An Introduction to Crystal

Crystals are found all over the world, above and below the surface of the earth. Sometimes, smaller ones are washed out of caves by mountain streams, but most are to be found where they have been growing for millions of years, deep in the bowels of the earth

Basically, Crystal means a Gem. It is a precious gift of God to mankind. They are glittering, colorful, luminous, and flowery. These gems have their origin in the mineral kingdom. It does not have an aroma but is still scented, beautiful, fascinating, and pleasing to the eyes. It is eternal and immune from the effects of time, seasons, and weather.

Gems by their beauty have always been a source of attraction for human beings. People have great curiosity about gems. At the same time, they also entertain some doubts about these Gems. Many people do not know the source of gems. They belong to the mineral kingdom originating in the core of the earth. They are formed by the combined action of the Magnetic force, the heat in the deep crevice of the earth, diverse geological conditions, pressure, and the effect of temperature on the minerals.

For thousands of years gems were associated with and used for astrological predictions. Mankind is passionate about knowing the past, present, and future. As a result, people have shown great interest in the art of astrology. In our journey on this earth from life to death, the nine planets have been casting their influence to a greater or smaller extent on mankind. As the nine gemstones represent the nine planets, they have great importance in human lives.

What Does the Word ‘Crystal’ Mean?

The Name ‘Crystal’ is derived from the ancient Greek word Krustallos meaning ‘Clear Ice’. It seems likely that early allusions to crystals referred to clear quartz. The ancients also called it ‘Holy Ice’ believing that a crystal was frozen holy water spilled out from Heaven. Another belief was that a crystal had been made from water frozen at such a low temperature that it could never thaw out. Quartz was one of the first crystals to be used by man, and it is now one of the most important, being used as it is in a host of electronic devices, from quartz watches to computers.

Types Of Crystals

There are two main types of Crystals. Clear (Such as quartz and ruby) and opaque (Such as jade and lapis lazuli). Some crystals, such as opal and tiger’s eye, do not appear to fall into either of these categories. This type of stone is often called Opalescent.

The next classification of stone is either crystalline or amorphous. The crystalline type- such as amethysts or citrine – possesses a natural faceted shape when it is mined. Carnelian and malachite are examples of amorphous stones that exhibit their true crystal structure only under a microscope.

Amorphous stones are usually broken into suitably sized pieces, then put through a process called ‘Tumbling’.

Crystals, then, can be as opaque as the darkest bloodstone or as clear as the brightest diamond. The highest quality crystals are used as gemstones for making expensive jewelry. These are graded according to four Cs-clarity, cut, color, and carat (the weight of the stone.) The higher the grading for each of these qualities, the more valuable the jewel. These are graded according to four Cs-clarity, cut, color, and carat (the weight of the stone.) The higher the grading for each of these qualities, the more valuable the jewel.

The Seven Crystal Forms

A crustal consists of a three-dimensional arrangement of atomic particles, the crystal lattice. Each type of crystal has its own chemical structure, which accounts for the crystal’s shape. The juxtaposition of angles in its outer form reflects its internal atomic structure. Even when a crystal develops through distortion or displacement and does not maintain its pure form, its structural angles remain the same. Stones can be categorized into seven basic forms.

1.      Cubic

2. Trigonal

3.      Hexagonal

4. Tetragonal

5.      Orthorhombic

6. Monoclinic

7.      Triclinic

Some stones do not form crystal lattices; these are called amorphous. In this class are a number of precious stones that originate from organic substances such as pearl, amber, or coral, but opal and obsidian are also included in this category. No matter what the size or color of a crystal, its structure always remains the same. For example, jasper, be it red, brown, yellow, or green always has a trigonal structure.

Degrees of Hardness

One essential difference between various stones is their degree of hardness. By definition, each gemstone can scratch a softer stone and can in turn be scratched by a harder stone. The degree of hardness has been measured for over two centuries by the scale devised by an Austrian professor of mineralogy, Friedrich Mohs. scale classifies stones from the softest. 1 to the hardest, 10. Diamond is the hardest stone, the softest are gypsum and soapstone, also called talc.

The Mohs Scale

Transparency and Refraction of Light

The transparency of gemstones varies, considerably with different colors. For every shade, there are clear, semi-transparent, and matte stones. Rock crystal and topaz are clear and transparent. They comprise all the colors of the rainbow and possess great healing power.

Transparency

A bright, transparent stone can, depending upon its crystal formation and the way in which it is cut, break up light rays and display all of the colors of the rainbow. But the transparency of a particular mineral is not always the same. The smallest cracks or inclusions can make them cloudy and translucent. Just as the

presence of foreign elements lends different colors to the same crystals, so there can be different levels of transparency for these stones. They can range from transparent to opaque. The size of its crystals also will influence the transparency of stones.

Luster

Basically, there are three categories of luster: metallic, semi-metallic, and non-metallic. These labels, however, can at times become misleading, since matte minerals are also considered to be non-metallic. In the metallic class belong opaque, ore-bearing stones that strongly reflect light, such as pyrite. The most pronounced degree of non-metallic luster can be found in transparent minerals with high refractive indices. This is called adamantine (diamond-like) luster, after that comes vitreous, or glassy, luster, greasy luster, and finally stones with a dull luster.

Cutting

The art of working on gemstones and jewelry was practiced in ancient Egypt and India to intensify the sparkle and color of these precious objects. Various techniques of cutting have been perfected from a simple step cut to the complex fashioning of many surfaces. The brilliant cut was developed in the seventeenth century, primarily to bring out the maximum brilliance of diamonds. Through cutting one can achieve symmetrical, smooth surfaces as well as facets and crowns. Facetted stones increase the refraction of light intensifying their color. In this way, one can so enhance the sparkle of transparent stones so that they can display all the colors of the rainbow. This accounts for the “fire” in gemstones.

Non-transparent stones are mostly cut with smooth, curved surfaces. In the trade, these cuts are called cabochon. Soft stones can only be cut in this fashion; no other way is possible. For this reason, soft stones are tumbled or worked into beads or ovals for necklaces, brooches, or rings. It is important to note that the form and the workmanship lavished on a gemstone can have a definite effect on its healing power.

Crystal and the Chakras

The practice of acupuncture and reflexology has confirmed that the smallest regions of the body can have a significant influence on an entire organ. The same principle underpins the practice of healing with stones. Healing stones are particularly powerful when used in conjunction with the body’s energy centers, the chakras.

Indian doctors and therapists have posited that sickness is always linked to a disturbance in the flow of energy within the body. The free flow of this energy provides cells and organs with what they need to sustain their healthy functioning. In fact, health can be defined as the state in which energy is flowing unimpeded through the chakras. But when for whatever reason the flow of energy is blocked, a part of the body will not function properly. These blockages can arise from physical complaints or psychic conflicts. These blockages can arise from physical complaints or psychic conflicts. There are seven primary chakras in the human body vibrating at seven different frequencies, each sharing information with the others.

If you want to use stones to influence the chakras, you should find a smooth flat stone, whose color matches the chakra you want to affect. Lay it directly on that chakra for one hour a day. It is very important to be quiet and rest during this process. You can also tape the stone directly on the chakra overnight.