Crystals and gemstones have amazing holistic healing abilities and can be used for many applications such as meditation, reiki, and chakra clearing and balancing. With a little practice and intuition, anyone can interpret the immediate characteristics of a stone. For example, red is the colour of action and red stones can invigorate and enliven in the same way that the blood in your body gives you life. Amethyst is a good crystal for protection against all sorts of negative energy. It expands the mind, encouraging creativity, intuition, and calm. Rose quartz is a beautiful crystal for love, compassion, tolerance, and radical self-love. Citrine is the prosperity crystal. It attracts abundance, as well as boosting your self-esteem! Hematite protects against negativity. Its mirrored surface deflects other people’s moods and bad vibes.

Sherri Versluis, www.thepreferredperch.ca