Quartz Crystal

After years spent collecting rocks, crystals and semiprecious stones, I relish the opportunity to revisit old pieces that I haven’t thought about in ages. One of the items that got me interested in the hobby originally still sits in a closet in the spare bedroom of our house. Even though I don’t display it anymore, I’m beginning to wonder why. After all, it’s just the sort of crystal that would pique a visitor’s interest.

There’s no mystery as to how the coconut got its name. Without knowing any better, one might suspect that it’s a genuine petrified coconut geode. These geodes are distinguished by three key characteristics: they’re hollow, they’re round, and they feature a “stem”-like structure on the outside. All of these physical attributes serve to make them resemble the tropical fruit even more.

In a dark and quiet room light one or two candles.  Place your crystal ball or other favorite meditation crystal on a table in front of you.  ( My favorite is an all natural quartz crystal ball filled with wonderful inclusions and a few rainbows.)  Burning incense is sometimes helpful for setting the mood.  I use a wood scent.  Sandlewood, cedar wood, etc.

 Relax, gaze into the crystal.  Try not to blink.  Slowly take deep breaths in and out while gazing deeply.  You should feel a sense of calm and peacefulness.  At this point, gaze steadly for 15 minutes.  You may increase your time by 5 minutes every new session until you reach 30 minutes or so.

 You might see a fluffy cloud forming in the center of your crystal.  This is your “focusing area” where your visions will appear.  You may or may not get a vision on your first try.  For some it might take several sessions.  Always relax and don’t force anything.  Whether you receive a vision or not this is always an excellent relaxing and stress reducing exercise.

With Halloween just a few weeks away, it’s a perfect time to reflect on what makes a successful costume. Think about all the costume parties you’ve attended in the past, and which outfits garnered the most acclaim. For the most part, prize-winning costumes are all about creativity and execution. You could come up with the most unique idea at the party, but it won’t matter unless you carry it to fruition.

This October, why not put a new spin on a traditional favorite? People have been dressing up as witches for Halloween since time immemorial, but how many of them go so far as to carry around their own authentic crystal wands? With such a striking accessory to serve as the centerpiece for your outfit, you’ll just need a pointy hat, some pointy shoes, a wig and some warts.

A very special friend was involved in an extremely toxic relationship.  He knew it was destructive, but he was unable to make the permanent break.  When he asked for our help we immediately cleansed and charged a tumbled unikite stone and a rutilated quartz crystal.  We  added these to a special powerful crystal point  and gave them to him. 

Unikite is a moss green and salmon pink composite rock.  It enhances personal power and the ability to completely take charge of your own life.  It helps ensure that you will be the guardian of your own fate and not be taken over by someone else.   Rutilated Quartz and Tourmalinated quartz  have the same energy.  It helps you become more discriminating about who or what one allows to be of impact.

It has been rough, but the bad relationship is finally over!  He has met a new lady ( also out of a bad relationship ) and slowly they are healing together.  Never underestimate the power of the crystal.

The origin of birthstones actually can be traced back about 6,000 years to Moses wandering in the desert. Every tribe of Israel, and there were twelve of them, had a different stone represented in the Hosen or breastplate of Aaron.

The stones were: (Stones will change according to what translation of the bible you use)

Carnelion /Ruby Reuben Symbol of love and marriage; aids conception, pregnancy and birth

Peridot Simeon Brings blessing of joy and abundance to your life

Emerald Levi Symbol of generosity, modesty and kindness

Turquoise Judah Leads to success in business affairs

Lapis Lazuli Issachar Symbol of honesty and clarity of thought

Quartz Zebulon Bestows strength; symbolizes purity and the love of truth

Jacinth/Topaz Dan Stimulates creativity; brings on to self-fulfillment

Agate Naphtali Has a special calming effect

Amethyst Gad Symbol of spiritual strength; guards against negative energies

Chrysolite Asher Purifies both body and soul; brings inner peace

Onyx Joseph Strengthens one’s courage and self-control

Jasper Benjamin Bestows physical strength; raises self-esteem

Years of study, argument, reasoning and all sorts of questioning has gone into the meaning of the stones. Then when you realize that according to scriptures this is just the tip of the use of semi-precious stones and other stones we have no idea what they were, well, it is fascinating.

In the meantime, the above list just might give you some kind of idea why that piece of Onyx on the mantle really seems to do something for you and or why that Emerald just seems “right” on your hand.

This article contributed by a dear friend.  Thank you Kelly

The process of evaluating a gemstone is a bit more complicated than the novice would suspect. Jewel collectors frequently judge stones according to their hue, saturation and tone. When you refer to the aesthetic aspects of a gem, you should use the proper nomenclature. Don’t remark upon a gem’s “color,” but do admire its brilliant “hue.”

Saturation is merely a measure of the gem’s intensity or purity. A highly saturated piece will feature a brilliant luster. Finally, a gem’s tone can be judged by examining the lightness or darkness of its hue. Now that you’ve picked up a few pointers about evaluating gemstone jewelry, you can shop with confidence. Remember that knowledge is power and you can never learn too much about gorgeous jewelry.

I have always been a great believer in the beauty and power of stones, particularly crystals. I guess the first time my grandfather took me up in the attic and showed me his old “cat’s hair crystal radio” I have been fascinated by them. I figured if I could listen to Amos and Andy by touching that stupid cat hair to a particular spot on that crystal, hopefully  you can see why I thought that crystal just had to have some kind of special something. Over the years I have I have seen crystals and stones used in healing, to release tension, restore health, etc. I met a veterinarian in Dallas, Oregon who was known all over the world for using crystals to heal and treat champion race horses. Last time I saw him was in Jordan where he has treating the horses in the king’s stables.

I have lost track of the number of chiropractors and osteopaths whom I have met, who use crystals and other stones in their treatment and practice.  I have to admit that many of the town folk in some of those towns have looked on them as something akin to witch doctors when they first started practicing. Of course, there was the young lady years ago, when I was working in a rock shop in a town that will remain anonymous. She walked in and wanted a piece of a blue stone, but couldn’t remember what it was called.  I just happened to have a piece of it. At that point she removed her blouse, and showed me the fragment  of Kyanite nestled between….well, you get the picture. When I asked her why she wanted the stone she explained that she had been told that if she wore Kyanite she would not get pregnant. I sold her the sample she wanted and laughed all the way home. I wonder who convinced her of that?

This article was contributed by a dear friend, may he have many more exciting adventures.  Thank you Kelly.

In the 19th century, America’s obsession with Westward expansion was combined with the promise of gold in the California hills. Needless to say, this led many young entrepreneurs to strike out on their own, traveling across the continent to pan for gold in hopes of securing vast wealth. Some of these miners were disappointed to discover that their treasures were actually fool’s gold.

Iron pyrite proves the adage that “all that glistens is not gold.” But that’s not to say that fool’s gold isn’t desirable in its own right. As a decorative piece, iron pyrite has a way of drawing admiring eyes. It makes for an interesting conversation piece as well, especially if the owner can trick his guests into believing it’s a lump of pure gold.

The popularity of last year’s action blockbuster “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” brought renewed interest to a niche of Mesoamerican art. Crystal skulls have been discovered as artifacts and stored in museums and private collections. These skulls are themselves replicas of actual human skulls with some level of artistic license. The shape and color of the crystal goes a long way in determining a piece’s overall aesthetic effect.

Modern day craftsmen and craftswomen continue the tradition of carving crystal skulls. There are numerous apocryphal tales that imbue these skulls with supernatural powers. They have been said to cure diseases or enable the owner to become clairvoyant. For most people, however, crystal skulls make a striking decorative piece for the home.

Salt lamps have been touted world wide for providing significant health benefits. The lamps are exceedingly simple in design: a large, hollowed-out salt crystal and a light source. Traditionally, Pakistan, Iran and Poland have exported many of these lamps because of the prevalence of salt mines in those countries. Salt lamps come in many appealing visual designs, but they have also been shown to provide health benefits.

When the heat from a candle heats the interior of Himalayan salt lamps, it releases negative ions into the air. Studies have shown that these ions are found in heavy concentrations in mountain air and sea air. In contrast, negative ions are found to be lacking in offices with recycled air. One possible explanation is that negative ions bond with harmful particles in the air, adding to their weight and causing them to drop to the ground rather than being inhaled.