Crystals, precious stones, and metals all contain energy that influences us—as do vintage clothes, furniture and, in fact, anything second hand.

Rubiwarren creates beautiful jewellery and asked me to write a piece on “Caring for Your Crystals.”

If you have anything that is precious to you and belongs to the list above, this article is for you:

When we buy something we tend to wash, polish, iron, and then enjoy deciding where to put it or what to wear it with. So with crystals and gem stones, we need to do the same as they pick up the vibration of the people who touch them or the psychic dust from the people who visit the shops in which they are they are displayed . How many antique and second hand shops keep their goods on the pavement outside to soak up the healing sunshine ?

Crystals and Stones have been worn and used through the ages for decoration, inspiration, healing, emotional balance, love, money, and protection.

We have seven main Chakras—energy centres in the body that relate to the endocrine system and are the link between our energetic and physical selves. Different crystals relate to each Chakra.

You don’t have to be an expert to benefit from crystals. Trust your intuition and go for those you are drawn to.

Once you have made your choice you need to clean them physically and spiritually.

Choose a day of the new or full moon as the atmosphere will be charged with energy. Place the crystals in a glass bowl, filled with mineral water and leave a few hours. Take them out and leave to dry on some white tissue paper. Take them, breathe on them and say a line of intention to make them yours.

Place them in your left hand , pocket or at your left side to receive and the right to release or give to someone.

It’s good to do this cleaning ritual once a month. Tune into the stones as you clean them.

Good luck!

Visist www.rubiwarren.com for more information.

If you’re thinking of how you can give a little something back to society through charity, a local project, or mentoring, now is the time to take action. Open your heart and ideas will come to you.

New romance and an easing of ongoing emotional problems are helped with the arrival of Aries in Venus on the 9th. However, Mars remains retrograde in Virgo all month so use this combined planetary activity to tackle personality clashes at work. Also research related careers.

Keep up the New Year promises of nurturing your body and exercising. It will pay off. If you are run down, it’s your body trying to tell you something.

Saturn is also retrograde for a month, so don’t try and take short cuts. Think of the story of the tortoise and the hare. Be thorough.

The Sun enters Pisces on the 19th and life becomes softer and more harmonious. Pisces’ ruler Neptune comes home and stays in this sign until 2025. Although it will especially affect Pisces, we will all feel this ongoing energy. We are encouraged to work on universal projects that are for the greater good—projects that feed us personally and nurture the universe. Remember, “Change comes through the individual actions of people like you and me.”

Star of the Month—Pisces

The most exciting event for you this month is that Neptune, your ruling planet, moves into your sign and stays there until 2025. Positively, you have the opportunity to embrace your true self, take healthy risks, and realise your potential in your lifetime.

In the short term, start by spring-cleaning your life. Get rid of people and patterns that bring you down and sap your energy. This may take time so plan to do it in stages. Don’t swim away from clean, positive action.

Your affirmation is, “I make my realistic dreams come true.”

For this month, use the first half of the month to let your imagination run wild then as the Sun moves into Pisces on the 19th, translate your dreams into concrete plans. The new moon in Pisces on the 21st presents the seeds of your future, a mixed bag of life’s wishes. Plant them well and watch them grow.

The Dragon symbolises power, energy, enthusiasm, optimism, creativity, and bravery.

So, how can we make the most of this Dragon’s visit?

The Chinese year began on the lunar New Year on the 23rd of January. The combination of the East and West’s spiritual energy ignites hope, invention, compassion, friendship, and good communication, along with tenacity, energy, and belief. Remember this as you progress through the months.

This is a water Dragon year, which means all its characteristics are softened and the water helps life flow, enhances all emotions, and finds a way through difficult situations. Water calms the Dragon’s fire, stopping the burning and helps us see compromise as a good thing.

Be passionate and optimistic in all you do.

Remain diplomatic at all times and encourage teamwork.

Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks.

Be aware that there is often a baby boom in the year of the Dragon.

Be prepared for sudden change. Keep your safety belt fastened. Speed and changes are more likely to occur in the first half of the year. That’s the time to really push ideas forward. Pace yourself otherwise exhaustion will halt you in your tracks. Learn to finish what you start otherwise you will dissipate your energy. Stay practical and finally, look out for corruption and lies in the second half of the Dragon’s year. The good news is that the Dragon usually leaves its reign transforming bad to good.

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From the 7th there may be delays with any type of contract or decision. Don’t push. It’s an opportunity to go over details and gather more information that may help you. Listen to your intuition. Dramatic shifts and clearings should occur on the 23rd when the new moon is in Aquarius. Everything speeds up at the end of the month. Your patience and planning will pay off.

Don’t let emotional wobbles on the 8th throw you. You are just being tested. However, all month strengthen your instinct and curb your impulsiveness.

The full moon on the 9th in Cancer brings love conflicts to a head. Confront the issues constructively and wisely. You will feel so much happier by doing so. Positively, this moon energy can enhance relationships that are already good. Let your family know you love them.

Deal with that holiday weight gain. Don’t bury your head in the sand where money is concerned. Facing these issues head on at the beginning of the year will put you in a great space to make the most of the year ahead.

Star of the Month—Aquarius

The sun enters your sign on the 21st, followed by the New Moon on the 23rd when you are symbolically reborn. “I maintain my inner peace” should be your mantra. You are in a good place to build on last year’s efforts. Be inventive. Think of this year as refining, retuning and reaching beyond your comfort zone. Beware of flaky offers and deals. They must have substance.

You are ready for big changes. Embrace them.

Friendship is as important as sex where personal relationships are concerned. Your partner needs to have a lively, open mind, a sense of humour and adventure. Love peaks in summer but the window of opportunity stays open for single Aquarians.

Because you are prone to live in your head, don’t forget to regularly check into your body—exercise, have a healthy diet and maintain your physical energy levels.

The family may be extended and certain people will become closer to you. You acquire friends easily so don’t just take people under your wing just because they want to be a part of your life. Discriminate, otherwise you will feel drained. This will lead to lack of focus and lost opportunities.

You really can have a great year. It’s up to you.

I believe we are heading toward a positive end—an end of aggression and selfishness. The Quakers say, “Peace on earth will come through the individual actions of people like you and me.” Just like the proverbial pebble dropped into the water whose ripples extend beyond its reach, by doing what we can individually, we can manifest positive change. Embrace 2012 and feel powerful as you help create it.

Watch where you put your money whilst Pluto plods its way through Capricorn because hidden forces are at work. Money represents freedom and power so the more you work on releasing the fears that cripple you constructively and practice feeling in your own power, the more tuned in you will be about making the right financial decisions.

Saturn in Scorpio will create new spiritual opportunities. Saturn is solid, logical and practical. Scorpio is spiritual, intense and emotional. They can clash or work together. We can no longer say, “I am logical,” or “I am spiritual.” We are all physical, emotional, mental and spiritual and to be fulfilled we need to integrate these areas of life. A finely tuned spiritual person uses this awareness by listening to the body’s signals about health—expressing all emotions and feelings cleanly and clearly, and by being able to distinguish between healthy thoughts and those we allow into our brain to sabotage us. We are moving toward a link between Metaphysics and Quantum Physics.

The Year of the Water Dragon

In Chinese Astrology, this is also the year of the water dragon, which adds an emotional, creative and compassionate edge to the year. Rein in your negative emotions and impossible dreams. Feed your positive emotions and focus on the practical building blocks of any aspiration. Open up your heart to love and opportunity. Use your creative mind to work around your problems. Turn struggle and frustration into fortitude and success.

2012 Key Focus for all Signs

Aries

Finish what you start and sustain positive ideas. Continue growing emotionally. Your career could take off.

Taurus

After a vulnerable start to the year where love is concerned, being proactive and reading emotional signals correctly will bring you through any crisis brilliantly. The fog will evaporate from your career and finances will improve.

Gemini

Spiritual development will lead to handling your love life, career and health in a much more powerful way.

Cancer

Problems will ease and burdens will lessen. Joy will come through refusing to take on any lame ducks or lame duck projects. Help people to help themselves. Don’t put people’s lives right for them.

Leo

Clear up misunderstandings. Channel anger constructively, show compassion and your life will take off in many ways.

Virgo

This is the year to achieve all you believe in. Learn to develop and act on your intuition more. Don’t let your need to be in control overwhelm your instinct.

Libra

You are dealing with challenging times but 2012 brings positive hope and insight. Stay balanced and you will be in a much better place by the end of the year.

Scorpio

Saturn in Scorpio is the key to everything this year. Saturn enables you to create a positive, practical outlet for your spiritual beliefs and development.

Sagittarius

A positive and upbeat year if you don’t race through it. Pace yourself emotionally and you won’t miss the romantic opportunities that emerge from June onwards.

Capricorn

You should reap the rewards of your hard work and now is the time to develop your social life. The two can work together. Keep them in balance and you will function at your best.

Aquarius

The inner peace you can feel this year will give you the energy to fulfil the dreams you have already put into action. Expand cautiously in every area of your life.

Pisces

Your own planet of Neptune moves into Pisces in 2012 and stays for years. It enhances your spirit, your trust and belief centre. The only thing to remember is to stay grounded and not neglect your body or your practical life.