Metaphysical A to Z: X is for....chiastolite!

Gotcha!  :-)

OK, so X words are really hard to come by!  Especially in a metaphysical A to Z challenge. So I am using some creative license here. 

So what is chiastolite and why did I choose it for my X post?  Excellent question!  Wonder no more!

Chiastolite is a stone that just so happens to be found in the town in which I live!  It's often called an "x" or cross stone because it has a distinctive x in it when cut.

It has strongly protective properties. It's often thought of as a stone of power as well. Some associate it with prosperity and love.  I like to think of it as  a stone of balance.  Like the 'x' in tic-tac-toe, it is it's own yin-yang.  The balance of the black cross mark against the brown stone is grounding to me.  The natural markings are often remarkably balanced and evenly spaced.  I think it can help us to recognize the need for balance in our lives.  The 4 quadrants remind us of all our bodies, the physical, the mental, the emotional and the spiritual and the need to nurture and balance all of them equally. 

It is associated with the sacral and root chakras most strongly.  I think it is a great stone to help connect to both earth and spirit, and by doing so, really taps into all of our chakras, again, bringing balance.   It grounds us and allows us to truly bridge the gap between earth and spirit. 

Some cultures associate the cross marking of the stone as a sign from God or assign religious significance to it.  It can be worn as jewelry like may other stones and crystals are, carried as a tumbled stone or displayed as a raw stone. 

If you don't have chiastolite as part of your crystal collection, perhaps you should consider adding it to see what it has to teach you.  Besides, it's a pretty cool stone since it makes an "x" every time! 

A to Z Challenge: Q is for Quartz

I consider quartz to be a perfect starter crystal.  Sort of like the mama crystal.  It's plentiful, inexpensive, and easy to find.  It comes in many 'flavors' and is a powerful amplifier of energy and healing crystal.  Everyone can benefit from having quartz in their home, their car and on their body!  Quartz is easily 'programmed' with your intention.  It's also very captivating to look at, especially when in the sun!  Quartz works with all chakras, but is probably most associated with the crown chakra and connecting with your higher self and the Divine.

I'm a fan of pocket stones.  A small tumbled quartz is great to keep in your pocket or purse.  Quartz points are lovely for grids, in plants, in your car or for healing work.  Quartz clusters are delightful to look at and bring with them all the properties of quartz.  I often put another stone whose energy I wish to amplify on top of my quartz cluster.  You could also make a simple grid with quartz clusters around a different stone to amplify it's energy.

Rose quartz is the stone of love and peace.  Who can't use that?!  It's abundant and actually mined in New England among other places!  You can use rose quartz to heal, to facilitate self-love and to bring love into your life.  It's pink, of course and a lovely heart chakra stone.  I almost always carry a tumbled rose quartz heart with me.  I have raw pieces in grids around the house, in my garden and at the cemetery at my daughter's 'special place'.  My rose quartz angel sits on my desk reminding me about love from the other side.

Smoky quartz is a wonderful grounding stone.  It's great for root/earth chakra work and meditation.  It's also a great stone for stress, anxiety and depression.  It's also good for those who are undergoing  chemotherapy or radiation when in it's natural form.

Often times, crystals choose you.  Meaning you will probably find yourself drawn to a particular kind, shape, size, color or an individual particular stone.  Trust that intuition and then look up that stone.  Chances are it will make perfect sense to you why you were attracted to it once you know the properties it has from a spiritual and metaphysical standpoint.

There are many other types of quartz and so much more one could write about it. If you are interested in purchasing quartz, it's easy to find at any metaphysical book store or you can order on line.  My favorite on line store is Healing Crystals.  A simple beginner's guide to crystals is The Crystal Bible.

Everyone should have a little quartz in their life!