Crystal Gifts – Page 2 – Blog on Crystal Healing, Jewellery & Gemstones

Top Crystal Stocking Fillers for Under £5

It’s nice to give a few little extra things at Christmas other than the big fancy present. It’s often the little things which touch our hearts the most and help us remember how much we are loved. There are plenty of crystal options for this kind of stocking filler present which aren’t expensive but will be cherished for many years to come. Simple items like Amethyst Crystal Beads will be used in craftwork (or made into jewellery) and then appreciated for a long time after the big fancy present of the latest video games console has become outdated.

Here are another five awesome stocking filler gifts that you can get for under £5 which will last a lot longer and mean so much more to the receiver than a pair of socks with Bart Simpson’s face on them.

Crystal Eggs are beautifully polished embodiments of your favourite crystal which are ideal for holding during meditation or placing upon your body while relaxing and clearing your mind. They make fantastic ornaments for your home or healing area, and there are many examples available for less than £5, such as the Green Aventurine Crystal Egg, which is variety of quartz and said to bring balance and harmony to a household.

Similar to the eggs, Crystal Spheres are another lovely gift you can pick up several varieties of for under £5. Radiating crystal energy equally in all directions, the crystal spheres are also ideal for scrying (crystal ball gazing) as well as making excellent ornamental pieces. The African Jade Crystal Sphere is said to be detoxifying and spiritually cleansing, and these kinds of crystals are even more brilliant when teamed with other similar such items, though they still look wonderful even on their own.

Crystal Carvings make perfect stocking filler gifts, as not only are they beautifully crafted to be wonderful ornaments, the materials they are carved out of can bring many positive influences into the home. The Seftonite Carved Dragon Turtle, for example, is a representation of a legendary creature consisting of two of the four celestial beasts of Chinese mythology; a dragon’s head on the body of a turtle. It is a symbol of courage and power.

Energy Domes are another type of crystal creation which help fill a stocking for under £5. They bring positive energy into the home and are again beautiful ornamental pieces as well. The Blue Apatite Energy Dome is known to encourage energetic and extroverted behaviour, while being particularly associated with promoting communication on all levels.

Agate Slices are simple but spectacular gifts that you can get a couple of for under £5. The thin slices display the intricately banded structure of agate, as seen here with this lovely blue Agate Slice. They should ideally be placed where a light source can shine through them and make the colours glow in a magical way. Agate is also associated with harmony and balance and thus the agate slices have a heartfelt symbolic significance too.

Crystals for Beginners

The word crystal comes from the Greek word ‘Krystallos’, which means frozen light.

With their distinctive pattern, shape and composition, beautiful tones and flickers of sparkle in certain lights, there is something compellingly fascinating about crystals. From draping them around our neck to enhance an outfit to putting them pride of place on the mantle piece for all to see, or using them as a potent aid for crystal healing and meditation, these divine precious stones have a multitude of uses.

If you are keen to start utilising the unique powers of crystals but are unsure where to start take a look at the following guide to crystals for beginners.

The Different Type of Crystals

There are essentially seven different types of crystals. They are classified according to their shape, which are cubic, trigonal, hexagonal, tetragonal, orthorhombic, triclinic and monoclinic. The atoms of a mineral form the geometric shapes that make up the crystals. Minerals are defined by their chemicals that make them up and the way in which they crystallise.

When crystals are categorised by their physical/chemical properties there are four types of this precious stone: Covalent crystals, which has real chemical covalent between all of the atoms in the precious stone. Metallic crystals refer to gemstones that are made up of individual metal atoms that sit on lattice sites while outer electrons flow freely around the lattice. Ionic crystals are where the individual atoms are held together by electrostatic forces. Molecular crystals are held together by a chemical bond. These types of gemstones tend to be soft and have lower melting points.

The Different Uses of Crystals

When we think of crystals, beautiful jewellery such as stunning crystal pendants and exquisite crystal beads immediately spring to mind.

As well as buying ready made pieces of crystal jewellery to compliment and enhance an outfit for a special occasion, incorporating crystals into your jewellery can be a lot of fun.

With their stunning natural tones and striking patterns, agate beads are the perfect accessory to make your own unique and vibrant crystal beads. Agate
is one of the most attractive crystals that comes in a wide range of colours, from pale blue to black and white stripes.

Crystals & Feng Shui

Crystals are by no means just for wearing and are used as sacred objects in a number of healing activities.

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese process that examines how people are affected by the environment in which they live. In Feng Shui, crystals are used to help create good energy in a home.

For example, rose quartz crystal is used in Feng Shui to attract romance and love or to help heal a broken heart. Citrine crystals help heal those with low self-esteem while black tourmaline has strong protective energies.

Crystals & Meditation

Meditating with crystals brings a whole new dimension to this ancient healing practice. You will need to choose what type of crystal you want to meditate with.

It is believed that if you choose a crystal with patterns or fault lines in it, you will ‘lose yourself’ within the crystal whilst meditating. For anyone interested in spirituality and crystals, meditation utilises both.

Using crystal balls can be a great way to radiate the energy of crystals in all directions while meditating. For example, beautiful calcite crystal balls are considered particularly spiritual and uplifting and have unique physical healing powers.

All About Crystal Balls & Scrying

We’ve all seen images and films depicting witches and sorcerers gazing into gleaming crystal balls, peering into the future. From ancient times, crystal spheres have been considered by mystics to be of the perfect shape and material – often clear quartz – to access hidden information as well as for crystal healing. This practice of gazing into crystal balls is also known as ‘scrying’ and, as we’ll see, can often involve the use of elements other than spheres.

Why A Crystal Ball?

The spherical shape of a crystal ball is said to have the energy of harmony and perfection, radiating the energy of crystals equally in all directions. The properties of quartz crystal also play a large part in this, being one of the most important healing crystals available. Quartz crystal is reputed to channel energy through its helical spiral crystalline form. Even the most subtle healing energy can be channelled by a crystal ball into any space, neutralising many negative emotions.

What is Scrying?

Diviners and fortune tellers have used crystal balls as a way of looking into the future or simply for specific revelations. Scrying can be practiced using diverse elements such as water, fire, leaves, smoke, or polished scrying mirrors. In fact, any smooth surface may be used, such as a bowl of liquid, a pond, or a crystal (especially crystal balls). In the past, the visions that resulted from staring into these elements were believed to have come from the spirit world. Today, any images that emerge are thought to come from the subconscious. When using crystal balls for scrying, a person focuses their attention on the sphere, discarding unwanted thoughts and going into a trance. Any images that appear are then are acknowledged and this leads to an even deeper trance state. The scryer then interprets the flow of images like a movie.

Scrying throughout History

Throughout history, spiritual visions have been sought through the practice of scrying – which uses not only crystal spheres but other objects as well.

According to the Shahnameh, a late 10^th century Persian epic work, the Cup of Jamshid – a cup of divination – was used by wizards as a way of looking at the seven layers of the universe.
Joseph Smith, prophet of the Mormon religion, claimed to have used ‘seeing stones’ in order to translate an ancient text he had discovered.
Nostradamus was perhaps the most famous scryer, using a bowl of water to see into the future while in trance.

Which Crystal Ball Should I Choose?

For scrying, choose a crystal ball that appeals to you the most and whose properties correspond with your needs. Clear quartz, smoky quartz, and amethyst are the most popular of the crystal spheres. Remember, a crystal ball need not be for divination – they make wonderful display pieces and unique additions to home décor.

Are Crystal Skulls Real?

There is a legend of thirteen ancient crystal skulls from the Mayans lost civilization, that when united will bring universal knowledge. There are today real crystal skulls in existence that range from a few inches in diameter to life size. They are in the possession of various owners, the remainder on exhibition in the British Museum, the Smithsonian, and the Musee de l’Homme in Paris.

Believers in the supernatural consider crystal skulls to be much more than simply interesting artefacts. They look to the skulls as objects of divination, that can be used similarly to crystal balls for scrying and seeing into the future.

There is still great controversy amongst believers and sceptics as to the origins of the skulls. Believers will say that they are thousands of years old, possibly relics of lost civilizations like Atlantis. Sceptics say they are fakes, carved not much longer than a few hundred years ago.

Famous Crystal Skulls

The most famous of the skulls is the The Mitchell-Hedges Skull. This skull was discovered in the 1920s by British adventurer Anna Mitchel Hedges, allegedly beneath a Mayan temple in Belize. According to Anna, the Mayans told her that this quartz skull was used to ‘will death’. Anna has also claimed that she has used this skull for healing.

Art restorer Frank Dorland studied the skull for six years, claiming the sound of a choir singing coming from its structure. Dorland also said while gazing into the skull, he was able to see shifting images. Dorland took the skull to Hewlett-Packard researchers who determined that it was carved from a single piece of crystal.

Made from cloudy quartz, the British Museum crystal skull is of similar size to the Mitchell-Hedges skull though less detailed. The museum acquired it from Tiffany & co in 1898. The skull is supposedly from Mexico, of Aztec origin.

The skull kept in the Musée de l’Homme in Paris is half the size of the previously mentioned skulls, and was also thought to be Aztec, donated to the museum in 1878 by Alphonse Pinart.

Larger than any of these is the 9 inch high, 8 inch long skull now in the Smithsonian Institution in the USA. The museum received the skull in the mail in 1992 with an anonymous note stating that it was an ‘Aztec crystal skull’ and ‘purchased in Mexico City in 1960’. Several other, smaller skulls also exist in museums. These include the clear quartz ‘Texas Crystal Skull,’ the ‘ET’ skull made from smoky quartz and found by a Central American family.

Crystal Skulls – Ancient Wisdom?

Those who believe in the supernatural qualities of crystal skulls point to the piezoelectric properties of quartz crystal as evidence of the skulls’ power. Devotees assert that the skulls hold the history of the earth in their structure, rather like computer chips. All that is needed is the correct method of reading this information. Today, crystal skulls are very popular as ornaments and, depending on what crystal they are carved from, are said to be useful for scrying and divination.

Are the thirteen skulls true supernatural objects or are they recent fakes? It is a fact that skulls figure prominently in Mexican and Central American culture, therefore some of the skulls could indeed be ancient artefacts. Are they doorways into the past or future? Until their complex codes can be deciphered, we can only speculate.

Jade -The Luck Crystal

Jade has been highly prized as a good luck stone for thousands of years. The Chinese have had great regard for precious jade crystals since at least 1950 BC, using it to strengthen the body, increase longevity, and cleanse the blood. Not only that, they have always considered it a symbol of purity and wisdom. Ceremonial jade was once mined from deposits within the Yangtze River Delta.

Ancient cultures of the Americas, such as the Maya, have used it in carvings and as a kidney healing stone.

The Olmec and the Maya could only find jade in the Motagua River valley in Guatemala, reserving it for the elite. Hieroglyphs were often inscribed on to jade, which were highly symbolic, involving elaborate rituals.

Known mainly for its translucent emerald green colour, Jade is actually the gemstone name for two different mineral forms, Nephrite (green, cream, or white) and Jadeite (yellow, red, black, green, white, and purple). Deeper coloured stones are more valuable, and the most valuable form is called Imperial Jade, which is translucent and emerald-green in colour.

Gifts Made with Jade!

Carved from beautiful green Nephrite jade, our double-twist Jade Pendant makes an enthralling gift. The double twist represents not only the path of love but also the coming together of two people for life, sharing a life as one.

Connect with your own guardian angel with the help of the sweet Jade Angel! This beautiful carving makes a wonderfully inspirational and calming ornament. Look to your celestial angel for cleansing and detoxifying your own energy. The angel form is very appropriate as jade is said to alleviate pain and heal illness.

Bring light and the gentle touch of jade to your living space with our marvellous jade Tea Light Holder! Jade is known for its healing energy and, combined with the gentle flicker of a small candle, makes for an extremely relaxing effect.

Stonehenge & Preseli Bluestone

Home of Preseli Crystals — Carn Edward with View to Cerrig Lladron, Preseli.

Preseli Bluestone is a uniquely British stone, native to the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales. In 1923, petrologist Herbert Henry Thomas identified that bluestone from the hills corresponded to that used to build the inner circle of Stonehenge. Recently, geologists have identified Carn Menyn, a grouping of craggy rock outcrops in the Preseli Hills, as one of the bluestone sources. Another theory is that bluestone from the area was deposited near to Stonehenge by glaciations.

Perhaps the reason that the ancients used Preseli Bluestone in their sacred monument was because they recognised the stone’s strong connections with the electrical impulses produced by the human body, improving electrical communication throughout the body. Preseli is now generally regarded as having a strong connection with the heart. Preseli, it is believed, serves to balance and strengthen the immune system.

Bluestone Healing

Britain’s Geoffrey Wainwright, president of the London Society of Antiquaries, speculated that Stonehenge may have been an ancient healing site – the primeval equivalent of Lourdes. “It was the magical qualities of these stones which transformed the monument,” he says, “and made it a place of pilgrimage for the sick and injured of the Neolithic world.”

Chakra practitioners look to Bluestone as a way of clearing the Throat Chakra, which is said to help in matters of communication and the body’s regulatory process.

Preseli Crystal Gifts

CrystalAge has produced some stunning products from a new find of Preseli Bluestone! If you love crystals, you are bound to enjoy this granite-like stone which is full of ‘night sky’ inclusions of grey feldspar that give it a striking appearance. Among our enthralling collection of Preseli stones, which include smooth palmstones and collectible tumblestones both perfect for crystal healing.

We’re proud to offer possibly the biggest Preseli Crystal Sphere in the world (with more sizes available)! The sphere shape of this crystal ball is said to radiate the crystal’s energy in all directions, creating a warm and positive mood in any room.

Another great new item is the Preseli Bluestone Power Bead Bracelet! Take advantage of of Bluestone by wearing this stylish bracelet. By keeping powerful Preseli close to your skin, you can benefit from the stone’s healing properties, especially the benefit it is said to have to your immune system.

A handy way to keep Bluestone with you is with a flat tumblestone such as the 40mm Preseli Bluestone. These polished stones fit right in the palm of the hand and are great for meditation or simply to get the most out of the stone’s properties. Tumblestones make a great gift for any crystal enthusiast!

So, if you are looking for Preseli pyramids, pendants, or palmstones, we’re sure you will find the perfect gift on CrystalAge.com!

Crystals for Protection against Nightmares

Everybody dreams, even if we don’t remember them all. The reason we dream is still a matter of scientific speculation. In the Greek and Roman periods, the people believed that dreams were direct messages from the gods or from the dead and that they predicted the future.

What about nightmares? These are thankfully less common, but unfortunately much harder to forget. In crystal healing, crystals for relief of nightmares are often used under the pillow, under the bed, or on a nearby beside table. They can be loose or in a pouch.

What are the best crystals for combating nightmares and encouraging pleasant dreams?

Crystal Healing & Dreams

Mangano Calcite Tumblestones are a lovely, soft pink heart stone said to prevent nightmares. Mangano Calcite is believed to give support after emotional trauma and to help us deal with grief. Tumblestones are a very handy way to take advantage of a stone’s properties, as you can have one by your bedside or keep one with you in your handbag or briefcase at all times.

Dalmatian Jasper is also considered good protection against negativity and nightmares. Speckled with dark spots, it is no wonder that this form of Jasper has been named after the famous spotty dog. It is one of the more nurturing stones, believed to protect the body from injury. Wear the Dalmatian Jasper Gemstone Chip Necklace to keep negativity away and bring a sense of fun into your life.

Holding a Flint Palm Stone before going to bed is regarded to be an excellent way of protecting yourself against bad dreams. Palm stones fit right into the palm of the hand and useful for focussing energy.

An excellent healing crystal, the Champagne Aura Quartz Healing Crystal is known for its golden glow and is said to cleanse the mind and aura, helping us to focus on specific ideas. For this reason it is said to help make unformed dreams a reality. The colour and positive energy of this amazing crystal makes this an ideal gift.

If you are a generally happy dreamer and wish to recall your dreams, the Red Jasper Massage Wand could help you achieve your goal! Red Jasper is part of the mineral species quartz and is known for calming emotions. Crystal wands have been associated with power and magic.

One of the most popular stones used to invite pleasant dreams and to help insomnia is amethyst. Ancient Egyptians used amethyst to guard against fearful feelings and as protection against witchcraft. Put a piece of amethyst under your pillow at night or wear an amethyst pendant during the day, such as the Amethyst & Silver Pendant.

Citrine, the Stone of Joy

Citrine is one of the most popular of crystals – not just because of its sunshine sheen but because of its association with joy and happiness.

What exactly is citrine? Part of the quartz family, natural citrines are rare and are found at the base of amethyst mines where the heat from volcanic caves transmute it into orange or golden coloured citrine. Brazil is the leading producer of citrine, with much of its production coming from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Citrine can also be made artificially by heating amethyst in a kiln, producing a brighter orange colour than can be achieved naturally.

Citrine for Crystal Healing

The metaphysical properties of citrine include optimism, happiness and self-esteem; these very positive attributes are what makes this mineral so popular. Crystal healers say that citrine aligns us with our spiritual self and allows our bottom three chakras (that is, the physical chakras, below the heart) to line up. This is purported to affect everything tangible in one’s life – family, home, car, bank account, etc. – to align into safe balance so that we can activate the highest chakra, the Crown chakra, which deals with all things spiritual.

When using citrine for healing you can use it to cleanse your body of toxins, energizing the body in the same way as the sun. Citrine has a great affinity with the sun and its power. Due to its golden colour, citrine is also said to attract wealth. It is the birthstone of Gemini (21st May – 21st June) and secondary birthstone for Aries, Leo, Libra and Scorpio.

CrystalAge has a remarkable range of citrine crystal gifts for you to explore and add to your collection!

Citrine Crystal Gifts

A wonderful way to start your citrine collection is with our citrine Crystal Beads. Each bead radiates a rich golden colour and possesses a unique shape. Bring the positive qualities of citrine with you wherever you go with these beautiful beads – supplied on a temporary 16” string.

Enhance your outfit with the energy of the sun! By adding our faceted Citrine Pendant to your collection you have not only a gorgeous golden gemstone to light up your style but a gemstone known to encourage wealth and abundance as well. Set in solid silver, this citrine pendant is perfect to spoil yourself, or as a thoughtful gift.

For the real crystal enthusiast, the Citrine Crystal polished point is not only a beautiful show-piece but a superb healing crystal as well. Measuring 7.5cm by 4cm, this honey-coloured polished point is perfect for meditation or simply for home décor (try placing it on a window sill where the sun can shine through it). The positive healing energy of this citrine crystal gift will be welcomed in any home.

The Higher Powers of Celestite

With the soft hue of a clear morning sky, celestite definitely lives up to its name. It is a mineral that is found worldwide; many pale blue specimens are found in Madagascar. Celestite is the principal source of the element strontium, commonly used in fireworks and in various metal alloys.

Celestite & Crystal Healing

Said to align with the higher realms, celestite is reputed to attune to the higher realms whilst simultaneously keeping you grounded. It is among the Celestial Communication Stones, along with moonstone and blue calcite. It is also said to be good for calming those with a fear of heights or of air travel.

You will find celestite crystals in some geodes. The world’s largest geode is a celestite geode that measured 35 feet in diameter at its widest point. It is located near the village of Put-in-Bay, Ohio, on South Bass Island in Lake Erie.

CrystalAge has a shimmering selection of carefully selected celestite specimens that will stun you with their soft blue multi-faceted surfaces. To help you achieve peace of mind or to align with higher states of consciousness, celestite is an excellent addition to any collection. It is also used in crystal healing.

Celestite Crystal Gifts

The Celestite 8cm Crystal Cluster is regarded as one of the best crystals for aligning with higher states of consciousness – excellent to have in your meditation room or at your beside when you want to achieve those higher states of mind. The relaxing icy-blue of this stunning cluster makes for a beautiful crystal in its own right, ideal for home décor or an inspiring gift.

The Celestite Gift Box is a superb way to introduce celestite to a friend or loved one. Aligned with the higher chakras, celestite is said to exude tranquil vibrations which create a calming atmosphere in any space. Perfect for the office or any high-stress environment, this specimen is presented in a handsome matte black gift box with black satin interior.

Appreciate the calming blue beauty of celestite with the Celestite Tumble Stones. These tumble stones are a smoothened version of the multi-faceted celestite crystal. Polished stones are excellent for displaying in bowls, plant pots, or gardens and are of the perfect size and shape for holding while meditating.

The Power of Crystal Domes

Fans of crystals and crystal healing are often faced with the quandary of where to place their crystals. In the home, crystals can be arranged virtually anywhere – especially in Feng Shui areas like the corners of each room. Although some people prefer the random placement of crystals, others prefer a more organized approach to their collection. Crystal Energy Domes are an excellent way of displaying and benefiting from your favourite crystals in a neat and compact way.

For those of you who want to bring the positive effect of crystals to the workplace but are not too comfortable about displaying large clusters of amethyst or black tourmaline in your work area, our energy domes provide a discreet and attractive way of bringing crystal energy to the workplace. Each dome is only 4.5cm (1.8”) in height and so can be positioned near to your work monitor.

Energy Domes for Crystal Healing

An Amethyst Energy Dome not only brightens up your desk but is said to neutralize the electromagnetic field coming from your PC. Amethyst domes are ideal for the home as well, as they are said to offer soothing and cleansing energies, assisting sleep and dispelling headaches.

For anyone recuperating from illness or suffering from depression, a Rubellite Energy Dome is an ideal choice. Rubellite is believed to be a powerful anti-depressant, and has been used to send out healing light that helps relieve the negative, stressful emotions associated with illness.

For a boost of positive emotions, the Oregon Sunstone Energy Domes are a great choice. Believed to help invigorate dulled emotions and promote an uplifting vibration, Oregon sunstone is also used in the healing of sinus problems and damage to bone and soft tissue.

Energy domes are a great choice when you are looking for a special crystal gift. Here at CrystalAge, we have a superb range of crystal gifts for the home that will inspire you!