Alternative Healing Articles
Healing With Colors
July 31, 2011 | Ginger Red Hawk
Colors affect our moods, our ideas and thoughts and the entire environment around us in general. "Green with envy", "Pink with embarrassment", "Red with anger", "Feeling blue", "Purple with rage" - We use color to express our emotions. Artists use colors to express emotions of their caricatures. How often have we seen a Minnie Mouse blush pink? The number of times Jerry has made Tom see red is uncountable. Given that we use colors to express our emotions, it is not too far fetched to believe that colors can actually affect our moods. There is empirical evidence to indicate that indeed, colors affect our moods.
Going one step further, colors can also be used to heal. Healing is all about making one feel better - physically, emotionally and spiritually. Since colors do affect our emotions they can be used to heal as well.
Healing With Crystals
July 30, 2011 | Ginger Red Hawk
Crystal therapy is not a new phenomenon. The earliest records can be found in the Ebers papyrus from ancient Egypt. The papyrus states the medicinal uses of many crystals. The Indian ayurvedic system and traditional Chinese medicine as old as 5000 years also make references to crystal therapy.
What exactly is crystal therapy?
Various crystals and gemstones are placed on or around a fully clothed person. This is done to induce deep relaxation, release stress and pain, and promote the energy balance within the physical body. The treatment can take up to an hour and crystals can be used singly or in patterns. The crystals are generally placed on sites of pain, on acupuncture points or chakras.
Different stones have different properties.
Individual stones have characteristics of their own. With a little practice and intuition one can make educated guesses as to what the properties of a stone are likely to be. A red stone for example, is likely to energize and invigorate. A blue stone on the other hand will soothe and cool down. Given below are some crystals and their healing properties.
Crystal Effect / Property
Amazonite Improves self worth
Amethyst Good for spiritual upliftment and better communication. Also improves liver problems.
Aquamarine Recommended for people experiencing a lot of grief. Encourages loving acceptance of the situation.
Coral Strengthens and protects one's emotional foundation.
Diamond Helps one understand oneself better.
Emerald For physical and emotional healing - a strong healer.
Jade For relaxation and to reduce tension.
Lapis Helps to understand different points of view.
White Moonstone Balances yin/yang.
Black Onyx Helps to change bad habits.
Fresh Water Pearl Enables one to love oneself and hence others.
Poppy Jasper To give a happy outlook and optimistic feeling.
Ruby To experience love with an open heart.
Sapphire Mental clarity.
Pink Tourmaline Promote female balance and healing.
Other than the color the shape of the crystal can also affect healing. The commonly available shapes are:
Single terminated wands: With a single point on one end and a rough or rounded edge on the other, they are popular for healing, cleansing, meditation and jewelry.
Chunks: These are crystals minus any noticeable facets. Good to carry around in your pocket.
Clusters: These are a small group of crystals that have naturally grown together. Great for enriching a living or working environment.
Cut Crystals: Are those that have been cut and polished into traditionally acceptable shapes like tear drops, pyramids, and spheres.
Tumblestones: Are crystals that have been tumbled over each other many times with increasingly finer abrasive until the sides become smooth and shiny.
How Do I Choose A Crystal?
Choosing a crystal requires use of your unconscious mind. The best way to do this is by feeling. Look at a whole bunch of different crystals for a few minutes. There will be a special crystal that calls to you. You may want to touch it, or feel it or just keep gazing at it. This is the crystal you want to pick.
Buying a crystal just because you set out to buy one is not going to get you the crystal that is ideally yours. If you buy a crystal without feeling, you will essentially be buying a rock. There's nothing wrong with buying rocks either! However, if you want your crystal to act as a healer it must connect with you.
If you are looking to buy a crystal with a specific purpose in mind or for therapy, then you already know which type of stone you want. In such a case, look at a range of stones in different sizes and shapes and pick the one that appeals to you most.
As with most new age therapies the effects of crystal therapy are subtle and work with the unconscious. If you are looking for miracles they won't happen.