I have been working with my own hand gathered ochres for years, ritually applying the dried pigments directly to the skin, or mixing the finely ground ochre with a fluid base for easier therapeutic application. I've worked with ochres to establish and enhance connection with drums, rattles and other ceremonial tools I work with. I've created ritual ochre balms for the skin, therapeutic wild colour 'energy cauldrons' for laying on the body, ochre paints for sacred tools, ochre wax for the frames of the drums I birth, ecodyed fabric and paper with ochre, added it to ritual skincare experiences, and much more.

My personal interest in the healing properties of ochre goes beyond ancestal tradition perspective of ritual adornment, and I work with it as a tool to heal imbalances of cellular and soul memory, and more. This journey began as a way for me to assist clients (and myself) to really ground into their bodies, the human experience, and heal trauma and imbalance relating with core foundational being, inherited trauma (aka bloodline trauma), geographic trauma, and group inheritence (family karma or the karma relating with the consciousness of an entire nation).

Earth element imbalances are eloqently and effectively balanced by the earth itself. As our root is the primary location where trauma, fear, disconnection, relationship issues, core mis-alignments, etc are stored, and the root IS the earth element within (energetically root chakra, planetary ruler is Earth), then working with earth to heal earth harmonizes, grounds, reconnects, and assists the release/letting go process. From a clinical perspective, I found that by anchoring the client, I was also assisting a stable framework for self healing to occur, and from that base, I could tweak each ochre for a specific purpose - essentially creating a set of tools for the Elements of BEing representing the elements of Air (East/Spring), Fire (South/Summer), Water (West/Autumn), North (Earth/Winter) and Spirit (Center, Above and Below/All Seasons).

Each of these pigments is a capsule of a time, place, and experience, some as far back as the Jurassic period, and beyond, and that is alot of healing knowledge from the earth itself that we should not take for granted. The ancients knew this which is why ochre was so revered, this is what we draw on when we work ritually and holistically with these sacred earth pigments. In creating these ritual offerings in the way I have here, I am hoping to raise awareness of this old earth healing method once more and offer a meaningful and respectful way of incorporating the nature around us into our own healing journey.

The idea to develop ritual colours (aka EARTH PRAYERS) came from my years of travelling around the world, visiting sacred sites, earth energy lines and leys, gridwork out on the land, and seeding prayer. I used to buy crystals to make into mandalas to be buried as earth offerings, but realized how unethically and destructively crystals are harvested and by purchasing them I was supporting this violence against the planet. I just couldn't. So I moved to creating land art instead, working with what was around me in any given moment. Earth, stone, windfallen leaves, flowers, twigs, shells and more were woven into filaments of prayer over hours, and rather than say I left them there, I prefer to say they were handed over to the elements (and sometimes curious eyes). It was a blessing that deepened my relationship with the non human world in profound ways. I found such solace in this, and deeply appreciated what was created taking on a life of its own. I loved the ephemeral nature of it, the idea of the prayers being claimed by the air, fire, water, earth and spirit, taking on new life and form. I love the impermanence of my doing. The heART of Letting Go ~ what was created did not belong to me, it was merely of me.

The idea to create ritual colour pigments grew from this 'practice', and combined with my fascination with the indigenous (specifically Celtic) use of ritual colour (see below for more info), it was only a matter of time before I started applying wild colours to the skin both therapeutically and ritually. In the beginning this was a rather rudimentary approach, I gathered mineral rich clay, cleaned it, legivated it, dried it, ground it, and when I wanted to use some, I would mix the powder with a little water and paint it onto the skin with my fingers. While it achieved the desired affect, applying freshly made ritual colour pastes with my hands was 'messy' and also a bit wasteful considering how much work goes into to creating each pigment, so this is where the idea of creating ritual colour wands came to be. I wanted to make ritual colour accessible, easy to apply, clean to use, easy to store, and mobile.

Having worked with boths plants and crystals for over 35 years I consciously try to integrate them into all that I do and knew I wanted to integrate and honor them both through colour. I gathered crystal and minerals by hand and grinding them into a fine powder (and levigating them) to add to the mix was relatively straight forward, but I wanted to do something different with the plants. Adding powdered dried plants would affect the colour, consistency, make them less 'shelf stable' (as wands are used both wet and dry), and make them uncomfortable (rough) to apply to the skin, so I came up with the idea to create botanical lake pigments from my plant teachers and integrate those instead. I also integrated essences from those plants and crystals as an additional energetic lift. This then developed further by honoring each of the trees in the Celtic Tree calender, the native trees sacred to the Irish.

I gift an extraordinary amount of time to creating and processing each colour - I ritually wash, clean, hand grind, levigate and grind again each stone, shell, mineral, earth, and plant pigment until I reach a fine powder stage. I then rehydrate each one with my 'Space Myst' (an aromatic ritual flower, herb and resin hydrosol I created), add the appropriate essences (flower, crystal, tree, and mushroom), and then leave them to air dry out in the sun by day, and indoors with the moon by night. Once fully dried, each colour is again ground into a fine powder and only then is it ready to bottle.
 

In Spring 2020 our state spent the season in mandatory home quarantine and as schools were closed, kids were being home schooled. The fear factor around Covid was so intense that kids were barely even out in their gardens! During this time I decided to create colour palates, colouring books, and nature based exercises for the children (and their families) living on our street. These pigments were created from and document the stone, earth, trees and plants growing along the verge outside their homes, and brought nature indoors (and the children's imaginations outside) in a creative way during lockdown. This was a very heartwarming project and really got the kids (and their parents!) interested in what plant/tree each colour came from and the diversity of plant life and wild colour on our street. After the quarantine ended, we walked the street together and I showed them exactly which trees and plants gifted each colour, and which area of the stream I gathered stones. Through this, it served to connect them with these plants and this environment in a deeper more meaningful way. Subtle actions such as these can increase awareness, gift perspective, and generate positive change, on all levels. I want to close this by saying that this community project was made possible thanks to the support of my patrons - their purchases through this online shop enabled me to have funds to make magic happen for others during a rather dark and isolated time. For that I am deeply grateful.
 

ENERGETIC INSIGHTS FOR BOTH PERSONAL PIGMENTS AND RITUAL COLOUR WANDS

One of the many crystal and mineral powders that I incorporated in these is my own hand ground crystal powder of Quartz. This makes the uses and therapeutic applications infinite across most if not all therapeutic modalities. For those who may not already be familiar with crystal healing, from a technical perspective it is worth noting that Quartz is programmable, meaning you can program it to carry any healing function you wish to work with. You can program quartz to transmit a certain healing colour, the energy of a certain crystal, channel the energy of a certain tree, plant or animal spirit, spirit guide, or even transmit specific healing properties to the person receiving the treatment. This is the beauty of working with quartz and its versatility with technical energy direction.

The majority of the clay, stones, shells, minerals and earth pigments were gathered along the shores of my home in Ireland in a landscape rich in both minerals and myth. The dark grey clay in the smoke grey 'Robin' ritual colour wand is volcanic clay that I gathered last time I was in Iceland (the black obsidian fine crystal powder in this wand is from the same location). The white clay is kaolin clay (in the Snowdrop' ritual colour wand) that I gathered in France, the red clay (in the 'Pimpernel' ritual colour wand) and the selenite in the 'Snowdrop' ritual colour wand I gathered in Spain, and the green clay and epidote (in the 'Wren' ritual colour wand) I gathered both in Portugal and here in the Alps. The malachite and azurite in the 'Mugwort' and 'Forgetmenot' ritual colour wands were gathered here in the Alps on August 8th 2019 (Lions Gate) while out in the mountains with students of my Crystal Therapeutics course. These are just a few additional insights into some of the ingredients.

Several of the stones and earths were gathered at locations along the Apollo-Athena/St Michael Axis (earth energy line), the most significant transeuropean earth energy lines in Europe which runs from Sceilg Mhichíl (Skellig Michael) off the coast of South West Ireland, through St Michaels Mount in South West England, Mont Saint-Michel in France, and several historical and ritually significant sacred sites in France, Italy, Greece and on to Mount Carmel in Israel. For instance, the pink granite in the 'Wild Rose' ritual colour wand was gathered along the coast near Mont Saint-Michel in France, as was the white clay. The apple blossom flower essence that was used in the 'Wild Rose' ritual colour wand also came from the same area, created with the blossoms of apple trees that grew near La Chapelle Madeleine, a relatively unknown tiny chapel dedicated to the Magdelene that I literally discovered as a happy accident on my drive back from Ireland. All of the stones, pigments, clays, minerals etc that were gathered along the shores of Bantry Bay, my home in Ireland, are on the same earth energy line.

These ritual colour wands were developed for therapeutic purposes as (topical) energetic tools for the mind, body and soul. They combine the healing modalities of color therapy, elemental healing, ancient earth based traditions, folk medicine, and crystal therapeutics in one. These color palates are 100% organic and created from ingredients gathered on the land and sea. These are completely natural, organic, cruelty free, green tools for healing. Plant, crystal, tree and mushroom essences were added to the spring water that was added to each pigment during the process. Incorporating quartz into these pigments also crystallizes the contents of these ritual colour wands, activating them as healing tools with their own specific toric fields (aka energy fields). The shades of ochre in each are an added tool for those who meaningfully work with therapeutic color and the elements in their practice. Due to the high concentration of iron (as well as goethite and hematite in some), the ochres themselves also act energetically as a grounding element for each wand.

My personal practice is to walk lightly, and this is reflected in all that I do, including what is available via this online shop (and in person). All offerings are made from seasonal, sustainably hand harvested local native plants, flowers, resins, our medicinal plant tinctures, extracts, our tree, flower, mushroom and crystal essences and much more. Absolutely every single ingredients is gathered by me, crafted by me, packed and shipped by me, nobody else touches them. This is something I am very 'strict' about, and for good reason too as it relates with energetic integrity and ritual creation. This is why I 'work' ritually, in silence, and alone at all times and at all stages in the process.

As a responsible human and environmentalist I only work with ingredients I have sustainably gathered in the wild, there are no exotic imported ingredients in anything I make. I don't use essential oils - this is a personal habit as I have super sensitive skin and I don't make essential oils myself as it requires too much plant material for a minute amount of oil and I find that to be unsustainable for our local environment here. I choose instead to add native resins, aromatic roots, leaves and flowers for their natural scents. As a ritualist, energetic integrity and balanced exchange is paramount and as such, I only work with what I've ceremoniously gathered with my own hands. That which is gathered is only done with with full permission from each plant with personal offerings gifted in gratitude by way of balancing the exchange - a balance that is a vital part of all that I am and do. These slow medicine offerings were lovingly birthed over many moon cycles from sustainably harvested, organic, wildcrafted native ingredients, our own medicinal plant tinctures, wild cold pressed oils, superfine crystal powders, our tree, flower, mushroom and crystal essences, wild earth and mineral pigments, and LOVE.

 

Niamh Criostail considers herself both a traveller and a student on the path of mindful living, learning and growing through direct first hand experience, finding and making ceremony in ALL. True to her roots, she embraces the native traditions of her Irish lineage and both lives and works with the natural cycles and seasons of the Celtic wheel of the year. Her unique approach to what she refers to as ‘wHolistic wellBEing’ draws on an extensive skill set that includes crystalline bioresonance therapy, psychology, medicinal herbalism, bioenergetics, holistic nutrition, creative arts therapy, and more. This allows her to combine her interest, love and knowledge of both eastern and western modalities with ancestral earth based traditions and practices, resulting in what she feels is a fully integrative dynamic approach. To date, her full sensory retreats, workshops, masterclasses, ceremonies, and events have led her to teach and facilitate in over thirty countries worldwide. Niamh's dynamic service to humanity is clear ~ to listen and serve as a crystalline conduit, assisting you to assist yourself. Through this process comes the gift of remembering, reconnection, reclaiming, and re-embodiment of your Divine role, as your own 'guru' and healer.

Absolutely every aspect of this offering has been crafted by Niamh, by hand. This is so as to ensure energetic integrity and ceremonial intent while journeying the birthing process of this beautiful ritual tool.

Great care was taken to ensure this is a high quality, eco friendly, zero waste, natural, carbon neutral, sustainable offering. In short, this entire offering is as green as it gets and ensures your prayer expression is respectful, mindful, and earth friendly. This ongoing commitment is her heartsong for this planet and all those who reside here.

All this, and more, is what you support when you call The heART of Ritual home to you.


Finally, a note to those of you ordering from outside of Austria - worldwide shipping services are experiencing unprecedented disruptions due to Covid-19 meaning that it is impossible to estimate how long your order will take to reach you. While our postal services here in Austria are fully functioning and regular, some countries have restricted incoming non domestic post. As such, please be sure to inform yourself on the state of your own national postal services before ordering so that you are aware of any domestic disruptions and delays. If you order and your country is one of those currently not receiving international mail and you did not check this beforehand, then your package will return to me and I will contact you when it does to arrange shipment when your countries postal service is back to normal. Please note that I will will do my very best to work with you on this, I will not issue refunds for orders placed that are stuck in transit due to you not informing yourself on your domestic postal restrictions. I hope and trust you understand.



Le Grá / In Love

Niamh

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Stone Mad • The heART of Ritual
Center for WellBEing & Human Potential
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Disclaimer:

Please note that our products are not a substitute for any medical treatment or advice you may currently be receiving. The information presented is intended for informational, research, and energetic purposes only, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any dis-ease. Persons with health related issues should consult a medical professional for assistance.

Topical ritual products are not intended for consumption and as with all natural products, a skin 'patch test’ is recommended beforehand to see if you have any unique sensitivities. Discontinue use if a rash occurs. These ritual colour wands are for topical use only and not be applied to broken skin, sensitive skin, or mucus membranes anywhere on your body. Keep away from children and animals. Ochres are organic earth pigments and may stain your clothes, as such, please do protect your clothing from being contact with these colours. These ritual ochres may cause temporary colouration of the skin it is applied to, if this occurs, please gently wash the area with warm soapy water. The use of our products is at the sole discretion and risk of the user and we will assume no liability whatsoever. By purchasing you agree not to misuse our products or hold us liable for the misuse of these ritual colour wands.

These ritual colour wands are made from a combination of wild earth pigments, botanical lake pigments, and mineral powder from the land and sea. They are 100% organic and wildcrafted. These are intended for topical application only. Do not drop them as they will break. Do not put them in your mouth. Do not grind down these ritual colour wands and inhale the powders.

This listing does not include any other decorative items photographed. These photographs are for illustrative purposes only.