Leo: July 23 – August 22

Element: Fire

Planet: Sun

This powerful Dragon stone assists in drawing in powerful energy from the Earth to keep the body stimulated and strong. It's a stone for the brave, helping release all insecurities, shyness, and self doubt. It helps bring a deep sense of self love by helping the person rediscover parts of themselves that they have forgotten, and parts they have not yet tapped into. It's a powerful journey stone because it opens up the heart to forgiveness of others and of the self. Only when we can forgive ourselves, can we begin to fully love ourselves, and begin to forgive others. Making it a powerful play of Heart and Root energies. 

Chakra

Heart - Root

Dragon’s Blood opens the heart chakra to strength, and expression. To stand up for what is right and just. It harmonizes the body by balancing the masculine and feminine energies, which balance the intellectual, emotional, physical, and auric energies. This opens up the heart and releases fears. It also protects the heart chakra building an energetic shield around it. By opening your heart chakra, you will feel an uplifting energy that will make you more willing to embrace change and explore new experiences. 

The Dragons Blood ignites the root chakra located at the base of the spine. It draws positive, nurturing energy from the flaming core of the Earth as it brings life force into the root chakra. By stimulating the root chakra, one will feel higher energy levels, enthusiasm, increased physical strength and endurance. Fostering a sense of self love and security. It is extremely powerful in igniting the rise of the kundalini energy, leading to a full natural awakening. Kundalini awakening spirals Life Force energy up through the body around all chakras resulting in a profound spiritual experience.  Kundalini is also known as Dragon or Snake energy, making a Dragon the most powerful representation. 

Dragons Blood Jasper was given to warriors as a talisman of protection. It was believed to give warriors the courage of a dragon, and the cellular regenerative healing of a reptile working to heal wounds, and stop bleeding. Spiritually it will give the person the courage to dive deep within themselves and face their darkest truths, and blocked pasts. It aids in forgiving those truths with love, and awareness, to foster self love. For accepting the self is the start to understand the true power of the self.

Cleansing Crystals & Gemstones

Reiki
Reiki energy will cleanse and energise your crystals. If you are Reiki Level 1, simply hold a crystal in your hand and Reiki it. If you are Reiki Level 2, you can also use the mental/emotional symbol over your crystals.

The Moon
A full moon and a new moon are especially powerful for cleansing and recharging your stones. You can place them outside or on a windowsill at these times. Even if it is a cloudy night, the moon's rays will still energise the stones.

The Sun
The sun is also a very strong energetic way to cleanse your stones. Even when it is cloudy, the sun's rays will still energise the stones. Be careful though, as some stones will fade in the sunlight.

Mother Earth
Gemstones & Crystals come from the earth, so placing them directly into the earth will naturally cleanse all negative energies and re-energise them. I suggest you leave them for approximately 24 hours. If the stones are set, or strung into jewellery, it is best to gently cover them with a cloth first, so that small bits of dirt don't get into the fastenings etc.

Running Water
Holding your gemstones under clear, purified water will cleanse and recharge them. Do not use ordinary tap water. Some stones should not be immersed in water, so if you are unsure whether your stones are water safe, use a different cleansing method.

Sea Salt
Sea salt has long been known to have purification properties. For this reason, many people like to place their gemstones directly into a bowl of natural sea salt, however I find this to sometimes be too harsh on the softer stones. Instead, I use two glass bowls - one larger than the other. Fill the large bowl with sea salt and place the smaller bowl into this. Put your stones into the small bowl and leave overnight for approximately 24 hours. The sea salt will absorb all negative energies from the stones, leaving them cleansed and re-energised. Make sure you dispose of the salt so it is not used again. Only use glass bowls when cleansing and charging gemstones with salt.

Salt Water
Again, (as with the sea salt method), I find this to be harsh on some of the softer stones. Only use this method on harder stones, and (as with the running water), if you are unsure whether your stones are water safe, use a different cleansing method. Place some natural sea salt into a glass bowl, add purified water and your gemstones. Leave for approximately 24 hours and then gently pat dry, or leave to air dry.

Rice
You can place your stones in a bowl of brown rice. Make sure you dispose of the rice afterwards.

Smudging
Smudging is a very efficient way of cleansing gemstones. You can use sage (white sage is popular), sweet grass, sandalwood or even incense to smudge your crystals. Simply burn the smudge stick or incense and pass your stones through the smoke. This will clear the stones of all negative energy.

Singing Bowl
If the stones are small you may put them into the singing bowl. Place bigger stones close to the bowl, then set your intentions and play the bowl for a few minutes.

Using Your Intention
Focus your mental energies on your crystals and ask the Universe, or your Angels, to cleanse the stones of all negative energies and to re-energise them for their maximum potential. Always thank the Universe, and/or your Angels, after doing this.

Other Crystals
Placing your stones on a large quartz cluster will clear negative energies and re-energise the stones. However you must remember to regularly cleanse and re-energise the quartz cluster to ensure it retains its cleansing and re-energising powers.

Which Crystals Are Water Safe?

Some crystals are perfectly safe to cleanse in water, however there are many that are not. Crystals that are very soft tend to scratch or flake easily, whilst others contain metals and/or toxins, causing them to rust or become toxic. The following, more common crystals, are considered safe to cleanse in water:

Agate, Amethyst, Aventurine, Clear Quartz, Citrine, Red Jasper, Rose Quartz, Smokey Quartz, Snow Quartz, Tiger Eye

Programming Crystals & Gemstones

While it is not essential to programme your gemstones to gain benefit from their healing properties, you can do so if you wish to focus the stones' energy on something specific. To do this, I suggest following these steps.

Step 1
Think about what you want from your stone and carefully formulate your intention.

Step 2
Choose a stone that resonates with the intention you desire. For example; choose a calming stone for letting go of stress; or an energising stone to promote action. 

Step 3
Cleanse your chosen stone (or stones) with whichever method you prefer. I also suggest that you clear the stone of any previous programming while you cleanse it.

Step 4
Sit quietly, hold your crystal and clear your mind of unrelated thoughts. Start to focus on your intention. You may state your intention out loud, or visualise the words of your intention - whatever you feel more comfortable doing. Repeat your intention several times until you feel the vibrations have been absorbed fully into your stone. When you intuitively feel that the process is complete, it is.