CRYSTALS

precious stones and the real world

Spiritual Resources > the Paranormal > crystals

Crystals Are Pure ...

The power of crystals is a hot craze right now. Yet, the idea that crystals have paranormal powers is as old as human history. It's this belief that led to jewelry (neck, ear, nose, and finger ornaments that contain protective power crystals such as emeralds, rubies and diamonds), and to birthstones. The ancients believed in the power of all sorts of stones, which held the power of earth. Crystal stones were seen as having the additional powers of the sun, due to what crystals do to light, reflecting it back in blinding beams or tiny sparkles, or even breaking up the light into colors as a prism. Crystals of beryl or quartz rock can be extraordinarily clear and can create interesting light effects. Crystals are the most orderly structures in all of nature, and their unrivaled purity, hardness and refractive properties come from this rigid interlocking order. Lava from inside of earth can crystallize under pressure into granite, which has long been prized for its strength as a building material. Nature's layered crystals are used for writing or for floors and tables. Even something as basic as water has unique properties as a crystal. Water crystals come in two forms (hexagonal and cubic, or snow and ice), and float on top of the liquid form because the molecules are spaced further apart, making them less dense. Some crystals can also produce an electric charge when compressed; it's called the 'piezoelectric effect', and it's part of what made record players work. Crystals are also used to focus light into tight, high-energy laser beams, used for reading CDs and DVDs or performing surgery. When we talk about being 'well-grounded' or 'having roots', it is dirt that the roots sink into, and dirt is partly made of sand crystals, along with organic matter.

From these simple ancient and modern observations of scientific fact, there grew sweeping legends about crystals, about hypnotic sway over minds, about the energy behind the casting of spells, or clairvoyance, or about "seeing through" crystal balls (or shew stones or palantirs) into the future, as the ancient Druids were said to do. (It is said that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon with the help of several such stones.) Or, about sudden surges of natural power that turn someone (momentarily at least) superhuman, or making a protective energy shield. It's mind-blowing imagery, turning our energies way up as only dreams of power can do. Power crystals have the image of something thrilling, and crystal balls as something mysterious. It's great for works of fiction. Yet, no special power over natural energies has ever actually been found, just physical properties that are explained well through science. In fact, a long history of observations point to there being no such powers.

Thoughts, especially spiritual ones, are also said to be governed by stones (especially the amethyst). The stone is said to help balance and integrate all the different stuff that's constantly pouring into one's self. But the same is true with spiritual thought (or non-thought) that's true with power: the stone can do nothing for the person going into spiritual self-deception and spiritual insanity.

... But Humans Are Not

Yet some of us want such power in our hands, under our control. And we can hold a crystal. We want to believe that something can make miracles for us. As we pant for such goodies, we're not going about doing that which pleases the One who gives us what's worth having. It's easier to deal with a neutral Nature which doesn't care about your deeds of power than with a righteous God who created and gave order to all of nature. It even seems easier to deal with God's strong opponent, who loves evasion and dreams of power, and loves it when you love them too.

The real power of crystals is as a symbol -- the power of the human mind to bring about the reality it dreams of. Of course there is some truth to that -- you won't better yourself if you don't imagine or dream it first. But neither dreams alone, nor hope alone, nor the projection of power onto a powerless stone, can make reality change. That takes other kinds of change -- changes in character and action and values, changes that sink firm roots into a real world that you do not control, and putting your trust in the real Source of spiritual power in this universe. A real Source that really wants you to grow, and who sent the Holy Spirit to bring about that growth. That Source does not use crystal balls to bring that about.

We have many reasons to be thankful for what crystals do, from special drugs and structural strength to candy treats and rings that symbolize the durability and value of love. But don't thank the crystal itself or some mysterious supernatural power within it. Thank its Maker.

See here for other paranormal stuff.