Deck Review — Mood Crystals by Christel Alberez and Nereus North Goldstar
Deck Review — Mood Crystals by Christel Alberez and Nereus North Goldstar
Publisher: David & Charles
50 Cards
Release Date: 13th September 2022
Thank you to David & Charles for providing this deck for unbiased review. I really enjoy instructional decks — something beyond the standard oracle or divination deck, where each card carries learning and information beyond connecting with your inner self.
This deck certainly ticks that box. From the moment you open the box and pull out the guidebook and cards, you can see that each card is not only beautifully presented but rich in useful detail.
Let’s start with the guide booklet. There’s a short introduction that reminds readers of the ubiquitous nature of emotions and, therefore, the importance of cultivating emotional intelligence. There’s also a quick note that the cards represent a digested version of the authors’ book, Mood Crystals: A Hands-on Guide to Managing your Emotional Wellbeing with Crystals, also published by David & Charles.
The booklet then delves into how to use these cards, explaining that they’re split into four main categories: physical emotions, intuitive emotions, mental clarity, and energetic and transformational flow. There’s a useful flow chart for identifying emotions — helpful for anyone, but ideal for those with alexithymia or perhaps neurodivergences that make it challenging to pick out specific emotional states.
There then follows a section on using crystals and how they work, plus a core meditation practice aimed at relaxing body and mind to better receive a crystal’s frequencies. You can find a free version of the core meditation at the authors’ website, Gemstone Stories.
There are some more practical exercises, including a movement meditation and a touchstone practice. All in all, the booklet is a great starter guide to crystal work, even if you don’t have access to the deck.
The deck is simply bound and carefully packaged in the box — I was really impressed with the presentation and shall keep the box rather than moving these to a bag or other storage receptacle. The cards are helpfully grouped into the categories given above. Rather than simply grabbing a card at random, it’s helpful to follow the guidebook, identify your emotional state or needs, then choose a card that correlates to that requirement.
For example, I’m feeling good, so I head to the card for Optimism. The card has a beautiful image of reddish Sunstone on it, and a description
of what optimism is and how it impacts our lives.
Turn the card over, and there’s a wealth of information about crystals you can try and work with to manifest different types of optimism in your life. I’ll only focus on this one card so as not to fill the review with spoilers if you want to try this deck for yourself:
- Fluorite can ignite the imagination to reveal what’s needed to flourish
- Kyanite connects to abundance and purpose
- Sunstone connects to inner strength and radiance
- Amazonite clears out toxic energy and celebrates letting go
I’ve massively simplified the content here, but each card points you in the direction of stones that can help bolster your current emotions and even tailor your emotions to be closer to what you want. You can use these crystal recommendations to get closer to your personal goals or for spiritual fulfilment.
There are also further crystal recommendations with less detail, and ideas for powerful crystal combinations. Emotions range from blissful to shameful and everything in between, so there really is something for every mood and personality.
This is a stunning deck and infinitely useful. Even seasoned crystal practitioners will find something useful in here, and absolute beginners can dive in with little prior knowledge. Highly recommended.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Christel Alberez and Nereus North Goldstar have worked together extensively over the last two decades, including creating both this deck and the associated book, Mood Crystals: A Hands-on Guide to Managing your Emotional Wellbeing with Crystals. Both authors are certified Crystal Resonance Therapists and are also trained in Reiki and other practices. They each completed 500 hours of Crystal Resonance Therapy training at the Crystalis Institute, so both have the knowledge and experience to provide insight into intuitive and emotional crystal healing.
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Review Author: Mabh Savage
Mabh Savage is a Pagan author, poet and musician, as well as a freelance journalist and content creator. She’s a nature-based witch, obsessed with Irish and British Paganism and Folklore, plus she’s a massive plant and bird nerd. She’s also a long-time Hekate devotee and a newbie Lokean.
She works extensively with the UK Pagan Federation, including editing their bi-annual children’s magazine, Aether. Mabh is a passionate environmentalist and an advocate for inclusiveness and positive social transformation.
Mabh is the author of A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors, Pagan Portals – Celtic Witchcraft: Modern Witchcraft Meets Celtic Ways, and most recently, Practically Pagan: An Alternative Guide to Planet Friendly Living. Pre-order her upcoming book, The Magic of Birds, here. Search “Mabh Savage” on Spotify and @Mabherick on all socials.
