Mercury stationed to go retrograde on Monday, November 25th, 2024, at 22° Sagittarius and will continue it's apparent backward motion until December 15th, 2024, when it goes direct at 6° Sagittarius. Mercury Retrograde is known for its influence on communication breakdowns, travel delays, and technology glitches, and this particular retrograde in Sagittarius brings a focus on big-picture thinking, future goals, and truth-seeking. Miscommunications may arise around plans, beliefs, and philosophical ideas, making it the perfect time to reflect and reassess rather than push forward. Instead of viewing Mercury Retrograde as a time of chaos, it's helpful to see it as an opportunity for revision, introspection and personal growth.

To help you stay grounded, calm, and in tune with your intuition, we’ve curated a list of 8 healing crystals that are ideal for navigating the challenges of Mercury Retrograde. Whether worn as jewelry or carried as tumbled stones, these crystals can support you in finding balance during this holiday season cosmic shift.

1. Lapis Lazuli

Known as the stone of truth and wisdom, Lapis Lazuli is a powerful ally for clear thinking and effective communication. It enhances insight and helps you stay grounded when misunderstandings occur. During this Sagittarius-influenced retrograde, Lapis Lazuli will assist you in exploring deeper truths while maintaining focus and clarity in your interactions.

2. Iolite

Also called the stone of vision, Iolite promotes clarity, intuition, and focus. It is a great choice for Mercury Retrograde because it helps you reconnect with your inner guidance, allowing you to navigate uncertainty with confidence. Iolite supports decision-making when external circumstances feel unclear.

3. Turquoise

Turquoise is known for its ability to aid in communication and provide protective energy. It’s especially helpful during Mercury Retrograde for expressing yourself authentically and avoiding unnecessary conflicts. Additionally, Turquoise is believed to shield against negative energy and chaotic influences, making it a must-have during this turbulent time.

4. Amethyst

A stone of peace and balance, Amethyst is perfect for easing stress and staying calm during Mercury Retrograde. It heightens intuition and allows you to make thoughtful decisions, even when the retrograde energy feels overwhelming. Amethyst also encourages emotional clarity, helping you find stability in challenging moments.

5. Lepidolite

If Mercury Retrograde has you feeling anxious or emotionally unbalanced, Lepidolite is your go-to crystal. Known for its calming properties due to its lithium content, Lepidolite supports emotional stability and helps you adapt to unexpected changes. It’s ideal for soothing retrograde stress and promoting a sense of peace.

6. Aquamarine

Aquamarine is highly regarded for its ability to enhance clear and calm communication. Whether you’re navigating a tricky conversation or working through a misunderstanding, Aquamarine helps you speak your truth with confidence and grace. It’s also a wonderful crystal for promoting emotional balance during chaotic retrograde moments.

7. Rainbow Fluorite

For mental clarity and focus, Rainbow Fluorite is a must-have during Mercury Retrograde. Its grounding energy helps you stay organized and centered, even when life feels unpredictable. This crystal is especially helpful for sorting through confusion and making sense of complex situations.

8. Labradorite

Labradorite is a stone of transformation and self-awareness, making it an excellent companion for Mercury Retrograde. It helps you uncover hidden truths and embrace personal growth, turning retrograde challenges into opportunities for reflection and alignment. Labradorite encourages you to trust the process and focus on inner transformation.

How to Use Crystals During Mercury Retrograde

To make the most of these crystals, you can:

• Wear them as jewelry: Keep their supportive energy with you throughout the day.
• Carry tumbled stones: Hold them in your pocket or purse to stay grounded and balanced.
• Meditate with them: Set aside quiet time to connect with their energy and align your intentions.
• Place them in your space: Keep them on your desk or in your home to create a calming and focused environment.

This Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius is a time to pause, reflect, and realign. These carefully selected healing crystals can help you stay calm, clear, and connected to your inner wisdom. Whether you’re facing miscommunications, delays, or emotional turbulence, these crystals offer grounding support to turn retrograde challenges into opportunities for growth. 

This year, Small Business Saturday falls on November 30th—a day dedicated to celebrating and supporting small, local businesses like ours. This special day, launched in 2010 by American Express, encourages shoppers to prioritize independent, woman-owned, and community-focused businesses during the busy holiday season. While it’s tempting to turn to big-box stores or online retail giants for convenience, there are countless meaningful reasons to shop small instead—especially if you’re searching for unique, handcrafted crystals, spiritual tools, and gifts infused with love and intention.

Here are five reasons to shop small on Saturday:

1. You Support Local Dreams Instead of Corporate Profits When you shop at a small business, your purchase helps someone pursue their passion. Your support helps us source high-quality crystals, design beautiful spiritual tools, and create an inviting space for our community. Every sale makes a tangible impact—whether it’s helping us stock shelves, pay rent, or expand our offerings to serve you better. In contrast, shopping at big-box stores or online giants funnels your money into corporate profits far removed from your community. Shopping small is an intentional vote for your neighbors, their passions, and the businesses that make your town unique.

2. Your Money Stays in the Community, Not in Corporate Headquarters Shopping small means your dollars stay local. Businesses like ours reinvest in the community by supporting other local artisans, creating jobs, and giving back to causes that matter. Every crystal, handmade jewelry piece, or spiritual gift you buy supports not just us but also the many other small businesses we collaborate with. When you shop big-box stores, profits are funneled to distant corporate offices, with little benefit to your town. By shopping with us, you’re building a stronger, more connected community.

3. You Get Unique, Personalized Products Instead of Mass-Produced Goods At our crystal shop, every product is thoughtfully chosen or handmade with love. Whether you’re buying an ethically sourced crystal, a custom gemstone bracelet, or a spiritual tool designed to support intention setting, you’ll find gifts that are as unique as the people you’re shopping for. Unlike mass-produced items from big-box stores, our products carry the care and personal touch that can be felt by the recipient. When you shop small, you’re giving gifts that have heart, story, and soul—perfect for creating meaningful moments this holiday season.

4. It’s an Eco-Friendly Choice Compared to Shipping Giants Shopping with a local business like ours is an eco-friendly choice. We work with nearby suppliers and prioritize sustainable practices to minimize our environmental impact. When you shop locally, you avoid the excessive packaging and long shipping routes that come with online giants and big-box retailers. Each purchase helps reduce waste and transportation emissions, making your support a meaningful step toward sustainability. And we reused a lot of packing material to cut down on our carbon foot print. 

5. You Build Meaningful Relationships Instead of Transactional Experiences Shopping at a small business like ours is more than just a transaction—it’s a chance to connect. We’re passionate about sharing the stories behind our crystals and the energetic properties of our handmade products. When you shop with us, you become part of a community rooted in care, collaboration, and intention. In contrast, shopping at big-box stores can feel impersonal and disconnected. Supporting small businesses means fostering relationships that add depth and meaning to your holiday season.

This Small Business Saturday, November 30th, is your opportunity to make intentional, impactful choices about where you spend your money. By shopping with a small, woman-owned business like ours, you’re supporting dreams, reducing environmental impact, and investing in a brighter future for your local community. Let’s make this Small Business Saturday unforgettable. Visit our shop to discover unique, personalized crystals and gifts made with love, and experience the joy of supporting your community. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change—one thoughtful purchase at a time. Shop Small. Shop Local. Shop with Intention.

Maybe you've been here with us since the beginning, thank you. And maybe you are new, thank you. Here's a little more about us! 

Let's start at the beginning:

Heather has very fond memories searching for garnets and rubies with her mother and Grandmother in North Carolina as a small child. She had always had a fascination for rocks and crystals and dreamed of having a magical crystal shop. That dream came true after buying Willowtree Market in 2015, formally Willow’s Naturally, a health and wellness store . She decided she would bring a small selection of crystals in and the customer’s enthusiasm continued to grow, so Heather decided to fill the entire upstairs of the store with more crystals , jewelry and gifts . In the fall of 2019 The Crystal Loft opened. Lou, who also had a deep interest in the healing qualities of crystals , discovered the shop days after she moved to Washington. She knew instantly that she wanted to work there and applied on the spot! She came from a life of collecting pretty rocks as a kid to connecting with the metaphysical side and loving every aspect of it. We loved the Crystal Loft. It was cozy and the sun would come in and play with the crystals.

During the summer of 2020 we moved the Crystal Loft downstairs in Willowtree and changed its name to Wild Heather, so that it was Wild Heather under the Willowtree. We loved this space, it felt like it went hand in hand with Willowtree. A wellness shop with a metaphysical wellness space. But it was a very tiny space and our customers excitedly asked for more. 

Through all of its iterations, we got to know our regular locals very well.

In April of 2021 we moved to the Winslow Mall and expanded 5 times the space we had. Here we were able to meet even more of our locals and tourists, making sweet connections. We expanded in every way, carrying more of the metahysical and occult items as well as dipping our toes into the jewelry world more, and of course find even more awesome crystals to share with everyone. We had 2 wonderful and busy years filled with a lot of growth. 

And now we found the space we have always wanted, at the Orchard. We are excited to be going into our third year of Hidden Gem in a beautiful light filled space. This space feels like a breath of fresh air. The crystal sparkle a little more and we are all happy to be here. We can't wait to see how things will progress in this new space.

Through all of this time of growth we have worked hard to support local women makers and employ amazing women who have knowledge of many wonderful things. As a women owned, women run small business we work hard to support women in our local community and our small business community. Currently we have 25 local, regional, and US made items from women owned companies. And we are always looking for more that we align with. If you are a maker and interested in having your pieces in our shop please reach out through email, hello@hiddengembainbridge.com

We fully acknowledge everyday that we wouldn’t be here without all of you who have been here with us since the beginning or have just recently found us. Your presents means so much to us. Heather and the whole team at Hidden Gem want to thank you for the love and support. We hope you will come checkout our new space and we thank you for being a part of our community through all of the change.