The famed ancient city of Atlantis never fails to stroke the imagination of the modern world; a city shrouded in the mists of time, steeped in mystery and legend and yet glimmering with tantalizing hints of archeology and coincidence compelling enough to keep this exotic story alive and well in the collective mind.

The first information on the ancient fallen civilization of Atlantis came from the Greek philosopher Plato who lived around 428 to 348 BCE. Plato was most famous for his analysis of the human condition, and skeptics believe he created the story of Atlantis as a metaphor for humanity. Others, however, consider it to be a legitimate part of history whose hard factual evidence is yet to be found. In the 19th century, U.S. congressman Ignatius L. Donnelly wrote about it in Atlantis: The Antediluvian World, a text which re-kindled the fire of interest over the topic of Atlantis.

More recently, one of the fascinating sources of information about Atlantis came from a well-known...

Each of the planets closely associated with earth has its energetic associations, astrological pairings, and affiliation with particular deities and astrologers have long studied and followed the movements and patterns of the planets in our solar system to gain insight into the human condition and to predict events and energies in the collective.

Mercury has considered the planet of communication, and many of us are very familiar with the popularly dreaded phenomenon of ‘mercury retrograde.’ This is a planetary event that occurs about three times per year, during which time the planet Mercury moves backward in its standard orbit, seemingly retracing its steps backward through time and space.

Many people and astrologers alike recognize that when Mercury moves in this reverse fashion, the energies under the influence of Mercury shift their normal flow and dynamic. Most commonly, many people report ‘communication breakdown’ both inter-personally and also in...

When healing occurs, through whom or what is it conducted? Is the person, place, or being receiving the healing responsible? Is the healing tool, or is the healer? We could say that the magic of a transformative healing dynamic occurs when the person or party being healed is willing and participating and present for their healing. When the healer is committed and open for healing to flow through them, and when appropriate tools are used properly with integrity. Many times it has been said that regardless of all the remarkable healing tools available to us today, the healer him- or her-self is the true instrument of healing.

This philosophy seems to be reflected by the famous and groundbreaking work of crystal healing innovator Dr. Marcel Vogel. Dr. Vogel was a renowned researcher who worked at the IBM San Jose Research center, his life of intensive research earning him an honorary title of Doctor and his unique and groundbreaking research into the use of quartz crystals for healing...

What if you could shed the cares of this world, of your everyday life, like worn garments to the laundry basket, and fly free even for a few hours?

Like a bird soaring far above, seeing everything from a broad and unique perspective, you would be temporarily free to explore a realm outside of the usual or perhaps one deeply embedded within yourself. This idea certainly appeals to many of us and can be possible by employing a technique or experience commonly called ‘astral projection.’

Let’s take a more in-depth look at what this experience looks like and how it could benefit our personal growth. In esoteric and energetic realms of study, the human being is a multidimensional being. Not just ‘flesh and blood’ as we understand it but also an interweaving of soul, spirit, and the astral-body, coexisting to create the experience of who we are on many levels at once. The astral is described as the layer or facet of our being that sort of links or lies...

More ancient than the oldest civilizations, yet emergent as one of the new leading interests of modern time, healing crystals and stones are a timeless fixture of human society and life. Crystals have likely never before seen such an explosion of popularity and desirability on a worldwide market both as jewelry and spiritual talismans as well as décor and collector’s items. New mineral specimens are regularly being discovered and studied as the ever-shifting layers of our implacable home planet reveal what is created through weathering, volcanic activity, and tectonic shifting.

Yet with what seems like an incredible peak in interest towards crystal healing and the use or carrying of stones for empowerment, protection or spiritual self-development, the sheer variety in stones can seem overwhelming. Where to begin?

Crystal expert and author Nicholas Pearson dives deeply into the study of the crystal and mineral realm. Both from the perspective of mythology...