually been nice.

Keeping in mind that when in MR we have an opportune time for things such as reflection, revisit projeccts that have been sitting undone, cleaning house (mental/emotional) and so on.


I embraced the energy of the MR phase this time around and got stuff done, and am still doing it.  It has meant hard work, going withing and facing truths I didnt want to face. Dealing with issues I would rather have ignored and told my self, 'I will get to it later' knowing damn well later never gets here. However, getting it out as uncomfortable as the process may have been was well worth it. My channels are clearer, intuition is heightened and things in my life have a better flow.

image borrowed from revmdavis.blogspot.com


I made decisions about the shop which also meant hard physical work.  I rearranged the shop (with help that I am super thankful for,(check out my Collective We post), got rid of clutter and ended up with an even more beautiful shop with a better flow.  

image borrowed from huffington post and an article about going with the flow, check it out here


So now let me ask you this, the point of this post, how YOU are making out?  Are you taking this time to reflect? Are you being proactive and getting things done you have been putting off? Are you using this energy wisely?  If not, that is okay too.  It's your life after all and you ultimately decide what to do with it.

Anyway, please feel free to comment and share how you get through MR phases.  Life is so much more enjoyable when we help each other out.  Reading about our experiences and sharing what we do can be more helpful that you may realize.  Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and if you felt so inclined, sharing yours.

~Namaste

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Criss Cross Apple Sauce...what? This lady is crazy...

How did you like that title? Did it get your attention? Good, then it did its job, lets move on.

So, for those of you that know me, I am a total crystal geek and hands down, the crystal section is my favorite part of my store.
For those of you that don't know me, congratulations, you have now been brought up to speed.  :)

Anyway, because I love crystals so much, that is the section that grows the most around here.  Every time I put in an order for stones I try to add at least two or more new varieties to the mix, which brings me to the point of today's article.  Chiastolite, or the Cross Stone.

Ohhh, now the title is making a little more sense. :)

Chiastoite, which like I said is known as the Cross Stone, and is also known as Andalusite (but is a little different) and is a totally new stone to me and the collection here at A Moment of Zen.  Lets learn about it together shall we?

From what my research is telling me, this little cutie packs quite a powerful protective punch! It was used by the ancients to ward off ill wishes and curses (kinda sounds like the evil eye, doesnt it), and carries with it a highly protective vibration. This type of protection is good when venturing out of the body or doing any kind of psychic activity.

Because of this high vibration, it is excellent to pair with other high vibrational stones (ex; Herkimer diamonds, Moldavite, Super Seven, Pink Danburite) to give you that boost into the higher spiritual realms. This enables you to learn about the Akashic records, and flying as high as a kite (wink wink) while remaining grounded.  Sounds contradictory, I know, but what it is doing is stimulating both the base and crown chakras simultaneously. Pretty neat huh.

Mentally, Chastolite is a good stone to keep on hand to help combat stress.  Because it has a very friendly (yet powerful) vibration, it is also good to help with anxiety and depression.  Almost like having a friend comforting you. Not too shabby for a "rock".

I have yet to take some time to check out Chiastolite for myself since it just came in yesterday. I am looking forward to exploring what other magical and mysterious properies it has hidden within.

Have you experienced this stone? Let me know what it was like for you.  Share your experience by commenting on this blog or going to my facebook page and telling your story there. Need a piece of Chiastolite to explore for yourself? Come on down to A Moment of Zen in Salem, NJ and get one, they are quite affordable!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

The Collective We and a Thank You

The collective 'We'? Huh?

For the most part, I, Eden, run A Moment of Zen by myself.  I spend most days here on my own doing the daily store activities and coming up with new ideas and dreams for the shop.  Okay, so what?  What is the point?  Why am I writing any of this? Well, I wanted to take a moment and mention the collective 'We' and offer some clarification and insight.

So who is this 'We' I keep mentioning? I've said it a few times in this article, and almost every time I post on facebook, twitter, google+, etc... Who on earth am I talking about and why should you care?  Well, if you are reading this, you are most likely part of the collective 'We' that helps make A Moment of Zen what it is.  This mysterious group of individuals consists of many. Whether it is someone that has volunteered their time in the shop as an associate, or someone that helped me move things around, you are part of the 'We'.  Although not a permanat member of my team, or holding any financial interest or claims to this business, you have been instrumental in making this place what it is and continues to be.  If you made some awesome graphics, offered advice on product placement, helped me find this location, or just plain ol took out my trash, you helped. 

If you are still reading and wondering again, why should I care? Why is she writing this?  To get down to the nitty gritty, it is to say thank you.  Whether you were here for a while or a fleeting moment, your presence made a difference.  Some interactions were amazing and some were harsh lessons, but none the less they sculpted this business and continue to help it grow.

If you are a customer and have done nothing more that browse and shop, don't think even for a second that you are ever unappreciated. Although not necessarily a part of this 'We' (though some of you are), you are the life blood of any business and to not acknowledge you is an invitation to failure.  All my customers are valued with high regard. I thank you and appreciate you more than you ever will know. 

So to wrap it up, yes, I am the sole owner and operator of A Moment of Zen, but, with lots of behind the scenes wonderful folks, sharing their time and energy to help make this place possible. For that I am eternally thankful.