Archive for the ‘Health and Healing’ Category

One of the most unique and interesting items for healing and cleansing your home and sacred space is also a very natural and magickal thing as well.  It’s mined salt crystal and when used it helps to release negative ions into the air to cleanse and refresh your space and your spirit.

Most salt crystal used today in these lamps come from the Himalayan mountains though it is also found in Russia and parts of central Europe.  The salt that is mined is often very, very old (some miners claim the salt to be millions of years old) and therefore the pieces have a very high mineral content.  When the salt is mined it is then hollowed out in the center either to allow a light bulb to be placed inside from the bottom or to allow for a candle to go into the center from the top of the crystal.  When lit, the bulb or candle flame heat the salt and cause a release of negative ions into the air.  The negative ions connect and attach themselves to positive ions in the air, which take the form of pollutants, and help to neutralize them.  When the positive and negative ions connect they essentially become too heavy to stay in the air and end up falling to the ground and being removed from the air circulation.

One way that the negative ion release from the salt lamps can be extra helpful is through countering the positive ions released from electrical equipment which can cause something known as “electrosmog”.  Electrosmog is an overabundance of man-made electro magnetic energy that we find surrounding us in our homes and offices.  If you’re someone that sits at a computer most of the day, you’re someone that may find themselves effected by this.  But even things like your cell phone, television and cooking appliances like your microwave contribute to a sometimes unhealthy level of EMEs in your environment.  Symptoms of overexposure include sleeplessness, irritability, headaches, and fatigue (and you thought your boss was just drinking too much coffee during the day).  This can lead to even more serious health concerns, and some people have suspected the EMEs could contribute to certain kinds of cancers, but the fact is there is little we can do to completely avoid them, so having things like salt lamps in the home to help neutralize the positive ions put off by these devices can be a good place to start.

The way it works is simple.  Like we’ve seen, there is the release of negative ions through the application of heat to the salt crystal.  When the salt becomes warm it attracts humidity and the surface of the salt crystal itself can become moist.  The ions build from the moisture and release into the air and attract to the positive ions in the area.  But this isn’t the only thing that has an effect.  The color of lamps themselves, colors that range from a light pink or salmon color to deep, rich oranges, have a therapeutic quality in themselves.  The wavelengths of the colors fall between 600-700 nanometers (a form of measurement that is often used to measure wavelengths and is essentially one billionth of a meter).  This measurement is in the upper part of the range making it visible to the eye and this particular color and range within the lamps creates a calming effect and is the same frequencies used in certain medicines used to treat skin cancer.  There have also been studies done to test on children and adults that have various disorders such as ADHD and sleep disorders to see how the salt lamps would impact them.  In these tests it was found that when the lamps were in the rooms with the patients for a week their symptoms subsided but once removed they came back.

So while not specifically a medical device by any means, having salt lamps, whether in the form of candle holders or as plug in lamps around the home, you will find that they can help to reduce some of the issues that many of us tend to come in contact with on a regular basis, including sleeplessness and even frequent colds, the flu and allergy symptoms.  Placing several around the home in key spots, such as the bedroom and at your home office or desk area, you will see the effect grow over time.

These lamps come in all shapes and sizes.  The shapes are generally either conical or pillar forms, though the smaller lamps are often more like a small round ball.  Shapes range and vary based on the natural characteristics of the piece mined.  There are also lamps that come in what is called “crafted shape” which is basically a piece of salt crystal that has been shaped to look like something.  A popular shape used is that of a bowl with chunks of salt rock inside it.  When looking at the lamps that plug in they often come in sizes ranging from 4lbs to 40lbs.  Different size lamps are good for different sized rooms.  Here is a guide that can help you pick the right lamp for your space.

8×8 sq ft area = 4-5lb lamp
10×10 sq ft area = 6-8lb lamp
12×12 sq ft area = 9-11lb lamp
14×14 sq ft area = 12-15lb lamp
20×20 sq ft area = 30-40lb lamp

You might also want to consider the color of the lamps when picking one out.  Orange is the most favored because it gives off a very warm and inviting glow.  Pink lamps are popular as well but if the lamp is too lightly colored, or if the pink has speckles of black in it, that can indicated that the salt rock is brittle and might have not been mined from the most ideal places (and it might not be from the Himalayan Mountains which is the preferred source).  Red is another color that you might find in some of the larger, plug in lamps but beware ones that are too dark because they are not going to let any real light through.  The effect of the ions will still be there but the visual appeal of the lamp may not.  The last color you may find is white; white is very rare and not many people carry them because, in general, they are too bright and people are usually looking for the salmon or champagne colored glow of an orange or pink lamp.

The color can also impact the mood and therapeutic effects of the lamp.  Remember, color magick is simple and effective and with these lamps the color can be very useful beside just being pretty.

White lamps represent healing, cleansing and detoxification
Pink lamps are good for stimulating emotions, love and a sense of connection and partnership
Orange lamps help the nervous system, kidneys and bladder
Red lamps can help promote circulation and the heart

When buying a lamp, be sure to give it a good once over look.  The base of the plug in lamps should be a nice, even wood base and the bulb should be able to be removed either either pinching a spring clip or possibly loosening a few small screws.  This is important because you’re going to want to be able to change the bulb at some point.  Be sure the base isn’t cracked and be sure it sits evenly on a flat surface.  With the candle older kinds be sure that there is a depth to the salt rock so that you can get a candle inside the center and that it’s not just going to rest on top.  The candles used should always be tea lights unless there is a glass holder provided as part of the lamp to hold a votive candle.  Placing candles directly into your salt lamp without any way to collect and hold the hot, melted wax will ruin it quickly.

Caring for these beautiful lamps is a key part to keeping them working for a long period of time.  Remember, these are natural pieces of salt crystal.  They are not manufactured or treated, so they are susceptible to melting or crumbling if they get wet or if you have them in an area that has a very high level of humidity in the air on a regular basis.  Because of this, if you are using a candle holder lamp, be sure to keep it on a small dish or on a large pillar holder base so that if it does become damp or melt it wont ruin any surfaces.  You will want to wipe out the candle holders from time to time with a slightly damp cloth to get dust off and to also to get the black soot out from inside.  Be sure to dry the holder with a soft, dry cloth immediately.  If you’re using the plug-in lamp kind they are also possible candidates for melting so be sure to check from time to time to see if there has been any deterioration.  The lamps can be left on for whatever length of time you wish since the warmer they get the more ions are released and the greater a purifying effect it will have.  You should use a 7-15 watt bulb in them, though the larger 20-40lbs lamps can take a 20 watt bulb.  The size and base style is usually like that used in nightlights but you’ll know better when you are able to examine your lamp’s base.

Salt lamps are wonderful and simple ways to help bring healing and a natural cleansing process into your home.  They are simple to care for and can be found in a range of sizes and prices to fit your needs and budget.  Once you start gathering them it will be almost no time before you find that you have amassed a bit of a collection because they are a bit addictive since they are so beautiful.

You can find some beautiful lamps in the Sacred Mists Shoppe.
Salt Votive Holder
Salt Lamps that plug in
Fire Bowl Style

One of my favorite stones that can be quite unique from piece to piece is ametrine.  Ametrine is a form of quartz that contains both amethyst and citrine and carries energies of both stones along with bringing a powerful cleanings and balancing energy.

Ametrine takes many forms, but in it’s natural state, the colors can be very dark and blended together in a way that can make some pieces look like they are just very deeply colored amethyst.  Other pieces have clear yellow or gold citrine elements within them.  Ametrine is minded almost exclusively in Bolivia which is where it gets one of its trade names, bolivianite, though some ametrine has been found on parts of India and Brazil in recent years.

Ametrine forms naturally in the Anahi mines in Bolivia because of the various temperature combinations, air pressure and the natural chemicals in the mines which cause a natural oxidation process to happen within the iron of the crystal itself.  Since the temperatures and pressures vary so greatly in this specific mining area, the oxidation rate of the iron deposits are so different that some parts of the crystal form as a yellow/gold color, creating citrine, while other parts turn varied shades of purple, creating amethyst.  Sometimes during the process one area will oxidize at a slightly different rate, just enough to cause part of a piece that would normally have been all amethyst to have a portion that formed as citrine.

When looking for ametrine, especially for healing or magickal work, it’s important to look for natural, raw, or tumbled pieces that are very obviously not meant for the purposes of making jewlery.  Many pieces of ametrine that are made for or sold as jewelry, such as faceted pieces for rings, are quite often (but not always) synthetic.  Ametrine can be easily mimicked either with dyes being applied to heat treated clear quartz or even by using different heat treatments to plain amethyst.  One sign of an artificial piece of ametrine is when the definitions between the amethyst and citrine are very obvious, as though the two pieces were almost fused together with a defined beginning and end to each color.  While this can happen in natural ametrine it’s very rare and you’re more apt to find pieces where one color is more dominant than the other and they blend or swirl together in the stone.  Also, the color of the stone can be a sign of whether it’s natural or synthetic; if the stone has a greenish-yellow color to the citrine part or if the amethyst has a blue hue to it, it is almost definitely synthetic since these colors do not happen naturally in these stones.  Deep, rich purples, as well as deep golds, are a sign of a true piece of ametrine.

Ametrine can be used for a number of healing purposes.  As a stone that brings harmony to the spirit and body, if you are finding that you’re feeling “out of sorts” or if you have a sense of being disconnected, either from your thoughts or your body, meditating or just relaxing while holding the ametrine in your power hand will help to bring you back into balance.  Ametrine is also believed by many crystal healers to be a stone of male/female balance; if someone is having a hard time connecting to one of these halves of their personalities, or if there is a lack of balance between the two, ametrine can be used for bringing them into harmony.

Using ametrine in meditation can help to open up and empower the third eye.  If you or a client in a healing session are having trouble with their psychic senses, or if there is a feeling of not being in touch or in balance with your intuition or psychic senses, place a piece of ametrine on the third eye and let it rest, giving it a chance to open up and balance the third eye chakra.  Ametrine can also help clear out any lingering negative energy from emotional trauma or emotional worries and concerns which makes this a great stone for working with healing sessions for those that are experiencing issues with releasing and letting go from bad relationships, working through issues of abuse and overall problems with moving on from a bad patch in personal relationships.

When looking for some creative ways to use ametrine, consider the fact that both the properties of amethyst and citrine are contained in this stone, regardless of how much of each is evident from looking at a piece.  Amethyst contains the ability to bring serenity and calm as well as protection while citrine helps with creativity, mental clarity and inner strength and confidence.  Ametrine can be a great stone for students who want to create a talisman for helping with their studies.  Take a piece of ametrine and charge it for this by calling on the aspect of amethyst to grant you a calm, focused state of mind, and the citrine to help you better understand the work and have the confidence to display your understanding through homework assignements and exams.

The color therapy, or color magick, available in ametrine can be very powerful as well since the purple of the amethyst can help with visualizing and mentally creating the image of what you desire while the gold of the citrine can help with manifestation in the physical world.  Holding ametrine or using it as part of spells where manifesting something in the physical world can be quite helpful.  These two colors together can also help with balancing the third eye chakra and the solar plexus chakra.  These are two chakras, that when in balance, can help us to feel and follow our intuitions, our “gut feelings”, more confidently.

In healing for physical purposes ametrine can be used for a number of different purposes including releasing toxins, releasing muscle tension, reducing fever and helping with the aches and pains caused by head or chest congestion.  You can make an elixir with ametrine and take to help with any of these, but it can be especially useful in this manner for toxin release.  If you get massage regularly you know about the need to drink water to help with the flushing of the toxins that are released from the muscle tissue.  Taking 3-6 drops of an ametrine elixir in your water following a massage can help this process along and help you feel not only physically but also mentally refreshed after.

Ametrine is a great stone that has endless possibilities because of the unique combination of energies that it brings.  Even just a small piece can be used for a number of purposes and makes for a great addition to any set of healing crystals.

For those who follow the Celtic traditions, working with the energies of trees is a common part of magickal work.  Many Wiccans are familiar with references to at least nine of these trees, called the Nine Sacred Woods, from the Wiccan Rede.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Bird in the fire goes to represent when the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might, in the first it beings the God’s insight.
Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazle, the tree of wisdom and learning, adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.
Elder is the Lady’s tree, burn it not or cursed you’ll be.

Oak was a very important tree and wood source for many of the Indo-European people.  Being a very dense wood it was a main source for fires and was also used for fashioning everything from shelters to boats to weapons such as bows and spears.  An ancient 8th century Irish text called “Bretha Comaithchesa”, meaning “judgments of neighborhood”, was a legal document that dealt with issues of farming, animal care, and overall laws between neighbors, lists seven “noble woods”, oak, hazel, holly, yew and ash, detailing their economic value to the community.  Oak was listed because the acorns were useful for many common tasks such as woodwork, tanning, and feeding pigs.   The document listed that the fine for damaging any of these noble trees was five séta, roughly two and a half cows.  If the bark was stripped of an oak tree, which was used for tanning, other fines were imposed ranging from a single cowhide to a single oxhide depending on how much oak bark was taken.  The individual would then have to treat the wounds of the tree with a salve until new growth of approximately the width of two fingers could be seen.

For many of us, when we think of the mighty oak trees, one of the first images that may be called to mind is that of the white robed Druids, images that we may be familiar with from history books and documentaries on the Celts and the Craft.  The connection between Druids and the oak tree reach all the way back to the word Druid.  The old Celtic word druwis is thought to have Indo-European roots and means “oak” and “knowledge”.  Old Irish sees the word druí meaning “oak”.  However it’s the work of the Romans and Greeks that most modern scholars look at in regards to the etymology of the word Druid, breaking it down as being derived from their word drus meaning “oak tree” (though some will point toward the pre-Indo-European deru meaning “firm or solid”) and weid meaning “to see”.  Together these root words the word Druid holds the meaning “Strong Seer”, something that the Druids were certainly seen as.  Still others see Druid as being derived from druí and wid to give it the meaning “knowledge of the oak”.

One of the other places of importance where we see the oak in relation to Celtic and Druid practices, beliefs and history is it’s placement and importance in the Ogham (pronounced “oh-am”) tree alphabet.  In the alphabet the oak is given the name Duir and is attributed to the letter “D” and holds the representation of strength and security.  The oak was seen as being such a tall and mighty tree that in translations the Ogham association to oak was often something to the effect of “highest or most exalted of bushes” since it was taller than all bushes and most other trees.  The oak was also associated with the month of May since this is when it would bear fruit, flowers and leaves.  In working through the Ogham, the oak is seen as a tree that provides growth and strength, especially in relation to the trees that precede it and the lessons that they can bring.  Many Wiccans today may be familiar with the Ogham as a divination system and may find that working with the trees in this form can bring many lessons.

In modern Pagan and Wiccan practice, whether you are specifically working with the practices of the Druid tradition or not, the power of the oak tree can be harnessed and used for many different purposes.  We’ll look briefly at two specific uses, herbal and magickal in the form of charms.

Herbal Uses

The leaves and bark from the oak tree can be used to make an astringent which can help to tone the skin as well as heal skin tissue from scraps and cuts.  Oak can also help heal sore throats, fever and chest congestion.  It’s also been suggested that a tea made of oak and used externally as a rub on the skin can help to reduce varicose veins.   Boiled water infused with oak can also be used as a rinse on hair that is dandruff prone to reduce a dry or irritated scalp.  A poultice made of oak leaves and bark can be used to reduce redness, swelling and pain resulting from a burn on the skin.  Overall oak can be a very useful tree to be familiar with, especially if you find yourself camping or hiking in the woods, and you find that you need a remedy for a common injury or illness.

A Word Of Caution

The bark used for oak remedies needs to be taken from the branches of the tree and not the trunk as this could kill the tree.  It should also be done in the early part of the spring and it can then be dried and stored for use throughout the year.  The leaves need to be gathered before Summer Solstice because after this time the leaves will contain too many plant alkaloids which can make some people very ill and cause hallucinations.

Oak bark, leaves and powder are often available through apothecaries, markets that sell natural healing aids and through many online herbal sources.  If you’re not sure of the specifics of a tree and you wish to use oak for medicinal reasons, please check with a retail provider and purchase from them to ensure you are getting something safe for internal or external healing use.

When it comes to internal use white oak is the most preferred as it has the least harsh taste.  English oak can be used internally as well however most other oaks, including black and red oak, should only be used for external purposes.

Oak Bark Tea:  To make a tea that can be used for internal healing, use a tablespoon of dried White or English oak bark and simmer in a pint of water, in a nonmetallic pot, covered tightly,  for ten minutes.  Drink up to three cups a day to help with sore throat, fever, stomach problems, or diarrhea.

Oak Leaf Tea: To make a leaf tea which can be used for external healing, such as to dress cuts, scrapes and burns, steep two teaspoons of shredded White or English oak leaves in one cup of boiled water for about twenty minutes.  You can then take strips of clean cloth, soak them in the water, and then wrap them around the area to be treated.

Healing Salve using Oak: This salve uses oak as one of its ingredients and can be used to help soothe irritation on the skin as well as help to heal small cuts.   Melt 1 ounce of beeswax in 8 ounces of warm olive oil.   Mix in 1 teaspoon each of the following in a powdered form: White oak bark, Myrrh, Comfrey.  Store in a canning jar, bottling while still warm, and keep in a dark place.  This makes about 10 ounces and will last a good long while and can be simply smoothed on the irritated or injured area when needed.
Oak as a Charm

Oak, having many different magickal and spiritual properties, can be used for a number of different charms.  Here are a few simple ones that can be used for protection and prosperity.

Oak Charm for Prosperity: For this charm to help protect either yourself or your personal property, such as a home or car, you will need 2 oak twigs and some red thread.

1. Gather two oak twigs from any oak tree.  If you cannot find fallen branches and you decide to take live ones, ask permission first, take small pieces, only the two that you need, and leave an offering of blessed water on the roots of the tree.
2. Form a cross with the twigs by laying one across the other.
3. Tie them together at the center with the red string using a chant such as: “Oak tree tall, oak tree strong, guard me and mine against all wrong.”
4. You can then either place the oak charm in your home near your main entry way, such as the front door, in your car or carry it with you in a red charm bag.

Oak Charm for Prosperity: If you are looking to use the oak to draw a little financial fortune your way, the acorns from an oak tree can help.  For this one you’ll need one acorn, a green charm bag or green piece of cloth, and three oak leaves.

1. On the evening of a full moon, either go out and gather your acorn, or take an acorn you already have outside, and while standing under the moon and stars, hold the acorn and say: “Seed of the stars, I plant my wish, blessed with the power of the forest.”
2. Plant the acorn in soil either at the based of the oak tree, in a small pot, or in another sacred place on your property.  Do this while visualizing your finances growing and improving.
3. Take three oak leaves from the tree and leave an offering of of blessed water on the roots.
4. Place the leaves inside your charm bag and either carry it with you to help increase your financial situation or you can keep it at your home office or desk where you work on your bank statements or pay bills.

If you’d like to learn more about working with trees, check out some of these books in the Sacred Mists Shoppe:

Whispering From the Woods: The Lore and Magic of Trees by Sandra Kynes
Druid’s Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine by Ellen Every Hopman
Celtic Tree Mysteries: Practical Druid Magic & Divination by Steve Blamires

A simple and practical way for you to make use of your gemstones, aside from carrying, meditating and laying them on and around the body for healing, is to make an elixir or gemstone potion.  These liquid creations can be used in many, many ways; you can take them internally as a way to absorb and incorporate the energy of a stone or crystal in the body, they can be added to plant water to energize them, drops can be added to a pre-ritual bath, or you can even use the charged water for cleansing ritual objects or even just areas in the home that may need some extra energy.  It’s a simple process and one that anyone can work with.

A BIG Word of Caution
Before you begin working with this method it is highly imperative that you purchase a good, solid resource manual for your crystal information as many crystals and stones are actually toxic and NOT recommended for this sort of process.  While any of the stones can be used externally on and around the body, some stones contain very dangerous minerals and inclusions such as sulphur, copper, lead, mercury and more.  I am going to include a list of some of the more popular stones that are known to be toxic and I will include some substitution suggestions as well along with a few source recommendations.

But, with that said, you can work with some of the toxic stones as long as you are creating an elixir that will be used for external purposes only, like for cleansing tools or cleaning the home.  In some crystal books when information on elixirs is given, you may see the suggestion of using elixirs made from toxic stones to be used for anointing the body, but again I have to even caution against because by putting the water made with these stones on the skin it’s possible for the undesired elements to absorb through the skin and into the blood stream.  So again, play it safe and do your research before making any elixirs.

Picking Your Stone
The best way to work with these elixirs is to use a single stone or crystal for each one and to work with taking the elixirs one at a time.  So when you’re making your very first one, try picking a stone that either has a very specific property that you wish to work with, such as carnelian for healing issues of anger or jealousy, or maybe amethyst to help with your psychic development or to open up the third eye before meditation.  When you aren’t sure, or you’re just giving this whole thing a try and don’t know what to work with, you can always used clear quartz as it is a stone that will give your energy vibrations an overall life and balance as well as being able to be used specifically for things like meditation and spiritual development.

Making Gemstone Elixirs
The process of making the elixirs is quite simple and doesn’t require a large amount of tools.  In fact, as long as you have your stones already, you can probably round up everything you need right in your own home.

You Will Need:

• A glass jar or bottle, with a lid, one for each elixir you’re making if you’re making elixirs from multiple types of stones.  NEVER use plastic!
• Spring water, distilled water, or filtered water.  This is important because you don’t want the natural inclusions found in tap water to leach or react with the stones themselves or their possible inclusions.
• A bowl that will be large enough to hold the amount of water you will be using for your elixir (multiple bowls will be needed if you’re doing multiple types of elixirs).
• A measuring cup and funnel for easy pouring.
• A singing bowl (this is for an optional step, but this is a nice touch if you have one)

Once you have gathered together everything, make sure that you cleanse everything, physically and psychically/energetically.  You might want to bring your items into sacred space to sit and charge at your altar overnight.  If you’re familiar with crystal grids (something we’ll talk about on a Wednesday in the future), you can place your bottles within a grid or layout to cleanse them as well.  Otherwise, a simple physical wash, including sterilizing the bottles and then given them a smudging with sage and charge with white light and energy (if you’ve never done this before, or if it’s been a while since you’ve sterilized a baby bottle, simply submerge your bottles, and droppers if you’re using them, in a pot of water on the stove, turn on the heat and let it come to a boil and let the bottles sit in the boiling water for five minutes, remove with tongs because they will be very hot, and place on a drying rack or paper towels to cool and air dry).

While you’re waiting for your bottles to dry you can work with cleansing your stone.  Give it a physical cleansing in cool, running water and then dry it.  Charge your stone with your intent; all stones have multiple energy properties so ask that the specific one(s) that you are looking to call into your elixir come forward and focus on sensing that energy or energies growing and becoming the dominate vibrations within the stone.  Place the stone on your altar and allow this to sit and charge until it is time to add it to your water.  You may also want to place the stone in direct sunlight or you can leave the stone with the water for the same 24 hours that it will be charging for.  Some people like to charge their stones for several days in sunlight, but use whatever stone charging and activation method you normally use or feel drawn to using.

Next, take your water and place it in a window sill, on your altar, or in another space that is near a window where it can catch direct sun and moonlight.  Do not worry if it is not a full moon, however working with the moon phases while creating your elixirs is another wonderful way to add extra energy to your potion.  The idea here is to charge the water with sun and moon energy for a full 24 hours.   The energy of the moon is always there, even when we can’t see it, so as long as you’re placing the bowl in line with an exposed window, you’re fine.

The next step, which happens once the water has charged, is to bring together your stone and water in a bottle for storage.  There are several ways to do this.  The first way is to simply take your stone, place it inside your bottle or jar, and then fill it with your charged water.  The other way utilizes a singing bowl.  If you have a singing bowl, first physically and psychically cleanse and charge it.  Place your stone inside the bottom of the bowl and fill the bowl with the water.  Be careful not to fill the bowl to the top because if it’s too full you’re going to spill the water and possible end up with quite a wet mess (I bet you can’t guess I’m speaking from experience).  Take a moment to center yourself and call up the energy that you’re looking to charge your elixir with and begin to play your bowl.  You’ll notice that the water will vibrate from the action of the bowl which not only adds the vibrational energy of the bowl itself but also activates the crystal energy on another level.  When you are ready allow the vibrations to settle on their own and then you can begin to add the water from the bowl into your jar or bottle.  At this stage you can either place the crystal in the bottle as well or, if you wish to keep the crystal out of the bottle, you can just pour in the water.  The work with the singing bowl and the vibrational activation will have merged the crystal’s energy with the water already.  Personally, I still like to keep the stone in the main storage bottle, even when I use this method.

Once the bottle is filled and sealed be sure to label your bottle.  Include the date, moon phase or astrological timing if you worked with that as a factor, the type of water used, the stone used, the method used (did you use the singing bowl or just place everything together in the bottle), and the specific purpose of this elixir.  This is important because you can create two or three elixirs using the same stone but with a different intention. Let the jar sit for 24 hours in sun and moonlight.  Over this next day you want to keep an eye on the bottle to make sure that there is no scum or algae forming either in the water itself or on the glass of the jar.  If it does you’ll need to toss the water out, sterilize the bottle, wash the stone, and try again.  This will happen if you missed one of these steps or didn’t properly or completely cleanse something in the initial process.

Store your bottles in a cool place our of direct sunlight.  It might sound a little silly, but if you have made multiple elixirs for different purposes be sure to store the bottles so they are not touching.  It is possible for the energies from the bottles converge in this situation and it could confuse your work.   But, on the reverse, if you have something like a bottle of body lotion or shampoo that you’d like to infuse with the energy of a specific elixir, you can place the bottles together, touching, and the energy from the stone in the elixir will mingle with the other item(s).  This is a great way to add some of the benefits of the elixir energy to something that shouldn’t necessarily have water added to it.

If you are going to take your elixir internally, take 3-6 drops 3-4 times a day, either under the  tongue or add to a glass of drinking water.  There is usually no real restriction to how long you can make use of these elixirs, so use them when and for as long as you feel you need to.  Be sure to periodically check your bottles for any contamination as well!

Toxic Stones
Here is a list of some stones that people may think of using for making elixirs because they may use them often in other healing or crystal work, however, these are all toxic.  This is by no means a complete list!  Please be sure to go online, call a gem shop, or purchase a comprehensive gemstone guide to reference if you are in any way unsure as to the toxicity of a stone. I am including the known inclusion that makes the stone toxic for internal use as well as a few safe substitutes as well and will add a few book recommendations at the end.

Amazonite – (copper), substitute with Aventurine
Amber – (toxic dust, fumes, raw amber will disintegrate in water)
Angelite – (lead sulfate)
Cobalt-Calcite/Pink Calcite – (cobalt)
Coral – (while organic, bacteria and toxins develop and form within it which can be dangerous when ingestied), substitute with Carnelian or Red Jasper
Emerald – (aluminum), substitute with Aquamarine or Peridot
Garnet – (aluminum)
Labradorite – (aluminum)
Lapis Lazuli – (can contain copper)
Malachite – (copper)
Moldavite – (aluminum)
Moonstone – (some contain aluminum, but other toxins can also be present depending on the type of moonstone)
Mother of Pearl and Pearl – (organic but toxins in the water when it is formed will be present)
Ruby – (aluminum)
Sodalite – (aluminum), substitute with Carnelian
Tiger’s Eye – (can contain asbestos and dyes)
Topaz – (aluminum), substitute with Citrine
Tourmaline – (aluminum)
Turquoise – (copper)

A few book recommendations:
Love is in the Earth: A Kaliedescope of Crystals by Melody Over 700 pages and one of the most popular and recommended reference guides for stones and crystals and their use in healing and metaphysics.  A must have for anyone looking to work with stones in this way.

The Essential Crystal Handbook by Simon and Sue Lilly – This is a great, small book that you can toss in your bag and take with you when you go shopping for your crystals.  Lots of tips for working with stones for healing, some great meditation tips, and excellent information on over 100 different stones.  One great thing about this book is you will also get the chemical composition for each which can help you quickly identify those that could possibly contain toxic elements.

Cunningham’s Encyclipedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic by Scott  Cunningham – A wonderful quick reference for some of the more commonly used stones, with information on substitutions, picking stones by specific intents, and information on magickal and healing uses.

This week we’re going to take a look at a unique stone that isn’t even really a stone and who has some special properties while being steeped in mystery and legend.

First let’s start with where moldavite came from.  The origins of the stone are somewhat debated because of the uncertainty some stone and crystal experts have with the claim that it was created by a meteorite.  Regardless, the common held belief of it’s origin is that a meteorite headed toward earth 15 million years ago collided with surrounding rock at the surface and the crystals were then formed.  The step by step of how it occurs has been broken down by scientists to be in the following manner:

1. A meteorite around 500 to 1000 meters in diameter reaches Earth at a high rate of speed and once making its way through the stratosphere, the front of the meteorite reaches a temperature of around 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Right before the meteorite falls the temperature of the Earth’s rock surface gets so hot it becomes molten and the sheer pressure displaces the rock mass into the atmosphere in the form of magma (molten rock which is equivalent to volcano lava).
3. Once the meteorite falls on to the surface of the Earth an explosion occurs as a result of kinetic energy being discharged.  It’s at this time that the meteorite itself evaporates because of the large amount of heat released upon impact.
4. The end result is a crater in the Earth’s surface that has layers of both the Earth’s crust and layers of subsoil being shifted.

It is thought that moldavite was created from the re-melted rock around the fall site of the meteorite and often the sites where it is found tends to be in a rounded or disc shape which could also lend to the idea that this is where a meteorite actually hit.  Other area where the moldavite have been found that don’t fit this description are thought to be a result of magma flying through the air or rock displaced during impact.

The stone was named after the town of Moldauthein, Bohemia where it is mainly found.  Today the stones are harvested from the Moldau River Valley in the Czech Republic and, since the stones aren’t naturally occurring in the Earth, they will eventually become extinct.

The makeup of moldavite is one of the things that makes it so unique.  It is a form of tektite, a natural form of glass, which is also believed to be created from the impact of meteorites and the combination of that with rock and soil.  Tektite, however, is found on other parts of the world, such as the Middle East, Polynesia and the Philippines.    This is one of the reasons for the uniqueness of the moldavite; it is a cousin, so to speak, of tektite as it’s makeup is very similar but is found in a very different part of the world.

Both moldavite and tektite are made of a composite of SiO2 (for you non-chemical geeks that would be silicon dioxide).  The thing that causes moldavite to be different is the inclusion of and varied levels of K2O (potassium oxide) and CaO (calcium oxide).  Moldavite  can vary from a very light, almost sea green, to an olive, to a deep green/brown.

So that’s all your technical information on moldavite that we really need to know about.  Now you know how it’s made, what makes it’s color so unique and that it is quite rare and will grow more rare in time.  It’s not a stone that is often found tumbled but is more commonly sold as raw pieces like the one shown above.  In it’s most common forms you’ll find pieces to be no larger than 3-5″ on the large side and with a rippled or pitted surface.  However faceted pieces that have been prepared for jewelry use are available in all forms of baubles, however they can be quite expensive depending on the side of the actual moldavite.

So what can we use moldavite for within the bounds of crystal work?

Moldavite is a stone that is believed to have extraterrestrial properties.  All that means is that the stone carries energies that are beyond (“extra”) the energies of the planet Earth (“terrestrial”).  The phrase is derived from the Latin words “extra” for outside and “terrestris” meaning “of or relating to the Earth”.  Because of this the moldavite stone is often looked to as a stone for meditation and connecting to heavenly bodies, for reaching the realms beyond the Earthly plane.  It is used as a stone for raising the higher self to other spiritual levels of consciousness and because of this is a common stone for healing the higher self.  It is also used by some people for past life regression or mediation work and for the healing that can take place there.  In meditations where either communicating with the higher self or past life work is desired a piece of moldavite can be placed on the third eye.  Moldavite is a stone that is said to be able to reach beyond time and space, so unlike some stones used just for healing the past, moldavite can also address healing for the future as well and some people have been known to experience “flash forwards” while using it for spiritual healing.

Moldavite isn’t a stone really known for having any one specific healing property or having dominance over one healing aspect.  Instead it’s a stone that is often used to amplify to work of other stones.  It’s a trigger stone as well and when placed in an area on the body in a crystal layout with other stones can help to open up and release blockages that might be extremely difficult to open up otherwise.  Because of the high vibration that moldavite carries it can be used on any chakra, or placed at the crown chakra, to help open up, balance and cleanse them.

The deep green color of most moldavite is related to the heart chakra and, in turn, emotional aspects and issues.  Many people who find themselves somewhat anxious around moldavite may have deep emotional issues they are either fearful of addressing, in denial of, or refusing to release.  If you’re working with someone and you suspect that this could be an issue in the healing work you are doing with them, introducing moldavite into your work could help be an indicator.

Because of all the great things that moldavite can do, both in healing and as a booster in magickal work because of it’s ability to bring together cosmic and earthly forces and energy, it is highly advised that anyone doing crystal healing or making crystals part of their regular magickal process acquire and include a piece of moldavite, no matter what size, into their practice and crystal collection.

This week I thought we could take a look at a practical use for crystals that can help promote and enhance healing on all levels of  body, mind and spirit.  This is something that many of you who already have a collection of basic stones can work with.  The laying on of stones, the technique of placing crystals and stones on and around the body, can help to cleanse and balance energies in the body, aid in emotional release, and can also balance the aura while drawing in light and energy to the individual’s life.  While it is always best to properly cleanse, dedicate and program your crystals for their specific use, you can still work with crystals in layouts with stones that have been simply cleansed with water and/or smoke.  The energies and powers of the stones will activate and work with the aura and energy field of the body naturally.

When working with the stones in layouts you can use stones in any formation.  Polished and tumbled, raw, points, beads, faceted or eggs.  Keeping in mind where the stones will be placed and being sure that they will stay in place for  the duration of the work should be the only thing that really limits you as trying to keep a crystal ball on the body can be difficult and could cause a distraction during a healing session.  Stones that have some sort of flat surface are helpful when being placed on the body since they will be more likely to hold their place.  When placing the stones around the body you can use large pieces, heavier pieces, and oddly shaped pieces and they can be placed on holders or pillows around the body to keep them in place.

There are several different ways to work with crystal layouts and if you have other healing skills, like Reiki, you can use them together to enhance the process.  If you are a Reiki practitioner one way you can work with this is to use just clear quartz crystals on each of the seven chakra points, or you can work with stones that correspond to the chakras themselves.  Once the stones are in place you can then work to clear and balance the energy of the aura down the meridian of the body with hands on Reiki from head to toe.  Using crystals that have points, like the case of the quartz crystals, point the points toward the feet so that the energy being cleansed from the body will flow down to the feet.  You will want to keep everything moving in the same direction.  So if you’re doing work that is aimed at releasing or balancing, then having the stones point to the feet/Earth and moving the energy in that direction will be ideal.  If the energy needs to be drawn in, if you’re working essentially from Earth to Sky, then you would have points all going upward and the energy flowing from feet to head, or root to crown.

Working Earth to Sky:  Stones are placed with all points toward the receiver’s crown.  Working in this direction helps the move the individual’s energy to a higher vibration and helps to balance and increase spiritual energy.

Working Sky to Earth:  Stone are placed with all points toward the receiver’s feet.  Working in this direction helps to ground the energy from crown to root allowing you to facilitating grounding and releasing energy to the Earth.

Once you have accessed with the individual being worked on which direction that you will work, ask them to lay flat on their back.  Have them lay on a yoga mat, a massage table or some other soft, padded surface.  Place a pillow under their head and under their knees (many people don’t think of placing the pillow under the knees but having a bolster there helps to alleviate possible strain on the lower back while laying flat in this manner).

Take a few moments to call on any Spirit Guides, angels or healing spirits that you and/or your receiver wish to work with and have present during the session.  Light candles and incense if desired to honor those spirits and the spirit of healing that will take place.

Begin by placing a stone above the head at the crown and then a stone below the feet.  Next you will have your receiver place their hands at their sides, palms up, and place a quartz in their dominate hand (the right hand for right-handed people, the left for left-handed people) and then place a stone related to the type of work being done in the other hand. For example if the purpose of the work is to bring more loving energy into the person use a rose quartz; if the goal is to bring protection you can use an amethyst or a piece of onyx.  If you are unsure, or if you are doing just general cleansing, you can use another clear quartz.

Next move around the chakras placing stones in their appropriate places moving from feet to head.  This is where you need to really listen to and follow your inner guidance.  If you are working with a blend of different stones, use the ones that you feel drawn to use.  The general guide is to place stones that correspond to the color of the chakra.  For example any red stones can be used root, any orange stones can be used at the sacral chakra, etc.  (The placement of the root chakra is sometimes debated among healers.  Some believe that the root chakra is not a stationary chakra and that it moves to wherever the body is physically rooted at the time.  In the case of laying down it’s believed that the root would be at the based of the feet.)  If you place a stone on the body and it rolls off the body, then this is likely a sign that this is not the best stone to use for this chakra, so try another one.  If a stone placed in one chakra doesn’t stay in place but rolls into another chakra point and comes to rest, then allow yourself to be guided into using it in that area, even if it isn’t “traditionally” right for that chakra.  Listen to your Guides and your intuition.  Healing doesn’t need to be a rigid practice and listing to the energy of the stones and the energy of your receiver is more important than practicing this method by route.

At this point, once all the stones are in place ,you as the healer have the option to either employ other techniques like Reiki or you can just sit by the person and wait, allowing the stones to do their work and allowing your intuition to guide you as to when the work is complete.  You may find after a while that stones begin to naturally roll off the body one by one which will indicate that the receiver’s aura has absorbed the energy that it needs from the stones.  You may also find that your receiver will verbalize, either through words or more primal sounds, that they feel they are done.  Again, listen to your receiver and follow your intuition.

When you are done, take all the stones and places them somewhere away from your other stones until you can cleanse them.  Give your receiver time to ground and come back to normal waking consciousness and help them to sit up.  Give them some water and ask them to share any experiences they had during the session.  Some may have had very vivid dream like images, felt specific types of sensations around the areas of specific chakras, and others may have found they spontaneously experiences some astral projection.  Give them time to process and make notes for them.  This information can be helpful for future sessions as well.

There are many, many different types of crystal layouts out there and you can create your own based on the specific needs of yourself or your receiver.  Here are a few others that you can work with.

Claifying and Releasing

• 1 smokey quartz below the feet
• 1 clear quartz above the head
• 1 turquoise to strengthen vitality or 1 lapis lazuli to release deep stress in the center of the forehead
• Stay in the layout for five to ten minutes or until the stone on the forehead releases naturally

Balancing Natural Energy

• 1 smokey quartz below the feet
• 1 clear quartz above the head
• 1 rose quartz at the center of the chest
• Stay in the layout for five to ten minutes or until the stone on the forehead releases naturally

In the tradition of not feeling as though you have to follow strict, rigid rules for placing stones or where to lay them, you can use these stone combination in whatever layout you personally feel drawn to when working with your receiver or yourself.

Calming

• 1 clear quartz point
• 1 smokey quartz
• 1 rose quartz
• 1 turquoise

Concentration, Memory and Study Help

• 1 clear quartz
• 1 labradorite
• 1 smokey quartz
• 1 black tourmaline
• 1 amethyst
• 1 sodalite

For more on crystal layouts, check out the book “Laying on of Stones” by D.J. Conway for many different layouts that address both physical and spiritual issues.  You can also find a number of various books on crystal healing in the Sacred Mists Shoppe.