Gemstones and tea:  a pairing for the new year

Gemstones and tea might seem an unlikely combination, but to local jewelry designer Jen Aly, they make perfect sense together. “They are two of my favorite things,” she says. Aly decided to combine them for her workshop Gemstones and Tea: Set Your Intentions for 2015, which will be held at Dobra Tea on Sunday, Jan. 18.

Aly, who is also a life coach, says that setting intentions is a positive way to start the new year. “It helps people to look forward with possibility and to feel more in control of their lives. It is a powerful tool, and setting intention in a group can be even more empowering,” she says. Furthermore, setting intentions helps people to identify what’s important to them, which can reduce stress, Aly adds.

During the workshop, Aly will guide each participant through the intention-setting process. After participants clarify their intentions for the year, Aly will help them choose a gemstone necklace and tea aligned with it.

“Depending on what part of your life you want to heal or support, you can choose a tea and gemstone to support that,” explains Aly.  There will be seven themes to choose from, each aligned with one of the seven chakras.

For example, the gemstone prehnite is pale green in color and associated with the heart chakra, Aly points out.  “It’s a heart-healing stone, and it’s about unconditional love. People are drawn to this one like crazy,” she says.  Participants may choose this stone if they want to heal their hearts, focus on forgiveness of self or others, or attract unconditional love, she explains.

Aly is also known for her delicate and unique lightweight jewelry designs. She’ll make each participant’s chosen gemstone into a pendant by wrapping it with argentium silver, which doesn’t tarnish. A sterling silver chain will come with it.

Dobra Teahouse is an event collaborator as well as host.  The tea menu for the event was developed by Sage Sansone, Dobra’s event planner and resident tarot card reader, with oversight by owner and tea expert Andrew Snavely.  “I chose herbs and blends that fit well” with Aly’s themes, says Sansone.  “We used teas on our menu and then decided which teas would be good for each chakra.”

Sansone says there will be 14 teas to choose from; for each chakra or theme, there will a caffeinated and noncaffeinated tea option. “I took a very physical approach,“ Sansone says about selecting the teas. For example, for the solar plexus chakra, which is associated with the stomach and digestion, she chose Pu-er tea. “This is fermented and aged tea. It is known to help with digestion because the fermentation has the qualities of good bacteria, kind of like a yogurt does,” says Sansone. “Special for this event, we will feature the ginger Pu-er because ginger also helps with digestion,” she says.

And for the throat chakra, Sansone picked yerba mate for the caffeinated tea. “Yerba mate is traditionally experienced in a group of people, passed around in a group. It is a communal tea, so we figured it would be a good tea for the throat chakra, which is governed by communication,” says Sansone.

A yerba mate drinker might choose the gemstone blue chalcedony for the necklace, Aly notes.  “Blue chalcedony can be about empowering you to voice your truth,” says Aly. It also helps connect with creativity and expression as an intention for the year, she explains. Blue chalcedony “is also a harmonious stone, about peacefulness. It is a great balancing stone,” Aly adds.

Her goal for the event is that “when people leave, they feel uplifted and supported going into the new year by their clear intention. And they will have their gemstone necklace to wear throughout the year to remind [them] of their intention,” says Aly.

Contact and the event information

WHAT: Tea and gemstone workshop, $30

WHEN: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 18

WHERE: Dobra Tea 78 N. Lexington Ave.

WHY: Receive a Sterling Silver necklace with pendant of your choice (up to $30 value); set your intention for 2015 in a supportive environment; learn about gemstones, chakras and do some journaling; experience a tea that supports your intention (cost not included).

MORE INFO:   http://jenalydesigns.com/
JenAlyDesigns@gmail.com
333-7144