Pagan Blog Project - Week 15 - H #2 – Howlite

Pagan Blog Project - Week 15 - H#2 – Howlite

Pagan Blog Project - Week 14 - H#1 - Hestia

I went many years without even hearing about howlite, though I know now that it’s way more common than I would have originally imagined. Howlite is a pretty soft stone, making it easy to carve and shape. It is also pretty porous, making it easy to dye. When you find colored beads or stone baubles that are super bright, it’s usually howlite. Sometimes, though, these pieces are labeled as something else. This is especially common with turquoise because of the similarities between the structures of the two stones. Sometimes these dyed pieces are also called magnesite or turquenite. Though some (many, probably) pieces of turquoise are genuine, some are really just brightly colored howlite pieces, so be aware!

Howlite is said to have calming and relaxing properties. If you have a piece of howlite, you can feel how smooth and soft it is. Stroking howlite like a worry stone can help soothe an overly active mind, or even help those who suffer from insomnia. Howlite can especially be useful for those who work in a stressful career, so it’s a good stone to have on a keychain, piece of jewelry, in your pocket, or at your desk.

It helps clear a clouded mind. If your mind is overly active, howlite can help you see through some of the stress and confusion and help prepare you to be more open to higher wisdom. With this clearing away of confusion comes greater understanding, and this is especially true when it comes to self-knowledge. Howlite helps one to realize how their own actions impact and touch others, for better or for worse. It aids in tactfulness and civility, and is perfect aiding in clear and concise communication. It is also said to absorb anger, which helps ensure gentleness in one’s words and tone.  

Though I was originally scandalized to have so much howlite masquerading as turquoise, I’ve really come to love and appreciate the versatility and usefulness of this charming stone!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howlite

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesite

http://www.healingcrystals.com/Tumbled_Howlite_-_Tumbled_Stones.html

(coupon code SPACEWITCH)

Pagan Blog Project – week 14 – G#2 – Geodes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robopancake/sets/72157642467178925/

Pagan Blog Project – week 14 – G#2 – Geodes

I've really been into rocks and crystals for the past year or so.  I was super excited to find nicely priced crystal specimens at a tourist shop while at the beach when I went early in March.  I haven't seen geodes since I was a kid stopping at tourist shops while in the Black Hills, visiting with my Grandpa, so I was so excited to pick up a few.  

The word geode comes from a Greek word meaning "earthlike", and they are metamorphic and/or volcanic rocks that are hollow.  They look like lumps of clay or ugly rocks on the outside, but the inside can be full of beautiful wonderment that forms through chemical processes that occur within the rock due to the presence of gasses or liquids.  They can be small (like mine) or huge (like those often shown in jewelry shops, museums, or gem shows).  More spectacular specimens are usually polished or dyed, though even in their naturel form they can be very beautiful.

Magically, geodes can be a symbol for the mysterious and the hidden.  Despite a rough exterior, the safety of stone, if you take the risk, crack it open, embrace the mystery, the beauty inside can be glorious.  Spiritually, delving into ourselves might be painful, but the benefits are well worth the effort of cracking open. 

Geodes are also said to increase feelings of joy and creativity and for soothing those who are anxious or worry a lot.  (Just think about how therapeutic it is to smash something with a hammer!)  They help release stagnant energy, and help break through a mundane rut.  They can help one focus on the big picture, rather than being distracted with little details.  They can aid in decision making and in shaping one’s own future.  Just like any other gemstone or crystal, a geode can be carried with you throughout the day or kept near your bed as you sleep.  You can keep it intact, charging it up with thoughts, energy, or intentions, then break it open ritualistically to release its potential.  Or, you can crack it open or buy an already opened geode and enjoy its beauty and properties that way.

 

I took my time to crack them open, waiting for a nice day when my sister and I could have a good time with it. She had a hard time with hers. It kept on bouncing all over the driveway! But her crystals were really pretty. Before cracking open mine, I thought a little bit about my life. What am I cracking open? An initiation, a possible ordination, graduation, a job… and SMACK! One hit with the hammer and it was in a billion little pieces. I don’t think my pieces are as pretty, but they’re mine, and that’s all that matters.

References:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7811014_use-geodes-magick.html

http://healing.about.com/cs/crystaltherapy/p/p_geode.htm

Pagan Blog Project

2014

Pagan Blog Project - week 1 – #1 - Arcade Fire (or, "Hey, Orpheus!")

Pagan Blog Project – week 2 – A#2 – Amber

Pagan Blog Project - week 3 - B#1 - Blue Apatite

Pagan Blog Project – week 4 – B#2 – Black Apatite

Pagan Blog Project - week 5 - C#1 - (witch) Crafting  

Pagan Blog Project - week 6 - C#2 - Crowns and Circlet 
Pagan Blog Project – week 7 - D#1 – “TO DARE”

Pagan Blog Project – week 8 - D#2 – Dead Can Dance 

Pagan Blog Project – week 9 - E#1 – Essential Oils

Pagan Blog Project - week 10 - E#2 – Empaths

Pagan Blog Project - week 11 - F#1 - Forsythia

Pagan Blog Project - week 12 - F#2 – Fairy Rings

Pagan Blog Project - Week 13 - G#1 – Gnostics 

2013

Pagan Blog Project - Week 2 - A#2 – Athena

Pagan Blog Project - Week 3 - B#1 – The Bible

Pagan Blog Project - Week 4 - B#2 – Baubo

Pagan Blog Project - Week 5 - C#1 – Covens

Pagan Blog Project - Week 6 - C#2 – Joseph Campbell

Pagan Blog Project - Week 8 - D#2 – Doctor Who

Pagan Blog Project - Week 10 - E#2– Eating

Pagan Blog Project - Week 11 - F#1 – Food

Pagan Blog Project - Week 12 - F#2 – Fairies

Pagan Blog Project - Week 15 - G#2 – Gnostics

Pagan Blog Project - Week 17 - H#2 – Hestia

Pagan Blog Project – Week 52 – Z#1– Zagreus 

Rock the House

While taking my sister around town, we stopped by one of my favorite places on our way to get coffee. This little, cute, new agey store is right around the corner from the coffee shop I used to manage, and the owner is this super sweet lady who always has the best crystals and gemstones in town. 

Digging through a little bowl of hidden treasures, my sister found little points of smoky citrine. I’d never heard of this gemstone before, and knew right away that I needed to have one to keep on my keyboard. At the advice of a friend many years ago, I’ve been keeping a piece of smoky quartz on my keyboard to boost my writing, creativity, confidence, and to prevent writer’s block. These days I cleanse it on my altar between semesters or when I’m on holiday or break, and keep it up on my keyboard when school is in session or when I’m working on something creative (which is most of the time, to be honest.) I’ve really come to enjoy having a piece of smoky quartz around me. It’s a calm, steady, grounding, and gently enlightening stone, at least in my experience with it over the years.

Citrine has always been one of my favorites. I have a lovely citrine necklace that was gifted to me back when I lived in West Texas. It’s a sterling silver flower with five petals and a large, glowing citrine stone in the middle. Back when I was a Baby Pagan in the Bible Belt of West Texas, I’d wear it rather than wearing a pentacle. (five petals, five points… and isn’t a flower a lot like a star, anyway?) These days I don’t wear it as often as I used to, but I love wearing the citrine when I need something bright, happy, uplifting, and invigorating. A good piece of citrine is so warm and inviting and solar. It has almost buttery quality about it, and I particularly love it during June and December – that is, during the summer and winter solstices.

When we moved into this new home in August I knew I needed to set aside a special place for a household altar, since this new place doesn’t have a mantle like the old house did. And while establishing this new household I also felt strongly drawn to Ganesha, probably due to his ties to family, community, and loyalty (as well as marking new beginnings). So I went to my favorite little new agey store because aside from crystals, she always has great statuary from India. I found the household a little golden Ganesha, and for some reason was drawn to these large, beautiful citrine points. So bright! So happy! So our Golden Ganesha sits on the household altar near our hearth/focus/chimenea, along with a few other stones.

Right now my keyboard smoky quartz and brand new smoky citrine are sitting with Ganesha and getting some good energy before I start my fourth and final semester of graduate school. Ganesha is also helpful in terms of the mind, study, and intellect, and he brings blessings to busy students. (like me!)

I read that many citrine pieces are actually just amethyst or smoky quartz that has been heat-treated to enhance the lovely golden yellow color. So it makes sense that smoky quartz and citrine would work well together and have complimentary qualities. 

In addition to the qualities of smoky quartz and citrine individually, smoky citrine is said to be a stone of transformation, helping with transitions and gaining access to deeper self-knowledge and intuition. It is smooth and gentle and kind. It takes negative and unwanted energy and transforms it into something that can be useful and positive. 

These all sound like great energies to bring into my life, especially when I return to school later in January. But most of all, I’m just excited to have something so lovely to decorate my working space!