31Oct13 - Jade Bracelets Restocked!

Our best selling item, Jade bracelet is back! Restocked a few from our dear supplier
so we like to share them with our readers! :)

Read more about Jade here and about the bracelet here.

Cheers!

29Oct13 - Quartz Healing - Smoky and Clear Quartz

Clear Quartz is a master healer crystal, and is used in many forms of meditation and healing.
It helps stimulate the immune and circulatory systems, enhancing energy flow and bringing the body into balance. It is said also to help improve metabolism, exhaustion and weight loss.

Smoky Quartz is a grounding stone that transmutes negative energies and facilitates your ability to get things done in the practical world.Smokey Quartz helps adsorbs the negative energy from your  body and relieves depression.

    Left hand holding clear quartz while right holding smoky quartz

This healing/meditation method allows the clear quartz to stimulates your body
and mind with good energy and expel bad ones with the smoky quartz.

You can do this while lying down or seated, and holding each crystal in your hands.

Preferably in a quiet place without sound of TV or hand-phones .

Try to imagine in your mind a bright ray of light, like a sunny window while slower your breath.

Next, think back of three good things that had happened today that you are grateful for.
(if you doing this at the end of the day, before you go to sleep.)

And your mind and body will be much relaxed and you will get a better sleep!

Usually it just takes about 5-10 minutes a day and it helps our mind and body to be more attuned to the surrounding.

Whether you are feeling lost or depression, unhappy over certain situation, or just a normal folks with your daily chores. I recommend trying this meditation every night before you sleep, even without the crystals, the meditation itself will help ease the tension of your mind and body.

It is available here on our online store

26Oct13 - Recharge

Crystals, like us people, need to take a break once in a while.
If you have been wearing your crystals for a long time, you should let them rest
on a clear quartz cluster or chips, or inside a geode.

Let them refresh and recharge, and be ready to let you radiate again!

We should also learn to take a break once in a while, relaxing and recharging
both our minds and bodies. Hope everyone will spend the weekend enjoying themselves!

20Oct13 - GuanYin Renunciation Day

This Wed, 23rd Oct is GuanYin Renunciation Day, the day he renounced and become a monk.

( Xuan Zang,玄奘, the Tang pilgrim monk who sought Guan Yin’s protection and help as he journeyed to India, had proposed Guan Zi Zai, 观自在, as the correct Chinese translation of Guan Yin’s name.

However, it seems like Guan Shi Yin, 观世音, hearer of all sufferings, was a more popular version. When the second Tang Emperor Li Shi Min, 李世民, ascended the throne, Guan Shi Yin was “renamed” as Guan Yin due to the Chinese custom of avoiding characters similar to an Emperor’s name; Shi , 世, in this case.

By the Song dynasty, Guan Yin evolved into a female bodhisattva in white robes that we see today. The male Guan Yin continues to be depicted albeit less frequently. The bodhisattva’s gender is unproblematic to devotees as Guan Yin will manifest in any form to reach out or to help suffering beings.)   

Many devotees turn vegetarian for at least a day as an act of devotion and compassion.

Some of the temples in Singapore

13Oct13- Bask those Quartz

With the occasional showers these few days, this weekend looks like a pretty
good weather to get your quartz out and get them energized under the sun!

Basking your quartz with sunlight helps cleanse and recharge its natural energy.
Although it is advised only to bask clear quartz as other crystals as such citrine and amethyst, will fade and might crack under the hot afternoon sun.

While it is good for quartz to get some sunlight basking, it is good and important for
us to have some too!

Sunlight provides vitamin-D that is essential for the skin and bones and even help
improve depression as it increases the natural antidepressant in our brain.

One important point to note is applying sun-block and sun-screen. This helps block out

the harmful UVs while allowing you to enjoy the sun. Morning sun is more beneficial too compared to afternoon's. 

So time to pick up your frisbee or picnic basket and have some fun under the sun!

Have a great weekend!

19Sept13 - Agarwood

Agarwood

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Agarwood, also known as oud, oodh or agar, is a dark resinous heartwood that forms in Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees (large evergreens native to southeast Asia) when they become infected with a type of mould. Prior to infection, the heartwood is relatively light and pale coloured; however, as the infection progresses, the tree produces a dark aromatic resin in response to the attack, which results in a very dense, dark, resin embedded heartwood. The resin embedded wood is commonly called gaharu, jinko, aloeswood, agarwood, or oud (not to be confused with 'Bakhoor') and is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and thus is used for incense and perfume. 

    Left showing the mould infecting the tree, resulting in a dark resin core

One of the main reasons for the relative rarity and high cost of agarwood is the depletion of the wild resource. Since 1995 Aquilaria malaccensis, the primary source, has been listed in Appendix II (potentially threatened species) by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

 In 2004 all Aquilaria species were listed in Appendix II; however, a number of countries have outstanding reservations regarding that listing.

Oud oil can be distilled from agarwood using steam, the total yield of agarwood (Oud) oil for 70 kg of wood will not exceed 20 ml.

    Workers extracting agarwood oil from the wood.

Usages and benefits
-Calms the mind and promotes good sleep
-For mediation and relaxation of the mind
-Improves mental clarity
-Remove bad chi in fengshui

    Agarwood essence oil and bracelets

06Sept13 - Strawberries!

10 Health Benefits of Strawberries

1. Helps burn stored fat
The red coloring contains anthocyanins, which stimulate the burning of stored fat. When a group of animals was fed a high-fat diet along with anthocyanins, they gained 24 percent less weight than the animals eating the high-fat diet without added anthocyanins. (The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry)

2. Boost short term memoryThe anthocyanins boost short term memory by 100 percent in eight weeks. (The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry)

3. Low in Calories – High in Fiber
One cup contains only 54 calories.

4. Ease Inflammation
Strawberries lower blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a signal of inflammation in the body. In a study, women who ate 16 or more strawberries per week were 14 percent less likely to have elevated levels of CRP. (Harvard School of Public Health.)

    Yup a straw to remove the core of your strawberries ^^

5. Lower cardiovascular disease
Flavonoids — which are responsible for the colour and flavour of strawberries — lower the risk for heart disease.

6. Promote bone health
Strawberries contain potassium, vitamin K and magnesium which are important for bone health.

7. Prevent oesophageal cancer
Studies show freeze-dried strawberry powder may help prevent human oesophageal cancer.

8. Anti-aging properties
Strawberries are filled with biotin, which helps build strong hair and nails. They also contain the antioxidant ellagic acid, which protects the elastic fibers in our skin to prevent sagging. 

9. Good for weight loss
The compound nitrate found promotes blood flow and oxygen in our body, which is great for weight loss.

10. Promote eye health
Eating three or more servings of fruit like strawberries may lower the risk of macular degeneration, a condition resulting in vision loss. (Archives of Ophthalmology)

Read more:(source)

    Strawberries do not store well, so consume them soon!

Have a great Friday and weekend!

JJ