Like hundreds of others before me, when I saw my first Iolite I mistook it for a dark blue Sapphire. Fortunately, the dealer I was working with at the time corrected my error (not all will) and told me it was a less expensive, but no less beautiful gem known as Iolite.
Over the years Iolite has picked up a number of trade names. Water Sapphire, Lynx Sapphire, Cordierite and Dichroite. The crystal was first "described" (given a geological definition and it's chemical composition noted) by a French geologist, Pierre Louis Cordier in 1809. His definition and the stone's adopted the name Cordierite in 1813. However he is not credited with discovering the gemstone, just uncovering its geological description.
Its Greek name comes from the work io or ios which means violet. Lynx Sapphire normally refers to the darkest blue gems. However this crystal is found in yellow, brown, green and gray, as well as the pale to deep midnight blues.
Iolite is a fairly complex silicate (Quartz) of Magnesium and Aluminum, with Iron replacing the Magnesium in some crystals, giving those stones more density (heavier). Traces of Lime and Water are also found in the majority of the gems. Its abundance and hard nature have made Iolite a very popular gem in jewelry. With colors rich enough to rival the more expensive Sapphire and the fragile Tanzanite.
Amazingly enough, some of the finest quality Iolites (those that are cut for jewelry) are found as river gravel in the gem rich river bottoms of Ceylon. Sapphires, Carnelians, Topaz, Apatite, Zircon and a number of other highly sought after gems are also retrieved from these gravel beds.
Most Iolite deposits are found as a mass in Granite, metamorphosed clay rocks, and some igneous stones (from volcanic activity). The rare crystal that does form is rhombic or orthorhombic (diamond like prisms with rectangular sides) in structure and usually found in pegmatites. Some crystals have been found in Granite formations however they tend to not be gem quality.
A couple of counties in Connecticut have yielded some exceptional crystals from pegmatites, large enough to cut two plus carat gemstones from. Brazil, Finland, Tanzania, Namibia, Madagascar, India and Russia's Ural mountains all have excellent deposits. Iolite containing Hematite platelets has been found as large chunks in Sri Lanka and Norway.
Iolite or Cordierite may not have gotten into the geological reference books until the early 1800's, but it was a much appreciated and quite useful gemstone long before Cordier wrote his scientific description.
The Water Sapphire has a very unusual characteristic. It is dichroic or pleochroic meaning the crystal appears different colors at different angles (hence another of its names Dichorite). Ancient mariners utilized this to aid in their navigation, making Iolite a sort of crude compass. It may have been an Iolite slab that helped to guide the Vikings to the Newfoundland and back home again.
According to some references, Iolite is bluest when it is held 90 degrees from the Sun. Others state that it was used like polarized sunglasses to locate the Sun by looking through the crystal into the sky. Supposedly this worked even on cloudy days. Unfortunately I don't have pieces large enough to test either of these scenarios.
Iolite has a long history as a talisman for safe journeys and a reputation for calming rough seas among the earliest sailors.
Today it is a popular gemstone for those wanting to develop their psychic skills and natural intuition. Iolite gently activates the sixth Chakra, allowing you to learn the depth of your inner knowledge at the pace that is correct for you.
If you have difficulty with meditation, or need assistance with a vision quest, this crystal makes an excellent guide. You'll let go of your expectations and learn more quickly to be at ease with just being. Once you stop expecting, your spiritual vision will become clearer.
Work with Iolite if you need to bring more structure into your life. This crystal teaches the power of responsibility. Taking care of yourself is an act of self-respect; would you allow another of Mother's children to go uncared for? Iolite reminds you to respect and be responsible for the gift of life you were given.
This is a great stone is recommended for helping you to bring more balance to your masculine and feminine spiritual traits.
In the past Iolite has been used to treat diseases that bring on high fevers like malaria. It may also be used to eliminate the effect of drinking alcohol and may be beneficial in ridding the physical body of toxins. Individuals with liver problems may see some improvement working with this crystal.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
IOLITE
Howlite
Snow drifted fence lines rolling across the plains into a distant horizon. This is the image the web of gray veins across the snowy white surface of a Howlite gemstone conjures for me. The fresh, innocent calm and utter silence left by a blizzard seem to be reflected in this stone's energy.
Howlite is a complex crystal that includes calcium, borax, silicon (Quartz) and hydroxide. This patient gemstone forms slowly as calcium and boran evaporate, creating massive deposits of Howlite in sedimentary stones. Under extremely rare circumstances this stone will crystallize into six sided tabular shapes, aggregated rosettes or bumpy nodules. Most commonly known for grayish veins weaving cross its white surface, Howlite can also be found with brownish streaks.
When examined under a shortwave UV light, some Howlite specimens will fluoresce blue or yellowish white.
The stone was first described/discovered in Nova Scotia in the 1830's by the Canadian geologist Henry How and is named for him. Since How first described the stone, geologists have been undecided over how to classify this relatively new specimen. Because of its silicate content some want to classify it with the huge, over populated Quartz family. However, others contend that Quartz is only one fifth the content of the stone and the Borax molecules far out number the silicon therefore Howlite belongs in the Borate group.
There also appears to be some confusion over the stone's relationship to Magnesite. Some references list Howlite and Magnesite as the same mineral, others list them separately. In the Audubon field guide Magnesite is described as a magnesium carbonate with iron and calcum. I would conclude they are not the same.
While this is a pretty soft gemstone (only 3.5 on the mohs scale), it has an extremely tough structure, making it very popular as a carving material. In fact, some of the nicest carvings I've seen have been done using Howlite. Its natural gray and brown veins add an interesting dimension to any shape.
Another popular use for this crystal has given it something of a bad reputation. Which is unfortunate. Because of the poreous nature of Howlite, it absorbs dyes easily and completely. Commercial dealers have become quite fond of dying Howlite to resemble Turquoise and Lapis Lazuli. Then not sharing with the public what they are actually selling.
An easy visual test for dyed versus natural material is to check for the consistency of color. Natural stones will have some variation in coloring across the stone. It will not be perfect. Since Howlite absorbs dyes so thoroughly, the color in a dyed Howlite is consistent and perfect throughout the stone. Ask your jeweler if you have any doubts.
In addition to deposits found in Canada, California also has numerous locations where the gemstone can be mined. Colemanite, Kernite, Ulexite and Gypsum (Selenite) are some of the other minerals found with Howlite.
You'll find that Howlite is an amazing gemstone for revealing the truth, especially the truth about yourself. Its bright light will illuminate all those reasons that you think are preventing you from reaching your goals as the little white lies they are. This crystal will show you the truth about your strengths, the incredible power you are capable of. But first, it will teach you to stop lying to yourself. So, be careful what you wish for.
Use Howlite to eliminate the tendency to react selfishly during stressful economic times. The woman who gives one of her last two pennies makes a greater contribution than the rich man that tithes a percentage of his income. If you tend to be highly critical of those around you, especially loved ones, this stone can help you reform the habit. In fact, you can use a Howlite stone to help you recognize any habits or behaviors that may be impeding your spiritual evolution.
During stressful conflicts, use the gemstone to bring a calm patience to your reactions. It will prevent you from becoming rude, or behaving in a manner that will only heighten angry emotions. You will find yourself more able to react with tact and communicate your concerns in an appropriate manner. One that will allow for a resolution rather than an escalation.
If you are starting school or undertaking new studies, Howlite will enhance your thirst for knowledge. It will heighten your perceptions, allowing your to absorb new ideas and information easily, and incorporate your new skills and knowledge into every day life.
Health benefits from working with Howlite may include a balanced absorption of calcium and stronger bones and teeth. It could provide relief from pain and the physical symptoms of stress.
I would love to hear about your experiences with Howlite. Please feel free to share, send them to stephanie@ozarkrockexchange.com or, better yet, post them on the ORE's Gemstone Bulletin Board.
Human Crystal
You are pure magic. The physical body that supports you is a symphony of chemical and electrical actions and reactions that allow you to do the simplest of things, such as read this email or sip a drink. These chemical processes also insure that your heart will continue beating and your lungs keep breathing, without you having to give them a single thought.
There are many things that go into making the human body the magical machine that it is. You are probably aware of the importance of certain vitamins in your diet. Just as critical (maybe even more so) are the mineral elements that are necessary to support your machinery.
Many of the same minerals that are vital to your survival are found in the gemstones and crystals that you are attracted to. Minerals affect the way a crystal will grow, the colors it shows and its healing qualities. Minerals can affect how your body develops, your skin tone and health. Many crystals are electrical or can influence the flow of electricity; Quartz can actually create an electrical current. Your body functions because of electrical impulses that allow muscles, tendons, the spinal cord, brain and your other vital organs to communicate and function in harmony with each other. It is an electrical impulse that causes your finger to hit the mouse and scroll this page down to continue reading.
Minerals are at the root of these electrical actions. While vitamins are critical for your survival, without the assistance of minerals, your body would not be able to utilize some vitamins. For instance, you may take mega doses of vitamin C to help ward off colds this coming Winter. However, if your Calcium levels are low, your body will not be able to absorb or use any of it.
Minerals themselves require the presence of "buddy minerals" to ensure proper body function. Without Magnesium your body would not be able to metabolize (turn calories into energy) Calcium or Zinc. Without Zinc, your body would not be able to absorb and use Phosphorus.
Physical ingredients are not the only similarity that you share with crystals. The heat, pressures and metamorphic events that form crystals teach you an important lesson about living life. As you walk your path you will face difficulties that bring stress, hardship and changes. How you endure and work through these events will shape you. You can choose to be strengthened and enhanced or allow life to slowly wear you down. Minerals that have undergone cataclysmic changes usually become the most brilliant gemstones. Occasionally though, they just become dust. Unlike minerals, you have a choice in how you will be shaped by the forces in your life. Brilliance, or dust.
Here are some of the critical minerals that make up your crystal body. This is not intended as a dietary guide, but simply a list of these vital elements, some of their functions and a few of the gemstones that share that specific element.
CALCIUM - makes up teeth and bones; assists with nerve functions, muscle contraction and blood clotting; lack of Calcium can cause osteoporosis, rickets and form stones in the Kidney or Gall Bladder
Crystals with Calcium include Calcite, Prehnite, Labradorite, Grossular and Uvarovite Garnets
IRON - vital for the absorption of Oxygen from the lungs into the blood and other tissue; lack of Iron can cause anemia and increase the risk of infection; too much Iron can cause organ damage and deficiencies in Calcium and Magnesium
Crystals with Iron include Garnets, Bloodstone, Hematite, Amethyst, Citrine, Lodestone and Carnelian
MAGNESIUM - builds strong bones, necessary for the absorption of Calcium, utilized by 90 different enzymes within the body, assists with muscle and nerve actions; lack of Magnesium can cause weakness, muscle problems, PMS and irregular heartbeat
Crystals that include Magnesium are Iolite, Peridot, Pyrope Garnets, Spinel and Nephrite Jade
PHOSPHOROUS - makes up bone tissue, helps to form compounds that assist the body in converting calories into energy; not enough Phosphorous can cause weakness, loss of minerals in bones and breathing problems; too much prevents your body from absorbing important minerals like Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Zinc
Apatite appears to be one of the few crystals that contain Phosphorous
POTASSIUM - supplies the base ion that makes up intercellular fluids (which allow for communication between the cells and the nervous system), assists with the functioning of muscles and nerve tissues, lack of Potassium can cause muscle paralysis, too much can cause heart attacks
Crystals with Potassium include some Moonstones, Amazonite, Granite, Lepidolite and Apophyllite
SODIUM - helps to maintain the right volume of extra cellular fluids (which also assist with the flow of information along the nervous system), corrects the PH balance within your body, helps with muscle function; lack of Sodium can cause low blood pressure, weakness, fever, breathing problems; too much Sodium causes high blood pressure, dehydration and water retention
Crystals that include Sodium are Sodalite, Halite, Jadeite, some Tourmalines, Labradorite, Albite and Apophyllite
This next groups of minerals are found in very small amounts within your body. Not all the functions and disfunctions for these minerals are known or completely understood right now. I've supplied what information I could find.
CHROMIUM - works with the skeletal muscles, lack of Chromium can lead to depression, weakness and lack of patience
Crystals with Chromium include Emerald, Uvarovite Garnet, Diopside and some green Tourmalines
COPPER - helps to form collagen in the blood, is a part of important enzymes; lack of Copper can cause your hair to fall out, disrupt the nervous system, cause bone disease
Crystals with Copper include Turquoise, Malachite, Chrysocolla, pink Prehnite and Azurite
MANGANESE - works as an antioxidant, strengthens bones, nerves and muscles, part of the critical enzyme (CuZn SOD); lack of Manganese can cause rashes and skin irritations, deform bones, stunt hair growth; too much Manganese can cause Parkinson-like symptoms
Crystals with Manganese are Rose Quartz, Rhodonite, Rhodocrosite, Morganite, Spessarite Garnet, Cordierite and Sugilite
SELENIUM - is another antioxidant, assists the immune system, is the essential component of the glutathione peroxidase enzyme; a lack of Selenium can lead to disease in the cartilage around your joints and heart difficulties; too much can be poisonous
Selenium is rarely found in gemstones or crystals, but does crystalize on its own occasionally
SULFUR - helps to remove toxins from the body, one of the building blocks for amino acids, promotes healthy skin, hair, nails; the body needs so little Sulphur there is rarely a deficiency
Sulphur crystallizes on its own, normally on rocks or stones, it is also found occasionally in Quartz (especially from India) and Selenite
ZINC - helps over 200 different enzymes do their jobs, strengthens the immune system; lack of Zinc causes sores on the skin and cornea, increases your risk of infection; too much Zinc will prevent your body from absorbing Copper
Crystals with Zinc include Hemimorphite, Junitoite and Queitite
These are not the only minerals found in your body. Very small traces of Fluorine, Iodine, Cobalt, Molybdenum and Silicon are also present, though their functions are not completely understood at this time.
Most amazing of all (to me anyway) is the fact that these critical minerals you would not survive without are all an important part of Mother Earth. Within the Earth's crust, each mineral exists in proportions that are amazingly similar to the amounts your body needs to perform.
As Father Sky rains and his winds scrap across Mother, these minerals are weathered out of the Earth's shell and make their way into plants, water, animals and eventually our food supply. So not only is your body an amazing symphony of magical processes, but the entire planet works in harmony with you to sustain life. Once you begin to see these interrelations between all things on Earth, the words, "you are what you eat" take on a profound significance.
Your connection to the Earth is not just a spiritual state of mind. The "Web of Life" is not just a warm and fuzzy statement to make us feel good about each other. Your connection to Earth and Life's Web are very physical realities and maintaining the balance on Earth and for all life is essential to the survival of humans.
Hematite
Hematite, the main product of iron, can be found all over the world. It accounts for 90% of the iron mined in the US. It provides the color in numerous sedimentary rocks, like Sandstone.
A totally opaque gemstone, Hematite is 70% iron and 30% oxygen. This bit of information, prompted me to get out a magnet, and yes, my Hematite stone did react. It began spinning in resistance to the magnet's pull.
Hematite can crystallize in plates, rounded botryoidal bumps or even in rhombohedral crystals. Often it will occur as a red inclusion in other gems or crystals.
It was the original stone to be referred to as Bloodstone. Some specimens, when cut, will "bLeed" oxidized iron, which is red. The ancient traditional spelling of this stone, Haematite, comes from the Greek word meaning blood stone
In Utah and Arizona it formed iron roses, hexagonal plates of Hematite spread out in disorganized patterns that resemble a rose.
Thick plate crystals have been found in Brazil, along with iridescent specimens called Rainbow Hematite. Italy's Elba Island also produces this brilliant Hematite. England, Spain, Germany, the Alps and the huge iron belt around the Great Lakes all boast large deposits of this gemstone.
Before more modern and cheaper methods were developed, Hematite was used as a pigment in red and black dyes. Dust for polishing softer gemstones and crystals has been manufactured from Hematite.
Hematite's use as a healing stone goes back into old Egypt and Mesopotamia. It has been found adorning cylinders and signet rings in the tombs of the Pharaohs.
As a power stone, Hematite is closely tied to Mother Earth. This makes it a perfect Base Chakra gem, aligning your physical energies with those of the Earth.
Hematite can help create a calm environment, allowing you to sort out mental conflicts. It will aid in removing self imposed limits, helping you reach for the sun while staying grounded in your expectations.
Use this gem to transform harmful energies into loving ones. Brings about your own inner peace, happiness and self control, making it easier for you to love others.
For students and engineers, it aids in solving mathematical calculations, improves technical knowledge, memory and mental dexterity.
Hematite is an excellent meditation stone for beginners. It will help you achieve a mild meditative state, while allowing you to remain safely grounded, preventing emotional disruption or shock.
Ancient healing traditions for Hematite were originally described using the name Bloodstone.
It was used to stop the flow of blood from wounds and drawing poisons from the body. You can still use a Hematite to draw fever or other illnesses from the body.
Hematite also makes a wonderful elixir. Use it to treat anemia, it will aid the blood in absorbing iron. It can also be useful for treating insomnia, leg cramps and nervous disorders.
Chiropractors can use a Hematite to aid in spinal alignments. It may also be helpful in healing broken bones.
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.
Garnet
Garnets are an ancient gemstone, originally known as a carbuncle. Found all over the world, they make up a family of complex silicates with a wide variety of chemical compositions, but very similar crystal structures.
Garnets form under the great heat & pressures that only metamorphic & igneous rocks can endure. Geologists may use garnets to gauge extreme temperatures & pressures in a specific area.
Calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, & aluminum are among the more common metals found in Garnets. Regardless of the chemical content, Garnets always grow in symmetrical, cube-based crystals. The basic trademark shape of this gemstone is the rhombic dodecahedron, a 12 sided crystal.
There are 7 main classes of garnets & 3 sub-classes. A description of each class follows this article. Colors in this gemstone range from dark blood reds to brilliant greens.
Since these gemstones are so easy to find, (Italy, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Norway, Bohemia, Africa, India, Brazil, California, New Jersey, North Carolina & Arizona) they are not highly valued as a jewelry stone. Its value as a magical gem however, has a long & mythical history.
Garnets were believed to glow in the dark & Noah used a Garnet lantern to guide the ark at night. In both ancient Asia & the American Southwest, the Garnet was used as a bullet. It was believed that the gem’s blood red color would inflict greater damage.
Normally considered a January birthstone, Garnets also work well for those born under the sun signs of Aries, Leo, & Virgo.
Garnets are associated with the base chakra and are often used to stimulate the Kundalini. They can open the flow of energy from the base to the Crown Chakra, awakening the Kundalini.
In fact anytime you are working to control the flow of energies, Garnets are a wonderful ally. They can be used to store energy for later use, or assist in extracting negative energy & transmuting it into positive.
Garnets make a wonderful stone for business. They can implement creative powers & prevent chaotic & disruptive growth. This gemstone brings good news, builds cooperation & creates charisma. Use a Garnet to stoke your internal fires, strengthen your commitment & improve your self esteem.
You may also use Garnets to promote success in your spiritual journey. Garnets help stabilize the connection between the spiritual & physical world. They help bring about balance by assisting you in controlling your personal energy flow.
For healing, Garnets may be used in treating ailments related to the spine. They are powerful in helping repair cellular structure in the heart, lungs & blood. They also help the body utilize minerals like iodine, calcium & magnesium & vitamins A,D & E.
Garnets can be found in the Happiness Stone Power Prayer Pouch from Ozark Rock Exchange.
Garnet Classes
Almandine - deep red color with heavy content of iron. Used in older Victorian era jewelry
Pyrope - fire red, often the largest growing garnets, contain magnesium
Rhodolite - reddish purple with excellent clarity, combination of iron & magnesium
Spessartite - orange to orange/brown, heavy mineral content of manganese
Grossular - a yellow garnet from Sri Lanka, mineral content is calcium
Hessonite - yellow/brown, related to Grossular & containing calcium
Tsavorite - a sparkling green containing chromium (like emeralds)
Andradite - black, no value as a jewelry stone, considerable spiritual value, combination of calcium & iron
Demantoid - a lively green but brittle & soft specimen, like Andradite, its mineral content is calcium & iron
Uvarovite - another emerald green garnet, though its color is not always consistent, contains chromium & calcium
Fossils
Fossils are a vibrant record of past lives. I remember the first time I held a Trilobite (prehistoric bug that inhabited the primal oceans) I could feel and almost see dozens of crawling critters. It was my first experience in "reading" a stone and it was quite powerful. Fossils have intrigued me ever since.
Depending on the reference you read, there are up to a half a dozen ways that an organic entity becomes a fossilized one. The simplest way to become a fossil is a method called unaltered preservation. These tend to be insects and other tiny creature that became imbedded in seeping globs of primal tree sap. Today these globs are known as Amber and specimens with intact critters bring the highest prices.
Amber itself is technically a fossil as well, though it did not undergo any of the processes described. Since a fossil is: "any evidence of past plant or animal life that is preserved in the materials of the Earth's crust". Amber and Copal are both evidence of primal trees and are retrieved from Mother's surface.
The next most common process is called permineralization or petrification. Trees and bones from ancient animals are usually preserved or fossilized through this manner. For an entity to become petrified it must be immediately buried and protected from the elements. As time works it's magic, the organic material decays in such a slow manner that mineral rich waters seep in and replace it, tediously turning it into a permanent stone record. Fossils formed in this way can take on some fantastic colors, depending on which minerals are in the location where petrification is taking place. It is not unusual to find Petrified Wood in reds, purples, yellows and greens because Iron, Magnanese or some other combination of minerals were present.
In some texts this is referred to as replacement. In one text it was cited as a separate process, but I really wasn't able to understand a difference.
Authigenic or cast preservation is an interesting process. In this scenario the organic individual is caught in sediment and immediately buried. However, instead of minerals replacing the organic material, when the trapped individual decays, it is simply washed away by percolating ground waters or rain. Leaving a perfect "cast" of the original creature. In some instances, minerals will fill in the gaps and eventually form a crystal replica of the entity. In Australia many authigenic preservations are filled with Opals, creating some brilliant imitations.
Trace fossils are sort of half casts, though they form in the same way. In many cases trace fossils are not completely covered and only portions of the entity are preserved.
Carbonization or coalification is the preservation process that gives us our fossil fuels. As an organism decays, it leaves only its carbon elements. Other elements like hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are evaporated or removed into the atmosphere.
In a process call recystalization as the organism becomes petrified it reverts to a more stable crystal formation. Sometimes growing into larger crystals. An excellent example of this is the Crystallized Wood that comes from Alabama. This was wood that was in the process of becoming petrified, but a sudden changed caused this material to grow tiny Smoky Quartz crystals along their surface.
Paleontologists believe that only a small fraction of dinosaurs, plant life and other critters from our prehistoric dates were preserved as fossils. The vast majority of primal life simply decayed and disappeared.
The oldest known fossils are bacteria that geologists believe are 3.5 billion years old. Mother Earth has been documented at approximately 4.5 billion years old and the oldest rocks are around 3.8 billion. These bacteria, known as cyanobacteria are believed to be responsible for the formation of our present day atmosphere. The fossils are found in Western Australia in Precambrian rock.
Primal cyanobacteria formed stromatolites, the very first reefs in the ancient oceans. The bacteria would take in the carbon dioxide from the surrounding waters, which would then "rain" over the mat of bacteria and calcify. As this happened over and over again, the growths called stromatolites would grow in towers. Once the cyanobacteria was above the water's surface it would photosynthesize and create oxygen.
Some Proterozoic oil deposits are attributed to the work of cyanobacteria as well.
The oldest multi-cell fossils are a mere 540 to 600 million years old, also found in Australia. In the Ediacara Hills of Southern Australia fossils of jellyfish, soft corals, worms and proto-arthropods are fairly abundant. The oldest vertebrate (a fish-like creature) fossil dates to around 530 million years ago and was found in China.
Fossils have long fascinated us. Some ancient traditions believed that these stone replicas of unknown plants and animals were gifts from the stars. Others believed that the life force or spirit of the dead creature was contained within a fossil.
They certainly are excellent tools for beginners to learn reading stones. I have always found the voices and impressions from Petrified Wood, Amber, Trilobites and other fossil specimens to be very strong. It is as if the primal voice of the first soul is still singing within the stone. Landscapes, smells and images are always vivid and real when I hold one.
If you are wanting to learn to recognize the stories and words that the crystal world is willing to share, a fossil is a great place to start. Pick something you are drawn to, set yourself up in a quiet space so that you can relax and achieve a meditative calm. Then just open yourself and feel/see what comes. You may want to bring a notepad with you and write down your impressions (so you'll remember later).
As a beginner, be patient with yourself. All muscles need excersising before they achieve their best. Practice a little each day and keep track of your progress.
Fossils are also good tools for looking into your own past lives. If you are wanting to use a fossil to do past life regressions, be sure you do an initial meditation with your fossil of choice and explain your intent. Ask your fossil if it is able to assist you in re-learning old lessons.
You may also wish to use a fossil to help you connect with important animal or plant totems. As these fossils often carry the Spirit or Soul of the deceased entity.
Using a fossil for your health can promote longer life. They may also be beneficial for healthy bone growth and the absorption of calcium for strength. Petrified or permineralized fossils will take on many of the energies of the replacement materials. Petrified Wood for instance will carry many of the qualities of Quartz, Jasper and Chalcedonies in general.