THE ANCIENT ART OF
CRYSTAL THERAPY

 

It seems that different cultures and peoples have utilized the power within
crystals and stones for as long as humans have inhabited the Earth.

 

 

In our crystal work, we can access a universal well of crystal wisdom passed through our genetic heritage.  Ultimately, we are all crystal experts if we trust our intuitive abilities.  Wherever crystal healing actually began, these extraordinary gifts from our precious Earth have once again emerged to help us during this time of turbulence and transition on our planet.  By allowing each crystal to speak directly to our hearts and work, its energies amplify our own innate healing powers to bring peace and spiritual harmony to people, animals, places, and the Earth. 

 

 

Crystal Therapy:

An Initiation by Spirit

 

 

There is not a formal attunement for crystal therapy; it is an initiation by Spirit.  By allowing each crystal to speak directly to our hearts and work, its energies amplify our own innate healing powers to bring peace and spiritual harmony to people, animals, plants, spaces, and the Earth.  My initiation into crystal and stone work occurred when I was five when my grandparents, avid rock hounds, took me to Agate Beach on the Oregon Coast for a day of treasure hunting.  Grandma Evelyn gave me a big empty coffee can to fill with the naturally polished beach stones that I collected that day, my treasures—jaspers, carnelians, moss agates—and I have been collecting and working with crystals and stones ever since. . . . MORE!

 

 

SELF-PACED LEARNING

 

 

Because HAI’s typical student is an adult learner with family and professional responsibilities, our flexible learning format works within your own schedule.  You may enroll at any time and progress at your own pace as the rest of your life plan allows.  Although, learning at HAI is self-paced, we do ask that all courses and programs be completed within two years of the initial enrollment date. 

 

Most of our courses require about sixty hours of study time.  Some students are able to complete a course in as little as two weeks, while others may take a month or more.  Our programs then, each consisting of three to twelve courses, can easily be completed within one to two years or even less with a regular study routine. 

 

 

Follow the link below

to learn more about

Crystal Therapy:

 

Crystal Therapy Practitioner (CTP) Program

 

 

EXCITING

CAREER OPTIONS

 

 

At this time, many holistic practitioners choose to work in private practice offering individualized holistic wellness consultations.  Others may be involved in: 

 

~Holding health seminars. 

 

~Writing books and articles on various aspects of holistic medicine. 

 

~Developing DVD and CD programs concerning holistic health. 

 

~Owning and operating a health food store. 

 

~Owning and operating a healthy restaurant. 

 

~Owning and operating a health spa. 

 

~Owning and operating a holistic clinic. 

 

~Manufacturing or formulating dietary supplements. 

 

~Manufacturing or formulating herbal products. 

 

~Manufacturing or formulating aromatherapy products. 

 

~Manufacturing or formulating flower essence products. 

 

~Manufacturing or formulating gem essence products. 

 

~And much, much more. . . .

 

 

Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

 

 

Learn as if you were to live forever.

~Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

The Ancient Art of Crystal Therapy

 

By Theda Renee Floyd, PhD, RN, HHP

 

 

The gems, stones, and crystals that we are enjoying and using today were created in the womb of the Earth over millions of years by the action of water, wind, and volcanic fire.  As the crust of the Earth is composed of a great variety of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, it seems that the attraction stones held for ancient man would have been natural and instinctive.  When early humans decided to use stones and crystals in a personal way, to keep them close or wear them on their bodies either as amulets or adornments, these objects became something that influenced their existence. 

 

It is likely that crystals have been used for sacred jewelry, healing, and as symbols of power for many tens—if not hundreds—of thousands of years.  Perhaps, humans have always adorned themselves with sacred jewelry.  Archeologists have found numerous artifacts of jewelry and drilled beads made of animal teeth, bones, shells, and stone pebbles.  Beginning in the Paleolithic period over seventy-five thousand years ago, humans took the objects they found drilled holes in them and wore them.  Recently discovered drilled mollusk shells were discovered in a cave in Blombos, South Africa, that date back seventy-five to one hundred thousand years ago in the Middle Paleolithic period (Amos). 

 

Why did early humans wear these adornments?  We can only speculate that the insights anthropologists draw from modern tribes applied in the long prehistory.  If this is so, humans have used jewelry for several reasons over many, many thousands of years:  firstly, jewelry offered protection against adversity; secondly, was to prove status—a king or queen’s high position was marked with expensive jewelry of gold and gems; and thirdly, jewelry was adornment to enhance sexual attractiveness (Salisbury 171). 

 

By the time the Sumerian civilization flourished between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia five thousand or more years ago, man’s fascination with stones had evolved into a highly specialized expression.  At Ur, a major city located a few miles west of the Euphrates, archeologists discovered jewelry and gold objects of superb workmanship.  In the tomb of Queen Pu-Abi, among others, many valuable objects were found.  The queen herself was clad in a robe of gold, lapis lazuli, agate, and carnelians, and around her were personal belongings such as gold drinking vessels, rings, and amulets of lapis and gold in the form of fish and other animals.

 

The ancient Egyptians used gems, stones, and crystals as an intrinsic part of their spiritual and medicinal purifications and healings.  The Egyptians were excellent craftsman as well and demonstrated a sophisticated eye for color in their creations.  While interest in gems and stones likely sprang from occult urges which gave them value as amulets, the ancients also used them as adornments.  Men and women wore charms around the head, neck, waist, ankles, and any part of the body deemed vulnerable or in need of beautification.  Although jewels symbolized wealth and status and undoubtedly they were worn to enhance sex appeal, the design of jewelry related foremost to amulet powers, (Campbell 120-21). 

 

Stones and gold were carved and fashioned into scarabs, falcons, and other creatures as protection against evil forces, accidents, illnesses, and other mishaps, as well as to attract good fortune.  These were used as talismans and amulets with Lapis Lazuli and Red Jasper dedicated to the goddess Isis (Eason 8).  Many deceased royalty were entombed with elaborate collections of gems and stones.  When the tomb of King Tut was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, the vast array of riches astonished the world. The mummy itself was adorned with a gold mask inlaid with lapis lazuli, carnelian, quartz, obsidian, turquoise, and glass and faience (Bongioanni 310). 

 

Throughout history gems and stones have been associated with royal blood and were elegantly worn in crowns and jewelry, embedded in thrones, laid in swords, and used as decorations in other treasures.  Kings in ancient India were advised to collect the very best gems to protect themselves from harm (Raphaell 9).  Vedic texts of ancient Sanskrit writings, dating from 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C., make elaborate observations on the origin and power of stones and astrological associations (Campbell 123). 

 

Ancient Traditional Chinese medicine also bears records of these healing stones and crystals.  For the Chinese, jade was the most precious of stones, and it held the five great virtues:  charity, courage, modesty, justice, and wisdom.  It was thought to contain curative powers, especially effective for treating asthma and illnesses related to blood.  And since it supposedly delayed decomposition, pieces of jade were inserted into the nine orifices of the corpse.

 

The Aztecs also valued jade (the nephrite variety) above even gold.  They referred to jade as the “stone of the loin” for its healing properties connected to the kidney and groin.  Today, the Maoris, who live in remote areas of New Zealand, shape nephrite into human forms and wear them as pendant amulets to ensure fertility and long life (125). 

 

Mayan and Native Americans have used crystals for diagnosis as well as for the treatment of disease.  Large clear quartz crystals were used in special ceremonies by the leaders of the Native American villages as “seeing crystals” in which images of the future or distant events could be seen.  Certain tribes of Mexican Indians believed that if you lived a good life, your soul went into a crystal when you died.  If someone was fortunate enough to find such a crystal, it would speak directly to their heart, heal, guide, and make their dreams come true (Raphaell 10).

 

Ancient astrologers connected stones with birthdates and the planets.  Gems and stones were understood to offer various powers and influences, and no doubt their colors played a significant role in connection with their use.  Sages and mystics of ages past possessed a store of esoteric knowledge that has filtered down to us through legend and folklore, providing only scraps of information that are mere hints of their deeper understanding.  Perhaps they realized better than we the essence of vibrations (Campbell 121).

 

In every religion found on Earth, gems, stones, and crystals are purported as being significant to esoteric mysteries.  There are references made to precious stones in the Babylonian Talmud long before Genesis.  In the Muhammadan Koran gems are described in spiritual rituals (Bravo 25).  The book of Exodus in the Christian Bible chronicles a religious breastplate worn during ceremonies by Aaron, the first high priest of Israel.  It is said to have had twelve enormous gems, three placed horizontally with another three rows underneath.  Each gem was inscribed with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.  Each also had mysterious powers that could be used by the priests in divining matters of law, religion, war, and healing (23). 

 

Many believe crystal therapy is much older, beginning in the ancient civilization of Atlantis or possibly even Lemuria.  Edgar Cayce claimed that Atlantis survived for two hundred thousand years.  According to Cayce, stones served more than just mystical purposes in Atlantis.  They were prescribed therapeutically, and colors undoubtedly had a bearing on their applications.  It was believed that carnelian stemmed hemorrhages and healed sores.  Skin irritations were treated with garnet.  Water in which turquoise had soaked was drunk to alleviate urine retention.  Ruby treated water produced a tonic to stimulate digestion.  Wine or water treated with diamond was prescribed for jaundice and apoplexy.  To pass gallstones and lower fever, chalcedony was employed.  Jade relieved heart palpitations, cured dropsy, and helped during childbirth, while jasper aided pregnancy, and lapis lazuli was said to prevent miscarriage.  Emerald and opal were used to treat eye diseases (Campbell 125-26). 

 

There are claims for artifacts even older than the recently discovered drilled mollusk shells mentioned above.  These artifacts comprise mainly stone objects, apparently sculpted to look like the human form, and date back two hundred thousand years or more.  A controversial object unearthed in Morocco, possibly four hundred thousand years old, could be the world’s oldest attempt at stone sculpture.  This artifact is shaped like a human figure with grooves that suggest a neck, arms, and legs.  On its surface are flecks of a red substance, likely remnants of paint used for enhancement (Rincon). 

 

It seems that different cultures and peoples have utilized the power within crystals and stones for as long as humans have inhabited the Earth.  In our crystal work, we can access a universal well of crystal wisdom passed through our genetic heritage.  Ultimately, we are all crystal experts if we trust our intuitive abilities.  Wherever crystal healing actually began, these extraordinary gifts from our precious Earth have once again emerged to help us during this time of turbulence and transition on our planet.  By allowing each crystal to speak directly to our hearts and work, its energies amplify our own innate healing powers to bring peace and spiritual harmony to people, animals, places, and the Earth. 

 

 

Works Cited

 

Amos, Jonathan.  “Cave yields ‘earliest jewellry’.”  9 Jan. 2011 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3629559.stm>. 

 

Bongioanni, Alessandro, and Maria Croce, ed.  The Treasures of Ancient Egypt: from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.  New York:  Universe Publishing, a division of Ruzzoli Publications Inc., 2003. 

 

Bravo, Brett.  Crystal Healing Secrets.  New York:  Warner Books, Inc., 1988. 

 

Campbell, Dan.  Edgar Cayce on the Power of Color, Stones, and Crystals.  New York:  Warner Books, Inc., 1989. 

 

Eason. Cassandra.  The Illustrated Directory of Healing Crystals.  London:  Collins & Brown, 2010. 

 

Raphaell, Katrina.  Crystal Enlightenment.  Santa Fe:  Aurora Press, Inc., 1985. 

 

Rincon, Paul.  “‘Oldest sculpture’ found in Morocco.”  9 Jan. 2011 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3047383.stm>. 

 

Salisbury, Joyce E.  Encyclopedia of Women in the Ancient World.  Santa Barbara:  ABC-CLIO, Inc., 2001.