Crystals & Gemstones
Written by Brooke Gibson
Introduction
Crystals and gemstones have a long history of use by humankind living on this planet. Crystals and gemstones are two different entities. The dictionary tells us that a crystal is a solid body having a characteristic internal structure and enclosed by symmetrically arranged plane surfaces, intersecting at definite and characteristic angles. A gemstone is defined as a precious or semiprecious stone that can be cut and polished for use as a gem. In recent times, we have seen a growing interest in the use of crystals and gemstones, for many different purposes—to bring health or wealth, purify a new space, cleanse, attract love, heal from disease, attune to ancient energies, and so on. In his book, Crystal, Gem, And Metal Magic (2002), Scott Cunningham writes, “Stones and metals are keys that we can use to unlock our potential as human beings. They expand our consciousness, enhance our lives, calm our stresses, and infuse our dreams with healing energies.”
As we try to bring ourselves into alignment with Nature and discover our truest purpose for existing here on Earth at this time in history, crystals and gemstones can be helpful allies to us on our journeys of self discovery. After all, being in the mineral kingdom, they have existed for much longer on the planet than we, as humans, have. Just take a look at any natural history book and you’ll discover that before even the plants and trees grew on the Earth, the mineral kingdom reigned here, being impacted, shaped, and formed by the changes in the body of the Earth throughout time. It is this ancient wisdom that crystals hold that we can tap into and begin to know and understand. Crystals are described by Melody in her book, Love Is In the Earth (1995), in this way, “Crystals are the blossoms of the mineralogical portion of the Earth; the recognition of the beauty and loving energies of these forms can greatly enhance one’s personal development.”
This course on crystals and gemstones in your Metaphysical curriculum is meant to show you how you (and those you help) can be positively affected by using these allies in your daily life. The course consists of many different sections that each look into a different aspect of crystals and gemstones. These sections include: the history of crystals and gemstones, scientific uses, a reference dictionary of crystals, ritual uses of crystals, how to take care of crystals, a discussion section, exercises for you to try with crystals, and a review of the books used to write this course.
The history section gives you, just as you might expect, the history of crystals and gemstones on the Earth. Topics such as the ancient civilization of Atlantis, whose inhabitants were said to have used crystals extensively, will be included. Also, we will explore the different types of divination that cultures have used crystals for in the past, such as crystal balls and pendulums. The mystery of the “crystal skulls” will also be explored.
In the scientific section of the course, we will delve into the use of crystals by scientists to advance technology for the benefit of humankind. Their uses in this regard are multiple: radios, watches, appliances, the measurement of energy fields, and the charging of crystals to hold information. The scientific uses of crystals are almost as abundant as the spiritual uses of these mineral helpers.
The reference dictionary of crystals and gemstones is a goldmine of knowledge, for it tells of the physical and spiritual properties of crystals, their astrological affiliations, locations on the earth, history of use by different cultures, and different types of a particular crystal (such as Tourmaline, which has many varieties). This is a great reference list to have as you explore your relationship with crystals, now and in the future.
The section on the ritual uses of crystals shows how they have been used by many different cultures in different areas of the Earth. In fact, crystals have been used by just about all cultures that have ever existed on the Earth, because they are found worldwide. This section explores how the same crystals and gemstones are used by different cultures for both the same type of rituals and for entirely different purposes. It may give you some ideas for how you can personally use crystals in your rituals.
How to take care of crystals is an important section for it shows that because each crystal is unique in its properties, each crystal has a certain, distinctive way that it likes to be cared for. Some crystals never need to be cleansed, by sage smoke or saltwater, and some crystals have a tendency to hold the energy that they come into contact with, be it positive or negative, and so they need to be cleansed fairly often. This section also explores what materials are best to use to cleanse your crystals, and where you can acquire these materials. Taking good care of your crystals is important, for it shows them you love and care about them.
The discussion section of the course poses questions that people frequently ask about crystals and gemstones and then answers those questions. A question might go something like, “How can crystals help on a global level?” or “What kind of spirits do crystals attract?” Anything could come up, so be prepared for some straight-shooting discussion in this section of the course.
The exercises section will give you some actual exercises to try with different types of crystals, including meditations, sleeping with crystals, cleansing and charging a crystal, using a crystal to bring about something physical or a desired change of some sort, etc. It will not be limited to just Quartz or Amethyst, or the big, well-known crystals, but will include some exercises with lesser-known, but powerful mineral allies as well.
The book review, which is the next section in this course, will give acknowledgment to those authors whose material was drawn upon for the writing of this course. There is a massive amount of information about crystals, and this list can help you know where to begin in building your crystal books collection. A concise review of each book will give you the gist of what the book is like so that you may decide if you want to check it out further.