Know Your Birthstone // May - Emerald

May babies, it's your month! Emerald, the birthstone of May, is the rarest of the gemstones and is said to be a symbol of rebirth and love. Emeralds radiate a beautiful vivid tone in rich greens (the color of Spring!) and is thought to contain the goodness of life.

Emerald

Color: wide range of natural shades of green with tones that can vary from blue to yellow
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Powers: fertility, honesty, harmony, growth, patience

Mind //

Improves faith and intuition
Grants foresight and bestow the ability to see the future
Grants good fortune and youth
Increased peace of mind and power of reasoning

Body //

Improves analytical power, memory and intellectual prowess
Regulates blood circulation
Improves the immune system
Lifts depression and restore mental and emotional equilibrium


Download your free desktop wallpaper here.

Just as obsessed as we are with the 2016 Birthstone Calendar from Mink Letterpress? Get your hands on one here!

Mineralogy 101 // Himalayan Salt Lamps

Sure, you've seen Himalayan Salt Lamps emitting their lovely pink glow in your yoga studio and local health food store. But they go way beyond a new-age tchotchke you're apt to find in your eccentric hippie Aunt's house. These salt crystals have been proven to provide a ton of benefits to your health and happiness. In our second installment of Mineralogy 101, we're talking about how salt can naturally purify the air in your home, give you more energy, and help you sleep better!

First, here's a little science lesson. Positive and negative ions are always floating around in the air. Negative ions occur more often in nature. They are created by things like lightening storms, sunlight, and ocean waves. This is one of the reasons people feel renewed and refreshed after a storm or a trip to the beach. It's believed that heated salt crystals emit negative ions, or positive energy waves, into the air.

Things like airborne mold, bacteria, and dander carry a positive charge. Positive ions can also be created by electronic devices like computers, TVs, microwaves, and cell phones. These ions exacerbate problems like allergies, stress, and insomnia. Negative ions bond to positive ions and neutralize them. Zap! The air is cleansed of those negative energy waves. But what does that mean for you?

Sleep Better
We all know that reading on a screen before bedtime is a no-no. Over-exposure to positive ions can rob you of quality sleep. This happens because those positively-charged particles actually reduce blood and oxygen supply to your brain. A salt lamp night light in the bedroom will not only calm you, but improve the air quality so you get a better night’s sleep!

More Energy
The negative charge from a salt lamp combats positive ions that drain our bodies of energy. Meaning, keeping a salt lamp glowing will naturally give you a boost!

Reduce Allergy + Asthma Symptoms
Salt lamps remove microscopic particles of dust, pet dander, mold, mildew and the like from the air through a process called hygroscopy. Not only will a lamp seriously cut back on allergy symptoms, but asthma sufferers have reported breathing easier after a week or two.

Battle the S.A.D.
Negative ions improve mood and energy levels. That's something we can all use in the dead of Winter. Salt lamps give off a soft natural light that mimics the warm glow of sunshine, and that can ease your case of seasonal affective disorder!

Feeling the need for some negative ions in your life? Shop our favorite lamp here!

Mineralogy 101

I've long been drawn to minerals and crystals. Being the child of the 90's that I am, I spent my formative teenage years watching The Craft and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the tv show, not the movie, duh) on repeat. Me and my black-lipstick-wearing friends were obsessed with anything the least bit witchy and we absorbed all the knowledge we could about the energy crystals give off and the healing properties that they posses. I've since ditched the black lipstick (I WISH I still had the guts to wear it!) but my love of crystals has remained. You'll find gems and hunks of rock scattered all around my house and I stand by crystals being the most magical gift you can give. Even if you're not buying in to the hippie-dippie healing powers of minerals, it's hard to deny that they are lovely objects. Tapping in to the world of gems can be intimidating, so we've compiled a basic list of minerals that absolutely every babe needs in her crystal arsenal!

First thing first...you need to cleanse your crystal. And no, we're not talking about a good scrub down. Your crystal needs an energetic cleansing to rid it of any accumulated energy that it might have picked up on its way to you. There are a number of simple ways to do this, but our favorite is a salt water bath. Ocean water is best, but if you're landlocked like us, dissolve a tablespoon of sea salt in a bowl of cool water. Submerge your stone and place it in the sunlight, or under the moonlight, and let it sit overnight. When it comes out it’ll be energetically clean and charged and ready for you.

Quartz / Power. Energy. Clarity. One of the most common minerals found, quartz is usually what people envision when they think of crystals. Quartz increases wisdom, higher consciousness, positive thoughts, harmony, and love. It dispels negativity and clears away negative energy, and fosters inspiration and creativity. It also intensifies the energy of other stones.

Rose Quartz / Love. A powerful healing crystal that can deepen your capacity for compassion, tolerance, and love. Rose quartz promotes an appreciation for art, music, and the written word, and inspires imagination. Carry a piece with you to bring calmness and harmony and hold onto it when you feel stressed, drained, or need a boost of radical self love!

Citrine / Prosperity. Success. Self-Confidence. This bright yellow gem positively influences education and business pursuits and attracts abundance. It is known as a stone of prosperity, helping one to both acquire and maintain wealth. The crystal elevates energy and vitality, stimulates willpower, and boosts your self-esteem. If you're familiar with Feng shui, place this stone in your money corner!

Amethyst / Peace. Calm. Amethyst emits a positive, loving energy and clears away any unkind or unproductive vibrations. It expands the mind, encouraging creativity, intuition, and calm, and inspiring compassion. Put a piece of amethyst under your pillow or beside your bed if you can’t sleep! It’s good for warding off nightmares, and aids in remembering your dreams.

Hematite / Stability. Grounding. Hematite protects against negativity. Its mirrored surface deflects other people’s moods and bad vibes. The mineral also inspires original thinking and enhances memory retention. Hematite can help attain peace and inner happiness, and transform negativity into a positive state of love.

So do you dig on crystals? What are your most loved minerals? And how many times have you watched The Craft? By the way, check out our favorite (on-line) source to shop for gems.

{Lauren}