Damages Dream Realm

How To Choose a Crystal As we are becoming more and more aware of the healing effects of crystals and gemstones on our health, it is only natural to look for information on how to use them. This article is a first in a series of educational information to aid you on your path to healing with gemstones and crystals. We will start this series by sharing a little information on how crystals work and then go onto learning how to choose them! In simple, easy to understand terms, the reason why crystals and gemstones make wonderful healing tools is because of what science calls its piezoelectric effects. You can see this effect in modern Quartz watches. Crystals and stones respond to the electricity that is coursing through our body, if the energy is unbalanced, the constant electrical vibrations of the stones will help to harmonize, balance, and regulate the flow of these energies. Now that we know how crystals work to aid in our healing process, let's learn how to choose one. There are many methods of selecting your crystals and gemstones, these are just a few. The first method is to simply close your eyes and quietly meditate for a few moments. When you are ready, open your eyes very quickly and pick up the first stone to which your eyes become naturally drawn. The next method is to run your left hand, your receiving hand, over all of the stones available for purchase. (You use your left hand because the left side of the body brings energy/information in more strongly in most people.) You will soon discover that one of the stones will make the palm of your hand tingle or get warm, this is your stone! You may also intuitively 'know' which stone you should choose and which is right for you. You might feel as if the stone is jumping up and down and shouting "choose me, choose me!!" You may also sense or even 'see' white light radiating from the stone drawing you in like a magnet! If you are a competent dowser then you should be able to choose the appropriate stone with your own individual techniques. In July's newsletter there is an article on how to use a pendulum for dowsing if you would like to try this method. Sometimes you even feel as if the stone is choosing you! They come to you with a particular purpose and have a special reason for wanting you to work with them. Just accept this when it happens and count it as a blessing :-) Unfortunately many of us do not have access to retail shops that carry a good line of healing stones and crystals. But in today's world we have the internet and mail order catalogs that offer just about any stone you could possibly need. It is very easy to choose stones over the internet if pictures are provided on the web site. Just look through the photos of the stones and let your intuition guide you into choosing which stones are best for you. It is really that easy! I would be very interested in hearing YOUR individual methods of choosing stones, please feel free to email me with your methods and I will share it with our subscribers in our next newsletter. Once you have chosen your new 'stone friends' it is time to take them home and prepare them for use. Next month we will learn how to cleanse our crystals and gemstones and why we do this.


		Clearing Gemstones and Crystals Sometimes a stone or crystal you are strongly drawn to doesn't feel good, or a stone that felt good previously doesn't feel good now. The stone or crystal may need to be cleared. Clearing is necessary before using any stone for healing. The clearer the energy of a healing stone, the more powerful it is. Crystals and healing gemstones need to be cleared as soon as they are purchased as well as clearing after every healing. A cleared, ready crystal feels positive and bright, tingly and cold to the touch. A crystal that needs clearing may feel hot, heavy or drained. There are a number of ways to effectively clear crystals and gemstones. 1. SMUDGING- A quick way to cleanse your healing stones is to smudge them with burning cedar or sage. Smudging is an excellent way to make sure your stones are purified. Simply hold the burning sage or cedar stick while passing your stone through the smoke. I usually do this a couple times to ensure cleansing. I also like to cleanse my stones by smudging after every healing. 2. MOONLIGHT- Moonlight is another way of clearing your gemstones. Simply place outside from the Full to the New Moon. Waning Moons are good times to clear crystals, to dispel old energies, but any time works. The amount of time used varies with the sensitivity of the healer and the amount of material from which the stone needs cleansing. Try hanging your gemstone necklaces in a tree where the moonlight can cleanse them. (I personally do not recommend ever placing your crystals and gemstones in the sunlight, many stones tend to fade their colors in the sun. Also internal fractures may cause your stone to crack or break if placed in the sun.) 3. OTHER METHODS THAT WORK WELL- Burying your crystal in a cupful of dried herbs will also clear it. Suggested herbs for this are rose petals, sage, frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood. You can usually find these at low cost at many co-ops or herb stores. This is a gentle way to clear crystals, and a pleasant way, but it does take longer than sea salt. Crystals may also be buried into the Earth. This is especially helpful when you feel deep cleansing is needed. Outdoors, simply dig a hole the size of your crystal into the Earth, place your crystal again point down, and cover with soil. The amount of time needed is personal choice. Be sure to place a Popsicle stick or some other marker to insure you fine your stone again!!! For apartment dwellers, use a flower pot to bury your stone in. The Sacred Breath- Some like to use this method of 'blowing away' any negativity from the stone, simply hold the stone in your hand and blow on it, while blowing ask your higher self to cleanse the crystal. Finally, if you are in a hurry and feel that your crystal needs to be cleared, you can easily run them under cool tap water. Make sure the points are facing down the drain to run the negative energy right down the sink!!! NEVER USE WARM OR HOT WATER, THIS WILL FRACTURE OR BREAK YOUR CRYSTALS. Visualize the crystal as sparkly, tingly, cold, and belonging to the healer. I also feel it is good to energetically smudge my client before starting the 'laying on of stones' process.


		Programming and Dedicating Stones After you choose and clear your gemstone or crystal, it is a good idea to dedicate it or program it. The purpose of programming a crystal or gemstone is to focus its abilities on something you specifically need, thereby magnifying the stone's intent through your own. The purpose of dedicating the stone to a high level healing energy or Goddess (God) is to protect it from negative energy. A crystal or stone that is programmed and dedicated in these ways becomes much more powerful and useful as a tool. This is a very simple process. Hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and sense its energy. With the stone being newly cleared, the energy will feel stronger and even more appealing that before. As you sense this energy and appreciate it, ask quietly to be connected to the deva of the crystal or gemstone. Though not animate, stones are living things and the deva of the piece is the stone's life-force energy. Once you feel you have sensed what you can from the energy, think of what you will be using the stone for. Think of these uses, then quietly ask the gemstone if it is willing to act in the way you wish. The crystals energy may increase with a yes or seem to disappear with a no. If the stone accepts your intent, state in your mind that it be so. Once a stone is programmed, it will hold its intent until you or someone else reprograms it. To prevent any negative energy from attaching itself to your crystal you may with to dedicate it. To do this, simply hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and state clearly in your mind: "Only the most positive high-level energy may work through this healing tool". Focus on your intent for awhile, then end your sensing (meditation) with "SO BE IT". The stone is now dedicated. You may also choose to dedicate your gemstone or crystal to a specific healing energy, for example, to a Goddess of healing. There are many healing goddesses, including Isis, Yemaya, Diana, and White Buffalo Calf Woman. For stones programmed for protection, Hecate or Kali are strong protection Goddesses.


		Laying on of Stones The technique of using crystals and gemstones on the receiver's body for healing is called laying on of stones. It is a powerful method of cleansing negative energy, clearing and balancing the chakras, effecting emotional release, and bringing light and healing into all the aura bodies. Cleared, programmed, and dedicated stones move the receiver's vibration into alignment with the planet and the universal grid. This results in a freeing of life force energy in the chakras and aura, a healing of the Body of Light, and a transformation of negative or dis-ease into health. The process may be done with clear quartz crystals only, colored gemstones only, or a combination of both. The stones may be used alone or with a hands on healing (ie;Reiki). The stones are placed upon the receiver's body from feet to head. The healer then begins using her hands as usual starting at the head and moving toward the feet. (Use gemstones with colors matching each chakra's color. The stones can be in any form—faceted, raw, tumbled, eggs, or beads.) Energy in this type of healing needs to move in one direction through the body, either Earth to sky or sky to Earth. If the energy is Earth to sky, all the gemstones that have points are placed with the points turned towards the receiver's crown. The effect of this direction is to move the receiver's energy to a higher vibration or more spiritual level. If the direction is from sky to Earth, it is the opposite, with the crystals pointing toward the feet. This direction moves life force energy from crown to feet for grounding and rooting into Earth. To begin, the receiver lies on her back on a padded floor or massage table, with pillows under her head and knees for comfort. The space should be quiet, comfortable, and warm. Use only stones that have been dedicated to positive energy and programmed for healing. Invite spirit guides and angels into the session if you wish. Start by placing a clear quartz crystal above her head and below her feet. In the right hand place another crystal and in the left hand place a rose quartz gemstone. (my personal method). Then go chakra by chakra, moving from the feet to crown and placing the appropriate colored gemstone for each center. (Be sure you have your healing stones spread out where you can reach them easily.) There may be stones that you are drawn to for a particular reason, let yourself be guided, there are no real rules. You cannot do it wrong. A stone that is not needed for the session or is inappropriate for the receiver's energy will roll right off or roll to another place where it is better utilized. Allow this to occur. If the receiver feels uncomfortable with a particular stone, remove it, the energy is not right for her needs. When the stones are all in place, the healer has two options. She (he) can go to the head and begin a hands on healing. Be sure to cover the stones with your hands carefully in order not to scatter the gemstones. While your hands are covering each chakra over the stone, visualize the bright color of the gemstone entering the chakra, making it appear bright, balanced, centered, and healthy. Do this visualization until you feel confident to move to the next chakra. Be sure to flick fingers to release any negative energy before going to the next center. End with a complete brushing of the aura.