Himalayan Salt: the lamp, the lie & the legend

Himalayan salt lamps are a beautiful, aesthetic addition to any room in your home and supposedly, they hold some interesting health properties too.

A few years ago, I was desperate to get my hands on one for my bedroom. I found them fascinating and I love all things mysterious and magical. I almost bought one at a Christmas market, but couldn’t justify the expense (after buying so many gifts for my loved ones!) and then I met my oldest friend for a drink and to swap gifts and BAM! She’d bought me a Himalayan Salt lamp! I was blown away by the intuitive nature of her gift and it has sat pride of place on my bedside table ever since.

Recently, I started researching to learn more about these intriguing objects and I was fascinated by what I learnt. There may not be a lot (if any) scientific value behind the benefits of salt lamps, but the theory is there. I was also surprised to learn there are a lot of fakes out there and I looked sadly upon my lamp wondering if it was the real deal or if my friend had been duped.

So, here’s a brief look into the proposed benefits of these lamps and how it all works and a little advice on how to realise if your lamp is legitimate or a lie.

How to Tell if You're an Empath

Have you ever been described as an overthinker or highly sensitive? Do friends and family come to you for advice and do you find yourself in a deep conversation with a stranger at a party? If you’re vigorously nodding to all those things, then you might be an empath. 

How to Smudge your Crystals

Smudging is a great way to cleanse and charge your crystals. Imagine the smoke enveloping the crystal and dissipating all the negative energy and infusing it with a reinvigorated energy. This will allow you to harness all its healing properties. 

Smudging is a powerful cleansing technique that originates from Native American tradition. This ceremonial cleansing calls upon the spirits of sacred plants to remove negative energies that do not serve a higher good. Smudging is an ancient method to drive away negative energy from an environment and restore balance, which is why it’s a perfect way to cleanse and empower your crystals. But how do you effectively smudge your crystals?

How to Store your Crystals

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Storing your crystals comes down to a personal preference. However, it’s important to store them in a way that’s right for you and best for them – we don’t want them disappearing (even though this can happen – they eventually find their way home!)
If you only have one or two crystals, a storage solution may not be necessary right now. You might prefer to keep them on you or perhaps by your bedside. Once you reach three crystals, you now have what’s considered a collection. At this point, you might want to consider storing them and labelling them. It’s quite easy to forget which one is which and therefore what crystal holds certain properties. 

10 Ways to Cleanse your Crystals

When building your crystal collection, it’s important to cleanse each stone before setting your intentions and harnessing their restorative properties. There are many ways to do this, but it’s important to choose a way you feel comfortable with. Don’t worry, you won’t have to trek up a mountain or go cave diving to take care of your crystals (however fun that sounds!) you can look after them in the comfort of your own home or back garden. 

5 Easy Ways to Go Plastic Free

"The first piece of plastic ever made, still exists today."

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I don’t think I’m alone when I say this fact terrifies me. Our planet is close to breaking point and if we don’t act now, we might lose her altogether, which is why I decided to embark on the journey to plastic-free living. At first, I felt overwhelmed. Plastic is everywhere. Where do I even begin?

Beginner's Guide to Chakra Crystals

I love crystals. They’re powerful, spiritual, and gorgeous to admire! Crystals found me during my beauty therapy training; my tutor introduced them to me through energy cleansing. At first, I was a little sceptical, wondering what a simple stone could do to help someone. She showed me how powerful they were by realigning the chakras of a fellow student, who became so overwhelmed that, after the session, she burst into tears. The energy of the crystals released pent up emotion dwelling inside her and, after taking a moment, she announced she felt lighter, happier, and relieved. I was hooked.