Crystal Arts & Health Blog

Crystal Arts & Health Blog

Welcome everyone to the blog of Crystal Arts & Health Topics that will be covered are Crystal Healing, Herbalism, Yoga, Music, Poetry, The Arts and activities of Crystal Arts & Health http://www.crystalartsandhealth.org.uk/

For those with a Kindle this blog can be located at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FQJHC4

New Online Crystal Healing training course is available at http://crystalartsandhealth.coggno.com/shop

My book Crystal Healing & The Chakra System has recently been published. It covers the Chakra system, Crystal identification and uses, making crystal essences and meditation with crystals.

I am an Herbalist and Crystal Healing Practitioner and have a line of products Crystal Essence TM that combine, aromatherapy, herbal products and crystal essences for "Holistic Wellbeing for Auric & Physical Body"

See http://www.crystalartsandhealth.org.uk/ for the new Autumn/Winter Catalogue and for the new products in the e-shop. We have started making shaving soaps, solid shampoo soaps, and baby products and there are lots of new fun shapes for soaps, perfect for gift bags and wedding and event favours.

Crystal Healing

Sunstone – Uplifting. Happiness stone, self-expression, artistic, warming, energizing, energy of sun, useful in meditation.

Herbalism

Emollient – remedies that soften, soothe and protect skin.

Plantain Greater (Plantago major) Parts used: leaves or aerial parts.

Actions: Expectorant, demulcent, astringent, diuretic

Ideal for coughs, mild bronchitis, (gentle expectorant, soothes sore membranes) aids in diarrhea, hemorrhoids, (ointment can be made for treatment of hemorrhoids and cuts) cystitis with bleeding.

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum)

Part used: ripe seeds

Actions: demulcent, anti-tussive, laxative, emollient

Useful for chest infections, especially with catarrh, (combines well with mustard) poultice in pleurisy, boils, carbuncles, shingles, psoriasis (combines well with marshmallow root and slippery elm)

To make a poultice (plant material is used for a poultice, a compress uses gauze soaked in a hot infusion) with dried herbs, mix with hot water or apple cider vinegar to make into paste, put a covering of olive oil onto skin if applying directly to skin or put mixture into a piece of muslin, a hot water bottle can be placed on poultice to keep it warm.

As a purgative it relieves constipation.

Yoga

Relaxation Techniques

Relaxing in silence – it will soothe nerves and relieve stresses of daily life and recharge the senses.

Quiet Time

For mental and physical well being it is important to set aside time each day when you are able to sit peacefully by yourself, read, listen to inspirational music, use the mind in a focused, but relaxing activity.

Poetry

Old and New Year Ditties

Christina Rossetti (1862)

1
New Year met me somewhat sad:
Old Year leaves me tired,
Stripped of favourite things I had
Baulked of much desired:
Yet farther on my road to-dayGod willing,
farther on my way.

New Year coming on apace
What have you to give me?
Bring you scathe, or bring you grace,
Face me with an honest face;
You shall not deceive me:
Be it good or ill, be it what you will,
It needs shall help me on my road,
My rugged way to heaven, please God.

2
Watch with me, men, women, and children dear,
You whom I love, for whom I hope and fear,
Watch with me this last vigil of the year.
Some hug their business, some their pleasure-scheme;
Some seize the vacant hour to sleep or dream;
Heart locked in heart some kneel and watch apart.

Watch with me blessèd spirits, who delight
All through the holy night to walk in white,
Or take your ease after the long-drawn fight.
I know not if they watch with me: I know
They count this eve of resurrection slow,
And cry, “How long?” with urgent utterance strong.

Watch with me Jesus, in my loneliness:
Though others say me nay, yet say Thou yes;
Though others pass me by, stop Thou to bless.Yea,
Thou dost stop with me this vigil night;
To-night of pain, to-morrow of delight:
I, Love, am Thine; Thou, Lord my God, art mine.

3

Passing away, saith the World, passing away:
Chances, beauty and youth sapped day by day:
Thy life never continueth in one stay.
Is the eye waxen dim, is the dark hair changing to grey
That hath won neither laurel nor bay?
I shall clothe myself in Spring and bud in May:
Thou, root-stricken, shalt not rebuild thy decay
On my bosom for aye.Then I answered: Yea.

Passing away, saith my Soul, passing away:
With its burden of fear and hope, of labour and play;
Hearken what the past doth witness and say:
Rust in thy gold, a moth is in thine array,
A canker is in thy bud, thy leaf must decay.
At midnight, at cockcrow, at morning, one certain day
Lo, the Bridegroom shall come and shall not delay:
Watch thou and pray.Then I answered: Yea.

Passing away, saith my God, passing away:
Winter passeth after the long delay:
New grapes on the vine, new figs on the tender spray,
Turtle calleth turtle in Heaven’s May.
Though I tarry wait for Me, trust Me, watch and pray:
Arise, come away, night is past and lo it is day,
My love, My sister, My spouse, thou shalt hear Me say.
Then I answered: Yea.

About.com:Quotations has a service to send a daily poem by email called “Classic Poem Daily”
http://quotations.about.com

Music

Folk Music (taken from article from about.com:folkmusic)

“Scarborough Fair" (purchase/download), popularized in America by Simon and Garfunkel, is an English folk song about a trade fair that took place in the resort town of Scarborough during the medieval times. The fair peaked in the late 14th century, but continued to operate until the end of the 1700s.

"Scarborough Fair" Lyrics

The lyrics for "Scarborough Fair" talk about unrequited love. A young man requests impossible tasks from his lover, saying that if she can perform them, he will take her back. In return, she requests impossible things of him, saying she will perform her tasks when he performs his.
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

The use of the herbs "parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme," has been debated and discussed. Herbalists will tell you of the many symbolisms and functions of herbs in healing and health maintenance. There's also a possibility that these meanings were intended as the song evolved (parsley to remove bitterness, sage to cleanse, thyme for courage, rosemary for love). There's some speculation that these four herbs were used in a tonic of some sort, to remove curses.
Simon and Garfunkel's Version

“Paul Simon learned the song in 1965 while visiting Martin Carthy in London. Art Garfunkel adapted the arrangement, integrating elements of another song Paul Simon had written called "The Side of a Hill," and the pair added some anti-war lyrics. They recorded the song and didn't give credit to the traditional arrangement and lyrics.”

Useful resource for songwriting

http://musiced.about.com/od/songwriting101/Songwriting_101.htm

For more information on Crystal Healing or Herbalism, see http://www.crystalartsandhealth.org.uk/ Theatre, Music, Yoga, Poetry, www.caraemoore.co.uk