Today did not start the way I planned.

I woke up at noon because hubby shook me awake. We had a meeting at 1:00 p.m. and my body was still deep in sleep, still asking for more time. But I got up, got ready, and we made our way out.

Some days, just getting up is already the win.

Brewed Coffee and Fortune Bags at Cafe Tavera

We arrived at Cafe Tavera in Davao at around quarter to two and wrapped up by 3:30 p.m.

I ordered brewed coffee, Dragon Balls, and chicken fortune bags. Hubby and the people we met had sandwiches, pastries, and avocado shake. The table was full, the coffee was warm, and the afternoon was moving at a pace I could actually keep up with.

It was not a dramatic meeting. No big decisions made. No life-changing conversations. Just a simple afternoon, food on the table, and coffee beside me while I slowly woke up into the day.

I genuinely love those kinds of meetings. The ones that feel more like lunch with people you like than a formal sit-down.

The Feeling of Not Wanting to Go Home Yet

After the meeting ended, I realized I did not want to go straight home.

I do not always know how to explain this feeling, but sometimes after doing something important, I need a small stop first. Like a reset button. A little breathing room before the rest of the day catches up with me.

So out of nowhere, I suggested we make a detour.

Magical Daisies Sanctuary in Juna, Matina

Magical Daisies Sanctuary in Juna, Matina is one of my favorite places in Davao. It is a small sanctuary filled with crystals, bracelets, amulets, figurines, incense, and all kinds of things that feel quiet and meaningful. The shelves are full but not overwhelming. Everything is placed with care. And the moment you step inside, there is this soft shift in the air, like the noise outside just gets a little lower.

It had also been a while since my last visit. Longer than I wanted to admit.

A Ritual I Used to Keep

Every beginning of the year, I used to go to Ms. Daisy for a tarot reading session. It was one of those small traditions I held on to, a quiet way of starting the year with intention, of sitting still long enough to ask myself where I was and where I wanted to go. I always left feeling a little clearer. A little more grounded.

Why I Did Not Show Up This Year

But this year, I did not show up.

Not because I did not want to. But because life got full very quickly. Work piled up. Deadlines kept moving. Days blended into each other. There were mornings I woke up already tired, afternoons that disappeared before I could catch them, and nights where I told myself I would rest soon, but soon kept getting pushed further away. The months moved fast and I moved with them, and somehow the things I used to do for myself quietly fell to the side.

It happens like that sometimes. Not all at once. Just slowly, one skipped ritual at a time, until you look up and realize you have not made space for yourself in a long time.

So walking into Magical Daisies Sanctuary today felt like more than just a detour. It felt like finally showing up, even if it was later than planned, even if the year was already halfway gone.

I originally went there with one thing in mind. Ms. Daisy had posted a selenite tower on Facebook a few days before and I already told myself I was getting it. I had it planned before we even left the house.

But when we arrived, it was already sold.

Of course, I felt a little sad. But, honestly? Not surprised. Every time I visit, I come in with something specific in mind and still end up finding something else. And it always, always feels right.

What I Bought, and What Each One Means

While I was looking around, three things found me instead.

What surprised me was that I did not pick them because I knew what they were for. I picked them because something just quietly pulled me toward each one. And when I asked Ms. Daisy about the purpose of each piece, she explained them one by one, and I just kept nodding. Because somehow, all three connected to exactly what I have been feeling lately. It was one of those moments where you realize you did not wander in by accident.

It is honestly always like that when I visit. I come with one intention and leave with something completely different, and it ends up being more fitting than what I originally wanted.

Black Tourmaline with Red Cinnabar Protection Amulet

This one caught my eye first. And honestly, it made sense.

Black tourmaline is actually one of my favorite stones. I may not carry it in my bag or pocket most of the time, but it always has a permanent spot on my computer desk. Alongside selenite and amethyst, which are my absolute favorites, black tourmaline is my go-to protection stone. There is something about having it close while I work that just feels grounding and safe.

As a stone, black tourmaline is known as one of the strongest protection stones there is. It shields against negative energy, keeps you grounded, and creates a sense of safety in your space. The red cinnabar bead at the center adds spiritual protection and is believed to transform heavy or stagnant energy into something lighter and more positive. Together as an amulet, this piece is worn when you feel like your energy needs guarding.

Jade Piyao Red String Bracelet (with Authenticity Certificate)

I have been wanting to buy a Piyao for a while now. Every time I visited China and passed by jade stores, I always saw Piyao pieces, but most of them were gold, which I found a little too flashy for my taste. The surrounding beads were also usually too big for me. So even though I liked the idea of having one, I always walked away without buying.

This one was different. It is jade, which felt more natural and personal to me, and it sits on a red string that keeps it simple and close to the wrist. I loved it immediately.

The Piyao is a traditional feng shui creature known for attracting luck, abundance, and good fortune while protecting its owner from negative energy. It is said to bring things in and hold on to them, which is why it is deeply connected to prosperity and protection. This bracelet came with an authenticity certificate for the jade charm, which I really appreciated. Genuine jade carries energies of harmony, balance, and peace. The red string activates the piece and adds its own layer of protection.

On my next visit to China, I am also hoping to buy two Piyao statues, the male and female pair. I have been wanting that for a while. Maybe that will be next.

Howlite Bracelet

And then the howlite which is quite new to me. White with soft gray veining, simple and clean.

Howlite is the calming stone. It quiets an overactive mind, eases anxiety, and helps you release stress that has been sitting in your body too long. It also supports patience, emotional healing, and better sleep.

When I picked it up, I smiled without meaning to. Ms. Daisy looked over and said it was good for people who carry a lot in their heads. She was not wrong.

If you want to read about how I first got into crystals, I wrote about it here: How Crystals Found Their Way Into My Life

The Conversation I Did Not Expect

Ms. Daisy and I talked for a bit while I was still browsing.

I told her that I have been feeling disconnected from my practice lately. That I have tried many times to go back to my rituals, but every time I start, I feel detached. Like I am going through the motions without my heart actually being there.

I also shared that the house has been feeling heavy to me lately. Not in a way I can always name clearly, just that kind of heaviness that sits in the air. You feel it but you cannot always point to it.

She listened, without rushing me, without giving me a list of things to fix, without trying to talk me out of what I was feeling. She just listened.

Sometimes that alone is already a kind of healing.

Maybe it is stress, or the changes happening around us. Or maybe it is just me needing to come back to myself slowly, on my own time.

I Went for One Thing and Left With Something Better

I went there thinking about a selenite tower.

I left with a black tourmaline amulet for protection, a jade piyao red string for luck and abundance, and a howlite bracelet for calm.

But honestly, more than the things I bought, I left with a lighter feeling.

Maybe that was what I actually needed. Not just another item. Not just another crystal. But a gentle reminder that I can always find my way back to myself, slowly, without pressure, without forcing it.

I do not have to rush my healing. I do not have to pressure myself to feel connected right away. Maybe some seasons are just quieter than others. Maybe showing up gently, even on the hard days, is already enough.

And For Today, That Is Enough

Today was simple.

A late wake-up. A meeting at Cafe Tavera with brewed coffee and good food. An unplanned stop at a place that always makes me feel safe. A conversation that helped me name what I had been carrying.

And after all of that, I felt light.

Not completely fixed. Not suddenly healed. Just lighter.

And for today, that is enough.