Since time immemorial crystals have played a sacred role in ceremony, worship, healing, protection, and in facilitating with the evolution of the soul. The ancient world used crystals to enhance emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health; restoring balance to dis-ease manifesting as ailments in the mind-body-spirit connection. Crystal power was not only used on the person, but also harnessed to clear, purify, and protect the environment. For example, placing certain crystals on energy points in the earth or in specific formations on land and home dwellings was believed to enhance positive vibrations and ward off negative energies. Crystals were also used for grounding and assistance with returning from out of body experiences such as ascension, astral projection, and travel to other realms and dimensions. Furthermore, certain crystal were believed to have the capacity to heighten mental awareness and open channels of communication with higher powers, and higher beings. This process of channeling and tuning in allowed for the advancement of science, technology, agriculture and botany.
The great kingdom of Atlantis, though by some considered myth, was said to have been an advanced civilization who harnessed crystalline energy to build their city and entire civilization. According to legends the Atlanteans had mastery over techniques that enhanced the vibration of crystals, incorporating the natural elements to achieve monumental feats by far more advanced then modern technology i.e., placement of crystals on certain energy grids, exposure to the sun, moon, and stars at certain times of the day or season, and deep knowledge of the properties and potentials of each crystal family. Through the use of this technology they were able to increase psychic abilities, improve mental capacity, transmit thoughts and images over vast distances, teleport, perform telekinesis, dematerialize, build flying vehicles, and control weather patterns, among other things.
Archaeological findings and ancient scripts document the vast use of crystals across time, geography, and civilizations. The Sumerians and Pagans were said to have used crystals in magic potions. The Egyptians used them for protection, health and guidance into the afterlife. The ancient Greeks used crystal power in battle and attributed certain crystals and their qualities to planets and gods. The Inuits and Mayans were said to have used crystals to construct cities, and in shamanic practices, guiding the healer on spirit journeys into the lower, middle and upper worlds. Indians used crystals to balance and clear the chakras and energy lines of the human body. Ayurvedic texts reference each stones healing abilities, emphasizing metaphysical and emotional balance. The Chinese used crystals in their medicine and acupuncture practices. The Vikings and Norse people used them to build sacred monuments, megalithic sites, and healing circles. African cultures thought of them as a symbol of the blood of the Earth and sprinkled them on their dead. The Australian Aboriginals thought of crystals as sacred stones that came from Dreamtime and told the story of evolution.
According to the Crystal Bible, Ancient civilizations believed that stones are alive but only take a breath every one hundred to two hundred years. Healers from antiquity to modern day believe crystals are living beings and consider them old and wise gifts from mother earth.
Furthermore, crystals and gemstones have been mentioned in religious texts across continents and generations. Associating them with gods, goddesses, heaven, and the afterlife. Buddhists scripture talks about a diamond thrown situated next to the tree of knowledge (the Neem tree under which Siddhartha meditated). Sanskrit describes the sacred Kalpa wishing tree as having lapis lazuli boughs, buds of gems, and flowers of diamonds. The 4th Heaven in the Koran is said to be made of carbuncle – garnet. The Bible speaks of the New Jerusalem made of crystals; jasper walls with the foundation of every kind of gem. High priests of the old testament wore breastplates mad of stones, and so on.
The use of crystals in rituals of health and healing continued through to modern history, during the Renaissance crystals were used along side herbal remedies for medicinal purposes, and worn as amulets for protection. Unfortunately, soon after, and as a result of the development of western medicine all forms of natural healing practices were subdued and discounted, even deemed evil or inferior by the ruling classes and the growing scientific community. The use of natural resources for healing, religious and protection practice were outlawed, relegated to the so called wayward occultists, pagans, sorcerers, witches and punishable by death.
The rise of the New Age movement and the recent reawakening of humanity to ancient knowledge has inspired a revival of crystal and alternative healing methods. The redefining of spirituality and the new found need to reconnect with the natural self has taken humanity back to basics and urged us to explore the potency of nature and the abundance of resources and remedies the earth has to offer. Today crystals are used for meditation, channeling, healing, enhancing psychic abilities, chakra energy work, magic, clearing and purging the environment of negative energy. Their energies are called upon to improve social interactions, work environments, world peace, and cleansing of frequencies and pollution created by modern living practices. Crystals are also used in character building, clearing of negative behavior patterns, and healing of ancestral karma, the list can continue for paragraphs. What’s exciting is that in we are living in a time where the ancient past is fusing with the new age of technology in a holistic and all encompassing approach. People are looking to nature for answers in the pursuit of living a life of awareness, love, joy, health, and synergy with the inner self, each other and the planet.
Footnotes & Resources
Judy Hall, The Crystal Bible (Cincinnati, OH: Walking Stick Press, 2003).