Our Stories | Mexicali Blues Blog

Lapis lazuli is considered to be the stone of universal truth and friendship. It is reputed to bring harmony to relationships and help the wearer express the self in an authentic manner. Lapis is also considered a strengthening stone, bringing mental clarity and emotional healing.

In ancient Egypt, Lapis was the exclusive power stone of Queen Cleopatra. Believing it had magical properties, she had entire walls of her palace inlaid with it, and even had it ground into powder for her eyeliner. Still often referred to as the “Queen’s stone”, lapis brings luck, fortune, and a regal air to the bearer.

Lapis opens the door to self acceptance, which leads to serenity. It reveals inner truth, promoting self-awareness and the acceptance of that knowledge. It provides for the relief of things that may have been suppressed and allows for them to surface, helping to diminish dis-ease or repressed anger, and allows for self-expression without holding back or compromising.

Lapis promotes and protects interpersonal harmony in relationships, and helps to keep the head and heart in balance. Known as a protector of interpersonal relationships, this stone can help to heal broken or injured bonds. It can support being more comfortable and honest with your feelings, and enhance loving communication. It facilitates self-knowledge and self-expression, as well as inner piece. Ancient folklore says that if you give lapis lazuli as a gift, you are forging an eternal bond of friendship, loyalty, and trust between the two of you.

The beautiful blues in paintings from the Renaissance are thanks to the blue of lapis lazuli. The opaque blue gem material was the secret ingredient in ultramarine, the valuable pigment that all the old masters used to capture the rich blues of the sea and sky and the robes of the Virgin Mary. The color wasn’t duplicated by any other substance until 1834 but even now, some argue there is no substitute: unlike other pigments, centuries-old ultramarine still glows with rich color today.

Visit our website for a plethora of pretty gemstone jewelry, or visit any of our stores in Maine to see the potent and powerful beauty of this stunning gem, available on our website or in stores in unique (often one-of-a-kind) shapes and settings. The gorgeous lapis pieces in this picture can be found today in our Newcastle store.

>>>>SHOP LAPIS JEWELRY HERE<<<<

While traveling through Northern Thailand in 2002, two women, Jane McBride and Patricia Zinkowski, discovered fifteen girls living in an abandoned school in the village of Doi Luang. The girls had little adult supervision and were trying to survive as best they could in an area known for human trafficking agents. Pattie visited us at Mexicali Blues recently to share the whole story of how this chance meeting led to the creation of Friends of Thai Daughters: an awesome organization dedicated to protecting girls who were trafficked or who, due to poverty or social status, are most vulnerable to trafficking, by offering them a safe living environment and an education.

These girls come from the hill tribes of Northern Thailand and are typically ages 8 to 23, without documentation or citizenship, orphaned, and/or victims of abuse. The shelter, support, and skills they receive from Friends of Thai Daughters can completely transform their lives.

These girls and young women live happily and healthily in a bright, cheerful safe house called “The Sunflower House.” Visiting the Sunflower House and seeing these wonderful young ladies grow and flourish over the years is one of the things we most love to do when we visit Thailand! Not only are we grateful to know these incredibly vibrant young people, but we are honored to continue to support their well-being.

In fact, if you have ever shopped at Mexicali Blues, YOU have contributed to creating a safe and healthy environment for these and other young girls in Thailand who would otherwise be at high risk for human trafficking. With 1% of all purchases going back to programs like Friends of Thai Daughters, your contribution is essential to our philanthropic endeavors. . . so, THANK YOU! (Learn about other organizations we support here)

At Mexicali we strongly believe that we all need to be aware how our choices as consumers can contribute to a shameful world problem and use our purchasing power—and philanthropy—to prevent it!

You can learn more about Friends of Thai Daughters and their fight against human trafficking in Thailand on their website  and on their Facebook page.