Chrysocolla

Chrysocolla

 

Physical Characteristics: Because of its blue color, this stone may be confused with turquoise.

In Nature: Chrysocolla forms in the oxidation zones of Copper ore and is usually found in masses, not individual crystals. It may also be found as vein fillings.

Chemical Composition: (Cu, Al)2H2Si2O5(OH)4·nH2O

Mohs Scale Hardness: 2 (low)

Can be Found: Worldwide, but especially the USA and Australia

Healing Properties*: The stone raises the metabolism and may assist those seeking to achieve a healthy weight. It provides relief from ulcers and arthritis. Chrysocolla also alleviates cramps, infections of the throat, liver toxicity, and high blood pressure.

Magickal Properties: Chrysocolla is generally associated with peace and tranquility, as well as intuition, patience, and unconditional love. It is a powerful stone of life-force energy and feminine empowerment. Chrysocolla releases feelings of guilt, fear, and tension, building one's inner strength. It releases resentment and helps admit forgiveness. It is extremely helpful to releasing anger and pain related to all forms of abuse. The stone promotes promotes level headedness and clarity of thought. Chrysocolla enhances creativity, female energy, and communication. Lay it on the Third Eye to enhance spirituality. The stone bridges the earth and sky as well as the physical and astral realms.

Chakra Association: Fourth (Heart) chakra, though it lightens the aura and removes blockages from all seven.

Element: Water

Energy: Receptive

Planetary Association: Venus

*Magickal healing should never take the place of seeing a doctor and following any recommended prescriptions, actions, or other advice. Magick works best in tandem with physical efforts, anyway, so don't skimp on those check-ups!

September 21st, 2013

Tomorrow is Mabon, in all technicality, but I did my ceremony today because tomorrow is going to be crazy-busy. Mabon is my favorite Sabbat, contested only by Samhain. I always feel super balanced and grounded after going through the ritual.

The* next thing on tonight's agenda is to sit in meditation for a while on the meaning of the Sabbat. Originally, Mabon was celebrated as the second harvest of the year. In today's day and age, most of us haven't the foggiest idea where our food even comes from, let alone when it was harvested. Thus, Mabon has become more about the things we reap and sow in our own lives. Celebrating the gifts of the table can yet make for a really fulfilling ritual - sometimes referred to as the Witches' Thanksgiving, Mabon is still definitely about the food - but you may also choose to meditate on what you've accomplished since last year's Sabbat, and concentrate on what seeds you'd like to "sow" for the coming year. If you have physical seeds to represent your own wishes, so much the better! Above all, make sure your activities mean something to you - a ritual can be beautiful in its poetry and imagery, but if it doesn't strike a spiritual chord then what, really, is the point?

*I feel I ought to mention that the lines in the above picture (just found on google images) are actually copyrighted to, I believe, Silver Ravenwolf. Why do I know that? Because they're actually in the ritual I did not two hours ago. I can't speak for the rest of the image.

September 7th, 2013

Oh my, did it slip into September somehow? Good gracious! I seem to have missed the memo. However, I had an exceptionally productive Saturday for a change - I spent something like 12 hours crocheting a lacy steampunk choker. Why? Because my high school is going to use steampunk costumes for our upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream - I'm going to play Puck and wanted to get a head start on costume design.

I also redecorated my altar for Mabon. It's so nice to be up-to-date on things; I can actually feel the energy change in my room!

It's got a much simpler design than I've had in previous years; right now, I'm appreciating austerity (or at least, a look that's austere for me).
My mini shrine got an update as well; after a field trip to the Anderson Japanese Gardens yesterday, I had several new items for incorporation, compliments of the gift shop.
First and foremost, I bought a package of Japanese incense, scented like lotus flowers. It smells wonderful even without burning it. I didn't realize the package came with its own incense holder, so I bought a ceramic one shaped like an origami crane.

I also bought a Maneki Neko, the beckoning cat who calls forth good luck. The kanji, 学問運, is read "Gakumonun" and means "academic luck"; he's going to be my college kitty! The kanji appear on a gold coin which represents wealth and is also a play on the Japanese idiom "To give gold coins to a cat", which is the equivalent of "Pearls before swine".

 

My final big effort of the evening was to painstakingly reduce the number of stones on my shrine - it was getting way too cluttered! I moved all the stones to boxes and pouches, and put all of those into a large cosmetics bag to keep them together. I left out only a few pieces: a Fossil for earth, Emerald for air, Garnet for fire, Amethyst for water, and a geode for Akasha.

I also left my Quartz point and Petrified Wood for the Goddess and God, respectively. Two snail shells were added to the same effect, and I finished it off with a mussel shell for water offerings.