Good stone

Introduction to Meaning and Uses of Black Tourmaline

 

Black Tourmaline is a  stone that is revered as a premier talisman of protection, a psychic shield deflecting and dispelling negative energies, or  destructive forces. It guards against radiation and environmental pollutants, and is highly useful in purifying and neutralizing one’s own negative thoughts and internal conflicts, and turning them into positive, usable energy.

Black Tourmaline is also a powerful grounding stone, electrical in nature, providing a connection between Earth and the human spirit. Its supportive energy aligns the energy centers of the body and channels healing light throughout the system. It promotes a sense of power and self-confidence, allowing for a clearer, more objective view of the world. It is empowering to those who must live or work in challenging environments or when facing difficult circumstances.

Black tourmaline or schorl is one of the most protective stones. It not only protects from the negative thoughts and emotions of others, it also clears your own negative thoughts dissolving tension and stress encouraging a laid back attitude with a clear, focused, objective and rational, neutral thought process.

Black tourmaline is a stone of emotional and mental stability. It promotes a positive attitude even in difficult circumstances. A powerful grounding stone, it helps to bring flighty and scattered energies and thoughts into focus. This also eliminates unnecessary energies from our system by pulling it into the ground to be dispersed. Black tourmaline is a cleansing stone like no other.

Many Crystals and stones have the ability to cleanse negative energies and work quite well for those purposes but tourmaline is one of the quickest and strongest stones for cleaning the subtle energy bodies as well as our environment. Tourmaline takes heavy, dense, low vibrational energy and dissolves and transmutes it to lighter vibrations. Just holding Black tourmaline brings about instant grounding cleansing as well as protection from further dense and environmental energy pollution.

You will see the term pollution used in regards to the uses of Black tourmaline quite often as it has a wide sweeping effect that not only affects the body but the surrounding environment as well. While many stones work on the low dense or negative energy given off by the thoughts and consciousness of your self and others Black tourmaline also absorbs and cleanses natural and man-made sources of energetic pollution.

Black Tourmaline pulls less refined energies such as electromagnetic smog as well as many other environmental pollutants  that are caused by the electrical devices and radio frequencies. A piece of tourmaline taped or glued to a cell phone or computer can help protect you from some of the most common sources of electromagnetic smog. A large piece of black tourmaline is effective in blocking geopathic stress which is believed to be radiation points due to the stresses from the earth itself.

The effects of prolonged exposure to strong electromagnetic fields have been thought to cause, Nervous system symptoms (e.g. fatigue, stress, sleep disturbances), Skin symptoms (e.g. facial prickling, burning sensations, rashes), Various body symptoms (e.g. pain and ache in muscles), Eye symptoms (e.g. burning sensations), Various less common symptoms, including ear, nose, and throat symptoms, digestive disorders, As well as anxiety depression and panic and uncontrollable irrational fears that are said to be responsible for the belief in some haunting scenarios. Black tourmaline is one of the stones to top the list as a protection and cleanser of this energy.

 

The Electric Stone

Black tourmaline is an interesting energetic stone. Scientists worldwide have long been intrigued by the unique electrical and magnetic properties of tourmaline. American statesman and inventor Benjamin Franklin, possessed at least one tourmaline stone and is said to have used it in his experiments (he invented the lightening rod). In Europe in 1880, Pierre Curie and his brother Jacques, a mineralogist, discovered that tourmaline carries a weak electric charge when it is heated (pyroelectricity) or when pressure is applied to its surface (piezoelectricity). Later, research in Japan confirmed that tourmaline carries a faint but constant electric charge of 0.06mA, which is why tourmaline continues to be known as “the electric stone,” especially in Asia. Japanese researchers also found that no matter how small tourmaline is ground or crushed, it is still capable of conveying an electric current.

A Luck Talisman and more

Mystical Tradition says to rub black tourmaline for luck and happiness. This reputation as a powerful stone and a very lucky stone, might come from the piezoelectric qualities. When the tourmaline is rubbed it becomes charged with magnetic electricity and the luck intensifies.

Additionally, black tourmaline can help your overall health and well-being:

• ground energy (this is a root chakra stone)
• increase vitality
• reduce tension and stress
• clear negative thoughts
• encourage a positive attitude no matter the circumstances
• stimulate altruism and practical creativity
• strengthen the energy body and immune system

How does the black tourmaline work? It help your body towards homeostasis – the state when your body is working perfectly and everything is in balance.  Black tourmaline is said to be one of the best grounding stones because it helps you remain in the grounding circuit of the earth’s electromagnetic field. It also seems to have a constant clearing effect on the Chakras, drawing and grounding any negative energies.

 

Father Zeus

KING OF THE GODS

“It is not possible either to trick or escape the mind of Zeus.”

Hesiod

According to my divine ancestors, the ancient Greeks, Zeus was the “Father of Gods” who ruled the
Olympians of Mount Olympus. He was the god of sky and thunder.

As He still is today, ZEUS was the king of the gods, the god of sky and weather, law, order and fate. He was depicted as a regal man, mature with sturdy figure and dark beard. His usual attributes were a lightning bolt, royal sceptre and eagle.

Some of the more famous myths featuring the god include:

• His birth and upbringing in the Diktaion cave, where he was nursed by Amaltheia and guarded by the shield-clashing Kouretes;
• The Titan War in which he overthrew the Titanes and imprisoned them in Tartaros;
• His battle with Typhoeus, a hundred headed, monstrous giant who attempted to capture heaven;
• The War of the Giants who attempted to storm Olympos but were slain by Zeus and the gods;
• The Great Deluge in which he flooded the earth to destroy mankind and begin the world anew;
• His conflict with Prometheus over the theft of benefactions for mankind;
• The punishment of Salmoneus, Tantalos and Ixion, men who offended the god with their impiety;
• The birth and life of Herakles, his favoured son, who he had transferred to Olympos at death;
• His extramarital affairs with women such as Leda, seduced in the form of a swan; Europa, as a bull; Danae, as a golden shower; Kallisto, as Artemis; and Antiope as a satyr;
• The Trojan War which he orchestrated from start to end, including the casting of the golden apple of discord.

Zeus was the child of Cronus and Rhea, and the youngest of their siblings. In most traditions he was married to
Hera, although, at the oracle of Dodona, his consort was Dione. According to the Iliad, he was the father of
Aphrodite by Dione. He was also known for his erotic escapades which resulted in many godly and heroic
offspring including Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Persephone (by Demeter), Dionysus, Perseus,
Heracles, Helen of Troy, Minos, and the Muses (by Mnemosyne); by Hera, he was said to have
fathered Ares, Hebe and Hephaestus.
Even the gods who were not his natural children addressed him as Father Zeus. For the Greeks, he was the King
of the Gods, who ruled the universe. As Pausanias observed, “That Zeus is king in heaven.” In Hesiod’s
Theogony Zeus assigned the various gods their roles. In the Homeric Hymns he was referred to as the chieftain
of the gods. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull, and oak. Zeus is frequently depicted by Greek
artists in one of two poses: standing, striding forward, with a thunderbolt leveled in his raised right hand, or
seated in majesty.

BIRTH

Cronus, the Titan God, sired several children by Rhea: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon, but
swallowed them all as soon as they were born, since he had learned from Gaia and Uranus that he was
destined to be overcome by his own son as he had overthrown his own father—an oracle that Rhea was to
hear and avert.
When Zeus was about to be born, Rhea sought Gaia to devise a plan to save him, so that Cronus would get
his retribution for his acts against Uranus and his own children. Rhea gave birth to Zeus in Crete, handing
Cronus a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes, which he promptly swallowed.

INFANCY

Rhea hid Zeus in a cave on Mount Ida in Crete. According to varying versions of the story:
-He was then raised by Gaia.
-He was raised by a nymph named Adamanthea. Since Cronus ruled over the Earth, the heavens and the
sea, she hid him by dangling him on a rope from a tree so he was suspended between earth, sea and sky
and thus, invisible to his father.
-He was raised by a nymph named Cynosura. In gratitude, Zeus placed her among the stars.
-He was raised by Melissa, who nursed him with goat’s milk
and honey.
-He was raised by a shepherd family under the promise that their sheep would be saved from wolves.

KING OF THE GODS

After reaching manhood, Zeus forced Cronus to disgorge first the stone (which was set down at Pytho under
the glens of Parnassus to be a sign to mortal men, the Omphalos) then his siblings in reverse order of swallowing. In some versions, Metis gave Cronus an emetic to force him to disgorge the babies, or Zeus cut Cronus’ stomach open. Then Zeus released the brothers of Cronus, the Gigantes, the Hecatonchires and the Cyclopes, from their dungeon in Tartarus, killing their guard, Campe.

As a token of their appreciation, the Cyclopes gave him thunder and the thunderbolt, or lightning, which had previously been hidden by Gaia. Together, Zeus and his brothers and sisters, along with the Gigantes, Hecatonchires and Cyclopes overthrew Cronus and the other Titans, in the combat called the Titanomachy. The defeated Titans were then cast into a shadowy underworld region known as Tartarus. Atlas, one of the titans that fought against Zeus, was punished by having to hold up the sky.

(Zeus in Titanomachy below)

After the battle with the Titans, Zeus shared the world with his elder brothers, Poseidon and Hades, by drawing lots: Zeus got the sky and air, Poseidon the waters, and Hades the world of the dead (the underworld). The ancient Earth, Gaia, could not be claimed; she was left to all three, each according to their capabilities, which explains why Poseidon was the “earth-shaker” (the god of earthquakes) and Hades claimed the humans that died.

ZEUS AND HERA

Zeus was brother and consort of Hera. By Hera, Zeus sired Ares, Hebe and Hephaestus.  Some also include Eileithyia and Eris as their daughters. The conquests of Zeus among nymphs and the mythic mortal progenitors of Hellenic dynasties are famous. Olympian mythography even credits him with unions with Leto, Demeter, Dione and Maia. Among mortals were Semele, Io, Europa and Leda and with the young Ganymede. Many myths render Hera as jealous of his amorous conquests and a consistent enemy of Zeus’ mistresses and their children by him. For a time, a nymph named Echo had the job of distracting Hera from his affairs by talking incessantly,  and when Hera discovered the deception, she cursed Echo to repeat the words of others. According to legend, Metis, the goddess of prudence, was the first love of Zeus. At first she tried in vain to escape his advances, but in the end succumbed to his endeavor, and from their union Athena was conceived. Gaia warned Zeus that Metis would bear a daughter, whose son would overthrow him. On hearing this Zeus swallowed Metis, the reason for this was to continue to carry the child through to the birth himself. Hera was outraged and very jealous of her husband’s affair, also of his ability to give birth without female participation. To spite Zeus she gave birth to Hephaestus parthenogenetically  and it was Hephaestus who, when the time came, split open the head of Zeus, from which Athena emerged fully armed.

Zeus: Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given. 

And now you know the story of  the King of the Gods, according to the myths and the legends of my divine ancestors the ancient Greeks.

xoxoSusanna

Pop Your Color

As much as I love a simple white tank paired with a chunky statement necklace I’ve really been drawn to bright colors and fun patterns as of lately. I browsed through some of my favorite boutiques this past weekend and couldn’t help but notice how my NYC ladies are mixing and matching contrasting colors creating creating eye catching ensembles. Even the ladies in the studio have been coming dressed to work in summer neons and brights making for a fun and festive work place! I have to say I am loving the look!

Naturally after beginning to embrace this colorful trend I couldn’t help but to think of one of my favorite artists, Andy Warhol. His works of art are nothing but genius and as all we all know, fashion and art are the greatest imitations of one another. One is always inspiring the other! You all know I love nothing more than an art inspired trend! Look below to see how I’m mixing and matching art and fashion to create an inspired look!

xoxo,

Susanna

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI – Haute Couture Autumn 2013

GIANBATTISTA VALLI – Paris

 

This collection was dreamy…just dreamy! Made for modern-day fairy tales.

I can picture Cinderella going to the ball to meet prince charming wearing one of these magical creations…or Snow white or Venus…

Here are my favorite looks – which is almost the entire collection. 

Enjoy!

 

xoxo,

Susanna

 

Note: to see the entire collection please go to http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/F2013CTR-VALLI/#40

 

VERSACE ATELIER – Haute Couture Autumn 2013

 

 

VERSACE ATELIER – Paris

 

This is my favorite season fashionably speaking. The haute couture fashion shows for Fall 2013  in Paris are beginning.

This is when the best of the best in fashion design is happening.  All the couture houses are showing their major collections for the upcoming season  to their very exclusive clientele with million dollar tastes. This is when fashion is no longer just clothing, but wearable art and the clients are serious collectors.  This is when we can see all the drama, the fantasy, the art and the beauty of the fashion world.

This is what inspires me and keeps me going…

The first to show this year was Donatella Versace for the House Versace.

 

xoxo,

Susanna

 

VERSACE ATELIER SHOW : http://www.fashionising.com/runway/b–versace-atelier-haute-couture-aw13-58402.html#0

 

Yves Saint Laurent – quotes

YSL

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, known as Yves Saint Laurent, (August 1, 1936 – June 1, 2008), was a French fashion designer, and is regarded as one of the greatest names in fashion history. In 1985, Caroline Rennolds Milbank wrote, “The most consistently celebrated and influential designer of the past twenty-five years, Yves Saint Laurent can be credited with both spurring the couture’s rise from its sixties ashes and with finally rendering  ready-to wear reputable.” He is also credited with having introduced the tuxedo suit for women and was known for his use of non-European cultural references, and non-White models.

Here are some of his famous quotes – still inspiring us:

“We must never confuse elegance with snobbery.” -Yves Saint Laurent

“I participated in the transformation of my era. I did it with clothes, which is surely less important than music, architecture, painting … but whatever it’s worth I did it.” -Yves Saint Laurent

“I always believed that style was more important than fashion. They are rare, those who imposed their style while fashion makers are so numerous.” -Yves Saint Laurent

“The most beautiful clothes that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves. But for those who haven’t had the fortune of finding this happiness, I am there.” -Yves Saint Laurent

“I tried to show that fashion is an art. For that, I followed the counsel of my master Christian Dior and the imperishable lesson of Mademoiselle Chanel. I created for my era and I tried to foresee what tomorrow would be.” -Yves Saint Laurent

“A designer who is not also a couturier, who hasn’t learned the most refined mysteries of physically creating his models, is like a sculptor who gives his drawings to another man, an artisan, to accomplish.” -Yves Saint Laurent

“I want to thank all the women who have worn my clothes, the famous and the unknown, who have been so faithful to me and given me so much joy.” -Yves Saint Laurent

“I love bows, … And I feel some couture pots coming on.” -Yves Saint Laurent

“I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence,” -Yves Saint Laurent

–

Fresh to Daphne

With today’s weather being a fabulous mid 70 degrees everyone in the showroom has been craving a fresh salad from the nearby cafe. As lunch time came and passed it seemed intern after intern came back with a bowl of greens sprinkled with added pops of color in the form of fruit and veggies. Why not incorporate this healthy lifestyle choice into your everyday summer wardrobe? These gorgeous greens got us thinking how my newest Daphne collection adds pops of color to the most basic and fresh summer style. Why not change it up and wear a fantastic outfit of white and throw on a gorgeous green necklace to add some flavor to the mix? Stand out in the most simple of ways this week with a fresh twist on a summer trend. Continue below to see how were thinking fresh today in the showroom as well as one of my favorite salad recipe for a lovely summertime meal.

 

xoxo,

Susanna

White spinach salad with caramelized shallots: http://www.marthastewart.com/971965/spring-salad-recipes/@center/276955/seasonal-produce-recipe-guide#316919

For more information on how you can purchase the pieces shown in today’s blog as well as other pieces from my collections please visit my website http://www.susannagalanis.com/main_collection.asp or call 212.759.9142 to set up a meeting in the showroom.

Dripping in Daphne

With the recent weather shifting from sun dress hot to rain jacket down poor, everyone in the showroom has been discussing ways to stay busy indoors while still enjoying the outdoor elements. The MoMA of course has our answer! The Rain Room exhibit created by Random International located at the MoMA PS1, allows viewers to control the rain themselves by simply walking around the room.  Perfect for a scorching hot day in the New York sun! This new exhibit got us thinking, how else can we incorporate this months unexpected downpours into our summer wardrobe? Continue below to see how these recent rainy days are inspiring us to incorporate rain boots with my newest collection Daphne. Don’t be left out to dry this summer! Stay dripping in green-gold chains and gems!

xoxo,

Susanna

Follow this link to view a short video on the Rain Room http://youtu.be/EkvazIZx-F0

To view more of my collection or to purchase the pieces displayed in todays blog please view my website http://www.susannagalanis.com/main_collection.asp or call  212.759.9142 to set up an appointment in the showroom.

A necklace from my Daphne Collection.

A necklace form my Daphne Colleciton.

Postcard – Yellow gems and healing

Yellow/Gold gems and how they heal us.

On my previous post, I wrote about the magical properties of turquoise and how it enables us to balance our energy chakras and heal specific areas of our body. Today, I will specifically write about our solar plexus chakra and how we can heal ourselves using the appropriate stones – in this case yellow. [ Please do some additional research on this topic on your own so you can get a greater understanding about this very complex topic, about the importance of chakra balancing and clearing and about the metaphysical properties of stones since there is so much information on both of these areas and is is so difficult to mention everything on this blog.]

Solar Plexus Chakra: The Hand of God

Third Dimensional Chakra: (Solar Plexus)
It is associated with the color YELLOW

The Solar Plexus is located above the navel and below the chest. It is developed between the ages of 18 months to 4 years old. This chakra is where we hold ouself-esteem, power and individuality. It is here where our sympathetic nervous system is vitalized and our metabolism and digestive processes occur. When our solar plexus is balanced we allow our balanced emotions (sacral) to create a positive life experience fully empowered (solar plexus) to create the life of our dreams (root). We are powerful, full of life, supportive and hold all life with a loving embrace.

When this chakra is distorted, the ego is in control. We literally Edge God Out by creating blocks within our system keeping our God self energies and highest source of wisdom and knowledge from guiding us. Our egoic, human personality takes over and thinks it’s the boss leading to all sorts of distortions greatly affecting everything in our path. Because all of our chakras work together if one is out of balance it will affect the others. If our root and sacral are out of balance then our solar plexus will also be affected creating aggressive behaviors. The need to dominate and control others (solar plexus), greed and war become the norm when we are not grounded and connected to the Earth (root) and we have denied our powerful sexual energies and emotions (sacral). Energy never dies; it is in a constant state of movement. This distorted excess energy moves through our system putting the solar plexus in overdrive. Peace becomes impossible and an insatiable desire to control others surfaces. Tremendous imbalance occurs between the aggressors and those who have depleted solar plexus energies. People become enslaved in a system dominated by masculine aggressive energies unable to tap into their own innate power creating a viscous cycle of disempowerment and control. That’s why our planet reflects chaos, turmoil, illness and separation because our lower chakras are either blocked or overactive keeping us from moving divine energy up into our heart chakra activating the truth of our being.

Balanced Solar Plexus: Divine Will Manifested in Physical Reality, Self-control, Able to Meet Challenges, Responsible, Transformative, Personal Power, Healthy Self Esteem, Warm Personality, Playful and Spontaneous, Humorous, A Leader not a Follower, Able to Speak our Truth and Set Boundaries.

Unbalanced Solar Plexus: Attention on Power and Recognition, Domineering, Angry, Arrogant, Need to be Right, Inability to Slow Down, Competitive, Attracted to Sedatives OR Attracted to Stimulants, Weak Will, Low Energy, Easily Manipulated, Passive.

Traumas to the Solar Plexus: Authoritarianism, Domineering Relationships, Excessive and Unrealistic Responsibilities, Shaming, Physical and Emotional abuse.

Bodily Symptoms Expressing Blockage: Digestive Disorders, Ulcers, Blood Sugar Problems, Chronic Fatigue, Hypertension, Liver Problems, Gall Bladder Problems
Many of us use our power incorrectly. We are either powerless and don’t believe in ourselves or we use our power to dominate and control others. Oftentimes, we give our power away to families, friends, churches, governments, and doctors because we don’t want to accept responsibility for ourselves and make the changes necessary to transcend everything holding us back from reaching our highest soul’s potential. We falsely believe it is easier to allow others to figure everything out for us, telling us what to do, rather than relying on our own abilities and intuitive wisdom from our inner being. Giving our power away or desiring to control others is detrimental to our solar plexus chakra.

Many people blocked in this chakra have bought into the belief that they are separate from God and are helpless victims of their circumstances. They block energy from flowing freely keeping them from aligning with their divine self, the true source of their power. They don’t realize they are the creators of their reality and have the power to choose at anytime to make different choices to create a better life for themselves. This creates anger and frustration blocking divine energy from moving up into the fourth chakra, the Heart Chakra.

The color associated with the solar plexus chakra is Yellow. Yellow is the symbol of the mind, intellect, high intelligence and wisdom. It is a positive magnetic vibration that acts as an equalizer for irritable conditions of the nervous system. The solar plexus is the organizing brain of the nervous system and as such, is an important power center that should be kept in a perfect equilibrium.

P.S. Susanna Galanis AGE OF GODS necklace above http://www.susannagalanis.com

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Healing and the solar plexus chakra

Here below are some very precious and semi-precious stones that you can wear [ or just carry] to help you raise your energy vibrations, and to clear all the negativity from your energy field and your body. Please also see as I mentioned at the beginning of this post the other methods of clearing your solar plexus chackra energy center – you will “lighten up” and will allow the divine positive energy in.

• Sapphire
• Citrine
• Fire Opal
• Tourmaline
• Sphene
• Zircon
• Orthoclase
• Chrysoberyl
• Beryl
• Spodumene
• Quartz
• Agate
• Diamond

 

 

Apollo and Daphne

 

 

 

APOLLO AND DAPHNE – TRAGIC LOVE

 

 

I was always fascinated with the Greek Gods, the myths and the legends. The story that I will share with you today is my inspiration for creating the Spring ’13 jewelry collection  called AGE OF GODS – Daphne.

It is the sad love story of Apollo and his great obsession/love with ancient Greek nymph Daphne. The curse of Apollo [ a great warrior, God of light and poetry] was brought to him when he insulted the god Eros for playing with bows and arrows – Eros was using bows and arrows to struck people into love. Arrogant warrior Apollo, having won Python, a horrible earth-dragon that was living in the area of Delphi, abruptly told Eros to leave war-like weapons to mighty warrior Gods like himself and stick to his own pastimes devaluing his duty to inflate love and passion to others. This infuriated the headstrong Eros who decided to take his revenge on the audacious Apollo.

Eros climbed on the rock of Mt Parnasus and unleashed two arrows: one sharp and gold-tipped and another blunt and lead-tipped. The sharp, gold-tipped arrow pierced the heart of Apollo inflaming his love for Daphne, a beautiful nymph, while the blunt, lead-tipped arrow struck the nymph creating an aversion for love in her heart. She was constantly rejecting the love of the glorious Apollo, who was persistently pursuing her. Daphne in order to escape him metamorphosed into a laurel tree [called daphne in Greek.]  Her skin turned into bark, her hair became leaves, and her arms transformed into branches. She stopped running as her feet became rooted  to the ground.

Apollo was heart-broken at the loss of his love Daphne.  Since he could no longer take her as his wive, he vowed to tend her as his tree, and promised that her leaves would decorate the heads of leaders as crowns, and that her leaves were also to be depicted on weapons.

Mighty Apollo also used his powers of eternal youth and immortality to render her ever green. Since then, the leaves of the Bay laurel tree have ever known to decay.

Since Apollo was a God of poetry as well, he also made laurel the symbol of tribute to poets. The laurel became therefore the symbol of the God. Pythia, the priestess in the oracle of Delphi, was chewing leaves of laurel to communicate with Apollo and give her prophesies to people.  

So sad…

The Spring ’13 jewelry collection that I created is inspired from Daphne with signature leaves and flowers all finished in beautiful green gold.

Here are a few details of my upcoming collection plus images of a very famous baroque, life-sized marble statute entitled Apollo and Daphne – sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini [1622-1625.]  

More to come later…xoxoS