This week, with inspiration from an article published by the BBC, we decided to write about lapis lazuli- a celestial, rich, blue-hued mineral that has been used in jewelry and pigment making for over six thousand years.
"Lapis lazuli" is the name given to this stone which is made up of a number of individual minerals: lazurite, a highly sought after blue colored stone; pyrite, a popular gold- toned crystal; and other minerals such as sodalite (another blue and white toned mineral), and calcite (often milky white). The picture here shows a specimen that likely contains all of these.
Lapis jewelry was used to decorate the necks of royalty as far back as the ancient city of Ur, in Mesopotamia, approximately around 3800 BC. Thousands of years later, medieval monks used the crushed up stone as pigment for decorating their intricately painted manuscripts. During the Renaissance it is believed that this blue pigment was used to depict the royal robes of the Virgin Mary. In the new age world, lapis can pass as both the throat and third eye chakra balancing stone, because of the middle-hued blue color it possesses. Because of this, the stone is great for problems with the throat, thyroid, or larynx, and helps with insomnia, headaches, and other brain disorders, among other things. Metaphysically, lapis supposedly aids in learning, understanding, focus and problem solving.
However you use lapis, it is important to know that today the state of lapis lazuli is quite sad. The majority of it has been found and mined in Afghanistan since ancient times, where today, roughly about 50% of the profits made from this trade go directly into the hands of the Taliban, a corrupt government system hat now "own" the same mines used for lapis mining for almost 6 thousand years.
It is an incredibly complicated issue, and if possible, it is best to source this mineral from the other parts of the word where it is found, such as Russia, Chile, Italy, and even the USA, even if the quality is different.
For more detailed information on the current state of the lapis trade, visit the BBC article here.
As the Sun dips into the fiery heart of summer, July emerges—golden, long, and lazy. And right alongside it, the zodiac’s watery guardian, Cancer, takes the helm. July is one of the few month’s of the year (next to March or April, depending on the date of Ostara) where a pagan holiday or fire festival is not observed, yet the middle of summer seems almost ritualistic in how entrenched we become with the richness of the season. Looking further, it only makes sense as to why Cancer, summer’s sweetest star sign, is the mascot to the start of summer. Here’s why the vibrancy of July and the nurturing essence of Cancer are cosmic twins—bound by symbolism, season, and soul.
A celebration of identity, liberation, and self-expression— Pride Month is an annual honoring of the LGBTQIA+ community’s history, resilience, and ongoing pursuit of equality. While astrologically Pride Month falls within Gemini and Cancer seasons, the bold and untamed spirit of the Sagittarius full moon each June aligns strikingly with the energy that fuels Pride’s essence: truth-seeking, radical authenticity, and freedom from oppression.
As we navigate the celestial currents of 2025, a unique astrological event awaits: both Venus and Mercury will be retrograde simultaneously. Venus will transition from Aries to Pisces during its retrograde, while Mercury will retrograde in Aries. This rare cosmic alignment offers a profound opportunity for introspection, reassessment, and personal growth. When these two influential planets appear to move backward in the sky, their retrograde energies prompt us to slow down and reevaluate critical aspects of our lives. While the experience may seem challenging, it ultimately serves as a chance to heal, reset, and reconnect with our true desires and intentions.
