Stone Medicine with Renee

Transformation is Magick!

Transformation. What does it mean to us? How do we recognize it? How do we facilitate it? How do we complete it? Why do we need it?

Transformation is “the change in form or outward appearance of a condition, nature, or function.” For myself and my craft, I define transformation as letting go of a particular condition, trait, or situation in my life in order to allow something else to be born and blossom. It can also be looked at as a growth spurt or change in perspective. Transformation can occur on its own, or we can open ourselves up to having the power to create transformation ourselves. That’s magick! That’s power!

Here are some wise words from my elder and Spirit Mama, Luna Crow, Teacher of the Moontime Mysteries: "Grandmother Moon is the ultimate guide for self transformation. We see Her when she is mirroring her partner, the Sun. When she does Her beautiful dance with Sun and Earth, we appreciate and relate to Her. But what about when we can’t see Her with our eyes? Then, She is in the underworld, looking within. She reflects off no other. This is a natural, regular aspect of her monthly cycle. What can we learn from Grandmother moon? When we need transformation, we often feel stuck in a rut or like we are treading water. We find ourselves saying “if only X was different.” We are stuck because we are trying to change other people, places, circumstances, and things. We are expecting other people, places, or situations to be our reflections of how we are doing. We are refusing to dance alone. We give up our power, so feel powerless. Transformation is needed when we have been dancing too long with the reflections around us. Transformation is needed when we are hooked on expectations of others, and therefore always feel let down. I use the word “hooked” because this is an addictive pattern, heavily induced by our patriarchal culture. Addiction disempowers us. We can take back our power by breaking this addiction. To do this, we must take time every month to look at our personal reflection honestly and with humility, to look at our true face rather than how we reflect off of the outside world. We must put aside the dance we do with others (reflecting the Sun) and focus on the dance with ourselves (looking inside). Here is where we become aware of and accept that we are responsible for our own lives. We acknowledge that we have become addicted to outside substances, situations, and people to provide approval. In doing so, we can release expectations and dive deep in to our own wellspring of Holiness. Here we find we can change ourselves. By changing ourselves, our personal world changes. And if our personal world changes then the world changes, because we are one with all that is."

The key to creating transformation is to detach ourselves from the ultimate outcome. In this way, transformation is different from manifestation techniques. I’m not talking about manifesting prosperity, a new job, a big house, or a hot lover. I'm talking about transforming how we perceive ideas, how we communicate, or how we handle emotional situations. It’s about taking our spirituality to another level. It can be about becoming a better friend, lover, child, parent, or sibling. And it is not limited to these: There are many other aspects of your life you can transform.

Transformation cannot occur without a letting go, a release. In order for something to become something else, we must let go of our desire for that something to stay the same. If we want to manifest a new pattern, object, or perspective for ourselves, we must create room by letting go of the old pattern, object, or perspective. There are many methods of release. If you follow an earth-based spirituality, a waning-moon releasing meditation, a fire-burning ceremony, or the wearing of stones that enhance the releasing energy can be helpful. If you are truly ready for a transformation, the releasing act flows with ease and grace.

After releasing the old, it is important to purify. Purification allows any residual energy to be cleansed. Burning sage, sitting in a sweat lodge, or wearing cleansing stones can assist with this. This is an important step, as we often forget that there are energies we are unable to see or feel. Allow yourself to have an open heart and mind during your purification; this will enhance the cleansing.

After letting go and cleansing, you can begin manifesting the transformation. Voice, write, or pray about what it is you want to transform. Discuss it with your favorite healer, teacher or mentor. Working with stones is a fun and easy way to facilitate change. Be open to the change happening at its own pace, and try to avoid specific expectations. True knowledge is knowing that we don’t have all the answers, which leads to growth. Leave yourself open to the universe bringing you unexpected gifts and you will reach levels you never dreamed of.

How do you know when a transformation has occurred? My favorite astrologer has some wonderful words on this: “As far as transformation is concerned, the trickiest part is: You’ll never know if you’re truly transforming until after the process is done, or very close to completion. Only the “new” you will be able to recognize any significant distance traveled from the “old”. Your best clue to a real transformation in progress is the sudden deep wondering, with more than a bit of panic in your mind’s voice, about who you are and where you’re headed and whether you’ve become totally crazy having strayed this far into uncomfortable, unknown territory—and, at the same time, the profound awareness that there’s no going back. Transformations, by the very nature, usually involve some type of personal grief or mourning. After all, we are ‘killing’ off a part of ourselves to create room for something more. We mustn’t gloss over the emotional responses we inevitably feel when we’re forced to say goodbye to familiar ways of being.” Astrobarry

		Stone of the Month
Malachite! Self healing and letting go! Malachite is a wonderful deep green marbled stone that is soothing and downright yummy! This stone helps heal damage to our self-esteem and our self-image. It encourages us to live and love more fully and to take risks. It helps us to live in the present moment and to release the preconceived ideas of our life. It also helps us sets aside shyness and reserve so that we can powerfully pursue growth. Malachite stimulates the third-eye vision and releases suppressed feelings. It enhances dreams and the ability to remember them. It encourages self-development, helping us to become who we are meant to be. It encourages faster knowledge absorption and decision making. Physically, Malachite is great for the detoxifying the liver and for overall reproductive organ health. It helps heal sexual traumas and fears. I work with Malachite in the elements of Earth and Fire and in the third chakra. It is a wonderful stone to aid in transformation, cleansing, healing, and empowerment. More Malachite

Bastet Jewelry Supports:

Dreaming with Stone workshop with Cybele

Cybele will be offering this wonderful workshop in my home in July. You’ll have a chance to connect with stones either for your first time or as a seasoned stone-lover.

Cybele teaches us to work with dreams—our own and others'. This work is transformative and healing.

The workshop is a day-and-a-half of connecting with other stone lovers and learning more about ourselves. Contact Cybele or Renee if your interested in attending.

Friends and Resources of Bastet Jewelry:

Please visit www.bastetjewelry.com. Renee Bastet has been creating jewelry for over 15 years. She thrives on working individually with people to create custom pieces that put magick in their lives.

Copyright 2007. Bastet Jewelry
Copy Editor: Karen Michels