Posts Tagged ‘healing’

Trees Purify the Mind I came across a quote that started me thinking, “Trees purify the air; they also purify the mind….if you want to save your world, you must save the trees”We all know that trees purify the air; the rain forests are the lungs of the earth.However, the thought that intrigued me was the idea that they purified the mind. How do they do this? What follows are just my thoughts.Bring into your mind an image of an ancient beech. How it stands tall and proud how it has been there for generations the things it has seen does this not lift your spirit?Brian Bates in his book Sacred Trees says “Trees bridge the gap between earth and air” Trees are a symbol of our reaching out to the Divine, rooted deep in the earth and yet reaching out to the heavens this is I believe how we should live our lives.Also for trees to purify the mind, we need to regain the awe and wonder that I think our ancestors had when they looked at a tree. The mystery they saw in the cycle of a tree the apparent death each autumn when the leaves withered and died only to return each spring. To them this must have appeared a miraculous thing. Indeed, it was the miracle of life.One way to let trees purify your mind is to walk among them (something I do not do nearly enough). Ruskin Bond said, “To return to my own trees, I went among them, acknowledging their presence with a touch of my hands against their trunks”. Although I am not a newager when was the last time you hugged a tree?When was the last time you just sat with a tree, communed with, and let it impart its wisdom to you? By the way, I am asking these questions of myself as well.To look at a tree is to see the divine when you commune with a tree you are communing with the divine and with the whole of creation. Therefore, trees are sacred beings able to teach us if we are willing to learn.Trees provide us with all that we need our air, our homes, our fuel, and our books in an endless act of giving.However, this should not be a one-way transaction. We need to give in return, so, what can we do? Well one thing is plant more trees, either personally or by supporting organisations that do. Care for the ones we already have even if the only thing you do is clear the litter others have left.Another thing we can do is increase our knowledge of these great beings, I am the first to admit that my knowledge of trees and their lore is not good but I can learn. Learn which tree is which, learn the individual things each tree has to teach me, for they all have lessons to impart to us.Therefore, this is my goal to let the trees purify my mind and in return honour them.

“Reiki” is the name of a spiritual practice from Japan that offers techniques for relaxation, stress reduction and healing.  The name itself is a compound word that joins “rei,” which can be translated to mean “spirit,” “divine,” and “etheric body,” and “ki,” which can be translated to mean “breath,” energy,” “life force,” “emotion” and “intention.”  Some direct Japanese translations for Reiki are “feeling or atmosphere of mystery,” “an ethereal atmosphere (that prevails in a sacred place),” and “to feel or sense a spiritual or divine presence.”  In English, Reiki is used both as a noun, representing the spiritual life force energy in the form of ki and the therapeutic methods related to its application, and as a verb, representing the actual use of the therapy and application of the ki into and onto the recipient.

Reiki is considered a holistic therapy which helps to bring awareness, balance and healing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels of existence.  Reiki is offered through a technique commonly called “palm healing” or “hands-on healing,” where the ki is transferred through the palms of the practitioner and into the body and personal energy field of the recipient.  Reiki operates through the belief that our emotions, our mental state and our level of spiritual fulfillment are directly connected to and interact with our physical body and its health and vitality, and thus healing and balance brought to one level of existence will transfer to the other three in order to help heal the entire “self.”

It is a simple method to learn, and much of the techniques and focuses are not taught in the usual manner, but rather are transferred during a Reiki class through an “attunement” given by a Reiki Master/Teacher which allows the student to tap into and access the unlimited supply of ki in order to improve health and enhance the quality of life.  The ability to become a Reiki practitioner is not dependent on intellectual capacity or spiritual development, and is available without restrictions of age or background.

Generally, Reiki is taught in three basic levels or degrees, although there are many equally effective variations to these levels; each level requires at least one attunement.  The first level, sometimes called “Shoden” (Japanese for “elementary/entry teachings”), teaches the basic theories and procedures, and hand placements thought to be the most conductive to offering ki in a whole body treatment.  The second level, sometimes called “Okuden” (Japanese for “inner teachings”), teaches the symbols that act as catalysts and enhance the strength and distance over which Reiki can be applied.  This level allows the practitioner to offer “distance healing,” the ability to apply Reiki without being physically present with the recipient.  The third level, sometimes called “Shinpiden” (Japanese for “mystery teachings”), brings the practitioner to the Reiki Master/Teacher level.  Once reaching this level, the practitioner has the knowledge and experience to teach the three levels, as well as the ability to attune students to Reiki energy.

During a typical full-body treatment, which can last for a half hour to an hour or longer, the recipient is seated or laying down as the practitioner places his or her hands on or near the recipient in various hand positions.  Recipients and practitioners alike often feel warmth, cold, tingling and/or pressure in the area being treated, whether or not the practitioner is touching the physical body of the recipient.  A state of deep relaxation and a general feeling of well-being are the most common effects noted immediately after a treatment, although emotional releases can also occur.  Other positive effects can be felt over the following hours and days as the treatment stimulates and encourages the body’s natural healing processes.

Reiki was developed by Mikao Usui in 1922, while he was performing a 21 day retreat on Mount Kurami which involved fasting, mediation and prayer.  Usui received the information and methods of use that we call Reiki, as well as a series of sigils or symbols to be used by Reiki practitioners as keywords or sacred catalysts, through mystical revelations that came to him toward the end of his retreat.

In the process of documenting the symbols and instructions he received into a system that could be used both as a healing method and as a way to teach the system to others, Usui also incorporated a set of ethical affirmations based on teachings of Buddhism and the writings of Emperor Meiji, now commonly known as the Reiki Principles, which encourage a release of anger and worry, and a cultivation of gratitude, kindness and honesty.

After Usui’s death, his student, Chujiro Hayashi, continued passing on Reiki teachings.  Hayashi also simplified the original teaching and application techniques and added a focus on physical healing.  Hayashi trained Hawayo Takata, who is accredited with bringing Reiki outside of Japan and to the United States.  When she died in 1980, Takata had trained many Reiki Master/Teachers.

There has always been debate as far as scientific proof of the effectiveness of Reiki treatments; however, recently scientific and medical experts have made amazing strides in their ability to create physical measuring devices that are sensitive enough to measure non-physical techniques such as Reiki.  Through documenting and measuring the electro-magnetic field of the human body, researchers have found that both the entire body and each individual physical organ pulses or vibrates with a particular resonance; these vibrations or auras have been show to change if illness occurs.  These same researchers have been able to measure the palms of Reiki practitioners, which have been shown to emit electro-magnetic energy during Reiki treatments that pulses within the healthy range.  The healthy energy being emitted by the Reiki practitioner has been shown to act as a catalyst to bring the resonance or vibrations of the recipient’s aura back into a healthy range, thus promoting healing.  While still being debated by some, more and more scientists and conventional medical experts are recommending the inclusion of Reiki treatments within an all-encompassing health promoting regime.

Although it is mainly spiritual in nature, Reiki is not a religion; it has no dogma, no required adherence to a particular spiritual tradition or path, and is not dependent on any other beliefs.  Reiki does encourage living within ethical ideals which are nearly universal across all cultures.  The techniques for relaxation, balancing and healing associated with Reiki are not meant to replace the advice of a medical professional, but rather are meant to be used in conjunction with the advice of health care professionals who specialize in treating the physical, mental and emotional bodies.

References:
Sacred Mists Sacred Usui Reiki Training Course
Wikipedia
The Molecules of Emotion by Candace Pert, Ph.D
The Intention Experiment by Lynne McTaggart

On the last Saturday in March, each year since 2007, the World Wildlife Fund has hosted an event called Earth Hour.  On this night, from 8:30pm to 9:30pm, people are encouraged to turn off their lights and all other non-essential electronic appliances for a full hour to help raise awareness of the issue of climate change and the need for action.  The event came about after the WWF and a Sydney, Australia newspaper were able to get 2.2 million Sydney residents to turn off their lights for an hour that evening.  In 2008 the event picked up as a much wider known event and attracted attention all around the world.  It is now an event that grows steadily each year with more and more people discovering this simple gesture and helping to do their part if raising that awareness.

Each year the event gets bigger and more countries are joining in to raise the awareness in their homelands.  For the 2010 event, said to be the biggest that will take place since the event started in 2007, there are a total of 121 countries officially supporting the event and 812 worldwide landmarks participating.  Countries sign up with the WWF to let them know they will take part and what monuments will be involved.  This year you’ll find world monuments like Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tokyo Tower, and the Eiffel Tower, along with  Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus and the London Eye all in London going dark for Earth Housr.  Here in the states the Empire State Building, the Welcome to Las Vegas sign and Niagara Falls and a handful more will also be taking part.

By turning the lights out (and your computer and other non-essential items that are using electricity) you, along with millions of other people the world over, as working together in solidarity to show a symbolic desire to work together and to call to action a need to heal and change the state of the home we all share; Earth.  For us as Pagans this is even more important and something that every Pagan, regardless of your specific tradition, should embrace and participate in with enthusiasm.  Many times we become so caught up in the pomp and circumstance of the Craft, our covens and Pagan communities, that we forget that, at our core, we are an EARTH-based path, here working for and honoring the hear, guarding the Great Mother and working to heal and protect her.

This year, turn our your lights, shut off your TVs and computers, and spend this hour healing the earth with the lights out.  Put together a small ritual of thanks and honor to Gaia, take time to connect to the deep core and emotions held within her and send healing energy to her.  Light a green candle and surround yourself and the earth in white light for protection and healing, take time to think of a place within your local community or a sacred space in nature that you’d like to send healing energy to and direct your thoughts there.  Get together with your friends and covenmates and have an Earth Hour drum circle and drum the healing heartbeat of the Earth.   Gather together with your children and, by candlelight, at a fireplace or by a bonfire, tell them stories and myths about the Gods and Goddesses of the Earth.  Invite the gnomes to come out from their caves and deep spaces within the Earth and make them an offering while sending healing energy to them.

Educate yourself about Earth Hour by visiting the website and learn ways that you can make a difference, and on Saturday March 27th, from 8:30pm – 9:30pm be part of this important hour.  As Pagans we cannot let this hour each year go by without purpose.  We cannot ignore it by feeling it’s an inconvenience or because we don’t want to be bothered.  This is a moment were hundreds of millions of people, regardless of their religion, becomes a little Pagan for an hour and help to honor the Earth and acknowledge that we need to heal her.  Do not disappoint your Mother!

Earth Teach Me to Remember
by John Yellow Lark

Earth teach me stillness
as the grasses are stilled with light.

Earth teach me suffering
as old stones suffer with memory.

Earth teach me humility
as blossoms are humble with beginning.

Earth Teach me caring
as the mother who secures her young.

Earth teach me courage
as the tree which stands alone.

Earth teach me limitation
as the ant which crawls on the ground.

Earth teach me freedom
as the eagle which soars in the sky.

Earth teach me resignation
as the leaves which die in the fall.

Earth teach me regeneration
as the seed which rises in the spring.

Earth teach me to forget myself
as melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me to remember kindness
as dry fields weep in the rain.

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

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

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.