🔮 How I Ended Up in the World of Stones (Spoiler: Brazil's Fault)
So I have to confess something. After 20 years in Brazil, I thought I'd seen it all. Rio de Janeiro, the beaches, the carnival, the caipirinha... But something I didn't expect? Returning to Italy with a collection of good luck necklaces.
It was a Sunday morning in Ipanema, I was strolling through the stalls of the Hippie Fair (yes, it really exists, and no, it's not just for hippies), when a Carioca lady stopped me...
"You need protection, my son," she said with that typical Brazilian smile. And before I could say "Não gratuida," she had already placed an emerald necklace around my neck.
"For travel," she explained. "Brazil has the best emeralds in the world, you deserve a green fate."
Now, after 20 years there, I thought I knew all the Brazilian traditions. But that emerald necklace... well, I loved it. Intense green, brilliant, typically Brazilian. And I've never taken it off since.
😅 The "Aha!" Moment in Minas Gerais (Or Better: "My God!")
But the real revelation came when I went to Minas Gerais. My goodness, if you've never been there, you can't understand! It's like entering Aladdin's cave, but instead of gold, there are stones of every kind imaginable.
Amethysts the size of watermelons, quartz that looks like pure ice, tourmalines that change color depending on the light... Eye drops, really! And the Brazilians, with their natural superstition, explained the "powers" of each stone to me as if they were discussing the weather.
"This one is for love," a garimpeiro tells me, showing me a rose quartz. "This one is for money," pointing to a golden citrine. "And this one," he smiles mischievously, showing me a purple amethyst, "this one is for not drinking too much cachaça!"
There, I bought that one right away. 😂
🌟 My Brazilian Stone Tour (20 Years of Field Research)
After 20 years in Rio, Bahia, and the entire Northeast, I can say I've earned a true doctorate in Brazilian superstitions! And believe me, every region has its own special stones...
🏖️ Rio de Janeiro: Where It All Began
- **Ipanema:** The famous Sunday Hippie Fair. Here I bought my first emerald necklace
- **Copacabana:** The street vendors with stones "blessed" by the ocean waves
- **Leblon:** The chic little shops selling "fashionable" crystals (same powers, triple the prices 😂)
- **Barra da Tijuca:** Shopping malls with "modern" stones for younger Cariocas
🌴 Bahia - Salvador: The Spiritual Center
In Salvador, I learned that stones aren't just beautiful, they're SACRED! In Pelourinho, the Bahian women of Candomblé explained to me that every orixá has their own stone.
"Oxum loves gold," a woman dressed in yellow tells me. "Iemanjá prefers stones as blue as the sea."
And there I bought my rainbow obsidian, "for the protection of Exu," they told me. I never quite understood what that meant, but I've never had any problems since! 😄
🌊 Northeast - Ceará and Fortaleza: The Stones of the Wind
In the Northeast, between Fortaleza and the endless beaches of Ceará, I discovered they use stones "charged" by the constant wind.
"The sea wind cleanses the energy," a fisherman from Jericoacoara explained to me as he showed me crystals smoothed by the wind and sand.
There was something special about those stones... perhaps it was the air of freedom on those endless beaches, or perhaps the wind had truly "purified" them. Who knows? 🌬️
💎 Minas Gerais: The Ultimate Paradise
But the real shock was Minas Gerais. Guys, if you think you've seen beautiful stones, go there! It's like entering Mother Nature's warehouse.
Amethysts as big as televisions, quartz that look like ice sculptures, tourmalines that change color... And the prices? A tenth of what you'd pay in Europe!
"The earth here is generous," a garimpeiro used to say. "Stones grow like plants."
And I was right. In Minas Gerais, you don't buy stones, you adopt them! 😂
🤔 The Brazilian Lesson: Does "Energia Boa" Really Exist?
After all these years and all these places, I've understood one thing: Brazilians have a relationship with energy that we Europeans don't understand.
For them, everything has energy: people, places, stones, even cachaça! 😄
And stones? They're like little "Energia Bua" batteries. It doesn't matter if you believe in them or not, they work because YOU believe in them.
That's the magic of Brazil: it teaches you that faith moves mountains. And stones too! 🇧🇷✨
🌟 My Two Favorite "Discoveries"
After this Brazilian experience, I began to become more interested in these stones. And now in my "travel arsenal" (yes, I call it that) I have two necklaces that I never leave home:
💚 The Brazilian Emerald: "Green Luck"
This is the necklace the lady from Ipanema gave me. Intense, brilliant green, with that "Brazilian joy" that only they can give to things.
"Green is the heart of hope," she always said. And she was right: since I've been wearing that emerald, luck seems to follow me.
Perfect when:
- I have to make important decisions (like, "Should I take this flight or wait?")
- I'm stressed about a complicated trip
- I need Brazilian "green luck"
- I want to remember my Carioca years 😄
🌈 Rainbow Obsidian: My "Proteção de Exu"
I discovered this one in Salvador, in the spiritual heart of Brazil. The Candomblé women explained to me that it protects against negative energies.
"Protect those who believe," they said. And even though I never fully understood the whole theology of Candomblé, one thing is certain: since I've been wearing it, I've had fewer hassles! 😂
And I have to say, it works. Or at least, since I've been wearing it:
- Fewer travel problems
- Easier to get through difficult times
- Lots of compliments (women love rainbow highlights)
- A feeling of being more "protected," Brazilian style
🤔 But Do They Really Work or Is It All in Your Head?
Here's the million-reais question! And my practical answer as a traveler is: who cares?
Seriously. If wearing a stone makes me feel more confident, more centered, luckier... what's the problem? It's like wearing a lucky shirt or making a superstitious gesture before a flight.
The placebo effect is still an effect, right? 😉
And let's face it: they're also beautiful to look at. I've received more compliments on my necklaces than on any other accessory. Clearly, there's something that catches the eye...
💡 How to Choose Yours (Without Looking Like a Hippie)
After 20 years of "field research" between Brazil and Italy, here are my practical tips:
🎯 Follow Your Brazilian Instinct
As they say in Rio: "O coração não erra." If you like a stone at first sight, get it. You don't need to know its esoteric meaning. If it attracts you, it's probably the right one.
🌍 Do you pay much attention to your lifestyle?
Do you travel? Emerald is perfect: elegant, goes with everything, brings good luck.
Do you like to stand out? Rainbow obsidian always makes an impact.
💰 Don't Spend a Fortune
Gemstones don't have to cost as much as a Rolex to "work." I paid 20-30 euros for some of my favorites in Ipanema.
🎨 How to Wear Them Without Looking Weird
At first, I was a little embarrassed. Me, with a gemstone necklace? But then I figured out the Brazilian trick:
✈️ Traveling
Under a shirt. Discreet but always with me. Perfect for getting through security without awkward questions.
🏢 At Work
Emerald with a shirt. Elegant, professional, no one asks questions. In fact, they often ask where I bought it!
🌅 Casual Weekend
Rainbow obsidian with a t-shirt. Very "I lived in Brazil and have stories to tell."
🍸 Special Evenings
Both together. Layering always makes an impression (especially with women, I must say 😄).
😂Funniest Reactions
"Do you really believe in these things?" - My response: "I lived in Brazil for 20 years. EVERYONE there believes them. Who am I to say they're wrong?"
"Have you become a hippie?" - "No, I've become more interesting." 😎
"Do they really work?" - "Try it and tell me. But buy it in Brazil, they have more energy there!" 🇧🇷
The great thing is that often those who ask the most questions end up buying one too...
🌟 The Practical Side (Why I'm Always Practical)
Beyond the "spiritual" aspect, good luck necklaces have concrete benefits:
💝 They're perfect gifts (inexpensive but meaningful)
🗣️ Fantastic icebreakers (people always ask questions)
📸 They make photos more interesting
🎒 They take up zero space in your suitcase
💪 They give you security (real or perceived, it's always security)
🇧🇷 They make you remember your best trips
🔮 My Conclusion as a Converted Skeptic
Twenty years ago, I would never have thought of writing an article about good luck necklaces. Today, I can't imagine traveling without them.
Is it Brazilian superstition? Maybe. Is it the placebo effect from Rio? Probably. But you know what? It works. And in an increasingly complicated world, if a €30 stone helps me feel more centered and protected, so be it!
Also, I have to admit: since I've been wearing them, I've had more success with women. Coincidence? Brazilians would say: "There's no coincidence, just good energy!" 😉
So, if you're thinking of trying it, my advice is: go for it. Worst case scenario, you'll get a cute accessory. Best case scenario... well, you might discover that Brazilian magic really does exist.
And if anyone makes fun of you, tell them it was recommended to you by someone who lived in Brazil for 20 years. I must have learned something, right? 😄
As they say in Brazil: "Whoever doesn't have faith, doesn't have luck!" 🇧🇷💚
💎 FROM THE MINES OF MINAS GERAIS TO YOUR HEART 💎
20 Years of Research into Authentic Crystals - Guaranteed Energy
Discover the Stones that Changed My Life
📚 Also Read My Other Articles
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