Crystals for the heart

We women chart our lives, not through the passing of years, but through the passages of the heart. Our greatest leaps in understanding ourselves come from the passions of our lives, our loves, our heartbreaks and our hearts’ healing. These passages mark our growth towards the ultimate destination of learning self-love and unconditional loving.

Today, woman’s quality of loving is threatened due to the demands of the competitive world. We find hardened women striving to compete with men (and women too!) at all costs. We see hearts broken, disillusioned by relationships. We find women losing their inner self-worth. It is thus imperative that we become, first, conscious that we must not lose their quality of loving, and second, that we refine the quality of love that we give, not only to our partners, children or family but to everyone.

The love principle, ruled by the physical organ of the heart, is also aligned with the fifth chakra. In Eastern philosophy, the body is made up of a number of special energy points called chakras. These areas correspond to specific psycho-emotional-spiritual issues and can be worked on to aid healing not only on the etheric level, but also benefits the physical organs near the specific chakra area. The fifth chakra, located near the heart area between the breasts, is the chakra for love. This is the middle point between the body’s seven main centers. It is this area that we must learn to stimulate, express or heal when we undergo the various passages of our feeling nature.

Since ancient times, men and women have used crystals and gemstones for their transformational qualities. Not only were these gifts of the Earth full of energies, they were also powerful, and helped enhance physical beauty and stature. The secret to making crystals and gemstones work is to use the right ones depending on your state. They may be used in a variety of ways; either as raw crystal pieces held during meditation; tucked under your pillow at night; carried around in a small pouch as a "pet crystal"; placed on your heart area while lying down; or used as gemstones with the right combination metal to enhance their energies. It is important however to make sure that crystals or gemstones are whole and do not have a hole bored into them. If so, the energies may be less or have totally disappeared.

Before using crystals, do cleanse them by submerging them in water with rock salt for at least three days or placing them under running water for at least 15 minutes. You may repeat cleaning them whenever you feel the urge to. When used as jewelry, set them with the corresponding metal. Silver and white gold (to represent the lunar, intuitive, inner energies) are used to draw in the energies, and yellow gold (to represent the solar, male or outward directing energies) are used to bring out the energies. The following is a general listing for the more commonly known Love crystals and gemstones.

All-purpose Heart Stones

Rose Quartz (set in silver). This is known as "the love stone." It promotes self-healing and acceptance, increases fertility, eases sexual and emotional imbalances, helps clear away resentment, jealousy, fear and guilt in relationships. Enhances self-confidence. It helps develop forgiveness, compassion and love. If you have an object of art made of rose quartz, make sure this is placed in the bedroom, to sit on a shelf if possible on the same level as the heart.

Heart Healers

Bloodstone (set in gold). A variety of chalcedony, this reduces emotional stress.

Watermelon (green/pink) and Pink Tourmaline. These are powerful healers which help balance and harmonize the conflicting energies between male and female polarities with one’s self in a relationship.

Green Tourmaline. This inspires the balance and tempered expression of the heart’s love and compassion. It assists one in cutting through clearing emotional pain and confusion. It is soothing, balancing and rejuvenating in times of emotional stress or exhaustion.

Dioptase. This brings emotional stability. Excellent for use with healing and affirmations.

Rhodochrosite. A red-pink-lavender stone. Emotional balancer, it helps heal emotional wounds and traumas. It helps blend courage, will and passion with loving expression of the heart.

Heart Openers

Carnelian (set in gold). A variety of chalcedony, it vitalizes emotions, enhances sexual magnetism. Opens and warms the heart towards joy.

Blue Lace Agate. Excellent for those who are shy and introverted. It helps bring about a more expressive self. Soothes the emotions.

Healthy Heart Helpers

Aventurine (set in gold). A green quartz, it purifies the emotional state and brings one in alignment with the center.

Emerald (set in gold). A variety of beryl, it is a strong emotional balancer.

Ruby (set in gold). It refines lower passions and emotions, encouraging one to expand the boundaries of personal passion and love to encompass the Unconditional and Divine.

Crystals, gems and other minerals are wonderful open vibrational doorways or tools for transformation. They can assist us in experiencing many aspects of our multi-faceted totality. But these are mere tools and are but solid reflections of that which is always available in us, namely: Love.

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(The writer will hold a two-day seminar on Understanding our Birth Sign: Choice and Destiny, or Free Will? on Aug. 24 and 25 at CHACRA. For inquiries, please call Orlan at tel. nos. 434-5381 or 426-5368.)