Snuggled into my blanket, from the comfort of the guest bed I looked up at the full moon. Its big round face smiling through the skylight illuminated the dark. A big glass jar filled with colourful rocks was standing in the centre of a round table that almost blocked the whole room, leaving hardly any space for me to squeeze through. I was 10 years old and had been fascinated by that jar from the moment I first saw it. It belonged to my aunties neighbours who had agreed that I could sleep in their attic while visiting her. Every night before drifting into dreams, I got mesmerised by the jar's colourful display. Suggesting to my aunty that maybe I could ask for one of the stones had unleashed an unexpected harsh reaction. She was adamant that I would do no such thing and embarrass her.

The moon was now sitting on the window’s ledge spotlighting my favourite stone in the jar. Bright blue like a cloudless sky, it stood out from the rest, stirring my imagination and seemingly taunting me. I so wished it was mine. This was my last night and it seemed to me that the stone knew that, shining brighter than ever, imprinting its image into my young, impressionable mind. That night I dreamed I was inside the jar, visiting my stone. It felt like coming home, but unlike the home I was going back to, that often filled me with fear and confusion, this was different, it felt safe, reassuring and encouraging. The next day, leaving the blue stone behind, I felt sad but strangely comforted with a sense of understanding — although of what, I wasn't sure.

Back with my parents, the pain of growing up in a world of conflict caught up with me once more. When I finally took control of my life, that visit with my aunty and the blue stone had become a distant memory. Grief, anger and a sense of not belonging were still part of my journey for a while. When my nights were darkest, I would look for the moon and be reminded of my blue stone. There were rough patches on my path and doubt was a painful companion, but it made me stronger and brought me closer to knowing who I am.

Years later, my husband and I moved from Germany to Queensland, Australia. Given my special interests in Astrology and Tarot, he suggested opening a new age shop and the "Cairns Crystal Ball" was born —  and here my very own blue stone finally found me, and many more of its glass jar companions.

When we sold the shop and moved to Brisbane, my crystal collection had outgrown glass jars and is now filling rooms. Each of my crystals weaves its own unique magic over me, but Aquamarine still has that special place in my heart as my first crystal love, the one that helped me understand "home is where my heart is".