the quartz family
Cathedral Quartz with Buddha
This page brings you mineralogical and esoteric information about the main members of the quartz family along with insights we have gained from working with the quartz family of crystals over many years. Our Crystal Healing & Energy Work Diploma Course explores and examines the members of the extended quartz family in great depth, and we never fail to be intrigued with the many forms and formations in which the base material, SiO2, manifests. Below we have included information about the "family tree" and the main forms of quartz we all know and love. Variations of formation and included quartz are not singled out here, but have their own directory (simply follow links). Additionally ALL mineral types we sell have a mineralogical and/or esoterical description, which will be found at the head of each mineral's page within our on-line shop. If you would like to learn more about other crystals and their uses why not check them out!
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It is useful to understand the differences between quartz-based minerals
(such as Jaspers, Chalcedonies and Agates), which are defined by their growth
and the nature of the formation of their crystalline matrices and structures.
Many geological handbooks can be of use if you want to know more, as can
reliable internet sources.
What follows lists most of the different TYPES in alphabetical order. CLICK
ON ANY TITLE or underlined "link" to go to its dedicated page in our
on-line shop!
AGATE
Agates are banded chalcedonies with multi-coloured curved or angular banding
(chalcedony being composed of sub-microscopic granular quartz coloured by
pigmenting minerals and arranged in fibrous layers - hence its tendency
towards translucence). Moss agate and Tree Agates are mentioned here,
although they are not true forms of agate, despite their name, as they lacks
agate's defining feature of concentric banding. They each contain green
filament-like inclusions, giving them the superficial appearance of moss. Tree
Agate has a solid white groundmass with green filaments, whereas Moss Agate
usually has a transparent background with the green filaments visible through
its structure. Onyx also is a variant of agate with black and white and
sometimes tan banding. Similarly, agate with brown, orange, red and white
banding is known as Sardonyx.
As with all quartz family members, including the jaspers, the colour of the
agate indicates its primary area of use (both in relation to its spectrum
colour and chakra / auric body associations), and to the inherent properties
of colour (such as heating / cooling / balancing etc.) The fact that agates
are banded also holds symbolic significance, showing that these stones are
useful in working with the theme of "layers", whether releasing and
dealing with "buried" or forgotten traumas or hurts, or in
"travelling" through layers of time or dimension to visit ones past
or future or to communicate with Guides etc. within other planes of reality. Tree
and Moss agates are great for connecting to the natural world, especially
the trees and plant-life, as might be expected. They are also good connectors
with the gnomes and Faery realms, and can help with all aspects of
"growth". Blue Lace Agate is probably the best crystal for
clearing and balancing the throat chakra. Its layers and gentle blue and white
colours help get to the root of whatever requires addressing, whilst
stabilising and calming the energies initiated. Fire Agate is warm and
vibrant. It is a stone that supports creativity and works well with the lower
3 chakras It also aligns the physical and spiritual bodies, enhancing
groundedness and being "in the flow". Grey banded agate is a
useful stone for clearing deep-seated issues, where clarity and removal of
negativity whilst keeping grounded might be useful.
In our shop you will find Banded Grey agates and Ocho (small geodes); Fire
agate; Ellensburg agate; Holly Blue agate; Blue Lace Agate.
AVENTURINE
Aventurine is a cryptocrystalline form of quartz, characterised by its
translucency and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a
shimmering or glistening effect termed aventurescence. Stones without sparkle
should in strictness not be called aventurines, but rather jaspers. The most
common colour of aventurine is green, but it may also be orange, brown,
yellow, blue, or grey. Chrome-bearing fuchsite (a variety of muscovite mica)
is the classic inclusion, and gives the most commonly found silvery green or
blue sheen. Orange and brown sheens are attributed to hematite or goethite.
Blue sheens are attributed to copper silicates. Aventurine is often banded and
an overabundance of fuchsite may render it opaque, in which case it may be
mistaken for malachite at first glance. Aventurine Feldspar or Sunstone can be
confused with orange and red aventurine quartzite, although the former is
generally of a higher transparency. (and see GOLDSTONE)
All aventurines have a special energy that resonates with the Earth and the
elementals very strongly. I find that all aventurines connect me with
Archangel Sandalphon very clearly, but most especially the green variety. Green
Aventurine is also one of the best crystals for using at the heart centre,
or anywhere that balance and gentle healing is required. It also helps connect
with the plant Kingdom and her Devic Beings (and with earth and the gnomes).
The other coloured aventurines will have resonances specific to their colour
thus Red will also be energising and grounding useful at base and Earth
Star centres (and with fire and the salamanders); Blue will also be
cooling and calming useful at throat and communication centres (and with water
and the sylphs); White will also be clarifying and clearing and useful
at any centre, but especially the crown (and with water and the undines).
In our shop you will find Green Aventurine.
BANDED QUARTZ (Tiger Eye / Hawks Eye etc.)
The family that includes Tiger Eye are form of quartz that have a beautiful
chatoyancy that arises from fibrous inclusions of amphibole fibres of
crocidolite (blue asbestos - a variety of riebeckite), which makes them appear
banded. Their basic colour is blue/black, ("Hawks Eye / Falcons
Eye"). When this mass oxidises the crocidolite undergoes pseudomorphosis
to form limonite and creates yellow/brown fibres ("Tiger Eye). Sometimes
Hawks and Tiger Eye stones are found combined in layers - a stunning material!
Two other common forms of banded quartz arise from the same base material:
"Bulls Eye", which is deep red/brown and contains iron in the
asbestos mix, arises through gentle heat treatment (not always natural); and
Cats Eye, which is a paler grey/green with a lower concentration of
crocidolite. Sometimes these materials may become broken up through earth
movement and reform with other minerals, including quartz and jasper to create
a brecciated stone or other mixes/masses including Pietersite (formed from
brecciated Hawks Eye, Tiger Eye and quartz) and Tiger Iron (formed from bands
of Tiger Eye, red jasper, hematite and yellow jasper).
Tiger Eye is a great carrier of the Gold Ray and of the Christ
energies. It is a stone of courage and of sacrifice and brings great strength
and commitment to ones life and path. Strongly supportive of the Solar Plexus
chakra and the mental (thinking) body, this is also a great crystal for the
student, thinker and creative writer. It also supports the ego-self (in the
best sense of the word!) know and understand their true nature and place in
the world. Its deep brown colours also help ground us into the Earth and
connect with the myriad forms of support we can gain from being properly and
fully grounded. Bulls Eye is an effective energising and grounding
stone. It can be of use to help open and stabilise the base chakra especially,
but can warm and energise any chakra or centre. A nice gentle, yet useful,
stone for the beginner. Cats Eye grounds the Silver Ray, which is
highly energetic, and helps make it more accessible to us. For us it carries
the energies of the Egyptian God Anubis, Guardian of the Underworld and
Guardian against Lower Astral Forces. Anubis knows all of existence and
after-existence and can advise and guide us to the truths that we seek. Thus
working with Cats Eye permits access to the void, and using it we may seek
answers or clarification about life-path, karmic or other difficulties
encountered that may be hindering our spiritual progress. If we call upon
Anubis as we do so, we gain his protection and support: you may feel as if you
are suspended or existing in a void whilst you explore what you have asked to
know, but you do feel safe and supported throughout. Hawks Eye
resonates strongly with the 3rd eye chakra and with the Soma and Universal
(communication) centres of the Unified body. It carries the indigo Ray, which
is all about outer Cosmic / Stellar communication, wisdom and understanding.
This is a powerful Ray and not to be taken lightly, for in connecting with it
you open to catalytic change, which can be swift and radical. However this is
an amazing support for those who know they are "more" than simply
flesh and bone, and who wish to connect with their greater Self. Pietersite
is also sometimes called "Tempest Stone". This sums its energies up
very well! Its combination of tiger eye and hawks eye which has been broken up
and then re-formed with quartz shows its resilience and the beauty that even
chaotic change and upheaval can bring about. This is an excellent choice of
stone to support you through times of change, especially if the change is
rapid and perhaps bewildering or frightening. It links the blue, indigo and
golden-yellow Rays, to bring about balance between the ego-self and the Higher
Self, helping us remain grounded and certain of who we truly are, even during
times of great change. Tiger Iron is a very useful general
purpose stone, that supports and balances all the lower energy centres (base,
sacral and solar plexus) whilst grounding and earthing the energies safely and
soundly. If you are in need of energy or out of balance or synch in mind, body
and / or emotions, this is the stone for you: try holding one in each hand, or
placing one on each of the lower 3 chakras, with one below each foot. For
those in Unified Body, this stone can help assimilate changing energies and
ground them more fully into the Heart centre.
In our shop you will find Tiger
Eye; Bulls
Eye; Cats
Eye; Hawks
Eye; Pietersite;
Tiger
Iron
BLOODSTONE
Bloodstone, or Heliotrope, is a deep green variety of chalcedony, containing
red inclusions of iron oxide. These inclusions resemble drops of blood, giving
heliotrope its alternative name of bloodstone. A similar variety, in which the
spots are yellow instead of red is known as Plasma. Sometimes the material has
traces of other colours, including blue, tan and yellow. Bloodstone is
a stone of courage and a stone of sacrifice, often used in decorative pieces
or to carve talismans. As its name suggest it can be useful for any physical
conditions affecting the heart or circulatory system, and energetically for
any situation requiring balance and grounding; and also for working with any
issues of the heart and base chakras. Those pieces that include yellow jasper
add balance to the thinking / mental processes and clarity to the solar plexus
centre.
In our shop you will find Bloodstone.
CARNELIAN
Carnelian is a clear-to-translucent reddish-brown variety of chalcedony that
has a very high iron content, which gives it the lovely orange colour. Its hue
may vary from a pale orange, to an intense almost-black coloration. Similar to
carnelian is Sard, which is brown rather than red. Carnelian may also be found
in combination with onyx and as an inclusion within quartz, often in phantom
formation.
In our shop you will find Carnelian and Carnelian in quartz.
CHALCEDONY
Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, formed from sub-microscopic
grains of quartz, usually naturally coloured by pigmenting minerals, and
composed of very fine intergrowths of the minerals quartz and moganite. These
are both silica minerals, but they differ in that quartz has a trigonal
crystal structure, whilst moganite is monoclinic. Chalcedony has a waxy
lustre, and may be semitransparent or translucent due to the grains being
layered rather than randomly oriented. Often it may form in layers with other
chalcedonies and/or jaspers, to create banded agates and onyxes: Jaspers and
Agates are all classed as types of chalcedony. Chalcedony can assume a wide
range of colours, but those most commonly found within the ground are white to
grey, greyish-blue or a shade of brown ranging from pale to nearly black.
For metaphysical use the colours most frequently worked with are blue, pink,
white and purple/violet. Blue chalcedony has a soft and gentle energy
that is very cooling and calming. It is a very good stone to use at the throat
chakra, especially when the voice is tired or it needs to rest. There is a
sense of serenity and peace with this stone, and so it would be a good choice
placed (out of reach) in a child or baby's room. Because of its resonance with
childlike energies it will also support play and help the nurture of one's
Inner Child. Purple chalcedony resonates with the Violet Ray and with
the Third eye and Crown chakras. This makes it a useful and protective stone
when opening these Higher centres for journeying, channelling or other forms
of spiritual communion. The particular variety that we stock (Royal Aztec)
also contains soft dove grey shades, and this muted silver Ray energy adds to
the Power that can be sensed when working with this stone, making it an
effective companion for Astral travel. Black chalcedony is an excellent
choice for grounding or for use to strengthen the Earth Star chakra. This
stone is also of use for journeying within, and for exploring the more hidden
sides of our nature, thus bringing them into the Light.
In our shop you will find black, blue and purple (Royal Purple Aztec)
chalcedony.
CHRYSOPRASE
Chrysoprase is a green variety of chalcedony, which has been coloured by
nickel oxide. The darker varieties of chrysoprase are sometimes also referred
to as Prase: however, the term Prase is may also be used to describe green
chlorite included quartz, and so to a certain extent "Prase" is a
colour-descriptor, rather than a rigorously defined mineral variety.
In our shop you will find lime and apple-green Chrysoprase.
CITRINE
QUARTZ
Citrine quartz is a form of clear quartz that gains its colour and properties
from iron inclusions. According to the proportions of iron it contains and the
factors influencing its growth this quartz may vary in shade from the palest
lemon-yellow through to a deep golden-amber shade. Much citrine that is for
sale is in fact heat-treated amethyst, which has value for its colour, but
does not hold the same energies as true "natural" citrine. Natural
citrine is one of the most expensive of the quartz family due to its rarity in
the natural state hence anything "too cheap" may not be the real
thing!
Natural citrine is excellent for creative work and all endeavours
requiring mental focus or concentration. It is clarifying and strengthening
and very good at clearing blocks within the lower 3 chakras to permit a freer
flow of thoughts, ideas and hence manifestation of any plans and creative
efforts. Citrine works particularly well with the solar plexus and with all
"ego" issues connected with Will and personal Power.
In our shop you will find many forms of Natural Citrine, as well as some
heat-treated pieces
CLEAR
QUARTZ
Clear Quartz (SiO2) is found in many places around the planet and forms a
large portion of the Earth's crust. It is the most multi-purpose and adaptable
of minerals and I never cease to be amazed at the range of energies and uses
that this mineral has, especially when I sense the subtle variations in the
feel of their energies: I feel that Brazil gives us crystals that have the
most "classic" quartz properties; the USA gives us crystals that are
a bit more "in-your-face"; Madagascar gives us crystals that are
ancient, soft and deep; Russia gives us crystals that reflect our past with
connections that are less "Earthly"; whilst the Himalayas/Nepal and
India give us crystals with a high spiritual refinement. The joy of natural
unpolished quartz lies literally in its many facets. Each crystal is totally
unique: the shape of its sides and faces and the markings upon them providing
us with individual insights into the lessons and uses the crystal has for us.
Even when polished these attributes still remain: we just cannot see them by
eye. Polishing brings out the inner beauty in a crystal, removing surface
imperfections and letting the most Light within (and without) - a bit like us
really! Life with quartz is never dull: its' many varied forms and formations
(every crystal is totally unique) and its varied sources provide us with an
endless array of crystal energies to explore.
Clear Quartz is a wonderful channeler, clarifier and enhancer of Light
and energy in its infinitely varied forms. It is a natural amplifier and
"shifter" of energy and is one of the crystal healer's workhorses
because of this ability to move energy and draw in Light. It is also the only
crystal (I refer here to CLEAR quartz especially) that can be reliably
programmed, and so has been prized by countless civilisations of the past for
its many virtues and attributes and especially for its capacity for
"memory". This explains why it is the primary crystal that holds and
retains ancient records and memories, making this the premier crystal for
meditation, journeying and scrying, in order to connect with said stored
wisdom and information.
In our shop you will find MANY forms and types of clear quartz!
FELDSPAR
Feldspars are a common group of rock-forming tectosilicate minerals which make
up as much as 60% of the Earth's crust. Feldspars crystallize from magma in
both intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks as veins and are also present in
many types of metamorphic rock. Feldspars are also found in many types of
sedimentary rock. Feldspars are typically classified into two main types:
alkali feldspars and plagioclase feldspars. Some are formed through an
intergrowth of two feldspars: a host grain that includes lamellae or irregular
intergrowths of other types of feldspar: typically the host grain is
Orthoclase or Microcline, and the lamellae are Albite. Moonstone is a Feldspar
based mineral.
Apricot Feldspar is a pretty and delicate material in a lovely soft
apricot shade, with a silvery sheen like aventurine. Its energy too is a
delicate blend of the orange and pink Rays, linking sacral and heart centres
and strengthening feelings of true love and devotion between lovers and life
partners. There is too a sense of innocence and purity in the stones energies,
thus it is equally suited to gift to a child or baby, as a token of their
place within a family unit, as the much loved outcome of a loving union
between their parents. Graphic Feldspar (also called Zebradorite by
some sellers) is a yellow/beige feldspar that contains random deposits of
smoky quartz. We think it looks like the big cat family - leopards, cheetahs
and tigers, with their sandy coats and dark spots and stripes, rather than the
black and white striping of a zebra! It has a "big cat" sort of feel
too - mysterious, camouflaged, moving in stealth towards ones goals. The
feldspar element makes this a good general balancing stone, whilst the smoky
quartz brings the attributes of clearing, grounding and protecting. Moonstone
is one of the archetypal feminine stones, carrying the energies of the Divine
Feminine and the Goddess. That does not mean that it is only useful for women
to work with! Indeed it can help bring about true balance between ones
feminine / masculine aspects, regardless of one's gender. A calming stone,
equalising the senses and opening one to intuitive and creative thoughts,
feelings and expressions. The white and cream ones are most closely linked
with the Goddess (especially Isis); the peach ones are wonderful at balancing
and integrating painful energy shifts; whilst the grey and black ones add an
aura of grounding and protection to the energy field.
In our shop you will find apricot
feldspar; graphic
feldspar; moonstone
(grey/black, peach, white, pearl and rainbow).
GOLDSTONE
(man-made)
Aventurine Glass or Goldstone was discovered at some point in the 18th century
by Italian glassmakers. Although it was known first, goldstone is now a common
imitation of aventurine, starstone and sunstone. Goldstone is distinguished
visually from the latter three minerals by its coarse flecks of copper,
dispersed within the glass in an unnaturally uniform manner. The most common
form of goldstone (known as orange goldstone) is reddish-brown, containing
tiny crystals of metallic copper that require special conditions to form
properly: the initial batch is melted together from silica, copper oxide, and
other metal oxides to chemically reduce the copper ions to elemental copper.
The vat is then sealed off from the air and maintained within a narrow
temperature range, keeping the glass hot enough to remain liquid while
allowing metallic crystals to precipitate from solution without melting or
oxidizing. After a suitable crystallisation period, the entire batch is cooled
to a single solid mass, which is then broken out of the vat for selection and
shaping. Goldstone also exists in other colour variants based on other
elements: Cobalt or manganese can be substituted for copper: the resulting
crystals have a more silvery appearance and are suspended in a
strongly-coloured matrix of the corresponding ionic colour, resulting in blue
goldstone or purple goldstone respectively; Green goldstone, or chrome
aventurine, forms its reflective particles from chromium oxides rather than
the elemental metal, but is otherwise fairly similar.
Even though these are manmade "crystals", Goldstones are one of the
few creations that are useful for the crystal lover. The orange variety has
similar (albeit less intense) properties to true Sunstone; the blue variety
likewise with true Starstone; the green variety likewise with Green
Aventurine. Their colour does make them of use with certain chakras: Blue
Goldstone at the 3rd eye and Orange Goldstone at the Solar Plexus. Blue
Goldstone is very meditative and centering, whilst also allowing for
outward journeying through visualisation or guided meditation. It can be a
catalyst for transformation, change and growth and is a useful tool for making
contact with (and communicating with) other Civilisations within our Cosmos,
and with Earth's Ancient past and thus her links with the Wise Ones of the
Stars. Its deep blue and silver colours also strongly connect with the
energies of the Divine Mother / Feminine. Orange Goldstone is more
"down to Earth", carrying a warmth and energy that can promote
creativity and forward progress on many levels. Its copper element also
promotes the transfer and movement of energy, and the grounding of many
frequencies or resonances, through the energetic and physical bodies and into
the Earth via the Earth Star or Omega centres. Its deep orange and gold
colours also strongly connect with the energies of the Sun and the Divine
Father / Masculine.
In our shop you will find Blue Goldstone and Orange Goldstone.
HERKIMER
DIAMOND
These are a special formation of quartz, found in Herkimer County, New
York State. Generally they are clear, but they sometimes are smoky. They grow
in unique conditions and because of this they are exceptionally clear double
terminated crystals. Usually they appear quite short and stout, and have a
light and sparkling quality about them. Some are absolutely perfect, and
others grow in joined up clusters or groups. They range in size from mm to
hand sized, and where they have grown in groups but become separated may
exhibit seed crystals or key formations. It is also common to find inclusions
of carbon (black particles) or of iron / limonite (golden yellow sheens) or
air and sometimes water. These may give rise to wonderful rainbows. Other
characteristics of quartz may be found, such as windows, time links and on
rare occasions record keeper markings.
Herkimer diamonds are energising to all chakras and energetic bodies,
and will open up and increase the speed of rotation of the chakras where they
are placed or focused upon. They are also very cleansing to the chakras and
auric field, and are the best remover of toxins from the fields. They are very
synergistic stones, and work well with most other stones, enhancing and
increasing those stones' powers and energies. Despite what you may think, for
such a clear stone, they work hard to pull energy and Light into both physical
and non- physical bodies, and to fully ground it there - grounding in this
case meaning bringing it firmly into the body and anchoring it there.
Herkimers are very clarifying to the thoughts and emotions, and will help
bring "enlightenment". They will also act to clear out all the
"stuff" that we don't need and which no longer serves us, which we
tend to hang onto either consciously or subconsciously. They will also aid the
integration and grounding of new thoughts, ideas and energies to aid our
assimilation of Light and raise our vibrational energies. The black particles
of carbon, although to some spoiling the clarity and perfection, are a
reminder to us of the interaction and support given to us as carbon-based life
forms by the quartz family. The golden (some call these citrine) herkimers add
the energies of Christ-consciousness and the Divine Masculine.
In our shop you will find Herkimer diamonds of many sizes and qualities
JASPER
Jasper is an opaque, impure variety of silica (chalcedony), usually red,
yellow, brown or green in colour and, rarely, blue. Patterns may arise
during the consolidation process forming flow and depositional patterns in the
original silica rich sediment or volcanic ash. Colour stems from the mineral
content of the sediments or ash. When the colours form in stripes or bands,
these are called striped or banded jaspers. Jasper can also be modified by the
diffusion of minerals along discontinuities providing the appearance of
vegetative growth, creating dendritic patterns. The original materials are
often fractured and/or distorted after deposition, creating myriad beautiful
patterns which are later filled with other colourful minerals, as in
Polychrome (Gaia) Jasper. The classification and naming of jasper presents a
challenge: terms attributed to various well-defined materials includes the
geographic locality where it is found, sometimes quite restricted such as
"Bruneau" (a canyon); a few are designated by the country of origin
such as a Brown Egyptian or Red African; most are simply described by their
colouring or patterning. Picture Jaspers (such as Kalahari Picture stone)
exhibit combinations of patterns resulting in what appear to be scenes or
images when cut or polished. Diffusion from a centre produces distinctive
Orbicular Jaspers (such as Ocean Jasper and Leopard Skin Jasper). Healed,
fragmented rock produces Brecciated Jasper. Jaspilite (also Tiger Iron) is a
banded iron formation rock that often has distinctive bands of jasper
interspersed with hematite and Tigers Eye.
Jasper is a hugely useful stone, with wide-ranging uses. In general Jaspers
are all solid and earthy, helping us deal with the day-to-day realities of
living an earthly existence. Their colour range and patterning bears relation
to the areas they might best be used, according to chakra centre spectrum
colours and their symbolic patterning. Biggs Picture Jasper is only
found in one region of the world - namely Oregon USA. It has been called
"THE stone for Global awareness". Like all Picture Jaspers this
stone can help us connect with the resonance and consciousness of our Earth
and is an excellent stone for use in shamanic journeying or in connecting with
and understanding the energies of the many ancient and spiritual sites of our
planet. Gaia (Polychrome) Jasper - see "Crystal
of the Month" page (Dec 2010). Kalahari Picture Stone is a
form of picture Jasper. Its cream, tan and brown layering reflects the
energies and landscapes of the Kalahari desert, and it is useful for grounding
and connecting with the energies of the Earth and the elements of earth and
air. This is a good choice for the Shaman, geomantic practitioner or natural
healing practitioner, and for anyone who wishes to connect with the Earth's
spirit, Devas or elementals. By assisting us in connecting with the planet we
may learn with more clarity how to work and live in harmony with her, rather
than "suffer" the energetic upheavals that are currently affecting
so many that live upon her surface. Mookaite is a form of Jasper found
exclusively in Australia. It carries the same range of colours as found in
Aboriginal art, which derive from natural pigments. It has the same
"other-worldly" energies about it, which we may also associate with
the ancient spiritual site of Uluru and its timeless wisdom and connections to
ancestral spirits, and the ancient ancestors of the current dwellers on Earth.
Mookaite can help connect us with our own innate wisdom and strengthens our
source of "inner knowing". Holding a piece of Mookaite whilst
listening to traditional Native Australian music (such as chanting or
didgeridoo) can result in a very interesting meditative journey! Ocean Jasper
- see "Crystal of the Month"
page (April 2011). Red Jasper is very grounding and energising and a
great awakener of all creative energies that are grounded within the lower 2
chakras. It can be useful to awaken and regulate a sluggish base or sacral
chakra, and may also be used with any energy centres that require warming,
integrating or strengthening. Its high iron content also supports the blood
and circulatory system and the repair and regeneration of muscle tissue.
Sometimes the Jasper is found with a higher than usual amount of quartz,
sometimes layered with banded chalcedonies or brecciated in some fashion. In
these cases the quartz amplifies and increases the effects of the jasper and
adds an extra dimension to their use.
In our shop you will find Biggs Picture and Kalahari Picture stone; Ocean;
Red; Gaia; Wave; Mookaite; Bruneau; Yellow; Kambala and Unakite.
OBSIDIAN
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive
igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools
rapidly with minimum crystal growth. Obsidian is mineral-like, but not a true
mineral because as a glass it is not crystalline: in addition, its composition
is too complex to comprise a single mineral. Obsidian consists mainly of SiO2
(silicon dioxide), usually 70% or more. Crystalline rocks with obsidian's
composition include granite and rhyolite. Pure obsidian is usually dark in
appearance, though the colour varies depending on the presence of impurities.
Iron and magnesium typically give the obsidian a dark green to brown to black
colour. In some stones, the inclusion of small, white, radially clustered
crystals of cristobalite in the black glass produce a blotchy or snowflake
pattern. Obsidian may also contain patterns of gas bubbles remaining from the
lava flow, aligned along layers created as the molten rock was flowing before
being cooled. These bubbles can produce interesting effects such as
iridescence, coloured or rainbow swirling patterns. Sheen obsidians have a
play of coloured chatoyancy across their surface when in the presence of
strong light. This is usually of golden colour, but also may be silver, green
or purple. The colours arise because of minor impurities, liquids and gasses
that have been trapped within the obsidian during its period of rapid cooling.
Obsidian is a "free-style" crystal and can be very flexible
in how it works with an individual, or through a range of situations. Being so
"fresh" from the inner earth all obsidians have a grounding property
and most are also protective. It seems that more and more people are choosing
to work with obsidian now, as we are being asked to look deeply within
ourselves to work out our own balance between who we think we are and who we
truly are. It is a great stone for those who have the courage to go within and
confront and resolve their relationship with their shadow side. Black
obsidian is reflective and absorbing, making it a good choice for
protection. It can however be harder to work with than some of the other black
stones, because of its mirroring attributes. This means that it is very
effective at reflecting back energies, both to the sender - if undesirable -
and to the self, although this can be useful if introspection and examination
of ones own motives is required! It is also a very good choice as a grounding
stone, as it will help keep the Earth-connections clear during the process. Smoky
obsidian, also called Apache Tears, is one of the best stones for
grounding and clearing negativity. In this respect I regard them as second
best only to smoky quartz. At first glance it can be hard to tell smoky and
black obsidian apart, but if you hold one up to the light you will be able to
see through smoky obsidian, but not through black. You may also discover that
some are banded or layered, which can make these particularly useful for
getting to the root of problematic or difficult situations. Smoky obsidian can
also be useful in energy field protection, creating a "smoke
screen", rather than the mirror of the other obsidians. Even so, they can
help one hide or shield one's energy field if there is a need. Peacock
obsidian is a very rare form of obsidian. It contains spectrum colours,
but they "swirl" around within the obsidian, rather than being in
layers, as with the rainbow obsidians. They have a sound and a flow to their
energy, which can help one flow more clearly with the "dance" of
Life, whilst also teaching the value of living outside the conforms of
conventional structure / society. They are also said to be great visionary
stones and of great value when dreaming or journeying through astral travel. Rainbow
obsidian shows rainbow layers within its blackness when placed under a
light source. These rainbows may show the full spectrum or show just part of
the colour range. The rainbow colours occur due to inclusions, often minute
gas or water bubbles, that were trapped during the obsidian's solidification
process. This stone is of great use to anyone working deeply on self-healing,
or who is willing to undertake the work necessary to reconcile their shadow
aspects in order to grow spiritually. The polished surface acts like a
"mirror for the soul", not only revealing us in stark honesty, but
also showing the beauty that is deep within all of us. Not a stone for the
fainthearted perhaps, but HUGELY beneficial for those who have the courage and
honesty to work with it. sheen obsidian has a connection to the colour
Ray it displays: gold sheen connects with the Gold Ray and to the energies of
Christ-consciousness, Divine Will and the Divine Masculine; silver sheen
connects with the Silver Ray and the energies of the Divine Feminine and the
Great Mysteries; green sheen with the Emerald Ray of Truth and Balance; and
purple to the Violet Ray of Transformative Light. Spider-web obsidian
is a graphite-grey material with fine random web-like threads of silvery-grey
material running through it and across its surface. Spider-silk is one of the
strongest materials known, and this tells us that this stone is likely to be
of great help in providing an inner support when journeying, healing or doing
self-exploration work. The silvery-grey colours remind me of the energies of
the Platinum Ray, a Cosmic energy that is both connective and protective.
Here, with this obsidian, we are given the time and ability to unravel the
threads of our lives and travel inwards and outwards to experience the rich
tapestry of the Universe.
In our shop you will find Black and Smoky; Gold, Silver, Purple and Green
Sheen; Rainbow; Peacock and Spider-web
ROSE
QUARTZ
Rose quartz takes its lovely colour from trace inclusions of manganese. Its
pink colour can range from the palest translucency through to a deep and dense
rose pink - the amount of colour depends on the amount of trace minerals. When
the material has traces of specifically aligned rutile within it exhibits a
special formation known as asterism. When this material is polished,
especially into spheres or cabochons, and a strong light reflects from the
surface it is possible to see a six-rayed star reflected back from the
surface. The Madagascan material is often especially blessed with this
quality. Sometimes additional trace material results in a rare and unusual
lavender / lilac shade. Rose quartz is generally found in massive form -
crystals are very rare and, when they do occur, tend to be in very small
clusters.
Rose quartz is one of the crystals that everyone would benefit from. It
exudes a soft and loving energy - yet when required it can also supply a
strong and empowering presence that will help clear, balance and heal the
heart centre and reinforce our sense of connection to All That Is. This state
of "living from the heart" with a sense of true unity awareness and
community spirit is what the "new age" is all about - and we cannot
be full participants in this endeavour WITHOUT a whole and open heart.
In our shop you will find many forms of Rose quartz
SMOKY
QUARTZ
Smoky quartz can be found in the palest of colours - usually grey/brown -
through to the darkest black. Its colour comes through natural irradiation
within the ground, although some clear quartz specimens are "cooked"
to turn them artificially into smoky quartz as this attracts a higher price.
It would be true to say that MOST natural smoky quartz are not a deep black
colour - the main natural smoky quartz that is pure black being Morian quartz.
For healing and metaphysical use the natural forms of smoky quartz are best.
Smoky quartz can also grow in combination with other quartz, especially
amethyst, citrine and clear quartz, and can be found with inclusions and
phantoms, all of which add their own dimension to the uses of the crystal.
Smoky quartz is very cleansing, easily removing negativity from the
body or aura - we teach how to do this through the use of crystal grids, wands
and pendulums. It is also one of the best grounding stones: if you feel spacey
either hold one in each hand or place one below /under each foot. It is also
quite protective, and can be carried or worn. It is also a lovely crystal to
have in any room or healing space, helping to absorb and transmute negativity
whilst imbuing the atmosphere with a clear and expansive energy. I like to
keep a cluster on my desk, and we have a large polished specimen in the
bedroom, ensuring restful sleep!
In our shop you will find many forms of Smoky quartz
TREATED
QUARTZ
It is possible to treat natural clear quartz (and occasionally other suitable
minerals, such as danburite) in a process that bonds atoms of precious metals
to the exterior / matrix of the crystal. These enhanced crystals have a
coloured appearance, depending on the metals used in the process, and carry an
added energy that, unlike "dyed" crystals, add to and extend the
usual attributes of the base material. These crystals, as well as a few
man-made minerals such as Gaia stone and Pink Lazurine, are very usable in
crystal healing and meditation etc - their uses vary widely according to their
nature - more in their own sections below:
Flame aura is treated with titanium and other trace minerals, resulting
in the crystals having a rainbow coloured appearance, with shades of gold,
magenta, green and aqua-blue being prominent. This is quite a forceful stone
with a vibrancy and power that is very "awakening" and energising.
Titanium is a great connector, and as such this crystal has great uses in
journeying and connecting with Higher Guidance through meditation. It also
carries the Rainbow Rays, which can help balance and charge each energy centre
and indeed the auric field - try laying in a "Star of David" grid of
6 of these crystals, preferably double-terminated, otherwise points-in. Aqua
aura is treated with gold, resulting in the crystals having a rich
aquamarine colour with subtle rainbow flashes. This was one of the first
treated minerals to be created, and is probably the most useful for healing
purposes. This is a gentle but profound crystal, very useful when used to
strengthen, clear and balance the communication centres (throat and brow) and
to enhance and support communication of all sorts, whether this be verbal,
written or telepathic. This is also a great stone for encouraging Angelic
connections. The gold aspect also makes this an excellent crystal for working
with any problems where the nervous system, cellular structure or DNA is in
need of repair or adjustment. Opal aura (also known as Angel Aura or
Rainbow Aura) is treated with platinum, silver and other trace minerals,
resulting in the crystals having a pearlescent white colour with an iridescent
finish. This crystal has a sweet, fine and high resonance, which seems to sing
in the hand. It carries the Rays of the Divine Feminine and of Cosmic
Enlightenment, and is a very "connecting" stone. If you wish to
extend or activate your upper chakras, whilst retaining a sense of peace and
serenity, then this is an excellent crystal to work with. It also brings in
the full spectrum of Light, which can help purify and cleanse any of the
energy bodies or centres whilst strengthening purpose and resolve. Cobalt
aura is treated with cobalt, resulting in the crystals having a deep
indigo, cobalt blue, magenta and gold colouring. Sometimes this crystal is
mistakenly confused with Flame Aura. This crystal shouts "Archaeon
Michael" to me, with its deep blues and golds! Strong, protective,
reflective and supportive, this is an ideal crystal to carry or wear for
protection against unwanted negative influences or psychic attack. It will
also support the upper chakras and provide protection and energy whilst
channelling, journeying or communicating with Guides. Tanzine aura is
treated with gold and iridium, resulting in the crystals having a light
indigo-blue /violet colour with an iridescent finish. Similar uses as for aqua
aura apply, but with enhanced clarification and expansion of the crown chakra,
supporting greater contact with the energies of the upper chakras (8-14) and
the Higher Self.
Celestial aura is a mix of aqua aura and opal aura, and combines their
attributes in a wonderful stone that resounds with a high and fine energy.
These rare stones were created in error (!) when a set of tumbled stones were
inadvertently treated twice. The Divine Feminine and the Silver Ray are
strongly grounded through this stone, together with the Pure Ray of Truth.
In our shop you will find Aqua; Cobalt; Tanzine; Opal (Angel); Flame auras
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