3 Unexpected & Healing Uses for Himalayan Salt

Did you know that the Himalayan salt “crystal” is an up and coming contender not only in the kitchen but also in the medicine cabinet?

What you put in fuels your temple. I know that you need your ingredients to pack a punch. Actually, you need salt to survive. It keeps hormones and nutrients in balance and maintains fluids. Since your body doesn't produce salt, it's counting on you to give it the purest option out there. Table salt isn't going to cut it.

Let me start though, by answering your first question…

Is it really that different from table salt?

What you might not know about Himalayan salt is that it is mined from ancient sea beds in Pakistan. Ancient. Meaning, before pollution. This pure pink salt is free from toxins that appear in other sea salts. Because it has housed itself in such a clean environment it doesn't need to be cleaned, and therefore stripped of any of its 83 trace minerals. The same can't be said of table salt. After it's been cleaned, you’re left with sodium chloride and maybe even some additives to keep it from clumping.

So, how can you incorporate this magical salt crystal into your day? Here are 3 easy and healing uses for Himalayan salt.

Salt Inhaler

When I first stumbled upon the uses of Himalayan salt, I saw that it helps with respiratory and sinus function. There's actually such a thing as a salt inhaler! For us allergy sufferers, I'm not sure a more steadfast way exists to test out this crystal’s effectiveness.

Can't wait to find out if this crystal will work its magic on your wicked allergies? I couldn't either. I got a portable inhaler to take on the go here, but you can also purchase larger ones here.

While I was surprised by this awesome gadget, using salt to treat breathing ailments dates back to the ancient Greeks who coined the term, “Halotherapy.” Other forms of Halotherapy include salt caves and even Neti pots! Benefits of Himalayan salt for breathing conditions include:

• cleanses the nasal passages of irritants and pollutants

• reduces swelling

• relaxes airways

• natural expectorant to reduce mucus

Salt Sole

An obvious way to enjoy the healing effects of Himalayan salt is to ingest it, so...I'm going to give you ZO’s recipe for Himalayan salt rock candy. It'll be a hit at your next family party...no, no, just kidding!! The best way to get a full dose of Himalayan salt is by making sole (so-lay).

Sole is a super-concentrated saltwater solution that can be made with a glass jar and a non-metal lid.

To Make Sole

Fill your jar ¼ of the way with Himalayan salt. Then add filtered water, seal with a lid, shake, and allow the mixture to sit overnight so that the salt can dissolve. If you notice that all of the salt has dissolved, add more salt until the water cannot hold anymore and is therefore fully saturated.

To Use Sole

Add a tsp to a glass of water every morning and take on an empty stomach. This is also a great concoction to add to your homemade electrolyte drinks! The benefits include:

• antibacterial components detox the body

• stimulates the digestive system and aids in healthy weight loss

• increased hydration

• caffeine-free energy

• trace minerals contribute to bone health, healthy veins, skin, hair, and nails

• lowers blood pressure

Salt Lamp

Himalayan salt has your allergies in the bag! But more important than clearing your nasal passages, it can also improve the air quality and give your mood an overhaul!

You are made up of negatively charged cells. So, like a magnet, you attract things with a positive charge...such as pet dander...dust...oh, and ions from electronics like microwaves, cell phones, and TVs. Himalayan salt lamps can combat these positive ions by emitting negative ions. Use a salt lamp by your bedside to emit negative ions for these benefits:

• increased oxygen flow to the brain for better sleep and more energy

• neutralizes electric smog

• lowers blood pressure

• decreases feelings of anxiety

I've done the research on the salt inhaler, and I have a salt lamp on my bedside table. Now, I'm looking forward to adding a Sole salt flush to my morning routine! Let me know about some of your other favorite ways to use this pretty pink crystal!

6 Steps to Creating Positive Emotional Anchors

Have you ever wished that you could trigger a certain emotion at any given time? Sure, its healthy to move through uncomfortable emotions in order to heal. However, some negative emotions can become enslaving and stop serving a purpose.

Creating positive emotional anchors is a great tool for combatting your daily triggers. Bonus, it’s pretty easy, and you probably have everything you need (maybe even in your purse!).

If you’ve had it with overriding emotions of fear, anxiety and depression, I invite you to add this to your enlightened tool belt. Having a go-to emotional anchor is kind of like having your favorite person on reserve for a hug anytime you need it. It may not be a cure-all, but it’s certainly lifted me out of some dark places on the spot.

What Is a Positive Emotional Anchor?

Anchors are what link us between our present emotional state and a more preferred one. You might already use an anchor without even knowing it. Take music, for example. Maybe you’re dreading going into work, your favorite song comes on in the car, BAM your mood is instantly lifted and you’re ready to take on the day.

Unfortunately, hearing a song that reminds you of someone that’s no longer in your life may take you in a fast downward spiral. Scents, sounds, tastes and imagery all have the power to swing you one way or the other.

So, how can you use these to your benefit?

How to Create Your Anchor

Forming an anchor can be simple, it just takes practice. The more you can reinforce your anchor with all of your senses the better. That’s right, pull out the big guns for this one, your favorite scent, mudra, imagery and mantra. Here are some steps to get you started:

1. What emotional state are you in need of most? Maybe it’s a feeling of safety, calm, happiness, or peace. We’ll build from the emotion you’d most like to bring into your life.

2. Pick a scent that matches your emotion. I use lavender for mine.

3. Choose a touch sensation that you can do while smelling your scent. This could be a simple mudra, maybe placing your hand over your heart, whatever feels right to you. Keep in mind you’ll need to be able to do it with one hand and you might need to use this tool in public so maybe don’t use placing your leg behind your head as your touch sensation ;)

4. Decide on imagery that brings about the emotion you’re aiming for. This could be imagining you’re in a calm forest or simply imagining an object. I use the image of a feather for mine.

5. Bring something auditory into the mix. This could be a favorite song, though you might not always have this available so a mantra is a great option. It can be something as simple as repeating, “I am safe”, “I choose peace”, or “so hum”.

6. Now bring all of your tools together for one superpower of an emotional anchor. The next time you start to feel your anxiety or sadness triggered and need a boost, find a few moments to implement all of these at once.

Tip: The more you do this the more ingrained it will become in you. Our negative triggers form over years and this positive one will need time too. Treat this like a mini-meditation practice, the more you use it the more powerful it will become.

The best part is, you don’t have to do all of these things at once. If I’m in a public space but need some calm I’ll hold my mudra and quietly say my mantra to myself for some quick relief.

No matter what emotion you are choosing to anchor, feel relief in knowing that you don’t have to be at the mercy of your negative emotions today. Find power in choice. You have options today.

DIY Crystal Infused Elixirs

I love discovering all the ways I can add a little more sparkle to my life! And let me just say, you are going to love my newest find! When it comes to beauty and wellness I'll take all the help I can get. Crystal elixirs are becoming the newest part of my regimen. I'm so happy to be letting you in on this little bit of magic that you can use to spark up your routine!

The Back Story

Crystal elixirs are no modern craze. In fact, they were all the rage in ancient cultures! Some crystals have long been esteemed as heavenly stones. They were put to use in Neolithic times for fashioning tools and weapons, by the Pharaohs and Indian culture for curing disease, and get this...Chinese emperors used to drink a powder form of crystals and herbs to achieve immortality!! Ummm, not sure if immortality is my aim, but wouldn't you love to add a little youth to your day!?

How it Works

Today, companies are selling crystal elixirs in the form of waters and beauty products. Here's a fun little tidbit. When evaluating the difference between tap water and water treated with crystals, Institute Hagalis (an international research company), determined that in the crystal treated water there was "a distinct improvement in water quality, neutralization of harmful substances, improvement of the pH-value and oxygen content, increase in bioavailability of minerals, and an increase in energy balance." Wow!

Also interesting is that the energy of the crystal can be transferred to the product it's being used in. KORA Organics beauty line uses crystal-infused water in their products. The process incorporates rose quartz "to give the vibration of self-love." Sounds amazing!

The Cost of Luxury

While I wish I could just add all of these products to my shopping cart with the click of a mouse, they'll cost you a pretty penny.

You can find Vitajuwel's Gem Water on Amazon for $87, which is a steal compared to some of their other products. Over $340 for their Golden Moments Crystal edition water, or a whopping $624 for the GranFontana Sunny Morning Set! Vitajuwel's products are utterly delectable though, so maybe jot down one of their Gem Wands onto your holiday wish list this year!

DIY Solutions

Budget worthy DIYs are definitely the way to go with crystal elixirs. You can tailor them to your exact needs, and incorporate your current stash.

Crystal Infused Water

1. Select a crystal that speaks to your needs. We’ll be using amethyst for this DIY.

2. Cleanse the amethyst with warm filtered water and incorporate any other cleansing routine that works for you, such as smoke cleansing.

3. Put the amethyst in a glass bowl and cover them with filtered water.

4. Charge your water in the sunlight or moonlight.

5. Enjoy your amethyst infused water!

Amethyst relieves headaches, as well as promotes good dreams and healthy skin. Add some lavender to your water and use it as a nighttime foot soak as you wind down from a long day!

Crystal Infused Face Mist

Instead of adding lavender to your crystal infused water, take advantage of amethyst’s properties for healthy skin by making this moisturizing facial mist!

1. Add your amethyst infused water to a 4 oz. glass spray bottle.

2. Add ¼ tsp of argan oil.

3. Add 12 drops of rose oil.

4. Add some rinsed amethysts directly into your bottle (optional).

5. Shake well.

6. Mist cleanse your face while repeating affirmations of self-love!

My skin has been loving me for this new elixir plus it smells like fresh roses. Rose and Argan oil offer a host of healing benefits for your skin including helping with acne, dry skin, and skin permeability.

Have a favorite crystal blend that you use? I’d love to hear about it!

Tarot vs. Oracle // What’s the Difference and How to Choose

Aside from being beautiful works of art in and of themselves, Oracle and Tarot cards can be powerful divination tools. But, if you’re not familiar with these tools, deciding which deck to choose may have you stumped before you even start.

I want to give you the confidence to choose what works best for you. So many big questions present themselves in life and, you need to know how to prepare yourself! Today I’ve got the skinny on the difference between Tarot and Oracle cards, and info on how to choose a deck that will work best for you.

The Basics

Let’s talk about the basics of Tarot and Oracle cards to help you find the best way to connect with the greater knowledge of the universe when life’s big moments pop up!

Tarot Cards

• 78 cards

• Prim & proper

• Organized into different suits

• Each tarot deck has a unique energy depending on where they came from, such as their design and printing process

• Measure outcomes and influence

• Can be lengthy and detailed

• Offers insight on situations

• Only images on the card, takes some studying

Cards featured from The Jouney Tarot

Oracle Cards

• Any number of card per deck

• Rebel deck

• Designed around a theme or deity

• Use your intuition to guide you rather than the structure of the deck

• Meant to give advice

• Quick and more open to individual interpretation

• Easy for beginners. Includes thoughtful phrases

How to Choose

• Trust your intuition. You might lean towards either method on a given day, or you might use one method over another for a certain question you have.

• Try them out. Which deck feels right? Is Tarot too grave, or are Oracle cards not enough for you? If you are seriously in the sticks with some relationship drama, the Tarot deck might offer the ins and outs you are searching for. If you’re less phased by this relationship woe, then a simple “You’re free to do what you choose,” might be all you need from an Oracle deck.

• Structure. Do you need it or do you run from it? When I’m in a place where my internal compass is all out of whack, I know I need to use my Tarot deck as my guide. If my gut has been pretty spot on, I’ll use my Oracle cards as my quick spot-checking guide.

Don’t rule out one deck over the other just yet. Check out The Tarot and Oracle blog posts where I dig into the details on these divination tools! We’ll go over how to use each deck so that you can fine-tune your fortune-telling skills.

The Power of Altars // 5 Steps to Create Your Sacred Space

Loss and change are an integral part of our human experience. I’m sure you’ve experienced your own passages through pain and hardships. Whether you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, a bad breakup, a sudden change in career path, or all of the above, these life experiences can leave us feeling isolated and lost.Even if you’re not going through a hardship at this moment, loss and change are inevitable. Today I want to share my story of the power of altars in my life and how you can use them as a healing tool in your life as well.

What is an Altar?

An altar is simply a space with a collection of items that hold significance to you, and they are often created around a theme. They can vary in size from a couple of items on a window sill to a large decorative display.Altars are a place that can hold energetic space for you, they are a place of reflection and meditation and a great place to conduct meaningful rituals.

My Experience with the Power of Altars

I’ve always loved the idea of having an altar, but to be honest, mostly just as a cute place to put my crystals. It wasn’t until the sudden loss of my grandma and father that the use of an altar became a powerful healing tool in my life.

I’m not going to lie, when I was in the depth of my sadness and a spiritual coach suggested an altar to help deal with my grief, I didn’t believe it would help. I thought I had too much sadness within me for a box with some stuff in it to help. But, I listened, kept an open mind, and decided to try what was suggested to me.

With my altar in place, I not only had space for my sadness to be felt but more importantly a place that my sadness could be held. If I had a bad day, it brought me comfort to know that I had a designated space for all of my feelings that I could visit anytime I wanted to.Because my experience with this altar was so meaningful I’ve gone on to create a second altar to honor my goals and for holding rituals, and have found it to be just as powerful and healing.

How to Create Your Own Altar or Sacred Space

So, where do you start? There is no reason to be daunted by the idea of creating an altar. Starting out, your altar or sacred space can be as simple as a collection of a few meaningful objects. Your altar is fluid and will never be finished, so it doesn’t have to be “perfect” when you start yours.

5 Steps to Create Your Own Altar

1. Decide what the purpose of your altar will be. Here are some ideas: memorial altar, meditation altar, goals altar, and ritual altar, seasonal altar but any loving purpose you desire will work.

2. Choose a space that fits the theme of the altar. If you’re creating a meditation altar you’ll want to place it somewhere that you’ll have uninterrupted quiet. For a memorial altar, it was important for me to have mine somewhere that I could easily see it and could have privacy.

3. Clear the space (optional). Though it’s not a necessity, it is nice to clear the space of your altar. Do this with a herb or incense of your choice.

4. Select your items for the altar. Find items that you’re drawn to, and that fit the theme of your altar. If you’re making an altar for reaching your goals consider researching crystals that are good for goal-setting. If you’re creating a ritual altar consider what items you might need to create your rituals.

5. Arrange your items and make a commitment to spend a little bit of time each day with your altar. Spending time with your altar can be as simple as looking at it in passing or simply touching an item on it for a moment. I found that daily contact of some sort with my altars has been helpful.

Here are a couple of my favorite shops for altars and altar pieces:

• Altar Shelves: Stone and Violet

• Altar pieces: The Lunar Fae Shop

• Animal Totems: Periwinkle Nuthatch

• Ritual Tools: The Ritual Store

Remember your altar is an extension of your soul and they’ll vary greatly in size, style, and appearance--there’s really no wrong way to do it. Let me know how your altar turns out, feel free to share a picture with me, or if you already have an altar I’d love to hear about your experience with it! Please feel free to send me a message.

Sacred Geometry Symbol Meanings

Divine spiritual connection, that’s what you strive for, right? Understanding the meanings of different sacred geometry symbols can help strengthen your connection. The contentment of your place, both in and out of this world. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for meaningful ways to energize your spiritual connection and the sensation that you’re divinely cared for. Think of sacred geometry as your doorway to the light of the universe. Gazing at sacred geometry during meditation, wearing it, and drawing it can all be used to make you feel more in tune.But, I’ve got more than enlightened know-how for you today!

Read on to learn more about sacred geometry and get a printable seed of life coloring page here.

What is Sacred Geometry?

This yearning for closeness is nothing new. Some believe that a form of communication can be found from reconstructing geometric patterns found in the natural world. These patterns present themselves in the nautilus shell, the human eye, and molecules of our DNA, snowflakes, even the air we breathe. When these patterns are replicated it is called Sacred Geometry.Sacred Geometry has been used in the making of the pyramids of Egypt and Mexico, Stonehenge and the Mayan temples (to name a few). Sacred Geometry is thought to be the blueprint of creation and the language of the gods. So, it’s no wonder that these symbols have become admired and replicated all throughout human history.Without having to go so far as visiting the pyramids, you can apply sacred geometry in your everyday life! Here are a few patterns to get you started.

The Flower of Life

• Holds within it the basic information of all living things. It is the visual expression of the interconnectedness of all life forms.

• See this symbol in your mind’s eye during meditation, or while chanting, as a reminder of your connections with all other humans and this world.

The Seed of Life

Card features from the discontinued Ritual Deck

• This universal symbol for creation is thought to represent the seed from which all life was made. This seed holds the intelligent blueprint for all life.

• Color this pattern to depict the colors of your seven chakras! The way the colors overlap is referred to as the soul spectrum. Use your soul spectrum pattern as a crystal grid or to charge your crystals prior to chakra work! Let your colorful soul shine!

Click here to get your printable Seed of Life coloring page.

Sri Yantra

• Traced back through Hinduism, this pattern is said to be the visual expression of OM.

• Meditate on this symbol to inspire enlightenment. Attune yourself to the universal consciousness or wear a Sri Yantra charm for wealth, strengthened relationships, peace, and alignment with the universe.

I can’t wait to see your soul spectrum pictures, be sure to tag @cassieuhl so I can check them out!