Crystal Workshop
Introduction to Crystals, Mineral and Stones
By:  Rev. Terri Heiman

A Native American holy man sits beneath the stars and prays for rain to relieve the terrible drought that has endangered his people.  Chanting softly he pierces the skin of his forearm with a flake of stone, allowing drops of his blood to fall upon a small slab of precious turquoise on the offering to the Thunder Beings and persuade them to bring the storms.

An ancient gypsy woman leans over her sphere of clear quartz peering into the light of the ball seeking to divine the future fortunes of those who seek her wisdom.

An Aleut hunter sits before his home fire, carefully flaking shards of obsidian off a core to form a spear point.  As he works the piece he prays to the spirit of the stone, asking it to protect him from harm as he hunts, and to speak to the spirits of those he kills, telling them of his thanks for their sacrifice.
         (The Crystal Ally)

Crystals and stones have held mystical meaning for humans since before the dawn of history.  For millennia tribal shamans and holy people from every culture and race have employed crystals and stones in their healing practices.  Throughout history people have worn stones as talismans, and seers have utilized crystals for divination.  Like herbs, which were used in curing illness, stones were considered to have a spirit or energy within, which could be called upon to aid the healer in his or her work.  Stones were prescribed as antidotes curatives, balancing agents, and as spiritual teachers.  In many of these cultures crystals and stones were considered to be living beings. See link at right for complete article as pdf.