The New Age movement, which captured the attention of many Americans in the 1970s, draws from many different spiritual and religious sources. A New Age practitioner might demonstrate Buddhist beliefs along with faith in chakra healing stones or a crystal point. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the New Age philosophy is that inner peace and strength can be found in any number of ways, and that a person’s path to enlightenment defies judgment.
New Age spirituality often incorporates music to create a sense of community. Music has a natural calming effect, and it can communicate with our bodies’ biorhythms in ways that cannot be explained. In fact, music is not meant to be explained – rather, it should be felt. The same applies with New Age beliefs; people experiment with different mystical techniques in order to feel better physically, mentally and spiritually.
As the second plentiful mineral in the Earth’s crust, we are constantly surrounded by quartz. There are dozens of varieties of quartz, including some that are semi-precious gemstones. One of the most commonly encountered forms of this abundant mineral is rose quartz.
Due to its cloudy appearance, rose quartz is rarely used as a gemstone in jewelry. Instead, you can find rose quartz used in an assortment of other products—from simple rose quartz sphere to elaborate figurines and carvings. Rose quartz’s color also lends itself well to heart shaped carving and pendants. It is believed that the mineral gets its red coloring from titanium, iron or other trace minerals.
Whether through popular legend, books, movies or other media, crystal balls have come to be inextricably linked to the occult. Specifically, these spheres were thought to be useful to psychic mediums and clairvoyants in their bid to predict the future. Scrying pools were used for a similar purpose in ancient and medieval times. These small bodies of water were supposed to reveal secret truths to a gifted clairvoyant.
Today, people continue to appreciate crystal spheres – but it’s not always because of a belief in superstition or extra-sensory perception. Natural quartz crystal balls are fine examples of artistry and craftsmanship. They are often displayed on a special stand on tabletops and mantels, and their express purpose is to provide visual and tactile appeal.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009@ 2:25 PM
In a dark and quiet room light one or two candles. Place your crystal ball or other favorite meditation crystal on a table in front of you. ( My favorite is an all natural quartz crystal ball filled with wonderful inclusions and a few rainbows.) Burning incense is sometimes helpful for setting the mood. I use a wood scent. Sandlewood, cedar wood, etc.
Relax, gaze into the crystal. Try not to blink. Slowly take deep breaths in and out while gazing deeply. You should feel a sense of calm and peacefulness. At this point, gaze steadly for 15 minutes. You may increase your time by 5 minutes every new session until you reach 30 minutes or so.
You might see a fluffy cloud forming in the center of your crystal. This is your “focusing area” where your visions will appear. You may or may not get a vision on your first try. For some it might take several sessions. Always relax and don’t force anything. Whether you receive a vision or not this is always an excellent relaxing and stress reducing exercise.
