We normally tend to examine a gem for its clarity, color and carat. But we should add another “C” to it – for CURE. The healing power of gems and its effect on the Mind, Body and Soul is painstakingly advocated by astrologers, duly acknowledged by gem dealers and enthusiastically confirmed by wearers.’
“Health is Wealth” seems to acquire a new significance in the new millennium. People are ready to experiment and adopt any means to lead a happy and healthy life. More and more people are leaning towards the alternative cure regimen. This phenomenon about staying fit explains the increasing popularity of the use of gemstones as natural healing agents.
The basic philosophy of therapeutic/healing gems is incorporated in the words of reputed astro-scientist Manley Hall, “The rays of the celestial bodies, striking the crystallizing influences of the lower world, become the various elements. Partaking of the astral virtues of their source, these elements neutralize certain unbalanced forms of celestial activity and, when properly combined, contribute much to the well-being of man.”
Historical perspective
The written account of the therapeutic effects/healing or the prevention of illness with gemstones, Lithography, has been in existence since ancient times. Names of people who have talked about it include eminent writers such as Maharshi Parashar, Maharshi Mantreshvar, Acharya Varah Mihir, Aristotle, Gajus, Plinius Secundus, Dioscurides, Marbod, Albertus Magnus, Konard von Megenberg and many more. Over centuries, the healing prescriptions by Abbes Hildegard von Bingen of Germany (1098-1179), in her book Physica, have found great acceptance.
Precious and semi-precious stones were highly valued for their esoteric healing abilities in ancient Persia, India, Greece and Jewish cultures. There is evidence of systematic mining in Egypt over 7000 years ago.
Ancient Indian scriptures contain complete description and scientific knowledge of gemstones, their potencies and prescriptions for effective usage. Over 5000 years old, Garud Purana gives detailed descriptions of the use of gemstones as remedial measures to counter imbalances in the body. Uses of gems in preparing elixirs and medicines to be taken internally, is also discussed.
Historically kings and queens from around the world wore gems on their crowns, originally as a means of expanding their influence throughout the kingdom. Most crowns sat upon the head such that the main gem in the center would touch the middle of the forehead.
During the Renaissance period in Europe, the great physician, Paracelsus used medicines made from crushed gems. Unfortunately, after this period, most of the herbal doctors and their use of gemstone-healing disappeared.
In the Wiccan tradition, it is the crystal, with its colorless, reflective and sparkling splendor, that is considered a healer. Rock quartz has piezoelectric power, and that helps balance your auric fields. It also works on the nervous system, hence when chosen with care and expertise, it is considered very beneficial for all nerve-oriented diseases.
Powers and effects of gemstones
All natural stones have the power of solar energy and earth’s magnetic field. All precious, semi-precious, colored stones and crystals are used for their spiritual, mental and physical curing abilities. The energetic powers ascribed to them by their users stem from the earth during the formation of the stones and also from the sun’s rays. Therefore, it is recommended to put the healing stones in the sun, or cleanse them from time-to-time, so that they can replenish the energy that has been used.
Another manner of energy-replenishment can be achieved by burying the stone overnight in the ground and rinsing it afterwards. Or the simplest way is, to keep the stone dipped in a bowl of sea-water or salt (sodium chloride) water overnight and cleansing it in the morning.
Only the genuine gemstones grown in nature in the course of millions of years have stored the powers of nature.
Gems for physical healing and purification
The primary focus of therapeutic gemstone is physical healing. Working with these gemstones can deeply purify and heal the physical body, help release toxins and negative energies stored in the organs, and support immune and endocrine systems. Except for quartz, these gemstones are predominantly green.
Therapeutic healing and purification benefits can help:
- Resolve a chronic or acute illness
- Experience more energy and vitality
- Relieve chronic pain
- Strengthen a weakened organ
- Boost the immune system
- Soothe the body after trauma or surgery
Therapeutic gemstones that focus on physical healing and purification include: Quartz: It has the power of attracting life force. It is named after a Slavic word for “hard.” Its chemical composition is silicon dioxide. Available in colors as variable as the spectrum, clear quartz is by far the most common.
Emerald: It stimulates healing. It is the green variety of mineral beryl. Its green color is caused by a small amount of chromium and enhanced by traces of iron.
Aquamarine: It has purifying abilities. It is blue-green in color, again a variety of mineral beryl. It gets its color from traces of iron. It’s a flat hexagonal crystal.
Peridot: It enhances fast recovery. It is a variety of olivine. Iron is the major coloring agent where traces of nickel and chromium also contribute.
Malachite: It is capable of harmonizing the physical system. It is primarily composed of the elements copper, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It is named after the Greek word for “mallow,” a green herb. Its light and dark green designs are one-of-a-kind, thus giving it a unique ornamental quality. Its green forms are popular in jewelry, where as the crystalline forms are very rare.
Green Onyx: This is primarily used for strengthening the immune system. It is crystalline in structure and translucent, with soft delicate bands and a cloudiness of amber, reddish-orange and green. It is a form of quartz.
Gems for Karmic healing
The primary focus of some therapeutic gemstones is the healing of karmic patterns. Working with these gems can help transform negative behavior patterns, break bad habits, and eliminate destructive relationship dynamics. They can also help resolve the negative patterns from the past that perpetuate physical or mental conditions. These gemstones are predominantly orange.
These therapeutic gemstones can help you:
- Stop self-destructive habits, such as smoking or drinking
- Come out of depression and negative thinking
- Develop new, healthier ways of relating to others
- Eliminate behavior patterns underlying an unwanted physical condition
- Break free of a pattern of destructive relationships.
Therapeutic gemstones that focus on karmic healing include:
Rhodochrosite: It is used for developing inner freedom. It is named after the Greek word for rose “rhodon.” It is composed of elements manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium and silica. These crystals are generally translucent and rarely transparent.
Amethyst: It is used for overcoming addiction. The name “amethyst” comes from Greek and means “not drunken.” It has a trigonal crystal system. Very often, cut gems of amethyst are graded using the term: Siberian, Uruguayan or Bahain; to represent high, medium or low grade respectively, regardless of the actual source.
Carnelian: Helps in revitalizing your being. It is silicon dioxide. The word carnelian is derived from the Latin word caro, carnis meaning flesh. It is vitreous, dull, greasy or has a silky luster, and mostly translucent.
Opalite: It is very effective for realizing self-worth. It is hydrated silicon dioxide. The name opal is likely derived from the Sanskrit name for precious stone: upala. It is an amorphous stone.
Blue Topaz: It is helpful in eliminating depression. It is composed of the elements aluminum, silica, fluorine, hydrogen and oxygen. It is the hardest silicate mineral and one of the hardest minerals in nature.
Gems for Mental Clarity and Expansion
Mental healing is the primary focus of some therapeutic gemstones. Working with these gems can expand mental potential, clear the mind and increase one’s ability to focus, and help heal certain mental imbalances. These gemstones are predominantly blue.
These therapeutic gemstones can help you:
- Experience greater mental clarity
- Focus more easily
- Clear out mental “garbage”
- Improve memory
- Expand the mind to its full potential
- Resolve a chronic or acute illness
Therapeutic gemstones that focus on mental clarity and expansion include:
Aquamarine: It helps in enlightenment. It is sometimes found in huge crystal forms unlike emeralds.
Blue Sapphire: It is helpful in healing the mind. It is a non-red variety of mineral corundum and is the second hardest natural mineral known to mankind. One interesting bit of trivia – Sapphire is aluminum oxide, and aluminum is a highly reactive metal. Any freshly exposed surface of aluminum is quickly oxidized to corundum (sapphire), so it can be said that your lawn chair (or screen door, or any other aluminum object) is coated with sapphire!
Lapis Lazuli: It is used for harmonizing the heart. It is composed of elements sodium, calcium, aluminum, silica, sulfur and its mineral name is lazurite. The name means blue rock. It was first mined 6000 years ago and transported from Afghanistan to Egypt. It was used for jewelry and paint (grounded rock acts as pigment for paints called “ultramarine”).
Sodalite: A stone for purifying the aura. It is composed of elements sodium, aluminum, silica, and chlorine. It is named in reference to its sodium content. The crystals are transparent to translucent.
Serpentine: It helps in removing illusions and nightmares. It is composed of elements magnesium, iron, silica, and hydrogen.
Chrysocolla: It is used for developing better concentration. It is hydrated copper silicate with earthy to dull luster and has opal-like appearance.
Gems for Spiritual Awakening
The primary focus of some therapeutic gemstones is the development and awakening of higher consciousness. Very low priced but astonishingly beneficial, agates are available in almost all colors. Working with these gemstones will help create spiritual awareness, abolish impediments to higher states of consciousness, and strengthen intuition. Except for Citrine, these gemstones are predominantly indigo and purple.
These therapeutic gemstones can help you:
- Let go of certain attachments
- Develop “inner” hearing
- Open to higher states of consciousnes
- Strengthen and clarify intuitioN
- Accelerate spiritual growth through color ray healing
Therapeutic gemstones that focus on higher consciousness and spiritual awakening depend very much on their colors as well:
Indigo: It helps in developing intuition. It is a cumengite mineral composed of elements lead, copper, chlorine, hydrogen and oxygen. It results from oxidation of igneous copper ore. It is named after Eduoard Cumengen, a French mining engineer.
Apatite (Lavender): Helps in awakening of the soul. It is composed of calcium, fluorine, chlorine, hydrogen, phosphorus.
Citrine: Helps in attaining one’s full potential and provides nourishment. It is the yellow and orange variety of quartz crystal. Unfortunately for citrine, it is confused with the more expensive orange-yellow topaz, and at times is sold as topaz by unscrupulous dealers.
Gems for Masculine, Feminine Healing and Empowerment
The primary focus of these gemstones is restoring balance between one’s masculine and feminine aspects. These gemstones can restore self-confidence and physical vigor, help relationship issues, and repair endocrine imbalances.
Their benefits for women include:
- Empower their feminine nature
- Improve fertility
- Resolve a gynecological condition
- Relieve menstrual cramps
Their benefits for men include:
- Empower their masculine nature
- Improve physical endurance
- Experience more courage, vigor, and vitality
- Resolve an endocrine imbalance
- Enhance sexual power
Joint benefits for men and women include:
- Strengthen and tone the reproductive system
- Restore or create harmony with a mate
- Protect oneself from other people’s negative thoughts and feelings
Therapeutic gemstones that focus on masculine and feminine healing and empowerment include:
Green Tourmaline:Helps in balancing the male. It is mineral uvite. It is magnesium/iron-rich member of the tourmaline group.
Pink Tourmaline: Helps in balancing the female. It is mineral elbaite. It’s a transparent crystal and will appear darker when viewed down the long axis.
Words of prudence
Healing through gemstones is a wonderful idea. But in order to get the best results, one should select the stone with caution.
Firstly, one should use a stone only after consultation with an experienced astrologer or gemologist. An efficient planetary analysis is a prerequisite for remedy through gemstones. The selection of the right gem is determined by one’s horoscope or the chart depicting the planetary position, calculated on the basis of the time and place of your birth. A healing stone should be prescribed only after a thorough analysis of the present planetary positions in one’s horoscope.
Secondly, the prescribed stone must be purchased from an authentic gemstone dealer. The stones should be of very high quality without cracks. Otherwise it is not possible to get expected results. It is advised that you must examine the stone with your own fingers – real gems feel hard, the fake ones feel waxy. It is better not to wear any gem, rather than wearing a flawed stone because they are prone to produce adverse effects.
Thirdly, along with the principal precious stones (ruby, pearl, yellow sapphire, hessonite, emerald, diamond, cat’s eye, blue sapphire, and red coral), there are many other colored gems which are much less expensive, yet they are capable of harmonizing the same astral energy from their associated planets. It is also much easier to get these stones without flaws. For instance, when one is not able to afford a flawless diamond, he can opt for the far less expensive colorless quartz crystal. The latter type is called a secondary gem.
Care of the stone is very important for securing good results over a long period of time. The stones should be cleansed thoroughly and regularly to get the undisrupted flow of positive energies. One should remember that healing stones are not something meant to replace the medical science altogether. Properly selected gemstones are an effective supplement and catalyst to the diagnostic and healing process.
Luminary in many fields, Gopal Sharma, is a world renowned astrologer and Vaastu/Feng Shui expert. He is also an eminent consultant to a number of large industrial/business houses across the globe. His illustrious students and clientele include Hellmann Germany, Birlas, Thapars, Jindals, Suryas, Choice Group USA, Piramal Group, Marriott Hotel USA, Ansal Group of Companies, Patanjali Yogpeeth along with many leading banks. Moreover, he has to his credit 42 books including many bestsellers in Hindi, English and Greek. www.panditgopalsharma.com
