“These gems have life in them: their colors speak, say what words fail of.”
~George Eliot, 19th century English poet
Gemstones have existed throughout history from Ancient Egypt, China, and Aztec cultures, to the Renaissance and Medieval times where jade, turquoise, emerald, and quartz draped royal figures and lined religious relics. Native Americans and other indigenous cultures from around the world especially valued gemstones with their healing properties and sacred connection to the earth.
Unfortunately, the ancient wisdom behind the healing methodology of crystals and gemstones became lost for a period of time especially in the western world, until recently. In the 1970’s and 80’s – thank you, Woodstock! – the healing techniques re-emerged and are even trendy accessories among celebs, hipsters, and New Agers.
How Do Gemstones Heal?
In case you don’t know how a little stone can aid as a healing force, Edgar Cayce, father of modern metaphysics and holistic medicine explains it perfectly.
Cayce wrote about the ways in which gemstones enhance the vibrational energies of their wearers by interacting with the vibrational patterns naturally found in the human body. The stones draw in and give off positive energy.
Gemstones are here to energetically assist your physical, emotional, and mental imbalances.
The best way to use gemstones: wear them in jewelry form, meditate with them in hand, place under your pillow or on your nightstand, or keep them in your pocket/purse.
Here are a few of the most common gemstones and their healing properties:
Amethyst: Stone of Power (and Hangovers!)
Amethyst is one of the most common crystals used for healing techniques. Purple Amethyst has been highly esteemed throughout the ages for its stunning beauty and legendary powers to stimulate, and soothe the mind and emotions. To the ancient cultures, it was a “Gem of Fire,” a precious stone worth, at times in history, as much as a diamond.
Amethyst is one of the most common crystals used for healing techniques. Purple Amethyst has been highly esteemed throughout the ages for its stunning beauty and legendary powers to stimulate, and soothe the mind and emotions. To the ancient cultures, it was a “Gem of Fire,” a precious stone worth, at times in history, as much as a diamond.Called the “All-healer,” amethyst is one of the most effective crystals for healing people, plants, and animals. It transforms all negative energy back into its original essence of love and light energy. The name amethyst derives from the Greek word ametusthos, meaning “not intoxicated,” and was worn as an amulet to prevent both drunkenness and hangovers.
Jade: The Dream Stone
Jade was considered to be a kidney healing stone by the ancient Chinese, Aztec, and Mayan civilizations. It is also known to assist fertility and childbirth. Jade is also a “dream stone” and said to bring insightful dreams and aid emotional release, especially of irritability. Jade encourages you to become who you really are.
Jade was considered to be a kidney healing stone by the ancient Chinese, Aztec, and Mayan civilizations. It is also known to assist fertility and childbirth. Jade is also a “dream stone” and said to bring insightful dreams and aid emotional release, especially of irritability. Jade encourages you to become who you really are.
Turquoise: Stone of Purification
Turquoise is one of the oldest and most well-known healing stones around. It’s a purification stone that dispels negative energy and can be worn to protect against outside influences or pollutants in the atmosphere.
Turquoise benefits the physical body in many ways including:
- aids in the absorption of nutrients
- enhances the immune system
- stimulates the regeneration of tissue
- heals the whole body
- contains anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects
- alleviates cramps and pain
- purifies lungs
- soothes and clears sore throats
- heals the eyes, including cataracts
- neutralizes over-acidity
- benefits rheumatism, gout, stomach problems, and viral infections
It’s also super pretty!
Jasper: The Supreme Nurturer
Jaspers have almost always conferred both strength and calm. Red Jasper is gently stimulating and also an extremely protective stone. It sustains and supports through times of stress, and brings tranquility and wholeness. During difficult times, jasper provides courage to tackle problems assertively. It also aids quick-thinking, promotes organizational abilities, stimulates the imagination, and transforms ideas into action.
Jaspers have almost always conferred both strength and calm. Red Jasper is gently stimulating and also an extremely protective stone. It sustains and supports through times of stress, and brings tranquility and wholeness. During difficult times, jasper provides courage to tackle problems assertively. It also aids quick-thinking, promotes organizational abilities, stimulates the imagination, and transforms ideas into action.Oh, and it helps to prolong sexual pleasure.
Tiger’s Eye: Stone of Protection
Known as an “all-seeing, all-knowing eye,” tiger’s eye was thought to grant a wearer the ability to observe everything, even through closed doors. It was chosen by the Egyptians for the eyes in their deity statues to express divine vision.
Known as an “all-seeing, all-knowing eye,” tiger’s eye was thought to grant a wearer the ability to observe everything, even through closed doors. It was chosen by the Egyptians for the eyes in their deity statues to express divine vision.Mostly known as a stone of protection, tiger eye may also bring good luck to the wearer. Linked to the magical tiger, the king of beasts in Eastern mythology, Tiger’s Eye portrayed courage, integrity, and right use of power. Roman soldiers carried it to deflect weapons and to be brave in battle. It has been highly regarded throughout history as a stone of prosperity and good fortune, protecting one’s resources, reflecting back malice or threats from others, and attracting wealth and money.
Hematite: Stone for the Mind
Hematite stimulates concentration and focus, enhancing memory and original thought.
Hematite stimulates concentration and focus, enhancing memory and original thought.It also focuses energy and emotions for balance between the body, mind, and spirit. This metallic gemstone is strong, supporting timidity, boosting self-esteem and survivability, enhancing willpower and reliability, and imparting confidence. It helps to overcome compulsions and addictions, treating overeating, smoking, and other forms of overindulgence.
Hematite is an iron ore and the ancient Greeks associated iron with Aries, the god of war. Greek soldiers would rub hematite over their bodies before battle, purportedly to make themselves invulnerable.
Rose Quartz: Stone of Beauty and Love
Rose quartz promotes compassion, appreciation and soothing calm. It speaks directly to the heart chakra, dissolving emotional wounds, fears, and resentments, and circulates a divine loving energy throughout the entire aura.
Rose quartz promotes compassion, appreciation and soothing calm. It speaks directly to the heart chakra, dissolving emotional wounds, fears, and resentments, and circulates a divine loving energy throughout the entire aura.Called the “heart stone”, rose quartz may have been used as a love token as early as 600 B.C. and is still an important good-luck charm of relationships. It is quite effective in attracting new love, romance and intimacy, or in developing a closer bond with family or friends.
Obsidian: Stone of Truth
Obsidian is a stone of truth, protection, integrity, honesty, and grounding. This stone awakens the inner warrior and provides courage to enter our subconscious mind and rediscover our hidden abilities. In other words, it’s a good stone to wear if you are hitting up your first therapy session or tackling a tough relationship issue. Because of its reflective, mirror-like surface, obsidian works like a mirror in which we can clearly see our mistakes and weaknesses.
Obsidian is a stone of truth, protection, integrity, honesty, and grounding. This stone awakens the inner warrior and provides courage to enter our subconscious mind and rediscover our hidden abilities. In other words, it’s a good stone to wear if you are hitting up your first therapy session or tackling a tough relationship issue. Because of its reflective, mirror-like surface, obsidian works like a mirror in which we can clearly see our mistakes and weaknesses.
Howlite: Stone of Calm and Tranquility
It can be used to calm the troubled or overactive mind, reduce stress, and induce peaceful sleep at night. You can place howlite on the bedside table or under the pillow if you have insomnia or any other type of sleep issues.
It can be used to calm the troubled or overactive mind, reduce stress, and induce peaceful sleep at night. You can place howlite on the bedside table or under the pillow if you have insomnia or any other type of sleep issues.Howlite is believed to help control rage and other negative impulses. It can help develop patience, tolerance, and a positive outlook on life. It can also bring calm, reason, and clarity to any verbal exchange. To experience these balancing effects, angry and disappointed people are advised to carry howlite on their bodies or in their pockets.
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Thoughtcatalog.com has an awesome beginner’s guide to choosing which gemstone or crystal works best for you. I know you are probably thinking, ‘I want all of these!’ but working with one or two stones at a time is usually the best route to supplementing a healing or journey… or just having around to make life easier.
If you think it’s all hooey, I respect that. But at the end of the day, it never hurts to add to your pretty, sparkling jewelry collection.
Resources:
sunnyray.org
crystalvaults.com
crystal-cure.com
crystalage.com
