Aum

As the cross is to Christians, the Om is to Hindus. It is by far the most important symbol in Hinduism, it occurs in every prayer and invocation to most deities begins with it. As the symbol of piety, Om is often found at the head of letters, pendants, enshrined in every Hindu temple and family shrines. This symbol is actually a sacred syllable representing the Absolute the source of all existence. The Absolute in itself, is incomprehensible so a symbol becomes mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable. The syllable Om occurs even in English words having a similar meaning, for instance, 'omniscience', 'omnipotent', 'omnipresent'. Thus Om is also used to signify divinity and authority. Its similarity with the Latin 'M' as also to the Greek letter 'Omega' is discernable. Even the word 'Amen' used by Christians to conclude a prayer seems to be akin to Om.

The Aum or Om symbol comes from ancient Sanskrit and is one of the oldest names for God in any written language. It has various meanings. The Om is a well-known sound mantra or chant, as the devotees would chant the name of god over and over again, From The Bhagavad-Gita Ch.10, Verse 25 The Blessed Lord said: "Among words, I am the one syllable AUM"

The Aum or Om is chanted in 4 stages, from the lower lungs and abdomen we start with the ah then raising the sound up the wind pipe to the back of the throat to create an ou then bringing the sound forwards to the lips to create mm and finally bringing the attention to the bridge of the nose with a ngh sound that rises up to the forehead. Ah-Ou-Mm-Ngh or Aum. The mystics would chant this ancient sound, raising their own consciousness as they did so, and at the same time planting the image of their desire within their foreheads that it might come to be. Wearing or carrying the sacred image of the Aum was seen to be auspicious, as it would bring the user closer to the divine, as well as protecting and aiding you through life. The Om is written in 3 curves a separate semi curve and a dot.

The large lower curve 1 symbolizes the waking state (jagrat), in this state the consciousness is turned outwards through the gates of the senses. The larger size signifies that this is the most common state of the human consciousness.

The upper curve 2 denotes the state of deep sleep (sushupti) or the unconscious state. This is a state where the sleeper desires nothing nor beholds any dream. The middle curve 3 (which lies between deep sleep and the waking state) signifies the dream state (swapna). In this state the consciousness of the individual is turned inwards, and the dreaming self beholds an enthralling view of the world behind the lids of the eyes.

These are the three states of an individual's consciousness, and since Indian mystic thought believes the entire manifested reality to spring from this consciousness, these three curves therefore represent the entire physical phenomenon. The dot signifies the fourth state of consciousness, known in Sanskrit as turiya. In this state the consciousness looks neither outwards nor inwards, nor the two together. It signifies the coming to rest of all differentiated, relative existence this utterly quiet, peaceful and blissful state is the ultimate aim of all spiritual activity. This Absolute (non-relative) state illuminates the other three states.

The semi circle 4 symbolizes maya and separates the dot from the other three curves. Thus it is the illusion of maya that prevents us from the realization of this highest state of bliss. The semi circle is open at the top, and does not touch the dot. This means that this highest state is not affected by maya. Maya only affects the manifested phenomenon. This effect is that of preventing the seeker from reaching his ultimate goal, the realization of the One, all-pervading, un-manifest, absolute principle. In this manner, the form of OM represents the un-manifest and the manifest.

The word AUM is not invented by any man. It is the primordial and uncreated sound, which is heard by mystics absorbed in contemplation, when their minds and senses are withdrawn from the world. It is said that all the sounds from within the universe come together to create one sound and this sound is Aum. In fact in recent years NASA recorded the sound that our Planet Earth makes while orbiting the Sun and it is exactly AUM!

Other ways to work with the AUM are to focus on the different aspects as follows:-

A stands for Creation.
U stands for Preservation.

And finally
M stands for Destruction or dissolution.

From this we can focus our attention to the different capabilities of the mind, to create, preserve or to destroy!


Aum Mani Mani Padme Aum


Gold Om

Gemstones That Protect II

Crystals that Protect II

Here are a few more of the unusual and seldom mentioned protective stones. They are not rare and are easy to get hold of and have invaluable use in the field of crystal healing as well as protection.

Agate can be found in many colours; it covers a huge section of the semi precious gemstone kingdom, and has one of the largest write up sections by Melody in her Kaleidoscope of crystals "Love is in the Earth." Where amethyst and clear quartz crystal are stones of the heavens, Agate is a stone of the Earth; it is ancient and deserves the respect as such. It was used by the kings of old as talismans. It symbolised, power, strength and wealth as well as offering protection, particularly when on the battlefield. Hence the Kings adorned themselves with the many different coloured agates, setting them in sword handles as well as armour, rings and talismans. Many problems arise due to people being off balance and "spacey" or "air headed" being in this state of mind can cause people to have accidents of varying degree depending on the physical locality and work needed to be done. Agate helps to "ground" you, giving you a feeling of being present in the "here and now" such that accidents are less likely to happen. It also helps to calm the mind, as when the mind is cluttered with thoughts it can lead to being ungrounded as well as creating stress that can lead to mistakes and accidents in every day life. Examples of agate are carnelian, blue lace, druzy and en-hydro. Carnelian is probably one of the best known agates, being a bright orange in colour many people are attracted to it and maybe don't realise that it is an agate. Blue lace agate is as the name suggests a gentle light blue with white lace trails through it. Druzy agate is when the agate forms lots of tiny teeth like crystals such as amethyst, but much smaller. Lastly the en-hydro is where the agate forms an egg type growth which has trapped water inside. All are excellent healing crystals as well as very protective.

Jasper is also an ancient stone of the Earth, providing grounding and protection. It is also found in many colours and structures. It can even be found as fossils, where it replaces the original structure such as petrified wood. Again this mineral was used by the Ancient Kings as symbols of power and wealth but most of all as a protective talisman against ill will and harm, in every day life, as well as giving protection in battle. Red and Picture Jasper are the most common varieties but there are many more. There is a huge list of nearly all the Jaspers in Kaleidoscope of crystals "Love is in the Earth." by Melody.

Iron Pyrite "Fools Gold" is a metallic golden coloured mineral. It gets its common name by its resemblance to gold. It grows in cubic growth structures that are quite impressive. This mineral connects to the solar plexus, and the chakra Manipura. It is very grounding and protective keeping harmful influences at bay. It also promotes courage, strength and confidence as well as helping you to face fears. These positive influences also help on a karmic level to keep you free from danger.

Ruby is a red form of corundum and associates with the root chakra, Muladhara, as well as the heart chakra Anahata. It helps to ground and protect on the physical level and is very good if you intend to travel as it helps keep the journey free from problems. Particularly good are the small ruby crystals from Madagascar but these are very hard to come by.

Clear quartz Crystal is a form of silicate; as such it holds and stores energy, in a similar way to the "silicon chip" used in computers. That makes quartz very useful for "programming". You can leave positive intentions of protection for you, for others or for an environment on a quartz crystal and it will then radiate this energy all around. It attracts and transmits bright white light which on its own is also very protective against dark energy.

As a general rule of thumb, darker minerals such as blacks, browns, reds and oranges are very protective, especially on the physical level. But there are always other and higher levels that we need to work on and sometimes find strength and support for as well as protection. That is when gem stones such as amethyst, Apophyllite and clear quartz come into their own element as being invaluable in the field of crystal magic.

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Crystals that Protect
Part 1

In the many years that I have promoted crystals, there is one main question that I am always asked; “What crystal can I wear to protect myself?”

When I began to work with gemstones 15 years ago, the first crystal that I bought was for protection, and it seems to be one of the major reasons that people are drawn to gemstones in the first place, to help them through dark and negative times. Here is a list of all the protective gemstones that I know and work with and what realms they can help protect you.
Black Tourmaline this mineral as the name depicts is a real black. The stone is opaque and grows in natural crystals with either single or double ended terminations. Black tourmaline has been used through the ages by, Witch Doctors and Shamans alike to protect themselves from harmful and unwanted energies. From spells from their enemies or just lost spirits that have nothing better to do than chastise the living. It helps as a shield reflecting the negative energies back to where it came from, but also helps to keep our own negative energies from affecting others, and so stops any negative cycles of karma inflicting us. Other uses of this stone are that it is a great teacher, dedicated to the white light sharing its knowledge as we work with it along the path. Black tourmaline is very grounding bringing us back to the material plane when we are adrift in the current of life.
Amethyst has to be one of the most popular protective stones. It radiates a beautiful purple colour from the deepest darks to pale lilacs, and sometimes holds much fire as in the African varieties. Most people know of it and this property. Amethyst protects on the psychic level, keeping unwanted negative psychic energies away. Instead of reflecting them, Amethyst will absorb them and transmute them back into positive energy and return them to the universe. Known as the queen of the crystal, she is also a great teacher, showing us what we need to learn in order to stop the repetitive cycles of karma that hold us back from advancing to the next level. If you are working with a lot of negativity it is advisable to cleanse the crystal that you are working with often.
Apophyllite is very similar to quartz crystal; it has the same chemical composition but grows in 4 sided structures instead of 6. It forms is natural pyramidal structures that “shear” off the main growth clusters to form perfect tools to work with on the charkas or in the environment. Apophyllite promotes bright white light, and protects us in this aura of light. It strongly protects us on the astral planes keeping unwanted astral entities from interfering with our own astral body, enabling us to return safely to our physical body. Apophyllite also promotes joy and happiness and is excellent for clearing depression. Apophyllite can hold negative energy while it works with it and in time will transmute it into positive energy. Again if you are working with a lot of negativity it is advisable to help the crystal along by cleansing it often.
Citrine is a close family member to Amethyst also from the quartz family. It is Amethyst that has been gently heated in the earths crust. In this process it turns from the purple colour of Amethyst to a golden yellow. This crystal is very good at absorbing negativity of all kinds. But unlike the Amethyst and Apophyllite it can very quickly transmute them into love and return it back to the universe. Citrine will never hold negative energy and energetically never needs to be cleansed. Citrine is also good for strength, courage and confidence, its golden rays imbue the user with the ability to face and conquer fears. Do watch out for man made citrine though, this is amethyst that has been put in an oven and baked until golden yellow. These crystals do hold the powers of citrine but are not half as strong!
Obsidian is a volcanic lustre rock, created during volcanic activities either above or under the Earths crust. It comes in various varieties, having sheens of colour including green, blue, and red, orange and purple sometimes all of them which is called rainbow obsidian. This gemstone helps to protect by acting like a shield. The energies that it can’t reflect it will absorb and work with until it is positive energy again. It is advisable to cleanse obsidian regularly when working in negative environments. Obsidian is also very grounding as well as protective and the different colour rays work on the different charkas.
Rainbow Moonstone is a member of the Feldspar family and has a beautiful blue sheen colour and sometimes a rainbow colouration as well. This gemstone helps to protect the Aura from unwanted energy that if left could develop into physical illness. Moonstone also helps to promote the feminine, lunar qualities of life, as well as helping out with healing anxiety, worry and stress. Again this stone will need regular cleansing to keep it working at its best.
Next we will continue to look at more of the protective gem stones.

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Dragons - Myth or Fact?

The symbol of the Dragon has been used in all ages, as motifs, emblems, banners and coats of arms. It has been used from East to West all over the globe. All cultures have at some stage in their history written tales and created drawings of the Dragon. So what is it all about? Is it myth, legend, folk lore, or snippets of the truth that have been lost down through the ages, leaving only the images and a few tales of their splendour?

The Dragon symbolises power and wealth, wisdom and strength. They have been depicted as mean and evil, stealing beautiful princesses, hoarding great wealth and as caring and helpful creatures aiding people in their quest. The human mind has a vast store of imagery, some call this the collective archetypal unconscious, and from time to time these images come through, representing the latent energy that stores up in the psyche of mankind. Dragon energy is seen to be a swirling free energy that spirals turning in on itself like a figure of eight covering all possible directional views. This is why martial artists revere the Dragon and practice forms that flow with very similar energy patterns and call these forms Dragon Style. This swirling formation pattern can be seen everywhere within the natural world, in eddying currents of rivers, in the air around us, more easily seen in autumn when leaves are present to show us the motion of the air currents, in flames moving freely in uncontained fires and even in the Earth's movements, especially sand dunes in motion as well as volcanic activity and lava flow. This has led to there being four types of Dragons; Air Dragons, Fire Dragons, Water Dragons and Earth Dragons. These different Dragon types hold to the element energies and properties of the four elements and are classically depicted in relevant colours as well as similar habitats, such as a Fire Dragon being red and living in a volcano or a Water Dragon being green and blue and living in a river, lake or ocean. So through mans connection with these elements and through the powers of the imagination these magnificent creatures have come to life. The Dragon at rest can clearly be seen in the lay of the land, the formations of sand dunes, the hills and valleys. The ancient Celts had beliefs that all of nature was one huge Dragon laying dormant, just awaiting to be aroused by the magical chants of the Druids, to do their bidding.

But does that mean that they are only make believe? Well, there have been so many sightings of large monsters all over the world living in the depths of the oceans or large and deep lakes. Some point to the idea of sea monsters or dinosaurs that survived the Ice Age. Is this perhaps the root of our beautiful and playful creatures that we read about today in folk lore, or were they an actual breed of creatures that were destroyed by knights until extinct? No one can really prove their existence until someone can show the world a huge fire breathing Dragon and put all our doubts to rest, but still the energy lives on, for some more real than imagination, for some a fantasy creature that holds great wisdom and for others something to mock at. None the less, Dragons have played a huge part in our cultural development; they are present in our art, stories and as show in works of art such as jewellery. They are worn as symbols, allowing the individual to express the parts of their own nature that they associate with the Dragon, such as power, strength, wisdom. But the Dragon is also a magical creature. Not only can they fly and breathe fierce flames they also have an air of magical ability around them as mythical creatures and this people associate with most.

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Dragon

By Rondie Evans

Scales of Diamonds shining bright
Gives them power and such might,
That none would dare challenge,
But the bravest Knight

Great armoured wings for flight
Emerald coloured eyes for sight
Breath an inferno of flames
Which they use in any fight

Now laid to rest an age ago
For none to see amore
They lay hidden in the deep
Gemstone caverns of this world

There we go amongst the gems
To carry away our treasure
Not knowing what lays beneath
What we might awaken forever


© Brilliant Gems 2014

Part II

Preface

Hello and welcome back to part II of working with Pendulums. In this section I will be discussing how to use pendulums for healing. So how do we use a pendulum for healing? I may hear you ask. Well it’s simple and effective, and for those of you who already have an understanding of how to use a crystal for healing, will find these techniques very easy to apply and practise.

The Chakras.
The human body has seven energy centres or chakras. To refresh your memories they run down the centre column of the body starting at the root (muladara) chakra found at the base of the spine (depicted by the colour ray red), running up to the top of the head or the crown (sarahasrara) chakra (depicted by the colour ray violet, or bright white light). These energy centres open us to the universal energies all around us, from Heavenly influence to Earthly influence, changing our feelings, emotions and moods of the day all our lives. When these channels or doorways become blocked, “locked”, closed or just over-stressed due to city life, the connection with the Heavenly and Earthly divine energies becomes obscure or even non-active. This leads to dis-ease of mind, which then leads on to disease of the body. This can however be remedied with correct use of crystal healing, which is holistic, as not only can crystal healing cure illness that is fully blown, it is also preventative, stopping any ailment from arising before the symptoms start to show.

The Pendulum.
Now we come to the fun part, practically applying crystal therapy to the body using a pendulum. Firstly it is always better to do this for someone else rather than our selves, as it is good for the patient to be relaxed and still, preferably laying down as this posture allows the spine to be straight and the chakras free from obstruction, (this just adds to the fun!!). So with your friend laying down in a draught free, warm room ask them to gently close their eyes and to relax. Playing peaceful background music can be conducive to the healing session, as this always helps set the scene and to relax the whole situation. When they have become still hold your chosen pendulum over the root chakra about an inch above the physical body, and just allow the pendulum to do as it wishes, turning and moving. The pendulum will be doing its work depending on which gem stone you use. I advise you use three pendulums (1) Rose Quartz for cleansing and purifying the chakra with unconditional love. (2) Clear Quartz for opening and activating the energy centres with divine bright light & (3) Amethyst for soothing the chakras and creating a protective energy around them.
When you feel the root chakra has received enough healing (don’t forget if you are not sure about this, ask the pendulum, as discussed in Part I, but usually 5 to 10 minutes is long enough), move the pendulum up to the next energy centre (chakra) this would be the sacral plexus or svadhisthana chakra, and allow the chakra to come to rest, or constant state of motion depending on how it feels! Then once again when the time is right move up to the next chakra manipura, and carry on this process all the way to the top of the chakra system, the crown Sahasrara . When you reach the crown you can change pendulums and do the process again until the three different types of gemstone pendulums have been used on every centre.
By then the patient should be in a very open relaxed state of mind, feeling free of all worries and tensions of the day. Do make sure that no disturbance could interfere with the therapy session, by taking the phone of the hook, turning the doorbell off and making sure no one else is due to come around at that time, as loud or sudden noise can be quite a jolt to a person in this open state of deeply relaxed mind. When you are quite happy that all the chakras have been exposed long enough to the influence of the gem stone pendulums (ask the pendulum itself if you are unsure about this) allow the person to come around in their own time, gently opening their eyes at first then moving a finger or two, then ask them to roll onto their side before sitting up, using the hands and arms to help them so that no strain is put on the back. It is also a good idea to then pass them a piece of Smokey Quartz to ground themselves or even include this in the pendulum healing with an earthy pendulum (Agate, Jasper, Smokey quartz or Black tourmaline) at the end of the session held over the root (base of the spine) chakra before they come around.

Conclusion
After the therapy it is always fun to chat about the therapy, so that you both share your feelings and experiences of the healing session, as this can help shed light on any problems that might be underlying in the individuals state of health. Also then you can swap around, taking it in turns to receive healing from each other using the gem stone pendulums, such that both friends are giving and receiving energy to create a healthy flow of energy between yourselves. You may also like to experiment with these techniques and develop your own styles of pendulum healing unique to you, maybe with different gem stones used or by asking questions about the individuals state of health at each chakra, enabling a deeper insight to each others needs and requirements. Play and enjoy!! Most importantly make healing fun!! Until next time best wishes, and good-bye for now.


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Pendulums I - Divining and Healing.

Pendulums I

Divining and Healing.

Pendulums have been used for centuries by people concerned with the unknown, for matters that the eye cannot see. From finding lost items to magical energy fields known as ley lines, to hidden wells of water deep beneath the earth. They have also been used by more spiritual people to divine future events, to answer questions where a yes or no answer will guide and also for the healing of the physical, mental and spiritual bodies. This article is primarily concerned with the later as this is the field I specialise in, but will also cover the basics of how to use a pendulum for all the above as well.

Divining.

Before anyone can begin to dowse they must first choose for themselves the right dowser/pendulum. But which is the right dowser for me? And how do I know it is right for me? These questions I hear every day and are very easy to answer, firstly always trust your intuition to help you choose the pendulum for you. You will instinctively know which one you will like out of the selection you see before you at the crystal shop; we at Brilliant Gems have a vast selection of pendulums and always find one to suit every body's uniqueness. If you cannot see one that appeals to you then just try them all out!! Pick one up and play with it, then the next and so on until you find one that reacts the best for you. So after picking the one that " jumps out at you " the most, or that responds the best by moving about, the first thing to do is to find out how it will "talk" to you. This may sound absurd at first but after a few minutes of your effort you will soon see for yourselves that the pendulum seems to have a life of its own.

So when you have your dowser, allow yourself to relax and just let the pendulum hang freely. Voice to yourself or say out loud "Please give me a motion for yes". There are three distinct types of motion dowsers can make:-

i) They can move in circular motion, clockwise or anti- clockwise. This is the motion for my yes answer, but remember, it is different for every body.

ii) Backwards and forwards in a straight line. This is the motion to answer no to my question.

iii) The dowser jiggles on the end of the chain but does little else. This kind of motion is significant when tuning a dowser into an object.

Ok when this is ascertained (be patient this may take a little while as you may not be used to channelling this kind of energy), you are ready to begin. The first obvious question is; "Is this pendulum the right one for me?" This should confirm your intuitive choice, or if you are trying many out will lead to the right one! From here on in you can make your own path, as your own personnel and unique style will mould the way your dowsing skill will develop, over the years that you practice at asking questions. Good uses are for finding out allergies, choosing aromatherapy oils, herbs, or crystals that would work best with you. Career moves, financial decisions and directions in life can all be confirmed with a dowser to give you that edge in decision-making. Healing.

What is little known is that a pendulum is not only great for divining, but when made in gemstones have a great healing effect on the body, mind and spirit. This I will go into with more depth in Part II. : Happy healing!

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