Tourmaline
Description: Tourmaline crystallizes in the form of vertically striated prismatic crystals, sometimes slender and sometimes needle-like. The color range includes deep pink to red to red-violet (rubellite), blue (indicolite), yellow (also known as “Peridot of Ceylon” and as Tsilasite), brown (dravide), green, pink (elbaite), orange, black (aphrizite and schlor), colorless (achroite), bi-colored, tri-colored, and colorless.
Location: Tourmaline is found in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Russia
Astrological Sign: Libra
Spiritual Uses: Tourmaline rids the user of specific problem-causing elements. It diffuses and dissipates the effects of negative energy on individual existence, bringing about clarity and calmness. Tourmaline’s energy relates to each of the chakras, acting to maintain, clear, and stimulate each of the energy centers of the body. It can be used to attract inspiration. Tourmaline provides for a balancing of the male/female energies within the body, further providing for balancing of the mind, of the energy centers, and of the aura. It helps to align the mental processes and chakras with the ethereal structure. Its balancing ability extends further to stimulate balance between the left and right sides of the brain, enhancing cooperative efforts in the areas of creativity and healing. Tourmaline helps its user to gain a more balanced understanding of the purpose for existence. The stone will not give answers, but it is capable of bringing to light startling, occasionally painful, information. It helps one to maintain fortitude and laughter while retaining consciousness as well as helping one to release the concept of being the victim.
Physical Uses: This stone can diminish fear by promoting understanding, and encouraging self-confidence. Tourmaline helps the body to function without strain. Tourmaline focuses its effects generally on specific problem areas, but also is capable of working in a general way as a cleansing stone. A unique property that occurs when a Tourmaline crystal gets heated is that it develops opposing electrical charges at opposite ends of the crystal. Tourmaline’s aspects are enhanced when used in the wand formation. These are used to clear the aura, to energize the appropriate chakras, to balance the meridians of the physical body, and to facilitate the optimum balance inherent in the ethereal body. The wand is used to clearly direct the energy.
History: In ancient East India, Tourmaline was used to provide direction toward that which would bring “good” and it was also known as a “teller” stone, providing insight during times of struggle and “telling” of who or what is causing trouble. African shamans have used Tourmaline to promote the awakening from the “dream of illusion” and the promotion of the experience of the self as a part of the universal spirit. The stone has also been used by shamans among the Native American and Aboriginal cultures. It is thought to provide protection from all dangers occurring on the physical plane as well as bringing healing powers to the user.
Different Types:
Black Tourmaline is related to the astrological sign of Capricorn. It is also known as Schorl and Aphrizite. This stone can be used to both repel and protect against negativity. For those with the potential for exposure to excessive amounts of radiation, it is a powerful ally, with the ability to be used as an energy deflector. It acts to protect one from being victimized by the negative energy of another. It can maintain one’s “spirits” even in conditions appearing to be gloomy. It also provides for an increase in one’s physical vitality, intellectual acuity, and emotional stability. Black Tourmaline is a protective stone against spells that are cast by the negative side of another. It is a special stone to Native American Indians. When it is found in quartz, not only does it dispel the spell that was sent, but also energizes the “victim,” increasing their well-being. When used with mica, it returns the spell to the originator, allowing one to view the sender of the negative energies. Black Tourmaline is used to activate grounding between the first chakra and the center of the Earth, providing for one’s well-being on the physical plane, and protecting against those spirits who are not in the light or who do not understand the power of love. It is used for grounding purposes and to represent the earth in spells relating to that element. Unlike most black stones it does not absorb negative energy, but repels it. Many gem experts suggest carrying this stone when you feel surrounded by negativity. It is very valuable for crises and for periods of extreme stress. It can be used in the treatment of arthritis, dyslexia, heart disease, anxiety, and disorientation. It acts also to stimulate the reflex points associated with the lower back. It can provide for the stimulation and balancing of the adrenal glands. The stone defends against debilitating diseases, such as those that have life-threatening crisis points or that do sustained damage over long periods of times, such as heart disease or arthritis.
Blue Tourmaline is related to the astrological signs of Libra and Taurus and can be used to assist one in relating to others in a loving manner, bringing the true impressions to the surface. It is also used to activate the throat chakra and the third-eye, strengthening the skills associated with communication and psychic awareness. It is worn to de-stress, for peace, and restful sleep. Blue Tourmaline activates one’s progression towards service, and helps one to recognize the rewards of this service in the areas of knowledge expansion and helping all to realize the power of love. Access to the higher levels of intuition is granted through the use of Blue Tourmaline, which stimulates the third-eye chakra. This stone can be used in the treatment of disorders of the lungs, throat, larynx, esophagus, thymus, and thyroid. Neon blue has been used in diagnosing disease and in assisting in the recognition of causal factors, and Dark Blue has been used in the treatment of disorders associated with the eyes and brain.
Brown Tourmaline is related to the sign of Aries and can be used to clear the aura and to stimulate the auric body. This helps to align the energy of the optimum self to the physical body. Brown Tourmaline is a protective stone on the subtle levels, bringing the presence of the Earth to the peace of the higher self. It can be used it the treatment of disorders of the intestinal tract and to reduce spots on the skin. It has also been used to stimulate the growth of plants.
Colorless Tourmaline is related to the sign of Aquarius. It aligns the energy centers and meridians of the physical body to the optimum energy centers and meridians of the ethereal body. It can be used to activate the crown chakra, instilling the concept of progress toward service. Colorless Tourmaline also provides for a synthesis of the metaphysical and healing properties of the other colors of Tourmaline. It is an excellent healing stone, generally, combining the forces of all Tourmaline properties.
Green Tourmaline is related to the sign of Capricorn and is used to draw money and success in business. It can be worn to stimulate creativity or placed in a coin purse or piggy bank to attract wealth. The stone can also help to teach its user how to be guided by their heart, for it opens the heart chakra. It may be used to assist in the attunement of energy between the third-eye and the heart. It is considered by some gem healers the strongest of all green stones. Green Tourmaline holds the essence of the plant kingdom, providing an energy conducive to healing plants. It tends to readily transfer energy from the mineral kingdom to the vegetable dimension of vibrations. It can be used to increase the effectiveness of herbs and plants in healing. Green Tourmaline has the ability to transform negative energy to the positive state without releasing it to the atmosphere, acting also to inspire creativity within, to attract success, prosperity and abundance. It is extremely beneficial for the nervous system, the brain, and the immune system. It gives one a highly refined sense of how to best recognize and deal with a problem, also stimulating creativity and communication. Energetic and rejuvenating, it helps one to follow through with a problem to its conclusion. This stone can be used in the treatment of disorders relating to the eyes, and also to facilitate weight loss. It helps to regenerate the thymus, ductless glands, the immune system, and the heart. It has also been used as a purgative.
Orange Tourmaline is very rare, and has been found in Africa. It is usually found with the yellow and red colors included. Orange Tourmaline stimulates the navel chakra and enhances one’s creativity, intuition of the physical plane, and sexuality. It can provide for a furthering of desire (the direction of the desire being governed by the intellect) and for a leveling of emotions. It can be used in the treatment of disorders related to the reproductive system, to infertility and/or frigidity, and to intestinal disorders.
Pink Tourmaline is related to the sign of Libra, although Leo, Aries, and Cancer also have an affinity for this stone. Like most pink stones, it soothes the emotions and eases the creative process. People with difficulties in relationships or those afraid of being hurt in matters of love will benefit from this stone and its calming influence. It promotes the sharing of emotions. Its energy relates to creativity, stimulating the crown chakra and the heart chakra and helping to bring forth the synthesis of love and spirituality. It also enhances the higher aspects of the state of love, helping one to maintain the connection between the self and the whole of the universe. It allows one to trust in the power of love, promoting feelings of joy and enthusiasm for life by releasing destructive tendencies. Pink Tourmaline also promotes joy and peace during periods of growth and changes when the changes are being guided toward the furtherance of the spirit and the growth of humanity toward enlightenment. It is a stone to assist one in the attainment of peace and understanding, trust and awareness, and love. It is a special stone to give to one you hope will love you. It is said to draw love and friendship and can be worn to promote sympathy toward others. Pink Tourmaline helps you accept the past and work out whatever problems still exist, making you more open to new experiences. It acts as a holistic healer, bringing the body toward unification in order to treat a disorder. It has been used to assist in the release of disorders related to dysfunctional endocrine activities and to treat disorders of the heart, lungs, and skin. Take it as an elixir internally or apply it topically.
Rubellite Tourmaline is related to the signs of Sagittarius and Scorpio and is also known as Red/Red-Violet/Deep Pink Tourmaline. Rubellite Tourmaline strengthens the will to understand love and to inspire tactfulness in independence. It promotes creativity in the various realms of loving aspirations. It can be used to stimulate the base chakra and to provide for a direct pathway between the base chakra and the heart chakra. It can, therefore, be used to direct and to intensify devotional activities. Rubellite Tourmaline stimulates the healing qualities of the heart and the associated attributes of loving consciousness. It also provides physical energy and vitality to the physical body, activating all of the qualities of the base chakra. It can be used in the treatment of disorders of the digestive system, the heart, lungs, pancreas, and reproductive system. It has also been used in the repair of the reproductive system and to provide for balance in the structure of the blood vessels and veins.
Watermelon Tourmaline is related to the astrological signs of Virgo and Gemini. It consists of an interior of red or pink Tourmaline encased in Green Tourmaline. A broken or sliced Watermelon Tourmaline looks much like the fruit for which it is named. This stone shows us by example how opposites work together. Pink is a pale shade of red, the complementary opposite of green. Balance results from this combination. The energy of Green Tourmaline is a problem-solving one; it helps us accept the past and make the present as comfortable as possible. Add to this Pink Tourmaline’s energy, which makes us more loving, sensitive, and understanding in conflicts, and the result is a stone that helps us anticipate the direction a situation is going to take. Watermelon Tourmaline is a stone that teaches the lesson that only by understanding can we find true peace. It can be worn to balance the projective and receptive energies within the body, and is also a love-attracting stone. It works best for this purpose when used by balanced persons. Watermelon Tourmaline has an activating effect on the heart chakra, providing for stimulation, energizing, and connection with the heart chakra of the higher-self. It helps one to allow oneself the experience of the beauty of nature, while diminishing emotionalism. It enhances cooperative efforts and inspires tact in all situations. This stone encourages one to look past the seriousness of an experience or a situation and to recognize both the benefit of, and the humor in, the experience/situation. It has been used in the treatment of nervousness, disorders of the heart and lungs, and in dysfunctions of the emotional system.
Yellow Tourmaline is related to the sign of Leo. It stimulated the solar plexus, enhancing personal power and intellectual pursuits. It also relates to the cycles in one’s life, helping one to bring to an opening, or to a closing, that which would benefit one’s personal growth. It can activate creativity and initiative in business and employment, and can stimulate spiritual development by helping one to logically conclude that the pathway is open and inviting. Use this stone in the treatment of disorders associated with the spleen, liver, kidneys, gall bladder, and stomach.