Crystals, Introduction
Crystals are the blossoms of the mineralogical portion of Earth, the recognition
of the beauty & loving energy forms can greatly enhance ones personal
development. They are myriad forms of both creativity & individual
Universal energies.
The
crystal is defined as any portion of a mineralogical body exhibiting
characteristic internal structure & enclosed by symmetrically
arranged plane surfaces,
intersecting at definite & characteristic angles. It is the regular form which a substance tends to assume, during the
process of solidification, through the inherent power of cohesive attraction.
Crystals
have been used / revered since
the dawning of civilisation. The Mayans, the Celts, African Tribes, Indian
Religions, American Indians [Shamans] Ancient China, Greece, Rome, Babylon,
Egypt, Early Christians & Jews all used crystal & gemstones in their
religious, healing & magical work. Today
Shamen in both Africa & America still use them, as do Neo-Pagans, Wiccans
& the New Agers.
Crystals
exhibit the properties of both piezoelectricity [pronounced
pie-ee-zo-electricity] & pyroelectricty. Piezoelectricity is the quality.
Charging
Crystals
Ian
Kesser
Crystals,
as many of you know, are extremely useful for practitioners of the Magickal
arts. They can be used to channel power, to store power, to heal, and many
other ways. Due to space considerations, I have chosen to limit myself to the
charging aspect in this article. The first and most important part of charging
a crystal is choosing the crystal itself. For most general uses, Quartz is the
best one. For specific use, there are many others. The next step, and also
important, especially the first few times, is to prepare yourself for the
actual channelling of energy. In my case, music helps, as well as pranayama
and other forms of breath control. The first one I used is simple pranayama,
simply, is control of breath. Most forms amount to hyperventilation or sub
ventilation. The one I used first, and still use, is this: take four quick
inhalations, filling the lungs. This should be over the space of about one and
a half seconds. Then exhale in four short bursts, again over one and a half
seconds. Repeat as necessary. The first few times this is done, I recommend
you desist after about one minute. Over the course of time, this can and
should be increased, but until you are used to the effect this gives, a
shorter time is suggested. Now
that you're in the mood, take the crystal in your right-hand (left hand for
those of you who are lefties). Visualise a door within the heart of the
crystal. Until this visualisation is firm and steady, wait. Then open the
door. Behind it you should see a store of diffuse energy, which varies with
the type of the crystal. Some crystals, usually the inferior ones, have little
or nothing back here. These are generally not good to use.
Close
the door, but keep it in mind. That was just to check on its energy. Decide
which energy you wish it to house. Usually only one will be needed, such as
for talismans and storage of energy for later use, but in some cases, such as
a divination tool, more is suggested/required. DO NOT TRY THIS ON YOUR FIRST
ATTEMPT! YOU WILL FAIL! The energy you will be handling is powerful, and
trying to handle more than one world at a time is strenuous. Trying to handle
all three, plus personal and other energies, is straining to the limit. As
with all other bodily systems, an ability used beyond its capacity will
overload and break or refuse to perform, as with a man trying to lift 300lb
barbells on his first try at weight lifting. For general use, I find nature's
energy is best for multipurpose storage. Use what you
feel comfortable with. Now, the fun part. For the three major energies,
I find there are certain ways of drawing them that are easiest on the
practitioner.
For
Positive energy, try it like this: Form a cone with the base connecting to
your skull in the region just between and above your eyebrows.
"suck" the energy (visualise it as you will, I use a light, golden
yellow) into the cone, then through a tube into your brain. The visualisation
on this is a bit tricky, but it can be done.
For Nature's energy, visualise a "hose" going down into the
Earth from the base of your spine. This hose should ideally connect with the
centre of the Earth, but some people simply cannot conceive the distance
involved with that, and can therefore not visualise it. Go as deep as you can,
with time, you should improve. I "see" this energy as a ruddy,
glowing red, as with magma. Use what works. Draw this energy up the tube, then
through your spinal column into the brain. Other objects you wish to draw
energy from, use the door analogy/visualisation given above( for powerful
things such as the Tarot, I see it as a gate more than a door. Again, whatever
works for you), and draw from your power hand. If you plan on using that
object again, take only a token amount of energy, and DON'T FORGET TO CLOSE
THE DOOR! Personal energy: This
varies so much with the individual! Some people draw from their auras, some
from the Chakras, some from the Astral Body. Just use the method you feel most
comfortable with. For those of you who have no preference, or no knowledge of
such things, I use the Astral approach. I draw a bit of the substance of the
Astral body, generally the feet, into the brain. After I finish all else, I
"spread out" the Astral body to make up for this loss. Astral bodies
DO heal. Well, that's most of it.
Draw the energy you need, then draw from the crystal. Take it in your power
hand again, open that door, and take out the energy, and bring it to the
brain. Generally, I use the hose again, connecting to that spot in the skul l,
but this one generally runs INSIDE your body, such as along the arm bones,
then up the neck bone. Mix the
energy up. If it helps, visualise a cosmic Cuisinart or whatever. If it won't
mix, like oil and water, you have failed. This crystal will not hold this
energy. Give up, put back the crystals power, ground yourself (later...), and
try again later with another energy. Once
you've achieved the mix, refill the crystal. Sometimes, the energy won't go
back in. This usually means you've put too much of the energy you're using in,
and not enough of the crystal's own energy. Bring it back to the brain, and
remix. How do you refill the crystal, you ask? Switch hands on the crystal,
then visualise that handy hose again, but this time flow backwards, through
the door. There will come a point, especially early on in your practice, that
the crystal is full when you have energy
left over. Slam that door and ground your-self (later...), don't overfill it!
Doors have their bursting point, and it could destroy a good crystal. OK, it's
later. You've finished the job at hand (Applause, you've earned it!) but have
all this energy left! There are many ways of grounding energy, use the one you
are comfortable with (I know I keep saying that, but it bears repeating. Don't
do any thing against your Will). The one I use is simply grounding it. Take
that handy-dandy all-purpose hose again, connect it to the base of the spine,
and thence into the Earth. Flip the switch to reverse, and push that energy
out! Be careful not to let out
yourself as well! That's it. I
hope you find this helpful to you.
Quartz
Crystals
Tradition
says that you do not choose a crystal, the crystal chooses you, for it sounds
the same note as you do & is compatible to your vibration. After cleansing
it will soon attune to your higher self & aid your spiritual development.
A crystal that is abused or continually in an environment of strife &
negativity will do one of two things, it will shatter in protest, or keep
dropping out of its setting & you will continually be searching for it.
For the latter, cleanse the crystal of all previous vibrations & pass it
on to the first person you think of, for the former take a hard look at your
life style & thought patterns, crystals do not like violence & bane of
any description, to use the crystal against its nature will invoke the 3 fold
law of the Cosmic. Unselfish love [ unconditional love for all] is the only
way for the crystal to respond to you in a positive manner. It is interesting
to note here, that mankind rarely attains Master numbers above 33* where as
some crystals & gemstones can attain up to the highest that of 99* It can
be seen that the Mineral Kingdom has much to teach man about the hidden /
occult of healing & spirituality. Use them well for they can act as
spiritual guides & teachers to those who love them. There have been tales
of crystals darkening or becoming dis-coloured, usually just before shattering
or loosing themselves. This can only reflect on its caretaker's treatment
& thought patterns. If such a crystal comes into your life, cleanse it
& return it to the Earth, if we use human terms here, we would say that
the crystal is mortally ill & or dying from ritual abuse. Ritually abusing
a crystal is considered a crime against The Mother, by all groups who use
these highly spiritual Beings in rites. In the "Temple Magic"
fraternity, a case like this would be given over to the "Occult
Police", [The Great White Brotherhood] a group of Higher Magicians /
Masters, working on the Astral to prevent occult crimes. To call these
Masters, one has only to visualise a black calvary cross on a red background
while stating your needs, be they, that you are under psychic attack or
have the knowledge of a crime within the magical /occult community.
In
the Neo-Pagan & Wiccan groups, each individual would have to consider how
best to deal with this type of abuse. In America, a council of Wiccan leaders
is contacted & after an investigation, a vote is taken & various rites
are done, by the many covens involved to stop the abuser /s.
MALE
CRYSTAL
A
clear crystal of positive polarity, used in ritual or meditation, has a
stimulating vibration, it re- energises & uplifts, clears blockages in the
Etheric body, eases pain in the physical body & muscular tightness. This
is the healer' s crystal reflecting the colours of the rainbow.
FEMALE
CRYSTAL
A
milky crystal of negative polarity, its energy is soft, warm, reassuring,
loving Mother energy that calms & subdues, aiding those that are fearful
& worried, use for headaches, bad memory, for insomnia & restful
sleep. Many magic users wear both for balance of polarities within the body
& within ritual. N.B. Never
allow anyone to touch or handle your crystals. Those who are not initiated or
have no knowledge of the occult, will often in ignorance handle any crystal
without asking first, this can be tiresome, as you will be continually
cleansing your crystal to eliminate their possible negative vibrations. If you
wear a crystal other than within ritual work situations, it is best to keep
them hidden from prying eyes.
THE
CLEANSING OF CRYSTALS
Upon
acquiring a crystal it should first be cleansed. It also requires a tremendous
amount of love & handling by its caretaker, best worn against the body,
not outside the garments. Crystals absorb vibrations, like a sponge absorbs
water & the vibrations, good & bane of each person who has handled it
will be present within the crystal when you buy or are given a crystal. All
unwanted vibrations must be removed to enable the crystal to become a clear
channel & attune itself to your vibrations. It is advisable that others do
not handle your crystal /s once it has been cleansed & programmed. One
should look upon it as a extension of your higher aspirations & as a
magical
REASONS
FOR RE- CLEANSING OF CRYSTAL
Someone has handled it.
It has been used for daily use, carried or worn as a pendant & you now wish to use
it in spell work or within ritual.
It has been used in healing work. Cleanse each time.
It has been used for dowsing or divination work, cleanse each time.
While you were wearing it, or it was present in a room where you, or others, had an argument, violence took place, or you felt negativity / bane present or around you.
Cleanse as part of your twice yearly banishing or cleansing rites.
Cleanse before initiation rites. [ Place on the altar in cleansing solution & remove after rite.]
Cleanse
after illness or depression.
There are many methods of cleansing crystals.
METHOD
1
Dissolve
a 1/4 cup of sea salt or coarse salt in a litre of luke warm water.
Place
crystal/s in this mixture, make banishing Earth pentacle over bowl & leave
for 3 days, then rinse well in cold clear running water. Throw out the
cleansing solution as it now contains all the negative vibrations.
CRYSTALS
Continued
Further
methods of cleaning your crystals:
Place
on a programmed crystal cluster over night.
Place
in the Moon light from one full moon to the next.
Place
in the Sun for 3 days.
Place
on your shrine's salt bowl till needed.
Place
in the Earth for 3 days.
Place
beneath pyramid for 3 days.
Use
VISUALISATION method. Sit with your crystal quietly & visualise the
crystal surrounded in light & cleansed of negativity.
Some
people simply pray or ask their crystal to cleanse themselves.
Hold
the crystal under running tap water & programme.
Place
in a stocking or cloth bag & leave in the water of a running of a
stream or river.
Place
in a rock pool on the seaside while you meditate.