Angelic Crystals

Welcome to my Angelic Crystal page for August. I personally love summer, it is my favourite season of the year. I really am a child of the Sun! I lived in Spain for six years and delighted in the hot sunny weather, especially lying on the beach on Christmas day. When eventually I moved back to the UK, I was suddenly aware though of just how much I missed this green and pleasant land. The lush green of full Summer is so blissful, harmonious and balancing. So, I am thrilled to dedicate this article to the beautiful Emerald, that has always had a magical association with the plant kingdom. Emerald is one of my favourite crystals and to Archangel Raphael, one of my all time favourite angels.

Emerald

Now for the science bit:

Chemical Composition: (Be3Al2Si6018)

Crystal System: Hexagonal   

Hardness: 8

Habit: Emerald is the precious green variety of the mineral beryl. It forms in granite and pegmatite rocks, taking its colour from chromium and vanadium atoms. It's colour range is from milky grass-green to deep transparent rich green. Chromium is the rare Midas element of this gemstone: its presence also gives rubies their fiery redness.

Spring can also be seen in the network of inclusions in the depth of the emerald that the French call 'jardin' or 'garden'. Because it resembles foliage. The inclusions are like a signature, giving each emerald a definite personality.

The rarity of transparent emerald is why emeralds can be more valuable than diamonds. High-quality transparent gemstones because of their rarity go to the gem trade, the low cost opaque, cloudy, included emeralds are easy to find. The name emerald comes from the Greek 'smaragdos' via the Old French 'esmeralde', and really just means 'green gemstone'. The finest emeralds are found primarily in Columbia, but good quality gems are also mined in Africa, Brazil and Russia.

Colour: It's colour range is from milky grass-green to deep transparent rich green.

Keyword: Healing

Emerald has been treasured for its remarkable colour and mystical properties for least 4000 years. In Revelations in the Bible is says the throne of God is made of Emerald. The legendary mystical knowledge of the Egyptian god Thoth was engraved on emerald tablets. In fact emerald is steeped in mystic lore as a symbol of eternal spring and immortality. The Egyptians were known to engrave emeralds with the symbol for foliage to represent eternal youth, burying these talismans with their dead. Egyptian emeralds were first mined some 2000 years before Cleopatra's birth, and were said to her favourite gemstone. Emerald is said to be one of the stones used in the breast-plate of the high priest.

The ancient Romans associated emeralds with fertility and rebirth, dedicating it to Venus, their goddess of love and beauty.

The majestic Moguls of India, including Shah Jahan, who was the constructor of the Taj Mahal, cherished emeralds and valued them so highly they inscribed them with religious texts and wore them as talismans.

Spring is a time of rejuvenation and new growth, in my opinion nothing reflects this more than the intense green shades of emeralds, May's birthstone.

Emeralds have long been thought to possess great healing powers, so it is no coincidence that this gemstone is the first choice of the greatest healing angel, Raphael.

Physical: Speeds the healing process, because of its cleansing and detoxifying attributes.

Emotional:  Assuages deep hidden fears and anxieties, as it gently soothes grief and pain.

Mentally: Emerald embodies wisdom, intellect and clarity of understanding, by releasing scarcity mentality.

Psychologically: Removes feelings of unworthiness, allowing true abundance to flow into your life.

Spiritual:   Allows spiritual blessings to flow into your life through your open, balanced, harmonious and compassionate heart chakra.

Magic: Emeralds are associated with prophecy and foresight.

Meditation:  Clears outworn behaviour patterns, so it a useful meditation aid.

Additional Information:   Manifestation - to help you achieve your goals place an emerald on your alter next to a photograph or drawing that represents what you are aiming for.

Affirmation: The Divine Intelligence guides me in all aspects of my life.

Crystal Placement:  Emerald can be worn as jewellery, usually set in gold, or used in chakra layouts, or as an aid to meditation. An emerald ring is traditionally set in yellow gold and worn on the little finger of the left hand to aid communication and to overcome shyness. An emerald gem essence needs to be made from an eye-clear gemstone. It has a very swift energy and has been used to clear malignant energy patterns that may have lodged in the heart chakra or the emotional body.

Cleansing:  Hold the stone under running water for several minutes and visualise imbalances flowing away. Then put in the sunlight to dry.

Archangel Raphael - Name means ‘God has healed’

Raphael's colour is the emerald green ray which focuses on healing and harmony.

The heart chakra (anahata) - element of air - balanced expression of unconditional love for ourselves and others.

Raphael is the physician of the angelic realm, the Divine healer for healing ourselves and helping find the inner guidance, love, compassion, beauty and inspiration to help others heal.

His beautiful ‘Temple of Light’ (ashram) is over Fatima in Portugal.

Archangel Raphael and his legions of healing angels bring healing into wholeness for body, mind and spirit. Archangel Raphael has the capacity to guide us in all our healing work - whether orthodox or complementary.

Raphael helps us walk the path of miracles, as he gently guides us to harmony. The healing of our soul includes all our relationships, past, present and future, for it comes only when the full realisations ‘dawns’ on us that as we treat others so do we treat ourselves. An aversion to Archangel Raphael’s green ray always indicates that we do not feel at ease with our emotions and we will have a distorted emotional body.

Raphael’s energy is very peaceful and healing but he has the power to cast out demons!

Affirmation: Archangel Raphael, assist my body, mind and spirit to become whole.

Note: This article is meant for educational purposes only and is not meant to heal or diagnose any disease. Crystal therapy should not be used in place of conventional medical care. Always consult your GP or a health professional for medical attention and advice.

© Hazel Raven 2011
www.HazelRaven.com