stones and gems

smokey quartz -A Gentle Grounding Stone

Vibrates to the numbers 2 and 8

Astrological Signs: Capricorn & Sagittarius
Hardness: 7
Metaphysical Properties:

Smokey Quartz helps to set aside willfulness and headstrong behavior. Smokey quartz has the ability to transform negative energy, and is particularly effective in dealing with anger and resentments. It is a stone that helps you be right here, in the moment.

It clears up communication difficulties, and helps to dissolve mental and emotional blockages that can get in the way of perception or learning.

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Calming - Smoky quartz is said to be excellent for alleviating panic attacks, anxiety, and nightmares.
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Grounding - Help you to be right here, in the moment
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Transforms negative energy
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Protective: Forms a shield against negative energy around the user
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Regulates: Can be used to regulate creative energy, allowing it to flow smoothly step by step
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Finances: Helps one to make wise purchases, and mange money effectively
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Meditation stone evokes effort and makes us able to cope with hard times.
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Adult ADD - This gemstone's gentle and focusing energy helps to alleviate confusion. Smoky quartz also gently cleanses clutter of the mind to bring focus to task as well as meditation.
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Negativity: This gemstone also neutralizes negative energy as well as helps the wearer manifest dreams.

Smokey Quartz stimulates the cooperation of multiple energies toward a common goal. A wonderful stone for relationships, and for people in recovery who are part of a larger group, whether it be work, hobby, a home group, business group, or association.

It is a gentle grounding stone that instills balance and harmony, and can help bring peace to you, enhancing quiet reflection during meditation without the interference of the thinking mind.

This is not a quick energy stone, like Clear quartz crystal, but it has intense staying power, to carry you over the long haul.

Combine Smokey Quartz with Clear Quartz for lots of positive energy towards obtaining your dreams and goals, and to energize them into being a reality.
Color:

From gray to warm brown, light and clear to an almost "solid" looking black/brown.
Physical -

Especially helpful with ailments of the hands and feet. Aids healing in the areas of back problems, dissolves cramps, alleviates pain and fortifies the nerves.

BLACK ONYX - Grounding Stone.

Attuned to Root Chakra - 1st and 5th chakra's.

Astrological: Stone of Leo.

Vibrates to the Number #6

Element: Fire
Keywords:

vigor, strength, stamina, constancy, steadfastness, permanence , tenacity, firmness, durability, courage, and self-control.
Metaphysical Properties:

Enhances self mastery, steadfastness, and determination, setting ones mind to a task. It is grounding stone and can be used to deflect or absorb the negativity of others, and in that way is a good stone for protection from negative forces and influences. More powerful for people in when combined with Amethyst - The Stone of Sobriety.

Onyx helps you become the Master of your own Fate.

* Valuable in difficult or confusing times of our lives.
* Absorbs and flattens emotional intensity. Helps to smooth out the "Roller Coaster Ride" of emotions.
* Protection: A good stone for Entrepreneurs and Inventors, to repel negative energy surrounding other peoples opinions or ideas.
* Detachment: The ancient Egyptians believe that it could cool the ardors of love and actually cause arguments between lovers to the point of separation! Use Onyx for self-protection or to keep away or end unhealthy or bothersome emotional entanglements.
* Letting Go: Extremely helpful to people who are having trouble letting go or releasing the past or attachments and moving on after a relationship has ended, sometimes years past the event.
* Change: Helps release old beliefs and patterns that no longer serve us.
* Visions, and guidance through meditation and dreams.

Excellent stone for initiating the process of centering and alignment of the total person with a Higher Power. It helps us to absorb whatever energy we need from the Universe. Reduces Sexual desire. Balances and grounds. Not a "healing stone", rather it repels (negative energy).
Color:

Usually black or brown with white bands, but can be red, orange, or honey colored.. A type of Chalcedony Quartz.
Physical Healing Properties:

Helpful in treating teeth, bones, bone marrow, blood disorders, feet. glaucoma, epilepsy, and cell damage.
Careers

Entrepreneurs, Inventors,

Garnet -
SilverVixen
Moderator
Post # 1
Mar 09, 2009
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Chakra: Base Chakra - 1st and 2nd - awakens the Kundalini

Stone of: Aries, Virgo, Capricorn, Leo and Aquarius

Birthstone: Normally considered a January birthstone, Garnets also work well for those born under the sun signs of Aries, Leo, & Virgo.

Element: FIRE
Angelic

Archangel Raphael is the Archangel for those in need of healing, wholeness, and unity and he is affiliated with the colors green and deep pink.

Vibrates to the number #2
Keywords:

Inspires romantic love, passion, stability, sensuality, sexuality, intimacy, positive thoughts, inspiration, energy, personal success, career success, social popularity, self confidence, fertility, persistence, stamina, survival, passion, intimacy, power, empowerment, motivation, assertion, ambition, respect, fame, glory, renown and increased productivity.
Metaphysical Properties:

* Friendship / Fellowship: This stone makes you very attractive to other people by bringing out your best qualities. Many people new in recovery experience loneliness as they change "People, Places, and Things". Many need to form new friendships and associations. This stone can help attract new friends, who will be attracted to you for who you really are.
* Isolation: Many people in Recovery have been loners all their life, often isolated and feeling misunderstood. This stone will help to attract like-minded people to you.
* Balance. It provides a stable, balanced connection between the physical, the spiritual, and the nervous system. It both monitors and adjusts the flow of energy, providing for a balanced energy field around the physical body, and aligning the emotional, and the intellectual bodies with the perfect vibration of a Higher Power.

Garnet is the stone of passionate devotion. To your family, your friends, yourself, and your purpose or goals . Garnett will stimulate the senses, and increase your vitality and stamina.

Very good for career success, encouraging business relationships by increasing your popularity and stimulating other peoples desire to work with you, especially for women.

Helps to become motivated and productive, and attracts good luck in business ventures. The Garnet is known as the stone for a successful business and makes a wonderful executive gem, particularly for women. this is a great stone to give your boss, or to give yourself if you would like to advance in your career.

Stimulates life force, (and negates stubbornness).



* Spiritual: Helps to stabilize the connection between the spiritual and the physical. Brings spirituality to relationships. Helps in the transition from romantic love to a deeper spiritual commitment to each other.
* Friendship and Relationships: This stone enhances charisma, making you very emotionally and physically attractive to other people because it brings out all your assets.
* Sparks Creativity: Enhances and Awakens the "inner fire" of creativity. Can help get the creative juices flowing if they feel "blocked".
* Luck: Garnets are lucky stones: lucky for love, lucky for success, and lucky for goals.
* Business: Helps us become more motivated, productive and achievement oriented.
* Protection: Noted for its powerful protective energy. Carried by ancient soldiers for protection . The stone was set in shields, buckles, and other items worn by Crusaders.
* Romantic: A passionate gemstone that inspires love and mutual attraction. Enhances libido (physical desire) as well as balances the wearer's sexual energy (drive).

Colors

A variety of colors, the most popular being red or green.

Red The color of physical energy, passion and desire. Red relates to the emotions.

* Too much and we become agitated, angry, or even violent.
* Too little and we become lethargic, cautious, and manipulative.

Careers:

Creativity: Artists, Writers,

Devoted to Goals: Women Executives, Business women, Researchers, Scientists, Doctors

Protection: Warriors, Soldiers, Heath Care Professionals, Policemen, Sheriff, Deputy, Coast Guard, Army , Navy, Marines, Prison Guards

Physical Healing Properties:

Circulatory system, heart, lungs, and blood. Anemia, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, detoxing and strengthening blood , exhaustion, inflammation, muscles, kidneys, gallstones. Provides regeneration and balance. Draws negativity away from the chakras. Protection from toxins, depression, anemia and disorder.
Negates:

loneliness, isolation, stubbornness

citrine- * USES: Gemstone and ornamental stone.
* BIRTHSTONE FOR: November
* COLOR: various shades of yellow and orange.
* CRYSTAL SYSTEM: trigonal
* For natural citrine mineral specimens see our For Sale or Sold lists
For Citrine jewelry, see --> JewelsForMe.com - Easy birthstone browsing, plus you can design your own jewelry!




Citrine is any quartz crystal or cluster that is yellow or orange in color. Although often cut as a gemstone, citrine is actually somewhat rare in nature. Most citrines on the market have been heat treated. Specimens of low grade, inexpensive amethyst or smoky quartz are often cooked at high temperatures to produce the more profitable orange yellow citrine. Citrines whose colors have been produced by artificial means tend to have much more of an orange or reddish caste than those found in nature, which are usually a pale yellow. Much of the natural citrine may have started out as amethyst but heat from nearby magmatic bodies may have caused the change to citrine. Citrine made by heating amethyst may be returned to a purple color by bombarding it with beta radiation. Interestingly, a popular gemstone on the market is a mixture of half amethyst and half citrine and is given the name ametrine, made by heating an amethyst until it turns into citrine, then irradiating a part of the resulting crystal or gemstone to convert that portion back to amethyst.

Unfortunately for citrine it is often confused with the more expensive orange-yellow topaz and is at times sold as topaz by unscrupulous dealers. This practice has soured many potential citrine fanciers who see citrine as a fake topaz and not as a legitimate gemstone.

Citrine is only one of several quartz varieties. Other varieties that form macroscopic (large enough to see) crystals are as follows:

* Amethyst is the purple gemstone variety.
* Milky Quartz is the cloudy white variety.
* Prasiolite is a leek-green variety.
* Rock crystal is the clear variety that is also used as a gemstone.
* Rose quartz is a pink to reddish pink variety.
* Smoky quartz is the brown to gray variety.

self confidence, self-discipline, personal power, abundance, prosperity, generosity, creativity, physical strength, confidence, stability, energy, comfort, career success, life enjoyment. Mental and emotional clarity, problem-solving, memory, willpower, optimism, confidence,
Metaphysical Properties:

Citrine brings happiness, joy and optimism into your life. One of only two minerals on the planet which do not hold or accumulate negative energy, but dispels and transforms it.

You don't ever have to cleanse Citrine, because it doesn't hold any negativity! Citrine energizes, and invigorates, promotes warmth, comfort, and energy.

Aids in matters of daily living. It is said citrine will open the mind to new thoughts. Often used by healers to increase self esteem.

Men are drawn to golden Citrine for the courage and self discipline it offers. Getting tasks done, developing self worth and mastering the ego are all achieved through the energies of Citrine.

* Successful Outcome: Citrine is the best stone to use when trying to "Take care of Business" whether it be accomplish business matters, education, or settle family matters. This includes legal issues and lawsuits when materials or money is involved.
* Light: Citrine is SUN energy - Used during the Middle Ages to treat people whose energy and moods become depressed during the long winter months, or during a long spell of rainy, overcast weather.
* Wealth: The lucky "Merchants Stone". Carry Citrine if you have a lot of material wealth, to help from becoming greedy and too attached to material possessions. Citrine will help you focus more on the giver than the gift.
* Materialism: Although this stone is particularly good for material wealth, prosperity and career success, our value is not determined by what we own, but by WHO we are. Success as a human being goes far beyond a large paycheck. What determines your value to you? I will be very surprised if your answer is simply a large bank account.
* Entrepreneurs: Especially good for people starting a new business!! Supports your material and business SUCCESS in addition to supporting your business plans and successful associations with vendors, partners, and suppliers.
* Relationships: Excellent stone for smoothing family or group problems, cutting to the quick of the situation and speeding up the process.
* Group Dynamics: Terrific for 12 Step Program Group dynamics. So many people, so many opinions. Helps any group to get along better. You know how there is usually someone to take notes, and keep track or minutes of a meetings of a Corporation, a PTA or Hobby Club, or 12 Step Meeting? I think you should have them be the keeper of the Citrine Crystal they bring to every meeting...!
* Communication: Often carried in the pocket of public speakers, to give courage and strengthen communication skills. It will help you think clearly and bolster your confidence. could come ine handy, as in "Would you like to share your story tonight...?"
* Citrine prepares your body, emotions, and mind to release what no longer serves and to accept what we need in order to move to the next higher state. This aspect of Citrine also has a greater overall purpose - to help you fulfill your spiritual potential by encouraging you to embrace ever-greater states of consciousness.


I think every group should buy a Citrine Sphere, about 2 inches in diameter, and that one person should be responsible for putting it smack dab in the middle of the table before everyone gets there and starts to talk. Things would move along so much smoother. Just MHO.

Finally, Citrine is the HAPPY Stone, full of Joy and Sun energy .. .. so wear Citrine whenever you feel down, and LIGHTEN UP!
Colors:

A golden or light yellow quartz.

Yellow: The color YELLOW is the color of logic and the intellect.
Physical Healing Properties:

Balances digestion, acid indigestion, food disorders, allergies, diabetes, . Cleanse spleen, liver, kidneys, constipation, kidney and bladder infections, Urinary problems, blood circulation, poor circulation, anemia. Good for asthma, and in the treatment of emotional trauma.
Negates:

narrow mindedness, fixed ideas. Reduces anxiety, fear, and depression.

And finally, it is a Spiritual Axiom, that the greatest way of all to achieve and insure Success is by doing for others. As the Universe sees that you are responsible Steward of finance and resources, keeping the flow of energy and economy in motion, more resources will naturally flow to you.
Career:

This is a "stone of success" in all walks of life, and should be a part of anyone's gemstone collection. If you don't have any citrine, and you have not been very successful in your endeavors, perhaps balancing the "Yellow" energy will turn things around for you.

Lawyers, Entrepreneurs,
Application:

School and College, learning and tests, athletic events, overcoming obstacles and disease.
Extra on Citrine

: 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous - Addiction and

1st Step Stone: The only step you have to do perfectly. Excellent stone to support you on your new journey, or keep you on the path to success!!

New Comers: A particularly good stone for Beginners in any 12 Step Program, giving support and self confidence when they need it most.

Citrine is also called the "Coyote Stone". According to legend, the coyote is the one who place tricks, and forces others to learn in spite of themselves. This is a good stone for those who are most resistant to treatments.

Al Anon and Al A Teen: A survivor's stone, it imparts courage when the chips are really down. The crystal brings wisdom for making good decisions and helps remove self-imposed obstacles.

1st Tradition: "Personal depends upon AA Unity" - Getting along with other people. This stone is excellent at smoothing family or groups problems, and penetrating problems, expediting solutions. Helps define problems and workable solutions on a non physical level.

Metaphysical Properties: Citrine is one of the only stones which dissipates negative energy, and never requires cleansing or clearing. Warm energy, promotes optimism. Also attracts abundance, and is known as a "merchants' stone," to be placed in cash register or where one conducts business, to not only acquire positive wealth but to maintain it as well. Activates third chakra. Enhances body's healing energy. Good for mental focus, endurance, and self-esteem.

Labradorite Gemstone meaning

Labradorite is a power stone, allowing you to see through illusions and determine the actual form of your dreams and goals. It is excellent for strengthening intuitions.

Use labradorite to:

* Stimulate imagination
* Develop enthusiasm and thus, new ideas
* To see more clearly in meditation

Sources of Labradorite

Labradorite was first found in 1770 on the Labrador Peninsula in Canada. It is also found in Norway, and the former USSR. There is a blue semi-transparent variety called spectrolite that is only found in Finland.

* Class: Silicates
* Subclass: Tectosilicates
* Group: Feldspars
* Uses: ornamental and semi-precious stone
* Specimens



Labradorite is truly a fascinatingly beautiful mineral. Its a mineral whose charm is not fully noticed and may be overlooked if not viewed from the proper position. Generally a dull, dark looking mineral with no special virtue until the colorful shiller is observed glowing on the surface. Labradorite can produce a colorful play of light across cleavage planes and in sliced sections called labradorescence. The usually intense colors range from the typical blues and violets through greens, yellows and oranges. Some rare specimens display all these colors simultaneously.

The color display is from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The resulting color effect is caused by a ray of light entering a layer and being refracted back and forth by deeper layers. This refracted ray is slowed by the extra travel through the layers and mixes with other rays to produce a light ray coming out that has a different wavelength than when it went in. The wavelength could correspond to the wavelength of a particular color, such as blue. The effect depends on the thickness and orientation of the layers. If the layers are too thick or too thin no color shiller is seen. Also if the viewer does not observe from the precise angle or if light is not supplied from the proper angle then no color shiller is seen. The labradorescence is truly a one of a kind mineralogical experience and must be observed in person in order to truly appreciate its beauty.

Labradorite is a member of the plagioclase series of minerals. The plagioclase series comprises felspars that range in chemical composition from pure NaAlSi3 O8 to pure CaAl2 Si2 O8 . Labradorite is defined at approximately the 50% to 70% CaAl2 Si2 O8 . Labradorite by definition must contain 50-70% calcium to 50-30% sodium in the sodium/calcium position of the crystal structure. All members of the plagioclase series usually display lamellar twinning called "Albite Twinning". The twinning is caused by a error in the crystal structure during its growth.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

* Color is gray to smoky black.
* Luster is dull to vitreous.
* Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
* Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1
* Crystal Habits include blocky crystals that rarely form free of the host rock and therefore do not usually show their full crystal forms. In sliced sections of rock, the labradorite appears as blocky chunks with a predominance of near right angled corners. Twinning is common and pervasive so that in labradorite it produces a layered or stacked effect. The twin layers are typically only fractions of millimeters to several millimeters thick. Crystals of labradorite are found imbedded in gabbros and other mafic igneous rocks of low silica content. In anorthosites, labradorite is a main constituent.
* Cleavage is perfect in one and good in another direction forming nearly right angled prisms.
* Fracture is conchoidal.
* Hardness is 6 - 6.5.
* Specific Gravity is approximately 2.70 - 2.74 (average)
* Streak is white.
* Associated Minerals are biotite, pyroxene and hornblende.
* Other Characteristics: index of refraction is 1.55 - 1.75. Play of colors called labradorescence seen from certain directions can cause flashes of blue, violet and green and sometimes orange and yellow.
* Notable Occurrences include Labrador, Canada and Scandinavian Peninsula.
* Best Field Indicators are occurrence, twinning striations and labradorescence.

amethyst- Written and compiled by - Patricia Jean Martin

Amethyst derives its name from the Greek word "amethystos" meaning "not drunk" or "not intoxicated". It is one of the favorite gem-quality minerals found in the Quartz family. Its color ranges from light lilac or lavender to the deep, rich, dark purples and violets...the latter (named Siberian Amethyst) being the most sought after, especially when containing flashes of red. The lighter lilac and lavender specimens of Amethyst have been nicknamed "Rose de France" by the gem trade. Experts believe Amethyst gets its color from trace amounts of Iron (other theories attribute it to Manganese or hydrocarbons) present during the formation of the Quartz. It is stated that "as much Iron as would fit on the head of a pin can color one cubic foot of Quartz." Once revered as a precious stone, today its abundance has made it inexpensive and commonplace...although ever-

remaining a beautiful and powerful gemstone.



Amethyst is formed in silica-rich liquids deposited in gas cavities (geodes) in lava. It occurs in crystalline masses. When conditions permit, it forms hexagonal crystals that are usually grown from a base. These crystals are most often not well developed, and so are generally found as clusters of crystal points and are called Amethyst druse. Although most commonly found in geodes, Amethyst is sometimes found as a stalactite.



When heated, Amethyst loses its color, so it is best to keep these crystals from extended exposure to the sun. If heated intensely, the purple color of Amethyst will change to yellow...thus making it Citrine. Most commercial Citrine is made in this manner. When natural Citrine and natural Amethyst grow together in the same crystal (common in deposits in Bolivia), they contain alternating bands of purple and orange/yellow and have been given the obvious name Ametrine.



Another interesting form of Amethyst clusters from the Magaliesberg area of South Africa are characterized by tiny crystals that envelop the shaft of the main crystal, and have earned the names "Spirit Amethyst", "Spirit Quartz", "Cactus Quartz", "Fairy Quartz", or "Angel Quartz".


General Information:



Chemistry: SiO2, Silicon Dioxide (with traces of Ferric Iron; Fe2O3)



Class: Silicates.



Subclass: Tectosilicates.



Group: Quartz



Color: Various shades of purple, transparent to translucent.



Luster: Vitreous (Glassy).



Crystal System: Trigonal.



Crystal Habit: Macroscopic crystals occur as horizontally striated hexagonal prisms terminated by a combination of positive and negative rhombohedrons forming six sided pyramids. Amethyst often occurs as drusy masses showing only the rhobohedral terminations. It can also be massive.



Cleavage: Absent.



Fracture: Conchoidal.



Hardness: 7.



Specific Gravity: 2.65



Streak: White.



Other Characteristics: Piezoelectric.



Notable Occurrences: Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Siberia.



Best Field Indicators: Color, crystal habit, hardness and lack of cleavage.



Uses: Gemstone; ornamental stone; Amethyst glass; electronics.


Myth & Lore:



The story of the origin of Amethyst comes from Greek (and later, as we see here, Roman) legends: "The god of wine, Bacchus, was insulted one day by a mere mortal. He swore that the next mortal that crossed his path, would be attacked by his fierce tigers. Along came a beautiful maiden named Amethysta. Goddess Diana turned Amethysta into a beautiful statue of Quartz to save her from the tigers' claws. Remorseful, Bacchus wept tears of wine over the stone maiden, creating a lively purple stone."



Known as the "Stone of Spirit" or the "Stone of Integrity," Amethyst has been long associated with purity and piety. It is the stone of the Buddha, and in Tibet it is popularly used in the making of prayer beads called Mala beads which are used in the practice of meditation.



Purple has long been considered a royal color, so it is no surprise that Amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels. They were also a favorite of Catherine the Great. Many Catholic bishop's rings are made of Amethyst. Beads of Amethyst have been found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England.



Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians. Egyptian soldiers wore Amethyst in battle in order to retain their courage. Among the wealthy ancient Greeks and Romans, goblets of Amethyst were made to guard against drunkenness. Shamans of several tribal societies were known to use Amethyst crystals as talismans, or objects of power. The crystals are also used in forms of natural healing, as with traditional Chinese medicine which has prescribed ground Amethyst to alleviate stomach pains or bad dreams.



Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February (Aquarius). It is also the symbolic gemstone for the 17th wedding anniversary. Recharge Amethyst under the light of the Moon.


Metaphysical Properties:



Astrological Sign(s): Pisces, Aquarius.



Element: Water



Crown Chakra.



Clearing and cleansing.



Meditation enhancement.



Connecting with Spirit.



Focus.



Heightens intuition.



Sharpens the mind.



Psychic dreams.



Stability, strength.



Protection.



*Gives physical aid in treating: Depression. Reduces stress. Calms anxiety, headaches, eye strain. Dispels negativity and clears delusion. Prevents insomnia and nightmares. Low energy. Stimulates and regulates sympathetic nervous system and endocrine glands. Digestive tract, heart, stomach, skin and teeth.



*NOTE: Stone therapy should NOT take the place of medical evaluation and procedures, and should be used merely to enhance one's health and well-being.


My own thoughts and experiences:



Other than being the most beautiful shades of the color purple - ranging from soft lavender to the darkest and richest of purples which contain flashes of red reminiscent of plump ripe heady grapes and sparkling burgundy wine. I feel Amethyst's properties have to do with the illusional qualities of intoxication...or rather, lack thereof. The Ancients did not miss the mark in their naming of Amethyst...as it does clear intoxication, in the sense that it clears the mind, allowing one to move out of the heavy and denser "intoxicating" earthbound realm into the royal and noble higher frequencies of Spirit. Hence its excellent use as a Crown or Brow Chakra stone.



Extremely calming, yet deep, this most dynamic and persuasive crystal can bring a sense of serenity and peace through its washing away of obsessive chaos, or even the perceived notion for a need of such. It helps you break through to your clearest visions, by enhancing a strength to the intellect...an ease of journey to one's center...while promoting communion with the highest realms.



So, if you are experiencing too much grounding; if you are subject to low energy; if you are weighed down with the sometimes heavy burdens of your mundane existence; if you desire to reach into the higher realms and speak to the gods (and yourSelf) in your clearest tone... Amethyst can be of great value.



Let the revered stone of Bacchus show you how you can remain clear and undiluted as you drink deeply of Spirit.




End.