As I mentioned in my intro post, I am planning a product launch for Forest Lights • January 1, 2018 • To celebrate, we're hosting a few giveaways leading up to NYE.

This time, you could win a full chakra set, complete with hematite, orange calcite, citrine, aventurine, blue lace agate, lapis and amethyst. I know I literally JUST posted my intro post this morning, but there are only two days left on this particular giveaway, and I wanted to go ahead and put this out there!

• Enter to win here •

I chose each of these stones very intentionally for this set, and not every set will be the same once we launch the store in just a few weeks. I am hoping to make this a customizable shopping experience, so I will always do my best to create a combination that suits each individual's wishes and goals.

I wanted to break this particular set down for you guys, and dig into how each stone will help to unblock, unlock and energize each of your chakras, as well as wade into the realm of each chakra.

Root • Hematite

The root chakra is located at the base of your spine, supporting not only your body, but it also serves as the seat of the soul. The lower chakras are inherently primal, and imbalance can evoke feelings of disconnection, and low self-esteem. Balancing this chakra is key in moving toward stability, loyalty and self-love.

Hematite helps us to ground ourselves in a way that nurtures our spirituality, allowing us to marry rational, practical thought with divine energy to manifest your dreams in this physical plane.

While hematite stimulates the root chakra, in its grounding nature, it can also help to balance and align all your chakras, pulling excess energies down through your system to the root chakra. I thought this would be the perfect foundation for this chakra-balancing set.

Sacral • Orange Calcite

CW • Light mention of sexual trauma, no specifics.

Your sacral chakra is in your lower abdomen, near your belly button. This is another primal, and much more sensual part of our emotional body, and I personally believe that most people in modern society struggle with freeing these sacral energies in a healthy manner, or even at all, especially if you have any history trauma in this realm. Sacral imbalances can cause you to feel out of control, and physically, can cause lower back issues and even infertility.

Opening up this chakra and cleansing the energy held there can bring about a playfulness and vitality, and that's where orange calcite comes in. It's bright energy is heavily associated with sunlight and fire, dispelling darkness and providing a new warmth. It is also a catalyst for creative energy, and like hematite, can help free up "stuck" energy throughout your system. Orange calcite also aids in recovery for those who have experienced sexual abuse, by dispelling shame and emotional wounds and inciting confidence and healing.

Solar Plexus • Citrine

CW • Light mention of eating disorders, no specifics.

Just below your sternum lies your solar plexus chakra. This area is responsible for "gut instinct," "butterflies," etc., and is also a hub for the infamous ego. Dun-dun-DUNNNNN.

To be clear, "ego" literally means "a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance." The ego receives a lot of hate -- i.e. ego killing, ego maniac, etc -- but in and of itself, it is not the enemy. An unbalanced, out-of-control ego is a nasty thing to heal, but given proper attention and kept in check, the ego is a beautiful part of this human experience. This means that when your solar plexus is unbalanced, you may experience a variety of issues • over-sensitivity to criticism, low self-esteem, ego-mania, or even eating disorders.

There are two types of citrine on the market • natural citrine and heat-treated citrine (which begins its journey as amethyst). These two stones have remarkable differences, but both are incredible stones to work with. I have included heat-treated citrine in this set, and here's why •

"Common Citrine" stimulates us and allows even the most introverted to become more outgoing, yet encourages us to set important emotional boundaries when necessary. I already told you that hematite opens up the pathway for manifestation, and common citrine will go hand-in-hand, helping us identify what it is exactly that we'd like to manifest • an absolutely crucial part of manifestation. Its sunny optimism will also add a lightness to your being.

Heart • Aventurine

Your heart chakra sits • you guessed it • right at your heart center, just behind your sternum. A balanced heart chakra allows us to be open, loving, compassionate and kind to ourselves and those around us • it also plays a key part in empathy. However, imbalances lead to jealousy, feelings of unworthiness, and ultimately, fear and hate. Much like the sacral charka, I believe many people have issues keeping this energy balanced. Spending a lot of time outdoors and eating green leafy vegetables can help you work toward an open and free heart center • and a physically healthy heart!

The green aventurine pyramid included in this set stimulates your life-force with a sense of optimism and confidence. Naisha Ahsian puts it best • "Green Aventurine's essence is that of spring bursting forth after a long, dark winter." This stone is also known to bring good luck, incite emotional healing and soothe heartache. It can also help you break out of emotional patterns that can be detrimental to your spiritual journey and personal development. It will help you open up that heart chakra, release attachment and exist in the present moment.

Throat • Blue Lace Agate

The throat chakra is your fountain of communication. Opening up this chakra brings about honesty, confident decision-making, and ultimately, an authentic sense of self • because when you can effectively speak your mind, you find peace. This chakra, out of balance, can lead to misunderstandings and a sense of estrangement from those around you. Drinking lots of water can help open up this energy, which can impact your throat and oral health (think strep throat, infections, cavities, gum health).

Called 'the stone of the diplomat,' blue lace agate helps us to find our voice • a critical and difficult accomplishment in this 24-7 social media-frenzied society • and articulate it in a receptive manner. A gentle worker, blue lace agate is a great stone for introverts, as it instills confidence to share your truth in any situation. In an extrovert, this stone can soften what may come across as boisterous to some, and really peel back the layers to unveil the true core of your communication. If you are doing manifestation work, blue lace agate is a great tool for verbal affirmations.

Third Eye • Lapis Lazuli

Just above and between your brow line lies my favorite energy • the third eye chakra. The seat of wisdom and perception, a balanced third eye allows an elevated perspective on the world around you. An unbalanced third eye can go in two extremes. You can become extraordinarily judgmental of those around you who you deem "unenlightened," or you could be closing yourself off to this higher energy all-together, resulting in learning and perceptive issues.

There is a great third eye-opener technique that I learned in college through a YouTube video that I can no longer find, so instead, I'm just going to share it with you verbally and hope it helps! Place the palms of your hands over your ears with your fingers pointing behind you, applying slight pressure (but not to the point of any sort of discomfort). Then take your pointer finger and place it on top of your middle finger. Using the middle finger as leverage, apply pressure and "thump" the back of your head. I used to do this for a minute or longer. Let me know if you try it out in a meditation setting and notice anything! This was how I first opened the way to lucid dreaming and astral projection for myself, which is another realm that the third eye is great for. Anyway • I DIGRESS!

Lapis Lazuli was the first stone I ever purchased for myself with the intent of it being for chakra work, back in 2011. It is an incredibly powerful and divine ally, and should be treated that way. I do not recommend Lapis for everyday wear due to its intensity, though I have never experienced an issue with everyday mediation or a permanent place on an altar.

Historically, it was used as an expression of royalty, dating back to ancient Egypt. It can awaken that royally divine energy in each of us • after all, we are our own Kings and Queens. Lapis enhances intuition and awareness, and also aids in opening the throat chakra. Opening the third eye with Lapis activates psychic centers in us, so it is a great tool for lucid dreaming, astral projection and even divination and clairvoyant work, including accessing the Akashic records for past-life recollection. (( These are topics I am incredibly excited to dive into with you guys, but there's a time and place, and it is not here and now. ))

Crown • Amethyst

At the very top of our head sits our crown chakra, our spiritual link to the universe at large. Your crown and third eye chakras work together to activate the pineal gland, arguably the most mystical parts of the human body. A balanced crown chakra increases optimism and awareness, while an unbalanced one can result in physical and mental disarray, ultimately impacting the alignment of your entire chakra system due to its heavy ties with the brain, nervous and endocrine system.

The amethyst cluster included in this set not only helps to balance the crown chakra, but also has profound impact on the third eye and etheric (above the head, non-physical) chakras. A reliable aid in meditation, amethyst can also assist with spiritual protection, kicking bad habits, breaking out of old cycles, and ultimately, transitioning into higher states of consciousness.

Because it helps in so many areas of life, it is important to cleanse the energies it may absorb every once in a while. If you find yourself susceptible to negative energy, or it's bright and awakening energy has dimmed, Robert Simmons recommends holding the stone under running water, while focusing your intention on clearing the stone of pent-up energies. I also keep other cleansing stones around like selenite, so that when my stones are feeling a little worse for wear, they can hang out with selenite for a while to restore them back to their normal energetic state.

((( References: Buddhists.org (Chakra Background Info and Chakra Symbol Images), The Book of Stones: Who They Are And What They Teach (Crystal and Mineral Background Info), and of course, my own observation and experience. )))