With a quick show of hands: who else has felt like this Leo season has been more of a spiritual Game of Thrones?

We were promised solar radiance, creative roaring, and golden vitality. Instead, between the eclipses and the energetic plot twists, many of us have spent the last few weeks simply trying to survive the season with our crowns intact.

Read more

What if the Lion’s Gate is not simply a portal for manifestation, but an invitation to remember what has been calling us home?

Recently, downloads about Greece have been arriving subtly, through the peripheral of my daily interactions. The kinds of synchronicities I have learned not to dismiss too quickly.

Just a few days ago, in a sea of secondhand purse…

Read more

As we experience the Full Moon in Aquarius, I find myself reflecting on a mystery that has quietly accompanied me throughout this seventh month.

If you have been reading along, you know that July has become an unexpected pilgrimage into the symbolism of seven. It was never my intent…

Read more

Rising in the eastern sky in late summer, the Seven Sisters emerge as a shimmering, electric-blue cluster resting in the constellation Taurus. Known to modern science as Messier 45 (M45) and located roughly 445 light-years from Earth, this open cluster is best experienced by stepping away from unnatural light and allowing your eyes to settle into the da…

Read more

As an ancestral healer and past life regressionist, I am endlessly fascinated by traditions that honor the great thresholds of human existence: birth, destiny, deep transformation, death, and the mysterious, beautiful continuation of the soul’s journey. While every culture holds these mysteries in it…

Read more

Lately, my own personal evolution has taken me deep into the energy of the Empress. In the Tarot, the Empress is the ultimate archetype of the Divine Feminine, abundance, and nurturing. She is the Earth Mother—but how do we work with her qualities for our own development?

Coincidentally, I have been designing a brand-new chakra healing workshop. While we will absolutely be working with crystals, I wanted to offer an experience that is a bit more unique than your typical chakra class. It occurred to me that the Empress is such an intensely embodied, fully realized archetype—a state of being that we all deeply aspire to align with. She is, at her core, a beautiful mirror for balance and integration.

While I will be teaching this workshop in person close to home, I wanted to bring that same medicine to my global Substack circle for those far and wide.

By mapping her upright strengths alongside her reversed shadows (like burnout, over-giving, and over-mothering) onto our seven main chakras, we find a practical tool for bringing our daily energy into greater balance.

I am sharing the Root Chakra below as an introduction because focusing on this foundational center alone can help bring profound alignment and stability to your life. But the Root is just the beginning. The complete guide walks through all seven chakras in depth with practical behavioral matrices and somatic “Empress Practices” to help you cultivate greater balance every day, which are available behind the subscription paywall, along with all my archived articles!

However, if you want the Empress Chakra Guide on its own, in honor of Card III of the Tarot: Empress, you can purchase the standalone guide as a beautifully formatted digital download for just $3.33. This print-ready PDF is designed to be much prettier than a standard text article.

❤️ The Rooted Empress (Root Chakra)

The Sovereign Question: Do I feel safe enough to build my life?

• The Traditional Anchor: In the Rider-Waite deck, the Empress sits comfortably on her throne in a field of golden wheat, deeply connected to the material bounty and stability of the earth.

• The Energy: This is the ultimate upright expression of the card—lush growth and prosperity. True root healing means your body genuinely believes it is safe. Instead of operating from survival and anxiety, you anchor into nervous system regulation, financial stability, and consistent boundaries.

• Crystal Allies: Red Jasper, Hematite, Smoky Quartz, Black Tourmaline

The Empress Practices

• Body: Walk barefoot on the earth, or cook a dense, nourishing, warm meal.

• Journal: What specific environments, habits, or routines make my body feel genuinely secure?

• Act of Courage: Face the material world. Create a realistic savings plan or organize one chaotic corner of your home to reclaim physical order.

  Download the Whole Guide for $3.33

Read more

As the summer equinox heat settles firmly over the foothills here in Grass Valley, the earth bakes, cracks, and crumbles.

Summer always changes the rhythm of life.

My daughter is home from school. My work …

Read more

I will never abandon my spiritual nature, nor my connection to the mysteries.

It is not a searching or a trend for me. It is my calling. We all have our callings.

I was born to follow no one, and I have followed my heart always. While it has moved in various directions over the years, it has always faced north.

It is okay and even wise to walk away from something and come back to it later, when you are better equipped for the discipline it takes to be successful. True success is something that takes place inside of you.

On the other hand, some livelihoods serve their purpose and then quietly end. Even if they feel successful on paper, yet belong to a chapter we eventually outgrow and never return to. You might realize you were wrong about what you wanted. You may realize you have changed, and what was no longer resonates.

Touching a Dream

Many years ago, when I left art school, I went to New York to experience a world I was firmly convinced was my destiny to be a part of. I completed a world-renowned textiles program and experienced the high-fashion industry firsthand, working as a runway collection sample production assistant for various well-known designers and artists.

It was a dream come true. But it was not meant to be my reality.

Almost immediately, a moment of truth arrived. Despite my great respect and sincere admiration for what I was part of, I was no longer interested. I didn’t regret it; I learned a great deal. However, I knew when it was time to come back to California.

It was through leaving that world behind that I learned not to follow trends. I walked away from the life I had faithfully believed in and found my spirituality, not too long after. Like any meaningful relationship, I nurtured my relationship with Spirit and dedicated my life to growing with it. One way was to begin meditating every day and not just when the time and setting were perfect, but as a non-negotiable devotion.

The shift opened doors within. I began dreaming profound ancestral dreams that stayed with me for years. In one particular dream, I was given medicine by an Indigenous warrior. I can still vividly see his regalia, his grand feather headdress of long, spotted brown-and-white feathers, and his eyes looking into my soul, like a great-great-grandfather towering over me. When he held out his hand, I reached out and took the medicine, completely mesmerized, and I woke up with my heart beating, stunned by what had just happened.

Looking back, I realized that dream opened a door for me. I was now able to trust what I felt deep down. I gave myself permission to walk a path that made little sense to others but felt undeniably true to me. I stopped seeking validation from the outside world and began listening more carefully to the wisdom that was already present within me.

Beyond the Aesthetic

For me, spirituality was never something I could hang in the closet to pull out only when life became difficult or to impress anyone.

It became woven into the fabric of my life. Not because I chose it, but because I found such profound truth and authenticity there that I could never look back.

I was awakened.

This was the missing link; the beauty, the meaning, the clarity. It was a series of experiences asking me to simply pay attention.

I moved forward from that point with intention.

That is the thing about intention. People often think intention is about goals, achievement, productivity, or building something bigger than yourself.

Intention is where the heart soars most.

Because intention asks us to be honest.

It asks us to stop performing and building our lives around who we think we should be and start building them around who we actually are.

And that kind of honesty changes everything.

Quiet Alignment

If spirituality is not for you, or if it feels inauthentic, let it go.

There is no virtue in forcing yourself to believe something that does not resonate with your experience. There is no reward in wearing an identity that does not fit.

Follow what feels real.

Follow what deepens your relationship with yourself and with life.

For me, that path happens to be spiritual. For someone else, it may be art, science, music, service, or the natural world.

The path matters less than the sincerity with which it is walked.

Follow what excites you and deepens you. Follow what makes you more honest, present, and alive. Follow the thing that continues to nourish your spirit year after year. The thing that helps you recognize yourself.

Life is too precious to spend building according to someone else’s blueprint. Build with intention and devotion. Build a life that feels like your own.

One wholehearted yes at a time.

Naomi 💖🌼🪶🏜

© 2026 Naomi Cabral. Published by Crystal Energy Blessings. All rights reserved. To work with me and explore this work more deeply, please visit me at crystalenergyblessings.com.

Recently, we experienced thunderstorms that rolled in rather unceremoniously. One day, you’re enjoying the beauty of Spring’s unfolding. Next thing you know, there is a complete shift in the energy. I thought about how true to life these subtle changes show up for us.

Energy gathers slowly at first, like humidity before a summer storm.

The air changes…

Read more

By late spring, the earth no longer feels hesitant.

The flowering has committed itself fully now. Wild mustard blooms along the roadside. Roses spill over fences. Bees disappear into lavender bushes so completely they seem absorbed into the hum of the world itself. The evening light stretches longer across the hillsides. Warm wind carrying the scent of dry grass and soil begins to release the memory of rain.

Something changes in people during this season too.

Windows open. Music returns. People linger outdoors longer after sunset. Bodies soften slightly beneath increasing warmth and light. Even grief changes shape in late spring. The earth itself begins insisting upon life again.

I have been thinking often about beauty lately.

Not beauty in the typical sense of perfection and image, or performance.

Something more embodied and ancestral.

Within the philosophical traditions of the Nahua peoples of central Mexico, there existed the concept of In Xochitl In Cuicatl — “Flower and Song.” Beauty, poetry, flowers, music, and artistic expression were regarded as the only means of conveying profound, divine truths.

In places such as Texcoco, a major intellectual and artistic center surrounded by volcanic valleys, lakes, gardens, and ceremonial spaces, philosophers and poets gathered to contemplate the nature of existence itself through flowers, songs, storytelling, and poetry. The ruler-poet Nezahualcóyotl wrote often about impermanence, beauty, life, and death. Flowers appeared repeatedly in his poetry, not merely as decoration, but as symbols of fleeting truth and sacred aliveness.

I imagine candlelight flickering against stone walls. Drums echoing softly across courtyards at dusk. Flower petals scattered across ceremonial ground. Songs moving through warm evening air while volcanic mountains watched silently in the distance.

Such philosophies can only emerge from people who remain close to the land’s heartbeat.

Close to flowers and agriculture.
Weather and cycles of drought and abundance.
The understanding that human beings are not separate from the living world around them.

The poets of Texcoco often wrote through flowers, birdsong, scent, and the elements, understanding beauty itself as a doorway into truth:

“Amo el canto del cenzontle,
pájaro de cuatrocientas voces.
Amo el color del jade
y el enervante perfume de las flores,
pero amo más a mi hermano: el hombre.”

“I love the song of the mockingbird,
bird of four hundred voices.
I love the color of jade
and the intoxicating scent of flowers,
but above all, I love my fellow human being.”

Modern life often feels suspended outside of seasonality altogether. Entire days pass beneath artificial light. Notifications continue long after midnight. People absorb hundreds of voices before hearing their own thoughts clearly even once. The nervous system becomes crowded. Attention fragments. Beauty becomes something consumed quickly rather than inhabited slowly.

And yet, spring still arrives.

Flowers continue opening whether anyone notices them or not.

I think there is a reason flowers appear so prominently in spiritual traditions throughout the world. Flowers remind human beings how to unfold naturally. They do not force themselves open before their season arrives. They respond to warmth, moisture, sunlight, and time.

The body understands this language instinctively.

At this time of year, I notice people walking more slowly in the evenings. Gardens beginning to bloom. Blankets spread across grass at parks. Streets becoming crowded again. The first days back at the lake. The return of color. The return of sound.

Even the emotional atmosphere changes.

The Nahua understanding of Flower and Song feels important to me because it recognizes beauty as a form of sacred intelligence. Beauty was understood as relational. Participatory. Alive. A flower opening beneath the sun reflected something true about existence itself.

Perhaps this is what modern nervous systems are starving for.

Not more stimulation.

But more relationship.

Relationship with season and slowness.
To texture, scent, sound, poetry, warmth, wind, candlelight, gardens, birdsong, and human presence. Human experience.

There is a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from living too long without beauty. The imagination begins drying out. People become emotionally brittle. Cynicism hardens around the spirit slowly, almost invisibly.

Beauty interrupts this.

It can be as simple as a bowl of oranges on the table.
Music drifting through an open doorway.
The smell of freshly crushed rosemary and basil.
The gold light shining through the tree branches and the leaves. Entering through a window into an ordinary room.
Fresh laundry moving in warm wind.
A poem read slowly before sleep.

These moments may appear fleeting and insignificant, but the nervous system experiences them more profoundly than one may realize.

Signals of safety and softness.
Signals that life contains tenderness alongside struggle.

Wholeness.

Perhaps sacred intelligence does not always arrive through revelation or transcendence.

Perhaps sometimes it arrives through attention itself.

The attention given to flowers opening beside the road.
And warm evening air moving through the trees.
To songs carried softly into dusk.
To the body finally unclenching after a long emotional season.

The Nahua philosophers understood this.

Beauty helps human beings remember how to remain fully alive.

And maybe this is why late spring feels so emotional.

The earth itself is flowering without apology.

Nothing in nature asks permission to bloom.

And therefore so can you.

Naomi 🦋🌼✨

Further Reading

• Fifteen Poets of the Aztec World — Miguel León-Portilla
  Nahua poetry and sacred beauty

• Aztec Thought and Culture — Miguel León-Portilla
  Nahua philosophy and cosmology

• The Human Body and Ideology — Alfredo López Austin
  Embodiment and symbolic worldview

• Borderlands / La Frontera — Gloria Anzaldúa
  Ancestry, consciousness, and identity

• Braiding Sweetgrass — Robin Wall Kimmerer
  Earth wisdom and reciprocity

  ---

  © 2026 Naomi Cabral. Published by Crystal Energy Blessings. All rights reserved. To work with me and explore this work more deeply, please visit me at crystalenergyblessings.com.

The New Moon in Taurus arrives like soft earth after a storm.

This is not the moon of urgency or of proving.

This moon asks: Can you slow down enough to hear what your body has been tr…

Read more

Every now and again, we dream dreams that warn us. I believe that when you understand your soul language fluently, your spirit guides will do you a solid. My guides provide a unique layer of protection by allowing me to see the road ahead, the beautiful and the broken …

Read more

In my dreams, images are larger than life, the sky bends differently, and animal totems and plants speak through emotion and f…

Read more

In shamanic traditions, dreams are not just personal—they are communal, ancestral, and deeply spiritual. They are not merely the mind processing daily experiences, but invitations from the spirit world. Urging us toward deeper understanding, self-work, healing, and initiation. For those who are called to be healers and work with vibrational medicine, th…

Read more

Creativity is the lifeblood of human expression. It’s that spark that drives us to make, to dream, and to solve. Creativity is not something that happens on command; it ebbs and flows. I have crystals in every corner of my desk and in every one of my creative spaces. Crystals can be tools that gently nudge open the doors of inspiration. From years of working with crystals, I’ve found that these stones carry a kind of wisdom that speaks to those who are willing to listen. If you’re receptive to subtle energy, you will benefit from using crystals for creativity.

Harnessing the New Moon in Aries for Creativity

Today, the New Moon in Aries offers a moment of heightened potential. New Moons are times of beginnings, and Aries brings a spark of boldness, courage, and initiative.

The combination of New Moon introspection and Aries’ boldness makes today an ideal moment to plant the seeds of creative projects that need both courage and momentum to bloom. By opening yourself to subtle energies, pairing intention with action, and tapping into the resonance of your crystals, you create a fertile space for inspiration to flow freely.

• Set a Clear Creative Intention: Write down a bold, specific goal for your art, writing, or project. Aries energy favors action, so focus on what you want to start to flow with this momentum fully.

• Take a Small Action Immediately: Aries encourages initiative, so pair your intention with a tiny first step—sketch, brainstorm, or draft a paragraph.

• Amplify with Movement: Physical activity—dancing, stretching, or even pacing while visualizing your goal—aligns with Aries’ fiery, energetic vibe.

• Use a Crystal for Courage: Carnelian, red jasper, or garnet can enhance confidence and motivation during your ritual.

The Role of Crystals in Creative Energy

Crystals have long been treasured for their energetic properties. Not just pretty rocks; they’re manifestations of mother Earth’s ability to transform matter over time, and each one carries its own resonance. When it comes to creativity, some crystals shine brighter than others. Here are just a few of my favorite. Maybe you already have some of these on hand.

1. Carnelian – This red and fiery stone feels like a shot of espresso for the soul. It’s very invigorating to the sacral chakra, which is the creative energy center. If you’re hesitating to begin a daunting project, hold a carnelian in your palm and focus on one small step—imagine whatever it is that you are most passionate about? Use the warmth of this feeling as a springboard for your next step.

2. Citrine – I call this my "sunshine in a stone." Citrine’s cheerful energy is like a friend reminding you of your worth. I keep one on my desk, and its golden glow always feels like a dose of positivity that keeps me energized. Citrine can help shift feelings of anxiety to excitement, turning nervous energy into creative flow.

3. Amethyst - A go-to for cerebral activities of all kinds. It’s a stone of connection—to intuition, to spirit, to those fleeting moments of brilliance. A poet friend of mine swears by it, saying it helps her dreams spill onto the page. I use it for visual meditation journeys that go deeper and longer than 20 minutes. It helps me stay focused, clear, and undistracted.

4. Fluorite – This beauty is like a tidy desk for your mind. A fitting ally for juggling work and personal projects, fluorite helps me sift through the noise to find clarity. If you’re trying to organize scattered ideas for a new endeavor, place fluorite near your workspace to guide your thoughts into focus.

5. Labradorite – This stone is pure magic. Its flashes of color remind me of the Northern Lights, and it carries the same kind of wonder. Labradorite encourages psychic sensitivity and keeps negativity at bay. Dream bigger and step into the unknown of your creative reserves, holding a piece of labradorite.

Rituals to Spark Creativity

Rituals don’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful. They’re about creating moments of intention—spaces where you can tune in and allow your creativity to surface. Here are a few that have become staples in my life:

1. Sacral Chakra Activation

The sacral chakra is the seat of creative energy, and carnelian is its perfect companion. Lie down, place a carnelian just below your navel, and imagine a warm, orange glow spreading from the stone. Pair it with some gentle stretches, like hip circles, to really get that energy moving.

2. Crystal Grid for Inspiration

Creating a crystal grid feels like setting up a creative altar. I’ll often use citrine, amethyst, and labradorite, arranging them in a circle around a clear quartz point. Keep the grid near your creative project. You will find that this subtle energy begins to unfold in a creative flow that keeps you engaged and producing some truly satisfying creative work. Speak your intention as you set up the grid—something like, “Guide me toward new ideas and bold action.”

3. Journaling with Crystals

Journaling is one of my favorite ways to break through creative blocks, especially with calcite in hand. Hold your crystal and meditate for inspiration. Write your downloads onto your page. Begin with a prompt like, “What story wants to emerge today?” and see where the crystal takes you.

4. Moonlight Manifestation

There’s something magical about working under the moon. On a new moon night, I will sit with my crystals and my journal, letting my intentions flow into words. By the next full moon, those seeds of inspiration will have blossomed into an idea for a new important project. Try this: hold your crystals, sit under the moonlight, and let whatever comes to mind spill onto the page. The moon has a way of helping unlock what’s hidden.

5. Morning Inspiration Ritual

This ritual is like a creative warm-up. Before diving into the day, I’ll hold a citrine, close my eyes, and visualize the best version of myself—bold, inspired, and ready. Pair it with a mantra, like, “I am open to all creative possibilities today.”

Using Crystals for Dream Incubation and Creative Downloads

Dreams are a portal to the subconscious, often holding the keys to our deepest wells of creativity. Crystals can act as bridges, helping us access these insights more easily. If you’ve ever woken up with the solution to a problem or an idea that feels like pure genius, you’ve experienced the magic of dream downloads. Here are some ways to enhance that connection:

1. Setting the Stage with Amethyst

Amethyst is renowned for its connection to the dream world. Place one under your pillow or on your nightstand with the intention to receive creative insights. Before bed, hold the amethyst and say, “Tonight, I open myself to creative inspiration.”

2. Selenite for Clarity in Dreams

Selenite’s clear, high-vibration energy can help you cut through the fog of chaotic dreams to uncover actionable insights. I’ve used it during times when I needed ideas for the next steps, and the clarity it brought was undeniable. Place selenite near your bed and keep a dream journal nearby to capture your thoughts upon waking.

3. Labradorite for Lucid Dreaming

If you’re looking to actively participate in your dreams, labradorite is your ally. Its mystical energy makes it easier to access those liminal spaces where creativity thrives. Try meditating with labradorite before bed and set an intention to explore your creative potential while dreaming.

Shadow Work to Open Creative Flow

Sometimes, our creative blocks aren’t about a lack of ideas but about unresolved wounds. Creativity flows from our root, sacral, and solar plexus chakras—areas that hold our sense of safety, passion, and self-worth. When these are blocked, it can feel like our inner artist is locked away.

Reflecting on the Block

Think of a time when your creativity felt diminished. Who was there? Where were you? Maybe it was a harsh critique from someone you trusted, or a moment when your art wasn’t valued. Allow yourself to sit with those memories, not to dwell, but to understand where the wound lies.

Forgiveness Ritual

Healing these blocks begins with forgiveness—not for the sake of others, but for yourself. For this ritual, gather black tourmaline, smoky quartz, or black obsidian. These grounding stones can help you release what no longer serves you. Hold the stone in your hand and speak aloud:

“I release this memory and the pain it caused. I forgive myself and others for any harm done. I reclaim my creative power.” As you speak, imagine the weight lifting from your body. Write it down on a piece of paper, then give it a final release by burning it or bury it in the earth.

Once you feel ready, place the stone near your root chakra and envision its energy grounding and healing you, filling your lower chakra centers with glowing vitality and loving light.

Unlocking Higher Creative Centers

Once your lower chakras are cleared of blockages, creativity can flow more freely to the heart, throat, third eye, and crown chakras. These centers allow you to create with love, express your truth, envision new ideas, and connect with divine inspiration. With practice, you’ll find that your creativity is less about striving; more effortless and aligned with your highest self.

Integrating Creativity into Daily Life

Crystals aren’t one-time fixes; they’re companions. Carry them with you, place them where you work, or hold them during your meditative moments. One of my favorite practices is taking a walk in nature with a stone in my pocket. The more you hold your crystals, the better the resonance you will have with them.

And remember: creativity is a dance, not a race. Give yourself permission to rest, to play, and to explore. When you can, go out into nature and recharge with the elements.

When choosing a crystal ally, always go with your intuition. What resonates with you? What are you drawn to automatically? This is the crystal speaking to you, letting you know it wants to work with you.

Crystals can be tools that help you honor and celebrate your creativity. Have fun with these magical beings and open yourself to their power. Test out different stones and see what happens with each one as you explore the subtle energies they bring to your creative projects.

Many blessings on your creative journey,

Naomi

The Crystals and Rituals For Creativity portion of this essay was originally published on Substack on January 26th, 2025.

© 2026 Naomi Cabral. Published by Crystal Energy Blessings. All rights reserved. To work with me and explore this work more deeply, please visit me at crystalenergyblessings.com.

I recently had a series of dreams that set me on a specific trajectory for my writing today. These dreams have been building slowly over the last couple of months, showing me—in no uncertain terms—that I am no longer in my old life. I am no longer a passenger in that old world. I have actually achieved what once felt i…

Read more

The ancestors recognize you.

—

They show you that it’s them.

You remember, you don’t forget.
This time you couldn’t forget—and you don’t want to.

The memory of wha…

Read more

The ancestors are not subtle.
They do not wait quietly at the edge of your life.

—

There is a difference
between a dream
and an ancestral dream.

You feel it immediately.

It does not confuse.
It…

Read more

Obsidian Butterfly is a new project that I wanted to let you know about. I now provide lovingly crafted, sacred self-guided, self-paced digital tools created by me! My name is Naomi Cabral, and I’m a healing arts practitioner and meditation teacher. At Obsidian Butterfly, I will offer …

Read more

Today, the world finds its balance. As the Sun crosses the celestial equator, we mark the Spring Equinox—a brief moment of perfect equilibrium before the light begins its inevitable climb.

But this year, the shift carries a unique, heavy …

Read more