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Aquamarine: The Sailor’s Stone

Aquamarine: The Sailor’s Stone by W1tchsbrew

Be sure to check her Etsy shop Wood ov Wyrd

Aquamarine is a beryl – a rare silicate mineral found in igneous and metamorphic rocks around the world, and a blue-green sister to the deep green emerald.

Aquamarine gemstones are found in a number of exotic places including Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan and Mozambique, and Brazil.

Color is a defining aspect of this gemstone, which is why most Aquamarines are heat-treated to remove yellow tones and enhance the bright blue hues in this stone.

There is an unmistakable passion behind the consistency with which Aquamarine is compared to the ocean.

Everything about this crystal swirls around water; from its name to its beautiful blue coloring’s, and even deeper – right down to its very meaning.

In Latin, Aquamarine was named ‘water of the sea’ – with Aqua meaning “Water” and Marine, “Of the Sea”. 

History and Folklore

This ocean blue gemstone was once believed to be the treasure of mermaids and was also said to be sacred to Neptune, Roman god of the sea. 

Early sailors would wear the jewel, with Neptune’s likeness carved into it. 

Aquamarine was often referred to as the “sailor’s gem” and was carried by Roman fishermen as a talisman on seafaring journeys for good luck with their catch, to protect them from rough seas, storms, shipwrecks, and even to avoid seasickness. Roman physicians would use this stone to treat overeating and bloating.

As a last resort, sailors caught in severe storms were said to throw their Aquamarines overboard in a desperate attempt to calm the gods.

In Greek mythology, this is reflected similarly, with the equivalent sea god, Poseidon. According to Greek legend, Aquamarine washed ashore from the toppled treasure chests of the sirens. 

Furthermore, in Roman legend, Aquamarine was said to absorb the atmosphere of young love and was considered an appropriate gift for a bride the morning after a wedding.

It was also believed by many to be an antidote to poison, a mermaids spell, and a talisman or offering that helped to bring the rain thundering down upon lands of drought.

Aside from the Romans and Greeks, this gem has been coveted by many different cultures, spanning throughout the ages for thousands of years.

During the Middle Ages, Aquamarine was thought to be the source of power for soothsayers, who called it the ‘magic mirror’, and would use it to answer questions about the future or to tell fortunes.

Aquamarine was linked to the apostle, St. Thomas, who frequently traveled by boat.

It was also appreciated in Indian culture, as it was connected to the Buddhist religion and used as a symbol of love and mercy. 

The Sumerians, Egyptians and Hebrews alike, all admired Aquamarine crystals and considered them precious gems. 

Beads made of this crystal were discovered with Egyptian mummies. 

It was also believed that the High Priest of the Second Temple wore Aquamarine stones engraved with the six tribes of Israel. 

Metaphysical and Healing Properties

Spirit Magicka Rock’n Crystals

Traditionally, Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and, as a water stone, gets its many benefits from the planet Venus, correlating with the zodiac signs of Pisces and Aquarius.

Shamans use stones like Aquamarine because it is believed to allow us to look both within and outward.

Aquamarine is said to help gain truth and wisdom, making it the perfect crystal for gaining a clearer perspective.

Aquamarine is often used as a good luck stone and is thought to bring feelings of peace, love, joy and happiness to those who wear it.

It is also considered to be the stone of courage and preparedness and is believed to help maintain balance and order during chaos. 

The properties of this gemstone contain the healing, vibrant powers of our ancient seas. 

A comprehensive and beautifully illustrated guide to crystals, The Crystal Bible is the perfect gift for a beginner or experienced crystal enthusiast.
Find a known crystal instantly or identify an unknown crystal in this easy-to-follow directory, featuring over 150 crystals.

It includes:
– Photos of over 200 crystals, many in both raw and polished forms
– Detailed descriptions of each stone’s colors and appearances
– Individual properties of each crystal, to help improve your health, heal your body, and stabilize your energy

The Crystal Bible also includes introductions to chakras, auras, crystal grids, and more, providing the basic knowledge needed to use crystals effectively and serving as a quick reference for those with more crystal healing experience.

Evolved over millions of years, Aquamarine helps to sooth unpleasant emotions such as grief or loneliness, as well as assisting with communication and self-expression.

You can also use an Aquamarine gem essence to cleanse your environment and infuse it with the healing frequencies of this gentle and uplifting water stone.

Aquamarine brings its watery wonder to Feng Shui, ensuring that its peaceful presence soothes a room in an instant.

These are only a few of the many benefits Aquamarine is believed to have. 

By stimulating the Throat chakra, working with the Aquamarine helps to enhance immunity by opening the flow between the heart and the throat energy centers.

Sometimes referred to as the “breath stone,” Aquamarine is said to alleviate sinus, lung, and respiratory problems. 

It is also believed to help with bronchitis, colds, hay fever, and various allergies.

As sailors need clear eyes to watch for storms on the horizon, Aquamarine is all about supporting strong eyesight and bringing life, light and vision, both spiritually and physically. 

How to utilize Aquamarine

The therapeutic uses of Aquamarine have a long and well-documented history.

You can activate your Aquamarine crystal by holding it under tap water or natural running water. Set your intention while the water activates your crystal.

Aquamarine can unblock or realign Chakras. To unblock the Throat or Heart Chakra, meditating with this gem is believed to be extremely helpful. Simply find a quiet place to relax and place an Aquamarine gemstone over the appropriate part of the body. 

Lie still or meditate if you prefer, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Aquamarine is ideal for wearing in jewelry close to the skin, such as necklaces, rings, or bracelets. 

This way, the stone’s power can have a direct connection to the energies of your body and instill you with its protective and supportive energy.

Aquamarine works for insomnia by bringing deep relaxation to the mind and body. When wearing this crystal-clear blue stone, you can experience a fluidity and ease that allows you to let go, physically and mentally, and rest deeply.

You can also place your Aquamarine anywhere in your home in order to allow its impactful energy to flow into your physical space. 

This can not only cleanse the energy in your home but also emit protection, healing, and all of the other metaphysical properties of Aquamarine as well. 

Additionally, practicing witches will often use this shining ocean gem in many different rituals and spells. 

Aquamarine is known as a highly affective, magical and spiritual tool. 

Aquamarine “do not’s”

Aquamarine rates a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale. 

Heat exposure is not recommended for this gemstone, but the color is stable against light exposure. 

In order to protect your Aquamarine stone from inadvertent damage in the cleaning process, avoid all cleaning products that contain ammonia or alcohol. 

This beautiful crystal can be attacked by hydrofluoric acid. 

Warm soapy water is always a safe cleaning method for Aquamarine.

This stone does possess chemical components that require caution. 

This does not necessarily mean it poses a threat to life, however, because of its chemical components and structures, how you use it is very important. 

This gemstone is extremely dangerous if inhaled. If you work in an industry that granulates aquamarine crystals, take the precautionary measures to ensure that you don’t inhale the dust from aquamarine. 

If you soak your aquamarine in water, ensure to not drink such. Whether the intent is spiritual, physical or otherwise, doing this exposes you to extremely serious health hazards.

Aquamarine is a powerful gemstone. When you use it the correct way, there are unending spiritual and metaphysical benefits you stand to enjoy. 

Aquamarine is part of the beryl family of crystals along with gems such as Emerald and Morganite. It comes in a dazzling range of aquatic blue hues. All Beryls grow in a hexagonal formation that creates a balancing energy in our lives. They allow you to integrate your spirituality with your physical, everyday life. Finding balance in your life by working with crystals of the beryl family will facilitate your connection with nature and the spiritual consciousness of its elements. This consciousness is often experienced by us in the forms of beings such as fairies, gnomes and, in the case of Aquamarine, as mermaids and mermen.

Further Resources

Top 10 Facts About Aquamarine Stone- History and Interesting Information

Aquamarine: A Neptunian Stone’s Plutonic Origin Story

Aquamarine Meaning, Powers and History – The Meaning and History of Aquamarine

Crystal Basics: The Energetic, Healing, and Spiritual Power of 200 Gemstones

Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised Fifth Edition

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The Power of Salt

The Power of Salt by W1tchsbrew

Be sure to check her Etsy shop Wood ov Wyrd

Salt in History:

For centuries, salt has been known as a very magical, and also valuable, ingredient. 

Salt was very important in the grand scheme of human civilization. 

In the early days of mankind, prior to industrialization, the process of harvesting salt was time consuming and labor intensive. This meant that salt was a valuable commodity and only wealthy people could afford it. 

The first records of salt being produced and consumed were in the Sichuan province of China around 3000 BCE. Salt was also used in ancient Egypt from as early as 2000 BCE, for curing fish and meat.

The ancient Romans actually paid their soldiers with salt. The word “salary” even has its root in the Latin word for salt.

Natron or native soda, a natural compound of sodium salts, was a very important product in ancient history. It was produced in Egypt, Middle East and Greece. Natron was used for medicine, cookery, agriculture, in glass-making and to dehydrate Egyptian mummies.

The first Native Americans “discovered” by Europeans in the Caribbean were actively harvesting sea salt on St. Maarten.

When the major European fishing fleets discovered the Grand Banks of Newfoundland at the end of the 15th century, the Portuguese and Spanish fleets used the “wet” method of salting their fish onboard, while the French and English fleets used the “dry” or “shore” salting method of drying their catch on racks onshore. 

Its the only rock we eat. In this video, we’ll focus on the Story of Salt. Once considered sacred now superfluous. What could me more common than the salt and pepper at our tables? Let’s take a deep dive into the rich history of this amazing mineral!

Due to this early food processing, French and British fishermen became the first European inhabitants of North America since the Vikings a half-century earlier. 

Had it not been for the practice of salting fish, Europeans might have confined their fishing to the coasts of Europe and delayed “discovery” of the New World.

Historically, salt also had military significance. For instance, it is recorded that thousands of Napoleon’s troops died during his retreat from Moscow because their wounds would not heal due to the lack of salt. 

In 1777, the British Lord Howe was jubilant when he succeeded in capturing General Washington’s salt supply.

If we look more into to American history, destinies were decided by salt. During the Civil War, salt was a precious commodity used, not only for eating, but for tanning leather, dyeing clothes and preserving troop rations.

Aside from flavoring and preserving food or even tanning and dyeing, salt has also been used in bleaching, and the production of pottery, soap, and chlorine. Today, it is widely used in the chemical industry.

There are many different kinds of salt with many different uses. In its natural state, salt is normally found as the mineral halite, commonly called rock salt. 

Not surprisingly, the word halite is derived from the Greek word halos meaning “salt.” Halite is usually found in and around salt springs, salt lakes, and in the ocean.

Best-selling author Mark Kurlansky turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions.  Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Salt is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.

Salt in Folklore: 

In many Eastern belief systems, such as Buddhism and Shintoism, salt is used both as a purifier and to repel evil.

In parts of Germany, Normandy, and Scotland, salt is used in or around a butter churn to keep witches from souring the butter or harming the cow from which the cream was obtained.

Irish folk remedies include the use of salt, combined with a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, to cure those who might have been “fairy-struck.”

 A similar story comes from Bavaria and Ukraine, in which salt is used to determine if a child is bewitched.

Egyptian caravans setting out on a journey across the desert used to perform a ritual that involved burning salt on hot coals. This was done to ensure that evil spirits wouldn’t get in the way of the travelers.

Types of salt and their uses:

Himalayan Pink Salt

The purest of all salt, Himalayan pink salt is harvested from the Khewra Salt Mine in the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan. Easily recognizable because of its pink color, this salt contains all 84 natural minerals found in the human body.

Health benefits:

One of the most notable health benefits of Himalayan pink salt is its ability to help detoxify the body and soften the skin. This special type of salt has a unique combination of minerals, including magnesium, calcium, and potassium, that help to stimulate circulation and detoxify the body.

Metaphysical uses:

Himalayan Salt has very similar properties to Rose Quartz and is an excellent crystal for love, especially self-love. If you struggle with low self-image or are trying to rebuild your confidence after an emotional blow, keep it near the mirror you use most before you go out.

It is recommended that those who work in environments of negativity should keep a piece of Himalayan Salt nearby as it is excellent for dispelling negative energies. 

It is also said to aid in bringing prosperity and abundance into the home. 

Place it near a statue of Aphrodite to draw love into your life, or near the threshold to bless those who cross it.

Sea Salt

Sea salt is harvested by evaporating seawater. It is used as seasoning in foods and for preserving foods. It is also called bay salt or solar salt. 

Production of sea salt has been dated to prehistoric times. 

Folklore even tells a tail explaining how the sea became salty. There are many versions of the story from Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, all involving a magic mill, which grinds salt and ends up at the bottom of the sea, generally due to someone’s greed.

Health benefits: 

Sea salt is mostly composed of sodium chloride, a compound that helps regulate fluid balance and blood pressure in the body. Since it’s minimally processed, it contains some minerals, including potassium, iron, and calcium. 

Sea salt aids in digestion, nourishes the adrenal glands, balances electrolytes and reduces fluid retention. 

Metaphysical uses:

Sea salt possesses the healing powers of the ocean. You can add it to magical healing baths, incorporate it into spells or save it in a jar as a protective charm.

Sea Salt is known for its purifying, protective, and healing powers.  

Black Salt

Black salt. also referred to as Kala Namak salt, is harvested from volcanic rock salt from the Himalayas, usually Pakistan. 

Black salt has a very pungent odor and flavor and is therefore used in small quantities. This salt is seen as a great flavor enhancer and is used in dishes that have a strong flavor and aroma, such as curry, spicy dishes, pickles, and salads.

Health benefits:

This salt is rich in iron, magnesium and calcium. Is also has antioxidant properties and surprisingly low sodium levels.

Black salt stimulates bile production in the liver, and even helps control heartburn and bloating. 

Due to its generous content of potassium, this salt also helps in easing muscle spasms and helps them in working properly. 

Black salt for weight loss is an excellent addition to your diet if you are supposed to reduce your sodium intake while also avoiding water retention and bloating.

Metaphysical uses:

Black Salt has been used for many centuries for protection, cursing, hexing, banishing and reverse magick. 

Black salt absorbs negative energies and left over, stagnant vibrations.

It can also absorb negative energies from your environmental circumstances and is often used in spells or magical workings to create boundaries, assist with spiritual barriers, and provide protection.

Persian Blue Salt

Persian Blue Salt is one of the rarest and oldest salts on the planet. 

It is extracted from salt ponds in Semnan, Iran (formerly known as Persia) that formed over 100 million years ago. 

The blue color comes from a mineral call sylvinite. Due to the fact that this salt is mined from a buried ancient sea, it is very clean and pure as it has not been exposed to any modern environmental pollutants or contaminants.

It is salty and spicy in flavor. 

Health benefits:

As a potassium mineral, this salt brings benefits to the blood circulatory system, strengthens the heart, stabilizes blood pressure and helps digestion. 

This mineral is essential for strong bones and teeth. It also supports healthy muscles and nerves.

Metaphysical uses:

Persian Blue Salt is used in magic and rituals by Pagans, Wiccans, Hoodoo practitioners, people who practice witchcraft and by those who want a little psychic or spiritual help for its power with justice and legal matters. 

This salt is know for it’s protection from The Evil Eye, bad energy or bad luck. 

It also has great uses in magick for healing, tranquility, peace and absorbing negativity. 

Celtic Sea Salt

This high quality salt, harvested from the sea, has a superior flavor that enhances the natural profile of fruits and vegetables while strengthening the body. 

Celtic sea salt originates from the coastal area near Brittany, France.  It always remains a greyish damp salt no matter the conditions because of its moist nature. 

After collecting from the seashore, it is dried in wind and sunlight. This salt contains 34 minerals that add to its nutritional profile.

Health benefits: 

Rich in alkalizing minerals, Celtic Sea Salt energizes, replenishes electrolytes, fights bacterial infection, and aids digestion.

It helps to remove mucus and clear the congestion in the nasal cavity, aids in boosting the immune system, strengthens the heart, reduces the risk of high blood pressure and reduces muscle cramps. This salt also helps to prevent kidney stones, and controls the quantity of saliva production. 

Metaphysical uses:

Celtic Sea Salt gives an extra metaphysical boost as far as spiritual intention or “power”. 

In magic, this salt is excellent for repelling negative energies or entities, strengthening manifestation, cleansing, grounding, and banishing. 

Place some Celtic Sea Salt under your bed to keep nightmares at bay. Or put some in a bowl near your windowsill to keep any dark intentions from crossing over into your space. 

Alaea Red Salt

Alaea salt, sometimes referred to as Hawaiian red salt, is an unrefined sea salt that has been mixed with an iron oxide rich volcanic clay called “alaea” which gives the seasoning its characteristic brick red color. 

It is part of Native Hawaiian cuisine and is used in traditional dishes such as kalua pig, poke and pipikaula (Hawaiian jerky). 

Once exported to the Pacific Northwest to cure salmon, it saw a resurgence in popularity late in the 20th century. 

Health benefits:

Alaea red salt is a natural sea salt product that is comprised of some 80 natural elements, electrolytes and trace minerals such as potassium and magnesium. 

Red alaea is also rich in iron oxides, which makes for a great digestible form of dietary iron. 

Not only is this salt mineral rich but it’s rich in flavor too.

Metaphysical uses:

Traditionally, Alaea red salt was used to cleanse, purify and bless tools, canoes, homes and temples. 

Native Hawaiians believed that the Red Alaea clay gave the salt its spiritual power. To this day, it is still used in traditional ceremonies, ritual blessings, and purifying purposes.

In general, this salt is alleged to help with protection, blocking negative energies, cleansing and casting circles. In a casting circle ritual, this salt would normally be placed around the area that the spell or ritual is about to be performed. 

A salt circle is believed to help separate the energy of the ritual from the energy around the circle. When the spell is completed, the circle is then broken to release the energy.

Further Resources:

No creature can live without this magic mineral — and no living organism can produce it on its own. Amoebas, algae or humans — all life-forms are completely at the mercy of this simple chemical compound. In all bodies of water on earth, there is salt in abundance, and animals and humans have always been able to extract the valuable crystals from water — directly through their organs or with the aid of evaporation in salt lagoons.
Salt, once a highly prized trade commodity essential for human survival, is often overlooked in research because it is invisible in the archaeological record. Salt in Eastern North America and the Caribbean: History and Archaeology brings salt back into archaeology, showing that it was valued as a dietary additive, had curative powers, and was a substance of political power and religious significance for Native Americans. Major salines were embedded in collective memories and oral traditions for thousands of years as places where physical and spiritual needs could be met. Ethnohistoric documents for many Indian cultures describe the uses of and taboos and other beliefs about salt.
 
The volume is organized into two parts: Salt Histories and Salt in Society. Case studies from prehistory to post-Contact and from New York to Jamaica address what techniques were used to make salt, who was responsible for producing it, how it was used, the impact it had on settlement patterns and sociopolitical complexity, and how economies of salt changed after European contact. Noted salt archaeologist Heather McKillop provides commentary to conclude the volume.

Salt Folklore and Magic Using Salt in Modern Pagan Traditions

Salt in Folklore: 10 Things You Didn’t Know

History of Salt

A Brief History of Salt

The History of Salt

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Carnelian Crystal

Carnelian Crystal by W1tchsbrew

Be sure to check her Etsy shop Wood ov Wyrd

About Carnelian 

Carnelian is a reddish-orange variety of the mineral chalcedony, ranging in shades from light to dark.  The majority of the carnelian you can purchase today originally comes from India, but is dispersed all over the world with deposits in Brazil, Egypt, Uruguay, the U.S., and more.

Carnelian History

Carnelian is believed to be named after the red-orange Kornel cherry. Artifacts using carnelian date back to the Bronze Age circa 1800 BC on the island of Crete. The Romans though Carnelian to be a stone of courage–able to shore up confidence and strength. In ancient Egypt, it was placed on mummies to assist the dead in their journey to the afterlife while architects to the pharaohs wore carnelian to denote rank and status. 

Carnelian necklace

In the Middle Ages, Carnelian was used by alchemists when boiling stone to release the energy of other gemstones. The word “carnelian” itself comes from a Latin word meaning “flesh” or “yellowish red”, which symbolizes bold energy and stimulation of the spirit. 

Physical and Metaphysical Healing Properties of Carnelian

Carnelian has been utilized by many ancient cultures for different reasons, but it is otherwise seen as a stabilizing stone. Carnelian healing properties can help with physical, emotional, and spiritual balance. This stone can aid in stimulating tissues and organs, detoxifying as well as boosting libido and fertility.

Like all fire stones, Carnelian infuses the body with life and light calling on the powers of physical energy. It’s all about stimulating the muscles, helping oxygen to find its free flow, and keeping your tissues and organs flushed with the finest health. 

Carnelians is believed to boost attitude and can even help stimulate metabolism and appetite. Carnelian is also believed to ease back problems, rheumatism, arthritis, neuralgia, and accelerates healing in bones and ligaments. It is also said to assist in relieving depression, especially in those of advanced years.

This particular stone stimulates the Sacral Chakra, located below the navel and above the pubic bone at the front of the pelvis. It controls the flow of energy and is the center of gravity of the body. It is the center of the Life Force of the body and controls the flow of information from the body to the mind and from the mind to the body. Gut feelings, intuition, and other “non-linear” communication come from this chakra.

Carnelian restores vitality as well as stimulates creativity.  It gives courage, promotes positive life choices, dispels apathy and motivates for success.  Carnelian is also useful for overcoming abuse or trauma of any kind.  This stone additionally helps in trusting yourself, your intuition and your own perceptions. Meditation with Carnelian is highly recommended.

Chakras are the energy centers of the body, affecting your physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. But when something in your life throws you off-center, your chakras need a little help to get the energy flowing again. Chakra Crystals shows you how. Explore how different stones resonate with your chakras, and how to use them with a range of meditations to heal yourself inside and out.
With its orange hue inspiring feelings of the sun, Carnelian stones promote warmth, happiness, peace, and inner strength. Though it functions best when held near the navel, there’s no wrong way to use Carnelian stones. Doing so can aid the flow of positive energies, allowing for an easier, healthier, and more satisfying life.

How to use your Carnelian

Worn as amulets by warriors and priests to gift courage and a fiery inner strength, Carnelian makes for an amazing jewel when it comes to crystal healing. Worn directly against the skin, a Carnelian bracelet, pendant or ring can bring its bright vibrations straight into the body, ensuring you get the highest level of healing power.

However, feel free to place your Carnelian anywhere in your home, office or spiritual space as it is not required to be worn in order to achieve its benefits. This stone will boost harmony, stimulate creativity and invite abundance into the atmosphere it occupies – regardless of whether it is being carried or not. Many spiritual practitioners will add Carnelian into candles to boost its energy manifestation. Burning incense or candles near the stone is said to have a similar affect. 

When you work with a Carnelian stone, you’re working with a stone of alchemy. You are setting the intention that all energy that doesn’t serve you will dissipate, only to be replaced by something more harmonious.

How to cleanse your Carnelian

If you feel the need to spiritually cleanse your Carnelian, you have several options. 

A) Smudging 

Smudging with incense or smoke is a common practice as far as crystal cleansing and can be applied to the cleansing ritual of a Carnelian stone as well s any other. Using herbs like sage, sweetgrass, palo santo, and lavender; this practice is held sacred for its metaphysical purposes (particularly when sage is used). To do this, hold your smudge rod or incense of choice around your crystals, visualizing that the smoke is purifying, cleansing, and charging your crystals with positive energy. Let the smoke surround your crystal for 30 seconds or so, focusing your energy on the healing, cleansing, and refreshing of your carnelian. Once you’ve finished smudging, open your window to release the smoke that the herb or incense has generated.

B) Moonlight 

Setting your Carnelian out under moonlight is also believed to be a highly affective cleanser. Moonlight can equally be utilized as a “charger” for Carnelian. Place your stone by your windowsill and leave it overnight. 

C) The Earth 

You can even cleanse you Carnelian with the earth itself. Planting this stone in the ground will return its energy to its form and re-activate its spirit. If you feel grounded by earth, find a safe spot for burying your carnelian, such as in a garden or beside your favorite plant. Bury your Carnelian in the soil and leave it there for a day or two, then rinse with water.

What to avoid when cleansing Carnelian

You should avoid charging or cleansing your Carnelian with sunlight. Sunlight is not suitable for many stones and Carnelian is one that should not be left in the sun for long periods. It breaks down the minerals in the stone and the color fades.

Carnelian Associations

  • Chakras – Sacral 
  • Birthstone – July 
  • Zodiac – Cancer, Taurus, Leo, Virgo
  • Planet – Mars
  • Element – Fire 
  • Typical colors – Clear-to-translucent red brown which may vary from a pale orange to pink, or from grey to an intense almost black.
Comprehensive and stunningly illustrated, this essential reference celebrates the beauty and healing potential of 500 crystals and gems. Step-by-step instructions cover divination, spiritual development, and personal empowerment-everything from headache relief to finding love and improving family relationships to warding off workplace bullying. A table on each page informs readers of essential facts on each stone, and there’s advice on usage, cleaning, and care.
Practitioners of holistic medicine who prefer the benefits of a natural, noninvasive healing method will find everything they need to know in this lovely guide.
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Ocean Jasper: The Crystal of Waves

Ocean Jasper: The Crystal of Waves by W1tchsbrew

Be sure to check out W1tchsbrew’s Etsy shop Wood ov Wyrd.

WHAT IS OCEAN JASPER?

Ocean Jasper or Sea Jasper is characterized by the presence of small spherical aggre- gates (spherulites, or “orbs”), just a few millimeters in diameter, that derive from a process of alternation and silicification of volcanic tuff and rhyolite flows. As one of the many known types of Jasper, Ocean Jasper is a member of the Quartz family. Its high mineral silica content accounts for the specks of shimmering druzy quartz often found in Ocean Jasper. This includes orb-like shapes alongside other patterns and strips of colour – hence the name, orbicular Ocean Jasper.

OCEAN JASPER ORIGINS:

Ocean Jasper only comes from one place in the world, northwestern Madagascar. It is found in the Analalava district of the Sofia region in the former province of Mahajanga. 

As the deposits are part of the shoreline they can only be seen and mined at low tide. With no roads in this remote area, material must be removed and transported by boat.

TYPES OF OCEAN JASPER:

Eight different veins of Ocean Jasper have been discovered and each has produced slightly different looking stones. Although this crystal is more commonly found in white, green and brown, Ocean Jasper is sometimes also found in black, blue, red, pink, orange, yellow and gray.

The stone was named “Ocean” jasper by an American mineral dealer in 1922, simply because the first known deposit was located very close to the sea itself as well as its resemblance to waves, ripples, and water drop rings. 

The best known research on Ocean Jasper is by Dr. Werner Lieber. He theorized that it is a sphärolithischer Chalcedon (German, “spherulitic or orbicular chalcedony”) Spherulitic refers to spherulites, a more technical name for the orbs.

8th vein ocean jasper is considered by many as the finest kind of ocean jasper.

METAPHYSICAL HEALING PROPERTIES OF OCEAN JASPER:

Ocean jasper is said to provide calm, uplifting energy to the holder in trying times, feeding into a more optimistic outlook on life. The stone aids clearer communication, and enhances self-confidence as well as insight. 

This beautiful stone draws its soothing power from the element of Water, outputting strength and renewal with a slow, steady frequency and a deep circular energy that embodies the interconnectedness of all things. A highly spiritual Shamanic stone, Ocean Jasper is said to purify everything around us as well as connect us with protective and healing nature spirits.

PHYSICAL HEALING PROPERTIES OF OCEAN JASPER:

Ocean Jasper is also popular among crystal healers for its believed ability to address and relieve certain physical ailments as well as activating and aligning solar plexus, heart, and throat chakras. 

Ocean Jasper is thought to be highly restorative for tissue deterioration of the internal organs. Said to help stabilize nutritional absorption of vitamins and minerals, especially in balancing sodium and iodine levels and relieving water retention, Ocean Jasper is highly sought out for it’s believed physical healing properties. 

Known as the “Supreme Nurturer,” Jasper is a stone of grounding and stability, providing comfort and security, strength and healing. Its presence balances the aura to a level of wholeness and peace, and acts as a reminder that one is not here on the physical plane simply for oneself, but to bring joy and substance to others.

Like the gentle tides that ebb and flow along the shore, wearing away rocks and bringing gifts from the oceans floor, Ocean Jasper brings to the surface long-hidden and unresolved emotional issues in a soft and nurturing manner. Ocean Jasper inspires compassion towards yourself throughout any healing process. It promotes patience, reminding you that everything is accomplished in perfect time. This is a crystal for being honest with oneself and listening to your heart, especially when confronting problems. As you align with Ocean Jasper you willingly accept responsibility for your actions and experience a more joyous, confident outlook.
Explore the natural wonder of one of the most important petrological discoveries of the last 20 years, the spectacular Ocean Jasper or “Spherulitic Chalcedony” of Madagascar. Coveted by collectors, lapidaries and the jewelry market, this amazing material has become exceedingly rare as large-scale high grade specimens, and remains a geological mystery to petrologists. Find out why conservation efforts are important to preserve remaining large-scale specimens for classification and research studies. Includes full color images of many beautiful specimens.
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Phantom Quartz: Otherworldly and Rare

Phantom Quartz: Otherworldly and Rare by guest Blogger W1tchsbrew

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Otherworldly and rare, Phantom quartz is a variety of quartz consisting of visible layers of overlapping crystal growths. The outline of the inner crystals can be seen due to some variation in composition or mineral inclusion making the boundary between growths visible. The interior crystal layers are known as phantoms.

About 2000 years ago, naturalist and philosopher Pliny the Elder wrote that Quartz crystals were formed in icy environments particularly in caverns and dark clefts in the mountains. This became the widely accepted belief in the 18th century when modern geology was just burgeoning in Europe. Around that time, Phantom Quartz crystals were called ‘ghost crystals’ and ‘shadow crystals.’

Phantom Quartz in Spirituality

Shamans consider Phantom Quartz to be the light stone. It symbolizes the light residing in every person. Toltec philosophy claims that every living being is a light being, which means all organisms come from the same source and are interconnected.

But our light can get dimmed and often not seen by the naked eye. This causes us to feel disconnected from others and the world. Phantom Quartz counters this effect. Its light helps restore our bond with every living creature.

Phantom Quartz can also be found in other colors such as this green specimen.

Metaphysical Properties of Phantom Quartz

It is believed that the crystal can heighten intuition and create a connection with one’s spirit guide. Phantom Quartz is used to access the angelic realm. It is beneficial in unblocking and activating the third eye and crown chakras. As a result, greater consciousness and spiritual growth is achieved.

The crystal also has the ability to balance the root and sacral chakras, the areas that can get blocked by a person’s traumas. Blocked lower chakras can lead to fear and low self-esteem. Phantom Quartz clears out and balances these energy points to replace unproductive energies with love, creativity, sexuality, and stability.

Phantom Quartz is effective at cleansing auras and dispelling negative energies. It helps with personal inner growth and overcome stagnation. It aids and enhances healing abilities and facilitates the elimination of toxins from the body. Phantom Quartz connects to the earth and higher realms.

ORIGIN

Phantom Quartz is only found in Minas Gerais, an inland state in southern Brazil known for its wealth of minerals and mining activities.

Phantom quartz crystals have been referred to as ghost crystals, spectre crystals and shadow crystals. The name quartz comes from the Saxon word querklufterz which meant cross vein ore.

A comprehensive and beautifully illustrated guide to crystals.

Find a known crystal instantly or identify an unknown crystal in this easy-to-follow directory that includes photographic identification, detailed descriptions, and information on the individual properties of each crystal–including the spiritual, mental and psychological, emotional and physical effects, plus its use in healing. It’s an indispensable reference for crystal lovers everywhere, featuring over 150 crystals.