Gold

Gold is an amazing metal. It does not corrode, rust or break down in any way. It is incredibly strong. One gram of Gold can be stretched into a thin wire measuring one kilometer (5/8 of a mile). Of the known 80,000 metric tons that have been mined throughout history, most of it is still around in one form or another. Gold used in gilding has been hammered into paper-thin sheets. No other metal is as ductile, malleable or stable as this bright mineral.

Nor has any other mineral captured, corrupted, or enlightened the soul of Humans the way that Gold has.

Unlike other metals, Gold is rarely found included in other minerals. Though a type of Quartz with veins of Gold has been discovered in California. Where it is available, Gold is normally found in it's purest form. As a crystal, it can sometimes look like a glittering alien plant. Twins, cubes, octahedra and dodecahedra crystals are other common Gold crystal shapes. Near the vents where volcanic steam and heat escape from the Transylvanian mountains yield some of the most beautiful Gold crystals in the world.

Nuggets are the most common shape that Gold is found in. Gold initially emerges after magmatic or hydrothermal events. Huge deposits have been discovered near veins of Quartz, Pyrite and other minerals that form as a result of this type of geological activity. Silver, Copper and Iron are sometimes found in the same deposits.

Most of the igneous (magmatic) material that Gold is deposited in, has worn away over the millennia. The remaining nuggets wash into nearby streams and water flows. This is called an alluvial flow and a high percentage of Gold is still retrieved from these washes. Crystals and deposits that still remain in the host rock are called reef Gold. Alluvial deposits have also been referred to as placers and leads, depending on whether or not you were in the California or Australian Gold rush.

It is believed that the earliest known sources of Gold came from alluvial deposits. Shepherds along the Black Sea using sheepskin to pan Gold from the rivers that flowed into the sea, may have contributed to the legend of the Golden Fleece.

The first evidence of Gold being used for jewelry dates back around 6,000 years ago. An Eastern European culture used the metal to fashion decorative objects. It is believed the Gold came from the Transylvanian Alps. Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli and Carnelian set in Gold were found in Queen Zer of Egypt's tomb dating back to 3,000 BC.

Many of the Egyptians tombs were robbed of their riches long before archeologists began exploring them. Which is why the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb was so important. Because the tomb had managed to remain intact through the centuries, we are able enjoy some exquisite examples of Egyptian Golden craftmanship and artwork.

Humans enamored by its brilliance, and very conscious of its lack of availibilty quickly accepted Gold as a universal standard of exchange. Everyone wanted Gold, and eventually many would do anything to get it. Coins were first minted from Gold around 560 BC. History credits Croesus, then King of Lydia for kicking off this long-lived trend.

While history repeatedly illustrates the horrid effect that greed for Gold has had, no other culture suffered more from this greed than the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The impact of the conquistadors quest for the elusive metal basically wiped out the Incan, Mayans and other important Central American civilizations. Even as late as the 1830's the lust for Gold was still tearing apart native cultures. The infamous Trail Of Tears, driving the Cherokee Nation from the Carolinas to Oklahoma was the result of Gold being found in the Quartz veins of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ironically in the early 1700's, the Cherokee were first given those very same lands because they were deemed of little value.

This powerfully hypnotic metal quickly found its way into our spiritual cultures as well. The Libyian Desert is supposedly the result of Helios' (a Greek Sun god) son loosing control of his father's Golden Chariot and crashing. Moses was instructed by God to fashion Aaron's High Priest breastplate from Gold and a variety of gemstones. In rituals throughout Asia, statues were gilded in Gold in an effort to bring them to life. Buddha images were layered in the metal as a sign of absolute perfection. Byzantine painters used Gold in their art to illustrate the divine light of subjects like the Christ Child and Madonna.

Egyptians believed Gold was the flesh of the Sun and were eager to adorn their gods and pharaohs with the metal. Aztecs associated it with the Earth's new skin, just before Spring would bring rains and reawaken the fertile land. It was a symbol of eternal renewal. In West African traditions Gold was the Tree of Knowledge and the Throne of Wisdom.

Magicians used it to summon and project their power. Herbalists would use knives of Gold to cut plants to strengthen the healing and magical powers of their herbs. Gemstone rings, bracelets and amulets set in Gold aided in clarifying and manifesting the intent of the wearer. This is especially true of Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond.

Today Gold permeates our society. Each jet engine on a Boeing 777 uses two pounds of Gold. Glass is coated with gold for airline windows, telescopes and used extensively in medical implants. Everytime you touch a key on your computer's keyboard, the message is relayed to your computer using Gold circuits. Dentists use 26,000 pounds of Gold a year, just in the USA. This magical metal can even aid in pollution, helping to convert nitric oxide to a harmless nitrogen and CO to CO2.

Setting your favorite gemstone or crystal in Gold can bring a fiery new energy to your work. Inside Mother Earth is a molten fire that keeps our planet warm and safe for life. Gold is Mother's purest reflection of that energy. Nothing alters this metal, not Fire, Water, Air or the ravages of time. It remains as constant as the pure love of our Mother and Father for us.

Using Gold helps you to summon the power of this perfect love into what ever your intent is. It will perfect your aim so that you attain your goals with the fewest obstacles.

Gold assists you in clearly communicating your intentions into the gemstone you are working with. Its energy will drive both you and your crystal to achieve your highest potential. When placed over any Chakra, it will activate and magnify that Charka's energy as well as provide intense healing.

Gold also represents the divine light of Grandfather Sun and can be a wonderful spiritual guide, lighting the path to your highest good. As your sense of personal power grows under the brilliant influence of this metal, so will your confidence, courage and determination.

Just like Gold circuits in computers help energy to travel, the metal works much the same way with you spiritually. Allowing knowlege and wisdom to move easily into your thoughts and actions and sending your intentions reliably out into the Universe.

Regular Medical science has used Gold in the treatment of arthritis for quite a while. Dentists have employed it in their practice for centuries. Its durable nature has made it popular for implants and various medical devices.

Current holistic treatments utilizing Gold include aiding with skin disorders, heart trouble and removing emotional blockages. Gold's ability to conduct energy may be benefical in relieving autism, dyslexia, and epilepsy.

Be aware, the Gold you purchase in a jewelry store, will probably not be pure Gold. Because of its soft nature, jewelry of pure Gold can be rather fragile. Not that it will break, but it will bend, distort and scratch fairly easy. The purest and softest is labeled 24 karat Gold, and it is 100% Gold. It should also be handled with the great care.

Cooper and Silver are the most common metals mixed with Gold for jewelry. Iron, Zinc, Nickel, Tin and Manganese and also be used. The karats indicate how much Gold there is versus other metals. For instance, 18 karat Gold is 18 parts Gold to 6 parts Silver or Copper (normally) and 14 karat Gold is 14 parts Gold to 10 part other metal(s). Anything under 10 karats cannot be called Gold in the US.

Silver and Copper are mixed with Gold to create the tri-colored Black Hills Gold. The greens come from Copper and the white from Silver. The jewelry must be make in the Black Hills to bear the name.