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<\/a>Personal Practice Meets Magpie Syndrome<\/h3>\n
Admittedly, I haven\u2019t really paid too much attention to the sensations around crystal use in my practice. My integration of crystals didn\u2019t really begin to take hold until the past two years and even now it is still relatively limited. Much of this is because I don\u2019t get that \u201cspider-tingle\u201d around stones and I don\u2019t think they actually hold as many properties as retailers boast. That said, I have begun to recognize when I am drawn to something versus simply wanting something shiny.<\/p>\n
Pertaining to crystals, I think this is an important trait to develop. It can be very difficult to avoid magpie syndrome and not stockpile all of the shiny objects around us. So how do I determine if it is an actual sensation versus magpie syndrome? This is sort of difficult to explain, other than to say it is my intuition. An example would be when I rotate shopping at local Pagan stores and all I can think about is how captivating agates are (agates really are my jam!). Usually the sensation is strong and I get that same feeling one has whenever they see something awesome in nature. Typically, this sensation will focus on a singular stone or family of stones.<\/p>\n
Being a chatty person, I will usually inquire about the stone\u2019s properties and nine out of ten times something clicks. I know I know, I just said that I don\u2019t believe stones hold so many properties. That isn\u2019t to say I don\u2019t believe they are void of some<\/em> properties! What clicks for me is interconnectedness and animism. When I recognize the inherent life of objects, creatures, and how those impact me, it is easier to open the door to possibility.<\/p>\n Long spill aside, how do I actually use these stones? I work with the stones as supports for areas where I may need a little boost. For meetings where I may need to present to a large group, I carry a chalcedony<\/a><\/strong> worry stone in my pocket. It supplies a way for me to relieve some anxiety and gives me a reminder of the value in my presentation. My desk has crackle quartz<\/a><\/strong>, pyrite<\/a><\/strong>, and other stones that are supposed to encourage prosperity. These remind me to keep up my good work, even when I might not be feeling it.<\/p>\n So what does science have to say about why we might be fascinated with crystals? In an article<\/a><\/strong> by Ceri Perkin\u2019s with the BBC, we find that some of our fascination might have to do with the lattice in crystals. This is to say, the way light impacts the color reaction can draw humans\u2019 interests in a mineral. These minerals can be affected by irradiation, heating, lighting, or the flux of minerals in that stone.<\/p>\n Humans are also simple creatures at heart. We have long felt awe by stones that could manipulate lights or create biophotonic spheres. These types of crystals are tiny repeating structures that control how much light can pass through a stone. This can be gradual, completely iridescent, or nearly solid in appearance. Some researchers suggest that these stones captivate us so much because they remind us of the natural world around us. Insects, butterflies, birds, and even some grains carry a photonic shimmer.<\/p>\n The lattice in crystals have recently provided scientists with the ability to utilize qualities to do spectroscopy<\/a><\/strong>. This is a way to measure and direct vibrations using crystals on a laser. Each outcome is different depending on the solid state and materials found in a crystal. What does that mean for us as everyday people? It means that we are seeing advancements in medical equipment and tools because of enhanced use of atomic vibrations found in crystals.<\/p>\n Generally speaking, though, most researchers tend to discount any metaphysical support in crystals. It is encouraging to know that institutions like Stanford are spending some time to at least examine what crystals could embody to us. Marisa Galvez, from Stanford, spent a great deal of time looking at the historical development in our interests in crystals. I wish that I could say her research<\/a><\/strong> ended with a substantial road sign that confirmed something close to what we use crystals for but it didn\u2019t. Galvez was gentle in her ending comments and stated, \u201cCrystals, in a way, fulfill a spiritual need for some people. Some people go to church, some do yoga, and others collect and meditate with crystals.\u201d<\/p>\n Spending roughly three hours looking through Harvard, Stanford, and Cambridge journals did not turn out anything that would support the use of crystals metaphysically (I know, not a concerted effort but I have a day job). Okay, that seems valid to me and supports an earlier statement. However, what I continued to find were articles and journals on site redox<\/a><\/strong>, proteins, lattice, lasers, medical advancements, and even uses in radiation treatment. Then it really hit me, what exactly was I trying to validate?<\/p>\n If I walked into this with an animist approach and a mindset that already had limitations on crystal properties, what more was I looking to gain? The answer is that I wanted that assurance from a notable researcher to validate my community\u2019s use of crystals. That is not likely going to be something I will ever find, outside of placebo effects. Yet, what I am finding is that researchers knew we were on to something. These crystals are very much alive and provide a range of uses in our modern world.<\/p>\n So jade isn\u2019t going to enhance my wealth but it does transmit low frequency levels of infrared rays. That is currently used by teams in Berlin and Chiba, Japan to treat patients with blood vessel concerns. Looking back at quartz we have a solid history of use from watches, visual health, lasers, and now radiation therapy. Perhaps I was missing the far more obvious sign that crystals are utilized in ways that help humans.<\/p>\n At the end of the day my stones are still allies to me. I don\u2019t have the training to investigate if my chalcedony stone is doing anything more than providing a placebo. I also don\u2019t have a great deal of desire to conduct experiments around metaphysical uses. This isn\u2019t because I am afraid that I will end up disappointed by my results. This is because I am afraid I would keep missing the bigger picture (as we do).<\/p>\n I also enjoy that in my Neo-Pagan faith there is an acceptance of crystal use. This use isn\u2019t judged or looked down upon but simply embraced. We accept our limitations as humans, honor all living elements, and have reverence for items that connect us to the past. There aren\u2019t many things around that connect Modern Pagans to our ancient ancestors but the awe we feel for crystals is one of them.<\/p>\n<\/a>What\u2019s Spectroscopy of Solids Got to Do With It?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Okay, That Is Valid<\/h3>\n
You\u2019re Still My Buddy<\/h3>\n