by Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac ~
Peacefulmind.com
As a kid, Halloween was probably my most favorite holiday, next to Christmas, because it meant we got to dress up, pretend and get candy! As an adult, I think I have replaced that joy with another, and that is rock collecting! Each year, I find more and more precious gems and stones that continue to amaze me! This Halloween, I would love to share some of my all time favorite crystals relating to the season.
Dragon Blood Jasper is a magical stone designed by nature and capturing a rich “dragon green” matrix (epidote) that is dotted with deep red drops of “dragon’s blood” (really, red piedmontite). Energetically, this crystal is helpful for enhancing our vital Qi or life force energy. It is a stone for strength and courage. Due to its coloring it is also associated with the Heart Chakra. It therefore, brings the etheric body’s lower energies, the physical, emotional and ego body to meet and match the benevolence of the Heart energy. This stone helps one find the powers of love, forgiveness and compassion, the exact energies used to tame the “inner dragon”. As with all jasper stones, dragon stone works steadily rather than rapidly. This stone is a methodical and meticulous worker of practical, down to earth solutions, hence the red piedmontite. The exceptional mineral make-up, makes this stone one of the most powerful and dynamic of the stones in this family.
Hag Stone or otherwise known as a Witch Stone, Hol(e)y Stones or Adder Stone have occupied myth and magic for centuries. Used by farmers, people seeking protection and magical minded people, Hag stones are stones that have a naturally occurring hole inside them. Often discovered in fields or along coastal beaches, lakes or streams. These holes occur from the elements beating down upon them over many years. These stones were believed to be able to protect cattle from witches who would take them out in the middle of the night, ride them relentlessly and return them, exhausted to the farmers in the morning. The belief in these stones where so strong that farmers would hold them in their hands while milking their cows, in fear that if they did not, their milk would instantly curdle. Another magical mystery about this stone is the hole. It was believed that by looking through it, you would be privy to another world, the spirit/fairy world, as the solid part of the stone represents the material world while the hole in the middle represents the spiritual void. This is also why the wreath is used in funerals. Hanging a hag stone from a cord around the bed post was believed to prevent night terrors associated with hags or witches afflicting the individual with her magickal powers or riding them. It considered extremely lucky to find a hag stone when you are out and about on a walk and even luckier if you have not set out intentionally to find one and just stumble upon it. These stones have been used for protection and fertility throughout the ages. Hang a hag stone around your neck for good luck and protection.
Merlinite is a trade name for opalized white chalcedony which is included with Psilomelane. Psilomelane is an obsolete group name for hard black manganese oxides. Since it incorporates many different minerals and in varying quantities such as braunite, coronadite, hausmanite, manganite, pyrolusite hollandite, cryptomelane, romanechite, the manganese present in Merlinite, makes it a rare version of this stone with tiny, druzy quartz crystals. This is a good reason why mystical Merlinite conjures up the reference as a stone of magic, wizards and alchemy It encourages our connection with spirit and assists in our own spiritual growth. Symbolically, it’s black and white coloring is said to blend heaven and earth vibrations, allowing one access to multiple realms. It allows for a connective relationship between ourselves our environment. It enhance our organizational skills. Merlinite can help us to remain both open and approachable allowing us to access the akashic records, to bring magic into our lives, draw on the powers of the elements and to embrace our inner shaman, witch or medicine man! Merlinite is therefore associated with the intuitive Third Eye Chakra and universal knowledge, hence its connection with the astrological sign of Pisces.
Moonstone honors the Goddess in all women. This stone helps women (and men) to be more comfortable with their gentler feminine/yin receiving side. Because of its shimmering, glossy nature its color plays off the light as does the moon. Like the moon as it waxes and wanes, this reflective stone allows us the lesson that everything is a part of the cycle of change. Moonstone is considered the stone of new beginnings. Moonstone is most famous for balancing our emotional states. Emotional states are connected to the water element, which are connected to the cycles of the moon and one of the best stones for soothing emotional stress and anxiety. It allows us greater flexibility and flow with life. Moonstone has been used for protection against the perils of travel. It encourages a lust for life, a youthful attitude and helps us to become comfortable with the aging process and its transitions.
Obsidian is famous for being a scrying stone, used to divine with, gaze into or tell the future from. It has been used for centuries to make knifes and cutting tools such as the witches Athame and Boline. Obsidian is actually natural glass that is formed when hot lava is submerged in water. This is a strong grounding stone and is known as “the protector”. It is said to “mirror one’s soul. This stone brings about objectivity, dis-attachment and is grounding. It reduces fantasy and escapism. Absorbs and dissolves anger, criticism, fear, and therefore is protective. This unusual black stone absorbs darkness and converts it to white light energy. It is a warm and friendly stone, which is used at the Root Chakra, encouraging ones survival instincts and is grounding. Black obsidian brings higher Chakra light into lower ones; cleanses and uplifts. Changes fear into flexibility with the advent of change. Obsidian is used in scrying for divination purposes and often found in mirrors and crystal balls. Obsidian is used for transformation.
Phantom Quartz are naturally occurring inclusions in quartz crystal! Phantom quartz crystals are said to help one understand the various stages in life that we all transition through. They are said to be an excellent tool for meditation and for remembrance of past lives. These crystals help to recover repressed memories in order to put the past into perspective. A phantom crystal symbolizes universal awareness. These are crystals that at one point finished their growth cycle, then began growing again later. When looking inside these crystals, you can see a striation that indicates where the original tip was. For someone drawn to this type of stone, a need for growth is indicated.
Clear Quartz crystal in tumbled form resembles the crystal ball. Clear Quartz is thought to amplify both body energy and thoughts. It can assist in the creation of power, clarity of thinking, meditation, cleansing, clearing the aura, spiritual development and healing. Clear Quartz is considered the “stone of power”. A dedicated healer. Acts as a purifier and tunes into the frequency of each individual. Will unblock specific areas or organs blocked from transmitting or receiving the flow of energy throughout the body. Helpful in guiding our search for the meaning and importance of existence. Assists in meditation. Can be used in conjunction with any other stone or gem for specific physical problems. It will amplify the effects of individual stones and attune the treatment to the energy of an individual person.
Smoky Quartz is a grounding stone. It is used most often to overcome depression, soothing nightmares and stress. Quartz stimulates the natural crystal in body tissues and fluids to resonate at the highest healing frequency. Smoky quartz induces Alpha/deep meditation. Because of this situation, it’s benefits also include channeling higher guidance, deep relaxation and helping with unconditional love. Heightens your understanding of nature and concerns for the environment. Smoky Quartz helps store information well for easier recall. Because it is associated with the Root Chakra, it helps to alleviate fear, anxiety and associated emotional depression. When placed opposite other smokies in a crystal grid these stone vibrate at a high energy level. It is the perfect stone for grounding the Etheric Layer of the Aura. This makes smoky quartz a great stone for detoxing, clears ambivalence and fortifies resolve.
Septarian “Dragon” Stone or Septarian concretions or septarian nodules, are concretions containing angular cavities or cracks, which are called “septaria”. The word comes from the Latin word septum; “partition”, and refers to the cracks/separations in this kind of rock. Septarian get the name dragon stone based on the look of “dragon skin or scales” on its exterior. This is a healing stone beneficial to overall health and well being. It gives relief for muscle spasms, nurtures, grounds and works on the Root Chakra. Septarian brings calming energies which have a nurturing feel to them, and can bring feelings of joy and spiritual uplifting. Septarian is used to enhance and nurture communication with groups, making it much easier to speak clearly and kindly in group settings. Septarian is also used to assist with communication with Mother Earth and opens psychic abilities. It is said to bring unconscious foreknowledge needed by the user to help him or her always be prepared for what is coming up. In crystal healing folklore, Septarian is used for healing of the blood and kidneys.
Black Tourmaline is most associated with the keyword “Alignment”. As a grounding stone, black tourmaline can be used whenever energy feels scattered and disconnected. It therefore, bring awareness back to a grounded state of mind. Tourmaline does not absorb negative energy. It repels it. It is the best crystal to use against the ill effects of low frequency and high frequency electromagnetic waves (EMF) and protects against smog, radiation, psychic attacks and repels all kinds of negative energy. It grounds energy as it is connected to the Root/Base Chakra. When the tourmaline is rubbed it becomes charged with magnetic electricity. Electromagnetic fields are present everywhere in our environment but are invisible to the human eye. It is suggested to carry this stone when you feel surrounded by negativity. A valuable stone for crises and for periods of extreme stress. Helps you defend against debilitating diseases. Strongly suggested for persons with weakened immune systems. Black tourmaline is a wonderful stone for coping with grief as it is a valuable stone for crisis and for periods of extreme stress and times of intense difficulty.
Find more stones for Halloween…
