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Merry Christmas!

We believe that healing encompasses not only the body but also the mind and spirit. As part of our commitment to holistic well-being, we have initiated a special programme called "Crystals for Cancer." In this blog, we will delve into the transformative power of crystals and how they can positively impact children and their families during their cancer journey.

As many of you know, about 18 months ago, my family had a challenging time when our 8-year old was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma cancer. Fortunately for us, we caught it at stage 1 and after a couple of treatments, he recovered fully. Not all families are as lucky as we were and they have a huge battle ahead of them. For this reason, we started Crystals for Cancer and with this little initiative, we have seen makes a huge difference to the mindset of children with cancer and their families. We recently had the privilege of visiting the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital to give the nurses and youth workers the Crystals for Cancer that you have all so generously donated. 

The nurses and youth workers at the hospital told us that these crystal donations have been amazing for the children, they often queue out of the door to get their new crystal. Their families have also loved the crystals and they have helped them achieve some motivation and positivity. This is the magic of crystals...

1. The Power of Crystals:

Crystals have been used for centuries to promote healing and balance. These fascinating gems are believed to enhance energy flow, promote self-reflection, and provide comfort during challenging times. In the context of cancer, crystals can offer a unique source of solace, encouragement, and healing. 

2. Creating Positive Mindsets:

Facing the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can be overwhelming, especially for young children and their families. Crystals serve as incredible tools to foster positive mindsets and empower individuals. Each crystal possesses unique properties that resonate with specific intentions and emotions. For instance:

- Amethyst promotes emotional healing and balance.

- Rose Quartz offers soothing and nurturing energy.

- Citrine encourages a positive outlook and overall well-being.

- Clear Quartz amplifies energy and intentions.

By integrating these crystals into daily routines, families can create a positive environment that enhances mental and emotional well-being.

3. Cultivating Resilience and Strength:

Crystals can help infuse strength and resilience into the challenging cancer journey. It is important to instill children with a sense of hope and self-belief during this time. Some ways to incorporate crystals into the journey include:

- Carrying crystals in pockets or wearing them as jewellery to provide a constant source of support.

- Wearing crystal bracelets helps the healing properties of crystals to continuously supports the children.

- Creating crystal grids in treatment spaces or bedrooms to enhance healing energy.

- Engaging in meditation or visualisation practices with crystals to reduce anxiety and promote inner strength.

4. Encouraging Connection and Support:

The Crystals for Cancer initiative also focuses on creating a sense of community and support. The children can share stories, tips, and insights on how they use their crystals for healing that helps lift spirits and cultivates hope.

5. Boosting Overall Well-being:

In addition to their emotional and spiritual benefits, crystals also offer physical support by promoting relaxation and reducing stress. Incorporating crystals into healing therapies can aid in reducing discomfort and improving overall well-being.

The "Crystals for Cancer" initiative aims to provide emotional support and empower children and their families during their cancer journey. By harnessing the unique properties of crystals, individuals can find solace, foster positive mindsets, and build resilience. This initiative transcends the traditional boundaries of healing, offering an inclusive and holistic approach to well-being. We invite you to explore the profound impact that crystals can have on transforming the cancer journey, providing guidance, and healing hearts along the way.

Thank you for donating to our Crystals for Cancer initiative and allowing Aaron and I to deliver these magical stones to these beautiful young people for you.

Sending Christmas love...

Jennie Clare xxxx

Happy Saturday!

The festive season is finally here, and the country is soooo excited (can you believe it's the eve of Christmas Eve already)!!! Time off, eat what you want, lots of presents and, for some, lots of partying (I'm not one of those people anymore as I can't take the hangovers!!), what more could we ask for?

Christmas is the time for family and joy right? That’s what we’ve been taught all our lives, haven't we? So does that mean we will feel happy for every hour of the Christmas period? Maybe on social media we will (as if we would post how really feel when it isn't as happy as it 'should be'!) but surely, if I have moments of negativity, and you have these moments too, then everyone else must do, right?!

It’s completely normal not feel full of glee for every moment of every day; what with presents, children screaming, cooking, heightened expectations, trying to mediate between relatives and at the same time, being the host with the most, who the bloody hell would be happy all the time???

Lesson 1: It's ok to have moments of negativity during 'the most wonderful time of the year'.

Allow yourself to feel those emotions, they’re natural and are not meant to be suppressed, but once you have felt them, don’t dwell on them too much. We can help ourselves but managing these emotions with your favourite crystals.

Lesson 2: Crystals can help you manage and calm these negative emotions over the festive period.

Managing negative emotions with crystals can be a soothing and effective way to promote emotional healing and balance during the Christmas period. Here's a few pointers on how to do it:

1. Choose the right crystals: Select crystals that are known for their calming and nurturing properties. Some popular choices for managing negative emotions include:

- Rose Quartz: Known as the "stone of love," Rose Quartz promotes self-love, empathy, and emotional healing.

   - Amethyst: A powerful crystal for calming the mind, Amethyst helps relieve stress, anxiety, and negativity.

   - Labradorite: Labradorite is known for its ability to enhance intuition and self-awareness, making it useful for managing emotional triggers.

   - Selenite: Selenite has a gentle and purifying energy that can help clear emotional blockages and promote relaxation.

2. Cleanse and charge your crystals: Before using your crystals, it's important to cleanse and charge them. You can do this by placing them under running water, leaving them in the sunlight or moonlight, or using other cleansing methods such as smudging with sage or using sound vibrations (e.g., with a singing bowl).

3. Find a quiet and comfortable space: Choose a serene and peaceful area where you can have some uninterrupted time for yourself. This space should ideally be free from distractions and noise. Just what you need during the Christmas madness!

4. Set your intention: Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and set your intention for your crystal healing session. Focus on wanting to release negative emotions, finding emotional balance, and embracing inner peace.

5. Hold your chosen crystal: Take the crystal that resonates with you the most, hold it in your hand, and allow yourself to absorb its energy. Feel its energy flowing through you and connecting with your emotions.

6. Meditate with your crystal: Close your eyes and focus on your breath. With each inhale, imagine that you are breathing in positive energy, and with each exhale, imagine that you are expelling negative energy and emotions. Visualize your emotions being replaced by tranquility and peace.

7. Use affirmations: While meditating, repeat positive affirmations that resonate with you. For example, you can repeat phrases like "I release all negativity and embrace inner peace" or "I am in control of my emotions, finding balance within."

8. Journal your feelings: After your crystal healing session, take a journal and write down any emotions or insights that came up during the process. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of your emotional state and track your progress over time.

9. Carry your crystal with you: To continue benefiting from the crystal's energy throughout the Christmas period, carry it with you in your pocket, wear it as jewelry, or place it near your bed while you sleep.

Lesson 3: You are important, how you feel requires acknowledgement and love and self-love is often the thing that can help the most.

Take a breath. Accept how you feel. Take a little time for you. After all, you are as important as those around you and you deserve some happy time this Christmas.

Love as always

Jennie Clare xxx

It’s been a few weeks since I last wrote a blog but sometimes, life just tells you to calm down and take some time out. So that’s what I did! With being a mum, running a Crystal Business, a Personal Growth Strategist and holding an amazing position as a senior leader in the education sector, I can honestly say I was worn out.

The past 12 months has been absolutely crazy for me and my family. Hearing last July that Aaron, my 8-year old, had Birkiitt’s lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) and this completely rocked my world and really made me reflect on everything that life is and what I want it to be. For those who don’t follow us on instagram, Aaron is fine as we caught the cancer at stage 1 so he is now in remission, with the very high likelihood this will continue into the future and the cancer will not return.

When I tell our summer 2023 story, people well up with tears and get really sad, but in all honestly, being in the oncology ward at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital was a humbling and enlightening experience for me. We were the ‘lucky’ family, Aaron had to have two rounds of chemotherapy and that was the lowest dose some of the doctors had ever seen! Not to take away from Aaron, he took the treatment and the diagnosis in his stride. He any was strong, positive, courageous and unphased.

The top-knot had to go, we shaved it and he accepted this fate, no moaning or self-sympathy. He couldn’t see any of his friends over the summer, play football or go on holiday, but that was ok, he could do this next year. Every hardship he had to face, he found the silver lining. He was incredible and made me reflect on the life I was leading, worrying about things out of my control and quite frankly, not that important in the grand scheme of things.

Looking around the hospital ward, I witnessed a spectrum of things around me. One minute a child was experiencing sickness, blood transfusions and medicine, the next they were running around with toys and laughing at something that an adult would consider ridiculous. It was eye-opening to me how resilient these children were. Don’t get me wrong, they struggled, especially when it came to needle time or the start of a chemo sessions, but it amazed me how, once these things had passed, they moved forward with courage and positivity. They picked themselves straight up and demonstrated more resilience than the majority of adults I know. Maybe because the word ‘CANCER’ did not have the connotations it had for an adult or they had not yet experienced how cruel this world really can be sometimes, I don’t know, but it inspired me to change the way I think.

They weren’t spending their time worrying about ‘what ifs’ or letting a possible negative future consume them, they focused on living their best life that very minute. What has past is gone and how can I make myself happy this very moment, basics- every minute at a time to create a happier place for them to exist.

Focusing on the positives in the present moment, that’s what the children taught me, that no amount of stress or worry would fix a problem out of my control. Easier said than done, I know. One step at a time I think, navigate every issue with a clear focus of remaining in the present moment- am ok right now? Do we have what we need in this moment? Reframing the thought patterns requires commitment but it can be done. I think of those children dealing with their situation positively when I’m feeling low or anxious- what would they do? How would they use the time you are wasting on procrastinating over something I have no control over? Just be conscious and observe the way you are thinking and be aware of your thought patterns.

Living in the present moment really will transform your life. You can not achieve this in a day, week or even a month but what the children in the hospital did teach me was there is no time to waste on things that, in a year’s time, will not even be relevant to me. Consider if the thing you are spending time over will be important in a year, if the answer is no, it really isn’t worth your time.

One thing we did find on the oncology ward was that crystals really helped the children with their mindset, they motivated them and they enjoyed having these ‘magical’ stones to support them on their journey. If you would like to donate a Crystal for Cancer for a child on the oncology ward at The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, you can follow the links on the website. It is the highlight of the holidays when Aaron returns to the ward to help those children still there with their battle. It is very much appreciated by my family and the families of those beautiful children living for today…

Love and healing

Jennie Clare xxx

London had always been interesting to me from afar, but I can well and truly say, that since I hit my 40’s, I am very much a home bird. The visits I have had to the capital city have been amazing but the little lights of Manchester have always been a safer place for me to , and have always known as ‘home’. To my surprise,  as a senior leader in education, an opportunity came up to attend an awards  for which which we had been nominated, in a swanky hotel in central London. Not only did I have a chance, that was few and far between in the teaching sector, but I also got to attend with one of my closest colleagues. The company we were collaborating with paid for our seats, transport and put us up in their beautiful hotel so this one was a no brainer! Unbeknownst to me, I’d learn more on this trip than I expected. As predictable as I am, the fear started to set in a couple of days before the event and I started questioning if I really wanted to be away for the evening, what I would wear and how the hell I was going to cover up the horrific sunburn I ended up with the day before (if you know me, this is very unusual as I really am the factor 50 queen!). I worried about getting there, finding our way around the big city and getting back to work for 9.30am (yes, I did say 9.30am) the following day to participate in a management development session. So, out of my comfort zone, a little nervous and panicky, I put on my big girl pants and ventured for the bright lights of the country’s capital, unsure of how the experience would be. This was my first lesson, out of the comfort zone is where I flourish and learn most. I didn’t get lost, I didn’t miss home and I really enjoyed being away from the ‘Manchester Me’. Now, this ‘Manchester Me’ I am talking about is the person with the responsibilities, the mum, the business woman or the senior leader in work. For the first time in a long time, I could be me without being defined by my responsibilities. I could be silly, and curious, giggly and unsure, cheeky and funny, and I could think about me and only me for a little while.  Lesson 1 Out of the comfort zone = You often learn and flourish My second lesson during this trip was ‘don’t lose faith in the kindness of humans’. When sometimes, it feels we live in a self absorbed world, where people don’t take time to stop and smile or say a kind word, someone will just surprise you.  This happened twice on the trip. The first time was on the train, the ticket conductor looked at our tickets, the whole time smiling and being very polite, as he wished me a good day, I say ‘yes you too and thank you for being so positive’, at that point he stopped and told me, my work bestie, and two other strangers on the train that he always tried to live in the moment. That he tried to understand others and their behaviours from their perspective, that when they were rude, it was about them, not him. He lived in the moment and appreciated how lucky he was to be talking, walking and to be living life- how refreshing he was, forcing me to reflect on how lucky I also was. Lesson 2.1 Living in the moment = no past regrets or future anxieties, just living and feeling every second. The second time I saw the strength of human kindness was at 5.30am at the London Underground. Tower Hill, 5.30am, train hasn’t turned up, and we need to be on a train in 30 minutes. Panic, anxiety and stress all start to set in and I know that if we don’t do something quickly the whole positive experience of this trip will come snowballing into a pile of negatively. Out of nowhere comes a guy who also needs to get on a train too, sees our despair and offers us his taxi. We can share he says, ‘I’m getting one anyway’. We didn’t know this man, we had never asked him for help but he decided to show us some kindness. This man wouldn’t take any money and insisted he would sort the bill and told us to go and get our train, he asked for nothing.  Lesson 2.2 When you doubt humanity: the universe shows you its beauty The beauty of this trip was it taught me to challenge my perceptions and emotions.  Where ever there was a negative, a positive followed. There where there are emotions, there are lessons to be learned. That discomfort helps us grow, positivity is infectious, you are more than your responsibilities, humanity still exists and people will always, always surprise you. I for one, know that the universe has, and always will, have a plan for us. If you can keep being brave and keep challenging  yourself, you will always find a way to learn the lesson and thing will always end up as they should… Love as always Jennie Clare xxx

So, having not had a drink for 6 months, I decided it was a good idea to be the designated driver to a 50th fancy dress party last weekend. Now, I tell you this because it wasn’t intentional to not drink for half a year, my social life just isn’t as it was in my younger years. Plus, I thought as it was the birthday party of a senior colleague, it wasn't the best idea to have the first drink of the year at this event. The theme of the party was 80s and 90s fancy dress, pretty easy in the grand scheme of the multitude of themes it could have been and this resulted in me avoiding thinking about what I was going to wear as the outfit would be ‘easy’ to plan as I live through both of these decades.

Forward to the day before the party and panic mode set in- no outfit, no plan and the thought of fancy dress consumed me with dread and fear, you could say I'm not one of those people who enjoys a themed evening. Luckily for me, one 80s loving work mate suggested Bananarama- perfect! All that was required was a pair of dungarees and some bright accessories- easy, I thought!

Now, although I had an outfit planned, I still spent the day leading up to the party nervous and wondering how ridiculous I’d feel with a pair of dungarees, that were frankly a little tight, and a bucket load of 80s make up on. The other thing that was plaguing my thought was the fact that I was doing this sober, yes me, never had I been sober wearing fancy dress…

So, after a day fretting, my beautiful 11-year old daughter, Brooke, did me a full on 80s make up look and it was very impressive!! My workmate came round and we got ready to go. Still not sure how I felt about the fancy dress, the anxiety still bubbled underneath the surface.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been out and to my surprise, I found that the journey alone was a lot of fun. Hearing my colleagues laughing and having fun brightened me up, and getting lost numerous times actually made the trip even more enjoyable. It was enlightening seeing another side of these people I had known for years, relaxed and joyous in their silly outfits and happy in their own skin. One might even think that the costues and make up made them behave like they were back in the 80s.

The evening was fun and no one took themselves too seriously, I even found that dressed up as someone else actually brought a more daring side out in the people around me. No one was critically looking at each other and finding fault, quite the opposite, people were congratulating each other on their fantastic costumes, make up and reminiscing about the first time they'd worn these outfits. Brooke was delighted the following day when I told her, one lady even commented on how amazing my make up was.

Now I tell you this, not to encourage you to go out and start dressing up, but to make the point that all that stress and anxiety I was feeling was totally unnecessary. It made me realise that as I have gotten older, the less frequently I go out, the more nervous I get when I do go out. It’s not about what you wear or what people think but actually putting yourself out there to spend time with people who might just help you feel happy, if even for just a moment. The fact that everyone was ‘in it together’ helped so much as everyone just embraced the evening with humour and positivity. The thing that did resonate with me during the evening was people were living in the present moment, dancing and having fun.

Comparing yourself to the past, as I frequently do, is not a great thing before a night out, ‘I’m not as young anymore’, ‘I don’t have the same figure I had when I was 25’, ‘why do I not look as pretty as I used to?’- I could go on and on but the reality is, we are not who we were 10, even 5 years ago anymore. That doesn’t make us worse, just different. Not less attractive or confident, just more experienced and conscious that life moves quickly as we start to age a little.

I want to say this to you ladies, fancy dress, drinking or not drinking, night out or night in with friends, live your life for you. Find time to spend with people who make you feel present and alive. Life is too short to worry about what has been or who we used to be and you will become much happier by embracing who you are now.

You can never get back to the person you were 15 year ago, they don't exist anymore. What you do have is you now, a beautiful, creative, authentic soul and if you can find time, living in the present moment will certainly make you feel joy.

I from now on, will be pushing myself out of my comfort zone and embracing whatever challenge comes my way. I have now realised that these are the times I learn the most and evolve into the new version of who I am now, not reminiscing about the person I used to be but celebrate her and the woman I have now become.

So, last week, I thought it a good idea to go prom dress shopping with Brooke and two of her friends. Good idea? I’m not so sure…

Did we come out with a dress? Yes, but all three girls liked the same dress so the one who saw it first gets to wear it and the other two still wanted to buy it but can’t wear it. The thing is, the two friends we went with are twins, so them wearing the same dress would be completely acceptable, but Brooke wearing the same dress, two’s company, three’s a crowd? I think so, after 3.5 hours of shopping in Manchester’s biggest shopping centre, we still have the challenge of finding a dress!

Anyway, the reason I mention this story isn’t to tell you about me pulling my hair out about my idea of what type of dress an 11-year old should wear, but to mention what I observed whilst I was at this shopping centre with so many mums and daughters looking for the perfect outfit.

Many of the mums were in their 40s just like me, some were younger and some were older. What I did notice was the difference in energy between the mum’s and their daughters. The daughters had their heads up, comfortable in their own bodies, their opinions were forthright and they looked happy, some radiant. The mums on the other hand, looked tired, fed up and their body language screamed I am not enough, I have lost who I am.

This upset me as when I looked at them, I saw myself. I heard the mum’s saying that the skirts were ‘too short’ or a top was ‘too revealing’, all of which I agreed with. I also saw the lingering look at the outfit the older ladies took, that once upon a time, maybe they wore something similar when they were younger. Maybe they wished they could still wear something like that…

The daughters bounced around, from outfit to outfit, not really listening to their mum’s opinions, but challenging her even more with shorter and more daring apparel. The daughter wanted to be heard, seen and in charge and so did mum, the only thing was, they had very different perceptions on what was fashionable and acceptable. They also had very different perceptions about WHO should make the choice about an outfit.

It made me think about how things have changed in the last 30 years, girls had a much bigger choice of clothes, of styles and the expectation was that they should be able to choose whatever style they liked, seen on their favourite social media influencer. The mum’s were making suggestions, just to receive an insult from her daughter. This is what hurt most, the older ladies, feeling like they still knew what was in style, and the younger girls looking at them like they had lost their minds.

Each older lady looked wounded…The realisation that she was not a teenager anymore, that maybe she wasn’t as cool as she used to be. Her body doesn’t look the same and the younger girls to not look at her through envious eyes.

This disturbed me as it hit me that I felt the same, the realisation that you’re now the parent and not the daughter. The knowledge that your body is not the same as it once was, your life is not as carefree anymore and you’re maybe not as popular as you once were. These mums were feeling the loss of youth, the mourning of what once was and what they have now become.

What these ladies didn’t realise was they were still beautiful, their faces were still pretty, if they straightened up their posture and walked tall, they were as attractive as they’d ever been. More than that though, it made me see what I must see in myself, older does not mean uglier, it just means maturer, in body and in mind. That the focus shouldn’t be on what once was, but what you still are.

I challenge you ladies, to stand tall, to see what you’ve achieved by creating this beautiful life and focus on what is really important. Knowing who you are and what you are about, as a woman, as a soul and as someone who has evolved into a beautiful being.

Stand tall ladies, appreciate who you are not who you were…. You are more than enough and understand yourself more than you ever have done and that is something to celebrate!

Jennie Clare xxx