I recently learned that some Crystal Comrades have difficulty distinguishing Black Tektite and Black Obsidian.  I immediately understood why this might be.  In this article I'll guide you in how you can differentiate these two forms of glass from one another.  Also, worth mentioning is lava rock, which will be discussed below.

Let's talk similarities first.  Both of these (black obsidian and black tektite) are a shiny deep black color and are lightweight.  This is due to the substance we're discussing being glass, which is much lighter than stone or crystalline forms.

They are formed when heat melts material from the Earth's crust and then cools down forming pockets of Obsidian or areas of Tektite.  The way these are created is only similar in basic definition.

Obsidian is entirely formed by the Earth.  Molten material (lava, for example) from the Earth's crust cools rapidly.  This rapid cooling does not allow the atoms to crystallize leaving it an amorphous material.  Thus it is a mineraloid, a volcanic glass that is a bit harder than window glass.

Tektite, on the other hand, was formed when a meteorite impacted the Earth's surface causing crust material to fly up into the atmosphere where it is heated on re-entry.  As it returns to the surface of the Earth it is cooled which creates glassy formations with pockmarks.  They can take a variety of shapes from spheres, teardrops, dumbbells, disks, and rods, as well as layered forms.  Most of what we find on the market for metaphysical collectors are small, under 300 grams (10 ounces), but layered forms can be as much as 30 pounds or more.  Generally speaking, however, what you see in the upper right image is the typical size you'll find.  

Black Obsidian is smooth in some areas and irregular in others, while Black Tektite can be smooth, but with pockmarks, pit-like indentions.  Obsidian does not have pockmarks.  Both of these can be cleaned and polished to reveal a very shiny material.  If you're holding a fairly smooth tektite and comparing it to obsidian, they would look quite similar and differentiation would be a challenge.

Tektite are found in areas called the strewn field, an area in which a meteorite, comet or asteroid is suspected to have impacted the Earth.  The trick is that a strewn field is HUGE.  Indochinite tektites, which are black in color, come from the East from Australia as far north as Southern China, and possibly Western Canada (think about Pangea).  Black Tektites can be from North America, as well.

​Black Obsidian is found in many parts of the world where volcanic activity exists: "Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Russia, United States, and many other locations" where volcanic activity is recent.  "In the United States it is not found east of the Mississippi River, as there is no geologically recent volcanic activity there. In the western US it is found at many locations in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Most obsidian used in the jewelry trade is produced in the United States." (1, King)

As I'm writing this article, I'm thinking of other stones which may be confused with Black Obsidian and Black Tektite.  The only one that comes to mind is lava rock, like those used in jewelry which are porous and often used to hold essential oils.  They are black with a porous surface that could look similar to black tektite.  And, if you thought to yourself, "isn't obsidian a type of lava rock?" you'd be right.  Lava is a term for a particular form of molten material.  Let's compare some images...

With tektites, what you are looking for are small sizes (less than 10 ounces/300 grams), smooth and pockmarked surfaces, for the most part.  There are other shapes associated with tektites.  With lava rocks, the pores on the surface tend to be deeper than the pockmarks of the tektite.  And, obsidian tends to be smooth or irregular at the surface, but without pores or pockmarks.  All of these are lighter in weight than crystals and most stones.

My recommendation is to educate yourself further on these if you are seeking a piece for a particular purpose.  For stone and crystal identification use geology sites and books to determine the particular physical characteristics.  Use metaphysical sites ad books for learning the energetic properties of the stones you seek.

See our article on distinguishing sodalite and lapis lazuli.
Watch our video on Tetktite & Meteorite (click here)

Sources:
1) King, Hobart M. “Obsidian: What Is Obsidian, How Does It Form, and What Is It Used For?” Geology, https://geology.com/rocks/obsidian.shtml. 
2)  “Obsidian: Volcanic Glass.” Edited by Encyclopedia Brittanica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/science/obsidian. 
3)  Horne, B. (2019, March 2). What is the composition of a lava rock? Sciencing. Geology. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://sciencing.com/composition-lava-rock-8067279.html 
4)  Virgil E. Barnes, “Tektites,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed March 29, 2022, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/tektites.

In this article, we will discuss the identification of crystals by the naked eye and with minimal magnification.  Some crystals would require some higher technology if identification were crucial, but in most cases your eye and a magnifying glass in good lighting will be enough.  NOTE:  I am not a geologist or a jeweler.  I am a crystal healer and collector, and as such, the crystals and stones I seek are not those sold at highest prices on the mainstream market or necessarily unique natural pieces.

Telling the difference between similar stones is sometimes very challenging.  If you're new to the arena of crystals and stones this can be even more daunting.  There are two things I find challenging for myself even after being a collector for 10+ years and a crystal healer for another 6 years.  

1) The size of the stone matters.  A very small stone sometimes does not have all the identifying characteristics in size that's easy enough to clearly distinguish.  Even when magnified, some are too small to identify confidently.  A crystal that's the size of a bead is often too small for me to identify when it is similar to another or several other stones.  One example, which I've written about is sodalite and lapis lazuli.  Others include jet and black onyx, serpentine and dark green aventurine.  In larger pieces these can be ditinguished, but when the stone is as small as a bead it becomes a challenge.
​
2) The finish of the stone matters: natural, polished, cut, carved - polish really brings out a stones color and markings, making them easier to identify, in most cases.  Unless you're into geology or love the natural stones, most people have more ease identifying a polished stone.  However, some stones are best kept in a natural state and are more easily identified because no changes have been made to them.  

Clear quartz is easier to identify when it is in its natural state as a point or in a cluster.  It has six sides, is clear, and grows in a point structure.  There certainly are other crystals that grow as points and are clear; apophylite, for example.  But, apophylite has only 4 sides.  There are other defining characteristics to these two, but we're discussing identification of stones and crystals based on what you can see with the naked eye or with a simple magnifying glass.

When trying to identify a natural stone, water can be of help.  If the piece you are attempting to ID is not one suspected of being damaged by water, you can get it wet to bring out the colors a bit more.  Before using water, be sure that the stones you speculate are safe to get wet.  Selenite is one example of a crystal that should be kept away from water.

In most instances, a magnifying glass in good lighting will suffice for identification.  But, occasionally, people may find they are holding what's considered a family heirloom or one that perhaps appears to be  diamond or saphhire, or any gem quality piece.  Since these could hold value far above their cousins in the crystalline world involving a professional would be an appropriate step.  

Found a natural piece that you hope is diamond?  Check out this website: www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/diamondtest.htm

Got a gem or a piece of jewelry that might be a diamond?  Check out this website:  www.diamonds.pro/education/how-to-tell-if-diamonds-are-real/

Watch our Video on Tektite & Meteorite (click here)

See our other stone identifying articles:
Differentiating Black Obsidian from Black Tektite
Differentiationg Sodalite and Lapis Lazuli

One of my former clients shared with me that she watched several families build their homes according to Feng Shui principles only to find that ​ they didn’t like the end result.  The kitchen sink had to go in a specific Life Area, but the main cook didn't like the location.  Another said they bought their land for the view, but with the Feng Shui principles in place they weren’t supposed to have a large window on that side of the house.  They spent a lot of money to try and perfect the energy flow through their lving environment, but weren't as pleased as they'd hoped.  In this article, I show you some simple ways to lift the energy in your living space while spending very little.

So, what is there to do?  If the overall approach to Feng Shui is to find ease of movement in the home, than shouldn't the people living there LIKE their space?  Of course they should.  In this article I’ll share a few quick “fixes” that will improve the energy flow in your home. . . without hiring a contractor.
​
Feng Shui is a bit mystical for most of us and, although I'm not an expert, I do know that I want my home to feel open and clear.  The overall goal of Feng Shui is exactly that.  Our energy and the energy of the space are freely moving. 

The name explains it:
’Feng’ translates as 'Wind'
'Shui' translates as 'Water'. 
Both wind and water move freely in the natural world.

Feng Shui is essentially how our energy interacts with the environment we are in.  Although it has evolved to meet and match modern life, there are still some simple changes or additions that can help us to improve the Feng Shui of our home without reconstructing the house or having a house built according to Feng Shui principles.

Thinking about the overall goal of Feng Shui, which is free flow of energy here are a few simple things you can do to open up movement and make your space feel more like you.

• Clear the clutter.  Handle any space that's been collecting papers, mail, various trinkets, the things you weren't ready to deal with but want to... etc.  This removes energy blockages in your space.  Energy can move more freely.
• Have a place for everything.  Being able to find what you need, right when you need it, brings ease.
• If you don’t love it or use it, purge it.  Even if your living space is perfectly organized, minimized and beautiful, if you’ve got loads of storage in your garage or in a storage space elsewhere, the energy in your life isn’t optimized.  Let go of that which doesn’t serve you.
• If you don’t like the way a space looks, make it aesthetically pleasing to your eye.  This is also part of Feng Shui.  You should find joy within your space

In Feng Shui The Home is Divided into Life Spaces

Each life space has associations to areas of life:  Prosperity & Wealth, Reputation & Fame, Love & Relationships, Health & Family, Good Fortune, Children & Creativity, Wisdom & Growth, Career & Work Success and finally Helpful People & Travel.

Within each of these spaces are associations to colors, directions, elements and focus.  There are many suggestions to add to a section that will bring more of that type of energy into your life. 

For example, to bring more Prosperity & Wealth, place the color purple (as well as blues and greens) in the far left corner of your home, when standing at the front door.  This would mean placing an Amethyst crystal in that part of your house.  Of course, you could also choose Jade (green) or Apatite (blue).  The idea is to enhance the energy of Prosperity & Wealth in that area of your home to bring more ease to that area of life.  *This article is about using Clear Quartz, so we’ll do more on each section later.

Using Clear Quartz to Improve Feng Shui

As you might know, clear quartz is a favorite crystal for moving energy.  It benefits all chakras, acts as a prism with the frequency of all colors and has a high vibration.  This means it can work in any space of the home, bringing an improvement to vibration and energy flow.

How can you use clear quartz to improve Feng Shui?

To affect a whole room, choose a larger piece – something pretty heavy that fills your hand, or larger.  Place it wherever it fits or looks nice to you or wherever your intuition guides you.  Size does make a difference in how much energy is moved with a crystal.  A small tumbled stone is perfect for carrying in a pocket or as a pendant, but to affect an average room, something much larger is appropriate.  This is for general placement.  But, using Feng Shui, a smaller crystal can be powerful when utilized appropriately.

Using a smaller quartz point, placed strategically, you can also affect the movement of energy in and through your home.  There are some key locations to place your clear quartz points for this purpose.  These will be attached to the ceiling and hang down, so you’ll need some clear or decorative string.  You can use anything you want, but remember the overall goal of Feng Shui is to benefit how our energy interacts with the environment.  You should like how it looks when finished.  If it is distracting, it’s not ideal.

The point of the Clear Quartz should hang down; this allows energy to flow down into your home.  It should also only hang 3-6 inches or so.  There’s no specific measure for how long, but it’s meant to be up high, so no foot long strings or ribbons.

Where, in your home, should these hanging Quartz points be placed? 
At major corners jutting out into a room
In the center of any room
Any place there’s congestion

At Major Corners Jutting Out Into a Room
This refers to any room there’s an extra corner.  If it isn’t square or rectangular, you probably have some extra corners.  This means the energy connecting to other areas is sent out in the direction that the corner sticks out.  It kind of “mucks up” the flow of energy in the space it’s pointing at.  Place a Clear Quartz Point hanging point down a couple of inches out from this corner.  This will disrupt that energy and allow it to spread.

In the Center of Any Room
Hang your Clear Quartz Point (point down) from the ceiling in the center of the room to assist the flow of energy.  If there’s a light or ceiling a fan, just place it as close to the center as you can do safely.  In a long room, such as a common area, place one in the middle or place several where the center of an indistinct room is suggested.  For example, in my common area, the entry leads into the dining area and then onto the living room.  These are 3 indistinct areas which are made useful by what we put in them.  I can hang a crystal in the middle from entry to the far wall of the total common area or I can hang 3 crystals, one at the entry way, one in the dining area and one in the living room.

Any Place There’s Congestion
Congestion refers to any place in the home that there are a lot of items, or energy coming from multiple directions.

Small hallways often lead off into 2-3 bedrooms, a bathroom and a linen closet.  There’s a lot of energy flowing from many directions in that little space.  Placing a Clear Quartz Point here can move it along.

The kitchen can get congested too, with people coming in and out, grabbing food, looking for something in the pantry and so on.  It’s a high traffic area.  Placing a Clear Quartz Point at any location people gravitate to can benefit the overall space.  For my home, it’s the pantry and the refrigerator.  Those get opened more often than any other place in the kitchen.  I can place a Clear Quartz Point hanging in front of those.

Easy Fixes Are For Everyone
The goal with using Clear Quartz is to have a no-fuss, super simple Feng Shui “Fix” to help the flow of energy through your home.  While you can certain go further, fixes often uplift the energy of the home immediately.  One of the best Feng Shui books I read was all about fixes.  Almost no one is going move and build a new home to perfectly match the ideal Feng Shui Bagua (map).  So, fixes are suited for most of us.

​Beautiful pink Rose Quartz is one of the most loved crystals.   Its beautiful pink to near lilac coloring charms many beauty seekers.  After all, who can resist a stone that naturally occurs pink?

This stone envelopes the user in a layer of compassionate love.  This is a great help in situations where love is not the primary emotion that arises.  Think about wearing or carrying Rose Quartz to mediations, arbitrations and other legal meetings. 

Carry it with you when love will benefit the conversation as when dealing with people with opposing views or when you are acting as a mediator for loved ones.  This is also a great stone for parents to have near in times when children may have views differing from their own and to bring to family or other large gatherings.  The more compassion you can bring to a crowd, the better.
​
This is a great stone for teachers and those who work with groups.  While your classroom may run well, there are a variety of personalities and differing opinions.  Carrying a Rose Quartz can give you a little help when dealing with those more challenging personalities.

And, of course, bring Rose Quartz to an already loving situation such as marriages & long term relationships, parent-child relationships, and gatherings with your favorite people.  We don't have to reserve crystals for situations that NEED them, we can add them to enhance an already favorable situation.

GEOLOGICALLY
Rose Quartz is in the quartz family of stones.  It is one of many since quartz is the most abundant crystal on Earth.  Rose Quartz is a Silicon Dioxide Crystal with a hardness of 7.  It has a hexagonal (trigonal) crystal structure.  It is hard, but translucent, best not to leave it in the sun or it will lose its color.  Short times in the sun are okay, but it is best to charge this one in the moonlight or in the shade on a sunny day.

METAPHYSICALLY
The exemplary stone of love- all types of love - love for self, romantic love, love for family and friends, love for children, love for neighbors & community, for Gaia -Mother Earth-, the Universe in its entirety and love of Source.  Bring Rose Quartz close to you in meditation and it will enliven the Heart Chakra to exude your innate love, the truest love in which you become one with a single connected flow of energy from Source.

The sweet, gentleness of this stone's vibration acts as serum for the Heart and Aura, releasing stagnancy, dissolving anger, resentment, distrust and dispelling fear and suspicion.  From this new space faith, hope and trust are disentangled and a person will begin to experience these newly.

PAIRS WELL WITH
Rose Quartz pairs well with other pink stones such as Pink Tourmaline, Pink Calcite, Rhodonite, Rhodochrisite, and Morganite.  It also plays well with green stones, the color of the Heart Chakra:  Emerald, Tsavorite Garnet, and Moldavite.  Other friendlies include Phenacite, Natrolite and Scolecite.  

To enhance any stone pair it with Clear Quartz - it acts as an amplifier.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT STONE
Choosing your stone can sometimes be difficult.  What will you use it for?  Do you just want to get a feel for it or put it in your work space?  The ideas below can help you with this.

1.  Size of the Stone – if you plan to carry it, where will you carry it.  What is it for?  For more challenging situations you may need something larger or bring more than one piece.  For a room, choose a large piece.
2. Shape of the Stone – bracelet, necklace, earrings, tumbestone, palmstone, pillow, raw chunk.  Think about how you will use it and choose accordingly.

by Tara Reed
​
​Crystal Healing Disclaimer:  Using crystals to heal physical ailments is a perfect complement to medical care.  One should always seek guidance for medical conditions first and add crystals to the protocols as a way to support the treatments received.  Crystals should not be the primary treatment without the support of a qualified health care provider.
 
In Chinese Medicine heart palpitations are defined as the awareness of the heart beating in the chest and the patient/client feels that the beating is irregular.  An Acupuncture Physician relies on the patient's experience rather than a diagnostic test, in most cases.  Even if you haven't been tested for heart arrhythmia, but are aware of an irregular heartbeat at times, you might have heart palpitations.

In many cases, Chinese Medicine views palpitations as resulting from a deficiency.  There can be other causes, but these deficiencies would include what is called Blood Deficiency and Qi Deficiency.  In the case of Blood Deficiency, the blood must be strengthened.  In the case of Qi Deficiency, the Qi (Chee) must be strengthened.  Either way, because Qi & Blood go hand in hand, we would often choose a treatment that benefits both.

For Crystal Healing, choose crystals or stones that strengthen the blood, the energy or the physical body. 

One can also view the body in relation to the Chakras.  When the heart is affected, or displaying symptoms, the Heart Chakra can benefit from support, cleansing and/or regulation.  The heart organ is directly related to the healthy functioning of the Heart Chakra.
 
Crystals assist healing because they offer a static vibration that when placed near a living being allows the energy of that being to harmonize with the crystal.  Carrying a crystal in your pocket or wearing it as jewelry brings it close to your body and within your auric field.  Here it offers its static vibration for your body to begin to align with. 
 
To assist your heart in healing, seek crystals or stones that offer a vibration that heals the heart, balances the heart chakra, strengthens the body’s energy or blood and those that instill a sense of peace or counter angst.

Crystals to Benefit the Heart Chakra, the Heart and to Strengthen the Qi or Blood are listed below.
Crystals For Heart Palpitations

• Lepidolite - to instill calm and peace
• Chrysoprase - opens and activates the heart chakra to allow Qi flow, counters depression
• Lithium Quartz - open and heal the heart chakra; insomnia, anxiety, panic

Crystals for the Heart Chakra include all crystals which contain the color green (the color of the heart chakra).  Use this as a guide, other colors (Rose Quartz, for example) also offer Heart healing.  This will resonate the proper vibration to help the heart chakra adjust to its natural frequency.

• Tree or Moss Agate - help Qi flow throughout the body, nature connection, benefit Heart & Crown chakras
• Kambaba Jasper - stress relief, anxiety, emotional balance
• Emerald - powerfully healing overall, and resonates with the Heart Chakra
• Jade - healing and nurturing, protective against harmful energies
• Malachite - absorbs energy and draws emotions to the surface

Other crystals that support the Heart and Heart Chakra include...

• Rhodochrosite - a heartbreak healing stone, assist in calming the emotions following a heart break
• Unakite - use when the anxiety of reaching goals leads to forgetting about the day to day aspect of the journey
• Rhodonite - for calming when one feels panic or shock
• Rose Quartz – particularly when the imbalance is caused by emotional trauma

by Tara Reed

Skeptics want to know - DO CRYSTALS 'DO' ANYTHING? 
Believers (may) want to know - HOW DO CRYSTALS WORK?
This post is designed to address- How Crystals Work to Help Balance Your Body and Mind.

I am often skeptical of things I don't know much about and find myself learning about many facets of an idea before I settle into it.  In the process of learning about and bringing crystal classes, meditations and healing sessions to others I set about researching both the metaphysical and the geological aspects of crystals and stones.

My first shift into believing that crystals 'DO' something was based on experience.  After about 10 years of collecting stones based on beauty and documented metaphysical characteristics I began meditating with them.  From the first time I sat down to meditate with a crystal the energy was immediately discernible.  There was no doubt anymore that crystals 'DO' something and are more than just décor.

But....
...what do they do?
​...how do they 'DO' what they do?

First let us differentiate crystals and stones (or rocks).  Crystals have a specific repetitive structure to them.  This can be an atomic structure, ion or molecular structure.  They are named for their layout:  columnar, trapezoidal, hexagonal, cubic, etc.  Rocks or stones lack this repetitive structure they are more like sand and dirt molecules compressed together.  For the most part, rocks are compressed, and crystals grow.  Both have metaphysical characteristics.

Crystals have a uniform and repetitive structure.  Depending on what minerals are contained within a crystal they can appear clear, or colored.  Heat and mineral content determine color.  While in the Earth crystals receive varied amounts of heat which can affect their color.  Mineral content also determines color.

With this in mind, let's talk metaphysical properties.  First, the crystalline structure affects energy movement.  Remember the basics of physics - energy cannot be created or destroyed, only altered.  Crystals can assist in altering energy, redirecting it and holding it.  It is the crystal structure that determines this.  

If you'll consider that everything in our known Universe is made up of varied forms of energy then this won't be a big leap.  Your body is dense energy, and is affected by other energetic things.  Crystals have their own density and carry their own energetic vibration.

Recognizing that color is a wavelength, we can consider the color of the crystal having an effect on our bodies.  Color has a vibrational frequency and is correlated to the Chakras.  Chakras are wheels of energy that affect the nearby structures within the physical body.

Our energetic body extends beyond the physical and is affected at a larger distance.  When standing near others, our energy bodies are interacting.  This is why some people have difficulty in large crowds.  They simply feel the energy bodies of all the people around them.

The same is true for spaces; work places, meeting halls, classrooms, churches and any physical space can hold the energy of those who’ve visited.  Some people can sense this residual energy and may feel drawn to stay in a space offering a nice vibration or may be repelled from a space in which the energy vibration is less than desirable.
​
Can we then conclude that our energy body is affected by the energetic vibration of anything it interacts with?  If so, we can test a theory that holding a crystal within our energetic body alters our vibrational frequency. 

​​Our physical body has a vibration which is emitted like a signal outside of the limits of our physical form.  This is referred to as our energy body or aura.  This vibration is altered by thoughts & emotions, food, water, fatigue and anything within the energy body.  Illness arises when a vibrational pattern is disrupted in such a way that the physical body is affected. 

When thoughts and emotions are managed, when quality food and water are consumed and sleep is plentiful the vibration of the human being is stronger than when these things are not managed.  Ancient Sages said that all illness begins with a disorder of the Spirit.  Spirit refers to the energy of our being.  If we can address this disorder within our energy body, within our Spirit, we can ultimately alter the physical body.
​
A crystal, with its permanent and unchanging vibration, offers a solid support for healing in that it can emit healing energy, redirect the flow of energy or absorb unwanted energy.  A crystal may have one or more of these functions.  When a crystal is placed within your energy body, meaning near you physically, it offers its static vibration.  Your energy body then begins to be altered because of this unwavering vibration.  

​The metaphysical properties of crystals have been logged for many years.  These conclusions have been made by wearing, meditating with or simply holding a crystal within the energy body and observing the changes.  People tend to experience similar changes when using certain crystals.  And this information has been collected over time and published in books.  Crystals are even mentioned in the Bible, adorning the breastplate of a high priest.

The logged results are anecdotal, meaning they rely on personal testimony.  For some people, this is simply not enough.  Some people need a scientific study, anything else is pseudoscience or quakery.  For those people, if you are curious, and I assume you are since you're reading this, I say, do your own study.  Get yourself an inexpensive crystal or several and do some experiments.
​
When trying out a crystal meditate with it, wear it, carry it in your pocket, sleep with it under your pillow or lay it on you as you fall asleep.  Keep with one crystal for a while and take note of any changes you notice.  Once you have convinced yourself that a crystal does something or has no effect, try another.  The worst that can happen is nothing and the best case is you have a new tool in your energy medicine cabinet.

What if you had to choose just one crystal?  

First of all, I hope I never do.  I love crystals in all their variety, colors, inclusions, weight, and even the variety within each type of crystal.  Add to that the carvings and varied shapes... well, I think you get the picture.  I don't think I could choose just one.

But, since I've asked the question, I'll see if I can answer it.

If I could choose only one, I would lean on functionality and go with a crystal that can be used for all chakras.  That narrows the field a bit, but leaves a lot of options.  Clear crystals typically benefit all chakras.  We're not talking about just Clear Quartz.  There's Icelandic Spar (Clear Calcite), Clear Topaz, and Lemurian Quartz to name a few clear ones.

For those that are not clear, there's Sichuan Quartz, Serpentine, Seraphinite, Scapolite, Rutilated Quartz, Stibnite, Magnetite, and more.

But the questions is, if I had to pick just one.... I would choose Icelandic Spar (Clear Calcite, also called Optical Calcite).  My experience with this one is intense.  This is not to say that wouldn't change my mind.  If I come across a crystal that is particularly powerful for me, I'll use it in meditations and healing often.  That's my answer:  Icelandic Spar... for now.

So, how about you?  Which crystal would you choose if there could be only ONE?  What's a favorite of yours, tell us and tell us why?

Welcome to our "How do I..." piece on meditating with crystals.  This is just a short post on a few different things you can try when learning to meditate with crystals.

Personally, I find that I relax more quickly with crystals than without, but that's not the case for everyone.  Some people that I work with report that they are unable to tell the difference with or without them.  Others excitedly declare that crystals are a defining part of their meditations.

So, How do I meditate with crystals?  Here are a few separate ideas.
1.  Select a single crystal.  With one crystal only, find a quiet spot to sit down for long enough to get relaxed.  No less than 15 minutes starting out.  When you hold the crystal allow yourself to become aware of you, aware of your body and energy field.  Assess what you feel internally and externally, energetically and physically.

2.  Select a crystal for each chakra.  Focusing on the 7 primary chakras you can choose based on color or function or both!  Color is the simplest for beginners.  Choose a red crystal for the Root chakra, orange for the Hara chakra, yellow for the Solar Plexus, green for Heart, blue for Throat, dark blue for Third Eye and clear or violet for the Crown.  In a laying position, place the appropriate crystal on the chakras, then relax.  Allow yourself to become aware of your body and being.  

3.  Focus on a Crystal.  This is akin to using a candle flame for meditation.  Look deeply at a crystal of your choice, clear crystals are ideal or those which are translucent rather than solid color.  Try to focus internally rather than solely with your eyes.  Relax your eyes and your mind and see what happens.  Some people may see something visually or in their mind's eye as they begin to relax.

I'm sure there are countless options you could try for meditating with crystals.  If you try or practice something not mentioned here, won't you share it with us in the comments below?  Thanks for reading!

These two stones at first look appear to be the same.  But if we take a moment with each, they can be easily distinguished from one another.  The important thing as we begin to differentiate crystals with similar physical characteristics is to compare two stones with the same finish.

Take a look at a tumbled sodalite and a tumbled lapis lazuli.  Compare a rough sodalite with a rough lapis lazuli.  After you've come to be able to tell these apart when compared to the other of the same finish, then see if you can tell them apart when comparing different finishes.  Also, once you see the differences you can know what you're looking at without a comparison.

First things first, let's see what these look like.

Both are blue, with white markings or veins.  The mineral structure is very similar which is why they appear alike and are often mistaken.  In fact, as I perused the internet I saw sodalite advertised as lapis lazuli and lapis lazuli advertised as sodalite.  That's how similar they are, even suppliers sell them incorrectly.

As described in the Book of Stones (see below for reference) both of these are a sodium aluminum silicate with an isometric crystalline structure.  The white color you see in each photo is white calcite which occurs naturally in both lapis lazuli and sodalite.

So, what's the trick to telling them apart?  There are two distinct features to look for.  
1.  Pyrite.  Lapis Lazuli has pyrite inclusions - pyrite is fool's gold.  It has a metallic gold like appearance.  Some Lapis Lazuli, like the point in the photo above (right), has  a lot of pyrite and is easily seen.  Others, like the raw stone above (first set of pics, right), have less or the pyrite is less easily seen.  To me tumbled and polished stones are easiest to discern.
2.  The blue color.  Sodalite is often a darker blue, sometimes gray or such a dark blue that it appears nearly black in some places on a stone.  Lapis Lazuli typically has a brighter blue color.

So, is your Lapis actually Lapis?  Is your sodalite actually sodalite?  If you've got both, take a look at the differences, you may be able to help a friend tell them apart one day.

Photos:  left side are all sodalite, right side are all lapis lazuli.

See our article on distinguishing Black Obsidian and Black Tektite.
Watch our video on Meteorite & Tektite (click here)

References
The book of stones: who they are and what they teach
Simmons & Ahsian - North Atlantic - 2011