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Crystals
A crystal is a body that is formed by the solidification of a chemical element, a compound, or a mixture of them, and has a regularly repeating internal arrangement of its atoms and often external plane faces. But it's more than that. A crystal is one of the many bounties of the Earth's crust. They are a powerful tool and correspond directly to the element of Earth, but also the Air, Fire and Water. Each crystal has its own vibration and thus each vibration corresponds to correspondences such as healing, protection, relaxation etc. Because each crystal does have a vibration, a larger crystal is not any more powerful than a smaller one. A larger one might look better, but not everyone has the means for such a thing.
Several crystals have the same correspondences, but, to chose which one you want you must first have a look at all those crystals without touching them. See which one has an effect on you; NOW, when the crystal has been chosen, or when the crystal has chosen you, you must individually have a look at the crystals, Separate the ones which you like from the ones you don't like just by having a look at them. Then, pick up each crystal in your receptive hand, opposite to the power hand (so if you are right handed it's your left hand) and close your hand into a gentle fist. Feel the crystals pulse, it should be like a gentle drum rhythm, it could be very fast, or slow. You will feel whether the crystal is right for you, or not. The crystals vibration will complement yours and act like a 'lock and key' to your aura in the sense that they will blend. The crystal will let you know if it is not for you.
A newly bought crystal should be cleansed. This could be as long as a whole moon phase, with elemental cleansings, or just a simple mental cleansing. Before buying that particular crystal, it would have been touched by many people, and been next to many people who might have been upset, angry, sad etc. So this may affect you. To cleanse, it could simply be a dip in salty water, being buried over night in the ground, gone through crystal cleansing incense (or frankincense, sandalwood or just about anything for that matter, maybe even a herbal blend for the crystals purpose), being placed on a bed of quartz crystal, being passed through a flame, fairly quickly, being brushed with a feather, being placed overnight in moon light, or sunlight. Be careful because some crystals fade or lose colour from being held in the sun, some even dissolve in water, or may react with the candle flame, so be careful.
Here is a cleansing incense, created with a friend:
Incense to cleanse and consecrate ritual jewelry:
2 parts wood aloe
1 part mace (the outside covering of nutmeg)
1 part gum Arabic
1 part benzoin
Grind the ingredients together and burn in a censer or an earthenware saucer. Pass crystals and jewelry through the smoke several times visualizing the fumes purifying the object. Best performed outside for the practical fact of smoke alarms.
And another one, with the same person:
Incense to cleanse and consecrate crystals
Crystal Purification Incense
2 parts Frankincense
2 parts Copal
1 part Sandalwood
1 part Rosemary
1 pinch finely powdered Salt
1 sm. purified Quartz Crystal point
To use, pour a bit of the incense (leaving the crystal in the jar) onto charcoal. Smolder, and pass the crystals to be purified through the smoke, visualizing the smoke wafting away the stone's impurities. This incense can be used in conjunction with other recommended purifying rituals, or in place of them.
Once cleansed, the crystal should be 'programmed' or charged. To do this, hold the crystal in your projective hand (for all intensive purposes it’s the hand you write with) and focus on the need, be it healing, relaxing, and so on. Your vibration should bond further with the crystal, which bonded with you when you bought it. Soon you may feel the crystal remember the vibration of the healing energy, relaxing energy etc. This means it has been successfully charged.
Placement
The mere fact that crystals are placed in an environment suggests to the subconscious mind that healing, on some subliminal level has already begun. When crystals are placed in a room, they will automatically charge that area with energy. They will also absorb and ionize that energy in the area which is negative. The clearing, focusing, radiating beauty aspects of a crystal work regardless if someone is aware of these traits or not. These are the amazing elements of a crystal's power. To disperse this energy outward is one of its true gifts. It is even more astonishing when we are aware of it!
Pouches
Crystal Pouches are one of the most interesting and oldest remedies. Usually a prescription of 2 - 4 crystals, these complementary stones are carried or worn on the person or placed in a certain area. This prescription can be used for anything from healing to psychic awareness, healing an emotional wound as in discouragement or sorrow, or bringing about such aspects as love, money, protection, guidance, spiritual attunement, strength or even addiction. The “combination”"" of crystals works together and can be carried in your pocket, purse or bag, placed in a room or under your pillow or taken any place that you need more energy! Remember: these are tools for attunement and may allow you to see many truths. It is up to you to pay attention.
Shapes
Stones are rocks with shapes and you can use them for any ritual. The following is a list of stone shapes and how the shape of a crystal can influence its properties, enhance, or diminish them.
Diamond Shaped Stones
Diamond shaped stones remind of the precious gem, and therefore are attributed with attracting riches.
Pyramid Shaped Stones
Concentrate and release energies up through the tip. Placing a dollar bill under the stone and visualizing the moneys energy flow up and through the stone to bring you prosperity.
Body Part Shaped Stones
Stones that resemble body parts are used to heal or strengthen that part of the body it resembles.
L shaped stones
Stones that have an L shape are used to bring good fortune.
Triangular Shaped Stones
Stones that have a triangular shape are said to be protective and are worn or carried for this purpose.
Heart Shaped Stones
Heart shaped stones as you might have guessed are used to bring love to the person wearing the stone. They also are used for keeping the relationship you are in true. And can be used to bring a self love.
Square Shaped Stones
Symbolize the Earth, Prosperity, and abundance.
Egg Shaped Stones
Stones that hold the shape of the egg are used to help maintain focus on creativity and bring fresh ideas to the person wearing the stone.
Round and Long Stones
Round and long stones are used in conjunction with other love stones to bring added power to the spell.
Long, Thin Stones
These stones are obvious phallic symbols. They are protective and represent electricity and represent the great God of Pagan religions.
Round Stones
These stones represent the receptive powers of the universe, of magnetism and the Mother Goddess. Linked with the female reproductive system, they can be used to represent the woman in a healing spell. They are the keys to spirituality and unfolding your psychic powers. Used in love spells and all manners of attraction spells.
Herbal
Healing Kit
My basic healing kit consists of one tumbled stone or cabochon for each chakra, plus two clear quartz crystals, one piece of calcite and two black stones such as hematite or black tourmaline. The stones I will talk about here are easy to find and will serve you well. They are the stones I generally recommend for the colour meditation which will be added later. However, if you cannot find one of the stones in this section, substitute it with another stone from the list below each chakra. I have tried to include only stones which are readily available in most crystal stores. The specific metaphysical and healing properties of these stones can be found in either volume 1 or 2 of The Crystal Workbook.
When you choose your stones, bear in mind that they will be placed on the body, either your own or someone else's. Try and find stones that have a flat side so they will not roll off at a crucial time. Choose cabochons if you can. A cabochon is a stone which has been cut and polished, usually in an oval or circular shape with a domed top and flat base. (They are generally used in jewelry such as rings to sit flat against the skin in their metal settings.)
Always place the stones upon the body from the first chakra up, and then add the additional stones to the hands and below the feet. When you remove the stones at the completion of the healing session, do so in the reverse order.
Here are the stones I recommend for a basic healing kit. I have added a bit of extra information on the shape of the crystal as there are a few you can find in their natural form.
First, Root or Base Chakra: Smoky Quartz
Colour: Light brown to almost black
Choose: Tumbled stone, cabochon or natural crystal
Smoky quartz will initiate the movement of the primal forces of the body. As soon as it is placed upon the body, its energy will signify that a healing is about to take place. On placing the smoky quartz on the body, the first stirrings of Universal Energy will take place. Smoky quartz will draw the energy up from the earth mother and begin to send it through the chakra system towards the crown. As soon as the stone is placed upon the person it will not only begin the process of healing, but its mildly sedative and calming energy will put the person into a relaxed state and dissolve any tension or anxiety they feel about what is about to happen. Smoky quartz is also a grounding stone, which means that its energy will keep people stable and aware throughout the process of the healing and prevent them from feeling spaced out. It will also assist them in remembering the process once it is completed.
Smoky quartz is a good stone to use to strengthen the internal organs of the body, especially the adrenals, kidneys and pancreas. It increases fertility and balances sexual energy and also lifts depression. It is a good stone for people who exhibit suicidal feelings, fatigue and stress or tension, and it enhances dream awareness.
If you use a natural smoky quartz as the first chakra stone, it will most probably have a point. Make sure that the point is placed upwards, pointing towards the belly.
Alternative Stones for the First Chakra: Black tourmaline, hematite, red jasper, garnet, black, mahogany or snowflake obsidian, red quartz.
Second, Naval, Sacral or Sexual Chakra: Carnelian
Colour: Deep Orange
Choose: Tumbled stone or cabochon
Carnelian is a highly evolved healing stone and its main purpose is for regeneration of all aspects of the Being: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. When carnelian is placed upon the body it purifies negative energies and provides a calming energy to enable the person to ready themselves for the healing to take place. Carnelian also revitalizes, injects a feeling of emotional warmth and joy and assists with concentration and focus. It will allow the healing to manifest on all levels, including the physical plane. It is a variety of chalcedony which is also a member of the quartz family, so it is ideal in assisting the smooth flow of Universal Energy which begins with the placing of smoky quartz. Because it is such a joyous stone, it assists with the optimism and faith of the person, lifts gloom and despondency and soothes irritation.
Carnelian is an excellent stone for people who have experienced a form of abuse, whether it be sexual, physical, emotional or mental (or any combination of these). It is particularly good for remembering childhood memories, positive and negative, and is one of the primary stones for past life exploration. Because many current life issues stem from past lives, it is an obvious stone to use in a crystal healing.
Carnelian is good to use for energizing the blood, kidneys, lungs, liver, gall bladder and mental bodies. It also assists in stimulating a deeper love and appreciation for the beauty and gifts of the earth and the physical plane.
Alternative Stones for the Second Chakra: Dark coloured amber, red coral, crocoite, sunstone.
Third or Solar Plexus Chakra: Tiger Eye
Colour: Golden yellow
Choose: Tumbled stone or cabochon
Tiger eye enhances personal power. When this stone is placed upon the body it gives a feeling of strength to the person and the belief that they can undertake the necessary searching and make the necessary changes to enable the healing to take place. This is important because the person needs to feel that the healing is taking place because of their own efforts and not because you are doing something to them. Tiger eye carries the energy of emotional balance and removes fears. It is therefore useful for people who may have doubts about the healing process and a lack of belief that healing will take place. Sometimes the lack of belief may manifest in stubbornness and the tiger eye will soften this feeling and allow the belief to come through. Tiger eye is a very highly spiritually evolved stone and builds a firm foundation for spiritual expansion. Because all metaphysical healing is rooted in spiritual practice, it is the idea third chakra stone. Its added benefits are its grounding qualities and its ability to assist the person in centering themselves and focusing on the task ahead.
Tiger eye benefits the spleen, pancreas, digestive organs and colon. It is therefore an excellent stone for people who carry a lot of anger, often the basic cause of dis-ease.
Alternative Stones for the Third Chakra: Yellow amber, citrine, yellow fluorite, pyrite, golden topaz
Fourth or Heart Chakra: Rose Quartz
Colour: Green or Pink
Choose: tumbled stone, cabachon, polished piece or natural rough stone.
Rose Quartz has a dynamic intensity and healing power. A healer for internal wounds. Aids kidneys and circulatory system. Increases fertility. Helps clear stored anger, resentment, guilt, fear, jealousy. Reduces stress and tension, cools temper. Enhances self confidence and creativity. Promotes love, forgiveness, compassion. It is often called the 'love stone'. When healing with or wearing rose quartz, be prepared for emotional releases and the surfacing of suppressed memories and feelings.
Use a tumbled stone, a cabachon or shaped and polished stone, or a small piece of natural rose quartz rock.
Alternative Stones for the Fourth Chakra: Pink or green aventurine, moss agate, rhodonite, rhodocrosite, green jasper.
Fifth or Throat Chakra: Blue Lace Agate
Colour: Light blue
Choose: tumbled stone or other polished piece.
Blue lace agate helps to open and expand consciousness. Enhances creativity and confident statement. Calming to the mind, soothing to the emotions. Encourages communication, wisdom, patience, peace, kindness, honesty. Influences thyroid, nervous system. Strengthens a sense of calm centeredness to help in social situations. Discourages nervous habits. Useful for building confidence in public speaking. It is also excellent for cooling hot tempers and relieving stress. Can be carried or worn when you want to maintain calm. Good for neutralizing energies such as anger, infection, inflammation and fever. Opens the throat chakra for other stones to be used to express higher wisdom.
Alternative stones for the Fifth Chakra: Holly blue agate, blue fluorite, aquamarine, blue topaz.
Sixth or Third Eye Chakra: Amethyst
Colour: Purple or Dark Blue
Choose: natural point, tiny cluster, tumbled stone, faceted stone, shaped piece.
Amethyst enhances right brain activity. Blood cleanser and energizer. Assists purification and regeneration; cuts through illusion. One of the best stones to use for meditation, it has a calming mental effect. Use for overworked, overstressed and overwhelmed mental states. Especially good for people suffering from recurrent nightmares. Will help clear and transform energies in the environment where it is placed. Will help to release unbalanced energies. Also helps you understand your dreams. Amethyst has strong protective qualities and will enhance psychic abilities and spiritual awareness. Balances and soothes an over-active mind. Mythology says that Amethyst helps us remain sober - it is the stone that Bacchus used to cure his drunkenness. Amethyst can also be utilized for cleansing other crystals and stones, by placing them on an amethyst cluster. Strengthens endocrine and immune system and is useful in the treatment of emotional/mental disorders, nervous disorders and easing pain. As an elixir it is useful for easing the pain of arthritis. Faceted stones are really good for energy focus and need not be large.
Alternative stones for the Sixth Chakra: Lapis lazuli, sodalite, charoite, strombolite, purple fluorite, azurite.
Seventh or Crown Chakra: Clear Quartz Crystal
Colour: Clear or Purple
Choose: Natural point, tumbled stone, polished shape, cabachon.
Quartz crystals reflect pure white light that can be channeled into daily thoughts, feelings, words and actions. By touching, wearing, using or meditating with these crystals, one can work with that light in a physical form. Enhances crystalline properties of blood, body and mind. Emotional balancer. Stimulates brain functions. Receives, activates, stores, transforms, transmits and amplifies energy. Excellent for meditation. The most easily programmed of all crystals and healing stones, because of its crystal shape and flat faceted points and sides, and the most useful of healing stones. A cluster in a room can transmit healing energies. Emotional balancer, dispels negativity, amplifies thought forms. Use clear quartz crystals for contacting your guides and for interdimensional communication. Beneficial to the whole body but especially the pineal and pituitary glands.
Preferably use a natural point - a small one is fine. Use with the point towards the crown chakra if possible.
Alternative stones for the Seventh Chakra: Selenite, Calcite, Amethyst (points only).
Exploring a Crystal.
For this visualization exercise, choose one of your favorite crystals, one you already know quite well. A good place to hold the crystal for this exercise is at the solar plexus.
1. Sit in a relaxed comfortable position, holding the stone in both hands. Take a few moments just to relax and focus on the crystal in your hands.
2. Slowly let your awareness float down into the crystal until you reach a point where you seem to come to rest.
3. In your minds eye, identify how the crystal feels to you. Is it warm or damp, cool or dry, smooth or rough? Take a minute or two to explore the energy of the crystal through your inner touch.
4. Now relax again and turn your attention to any quality of sound within the crystal, whether it appears to be a tone, a pulse or a tune. Is it high or low? Simple or complex? Listen to the sound of the crystal for a few moments, and then relax again.
5. Take a few deep breaths, and then imagine you are breathing in the crystal's energy through your nostrils. What smell, what taste does the crystal have? Can you identify it?
6. Relax once more, and then open your inner eyes. Imagine what the structure and the energy of your crystal looks like: the quality of light, the images, the landscapes, scenes and figures that may be related to you. Don't attempt to analyze what you see. Just let the imagery play before your eyes.
7. Now become aware once more of the crystals taste, its smell, its sounds and its touch. Very gradually bring your awareness out of the crystal and become more aware of your body and the world around you. Record notes in your journal so that you may remember your experiences.
Candle Therapy and Crystals
The techniques of allowing candles to help in crystal work involve holding a selected crystal in your hand or hands or placing the stone on the floor or table near you and your mat and allow yourself to focus on the mineral as you meditate.
In a meditative or yoga group circle, you may place the candles and crystals in the center of the group. Make sure that the intention of the entire group is that of the same intent.
Crystals can allow one to reach higher spiritual levels during meditation. The crystal magnifies one's personal energy by aligning and connecting with universal power. The candle can center and align by concentrating on its flame.
Cleansing and Empowering, Choosing gems and stones
You find yourself in a store staring at a container filled with one particular stone. Which one do you purchase? The biggest one? The one with the shape you like the best? How do you know? When I go to a store to buy gems, I take some things into consideration. Many stones have a variety of qualities. I think about what I want the stone for. There are a variety of different ones to chose from, decided on the stone to suit your need. Sometimes one will immediately catch your attention. If that happens you may choose that one. Other times you will just see a collection of stones. Using your receptive hand (the one you don't write with) dig your hand in and sift through them. You should be left with a few in your hand. Put them aside and hold each one individually for a moment with your eyes closed. Does it have a comfortable feeling? Do you like the feeling you get from holding or rubbing it? These are the ones to buy. You may feel vibrations from stones and gems; there is life pulsing through them. Try to 'tune in' to their vibrations. It may take time but it's worth the wait.
Cleansing
Any residual emotions that may have been transferred to the stone prior to purchase should be cleaned off. Wrap each stone that's to be cleaned in a cloth, and bury it in an undisturbed place for a period of time, preferably 3, 9 or 13 hours, days, weeks or months. The longer the period of time, the better the cleaning. Other ways include placing the stones in a bowl of salt, free running water, suspending in a fire, or under a fire, or just suspended so that nothing is touching them. Any of the elements can be used; leave it in sunlight, rain, or any place you'd feel comfortable.
Empowering
Now, you have to tell the stone what you want it to do, you do this simply by gathering energy, then when you feel you've raised enough, place it into the stone, then verbally, or visually tell it what needs to be done. This process should also be done for runes, or magickal equipment.
Birthstones
There are two different types of birth stones. Birthstones-determined by the month you were born Astrological Birthstones-determined by your zodiac sign. Many people don't realize that there is sometimes a difference between their birthstone and their zodiac stone. Your birthstone is based on the month that you were born in, while your zodiac stone (a.k.a. astrological birthstone) is based on the exact date your birthday falls on. For example, if your birthday was on March third, you could choose between your zodiac stone (Diamond), or the March stone (Aquamarine). Here is a list of the Zodiac stones and the dates they fall under.
Aquarius**** (Jan 20-Feb 18) ****Garnet
Pisces**** (Feb 19-Mar 20) ****Amethyst
Aries**** (Mar 21-April 19) ****Aquamarine
Taurus**** (April 20-May 20) ****Diamond
Gemini**** (May 21-June 20) ****Emerald
Cancer**** (June 21-July 22) ****Pearl
Leo**** (July 23-Aug 22) ****Ruby
Virgo**** (Aug 23-Sept 22) ****Agate
Libra**** (Sept 23-Oct 22) ****Sapphire
Scorpio**** (Oct 23-Nov 22) ****Opal
Sagittarius**** (Nov 22-Dec 21) ****Onyx
Capricorn**** (Dec 22-Jan 19)
Here is a list of birthstones and the months they cover. Please keep in mind that not everyone agrees with these, but they are the most common.
January****Garnet
February****Amethyst
March****Aquamarine
April****Diamond
May****Emerald
June****Alexandrite or moonstone
July****Ruby
August****Peridot
September****Sapphire
October****Rose Zircon or opal
November****Topaz
December****Blue Zircon