Not running related, but I figured I’d write about this anyway. It’s funny how many comments I’ve had over the year about my little ol’ necklace. I guess people have noticed it in all of my bazillion running selfies. I wear it everywhere, day and night, during training, in races, in the shower, and in bed. In fact, it’s actually tied to my neck with a silk cord (probably not safe…don’t get me psycho killer) and I’ve only taken it off a few times to clean and polish the silver around the stones. The stones are not turquoise as some believe, but instead, it’s Larimar.

Last year, right around the time I got separated, I went to my friend Amber, also known as the Chakra Diva to have my chakra’s balanced. I was feeling emotionally and physically drained and I was in need of some spiritual guidance.  Chakras are energy points in your body and when one or more are blocked, it can lead to illness or have you feeling out of sorts. And while I was aware of the concept, it was Amber who gave me insight on how it all really worked.

According to Chopra.com:

There are seven main chakras, which align the spine, starting from the base of the spine through to the crown of the head. To visualize a chakra in the body, imagine a swirling wheel of energy where matter and consciousness meet. This invisible energy, called Prana, is vital life force, which keeps us vibrant, healthy, and alive. [source]

Each of the seven main chakras contains bundles of nerves and major organs as well as our psychological, emotional, and spiritual states of being. Since everything is moving, it’s essential that our seven main chakras stay open, aligned, and fluid. If there is a blockage, energy cannot flow. Think of something as simple as your bathtub drain. If you allow too much hair to go into the drain, the bathtub will back up with water, stagnate and eventually bacteria and mold will grow. So is too with our bodies and the chakras. [source]

At the time when I consulted with Amber, she told me that my Throat Chakra was completely closed. She couldn’t get it to budge. The Throat Chakra, also called the fifth chakra, is our source of verbal communication. Mine was closed because I could not speak my truth. And this in fact was true. Although I’m pretty much an open book in my writing, I had a very difficult time expressing how I felt verbally, especially in my marriage. I kept everything bottled up, not speaking my truth in order to maintain peace in the household. I also found out that a closed Throat Chakra can lead to illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, and sore throats (among others) all of which I was experiencing and were worsening as my marriage fell apart, all of which I thought was caused by excessive running. She suggested that I get a blue stone as blue is the color of the Throat Chakra to help open it up and to find ways to open up my voice. Well, I started with the easiest thing to do…find a blue stone.

When I went to the local new age crystal store, I looked for blue stones that were associated with the Throat Chakra. Amber said to go with whichever one I was drawn to the most. Most of the pendants I looked at were in the $10 – $20 range. Not bad. But then this one caught my eye. When the sales associate informed me that it was well over $100, I decided…nope…moving on. And I kept looking, but kept going back to this one. I finally gave in and made the purchase. It spoke to me and I had to have it.

I didn’t know anything about the Larimar stone. So when I got home, I looked it up and found out that it was a pectolite that can only be found in the oceans around the Dominican Republic. And when I looked up the spiritual healing properties of Larimar, I could see why I was attracted to it and why I needed it.

According to Healing Crystals, the Larimar stone’s “vibration will aid you to forgive others that may have caused you difficulties, and to clear deep seated emotional pain. Larimar stone may aid you to release deep seated pain, resentment and fear.”[source]

And Crystal Vaults states that “Larimar is a powerful emotional cleanser and healer, especially for phobias, panic attacks, stress-related imbalances, and excessive anger or fear. It aids in breaking down the walls one has built around the heart for defense, and allows for emotional release and the clearing of deep emotional patterns.” [source]

Ummm…yeah…I was in the heat of a lot of that at that time. Since I’ve started wearing my necklace and learning more about chakras and keeping mine balanced (they are rarely ever all balanced…I’m really a hot mess sometimes…ok…a lot of times), I find that I’m more at peace with myself and with the world around me. And whether or not it’s a direct link to my necklace and working on my chakra energies, it doesn’t really matter does it? Belief in something is better than not believing in anything. And if my verbal communication of my feelings are more open and I am less stressed, then why not just go with it?

My necklace has become a spiritual piece for me. It reminds me of my darkest moments and how I’ve pulled through without being torn apart. It reminds me of the strength within and that I am part of something greater. And in some moments, when I’m having a difficult time, I touch it and I feel at peace. This little ol’ thing has become a part of little ol’ me.