Heart of Yoga - Tuesday and Wednesday, February 21st & 22nd

After headlining Byron Spirit Festival, Mark Whitwell returns to the Crystal Castle for a two day workshop 'Developing a personal practice'

This workshop is a unique opportunity to work with one of the most experienced yoga teachers in the world. No matter what style of yoga you are currently practicing, you will be able to incorporate the insights gleaned from this personal practice development to make your yoga more efficient, powerful, and safe. Everyone, from beginners to experienced practitioners, is invited to attend.

This intimate workshop has a maximum of 25 places available.
Click here for more details.

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The Gyuto Monks Return - January 25th - February 5th

_{Sculpting For Peace}

The next stage of the World Peace Stupa will see the monks sculpting the symbolic artwork onto the exterior levels of the stupa base, as well as a daily program in the Discovery Room.

_{Harmonic Chanting Performance}A fundraiser for the World Peace Stupa
Saturday January 28th, 6.30pmThe monks will also offer a Harmonic Chanting Performance on Saturday January 28th. Trained over many years, each monk has developed the extraordinary capacity to chant in three octaves at the same time. The deep, stirring sounds produced have been called the ‘sound of heaven’ are reputed to have a transformative effect on the physical as well as the emotional body.

Click here for more information and the Monks daily program.
 

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Spring has sprung, and it is the perfect moment to take some nourishing, relaxing time out to really enjoy it. Here at the Crystal Castle the gardens are even more beautiful than ever.

The autumn pruning has made way for some exotic new plantings, creating a tapestry of colours and a heady array of delicious fragrance.

With so many flowers in bloom it’s hard to choose where to feast your eyes. And there is a fresh buzz in the air as we prepare for a very special year ahead.

The Stupa preparations have progressed even further with the most recent visit of the Gyuto Monks of Tibet and you can now see where this unique monument will be constructed in the months to come.

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Spring …The time of hope, renewal and new beginnings. As we leave behind the winter days of contemplation and quiet, we are propelled into a whole new energy. As the weather opens up new possibilities, we can turn to the Tarot card ‘The Fool’ for inspiration. ‘The Fool’ embraces faith and hope for fresh journeys and ventures for the coming year.

Astrologically, the combination of Virgo sun and a direct Mercury allows us to be thorough and grounded in planning for the future. The crystal Chrysoprase opens the heart and renews hope. It is ideal for energizing the body and opening us up to new directions.

It is timely now to turn our attention towards planting positive seeds that bless our future with blossoming and fruition.

Janey is available for readings at the Crystal Castle on Thursdays and Sundays. Phone ahead to make your booking. 02 6684 3111

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Crystalight is the wholesale branch of the Crystal Castle and the two have been trading hand in hand for 25 years ..
If you have a business dealing in crystals, crystal singing bowls, gifts and jewellery, or if you know of somebody that does then ‘click here’ for more details.

We offer Free Shipping Australia wide ! ! Minimum wholesale order is $300.

Wholesale is only available to genuine businesses, that will re-sell our products, and terms and conditions do apply.

If you are not a wholesale business then remember the Crystal Castle Online Shop is open 24/7 with gorgeous new treasures arriving weekly. Free shipping anywhere in Australia for orders $95 and over and 50% of all online shop sales go directly to the World Peace Stupa project.

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My buying trip earlier this year was one of the best ever, and more fun than ever, finding an extraordinary collection of crystals from around the world. Some of my favourites that are now here – Rainbow Obsidian Hearts, Moroccan Fossils and "Ruby" Spinel formations.

(the comments from "CCO" come from Madonna, our "Crystal Castle Oracle" and resident expert on crystal meanings and metaphysics).

All the best from Naren the Crystal Castle crystal explorer.

Rainbow Obsidian Hearts - these are hand polished in Mexico, in such a way that they reveal gorgeous heart shapes that glimmer with rainbow colours, out of a deep dark centre. They are getting much harder to find, but we got both single hearts, doubles, and even a few triples.
“CCO” ~It is said, Rainbow Obsidian invites illumination, protection and profound healing of the heart and relationships.

Moroccan Fossils - kids just love these, and the big ones are often bought for big (male) kids! From the Sahara Desert in Morocco, when it was an ocean, comes this assortment of orthoceras, goniatite and more, plus little ones made into pendants. I also really like these as they are so inexpensive, from a few dollars each, for something that is (no kidding) over 500 million years old.
“CCO” ~ Fossils are considered to be ”The Stone of Transformation” The Mystic Lore of these ancient wonders reminds us to be receptive to change and innovation.

"Ruby" Spinel formations - not really rubies, but commonly called Ruby Spinel due to the incredible sparkling ruby-like crystals, these formations are growing out of a milky white base of calcite. Like nothing I have ever seen before, in 27 years of roaming the world for crystals, I acquired these from a French crystal dealer, who found them in Vietnam over 16 years ago!
They are absolutely stunning, and I know you need a fairly high-end budget for one of these, but they are once-in-a-lifetime pieces.
“CCO” ~ Our Stunning Spinel pieces carry the Mystic Lore of new hope, revitalisation and inner strength.

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Saturday 13th to Sunday 21st August 2011

The Gyuto Monks are returning to Crystal Castle to continue preparations, with an emphasis on creating the stupa treasury. Activities will include the painting and writing mantras on the Tree of Life, centre piece for the 8 metre Stupa. The tree was found, blessed and felled in a dawn ceremony last May. The much maligned camphor laurel was chosen for its durability, strength and long lasting protective scent.

The monks will also be inviting the community to join in the making of tsa tsas (clay Buddha statues) and rolling mantras, both important items for the stupa.
You may also join the monks for Morning Meditation (10.30am) and Meditation Class (12.30pm) each day.

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The ground is ready!

In the next exciting step in creating the Kalachakra World Peace Stupa at the Crystal Castle, ground was broken this week at the stupa site. If you peek to the left of the path as you walk down towards the castle, there, behind the Water Pourer pond you will see the red earth where the stupa will stand. Sloping banks of grass will provide a place to sit and marvel at this extraordinary sacred monument. You can also glimpse a winding path that will take visitors around the stupa and across to the Rainforest Walk creating the opportunity to circumambulate the monument. This is considered a most auspicious activity by the Tibetan Buddhists.

Blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama (as well as the Byron Shire Council who have approved its DA), the unusual spherical structure of the stupa has been engineered to last a thousand years. Like a physical and metaphysical time capsule it will be a powerful statement of our collective intentions for the future of humanity. The project is being managed and built by locals, Alok Eggenberger of ExpanDesign and Chris Brown of Domeshells Australia.

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