In honour of the Strawberry Moon, let me share a song my husband and I wrote and recorded a few years ago 🥰

Scientific Graphite: Historically, graphite was called "black lead" or "plumbago." Plumbago was commonly used in its massive mineral form. Both of these names arise from confusion with the similar-appearing lead ores, particularly galena. The Latin word for lead, 'plumbum,' gave its name to the English term for this grey metallic-sheened mineral and even to the leadworts or plumbagos, plants with flowers that resemble this color. Its color range is iron-black to steel-gray; deep blue in transmitted light. Abraham Gottlob Werner coined the name graphite ("writing stone") in 1789. He attempted to clear up the confusion between molybdena, plumbago and black lead after Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1778 proved that there are at least three different minerals. Scheele's analysis showed that the chemical compounds molybdenum sulfide (molybdenite), lead(II) sulfide (galena) and graphite were three different soft black minerals. Graphite, is a crystalline allotrope of carbon, a semimetal, a native element mineral, and a form of coal. Graphite is the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions. Therefore, it is used in thermochemistry as the standard state for defining the heat of formation of carbon compounds. The principal types of natural graphite, each occurring in different types of ore deposits are: Crystalline small flakes of graphite (or flake graphite) occurs as isolated, flat, plate-like particles with hexagonal edges if unbroken. When broken the edges can be irregular or angular; Amorphous graphite: very fine flake graphite is sometimes called amorphous; Lump graphite (or vein graphite) occurs in fissure veins or fractures and appears as massive platy intergrowths of fibrous or acicular crystalline aggregates, and is probably hydrothermal in origin. Graphite crystals are rare and very brittle. Graphite specimens will leave smudges when handled and stored. Graphite Uses: Natural graphite is mostly consumed for refractories, batteries, steelmaking, brake linings, foundry facings and lubricants.

I just came across this in my files. Several years ago, I opened a metaphysical shop after moving to our current location in Windsor, Ontario. Naturally, the shop and building were full of spirit energy. One morning when I opened the doors, I found this on my desk -- a pile of tarot cards laid out and messed up by some unseen hand while the shop was closed overnight. I didn't make much sense of it at the time, other than feeling surprised. Now that I look at it, I see something. The shop was doing well enough but the budget was tight, so I relocated to another smaller premise a few doors away. That was tight, and my budget was still tight, so I moved yet again. That was a big mistake, as I had unwittingly partnered with some unscrupulous people who not only caused that business to collapse, but to literally burn down. Isn't it interesting how the cards show that? I have 20/20 hindsight LOL.

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, of Spokane, Washington, started the tradition of Father's Day in the honor of her dad, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran. The first local Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane by the mayor, in tribute to dad’s everywhere. The best Father’s Day gift depends on what he loves to do, but universally praised options include quality time, personalized gear, or functional upgrades to his favorite hobbies. A few top-rated ideas: For the Outdoorsman / Tailgater: Upgrade his setup with high-performance outdoor gear, like a rugged YETI Tundra 45 Cooler. For the Golfer: Gift him a Personalized Engraved YETI Tumbler or custom gear from your local Sporting Goods. For the Coffee & Dad Joke Lover: Make him smile with the interactive Dad Joke Every Day Mug. For The Stone Lover: Minerals, lapidary devices / machinery, admission fee to a Gem Show. The Universal Gift: You can never go wrong with treating him to a special brunch, dinner, or tickets to a live game or concert. ** Chrysoprase ** The “ Health Stone. ” This is a good stone to have around your home and working environment, for it will prompt you in either bringing forth, or maintaining physical health. It is like a nice ‘finger-string reminder’ to eat nutritious meals and to exercise. The Chrysoprase is also a stone of Mental Health, keeping negative thoughts and energies away from you. Helping you to be positive and knowledgeable in any stressful situation. It dispels energies that might lead to long term stress, thus harming the physical body. ** Garnet ** The “ ‘Mutual Affection’ Stone. ” To put this politely, use the Garnet to provide spontaneous availability, and to heighten your commerce. This stone is also good for strengthening and restoring physical energies. This stone is also good for strengthening and restoring physical energies. ** Jade ** The “ Sport Stone. ” Use Jade to promote agility and swiftness. Also use Jade when you need a sense of self-worth, self-sufficiency and capability is dealing with any situation. Jade will support good health and encourage you to maintain good and proper health.

Dioptase Chemical Composition:CuSiO3 + H2O Chakra: All Numerology: 8 - Materialistic. Big Money Scientific Dioptase: Fr. René Just Haüy (the famed French mineralogist) in 1797 determined that the enigmatic Altyn-Tyube mineral, discovered in copper miners at the Altyn-Tyube (Altyn-Tube) mine, Karagandy Province, Kazakhstanwas, was new to science and named it dioptase (Greek, dia, "through" and optos, "visible"), alluding to the mineral's two cleavage directions that are visible inside unbroken crystals. Dioptase is an uncommon mineral found mostly in desert regions where it forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of copper sulfide mineral deposits. However, the process of its formation is not simple, the oxidation of copper sulfides should be insufficient to crystallize dioptase as silica is normally minutely soluble in water except at highly alkaline pH. The oxidation of sulfides will generate highly acidic fluids rich in sulfuric acid that should suppress silica solubility. However, in dry climates and with enough time, especially in areas of a mineral deposit where acids are buffered by carbonate, minute quantities of silica may react with dissolved copper forming dioptase and chrysocolla. Rivaling the colors of the darkest emeralds, Dioptase appearance is a brilliant, intense emerald-green crystals, that almost appear to glow. Some microscopic crystals form star-like shapes radiating from a common center. A relatively rare stone, the major attraction is it's brilliant color, making a collectors shelf full of stones all the more interesting. Dioptase in Lore: Dioptase was used to highlight the edges of the eyes on the three Pre-Pottery Neolithic B lime plaster statues discovered at 'Ain Ghazal known as Micah, Heifa and Noah. These sculptures date back to about 7200 BC. Dioptase Sources: Altyn Tube mine in Kazakhstan; Tsumeb Mine in Tsumeb, Namibia; Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine near Mammoth, Arizona and from the Christmas Mine near Hayden, Arizona; Renéville, Congo-Brazzaville; Malpaso Quarry near Agua de Oro Argentina.