Just Witchy's Blog — Protect against Negative Energy

   You probably don't think much about moss.    You may know that it requires little soil and can thrive on rocks, walls, and even rooftops. But did you know that moss can filter and absorb carbon dioxide at a rate four times higher than that of trees? It's also a natural air conditioner, retaining large amounts of water and cools the air through slow evaporation. This cool plant is both beautiful and versatile, making it a gem of the natural world. So it should come as no surprise that Moss Agate—the gemstone bearing this fine plant's name—should symbolize steady...

"I like to be, under the sea in an octopus's garden..."* ♫ Because that's where you'll find coral in its natural element.    While shouting and swimming about the coral beneath the waves (as mentioned in the song) sounds like fun, for most it's not a very practical way to spend time with coral. Nor is it necessarily possible as coral is underwater and without diving tanks, humans cannot breathe under water—let alone shout.     However, this blog post isn't about the physical realities of breathing underwater or the logistics in making that happen. It's about the gemstone of...

He can smell a fire, before it starts to burn... Nosey disembodied voice: What are you singing?" The Smokey Bear song. Disembodied voice: Why? Because this month's featured gemstone is Smokey Quartz! One of the hottest and most dangerous gemstones on the planet! I need to warn everyone before the fire gets out of hand. Disembodied voice: Ummm, I don't think you have to worry about fire. Well you know the saying--Where there's smoke, there's fire. Disembodied voice: The gemstone is Smoky Quartz, not Smokey, and it gets its distinct color from natural radiation interacting with aluminum impurities, not from fire. Oh....

Why are there are so many songs about rainbows? Maybe because they can be found everywhere--even in stones! I present you with Rainbow Moonstone--the shinyite of the month!    Described as having a "light that flows" or "moonlight on water," Rainbow Moonstone is actually a very flashy form of white labradorite, and not technically a moonstone--making it more of a cousin rather than a sibling to moonstones. The labradorescence--the blues, greens, and oranges that give it its rainbow appearance come from light diffracting and scattering microscopic layers of albite and orthoclase. Significant deposits are located in Australia, Tanzania, Canada, and Brazil, but...

   What do underwater blast sensors, piezoelectric pressure transducers, high frequency circuits, and and water purification systems have to do with today's blog? Well, they contain a really cool gemstone I get a charge out of... TOURMALINE!    This gemstone literally generates an electrical charge when placed under mechanical stress and is used in pressure gauges to detect shockwaves, explosions and underwater blasts! Its unique optical properties have been historically used in polarizing apparatuses and it also has the ability to help adjust the pH and improve water quality. Pretty neat, but also really pretty attractive!    Tourmaline is available...