Whether you are looking for more protection in the home, more love in your spaces, or looking to attract more abundance into your life, there is a crystal for everything. Keeping crystals in the home not only elevates the aesthetic but also provides unique healing powers to your environment. Crystals and gemstones and their use of them go back thousands of years, and the wisdom of these natural gifts from Mother Earth has been passed down.
In today’s world, crystals are more widely recognized and used, and it’s important to consider which crystals do what and what is the best place to put your most precious gemstones.
Your home is one of the most, if not the most, intimate spaces in your life. Having the right energy in the home translates into your experience when you leave it, and working with crystals can help you elevate your energy. Spiritual practices like feng shui prove how valuable and healing making every space in the home intentional is. By understanding the different healing properties and benefits of certain crystals, you can enhance the energy in your home, protect your space, and attract more positive energy into your life.
Consciously work with your space and with the bounty this earth provides, and create abundance and protection in your life. Each space in the home can benefit from a certain crystal, read below to see what your space may need right now.
1.Black Tourmaline
Black Tourmaline is a must-have for any crystal collection. This is a highly sought-after stone for its protective and healing benefits. Black Tourmaline is a good stone to place by the front door or in any area of the home where you feel you need extra protection. It’s good to put it near the front door because any energy that enters the home will be immediately cleansed before it comes in, protecting your home space.
Black Tourmaline acts as an energetic sponge, and it absorbs all negative energy in the home and transmutes it into positive, which is why it’s good to have it right before you enter into a space. This crystal will need to be cleansed often, so make sure you leave it out for the night during a Full Moon every month.
2.Spirit Quartz
Spirit Quartz is unique in its healing properties because a lot of it comes from the shape of the quartz itself. Spirit Quartz is a crystal with many facets pointing in different directions, and its different crystal points send out positive energy in different directions in the home. Place this crystal in the center of your home, table, or room to make sure positive and harmonious energy is flowing through without.
Spirit Quartz elevates the room and keeps the good vibes and nurturing energy flowing. This is a stone that will open up the energy in the room, keep things exciting, and create a safe space for everyone to be their authentic and best selves.
3.Amethyst
Amethyst is another must to have in the home and any crystal collection, but it’s especially a must if you have trouble sleeping, relaxing, emotionally healing, or with addiction. Amethyst is a good stone to put in the room or meditation space, and if you are having trouble sleeping, place it under your pillow or under your bed.
Amethyst Quartz is a truly unique and healing stone and provides an energy of transmutation, spiritual growth, and support. This is a crystal that you’ll want to place in areas where you want to create a relaxing, rejuvenating, and emotionally healing vibe. Keeping Amethyst in your home is like having an air purifier; it cleanses, heals, and rejuvenates.
4.Iron Pyrite
Iron Pyrite is a good crystal to keep in the office, near the bills, or next to/in your purse. Iron Pyrite is a stone of abundance, and it also acts as a protection stone for that which you want to protect and cherish in your life. This is the type of stone you want around you if you are looking to create more wealth in your life or protect the wealth you already have.
Iron Pyrite crystal will send you in the right direction financially and will bring up new ideas to help you create abundance and attract it into your life as well. This is a good stone to help you protect your finances and assets, so keep it where you want to protect your money, on top of any contracts you need to sign, on your business cards, in your safe, etc.
5.Rose Quartz
Rose Quartz is a more obvious crystal for the home, and this is a crystal you may already have that you can use. Rose Quartz is a crystal of love and is perfect for any intimate environment. Keep this crystal in the bedroom to spice things up, or keep it in the living room space to invite more love into your world. Rose Quartz is the stone of emotional balance and harmony, and it creates peace and a harmonious atmosphere.
It not only benefits your relationships and love life, but it’s also a facilitator of self-love and confidence as well, helping you grow in your journey here. If you struggle with insecurities, place Rose Quartz in the bathroom next to your mirror for some extra love in the mornings.
6.Green Aventurine
Green Aventurine is a good stone to keep in the home because it benefits many different areas of your life. You can place Green Aventurine in the garden or backyard to help plants grow and bring luck to the garden. Green Aventurine is a stone that brings your seeds of intention to fruition. This is another crystal of abundance as well and works well near the front door or window to help bring abundance in.
Green Aventurine also enhances good health and a healthy heart, making this a beneficial stone to have anywhere in the home. Overall, this is a stone that will help you attract positive, healthy, and refreshed energy into your life. This stone calls you to your inner harmony and health.
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Featured image by Mixmike/Getty Images
Originally published on October 10, 2023
Tayler Barakat is a Mystic who has studied Astrology for over a decade. She does intuitive astrology and tarot readings for people all over the world, and her work focuses on healing and empowering individuals. Follow her on Instagram @taylerbarakat_ and check out her website www.listentothevirgo.com.
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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After Decades-Long Career, Terri J. Vaughn Is Finally The Main Character: Exclusive
Terri J. Vaughn first captured our attention in the late ‘90s as Lovita Alizay Jenkins on The Steve Harvey Show. Decades later, she is starring in her very own series, She The People, which is now available to stream on Netflix.
The political sitcom, which she co-created with Niya Palmer and later teamed up with Tyler Perry Studios, is about a Black woman named Antoinette Dunkerson who runs for lieutenant governor of Mississippi. She wins and becomes the state’s first Black lieutenant governor. Now, she’s forced to balance working with a racist and sexist governor while also trying to keep her family from running amok.
According to the beloved actress, this project was a long time coming. “I’ve been trying to get my own television series for like 20 years, pounding the pavement, meeting with people, getting clothes, being lied to, just a whole bunch of stuff,” she says in an exclusive interview with xoNecole.
“But just keep going, because this is what I do. This is what I love, and I know how important it is for us to continue to show up and make sure that we are seen, make sure that our voices are heard. For several reasons. I just never give up. So here I am, 20 years later, finally sold my show.”
She The People is inspired by the true story of London Breed, who became the first Black female mayor of San Francisco, Terri’s hometown. And to help make the show more authentic, the Cherish the Day actress tapped former Atlanta mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms to come on as a producer.'“I’ve been trying to get my own television series for like 20 years, pounding the pavement, meeting with people, getting clothes, being lied to, just a whole bunch of stuff."
After bringing the former mayor aboard, it was time to pitch again. And this time, the companies were pitching them. Ultimately, Terri decided to work with Tyler Perry on the series.
“We decided to do it with Tyler for several reasons. I love that. Well, most of the companies we met with were Black-owned companies, but he was the only studio,” she explains. “Tyler is like Walt Disney. That's literally what he is. He has the studio, he has the content. He operates just like Walt Disney.”
And thanks to the cast, the show is nothing short of laughs. The series also stars social media creator Jade Novah as Antoinette’s crazy cousin/ assistant, Shamika, Family Mattersstar Jo Marie Payton as Anotinette’s mom, Cleo, and Terri’s husband, Karon Riley, who plays Michael, her driver and love interest.
While we’ve watched Terri’s career blossom in various ways. From directing to producing, and playing diverse characters, the mom of two says her The Steve Harvey Show character will always be her favorite.
“Well, Lovita was definitely my favorite, especially for my time, the age and everything that I was. Now as a grown ass woman over 50, Antoinette Dunkerson is everything that I've wanted to play. She's everything. She's a mother of two teenagers. She's divorced, so she's co-parenting with her ex-husband. She has to wrangle in a very eclectic family,” she says.
“So I like playing characters that are really flawed and trying to figure it out and doing their best to try to figure it. And she's very flawed and she is trying to figure it out, and she fucks up sometimes. But her heart and what she's trying to do and what her vision is and purpose, it's all for the people. I mean, she the people. She’s for the people, she is the people.”
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