Lithomancy

A Brief History of Gems

Ever since our species Homo Sapiens became the dominant hominid on the planet, we have been decorating ourselves to show status; Hair, bones, teeth, and scraps of fur were among the first ornaments with which we decorated ourselves.

However, as centuries passed and we discovered tools, we have since been digging into the earth in search of new and wonderful things; precious stone like limestone, lapis lazuli, and marble, gemstones like carnelian, quartz crystal, and fluorite, and the 'proper' gems like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Even today, we continue to make discoveries of crystal and mineral formations, sometimes so rare that there is only ever one example ever found.

Woven, shaped, bevelled and set in metals like silver and gold, for millennia these stones and gems have symbolized power, status, beauty, and an air of regalia. They have been the ornament of kings, queens, presidents, statesmen, even our most decorated athletes in the Olympics and trophy sports like football and hockey.

And ever since they became this symbol of wealth, they have also been assigned noble attributes: some for their rarity, some for their usefulness, and some for the resonant energies that these crystals and stones seem to germinate within ourselves.

How Lithomancy Works

Lithomancy itself is one of the few divinatory arts that is almost entirely freeform. Each practitioner dedicated to Lithomancy usually ends up creating their own casting system, or several, depending on their personal strengths, their intent, and the type of reading desired. Some people favour the Zodiac, and stones representing the Signs, and others create entirely secular and neutral systems using the calendar. Others again use the ideas and archetypes within the stones themselves in an entirely intuitive fashion or create some sort of guidance system to create a basis of thought to follow.

The important thing about lithomancy is being able to interpret what you see- even within an identical reading with a solid system, different readers will pick up on slightly different information within the answers provided, making the reading more about the rapport between the reader and the client, in order to be able to ask the right questions to find the information sought.

Alyra's Top 10 Favourite Gemstones

Labradorite
Properties: Deflects unwanted energy, prevents energy leakage, banishes fears
Healing: Relieves stress, regulates metabolism, lowers blood pressure

Fluorite
Properties: Psychic protection, decreases electromagnetic stress, grounding
Healing: Converts negative energy, heightens intuitive powers

Smoky Quartz
Properties: Grounding, promotes positive thought, assimilates negative energy
Healing: relieves rheumatic and osteopathic pain, aids mineral/vitamin absorption

Carnelian
Properties: Cleanses other stones, stabilizes personality, facilitates trust
Healing: increases fertility, regulates body fluids, calms stress and anger issues

Lapis Lazuli
Properties: Opens third eye chakra, blocks a psychic attack, reveals the inner truth
Healing: alleviates migraines, boosts the immune system, alleviates insomnia

Sodalite
Properties: unites logic and intuition, aids meditation, aids emotional balances
Healing: balances metabolism, lowers blood pressure, combats radiation damage

Turquoise
Properties: promotes spiritual attunement, releases self-inhibition, aids creativity
Healing: strengthens physical body, counters inflammation, alleviates cramps/pain

Clear Quartz
Properties: powerful healing, purifies energy, aids concentration and memory
Healing: stimulates the immune system, soothes burns, universal healing

Obsidian
Properties: exposes lies/weaknesses, emotional catharsis, blocks a psychic attack
Healing: detoxification, dissolves arterial blockages, treats emotional shock

Tiger's Eye
Properties: reveals integrity, protects against negative energy, identifies priorities

Healing: aids night vision, facilitates bone healing, heals the throat