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Quartz is the most common mineral found on the face of the earth and occurs in all environments and all rock types - sedimentary, metamorphic or igneous. Its name derives from the German word "quarz", although other sources say the name is from the Saxon word "Querkluftertz", meaning "cross-vein ore".
Because of its abundance, Quartz is the mineral with the most varieties; some of its more well-known being Amethyst (purple), Citrine (yellow to orange), Milky Quartz (white), Smoky Quartz (browns, grays, blacks) and Rose Quartz (pink)...all to be covered in separate texts.
And then... of course, there is the clear variety, commonly called Rock Crystal or Clear Quartz, which I will concentrate on here. Quartz, a compound of silica and oxygen, has a very unique structure. It contains helix chains of silicon tetrahedrons that make three turns within the structure, creating the crystal's trigonal symmetry. This gives the crystal the ability to be either a left or right handed crystal. There are even some rarer "twinned" Quartz crystals where two mirror-image crystals grow out of or into each other, and thus the crystal will alternately be left and right handed.
Quartz contains both piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. Piezoelectric means that when a crystal is heated or compressed different electrical charges are formed at each end of the crystal, creating an electrical potential which vibrates - the latter making it pyroelectric too. These effects were first discovered in crystals such as Quartz and Tourmaline.
There are many reasons why Quartz is important in industry today, such as in the sand used in the manufacture of glass, or the rock crystals used in electronic equipment, i.e. the oscillators used for controlling radio frequencies and in todays' Quartz crystal watches.
There is much myth and lore connected to Quartz...too much to list here, but below is a sampling.
Nearly every ancient culture has revered Quartz. The ancients believed Quartz was actually water from the heavens that was frozen into eternal ice by the gods. In fact, the word "crystal" derives from the Greek word "krystallos" meaning "ice".
Oceanic and Australian shamans spoke of Quartz as "a stone of light broken off from the celestial throne". The Aborigines used the crystals to invoke rain, as did certain Native American tribes. In Australian Aboriginal mythology, Quartz is the most common substance identified with their mystical substance called "maban". Maban is said to be the material from which wise men (called karadjis) obtain their magickal powers. During initiation ceremonies, maban is spiritually "inserted" into the body of the apprentice by the karadji.
The Australian sky god, Daramulun, was long portrayed through art and sculpture as having a mouth full of Quartz, a huge phallus, and carrying a stone axe.
In the creation myths of the ancient Japanese it was believed that Quartz materialized through the breath of the venerated White Dragon. As such, Quartz was regarded as the perfect jewel and came to symbolize perfection or the pursuit thereof. Quartz graced their temples and was also found throughout the temples of the ancient Chinese, Mayans, Aztecs, and many other earlier civilizations situated around the globe.
An ancient Celtic practice, said to restore and maintain health, was to place nine small Quartz crystals in water, boil it, cool it, and then drink the enhanced water for nine consecutive days.
Clear Quartz polished into spheres have long been used as crystal balls for divination purposes.
It has been labeled the "Universal Crystal" due to its diversity and abundance of intense metaphysical properties. Clear Quartz is a secondary birthstone for Libra.
Below is a brief listing of common shapes (both fabricated and natural) and their general usage:
Sphere: Releases energies equally in all directions.
Pyramid: Amplifies and then releases tightly focused energies through the apex.
Square: Contains and anchors energies.
Egg: Feminine; releases healing energies from more pointed end.
Single terminated point: Tightly focuses and releases energy through the apex.
Double terminated point: Releases energy through both ends; can be opposites charges.
Cluster: Energizes group situations; energizes other stones.
Wand: Tightly focuses and releases energy through the apex; rounded section soothes.
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Other Facts:
Astrological Sign(s): All, but notably Libra, Taurus and Aries.
Element(s): All Chakra(s): Crown, but may be used to amplify and align all.
Uses:
Amplifies. Activates. Stimulates and energizes. Power. Manifestation. Focus and meditation. Concentration. Spiritual development & heightened consciousness. Enhances psychic ability. Heightens insight. Purifies. Healing. Astral travel. Channeling. Scrying.
Gives physical aid in treating: Convulsions; vertigo; chronic fatigue; arthritis; fibromyalgia; intestinal problems; kidney disease. Helps clear radiation. Used in diagnostic healing. Helps relieve general pain. Improves strength and stamina.
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CrowHavenCottage.blogspot.com
for more information on crystals and all manner of magickal things!
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