Holiday Season – It’s coming, and there is no stopping the holiday cheer, the year-end gift-giving, and family time. Depending on your situation, this could be the best or worst time of the year. In this guide, we hope to give you some tools to survive the holiday gracefully and maybe even find a little joy! It’s all about your state of mind! So, let’s get to it!
Conversation: Avoid Difficult topics
We all know that religion and politics are often the root of many family arguments, so chances are you are probably aware of that and will try to navigate it as best you can. One of the main issues we all struggle with around family involves “questioning.” Those hot-button topics get brought up during this time, which can turn a joyful event into World War 3! Being prepared is half the battle!
- Anticipate the questions! Chances are you know what those questions are, so plan for what you will say. Remember that “no” is a complete answer. Most of the time, we get tangled up in explaining things, so explain what you can and leave it as a one-word answer when possible.
- Hold your Boundaries! Does Aunt Judy always ask when you plan to marry or have children? The question may want to make you scream, but instead, stick to short answers such as “no plans” or even “maybe!” If you don’t want to discuss something, you can always say, “Aunt Judy, you know I love you, but I am not comfortable discussing this right now.” If Aunt Judy keeps at it, you can move away from her or have some topics ready to change the subject. Most of the time, those who ask the most probing questions love oversharing about their lives. So, you can turn it around to something you know Aunt Judy loves to talk about, “How is your neighbor Bob doing? It’s been so long since I have seen him.”
- Have an exit strategy! And by that, I mean a conversation exit strategy! If you know who will be there, plan! List favorite topics for the most challenging family members; list the things that you know will not cause you aggravation and that they enjoy talking about. These topics are excellent for a quick subject change or even a pre-emptive conversation to keep someone from diving into topics you don’t want to discuss.
Conversation: Tools for you
You can use tools to aid you in conversations. Crystals can help you focus energy or keep difficult people from cornering you. Here are some of the ones we recommend!
- Conversation Pieces! Most of us have at least one piece of jewelry that is so unique and different that it always gets noticed. This can be a great tool to divert a difficult conversation when you see it coming. As Aunt Judy gets ready to turn her focus on you, you can say, “I just got this pendant, Aunt Judy – what do you think?”. Aunt Judy will likely have an opinion on it – whether she loves it or hates it, it changes the subject to something YOU want to talk about instead of something you want to avoid.
- Black Tourmaline! Most people know that Black Tourmaline is a protective crystal, but most don’t know how it protects. It protects you by pushing things away, which is one of the reasons why I love keeping a piece in my car. It is a high-vibration crystal, and people tend to react in one way or another. Black Tourmaline can help keep lower-vibration people away from you, as they probably won’t be too comfortable around its energy. Here is the caveat: Black Tourmaline can make anxiety worse – so if you suffer from anxiety and the holidays make that worse, avoid Black Tourmaline!
- Personal Power Crystals! Tiger’s Eye and Citrine are two of my favorites for feeling empowered. These crystals connect directly to the Solar Plexus Chakra and help you set boundaries and stick to your guns. Citrine, in particular, has impressive purification properties and enables you to keep your temper under control if that can be an issue for you.
Hosting the Holidays
Are you hosting this year? This can make the holidays even more stressful, especially if you have a house filled with people!
Are you having sleepover guests? You can do several things to make the stay more enjoyable for you and them.
- First, be sure to smoke cleanse the space before they get there. This will prevent lingering energy from aggravating any situation (like any lingering vibes from your argument with your bestie last week). Chances are your guests have their life issues as they visit – and the last thing you want is a mix of chaotic energy. My favorite for this is Palo Santo, as it cleanses well and is very supportive of auras and living energy.
- Add crystals throughout the home to keep things calm and relaxed. The key is to pre-program your crystals to keep your home peaceful and ensure everyone is having a great time. Here are my recommendations:
- Rose Quartz for the bedrooms, as it keeps everyone calm and supported throughout their stay. It supports and opens the heart chakra and lifts spirits.
- Moonstone and Flower Agate are excellent for the Common areas, as they are fantastic at keeping relationships positive. Moonstone strengthens family connections, and Flower Agate brings in the energy of Compassion.
- Citrine for the Kitchen: This is where conversation tends to move and where arguments can start. Citrine purifies energy and keeps everyone calm. A bonus is that it holds any nervous energy from being infused into the food you prepare!
- Amethyst and Green or Pink Calcite are for emotional people; we all have those who are over-sensitive or drama queens in our family. Amethyst and Green/Pink Calcite are excellent for supporting the emotional body, reducing stress, boosting mood, and keeping emotional balance.
- Clear Quartz and Mookaite Stones are for those struggling with chronic conditions. Suppose one of your guests is struggling with cancer, fibromyalgia, dementia, lupus, or any other painful physical condition. These two crystals are powerhouses for keeping the physical body balanced and flare-ups at bay. Be sure to charge them with that person in mind and add them to the rooms where they will spend most of their time!
- Our Gaudium Warding Salts are a lifesaver during this time! You can sprinkle them all around your property or place a little salt in a bowl in each room of the home. They lift the mood and keep negativity at bay. The best part is that they work for 30 days after you empower them!
- Keep sickness away! Many people in a small space can be the perfect opportunity to catch a cold – especially if kids are coming. Be prepared! Prepare your immune system by drinking lots of Echinacea and Elder Tea before your guests arrive. Then, once everyone is there, have plenty of Cold and Flu Brew and Stay Well Tea for your guests to drink at the first sniffle!
Are you hosting meals only with no sleepover guests? Many of the things we discussed under sleepover guests can be helpful. But if your main focus is the meal, the table will be your primary focus. You can do several things to keep your meal enjoyable and lift everyone’s moods!
- Add crystals to your centerpiece that keeps the stress level down—good choices are Amethyst, Rose Quartz, and Green/Pink Calcite. If you have many people coming, you may want to add some Clear Quartz to boost the other crystals’ power.
- Sodalite and Blue Chalcedony are good options for clearing the mind and helping people think before they speak. They also invite spirit guides to join you during the meal, keeping spirits up!
- If you can only add one crystal to your table, my top three choices would be Amethyst for mood balance, Flower Agate for healthy relationships, or Aragonite to prevent people from projecting their issues onto others.
- This is where sprays can help lift the mood. Spray Amāre Herbal Mist by Wyld Witchery in the space before everyone sits down for the meal. This will lift vibrations, open the heart, and help everyone be more compassionate toward one another!
- Overindulging tends to happen during the holidays, and it can quickly turn someone from a great guest into a nightmare. Having some teas on hand that help with digestion and offering them after dinner can reduce the chances of that happening. Some good options for that are Chamomile, Ginger, and Peppermint.
Attending the Holidays
If you attend the holidays, keeping yourself balanced and centered is essential. Remember, you cannot control what others do, but you ultimately control how you react and behave during this time. Keeping yourself balanced ensures that you are always putting your best foot forward!
Traveling to visit family and staying overnight can be stressful. Whether you are driving or flying, being out of your space with many other people and their energies can drain you faster than you can blink! Here are some tips to keep you balanced during this time.
- Create your own space. Create a small space for yourself, whether you have a room or a couch. Bring with you things that bring comfort—it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. To this day, I tend to travel with a stuffed bear to sleep next to me since, at home, I generally have a sleeping chihuahua glued to my side every night. Bring what you need to feel comfortable!
- Chakra Spray for the Win! One of my favorite sprays to go is the chakra spray. I always spray it before bed to ensure that no matter what happens during the day, it will reset my energy and help me sleep better. I take this in the shower with me and have been known to sneak away to spray more during the day.
- Crystals: bring your favorite crystals to keep you comfortable during your trip. Many of the abovementioned items also work well for personal use.
- Set time aside for yourself – even if all you get is 30 minutes of social media scrolling before bed. Ensure you take time away from everyone to get your energy back in balance. If your people-pleasing buttons get pushed around your family, try the Aura Herbal Mist by Wyld Witchery to help you release that energy and re-center back to yourself.
- Avoid sleep disruption—sleep disruption is one of the main reasons people have difficulty traveling. Not only are you in a strange bed, but you are in a new space with new energies, and generally, all of your feel-good things are not with you. Teas that help you relax can be a fantastic tool to travel with when you need help unwinding at the end of the day. Some great options are Lavender Stress Support, Soothing Sleep, or my personal favorite, Evening Repose Tea!
Traveling to visit family only for dinner. If you are only going for dinner or lunch, it is always wise to have your transportation so you can leave whenever necessary. This is the time when wearable crystals can be a game changer. Bracelets and necklaces can help you stay centered and balanced by using the energy they bring and reminding you to stay true to yourself no matter what!
It's all about the Prep work!
Having a great holiday season with family is all about prep work and mindset. Set yourself up to succeed by knowing that no one will take your peace away from you and create opportunities for personal recovery when needed. Commit to yourself right now that this will be a joyous and fantastic holiday season, and then take steps to make that happen. There are plenty of tools to help you reach those goals if you move forward with a positive mindset!
