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By S. Nathan Stein,EFT –ADV, CH, TCHT/NLP
January 18, 2007
This artricle provides a fascinating look at how
many common crystal names and terms originated.
Agate – A type of the mineral
chalcedony and therefore a quartz. Agate's name was derived from the site
of its initial discovery, the River Achates (now Dirillo), in Southwest
Sicily. Believe it or not, in 1709 a Brazilian priest planned to use
Agates as antigravity devices on an air ship he had designed.
Aventurine - Interestingly,
Aventurine's name is derived from an accident. During the 18th Century
Venetian glass workers were preparing molten glass when copper
filings accidentally fell into the batch, producing glass with sparkles.
The name Aventurine comes from the Italian "A Ventura" which means "By
Chance".
Amethyst - The Greek work
"amethystos" basically can be translated as "not drunken." Amethyst was
considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine
goblets were often carved from it! The gemstone still symbolizes sobriety.
The legend of the origin of amethyst comes from Greek myths. Dionysius,
the god of intoxication, was angered one day by an insult from a mere
mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path,
creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting
Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the
goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline
quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine
in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's
tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know
today.
Chalcedony (also spelled Calcedony),
is a catch-all term that includes many well known varieties of
cryptocrystalline quartz gemstones. Chalcedony's name is derived from
Chalcedon or Calchedon, an ancient port of Bithynia, near present day
Istanbul, Turkey. Many of the varieties of Chalcedony, including Agate
(see above), Carnelian (red to reddish brown), Sard (light to dark brown),
Chrysoprase (apple green), Bloodstone (green with red spots), Jasper
(generally red but sometimes yellow, brown, green and grey blue), Flint
(dull grey to black), are useful and important as ornamental gems.
Fluorescence in minerals is the
result of bombarding the mineral with invisible ultra-violet light waves.
This releases visible light waves (photons) of different wave lengths
(colors) from the mineral. Fluorescence was first observed in England when
the mineral Fluorite was exposed to ultra-violet light. That is why the
process is called Fluorescence. Fluorite fluoresces best under the
long-wave U. V. light. This usually produces a blue light. In the case of
green fluorite, it fluoresces blue.
Kyanite - Also called Disthene, the
name Kyanite is derived from the Greek "Kyanos" meaning, "Blue". The most
popular varieties display intense cornflower blues similar to sapphire,
and sparkling greenish-blues reminiscent of aquamarine.
Onyx - Commonly known as "Black
Magic," the name comes from the Greek word "Onyx," which means finger
nail or claw. Legend says that one day, while Venus was
sleeping, Eros (Cupid) cut her fingernails and left the clippings
scattered on the ground. Because no part of a heavenly body can die, the
gods turned them into a gem. These stones became the chalcedony stones
that the Greeks called Onyx. Centuries later, the Romans applied the term
to black and dark brown chalcedony.
Tourmaline – Derived from the
Singhalese (Sri Lankan) word "turamali" meaning gemstone.
Turritella Agate - 40-60 Million
years ago, a salt water sea covered what is now Wyoming in the Western
United States. A snail of the Turritella specie lived in its shallow
waters. The shell of this snail had a small, long, tapering spire with
many whorls. The shell material has been completely replaced by agate and
chalcedony while retaining the dramatic whorl pattern.
Carnelian - Among Crystal healers,
Carnelian is frequently known as a stone of great spirituality. It has
been said to be a healing gem with a wondrous capacity for mental and
physical healing properties.
Carnelian as
a Birthstone
As mentioned above, in Western
society, Astrologers name this crystal as a primary birthstone of Virgo
(Aug. 22 to Sept. 22). Hindu astrologers name it as a secondary stone for
Aries (Mar. 21 to April 20) and Scorpio (Oct. 24 to Nov. 22). Carnelian is
associated with Thursday and Friday. The Arabs associated it with the
month of July. It is a sun stone and associated with the Fire
Elemental.
Carnelian and Vibrations
Carnelian is
connected with the #1 and #3 vibrations.
Carnelian and
Myths
The greatest myths surrounding the stone Carnelian,
come from the Egyptian Culture. The Egyptian goddess Isis protected the
dead with a Carnelian Amulet named Thet. After being soaked in Ankhami
flower water, on a Sycamore plinth (a type of tile) and placed on the body
of the deceased, Isis would grant the person protection from harm while
moving through the afterlife. The stone also appears In Hebrew Mythology;
Aaron’s breastplate included a Carnelian stone. Buddhists in China and
India created amulets inlaid with Carnelian and other semi-precious
stones, ascribing to them powers of protection and utilizing them for many
rituals.
Among Crystal healers, Carnelian is frequently known as a
stone of great spirituality. It has been said to be a healing gem with a
wondrous capacity for mental and physical healing properties.
Carnelian and
Peace
Known in the New Age movement for its ability to soothe
and calm, Carnelian has the power to ease fears about rebirth and death.
It initiates transition and brings peace in matters of change.
Spiritualists also credit Carnelian with magnifying and bringing to light
personal talents.
Carnelian and
Motivation
Crystal healers prescribe Carnelian for individuals
who are timid and assign great powers of spurring motivation, increasing
self confidence and infusing eloquence.
Carnelian and
Magic
Since the
times of ancient Egypt, when Carnelian was believed to protect the dead in
the afterlife, Carnelian has represented great magical powers among
spiritualists. Some have said it has the power to protect against
telepathic invasion or the evil of envious people. Others have said that
it has the power to see into past lives and resurrect the dead.
Carnelian, Luck and Wishes
As a wish stone,
the New Age Community attributes Carnelian with the power to grant all the
wearer’s wishes when worn near the heart. For those born on the Virgo
sign, some say wearing this crystal guarantees success in any task.
To many Carnelian is a powerful
motivation stone and some have called it the "Self-Esteem
Stone."
Mental
Healing
Among the New Age community, believers revere
Carnelian’s mental grounding power and believe this is the source of its
greatest mental effects. They say it teaches one to focus on the present
for the moments in life when all one’s mental powers are necessary for
success at a single, important task and is a source of confidence,
eloquence and inspiration. For instances when you need a boost to
creativity for problem-solving, Carnelian can assist in getting the mind
out of mental ruts and back on track for success. In the long-term, it
bolsters ambition and drive and reminds the wearer of the future’s goals,
hence becoming a powerful tool in major decision-making. Overall, many
hold Carnelian dear as a stone with the ability to protect the individual,
bolster confidence and generally enhance and expand the experiences of
life.
Carnelian
and the Chakras
Chakra healers regard Carnelian for its
connection to the 2nd Chakra or the Spleen Chakra. This area is the body’s
center for creative and sexual, pure emotional energies, but healers also
associate it with the five physical senses. The six petaled Lotus, deep
orange colors and Aries are all connected to this region. When these
energies are unblocked by Carnelian and the energy flows freely, one feels
a deeper appreciation of his or her body, a greater connection with
friends and lovers and a reduction of guilty feelings. These effects
result in a more spontaneous, energetic and giving individual.
Carnelian and Physical
Healing
Because of its connection to the 2nd Chakra, New Age
healers believe Carnelian to be instrumental in maintaining health in the
lower abdomen. They use it to treat impotence, menstrual cramps,
infertility associated with this region. However, they have also turned to
its power for healing neuralgia, rheumatism, asthma, skin and blood
conditions and insomnia. It is considered so effective in healing
dermatological ailments such as acne and psoriasis, that some even
recommend Carnelian for the treatment of skin disorders of
pets.
Carnelian and
History
Carnelian has long held a presence in world history and
the beliefs and customs of ancient civilizations. From Europe, to Asia, to
the Middle East, Archaeologists have found examples of Carnelian
use.
Carnelian
in the Middle East
Some of the oldest examples of human jewelry contained
Carnelian. At an excavation site in Ur, archaeologists uncovered the tomb
of Pu-Abi, a Sumerian Queen from the third millennium, B.C. She wore a
robe that contained Carnelian, along with other precious and semi-precious
materials. Ancient Egyptian tombs are full of examples of Carnelian
jewels, because of their belief in the stone’s power in the afterlife.
According to their system, amulets of Carnelian could prove helpful in
ensuring the Ka’s (the soul’s) passage into the next world. The Egyptians
so revered the power of the stone that it was one of three used most often
in their jewelry, along with turquoise and lapis lazuli. Elsewhere in the
middle East, Carnelian represents the Hebrew tribe of Reuben and the
Apostle Phillip and some Muslims call it the Mecca stone. Muslim tenets
hold that engraving the name of Allah on Carnelian stones boosts courage
and some even believed that Allah would grant all the desires of wearers
of the stone. In Hebrew literature, Carnelian appears as a stone in
Aaron’s breastplate.
European
Carnelian
In Europe, Carnelian has also been an important
symbol in history. Ancient Greeks and Romans called it Sardius and used
the stone for signet rings, cameos and intaglios. In more modern times,
Goethe attributed the powers of protection against evil, of continuation
of hope and comfort, and of good luck.
Asian
Carnelian
In Asia, Tibetans created amulets of silver with
generous applications, much as the Egyptians used these same stones, of
Carnelian, Turquoise and Lapis Lazuli. In India, Hindu astrology names
Carnelian as the secondary stone of Scorpios.
Hematite -
The ancient Egyptians used Hematite in the creation of their magical
amulets such as the carpenter stone and head rest amulets and several
heart amulets. Some of these amulets were treatments for madness and
inflammation. The Greek word haima, which means blood, is the root of
Hematite’s name and originates from the stone’s dark red streak. Hematite
relates to the Mars, the Roman God of War. The Romans glorified Mars more
than the Greeks did, who loathed him and knew him as Ares. Warriors in
Roman times used Hematite as protection during battle. So strong was their
belief in the power of Hematite to protect them that they thought it could
even make them invincible. Some cultures even believed Hematite formed
from blood that had fallen on the ground of a battlefield. Red Ochre is a
paint that originated in Native American cultures, who used it as a face
paint. In Western Astrology, Hematite is associated with
Capricorn, Aries and Aquarius, all signs whose supposed personalities are
in need of a good, calming and grounding stone. Saturn rules the stone in
astrology, but in Roman Myth, Hematite is a symbol of Mars, their
incarnation of the God of War. It also symbolizes the hour of 2
a.m.
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