You'd be forgiven for thinking Petrology was the study of chemicals, especially petrol but it's actually the scientific study of Rocks. So grab a brew as we scratch the surface of Nature’s Mineral Kingdom focusing on Crystals and their use in Feng Shui. Including which natural silicon formations are best to aid with sleep. And we touch on rituals with the upcoming Solar Eclipse (14 Oct 2023).
STONES, ROCKS & CRYSTALS
Rocks and Stones, AKA minerals are riddled with superstition. Striped stones are favourd by witches and those with natural holes are called Hag stones. It’s also a long standing belief among the ancients that rocks and boulders ‘grow’ while lying on earth. And it something Taoist Feng Shui masters align with; Rocks carry their own lifeforce - some alive and some dead. Even their shape, if representative of an animal are said to hold additional prowess.
Parking the cost of precious gems it’s just utter magic to think Mother Nature created such jewels. It’s amazing that from the deepest core of Earth, these mere natural silicon formations can refract such light when brought to the surface – just think, how many millions of years it took to create such a gem … it really is magical.
CRYSTALS IN FENG SHUI
Independent of Feng Shui, people have a myriad of reasons to own crystals. Admittedly I have a cringe factor when people over use, and I guess abuse the use of crystals, especially in the name of Feng Shui. Crystals are great energisers and can be used as very effective cures to balance a space in Feng Shui - but always in a measured fashion. That said I’m referring to natural elemental crystals and not synthetic man-made lead crystal that refract light in a kaleidoscope fashion.
In Feng Shui natural occurring Crystals belong to the Element of ‘Earth’. So if you need an Earth cure/remedy then Crystals are an excellent solution. However, it begs the question, where to actually store your crystals, due to their radiating, Yang properties?
Some have a select range of crystals and others a massive collection so it’s best to store a significant collection in an area that will benefit from the Earth Element. As the current auspicious energies are Earth orientated then placing in the beneficial water star ‘8’, would be ideal if you need to enhance its auspiciousness. But in a malefic sector of the house, a 2-5 or 5-2 combo, it can bring out less favourable circumstances. A feng shui energetic map of your home/business' floorplan will show the most beneficial areas of the home to store crystals.
CRYSTAL CARE
As a practitioner I’m highly sensitive to anyone touching and having an energy exchange with my gems. If so I clear them before I use them again – a simple practice for most gems, is a water cleanse…. in the ocean is ideal. But be careful not to lose them! It’s good to do this especially after buying a new crystal.
Others suggest a full moon cleanse, which personally I think is a little more challenging, if you’re unaware of planetary alignments and unknowingly doing so under a Void of Course Moon or under certain malefic planetary alignments. And under an eclipse the rules change (see below). Popping Crystals in the freezer overnight, is a little known but highly beneficial method of cleansing.
HEALING CRYSTALS
There are seven principle gems that are said to be the source of gem therapy healing and they’re used with the seven chakras. Interestingly they align with the seven major planets also. The two I wish to focus on are the two main luminaries in the sky, the Sun and the Moon – Ruby’s correspond astrologically to the Sun and in gem therapy it’s used to treat heart disease and circulation issues. Garnet is a semi precious alternative.
Pearls; or moonstone as a semi precious alternative, corresponds astrologically to the Moon and it’s used for diabetes and asthma issues. Interestingly in Ayruvedic treatments certain stones perform best when placed on specific areas of the body. For example – a silver ring with a moonstone on the right hand of the ring finger, will work for 'Vata' doshas.
I’m a big believer in resonance, be it with people, subjects, objects, nature and gems. We are attracted to certain gemstones at various times when we need them, which can act as a medicinal cue to take care of certain organs or aspects of our lives. Take a moment and think what crystal or gems you’re innately drawn most often?
CRYSTALS + THE FENG SHUI OF A BEDROOM
To a Feng Shui practitioner, the bedroom is a very important space. Chief among the reason is that the average person spends 22 +years of their life in bed, so the bedroom space needs to support, aid rejuvenation and induce restful yin quiet time. Everything about the space needs to aid sleep.
If you or a member of your family is a restless sleeper then a good practitioner can take you through a few basics, like identifying the forms of the room, the flow of chi, the position of furnishings or the colour of the bedroom. And a skilled Flying Stars consultant can identify the best room to sleep in, by calculating the energy map from the floorplan of your home. Sometimes it’s a matter of swapping a bed position or changing rooms that will aid and support an occupant.
If restless sleep or nightmares persist, identifying the Geomancy map of the bedroom is also highly desirable. Geomancy is exceptionally powerful and crystals are often used to remedy natural earth fissures. In fact as a side note _huge boulders of Quartz have been used on dangerous accident-prone areas on Autobahns, with positive results in reducing hazardous accidents. Also identifying the earth minerals a home rests upon is important, for example if it sits on high sandstone deposits, which contain high quartz content then that can amplify and energize a bedroom. As bedrooms are ideally placed to the rear of properties (depending on the Flying star chart) homes with an excessive amount of rocks in the rear of the property could also exacerbate difficulties.
It’s highly beneficial to know whether your bedroom falls in a malefic sector of the home (determined with a Flying star consultation), as storing crystals in that space could either absorb and counteract negative chi or be very activating and disturb a restful nights sleep. If you know the sector your room falls in, like a heavy Earth combo that involves a 2-5 or 5-2 combo, then it's best to remove crystals from this area – especially red crystals!
MING GUA FOR SLEEP
Your Ming Gua or personal trigram is calculated from your Date of Birth, and each person has certain directions that enhance various aspects of life, including a good nights sleep – Fu Wei. For instance people with Ming Gua No. 8 are advised to sleep with their head pointing to the North East. (If you wish to know your Ming Gua No#. click here)
LUNATIONS & SLEEP
Apart from the negative implications of sleeping in electromagnetic smog, it’s worth noting the quality of one’s sleep is also disturbed during full moons. When it comes to monthly lunations -including Eclipses, children act as a double blind case study as they are generally unaware of sky shows, so in my household I usually hear the pitter-patter of young feet on nights that coincide with a full moon. Layered with an eclipse; sleep might be in vain. So if a bedroom supports the storage of crystals, consider the shape and variety of stones to encourage a restful sleep. Or remove till the eclipse has past - as a ritualistic approach toward crystals isn’t encouraged under an eclipse.
SHAPE & FORM OF CRYSTALS
Form is extremely important and crystals come in various shapes and sizes. Avoiding certain shapes in the bedroom as well as certain kinds of crystal is important to maintain your well-being.
Pyramid or geode shapes in a room are overstimulating and radiate too much Yang energy, especially in a bedroom, which should essentially be Yin. Avoid big crystals too and be weary of placing too close to the head of the bed. Many crystal websites note Amethyst as good for sleep, however it’s more beneficial for Lucid dreaming and not a restful sleep. And, it’s purple which is also activating and FIRE yang, hence why I avoid it - including red toned crystals – if it’s a restful nights sleep your after.
Choose instead spheres, egg shapes or tumble stones, soft fluid shapes and in earth colours if the Feng Shui supports the colour. A double gourd shape is also a good shape in a bedroom and some stones are often carved in this shape with good Feng Shui in mind.
TYPES OF STONES
Rose quartz :: is my favourite choice for children. It’s pale, yin and soothing, suggesting softness and many children gravitate to it naturally. It’s also got romantic love associations for adults. Howlite :: is a veined white stone that helps absorb stress and worries so it's another great crystal for sleep. Black Tourmaline :: is a dark, watery opaque stone. It absorbs and neutralizes negative energy from your aura while you sleep but children don’t often gravitate to the colour, but if bad dreams are persistent, it's worth introducing the stone in a fluid shape. And finally, Topaz corresponds astrologically to the planet Jupiter and is said to assist with insomnia.
FINALLY, A WORDS ON RITUALS DURING AN ECLIPSE
The two main luminaries in the sky - Sol and Luna are laced with superstitions at the best of times; add an Eclipse and ancient ill omen prophecies are often alluded to. Some folk think conducting rituals on the night Luna’s obscures her full face from view, will negate the effects. Sadly not, and we don’t endorse the practice of conducting rituals on Solar or Lunar Eclipses. The 15 Oct Solar eclipse happens Libra, Locations where it’s visible is said to have a more intense effect. North America, Central America and most of South America will have visiblity. The Ring of fire eclipse lasts 5 minutes, 17 seconds — and occurs off the coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
New MOON TIMES
CHINA 15 Oct 1.55am
DUBLIN 14 Oct. 6:55pm
SYDNEY 15 Oct. 4:55am
NEW YORK 14 Oct. 10:55am
A gentle word of caution if you’re thinking of conducting a ritualism under the influence of any eclipse energies or even considering fashioning a magical talisman; then exercise caution - it’s best practice to refrain from making under these malefic influences. Unlike paper, and apart from metal; stones were the choice of material for talismanic magic as it impregnated and symbolized the Magic intention, for as long as it held that form. It’s best to seek council from a highly skilled electional astrologer when talismanic objects are in play and virtually all practitioners will concur with absence under an eclipse.
“Living eye to eye with environmental wisdom ”
— ⓒ FENG SHUi iSM