I got this email from a lady recently who is trying to identify a rock she found. She gave me permission to post the photos and her email in case anyone has a definitive answer. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘stones’
What’s this rock?
Friday, August 8th, 2008Cleaning Crystals and Stones
Friday, January 18th, 2008Cleaning stones and clearing stones isn’t the same thing. Clearing a stone is getting rid of any negative or unwanted energies the stone may have absorbed from its environment. Cleaning a stone is getting rid of unwanted dirt or other substances on the surface of the stone. Some methods will do both at the same time, but its easiest to think of them as two separate tasks.
When cleaning a crystal or stone, the main thing to consider is the type of stone you’re cleaning. Look up the mohs hardness of your stone with a reputable source, such as MinDat.org or UC Berkeley.
For the most part, water and possibly a mild soap, are the best things to clean stones with. Soft stones, those with a mohs hardness of 4 or less, may be very porous and may absorb chemicals or detergents when you are cleaning them. These stones should not be cleaned with anything harsher than specialized cleaning solutions or just plain water.
|
Do Not Place in Chemical Cleaners |
| Amber Aquamarine Coral Emerald Jade Lapis Lazuli Malachite Opal Pearls Shell Turquoise |
Other stones, such as halite, which is a salt, will dissolve in water, so they should only be dusted lightly. Quartz crystal and harder stones can be cleaned with heavier detergents or cleaners if needed. In fact, in many crystal mines, the crystals are cleaned with oxalic acid to remove iron stains before they are shipped out. Harsh cleaners can also damage the finish on polished stones or abrade the surfaces.
I recommend using the mildest possible method of cleaning your crystals and stones, as this is least disruptive of their energies. And from there you go on to clear the energies of your stones.
Chakra Lines vs Circles
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008I got an email asking if a circle arrangement of chakra colors has the same energetic benefits as a line of them does. My sense of this is that it is not the same, that it depends on the particular case. A line of chakra colors or stones echoes the energy of the chakras lined up in the body and this has a particular type of resonance. A circle of chakra colors tends to bring the energies more into motion in a spiral fashion. I would use the circular pattern in instances where I wanted to bring more motion, more energy into the chakras. Of course, different practitioners may have different experiences of it, but this is mine.
