Crystals ~ Lapis Lazuli
by Maria
Lapis Lazuli the name comes from Arabic and Latin and means blue stone. There are so many variations as to how it got is name. It is composed of several minerals therefore crystal structure will differ. Lapis lazuli is sensitive to strong pressure and high temperatures, hot baths, acids and alkalies, and is best to remove lapis lazuli jewellery to avoid contact with such. Its colours are lazur blue, violet, greenish-blue.
Properties:
Lapis Lazuli was often made into amulets and talismans. A protective stone shielding you against psychic attack and returning the energy back to its source. It brings forth ancient knowledge and wisdom. It is helps you to connect to your Higher Self and Spirit Guides. It increases your vibrational level promoting harmony and balance. It is known to increase psychic abilities. It awakens your intuition and awareness to matters that may be hidden by stimulating the higher senses of the mind, bringing objectivity and clarity.
Lapis lazuli inspires positive thinking and can help lift mild depression and bad moods. It is also a stone for self-confidence and self-expression encouraging those who find if difficult to speak out.
The stone of friendship and truth said to encourage harmony in relationships and strengthens the bond. It helps its wearer to be authentic and give his or her opinion openly. Some believed that dreaming of lapis would foretell love that would be forever faithful.
Lapis lazuli has long been associated with the eyes, since the Ancient Egyptians used it for eye shadow and for making the sacred Eye of Horus symbols. An Ancient Greek cure for eye problems was to place a piece of lapis lazuli in a bowl of warm water, leaving it under the night sky for a few minutes. The water was then used to bathe the afflicted eye. It makes quite a powerful elixir to align the etheric, emotional and spiritual bodies.
On a Physical Level:
- It is a tonic to the nervous system
- It cools where there is inflammation and swelling
- Supports body's own healing by boosting the immune system
- Induces deep and sound sleep(insomnia)
- Alleviates migraine headaches
- Overcomes depression
- Benefits respiratory (throat, larynx, thyroid)
- Overcomes hearing loss and alleviates vertigo
- Lowers blood pressure
- Eyes, strengthening
History:
It has been used since at least 5000BC, and was very popular with many ancient cultures. The most famous locality for fine quality lapis lazuli is in the same ancient deposit high in the mountains of Afghanistan where it was originally mined.
It is an opaque stone and its midnight blue colouring suggested to the ancient Egyptians that it was a stone from the heavens; the flecks of mica or pyrite contained within it were seen as representing the stars in the night sky.
It was one of the stones in the breastplate of the high priest of Israel; the tables upon which Moses received the Law were made of lapis lazuli; and it was used in altars in Spanish churches. The stone was also used by the Assyrians and Persians for making seals.
Lapis Lazuli was known as Sapphire. Ancient writers such as Pliny refer to "sapphirus" as a stone speckled with flecks of gold - obviously a reference to Lapis Lazuli.
Long ago, Lapis was used to make the pigment called Ultramarine, which literally meant "beyond the sea". It was used by medieval artists for the blue cloak of the Virgin Mary.
Physicians for ancient Egypt, Sumer and Babylon used lapis for many medicinal purposes, including curing eye cataracts. The connection with the eye may have come from the use of lapis to fashion carvings of a stylized, which was called the Eye of Isis or the All-Seeing Eye of the Goddess Maat. Since Isis was said to watch over the dead on their final journey, the lapis eye was placed in the sarcophagus with the mummy. The chief justice of Egypt wore the Eye of Maat when he rendered judgments.
Deities:
Lapis lazuli was sacred to the Sumerian goddess of love and war, Ishtar, who was said to have worn a necklace made from it. Lapis Lazuli was one of the most favourite stones of the Egyptians. It was thought to be sacred to the star goddess Nuit of the heavens and to Maat, the goddess of truth and balance. Judges in Ancient Egypt had to wear small lapis lazuli pendants of Maat on gold chains, as a sign of the responsibility of their office. If you wished to call upon one of these goddesses, you placed a piece of lapis lazuli as an offering on your altar.
The stone was often used to represent the heavens, and the earliest reference to it is in a Sumerian hymn describing the Moon god Sim as having a "long flowing beard, bright as lapis lazuli".
The Egyptian Sun god Ra was also described as having lapis lazuli hair, which was symbolic of the heavens.
Dazhbog, the Sun and Father God who is called Grandfather of Russia. He travels in a chariot across the sky, bringing with the morning light, justice and abundance.
Athena - Greek Goddess of War
Dana (Danu) Celtic River Goddess
Hera - Greek Queen of Gods
Nuit - Egyptian Goddess of Heaven and Sky
Yhi - In Australian Aboriginal mythology (specifically: Karraur), Yhi is a goddess of light and creation, and a solar deity. She lived in the Dream time and slept until a whistle awakened her.
Isis - Egyptian Goddess of Magic and Giver of Life.
Ereshkigal is the Sumerian and Babylonian Death Goddess. She was the Queen of the Dead and of the Underworld.
Brigid, the Celtic goddess of fire (the forge and the hearth), poetry, healing, childbirth, and unity, is celebrated in many European countries. She is known by many names, including that of Saint Brigid who is, perhaps, the most powerful religious figure in Irish history.
Ariadne was the immortal wife of the wine-god Dionysos. Often called the mistress or priestess of the Labyrinth, Ariadne began her journey as the mortal daughter of Minos, king of Crete.
Magical Use:
Blue is the colour of idealism, of acquired or traditional knowledge, of learning whatever the age of the person and of wise leadership qualities.
Protects against the fears and dangers of the night, against betrayal and psychic and emotional vampires; use for star and night magic, for promotion, house moves, for leadership opportunities, for female power rituals and to unite the family.
To attract spiritual love, empower lapis lazuli and a pink candle with your need for love. Use the sharp edge of stone to carve a heart into the candle. Place the stone near the candleholder and burn the candle while visualizing a love coming into your life. After the spell is complete, carry the stone with you until the love you seek arrives.
If you have trouble speaking from the heart and saying what you really feel, anoint a piece of lapis lazuli with cedar oil (which is sacred to Ishtar), and ask for help in expressing yourself.
Edgar Cayce, recommending carrying a piece of Lapis Lazuli with you at all times wherever you go. He felt it one of the best spiritual stones, the "Sleeping Prophet".
If friend needs healing, hold a stone and picture them as healed, healthy, and whole. Visualise the energy streaming into the stone and on to the person. Hold in hand during healing ritual or place around blue or purple candles, helps focus energy towards outcome.
Dream work - place a small piece inside pillowcase if having trouble remembering dreams or to increase vibrational level of dreaming.
Due to Lapis Lazuli's connection to Jupiter, it is a good stone to use for legal matters.
In ancient Sumer, the stone was very closely associated with the deities in general, and in carrying it, its possessor bore the potent magical power of a deity, for the stone contained the force behind all divinity. Some said the stone contained the soul the deity, who would "rejoice it its owner".
Chakra: Aids in balancing and cleansing all the chakras. Throat chakra, deals with blockages. Awakens third eye, use with care if placing directly on the third eye.
Element: Water, Air
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Saturn, Venus, Jupiter
Birthstone: Sep, Dec (Ancient)
Zodiac: Aries, Aquarius, Taurus (Ancient), Libra
Numerical: Vibration: 3
References:
Magic and Ritual in Practice: Lesson 2. 2006
Gemstones of the World, Walter Schumann
Health Essentials, Crystal Healing, Simon Lilly
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yhi
Complete Book of Natural Magick, Cassandra Eason
A Year and a Day in Magick, Cassandra Eason
Illustrated Guide to Crystals, Judy Hall
Goddess Crystals Written by Kernow Wytch Sep 20, 2008
Goddess Correspondence Stones by Lilitu Babalon
The Book of Crystals, A practical guide to the beauty and healing influence of crystals and gemstones
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1856897/the_spiritual_meaning_of_lapis_lazuli_pg2.html?cat=34
http://www.gemstonebuzz.com/meaning/lapis-lazuli
http://crystal-cure.com/lapis-gem.html
http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/lazurite/lazurite.htm
http://www.mineralminers.com/html/lapminfo.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapis_lazuli
http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/lapis.html
http://www.helium.com/items/964388-history-and-significance-of-lapis-lazuli-gemstones
Image - Lapis lazuli photographed by Maria from her private collection.
