The Pagan Heart
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Tools of the Trade: Crystals
By Catherine M.
Whether you are a magic worker, a healer, or simply spiritually inclined, it is likely that you incorporate physical tools of some sort at some stage in your daily life as a Pagan. You may have a set of traditional implements such as an athame, cauldron, besom, wand, and such. Maybe you do not formally use tools, but like to occasionally utilise one. Maybe you like to use a particular platter in your rituals, or wear a certain pendant. Tools come in all shapes and sizes, and making the most of them is a valuable ability. There are some wonderful websites out there with information on both the scientific and metaphysical aspects of crystals. I strongly recommend you pick up a good, extensive "rockhound" book, and a few metaphysical crystal ones. The rockhound one is necessary to have a source of straight scientific fact, along with diverse images of the crystals in natural, unworked formation. If you are thinking of purchasing crystals other than the standard tumbled stones or special quartz points, knowing what they really look like and the colours they may turn up in is invaluable. Especially with the tendency of many sellers to dye rocks these days.
Unleashing the Powers Within By Diancecht Goibniu As practitioners of magic, we utilize many different tools to aid us as we travel our path. Among the tools at our fingertips rests the unleashed power of crystals. Crystals are wonderful accoutrements that can aid in balancing the chakras, help heal, increase the power of spell work, and also act as talismans to the wearer. This column aims to provide some background and information on using crystals in your life. We start with a look at amethyst, moonstone, and turquoise. Amethyst is a wonderfully positive crystal that is highly protective. Excellent for meditation, it connects you with your spiritual side, and is used to help magnify psychic energy. Shamans in various tribal societies revere amethyst crystals and use them as talismans of power. Try keeping a piece of amethyst with rune sets, tarot, and other divination tools. It also calms the spirit and brings relief from nightmares and night-terrors. According to Greek myth, Bacchus, angered at some misfortune he suffered, proclaimed that the first person he passed should be devoured by his tigers. He happened upon a beautiful young maiden, Amethyst, as she made her way to worship at the shrine of Diana. Amethyst prayed to Diana for protection as the tigers leapt towards her, and was saved - turned into a pure white stone. Once calm, Bacchus felt quite badly about his behaviour. He offered red wine as a libation to Amethyst, pouring it over the rock. The stone absorbed the liquid and turned into the beautiful violet stone we know as Amethyst. Bacchus was both nightmarish and possessed - "Amethyst" restored him to himself. This calming effect of the crystal balances high-energy, highly driven, or creative persons, thus eliminating chaos while grounding the individual. Amethyst is also said to help with diseases associated with alcoholism. In the myth above, the wine turned the pure white stone purple recalling the lore that amethyst in wine will leach out any poison. Amethyst is considered to contain "negative ions" - this attracts poisonous "positive ions", clearing the air around the wearer. This helps create more breathable air. Interestingly, traditional Chinese medicine also utilizes amethyst; ground, it is prescribed for stomach pains and bad dreams. When selecting an amethyst, choose a crystal that has a rich deep purple or is very pale; these two colors are the most powerful. I like to hold the stone in my left hand, close my eyes and ground myself. Then I stand quietly for a few minutes noting any physical feelings of vibration. Sometimes I raise the stone to my third eye. I look inside myself and ask the questions, "How does this stone make me feel? Do I feel grounded? Do I feel calm? Do I feel balanced?" If I have a strong positive response to these questions then I know the stone is for me (especially if I have a good feeling from the physical vibrations I pick up on). If something doesn't feel right I put the stone down and start with a new one. Moonstone is another semiprecious gem that embodies quite a bit of mysticism. Found in a variety of colors from grey and golden to the most common white, this feminine Goddess-stone has always been associated with the moon. In the Orient, moonstone was believed to be solidified rays of the moon; the shimmering light within was the good spirit that resided in the stone. The ancient Romans believed moonstones would change their look during the lunar phases, and that Diana, the Goddess of the Moon, could be seen in every moonstone. Moonstone was thought to bring on a deep sleep in which one would be able to forshadow the future and amulets of this beautiful stone were hung from fruit trees to encourage abundant crops. Moonstone is associated with the moon and the water. It is wonderful stone for all goddess rituals and lunar workings. It strengthens intuition, balances emotion and harmonizes the body with the natural cyles of life. Because of its connection with the oceans and tides, moonstone may be used an amulet of protection for seafarers. Also known as the Traveler's stone, it acts as a talisman for night travelers. As a love stone, it is said to draw love to its wearer. If worn during sexual intercourse it increases the fertility of the woman and aids impregnation. Moonstone opens the heart, allowing it to become more nurturing as well as helps the individual accept love into their life. Becuase of this aspect, moonstone is a wonderful choice to help balance the fourth, or heart, chakra. Like amethyst, moonstone aids sleep. Placing a stone under your pillow at night will help you sleep more soundly. Moonstones in your dreams are to be taken as a warning of impending danger. When selecting a moonstone, I prefer the white stones with a strong blue shimmer to them. I close my eyes and cup the stone in both hands. I bring it to my heart chakra. I focus on how I feel. Do I get a warm sensation? Do I feel a connection with the earth, do my emotions feel balanced? More importantly I go on my intuition. Do I like the stone I am conisdering? Why? If at anytime you don't feel comfortable holding the stone put it down and select another moonstone, giving it careful consideration until the right stone has found you. The final sacred stone I am exploring today is turquoise. Native North American Indians have revered this stone for thousands of years. It is said that if a turquoise amulet breaks or shatters, a child is in imminent danger. Therefore, turquoise is a wonderful stone for the protection of children. It is also a master healing stone, and not only does it strengthen the whole body, it helps heal tissue, promote circulation, and support healthy respiritory and immune systems. Stimulating the ability to understand, turquoise allows an individual to see beyond the obvious to discover the root of a problematic health issue. It is bridge between the physical and mental as it comes from the earth but is the color of sky, and as such, turquoise helps an individual manifest complex non-physical concepts into reality. It is a wonderful stone for engineers and scientists where creative problems solving skills are needed. It can be said that turquose is an all purpose stone. It balances and alligns all the chakras. It has the ability to ground the wearer, soothing the mind, body and spirit; at the same time connecting an individual to the higher forces in the universe. Turquoise brings balance to all aspects of self - physical, spiritual, emotional and mental. To be honest, I have never worked with turquoise, so I can only share what I would do when selecting a stone. First I would ask the proprietor if the stone had been treated with any dyes. In some instances the turquoise is treated to have a more desirable color. It is best to work with any stone in its naturally occuring state. Like other stones I would hold in my hands and "listen" to it. If it feels good and warms to my touch then it is most likely a keeper. If I feel any negative energy in it or it has an undesirable physcial effect on me then I would discard it and repeat the process with another stone. Crystals are a wonderful tool when used correctly. Their power is not to be underestimated either. As with any tool, use responsibly and with respect. With knowledge and power also comes great responsibilty.
Unleashing the Powers Within By Angus As practitioners of magic, we utilize many different tools to aid us as we travel our path. Among the tools at our fingertips rests the unleashed power of crystals. Crystals are wonderful accoutrements that can aid in balancing the chakras, help heal, increase the power of spell work, and also act as talismans to the wearer. This column aims to provide some background and information on using crystals in your life. We start with a look at amethyst, moonstone, and turquoise. This month we are looking at crystals that relate to the spheres of family, intimacy, and sexuality: Rhodochrosite, Garnet, and Carnelian/Chalcedony. Rhodochrosite is a stone of balance within love. It is a gentle stone to work with, yet has a stronger effect than Rose Quartz, the standard "love stone". For any issue involving damage to the heart chakra - especially long-standing emotional scars, I would recommend this stone who's touch is lighter than the dawn dew. In any situation that revolves around the giving and receiving of love, the development of self-love, and the growth of spiritual love, consider using this stone. Conversely, think about it as well for the reverse - to combat loneliness, loss, fear, and insecurity. It helps with the growth and balance of the inner child, and also with self-forgiveness. Rhodochrosite can bring the wearer to self-knowledge and acceptance, guards against the twisted tongues of others, and reduces stress (throw a few into your next bath!) It's an extremely useful little crystal in so many ways. Physically, Rhodochrosite is used to stabilise blood pressure and for heart and artery related matters. It does have success in treating chronic migraine, but it's a gradual effect over time. It has a beneficial effect upon the stomach in times of anxiety, the thymus, the eyes - that which we refuse to see, Rhodochrosite will help become clear to us. The Incas called this the Inca Rose - they believed the blood of their kings turned into this crystal. I have found the best stones are the solid rose pink ones, but even those flecked with white and pale pink have a strong impact. Seek out the crystal that settles comfortably into your hand, the one you can't put down. The next crystal is Garnet, a truly chameleon-like stone. Not only does it come in an assortment of tones and colours that mimic other crystals such as ruby, amethyst, and emerald, but its very nature shifts easily from one extreme to the other. The stone of passion and intimacy, Garnet also aids in the release of excess energy, bringing wisdom to the soul. Hindu belief views the Garnet as the fire of Kundalini, or eternal metamorphosis. For Hindus and Buddhists this crystal brings enlightenment, wisdom, and protection. It stimulates creativity and energy, and also heightens internal awareness. While, due to the range of colours natural to the stone, it can be used for any Chakra, it is most commonly a strong aid to the Root, Navel, and Heart Chakras, helping to ground and balance the mind and body. In this vein, it aids in raising self-esteem and working through problems with abandonment, connection, and support. Ultimately, it represents construction and strength. The other metaphysical property of Garnet is its ability to help draw success to the wearer in the field of business and finance. The Garnet also helps to detoxify the system (specifically the blood system and the liver), raise energy levels, stimulate fertility, confidence, and stamina, and heal emotional wounds. Use Garnet to treat circulatory troubles and build up the heart's strength. It will also boost the memory and help release negative energies. It was named for the pomegranate whose seeds it resembles. This may be the source of its role as both a stone of war and of love. The pomegranate seed was that eaten by Persephone while in Hades - as a result she was destined to spend the winter months of every year thereafter with Hades, who loved her dearly. Her time there brought such sorrow to Demeter, her mother, that Demeter ravaged the world with the first winter, the destructive forces of which descend upon us each year. Truly a seed of love and war. Once known as carbuncles (the red varieties were thought to resemble the actual flesh version!), the Garnet was believed to protect the wearer from injury and poison. Soldiers wore the srone into battle to protect them. Crushed, they were applied to wounds to halt bleeding. They were also used in oaths and marriages as people believed the Garnet prevented lies or infidelity. When choosing a Garnet, think first as to the metaphysical or physical need, then hold the stone on that Chakra to determine whether it is sympathetic to your need. By sympathetic, I do not mean emotionally receptive - a sympathetic stone is one that resonates easily with your energy. It should never be a struggle to use a crystal. Choose stones that are clear of imprefections - the colour should be strong and uniform. If it fades, ensure that the graduation from colour to clear is smooth and even across the crystal's body, not haphazard. The last stone for this issue is Carnelian/Chalcedony. Although these two can be viewed as separate crystals in their own right, I am treating them as one because in reality they are - Carnelian is simply red Chalcedony, otherwise known as red Agate. However, many metaphysical specialists differentiate between the two, the difference applied being often based upon opaqueness. Chalcedony is often the name given to the non-red, varieties that look milky, while Carnelian is reserved for the more translucent, red-orange-brown crystals. Carnelian has long been used to treat conditions revolving around blood. It helps ease menstrual cramps, and slows the flow of blood from an injury. Its name is derived from the Latin word carnis or flesh - due to its appearance. It is believed to boost passion and creativity and represents the bond of man and woman. Ancient lore held that Carnelian guarded against evil and helped the dead to travel safely to the afterlife. Used to help meditation and communication, this is a strong Navel and Solar Plexus crystal. It helps build confidence, openness, and intuition. Physically, Carnelian stimulates the appetite - all appetites, whether physical or emotional. It is sometimes called the stone of sexuality, and indeed its earthy quality tied to its blood-nature do indeed give it much power in this area. It helps to heal the abdominal area and increase physical energy. Chalcedony is a gentler stone than Carnelian. It also works upon the emotions, but more in the arena of love and tenderness than passion. It helps to boost optimism and alleviate hostility and anger. It is known as both the traveler's stone and the Milk of the Mother. These names relate to its two most powerful metaphysical properties - that of warding those travelling from harm, and that of increasing lactation. Physically, aside from lactation, Chalcedony also helps lower fever and aids the body in expelling gallstones. It tends to increase tranquility and a general sense of well-being, while focusing the mind's ability to annalyse information When I select Chalcedony, I look for the smooth, glowing variety. Often Chalcedony seems to have an inner glow, which is unusual given its milky quality. Good Chalcedony should be free of bands and marks, and may look frosted. It will feel very serene and peaceful to touch. Conversely, Carnelian seems to almost jump. It warms to the touch very quickly, and could even boost feelings of joy inside you as you hold it. It should be free of any milkiness, and may range from transparent to translucent. The colour is less important to me - it's the feeling of fire and joy that marks a good stone. Hold it to your belly and simply feel it for a moment.
Unleashing the Powers Within By Angus Lapis Lazuli is a lovely blue rock, often gold-flecked with pyrite. A Throat Chakra stone, it aids in the alleviation of throat pain, and assists those who speak a lot (teachers, lecturers, etc). It also helps heal sinus conditions and depression. Metaphysically, Lapis combats negative emotions, increases psychic ability, and helps spiritual development. Sacred to the dead, Lapis has often been buried in graves to guide the soul onto the afterlife, and protect it during the journey. Tied to its Throat Chakra role, Lapis encourages honest speech, openness and integrity, and intuition. It helps build and focus the inner energy and aids in actual manifestation of desire and intent. It is also a protective crystal - especially against physical and psychic attack. Historically, Lapis's beauty has made it a prized gem, worn by the Mesopotamian and Egyptian nobility. The Egyptians crushed it and used the powder in cosmetics and paint - a tradition carried down as the color we call ultramarine. While the deep blue rock with gold flecks is more valuable, any form of Lapis is effective metaphysically. Agate has an ancient history - the first evidence of its use can be traced to Stone Age humanity, with people in France using it about 20,000 BCE. To the ancestors, Agate bore the ability to render the wearer invisible, and metaphysically it certainly has that property. It wards the wearer from danger, and brings calmness and clarity to the mind. It also encourages a cautious mindset and a more expansive view of the situation. Agate is an anti-prejudice crystal, encouraging those in contact with it to open their minds. Agate comes in a variety of colors and patterns, making it a versatile crystal. All the Chakras can be affected by Agate, depending upon the shade of the rock. However, its dominant role is to influence the sexual Chakra (Root for men, Navel for women) and Heart Chakra, which it tends to calm and cool. This makes it highly effective in assisting medical treatment of circulatory diseases where the heart must be kept regular and not over-excited. Physically, Agate cools the body and mind, alleviating fever, lowering blood pressure, and enhancing the life span. It has certain binding properties as well - passion and fire will be cooled by Agate, and sexual energies restrained. The last crystal is Onyx. Onyx comes in a varity of colors too - from white and gold (known as Sardonyx), to greenish, black, and red. Naturally, based upon the color, Onyx can be used on most of the Chakras, however its strongest influences are the Root (red and black) and the Crown (Sardonyx). A source of spiritual strength and inspiration, Onyx is beneficial in controlling the emotions. Unlike Agate, it does not do this through cooling them, but rather through aiding in the development of will-power. Thus it is very effective in helping break habitual behaviour and action. On the physical level, Onyx serves to build up the heart, kidneys, circulatory system, eyes, hair and nails, and nervous system. Healing and stamina are both influenced positively by Onyx - keeping some in areas that you work will help boost your energy levels and keep you healthy. In the process it will also combat stress, nervous disorders, and general apathy. Beyond that, Onyx helps focus the mind and intellect, inspire and combat negativity, and block energy drainage. The protective role (of black and red Onyx) in this is tied to its association to the Root Chakra where it helps balance and ground the wearer, strengthening the link to the life energy and building resistence to anything that saps the life force. White Onyx will help balance and maintain a healthy Chakra system.
Unleashing the Powers Within By Angus The first crystal we are looking at this issue is calcite - in all its various colours. Considered a holy stone gifted to the Native Americans by the gods, calcite brings inner enlightenment and spiritual growth. It is a children's stone, helping them develop and advance mentally as well as spiritually. Chakra-wise, this is a very flexible crystal - the colour determines the Chakra it works with - although it is predominantly the middle one (Solar Plexus, Heart, and Throat) since the emotional and physical correspondences of these Chakras are the areas governed by calcite in general. Colour is also important when considering treatment of physical conditions such as metabolism (reds and browns), heart (green), or blood and other bodily fluids (pinks and whites). Its calcium content is quite high, making it a suitable sympathetic crystal to use in bone disorders and physical growth. Overall, calcite is a balancing stone, helping in all areas and aspects. It strengthens and calms, brings clarity to mind and heart, and increases self-confidence. In promoting inner trust, calcite encourages consistency and a desire to strive against personal challenges. It drives the wearer to take action upon his or her beliefs. In choosing calcite I pay close attention to what my needs are - for this dictates the colour I am looking for. I also tend to prefer the large, raw chunks over the polished stones. I think because calcite is about inner reality, rather than outer beauty. And this means facing the raw and unfinished self within. Moving on, we come to clear quartz - also known as rock crystal. Its name comes from the belief it was actually petrified ice, based upon its clear nature and calming, cooling qualities. A holy stone of the mind and soul, quartz has an enlightening effect upon all the major secondary Chakras, helping balance them during relaxation. It makes a very effective filter for emotional and mental detrius within the self or the home, and is tied to self-esteem and balancing out-of-control emotions. It can also be used to filter the strength of other crystals, or conversely to focus and increase them. Its filtering and focusing aspects make it a wonderful meditative tool - I have a ten inch point that I use regularly, and it really is incredible how effective it is. For those interested in Chakra meditation and working upon awakening their kundalini energy through the Primary Chakra points, utilising quartz as a tool is worth considering. While it doesn't act upon the Primaries, it does help the mind focus and remain thus, and this helps the meditation deepen. Physically, quartz helps alleviate pain and fever, and boosts the system during disease. It is beneficial in treating spinal problems, and physical conditions concerning the abdominal cavity and heart. Possibly because of its ability to filter out the rubbish? I have many pieces of quartz, ranging from a small point that's barely an inch long and only just a little thicker than a needle, the afore-mentioned 10 inch chunk. When choosing a new piece I usually flick residual energy from my hands, briefly hold them cupped as I raised energy, and then pass them over the selection seeking the piece that I react most strong to. Our last crystal this month is haematite - the original bloodstone - when polished in water the water becomes red as if the crystal bleeds. And indeed the stone has a long history of treating blood disorders, regulating the circulation, and helping regeneration of blood and tissue. It also symbolises courage - an association dating back to the Middle Ages. It is, however, also capable of increasing inflamation as it draws the blood towards itself. So be careful as to where and for how long you wear it. Metaphysically, it is considered one of the more powerful grounding stones. Using it helps the wearer to establish deep rooted connections to the earth and to more easily expel negative energy. It helps ward and seems to promote an air of "invisibility" about the wearer, leaving him or her less visible to those intending harm. The ancient Egyptians used hematite to cure madness - through its ability to ground, stabilise, and heal. For the Romans and Medieval warriors, hematite's protective qualities made it desirable as a guardian stone in battle. I have an ongoing love affair with hematite - probably because, as an empath, shielding and dispelling negativity are important to me purely from a survival aspect. This crystal calls to me, and I find it hard to resist. I also find it a very easy rock to work with. As a result it is easy to find compatible rocks - I actually just pick out the ones that look nice! However, a friend who has a slightly harder time with hematite told me that she finds that few samples call to her. But the ones that don't usually give her a small shock if she picks them up. Whatever method you use to choose your crystals, enjoy the process and don't rush it. It's worth taking a few extra minutes to pick out the "right" one.
Unleashing the Powers Within By Jill Bentley This month I picked three stones that seem to inter-connected and reflect each other - Tiger's Eye, Jasper, and Bloodstone. Each of these stones looks and feels very different but I found, at least for me, they work well together as similar energies link them and strengthen them. All are in the Quartz family and are easy to find in small polished specimens at your local rock shop. Larger, more spectacular pieces aren't too hard to track down either. Tiger's Eye is one of those fascinating crystals that have intrigued most of us since childhood. It's common enough in quantity but certainly unique in looks. Tiger's Eye is considered to have the ability to draw down the powerful and spiritual energies of the sun and combine them with the steadfast energy of the earth. It is a reflection of the sun's power that one sees glowing and shimmering just below the surface. Tiger's Eye enhances psychic abilities, especially in sunlight, improving one's eyesight and insight, stimulating your third eye. For this reason, when meditating with Tiger's Eye, it is very beneficial do so in the sun, preferably early morning or late afternoon. By doing so you might catch a clear glimpse into the past or future. Because Tiger's Eye is so connected to the earth and nature it makes a great grounding stone. For the best spiritual grounding, especially during meditation, place it upon the navel Chakra. It's not just named 'Tiger's Eye' because of its look but also because of its other tiger-like attributes: "Think of the qualities of a Tiger. Patient, focused, determined, alert, with perfect timing, and slow, deliberate action." The beast within this crystal gives night vision, clear thinking, personal empowerment, integrity, willpower, practicality, balance, strength, courage, and of course protection - traditionally Tiger's Eye was carried as a talisman against ill wishing and curses. Tiger's Eye's healing qualities mostly focus on the metaphysical, but it does own up to helping heal the eyes, throat, reproductive organs, and broken bones. Its main focus is healing of spiritual, mental, and emotion damage through its unique connection with the sun. Tiger's Eye heals mental disease and personality disorder, issues of self-worth, self-criticism, blocked creativity, and depression. Just like sunlight it helps improve life's moods. Tiger's Eye has only been around since the late 19th century so I found very few historical references. In 1880 Tiger's Eyes went for $6.25 - $7.50 per carat at a time when American miners earned $3.50 for 10-hour days in a rich gold or silver mind. The price, as you may have noticed, has significantly dropped. In 1968 South Africa, the main origin of Tiger's Eyes, put an embargo on uncut stones intent on creating a monopoly which led to high-priced smuggling, but to this day it's still in affect and makes it difficult to find raw Tiger's Eyes. This ban is what reduced its overall popularity and mostly the price too. Lastly, Tiger's Eyes comes in more than just brown-gold - also pink, blue, and red. Each of these has their own unique properties, beyond those listed above. Interestingly, you can make your own red Tiger's Eye. Place common brown Tiger's Eye in a coffee can filled with sand and then place in your cold kitchen oven. Heat by increasing the temperature 50 degrees F every hour until it reaches 400 degrees. Turn off the oven and allow to cool over night. Voila, red Tiger's Eye! These are specifically used to help overcome lethargy and provide motivation, speed up slow metabolism and best of all - increase a low sex drive. When I first started doing research on Jasper I realized that I didn't have any on hand. When ever possible I like to have the crystals present to see and feel while doing my articles - sort of a form of inspiration. I ended up going down to my local rock shop and was able to pick up a nice piece of Picture Jasper that was found locally. The fact that it came from no more than an hour's drive from my home gives me a greater sense of connection and really points out that Jasper can be found all over. Like Tiger's Eye it is common but its look is decidedly uncommon. Not only does Jasper come in a variety of colors (red, brown, yellow, green, blue, and purple), but also a variety of patterns (landscape, ribbon, picture, orbicular, leopard, and breciated). These patterns and/or colors are like individual fingerprints, each one unique with varying energies. Jasper carries on the tradition of Tiger's Eye but in its own way. As an earth stone it is very grounding and is considered the 'solid' or 'stable' rock of the crystal world, aligning, stabilizing, and cleansing energies, the aura, and emotions. It is often called the "Super Nurturer", or "Mother's Rock", because - like a mother or guardian - it is protective and supportive, always ready to uplift and help you. It will even protect you from yourself by promoting self-honesty and help overcome addictions or compulsive behavior (that is, if you want to). I think this is a great stone for a child to start their collection with. It is known to give the courage to speak out and have personal independence. It promotes quick thinking, organizational skills, follow-through, and stimulates the imagination - all things we should have learned or cultivated as children. Jasper has a strong connection to the metaphysical - similar to that of Tiger's Eye - using the strength of the earth rather than the sun. It also reenergizes the body and helps boost and heal power - absorbing negative energy. Place a piece of Jasper (especially a brown, picture, or leopard crystal) in a room, maybe over a crib or in the bedroom of fighting siblings, and it will continually absorb the negative energies - bringing comfort and alleviating fears. Just take care to discharge and cleanse it regularly. Also when meditating or healing with Jasper be aware this rock is said to contain messages from the past. It will bring to the surface hidden feelings from childhood and past lives, helping to confront and release them. In healing and meditation you need to work with Jasper for a long time because like the earth is slow to change so the Jasper is slow to work, but work it does. On the physical plane it supports circulatory, digestive and sexual organs. It can both prolong sexual pleasure and help restore a lost sense of smell. Jasper has been around for a long time and has had many uses through the ages. Kings and priests used it for protection and spiritual guidance. Warriors carried it because it was known of its powers of loyalty, inner strength, and stand against injustice. This stone is great for modern day warriors as well - our police, lawyers, judges, defenders, and soldiers. Wearing Jasper may help guard one against drowning, lung disease, and scorpion bites. To engrave it gives it greater power: with a scorpion symbol it slows bleeding, while a dog or stag helps cure demonic possession. From the sound of it this would have been a very valuable amulet in the time of plagues. At last I come to the Bloodstone, the last of the trio. Bloodstone is actually a specialized form of Jasper - green Jasper with spots of red made by iron oxide. This oxide is the same compound that is in our own blood - hence the name. Bloodstone picks up where Tiger's Eye and Jasper leave off. It combines their focus of the metaphysical with its great ability to heal through its connection with blood. As a healing stone, Bloodstone balances the base, navel, sacral, and heart charkas. It cleanses the blood and can stop its flow from wounds. It stimulates metabolic processes, detoxifies the liver, intestines, kidneys, and spleen. It reenergizes the body and mind and aids in circulation. As an elixir in increase the body's efficiency at processing oxygen. On the metaphysical side of things the Bloodstone takes Jasper a step further from a warrior's stone to a hero's stone. It instills courage in dangerous situations, helps one see the benefit and patterns of change, and enhances ones own natural abilities, talents, and creativity. The Bloodstone has the power to avert disasters, break down prison walls, and open all doors. Like the others it's a grounding stone but in a more specific way. It keeps one in the 'now,' grounding by calming the mind, reducing irritability, aggressiveness, and impatience (all things that can get a hero killed), and dispels confusion - all while enhancing the decision-making process. On top of all this it influences the weather, banishes evil and negativity, heightens intuition, and stimulates dreaming (all a great benefit to said hero). The Bloodstone also has an interesting history. It is best known for its role in Christian mythology - medieval Christians believed that the crystal was first formed when some drops of Christ's blood fell and stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. They often used Bloodstone to carve scenes of the crucifixion and martyrs and it soon became known as a martyr's stone. I think they picked up on its heroic and self-sacrificial nature and thus linked it to the one best suited to that role in their minds. The ancient Egyptians used the healing powers of the crystal to shrink tumors. In India finely powdered Bloodstone was used as a medicine and aphrodisiac. But my favorite power of the Bloodstone, being the insomniac that I am, is the one of slumber. Putting a crystal in a bowl of water beside your bed ensures a peaceful sleep. As you can see these three crystals seem to be three points in a protective and supportive triangle, each filling in where the others lack. Each strengthening and supporting to help boost the others. I highly recommend adding these crystals to your collection. When choosing be sure to get the ones that feel right to you and if you want to go all the way get the trio that feel right with each other.
Unleashing the Powers Within - It's all Green By Jill Bentley I guess this time round I got caught on a green fixation. Maybe it's that with all the construction going on at my house and the fact that both my front and back yards are all dirt and dead weeds, my dreams and longings of real live plants have finally demented me. Anyway this time around we're going to explore emerald, fluorite, and aventurine: all crystals that come in shades of green. The other factor that all these crystals all have in common are elements of balance and stability, two things I seem to be lacking in my life right now. For me green has always symbolized the peace and harmony of nature as well as its flip side - power. Green is the color of life and springtime. In ancient Rome, green was the color of love and beauty, and the goddess Venus's color. Unfortunately, I have Italian olive skin and most greens turn my skin sickly yellow, so beautiful green clothing is out. But I'm having my house color-coated a nice light mossy green - I might not be able to wear it but, I'll be able to live in it. I knew right away that I wanted to do emerald when the first thing I read about it was that it was a "stone of inspiration and infinite patience," both things I greatly need. The done date for the construction at my house as been pushed back one too many times, I didn't have any emerald then. But surprisingly I found some rough stuff that wasn't too expensive at Bestcrystals. I've always liked emeralds and while doing research I found that a lot of other people do too. Try doing an emerald search on Google - at least 75% had nothing to do with the gemstone, just it name seems to symbolize everything from new technologies to towns to organizations. Obviously, in everyone's mind "emerald" stands for something more then just a jewel, everyone wants a part of its brilliance to reflect on them by using its name. Emeralds go back to ancient times in Egypt and Rome. It is reported that Cleopatra loved emeralds and was always adorned in them. The oldest known ones comes from mines near the Red Sea in Egypt known as 'Cleopatra's Mines' and had already been exhausted between 3000 and 1500 BC. One of the world's largest weighs 217.80 carets and about 10cm tall. In 2001 it sold for 2.2m US dollars to an unidentified buyer. Today emeralds are the most valuable gemstone in the world by weight, the finest even more valuable then diamonds. Emeralds have their own fingerprints in the form of inclusions or flaws. In fact a deep green with inclusions is more valuable then a flawless paler one. Emerald's metaphysical properties tend towards the softer and lighter side, focusing on the positive, very much like the unique gem itself - its flaws are not flaws but each stone's individuality. Emerald promotes loyalty, sensitivity, successful love and domestic bliss. It enhances memory and mental capacity and eliminates negativity while bringing balance and harmony to all aspects of life. It's a couples stone: balancing and enhancing the relationship. It helps overcomes life's misfortunes, always a tuned to the positive side, and helps find solutions by broadening vision on all planes. With its green brilliance, emerald is a great healer. It aids in recovery, and treats sinuses, lungs, heart, spine, muscles, and eyes. It helps with rheumatism and diabetes, and is great at regulating your breathing during meditation. So with all these good qualities that emerald brings both on the metaphysical and the healing realm we women have some good arguments for some new jewelry. Emeralds may be made unique with their flaws but fluorite is made unique with their bands of color. The name "fluorite" comes from the Latin "fluere," which means "to flow." If you've ever studied a large piece you can see how it got its name. Fluorite is like a colorful stream frozen in time. I picked up a nice size piece that's mostly green but with ribbons of white and purple swirled throughout the crystal. Compared to emeralds, fluorite is very common and inexpensive, but that just makes it easer for us rock hounds to get our hands on it. In fact it is so popular for us rock lovers that it has its very own website: Fluorites.com. Pure fluorite is colorless as it is various impurities that give it its coloring. These impurities are usually hydrocarbons and as such can be removed by heating, but what would be in the fun in that? Like the emerald it is fluorite's inclusions that make this crystal so unique. These inclusions come in many colors: green, purple, brown, blue, and yellow. Fluorite has its own claim to fame - it where we get fluorescence from. It will glow strongly in ultra-violet light. Also, fluorite is used as a flux in the manufacturing of steel, the making of opalescent glass, enamels, and hydrofluoric acid - the list goes on. Like emeralds, fluorite also stabilizes and balances, but energy instead of relationships. Not to say that fluorite doesn't help in that department too, it's great for large groups, to promote open-mindedness and understanding, objectivity (do you think I could get all my construction workers to wear fluorite bracelets...maybe if I sneak small bits into their pockets...hmm...I might even get a date). It also helps in discerning the truth and reality and overcoming disorganization - hmm, maybe beads on shoes laces. Switching planes, fluorite protects against physic manipulations and outside influence/stress, grounds and integrates spiritual energies, and can quicken spiritual awakening. It opens doors to the subconscious and helps heal unresolved issues and feelings. Fluorite can also be used as a learning aid. Fluorite is great for physical healing as well. It deals mostly with infections and disorders, but can benefit teeth, cells, and bones. It fights against viruses, regenerates the skin and muscles, provides pain relief, helps stomach disorders and craps in the intestines, and even removes blemishes and wrinkles. The last pick is aventurine, again a crystal alike, yet completely different from both emeralds and fluorites. Aventurine is in the quartz family and as such is more of a rock than mineral, like the other two. But like fluorite it comes in many colors: blue, red, brown, peach, but mostly green. Also like the other two, aventurine has inclusions that make it what it is - the inclusions are of shiny minerals, giving the stone a sparkling effect known as aventurescence. These minerals are usually mica, hematite, or something similar. Aventurine is even more inexpensive then fluorite and I picked up two nice light green pieces with mica inclusions giving them a silvery hue. Unforturnity, I didn't come up with many folklore or legends on aventurine but I did find out that it is considered a talisman for Saint Andrew. Other then that the stone is so common it wasn't ever valuable and since ancient times has been used for common jewelry, vases, and other decorations. Aventurine's most distinctive quality is that of its healing. It has always been known as the universal-healer that can be used in all realms of life: metaphysical, spiritual, emotional, and physical. One great way to use its healing properties is to drop some in your bath water while your bathing, just add it in with the bath salts. Of course a little glass of wine while you soak wouldn't hurt either. Aventurine is especially helpful to troubled souls and can be worn for long periods for long term healing of emotional and spiritual scars. On he physical plane it helps heal the thymus gland, connective tissue, nervous system, blood pressure, allergies, migraines, sooths eyes, adrenals, lungs, sinuses, heart, and muscular systems. Besides its healing powers, aventurine also is considered the stone of prosperity, probably because it concentrates on the positive like the emerald. Aventurine reinforces leadership qualities and decisiveness, promoting compassion, empathy, perseverance, perception, creativity, and a feeling of well-being and self-acceptance. I hope you all enjoyed this exploration of very different stones with very similar attributes and qualities that link them all together. So go out and get something green.
Crystals of the Spirit World By Jill Bentley In celebration of the coming holiday, Samhain, or Halloween as the case maybe, I chose crystals that have some connection with spirits, gods, and the afterlife: Jet, Amber, and Opal. Samhain is the ending of summer, "the light," and the start of a new year, beginning of winter, "the dark;" as well as celebrating and honoring the lives of the dead. This theme is reflected in Jet and Amber, dark and light, a combination that complements each other perfectly and has been used together since ancient times. Opal also holds this symbolism within itself with its glittering combination of color. All three crystals are connected with fire in some way, connecting to the ritual bonfires on Samhain. Jet is the fossilization of burned wood, a combination of earth and fire and is often called "Earth Light". Jet it believed by Egyptians and Pueblo people to give protection in the afterlife and was used extensively for prayer beads and religious sculptures. It is also considered a traveler's amulet and sailor's wives would burn it to protect their sea faring husbands. Jet wards of evil and will protect against possession, a great amulet to wear while trick-or-treating. Other magical properties include lifting of fear and depression, linking the physical and the spiritual, balancing emotions, absorb negativity, grounding, drawing power and knowledge to the bearer, spiritual enlightenment, and guards against violence. When combined with Amber it is a powerful crystal to connect with the spiritual world. "Trees serve as bridges between the physical and the spiritual realms, amber representing the flow, jet symbolizing the vessel of this flow," (www.rainbowcrystal.com/crystal/gem/jet.html). This duo represents the polarities of power: light and dark, sun and moon, feminine and masculine, kinetic and magnetic, and active and receptive. Jet exhibits strong healing properties because of its strong connection to the earth. It heals treat migraines, epilepsy, woman's complaints, stomach diseases, hysteria, and hallucinations caused by fever. Lastly, it repels plague. Amber, like Jet, comes from trees (the earth). It is the sap or blood of the tree that has been preserved but not quite fossilized from as far back as 140 million years ago, when dinosaurs still walked this earth. Because of its usual golden coloring and the fact that trees absorb the power of the sun, Amber is said to hold the sun's power, giving it its relation to fire. Amber is not actually a mineral, but a very hard resin and can be melted or burned as incense. If fact there is a lot of man-made on the market as they take lots of little bits and melt them together. A good way to tell the difference is make a saturated solution of regular table salt and water. Real amber will float while man-made or Copal (not as old) will sink. Amber comes mostly from the Baltic Sea region or the Dominican Republic and can come in colors from dark brown to almost clear lemon yellow, as well as deep red and even rarer blue and smoky green. The most valuable pieces have inclusions which can range from small insects to plant material to feathers. The rarer the inclusion, the more expensive the stone. In many cases the amber preserves the DNA or the inclusion, allowing scientists to put together a more accurate picture of times past. This amazing attribute of this crystal gives it the name "Window to the Past," and many of it magical properties. Amber has a great spiritual connection, especially with lives past and past lives. It's a powerful stone for manifestations and ca go the other way within trances by pulling you to the spirit or through the past. It can help us see our past mistakes more clearly and prevent them from happening again. Other magical powers Amber possesses are enhancing the beauty of the wearer, drawing on the energy of the sun, good for success, abundance, vitality, and joy. Amber's connection with the earth make it a great grounding stone, adsorbs negative energies, protects, stabilizes, stimulates the intellect, promotes positive thinking, creativity, self-expression, decision-making, peacefulness, trust, and wisdom. Amber's healing properties include drawing out disease, imbuing the body with vitality, absorbing pain, rebalancing the body, alleviates stress. It is a natural antibiotic, and can treat throat, stomach, spleen, kidneys, bladder, liver, and gallbladder problems. At last we come to the Opal, a most unusual crystal. There are varying types of Opals, most found in Australia, Mexico, Brazil, the US, and recently in Ethiopia and Mali. Opals are a combination of gel from Silica and varying percentages of water, up to 30%. Its ever-changing play of colors is called opalescence, and gets its name from the Greek term opallios, meaning "color change." The Romans called them opalus, meaning a stone from several elements, as it was said that the opal was made up from a combination of many precious stones - which we know as false today. They also called them cupid paederos, meaning "child as beautiful of love." The Mayas and Aztecs called them Quetzalitzlipyollitli, meaning "Stone of the Bird of Paradise." From all of these descriptive names one can deduce that the Opal has always been a much revered stone for many cultures. The Romans saw the Opal as a symbol of purity and hope and thought the wearer safe from disease. The Greeks thought it gave the power of foresight and prophecy. It is said that Cleopatra wore an Opal to attract the attention of Mark Anthony. The greatest reverence comes from Austraila's Aborigines' myths where Opals turn up with frequency. One of their main myths is that of their Creator, Muda, coming down to earth on a rainbow and where his feet touch Opals appear. Another is that fire came from these Opals after Muda turned into a pelican and started pecking at the stone, making sparks that catch fire on the grass. While, another belief, is that Opals form where lighting hits the ground. These last two myths - along with the fire Opal (red opal) - are what associate this crystal with the element of fire, but instead of a matching connection with earth it has a very strong correspondence with water, as it is partly made up of water. Some say that the Opal is a bad-luck stone but must think any bad-luck related to the crystal is misusing it power. The water in the Opal acts as a mirror and magnifies emotions and feelings as you can imagine one must be careful not to magnify the wrong emotion or feeling. Opal is a very emotional stone, much like water it's forever changing. It can help release tears and thus heal emotionally, some say it "lights the flame of optimism," and grounds and sooths emotions. On the spiritual level it activates spiritual awareness and useful in communicating with spirits by helping each side control their emotion and keep communication clearer. It can induce psychic and mystical visions as well as protect you from sight while traveling in other realms. Some other magical properties are bring lightness and spontaneity. Opals have always been associated with love, passion, desire, and eroticism, releasing inhibitions. It can help the wear find true love. The stone also looks into past lives but focuses on the emotional part. It promotes loyalty, faithfulness, but may magnify fickleness if it is already present. Opals have also been traditionally used to heal the earth. The most powerful Opal is the Fire Opal (orange-red) which protects against danger, facilitates change and progress, help release pent up emotions, prevent burn-out, and stimulate your libido. Opals also have healing properties. They can give the strength to live and used to treat Parkinson's, infection, fevers, and eyes. It purifies the blood, regulates insulin, eases childbirth, and alleviates PMS.
Crystals of the Winter Solstice By Angus With the winter solstice approaching I decided to select stones related to the sun and family. The various festivals held at this time tend to revolve around one or both of these, and I found the stones I selected actually complemented each other nicely when I compared their traits. The first stone is periodot, a yellowy-green crystal known for its ability to help the wearer reach an emotionally balanced state. This is a very handy trait for this time of year - in my family, anyway! Periodot is especially good at cleansing and healing emotional hurt resulting from anger, jealousy, damaged self-esteem, and familial trauma. Because it contains both green and yellow, it works well with the Solar Plexus and Heart Chakras, helping the wearer to heal his/her self-image and grow as a loving person. It also encourages inner peace and tranquility! Beyond that, periodot is a dream enhancer, helping us to recall dreams and also to bring them to fruition. It also draws love to the wearer. On a physical level, periodot is a digestive healer that focuses upon the kidneys, spleen, and pancreas. This increases its value as a winter solstice stone, given the tendency of many people to over-indulge in rich foods and alcohol. Add to that the tendency to help the liver and skin detoxify themselves, and I'm suprised more people aren't flaunting this little gem. Mind you, I'm not certain that holding one beneath the tongue will really reduce thirst in a fevered person. And the thought of taking powdered periodot to cure my asthma doesn't really appeal. It seems that periodot has been with us for a long time, although initially it was refered to as topaz. It was the eighteenth century before it got its current name - derived from the Arabic word for gem - faridatThe Egyptians were using it by 1500 BCE, believing it to be a "sun gem". The link between periodot and the sun was so strong for many people, that they believed it could be seen at night, glowing in the dark. When linked with gold, the sun's metal, it was considered to be a such a powerful talisman that it could drive away evil spirits of the night and break enchantments. To boost the effects of periodot as a destressing and loving stone, I suggest adding rose quartz into the mix. A strong Heart Chakra stone, rose quartz is probably one of the most well-known and popular stones for its gentle yet powerful nature. Like periodot, rose quartz helps the wearer develop self-esteem and self-love, as well as encouraging compassion and love for others. This crystal helps us heal from past heartache so that we can remain confident in our own worth and thus open to new love. Rose quartz - through its nature as a stone of love and compassion for self and others - helps us in our advancement as spiritual beings. It is through true compassionate love that we can move beyond the "ego" issues that often limit spiritual development. Physically rose quartz alleviates pain - especially that originating in burns and blisters of all kinds. Like periodot, it helps kidney function and also heals adrenal gland issues. Because it helps heal through the power of love, it affects any disorder caused through a lack of love or compassion - which probably sounds like an odd way to describe an illness. Lack of compassion leaves us less trusting, for example - and this means we are more stressed and nervous. Being less than loving means an increase in dislike - and that leads to higher levels of anger and discomfit, which in turn increases the likelihood of stress-related disease. Myths about rose quartz are hard to find - it doesn't seem to have played a very visible role, although quartz in various forms has been with us for thousands of years. There is a long-standing association with love and passion, but that's about all I can find. Which is interesting considering the strong love affair humanity has with it in today's world. It is the most popular quartz, even beyond amethyst, and one of the more popular crystals. And on top of that, most people seem to know the correspondences for rose quartz. Since this issue focuses upon the winter solstice, it is only appropriate that I include a stone of the sun...sunstone. This beautiful crystal shimmers and glows like the sun itself, making it an ideal stone to have around the home in winter. It also channels the sun's energy to the wearer and also the general vicinity. It is an effective aid in dealing with fear of all things - from success to the boogeyman - as it helps the wearer find his/her inner courage. Like many things related to the sun, sunstone works on boosting independence, creativity, and confidence. It protects the wearer and increases energy. It also increases passion and lust, and acts as an unblocking agent. The Greeks believed sunstone came from Apollo, and gifted those who wore it with abundance, good fortune, and longevity. To the Vikings, however, it was a navigational tool that theoretically helped them get where they were going - if so, I bet the Irish cursed the crystal! People have used it to bring victory in games, to aid in shielding, protective magics, and to increase prosperity. |
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