Why do I think decorating with gems, minerals and stone objects is a way of practicing mindfulness and self-care ? It’s pretty simple. We, as people, since ancient times, have always turned to nature for its grounding, soothing effects. I think that surrounding yourself with natural beauty in your home can help you do this on a daily basis. And this day and age, we need more of this than ever before.

Even the most ardent city dweller is attracted to nature. Busy city streets are lined with trees and flowers to remind us that there is a natural world beyond the miles of paved roads and concrete sidewalks with which we typically surround ourselves. Almost every grand lobby is clad with slabs of marble or granite to help soften the austerity of our modern lives and connect us more to mother nature. Museums of Natural History exist in almost every major city offering us an afternoon to connect with the wonders of nature that we usually may only be lucky enough to see on vacation or on Planet Earth. Filling the home with gems, minerals and natural stone objects gives us all an opportunity to connect with the natural world in our homes daily.

Occasionally I look in awe at a piece of Quartz on my shelf or the Onyx bowl on my kitchen counter. Their beauty alone is awe-inspiring, but they do more than that for me. If I’m having a moment of anxiety after reading the latest in the news, I can look at the minerals, gems and stone objects around my home, take a deep breath, and feel a sense of grounding. They are formed from the world’s oldest, most natural, beautiful elements. How can that not bring a sense of calming?