Photo: Turquoise necklace, by Tess Mattew, Wikimedia
This year is full of news about space. Now it seems that we are not alone. Turns out when we call to the cosmos, something or someone is indeed aware. Almost every culture has stories or legends of people using gemstones to communicate with the heavens. Now it appears, there was some truth in the stories. Maybe, The heavens truly did answer back.
Celestite is a dusky blue collective of crystal points. As a mineral it’s heavy, t’s dense, and so very fragile. In the modern world it has use in pyrotechnics. The strontium in this strontium sulfate mineral is responsible for that vibrant red color we know and love in fireworks and flares. Alternatively, this mineral was said to enhance psychic channels allowing the holder to communicate with the Gods. Its gentle vibration would ease open the energy centers, making it possible for one’s desire and wishes to be known. And when the holder was in deep meditation it would allow the answers to be received with ease.
Ever popular Turquoise, that waxy show-stopping gemstone has never quite had a moment of peace. It’s been highly sought after since ancient Egypt. It is said to be the bridge between heaven and earth. Not so hard to imagine given that it is found in barren harsh barren lands. Finding a vein of turquoise was indeed like finding water in the desert. Unlike Celestite’s ethereal feel, turquoise is associated with much more physical contact. Adorning oneself with turquoise was said to
allow the heavens to guide and bless the wearer. Talismans of turquoise on a bow, for example, would allow the heavens guide an arrow straight and true. Turquoise on a saddle or adorning a mane or tail would ensure horse remained sure footed always a step ahead of danger. In burial chambers, it ensured safe passage to the other side, and even created pathways so ancestors might remain in communication with their living charges.
Iolite is a deep violet blue stone used often as a replacement for the more expensive tanzanite or sapphire. It stands well on its own and has a long rich history. It’s said that during the days of early Nordic travel thinly sliced slabs were used to help find the sun on cloudy days. It’s the stone of illumination, allowing those clouded or lost to find their way. The heavenly communication of Iolite is far less direct than turquoise and maybe less refined than Celestite. Iolite deals in dreams. It’s said to ease the barrier between this world and the next allowing the very cosmos to send the wearer/holder vivid dreams that do not fade upon waking.
What is old is new, what is new feels like of old. Who is to say what the ancestors knew, what we reduced to legend and myth isn’t real? Every day the extraordinary is revealed. It might be time to take another look at what we think we know and see if it still rings true. Maybe the distance between Heaven and Earth is closer than we thought.
