Working With The Metaphysical Properties Of Quartz Crystals
by John and Micki Baumann

HOW CRYSTALS GROW:

Generally, quartz crystals grow in a hexagonal (six sided) structure, with additional faces sloping towards a point at one end. A crystal with these characteristics is itself also called a POINT. Points may be totally clear and transparent, or they may contain streaks, lines, rainbows, water bubbles or other inclusions. They may also appear cloudy if they have grown in a place where it freezes in the winter. Optical clarity usually has little to do with a crystal's quality and its ability to amplify the subtle energies.

WHAT CRYSTALS DO:

Quartz crystals are a gift from the earth. They have the ability to amplify or strengthen the things in you that are positive, and can help you put away things that cause you fear or anger. They can strengthen your ability to be a loving person, and can enhance your abilities to enjoy life and accomplish the things you want in life. They can amplify INTENTION, reduce stress, help with CENTERING (balancing or calming), strengthen HEALING abilities, and surround you with PROTECTION by amplifying white light. Any healthy quartz crystal point can strengthen these things and help produce personal growth by amplifying the subtle energies that flow inside you.

SELECTING A CRYSTAL:

To select a crystal, first put yourself in a calm space. Hold the crystal in your right hand with the point towards you. Feel it physically. Be open to sensations like TINGLING, or change in temperature. Also feel the crystal emotionally. Think of the purpose you want it for, and see if you feel attracted to it. Be more concerned with how it feels than how it looks. Allow the crystal to pick you by interacting with it in this way. And remember to go with your initial feeling. If you need a specialized type of crystal to work with, consider one of the types described below.

Crystals with Special Properties

In addition to the general characteristics mentioned above, quartz crystals sometimes have other special attributes that enhance their power. To identify these special types of crystals, pay particular attention to the largest of the faces that slope toward the point. Does it have pyramids (triangles) on it? Count the number of edges surrounding the face. This number can be anywhere from 3 to 8, and is one of the things that determines the special characteristics of the crystal. In addition to strengthening the Inner Being as all crystals do, the crystals listed below are true teachers and provide additional special help. Most of them are relatively rare, and they should be highly treasured when one of them finds you.

ISIS CRYSTALS have five edges surrounding the largest sloping face. These crystals strongly amplify the feminine energy, and can help you get in touch with the 'female' or unselfish side of yourself, no matter whether you are a man or a woman. These crystals are useful in balancing your male-female energy if the female energy has been suppressed, or if you need a greater balance of female energy for any reason. Isis crystals put you in touch with the power of the Goddess.

For men, the Isis crystal will help you become more in tune with your feminine side and to become more aware of the aspects of women that you may find troubling.

For women, the Isis crystal will help you regain some of the power and energy that society has taken from you. Teaches that feminine is not weak. Anyone doing healing work with another person needs the Isis energy to be effective.

The Isis crystal should be carried or held when dealing with issues that are emotional and difficult.

Exercise:

Isis crystals can be used to project nurturing energy toward another person. To do this, sit quietly with the Isis crystal in your hand with the point directed away from you. Visualize the person that you wish to help and visualize white light going from the point of the crystal and surrounding the person.

To nurture yourself, sit with the Isis crystal in your hand with the point directed toward you. Visualize white light going from the point of the crystal and surrounding you. After doing this you should feel strong and cared for.

CHANNELING CRYSTALS have seven edges surrounding the largest sloping face. These crystals are especially useful for obtaining information from deep within yourself or from sources that are outside of your normal realm. They can help you draw on the knowledge and information that is provided by the universe, and can aid you in getting help from a higher source. A channeling crystal can be used anytime you are seeking answers or help from outside of yourself. You must `listen' very carefully when using this crystal and realize that answers can come from many sources.

Communication with Guide:

A channeling crystal is a line of communication with sources outside yourself. Generally, the main source is your guide. A guide is a non-physical entity whose primary job is to look after you. Every human being has a guide. Guides are sometimes called other things, such as conscience, or angels, but they are always with us. We must learn to listen to what they have to say. Your guide will never tell you what to do, or interfere in other ways with what you want to do, but your guide is there to help you find answers for yourself. And you can use your channeling crystal to let your guide be your conscience.

A channeling crystal can only be used by the person holding it. In other words, you can't send the energy to someone else in order to let him receive the information directly. However, since guides communicate readily with each other, you can become good at getting information to people by asking your guide to give you the needed information for someone else, and then relaying it to the person. This is how you channel information for others. Channeling crystals amplify the quiet inner voice of your guide, and can be a big help in learning how to channel information, both for yourself and for others.

Exercise:

Sit quietly holding the channeling crystal in your hand and focus on or consider the problem or area that you need help with. `Listen' carefully but remember that the answer might not come immediately. Often, in the beginning you may find that you wake up some morning and seem to `know' what to do. When you are working on a problem, keep the channeling crystal with you as much as possible and keep it close at night. Sometimes that is the only time the answers can come clearly when you are just starting to open yourself.

by John and Micki Baumann sugilis@sedona.net
John writes monthly columns on the metaphysical properties of stones and crystals in magazines in several countries. Micki is an artist. Through her company, Deva Designs, she not only represents her own art pendants, hand sculpted on quartz crystals, but also represents other artists such as John M. Soderberg, one of the finest contemporary bronze sculptors in the world. For more detailed information about crystals, or other growth related topics, you may visit their website at http://users.sedona.net/~sugilis/index.html, or link directly to their site from our links page.