CRYSTALS

Quartz crystals comprise a large family.  For the sake of simplicity and so as not to confuse the "beginner" reader, I will use the term Quartz Crystal to mean the clear transparent crystal which is the crystal most people are familiar with.  They come in many shapes, ranging from circular to spherical, oblong to triangular, depending upon how they are cut.  The oblong one, which most people are familiar with, normally has 6 sides ending in a sharp point, or "termination".

Crystals, (most of them), have "blemishes" which are created when the crystal is formed in the earth.  If you hold a crystal such as this up to the light, you will see a wonderful array of patterns and colours.. beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all!  Do not be concerned if your crystal is not totally clear, what IS important is that you and your crystal bond and work together.  Some Quartz Crystals have iron deposits in them, giving them a "rusty" look, others a rosy tint, some yellowish or smoky.  Smoky crystals are rare, Native Americans call them "grandfather" crystals, from what I understand and have found out so far, they are important in shamanistic and dream workings.

Lets move along now to determine how to choose your crystal.  It differs from person to person and the only right way is your way *smile*.  Some people get a tingling, for some a crystal will "catch their eye", for others it is an inner knowing without having to touch the crystal.

I will describe how I choose a crystal, or more correctly, how one chooses me!  I pick up various crystals in my hands, one at a time.  I get a "tingling" sensation or feel what could be described as a "hot flush", a wave of heat coursing over me from head to toe.

Once you have found your crystal the first thing you need to do is to cleanse it.  The easiest and most practical way (after all if magick isn't practical there's not much point to it!) is to leave your crystal overnight in a bowl of salt-water (a teaspoon of salt to one cup of water is sufficient).

Next is empowering your crystal or "charging" it with energy.  There are two ways to do this, depending on the time you have available and which is most practical for you.  The first is to leave your crystal on soil in sunlight for 5 - 7 hours.  I like to leave mine in the sun all day, especially on workdays when I'm away from home for the whole day (practicality again!).

The second way is to leave your crystal on soil out in the moonlight, as the moon is approaching full (waxing).  NEVER put your crystal in the moonlight after full moon, when the moon is waning as this draws energy and defeats the whole purpose!  You can leave your crystal out in the moonlight for several nights in succession leading up to full moon.  I do this every couple of months as a treat for my crystals *grin*.

After empowering or "charging" your crystal, you need to programme it.  Bear in mind to not choose conflicting programmes and try to stick to one request if possible.  When you pick your crystal up after empowering/charging it in the sun or moonlight, tell it what your need is, e.g. a job, financial need, spiritual awakening, etc.. but only complimentary needs put together, e.g. a job and financial need, not spirituality and a job.. all the latter will serve to do is to confuse your crystal and it won't know which one you want, sooooo it won't do anything! *smile*  How you programme is entirely up to you.. I hold mine in my hand and tell it mentally what I want it to do.. you can do an elaborate ritual where you pass it through incense if you prefer, it is entirely up to you and what you feel comfortable with.  If you are unsure what to programme your crystal for, then ask your God(s) *smile*.

Now that you have all the "hard work" out of the way *grin* its time to enjoy your crystal and get to know it.  The best way to do this is through bodily contact.  I wear one of mine on a silver chain around my neck (crystals do not like gold as it is a very dense metal) all the time.  Another way is for ladies to slip their crystals into their bras or (both ladies and gents) to make a little cloth/material bag which you can put your crystal in and attach it with a safety pin to your underwear.

The final step is to cleanse your crystal regularly in salt water, once a week to start with until you have a sense of knowing when to cleanse your crystal.  The most important thing to remember is to ENJOYYOURCRYSTAL!

Quartz crystals are wonderful as you can programme them for anything, they are all-purpose crystals if you like.  Other crystals are associated with specifics, e.g. rose quartz for relationships, harmony and peace, amethyst for spirituality and awakening psychic abilities.

As I progress oh so slowly, I will be adding a list of gems and crystals and their specifics as time allows so please check back frequently!

Blessed be

WildSpirit