Gems and precious stones can be utilized for personal protection and growth.
Historically, people have been fascinated by these stones and wore
them on their bodies, either displayed openly in a setting, or carried discreetly in
a medicine pouch. What motivated them to do this?
Prehistoric inhabitants of this Earth are believed to have used stones as talismans
for protection against seen and unseen forces. Early, evidence shows that
inventive people learned to drill and carve precious stones to fit into shapes and
symbols. More recent examples of this can be seen in Egyptian artifacts, which
were used as ceremonial jewellery to protect the wearer from harm, in life and
after death, for the safe and successful journey of the soul. Many remarkable
works of art have been found on the mummified remains of the pharaohs, and
other nobles. The gems used were carved and polished, and placed in settings which represented a variety of spiritual concepts. This was in addition to their
energy related properties. I suspect that peoples of the past were aware of the
intrinsic nature of various stones.
The word talisman comes from the Arabic; tilsam (magical figure), via the
Middle Greek word telein (to initiate into mysteries), meaning "an object
producing apparently magical or miraculous effects".
The Native Indian
Zuni tribe, in the American southwest, to this day carve what are called fetishes.
A ‘fetish’ is a type of talisman which usually depicts different animals or
symbolic figures. A person would wear their fetish to connect with a particular
animal totem, and in this way purportedly a strong mystic bond could be
established with the spirit of the animal. The particular energy that the totem
accessed could protect and guide the wearer. Ted Andrews defines, in his book‘Animal-Speak’, a totem as "any object, animal, or being to whose phenomena
and energy a person feels closely associated with during their life". The Zuni also
create the ‘corn maiden’ which is used to bring forth fertility and abundance. It is
interesting to compare the image of the Zuni corn maiden as a ‘goddess’ figure,
with the iconographic use of the Madonna in Christianity.
On the African continent, we see similar art expressed in carvings of wood, bone
and stone. The medicine men, who were often the carvers, consecrated each
piece of art with strong ritual elements, for a particular person, who would then
use it presumably for prescribed purposes. Traditionally their belief was that the‘spirit’ of what the object depicted came to abide within it. This has been called
Animism. It’s relative, Shamanism, originating in northeastern Asia, operates
with similar ideas, that the world is governed by unseen forces or ‘spirits’ that
must be appeased or influenced for the good of the tribe. In modern times, where
science and technology are the ‘modus operandi’, the shamanistic process, in the
traditional sense of animistic belief, seems more or less eradicated....or is it?
Women and men still adorn themselves with gemstones in traditional jewellery,
yet, has the genuine shamanistic process transformed into something else?
Instead of ritual objects such as the medicine pouch and the talisman, there is
now an abundance of personal high tech objects such as cell-phones, palm pilots
and even handheld DVD players, which dominate, and interestingly, in all
shapes and colors. Where ritual objects formerly were made with the intention to
align one with their divine source, does this modern phenomena contribute to
misalignment with divine order? Instead of connecting with true guidance,
people are now communicating at an isolated distance. Are we becoming
increasingly separated from our connection within? I’m reminded of the
hypnotizing quality of computerized game toys that my nephews are
preoccupied with. Their ‘heads’ are so closely locked into the games, that it
seems they lose track of reality. Could it be that these things do not contribute to
healthy relationships? Are they helpful tools to grow into an adult life?
Whereas indigenous peoples used their beliefs to sustain themselves and care for
their tribe, we seem to have shown few such tendencies. Instead, we proliferate
violence, economic slavery and addiction. Perhaps these seem grim words, but
think about how much violence is broadcast daily, and how many of us have
huge debt loads that require unfulfilling jobs. To cope, we often succumb to
various addictions, from substance abuse, such as sugar, coffee and other drugs,
to behaviors such as consumerism or workaholism. Very few are immune to
addiction. Arguably, the fear based root causes, which are greed, abdication of
responsibility and denial, underlay the current misalignment and lack of
sustainability which jeopardize happiness. Often there is an unfulfilled desire, a
searching going on inside of us, for who we are, what we are, for love, the ideal
relationship, and the list goes on and on. Imagine how this manufactured
vulnerability facilitates consumerism. How can fulfillment arise from such
conditions?
The solution must be found within, through reflection and by letting go of
negativity and fear. This includes releasing our unnecessary attachment to
things, harmful mental-emotional states and co-dependant relationships. Only
this allows us to move into the light, and a state of self love and acceptance,
which is the fundamental condition for receiving the love we all need. Perhaps
the ancients knew something about a whole other world that we overlook in our
busy rush for production and efficiency, where the $ is god. The media and
marketplace are awash with pseudo- spiritual services and products. Caviat
Emptor! What is divinely aligned, is for the user to discern.
I believe the ancients knew something about the cosmos around them, and
invoking a connection to its source, whereby wellbeing and prosperity could be
expected. Is it true that many today have misaligned themselves to a great degree
from the source of creation and are suffering deeply as a result? If so, clearly
there are solutions and remedies. It has been demonstrated that Crystals and
Gems, used with intention, in a talismanic way, can harmonize misaligned
energies and give one perspective into the healing journey. To illustrate, a
Crystal Talisman operates similar to a tuning fork holding a precise vibration.
Consider the analogy of piano tuning, where the body is the piano, the Crystals
are the tuning fork and the tuner is one’s authentic self. In this way each person
may accomplish the process of dissolving destructive patterns of thinking or
releasing residual harmful emotions and become attuned to the divine order.
This ‘work’ can become joyful fun when the process is understood.
By empowering ourselves thus, and by liberation from fear, freedom and
wellbeing is the only possible outcome.
Margherita studied ‘Crystal Healing’ with teacher Katrina Raphaell at the Crystal Academy in Hawaii. She currently operates Kyirong Village at the core of Kyirong Organic Farmstead and Nature preserve in Ontario, Canada. Visit her blog at www.crystaldakini.com
Source:
thecrystallotus.com
