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Healing Beads: The Special Meanings of Gemstones
Topic: People and Events
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Healing Beads After experiencing a frustrating year of health concerns, doctors, and hospitals in 2007, I started seeing a naturopath. I'd never been to a natural healer and can't claim I welcomed Diane into my life without a big dose of skepticism. But as I have since seen results (restless legs abated! digestion quieted! back surgery cancelled! pounds lost!), I'm not going to question how or why. |
In gratitude for Diane's treatment, I sat down this weekend to make her a bead-embroidered pin. I've never been too sure about the claim that gemstones have healing properties, but I'm pretty sure Diane is, so I thought I'd make the effort to use stones that she might enjoy having around her. Hawk's eye for vision; lapis lazuli for intuition; turquoise for overall good juju.
Diane's Pin |
While making the pin, I found myself truly appreciating everything she's done for me the last few months. With each stitch, I reflected on her bright face, encouraging comments, and intuitive observations. It was like she was sitting right next to me. And you know what? I found myself filled with great energy. Could it have been the right combination of gemstones? Maybe. But I know it was mostly from the beading itself. The meditative quality of beading makes it simple to evoke that feeling. |
You know that the Anglo-Saxon word "bede" means prayer, right? I think it makes perfect sense, don't you? Beading allows us to get into that zone. For me, even though I might have a filled to-do list, a sassy nine-year-old, or a hive-producing liver-cleanse on my mind, as soon as I pick up the beads I get drawn back into the zone. Beading brings calm and quiet. And I tell you, when it's a gift I'm beading, the joy of "being" with the giftee is like an extra cherry on the meditation sundae.
I hope Diane likes my gift. I know I already got as much out of it as she will.
Healing Stones
There's a long history of belief in the healing qualities of gemstones. Native Americans used them for prayer and healing, and Chinese health practitioners have used them for thousands of years. I know I feel a tingly healing quality just when I run my fingers through my gemstone stash! In any case, there are long lists of properties ascribed to our little rock buddies. A quick Web search under "healing stones" will give you the big picture. To whet your appetite, here's a very brief list of the stones common to many of our "stashi" with a one-word quality:
Amazonite: prosperity
Crystal quartz: harmony
Jasper: grounding
Lapis lazuli: intuition
Onyx: balance
Pearl: purity
Peridot: health and wealth
Rhodochrosite: love
Serpentine: clarity
Sodalite: wisdom
Tourmaline: strength
Turquoise: peace
Jean Campbell writes about beading and life every Wednesday on Beading Daily. If you have comments or questions for Jean, please post them on the website. Thanks!
Comments
I believe in healing stones, I use gemstones as the main ingredient in most of my pieces And seed-beading is also quite relaxing for me. In her pin, is that lapis around the outside? What's in the middle? I'm so glad that you are feeling better as well. What is a hive-producing liver cleanse?
I make bracelets with healing stones for friends or coworkers who are going through cancer treatments, or other tough times.
Usually pink and white, with pearls and rose quartz to symbolize the love of all her friends (or coworkers) who are thinking of her every day.
Jean, if possible, could you PLEASE tell me what your naturopath did for your restless legs! I hate the medication I'm on for mine, and I would love to have something else to suggest or ask my naturopath about.
Wow! What a wonderful and informative newsletter todays was! I read the whole thing without missing a word. I'll definitely file this one for reference when I am buying gemstones. I always wondered why the Native Americans used so much stone, turquoise seems to be the one most used, perhaps because they longed for peace more than anyone. Thanks for your insight. Mae in Costa Rica
Wow, I have many of the same ailments and would like to get off all of these meds. Where does one find a naturopath? I'm in NJ. Thanks, Doris
This was a lovely post. It is always good for us to be reminded of the value and the meaning of the earth's gifts of stones. Thank you!
Wow girl, you are in about the same shape that I am. My Grandmother on my Dad's side was a Cherokee Midwife and Healer. She taught me at a young age the healing/soothing properties of crystals and gemstones.
I carry a pocket full of rawstones and have several jewelry pieces that I wear that include lapis, hematite, sodalite, amethyst, shells and a raven's talon. I also wear about 5 lbs. of copper to help ease movement of the wrists and hands. I even made wire-wrapped copper rings to fit my thumbs. It takes a bit of getting used to, but that is well worth the results.
I am not new to beadwork, but it is a hobby that I let go of at about 14-15 or so when I started working and dating. At 45 and in bad physical condition, I have taken it back up just to keep my hands busy. If I don't use them, they get all stiff and I can't use them.
Your pin is beautiful. I love the mixture of colors and stone properties. You should wear it proudly.
By the way, are you going to submit the pattern for that pin or do you want to keep it as a one of a kind dealio? I would love to make one with lapis and moonstone and use it as a pendant.
Oh Jean, please do publish how to make that lovely pin. It would be just what I need to get going with bead embroidery.
Oh Jean, please do publish how to make that lovely pin. It would be just what I need to get going with bead embroidery.
I certainly hope you don't mind, but I'm a practicing witch and the uses to which I usually put these gemstones are a little different, and I'd like to add a few that would also be useful:
Amazonite: peace and tranquility
Crystal quartz: energy ... quartz is like a psychic battery and can be used in conjunction with almost any other stone to increase it's power.
Lapis lazuli: vision, and the ancient egyptians used it for consecrations for all sorts of things
Pearl: love love love - pearls were sacred to the greek goddess aphrodite, who is often pictured standing in an open oyster shell.
Peridot: health and wealth
Rhodochrosite: love
Sodalite: vision
Turquoise: protection, especially while traveling
Malachite - wealth and material well-being
Pyrite - quick material windfalls
Moonstone - love, intuition, female power
Amythest - was said to guard against drunkenness, also general healing of both the body and the psyche, amplification of psychic power, and protection.
Flourite - spiritual well-being
rose quartz - romantic love
hematite - grounding, balancing of energies
serpentine - spiritual change
Hope this helps in case anyone does want to throw some cosmic foo into their beading!
~ Mystic Pesto
I truly believe in healing stones and have made some beautiful pieces that I would love to share with you. My latest is a prayer box with healing message beads and rose quartz rondelles. I have added two swarovski amethyst hearts
Dear Jean, your articles are downright healthy! You put the two worlds of beading and health together as they should be...many patients get hours of "healing" with the use of beads...the talk of meditation while beading is TRUE...many people speak of the tension and stress relief that beading brings to them....You know that would be a great full length feature in the magazine...BEADS AND HEALING. thanks Marjorie Hopkins
Faerie Queen Cuff
Fruit Salad Choker
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