Combating Holiday Stress with Crystals

I have personally always been captivated by the Winter season. It is during this time that we are truly reminded of our frailty, our mortality. The chilling cold grips us, tears into us, felt bone deep. All thoughts are ripped away and we can only stand there and shiver, not so much from the cold, but from the chilling reminder of what it means to be human. None of it matters, everything we've accomplished, everything we have, it can all be taken away in an instant. Priorities become clear as the ice that grips the land. The cold reminds of us our connections, that we are a part of this land, and that all we really have are the people around us.

It is only appropriate then, that at this Mid-Winter time, when all is dark, bleak, and there is still so much Winter left, that we should gather with those that we love, celebrating our shared connection. All of the holidays at this time, religious and secular, have this same common thread running through them: community.

But, loving idealism aside, all of this bonding time with family, whom we may have purposefully moved far away from, can be quite stressful.

So, to help you get through this holiday season in one piece, here are three crystals that may help you out. I personally find them to help in avoiding stress, not just in alleviating it. I find that when I carry these, I simply just don't get stressed unless it's something that truly warrants getting stressed about. I find my mind to be much clearer, that rational thought occurs more easily, and thus stress is avoided.

Blue Lace Agate 
This is a banded stone of sky blue and white, with a bubbly effect in the bands that resemble lace; it is calming, neutralizes anger, and clears your mind of clutter: this allows you to be more friendly and enjoy yourself, perfect for the holiday season.

Snow Quartz
This is an opaque white stone, sometimes with rust colored veins running through it; it is a good calming stone, not nearly to the effect of being a grounding stone, but it imbues one with feelings of peace and serenity, this can be useful for meditation or for "thoughtful" thoughts when dealing with relatives.

Sodalite
This is a dark opaque, indigo blue stone; it promotes clear thinking, relieves stress, and can help you control the urge to finally tell that Uncle where to "stick it."