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SpaHealer
AsiaSpa July/August 2017connection with your higher self, intuition
and spirit guides; amethyst absorbs negative
energy and chrysocolla is the goddess
stone.”
Whether you use crystals for meditation,
to wear, sleep with or keep by your bedside,
they can impact your energy, and particular
stones can be effective in alleviating stress,
sleep deprivation, jet lag and anxiety.
McCann says, “I always carry black obsidian
with me as it is a great stone when you need
grounding and protection. I am constantly
on the airplane and in crowds due to the
nature of my work so I wear a piece around
my neck. Malachite is also known to offer
protection from accidents and during air
travel, while aquamarine protects during
seafaring adventures and hematite curbs
jet lag.”
For nervous travellers, blue calcite helps
to settle the rapid heartbeat associated
with stress and anxiety, aventurine soothes
an overactive mind and sugilite is said
to release emotional fear. McCann says,
“Lepidolite is the Xanax of the crystal world.
I usually keep a small piece in my bra when
I travel. If you don’t deal with turbulence
well, keep a larger size piece in your hand
for the duration of the flight”.
McCann says looking after crystals is
key. “You should not let anyone else touch
your stones as they have become attuned
to your energy. You wouldn’t share your
toothbrush or mascara now would you?”
She cleans her crystals every day. “Sunlight
is very good for clearing energy, a full
moon’s light or burying them are also good
methods. I like to use reiki, or to cover
them with sage smoke. Make sure you do
your due diligence when researching how
to clear your stones in water as they may
disintegrate – crystals can be unbreakable or
as delicate as sand falling apart in the surf.”
http://www.stylerituals.comWriter Emily McCabeColleen McCann
Capable of healing body and mind, the energy transforming properties of crystals are versatile“Crystals can be
unbreakable or
as delicate as sand
falling apart in the surf”
Mystical crystals have been
used throughout history, from enhancing
the function of modern technology to
their ancient spiritual healing properties.
Colleen McCann is an American fashion
stylist turned shaman who discovered her
fascination with crystals at a young age.
She says, “I got the bug for stones when I
was gifted a rock tumbler for Christmas as a
child. It came with a kit to turn all the pieces
into jewellery.” With obvious creative flair
and 15 years in the fashion industry under
her belt, she loved her career and wanted
to combine the two. “I am a healer, but
didn’t want to give up fashion,” she says of
her search to unite her creative profession
and spiritual practice.
McCann experienced her psychic
awakening around her 30th birthday,
sparked by a number of strange and
accurate premonitions after receiving
advice from a well-known healer, who
helped her fine-tune her gift, urging her
to study and embark on her journey as a
healer. She wanted to find a medium that
translated her spirituality into something
women could understand, which helped
her embrace creativity. “Most people are
accustomed to readings with tarot cards, but
I work with crystals because it’s something
women love,” she says.
After studying crystals for more than
a decade with a private feng shui mentor,
McCann learnt different uses for them
within healing modalities like shamanism
and reiki. The former was studied at The
Four Winds Center, Los Lobos Lodge in
Olmue, Chile with the Q’ero shaman of
Macchu Picchu. She says, “That was such
a great experience as I was also able to
meet Chilean shamans and experience the
similarities and differences between each
lineage.” The energy practitioner explains
how energy can linger, inhibiting yourhealth or emotional state and influencing
the course of life. She aims to clear low
vibrations from the body, wardrobe or
flat with “curated crystal prescriptions”
depending on the issues faced at that
particular moment.
F o r c r y s t a l n o v i c e s , M c C a n n
recommends eight essentials to create
a well-being starter kit. She explains
the purpose of each, “Black obsidian
offers grounding and protection; carnelian
provides relief and support for female issues,
citrine puts women in a productive mindset,
rose quartz encourages self-love and love of
others, lapis lazuli promotes the speaking
of truth and clear communication. Clear
quartz operates as the higher channel of