THROAT CHAKRA. (LAPIS LAZULI)

DESIGN: Our Throat Chakra waistbeads are stranded with sapphire-color lined glass beads with a pop of matte hematite shaped beads. The attractive middle focal point features fire polished glass faceted beads and 14K gold plated sapphire colored Swarovski crystals, and smoothly rounded natural lapis lazuili found in limestone in the Kokcha River valley of Badakhshan province in northeastern Afghanistan where the mine deposits have been worked for over 6,000 years.

LOCATION: Center of the neck.

WHAT IT INFLUENCES: Our communication center, our ability to speak and listen openly and honestly.

SYMPTOMS OF IMBALANCE: Lacking communication skills, struggle to be assertive, difficulty speaking up, frequent miscommunication, suspicion of others, untruthfulness, ignoring inner voice, afraid to express oneself.

SIGNS OF BALANCE: Ability to speak, listen, and express ourselves openly and authentically.

The 5^th chakra, known as the throat chakra, is the center for communication and self-expression. Found at the base of the neck, it allows energy from the six other main chakras to be expressed and is said to be connected to the Thyroid and Parathyroid gland. Known as the ‘soul’s gate,’ the throat chakra is the link between the heart and head while also being the passage of energy between the lower parts of the body and the head. A blocked throat chakra can contribute to feelings of insecurity, timidity, and introversion which might manifest as excessive secretiveness or shyness. When the throat chakra is unbalanced, communication becomes more difficult. It's harder to speak honestly and be true to your feelings, which can lead to frustration. You may also find it harder to access your creative mind. On the other end of the spectrum, an overactive throat chakra may also lead to gossiping, lack of control over one’s speech; speaking too much or inappropriately, not being able to keep secrets/your word, and being verbally aggressive or mean. It can seem as though the filter between the discourse you have in your mind and what comes out of your mouth is not working, or missing entirely. Open and heal your throat chakra by practicing meditation, positive affirmations, journaling to express yourself on paper, utilizing opportunities to speak your truth, and prayer.

Lapis lazuli is known as the stone of friendship, inner truth, communication, and total awareness. When we choose to align with lapis, we are telling our bodies that we are ready to face all that which blocks us from accessing the deepest layers of our personal truths; the truths that may be hidden beneath subconscious debris and trauma bonds/patterns within the constructs of distorted belief structures. Wherever our authenticity hides, using lapis lazuli over a period of time will surely help to bring the true you to the surface. Lapis lazuli helps release problems in the throat area, such as repressed anger. It activates, energizes and balances the throat chakra and encourages self-awareness. It is regarded as a stone believed to reveal one's inner truth and promote the acceptance of it as well as promote self awareness, allowing for effective and honest self expression, and help its keeper to conquer suppressed feelings that may be holding him or her back.   Lapis Lazuli is said to enhance the quality of friendships, encourage compassion and uprightness, and provide a clearer perspective on life.   It's brilliant for enhancing both new and existing friendships. This is also one of the best crystals for anger, so use it if you often find it difficult to communicate in stressful situations. Lapis lazuli is a beautiful ancient stone. It both adorned the crowns and breast plates of royalty as well as got buried in tombs King Tutt and other pharaohs to accompany them into the next life. It is thought that lapis lazuli was one of the original stones on the breastplate of Aaron mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible—referred to as sapphire. Seeing how there was no sapphire in that region of the world, but tons of lapis, it’s likely the stone was lapis lazuli instead. During the Renaissance, sapphire blue was considered a sacred color (sacre bleu), which is why the Lapis Lazuli crystal stone was ground into a powder and used to paint the Virgin Mary's robes and other iconic artwork in historic cathedrals throughout Europe. It was the iconic beauty and fashion icon Cleopatra who used the crushed powder of the Lapis Lazuli crystal in her eye shadow design, the quintessential symbol of an Egyptian pharaoh.

Lapis Lazuli also works with the 3rd Eye Chakra as it is a stone of wisdom.