A blog about crystals, energy cultivation and lifestyle balance …
Crystal Alchemy 101 – Part 2
by Eric Justin of OneOriginStarseed
The Roots of Crystal Alchemy
The earliest known record of crystal usage for healing and metaphysical purposes dates back to ancient Sumer in Mesopotamia circa 4000 BCE. Other notably significant records of crystal usage for alchemical purposes exist from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, tribes of North and South America, Ancient India, Ancient China, Southeast Asia, the Muslim World and Medieval Europe, to name just a few. The use of crystals and gemstones for health, healing and spirituality could not have been a fanciful belief spread by culture, as their application was implemented by civilizations and tribes scattered all across the globe. The locations were too often in places at great distances of isolation from one another, yet there are striking similarities of usage and application among them all.
The introduction of the artificial is a recent phenomenon. Until only recently, what is there that could be conceived of, that was not natural and did not have its roots closely planted in nature. This means in ancient times, having been closer to nature, people were guided more by instinct and direct experience, rather than by a complex psychological framework. They were most likely drawn to the usage of crystals and gemstones by feeling and direct experience. It was obvious that something extraordinary was happening upon contact with them.
As anyone with even a bit of life sensitivity can attest to, just holding a crystal or gemstone that has a reasonable energetic charge to it, is enough to send a jolt through the system that could easily alter one’s state of consciousness. This effect is more pronounced for those who have a greater degree of life sensitivity, and those who are more in touch with nature. In our desensitized modern world, if these simple gifts of nature could still have such an effect on us, just imagine the impact they could have had on primitive cultures from ancient times for whom nature meant everything. Once a profound experience had occurred, reverence and increased usage would be the natural result.
Alchemy of Crystals and Gemstones
Just as states of energy can be manipulated, directed, altered and balanced using herbs for alchemical purposes, so too is it clear that crystals and gemstones also are a powerful catalyst for energetic transformations in alchemical practice. Although the approach and application may be different, the effect is no less profound.
Without trying to replace one for the other, with an honest examination of both, we can affirm the impact and effectiveness of their implementation for one who has even a degree of understanding of their usage. Although the application and direct effect of using crystals and gemstones for alchemical purposes is rather different from herbal alchemy, the fact is that the energetic building blocks of our realty can be influenced, altered and enhanced by using them. Although crystal alchemy is still considered external alchemy, it is much closer to internal alchemy than herbal alchemy, although both often run parallel.
Don’t let big words such as alchemy or energetic manipulation discourage you from becoming a crystal alchemist. The simple act of wearing a natural crystal bracelet or necklace etc. to achieve any degree of enhancement in body, mind and spirit, is indeed a form of practicing crystal alchemy. By simple, honest observation, as well as clarity of intention, and the cultivation of life sensitivity, one can develop a bit of crystal alchemical mastery in a relatively short time. Whereas mastery of Herbal Alchemy often requires years and years of study, as well as the memorization and experimentation with thousands and thousand of herbs and herbal formulas, crystal alchemy requires mainly the development of honest conscious observation and straightforward experimentation.
The dangers of making a mistake when practicing herbal alchemy hold a far greater risk and consequence than in the practice of crystal alchemy. Crystal alchemy is much more forgiving and has a wider buffer of safety in comparison. This does not mean that one can recklessly employ their usage in an irresponsible and unconscious manner without there being some degree of consequence, but with gentle and honest awareness, and observing a few precautions, much misfortune can be prevented.
Cultivating Life Sensitivity as the First Step to Crystal Alchemy
Life in ancient times was nature centered. The cycles and phenomenon of the natural world were the focus of our attention and set the rhythm for all of our activities. In this way, we were a mirror or a living response to the dance of nature. Survival and longevity depended on how well we could keep up with her movements. To accomplish balance and learning to harmonize with her cycles, our antenna had to constantly be up in order to know how to organize our lives accordingly. This instinctive antenna of ours is our inborn intuition, with which we can arrive at the necessary information without the complex multiple steps of logic that we have come to overly rely on today.
With the rapid advancements of technology and modern living in the last few hundred years or more, we have quickly begun to replace natural dynamic living with a logical framework that can give us predictable calculated responses based on the accumulation of data acquired from past experiences. In short, we have traded the magic of a natural life for comfort and convenience. Logic tends to glorify the complex and downplay the simple. Our fall from the lap of mother nature is directly connected to the glorification of the development of the intellect.
To appreciate the beauty and aesthetics of crystals and gemstones is easy and doesn’t require a developed intuition or heightened sensitivity. But for one who wishes to gain an understanding of the inner mechanics of their physicality, with the hopes of achieving balance, healing, higher states of awareness, spiritual achievement and self-mastery, it is necessary to first realign oneself with our natural origin, learn to quiet the mind, and allow our intuition and life sensitivity to reawaken. For the one who walks this Earth with a gentle step will be enveloped by the grace of nature.
Becoming Conscious of the Elemental Building Blocks of Reality
Once a degree of life sensitivity and intuitive awareness has been cultivated, with honesty and clarity we can examine the energetic building blocks of our reality. Only through conscious awareness can we know what change needs to be initiated. Being aware of the basic polarities inherent in every aspect of one’s life, and then recognizing which ones are out of balance, is fundamental. When disharmony is recognized, then the proper energies must be applied to smooth things out. That which is deficient needs to be tonified and that which is in excess needs to be reduced. Hence addition and subtraction of various types of energy become the basic function of the creator’s hand. The standard of measurement to determine what does, and does not need change is balance. Nature herself is the perfect example of balance.
Recognizing The Energetic Qualities of Crystals and Gemstones
It is difficult to categorize and catalog the effects and benefits of crystals and gemstones clearly. Many attempt this with varying degrees of success. One of the problems with this approach is that different crystals often respond to different people in different ways depending on the quality of their energy and mind at a given point in time. This is one of the reasons why the cultivation of life sensitivity and honest sincere intention is the first step, if one wishes to gain a degree of mastery in using crystals and gemstones effectively in alchemical application.
When one is open and life sensitive, the very basic qualities of crystals and gemstones will become apparent. The first distinction that should be made is: does this crystal tonify me (give me a boost) or sedate me (calm and relax me) or somewhere in the middle. Getting a feel for this shouldn’t take much effort for most people. Once this has become relatively easy to identify, then naturally one will become aware of further and further details. There really is no end to the depth of understanding that could unfold with honest reflection on the cause and effect of handling and wearing certain crystals at certain times.
As one’s sensitivity and awareness develops, details of energetic change and effects can be much more easily noticed. One may, for example, have trouble expressing oneself or difficulty communicating with others but notices that when wearing certain crystals, this becomes much easier. Perhaps, when wearing other crystals, it may seem obvious that lucky things just seem to happen more often than usual. Maybe a person is prone to a chronic ailment or fatigue and notices that it improves or even totally clears up when wearing a certain crystal or gemstone. Perhaps someone is prone to stress and anger but finds their gemstone makes them calm and relaxed. There are any number of infinite possibilities and combinations of energetic application than can be seen with crystal usage. Through attention and note taking, a natural understanding of their energetic properties will unfold and become apparent.
It is ok to read up on what the traditional crystal properties are of different gemstones, but be careful not to be bound by their definitions. Use it as a general framework to steer you in the right direction, but always test, observe and then honestly reflect on one’s own direct experience with them. Be open to the discovery of their properties for oneself, rather than trying to superimpose the expectations of one’s mind over reality as it truly is. Just be honest, patient, and observe consistently without expectation or pre-conception, and the truth of their energetic properties will become apparent. It is time for true and honest crystal alchemy to resurface again, and for crystal usage based on fantasy or self-deception to decline.
Basic Application and the Art of Crystal Usage in Alchemical Practice
By cultivating clarity of awareness, one will be able to see the condition of the body, mind, spirit and environment. With clear vision, it will be obvious where change is needed in one’s life and how it should be implemented. How then, do we use our crystals and gemstones to invoke a change or response in the life variable we wish to have an effect on? Here we can say that Crystal Alchemy is a lot like the art of cooking. All the variables are important and attentiveness with intuition will make it clear when and where to apply the right crystals to achieve the desired result.
There are many factors to consider when practicing Crystal Alchemy. It would be nice if we could write a handbook with all the correct answers, defining when and where to use this or that crystal or gemstone, to achieve this or that change. However, this is not likely to happen for the simple fact that life itself is an energy response, and the living truth changes in each moment.
The written word is too often a fossilized truth of yesterday. When life sensitivity is maintained and an openness to the rhythm of nature is kept, one will intuitively know which elements are needed at which timing to achieve a certain result. By becoming aware of the tools we possess, and by clearly recognizing states of imbalance and conditions that require change, we will be well equipped to apply crystal usage in a masterful alchemical way. Trust in the pure honesty of one’s spirit and trust in the hand of nature to always guide the way.
Hey everyone… My Name is Eric Justin… I started this blog as a way to help clarify many misunderstandings and misperceptions which have formed around the use of crystals. I aim to promote their positive life-empowering potential in an honest and straightforward way. In addition, I am here to help promote ancient practices of energy cultivation, which can be used by all people to help establish balance and stability in their unending life journey of self-discovery and self-mastery.
Disclaimer – This blog is presented as is, for informational purposes only. We do our very best to provide honest, accurate, clear and concise knowledge based on our own experiences, reliable sources of modern crystal usage as well as traditional uses and even that which comes from history and legend. Any information we provide is to be used by our readers and customers in a responsible manner and at their own risk. By reading this blog, purchasing our crystals or practicing any of the methods we provide, each reader and customer accepts responsibility and risk for their own actions and automatically is bound to our terms and conditions. For more information please refer to our Terms and Conditions Section.
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