The quietness of January. You’re a bit drowsy from the holidays. A bit empty maybe. January is a good time to challenge yourself and do some spiritual work.

You go out, and the air is cold and the sunlight slants. It’s quiet. The trees are white. In the world, everyone is drowsy and quiet. Back to work after the holidays. You sit at your desk for a couple hours before blinking, “Oh right, I have to do some work.” Or at least, this is how this used to go.

A few years ago, I started wanting to get new gemstones in January.

I went to Rare Earth Beads in Durham today, the last day of the month. They have a large book called, “The Book of Stones: Who They Are and What They Teach.”

The world was so cluttered, and I felt so cluttered, I had no idea what to get.

Mujiba Haroon, who works at the store, told me that recently, customers have been buying Obsidian, which protects against negativity.

January’s birth stone is the Garnet, which symbolizes health, faith and constancy. A passionate stone.

David Sterling, owner of the store, told me about the seven fundamental stones: Tourmaline, Citrine, Amethyst, Hematite, Jade, Turquoise, Carnelian. Sterling also said it’s amazing that many gemstones have common uses across cultures, that people naturally, over time, felt the same way about certain stones.

“Turquoise. They all say it’s a cure or remedy for melancholy,” Sterling said. “When you look at it, you get happy.”

So is there a stone that he is drawn to for January or for 2020?

For 2020, Sterling is thinking about Black Tourmaline.

“It’s the stone of direct insight, strength in the moment as opposed to being distracted by the shadow show of changing events.”