Conference hydra::dejavu

Just wanted to clear up a couple of things about the
crystals.  

* The crystals are really not very attractive, but 
  then the beauty is in the eyes/hands of the beholder.
* The stones vary a great deal and one must spend time 
  to select the right stone or stones.  
* There are natural markings on the stones and many of
  the stones have chip marks.
* Some stones have windows.
* Some stones have triangles etched into the top but 
  these are very small and hardly, if at all, visable
  without the aid of a jewelers loupe or good magnifying
  glass.  
* Many have rainbows.
* Others look like they have many points or tiny
  triangles or natural geometric forms in many places 
  (sort of like mini elestrials).  
* The stones are not large, quite small for the price and
  you do have to choose carefully and you might not find
  one you are attracted too.

I now have several.  I did find a window crystal, a crystal
with several points that get larger as they form the point
of the stone (looks like a church in a way), I do have one
with a small triangle etched into a face, and some with 
many markings on the side.  

Remember, all crystals are special, and those I consider
SPECIAL might be just special to you.

Joanne 

Have been writing about the SPECIAL crystals for a 
couple of days now.  Well, I do have a pesty one 
at the house.  If I'm around the stones (living in
a studio, one is around them if in the apartment)
one particular stone acts up.  This one is a Window
Crystal.  If it wants attention, it sort of puts a
picture of itself in my thoughts.  I see the window
as it reflects colors.  Naturally, I have to go and
get it and do some relaxation or meditation.

The first night I meditated with the stone, I could
feel a great amount of energy from it.  It vibrated
the hand I was holding it in and I could feel it 
go down my arm and through my body.  Later I placed
it over my heart chakra and could feel it's energy
enter there and spread all over.

Last night I again meditated with the stone.  As I
held it the energy wasn't as great but I could see
the stone in my thoughts.  It reflected off it's
window and then it turned to let me see it's other
faces.  I was picturing it magnified.

Well, there's more to come with this stone.  It is
an active little one.  Has about the same personality
as my cat. :^)  Will keep you posted on what happens.

Joanne

Just a bit of information that may make working with 
your SPECIAL crystal or other crystals (all crystals
are special) a bit easier.  Take the crystal out into
the sun or look at it under a good lamp.  The markings
and formations on the sides and faces of the crystal 
will reflect back at you.  Much information is trans-
fered this way.  Your spirit or subconscious will pick 
up the lessons and store them until you are ready for 
them to emerge.

There are many ways to work with the stones.  This is
just one way to get you started.

Joanne

I've been working with the little pesty crystal every day
now since I got it.  One night while meditating with it
I got the information about another crystal at NEIG, a 
double terminated one.  This double terminated crystal
was large and not one I was particularly drawn to 
consciously but it would be the one I would take and hold.

The information that came was that this particular crystal
contained male and female energy and was a tool to balance
those energies.  I did know that it was two crystals that
had grown together but had sort of put the information on
a back burner.  It wasn't a stone I felt I wanted.  During
this meditation, I was advised to get the large crystal
(all 10 inches of it) and learn to work with it as a tool.
I was even told the price, but it was left up to me to
make the decision.

I thought about it and decided it would be a worthwhile
investment.  I was also cautious about mentioning this to
anyone as I wasn't sure if it was available for sale (one
of Ed's pets that was to go to a collector in California).

Tuesday, during lunch I did go to NEIG to get some SPECIAL
Crystals for friends.  Ed was manning the store and I told
him about wanting the crystal.  I spent 1 1/2 hours 
persuading him to let me have it.  I was a pain and finally
he did sell it to me.

I took the crystal back to work and explained to my co-workers
that this was a crystal used to balance energies.  One of 
them picked right up (she's not into crystals) and knew 
exactly what it was for and pointed out details I hadn't even
thought about.  One end, the larger of the 2 was pointed and
the smaller end was rounded.  The male end is heavier and 
larger, the female end is dainty.  The two crystals join in
the center.

It's not a pretty crystal to look at, sort of dull with some
clear and some snowey areas.  I've used the stone twice and 
the energy this stone has is unreal.  The first time was to
meditate with it as an introduction.  It's energy was so 
strong that I felt pulling sensations from it.  The 2nd time
it was placed over each major Chakra and had such an effect
that at times I felt dizzy.  

Will be working with the double along with the SPECIAL Crystals
and will keep you posted.  If anyone has suggestions, please
let me know.

My spirits are high and I'm moving along,
           
          Joanne

    
    
    Although I love crystals, I've been concerned with the changes in 
    the environment due to the mining of the stones.  Because of this 
    concern, I decided to ask Ed and Marion of New England Inter- 
    national Gem (NEIG) about the prospecting and the digging of 
    crystals.  I'd like to share with you the information I received 
    from them and would like to hear anything you have concerning this 
    matter.
    
    NEIG gets all their crystals from Brazil.  Ed and Marion's son-in- 
    law and Kathy's husband (Westford store), Bob, heads NEIG's opera- 
    tions in that country.  NEIG did mine crystals in the United 
    States at one time, but due to the cost and laws moved to Brazil.  
    Ed did say that in the United States, there was a great deal of 
    blasting to work a site.  This is true of the operations in 
    Arkansas that is going on today.
    
    Brazil has laws regarding mining in that country too.  Very few 
    large companies go in and mine with heavy equipment.  It takes 
    years to get a permit and the paperwork that needs to be done to 
    open a site is staggering.  Besides that, getting the equipment 
    into Brazil is difficult if not impossible.  NEIG and many other 
    companies that export the stones to the United States don't obtain 
    their stones in that fashion.
    
    Ed told me that Brazilian law permits only the Brazilians to mine.  
    The miners obtain cards from the government that permit them to 
    work the lands.  The miners are called garinperros (spelling may 
    way off) and many work as free lancers, selling their goods to the 
    buyers by the pound along side the road.  Other garinperros are 
    hired to mine a site for NEIG or another company.
    
    The native Brazilians are very simple people.  Their tools are 
    often a bucket and wooden stick.  Hand tools (shovels, picks, 
    etc.) and horses are few.  The sites are worked with the most 
    meager of tools and by hand.  The stones are often carried by the 
    miners on their backs for miles to the road where they will sell 
    the crystals.  Gem and gold are also common to Brazil and Ed says 
    one never knows what they're carrying in their pockets.  
    
    The areas that are mined are miles from any town.  The miners set 
    up stick frame shelters and cover them with grass.  Often there 
    are 8-10 people who sleep here along with any animal they have 
    (dogs, chickens, horses if they have them).  These shelters are 
    located close to the area they're working.  There are no creature 
    comforts to be seen (electricity, running water and often food 
    supplies).  Ed said he hasn't met a miner in that area who hasn't 
    claimed to see flying saucers. 
    
    The miners eat off the land as fruits can be found and they also 
    purchase rice and bean when they go into town.  The miners are 
    hard working, they earn an average of $56/month.  They work a 5 
    1/2 day week but do take a 2 1/2 hour siesta every day.  During 
    this siesta, everything closes down.  
    
    Ed said the land in Brazil where they mine is sand and gravel.  It 
    is rainy and can rain heavily for up to 25 days at a time.  The 
    hill, mountains, roads are often washed away and sites are opened. 
    This area has little vegetation to prevent erosion.  The stones 
    travel in the mud and after a good rain storm, ends of crystals 
    can be seen sticking through the soil.  Miners rarely have to dig 
    deep to collect them.  What holes are dug are often filled in the 
    next storm.
    
    Ed showed me a specimen he has of computer quality quartz crystal.  
    This crystal, after close inspection, showed the basic crystal 
    formation but due to it's age, the traveling it had done, and the 
    environment it came from, was rounded and covered with iron 
    particles and stain.  I was told that the iron covering was an 
    indication that suggest computer quality crystal.  It is an old 
    stone.  This piece of crystal I was shown was water clear.
    
                           * * * * * * * * * *
    
    The SPECIAL Crystals I wrote about come from Brazil.  They were 
    purchased by Bob from a miner who brought them to the road to be 
    sold.  Since this purchase, Bob has not been able to obtain any 
    more.  Perhaps, we now have our share.  Those crystals that came 
    here were our quota and will find a home with the appropriate 
    person.
     

I've been looking at the SPECIAL Crystals for a few weeks
and have been able to identify the following types beside
the specially marked Recorder Crystals.  They are:

      Time Link Crystals (Paralellograms)
      Cathedral Lightbraries
      Isis Crystals
      Tantric Twins
      Laser Wands
      Window Crystals
      Channeling Crystals

Not all of the stones have the special markings, but if 
you're interested in a special type there is the list of
what I've seen.  You might be able to find others, if so,
please let me know.

Joanne

    Greetings Joanne,
    
    I have thoroughly enjoyed your notes and enthusiam on crystals.
    
    I have a clear quartz crystal cluster that "yelled" at me in the
    store where it found me...I picked it up 5 times and put it down 5 times
    in my wanderings through the shop I was in.  I left with it in my
    hand and it has been THE BEST meditation and healing crystal for
    me.  This crystal has several windows, several records, and an
    ancient Native American cliff dwelling on it...
    
    I also have several pieces of fluorite (green and blue/purple) that
    I work with periodically for healing.
    
    I have a little medicine bag filled with smaller "stones" that I have
    been drawn to which include amethyst points, carnellian, hematite,
    many BEAUTIFUL pieces of tumbled agate, rose quarts, blood stone,
    apache tears, citrine and several others that escape me.  I carry this
    wonderful little bag of treasures with me always and when I am feeling
    a lot of negative energy from my surroundings I stick my hand in my
    little bag, pull out one or more stones and the healing begins.  They
    are all VERY beautiful and they bring me great joy, ground me and help
    me center.
    
    Ya-ta-hey
    Bunkie
    @:)