It is fair to say that as long as we have existed as a
species, we have had an affinity with stones and crystals. The use of
talismans and amulets dates back to the beginnings of humankind,
although we have no way of knowing how the earliest of these objects
were viewed or used. Many early pieces were organic in origin. Beads
carved of mammoth ivory were excavated from a grave in Sungir, Russia,
dating back 25,000 years (Upper Palaeolithic period), and there are
contemporary beads made from shell and fossil shark's teeth.
The oldest amulets are of Baltic amber, some
from as long as 30,000 years ago, and amber beads were discovered in
Britain from 10,000 years ago, the end of the last ice age. The distance
they travelled to reach Britain shows their value to the people of that
time. Jet was also popular, and jet beads, bracelets and necklaces have
been discovered in Palaeolithic gravesites in Switzerland and Belgium.
There have been malachite mines in Sinai since 4000 BC.
The first historical references to the use
of crystals come from ancient Sumaria, where they were included in magic
formulas. The ancient Egyptians used lapis lazuli, turquoise,
carnelian, emerald and clear quartz in their jewellery, and carved grave
amulets of the same gems. Stones were used for protection and health.
Chrysolite (later translated as both topaz and peridot) was used to
combat night terrors and purge evil spirits. Egyptians also used
crystals cosmetically. Galena (lead ore) was ground to a powder and used
as the eye shadow known as khol. Malachite was used in a similar
manner. Green stones in general were used to signify the heart of the
deceased, and were included in burials. Green stones were used in a
similar way at a later period in ancient Mexico.
The ancient Greeks attributed a number of
properties to crystals, and many names we use today are of Greek origin.
The word 'crystal' comes from the Greek word for ice, as it was
believed that clear quartz was water that had frozen so deeply it would
always remain solid. Amethyst means 'not drunken', and was worn as an
amulet to prevent drunkenness. Hematite comes from the word for blood,
because of the red colouration produced when it oxidises. Hematite is an
iron ore, and the ancient Greeks associated iron with Mars, the god of
war. Greek soldiers would rub hematite over their bodies before battle,
probably to make themselves invulnerable. Greek sailors wore a variety
of amulets to keep them safe at sea.
Jade was highly valued in ancient China, and
some Chinese written characters represent jade beads. Musical
instruments in the form of chimes were made from jade, and around 1000
years ago emperors were sometimes buried in jade armour. There are
burials with jade masks from around the same period in Mexico. Jade was
recognised as a kidney healing stone both in China and South America.
More recently, dating from around 250 years ago, the Maoris of New
Zealand wore jade pendants representing the ancestor spirits, which were
passed down many generations through the male line. The practise of
wearing 'green stone' pendants carries on there today.
Crystals and gemstones have played a part in
all religions. They are mentioned throughout the Bible, and in the
Koran. The origin of the stones we attribute to various birth signs is
the breastplate of Aaron, or high priest's breastplate, mentioned in the
book of Exodus. In the Koran, the 4th Heaven is composed of carbuncle
(garnet). The Kalpa Tree, which represents an offering to the gods in
Hinduism, is said to be made entirely of precious stone, and a Buddhist
text from the 7th century describes a diamond throne, situated near the
Tree of Knowledge (the neem tree under which Sidhartha meditated). On
this throne a thousand Kalpa Buddhas reposed. The Kalpa Sutra, in
Jainism, speaks of Harinegamesi, the divine commander of the foot
troops, who seized 14 precious stones, cleansed them of their lesser
qualities, and retained only their finest essence to aid his
transformations.
There is an ancient sacred lapidary
treatise, the Ratnapariksha of Buddhabhatta. Some sources state that it
is Hindu, but it is most likely Buddhist. The date is uncertain, but it
is probably from the 6th Century. In this treatise, diamonds figure
highly, as the king of gemstones, and are ranked according to caste. The
Sanskrit word for diamond, vajra, is also the word for the Hindu
goddess Indra's thunderbolt, and diamonds are often associated with
thunder. The ruby was also highly revered. It represented an
inextinguishable flame, and was purported to preserve both the physical
and mental health of the wearer. The treatise lists many other gemstones
and their properties.
In Burma, stones, especially rubies, were
inserted into the flesh to become part of the wearer's body, in the
belief it would make them invulnerable.
Amulets were banned by the Christian church
in 355 AD, but gemstones continued to play an important role, with
sapphire being the favoured gem for ecclesiastical rings in the 12th
century. Marbodus, the Bishop of Rennes in the 11th century, claimed
that agate would make the wearer more agreeable, persuasive, and in
favour of God. There were also many symbolic references, such as the
carbuncle representing Christ's sacrifice.
In Europe, from the 11th century through the
Renaissance, a number of medical treatises appeared, extolling the
virtues of precious and semi-precious stones in the treatment of certain
ailments, alongside mainly herbal remedies. Authors included Hildegard
von Bingen, Arnoldus Saxo, and John Mandeville. There are also
references to stones with particular qualities of strength or
protection. In 1232 Hubert de Burgh, the chief justicular of Henry III,
was accused of stealing a gem from the king's treasury which would make
the wearer invincible, and giving it to Llewellyn, the King of Wales and
Henry's enemy. It was also believed that gemstones were corrupted by
the original sins of Adam, could possibly be inhabited by demons, or if
handled by a sinner, their virtues would depart. Therefore, they should
be sanctified and consecrated before wearing. There is an echo of this
belief today in the cleansing and programming of crystals before use in
crystal healing.
During the Renaissance the tradition of
using precious stones in healing was still accepted, but the enquiring
minds of the period sought to find out how this worked, and give it a
more scientific explanation.
In 1609 Anselmus de Boot, court physician to
Rudolf II of Germany, suggested that any virtue a gemstone has is due
to the presence of good or bad angels. The good angels would confer a
special grace to the gems, but the bad angels would tempt people into
believing in the stone itself, and not in God's gifts bestowed on it. He
goes on to name certain stones as helpful, and put other's qualities
down simply to superstition. Later in the same century, Thomas Nicols
expressed in his 'Faithful Lapidary' that gems, as inanimate objects,
could not possess the effects claimed in the past. Thus, in the Age of
Enlightenment, the use of precious stones for healing and protection
began to fall from favour in Europe.
In the early part of the 19th century, a
number of interesting experiments were conducted to demonstrate the
effects of stones on subjects who believed themselves to be clairvoyant.
In one case, the subject claimed to feel not only physical and
emotional changes when touched with various stones, but also to
experience smells and tastes.
Although no longer in use medicinally,
gemstones continued to hold meaning. Until recently, jet was popularly
worn by those in mourning, and garnet was often worn in times of war.
There is a tradition in a local family here in southwest England: every
female descendent wears an antique moonstone necklace for her wedding,
which has been in the family for generations. It was only recently that
one family member realised this was a fertility symbol.
Many tribal cultures have continued the use
of gemstones in healing until very recently, if not through to the
present day. The Zuni tribe in New Mexico make stone fetishes, which
represent animal spirits. These were ceremonially 'fed' on powdered
turquoise and ground maize. Beautiful inlaid fetishes are still made to
sell, and are very collectable artefacts or sculptures, although the
spiritual practise surrounding them is no longer much in use. Other
Native American tribes still hold precious stones, especially turquoise,
sacred. Both Aborigines and Maoris have traditions regarding stones and
healing or spiritual practise, some of which they share with the rest
of the world, while some knowledge still kept private within their
communities.
It is interesting to note that there are
many examples of gemstones meaning similar things to different cultures,
even when there has been absolutely no interaction between these
cultures, and no opportunity for crossover. Jade was considered to be a
kidney healing stone by the ancient Chinese, and also Aztec and Mayan
civilisations, turquoise has been worn to give strength and health all
over the world, and jaspers have almost always conferred both strength
and calm.
In the 1980s, with the advent of the New Age
culture, the use of crystals and gemstones began to re-emerge as a
healing method. Much of the practise was drawn from old traditions, with
more information gained by experimentation and channelling. Books by
Katrina Rafaell in the 80s, and Melody and Michael Gienger in the 90s,
helped to popularise the use of crystals.
These days there are a large number of books
available on the subject, and crystals frequently feature in magazine
and newspaper articles. Crystal therapy crosses the boundaries of
religious and spiritual beliefs. It is no longer viewed as the domain of
alternative culture, but as an acceptable and more mainstream
complimentary therapy, and many colleges now offer it as a qualification
subject.
Source: Mr. Google Mania
