It seems more and more we’re hearing people talk about crystals and gemstones and their healing properties, and you may be asking yourself, what’s all this talk about healing crystals? Is this a new fad? Where did all begin?
The discovery and use of crystals goes back to the very beginnings of humankind. The earliest discovery of crystals or minerals being used by man goes as far back as 75,000 years to the Blombos Cave in South Africa. It was there that archaeologists found that civilization was carving a mineral called Limonite. The etchings were of no particular design, so it is unclear as to what the purpose of the interaction between man and mineral really was at that time. Limonite produces a yellow colour, so it is possible it was used as a dye.
The next most notable use of crystals and minerals goes back 30,000 years when amulets of Baltic amber were discovered, and it was 10,000 years ago (the end of the last ice age) that amber beads were discovered in Britain. This suggests that they were a valued commodity in those days to have been brought such a distance. Though amber is neither a crystal nor a mineral, but rather tree sap (quite often containing plants and insects), it has still been highly revered for its beauty and healing attributes.
The first historical reference to the use of crystals for healing dates back to 4000 BC to the Sumerian civilization, where they had created specific formulas for magic rituals.
The Christian Bible refers to crystals over 200 times with phrases such as: “whose walls were made of crystals”, “gates were of pearl”, and “where souls that are clear as crystal are jewels forever in the crown of the redeemer”.
Many early civilizations such as the Mayans, Aztec, American Indian, Celtic, African natives used quartz crystals in their ceremonies, where they would strike them together to create a flash of light!
So much has been written throughout history on the importance of crystals and minerals, whether it was to signify wealth and prestige, or simply appreciated for their beauty, or to assist in ceremonies as well as healing. Since the late eighties, there has been a resurgence of this ancient healing art, where society is becoming more aware of how the earth has provided us with an abundance of crystals and minerals to support us in raising our consciousness as we heal ourselves and our planet.
In joy & light,
Holly
