The emerald is a power stone, which helps to balance the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies, neutralizing any energy blockages in the fourth Chakra area.

I often use a raw emerald stone for opening or activating the Heart Chakra, and also use it to balance and protect the Heart Chakra.

It is an excellent stone for healers who may occasionally take on their clients issues, and a good choice for those in the ‘healing profession’, like Doctors, Nurses, Counselors, and Psychiatrists.

The emerald promotes serenity, healing, clarity, tranquility, harmony and love.

A friend of mine refers to it as “the stone of healing and hope”. I rather like that!

“All healing is first a healing of the heart.”
- Carl Townsend

Springtime is the perfect time for clearing out and balancing the three lower chakras.The first, second & third chakras are those that relate to the physical realm in everyday life, and when balanced they help us flow and move through the everyday issues of life with more ease.

Without some kind of  balance in the lower chakras we may experience difficulties with manifesting and achieving our goals, concerns about physical survival, unbalanced emotions, lack of will power, feeling ungrounded, and an overly active mind.

Here are some ways to help balance the three lower chakras;

First Chakra - Located at the base of the spine the Muladhara Chakra, along with the foot chakras, ground us to the material plane.The issues related to this chakra concern physical security, career, home and safety, grounding, and our connection with the earth, and our physical body.

• Gemstones to balance the first chakra are ruby, garnet, bloodstone, or red jasper, black tourmaline, obsidian, smoky quartz.
• The Mantra related to this chakra is “Lam”.
• Affirmation – I have everything I need.
• Aromatherapy Oils - Myrrh, patchouli or vetiver.
• Chakra Balancing Strategies – Physical activity, walking, Hatha yoga, massage, and connecting with nature.

Second Chakra – Located just below the belly button, the Sacral Chakra relates to our emotions and sexuality and especially how we connect with others. In this chakra we may experience difficulties with creativity, sexuality, frustration, addictions, anger, low self esteem issues, and difficulties accepting change.

• Gemstones to balance the second chakra are carnelian, orange calcite, fire opal or tangerine quartz.
• The mantra related to this chakra is “Vam”.
• Affirmation – I embrace life.
• Aromatherapy Oils – Ylang Ylang, sandalwood, clary sage, or fennel.
• Chakra Balancing Strategies - Movement, Dancing, boundary work, inner child work, creativity exercises.

Third Chakra – located at the base of the rib cage in the upper abdomen, the Solar Plexus Chakra is the ego and power center and relates to will power, how we define ourselves, and emotional expression. Here we may experience difficulties defining our boundaries with others, an overly active mind, lack of will power, unbalanced emotions, control issues, and oversensitivity.

• Gemstones to balance the third chakra are Amber, tiger’s eye, citrine, and yellow topaz.
• The mantra related to this chakra is “Ram”.
• Affirmation – I am at peace with myself and others and I release all unresolved emotions.
• Aromatherapy Oils – Lavender, rosemary,marjoram, cedarwood, hyssop or bergamot.
• Chakra Balancing Strategies - Deep relaxation, vigorous exercise, grounding exercises, psychotherapy, psychcosynthesis journal work, self esteem building exercises and activities.

Aquamarine is derived from Latin, meaning seawater and is said to embody the spirit of water. It enhances communication skills, and promotes peace, tranquility, and good health. It also provides a protective field around the body when worn and attracts good luck.

Aquamarine is a good stone for activating and cleansing the throat chakra, facilitating communication with the Divine. It brings a sense of peace and serenity. Some people also believe this stone helps one to commune with the spirit of the Goddess.

Jade is considered a stone of good fortune and divine blessing, which not only served as a bridge between the two realms of heaven and earth, but also served as a direct link to the ancestors. It is said that in ancient times Emperors used it in sacred ceremonies believing that direct messages from heaven came through the stone.

Jade is also known as a “dream stone”,  and helps one remember dreams  and assists with the process of dream – solving. It is said it can be used to help release suppressed emotions, and disturbing dream images during dream time, and recommended to place the stone beneath your pillow before going to sleep.

Jade bangles are believed to be able to bring peacefulness to the wearer and protect them from negative energy. The ancient Chinese  believed that the bending shape of bangles were similar to the rounded body of the dragon, therefore one would be blessed with good fortune and prosperity.

Jade promotes courage, love, health, wealth, wisdom, mercy, justice, longevity, balance, and love.

Quartz Crystal – It has been used extensively by ancient cultures around the world as a universal stone for meditation, spiritual development, healing, and communicating  with spirits.

Many North American Tribes have been using crystals as healing and spiritual tools for thousands of years. The Hopi believed specific crystals were imbued with the powers to divine the cause of illness, and the cherokee used crystals to portend the future.

“The quartz crystal is considered the strongest power object of all among such widely separated peoples as the Jivaro in South America and the tribes of Australia. Peoples as distant from one another as the aborigines of eastern Australia and the Yuman-speakers of southern California and adjacent Baja California consider the quartz crystal “living,” or a “living rock.” The widespread employment of quartz crystals in shamanism spans thousands of years. In California, for example, quartz crystals have been found in archaeological sites and prehistoric burials dating as far back as 8,000 years.”
The Way of the Shaman Michael Harner p. 109

Agates – For centuries agates were known as powerful healing stones. The Native American Indians used them as power stones, and Hindu mystics believed that agates could help children to overcome their fears. Agates are said to enhance creativity which makes them an excellent stone for artists. Agates promote love, good luck, abundance, longevity, acceptance, courage, protection, balance, harmony, generosity, strength, and security. They also deepen our appreciation and our connection to nature.

Bloodstone is an excellent healing stone and helps one with direct union with the creator through contemplation, meditation, and love. It may also be used to awaken and balance the first four chakras. It is said to promote emotional balance and clarity. The Bloodstone in the photo above is one of my personal healing stones. I found it years ago and was so excited to have found one with such unusual markings. It is very small which made it difficult to take a good photo.

Onyx is a healing stone and a powerful stone of protection. Black onyx governs the root chakra and also helps drain off excessive energies. It is a wonderful grounding stone, valuable in helping us through difficult or confusing times in our lives, and also assists us in releasing past attachments to people, places, and things. It is used in India to ward off the evil eye.

All these stones belong to the Chalcedony family.

Emerald enhances meditation, dream recall and deeper spiritual insight. It may be used to open and activate the heart chakra and helps in aligning our subtle bodies. It is an excellent stone for those who are in need of balance and healing.

Garnet is an ayurvedic birthstone, and was considered a January birthstone by the ancient Arabic, Hebrew, and Roman cultures. This stone balances and stimulates both the root and crown chakras allowing the development and movement of the Kundalini. It monitors and adjusts the flow of energy, providing for a balanced energy field. It is said to be a powerful energizing and regenerating stone, and has been used as a sacred stone by the Native American Indians, the Aztecs, and the Mayans. It enhances one’s creativity, love of life, and also helps one to cleanse and remove unwanted energies.The deep red color of this stone is mostly associated with the  first chakra, “Muladhara. It also aligns us with love and compassion.

Rose Quartz is associated with the fourth chakra, “Anahata” or heart chakra which governs the thymus, heart and lungs.It opens our hearts, encourages peace and gentleness and promotes tolerance and forgiveness.